What's a Little Cold?

Last Sunday was fun in the woods. Even saw Mark and Chris...quite strange, that.

Z!!!

CRMC Iron Cross VI Is History!

Woo-Hoo!

On a spectacular, warm Autumn day in Michaux State Forest, a record
290 riders tackled the Carlisle Regional Medical Center Iron Cross VI
race - America's longest cyclocross race.

When the dust had settled, there were new winners in all race
categories except for one.

Chris Beck (Gary Fisher/Joe's Bike Shop) improved on his Iron Cross V
runner-up position and captured the overall and Senior Men win. Andy
Applegate, (Kobold Watches/Cannodale), riding his 6th Iron Cross,
repeated as winner of the Master Men category. Betsy Shogren
(Visitpa.com/SoBe/Cannondale), riding her first Iron Cross, won the
Women's race and Betsy's ruggedly handsome husband Gunnar (also
Visitpa.com/SoBe/Cannondale) won the Singlespeed race on his way to
finishing 7th overall.

In the Sara M. Laser Team Cup competition, Visitpa.com/SoBe/Cannondale
prevailed, relegating last year's winner, True North Cycles, to 2nd
place.

A huge thank you to the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, our other
race sponsors, our fine crew of race volunteers, our safety personnel
and radio crew, the Carlisle Family YMCA, and 290 hard-core racers!

See you in 2009!

And now, more ICVI stuff:

RE-SULTS…

IC Lite:

http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/11-Carlisle-Regional-Medical-Center-Iron-Cross-Lite.asp

IC VI:

Results and report for Iron Cross VI are now posted on BikeReg.com:
http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/12-Carlisle-Regional-Medical-Center-I
ron-Cross.asp

Run High North:

http://www.runhigh.com/2008%20Results/2008%20Results%20B/R101208CA.html

BLOGS…

Gunnar’s IC Lite and IC VI Mappage and more:

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=62883

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=62892

Ed F.’s story:

http://thedailyrandonneur.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/iron-cross-vi-cyclocross-pics/

Greg had some problems with flats:

http://gayracer.blogspot.com/2008/10/iron-cross-vi.html

Kera, on IC Lite:

http://dailysahm.blogspot.com/2008/10/iron-cross-lite-race-report.html

JR P’s first-ever ‘cross races:

http://fatboy-bikes.blogspot.com/2008/10/iron-cross-weekend-of-first.html

Team Bi-atch re-cap:

http://team-bi-atch.blogspot.com/2008/10/hoot-at-iron-cross.html

PHOTOS…

Chuck Armstrong's photos (enter site and click on "gallery":

http://elementoftheeye.ifp3.com/root/ElementoftheEye/iphoto/main2.cfm

Uncle Don's photos:

http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/2008%20Iron%20Cross%20Weekend

Judy’s photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/judy.lovelaughter

JR P’s photos:

http://natures.smugmug.com/gallery/6241003_iBrfz#P-1-9

CRMC Iron Cross VI is coming...

Almost final TT points standings

As of noon, 9/5/08:

Kaehler	SMVC	M	1909
Hankins	SMVC	M	1846
Polensky, P.	YBR	M	1625
Hartnett	SMVC	M	1589
Rohrbaugh	SMVC	M	1519
Adams	YBR	M	1370
Shaffer	SMVC	M	1295
Rider Big E	Privateer	M	1031
Ballard	SMVC	M	981
Taylor	YBR	M	925
Kuhl	Sakonnet	M	830
Hise	YBR	M	816
Bard	YBR	JM	695
Polensky, K.	YBR	W	685
Laser	YBR	M	532
Kelley	SMVC	M	530
Tustin	YBR	W	525
Wertz	Shippensburg U	M	523
Watts	WildBlues	W	515
C-Bo	YBR	W	510
Bakermans	YBR	M	503
She-Bo	Unattached	W	486
Cusick	WildBlues	M	476
Long	YBR	M	457
McLaughlin	SMVC	M	416
Stodter, D.	Unattached	M	390
C-Bu	YBR	M	387
Morris	Mountainside	W	350
Engle	Unattached	JM	350
Weiser, D.	YBR	MTB	350
Fesler	Elite Bicycles	M	345
Conniff	Unattached	W	322
Beck, Jan	Unattached	W	316
Goates	Faulkner Honda	M	308
Davidson	Unattached	M	300
Laub	Mountainside	M	298
Brown, E.	SMVC	M	296
Schaeffer	YBR	M	280
Miller, Will	YBR	M	279
Albert	YBR	M	267
Stodter, C.	Unattached	JM	175
Brown, L.	SMVC	JW	175
Beck, Josh	DeFeet Un-D-Shirt	M	170
Large	YBR	W	170
Flora	YBR	W	165
Rodbart	YBR	M	152
Hadley	CVCC	M	144
Leigh	Intense	M	144
Stephenson	Unattached	M	135
Marshall	Shippensburg U	M	130
Long, B.	Unattached	M	128
Kostelac	YBR	M	124
Maret	Unattached	M	122
Derr	Unattached	M	116

Big Flat Hill Climb = All Business.

