cross recap

The season is over

but here are a few pictures from the last few races   The 1st is Storm the greens held at the old golf course outside of Louisville,it was cold and damp.I did not get any photo's of the team since we all raced at the same time.But here's a few photo's and some video.

The next weekend was frozen Brookside park in Indianapolis it was also the Indy State Championships and the final race of the ovcx anothe race with a full compliment of 7 hillers minus Dan who wasnt feeling well.Congrats to Jeni on her podium in the overall....GREAT JOB!!!!!

Finally I went to Kansas City for the national championships,I left on Wed morning with Rick Toler from Kreitler Team after 10 hrs we made it.The following morning we went over to the course to watch the races going on and to get our #'s and try to sneak in a ride.

Watching the video of the course it didnt seem to bad but actually it was 1 long twisty uphill followed by a fast twisty downhill,of course I signed up for the singlespeed class and forgot my smaller chainrings DOH!!!.

The course was not technical but very soft but not muddy for my races. I made it until 2 to go before I got lapped by Steve Tilford, in the 45-49 race I finfished 70th out of 101 starters.

In the ss race I had problems with a cog coming loose(note to self dont wait until night before to put cogs on) this race i was in the pits 3 different times i was lapped twice so in the the results it was a big DNF but actually raced the 45 min.Also it was 60 degrees at 8am for the start but at 1230 for the womens start it was like 25...ouch

Overall the weekend was awesome,the results sucked but I didnt really expect too much.

Doug Hamilton

Ryan Lindsay

Michelle Morris

Leaders of college races

elite mens start

Race recaps or maybe a few pictures

The only Photos before batteries died.
Another good course at John Bryan State park Lou had a fine 4th place and everyone else had a fun timeI did beat Mr. UPS driver at the finish.
The next weekend was another cold day but was made better by the mud from the rain a day before with this course in Lexington having a lot of off camber turns there were lots of slipping and sliding again Lou saves the day...shows up 10 min before the start rides to the start as his warmup then proceeds to finish 5th.Mark loves his fuzzy gloves.








Up next the state championships in NW Columbus a great venue,it was held at a soccer,softball field it was mainly flat except for a small rise on 1 end(it seemed when they graded the ball field they just pushed the dirt to 1 end)and the promoters used every bit of the hill...straight up,down,off camber up ,down a very nice course..ok I liked it because Iwon my race but thats beside the point.I only had a few photos of Jeni,the rest were of the elites.Lou had a hub seize up right before the start which he was able to get a new wheel and get back in line as the whistle blew,but after a lap he had a slow leak and dropped out,Gumby,Mark,Dan all had steady races as usual,since I've been getting crushed in the elite masters i decided to race the 3/4 masters and just see where I could finish,It started fast but slowed down after a few minutes which was very manageable at one time I was 2nd overall but I crashed (which Jeni captured very nicely),then riding around in 5th or 6th overall right behind the top2 in the 45+ i crashed again but still finished 1st Ohio rider...WOOHOO Dan didnt ride enough so he signed up for the elite masters along with me and Lou.I had a nice race with Mr.UPS and another rider most of the race with alap to go we caught Dan from Zephyr who wasnt feeling all that well(at least until the last 10 yards where got me at the line for 17th).Only 3 more races left:(

Lou and Dan at John Bryan - I think Lou came in 4th (again)

Pure Sweet Hell

Gun Club

Uncle Steve's

Here's a few photos from the cross race in Marysville(no I didnt stop and try and get a date at the reformatory)

Great costumes, Getting the win and seeing Geoff with a big gap at the start and Dan in 3rd right on their wheels then hearing Geoff say he needed a wheel then disappearing behind a tree then hearing a crash then Bobby Knights favorite word being uttered

Made the trip to Louisville with Mr. Ramsey at O dark thirty on Sat for round 1 and 2 of the USGP of cyclocross.

Had a nice representation of 7 hills... Geoff,Jeni, Robin(team mascot),Mark and Linda,and Gumby(who is now addicted)

Over 80 riders in the C race,and 25+ in the ladies 3/4 race.and 35 in the masters race.

Geoff had a good race with a mid pack finish and Dan and Gumby a little farther back then Mark a little further back and Jeni finished mid pack against a big group of Cat 3 women.

I felt good warming up for my race,then 15 min to call up I realized I couldn't clip in on my right pedal so after looking realized the spring had broken......F%^& so rode to the pits to see if anyone could help there happened to be someone from crank brothers who told me to go to their tent and I could get some help,so I busted my butt to get there only to find no one home(he was racing in the race that was going on).
So I had no other choice than to race 1 legged(since I couldn't clip in)
I started on the front row but since i wasn't confident I just faded back so I could get a feel for riding with 1 foot clipped in.
I wound up 15th which was better than I thought.

