July 2013

July racing kicked off with the most unusual race in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series – The Stoudts Team Relay – on the grounds of Stoudts Brewery in Adamstown, PA.  The racers had a 100 yard LeMans (dash-to-your-bike-while-not-breaking-your-ankle-in-mtnb-shoes) start.  The nothing is off limits course – modeled after the Bilenky Cyclery’s Junkyard Cross – is a 2.25 mile loop which first appears as a typical course of short climbs, tight turns and typical obstacles, but quickly morphs into riding over junked cars, weaving through scrap metal and other gems that would make a second-rate hoarder jealous.  Our WW racers showed up ready to make their mark on this new race to the Series…trained bodies, dialed-in bikes, fully hydrated systems and an updated tetanus shot. Team Bootyclap, aka Curtis Miller and Andrew Webster, fought the mud, obstacles & the lure to spend a lap re-hydrating at the Stoudts Beer Garden to stand on the 3^rd podium spot!  Out of 17 top race teams, this was no easy feat. Way to kick off the month, guys!

Double thumbs up...THAT is how good it was

Way to go Heather!

Next up, the U.S. National Championships! USAC brought Nationals back to the East Coast after five years in the West. Bear Creek Mountain in Macungie, PA was the perfect venue to show the country that East Coasters definitely do NOT have it easy training, riding and competing here! This course, which has been the site of the Mid-Atlantic Super Series Championships for the last several years (and the site of WWR back-to-back Grassroots Championships!) shows no mercy...rock gardens, logs, off-camber roots, steep long climbs up the mountainside and enough switch-backs to make even the pros dizzy. Heather Heinrich had a great race placing 9th in Cat 1, and Ricardo Gomez finished a solid 13th in Cat 3. Way to represent on the national stage!

Liz and Alex all lit up!

What's better than a mountain bike race on a fast course??? That course AT NIGHT! WW racing vampires came out en masse to compete at Midnight at Marsh Creek in Downington, PA. The darkness didn't dampen the heat or humidity adding to the fun racing over logs and rocks and climbing up short steep climbs and open fields.  Our racers definitely are creatures of the night with a third place team finish and outstanding individual finishes. Liz Jones took home the first place metal (and a case of Victory Beer!) in the woman's Cat 2 race while Ricardo Gomez also took the top podium spot in Clydesdale Cat 2 with Dave "Big Redz" Jordan standing just below on the 3rd spot. Alex Frigon battled to 2nd in Cat 2 with Ryan Ashcroft bringing in 10th in his Cat 2 class. Heather Heinrich stood in the second podium spot in Cat 1 with Dennis Dischler bringing in 14th in his large Cat 1 class.  Colin Hoon got his first podium of the season standing 3rd in Cat 3! After a long night of racing and post race celebrating, it was time for the racers to head home before the sun came up.

Alex on the podium again!

Double WWR podium - Ricardo & Big Redz

Opting to mix things up a bit, Rob DiSibio and Jeff Burris tested the Criterium race waters and headed to the Liberty Crit in Great Valley, PA, a first for both of them. Nothing like settling crit-race-newbies nerves by pulling into the race area with your windshield wipers on high.  Gulp.  Their Cat 5 race consisted of 15 laps around the one-mile oval course with only one short small rise, so it was going to be fast! This fast course combined with the wet conditions and the large size of the field (40!) meant the racers had to be exceptionally alert and focused on the job at hand. Jeff finished tied for 9th with Rob coming in at 26th. Way to wrap up the month!

We were psyched to get our second order of PowerBar shipped. Our stock was low with all the training and racing! Thanks again to our outstanding sponsor PowerBar...you help keep us going, and hitting the podium!