2009 visitPA.com Events coming your way

I know, the website needs some TLC. You know me, it'll be there. Probably about a week before the race.

Here's a quicky for you:

Team Relay (the first one, in April) - April 4, Saturday - name is changing, idea is not. 4 person teams only. Each team gets a handicap based on riders. We race for four hours. Laps take the fast guys about 20 min. Most everyone else takes longer. Unless they cheat. Someone smarter than me tabulates the results. Someone goes home with the team cup. Its fun. Invite your far away friends. You'll like it.

Rocktober - in May. I know, it doesn't make sense. May 16th. , Saturday - A long ass hard ass course last year, a little shorter this year. On paper anyway. Some fast guys who go top 10 in 7ish hours in NUE 100 milers took 7 hours to do the 75 in this one last year. Buck up and get tough. Probably do something shorter for yinzers who want it, but think low key categories for the XC. This one is all about the Marathon.

Festival and Race Weekend - June 26-28, Friday-Sunday - The MASS Par-Tay. Its on the Dirt Rag World Tour this year thanks to my friends at MASS. New dates and new racing. Short and sweet - 12 Hour Uno, Dos, and Tres Teams on Sat. Looking to get a noise variance for all y'all. If so 10-10, if not then earlier. Maybe a beginner/corporate 4-6er too. Nighttime Team Time Trial on Friday - start positions on the line. Sunday STXC with Z and Me on the mic. All the fun stuff you know and love - or don't know and love but will soon - downhill dual slalom tricycles, slow DH, bands, camping, beverages and whatever else we cook up. Working on the expo. Get your teams together. ***ITS A WEEK EARLIER THIS YEAR SO PLAN FOR IT***

Rattling 50 - its back August 22, Saturday. Its a marathon. Its about 50 miles. Its a sweet sweet course. Rattling Creek Trails. Maybe XC distance going on too, but is MASS Marathon only.

We're into it now so more soon,
Kuhn

A fine end and a solid beginning

So mtb season pretty much wrapped up last weekend for the team with the MASS finals at Bear Creek. It was the end to another solid year of mountain biking in the mid-Atlantic and nationally for the visitPA.com team with all sorts of results all over the place - the highlights of the year:

National Champion Semi-Pro XC
National Champion Semi-Pro STXC
National Champion Women XC
National Podiums - Semi-Pro XC, Expert 34-39, Expert 40-44

MASS Champion - Team - small team category
MASS Champion - Elite Men XC
MASS Champion - Elite Men STXC
MASS Champion - Elite Men Endurance
Additional MASS Overall Podiums - Elite Men XC, Elite Men STXC, Elite Men Endurance, Elite Women XC

And while the mtb season winds down our entry into the 'cross scene as the visitPA.com kicked off with the Mikes racing in the first events of the mid-Atlantic's 'cross season. Hebe took a win at the Bear Creek cross weekend and Yozell and Kuhn took part in the first MAC race of the year at PSU Allentown. Yozell was even able to get the word out on cyclingnews.

Of course, the most important and exciting new beginning for the team was the recent birth of Isaac Yozell to Mike and Erica. Its good to know the team will be well represented in 2028 or so!

Time is UP

I signed up for Transrockies eons ago and here it is.....less than 2 weeks away.

I've packed, trained, made lists of lists, made copies of all itineraries, numbers and contact information to easy my parents' minds, rode and strategized with my teammate Tim Dougherty, and finally memorized that 1.0mile = 1.6km.

I feel good. I am satisfied, knowing that I've prepared to the best of my ability and as long as my focus remains present and positive, I will be successful.
I do have many people who have encouraged and supported me through the season thus far.......for that I am forever in debt and know that I will repay your kindness with kindness to someone else along the way.

Thank you:
Cannondale, for your support along the way...without you I'd be bikeless!
Wes, Ry, Hebe, and Yozell--Thanks for your sage advice and role-modeling at Mt. Snow.

My Carrot: Seeing my sister at the final stage.
My Prayer: Lord, may my ups be longer than my downs. Amen

Michelle

P.S. I'll be posting abridged versions of the stages after I return and settle back into life, so stay tuned.....

Next Generation

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of riding with these fine young folks along the Pine Creek Rail Trail, Pine Creek, PA. DCNR hosts an Adventure Camp for local urban youth and I led the mountain bike exploration/clinic for these day campers. Of course we had to find some single track to explore. These kids were strong, energetic and eager to share and learn about bikes and riding. For some, it was their first time on singletrack....but they ripped and rode the trail with speed and confidence.....who knows, maybe I'll be seeing them on the podium someday.....

Much thanks to DCNR for the effort and time to make this a positive learning experience for kids! Also, thanks to R.B. Winter State Park for loaning Cannondale bikes to this wonderful group!!

Michelle

Mt Snow eyes

Here are some images from Mt Snow:














Michelle Winning the Expert Womens race
















Old Popeye
















SemiPro podium with Wes (1st) & Ryan (4th)

In what might have been...

The best five days I have spent on vacation...
The most fun I have had with friends...
The most dominant performance of an MTB team at a National Championship event...
The funniest picture shoot ever, OK second funniest after the Stage Race...
That is a decent start to sum up the VisitPA.com National Championship weekend. On the business end we walked away with not one, not two, not three but FOUR Jerseys for the weekend. Throw in three more podium performances and yes we were over the moon.
From working the feed zone for Wes & Ry's awesome Semi-Pro race and the ensuing awards, to warming up with Yozell, watching Sunshine get her due, and finally standing on a podium at a National Championship race, then standing on the top step the next morning. This was about as surreal as it comes.
On behalf of the team I would like to thank everyone who has had a part in our success. Our friends and family who support us unconditionally. Our incredible sponsors, Cannondale, Ergon, Deuter, Cadence, High Speed Cycling, SRAM, Northwave, Rudy Project and most certainly, VisitPA.com. Without your generous support we could not enjoy racing and riding like we do. I hope in some way we do our share to increase awareness of your products, and make you proud the we represent you.
Thanks again and we hope to see everyone soon.

The Big Bike Game

Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the big Bike Game of the year. Mt. Snow National Championships for the VisitPA.com squad.
I have the great fortune to be on a team with three national Champions, two of which are defending national MTB Champs, a National Series champion, a Pro and one of the most respected Endurance racers around. Riding with these guys totally ups my game. Yet with all of the talent that abounds on the team, egos are set aside. We are racers, and more than that, we are friends. I can not wait to go to Mt. Snow this coming week and watch my friends be crowned National Champions again. Who knows, maybe yours truly will find a little magic and ward off the boo-boo belly this year.
Enjoy your riding and best of luck to all MASS racers going to Mt Snow for a shot at the Stars and Stripes.