Iron Hill Race Report

Team LoweRiders (TLR) had another good showing at MASS Race "No. 4" (Its actually No. 3 as French Creek was postponed) Iron Hill on May 31, 2009. Fielding 25 racers and several podium finishes, (TLR) continues its unofficial quest for the Cannondale Team Cup overall victory for large teams. The weather mystics were calling for perfect weather all weekend, and so, to no one's surprise it poured rain for an hour and a half directly before the Beginner/Enduro start. The trails were ridden dry throughout the day and by the time the Elite/Expert riders were let loose they were more or less dry.

Bottom line, we tore it up. Results from the race are as follows:

Podium Finishes:

Steven Havrilla - First Place, Beginner Senior II Men

Michael Campbell - Second Place, Sport Senior II Men

John Plewa - First Place, Sport Veteran II Men

Linda Mattioni - First Place, Sport Women I

Douglas Morrel - First Place, Sport Singlespeed

Ron Harding - First Place, Expert Singlespeed

Adam Joelssen - Third Place, Expert Singlespeed

Kathleen Harding - Second Place, Elite Women

Bill Showers - Third Place, Enduro Men

Finishers:

Daniel Stein - Fifth Place, Sport Juni0r

Mike Patton - Eigth Place, Sport Senior II Men

Neil Young - Eleventh Place, Sport Senior II Men

Danny Deao - Fourteenth Place, Sport Veteran I Men

Steven Collina - Fifth Place, Sport Veteran II Men

Kevin Mertz - Eleventh Place, Sport Master I Men

Travis Cordoza - Fifth Place, Sport Singlespeed

Bud Mauger - Seventh Place, Sport Singlespeed

Gary Whitemer - Fourth Place, Sport Clydesdale

Jason Grant - Eigth Place, Sport Clydesdale

Jason Vliet - Fourteenth Place, Sport Clydesdale

Jason Matthews - Sixteenth Place, Expert Senior Men

Nicholas Cappriotti - Tenth Place, Expert Singlespeed

John Engle - Twelth Place, Enduro Men

Daniel Joelsson - Nineteenth Place, Enduro Men

Those that DNF'd:

Larry Distefano

Pictures of the race can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldanger/

and

Iron Hill 2009

Ronaldo

Escape from Granogue "Race" Report

The second "race" in the MASS series was yesterday.  Escape from Granogue, as it is appropriately known, is historically one of the more difficult races in the series.  Yesterday was no exception.  The weather has been uncooperative around here lately.  It rained more or less all week leading up to the "race", heavy the day before, and even heavier the day of.  The sport riders got at least one good lap in while the trails were still trails, but by the time the Expert/Elite riders were let loose only ~2.5 miles of the 7 mile loop were even remotely rideable.  The remaining miles were a heavy, cakey, muddy, swamp...hike.  

Its taking all of the restraint that I can muster to keep this blog post from dripping with contempt for the "race" promoter and/or bristling with expletives about how the "race" should have been cancelled.  Suffice it to say that the situation of the Granogue "race" was...regrettable, and the "race" promoter's decision not to cancel the "race" was...unfortunate.

Despite the unfathomably horrible conditions, Team LoweRiders fielded a respectable team.  Some of us did very well, the rest of us didn't finish.  Results from the "race" are as follows:

Podium Finishes:

Sport Senior II - Dan Dix, First Place

Sport Veteran II - John Plewa, Third Place

Sport Women I - Linda Mattioni, First Place

Sport Single Speed Open - Douglas Morrell, First Place

Beginner Junior III - Daniel Stein, First Place

Finishers:

Elite Open - Bill Showers, Eleventh Place (a.k.a. BShow)

Sport Senior I - Michael Wells, Fifteenth Place (a.k.a. Wellsy)

Sport Senior I - Mike Trahey, Sixteenth Place

Sport Veteran I - Danny Deao, Seventh Place 

Sport Single Speed Open - Bud Mauger, Seventh Place

Sport Women I - Jessica Eckberg, Fourth Place

Those that DNF'd:

Ron Harding

Kathleen Harding

Adam Joelssen

Todd Strauss

Michael Campbell

Steve Collina

Martin Eckberg

(If I missed anybody I apologize.)

