VisitPA.com's new ride

Sometimes things are just as they should be and what could be more right that PA's mountain bike team riding PA's mountain bikes?!

VisitPA.com is on Cannondale in 2008 and we couldn't be happier about it! Cannondale makes bikes that are ideal for our racing pursuits; from their Caffeine 29ers which roll like crazy over the PA rocks to the lightweight travel of the Rush, a perfect bike for 12 and 24 hour attempts, Cannondale provides us exactly what we need.

We try very hard to not only showcase the great riding and recreational opportunities in Pennsylvania, but to also partner with companies that are based in or produce product in PA. Cannondale is one such company with a manufacturing center in Bedford, PA. We are looking forward to a long a fruitful relationship with Cannondale and can't wait to rock these bikes in 2008.

Slide on over to http://www.cannondale.com/ and check out the 2008 spread -- my favs are the new Scalpel (picture above) which I'll be riding in the 100s next season and how can you not savor the top of the line SuperSix Ulitmate (below)?!

VisitPA.com Team readies for 2008

We're neck deep in 2008 preparations for the squad and have some exciting news (for us anyway). We're pleased to announce that everyone's favorite vegan, Rob Lichtenwalner, has signed on for '08 and will be looking to defend his title from the Granny Gear National Solo 24 Series in visitPA colors.

Speaking of our colors, we're working with Zach from Red Tettemer - the designer of our exceptional race logos and our first generation uniforms - on an updated look for the squad. Check back here for the first glimpse of the new gear.

The sponsorship search is full swing as well and we already have some great news, but will be holding off to make a full announcement in few days. Of course, anyone interested in coming on board as a sponsor of the state's official mountain bike team is welcome to contact us!

Curse of Dark Hollow Race Report

visitPA.com Race Report

The Curse of Dark Hollow, 100km Endurance Race

Sunday July 16, 2007
Michaux State Forest, PA

By Flyin Ryan Leech

On Sunday, racers lined up for the second of the Michaux Endurance Series aptly named 'The Curse of Dark Hollow.' This race pushed riders to mental and physical limits that few wish to bear. VisitPA.com teammates Michelle Schneider and Ryan Leech signed up to test their skills, endurance and fortitude on this epic Michaux State Forest course. Michaux is known for its endless, rocky, technical trail system. The 7:00 am start time found the riders subdued, knowing that the next 6 to 8 hours would take every bit of energy in their bodies to complete the metric century.

The race started on a long descent, and by the bottom many riders of similar ability were already grouped together. Michelle, one of five women starters, kept with her well-tuned endurance pace and caught the lead female at the second feed station (25 miles). Ryan found himself keeping pace in 4th spot with a local rider for the first third of the race until early fatigue caused him to fall off the pace. Michelle spent the next 20 miles pitted against Cheryl Sorenson (the eventual women's winner). On a particularly technical downhill, Michelle missed a turn and found herself off course, adding on an additional 8 miles and losing contact with Cheryl for good. After finding the way back on course, Michelle kept a steady pace and a smiling face to finish in 8:33 for 2nd spot. Ryan rode solo for over 4 hours, slowly fading in the heat, on rocky trails, and over the long climbs. On the last section, he was passed by two riders, falling from 5th to 7th place overall, taking 7th overall in 6:47. In the end, he was more than happy simply to finish the race!


Find results here:

Big thanks to our sponsors:

VisitPA.com

SRAM Bicycle Components

Gary Fisher Bicycles

Please support our charity:

The Blue Butterfly Fund

VisitPA.com Mountain Bike Stage Race and Festival Weekend

More info at www.highspeedcycling.com

Neshaminy MASS XC Report

VisitPA.com Race Report
Guy's Neshaminy Super Series Race
June 17, 2007
By Ray Adams

Langhorne, PA was the site for Mid-Atlantic Super Series race #7, Guy's Neshaminy Classic. The weather was hot and the course was tough, featuring relentlessly rolling hills, tons of logs, and winding singletrack.
The visitPA.com mountain bike team fielded racers in four categories: X-Ray in the Elite men, Mike Yozell in Expert Masters 35-59, Mike "The Legend" Hebe in Masters 40-44, and Nancy in Elite Women.
As the four laps counted down, it became a race of attrition in the heat and never-ending twisty trail. Hebe and Yozell rode extremely well, winning their respective categories. Nancy finished 9th in the Elite women and Ray riding in for a fourth place finish amongst the Elite men. It was another excellent weekend for the team!
The the visitPA.com mountain bike team will be promoting the team stage race in Marysville, June 29-July 1. Come out and race, get rowdy, and enjoy!

