Sunday, December 6, 2009
SEE?
...we could totally host a USGP-- check out this photo from VeloNews of the PDX race. That could totally be Red Cross!...if only we had like...1200 more riders. *sigh* ...someday?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Even more photos + ideas
http://jimdanvers.zenfolio.com/p174902043
Some good ideas in the works for next year! In the hopes of securing a beer sponsor and giving something to everyone, look for custom Red Cross pint glasses for next year. A small gesture, but I've always been a fan of races that gave out pint glasses.
Again, if you have anymore comments (and are even still reading any of this!) leave them in the comments section or email to brianlawney[at]gmail[dot]com.
Cheers!
Some good ideas in the works for next year! In the hopes of securing a beer sponsor and giving something to everyone, look for custom Red Cross pint glasses for next year. A small gesture, but I've always been a fan of races that gave out pint glasses.
Again, if you have anymore comments (and are even still reading any of this!) leave them in the comments section or email to brianlawney[at]gmail[dot]com.
Cheers!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Results + Photos
Results are up on BikeReg here.
Our official photographer Laura has posted some amazing pictures HERE. Head on over and flip through them.
Other galleries are:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mshenstone/BigRedCrossMudFest02#
http://picasaweb.google.com/jsalazar1978/20091024#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onedaynever/4046663578/in/set-72157622542013599/
If you find anymore, let me know so they'll get spread around.
From Laura's gallery
Our official photographer Laura has posted some amazing pictures HERE. Head on over and flip through them.
Other galleries are:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mshenstone/BigRedCrossMudFest02#
http://picasaweb.google.com/jsalazar1978/20091024#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onedaynever/4046663578/in/set-72157622542013599/
If you find anymore, let me know so they'll get spread around.
From Laura's galleryMonday, October 26, 2009
Ideas for next year?
If there are any comments/concerns, let us know (either by email or by leaving a comment here) so we can make it all bigger and better next year!
Specifically, we're interested in the viability of a double event weekend, with different courses on each day. If we weren't against a MAC race, would our NYC/NJ/PA/etc region CX'rs be more interested by a two race format? We'd like to know!
There's already a buzz growing- I've received a bunch of emails to this effect. We'll tentatively know our dates in December, so be on the lookout for Red Cross v2.0
Specifically, we're interested in the viability of a double event weekend, with different courses on each day. If we weren't against a MAC race, would our NYC/NJ/PA/etc region CX'rs be more interested by a two race format? We'd like to know!
There's already a buzz growing- I've received a bunch of emails to this effect. We'll tentatively know our dates in December, so be on the lookout for Red Cross v2.0
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Success!
All things considered (especially uncooperative weather) the races today were a huge success!
We had just about 100 racers (+ more spectators) show up to battle the muddiest of conditions on a challenging course. I'd like to say it was a fair mix of power and bike driving skills, although I unfortunately (luckily?) couldn't ride it. When we setup last night and this morning, I was quite worried we would have a bike carrying/running race on our hands. I saw the frustration at the USGP Mercer Cup last year...and I figured a day like that would end any potential for future editions of Red Cross. However, our local (and non-local) mudders prevailed and it looked like everyone had a great time!
The warmer weather definitely helped our cause, and the ample hoses left everyone (and their bikes) relatively clean afterwards. Perhaps next year everyone will get to see it on a dry day and really fly around those loops. That said, who wouldn't want to do that again!!?!?
We got A LOT of overwhelmingly positive feedback, but if you have any comments/criticisms (aside from "I hate mud!") let me know so we can make it bigger/better/friendlier the next time around. Tentatively, we'd like to join the NYcross series, perhaps feature a double race weekend with different courses, and offer more prizes/payouts to more of our racers.
A BIG THANK YOU to all the Red Cross volunteers who helped out yesterday and today! Course setup was a relative breeze, breakdown was incredibly fast, and our results staff was excellent. There's no way we do that all without you!
I would especially like to thank Tom Hurd and the staff at Broome-Tioga Sports Center-- they were amazing hosts and it DEFINITELY could not have happened without them! They made our little operation so damn legit.
Also on the list of big thank you's is to Gimme! Coffee for the brewed coffee and the prize beans! I know the delicious coffee made the mud just a little easier to bear. And man did everyone suck it down. Both the coffee AND the mud.
Lastly, Cyclocross Magazine donated subscriptions and print-mags to our podium finishers and many of our racers. Many thanks to them, and check out their website at http://cxmagazine.com for everything cyclocross (including co-promoter Jake's brainchild, fantasy CX).
We'll have pictures sometime in the near future and I'll be sure to point everyone in that direction. We had some great professional photographers on-site, and I'm anxious to see it all documented. In the meantime, here's a couple pics taken by Juan-
I know I personally can't wait to do it all next year...but I'm also relieved it's a year away! Maybe I'll figure out how to relax by then...and be able to mix it up in our own race. It was a good deal of work, but it was worth it!
If you raced, you can cancel that trip to Portland to join in their mud baths. Support local cyclocross!