Ronaldo

I Want to Like Granogue I Really Do...I Just Don't

Saturday morning Ktown, Campbell, and me, got up early (well earlier than normal) at 6:50AM hopped in the weekend mobile, as it has become affectionately known, and zoomed off to French Creek for the Saturday morning group ride.  As usual we had to make the requisite, "we're running about 10 minutes late" call to BShow, even though we more or less organized the ride, and we're (read I'm) the reason the ride time was earlier than normal.  BShow shows-up to rides 10-15 minutes early even though he lives in Jersey and its a 1.5 hour drive to French Creek from his Jersey abode (Dix was early too, but he told us he wasn't showing up till 9:00AM so I don't feel bad about making him wait).  When all were present and accounted for, six of us (Ktown, Campbell, BShow, Dix, JMatt, and I) rolled out of the parking lot heading for the Miller's Point side of the park.  We always do the Miller's Point loop first, not so much because its a good warm-up loop, but because its fun and it sucks to do it tired.  After that we headed into the park to "pre-ride" this year's race loop (shhhhhh!!), or at least as much as we thought we knew about this year's race loop.  We picked up Patton along the way somewhere and then the group was seven.  

Though the pace was moderate people were dropping like flies.  Dix had to bail early because he was helping his Dad collect some "free heat" (i.e., fire wood for the winter).  They were gathering wood early this year in an attempt to avoid the hottest summer days.  Ironically, Pennsylvania is having a freak April heat wave and Saturday's high was 91 degrees, imagine that.  Campbell, had been having a rough ride all morning and was fed-up with "swimming up stream" and bailed soon after Dix.  Sometimes you just have bad days.  Patton disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared earlier in the ride.  And after the gruesome Blue downhill (which has no business being part of any "race" course) developed a severe hop in his front wheel and bailed because he felt a taco was imminent.  Then there were three: the unlikely trio of Ktown, JMatt, and I were left to finish the race loop as the mercury continued to rise.  

All in all the ride was great and conditions were perfect.  Ktown, Campbell, and I were able to leave in just enough time to meet my father back at the house and continue work on the two-year bathroom/laundry/hallway remodeling effort.  We've made a lot of progress, but there is still much to do.  I'm looking forward to a day when I can relieve myself without having to walk upstairs first.

With Monday morning here I'm thinking often of the approaching "Escape from Granogue" race.  I'm not exactly looking forward to it.  I want to like Granogue I really do...I just don't.  I don't know what exactly it is about the race that I don't like.  Its held in memory of a former friend of the race organizer and of cycling in general, its raced on some very nice trails, and its hard; all good things.  I usually like the harder courses (i.e., Danville, French Creek, etc.).  I think my dislike of the race has to do with its relatively early placement in the series schedule (its the second race), and the fact that the trails are off limits until race day.  I don't know the trails, and I don't like not knowing the trails.  Its fear of the unknown I guess.  In any case, we will race it, and regardless of the outcome it will be a fun time spent with the team.

Ronaldo

Race Report, Something Funny, and Something Sincere

Race Report

Sunday April 20, 2009 was the official kick-off of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Super Series (MASS) with the Bike Line Fair Hill Classic Mountain Biking Race [Some will say that MASS was kicked of with the visitPA.com International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Team Relay Championship of the Universe Including the Anti-Matter One. (There, That Should About Cover It.), IIGOMBTRCUIAMO(TTSACI) for "short".  I scoff at these people.  Scoff, scoff...].  Anyway, The 7.5 mile loop (1 lap for Beginners, 2 laps for Sport, 3 laps for Expert/Elite) took racers through ripping and rolling, smooth single track.  The weather held out and conditions were perfect.  The soil was tacky and firm.  Former six-time world champions were present.  Lap times were crazy-fast. 