On Sunday I felt real good about having a top 10,after my race on sat the guy at crank brothers rebuilt my pedal..so it was good to go.Another front row start, this time I was able to be aggressive and get to the front 7 or 8 which made me feel good after about 3/4 th's of a lap I started getting dropped,then a nice group(6 or 7 ) caught me including Dan Lach from Zephyr,I was able to ride with that group for awhile then it splintered but was able to keep Dan and a couple other riders with in a few seconds,I couldn't get back on.
I wound up racing with a rider from Columbus who is a UPS driver(I've raced him in the Cap City races I've done) there where parts of the course where he was faster but other parts I was then on the last lap at the little run up he bobbled and I was able to get around him and actually increased the gap at the finish.

USPS-4
UPS-4
After turning myself inside out to hold onto the front group,then back to Dan's group I was disappointed with another 15th place...but OH Well it was more fun than I had all year on the bike...WOOHOO!!!!

THANKS Geoff

I ordered new tires on Monday and got them on Thursday and they were very noticeable I could out corner a lot of the guys but just didn't have the legs on the acceleration out of the corners

This Sunday is The GunClub race just a mile from the bike trail and Ward corner in Miamiville comeout and cheer us on,bring the kids. there should be a kids race

Also checkout on bike action here

http://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/video/video/show?id=1198434%3AVideo%3A14933

USGP of Cyclocross in Louisville

MCD

Don't forget MCD had a good day, too.

Cap City part 2

Nice job to Jeni and Susan for their podiums Dan had a nice race in the C's but got beat at the line by some 20 something kid(I told him after the race he should have rode the guy into the weeds but Dans too nice of a guy for that)Geoff and Mark and Mike Mcd had solid races along with Gumby who had a flat on the last lap..gave him my spare and off he went finishing up strong.
I wasn't sure about how my race would go after having my ass beat last weekend...even though as bad as i felt I found out when I got home that I had bent my front wheel so much that it would not roll a 1/2 a revolution before it stopped...DOH!!!! so I felt a little better after finding that out.
I had a good race they were killing it at the front but i settled into a nice rhythm and wound up racing Scott from Columbus who also is a ups driver so there's xtra motivation to beat him..he beat me 2 weeks a go at the last Cap city race then i returned the favor in Middletown and he came back at Harbin ,I followed him around the last 3 or 4 laps then on the twisty descent back toward the finish I got up beside him and as he described it I stuffed him in the corner at least he stayed upright:) and i was able to hold him off,then the icing on the cake was finding out i won WOOHOO!!!!!!

Cap City Field Trip Fun

Our cross contingent went on a field trip to Columbus, aka Cap City today, with lots of racing, and top results for our two of our hardest workin' members, Streamers (Jeni) in Woman's C, and Newman (Mike O) in the master's B. If you don't know these two, their enthusiasm and race attitude are a big part of the backbone of our team. We carpooled up to the north, set up our tents and jumped right into our warmup laps. Get well soon to our mate SkiMonkey (Lou), who was on injured reserve with a stomach virus. Pre-race food for we weary travelers, included Twix bars, rice krispie treats, copious amounts of diet coke, a few bananas, some GU, and a fair number of PB&Js, amongst other things.

We raced on a Frisbee golf course, that started in the holler next to the creek, took us through a windy slippery grassy stretch, over a couple of barriers, then a few switchbacks to the first run-up. About 95 percent of the racers ran up the rocky hill (that we named "the Escalator") toting their bikes; however a stalwart few MTB crew (including our man Wrench(Geoff)) rode that sucker all the way up, hard core! See video!!) The course then ascended another 8 or 10 times (I lost count, started making my Christmas list so I didn't have to think about it); to end up at various ridges above the starting area, then down a rocky hill with some big air at the end, then to some grassy switchbacks and a fast downhill. We all looked out for the local ground hog; and McD bumped over the local wildlife's back door a couple times, remarking that his voice was noticeably higher at the finish, LOL. The end of the course was a big rocky downhill you rode to the left, hitting a switchback, then spinning like crazy to come round to the flat, and do it all again.

All our 7 Hills crew ended up w/ top 20 results, with big smiles and more cowbell all around. The Herald (Dan) and Wrench were top ten, Gumby (Scott B), McD (my man), and McK (Mark) finishing top 20 in the Men's Cs. (Twas an open race this week, so all ages were included in the C races.)

Jeni and yours truly were 1st and 3d in the women's Cs. I did my best and blocked at the start. The Kippy philosophy "if you can't be fast, be opportunistic." Ha! Streamers got a good 500 meter run out, and stayed away. Her nearest competition dropped her chain on the the first set of barriers, but then caught up with me on the hill, guess that'll learn me to get in her way again. Ah, well, I guess it helped cause Jeni got 'er done! (Our team dog, Robin, joined us for the podium picture. Too much fun!)

