Deep Fried Racing

By: Jordan

For Gary

While racing for most doesn't start until March at the earliest, I decided to shake things up a bit this year and head down to Georgia for the Southern Cross race, the first stop in the American Ultracross series.  For those that don't know, ultracross is similar to a dirt road race with a sprinkle of cyclocross and mountain biking thrown in so as to favor a cyclocross bike.  My weapon of choice:  TCX Advanced SL.  Being in Georgia, this race called for a proper road trip, and my cohort in driving was Mateus from Kelpius Cycling (www.kelpiuscycling.com).  If you don't know Mat, and you're in Philly, you should check out his beard, which is rather impressive.  But I digress.......

Mat and his glorious beard up the first climb. Photo by Donna Combs Garcia.

The drive down was thankfully uneventful, with a midway stop at new Giant Mid-Atlantic rider Ryan Fawley's house (Thanks again Ryan!) for a snooze and snack.  As we approached the race venue on the local routes, we were overcome with a mixture of first-race-of-the-year nerves, churches, and hunger ('twas dinner time).  A quick stop into Northstar Bicycle in town to get our numbers, and we quickly made our way to a swank new italian food restaurant for grubbin.  If you're ever in Dahlonega, GA, be sure to stop in to Piazza.  Our waitress was so excited she even spilled an entire beer on my lap!  After wringing out my pants into the nearest glass, I sucked down the bubbly and hit the sack.

Now I'll have to admit, when I planned this trip I fully expected it to be warmer at the race than at home.  Glad I didn't place that bet, 'cause it was purdy durn cold!  Nothing a few windstopper layers couldn't fix though.  The start of the race was a shot out of a cannon onto a grass 'cyclocross' course through the Montaluce vineyard grounds.  I must've forgot how to start a race, as I quickly found myself go from the front to around 30th position in the time it takes a grandma to say BINGO on Sunday night.  As we traversed some rolling paved road, I set sight on the various chasing groups forming ahead, and as the first big climb started, I was able to ride solid pace, steadily picking riders off.  A brief stop to remove a stone from my shoe was my major impediment, and then I started the first big descent.  WAAAASSSSSSHHHBOOOOOAAAARRRDDDDD!!!!!!

Climbing with the mobile cheering section in tow.  Photo by Donna Combs Garcia

As I hit the rollers between the first big descent and the second big climb, my hands started regaining feeling from the numbing rattles of the braking bumps in the fireroads long enough for me to shift a few gears and pick off another 2 or 3 riders.  Then it was up the second big climb, which was a bit less steep, and more enjoyable in my opinion.  Had to stop briefly to pry a gu from the pocket, then made my way back down the hill for the last time.  At the bottom, it was pavement back to the vineyard cyclocross course finish.  I had some left in the tank, so felt it was time for some pinnin' it on the paved rollers back to the vineyard.  Caught my last rider just before the finish, and finished my first race of 2013 in 6th place (6th in Men's Open, 11th Overall).  I'll take it!

Southern Cross 2013:  Men's Open Podium.  Photo by Greg Rides Trails

Overall, the race was well organized and I'd recommend it to anyone searching for some solid winter miles with a little extra oomph.  But be sure to bring your climbin legs ya hear?!

Riverrockin'

By:  Jordan

Checkin out Jeff Lenosky's stunt comp after the race.

This past weekend I turned south and went to Richmond, VA for the Dominion Riverrock event.  If you love adventure and outdoors, this is an event you have to check out!  Rock climbing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, slacklining, dogs jumping into water, people on bikes jumping on ramps, trail running, mountain bike 'rassin and more!

The dogs were getting some siiiick air!

 The course they set up for the race was top-notch.  Flowing, fast, fun singletrack was the name of the game here.  I was even more stoked to race after I pre-rode than before, and I was pretty durn stoked before!  Some of my favorite portions of the course were the man-made rock-gardens.  They reminded me of Olympic and World Cup courses, but not as steep and big.

After a nice pre-ride, I cleaned up and hit a local english pub for some bangers & mash, followed by a stroll back down to the event to catch a little bit of live music and bouldering.  There's always something going on at this event!

Slackers.......

Race day started with some sleeping in, followed by some packing and eating.  Once everything was back in the car, it was time to head to the race and get serious.  During my warm up, I caught up with some of Harrisonburg's finest:  Ryan Fawley & Nick Waite.  After some spinning and chatting, we lined up for the show, and with a short count-down by the announcer we were off and riding!

