Summer racing is always interesting. It's that time of year where we hit a bit of a lull. Joël and I are fit from spring races and training and all we want to do is ride our bikes. Which is just the thing, we want to ride, not necessarily race. Family vacations, charity rides, picnics and parties are all happening and we are trying to fit in races and van-camping weekends around all of this. It's an amazing time of year to be out there riding and racing, but also an exhausting time of year which makes it tough to get into a racing mentality. But somehow we always manage to hit that start line ready to go.
Fair Hill Classic 6 Hour Endurance
Elkton, MD
July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018
1st open women Jess; 2nd open men (1st single speed) Joël
This was a new-ish race for us. We have raced at Fair Hill in the past, but this was the first time for this exact event. Because of the super early start, we decided to head down to the race location the night before and sleep in the van. Camping was not allowed at the race venue, so we decided to poach a local camping area, which I am going to keep unnamed so that I don't get Joël and I in even more trouble than we already were that night. There appeared to be other people camping (who probably belonged there) who we waved a friendly hello to as we pulled in close to nightfall. We parked, sat at a picnic table next to the van to eat dinner while Cliff wandered around a bit, all the while continued to see our neighbors off in the distance just out and about doing their thing. We continued to occasionally wave hello and smile. After dinner we packed up and went to bed. I feel we appeared friendly and non-threatening. Just as we were falling asleep we hear a loud voice telling us to exit the van and we see flashing lights. In our sleep-induced state we climb out of the van and find an authority figure there who is busting us for being where we aren't allowed. We explain to him about the race the next day and that we are just parking here for the night. He was actually very apologetic for waking us, making us move, and was quite understanding about us being there for the race the next day. But the rules are the rules. No tickets or fines, just a warning. He gave Joël and I some ideas of others places, like local truck stops, to stay. He also informed us that the reason he was called to check on us is that the other people nearby felt threatened by our van. Darn white creeper van! So off we went to sleep in a parking lot for the rest of the night.
As for the race the next day it was an event worth attending. The course was well marked, volunteers super friendly, great race photos by PJ Freeman, and top-notch race goodies such as custom awards and a complimentary beer to all racers. The second place women and I battled it out for the first few laps, she had me racing hard. What an amazing effort by both of us, I certainly had to fight for this win.
Wilderness 101
Coburn, PA
July 28, 2018
July 28, 2018
Jess 6th open women; Joël 6th single speed
We mixed it up this year for our summer races; doing things differently than normal. Usually we would do a 24 hour race the same weekend as Wilderness, the Hardcore 24. Due to a family event, my sisters wedding, Hardcore was not an option. So we decided to re-visit Wilderness 101.
It had been many years since Joël and I did this event, and from what we had heard the race has changed quite a bit since then. Less single track and more gravel road, which is just not our style and is why it took us so long to come back. But; it was something to do that particular weekend that fit into our schedule and we knew good friends would be there so it was worth going back to.
Worth going back to, but both Joël and I have to say not something we will be chomping at the bit to get back to. Don't get us wrong, it's a good race. Well run, great volunteers, good organization, amazing post-race food, ample camping on site; but it's just not our style. Too much gravel. If you like riding a 100 mile endurance race that is heavy on the gravel and light on the single track this race is for you. Joël and I thrive on single track, it's what we enjoy and what we are good at. So this was just not the race for us.
Despite not being our cup of tea, we still enjoyed the event. We spent a good portion of time catching up with friends, especially our very favorite aid station volunteers ever. We enjoyed sleeping in the van. And no matter what, we always enjoy riding our bikes. We just enjoy riding them more on trails than on gravel roads.
Worth going back to, but both Joël and I have to say not something we will be chomping at the bit to get back to. Don't get us wrong, it's a good race. Well run, great volunteers, good organization, amazing post-race food, ample camping on site; but it's just not our style. Too much gravel. If you like riding a 100 mile endurance race that is heavy on the gravel and light on the single track this race is for you. Joël and I thrive on single track, it's what we enjoy and what we are good at. So this was just not the race for us.
Despite not being our cup of tea, we still enjoyed the event. We spent a good portion of time catching up with friends, especially our very favorite aid station volunteers ever. We enjoyed sleeping in the van. And no matter what, we always enjoy riding our bikes. We just enjoy riding them more on trails than on gravel roads.
Point Peter Pounder 4 Hour Endurance
Port Jervis, NY
August 12, 2018
August 12, 2018
1st open women Jess; 2nd open men Joël
We zoomed up to this race the evening after a family reunion; what a beautiful drive along the Delaware Water Gap. Luckily we didn't get kicked out of our overnight sleeping spot and woke up ready to race.
These trails are so much fun! This was a race that both Joël and I just really enjoy being on our bikes; it made us smile. Which is what we needed. After Wilderness 101 we hit a lull, we just weren't enthusiastic to race. This event definitely turned things around for us.