We had just about 100 racers (+ more spectators) show up to battle the muddiest of conditions on a challenging course. I'd like to say it was a fair mix of power and bike driving skills, although I unfortunately (luckily?) couldn't ride it. When we setup last night and this morning, I was quite worried we would have a bike carrying/running race on our hands. I saw the frustration at the USGP Mercer Cup last year...and I figured a day like that would end any potential for future editions of Red Cross. However, our local (and non-local) mudders prevailed and it looked like everyone had a great time!
The warmer weather definitely helped our cause, and the ample hoses left everyone (and their bikes) relatively clean afterwards. Perhaps next year everyone will get to see it on a dry day and really fly around those loops. That said, who wouldn't want to do that again!!?!?
We got A LOT of overwhelmingly positive feedback, but if you have any comments/criticisms (aside from "I hate mud!") let me know so we can make it bigger/better/friendlier the next time around. Tentatively, we'd like to join the NYcross series, perhaps feature a double race weekend with different courses, and offer more prizes/payouts to more of our racers.
A BIG THANK YOU to all the Red Cross volunteers who helped out yesterday and today! Course setup was a relative breeze, breakdown was incredibly fast, and our results staff was excellent. There's no way we do that all without you!
I would especially like to thank Tom Hurd and the staff at Broome-Tioga Sports Center-- they were amazing hosts and it DEFINITELY could not have happened without them! They made our little operation so damn legit.
Also on the list of big thank you's is to Gimme! Coffee for the brewed coffee and the prize beans! I know the delicious coffee made the mud just a little easier to bear. And man did everyone suck it down. Both the coffee AND the mud.
Lastly, Cyclocross Magazine donated subscriptions and print-mags to our podium finishers and many of our racers. Many thanks to them, and check out their website at http://cxmagazine.com for everything cyclocross (including co-promoter Jake's brainchild, fantasy CX).
We'll have pictures sometime in the near future and I'll be sure to point everyone in that direction. We had some great professional photographers on-site, and I'm anxious to see it all documented. In the meantime, here's a couple pics taken by Juan-
I know I personally can't wait to do it all next year...but I'm also relieved it's a year away! Maybe I'll figure out how to relax by then...and be able to mix it up in our own race. It was a good deal of work, but it was worth it!
If you raced, you can cancel that trip to Portland to join in their mud baths. Support local cyclocross!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Pray for rain?
Today we had a great showing of volunteers ready to build the course for Red Cross. We may still edit more in the morning, but our preliminary tests indicate that it's a HEAVY course. In dry weather, it would be hard and fast...but I'm guessing we won't have either tomorrow.
We're honestly hoping for a little more rain to loosen things up a bit. With such little rain today, the track surface was slightly damp and rather clumpy-- think tires accumulating mud in the manner that wet snow packs down. ugh. Most things were still ride-able, but we had to change our intended run-up because of difficult footing.
I'm really hoping it turns out well, because we've put a lot of effort and thought into the race and we don't want people to hate it because it's so difficult due solely to the weather! I guess we'll see.
Here we go!
We're honestly hoping for a little more rain to loosen things up a bit. With such little rain today, the track surface was slightly damp and rather clumpy-- think tires accumulating mud in the manner that wet snow packs down. ugh. Most things were still ride-able, but we had to change our intended run-up because of difficult footing.
I'm really hoping it turns out well, because we've put a lot of effort and thought into the race and we don't want people to hate it because it's so difficult due solely to the weather! I guess we'll see.
Here we go!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Saturday's weather
It looks like we will be having some real cross weather on our hands. Choose your tires accordingly. In dry weather I would probably go with some file treads, but the prospects of wet weather should probably steer you towards more aggressive tread. I would go with Challenge Grifos...but then again those are my only tubulars and I can't actually race (despite me being pre-reg'd)!
The weather in this area is so incredibly variable so I rarely trust anything more than a day in advance, but this is what I'm seeing now:
From NOAA:
Showers. High near 63. South wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
From Weather.com:
I'm honestly unsure of what to make of the "Mostly Cloudy" with a sun icon when the hourly forecast is entirely showers...
From Weather Underground:
So it tentatively looks like rain, but not a washout.
Weather underground also reports that the UV index is only 2 for Saturday. So look on the bright side...you will be at very little risk for sun damage with so much cloud and mud coverage.
Portland holds some of their Cross Crusade races at the Portland International Raceway on the motocross track. I would imagine that under heavy rain we could be looking at similar conditions.
The weather in this area is so incredibly variable so I rarely trust anything more than a day in advance, but this is what I'm seeing now:
From NOAA:
Showers. High near 63. South wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
From Weather.com:
I'm honestly unsure of what to make of the "Mostly Cloudy" with a sun icon when the hourly forecast is entirely showers...From Weather Underground:
So it tentatively looks like rain, but not a washout.
Weather underground also reports that the UV index is only 2 for Saturday. So look on the bright side...you will be at very little risk for sun damage with so much cloud and mud coverage.
Portland holds some of their Cross Crusade races at the Portland International Raceway on the motocross track. I would imagine that under heavy rain we could be looking at similar conditions.
If I had to guess, that looks like Adam McGrath because #1: Van Dessel kit and #2: Helmet visor.
Epic? Yes.
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