Photo by Bob Zinn.

Kings Gap TT Photos and Iron Hill MTB Race Report

From Uncle Don, some great photos:

"Hey Mark,

here are some of the photos from last evening's HC/TT. Man they were fast!

http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5764910_UMJVz#356525484_YYVDo

dp:

Raise your hand if you think that C-Bo is photogenic...

...and here's more from Uncle Don...his Iron Hill MTB race report:

"Firstly, here's the link to some pics from Iron Hill:

http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5750058_7ViUE#355328377_CC7AT

Now...the report!

I know this is late, but its been a crazy couple of weeks, and I'm bleary eyed and brain dead (brain deader? deader of brain?), as usual. In fact, what prompted this report is that I bid young Zach Adams fairwell this evening as he is headed off for college tomorrow, and seeing him reminded me of our very long and very fun day last Saturday. Zach and Jake had been training for and planning to do the enduro event, which was to begin at 9am. Iron Hill is in Newark, De, so I showed up at Zach's house at 6am and loaded up his bike and gear and stared brain dead-edly (ie with significant deadness of the brain) at the numerous directions I'd printed the night before from mapquest, expedia, google, you name it. We finally decided to head in a vague Lancasterly direction and hope for the best.
Somewhere on the maps 222 was to give way to 272, but apparently some evil force of nature swooped down and wiped 272 off the face of the earth, because I swear to God and the inventer of carbon fiber that IT DOES NOT EXIST ANY LONGER!!! We meandered all over that general region and saw things that made us say "hmmm....", but no route that at least 2 maps agreed should be RIGHT THERE!!! So, in the heat of the moment I gunned the manly pagano van toward Rt 30 and once again, hoped for the best. Back on track, we both wondered why we didn't decide on this route in the first place, but foggy brains can make bad choices - just ask prez Bush. Pushing the limits of tarmac and the manly pagano van, I hoped I could deliver young Mr. Adams to the start of the enduro race in THE NICK OF TIME! Who in fact is this Nick, and what's he got to do with cheating time? Alas, Iron Hill continued to evade us, our efforts thwarted by detours, construction, plauges, hurricanes, errupting volcanoes, and the dreaded foggy brain syndrome (FBS - not to be confused with IBS, which can be a result of prolonged FBS). We arrived with just minutes to spare, and we both knew it was too late for Z to register, but he sprinted off toward the tents in a vain effort to find that Nick dude and cheat time. Moments later Z appeared and announced that he did indeed miss resgistration, but got talked into racing Elite. Cool. With joy exploding in my heart that Z was going to race after all, I chanelled all that emotion and energy into a power nap.
When I came to I was faced with bike prep issues, since I never finished swapping parts the previous night, despite staying up wayyyy too late messing with the bike, which accounted for the foggy brain brain syndrome (enough on that topic). I also had to decide what category to race. I had brung me trusty fully rigid single speed, but was on the fence about racing Expert Master, or Sport Single Speed Open. Whilst twirling tools and sprockets and what not, I opted for SS Open, since the SS guys would be attacking the hills, not shifting down and spinning, which is what I'd encounter racing with the geared folks. I managed to grab some shots of Z's start, then bolted to registration, then to the Mega Dip for photos. Grabbed some Mega Dip shots, then back to registration since they weren't ready for me the first time, then over to the Bike Line tents to hand out bottles to Z. Grabbed some pics, handed some bottles, then got dressed, gulped food and water, and warmed up for my race. I felt HORRIBLE!!! The same evil forces that erradicated Rt. 272 from the face of the earth were conspiring to cause me to feel HORRIBLE! Apparently evil forces live in Yuengling Light bottles, because on top of sleep deprivation, foggy brain syndrome, and driving all over the state of De, I had innocently enough embibed many golden Lagers the night before not knowing that they were full of EVIL FORCES!!! You can only imagine that an Evil Force with the power to erase roads from the map could do terrible things to a mere mortal about to race a single speed over hill and rock. It apparently has the power to make mortals feel HORRIBLE!!!
Now at the start line, I'm looking over my competition, many of whom are baby faced and dripping with youth and energy, and I was wishing I'd extended that power nap by several hours or so. Then the suffering is begun. I clip in, mash the pedals, and...I'm in third. Huh. Where'd those evil forces go? Off to erradicate something off the face of the earth I suspect. I managed to stay in third for a long time, but on a taxing climb I decided to back off a bit and dropped quickly to 5th. Iron Hill when dry is superbly fast, but deceptively demanding. Lots of embedded rocks (I'm sure Jake could tell you what kind of rocks are embedded in Iron Hill's earth), roots, tight turns, fast descents, long climbs, and of course the Mega Dip, conspire to sap one's energy. By lap 2 I'd edged back into 3rd, and began to distance myself from the rest of my group. By lap 3 I was trading places with a guy who I finally decided was running at exactly my pace and settled in behind for much of the fianl lap. We added a third to our little gang and eventually caught up with a Shirk's racer who began to fade. We slowed considerably, and I began to get antsy as I could just FEEL racers behind me making up ground on us. Just before the Mega Dip all three of us made a daring 1, 2, 3, pass on a steep climb that brought out pangs of legs cramps as I stood and accelerated. Now I'm flying down the Mega Dip, G-forces reaching F-16 proportions at the bottom, and rocket up toward the other side just as one our 3 Amigos stops short right in front of me. Ahh, the Evil Forces are back. I knew they were gone for a while because despite nailing numerous rocks and roots at full throttle, I never once flatted, and even though I was tired and fighting off cramps, I no longer felt HORRIBLE. In the NICK OF TIME I skirted to the left, avoided dissaster, and sprinted for all my 46 year old legs were worth. Even though none of the Amigos were in my category, I held off the guy who bobbled on the lip of the Mega Dip and cruised to what I thought was a 3rd place finish. Turns out I was 4th, dunno know who passed me when, but I was happy, and the Amigos re-united to swap storries, smack each other on the back, and celebrate our finish to a glorious day of racing on some of the finest trails DE has to offer. Zach won major cash, Jake kicked heiney in the enduro, and I got to meet the guys behind Eastern Woods Research and ride the BEST HANDLING BIKE I'd ever slung a leg over. I'm not kidding - EWR are on to something here. There 29ers are awsome. I've heard the term "telepathic handling" before, but that was the first I'd ever experienced it. I WANT ONE!!! Thanks for reading, I'm off to bed now so I can avoid FBS tomorrow. I'm also dissabling my caps key. YEAH!!! (I'll do that tomorrow).
Oh, a bunch of us headed off to Famous Dave's for killer BBQ, but instead settled on a Red Robbins for chow and suds and then headed home. A fitting end to long, but very FUN DAY! I know, nix the caps key.

