Jul 12, 2014 at 07:03 PM
Staaaaalkerrrrs.
Probably just what he grabbed from his closet. We're likely giving significantly more thought as to what he wore in the park on a training ride than he did while getting dressed.
Cyclocross!
Jul 18, 2014 at 02:25 PM
2014 MAC schedule
Jul 18, 2014 at 03:11 PM
For people new to cross, your starting position is a huge factor in jl your placing - pay close attention because each race is different. Many use "order of registration" so you'll need to stay up late and reg at the crack of...
Jul 18, 2014 at 03:14 PM
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Jul 18, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Here are the MAC races that are up on Bikereg thus far:
Nittany reg opens Friday 8/1 at 7AM
Charm City opens Monday 8/4 at 8PM
Whirlybird opens Friday 8/1 at noon
all three do call ups for the 4/5 races by order of registration
Jul 19, 2014 at 03:32 PM
In case you are chomping at the bit like I am and you're interested in getting your cross on a couple weeks early, I'm doing these two races nest month in Springfield, Mass. The dates are 8/23 and 8/24 ……. 5 weeks from now and 2 weeks before Nittany.
I'll be driving up Saturday early to the race(although I might be amenable to heading up on Friday)and then staying the night at a motel. I will have room on my rack for two other bikes and am amenable to sharing a room. I probably have to leave back for Brooklyn by noon on Sunday
The races are at two different parks that are about 2 miles from each other in Springfield and are put on by the same people. The first one is new and is taking the place of Monson which sounded like it was really technical. It purports to be less technical but not a grass crit. Blunt Park is supposed to be grass british. Based on cross results data from years past, It looks these races will be about the size of a NJ race with fields typical numbering 25-45 people. I watched a few vids and read a few blogs/race reports. These look like they could be pretty fun
Jul 19, 2014 at 08:06 PM
Rick I may be down for the springfield weekend.
Jul 19, 2014 at 08:17 PM
@Dan
Awesome! Keep me updated.
Jul 19, 2014 at 08:21 PM
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Jul 19, 2014 at 09:21 PM
Oh yes.
Jul 19, 2014 at 09:36 PM
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Jul 19, 2014 at 09:47 PM
Granogue is a place of dreams. It is everything we all want racing to be. Be there.
Jul 19, 2014 at 11:35 PM
FWIW, I kind of hate the Granogue course. But that's just me. Everyone else loves it.
Jul 20, 2014 at 01:01 AM
@Marc
What do you dislike about it?
Curious as I'm planning on doing Silk City in CT the day before which looks like it should be fun as it's one of those mountain bikey super technical courses that seems to be the norm in Connecticut. It looks like a race that favors the bike handlers over the FTP monsters. I consider myself someone who falls just a slight bit more comfortably into the former category while not fitting so very neatly into either one. So I was going to put a lot of effort into that one and make it my focus for that weekend.
But with all the hype and accolades heaped upon the return of Granogue I had begun to second guess that decision
And to everybody else, what makes Granogue such the singularly, superlative experience?
Jul 20, 2014 at 01:31 AM
For me, Granogue was just over the top gimicky hard. Adam Myerson once described it as a course full of "booby traps."
I tend to favor course with more balance and variety. Also, not a fan of "no dogs allowed" venues...which is not actually relevant to speaking about the merits of the course, other than it probably colors my overall impression of the events there on the DuPont Estate or wherever.
And maybe now that I'm not totally sucky at CX handling bits, my opinion might change. And like I said, EVERYONE else ever in the history of East Coast CX loves Granogue.
Jul 20, 2014 at 01:44 AM
I'm literally the worst technical rider in the universe, and granogue was one of only 3 races I won a few years back when I was in shape. The hill is hard but that's it really - sand with a corner, some fast turns - so awesome. Finishing sprint on pavement. Wicked course, everyone should try it.
