Carlisle Grand Prix Course

Here you go, racers:

(Note that the start/finish line will be at the intersection of Rt. 233 and Southside Drive!)

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/pa/newville/666359358

Good luck!

Mark

Survey results, eh!

Hiya, Fish:

Thanks for responding to the survey; we got some great feedback...and
thanks to Rick for arranging yesterday's ride - and for dragging us
back into Carlisletown at a high rate of speed!

Fast Albert and C-Bu were the closest in our photo contest - the YBR
racer is Amber...she's chasing Nat'l MTB champ Georgia Gould at the
'04 Capital 'Cross race in Reston, VA. Amber's beau Jason won a
Cannondale 'cross bike after the race for racing in a Santa costume
and dressing up their dog as a reindeer but that's another story.
Bob's Salsa for Fast Albert and C-Bu! The photo now posted
shows what was goin' on on that day in December...

Runners and multi-sporters, if you're interested in getting some speed
in your legs, remember that we do track workouts at the Dickinson
track Wednesdays at 6:30 pm - c'mon out and keep Rick company!

Computrainer for $100?! Wow!

http://www.fisher-price.com/us/products/product.asp?id=39972

We're still looking for an Adopt-A-Highway coordinator to take over
for Simon, who's now safely across the border in the Great White
North.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECvsgeO9rvc

Okay, the survey:

Areas of importance to YBR racers...

Team focus races 29
In-season training events 27
Social events 18
Off-season training events 18
Pre-season training camp 14
Uniform discount 14
Gear discounts 13
Race reimbursement (partial) 12
Improved communications 11
Improved website 11
Sport-specific clinics 8
Trail advocacy 3
Mentoring 3
"Highly motivated" team concept 2

Suggested focus races...

Adventure MteC 2
Adventure Cap City 2
Adventure Savage 1
Cross Carlisle 'Cross 4
Cross Granogue 3
Cross Iron Cross Lite 2
Cross Charm City 1
Cross Wissahickon 1
Cross Iron Cross 1
MTB Michaux series 6
MTB 24 Hrs Big Bear 4
MTB 24 Hrs 7 Springs 3
MTB MASS series 3
MTB RCST Bash 1
MTB Greenbrier 1
MTB Marysville 1
Road Crits! 2
Road Tour de Ephrata 2
Road Carlisle GP 1
Road Faulkner Honda Crit 1
Road YBR TT Series 1
Road PA State TT 1
Road Mt. Joy 1
Road YBR vs SMVC races 1
Road White Rose Crit 1
Road Tour de Christiana 1
Running Turkey Trot 1
Running C-burg Half Marathon 1
Tri Catfish 1
Tri Pinchot 1
Tri Mt. Gretna 1
Tri Quakerman 1
Tri Black Bear 1
Tri Anthracite 1

We'll take a look at how we can address your primary concerns...keep
those ideas and suggestions coming in, especially suggestions for
focus races...

Mark

TT'ing and HC'ing...

Uncle Don got some nice shots at Wed's TT:

www.singlespeeder.smugmug.com

...and the SMVC lads spanked YBR like so many circus monkeys last night:

"HC -Results 1.Scott Kurz-25:03; 2.Pat H.-25:30; 3.JimH.:26:47; 4.Joe
K.: 26:54 ;5.Craig Hise 27:00 ; 6.Mark:28:25; 7. Rich S.: 28:30 ;8Tim R.
28:54; 9 Cathy Large 28:59 ;10. Chuck B.: 30:20 Take care Jim"

Ouch!

Tentative schedule for remaining TTs is looking like:

8/15 2-up TT on Carlisle GP course (can do solo, instead, of course)

8/22 TT on Pine Grove Furnace TT (PA State Masters) course

9/6 Ironmasters Mansion TT * Season Finale * double points with series awards to follow at the Pine Grove Furnace General Store!


M.

Carlisle Grand Prix!

Good Afternoon Fish and Fishettes!

As you are hopefully aware by now, YBR is hosting the PA State Women's Championship Road Race on Aug 18. As with all the other YBR events, we want this road race to be a success so that we may quite possibly continue to host this race for years to come. With doing any bike racing event, it doesn't happen by will but through the graciousness of the volunteers. This race gives us the opportunity to show case our club again and what we can offer to the cycling community. It helps to build bridges with our neighbors. And it brings attention to the fact that road racing is as alive and well in YBR as much as Iron Cross is. I know I asked for volunteers before but I didn't get enough and if we can't cover the volunteer grid, then we won't be able to host this wonderful event. Please let me know if you any of you are available to help us out.

Thank you sooooo much!

