I got in 2 laps on the new Epic 29er today at the Whitewater Center with our Carolina Bicycle Company Mountain Bike Team captain, Noel Kirila. It’s always an honor to ride with the big guy.
Riding fast, dry trails in shorts and short sleeves was a real treat after the weather we have been having since Christmas. I’ll be sad when things turn back to ‘normal’ again. Until then get out as much as you can!
See you on the trails.
Former pro moto crosser, turned Single Speed powerhouse, Luke Sagur, completed his sweep of the Winter Short Track Series today with victory #5.
Luke let Tim Anderson share the lead on and off before cracking him with 2 laps to go. Jason and Noel were strategically placed in the pack to ensure any attacks were neutralized.
The race conditions were perfect today and which was evidenced by the huge turn out in all the categories. This year has definitely had the best Winter Short Track racing weather in recent memory, now if only the races could be held on Saturdays instead of Sundays..
Luke doubled up and took on the Super Sport category with his single speed as well and was sitting in second place when his hot dogging over the jump burped his rear tire. He opted to finish the afternoon on the sidelines with a Bud Lite.
What’s next? Probably the business park on Tuesday night. Come on out and be part of the action.
It was too icy to even try to drive to North Meck to brave the trails today so desperate times called for desperate measures.
My side kick and I lasted an hour. She was concerned that I was sweating and thought I should take a break. She was also a little disappointed that she didn’t ever get sweaty. It was the quickest hour I ever spent on a trainer, must have been the steady stream of drinks, snacks and lively conversation from my team mate.
This was also a first for the Norco; she has never been on a trainer before. This off season has seen a lot of firsts for her.
Reports have it that 2 ‘hard men’ were spotted riding at the white water center tonight in dark sub zero conditions. Rumour has it that one of them was actually night riding without a light. There is some speculation that both of them might be Canadian.
For more information on the non porographic meaning of hard men refer to : http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
Rule #9
Rule #21
I’ve ridden Sherman Branch a couple of times and it is an awesome trail but I’d never ridden it with one of the local crushers who know it inside out.
I got my chance on Friday afternoon with Jim starting at 4:01. Jim showed up on his Superfly rather than his single speed and I had my Superfly single speed so I knew I would be working. For someone who rides a single speed a lot of the time, Jim shows no mercy to single speeds when on a ride.
We went ripping down the trail which was a little slick from the previous night’s rain. Jim showed me where he crashed and got his most recent concussion. I was feeling a little sketchy with the super fast Bontrager XR1’s on the single speed but I was glad to have the acceleration these light tires give every time we came out of a corner.
Anyone who has ridden behind Jim knows his choice of lines can be haphazard to say the least. So I was really conflicted riding behind him because his lines looked like the right ones to be on by I have trained myself to avoid his lines (I did not want a concussion). Eventually I gave in and started taking his lines and for the most part he kept me out of trouble.
I rode the big skinny near the lake near the lake and that was enough to break up the pace and we eased up for a while and then it was on to the end.
4:52 we rolled back in the lot. I have never paid attention to the clock out there before but this was the fastest for me for sure. But not very fast in the world of Sherman so I’ll have to try again.
Luke Sagur did an incredible 13 laps in 12 hours to handily win the 12 hour male single speed category, yes I said single speed. That also would have put him in 2nd with the geared guys.
Afterwards he was too tired to drink a beer so we helped him with that.
Crossing the Line 1 minute after last lap cut off
The 3 man masters dream team of Mike Thompson, Charles Robinson and Ian Smith not only took first but made a statement by finishing a lap over their nearest competitor (in any category). They were in better condition at the end than this picture shows.
Dream Team
Jessica Thompson told 3rd in the women’s 6hr solo after a hard week of training and then hung out to cheer on the the rest of the team until 9pm which argueably felt longer than the race itself.
Still here cheering for Dad
Noel Kirila put in a solid 3rd inthe 6 hour solo after his partner (how shall remain nameless) for the 12 hour busted his toe Thursday night.
Team Beam/Johnson took 3rd in the 6 hour duo.
Mike Sciame came in 5th in the 6 hr solo , closely followed by Chris Sugar in 6th.
Hope I didn’t miss anyone.
As for myself, after a week in Amsterdam I was in no condition for racing.
there were no kidding 20 000 bikes parked in this garage
the shirt says it all
CBC showed strong with Noel K winning the single speed cat today and 4th overall! Nice strong first 50 Kelly!
The 3rd Annual Rivers edge 50 mile mtb race brings the heat and for good reason. Fantastic facility and probably the most awesome 12 miles of trails any city has ever seen. Add that with the best promoter bringing the food, kegs, music and it’s my favorite race of the year.
Looking forward to next year already!
Mike Thompson, Cat 2 40+ and Buddy Gardner Cat 2 30-39 both took 1st place in the Southern Classic series as well as taking the NC Championship.
Great work guys, see you in Cat 1 next year!
Jason takes 3rd overall in expert male 30+. A very long and hard fought Southern Classic Series finishes at Dark Mountain today!
Ok, so after the ACL surgery in Feb. 2010 i new i was out for the spring and early summer races. That meant the Maxxis Series and the Greenville Crits were out off site. So I started slow and stayed away from Jim S. rode when I could with little speed and even less distance. As the the spring came and went I looked at ORAMM to be a focus for the Mt. and Crossraods to be a Goal for the Road. Well ORAMM came pretty quickly and I knew that I was in for a Long day when EHarmoy called me at 4:45am and told me he was carpooling with C-DUb and I. So I’m very quiet in the morning and my Mexicans know not even to utter a word before 8 if they wanna keep a job. Eric is not quit a Mexican if you know what I mean. I did have him scared though when i told him rather blankly I would leave him in Old Fort if he didn’t cross the finish line in 7 hours. It’s good to be the driver sometimes. Needless to say EHarmony passed me on the way up Mills Rd with a smile since he could tell I had a rocket in my mouth. Jason the Canadian killed it and took the CBC crown in great form as he crushed the downhills and stayed in control and consistent on the climbs. Mark and Buddy also virgins to ORAMM did very well considering the 96 degree temps and 11000 feet of climbing in 63 miles. EHarmony podiumed and didn’t even feel it as far as my dehydration head ache could tell on the way home. He makes me laugh!
Crossroads was also quite an event. Mocksville was good and pretty quiet until 2 to go and I clipped the pedal in turn two and landed off line and peeled my tire off the rim for a DNF. So now I’m out for the overall so I’m looking for Points now as to atleast get $150 back. Concord was good and the points were coming in. Salisbury was WET and me with all my Mt. biker Skills dumped it with 4 to go and I’m still coddling my road rash as we speak. Statesville was another WET course and I was sooo Gun Shy that I couldn’t take my turns aggressively and therefor lost my position in front of the pack and finished mid- pack. Harrisburg was good and DRY but the riders were on and I was fighting to keep a wheel and this little 14 year old kept calling every position in every turn and totally got in my head. The field sprint was ugly as you could expect with a bunch of 4-5’s. All in all i think I finished 8th in Points and 17 in Leader. So much for all the waiting and late season training I seem to peak fast and go down hill even faster. Next update will be about the Summer Series and if I can Keep the Lead till the end. 5 to go! Then SWANK. Anyone in?
