November 2013

November kicked off with the most unique cyclocross course the team has ever seen at the Swashbuckler Cross race in Manheim, PA. What made this so unique?  It was on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, a fantasy of bygone days and knights.  The course wound through the village on a combination of pavement, grass, cobble-stones and planks. There were several twisty technical turns with some hornswaggling hills. Of course the 2-sided pit had hose access for swabbing of the decks should the racers trusty steed pick up too much mud.  Our team of swordsmen raced gallantly and would have made The Three Musketeers proud to call kinsman.  Leading the efforts were Rob DiSibio and Uriel Bosquez who finished 14^th and 24^th, respectively, in the Cat 4/5 race.  Kudos to newbie Uriel riding in his first cross race! He was seen post-race celebrating with a turkey leg fit for King Arthur…looks like this won’t be his last race.  Next up, Curtis Miller captured the 3^rd place podium spot with Jason Temple not far behind in 16^th in Cat 3/4.  Andrew Webster and Will Neide continued their stellar single speed racing season finishing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively…LOVE the double podium!  On the damsels side of the team, Heather Heinrich finished a solid 7^th in Cat 1/2/3 and Emily White finished in the top spot in Juniors U19 Class.  Making her racing debut, Ella Neide showed the other kiddos who’s boss in the kids race. Great medal to start your collection, Ella!  Great job all…now go home, rest up so you can defend your honor in tomorrow’s race!

Webb and Will representing on the podium!

Ella's first medal!

Curtis taking 3rd!

Urie with his post-race finishers prize

 A post-race beer always puts a little smile on a cross racer’s face…now put that race on the grounds of a brewery and you’ll get a big smile that lasts for hours.  Wooden Wheels was all smiles at the Stoudts Cross, at the Stoudts Brewery in Adamstown, PA.  It was a blustery, chilly day – despite the sun; perfect to race the challenging course: full of switchbacks, barriers, off camber climbs and descents and one looooong and steeeep climb.  Our Men’s Cat 3/4 racers kicked off the day with Jason Temple finishing 17^th, Alex Frigon on his heals at 24^th and Rob DiSibio close behind at 34^th out of a huge class of 67.  Andrew Webster continued to show who is boss in single speed by finishing 1^st.  Killer season Webb!  Our fabulous junior, Emily White, finished 1^st for another weekend full of top podiums.  Heather Heinrich finished a solid 12^th in Cat 1/2/3/4.

Jason passing on the barriers

Rob charging up the hill

Webb sporting the 'body' suit!

The second Saturday of the month sported the ever popular First State Velo Sport Xross @ Fair Hill. The Wooden Wheels racers came out of the woodwork for this one - what a huge team showing! Not a surprise since the venue was so close to home and the course was one of the best designs in the series.  Full of twists, turns, false flats, off camber turns and barriers this year’s course didn’t disappoint.  Leading off on the sunny mild day were Men 4/5 with Rob DiSibio finishing 10^th and Justin Rogers 25^th in a big field of 45.  Next up, in Mens 3/4/5, Andrew Webster finished on the podium at 4^th with Curtis Miller not far behind in 16^th, Alex Frigon in 23^rd and Jason Temple in 37^th.  In Men’s 1/2/3/4 45+ Dennis Dischler finished well at 27^th in a very large field of 50.  Emily White finished on the podium again in 2^nd in Junior’s with Heather Heinrich closing out the day’s racing finishing 18^th in Elite Women.  All in all, another great day of Wooden Wheels Racing!

Webb and Alex warming up

Dennis putting it all in

Rob trying to get ahead of his hecklers - Hanz and his kiddos

 It was a blustery day up at the HPCX Cross Race in Jamesburg, NJ that Sunday.  It was so windy that in addition to the leaves being blown over the course, so were the racers!  Time to revisit your racing strategy.  Heather Heinrich represented the team at the race and finished 26^th in the UCI Women’s class.  While Heather was fighting racers and the winds in NJ, Dennis Dischler headed south to Highland, MD for the Schooley Mill Cross Race.  On the grounds of an equestrian facility, this is a horse of a course with several dismounts, a 250-meter start and the infamous steeplechase.  This is a fast one folks.  The course didn’t disappoint and neither did Dennis finishing 74^th in a huge Men’s 3/4/5 45+ class.  Way to end the weekend, Dish!

Kutztown Cross spanned two days of racing in Kutztown, PA.  Day 1 provided for mild temperatures, and a very dry course…is it really November?  The very fast course on grass and gravel was loaded with tight twisty turns, no climbing, and a log-over.  Curtis Miller kicked things off well finishing 5^th in Men’s 3/4. Andrew Webster kept the gears on and finished 14^th in Cat 1/2/3.  Emily White took the second podium spot in Juniors; with Heather Heinrich finishing out the day of racing in 8^th in Cat 1/2.  Rob DiSibio and Emily White headed out to Kutztown to take on Day 2 of the race on Sunday.  The course wasn’t the only thing that was opposite of the prior day…it was rainy, slippery and cold.  Still flat and riddled with twisty turns the promoters added double the fun with back to back log-overs.  Rob fought to a solid 13^th place out of a field of 43.  Emily again showed her strength in juniors finishing 2^nd. 

Rob showing off his mtb skills - bunny-hopping!

While those two were battling it out in Kutztown, a WW racing contingent headed south to Rockburn Cross in Elkridge, MD.  The promoters changed the start of the course from last year’s race, but kept all the goodies: off-camber sections, sand pit, up-hill log-over, barriers, beer garden and .....Nutella Waffles! Those were the perfect reward for a race done well!  Alex Frigon and Jason Temple finished solidly in 21^st an 25^th respectively in Men’s 3/4.  Dennis Dischler competed in Cat 3/4/5 45+ finishing 31^st out of almost 100 racers!  Andrew Webster continued to prove his mettle in Single Speed Open finishing 3^rd!  Heather Heinrich closed out the weekend of racing finishing 8^th in a strong Cat 1/2/3 class.  Rest up, racers…it a big one next weekend!

Wooden Wheels racers demonstrated their skill and ability to withstand the elements at the PA State Cross Championships in West Chester, PA.  Although the weather channel reported 30 degrees, after factoring in the 27 mph winds, the temperature actually felt like 16!  This course showed no mercy… there was nowhere to hide: racers were completely exposed to the wind as the course spread wide over the Bayard Rustin High School athletic fields and the surrounding corn fields.  It was fast and dry with a lot of power sections, nice turns, an off-camber section, and a run up.  Despite the extreme temps, Wooden Wheels rallied with great results and several podiums, with our junior racer, Emily White, taking home the title of U19 Women's PA State Champion.  Nice wheel set prize, Em!  Dennis Dischler, competing in Masters Men 45+ finished a solid 20^th.  Curtis Miller also had a great race finishing 9^th in Men’s 3/4.  Andrew Webster captured the 3^rd podium spot in Single Speed…Webb, your best season yet!!  Heather Heinrich closed out the day’s racing in Cat 1/2/3 finishing 5^th.  Another awesome day of racing!