Fairhill Classic and MASS Finals, Elkton, MD

Single Track Sunday
Event: Trail Spinners Fair Hill Classic and MASS Finals
Place: Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Elkton, MD
Ridden: August 2015

Click on video to play

The Trail Spinners Fair Hill Endurance and XC race served as the MASS (Mid Atlantic Super Series) series final race. It was the last race of the season and where the year-end individual and team championships were awarded.

Fair Hill is a 5,656 acre Natural Resources Management Area developed for maximum use and protection of Maryland's natural resources. Bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and less than one half mile west of Delaware, Fair Hill is know for it's pristine fields, woodlands, and natural beauty.

Approximately 80 miles of trails are present in Fair Hill, many open to multi-use for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.  Don't expect to find a ton of rocks on the trails here; instead there is root after root amidst tight switchbacks; short, steep descents and quad-burning short, steep climbs.  With the lack of "mountains" here one may feel the area is flat, but these trails are deceptively challenging. You never stop pedaling and punchy climb after climb wears the legs out quickly.

Both Joël and I came into this race not expecting much, we were feeling tired from a long racing season and without rock gardens and sketchy descents we were feeling out of our element.  But I guess all those previous races have raced us into shape, we both pushed hard, felt good about our races, and placed higher than expected. I was 2nd female and Joël 7th male.

This was also the event where MASS year-end awards were given out. Both of us battled it out with other racers at many events, making us have to earn our overall placings.  At the end of it all, I was top placing female, 1st overall Open Women Endurance and Joël was 3rd Open Men Endurance.

Thanks to the Trail Spinners for putting on a great event. Well organized, good aid stations, course well marked, and friendly and helpful volunteers.  In addition, overall it was a great year of racing the MASS series- fun times with friends before, during, and after the races, many awesome courses, and just overall great times riding our Lust Advanced 0 and Giant Anthem SX 27.5 for mile after mile.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël

Camp Fowler Festif, Orefield, PA

Single Track Sunday
Event: Camp Fowler Festif charity ride
Place: Orefield, PA
Ridden: August 2015

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Something a little different for this week, a charity road ride. I rode the 44 mile route while Joël was the sag support for the day.

Camp Fowler Festif is not just about the cycling event; it is a celebration of family, fun, friendship and charity. The event supports Valley Youth House, a support program for kids.

The rides varied from a 44 miler, 20 miler, or a family friendly fun ride. All courses traveled the rural roads of the area surrounding Orefield; bumping up against the base of the Appalachian Mountain range. The terrain was rolling; not too hilly but just enough rollers to keep the heart rate up. All riders were given cue sheets and the routes were marked (very well marked, great job with this!). Sag support and a ride leader were present.

After the ride it was time to play. The pool was a refreshing way to cool off afterwards. There were showers available.  A zip line and rock climbing wall were available for additional fun.  And let's not forget about the food- AMAZING.  Lots and lots of great post-ride food. Music was going all day, including a band for part of the time.

So put this on your schedule for next year. It's a great ride and a fun time with friends.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël

PA Rocks Enduro, State College, PA

Single Track Sunday
Event: PA Rocks Enduro (day 2)
Place: State College, PA
Ridden: August 2015

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Giant wins first place overall team; Joël and I win top spots for the year at the Mid-Atlantic Super Series Enduro series.

                                             This weekend we traveled to the rocky and technical "east cost rocks" terrain of State College, PA for the PA Rocks Enduro weekend.  The event was set-up as a weekend format; racing occurred at Greenwood Furnace on Saturday and Tussey Mountain on Sunday.  7 Mountains Lodge was home base for the weekend, allowing racers to camp there for the weekend.  Freeze Thaw Cycles, a local State College bike shop, had a racer get together during the weekend.  The race Sunday started/ended at a local eatery/brewery called Home D/Robin Hood Brewery, which was a great location to get post-race food and the awards celebration.

Racing in State College is not for the faint of heart, the trails are technical, gnarly, and steep...and the climbs during the transfer stages go up and up forever.  Joël and I were unable to attend Saturday, we were only able to make it out for Sunday, so we can't give any account of the courses on Saturday. Sunday was pretty much a repeat of the Enduro/Day 3 stage of TSE...which was fine by us, we thoroughly enjoy those trails. I have a love-hate relationship with Wildcat trail, it scares the crap out of me but I feel so darn accomplished when I ride it. So I always look forward to that trail but have a knot in my stomach at the same time.