A decent start was made not-so-great thanks to a rider getting too aggressive and knocking into me around a corner.  Party Foul!  Unable to get back around, I decided to constantly badger him once in the singletrack while he assisted in my losing major time to the leaders.  Eventually, karma kicked in and he slid out, gears jammed, and I passed with a slight grin on my face.  Am I evil?  For the rest of the race, I continued to dodge, duck, dive, and dodge through the awesome singletrack, finishing in 4th overall.

After clean-up, I got lost again in the festivities.  While lost, I found  some awesome fish tacos and a cheeseburger.  I finally found my award and prize money, as well as my sanity (temporarily) and caught some jumping dogs and people (on bikes) before packing it in and heading back home to B'more.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS EVENT OUT!!!!  Go to www.dominionriverrock.com, then leave a comment telling me that I'm right.

Cheers & Jeers,

Jordan

Gear Review: Giant Performance Base Layers

Giant Performance Sleeveless Base Layer

An essential part of any cyclists wardrobe, a good base layer is an indispensable piece during any season.  Once again, Giant gets it right with its new Performance line of base layers.  We've been testing both the sleeveless and long-sleeve version, but they also have a short-sleeve as well.  Cuts are available for both men and women.

The first thing you will notice when putting these base-layer on is the comfort of the fabric against your skin.  They are oh-so-soft, and feel like those comfy pajamas you wear on the weekends.  No, not the ones with power rangers on them, the other ones......

Giant Performance Long-Sleeve Base Layer

Looks aren't too shabby either, with fancy flat-lock stitching galore, and understated logos.  No need for fancy graphics on a piece that is meant to be worn under top layers.  The fit is loose, so if you're looking for skin-tight, you will probably want to size-down in your choice.

Performance is just as expected, as the garments proved highly efficient at moisture and temperature control.  These base-layers do their job remarkably, leaving the rider as comfortable as you can be while climbing a long climb, or descending a long descent.

Be sure to find your nearest dealer at www.giant-bicycles.com, and stay tuned for more Giant Gear Reviews in the future!

Gear Review: Giant Performance 3/4 Bib Short

A perfect blend of comfort, warmth, and value.

With the east coast currently experiencing a mild winter, the team has had ample time to try out some of Giant's sweet new line of clothing.  Our first review is of their new bib-knickers, which is a favorite item of the team.

First Impressions:  Checking these bibs out prior to our first ride, we were impressed with the quality of construction.  The look is understated, with simple details that hint at the well-designed nature of the piece.  The material isn't your traditional lycra, but has an intentional 'softer' feel and look, pulled together with flat-lock seams and reflective details.  Silicone leg grippers are included to keep the knees from riding up and bunching, and the spidermesh bib straps are wide to keep the pressure off the shoulders.  Most importantly, the 3D contoured gel chamois pad is wide and looks to be incredibly comfortable.

The Ride:  Instead of taking these bibs out for an hour spin on our first ride, we thought we'd take them out for a proper century on the road.  5+ hrs of good 'old fashioned hard riding.  The result was a fantastic ride and zero complaints.  These bibs performed exceptionally well, and caused no hints of discomfort.  The soft lycra was comfortable against the skin, and the chamois pad kept that sensitive area happy for the duration of the ride.  Often an over-looked or taken-for-granted detail, the silicone leg grippers did their job flawlessly.

The Bottom Line:  These bib knickers are awesome.  They are well-designed, look sharp without being flashy, and best of all the average MSRP is $90.  That's a heapin' helpin' of value for less then a benjamin!  To get a pair for yourself, visit your nearest Giant Bicycle dealer and enjoy the ride!  Go to www.giant-bicycle.com to find your nearest dealer.

Rapport de course de Neshaminy

Jordan on the extended podium (6th place, far right)

Bonjour!

One of the longer-running Mid-Atlantic Super Series races took place this past weekend:  The Guy's Bicycles Neshaminy Classic.  Martin, Matt, and Jordan were there to represent in a stacked field of 34 Elite riders.  The course was it's same old awesome self, with lots of logs and tight'n'twisty singletrack, and the previous days rain kept the course nice and tacky for premium ripping. 

