NMBS @ Windham Mountain

Racing this weekend went ok. Arriving the night before in Windham, NY was great, and we stayed at a cheap and decent motel with a diner. The next morning at 8am was our race, so after a pre ride and registration we went to bed.

Starting out at 8am proved to be very hot as the sun was shining directly on the course and there was little shade anywhere. Temperatures were in the 80s with a lot of humidity. The semi-pro field shot off and quickly became bunched up at the first entrance to the woods, making everyone except a few lucky ones walk their bikes. The course was a big climb, and then a big descent as most USA cycling courses are. Settling in midpack I was taking it easier than normal as i didn't want a repeat of what happened at the Raccoon Rally two weeks ago. The downhill was awesome, and friend Shane's mom was a savior int he feed zone when i lost a water bottle somewhere in the woods on the second lap. I ended up 18 minutes back from the race winner and not last, but not feeling tired and wishing i had pushed a bit harder. A lesson learned for MT Snow this weekend.

The short track went ok, but was cut short as they pulled myself and about 8 others. Apparently we were about to be lapped but this was not true, and i feel that the officials made a bad call as we were only 1/3 of a lap back 3/4 through the race! It makes me contemplate doing the short track at MT Snow, although i didn't warm up which i think would have helped, and the course thee is slightly longer....we'll see...

In the expert 19-24 class Reagan Woodall won followed closely by Shane. And in the Expert short track Corey got third. Brian Martina did awesome and got a big win in the 25-30 year old expert category, so at least some people from WNY did well! Apparently Mike Festa from the blue mountain race got third in that category but i didn't get a chance to say hi and ask him when he is coming to race with the semi-pros!

I had a chance to speak with Barry Wicks about possibly purchasing his big boy bike at the end of the season, and Jeremiah Bishop after a close second place finish in the pro short track about Harrisonburg, where i am heading on Wednesday for a job interview! Both guys were super nice and Bishop said Harrisonburg is the best kept secret riding destination in the country!

Info on the weekend Here

Raccoon Rally Wrap Up

Well, the Raccoon Rally is done and over for another year, and although i didn't do as well as last year, i am pretty happy with my result. The festivities started on Saturday after my sister's graduation from high school ceremony, where i made Corey wait for me to wash my bike. Two hours later we hit the road.

The spaghetti dinner was great as usual and i sat with some friends from Canada, Tom F. Jeff L. Justin H, and cyclocross superstar, Nathan C. A good time was had by all, and some of the table members were off to see Huey Lewis at the nearby casino.

After dinner down at Allegheny i did a decent warm-up in a torrential downpour (at least my bike didn't get muddy) and then got dressed to poke around.

After a decent night's sleep i was prepared for the race. I was unusually calm, because i didn't have high expectations and i felt pretty confident given the super muddy conditions. The race started as expected, really fast from the gun, leaving four of us before the 1 mile mark: Ross C., Nathan C., Dennis B., owner of Ellicottville Bike Shop and racer extraordinaire, and myself. On a muddy incline the 3 got away from me a bit and soon thereafter i was caught by another rider. We worked to catch Nathan and succeeded on Bova ski hill, where he was in difficulty with a cross bike.

The second climb is up an xc ski trail named patterson, and i knew it is where this cross racer would make his move. He blasted past me, but i clung onto his wheel for dear life and went fast for all of 5 minutes before my day there was over.

On the downhill, i was caught by Shane G. and local hero Pat W., fresh out of retirement from racing bikes. We picked up the pace at his encouragement and it came down to Shane and i on the dirt road (Pat had a single speed.) This is where i found out my 'fast' gears were filled with mud. Shane beat me out for 5th place and i landed in 6th. Knowing that i had blown up i was pretty pleased with myself and happy not to have a mechanical.

Next race up is an NMBS at Windham, NY, then Championships at Mt. Snow the following week!