Thanks to our sponsors:

VisitPA.com
SRAM Bicycle Components
Gary Fisher Bicycles

Please support our charity:

The Blue Butterfly Fund

Lumberjack 100 Race Report

Lumberjack 100, Michigan
by Michelle Schneider

Just a few miles away from the shores of Lake Michigan, Michelle Schneider and Mike Kuhn raced in the 2007 Founders Lumberjack 100 Mountain Bike race. It was a long haul to the race, but well worth the 12-hour trip to race against the seasoned elite racers of the mid-west.
The course was four laps of a 25 mile loop which was filled with short climbs and tight twisty wooded sections, all being singletrack. Although the climbs were not long or steep, the ground was very sandy, making it challenging to find and hold a good line.
All riders started at the same time, gaining speed on one mile of pavement before hitting a sandy singletrack climb. From there, the course wound up and down through the woods, crossing many dirt roads, but never riding on them. Good lines became harder and harder to find as racers wore the trail and exposed the soft sandy ground, similar to a beach. Luckily for the racers, it was not sunny that day and even spat a few raindrops, or maybe that was the spray from the nearby Lake Michigan.
In the Men’s race Mike Kuhn started with a fast pace in the top ten men. Eating and drinking was hard enough on the twisty path, harder yet when these men were pulling under 2 hour lap times consistently over the entire race. Mike placed a very respectable 15th, with a time of 7:51. He had time to clean up, eat, chat with Chris Eatough, the overall race winner, and cheer Michelle on as she rolled in.
In the women’s race, Michelle started in 3rd place and hung onto her place until the 3rd lap, when she was passed by Erika Tieszen. Thinking she was in 4th place and needing to get some speed on, she pushed harder and swung over the finish line only to find out that the gal in front of here took an unexpected break from racing. Michelle Schneider placed 3rd, with a time of 9:31.
This weekend Michelle plans to attack the 12 Hours of Roundtop, at Athens, PA. Also, the visitPA.com mountain bike team will be promoting the team stage race in Marysville, June 29-July 1.

Thanks to our sponsors:

VisitPA.com
SRAM Bicycle Components
Gary Fisher Bicycles

Please support our charity:

The Blue Butterfly Fund

Stoopid 50 Mountain Bike Marathon Race Report

VisitPA.com Race Report

Stoopid 50 Endurance Mountain Bike Race

June 10, 2007

Rothrock State Forest, PA

By Wes Schempf

Last Sunday was the inaugural Stoopid 50, a fifty-mile single loop marathon race held near State College in beautiful Rothrock State Forest. Presented by Mt. Nittany Wheelworks and Shenandoah Mountain Touring, the 50 was the first race of the newly revamped Mid-Atlantic Super Series endurance series.

Approximately 120 riders lined up for the start early Sunday morning in Penn Roosevelt State Park. Team visitPA.com was represented by Ray Adams and Wes Schempf in the open single speed category on their Fisher Rigs, and Mike Kuhn in the open men category riding his Fisher Paragon. Due to an unfortunate moving incident on Saturday, resident local Ryan “too much rock, and not enough roll” Leech was forced into a support role and wasn’t able to contest the race.

With beautiful sunny skies and low humidity, racers rolled onto the course for a neutral start on the first mile and half of the fifty-mile loop. Competition in the single speed category was fierce, as some legendary characters were present including Gunnar Shogren, Buck Keich, and Topher Valenti. Shogren, a fixture on the east coast mountain bike scene from the early 90’s on and all around great rider was someone to be watched.

The course was tough and demanding due to the technical nature of the singletrack and the preponderance of climbing. Once in the first section of singletrack there would be no opportunity for getting past other racers so this section was critical. Ray and Wes were able to get into the singletrack in decent position and shadow Gunnar, who was just ahead. Since this was Ray’s first race on a single speed, it took him some time to get used to one gear. Sections that he would be able to ride easily on his geared bike took on new challenge, as was racing the course for the first time.