Did I mention pics at:
http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5750058_7ViUE#355328377_CC7AT

Uncle Don"

M.

C-Bu Readies State-of-the-Art New Bike For Fall Race Season!!!

Kings Gap TT Results - 08/20/08

Thanks for coming out and racing last night, folks!

Congratulations to Rick Fesler for lowering the men's course record to 11:47, to Janice Morris for lowering the women's course record to 14:43, and to junior category winner (and first-timer) Charlie Stodter.

Next week's TT will be Thursday on the course that will be used for PA State Masters Championship: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=5866

Here's who did what (note that Rick, Josh, and Z! were all under the previous course record time of 12:30...they're like Usain Bolt on wheels!):

Fesler Elite Bicycles M 11:47 (CR)
Beck, Josh DeFeet Un-D-Shirt M 12:09
Adams YBR M 12:15
Kuhl Sakonnet M 13:00
Hankins SMVC M 13:09
Rider Big E Privateer M 13:13
Goates Faulkner Honda M 13:23
Kaehler SMVC M 13:24
Long YBR M 13:25
Laub Mountainside M 13:29
Polensky, P. YBR M 13:39
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 14:08
Hartnett SMVC M 14:30
Shaffer SMVC M 14:39
Morris Mountainside W 14:43 (CR)
Hise YBR M 14:53
Taylor YBR M 14:57
Maret Unattached M 15:05
C-Bo YBR W 15:45
Laser YBR M 15:59
Stodter, D. Unattached M 16:50
Polensky, K. YBR W 17:01
Stodter, C. Unattached JM 17:14
Beck, Jan Unattached W 17:35
Derr Unattached M 17:43
Bakermans YBR M 19:09
She-Bo Unattached W 19:15
Conniff Unattached W 20:45

One more race for you next week...in addition to Thursday's TT, we're doing the mass-start hill climb of Big Flat Tuesday at 6:00! Racing! Racing! Racing!

