Month of Mud gets CROSSED up!

The Month of Mud, now in it's 26th year, traditionally a Mtn Bike Series, has in recent years added ONE CycloCross race to it's calendar: the North Park CycloCross Race.

Generally speaking, THIS picture of Nathan Black, in his first time wearing FoxVelo SMURF racing kit, says alot about our day!

Oh well....

Beginners Class
DNF (rolled tire) - Nathan Black

Single Speed
13th Place - Mark Briercheck
17th Place - Kirk Morrison

Sport Class
DNF (hard crash, bent wheel) - Mark Briercheck

Masters 45+
11th Place - Rich Allen
18th Place - Ray Sielski

...and THAT is all we have to say about THAT :))

ABRA-Cadabra #1 & #2

Mark Briercheck makes the Race Flyer......

....while RaySielski submits the following race report ....

....from the Appalacian Bicycle Racing Association's first two CycloCross races of the season:
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Week#1
Kickoff Cross

ABRA series is two weeks in and we have some clear favorites and good results.

Mike Maher and Mark Briercheck doubled up in Kickoff cross with performances in SS and Masters. Steve Marlette turned in good results racing Masters.

An East coast inspired track JR shows us how a national championship course is designed. Hard pack infield with twisty turns including a spiral of death. A heat packed course meant for some fast laps.

New mini loop section with undulating terrain drops you into a sharp run up. Our eyes were seared with a brush with the past as a piece of “2008 Ag3r Christmas Kit” was sighted on the course, fortunately it was well behind the Ag3r WARIO racers, as we left the past behind in the rear view mirrors.

 

 

Mike Maher
11th Place Single Speed
17th Place Masters

Mark Briercheck
7th Place Single Speed
7th Place Masters

Steve Marlette
5th Place Masters

Ray Sielski
6th Place Masters
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Week #2
Collier Township Park

...spells the end of Military Cross, this new track was fast and smooth. Steve Marlette and Ray Sielski showed up for this inaugural run.

The infield was no cow pasture that JR is used to, professionally graded we cruised over the infield. Big turns meant for fast laps, which meant more laps. Steve puts the hammer down and flies through the paved section leading into the mini double track loop. First out means first into the 90 degree turn into the barriers at the base of the run up. No riding this.

Back section has a gassing up section, why? Because you blew a nut in the 40 yard sand section just before your remount and uphill. Survive this and you get to fly down a serious descending double track into the paved road.

Steve Marlette
5th Place Masters

Ray Sielski
6th Place Masters

 

Note #1:

All Photos by Fred Jordan.

 

Note #2:

A future post will give visibility to a collection of photos taken by FoxVelo racer Nathan Black!

 

 

Brady's Run MTB

Kirk Morrison, Hannah Brewer and Rich Allen all attended the Month of Mud Race#2 - Brady’s Run XC short track in Beaver, Pa.

Kirk reports:
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The weather was cool, breezy and overcast skies with temps around 50F.

The course was fast & tacky from yesterday’s rain. Surprisingly almost no mud. 

The new 4 mile loop started at the top of the climb and was very fun and flowy with plenty of log crossings and banked turns

Womens Expert
Hannah was leading the race but ended up with a loose rear wheel (broken skewer ?) which put her back in 4th place. In spite of have a “loose rear wheel”, Hannah was able to battle back to finish in 2nd place. A great effort for her last race as a “twenty-something” !

Masters 45+
Richy put in a strong effort against a very fast field to finish in 8th place.

Single Speed
Kirk finished in 7th place.

Attached are some photo’s from Mike Briggs that I was able to pull from his FB posts.

 

Web Address to Results: http://monthofmud.com/?page_id=2488

Seattle Cross Revolution

Kirk Morrison ventured WAY AFAR ...to Everett, Washington, for the Silver Lake CycloCross Race.

The west coast weather was hot and dry with temps in the low 90's (Unusual for this time of year.) Another racer guaranteed cold, wet and mud for the rest of the races in this series. As predicted, the temps dropped and the Seattle rain started on the Tuesday after this race and was still going when I left on Friday .....

The course was a hard and dusty with a nice mix of single track, twisty turns, lots of climbs and 2 long sand sections along the beach (unfortunately, the sand ate my freehub ...). 

It was a FUN vibe, with home brewed RFID timing chips...

... big fields, an entertaining announcer and lots of team tents along the finishing straight.

Next time I'm hoping to schedule a trip in Oct/Nov so that I can catch one of the famed Portland Cross Crusade races.

Cat3, Masters Mens 55+
Finish Place: 11th Place

http://www.turboreg.net/Live/Results/2BCCA9DB6850492A9DBBFD1E435788B8/305

Also, check out my blog update for more PICTURES...and words!

You know you wanna...you know you should :))

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(click HERE ->) Kirk Morrison = Late Bloomer!

 

Brooklyn Cross

Ray Sielski travelled solo to Brooklyn Ohio for a "Buckeye Style" Cyclocross race!

Here is his report:
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Sunny morning sky in Pittsburgh turned dark and threatening in Ohio, thank you lake effect.

Drove through two rain showers to be greeted at Brooklyn with clearing skies.

The day progressed well as race time approached the course started to dry up and conditions changed from swampy to just tacky. The sun also warmed up the racers and we were starting at 70 degrees and sunny.

The park is multi-tiered, the upper portion firm and fast with twisty turns, the lower portion was wet punctuated by a creek crossing that was a real ankle twister.

Two run ups that were ride able at the end of the day as they dried out.

The off camber up slope left 180 degree turn was not rideable by me. Anyone that tried to ride this technical turn (and pass me) was successfully thwarted by typical x-ray protocol. 

..."ELBOWS UP"!

A good day on the bike and a great atmosphere as NEOCX does it well.

No photos for proof, just my 5th Place result that has been audited and reposted twice!!!

Men's 50+
http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?year=2014&id=3128