~Ray

Ps. If you intend to also race in an event, please indicate so. You can race for free if you volunteer too. Remember, the fields are sr. women and masters men. Sorry guys and juniors. Not this year.

YBR event/e-mail database

From Greg S.:

Hi All,

This is just a little note to remind people that everyone is able to
submit events at https://freefall.homeip.net/ybr/

Don't be shy. If you are going for a run / ride / hike / whatever, and
want some company, put it in the database for everyone to see. Of
course, the mailing lists work too, but personally I can't keep track
of things through email, which is why I wrote this for the team in the
first place.

The idea is a place for *everyone* to share stuff that they are doing
or know about. It's a great resource, but it only works with your
contributions!

If you have any questions about using the database, or have a feature
suggestion, just let me know!

Yes, I realize that my server key is expired and that it is not signed
by one of the CAs that you have to pay money to for the signature so
that you don't get warnings in your browser. I'll fix the first one
eventually ;-)

See ya on the trails!

--g

Uncle Don's Curse of Dark Hollow Report

I don't train. My diet is less than optimal. My pre-race beverage has a "born on freshness" label affixed to its container. I have an expensive, super light,?high tech full suspension race bike that spends a lot of time alone in the garage. And, I don't race much anymore these days. A poor example of a YBR fighting fish, I needed some redemption. I missed the first race in the Michaux series, the Maximus, and instead hung out and snapped pictures. It was fun to cheer on the racers and watch others suffer for a change. So for some reason I awoke early last Sunday, loaded up the van, and headed for Big Flat. After I'd signed up and chatted with the cool folks there to race and or hang out, I got around to getting dressed and attempting a warmup. Chuck, Joel and I had pre-ridden the course earlier in the week, and my legs were still fried from the near race pace Joel and Chuck maintained the entire time. Nothing new, I usually feel like crap on race day. Probably one of the reasons I don't do it much anymore!

This year the Gettysburg Cycling gang devised a simple way to break down categories: you have a 10 mile race, a 25 (give or take) mile race, and a long race (100k for the Curse). I choose the 25 miler, which was laid out much like the sport/expert courses of years past. One of my least favorite sections, which included a long, grinding climb, was removed and instead some neat stuff was substituted, so all in all this year's course was "cake". Especially when compared to the suffer-thon 100k race. Nope, not me. I'm a wimp. I'll leave that stuff to my hero, Fast Albert Greene.

You know how I mentioned I don't train? Well, that tends to hurt you in a race. The start is a long climb on fire road to the upper parking lot, across the lot, then into Wildcat. Lets just say I had a bad start. Really bad. Awful. I felt worse than a Dick Cheney hunting partner. It seemed as if everyone started with a full on sprint. Actually, that wasn't too far from the truth, as many were fading fast and I found myself back with most of the pack by the time I reached the top. I'd chosen my trusty singlespeed, and while it wasn't the best thing to have on the fireroads as I was forced to either stand and mash or spin wildly, the bike is very capable if its pilot's legs are up to task. Mine were on strike for most of the start, but I got them back - at least for a little bit - once on Wildcat. By the time I'd made it to the bottom, I was in the lead. Love them 29er wheels. The ensuing climb was rough, but I passed a lot of people before getting into the singletrack known a s Abigayle (sp?), though the eventual winner passed me at some point on that climb. Once I got past the climbs I found a groove and the singlespeed was wonderful. By the time I'd reached the reservoir I was in the lead again, but I'd get passed once again on a long section of fireroad climbing. A pattern of regaining the lead on downhill or technical sections only to lose it on climbs was established, and eventually TEW (the eventual winner) put a gap on me that I couldn't make up. In fact, at one point on a steep fireroad climb I was attempting some conversation (did I mention I'm not taking racing that seriously anymore?) and it didn't go over too well. TEW endured a few moments of socializing and then told me that he was going to put a gap on me now, and off he went, glancing often over his shoulder. I know Phil Ligget would have been disappointed that I didn't give chase, but I was in a spot of bother at the time (did I mention that I don't train?). I caught him a time or two after that , but in the end he crushed me by several minutes (I finished 3 minutes sooner than the time recorded - don't know why, doesn't matter).

