Aug 25, 2014 at 08:40 PM
Vlad, sounds tough. Racing crits in the rain is exceptionally challenging. Sounds like you held your own just fine. Next year, pick one race, and think about how you are going to place! You're almost there!
"Can't Miss" CX Races 2014
Vlad, sounds tough. Racing crits in the rain is exceptionally challenging. Sounds like you held your own just fine. Next year, pick one race, and think about how you are going to place! You're almost there!
Aug 26, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Hey anyone going to Union Grove Road Race this Saturday in East Earl PA? I would love to catch a ride if anyone is going. The Cat 3 race goes off at 10:15am so we'd have to leave early. For anyone not going to Green Mtn., this seems like a fun alternative should the FBF race be cancelled on Sunday.
Aug 30, 2014 at 10:25 PM
I can confirm that the Union Grove Road Race is a fun alternative.
For anyone who cares, it's the same guys that put on the Farmersville race.
Dutch Country PA is THE PLACE to get your rolly-circuity-kermessey race on.
Aug 31, 2014 at 12:48 AM
Was planning on making this my last race of the season... word in the forums is "No results for rivertowns". Any of y'all ever done it?
Aug 31, 2014 at 09:47 PM
Those entry fee to prize list ratio are all out of wack.
Sep 02, 2014 at 04:07 AM
The webpage has some of the weirdest course description I've ever seen. http://rivertownscyclingclassic.com/montour.phpniallsmart said:Was planning on making this my last race of the season... word in the forums is "No results for rivertowns". Any of y'all ever done it?
"All are “roads” (technically), but some resemble war-torn Beirut, more then a country road. The Yeagle hill climb is a category 4 climb and a local legend of suffering 8% grade. And at mile 74 is the always brutal Mt. Zion road 6%. IF, you don’t walk up Mt. Zion, you may wish that you had. One rider described the hill this way, “I think this made my insides bleed.” Now, THAT’S an endorsement!"
Sep 11, 2014 at 06:11 PM
Is anyone looking at this: Hempfield Road Race in Lancaster, PA, Sat Sep 27, 2014 It's by Mount Joy, PA. I'm cool with splitting a rental car with some guys. If not, I'll be looking to carpool to the Cross races this weekend instead so let's plan early.
Sep 11, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Quick race report on Mon-Tour.
Apparently this year was the first time the organizer included a USAC sanctioned race on the program. Combine that with practically everyone being in Nittany for some CX action, and you've got yourself a road race with 9 starters in the 3/4 field, including yours truly 
Yang and I had a similar experience at Floyd this summer when just 11 riders lined up for a 4/5 race. Two guys attacked about 30 seconds in, obviously an insane move in normal circumstances – but after we let them go I looked around and realized in fairly short order that (a) that was actually a pretty smart move and (b) the rest of us would be spending the remaining 12.5 laps fighting each other for third place. Yet one more Floyd experience that I did not want to repeat
The Mon-Tour course is pretty sweet, very scenic but nothing too crazy -- 49 miles with 4 climbs totalling 4k ascent. Climb #1 is the longest and starts about 1/2 mile from rollout I got up the front and was on the lookout for a repeat of the Floyd situation which thankfully didn't materialize. That said I think 4 riders went off the back in the first ten minutes which had to suck for them.
I got up the front and was on the lookout for a repeat of the Floyd situation which thankfully didn't materialize. That said I think 4 riders went off the back in the first ten minutes which had to suck for them.The rest of us basically played "the weakest link" for the remainder of the race. Rider #5 got dropped on the second climb, and I started to get gapped on the third. At this point I'm watching the front three riding away and figuring "there goes my shot at some out of state upgrade points" Lucky for me, one of them gets too a little far into the red and is popped off himself just before the front two riders crest the climb. I catch up with him and we take some turns together, but at this point I'm far more interested in shaking things out on the last climb than a sprint. We hit it together and as it turns out he's pretty gassed, so I work hard to open a gap and hold it for the last couple miles for third place. Nice to get on the podium in a 3/4 race but I'm probably gonna have to work a little harder for the next one 
Lucky for me, one of them gets too a little far into the red and is popped off himself just before the front two riders crest the climb. I catch up with him and we take some turns together, but at this point I'm far more interested in shaking things out on the last climb than a sprint. We hit it together and as it turns out he's pretty gassed, so I work hard to open a gap and hold it for the last couple miles for third place. Nice to get on the podium in a 3/4 race but I'm probably gonna have to work a little harder for the next one Worth keeping an eye on this race next year. Overall it was well run and the course is solid, I think they were just unfortunate with timing vs Nittany.