Wes and Gunnar rode easily to the first aid station about 1/3 of the way into the course. At this point, Wes continued on to the steep and brutal hike-a-bike up Sassafras Trail knowing that the support crew of Ryan and Pat Leech and Nancy Nowicki were waiting with energy drinks and water. Having no idea what position he was in, Wes continued to push ahead while trying to keep enough gas in the tank for the rest of the race.

After decending into Greenwood Furnace State Park, racers had to climb back up to the second aid station about 2/3 into the loop. The aid station was a welcome relief from the miles of grueling rollers that racers faced. Coming into the aid station, Wes was surprised to hear that he was in the top 5 overall. A quick refill of the Camelbak, and one too many cold glasses of coke resulted in seeing competitors Gunnar and Ray roll into the checkpoint. YIKES!

Wanting to keep his position in front of Gunnar, Wes took off and punched it for the finish. However, the course wasn’t done with its namesake. Plenty more climbing and technical riding were on the menu. Up the twisty Long Cut Trail and along Beautiful Trail, Wes was constantly checking for any sign of Gunnar or Ray. Fortunately for Wes and Ray, Gunnar was forced to stop and change his wheel due to a flat. Ray attacked and was able to gain a nice gap over Gunnar.

Once, over Chestnut Springs, it was almost all downhill except for the three miles of gradual climbing to the finish at Penn Roosevelt. Rolling across the line, Wes was greeted with the news that he was third overall and the first single speed. Ray finished several minutes back as fourth overall and second single speed.

The winning time posted by Brandon Draugelis was 4:16, in second was Aaron Snyder with a time of 4:29. Third, on a single speed, was Wes Schempf at 4:31, and Ray Adams in fourth, on a single speed, with a time of 4:37. Not bad for guys with one gear.

Mike Kuhn, who raced the Mohican 100 the weekend before, cruised into 14^th in the open. Mike is planning on racing the Lumberjack 100 this coming weekend. Best of luck to you, Kuhndog!

Special thanks to:

The promoters: Frank, Jim, Harry, and Cathy at Mt. Nittany Wheelworks, and

Chris Scott at Shenandoah Mountain Touring for organizing and running the race.

Teammates: Ryan Leech, Nancy Nowicki, and Ryan’s mom, Pat, for the support and feeds.

Sponsors:

VisitPA.com

SRAM Bicycle Components

Gary Fisher Bicycles

Please support our charity:

The Blue Butterfly Fund

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Tour De Tykes Race Report, Danville, PA

visitPA.com Race Report

Tour De Tykes Mountain Bike Race

Danville, PA

June 2-3, 2007

by Mike Hebe

The VisitPA.com squad was well represented this weekend at the 5th annual Tour De Tykes race weekend. Representing for the squad in the Elite category was series leader Ryan Leech, Wes Schempf, who was sitting third before the event, team leader Ray Adams, who is fresh off a win from the prior MASS event, and Mike Yozell, looking to show some good form. Arguably the hardest XC race of the season with 4,700 feet of climbing in just 18 miles, the Tour De Tykes course could not hold down the VisitPA.com elite juggernaut. With the race leaders suffering mechanicals, Wes & Ryan bided their time and rode to the front when it mattered most. Wes Schempf scored his first MASS Elite victory, rolling in on a flat tire! Ryan Leech rode to a strong 4th place and Ray Adams stormed back after a mid-race flat tire to finish 7th.

In the Elite Women's event Nancy Nowicki battled a cold and still managed to ride to a very impressive 2nd place finish.

Holding down the fort in the 40+ Expert field, Mike Hebe again went wire to wire for his 3rd consecutive series win.

In Sunday’s short track event, Ryan, Ray, and Mike tested their mettle again. After a blistering opening three laps Ray Adams went off the front with a solo attack which almost stuck for the next five laps. The tiring field reeled Ray in with about 1/2 a lap to go. Ryan then put the hammer down and attacked, with Ray in his draft. Ryan and Ray finished 1-2 for the day, with a great display of strength and teamwork. Mike suffered a flat while riding with Ryan & Ray's group and ended up running back to his car to get a spare bike to finish the event. While well out of contention, he still went on to catch a few riders and remind everyone that the VisitPA.com team will always race to the end.