YTD TT Series Points:

Kaehler SMVC M 1739
Hankins SMVC M 1671
Polensky, P. YBR M 1469
Hartnett SMVC M 1441
Adams YBR M 1370
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 1359
Shaffer SMVC M 1295
Ballard SMVC M 981
Taylor YBR M 925
Rider Big E Privateer M 879
Hise YBR M 816
Bard YBR JM 695
Kuhl Sakonnet M 665
Laser YBR M 532
Kelley SMVC M 530
Tustin YBR W 525
Watts WildBlues W 515
Polensky, K. YBR W 510
C-Bo YBR W 510
Bakermans YBR M 503
She-Bo Unattached W 486
Cusick WildBlues M 476
Long YBR M 457
McLaughlin SMVC M 416
C-Bu YBR M 387
Wertz Shippensburg U M 382
Engle Unattached JM 350
Morris Mountainside W 350
Fesler Elite Bicycles M 345
Beck, Jan Unattached W 316
Goates Faulkner Honda M 308
Davidson Unattached M 300
Laub Mountainside M 298
Brown, E. SMVC M 296
Schaeffer YBR M 280
Miller, Will YBR M 279
Albert YBR M 267
Stodter, D. Unattached M 246
Weiser, D. YBR W 175
Brown, L. SMVC JW 175
Stodter, C. Unattached JM 175
Large YBR W 170
Beck, Josh DeFeet Un-D-Shirt M 170
Flora YBR W 165
Rodbart YBR M 152
Conniff Unattached W 152
Hadley CVCC M 144
Leigh Intense M 144
Stephenson Unattached M 135
Marshall Shippensburg U M 130
Long, B. Unattached M 128
Kostelac YBR M 124
Maret Unattached M 122
Derr Unattached M 116

Have a good day,

Mark

Learnin' to run @ C&M + Run 4 Your Life

From Josh Beck

Yep, we sure do offer gait training here at the clinic. That's a fancy smancy term for me watching you run and helping you run faster. This can be done with words and cues or in some extreme cases I have turned rabid geese from the neighboring Letort spring on patients. In any case it's a good time!

Our running store is slated to open September 15th. It's called "Run 4 Your Life". It's going to be pretty sweet. Runners can walk in a common entrance with Cardin and Miller and have a ton of options to help them out. I will have at least 4 lines of running shoes, some apparel, some nutritional products, and anything else a runner might be looking for. Of course Reilly the dog will be here to greet everyone. If your medical needs are beyond the scope of a simple shoe or gait fix I will be happy to send you across the aisle to Cardin and Miller for a thorough eval.

Before the opening I have a little race called the Powerman World Championships.

In the meantime if you have any special requests for a product feel free to email me and I'll put in on the list!

Thanks!

Josh

Anyone want to move to Michaux?

There's a house for sale just off 233 on the north side of Michaux, off Pinebrook Drive. Easy access for road and mtn biking....

http://realtyassociates2.pennsylvania.remax.com/listings/ListingDetail_r4.aspx?LID=49601380&RFRSKNID=85&#aTop

Ironmasters TT Results - 8/7/08

Hi racers,

Thanks for coming out and racing last despite the iffy weather...it
turned out to be a great night for riding!

Congratulations to Patrick and Kara on their W's. Obviously inspired
by the fact that yesterday was Sidney Crosby's birthday, Kara set a
women's course record by clocking a 25:46!

Congratulations as well to SMVC, who won round one of our race series, 8-13.

Welcome aboard to Col. Dean Stodter, who did his first IMTT last
night, and to Dr. N. Goates, who did his first TT of the year.

Excellent race photos from Uncle Don here: http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5648100_uqbng#347408330_RzMxr

Next up is the mass-start So. Mountain Hill Climb, next Thursday the
14...from the softball fields in Cleversburg to the top of Big Flat;
we'll start at 6:00 pm.

Last night's results:

Hankins SMVC M 23:49
Adams YBR M 23:57
Kuhl Sakonnet M 24:30
Goates Faulkner Honda M 24:45
Kaehler SMVC M 25:20
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 25:29
Tustin YBR W 25:46
Polensky, P. YBR M 26:00
Shaffer SMVC M 26:09
Hartnett SMVC M 26:18
Laser YBR M 28:20
Kelley SMVC M 28:24
Taylor YBR M 28:57
Bakermans YBR M 31:37
Stodter Unattached M 31:39

YTD Points Standings:

