As I was learning the sport and moving up in classes, I began to learn about the flow of the season and the spring classics.
I remember in the Mid Atlantic there were 3 Mountainbike races that everyone got up for each year. The Mid Atlantic's Own Spring Classics of Mountainbiking:
1. Wye Mills. Promoted by Tracy Lea. Fast flowy course on what was the family farm I think. Trails were only open for that race. HUGE fields, really fast and competitive. I think they gave away bikes to the winners of the sport class one year. Really fun race. I actually think it was in the D20 BAR one year... Usually first or second weekend in April I think.
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| Slick Rick Da Ruler in 2000 |
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| anyone see and cyclocrossers in there? |
3. Bike Line at Fairmount Park. Course was not great, but it was in the middle of the city and the fields were huge. They threw out lots of money at it, and the crowds (people not racing) were huge. I still remember the roar of the crowd as we went through collarbone creek. This was during the sport race. There were radio ads on Wsyp. I remember listening to Stern and hearing ads for a bike race and being so stoked. Usually came in May, and wrapped up the classics.
Some 10-15 years later none of these races still exists.
So I ask you, what are the new Mountain Bike Classics of the Mid Atlantic?
I've polled a few people and these came up:
International Relay (Mass relay),
Bakers Dozen
Bike Line at Fairhill
Greenbriar
Granogue
What do you think? What are your three?
I didn't think of the International (MASS) relay, but I have to admit I like it.
Baker's is a great race, but the competition isn't that deep normally.
Bikeline Fairhill would make my cut for sure, maybe the toughest, deepest fields all year...
Greenbriar is a great race, but doesn't always get the crowds... Certainly could be on this list..
two things :
1. click on the links. Look at some of the names in the results. How many are still around 10+ years laters... kinda cool...
2. my best results at the Classics: Wye Mills: 5th, Ironmaster's 10th; Fairmount Classic 4th.
that was in the sport class...
Please comment....
This guy is fucking rad:
respect.
fatmarc
11 comments:
Definitely Greenbrier and Granouge (even though it was originally a summer race), definitely not Bike Line/Fair Hill (boring lap course that pales in comparison to the Fair Hill Classic), maybe the Baker's Dozen and the MASS relay (different formats that need a few more years to be considered classic). I still think of the Michaux spring race as THE spring classic.
Thought about this some more and decided that the Ironmasters really doesn't belong in the same category as Wye Mills and the Fairmount Classic. The latter two races are dead and gone, but the traditional spring Michaux race lives on. Other than the one week difference and the extra ten miles for the Pro/Experts, it retains much of the charm and challenge of the original Ironmasters.
Wye Mills was always my favorite. I remember racing against you Wooden Wheels guys. That race was a maturing race for me....when I finally beat Alan Turns - I was so proud of myself. Still have an Ironmaster's Classic T-shirt and raced the Fairmount Classic twice. That was always fun - race was over and they made sure everyone cleared out before dark. You are faster than me now and if I posted my old results nothing has changed :)
Michael
i found this rad video of a guy mixing flatland in w/ skateboarding. it was on reddit (you gotta check that out) - anyways, i cant find it now. if i do, i'll shoot ya the link. dude was sick, doing handstands and double skate boards and shit.
Thanks for the ride down memory lane! I found myself mid-pack in the beginners men 19-29 @ Fairmount...
11 years later, and I'm still getting mid-pack, but in the expert class; good stuff!
Granouge gets the "classic" designation from me, for certain. Trails not being open all the time definitely adds to the allure.
The last time they had the Wye Mills race was my first race ever. I finished almost exactly in the middle of the beginner class, and I collapsed and almost passed out when I crossed the line. It was like a gateway drug. I eventually got to the point where I was racing open men 24 hour enduros and consistently running top ten. Not too many of those in this part of the country anymore, but I still have multi-hour races and 100 milers to keep me going ... only now I do it all on a singlespeed! Thanks for the memory!
Wye Mills, Micheo ( however you spell the damn thing) and my first race ever... Greenbrier
Wye Mills aka east coast championships- yes, Marc it was on private property.. Will always remember the drive down that long tree lined drive ... Fast swirvey and sandy. , was in Easton, if I recall
The Micheo place- Most fun I everhad on a Mtn bike!! Sweet ride. Was there with Dave "big red" Jordan
Greenbrier- Hilly, nasty, back Hurtin, too long, WTF- I paid $25.00 for this pain?!? These peole are idiots....so that's what I thought as I pushed my bike up yet Another hill. Swearing this was my first and LAST race. By Tuesday I was HOOKED!!!!' been racin since:-). Love it more than ever !!!!!
Thanks for the walk down memory lane Marc... You matter buddy!!!
i see your site . it reminds me of FELT EPIX ... are you in the United States ? what state ? i've looked at several of your pages - looks like you have fun :) but i can't / or haven't figured out where you ride ?
why didn't anyone say anything about Kyle Leeper. That dude is super rad. Check out his rainy day skate sesh, pretty sweet.
Some 10-15 years later none of these races still exists.
https://www.bikereg.com/Net/14796
IBC- While appreciate with the Gettysburgh bikes guys are doing, Michaux Maxixmus is not the IronMasters Classic. Good event I am sure; but at it's peak there was nothing like the Iron Master's Classic...
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