Team LoweRiders (TLR) started their bid for the 2009 MASS Large Team Cup win right proffering 27 racers.  TLR’s presence was felt on the podium as well, with no less than 8 podium finishes ranging from Junior Beginner to the Expert level.  TLR entered their first racer in the Elite category as well (yeah BShow!), and although he toed the line straddling a single speed on a more or less flat course, he finished in the money in 18^th place.  Brews and burgers afterwards.

Podium finishes were as follows:

Beginner Junior III - Daniel Stein, First Place
Beginner Senior II - Seven Havrilla, First Place
Sport Senior II Men - Michael Campbell, Third Place (a.k.a. CBell)
Sport Veteran II Men - John Plewa, Third Place
Sport Women I - Kathleen Harding, (a.k.a. KTown) First Place
Sport Women I - Linda Mattioni, Third Place
Sport Single Speed Open - Douglas Morrell, Third Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Ron Harding (a.k.a. Ronaldo), Second Place

All other participant finishes were as follows:

Beginner Veteran II Men - Joel Flambaum, Seventh Place
Sport Senior II Men - Ted Harlan, Seventh Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Thomas W O’Neil (a.k.a. Tommy O), 10^th Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Danny Deao, 23^rd Place
Sport Veteran I Men - Todd Strauss (a.k.a. El Presidente), 34^th Place
Sport Veteran II Men - Steven Collina, 13^th Place
Sport Master I Men - Kevin Mertz, Sixth Place
Sport Master I Men - John McLeod, 23^rd Place
Sport Master II Men - Nick Nudy, 16^th Place
Sport Women I - Jessica Ekberg, Fourth Place
Sport Single Speed Open - Bud Mauger, 14^th Place
Sport Clydesdale - Jason Vliet, Ninth Place
Elite Open - Bill Showers (a.k.a. BShow), 18^th Place
Expert Senior Men - Jason Matthews (a.k.a. JMatt), 14^th Place
Expert Senior Men - John Engle, 20^th Place
Expert Master I Men - Martin Eckberg, Eighth Place
Expert Master I Men - Larry Distefano, 12^th Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Adam Joelsson, 7^th Place
Expert Single Speed Open - Nick Capriotti, 9^th Place

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the racing season.  We've got a good team this year made up of some great people (that's not the something sincere, wait for it...).

Something Funny
Ktown's birthday was yesterday, woohoo!  Happy Birthday Ktown!!  In light of that fine occasion here are some not so funny jokes and interested facts about redheads (for Ktown is a redhead...).

Q. How do you get a redhead to argue with you?
A. Say something

Q.  How do you get a redhead to change her mind?
A. Wait ten minutes

I know, I know the jokes are horrible.

Interesting facts about redheads:

http://www.purgatory.net/kornelia/1603/red_hair_facts.htm

Something Sincere
[Warning the following language contains subject matter that may be hard for some to read.  It contains sincere, heart-felt, "mushy" acknowledgements from a husband to his wife.  It will be short, I promise.  Yes - I am prepared to take any subsequent ball-busting that results.]

I (Ronaldo) am happily married to Ktown.  We've been married for the last 5 years.  And I gotta say:

Babe, the last five years have been an awesome adventure.  I feel lucky to have shared it with you.  I feel blessed to have you as a part of my life and for the opportunity to be a part of yours.  I can't wait for the rest of the adventure to unfold.  Happy 29.

Much love,

Ron...(aldo)

One Less than Originally Intended

Last night, I forwent a ride with some of the guys from the team atWissahickon and opted instead to ride with the lovely K-town at Marsh Creek.  I was tired from my lunchtime ride but conditions were almost perfect and K-town was excited.  I just got my 29er back from the shop and was feeling pretty good.  K-town was killing me as she was fresh and has been bouncing around lately with excitement due to her recent return to activity from 7-10 days of being on the DL list (Dr.'s orders).  The ride was fun and basically uneventful until I tried to ride the only log ride Marsh Creek has to offer.  Not to be boastful, but let me preface this by saying I've ridden this log without incident several times before.  Obviously, that was not the case this time.  I approached the log thinking, "This should be fun, I haven't ridden this log in a while, it looks clean, the approach is smooth, should be no problem."  On the log I was thinking, "Nice work Ronaldo, this log is in the bag, you've kept your momentum up, no slips, first try, nice job."  These positive thoughts were immediately interrupted by my face and chest meeting the log with enough force to knock the wind out of me.  I haven't had the wind knocked out of me since I was a kid, I don't remember it being such an unpleasant sensation, but it sure was unpleasant.  