Kaehler	SMVC	M	1595
Hankins	SMVC	M	1515
Polensky, P.	YBR	M	1334
Hartnett	SMVC	M	1311
Rohrbaugh	SMVC	M	1227
Adams	YBR	M	1205
Shaffer	SMVC	M	1167
Ballard	SMVC	M	981
Taylor	YBR	M	801
Rider Big E	Privateer	M	727
Bard	YBR	JM	695
Hise	YBR	M	690
Kelley	SMVC	M	530
Tustin	YBR	W	525
Watts	WildBlues	W	515
Kuhl	Sakonnet	M	505
Cusick	WildBlues	M	476
McLaughlin	SMVC	M	416
Laser	YBR	M	412
Bakermans	YBR	M	389
C-Bu	YBR	M	387
Wertz	Shippensburg U	M	382
Engle	Unattached	JM	350
Polensky, K.	YBR	W	345
C-Bo	YBR	W	340
She-Bo	Unattached	W	330
Long	YBR	M	316
Davidson	Unattached	M	300
Brown, E.	SMVC	M	296
Schaeffer	YBR	M	280
Miller, Will	YBR	M	279
Albert	YBR	M	267
Morris	Mountainside	W	175
Weiser, D.	YBR	W	175
Brown, L.	SMVC	JW	175
Large	YBR	W	170
Fesler	Elite Bicycles	M	170
Flora	YBR	W	165
Goates	Faulkner Honda	M	160
Laub	Mountainside	M	160
Beck, Jan	Unattached	W	156
Rodbart	YBR	M	152
Hadley	CVCC	M	144
Leigh	Intense	M	144
Stephenson	Unattached	M	135
Marshall	Shippensburg U	M	130
Stodter	Unattached	M	128
Long, B.	Unattached	M	128
Kostelac	YBR	M	124

M.

Kings Gap TT Results & Photos

Wow, you'uns sure like that Kings Gap course! Thanks to all who came out last night and congratulations to Todd, Janice, and Josh, who posted the fastest time in their respective categories...

...and congratulations as well to Paul Polensky on his Norelco Body Groomer sponsorship. Go, Paul!

Photos by Uncle Don:

http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5602908_8okrb#343848732_jmfnj

The next TT is next week...Thursday the 7th of August...start at Mountain Creek Campground. Bring presents because the 7th is Sidney Crosby's birthday.

We're still looking for Iron Cross volunteers; please let me know if you can help out...

Los tiempos:

Long YBR M 13:05
Hankins SMVC M 13:09
Kaehler SMVC M 13:31
Laub Mountainside M 13:35
Polensky, P. YBR M 13:58
Rodbart YBR M 14:01
Rider Big E Privateer M 14:03
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 14:33
Hartnett SMVC M 14:38
Hise YBR M 15:03
Shaffer SMVC M 15:08
Taylor YBR M 15:17
Morris Mountainside W 15:24
Laser YBR M 15:56
Bard YBR JM 15:57
Long, B. Unattached M 17:01
Polensky, K. YBR W 17:03
Albert YBR M 17:58
Bakermans YBR M 18:30
Wertz Shippensburg U M 20:23

YTD points:

Kaehler SMVC M 1439
Hankins SMVC M 1340
Polensky, P. YBR M 1186
Hartnett SMVC M 1170
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 1075
Adams YBR M 1035
Shaffer SMVC M 1023
Ballard SMVC M 981
Rider Big E Privateer M 727
Bard YBR JM 695
Hise YBR M 690
Taylor YBR M 669
Watts WildBlues W 515
Cusick WildBlues M 476
McLaughlin SMVC M 416
Kelley SMVC M 395
C-Bu YBR M 387
Wertz Shippensburg U M 382
Tustin YBR W 350
Engle Unattached JM 350
Polensky, K. YBR W 345
C-Bo YBR W 340
Kuhl Sakonnet M 340
She-Bo Unattached W 330
Long YBR M 316
Davidson Unattached M 300
Brown, E. SMVC M 296
Schaeffer YBR M 280
Miller, Will YBR M 279
Laser YBR M 274
Albert YBR M 267
Bakermans YBR M 259
Weiser, D. YBR W 175
Brown, L. SMVC JW 175
Morris Mountainside W 175
Fesler Elite Bicycles M 170
Large YBR W 170
Flora YBR W 165
Laub Mountainside M 160
Beck, Jan Unattached W 156
Rodbart YBR M 152
Leigh Intense M 144
Hadley CVCC M 144
Stephenson Unattached M 135
Marshall Shippensburg U M 130
Long, B. Unattached M 128
Kostelac YBR M 124

M.

MASS Stage Race weekend at the Oesterling Farm

Thanks to Uncle Don for the photo.

Ironmasters Mansion TT Times: 7/3/08

Well, it was a good night, as no one was run over by a camper trying to turn into the campground!

Congratulations to Patrick and Karen for posting the fastest times of the evening and welcome to '08 first-timers Karen, Mike Albert, and Jim Hadley!

Uncle Don got some great pictures of Thursday night's TT action.

Check 'em out here: http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/5325871_7qonu#P-1-9

Thanks, Don!

