Considering mountain bike stage racing is the coolest thing ever, it was no surprise that the 2008 edition of the VisitPA Stage Race and Festival Weekend was amazing!

As usual, I wasn’t racing, but I had a bird’s eye view of most of the action, by way of running back and forth with my camera all day long. (Just like I did to get my 2006 VisitPA weekend race report.)

Here’s what I saw during this Fourth of July weekend:

Day 1: Friday (Night ITT)

At roughly 2:00 PM, the campers started rolling in to the parking lots (i.e. hay fields,) greeted by VisitPA’s Rob Lichtenwalner. Rob must have been prepping for Saturday’s enduro race, because he was probably directing traffic for about six hours straight.

Things were going smoothly. Except for the cars sliding on the slick mud, and the water main break on the course, that is. Yes, there was a water main break on the farm just as the weekend was getting underway! Luckily the local authorities were able to get their equipment in and out, making the needed repairs without hassle. Then a little hay spread over the mud had everyone driving with ease.

But the mud would be back later…

After everyone set up camp and took care of getting registered, picking up their timing chips, eating dinner, and pre-riding the course, it was about 9:15 PM and plenty dark for a Night Time Trial. This is something you don’t see every day! Starting at dusk, riders depart in 30 second intervals to conquer five miles of singletrack with just the lights on their helmets!

In roughly two hours, everyone had finished, and the results (via Runner’s High) were posted that night! Harlan Price (Indy Fab) took the win, edging out defending champ Ryan Leech (Visit PA) by roughly 30 seconds.

After that, it was time to get some sleep! Saturday morning would bring more racing…

Day 2: Saturday (XC and Endurance Races)

As soon as the sun came up, while most racers were still fast asleep, members of the VisitPA crew (and even local racers such as Kyle Hammaker and Zach Adams) were out switching up the course markings and tape in preparation for the day’s big XC races. After a couple hours of prep, the course was ready - just in time to send off the runners at 9 AM (yes, even if you don’t bike, you can partake in the festivities!)

But 10 AM was the big race - the 6 Hour Enduro! A number of competitors, including VisitPA’s Rob Lichtenwalner and Mike Hebe, lined up for the monster event. Rob set a blazing pace from the gun, but Hebe was close behind the whole time. Both racers kept riding hard despite both suffering some serious crashes, and each put in a whopping eight laps by the end of the six hours. (Rob took the victory once again, but Hebe was a close second. Two podium spots for VisitPA!)

After the enduro riders had already put in over hour hours, the Expert/Pro XC field lined up for their 2:30 start time. And there some big names - Harlan Price, Ryan Leech, Ray Adams, Wes Schempf, Mike Yozell, Kyle Hammaker, and Aaron Snyder, to name a few, were all up front.

All these guys sped off the line and up the first climb, vying for the chance to lead going into the singletrack. Marysville native Kyle Hammaker took the lead, with Ryan on his tail. But right behind them were Yozell, Harlan, Ray, Wes, and Aaron.

Kyle could only set the pace so long, and on lap two Ryan and Harlan were trading first and second position. As fast as Ryan was, Harlan had the legs this weekend and took first place, with Ryan coming in about three minutes back. Third place was claimed by Aaron Snyder, who had an amazing ride and finished less than a minute behind Ryan.

Another amazing ride came from Mike Yozell, who beat Kyle Hammaker by about 1.5 seconds in a sprint to the line, to take fourth!

Wes came in right afterwards, putting three VisitPA riders in the top six!

In the women’s field, Michelle Stopper could not be stopped (or even contained) as she rode to victory, with about seven minutes between her and second place!

All those VisitPA victories made for a great showing at the Saturday night awards, although everyone 21+ was a winner that night thanks to the free beer on tap!

After tapping the kegs, participants moved on to activities such as trials riding, bike polo, and dual slalom tricycle racing! With live music, no less. Once it got too dark to do the slalom course safely (assuming it was somewhat safe in daylight,) out came the lighted Frisbees! Two groups formed on either side of the yard and proceeded the chuck the Frisbees to (or maybe “at”) each other. You could barely see the people beside you, let alone the group across the yard!