The start saw BMC's Kerry Warner fly off with Scott's Aaron Snyder, with Aaron's teammates Cam & John in tow.  Giant's own Jordan Kahlenberg managed to squeeze in behind the Scott train and latch on during the prologue, while Marting and Matt held steady in the pack.  After the prologue Jordan made some quick moves to establish himself in 3rd, while Martin and Matt began to trade places. 

Ripping through these trails, sometimes you feel like you're on a BMX bike, jumping and diving through trees, and over whoops.  It's hard to go slow when you're having so much fun!  And you also forget to eat sometimes, which is what happened to Jordan early on.  Despite the mental slip, he managed to recover quick and roll in 6th, with Matt in 16th, and Martin behind. 

What a great race!  The team can't wait to be back next year!

REPORTED: Neshaminy XC, M.A.S.S. race-o-rama

Matt gives a 'pain face', details on tonight's news.

Gonna keep this one short and sweet.  This past weekend the Giant Mid-Atlantic crew were in PA racing the Neshaminy XC race, part of the Mid-Atlantic Super Series.  It was a hot day, as has been the norm this year, and the field was deeper than normal.  The course was super-fun, with challenging twists and turns, log-rides, switchback descents, and just enough rocks to keep you on your toes.

Jordan focuses on the start while matt checks himself out in the mirror he set up course-side.

Jordan took off strong, sitting in 3rd at the end of lap 1 of 3.  Matt was more conservative, sitting back just outside the top-10.  The heat of the day dictated that the pace be a little slower, and Jordan settled back into 7th, while Matt held position on the second lap.  On the last lap, Jordan was able to put in a small surge and pick up one spot for 6th, finishing within a minute of 3rd.  Matt did the same, moving into 9th by the finish.  After a string of super-strong finishes, a racer always has to accept that some races won't be as strong as others.  And if a 6th & 9th are our finishes on a less-than-stellar day, than we really don't have much to complain about!

HUGE thanks as always to Giant Bicycles, Geax Tires, Oakley, Stan's NoTubes, Intercourse Brewing Co., Elete Electrolyte Replacement, ESI Grips, Hincapie Sportswear, Shimano, and BikeFlights.com!

Race Report: Long Pine Classic, M.A.S.S.

By: Who do you think?!?!

Long Pine Classic podium, Jordan 2nd, Matt 5th.  

It's always nice when you can start a race report with a podium shot!  The Giant Mid-Atlantic Cycling Team celebrated 'Merica's Birthday in Michaux State Forest at the Long Pine Classic XC race.  It was an old-school single-lap throw-down with plenty of walks and climbing.  Despite it being a big 'ole fat american holiday, there was still a strong field of Pro/Open racers at the start line, ready to hold off on their (intercourse) beer drinking until 22 miles later.

With a lead moto to start things off, we rolled out nuetral until the road turned upward and it was game-on. It was here that Matt & Jordan took things easy while everyone traded barbs up the first climb into the singletrack.  It didn't take long for people to get in over their heads, and our intrepid duo soon found themselves up with the first chasers without too much effort (a combination of crashing and lapped riders helped too).  We rode some fun singletrack for a while, making a little time up on the lead duo, then hopped out onto a fireroad where Jordan set pace up to the leaders.  Once caught, we had about 6 or 7 in the lead group, and things stayed relatively calm in the next singletrack section while we passed sport racers.  On the next fireroad, we regrouped and Brandon D set pace towards the next section of trail, which was a long doubletrack climb.  Here, Jordan took over the pace and quickly set himself apart from everyone else, tapping out a gap of over a minute at one point.  Matt stayed reserved and patient with a teammate ahead, and rode smooth and clean to the finish for 5th.  Jordan solo'd the rest of the course until getting caught by Aaron Snyder with 500m to go.  Due to some confusion on the location of the finish, Aaron took the win in a 'sprint'.

After the race, we had a chilled case of Inercourse Brewing Co. Bareville Pilsner ready to go, which needless to say vanished quickly while we waited for awards.  Awesome day on the bike for Giant Mid-Atlantic!

RACE REPORT: Lewis Morris Challenge XC

By: Hebrew Cyclist

This is not the most exciting picture, but it really is representative of my race.

On a weekend where racing on dirt was plentiful, I found myself carefully choosing my poison.  Wisconsin was too far away, especially since I was moving from Philadelphia to Baltimore this past weekend.  The M.A.S.S. Stage race seemed appealing, but I didn't think I'd have the energy for an 8hr endurance race.  So, it was off to Morristown, NJ for the Lewis Morris Challenge, a stop in the H2H/Campmor race series!