Hankins SMVC M 24:02
Kaehler SMVC M 24:58
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 25:13
Hartnett SMVC M 25:52
Shaffer SMVC M 26:03
Polensky, P. YBR M 26:27
Schaeffer YBR M 27:52
Hadley CVCC M 29:57
Albert YBR M 30:10
Polensky, K. YBR W 30:40

YTD points:

Hankins SMVC M 1170
Kaehler SMVC M 1099
Adams YBR M 1035
Ballard SMVC M 981
Rohrbaugh SMVC M 931
Hartnett SMVC M 869
Polensky, P. YBR M 860
Shaffer SMVC M 723
Bard YBR JM 520
Watts WildBlues W 515
Cusick WildBlues M 476
Rider Big E Privateer M 423
McLaughlin SMVC M 416
Hise YBR M 400
Taylor YBR M 389
C-Bu YBR M 387
Engle Unattached JM 350
Tustin YBR W 350
C-Bo YBR W 340
Kuhl Sakonnet M 340
She-Bo Unattached W 330
Davidson Unattached M 300
Brown, E. SMVC M 296
Schaeffer YBR M 280
Miller, Will YBR M 279
Kelley SMVC M 254
Polensky, K. YBR W 175
Brown, L. SMVC JW 175
Weiser, D. YBR W 175
Fesler Elite Bicycles M 170
Large YBR W 170
Flora YBR W 165
Beck, Jan Unattached W 156
Leigh Intense M 144
Hadley CVCC M 144
Long YBR M 141
Albert YBR M 141
Bakermans YBR M 135
Stephenson Unattached M 135
Marshall Shippensburg U M 130
Kostelac YBR M 124
Wertz Shippensburg U M 122

Have a great 4th!

M.

What to do this weekend?

Z!'s suggestion...

"Team,

So I thought I'd let you know about what is going on close to home this weekend. It's a race I really love. About four years ago I started my racing career there and I can't get enough of the place ever since.

This weekend is the Glorious Mtb Stage Race at the Osterling Farm in Marysville. It is a really good place for beginners, the hardest obstacles they have are logs. Maybe that's why I was able to ride there at that point in time ;-) The race starts on friday night with a night time trial, I'm pretty sure this is the only one of its kind around. I haven't seen any other races like that. Saturday there are two options, a standard XC race and a 6 hour endurance race. I've done both. They are both unique and are both awesome. You can race super hard there so it's brutal to try that for 6 hours, but it's amazing none the less. Sunday features two races. A hillclimb in the morning, one of the hardest climbs around. It's about a quarter paved and the rest is jeep trail to the top. In the mid day you can test out your speed in the short track cross country race. It's very close to a cyclocross race. And it's also amazing for good spectating. The Elite/Expert field always gives a heated spectacle. The ride from carlisle to marysville on the road is pretty cool too, so that would be a sweet mid-ride break ;-)

But it's not just about the racing. This is a super awesome weekend at one of the very best venues in the mid atlantic. It's about the weekend experience. Between all of the racing there is a bunch of fun events. The huffy toss is my favorite, you get to throw a bike. It actually sounds like a drag but its thrilling. The carnage flies, as do the bike parts! Hang out on Sat evening for the fun events - bike polo, trials, tricycle dual slalom and the band and beverages. Yes, bands and beverages.....nothing better after a hard day of racing.

It's not just because I know mike that I build this weekend up so much. This is seriously my favorite racing event of the year. I love the osterling farm and racing there, plain and simple. This is another place that generally isn't open to riding. It's private property so there aren't many chances to get out there and enjoy such a good venue thats so close to home.

I'll make this easy:

Info here: http://highspeedcycling.com/stagerace_info.html

Registration here: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=6710

Later,

Zach Adams"

Ironmasters TT Points Standings

As of last night's Cyclogolf extravaganza:

Adams	YBR	M	1035
Hankins	SMVC	M	995
Ballard	SMVC	M	981
Kaehler	SMVC	M	929
Rohrbaugh	SMVC	M	766
Hartnett	SMVC	M	709
Polensky	YBR	M	708
Shaffer	SMVC	M	567
Bard	YBR	JM	520
Watts	WildBlues	W	515
Cusick	WildBlues	M	476
Rider Big E	Privateer	M	423
McLaughlin	SMVC	M	416
Hise	YBR	M	400
Taylor	YBR	M	389
C-Bu	YBR	M	387
Tustin	YBR	W	350
Engle	Unattached	JM	350
Kuhl	Sakonnet	M	340
C-Bo	YBR	W	340
She-Bo	Unattached	W	330
Davidson	Unattached	M	300
Brown, E.	SMVC	M	296
Miller, Will	YBR	M	279
Kelley	SMVC	M	254
Weiser, D.	YBR	W	175
Brown, L.	SMVC	JW	175
Large	YBR	W	170
Fesler	Elite Bicycles	M	170
Flora	YBR	W	165
Beck, Jan	Unattached	W	156
Leigh	Intense	M	144
Long	YBR	M	141
Stephenson	Unattached	M	135
Bakermans	YBR	M	135
Schaeffer	YBR	M	132
Marshall	Shippensburg U	M	130
Kostelac	YBR	M	124
Wertz	Shippensburg U	M	122