As Harlan put it, “we… threw lighted Frisbee’s into the darkness at people you couldn’t see. It was fun and dangerous, which is probably why it was fun.”

Day 3: Sunday (Hill Climb and Short Track XC)

For those able to get out of bed in the morning, Sunday brought a slew of bike racing activities for tired racers. At 9 AM, the day started with a nice short three mile race. Except that the three miles were all uphill on steep, muddy, rocky terrain, which was neither nice nor short.

I got to ride on the back of one of the “pace four-wheelers” which gave me a prime view of the lead riders. The race started with a fun bunch sprint through the woods, crossed the highway, and then began the monster ascent to the top of the ridge. As usual, the riders’ powerful legs almost matched the four-wheeler’s motor, but we made it up there in front, and I captured most of the race on video (I think.)

It was none other than Harlan Price attacking half way up the climb, and no one could touch him. He held his small gap the whole way to the finish! Kyle came in second just eight seconds back, with Aaron on his tail at another nine seconds back.

Then came the wave of VisitPA riders, including Ryan, Mike, Rob, and Ray, taking fourth through seventh places to rack up the team points.

Next up was the annual slow race, a short downhill race where the object is to go as slow as possible without falling off your bike. After numerous trackstands and a few elbows and shoulders, Austin claimed the win yet again.

But speeds picked up to record highs in Sunday afternoon’s ST XC. The entire VisitPA squad was out in full force, ready to put their team tactics to use against adversaries Harlan, Kyle, and Aaron. VisitPA was setting a good pace and keeping things under control, but things broke apart on the last couple laps, and once again Harlan Price was victorious!

That was the end of racing for the weekend, but one event remained - the Huffy toss! While waiting for the awards ceremony, a crowd gathered to take part in this test of might. What happens here is that you pick up a deceptively heavy Huffy bicycle and toss it as far as possible.

Many strategies and a variety of techniques were used, but I think the average throw ended up being about five feet. (It’s harder than it looks! The bike is about 50 pounds and it’s very awkward to throw it!) The winning throw was a good toss with a careful technique that got the Huffy to actually bounce along once it hit, yielding a decisive victory that was rewarded with a box of Marysville Twinkies!

After that excitement, awards and prizes were handed out, and there was a huge schwag toss. (Or was that Saturday? Who knows…) It was a good time, but it had to end sometime, and the crowds of participants and spectators drove home happy.

Want to get in on the action?

Get the scoop on upcoming events at High Speed Cycling, and stay up-to-date on the team at the VisitPA team blog.

Even though this was only the third running of the Tour de Susquehanna, this was by far the most anticipated one yet. Each year has seen a number of competitors, yet only one champion - Brett Baronak, a native of the area who travels back (from Florida) to get in on the action.

Last year, Jeff Miller (reigning King of the Mountain champ) came to test his luck, but could only pull off second place.

Then for 2008, despite the addition of prize money, the big names stayed home! The best placed rider to return was my riding buddy Mike Yankevich, who placed third in the 2006 and 2007 editions. Even Spokes N Skis, a fairly local team who usually sends five or six guys, had just one rider in the peloton this year.

We had been planning our race strategy for this exact situation!

But Mike and I (Marathon Equipment) didn’t have it easy. Todd Mann (Spokes N Skis) was looking good, Chad Swanger (Allied Milk Producers) was ready to go, and Kevin McElhinny (Countryside Cycling) looked like a powerful rider to be reckoned with. To top things off, a few 15-16 year old kids lined up in front of us - you have to watch these young guns, you never know when they’ll blow up the entire field!

Here’s how the race went down…

The start was like any other - despite instructions to take it slow for a rolling start, the pace car zoomed off and overzealous riders sprinted by, hoping to win the 22 mile race in the first few yards. I avoided the commotion and slowly made my way to the front section of the pack, keeping my eyes on the previously mentioned riders.

Things were pretty calm on the first hill. A few new riders set a decent pace at the front, but they could only hold it so long, and eventually faded back… leaving maybe 10 strong riders setting the pace. All the pre-race favorites were right up there together.

On the final section of the climb, as I rotated to the back of our little paceline, I noticed that our little group had started to open a gap, without any actual attacking! I was so excited I surged back to the front to make sure the pace stayed high and our gap widened.

