The band's back together

at Phelps School Cross / PA State Champs

Double Double: Super Cross Cup Day 2

Not only do we wear matching spandex, we write interwoven race reports. Here it is from Mikey Green and Brendan McGrath who took 1st and 2nd in the Men's B at the Super Cross Cup Day 2.

Whistle.

After an unsuccessful marriage of cleat and pedal, the riders to my left and right dashed forward. I churned the hefty gear as hard as my right leg would allow while I determined when and where my pedal would be; a process of trial and error.

Clipped-in, I sprinted to catch up to the head of the race which Brendy was leading. Brendy: I actually made a good decision this day as compared to day 1 — I started in the big ring and actually got the hole shot instead of spinning out. After a few aggressive passings just ahead of the first turn, a 180º, I managed to squeeze into fifth wheel. The beginning section was of normal width, but due to the tricky, twisty, technical nature of the tree punctuated lane, the only place to safely ride was a thin tract no more than a few tire widths wide—passing was impossible and doing so would likely result in a high speed collision of man and wood. Patience was required until the course opened up…or else.

Brendy, still at the head of affairs, was causing the rider in 4th wheel ahead of me to lose ground on the uphill, off-camber traverse, taking with him Bremer and another. I knew I had to pass in order to maintain good position. I accelerated hard, bridging the small gap given to me with someone in tow.

The five-man group, now led by Bremer, started to pull away.

A super-fast, sweeping downhill transitioned abruptly into a technical, rooty, off-camber section taking us down towards the man-made lake. A hard downhill 180º and we hit the low & long stepped concrete staircase. We cut back and traversed down the same hill on the opposite side of the stairs we had just ascended. This is where misfortune caused Bremer a front flat after he rolled over the business end of a broken stake. To his credit, I’ve never seen a man scurry through a serpentine, technical hill section like that before. He was hard to pass. It was impressive.

We were down to four.

On cue, Brendy resumed the race lead and attacked with a hard effort. I was sitting in third position keeping my eyes on our lead foursome. We were well-away and had a two man tactical advantage. It was an ideal situation.

Through a soft-ground, pine straw covered tree slalom I managed to slip ahead of the rider in second wheel. To test the resolve of our group, I slowed the pace to let Brendy get some ground ahead and to force a reaction. Through the paved Start/Finish the isolated duo gave chase to close down the momentary separation as I sat right on them.

Brendy continued to push the pace for the remainder of the lap.

As if cursed, the same spot which cast its misfortune upon Bremer also gripped ahold of Brendy while he tangled in the high-side tape of the tricky, loose off-camber. We all stalled. In a moment of panic, I jumped off my bike and ran through the tape like a marathon finisher. I was in front at the perfect place to attack; a fast false flat power section just after a tricky bit. I attacked and got daylight almost immediately.

Brendy: After I boggle the off-camber root section Mikey got in 1st and I was in 3rd position. The kid in 2nd couldn't keep pace with Mikey through the next twisty section on the farthest side of the lake from the start-finish. As soon as Mikey had daylight I thought to myself "perfect" and literally sat up. We went through the start finish again as I was making faces at spectators. They encouraged me to get around the rider in front me as I just smiled and sat behind. At one point the rider in 3rd position encouraged the three of us to "not sit up" and I just replied "I have a teammate up there". My biggest fear at this point was that Bremer would catch us again...

Unfortunately, Brendy was delayed in a team tactic that involved him unable to contribute to the chase and rely on the strength of two strangers to reel me back.

Somehow Bremer got to the pit, changed his wheel, and continued to chase. At one point, I noticed through a section that doubled-back upon itself that he had clawed himself back into the chase group. Truly an impressive feat. I later learned that a second issue forced him out of that group and into no man’s land.

Brendy: Bremer caught our group at basically the same place he had fallen of the group in the first place. He took the lead and I knew I'd have to put in some effort at this point. The plan was 1-2, not 1-3. We went through a couple turns and he hit a nice root sending him over the bars and giving him a second puncture. He slowed the rider in front of me and I quickly got around. I put in a dig to get some distance. At this point I knew the 1-2 was going to become a reality. I stayed steady for the rest of the race to cross the line 2nd for the 2nd day in a row.

The course was such that the opportunities to gain time were far fewer than the chances to lose time. An error could easily consume chunks of time. Thankfully, I flowed through the course without mistake. I had found that place we all seek. To say “the zone” seems corny and lame, but that’s where I was: the zone.