Paul's Father's Day Adventure

It was a dark and stormy night...but the dawn broke dry and overcast
in the Wyoming Valley on Father's Day. I was in Wilkes-Barre with my
wife Karen for the 5k/16m/5k duathlon. We'd arrived the afternoon
before in plenty of time to pick up my race packet from the YMCA and
check in to our hotel.

Just as a side note here; if you ever find yourself hotel camping the
night before a race, I highly recommend finding one within spitting
distance of the race venue. There was one other hotel closer, right
at the start/finish, but I chose the other because it offered
breakfast with the room. In hind sight, it didn't really matter since
I was out the door before breakfast was made available. Karen,
however, was able to take advantage of the twice-warmed-over pre-
packaged breakfast-like foods and tepid coffee.

I'd only been to W-B one other time and that was just a brief foray
into the outskirts of town, so this was the first time Karen and I
experienced the city. At the risk of offending the natives, our first
and lasting impressions were that all the stop lights are timed so
that you have to stop at every single one, and that it has to be the
most pothole-ridden city in our collective memories. Our drive of the
bike course cemented our impressions. The condition of the surface
streets paled in comparison to the truck-torn pavement in the
industrial park which comprised the middle 1/3 of the course. I swear
there was one sinkhole-sized car killer that was growing as we
watched!

Okay, okay...just one more observation before I move on. Our youthful
waitress at dinner unwittingly introduced us to the colloquialism
"yous", as in: "Are yous ready to order?" Now don't misunderstand me;
I'm not saying it's bad, it's just different and we'd not heard it
before. Personally, I'm a "you guys" and "y'all" sort of guy; the
first from my upbringing around Chicago and the latter from my days
roaming around the southern states.

A walk of the run course followed dinner and we made it back to the
hotel just before the storm hit. The two runs followed the same
course: across the bridge, through the park, uuup the ramp to the top
of the levee, down under the bridge, along the river, uuup the ramp to
the top of the levee, back down under the bridge, uuup the ramp to the
top of the levee, across the bridge and back home.

It was a pretty sweet race set up; the race started and ended at
Public Square and the transition was two blocks away in a parking lot
at the base of the bridge. Things got off to a slow start as the race
crew waited until that morning to number the bike racks. After
racking my bike and getting in a good warm-up run, it was a matter of
hanging at the square until the start. And that's when I spotted
him...speedo dude. No, not the same guy from Pinchot, but a much
older, well worn fellow wearing one of those TYR jungle print speed
suits with the matching skimpy singlet. The kind that were popular
back when I first started this craziness about a dozen years ago. I
have to give the guy props because he ended up doing his outfit proud.

The race finally got underway with a big gaggle of folks fighting to
be first across the bridge. I started mid-pack with a plan to run an
easy first 5k at around a 7:40 pace. I knew the second run would be a
slogfest if I didn't save something. As I'd figured, the runners
quickly strung out and it was kind of cool to watch the leaders duking
it out at the top of the levee as I headed for the first ramp. I went
into T1 still solidly mid-pack with a 7:38 pace and smoothly got on
the road. The bike was definitely my leg and I started spitting out
all those faster runners like so many discarded watermelon seeds.
Again, I thanked Mark for the Ironmasters Time Trials as I cruised
past them on the hills. Although nobody passed me on the bike, I did
battle back and forth for a time with a local road racer on a straight
up road bike. He finally cracked on the last climb and I never saw
him again. I passed speedo dude just after we left the industrial
park headed back downtown and he gave me some encouragement as I went
by. I finished the bike in 41 minutes and got myself up into the top
20.

The second run was just pure survival, trying to find a pace I could
hold onto and not get passed by too many folks. I met the race leader
and eventual winner, Jeff Miller, at the far end of the bridge as he
was headed across to the finish and I was just getting started. I
counted eight runners as they passed, including speedo dude. I reckon
I can't talk trash about the guy's choice of kit, especially since he
kicked my butt!

