Hat Trick in Oakridge!

We saddled up the trusty mommy (and daddy) mobile and headed back to Oakridge for the second race of the Oakridge Fat Tire Series. Those who read this column often will know that I’ve had the opportunity to win the FAT55 the last two editions so I hoped that I could return for a Hat Trick!

Eugene Cathcart has built a super solid event over the past few years and this time was no exception. This time we stayed at the quaint Arbor Inn right across the street from the venue at Greenwaters Park. Despite the long drive and late night arrival I was ready to test my new Ibis HDR 650 bike on some of Oakridge’s finest trails. The weather was simply perfect again and while I managed to ride over a bank in the first couple miles, I was able to get back on and regain the front in short order. Read more »

SC ‘crosses the country!

Round one of the Sportif Cross Cup Series took place this past weekend with the first stop in Cascade, Maryland. The venue at Fort Ritchie sits in the foothills of some local mountains just outside historic Gettysburg, PA. The beautiful background of pine forests, hills, and a lake confused me and left me wondering which side of the country I was on!

I am glad to be back racing after many hurdles, walls, and dead-ends with health, moving, and long working days in Baltimore/DC traffic! After only riding for 1-2 hours per week for a few months I thought I’d try a regional crit in an effort to test my fitness so that I could try and have some fun with the local cross scene this year. Long story–short, I could only do so many 800 watt accelerations “off the couch” before my legs just stopped functioning! Needless to say, I went home early. While mixing things up with running and weight lifting is great for overall fitness, it did nothing to prepare me to even sit in on the local Pro’s wheels in a crit–ouch! Read more »