Funny thing about the Curse is that the first third is so much fun (once past the initial climbing) that I always go out way too hard and suffer for the remainder of the race. Sunday was no exception, and I suffered a lot. But like I mentioned, the course was changed a bit from prior years and that one nasty long climb was omitted and I was happy for that. I did have lots of gastro issues, and realized at one point along a stretch of fireroad that I had to answer the call of nature. I was completely alone, so inspired by the boys in the Tour de France, I attempted an on bike fluid?voiding maneuver. In other words,?I tried an old roadie trick where one does not stop to take a leak. It did not go well. I will not attempt this maneuver again. I was indeed forced to stop to finish the deed. The rest of the race was fairly uneventful for me, and I was quite surprised to have enough gas to climb the powerline without stopping. I ended up second, and was happy and quite pleased with myself until I realized that Fast Albert had done the 100k race on his FULLY RIDGID singlespeed. Al ended up in the top ten in a field that was stacked with pros and semi pros. Way to go Al, you are my hero!

And speaking of accomplishments, Chuck B shredded the course in under 2:40 and took fifth in a very tough Vet field, and Greg Spath won his 10 mile race, bad hip and all! Just think how fast Greg will be once that hip heals. And the ankle. And the neck. And...

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see more Fish at the races either competing or cheering on fellow fish. I hope to be at the TT this Thurs to snap pics and watch others suffer. Its great fun!

Some of my venue pics are at: singlespeeder.smugmug.com (Dale Fitzsimmons has some there as well). And check out Tom Miller's awsome shots of the 100k race at: http://tomi.smugmug.com/gallery/3160737#173723758?


dp

Sarah's Antharacite Tri Report...

Hey guys!

Another race down... two more to go. Jim Thorpe is a beautiful place if you have never been there. The race went well... I took first over all women honors. Let me tell you, it was not without a fight. I was 2nd out of the water, 2nd off the bike and ran for my life after I passed the girl in first. It was a very challenging course... not for beginners or weak cyclists. They gave out completely awesome t-shirts... so I think I will do it next year! I had a great time and all in all was well worth the trip.

We had two other members of YBR with strong showings that I know of, Kara and Mark G., but once again know one knew who we were because we didn't have uniforms... I am working on that. I want to thank and congratulate Kara for her second place finish and giving me a run for my money... litterly I won $75. If it wasn't for her I would not have split a PR in the 10k.

Sarah

Fast Albert's Loooooong Day in Michaux

Yes, I would say I had fun. I ended up riding with Larry Camp off and
on the entire race. I felt bloated before the race started and my
digestive system was out of sorts for most of the race. It actually
eased up over the last hour and 1/2. It was the only time in recent
memory that I wished I was running a suspension fork. It was at the
curse last year that convinced me that I would never ever want to use a
suspension fork - so there is always a trade off to make. I actually
broke my Badger rigid fork on Saturday and spent too much time unpacking
from taking Ian to Cub Scout camp for 4 days and working on my bike. I
thought I would be able to sort of relax Saturday afternoon. I ended up
replacing the fork, brake rotor, brake housing and cable, rear rim tape
and tube. Stayed up later than expected and woke up at 3 to make the 7
am start.

The course was really brutal - lots of constant pounding. Even the
downhill sections started to get fatiguing. There were a few trails
that were actually sort of buff that I hadn't ever been on. Sort of
long downhill sections with not too many rocks or roots. The only major
issues other than bloating in the first 42 miles was one flat and one
missed turn. The turn was actually well marked but on a steep open
section next to a deer fence. I thought I saw an arrow out of the
corner of my eye and after a few minutes I saw someone else and he was
coming back the other way so that saved me from continuing down the
wrong route. Tom Miller was manning the feed area at about mile 25 and
was multitasking like a fiend. Making sandwiches, getting people tubes,
carrying on 3 conversations at once, helping out with other items,
taking pictures - very impressive.

The last 20 miles were sort of surreal. My bloating started to ease a
bit but I started to cramp more. I took electrolyte pills each time I
started to cramp and they would go away within minutes. There was a long
fast fire road drop from Big Flat and then that long grinding climb up
to 3 mile trail. 3 mile trail felt like 10 mile trail. I was very
tired after that climb and it took some time to recover. My hands
started to cramp so I took it slow thru most of the technical section.
I started to cramp badly on the fire road after 3 mile but I could see
Larry off in the distance. I took more pills and ended up catching him
at the Deadwomen Hollow decent. He warned me that thing could get
sketchy and to watch my speed which was good advice. I followed Larry
thru Graves Ridge for a while and had fun following his line but he does
hopping moves that out of my league so I dropped off some and found my
own rhythm. The trail after Graves Ridge was actually more brutal than
Graves Ridge. No sweet line to find just mashing over rocks and huge
roots. I was relieved that the final 2 mile climb wasn't too steep and
it was fun to tag along with Larry up to the finish. We actually passed
a single speeder walking on the final climb. It was nice to see you and
Chris at the top of the climb as we crossed 233. It was also good to
see Don, Chuck, and Greg at the finish area.

Albert