Very start of the race, the jersey would come unzipped about 1 second later.......

Now I may have been able to escape long car rides and long days in the saddle, but the one thing I could not avoid was the heat again.  I've never used my car AC so much!  Once I got to the race, I stayed on track by registering and finding a shady parking spot, which was harder than I thought it would be.  With shady spot secured, it was off to preview the course before the start of the race.  Synopsis:  FAST!

Finishing strong after going through a rough spot mid-race.

I did an easier warm-up, making sure not to overheat, and just prior to the start found a person to feed me (Thanks Pat & Pam!).  Lining up, there were about 8 Pros, 2 of which I thought could give me a run for it. Breathing, focused, we start and Ed-C puts his head down and hammers the entire first lap with Maurice G and I on his wheel.  Towards the end of the lap, he dropped us as we decided to ride our own pace, and as we started lap #2 I dropped myself and stopped to smell the roses.  After I came back to my senses, I started riding again and found my rhythm in the heat.  LOTS of pedaling on this course, and not enough difficult sections to help me pull back significant time on Maurice, who was leading the race and Finished with a big 'W'.  Ed-C blew up apparently, and I beat-boxed my way to second place.  Not too shabby considering I was ready to ride the second lap back to my car!  Only one more step to go........

I got to stand on a podium.  Pretty rad!

As always, huge thanks to Giant Bicycles and all our great sponsor:  Oakley, Geax, Intercourse Brewing Co, Stan's, Shimano, Elete, ESI Grips, Hincapie Sportswear, and BikeFlights.com!

Race Report: Massanutten Hoo-Ha! US Cup Triple Crown Finals

Even the rider's kits were tired after the weekend, and spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun.

Wowsers!  What a crazy weekend for the team!  Some of the best racing on the east coast happened this past weekend down in Virginia at the Massanutten Hoo-Ha Triple Crown Finals.  In attendance for Giant Mid-Atlantic were Matt and Jordan.  Also in attendance were some super fast racers from around the country as well as high heat and humidity.  Swell!

Giant Mid-Atlantic rider Jordan Kahlenberg, front and center for the Pro Men's Short Track.

Saturday brought the short and sweet events, with Super-D as the first course, and Short-Track following.  The Super-D course was awesome, starting with a crazy technical ridge trail section and dumping onto a fast, bermed, flowing descent to the finish.  Both Matt and Jordan rode well, finishing 9th and 10th respectively in the Pro Triple Crown standings.  The short track was one of the best courses around, with some sweeping climbs, fast & twisty doubletrack, and big berms split by a short road section through the start/finish.  Matt got caught in the craziness and had an unfortunate DNF, and Jordan started strong and held it to the end, finishing 9th.  Once that race was done, it was off to the showers for cool-down and recovery.  There was still an XC to race the next day!!

Matt Miller ripping up the short track course, making it look easy.

Sunday served up the 12-mile XC course, on which the Pros did 2 laps.  The start was wide open and allowed for plenty of positioning.  Matt and Jordan sat in and saved energy until the double-track climbs, where both were able to move up cleanly.  Unfortunately, Matt suffered mechanicals during the race and was forced to chase from far back much of the race through the all-classes mass-start field.  Jordan rode clear with the leaders at the onset, then settled into his rhythm, finishing 10th.

Jordan zipping by during the Super-D.

Once the results were tallied up, Jordan landed himself 7th overall for the weekend Triple Crown, and Matt was 17th.  Some great results against a tough Pro field!

It is highly suggested that all try this race next year.  With a great course and great promoters, it's a great time for all.

Next up for the team is another split weekend, with Matt attending the Wisconsin stop of the Pro XC Tour, and Jordan hitting the Lewis Morris Challenge, the next stop in the regional H2H/Campmor series.

See you on the trails!

Event Report: Curt's Cyclery Century Ride

Riders starting to gather at the sign-in, early start to a fun day of riding!

