Event: Rattling Off Road Weekend; 40 mile Endurance on Saturday, Enduro on Sunday
Place: Weiser State Forest, Elizabethville, PA
Ridden: April 2015
Click on video to play
As I'm writing this on Monday morning both Joël and I have commented on how beat-up, tired, bruised, and battered we feel. Two days of hard riding on unforgiving trails can do that. Add in a few unplanned bruises, swellings, and scrapes and we are really feeling the almost 70 miles of riding we put in at the Rattling Off Road Weekend.
The race weekend takes place in Weiser State Forest. The forest covers almost 30,000 acres in which there are 33 miles of shared use trails, numerous miles of unmarked trails, and 50 miles of roads (most of which are gravel). Trails are open to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists. Combined efforts of two groups- The Friends of Weiser State Forest (who were helping at the race this weekend) and The Rattling Creek Singletrackers have created and maintained an incredible network of trails on the ridge.
The race weekend consisted of an endurance race on Saturday and an enduro on Sunday. Camping for the weekend was provided both at the race venue and at a park in the nearby town of Lykens. This meant another weekend in the "Nankvan" for us. Food was provided both days after the race and as usual with Mike Kuhn races the aid stations are the best ever (thanks to the wonderful aid station crew!)
The endurance race was 40 miles of rocky, techy single track with a few gravel road sections thrown in. The trails consist of everything from long sections of baby heads to huge rock piles and boulders to climb over. There are also some very nice flowy, twisty sections to give a break and up the average speed. And one can't forget the 3ish mile climb at the start, it was a killer but a great way to break up the field. Definitely a fun and rewarding course but definitely a challenge.
The enduro on Sunday included many of the same trails from Saturday. There were three timed sections each ranging from about 10 to 15 minutes. The goal for the enduro day was to have fun and just enjoy the trails. We rode with friends, took our time, and enjoyed some adult beverages at the aid station. The weather was beautiful, sunny and almost 70, so a great day to just go out and enjoy the day on the bike.
As for race results, I was 5th in the endurance and 2nd in the Enduro (Pro/Cat 1). Joël was 12th in the endurance and 7th in the Enduro (Pro/Cat 1). Overall it was a good weekend on the trails and a fun time hanging out with friends.
- words by Jess
- video by Joël
