20130516

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
 
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

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:  12th Place
 
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:  15thPlace

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.

 
 

3 comments:

Rich said...

I see Kirk found a date on the course.

Anonymous said...

Yes, after a few bourbon handups in Louisville I did make some new friends.

Henry Dimmick said...

Then you must be "Skips", the immortal Yeti sitting on the stool, off the end of the couch!