This past Saturday was the 1st annual Curt's Cyclery Century ride, at Curt's Cyclery in Nazareth, PA.  Giant Mid-Atlantic riders Matt Miller (event organizer) and Jordan Kahlenberg were in attendance spreading the Giant love to the field of over 100 riders.  With great weather, everyone had a blast completing their share of 10-mile laps.  With $2-per-lap going to the American Cancer Society, everyone in attendance was able to put their enjoyment towards a good cause.  After the event, everyone got a chance to win some great prizes from some of the local Nazareth businesses and re-fuel with some delicious food donated by area eateries.  Thanks to Matt Miller and Curt Miller, the rest of the Miller family, and the crew at Curt's Cyclery for putting on such a great event!

The man himself, Curt.

The incredible tandem duo of Matt and Yi Ming.

Reported: Iron Hill XC

By: Hebrew Cyclist

Martin sure does have a sweet pain face!

Bring on the HEAT!.......... and humidity.......

This past weekend, while Gary was displaying the Giant Blue & White at JORBAfest and the Philly Pro Race, the team was at Iron Hill Park in Delaware on Sunday for the next stop in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series.  In attendance for the Giant Mid-Atlantic crew were Matt, Martin, and Jordan.  The course was FAST and fun, with a relatively flat profile.  But don't be fooled!  There were plenty of short climbs and long false-flats that provided plenty of vertical on the day.  With 4 laps on tap for the Elite/Open field, it was sure to test our legs and spirits on the day.

A Mega-Dip....er....Jordan, entering the Mega-Dip

The start was a bit furious, with people knocking elbows and squeezing in gaps that weren't there, but we all stayed upright and got into the singletrack without incident.  Matt made some smooth moves to make it towards the front, while Martin and Jordan had gotten squeezed out at the start and were sitting somewhere mid-pack in a group of 30.  We skipped the big course feature on the first lap, the 'MEGA-DIP', which was good since that would have certainly caused some havoc with everyone wheel-to-wheel.  One the first climb of the day, Jordan made his move through the group and got clear, while Matt kept steady and held position.  Martin did the same as Jordan, but had to deal with a little more traffic.

This is where the Giant Mid-Atlantic team practices their mega dips.

Now, because of the heat, things get a little blurry, but in the end Jordan crossed the line 4th, with Martin in 13th.  Matt, feeling the effects of last week's scorcher in Texas, decided to pull the plug and save his energy for the upcoming Triple Crown in Virginia (Massannutten Hoo-Ha, June 19/20th).

We've been blessed with cooler weather for many races thus far this year, but today was somewhat brutal early on, with both heat and humidity making their presence known.  Thankfully, our bottles were filled with Elete the entire race and everyone was cramp free and well hydrated!  I just can't say enough about this stuff!

Elete Electrolyte Replacement.  Addictive in a good way!

Next on tap for the team is the Curt's Cyclery Century, in Nazareth, PA.  Then, the following weekend is the Triple Crown Massannutten Ho-Ha.  Word on the street is that Jordan is gonna hit all three races, Super-D, Short Track, and the Cross Country.  No doubt that the Anthem X will be the bike of choice for the weekend!

REPORTED: Tymor Park Challenge, Lagrangeville, NY

By: Hebrew Cyclist

Ripping the fast singletrack at the beginning of the lap.  

I traveled solo this past weekend to the second stop in the Campmor/H2H race series in Lagrangeville, NY, the Tymor Park Challenge.  I did this race last year, and liked the course which is a good mix of steep & difficult climbs and technically tasty singletrack.  For the 2010 edition, the course designers took out a climb, which sped the course up a bit, but didn't take away from the experience.

Taking a fast corner on one of the descents at the end of the course.

The start of the race was average, and after passing one or two 'fast-starters' I settled into a fast rhythm in the singletrack sections, while attacking the climbs in order to claw back the leaders.  The Anthem X rode beautifully with the shock in the pro-pedal position during the first lap, giving me some extra stiffness for out-of-the-saddle climbing.  Into the second lap, I threw the shock open and started ripping the descents to help make up more time.  The Geax Barro Mountain tires hooked up everywhere and kept me confident through the corners and over the rocks & roots and off-camber trail sections.

The rig for the day, and by far the sexiest beast there.  Definitely a head-turner!

After riding most of the race in 4th, I finally saw 3rd place with less than 1 mile to go.  I dug deep, hoping that he was suffering and just trying to finish, but ultimately ran out of course and finished in 4th. After a confusing podium ceremony (I couldn't figure out when the picture was getting taken, since the said it 3 times), I grabbed some Chipotle with my friends Tim and Janel and headed home.