We did a race here a number of years ago; it was a long race, it was cold and wet, the trails were slippery and tough; just not the most fun day on the bike. So we figured this event would be a way to re-visit the trails and hopefully they would make a better second impression, and they certainly did.
The format was a four hour endurance, most laps is the winner. At the same time, the various levels of XC races were going on. A few friends of ours were racing the XC race, and this gave us a chance to chat with them a bit while riding. Always great to see friends out there on the course. The course was mainly single track, challenging and technical but not over the top. Laps were taking on average about 50 minutes.
With rocks of course come flats, and I got a doozy of one. Tire sealant was spurting out everywhere but with a little CO2 inflation I thought it sealed. Made it about half a lap back to the pit area and it started to go flat again. OK, time to put in a tube. I teach womens fix-a-flat clinics, so this should go smoothly, just like when I teach. Ha, no such luck. The tire sealant stuck the tire to the rim, the boost hub was being uncooperative, and the chain somehow tied it's self into a gigantic knot. Took me 20 minutes to fix this flat.
So here is my full disclosure about this race; I was the only women racing. Did that stop me from racing to my fullest potential, no, not at all. I dialed in my typical race heart rate and stuck with it, pushing hard as if I was in the throws of competition. I could have stopped when I encountered the troublesome flat, and have just not gone again for another lap. I didn't need to do another lap. From the start I could have just easy pedaled, taken my time, and stopped when I flatted. But instead I struggled through the flat, raced according to my regular race pace, and rode like I would any other race.
Why you ask? Because I just plain love riding and racing my bike. I want to be out there. And I am always going to give it my best.
So that's our Summer racing in summary. There was a little bit of everything; some things we liked and some we didn't. But all in all JoëL and I had a good time, we rode our bikes to the best of our ability, and came out of all of it with a smile on our faces. Cliff accompanied us to all of these races, spending some time just hanging out in the forest which is what he really enjoys doing. Onward to the Autumn racing season. And no, not cyclo-cross for us, we keep on racing mountain bikes.
- words by Jess
- photos by Joël and PJ Freeman (race action shots from Fair Hill)
- fun forest time by Cliff
We zoomed up to this race the evening after a family reunion; what a beautiful drive along the Delaware Water Gap. Luckily we didn't get kicked out of our overnight sleeping spot and woke up ready to race.
These trails are so much fun! This was a race that both Joël and I just really enjoy being on our bikes; it made us smile. Which is what we needed. After Wilderness 101 we hit a lull, we just weren't enthusiastic to race. This event definitely turned things around for us.
We did a race here a number of years ago; it was a long race, it was cold and wet, the trails were slippery and tough; just not the most fun day on the bike. So we figured this event would be a way to re-visit the trails and hopefully they would make a better second impression, and they certainly did.
The format was a four hour endurance, most laps is the winner. At the same time, the various levels of XC races were going on. A few friends of ours were racing the XC race, and this gave us a chance to chat with them a bit while riding. Always great to see friends out there on the course. The course was mainly single track, challenging and technical but not over the top. Laps were taking on average about 50 minutes.
With rocks of course come flats, and I got a doozy of one. Tire sealant was spurting out everywhere but with a little CO2 inflation I thought it sealed. Made it about half a lap back to the pit area and it started to go flat again. OK, time to put in a tube. I teach womens fix-a-flat clinics, so this should go smoothly, just like when I teach. Ha, no such luck. The tire sealant stuck the tire to the rim, the boost hub was being uncooperative, and the chain somehow tied it's self into a gigantic knot. Took me 20 minutes to fix this flat.So here is my full disclosure about this race; I was the only women racing. Did that stop me from racing to my fullest potential, no, not at all. I dialed in my typical race heart rate and stuck with it, pushing hard as if I was in the throws of competition. I could have stopped when I encountered the troublesome flat, and have just not gone again for another lap. I didn't need to do another lap. From the start I could have just easy pedaled, taken my time, and stopped when I flatted. But instead I struggled through the flat, raced according to my regular race pace, and rode like I would any other race.
Why you ask? Because I just plain love riding and racing my bike. I want to be out there. And I am always going to give it my best.
So that's our Summer racing in summary. There was a little bit of everything; some things we liked and some we didn't. But all in all JoëL and I had a good time, we rode our bikes to the best of our ability, and came out of all of it with a smile on our faces. Cliff accompanied us to all of these races, spending some time just hanging out in the forest which is what he really enjoys doing. Onward to the Autumn racing season. And no, not cyclo-cross for us, we keep on racing mountain bikes.
- words by Jess
- photos by Joël and PJ Freeman (race action shots from Fair Hill)
- fun forest time by Cliff