I did have a moment of clarity on that run; not really a life-changing
moment, but more of one of those "nobody told me about this"
realizations. It happened at the drink station, which was at the base
of the second ramp so that you'd hit it coming down and again just
before going up to cross the bridge. I was feeling a little
overheated so I grabbed a cup of water intending to douse myself with
it. What happened instead was that I pitched it right over my
shoulder, soaking only the ground and possibly the race volunteer. We
both got a pretty good chuckle out of it and that's when it hit me:
it all seems so simple but I've never read or heard anybody talk about
how to douse oneself with water while running. I mean, I thoroughly
visualize my races, but apparently not that niggling little detail. I
also visualized, or it could have dreamt, t-boning a car that blew one
of intersections. Thankfully that one didn't come to fruition.
Fortunately I had plenty of time to ruminate over the water thing
before my second pass at the drink station and managed a thorough
soaking.

I floundered to the finish for a 1:29 finish despite the bystanders'
pleas for me to "Sprint it out!" the last two blocks. Here's where
that hotel near the venue thing came in handy. I was able to cool
down, go take a shower and change, and get back long before the awards
ceremony. Much to my surprise and delight, the race director gave me
a medal for 3rd place in the male 45-49 age group. I ended up 25th
overall out of 111 competitors and had the 8th fastest bike split; my
runs were 22:54 and 22:20, respectively.

All in all, it was a great race put on by great folks. Karen and I
had the chance to chat with one of the senior lady volunteers
afterward and it was our pleasure to meet her. I'll be putting this
race on my calendar for next year. Next on the schedule is the
Harrisburg triathlon/duathlon in August and I'll be burning up the
roads in the mean time to get my run times down. So if you see me out
there running and dumping cups of water over my head, don't forget to
give a shout!

Paul

3.14etc. Eating Contest Results

With apologies to the many fine performances you'uns have turned in so far this season, Fast Albert Greene's takes the cake (or, pie - see below).

"Here is your riddle for the day. I went the Baltimore Bike Jam bike race on Saturday and came in 2nd place and never touched a bike (well I did touch one but I never rode one). I came in 2nd place in the pie eating contest. Karen bought a slice of pie and I asked the guy about the pie eating contest and he said they had openings and that it was free. Pay for one slice or an entire pie for free - easy decision for me - more is always better. I thought it might be low key but it was in front of a stage and there were a quite a few people crowded around taking pictures, yelling etc. I hadn't really thought about it but th contest is the first to finish a pie and you must keep your arms behind your back. My strategy of eating what I wanted and walking aways quickly ended. I started out kind of fast (I was hungry) and then started to think about the ramification of eating an entire pie and started to think it would be nice if someone else would just hurry up and win. The famous scene in 'Stand by Me' came into mind. A girl on my right had made a ton of progress but didn't look well. I started to get my second win and decided to go for the victory and started to put away alot of pie. Too little too late and she beat me and all I had left was 1/4 of the bottom crust (that part was sort of thin). There were 10 people in the contest and most of them kids (2 of them were mine). Once again I've resorted to compeating against women and children. They said it was a 5 pound pie but I didn't feel too bad afterwards. My kids didn't fair as well and were laying around on the ground for a bit but recovered and never got sick (its hard to take care of children when I never learned any lessons growing up - repeat action same result, repeat action same result). I had never been in a contest like that and it was actually fun."

F. Albert, I salute thee!

M.

Uncle Don's Ironmasters TT Photos!

Man y'all were flying' out there! Here's a few pics:
http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/4954050_DiKkR#296425389_RXt2D

Ironmasters TT Points Standings

As of 5/16/08:

Adams	YBR	M	690
Hankins	SMVC	M	670
Ballard	SMVC	M	665
Kaehler	SMVC	M	608
Rohrbaugh	SMVC	M	596
Polensky	YBR	M	560
Hartnett	SMVC	M	557
Watts	WildBlues	W	515
Cusick	WildBlues	M	476
Shaffer	SMVC	M	429
Rider Big E	Privateer	M	423
McLaughlin	SMVC	M	416
Taylor	YBR	M	389
Tustin	YBR	W	350
Bard	YBR	JM	350
C-Bo	YBR	W	340
She-Bo	Unattached	W	330
Miller, Will	YBR	M	279
Hise	YBR	M	259
Kelley	SMVC	M	254
C-Bu	YBR	M	246
Engle	Unattached	JM	175
Brown, L.	SMVC	JW	175
Fesler	Elite Bicycles	M	170
Large	YBR	W	170
Flora	YBR	W	165
Kuhl	Sakonnet	M	165
Beck, Jan	Unattached	W	156
Brown, E.	SMVC	M	152
Long	YBR	M	141
Stephenson	Unattached	M	135
Schaeffer	YBR	M	132
Marshall	Shippensburg U	M	130
Kostelac	YBR	M	124
Wertz	Shippensburg U	M	122