 

I wasn't hurt but my bike did suffer a casualty.  I broke the rear brake lever.  So, I finished the ride with only a front brake.  Riding a single-speed with only a front brake is an unusual sensation.  You need to keep your momentum up (because you only have one gear), but not too much (because you have one less brake than originally intended and you don't want to become a permanent fixture of that tree).  Overall the ride was great and riding with 50% less braking power wasn't too weird.  By the end of the ride I didn't even notice except for the downhills, flats, corners, rollies, jumps or anywhere where there were roots, rocks, mud, or dirt.

Its Been a Long Time...by the way I Hate March

To all of my endearing fans, my humblest and most sincere apologies for not posting for more than a month.  And since I am the only one that follows this blog regularly my apology is hereby accepted, and further I plan to buy myself an ice cream later today just to show there's no hard feelings.  

I also apologize that this blog post concerns something that pisses me off (again I hereby forgive me).  Those of you who know me won't be surprised and will read this post without so much as a second thought because you know that most things, if not all things, tend to piss me off, or at the very least ruffle my feathers.  What, you may be wondering, is this thing that is so infuriating that I should call it out specifically from the underlying background of irritation that is the world around me?  In a word...March.  

That's right March.  I hate March.  If the day of your birth happens to fall within this cursed month I feel for you I really do, but I can't help the fact that your parents were bored in June.

What is the deal with March anyway?  Its a winter month.  No, no wait its really a spring month.  But wait no its really a winter month, but with sun that's not really warm, and the nagging possibility for below freezing nocturnal temperatures.  The flowers are starting to come up and the trees are budding, but there's still the outside chance that it could freak snow like a foot, and then melt the next day.  March is by its very nature frenetic at best.  

For a Pennsylvania mountain biker who is trying to sharpen his fitness for the commencement of the racing season in April it sucks.  We just got over ~six months of dreary winter weather.  I'm suffering from cabin fever, tired of riding the trainer, and looking to shed some layers, I want to ride my bike in shorts and short sleeves and not have to worry about being blown off my bike, off the road, or into oncoming traffic, but I can't because March can't make up its mind about whether its the commencement of spring or the last hurrah for winter.  The wind alone is enough to make me put my road bike down until May.  It may just be me but I don't enjoy pedaling as hard as I can to go downhill.  Aren't downhills for coasting?

Beware the ides of March,

Ronaldo

5-Minute Recap of the Last Two Weeks

Ready, set, go...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 some members of Team LoweRiders (TLR) met some members of Cradles to Canes at Marsh Creek for that rare unicorn of winter night rides, the snow ride.  Conditions were pretty much perfect, and even better when I realized that lower tire pressure may make turning and climbing much easier and therefore much more fun.  Great fun was had by all.  Pizza, wings, and beer at Foster Boys after.

The following weekend Campbell, K-town, and me rode Fair Hill and White Clay.  We met JMatt, BShow, one of his college buddies, and couple of his friends for a 3-plus-hour tour of Fair Hill on Saturday.  And unlike that most famous 3-hour tour we didn't get lost...almost.  We have finally learned a decent loop at Fair Hill that is long and includes most of the good trails that Fair Hill has to offer.  And it only took us a year to learn it.

Sunday, Campbell, K-town, and me went to White Clay and rode almost every trail that the park has to offer.  We now know this place inside out...pretty much.  

Trainer, trainer, trainer...

The following Wednesday it rained/iced/sleeted like three inches of bullet proof crap which just recently melted...for the most part.  

Trainer, trainer, trainer, treadmill (WTF!)...

Its now Tuesday February 3, 2009 and is currently snowing on top of the bullet proof crap that didn't melt over the weekend.

Trainer, trainer, trainer, treadmill, Spring...

Ronaldo