Best,
-Eric
Eric J. Robertson
Mr. X Gotham
214 Sullivan Street, 2nd Floor
NY NY 10012
Office 212.993.7878
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Best,
-Eric
Eric J. Robertson
Mr. X Gotham
214 Sullivan Street, 2nd Floor
NY NY 10012
Office 212.993.7878
Mobile 917.509.4696
iPhone 5: Better, faster, stronger - just like Steve Austin
Jul 20, 2014 at 02:00 AM
Thanks Marc and Eric
Also not relevant to the merits of the course: I know that f'd up things can happen on DuPont estates …e.g. an Olympic wrestler getting murdered by one of the DuPont heirs i.e. Dave Schultz who I'd met on a couple of occasions while he coached and mentored by best friend from high school in Palo Alto who'd also been part of the FoxCatcher wrestling team on the PA estate. The dog ban IMO somehow fits in with that sort of creepy history. When i first learned that Granogue was on the Dupont Estate, I thought(I now know, incorrectly) it was the same one where the murder occurred and was a little sketched out.
The long sweeping off camber turn looks pretty tricky, and the hill when it's muddy and a runup (as it seems to be in every other google image I've seen) seems like it could be a gut buster. I gotta say that all the shots of the tower give off a pretty iconic/mystical vibe. I'll give it a go and try to make sure I have a little in the tank from the day before so that I can see what all the hype is about
Jul 20, 2014 at 02:30 AM
Marc hates Granogue, in the same way he would hate racing Paris Roubaix or Flanders.
We race bicycles because places like them, including Granogue, exist.
Jul 20, 2014 at 02:34 AM
eloy said:Marc hates Granogue, in the same he would hate racing Paris Roubaix or Flanders.We race bicycles because places like them, including Granogue, exist.
^This
Granogue is Magnificent. That is all.
Jul 20, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Granogue will be a much different course in September, when the ground is usually hard and dry.
Jul 20, 2014 at 08:41 PM
Granogue is my favorite CX race, hands down. It isn't really even close. The ultra-fast, scary-steep, off-camber descents separate the men from the boys. Tighten all your screws if it's dry; loosen your pedal springs if it's not. The sloppy run-up wall is pristine pain and a boon for hecklers. You get roots. You get exposed sandstone. You get grass. You get elevation change. You get Delaware. It's the most visually beautiful CX course I've ever been to. Leaf peeper nirvana.
ALL THAT SAID, the race used to happen in mid-October. This year's mid-September date could change the nature of the course drastically.
Jul 20, 2014 at 09:06 PM
Not exactly. A couple of true facts. I've raced on cobbles in Belgium. I had fun. I've also trained on the Oude Kwaremont climb in a thunderstorm. That was awesome too.eloy said:Marc hates Granogue, in the same way he would hate racing Paris Roubaix or Flanders.We race bicycles because places like them, including Granogue, exist.
But that said, Rick, based on all the posts, I think you have a pretty good picture of what Granogue is all about.
Jul 21, 2014 at 01:00 AM
I think granogue is a great course, mix of power and technical sections.
I think you have to take the professional dudes thoughts on courses with a grain if salt. They are going soooo much faster and usually in tighter bunches in tactical situations.
Jul 23, 2014 at 05:14 PM
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Jul 23, 2014 at 05:55 PM
^It's July.
Jul 23, 2014 at 07:14 PM
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Jul 23, 2014 at 10:00 PM
I'm thinking mid-late august.
Jul 24, 2014 at 03:51 PM
The NJBA Cyclocross Cup Schedule is starting to come together. The current schedule looks something like this:
9/13 - Independence Cross
9/21 - Horseshoe Scramble
9/28 - Westwood Velo CX
10/4 - Caffeinated CX
10/12 - Cooper River
10/25 - 26 - Marty CX
11/2 - Bubble Cross (Tentative)
9/13 - Independence Cross
9/21 - Horseshoe Scramble
9/28 - Westwood Velo CX
10/4 - Caffeinated CX
10/12 - Cooper River
10/25 - 26 - Marty CX
11/2 - Bubble Cross (Tentative)
Jul 24, 2014 at 04:20 PM
Nice, some good races.
A bit bummed that Horseshoe moved to early season, I always liked that as a late season wrap up.
My biggest dilemma this year is deciding between Iron Cross and Providence.
Jul 24, 2014 at 11:17 PM
Dude, Providence is going to be slamming this year. Fries is trying to get UCI/World Cup status, so he's bound to have some tricks up his sleeve this year. Just bring a lock...that's where I got my bike stolen.jim_nelson said:Nice, some good races.A bit bummed that Horseshoe moved to early season, I always liked that as a late season wrap up.My biggest dilemma this year is deciding between Iron Cross and Providence.