Not only were awards give for the races this weekend; this was also the MASS series finals award day.  The Giant Co-Factory team was first overall for the year; Joël 3rd overall Cat1/Pro men overall and myself 1st overall Cat1/Pro women. In addition, I was on the podium Sunday as 2nd female. The best part is that Giant and LIV bikes showed they can take on all types of single track and do it well...being that Joël and I ride "XC race" bikes for all the Enduro races; the Anthem Advanced SX and Lust Advanced 0.  A big thanks also to Saucon Valley bikes for keep those bikes going despite the regular beatings we put them through.

The MASS Enduro series may be over...but there are still many more rides and races to be had this year.  And many yard and house projects to catch-up on!

- words by Jess- video by Joël   

Blue Mountain Bike Park, Palmerton, PA

Single Track Sunday
Event: Riding at Blue Mountain Bike Park
Place: Palmerton, PA
Ridden: August 2015

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Something different this week, downhill riding. Downhill riding is as the name implies, consists of going primarily only down hill. Downhill trails are typically built at ski resorts, where there is steep terrain and a large amount of vertical drop.  The trails are fast, with bermed corners, drops, rock gardens, and jumps.  The bikes ridden are specific for this type of terrain, they have more suspension to deal with the chunkier trails.  Due to the fast speed and gnarly trail obstacles, riders typically wear all sorts of gear- full face helmets and knee and elbow pads are common.

Blue Mountain Bike Park, located at Blue Mountain Ski Area, is close by in Palmerton, PA. There are 20 trails, ranging from beginner to advanced. In addition to downhill trails, there is a small pump track.  The ski lift runs to give riders and their bikes a ride back to the top. Bike, helmet, and pad rentals are available.

It certainly was something different. A great way to work on skills and get comfortable with speed.  We met friends there who showed us around the trials and gave us hints and tips about what trail features were coming; but the trails are well marked enough that one could get around without prior trail knowledge.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël

Iron Hill Challenge, Newark, DE

Single Track Sunday
Event: Iron Hill Challenge
Place: Newark, DE
Ridden: August 2015

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It was a last minute decision to enter this race.  We were still feeling the effects of the Hardcore 24, all we wanted to do was eat and sleep.  We went back and forth about entering Iron Hill; we could use it as a recovery ride and get some team points...or we could spend the day catching up on some much needed yard work.  Mid-week a friend and competitor of Joël's who also did the Hardcore 24 put in his entry and that sealed our decision, there was no excuse not to race. So there were were, at the start line of the Iron Hill Challenge 4 hour Endurance, wondering why we were so crazy and stupid to race again just a week after a 24 hour race.

Iron Hill is a city park, right in the midst of Newark and Wilmington, DE.  To get in a much trail as possible in a smaller area, the course becomes a twisty and turned filled single track with lots of short, steep, punchy climbs and equally short, steep descents.  There are a fair amount of rocks and roots, no major rock gardens, just lots of little baby-heads and chunky rocks. At times one definitely feels like they are in the forest and removed from the city; at other times one can see and hear the highway right next to the park. The loop for the race was approximately 6-7 miles, but there are definitely more miles of trails available to ride in the park.

What can I say about the race it's self? We rode out bikes and had a fun time. We chatted with friends.  Both of us felt better than expected; I felt that my legs were ready to go but my body would rather just pull over in the bushes and take a nap, Joël said he felt good overall, just more worn out than usual after the race.  We rode lap after lap, both of us putting in 6 laps.

After it was all said and done, both of us were happy we decided to race.  Many cycling friends whom we haven't seen for awhile, including many Giant Co-Factory Northeast riders, were at the race. Lots of catch-up time with friends both before and after the race, and having friends to ride with and chat with during the race helps make the miles go by quickly. We had good rides and good races, and overall enjoyed the day.

As for results, 3rd spot for Joël and 1st place for me.

- words by Jess

- video by Joël