And that it did. At the crest of the first fill, we had a seven-man paceline with a big enough gap that only a strong team effort would have any chance of catching us. I was thinking, “great, now we can ease off a bit and have a steady ride until we hit the next hill.”

But as luck would have it, the group consensus was more along the lines of a super fast paceline. At least we had a good group this year and everyone did their part. In past years, there were a few notorious wheelsuckers that sat in the back and got pulled to the finish, fairly effortlessly. (This year even the skinny young climber Chad Swanger was putting some serious power down on the flats!)

I hung on, but the big gears were taking their toll - I was pretty beat by the halfway point. So much for any kind of attack on the second hill!

I think we were down to six at this point, and Todd knew we were hurting, so he put the hammer down on one of the many twisty little hills on these back roads. That dropped the rider from Advanced Office Systems, and myself, although I dug deep and caught back on.

But that didn’t last long. A mile or so later, we hit the base of the second hill, and Todd, Mike, and Chad picked up the pace. I couldn’t counter another attack, so I had to let them go and focus my attention on Kevin. I stuck with him and we traded spots once or twice, but towards the top of the climb I could see he was really hurting…

So I thought, “why not go after the top three?” Somehow the climb gave me some extra energy, and I exploded over the top. Good news - the top three were still in sight!

I gave it all I had, railing the turns, big-ringing the short but steep inclines, but couldn’t catch on. All the while, Kevin was looming behind me…

Once I hit the final six miles of flat road back to the finish, the leaders were totally out of sight, and Kevin was gaining on me. I slowed slightly for a few seconds before he caught me, making sure I’d be ready in case he tried an attack right there to secure fourth place…

I think we were both too tired for anything that exciting, because we kind of worked together and moderately pacelined back into town. (I say “kind of” because I was running on empty, just hoping not to be left alone again.)

About half-mile from the line, Kevin accelerated slightly, opening about a five second gap. With the finish around the next bend, I stood and sprinted, but I didn’t pick up any speed! I was just too exhausted. I just kind of rolled into the finish (with that five second gap,) and rounded out the Top 5.

Mike, Todd, and Chad were already waiting for us at the line, having had a chance to cool down, grab some cold drinks, get massages, and do some photos and interviews for the local paper. (OK, they were only a minute ahead of us, but that’s a pretty good lead to have built up in the last six miles.)

About the three leaders…

Last time I had a good view of the leaders was about 1/4 way up the final climb. I guess they stuck together on most of the hill, but Mike launched a decisive attack right at the top, giving him a little gap. Todd and Chad caught him, though, before that crazy S-bend turn on the downhill.

On the flats again, they pacelined for a few miles, but things got tricky coming into town - a good jump on the sprint would be key to victory, so they all jockeyed for position. Mike was able to make a good move, and although it was a long sprint to the line, he got the win!

Chad and Todd came in a few seconds apart for second and third, respectively, to round out the podium. Props to those guys for holding a fast pace the whole way through!

So we have a new champion…

Although I played virtually no role in Mike’s victory, I was still pumped to see a local rider (and my teammate of the day) take home the Tour de Susquehanna victory! And the rather large, exquisite trophy that goes with it!

I’m sure Brett will be back next year with hopes of taking back the title!

Overall…

It was a superb race, probably the most fun yet! Thanks go out to Mike Butler for organizing the event, the American Legion for serving breakfast, the other racers for attending despite super high gas prices, and definitely to all the volunteers and local authorities who ensured a safe, smooth race for everyone!

Full race results provided by Runner’s High at RunHigh.com.

Photo credits: Randy Hurley

Looking for a new challenge that is as grueling as a 24 hour mountain bike race, but much more fun? Then enter the world of mountain bike stage races! (Yep, this is the off-road version of the Tour de France!)

Mountain bike stage racing brings together all the best parts of regular mountain bike races but adds the challenge and variety of a stage race, all in one weekend!

Stage races are few and far between, though, so it’s understandable if you’ve never heard of one. The only one I know of is the VisitPA Stage Race and Festival Weekend held each year in Marysville, PA, by High Speed Cycling and the VisitPA Mountain Bike Team.

