IIGO (Intergalactic International Global Open) Mountain Bike Relay
Marysville, PA
April 2, 2017
Joël and I always look forward to this event. It's a race but not really a race. There are no divisions or categories; it's one big open race in which all entrants compete against each other. Competitors can range from solo to four person teams, any age, male and female, any riding ability There is a handicap system that essentially evens everyone out. IIGO Relay is the first event for the local MASS (Mid Atlantic Super Series) and tons of people show up. It's a great way to see everyone again and catch up with friends after the winter.
As for the race, it's a four hour lap race. Laps are about three miles of tight and twisty and single track that includes more log overs than a beaver dam. Logs are one of my weak spots, this race is great forced practice. Overall the course is fun but requires focus and determination. But as mentioned above, the main reason for this race to see friends again after the off season. Before and after the race hellos and hugs are exchanged; and during the race much chatting and catching-up occurs. Fellow riders from Saucon Valley Bikes were riding on a team; which was great to have friends to ride with and cheering and support every time through the pits. Despite not really being a race of course I still scoured the race results for all the individual females; I was first out of the solo women.
As a fun bonus after the race, there is a biathlon. Ride and shoot guns. Not really scored, no awards, just fun competition. Joël always enjoys this and stays to take part.
Note: Thanks to Abe Landis and Firespite Photography for the awesome photos from the relay.Rattlin' Creek Off Road Marathon
Weiser State Forest, Lykens, PA
April 9, 2017
Jess second overall female, Joël just off the podium single speed
This is the first stop in the MASS Endurance series. It's an early season race that if one is not ready for can really kick one's butt (I have learned that from experience). WIth the exception of the first really big climb and a few gradual ones during the race; this course is mostly rolling along the ridge top. But don't let that full you, this course is tough. It's 80K of super rocky and technical riding mostly on single or double track.
This year the women's field was stacked; a few pros and many super speedy ladies. I have to admit that the night before the race I gave up a little and decided to pig out on salsa and chips and brownies. After that I pulled myself back to reality and decided the race is never over until everyone crosses the finish line, anything can happen out there, and made a plan for my race to ride based on heart rate and effort. I would keep to my plan and ride my own race and see where that would get me. This plan worked out pretty well. Many of the top ladies were ahead of me at the start; I just kept my heart rate in the zones I had planned and rode along at my pace. I slowly passed many of the other ladies and a few miles from the finish came up the second place women. She and I played leap frog for a bit and she eventually pulled away from me on a climb. Unfortunately Joël took a wrong turn (as did a whole group of leading men); but this meant Joël was behind me and caught me mid-race. This was nice to ride with him for a bit.This course was tough but also beautiful. Due to many recent rains the creeks were flowing, at one point we rode along a creek with a beautiful waterfall. Spring flowers were blooming and the trees were starting to get green. The view from the top of the first climb is always beautiful; one can see the entire valley and other mountain ranges from up there. Sure, I was racing hard, but I couldn't help but look around at times to enjoy the beauty of nature. I tried to catch back up to take back second but I had to settle for third overall woman, just two minutes behind second. Due to his wrong turn Joël ended up just off the podium in the men's single speed division.
This was the first real race for each of us using our 2017 bikes. My Pique Advanced perfomed amazing, making all those rock gardens feel smooth. Joël reports his single speed XTC Advanced 27.5+ made for a fun ride and despite being a hard tail felt amazing smooth and as if it had suspension.