#4 Pro on the day, #1 in my book.......

Great time, great course, and great burrito!  Thanks again to all of our great sponsors for providing such great equipment and products to help make this racing addiction even more fun!

TEAM ISSUED: ESI 'Chunky' Silicone Grips

By:  Giant Mid-Atlantic

White ESI 'Chunky' silicone grips on GMA team Anthem X race bike.

It's been a few months now with our new ESI Silicone grips.  Throughout that time, we've put them through all sorts of conditions and scenarios, including last weekend's muddy race at the Cascade Classic.  The entire team received the 'Chunky' version, as opposed to the 'Racer's Edge' version, for its extra padding and comfort.  Here's the low-down on the goods:

First Impression:  Out of the packaging, these things are hot looking (especially in white, pictured above).  Once out of the packaging, the first thing that hits you is the incredibly light weight of these grips.  In fact, the packaging is heavier than the grips.  I kid you not.

Installation:  Amongst the team, we've used water and rubbing alcohol.  Both seem to work very well and leave no residue.  Just wet the inside of the grip and slide on, making sure the thicker side is facing up so your palms are resting there while riding.  Note:  if using rubbing alcohol, installation should be performed quickly, as it is volatile and evaporates quickly.

First Ride:  Once installed, the grips are solid on our bars.  No slipping, twisting, sliding, etc.  The feel is superb, with a great balance of softness and firmness.  Without gloves, you still have adequate grip on the bars, and with gloves it's like your hands are glued on.  The team had previously used a mix of grips, and everyone has been able to adjust to these immediately without problem.

Long-term performance:  The grips are still in great shape, very little wear is noticed after countless rides in dry and wet.  Our white grips are still relatively clean as well, maintained with soapy water and some elbow grease.  They are still solidly installed, with no slipping, twisting, or sliding since installation.

Final Verdict:  It's hard to imagine using any other grip for our race and trail bikes.  The overall performance of the ESI grips is heads and foam above the competition.

Get yours at www.esigrips.com

REPORTED: Cascade Classic XC

By:  Hebrew Cyclist

The Pro/Open podium.  Matt far left, Jordan second from right.  

For a nice recap of the beginning of the race, check out Matt's blog HERE.  Very accurate.

As for the rest of our story, it begins in East Stroudsburg amidst delicious vegan pancakes and scrumptious homemade cinnamon bread french toast.  Just some of the breakfasts of choice of the Giant Mid-Atlantic Cycling Team.  Toeing the line today for the team were Matt and Jordan.  The weather was great, and the course conditions were just a bit soggy, but still nice.  After the start of the race, both Matt and Jordan were in solid position for a top-5 podium run, with Jordan in 5th and Matt in 6th.  Navigating the technical singletrack was challenging, but made much easier on our new Anthem X race bikes.  Seriously, these bikes make you feel like you're cheating.  Unfortunately, as the group containing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place got within 10 seconds, we (along with many other riders) took a wrong turn at an unmarked trail junction and had to make due with chasing back through the pack for the rest of the race.

This was all good, as we were still having a good day and didn't let the setback bother us, but late in the third lap we both suffered time-consuming mechanicals which allowed a few more riders to slip past.  In the end, the team finished with Matt in 7th and Jordan in 8th.  Not too shabby considering the time lost out on the course.  

Speaking of the course, it was awesome!  Super techy, with lots of steep climbs to help make up more time, or reel riders in.  Our new Stan's ZTR Crest wheelsets were superb, and felt great the entire time!  Thanks Stan's NoTubes!  And of course, our Geax treads gave us confidence, even in the muddy, rocky, and rooty conditions on course.

Next race on tap is one of the Campmor/H2H series races in Lagrangeville, NY, the Tymor Park Challenge.  We all did this race last year and it was a blast!  Hope you can make it!

Event Report: McCoole's Spring Beer Festival

By:  Giant Mid-Atlantic

On Saturday May 1st (MAY DAY!), Giant Mid-Atlantic Pro rider Jordan Kahlenberg got the chance to hang out with the crew from Intercourse Brewing Company at the McCoole's Spring Beer Festival in Quakertown, PA.  Jordan may have found his dream job of talking about beer and bicycles, but alas it only lasted from 12-4pm, and then it was off to do a training ride to get ready for Sundays' Granogue Mtb race in Wilmington, DE.

