Single Track Sunday- Bike Line Spring XC Race

Single Track Sunday

Place: Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Elkton, MD (Bike Line Spring XC)

Ridden: April 2014

What a weekend! Saturday was the Giant Northeast Off-Road Team meeting at Bear Creek Resort in Macungie.  We met our fellow team mates, received our kits, went for a group ride, did some social media things, and learned about the Giant products; how awesome they are, how 27.5 wheel size really is best all around wheel size to use, and that the Maestro suspension makes both descending and climbing smooth.

Sunday was the Bike Line Spring XC Race at Fairhill. The weather was great- sunny and dry with temps in the mid 50's.  This race was a team event for Giant Northeast, having the majority of the riders there to race. It's great going to a race knowing you have friends there for support both on and off the race course. The team tent was set-up and people spent part of the day hanging out to socialize.


Joël and I both raced Cat 1.  XC racing is not our thing- sprinting to the trail head, bumping elbows for position, a race that is over in under 2 hours- that's not what we do.  It takes both of us 2 hours just to warm-up and get into a grove. Thus, we set low standards for ourselves- just to not be last place.  We were at Fairhill to see friends, help Giant make a presence and be ambassadors for the brand, and get in a good training ride. We had just gotten our new racing kits so it was time to show them off.

Fairhill is a flat, fast, twisty course. Each lap was 7.5 miles, Cat 1 doing three laps. The single track section of the course involves multi-use trails throughout the management area, most of which are packed dirt that makes for fast riding. There are some roots here and there but the rocks are minimal. Occasional bridges are present but they are wide and smooth.  Multiple times the course includes riding on gravel roads and open fields.  There are a few creek crossings; one is fairly substantial and makes for wet shoes and clothes. Definitely a course that favors cyclocross and road riders.

Joël and I were both happy with our rides.  We had fun and enjoyed the day. Despite the intensity of an XC race, I still took the time to chat with fellow riders and look at the flowers growing along the course.  Friends and riders from Saucon Valley Bikes were there also; cheers from them along with Giant Northeast brought a smile to my face. Neither of us ended up last place, so we met our goals. My propensity for endurance racing shows; I was getting faster each lap by well over a minute; I didn't really feel like I was I was in a grove until the last lap.

And what did we do after the race?  As our team mates relaxed under the team tent, Joël and I went out and rode for a few more hours. We explored additional trails of the Fairhill management area and did a lap of the XC course again. It's all about getting in the training miles for the upcoming endurance races.

- written by Jess
- video by Joël
- race warm up and cool down fun by Cliff