June

June kicked off a tough race month with the Bear Creek Challenge in Macungie, PA – one of the toughest races of the season.  For the second year in a row, Bear Creek will be the site of the USA Cycling National Championships.  So not only did this race count for the Mid-Atlantic Super Series, it was the PA state championships and a national qualifier.  Lots at stake!  Befitting its name, this course is a MAJOR challenge!  It is full of single track, multiple climbs up the mountain, fast downhills and tight, rocky switchbacks…full of hecklers!  Our racers who took on the challenge fought a great fight: Andrew Webster finished 12th in Cat 1 30-34; Ricardo Gomez 9th in Cat 2 30-34 and Brian McCoy 9th in Cat 3 30-39.  Way to go guys!
Ricardo bringing it home at Bear Creek

The following Saturday, it was a picture perfect day for a mountain bike race as nearly 300 racers set out to tackle Ramsey's Revenge, a new race this season, in Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington, DE. Wooden Wheels Racing made it clear this was our home course…we were exacting revenge!  It seemed as if our jerseys were on the blocks for every class. Kudos to race organizers as it was well organized and had a perfect mix of everything Brandywine is known – and feared – for.: roots, rock gardens, long climbs, wicked fast downhills, tight single track and some gravel grinds.  The ripping-fast downhill finish put a smile (or was that fear?) on every racer’s face.  The Cat 1 racers proved their mettle with Alex Frigon finishing 5th and Andrew Webster finishing 13th in the big 19-39 class.  Brendan Reilly brought home 6th in the always challenging single speed class.  Will Neide had a rough race and had to bow out of the single speed race with a mechanical.  Heather Heinrich took 1st in the Women’s Cat 1 40+ class!  In Cat 2, the team continued its podium showing with Ed Williams taking 1st in single speed open; Liz Jones taking 2nd in U40 and Collin Hoon taking 3rd in 40-49 and Jeff Meyer taking 3rd in 19-29.  Federico Pozzi battled to 10th and Uriel Bohorquez was right behind in 15th in the 30-39 class and PJ Andersen fought it out to 13th in 40-49. What a great day of finishes.  This may be the most podiums for the team in a single race.  Can’t wait till next year…WWR will exact revenge AGAIN!
Heather rollin through the rocks!

The next day was Tri-It™ Festival at Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Delaware.   The race sponsors, including Wooden Wheels Bike Shop, held the race to target first timers to sprint tri- and du-athalons.  The tri consisted of a 1/4 Mile Swim, 10 Mile Bike and a 2 Mile Run.  Kim Webster took part and came home with 5th out of 20!  Way to go Kim!

Saturday June 21st was the day for the eighth annual 12 Hours of Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Relay Race at the Schaeffer Farms Trail System, in Germantown, Maryland.  The race challenges solo racers and teams of 2 or 3 to complete as many 10-mile laps as possible from 8am-8pm with the option for racers to race solo for 3 hours.  The course was full of roots and short elevation gains for the entire 10 mile lap. Although the venue was spared the overnight rains leading up to race day, there were periods of light showers throughout the race which made the roots extra slick.  And after about 2 hours into the race, there was a mandatory dismount & run/walk with your bike down a 500 yard rutted corn field because several racers had nasty crashes.  Heather Heinrich took the 3 hour solo option and brought home first place in the women’s class!  Way to go Heather!

Next up on the race calendar: Guys Neshaminy Classic, in Langhorne, PA.  Neshaminy always proves to be a challenge.  Mostly single-track its covered with roots, stacked logs, rocks and bridges.  Also, the Mexican Bowtie – a downhill tight switchback – always tests riders’ skills!  Ed Williams came through with ANOTHER podium taking 3rd in Cat 2 singlespeed; Alex Frigon took 5th in Cat 1 19-39; and Ricardo Gomez brought in 9th in Cat 2 30-39.  Chalk up another great race for WWR.

Collin & Ricardo preping (and posing)

Ed may be starting in the back but finished in THE front!
Thanks again to all our sponsors, we couldn't do it without you - Wooden Wheels, PowerBar, Dogfish Head, Cannondale & Tifosi!

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