Yes, the beer is THAT good!  Jordan pours an ecstatic customer a fresh glass of pilsner.

Team poster at the IBC booth.  

The IBC booth with Nicole (owner) and Jay at the helm.

On the menu for the day was the delicious Blue Ball Porter and the tasty Bareville Pilsner.  Both got rave reviews and positive comments from all who enjoyed them!  If you haven't tried them out for yourself, then go to www.intercoursebrewingco.com and find the distributor closest to you!

Race Report: Granogue MASS XC

By Hebrew Cyclist

Everyone looked happy, except for Montana........

While Matt was ripping up the trails at the Wawayanda Campmor/H2H series opener in northern New Jersey, I (Jordan) was in Delaware for XC #3 in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series, Andrew Mein's Excellent Adventure at Granogue.

The heat & humidity, combined with the usual stacked field of Elite Open racers, made this race particularly tough.  Fortunately, I had been using my Elete Add-In and Tablytes and wasn't too worried about hydration and cramping.  That stuff is seriously amazing and is a race-saver in the hot weather!

Elete Add-In & Tablytes:  Puppy approved

Unlike last year, the trails were relatively dry and fast, but good handling skills were still in order with plenty of off-camber sections containing roots, rocks, and loose soil.  The start was a bit chaotic but once things settled I found myself in the top-10 with room to move-up quickly.  Halfway through the race, I found myself in 6th place, but was having some trouble with the slick climbs towards the end of the lap, and I started to lose ground.  In the middle of the last lap, I got passed by a trio of riders while having some minor mechanical issues and despite a hard chase I couldn't overtake them and settled for 10th on the day.  I'm capable of better, but finishing 10th after a mediocre race is better than 20th.  The XTC 29er, as usual, rode like a champ and was yelling at me to get my stuff together on those steep climbs.

Thanks to Marc V. and the crew who put the race on, excellent adventures were definitely had by all.  Also, BIG thanks to Elete Add-in for getting me through a hot and humid weekend with no cramps and well hydrated!

Mutant Strawberries and the attack of the race report!

That's right.  The secret of the Giant Mid-Atlantic team is mutant siamese strawberries.  But good luck getting your own, suckers!

This past weekend was the first official XC race of the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Super Series; Bike Line XC @ Fair Hill.  Everyone was amped to test their early season fitness, and the day did not disappoint!  With over 700 racers in attendance, it was hard to stay calm and focused on our own race!  With so many there, we made sure to be as visible as possible of course.  Flag me!

After what seemed like a bigillion sport riders took off on the course for their race, Matt and I took off for a warm-up pre-ride of the course.  What we found was what we expected:  A fast, fun course, with a small sprinkling of short punchy climbs to sting the legs and help create separations in the pace-lines during the first lap.  Before we knew it, we finished and were ready to race.

Lining up for the Elite Open, there were much more racers than normal, and a certain Hebrew Cyclist (ahem, ahem) should have been paying more attention.  After we got called forward, there were about 8 rows deep of racers for the start!  Despite the large field and it being the first real race of the season for many, the start was relatively uneventful, but was FAST!  It was a drag race for the first mile or so down fire road before we hit the singletrack.  Passing was at a premium, and drafting was used generously.  The singletrack strung things out, but didn't slow the pace, and while Matt fought near the front, I was at the back picking off riders, practicing some good-ole fashioned aggressive passing.  After finding some sweet inside lines and passing a good number of riders, my luck started running out and I found myself stuck in position while things started splitting up ahead of me.  At this point, I found myself doing intervals between groups of riders, resting in their draft, then going again.  Meanwhile, Matt was duking it out with some of the young'ns ahead of me.  This was how our respective races played out for the first 2 laps.  On the final lap, my legs finally got the better of me and started fading big time.  Matt held strong for a top-20 and a strong start to the year!  Big shout-out to my wagon wheels, Giant XTC 29er.  Best choice for this course!

Afterwards, we took another spin on the course and then cleaned up for some socializing and story telling with everyone we raced with.  Great race, great weather, couldn't ask for a better start to the season!

This weekend the team will be at the Tour de Tykes XC race!  Look for us there, and don't forget to get your Intercourse Care Package Raffle Tickets!

JOISEYS!!!!!!!

Here is a sneak peek at what the great people at Hincapie are cooking up for us.  Killer threads!