Sep 12, 2014 at 03:25 PM
Looking into this Hempfield Road Race and it's short- only 32 miles and ended in a field sprint last year with about 23 guys starting the 2/3 field. I'm getting psyched on this. Excited to race it. Looks like a nice end of season RR.
Sep 22, 2014 at 02:26 PM
Quick race report for CT Cycling Festival in Hartford Sunday. I placed 8th in the 3/4 field, 2nd in the field sprint. Of the 44 starters half the field was DNF or pulled and placed. It was very wet from overnight rains and shadows. Pretty slick and some crashes. Notably on the first turn of the last lap I was in front and a Siggis guy cut in front of me only to crash, sliding out right on front of my wheel. I stayed up and hammered the rest of the lap but couldn't get my speed back. Settled for 8th. Happy to finish my road season for the year and not crash. Overall a good year.
Sep 22, 2014 at 03:26 PM
If that's a "good" year I can't wait to see what a "great" year is...Craig London said:Happy to finish my road season for the year and not crash. Overall a good year.
#callthemlikeiseethem
Sep 22, 2014 at 03:37 PM
Gotta get some W's in there next year.
Sep 22, 2014 at 07:10 PM
Oct 08, 2014 at 04:57 PM
Cycle-Smart International...the country's longest running UCI CX race is starting to fill up. Fair warning, Masters 55+ only 7 spots left. Cat 3s will sell out. 4/5s will either sell out or be very close to selling out.
If you've only done local and/or Mac series races and you are looking for the ultimate challenge. This is your next opportunity.
https://www.bikereg.com/csi
Northampton traditionally gets a fair KCC turnout. It's not as far to drive as you think. And if you are looking for cheap lodging, Patrick and I did an air-b-n-b...and stayed with a dude named Figgy. It was only a little weird.
Seriously though, lots of good stuff happening in the Northampton.
Oct 17, 2014 at 05:27 AM
So at first I was bummed...Bubble Cross, one of my favorite, and the team's favorite local races conflicts with Northampton, but then I read that the venue was changed and so I'm not feeling so bad. KCC racers like the podium here at these races...might be worth checking out if you can't make it to Northampton
https://www.bikereg.com/bubblecross-presented-by-team-town-cycle-and-pro
Oct 30, 2014 at 06:14 PM
Hey, Jim F's funny poke, reminded me that this might be a good time to look at the cyclocross calendar from here on out. There's lots of big-time strong racing going on for the next 6 weeks at least. Don't hang up your toe spikes just yet, okay? I'm plucking out the big series races here...there are plenty of smaller CT/PA/NJ races in between here too. Feel free to add your own. MOAR RACING
Nov 8: Fair Hill (Mac #9). Really interesting course, kind of like a turbocharged version of Whirlybird with more elevation change. Not as far from home you as you think.
Nov 15: Kutztown (Mac #10). Last year, this course was...uhm, lacking. Still if you are chasing MAC points, I guess you have to go.
Nov 22/23: SUPERCROSS!!!! Be there. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Nov 29/30: Baystate (VergeShimano #5 & #6). Weather can play a big factor on this already challenging course that is 70% off camber. Steep/scary climb/descents too. For those looking for a challenge.
Dec 6/7: NBX, Warwick RI (VergeShimano #7 & #8). My favorite New England course. It's like if Gloucester, Providence and Northampton had a love-child. Closer than Providence, but you can stay/eat in the same places. Don't miss this one folks.
Dec 15: Limestone at the Kiln (MAC #11). Traditionally a sloppy race in nearby-ish Emaus, PA. Last year, Todd, Nelson and I had a blast slopping around in snow and mud. It's where I finally stopped being scared of falling down in the mud. Smaller fields than usual. Chasing points for next year's MAC series? Plan ahead yo, this one makes it easy to pocket some points.
Oct 31, 2014 at 12:39 AM
^Thanks Marc, exactly what I needed!