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!

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!

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!