Jules said:

This is so #hotness; calling our Ellen Noble as a "special rider" and his praise for Stybar... he is all class.

Ellen rode the barriers at both US World Cups, earning a podium at yesterday's Wisconsin WC. Other riders might be slightly more fit, but her driving skill might be the best of the world. Look forward as we head into real fall, and she races European conditions.

True game changer potential.

Mark Taylor said:

@jim_nelson, i'm debating doing the 50+ field or the 4/5 40+ 
which one do you think will be more "fun"

If I was 8 months older I would be doing the 50+ but that will have to wait til next year.

Do 4/5 40+ with me.

@jim_nelson
OK , I'll take the ride also ,if its still open

Mark Taylor said:

@jim_nelson
OK , I'll take the ride also ,if its still open

You got it.

I will be racing hippo.  Unfortunately the 3s race is at 1:15, but a ride to the event would be greatly appreciated.  I can take NJ transit back to the city.  Hamilton station is a short ride from the course.

@jim_nelson or @eloy , can I get a lift in the morning?  I can meet wherever makes the most sense.  I will take the train back.

Thanks,
Anthony 
(847)393-3122

@AnthonyOtt if I don't find a ride (which I prob wont) you can come with me. Happy to drive you in both directions. 

Thank you @eloy .  

Pack the mud tires.  Current forecast looks like rain!

File as cool, Hyde post a photo, that simply says 'File Threads' someone asks why, and Hyde gives a super thoughtful answer.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213394914254935

Last minute transportation crisis

Anyone got room for me and my bike to hippo cx tomorrow?  I'm racing 1130 but will accept any ride. I live within 2 blocks of gwb so it is probably not out of your way 

Rigby.b@gmail.com 774 219 4511

I'll come spectate if you pay for tolls (and trolls) and buy me a coffee.

Hey Nassau County Kissenas (especially @PatrickG and @yacks), does anybody know for sure whether or not Muttontown Preserve officially allows bikes? The county website doesn't say anything about it. New York/New Jersey Trail Conference says yes, bikes allowed. A trail map I found doesn't offer much clarity on the issue. I know there are ski trails there, which in dry weather I think would be ideal for 'cross. Based on photos, it looks like an awesome place to ride, with lots of weird features like dirt-covered ruins. 

These are the recognized MTB trails in Long Island. I don't see Muttontown on the list.

I've also never heard of anyone mentioning muttontown preserve in terms of biking.

http://climbonline.org/2014j/index.php/trails

When it comes to MTB trails on Long Island, is maintenance by CLIMB the most reliable indication of whether or not bikes are allowed? I've only ridden out in Nassau and Suffolk a few times, but technically that list, while excellent and useful, only claims to show trails maintained by CLIMB. 

Yacks has never heard..historically I've ridden the Behthpage state park to Stillwell woods and back.  Cunningham has some great stuff in it.  I am a CLIMB member...I'll go on their Facebook page and ask about Muttontown.  

looks like NO

Mr. Thorn...should you want to ride some challenging trails on your cross bike....I'm your huckleberry
I would recommend the ride from Bethpage state park to stillwell and back...bout a 2.5 hour ride
never done it on my cross bike but...the Sling is itchin to try

Since I'm sick as a dog from a flu I won't be able to make it to Hippo. However I wish all you guys and gals tons of fun. 
Now back to my pity pot.

Oh no! Disappointed not to see you. I've been working on my French heckles. Feel better. That 2x20 you did the other day looked solid. 

@MaxThorn re: muttontown I’ve been there to hike and drive XC ski a few years back. There are signs that say no bikes.

we should get a group cross ride on mountain trails soon...

twoyacks said:

Mr. Thorn...should you want to ride some challenging trails on your cross bike....I'm your huckleberry
I would recommend the ride from Bethpage state park to stillwell and back...bout a 2.5 hour ride
never done it on my cross bike but...the Sling is itchin to try

Stillwell is fun and fast then gets gnarly up north. Awesome on cx bikes.

Hippo CX was rad. Had a blast seeing everyone.

hanging with @Phil Maronilla and running into @jim_nelson (who is like a totally different person with that beard?! what!) and seeing @Bruce van-Schalkwyk with his lady.

