Costumes, Friends, and Racing- TrexxxFest Halloween Enduro, Trexler Nature Preserve, PA

Costumes, Friends, and Racing

Event: 2nd Annual Triple XXX TrexxxFest Halloween XC Enduro and Xtreme Kids Race

Place: Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, PA

Ridden: October 2014

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This week had us and others dressing up in costume for the TrexxxFest Halloween Enduro race. Sometimes racing is about going hard, sometimes it is all about having fun, sometimes it is about going as hard as you can while having fun wearing a costume. This race was all about the last option.

First off, what is an Enduro? This is a little different than what we usually race. The entire course is ridden by each racer but only certain sections are timed.  These are typically the downhill and/or more technical sections. Each timed section is no more than a few miles long; so it means riding really fast for a short period of time; then riding easy during the in between sections to the next timed stage. Check out the blog entry about The Raven Enduro (September 2014) for more Enduro info and examples.

For the TrexxxFest Enduro, each timed stage was between 1.5 and 2.5 miles long.  They incorporated flowy descents as well as a little climbing. There were some logovers, berms, and little jumps to keep things interesting. Overall, the Trexler trails have been designed to be fast, flowy, and fun.  All three stages started at a central staging area, which made refueling and rehydrating easy- just stop at your vehicle to grab what you  need. The end of each stage was part way up a climb but not all the way to the top. Also included in the race was an award for "Best Costume".

The location for the race was within the Trexler Nature Preserve. The Preserve, located within Lehigh County, PA, is a place where people can hike, cycle, ride horses, cross country ski, fish, or just view nature. The 1,108 acre expanse was founded by General Harry Trexler as a way to protect endangered bison and elk at the turn of the 20th century. Today, visitors can glimpse these animals in the natural habitat. The North, South, and Central ranges feature unique landscapes from meadows and hills to hemlock forests and deep ravines.  Located in the Central Range is the Lehigh Valley Zoo, a great family adventure. As for mountain biking, there is about 8 to 9 miles of single track trails and the 8.5 mile Border Trail around the preserve.  Not all the trails are multiuse, markers indicate which users are permitted on the trails.

As for our race, we looked like superheros but were not quite as fast as who we were portraying.  Joël dressed as Superman and I as Wonder Woman.  Joël placed 9th in Open Men and I was 4th Open Women.  Enduros are not really our thing, we would rather pedal all day for 50 or 100 miles. Despite being a little out of our element, we went with the primary intention to have fun, show some Halloween spirit by dressing up, work on technique and skills, and enjoy the day with friends- and we did all of those things.                                                                                                                         

Pre-ride the day before- just to show the scenery

- words by Jess

- video by Joël

Allegrippis Trails, Raystown Lake, PA

Single Track Sunday

Place: Allegrippis Trails and Seven Points Recreation Area, Raystown Lake, PA

Ridden: October 2014

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This weekend was a camping and riding adventure with friends at the Allegrippis Trail System at Raystown Lake, PA. These trails allow us to ride something different than what we normally ride- riding Allegrippis is like riding a roller coaster. There are barely any rocks, just lots of rollers, turns, and fast flowly trails.                                                                                                                                   Open since 2009, Allegrippis has 33 miles of single track, built on the surrounding hills of Pennsylvania's largest lake, Raystown.  The trails are owned by the Friends of Raystown Lake (FRL) organization and maintained by volunteer efforts of the Raystowne Mountain Bicycling Association (RMBA).

 

The trails range in difficulty from beginner to expert with three stacked loops, making the combinations endless. Using the same shape/color trails difficulty identification system used by ski resorts, riders know what sort of challenge lies ahead.  The sustainably built trail system is open year round.  Do keep in mind that the trails are multiuse, one may encounter hikers/runner and the land the trails are on is open to hunting and trapping.

                                                                                                                                                            As for our riding experiences at Allegrippis, we always make it a point to hit every trail while there. Favorite trails include Hydro Loop (fast loop with great views of the water and on old beaver dam), Ray's Revenge (great downhill), Stoney (only major rock garden in the place), and Dark Hollow (fast descent with a big climb out). 