(I’ve been there before; read my 2006 race report and also see my video from the 2005 race for more info.)

Why You Should Do a Mountain Bike Stage Race:

– Just one flight/drive for four or more races! (Great value in these days of $4/gallon gasoline.)

– Everything is in one place, and you can camp there!

– Mountain biking is fun, and the vibe is always friendlier than a road race!

– Test yourself in multiple disciplines. Along with a regular XC race, there is a short track XC race, a night time trial, and a mass-start hill climb!

– A camp fire, sing a longs, and beer!

– It can double as a family vacation!

(Some of those reasons won’t apply to all multi-day races, like the Trans Rockies, La Ruta, or Great Divide race, but they do apply to the VisitPA Stage Race Weekend!)

Great! How do I register?

Itching to try this MTB Stage Race thing? Then head to Marysville, PA for a fun-filled weekend on the farm! I’ve had a blast every year, it’s worth the trip!

Race info: at HighSpeedCycling.com

Register: at BikeReg.com

Dangit, I live in California! What do I do?

If you can’t make it over to Pennsylvania for some sweet East Coast singletrack, talk to your local race promoters and tell them you want a mountain bike stage race weekend because they are the coolest race ever!

You did it. You decided to tackle the most complicated race out there, the triathlon. If you’re going to be swimming, biking, and running consecutively, you’ll need to pack a lot of stuff!

So along with being physically able to compete in all three disciplines, you need to pack gear for all of them into your car! It’s pretty complicated, but with some forethought, it doesn’t have to be that hard.

I suggest creating a checklist of all the items you’ll need before, during, and after the race. To help out, I’ve posted mine below. You can use it “as is” or adapt it for your needs.

Pre-race

___ Registration form and/or license

___ Sunscreen

Swim

___ Wetsuit (optional)

___ Pam cooking spray (to aid in wetsuit removal)

___ Tri Outfit (shorts and jersey)

___ Goggles

___ Swim cap (if not provided)

T1 / Bike

___ Transition mat or beach towel

___ Bike stand (smaller races don’t provide racks)

___ Bicycle

___ Shoes (with cleats attached)

___ Water bottle (filled, in cage)

___ Seat bag
      - spare tube
      - tire levers
      - CO2 inflator
      - mini-tool

___ Bicycle Helmet

___ Sunglasses

___ Energy gel (on bike)

T2 / Run

___ Running sneakers w/ Speed Laces

___ Race belt (to clip number on)

___ Running cap

Post Race

___ Change of clothes

___ Sandals

___ Post-race food and water

___ First-aid kit

___ Camera (to capture the memories)

___ Towel

___ Baby wipes

___ Money

To make things easier, I suggest printing out a copy of the checklist and checking off items as you pack them into your car.

Want to download and print out a fancy copy of this checklist in PDF format? Just click here. (Right-click + “save as” to save it to your computer.)

As if it wasn’t hard enough to train for a race, drive there, and keep your mind focused on race strategy, there’s another obstacle thrown in… packing everything into your car! You have to pack your bike and clothes for the race, plus everything else you may or may not need before, during, and after the race.

If you throw stuff in at the last minute, yes, it’s hard. But with some planning beforehand, you can pack everything you need without worry. Just create a checklist of everything you need.

Don’t worry, I’ve posted mine below. Feel free to use it.

___ Bike

___ Water bottles (filled)

___ Seat bag
      - spare tube
      - tire levers
      - CO2 inflator
      - mini-tool

___ Helmet

___ Sunglasses

___ Jersey

___ Undershirt (optional)

___ Gloves

___ Shorts

___ Socks

___ Shoes with cleats

___ Energy bar and/or gel

___ Change of clothes

___ Post-race food and water

___ First-aid kit

___ Bike lock (optional)

___ Camera (optional)

___ Towel

___ Baby wipes

___ Money

___ Registration form and/or license

___ Floor pump (for topping off your tires)

___ Stationary trainer (for warmup)

To make things easier, I suggest printing out a copy of the checklist and checking off items as you pack them into your car.

Want to download and print out a fancy copy of this in PDF format? Just click here. (Right-click + “save as” to save it to your computer.)

Or…

Prefer to race off-road? Then see our MTB Race Equipment Checklist.