Windham World Cup Citizens Race 2015

August 14, 2015

#Family

Gotta start this post out with some fam pics. Never have so many of our family come out to see us race and learn more about MTB. It was awesome. Demetra, my mother-in-law, and Paulette, my step-mom-in-law, stood there and watched the entire World Cup race from the front of the gates right behind the hot seat. It was cool to see.

My sister-in-law, Eleni, fell in love with bike racing. Her words. She was fascinated by the accessibility to the pros, the pits, the whole thing.

My father-in-law, Bill, Amanda’s Dad, he was there too. People like Cat 1 racer Joe Pharoah (who’s from Ithaca and who’s eaten at Manos Diner tons of times) knows that it’s quite a thing to see Bill Manos outside the diner at a venue as niche as a World Cup. Thanks BIll.

I just wish I had more more time show them all everything. Thank so much for coming out in force you guys and making that 3 hour drive from Ithaca, NY. Len, thanks for bringing Liana the cousins could get down proper.

Practice & Racing

Jeremy Fahey

Camped next to Jeremy the entire weekend. Couldn’t ask for a better teammate. We were on the same page with practice times and general routines. Jeremy was screaming-fast right out of the gate in practice and I am very thankful for that. Seeing his speed gave me a gauge for just how far back I really was.

This was the first race where I really got to hang with Jeremy. He’s surgical when it comes to learning the track; breaks down every section meticulously via repeated stoping, walking and thinking through it all to find the perfect line. Needed to see this. His process was far more involved than I was used to seeing from other teammates.

I wish I had more pics of Jeremy. There’s a really great shot of him via remote control drone that I couldn’t buy in time for this post. And another coming out of the woods. That drone shot is at the top of course after a small drop that shoots you into that berm he is riding. Feels like a sling shot coming into that section. Seeing his speed in there and pacing him was dope.

Also got to meet Jeremy’s friend Tracey. She’s also a DH rider. Seems like a super cool gal and hope to see her at more races.

Mike

I was off the DH bike for 2 months. Picking it back up for this race was an eye opener. Raced Windham for 4 seasons now. Thought I would be ready just by muscle memory and boy was I wrong. Arm pump for the first two days. Never really get arm pump. I guess that’s what I deserve for being off the bike for so long. I never really got up to speed. Needed one more day, at least. Regardless, I had a sick time at this race.

Bobby Michailides

Bobby was staying in a condo at the base of the mountain. He was a stone’s throw from our camp, literally. Was coming over to visit all the time. Got some practice runs in with him and sheeeeet did he get fast. Matt, Phil…..I think Bobby’s got you both. Proud of Bobby. Nine races so far this year. Knows just about every breathing soul on the circuit and thrives on track talk, strategy and speed. Some of the Cat 1 40+ guys weren’t mentioning Bobby’s name as a top 5 contender. That didn’t sit well with Bobby. He would go on to prove them quite wrong.

Antony Folk

Anthony showed up with Isabelle on Saturday. He camped across the lot from us. Didn’t get much hang-out time though. Anthony’s been busy working on a new bike park trail system so he wasn’t even sure he could make this race. We were really glad to see him. He crashed out on his race run but still had a scorching time in a really tough category. Hope to see you at Blue MTN Anthony!!!

Kids’ Race

Dre raced his first bike race! No nap, and totally blown tired from being up late and running around with his new friends Josie and Cheyenne. He did great. Toby Biery from FLY Racing hooked us up with a sweet set of mini elbow / arm pads. Spoke jersey and Fox Transition helmet rounded out the kit to make Dre man look #sopro. (note the flash light camo taped to the bars. you know, for night riding in the parking lot camp ground)

Windham MTB Festival

This town is bike crazy. So many pictures I didn’t get; Jeff Lenosky’s demo, the massive move screen running Semenuk’s unReal, the fire juggling guy, the vendors, the beer. Some of us riders are a bit salty that the World Cup is not coming back to Windham, NY in 2016. Rest assured, it’s no one’s fault or intentional decision. The 2016 Olympics proved a logistical challenge for the World Cup XC guys to get back to NY in time. Windham, NY plans to put a bid in to the UCI for 2017 and beyond. Given the course’s proximity to Monte Saint Anne, and most teams’ desires to keep travel costs low, we are thinking it will be back.

Podiums & Podium Catastrophes

Another timing debacle. Everything was going smoothly until Cat 1 40+ race runs. Guys were coming down with times that made no sense. The confusion lasted for quite a while. The entire Cat 1 40+ category was standing by the timing booth for the whole race. Some making jokes in good cheer, others pissed.

We pay for two things on race weekend – access to the trails / lift, and a reliably timed race run. Most of us leave our families on the weekends to do this. Some of us bring our families. In either case, we are dragging them along. Some of us use the family milk money for race entry fees. Regardless of which category you fall into, you want that f-in timed run, damn it. And your family would like to see a result as well. When it gets taken from you, you feel oddly violated. I can’t really explain the frustration that courses through your body for days and weeks after.

It took about 2-3 days to sort the timing mess out. When the dust settled, Bobby took 5th (3:55.21) and Jeremy 6th (3:55.24). Bobby over Jeremy by less than a fraction of a pedal stroke;  Jeremy feels the times are accurate. Bobby thinks so too but there is always a lingering doubt when timing gets screwed like this. In any case, Bobby proved them wrong and ended up in the top 5 amongst a seriously stacked Cat. Good work B.

When it came time for podium photos, the results still weren’t in for Cat 1 40+ so the entire field decided to get on the podium. As they were mounting the boxes, Jeremy mumbles something to the effect of “I aint gettin’ up there” and turns and walks away. I was right there to grab a photo of him turning to walk. Gold. Bobby got up there, but there isn’t one shot on my camera or anyone else’s, with him looking at the lens or even looking up. Pissed a little, B? Heh. Understandably so.

As for me, they bumped me to Cat 2 40+. I entered the race as Cat 2 30-39. Had no idea who my competitors were. Bobby gave me a breakdown of the top three guys and I set about to do my thing. My race run was OK. Could have been much faster. Next time. No regrets. It was a sick weekend. My only real goal this weekend was to get in the top 5 so that I could have a picture taken with Dre by my side. I want it burned into his memory that his dad did stuff. Cool stuff. I want him to see what success looks like and I want him to know that he is a part of it all. Goal achieved.

#Friends