All in all, it was a great weekend for the team – taking victories both days in the Elite men’s category! The team looks forward to the Stoopid 50 Mountain Bike Marathon this weekend and the Guy's XC event on June 17.

Thanks to our sponsors:

VisitPA.com

SRAM Bicycle Components

Gary Fisher Bicycles

Please support our charity:

The Blue Butterfly Fund

Women's MTB Clinics by VisitPA.com's Michelle Schneider

Our team's baker of yummy bars (btw Michelle, I'm going to need some of those for the Lumberjack 100) is going to host a series of women's mountain bike clinics and rides this fall in the Williamsport area. The first clinic will be next Tuesday evening, June 12, with more to follow...check 'em out here.

Tour De Tykes and Mohican 100

Most of the team headed to the MASS affiliated Tour De Tykes in Danville, PA where on Saturday Wes won the XC, Ry took 4th, Ray finished 7th, Nancy got 2nd, and Hebe won his age group!
On Sunday the brand new STXC saw Ray off the front most of the day softening it up for his teammates and in the end Ry brought home the win and Ray held on for 2nd!

Kuhn took a drive west to Ohio and rode around the woods for about 8 hours to finish 9th in the Mohican 100, the second race in the National Ultra Endurance series. You can read his race report (the way too long version) at http://kuhndogrides.blogspot.com/

Greenbriar Beat Down

Smokin!

VisitPA.com Race Report
Greenbriar American Bicycle Challenge Race
Greenbriar State Park, MD
April 29, 2007
By Ray Adams


The visitPA.com mountain bike team would contest four categories in one of the East Coasts’ premier events, the Greenbriar American Bicycle Challenge Mountain Bike Race (AMBC). Drawing talent from around the nation, the event grows every year and features a great, challenging five mile lap course. The results of this race are used to qualify pro riders for the 2008 Olympics, and to qualify other categories for the mountain bike national championships in July in Mount Snow, VT.

Mike Hebe, one of the team’s 2007 additions, would take third place in the Expert 40-49 age category.

Nancy Nowicki finished fourth in the Expert Women 30-39 category.

In the Semi-Pro men’s category, visitPA.com took three of the top five podium spots. Flyin Ryan Leech and X-Ray Adams worked together for the first two of four laps, riding in first and second places. Leech would fall back slightly on the climbs, catching back to Adams on the rocky decent at the end of the lap. The duo eventually split up, Adams taking the win and Leech riding in for second place. Wes Schempf (“SSWes”) rode a geared bike, rather than his trademark single speed, today, and finished fourth.

In all it was an outstanding day for the team, with all of the finishing racers qualifying for nationals in addition to the day’s success.

Learn more about the team and our sponsors:

VisitPA.com
SRAM Bicycle Components
Gary Fisher Bicycles

The next race the team will be attending is the Cat Classic in Williamsport on May 5, 2007.

Mid-Atlantic Super Series Hibernia Duathlon and Short Track Races

Hibernia Duathlon – Wagontown, PA

By Ray Adams

Capitalizing on their strengths, visitPA.com’s Ray and Nancy decided to enter the Hibernia County Park Duathlon as a relay team. Nancy was to complete the trail running legs of the race, while Ray would complete the mountain bike portion. The race began bright and early, with Nancy finishing the 1.7 mile run about 2-3 minutes down from the leader. Ray left the transition area with a vengeance, seeking to catch the race leader in his 12 mile pursuit. He passed many, but it was not until mile 9 that he caught the first place rider. Ray was able to put about three minutes into his team’s lead by the end of his leg. Nancy took off from the transition area with one goal in mind - to maintain their lead. She was able to do this with ease, finishing alone with nobody in sight. It was a great race for the duo.

VisitPA.Com Mtn Bike Team Wins MASS STXC – Wagontown, PA

By Ryan Leech

Sunday, April 22 marked the opening event in the Mid Atlantic Super Series Short Track Cross Country (STXC) at Hibernia County Park, PA. VisitPA.com's STXC specialist Ryan Leech won the Elite Men's fields over young Pro rider Kyle Hammaker, while visitPa.com's stalwart hardman Ray Adams took the 3rd step on the podium. Nancy Nowicki, one of visitPA.com's new team members for 2007, took the unofficial win in the women's race (unofficial because the women raced with the masters men category), proving that her leap to the Elite women's field isn't in vain.

