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!

Gorilla Mask on a stick and some Intercourse (beer)

By: Hebrew Cyclist

Must be time for the Mid-Atlantic Super Series Team Relay!!!!

This year was my first MASS Team Relay, and I got to line up with the fellow gentleman of the Giant Mid-Atlantic squad, looking resplendent in our blue & white.  The team, in order, was as follows:

Matt 'The Experience' Miller
Jordan 'Hebrew Cyclist' Kahlenberg
Rich 'Richie Rich' O'Neil
Martin 'Speed Kells' Kell

Despite not being in costume, we did have some pretty sweet nicknames.  Even SWEETER was the fact that Matt signed us up according to our nicknames and not our real names.  Genius!  Luckily, he mentioned this to me beforehand, but it didn't seem to sink in to the people at the registration table, who were doing an awesome job but were too busy and focused to deal with our (i.e. Matt's) Shenanigans (Did somebody say shenanigans?!?!).  After moving lines 2 or 3 times I finally got my number and it was off to the giant tent with it's humungoid banner (that we somehow did not get a picture of....) to ready for the battle royale to commence.

After a lengthy wait, the gun sounded and Matt took off during the LeMans style start, looking quite chipper as he pranced along the run course to his bike.  After rifling off a quick first lap, it was my turn to take to the course.  I totally dug this course, with it's tacky soils, fun log jumps, and tricky tight corners that tested your handling skills.  My XTC 29er kept me upright and rolling fast!  After a solid 14 minute lap, I handed off the next lap to Rich and we just kept rolling.

Highlights of the day:  

- Me not clipping into my pedal while Matt tried to push me from behind during one of our lap exchanges, ending in me clipping in and Matt flipping over his bars (give us a break, we're mountain bikers not trackies!).

- Donning the monkey mask once my laps were done and heckling some of the competition

- Yi Ming's crazy delicious fried cookies

- Passing around rounds of Intercourse Brewing's Baresville Pilsner and Blue Balls Porter.  Best recovery drink!

- Getting to see everyone at the races again after a long winter!!


BIG THANKS to Mike Kuhn and the PAValleys.com crew for organizing and putting this event on.  We're already looking forward to next year!