With a lap and a half to go I noticed Brendy freed himself from the obligation of the group and had established himself a substantial lead over the fractured chase. I knew in that instant this race was ours and that we would soon occupy the top two steps of the podium.

photo by Marco Quezada

I crossed the line on the final lap with arms raised. A cross-breeze almost made my rarely used victory salute and embarrassing “internet famous” moment. With a quick adjustment, I maintained an awkward balance until I coasted to a stop. I circled back to watch Brendy cross the line. We embraced just after the finish line and celebrated our team’s day of good fortune. Brendy: We had learned prior to our event that 4 other teammates had also tasted victory on this very day. Truly the best day in our team’s memory.

Brendy's Super Cross Cup Day 1: No Silver Platters

To my demise I started the race in my small ring. Not really sure why. I was clipped in and had a bike length on the rest of the field after the whistle. I continued to shift down my cassette until I was out of gears. I tried to put the bike in the big ring — no luck. That Crux front derailleur is very particular. I spun out and got 3rd wheel with Bremer on the front. 

Bremer had the taste of blood in his mouth sitting 2nd in the MAC standings and 1st place (Shane) not at the race. Before I knew it he opened it up and had a 5 second gap. Eventually I was able to get around the rider in front of me but at this point closing the gap felt hopeless.

We cross the start-finish and I notice that I only have one rider with me. He's made no attempt to get around. Pass a few corners and we come across Bremer off his bike with a rolled tire. I almost want to stop and help, almost.

At this point I'm COMPLETELY confused. I'M leading the race — this doesn't happen. The kid is still sitting on and even makes a comment to me at one point as I bif a turn — "come on". This doesn't make me very happy as I've been toting him around the course for a couple laps now. I turn up the volume and he's gone.

Now I'm riding the course alone. We're 2 laps into a 6 lap race. I knew this was my chance to win a race. It wouldn't be the classiest way to win a race but that's ok. I'm not very classy.

All I can think is that I need to ride steady and hard. Not mess up AT ALL and just keep the pace up.

Through the turny sections I see that Bremer has fixed his bike or gotten a new one and has now caught the kid I dropped. Now I'm worried but continue to keep the pace up and keep my wits about me. By the last lap Bremer had gotten around the kid and was coming for me full gas (this is a lot of gas since he's basically a pro crit racer).

As we're coming into the last 0.25 of the lap I hear a serious rustling of leaves. We're at the off-camber section by the lake and Bremer is passing me on the lower side. I knew this was a sketchy section and thought better of trying to squeeze him out. A lapped rider is in front of us and barely gets out of the way before we're back to the exact same spot where Bremer had rolled a tire earlier in the race. I'm behind Bremer and sitting on his wheel fine. We come out of the second to last turn and he puts in a hard sprint but I stay right with him. He speeds into the barriers and I'm somewhat timid. He comes out of them as I'm going into them. He sprints to the finish about 30 meters up the road as I sit up and clap for him.

That guy is a very good rider and a good sport. I'm happy to compete with him. Although this could've been my big day, Bremer got it. He fought back SUPER hard and took it. I wasn't going to serve it to him on a silver platter though. My day will come, right? Here's to cyclocross racing!

Super Cross Cup Weekend Report: Portabello Mushroom version

In Linda's own words, Women's B champ of the Super Cross Cup (MAC races #11 and #12) on November 19-20.



People kept on asking me after Saturday and Sunday's races how I got so fast. I've never won a cross race before and the ONLY thing I could come up with that made sense was the greasy, disgusting, stomach-knotting, New York chain restaurant portobello burger that I had both Friday and Saturday night. I think that's the key. I'm pretty sure anyway.

Both Saturday and Sunday played out pretty similarly (because of the fatty burger). Becca took off like a roadie at the start and I caught up to her in the first few turns like a mountain biker. Lucia gave me a bit of a run for my money on Sunday as I rounded almost every 180 turn with her intimidating race face coming at me. I wanna make this sound exciting but it there's not too much to draw out. I've never been out front like that for so long before...just riding my bike with people chasing me.

After winning Saturday, I almost wanna say I didn't like the feeling of being first (almost) because I felt this strange added pressure before Sunday's race. I normally put the targets on people's backs, they're not normally on my own back though. I take "training" and riding my bike as un-seriously as possible. (shout-out alert) I just really love being a part of this team and hanging out with you wonderful people, so when I actually do well, it's just an added bonus. It sort of blows my mind that I think I have the ability to Cat up to 3 after this weekend. I thought I'd be a 4 forever, and was actually totally fine with that.

BUT, with that all said, I'm still hungry for more (portobello burger)!!

photo by Marco Quezada