The men's race started with a stomping field eager to make the pace brisk. Immediately, visitPa.com was on the front followed closely by entire field. After two laps of the 12 lap (30 minutes) race, a group five lead the race, which included Adams, Leech and Wes Schempf of VisitPa.com. After another rider slid out on one of the course's loose corners and held up a few riders, Hammaker and Leech were pitted against each other at the head of the race. They worked together to increase the gap over Adams and pro rider Rob Lichtenwalner. On the final lap, Leech made the winning move, blasting past Hammaker with half a lap remaining and took the win by five seconds.

The women's race was a combination of Master's men categories and women. Nancy Nowicki throttled the pace at the start, giving her an immediate advantage over her competitors. Halfway through the race, she had a comfortable leading margin. Nowicki's prowess on the bike allowed her to open up the gap with each remaining lap and dominate the women's field.

Michelle's Yummy Bars

Just one of the reason's the VisitPA.com Team is so durn fast....Michelle brings these for us all the time!

Energy Bars
1/2c. chopped up peanuts
1/2c raisins or dried fruits
1/2c. sunflower seeds or other seeds/fruits
2c. oatmeal (any kind)
2c. rice krispies (or other)
1/2c. PButter
1/2c. brown sugar
3/4c.-1c. liquid (molassas, honey, karo etc)**

Combine first group in big bowl.(use any ingredients--chocolate chips,craisins, flax seed etc...I don't like peanuts much, so I add more driedfruits) Just make sure to get 5 1/2c. total of "dry" ingredients. Heat sugars and PB in microwave1-2min--stirring--every 30-45 seconds. Pour over dry ingredients and stir well. Spread and press into greased9x13pan. I spray the PAM on my hand and press into pan. Cool, cut, enjoi**Amt of liquid depends on dry ingredients used & humidity & preferencefor soft/chewy or firmer bars

MASS Team Relay Championship Roundup

Race one of the Mid-Atlantic Super Series is in the can and Team VisitPA.com started the season with a bang by bringing home first and third place in the inaugural MASS Team Relay Championship (which was also promoted by the VisitPA.com Team in conjunction with HighSpeedCycling).

Ray, Wes, Yozell, and Hebe took the win and the MASS Team Relay Perpetual Trophy home with them while Zack, Ry, Kuhn and guest rider Nate Deibert took home the bronze. Team VisitPA.com's ladies Michelle and Nancy teamed up with Erica Yozell and Kyle Hammaker for this event.

These weren't the first podiums for the year for the team however with Team Captain and Grand Poohbah Ray taking 2nd at the Knobscorcher AMBC in the Pro/Semi-Pro field and Kuhndog getting his TTing on by helping to drive the Cadence Cycling and Multisport Team to a first place finish at the Carlisle TTT Challenge while Ray was off cavorting in North Carolina. Nancy, Ray's not quite yet officially better half, brought home a well earned 6th in her first attempt at Women's Expert at the Knobscorcher as well.

This weekend brings the MASS STXC series kickoff with the Hibernia Short Track on Sunday. Look for Ry, Zack, and Wes at the front of this race and eyeing up the season long series with support coming from the rest of the guys. The women will have their hands full as part of the Expert B field and will be banging head's with master's and supersport men during their race.

Two weeks, four podiums. Hopefully its just the start of things to come.

MASS Team Relay Championship p/b the VisitPA.com MTB Team

With the real start of XC race season just over 1 month out the VisitPA.com team is putting together a fun little event at the Oesterling Farm in Marysville, PA in early April that should be great fun. The race is a short team relay event (think 4 x 100 in track - complete with batons even) but one that has the added twist of awarding handicapping points to each team. What we hope is that this points system will allow all the teams more equal footing in the race and will hopefully keep the outcome anyone's guess until the final minutes. We're excited to bring this new and unique event to the mid-Atlantic and hope that you'll put your own team together to join us on April 7. You can find more about the event at www.highspeedcycling.com.

Back up and running

Ray, this is for you!