Max was looking super brooklyn. and looked even better on te bike!


 Rode out with @Brendan Rigby and @philipginsberg and @TessMichalik which was a blast. Tess and I got a free gobbler from Millburn Deli out of it!!! for the record, I will drive you to any race if I get Milburn Deli out of it.

ran into some faces I hadn't seen in a while from NJ / Hilltop bikes. Which was also dope. King kog was there in full force: Channel, Sean, etc. 

Although I didn't race, just getting over the flu, I got to pre ride the course on my parlee chebaca, whih was amazing. Everyone looked great out there and i am super stoked to race next weekend. 


look at this crew. photo cred: @TessMichalik

bikes, bikes, bikes, end caps, bikes, redbeard
https://youtu.be/7PFwJlCRADs

I could've used that sandwich after my race @GregStreiff  The food options at the race were meh.

Like Greg said, great to see everyone.

No mechanical issues for me today. I raced the 4/5 40+ and finished 30 out of 58.

I missed my call up as I was changing my gloves in parking lot. Rookie mistake. I ended up in the last row, oh well. The good thing was that the rows were a mess. No actual lines on the ground so I lined up on the right side and when the whistle blew, I blew past half of the field on the outside. On the first lap, I ran into the tape on a straight away. Lost spots there. Otherwise the course wasn't technical. Lots of power sections. One major hill that everyone seemed to crawl over to the top. 

Fun day in bucolic NJ. Bumps and more bumps. Some bumpiness. Some potholes. A weird "flyover" (though I'm not sure if 4 feet off the ground counts as flying). Registered late and no series points so I was in the back for the start. Felt pretty good first lap and made up a lot of spots. Towards the end of that lap Patrick yelled that I was about 15th. I was toward the back of a group that I knew I could drop eventually. Picked them off one by one and ended up 10th. For the first race of the season I'll take it. Great to race with Bruce and Phil - they both looked strong. Lots of Kissenas out - I had to jet soon after my race - hope everyone had fun!

Jim F and Pat first lap

@GregStreiff post race great american diners and delis are a huge part of cyclocross.

Be certain: Cyclocross is everything you want cycling to be.

Greg's red parlee is amazing. Happiness is a red bicycle.

No question, who the high level of hotness amaze winners are: @philipginsberg and @Brendan Rigby looking like fire in their orange Giants. OMG. 

Awesome to see so many Kissenas out. Brendan and @MaxThorn looked awesome in their race.

Quick report:

• Race feels like it is all downhill.
• I am still not sure where we went uphill. 
• Matt Kraus and Ralf Warmuth are staged behind me. haha, that's funny, wtf.
• Ralf will win the race
• Matt Kraus bombs the first downhill like he is made of fire, passing my group
• he rides the crappy line on the right, going over roots and sticks and rocks and whatever NJ fields are made of, stuff is flying all over from his wheels
• In other words: Matt is literally tearing up!!
• lap 2 Rob Lattanzi is ten-ish seconds ahead, he has me on the downhills, but I'm gonna try to keep up and smoke him somewhere else
• Still downhill, Some dude passes me twice my speed
• "He must be better going down that me, follow his wheel"
• But then I notice Rob is getting away
• "Fuck it, I can bomb it too" and drop this guy
• Get back to 10ish to Rob
• Now I'm bombing this shit!!
• Too much bombing, too much bumps, chains comes off front ring. Fuuu.
• Rob gets away, but I actually recover ok
• Dude behind never catches me
• @AnthonyOtt and @Phil Maronilla  are awesome letting me know what's up thru the race. I love you guys.

Post race I am told I was the only one that looked good in the mini flyover. I tell this to the food vendor, but still have to pay $8 for the best pulled pork in the world.

So looking fwd to Charm City.

 

that picture of @Brendan Rigby and @philipginsberg is tiiighhhht. nice work to @eloy for capturing the moment and the two subjects looking fly as shit. bikes, bikes, bikes!

@Bruce van-Schalkwyk looking good too!!!

Le sigh.

great photos!