Master's and Men's Open Bs all started together, with Newman taking 1st, and the Herald 4th.

Men's A's also featured Newman and the Herald (his THIRD race of the day, talk about whoo-hoo), racing for more fun, not so much results. The Herald stayed top 20 for this race, as well.

Our new pals Bridget Donovan and her hubby James joined our carpool caravan, with Bridget taking 2d in the Women's A's, and James doing well in the men's Bs, then also racing the men's A's with The Herald.

We headed to Ruby Tuesdays for some burgers and telling some more stories, then were treated to a beautiful sunset on the ride home. A fine field trip all in all; nice organization and good schwag for the prizes.

Louisville Grand Prix of Cyclocross next weekend, fun to race, fun to watch. Contact Jeni and Geoff if you want to crash in their hotel floor space.

Cap City

Geoff was the only rider that I saw to ride this hill,very rutted and rocky......WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan running the same hill

Cyclocross weekend

Here's some video and photo's from the Middletown and Harbin Park races

USGP 2007

racing 2008

Cap City

Made the trip up to N.E. Columbus with Dan and Mark.
At first I thought the course sucked,due to the long downhill road section into a bit of flat grassy area with a hairpin and a ninety degree turn thrown in then back out on the road( a long uphill slog )then a right turn over a piece of plywood into the beginning of a fast singletrack downhill then out into a mowed meadow then back into some singletrack that would take us back up to the finish.

After riding a few laps I decided it was pretty fun..hitting the singletrack on skinny tires instead of the big mtb tires was a blast.

Mark and Dan did the C race and I did the masters which raced withe B's(Dan also doubled up AGAIN..what a monster).Dan got a great start and was in 2nd through the barriers and stayed there the rest of the race,Mark had a good start was in the middle of the pack but got tangled up in some tape and lost a bunch of spots..not sure where he finished.I had a good race finished 3rd in the masters and finished 6th overall so I was pretty happy.

Here's a few photos and some video of the start

Louisville cross 2008

An awesome day of cross racing in Louisville
Mike,Dan,Mark and Lou made the trip,Mark Dan and Lou all raced 3/4 masters.
I think there was 20+ riders,seeing Dan near the front 4 or 5 riders at the start was awesome, Lou was a few more riders back and Mark was toward the back enjoying being on his bike.But in the end Lou came on strong while Dan faded a bit(due to racing 2 times on Sat up in Columbus) and I believe Mark was in the fight of his life with the chainsmoking kid on a Huffy.
So Lou finnished 2nd with Dan a fine 5th and mark got 10th(I believe).
My race went as I figured due to being sick for 7 days I started slow and slowly worked my way to the back..Oh well as long as it turns around in the next few weeks.

Loveland cross

1st off..... THANKS!!!! to everyone that made my daughter and
granddaughter welcome..YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST

Note to self do not use 1st cross race of the year to do 2 races
especially if the 1st one is on the single speed...DUH!!!!!
race started ok with 50 or so riders gained a buch of spots then on a
long straight that narrowed a bit i followed a rider into some tall
grass(which was tall because they couldnt mow it because of the deep
rut)he crashed and i followed him to the ground no damage other than
to my psyche

Like Susan said sometimes you need to race with alot of anger,which i
did for 21/2 laps but after that I didnt seem to be gaining any time
on the riders in front so I decided I would save myself for my main
race but then someone would pass me and tell me to come on i would
jump on their wheel and race them before you know it the race was over
but the damage was done.my 2nd race was the masters cat 123 at the
start i was in the middle of the 30 or so riders but started to fade
with cramps in my arms and my back was getting tight so i bailed after
a few laps.

This is the 1st race of a long season that ends here

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Registrants.aspx?item_id=2120

Nice job to Lou(2nd place) and Dan(3rd).It was great to see Susan and
Mike and Mark, Guy was there in his 1st race on a sweet Surly and
Geoff and Jeni(who raced on a team in the 12 hours of Mohican MTB race
up near Mansfield on Sat. also sporting a nice bruise after using her
leg to try and break a rock) also Scott B out on a stealthy MTB.
NICE JOB to everyone

Little Belgium - The 2007 New England Cyclocross Season from Andy Frothingham on Vimeo.

CrankBrothers GP

New Bike

It's almost time

To start thinking about the 1st race of the OVCX Series

9/14/08 in Loveland at Riverview Park

If you want to try cross this is the race,use your mountain bike,go see Geoff at Team Cycling and Fitness and get hooked up with a great deal on the Fuji's,or be Like Brian...Nieport that is and use your road bike

Hopefully in August we can start the wildly popular cross practice at armwarmer park