01/17/12
The Cyclocross World Championships for Masters took place in Louisville Kentucky January 12th - 15th and Hardcore had 2 representatives: Andre Sutton in the 40-44 and me, Mark Rumsey in the 45-49. The course was in Eva Bandman Park in Louisville which is noteworthy since it is a cyclocross-splecific park. We pre-rode the course on the Tuesday in shorts, the weather similar to one of our nicer Fall days. The next day however, the teperature dropped and it started raining a lot. Because of the large turnout the organizers had qualifying heats to seed us for the final. Our heats were on Thursday and the course was so muddy they shortened the race from 3 to 2 laps. Conditions were biblical with deep mud, massive puddles and because the temperature was plunging, it started snowing. In the dry lap times were expected to be 8 or 9 minutes, it took me 28 minutes to do 2 laps in the rain and I ended up 7th. That night it went below zero and all of the mud on the course froze solid making for an insanely rutted, icey mess for the heats on Friday.
By Saturday it was still frozen and the morning finals were fast because of the frozen ground but sketchy for the same reason. If riders got caught in the endless frozen ruts they were often high-sided onto the ground or off the course; there was course tape everywhere. My race started at 1pm and the temperature had crept above zero; enough that the icery ruts were turning into muddy icey ruts. It was the hairyest conditions I've ever raced and the mud built up on my bike so bad it easily doubled in weight by the end. I hit a rut on the highest speed section and got into a pretty good tank slapper crash that sent me off the course but with the ice everyone was having crashes big and small. Early on I slid and snagged some fencing snapping off my left hand brake lever so had only a rear brake for the rest of the race. Lessons learned; carbon levers maybe are too fragile for 'cross, bring 2 bikes next year...and dedicated mud tires. Despite all that I enjoyed the course but my legs and lungs didn't show up; I started 13th on the grid and ended up 28th. Some Kentucky cold virus had gotten a hold of me and the horsepower just wasn't there.
For Andre's race the conditions were getting progressively soupier but still mostly icey mud. Andre looked strong despite a good crash. He battled all race and ended up 18th in what was the most competitive category of the whole championships.
Mark at 2012 Cross Worlds
2012 Masters Cyclocross Worlds Course
Andre at Masters Worlds
Mark Racing in Heat 1 Masters Worlds
11/09/11
On November 5th, the National Cyclocross race was held in Toronto and Hardcore had three people there to represent the Green and Yellow. In Master 30-39, John Clark did us all proud getting 3rd and a well-deserved podium. At the race the following day (National's Revenge) John did two better ending up on the top step.
In Master 40-49, Andre Sutton and Mark Rumsey contested what turned out to be the biggest category with 60 racers. With a group that huge, if you don't get a good start position you are pretty much doomed to a poor placing, especially on a course as technical as this one was. Mark ended up with a decent 12th place start position but Andre got hosed bad back in 43rd. Andre fought his way up to 6th by the end of the race but who knows what would have happened if he had had a better start position? Mark ended up a respectable 10th.
Overall there were 6 Albertans on the various podiums at Nationals which speaks volumes of the quality of the cyclocross scene here. In Elite Women Pepper Harlton was 2nd, in Elite Men Aaron Schooler was 3rd by just one second. In U19 Tommy Beaulieu was 2nd and at the other end of the age range, Peter Lawrence was 1st in Master 50+. The same category where John Clark was 3rd, Master 30-39, Chris McNeil was 2nd.
Stayed tuned for World's! Yes, the Master's World are in Louisville Kentucky in the middle of January. Barring disaster, we'll be there.
John on the Podium
Mark at 2011 Cross Nationals
10/05/11
We just got in a fresh shipment of Club Clothing--it looks hot! Come see what the stylish cylcist is wearing this season. We have Skinsuits, XC Jerseys, Short Sleeve "DH" Jerseys (for the All-Mountain Riders), Arm and Knee Warmers.
XC Jerseys and Skinsuits
All-Mountain Jersey
08/25/11
Given the huge amount of time we spend riding the trails in the river valley, the club thought it a good idea to put something back in the form of some trail days this year. In cooperation with the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, Hardcore Cycling Club will be adopting the trails in the area below Saskatchewan Drive from the Walterdale Bridge to the Old Timer's Cabin.
The first Trail Day was May 30th and was a great success with 26 people, lots of trail work completed and a BBQ afterwards. Trail Day #3 is Tuesday, September 6 at 6:30pm.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park -- Parking Lot
When: Tuesday, September 6 at 6:30pm (come a bit early so we can get going at 6:30).
Why: To Fix up the Trails that we enjoy riding.
What to Bring: work gloves, closed toe shoes, pruners, a wheelbarrow if you have one, shovels, picks, something to drink.
Trail Day June 22
Bridge Work
Mike, Phillipe & Josh fixing a washed out section
06/23/11
Thanks to all of those who came out and helped with our second trail day of the year. Especially since it was the first nice night after a week and a half of rain and I'm sure many were itching to ride. We had 20 people out and were able to fill in some bad mud holes, trim back the brush a bit from the trail, and build an impressive bridge over a badly eroded section of trail. The bridge will allow the foliage around it to grow back and will stop the braiding that was occurring. It was amazing to see how much got done in the 4 hours we were out there.
Thanks also go out to:
The City of Edmonton for the permission to do trail work and providing the gravel (though we could use about 5x as much next time).
Garry and Harvey for organizing us all and doing the prep work.
Everyone who donated lumber and tools.
We plan to do a total of 4 trail days this year. Number 3 will be late July or August and 4 likely sometime in September. Stay Tuned.
Trail Day June 22
Mike, Phillipe & Josh fixing a washed out section
Bridge Work
06/12/11
Given the huge amount of time we spend riding the trails in the river valley, the club thought it a good idea to put something back in the form of some trail days this year. In cooperation with the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, Hardcore Cycling Club will be adopting the trails in the area below Saskatchewan Drive from the Walterdale Bridge to the Old Timer's Cabin.
The first Trail Day was May 30th and was a great success with 26 people, lots of trail work completed and a BBQ afterwards. Trail Day #2 is Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30. There will be no ride that night instead we encourage everyone who can come out and help with trail maintenance. The plan is to have 4 trail days this year; 2 on Mondays and 2 on Wednesdays.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park -- Parking Lot
When: Wednesday June 22 at 6:30pm (come a bit early so we can get going at 6:30).
Why: To Fix up the Trails that we enjoy riding.
What to Bring: Yourself, a Friend, Bug spray, Gloves, Comfortable Clothes, Closed-Toe Shoes or Boots. Also, if you've got 'em, Pruners, small Handsaws, shovels.
Trail Day 2011
05/31/11
Thanks to everyone who came out to our first trail maintenance day. The turnout was awesome and we learned a lot for next time. A special thanks goes out to Garry and Harvey for showing us how it's done. We had a lot of fun and the after-BBQ was great.
Trail Day BBQ
Loaded Precision Dirt Crit Expert/Elite Race
Here are the results for Saturdays races.
05/19/11
Hardcore Bikes and Redbike present Grany Gear XC Race weekend.
- Saturday May 21 Too Tired TT & Loaded Precision Dirt Crit
- Sunday May 22 Granny Gear XC ABA Cup Race #1
*Free kiddi crit on Saturday (tech guide for details)