upcoming events

TNR 9/6

LAST WEEK (8/30): A great start to the school year with 11 riders joining us for the TNR. Aaron was back in Ship and showed his dominance with a convincing win. Details here.

THIS WEEK (TODAY): We're pretty much guaranteed to get wet. While the rain isn't expected to be heavy, the possibility of rain always leaves people second guessing whether others are going. So, if you are going, send out a note so others will know and feel similarly motivated. (Full disclosure: I won't be there tonight, but not because of the rain.)

Wednesday, the September Starlight Circle Race Series...

Yup, back again in 2011 is the September Starlight Circle Race Series. Starts at 9:00 pm. (Yup, 9 o'clock at night, when it's dark.) Meet at the corner of Brenton & Richwalter streets at around 8:50 pm. Lights are required (there's no traffic, and the street lights are usually on, but you still need lights to keep others from hitting you), but I have several extra pairs of lights if you want to come play but don't have person illumination. In fact, I just got a few more from Mountainside so we should enough for everyone. (Hint: small flashlights taped to handlebars work fine. So do headlamps.)

Right now, it looks like there's a pretty good chance we'll get wet tomorrow evening too, but I'm committed. The race only runs like 35 minutes, and once you're over the initial shock of getting wet, riding in the rain in 70 degree weather isn't any big thing.

Everyone who comes gets at least one point. Leader's jersey (the ugliest one I can find in my closet) for the series leader.

If you have questions or need directions, comment on this post.

Thursday, Dan Daly Hosted Team Time Trial on Pine Rd/Rt 233

We had a lot of fun (I say "we," but I wasn't there, unfortunately) doing a team trial this summer as part of the South Mountain Summer Smackdown, so we've decided to try to get one more in before the end of good weather...and now its supposed to rain all week. Anyway, 2-4 (maybe 5?) teams on a beautiful 20-mile course in the woods.

Meet at the Twirly Top restaurant at the corner of Pine Grove Rd and Rt 34 at 5:30 pm. Thursday.

Don't have a team? Don't worry about it. Just come and we'll get you put together with whomever.

A lot of fun. No entry fee. Totally low-key. Just come out and ride 20 miles with your friends as fast as you can.

*** I haven't talked about this with Dan, but as I suspect few will come if its raining, we may postpone until next week or the next in the event of rain. Stay tuned to your email for the latest.

Friday No-One-Gets-Dropped-Ride

We'd love for you to join the students on their weekly, casual (very casual) Friday afternoon jaunt through the countryside. Ride lasts 60-90 minutes and we ride no faster than the slowest rider wants to go.

Meet at 3:30 pm at the hockey rink by the student rec fields on campus (Shippensburg University campus). Everyone is welcome.

This Weekend...

A quick plug for two great local events this weekend competing for your competitive inclinations.

(1) The Ernie Simpson Memorial Time Trial. The boys of South Mountain Velo have been putting this on for years. Always well-organized and always a good time. Plus, big, juicy local apples for your consumption afterwards.

If you don't want to race, rumor has it they could still use a few bodies to help with marshaling the course and/or registering participants. If you're interested, shoot Jim Hartnett (hartnett_AT_msmary.edu) or Christopher Woltemade (cjwolt_AT_ship.edu) a note and they can fill you in on details.

(2) The Terror of Teaberry. Part of the great Michaux Endurance Series. Jes and his crew always do a marvelous job with these events, as I'm sure many on this list know. Ten, 20, and 40 mile options for your mountain biking pleasure.

Funny story: I did this race in 2007. It was like my second mountain bike race ever so I did the ten mile option (which was really 13 miles, but who's counting). Won. Went home with warm fuzzies. Later, I get an email from I-don't-remember-who expressing extreme displeasure that I, a pro road rider, would enter the 10-mile option of this little mountain bike race and beat up on the beginners. (In case you need help, this is funny because I've never been anything close to a professional roadie and, if I must say, am still a remarkably poor mountain biker.)

Anyway, Dr. Woltemade and I were riding through the Teaberry area the other day and remarked, that while we've both had teaberry-flavored ice cream, neither one of us really knows what a teaberry is. Here's hoping Gettysburg Bicycle supplies a basket of sample berries at the race for the curious. :-)