It's ALL Kirk

While the rest of us were still sitting on the couch...

...the first FIVE races of the year were ALL raced solo by Kirk (The Machine) Morrison!

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Raleigh SS Derby
UCI CycloCross Worlds

Race Date:  1-31-13

Race Location:  Seneca Park, Louisville, KY

Race Category:  Open Men

Finish: 39th Place of 80 starteres in this "Unofficial" fun-race!

 

 

 

 

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Yellow Creek Grass Roots MTB - March

Race Date:  3-30-13

Race Location:  Yellow Creek State Park, PA

Race Category:  Expert, 18 miles (around the lake)

Finish Place/TT Time:  18th Place

Web Address to Results:  http://www.rideyc.com/news/march2013results

 

Race Review (from the organizers website):  “Cool 32 degree start made way for a nice 45 degree finish.  Sunny.  Trails a little muddy, but overall not bad”.

 

Comments:  I was glad that I didn’t come in “last place” for my first Expert class race.  Had a good day with the exception of a few wrong turns and a broken spoke in my rear wheel (in one of the rock gardens).

 

Best regards,

Kirk

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Yellow Creek Grass Roots MTB - April

Race Date:  4-21-13

Race Name:  Yellow Creek Grassroots Racing MTB

Race Location:  Yellow Creek State Park, PA

Race Category:  Expert, 18 miles (around the lake)

Finish Place/TT Time:  21st Place

Web Address to Results:  http://www.rideyc.com/news/april2013results

Race Review (from the organizers website):  “Clear. Sunny.  Starting temps in the low 40’s, finishing temps in the low 50’s.  Course was dry and fast despite late week thunderstorms which made way for a new course record and lots of PR’s on Strava.”

Comments:  This is one of the best courses I’ve ever ridden with a good mix of fast singletrack, rock gardens, climbs as well as great views of the lake.  While I was still far back in the standings, I was able to improve my time by 13 minutes (over the same 18 mile course from the March race).

Best regards,

Kirk
 

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ABRA McKeesport Granprix (crit)

Race Date:  4-27-13

Race Location:  McKeesport, PA

Race Category:  Masters 50+

Finish Place/TT Time:  12^th Place

Web Address to Results:  https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2013-1381

 

Race Review:  Clear. Sunny.  Starting temps in the 50’s, finishing temps in the 60’s.  Nice 0.80 mile circuit with open, safe turns and a ¼ mile hill (19 times …).  In spite of the “safe” course, my race had a crash from wheel overlap in the flat, straight section near the Start/Finish line.  While I was not caught up in this, Gunnar Shogren did go down in this crash and (after banging his derailleur back into place and swapping out a replacement for a bent wheel) he was still able to rejoin the race and take the win.

 

Comments:  Nice race at this new venue with some local spectators and a good number of racers (I believe with a record # of racers for an ABRA Crit).  I enjoyed the chance to watch my nephew (Aaron Morrison) and his co-worker race in the 4/5 race prior to my start.  A few pics from Fred Jordan are attached.
 

 

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Pedal Pine Springs (XC Mtb)

Race Date:  5-4-13

Race Location:  Jennerstown, PA

Race Category:  Expert

Finish Place/TT Time:  15^thPlace

Web Address to Results:  http://pedalpinesprings.wix.com/race#!results/c1xfq

Race Review:  Clear. Sunny.  Starting temps in the 50’s, finishing temps in the 60’s.  Fast 2 mile course with some tight single-track, a few stream crossings, a jump, and a mud pit.  The Expert group did 6 laps on this course with lap times in the 10-12 minute range.  My race was fairly uneventful (no crashes !) with the exception of an apparent rear tire puncture on lap #3.  Fortunately, my tubeless Stan’s setup did a great job of sealing up the hole so I was able to finish out the race on slightly lower pressure, “squishy” rear tire.

Comments:  Nice race at this new venue (their second year) with some local spectators and a lot of enthusiastic volunteers.  I even won a wind-vest in the swag drawing after the race.  I’d definitely like to come back for next years event.

Kirk M.