In our opinion Ridge Camp is the best camping area, nice sites and a heated bathroom with showers that have great water pressure and super hot water. It was a windy, chilly weekend of riding and camping so those hot showers felt amazing!

What a great adventure this was. Camping with friends and relaxing around the campfire at night, getting in some great riding, and having Cliff there with us made for fun times.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël

Tri-a-Biathlon Challenge, Center Valley, Pa

Single Track Sunday
Event: Tri-a-Biathlon
Place: Center Valley, PA

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Single Track Sunday this week is something a little different than the norm. Joël and a crew from Saucon Valley Bikes helped out a local race called the Tri-a-Biathlon.

The Tri-a-Biathlon Challenge was a bike/run race for students grades 3-12 that takes part in Southern Lehigh School District. All participants biked four miles. Grades 3-6 ran 1.5 miles; 7-8 2.5 miles; and 9-12 ran a 5K.  There was in inflatable obstacle course for elementary school age (K-3) students.  It was a morning of fun and fitness for all!


Saucon Valley Bikes was there for mechanical support; prior to the race pumping tires and helping with any last minute bike tune-ups. During the race shop employees were driving the course; assisting with mechanical problems and being the "sweep"; picking up racers that may not be able to finish (the Saucon Valley Bikes crew did not have to pick up any racers!)

Despite the rainy weather, the racers were happy to be out there. Joël even said he saw one competitor that was sprinting through every puddle she could find and thinking the huge splash was the best!  The athletes and spectators did not let a little rain ruin their day.

More about the event can be found at http://www.triabiathlon.com/

- words by Jess
- video by Joël

Bald Eagle State Forest/RB Winter State Park, Mifflinburg, PA

Single Track Sunday
Event: BEMBA (Bald Eagle Mountain Biking Association) Jamboree
Place: Bald Eagle State Forest/RB Winter State Park, Mifflinburg, PA
Ridden: October 2014

Click on video to play.

Getting the chance to catch up with old friends and attending the BEMBA Jamboree took a group of us from the Lehigh Valley to Bald Eagle State Forest and RB Winter State Park for this edition of Single Track Sunday.

Bald Eagle State Forest, named for the famous Native American Chief Bald Eagle, includes 193,424 acres in Snyder, Union, Centre, Mifflin, and Clinton counties of PA.  It spans across the high, sharp ridges of central PA and features miles of pristine mountain streams and numerous tracts of old growth forest.  This area was the last stronghold for the mountain buffalo in the state.

RB Winter State Park, located within Bald Eagle State Forest, covers 695 acres of the Ridge and Valley Province. The park lies in a shallow basin surrounded by rocky ridges covered with oak and pine forest. The focal point of the park is
Halfway Lake which is filled by spring-fed mountain streams and contained by a hand-laid, native sandstone dam (built by CCC workers, see last week's Single Track Sunday).  Open year round, the park provides diverse opportunities for recreation.

Mountain biking is permitted on designated trails. RB Winter provides access to 25 mountain biking trails that cover 48 miles. Additionally, there are over 100 miles of connecting forestry roads. The Bald Eagle Purple Lizard map shows all the trails in detail and is a must when riding in this area.  Trails are challenging, fun, and be ready to climb.

Mentioned above, this weekend was the BEMBA Jamboree. BEMBA is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance, and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers in Bald Eagle State Forest.  The Jamboree was a weekend event, with camping, food, and activities for all ages. Group rides, bike polo, a huge fire pit, and a little skills park brought everyone together for the weekend. We made new friends, met those who helped develop the trails for TSE, and the highlight of the weekend was spending time hanging out and riding with an old friend who lives in the area. We were also surprised to see our coffee-making camping companion again.

Another added bonus for me this weekend was that it included the first ride on my new 2015 LIV Lust Advanced. Not much changed from the 2014 version except the colors. The 2015 color scheme is AMAZING. This is one great looking bike!

The riding was awesome, seeing old friends was great, and it was nice to make new friends.  A visit to the Scarlet D in Mifflinburg for fried pickles and beer made the weekend complete.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël