Oh man, these trails are sweet. They are almost reason enough to live in Sutton. Maybe, if you ask nicely, you'll get an invite to ride them later this summer.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91369880
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sutton mtb trails, aka, Matt Myette's backyard
Oh man, these trails are sweet. They are almost reason enough to live in Sutton. Maybe, if you ask nicely, you'll get an invite to ride them later this summer.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91369880
Monday, June 6, 2011
Mill Pond mtb
Friday, April 29, 2011
Unsanctioned
I think of any event/race put on without the constraints of USAC to be an unsanctioned event. Maybe that's using the term too loosely but it feels right to me, so I go with it. As of late, my interest in sanctioned events (excluding cx racing) has really decreased. Road races seem the same every year and the time and cost associated with them doesn't rank high on my satisfaction scale. MTB racing is fun, until you start sanctioning it and people take it too seriously.
I've really enjoyed putting together the Ronde the last two years. I've also really enjoyed taking part in other unsanctioned events like the Rapha Gentleman's Ride, D2R2, and SSapalooza. So, I challenge you, Boston area racers/riders, to create other fun, unsanctioned events. Give me more reasons to put off buying a USAC license this year.
Some ideas:
- mtb tt (3-5 mile loops)
- 3-4 person ttt (50+ miles)
- invite only, mass start road race (60+ miles)
- 2-3 person cx style ride (like the Ronde, there are lots of trails out there yet to be exposed)
I've really enjoyed putting together the Ronde the last two years. I've also really enjoyed taking part in other unsanctioned events like the Rapha Gentleman's Ride, D2R2, and SSapalooza. So, I challenge you, Boston area racers/riders, to create other fun, unsanctioned events. Give me more reasons to put off buying a USAC license this year.
Some ideas:
- mtb tt (3-5 mile loops)
- 3-4 person ttt (50+ miles)
- invite only, mass start road race (60+ miles)
- 2-3 person cx style ride (like the Ronde, there are lots of trails out there yet to be exposed)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Ronde v2.0 sponsors
We couldn't have raised $1300 without the awesome contributions from:
47
Chip Baker
Harpoon
Landry's
Mad Alchemy
Mike Zanconato
M and M Racing
Pedros
Raleigh
Rapha
Wayne Dubb
Again, big thanks to both the sponsors and the riders. I've already got some good ideas for v3.0...or maybe v2.5...
47
Chip Baker
Harpoon
Landry's
Mad Alchemy
Mike Zanconato
M and M Racing
Pedros
Raleigh
Rapha
Wayne Dubb
Again, big thanks to both the sponsors and the riders. I've already got some good ideas for v3.0...or maybe v2.5...
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ronde v2.0 results
First, a big huge thank you to everyone who came out on Sunday morning and braved my less than ideal cue sheet and often-missing trail markings. I had a ton of fun organizing the event and riding it this year.
Second, a big huge thank you to the volunteers that helped out. Chip Baker who worked tirelessly in the background to round up sponsors, mark trails, spread the word, and be a helping hand in nearly every part of the planning. David Wilcox and Cary Fridrich, both on the IR with foot injuries drove all around the course, checking in teams, keeping riders going, and even sharing some sorely needed calories. Eli Levine for manning the checkpoint at the top of Prospect Hill Park. That water and those fig newtons helped a lot of people carry on after the climb. Gerry Finnegan (and his staff) for letting us take over the Washington Square Tavern as the host "city"
Third, a big huge thank you to the sponsors who made it possible for us to blow our goal of $900 out of the water this year! You will get a proper post very soon, I promise.
The finish times are posted (complements of David Wilcox who stood at the Tavern to welcome EVERY team home). It's too early to declare a winner because the first team back has not produced gps proof that they (mostly) followed the correct route and there is some disagreement about whether or not their minor shortcut was valid. Oh, and they kind of sort of ditched their NH teammate to fend for himself so even though he was at the finish line with them, I think they are DSQ for not staying together as a team.
The truth though, is that Bikes not Bombs was the real winner on Sunday. Over $1300 raised which is awesome!
Send me your gps routes and I'll update the table below. Might even add some fun facts like who rode the furthest, longest time in the saddle, most lost, etc.
Second, a big huge thank you to the volunteers that helped out. Chip Baker who worked tirelessly in the background to round up sponsors, mark trails, spread the word, and be a helping hand in nearly every part of the planning. David Wilcox and Cary Fridrich, both on the IR with foot injuries drove all around the course, checking in teams, keeping riders going, and even sharing some sorely needed calories. Eli Levine for manning the checkpoint at the top of Prospect Hill Park. That water and those fig newtons helped a lot of people carry on after the climb. Gerry Finnegan (and his staff) for letting us take over the Washington Square Tavern as the host "city"
Third, a big huge thank you to the sponsors who made it possible for us to blow our goal of $900 out of the water this year! You will get a proper post very soon, I promise.
The finish times are posted (complements of David Wilcox who stood at the Tavern to welcome EVERY team home). It's too early to declare a winner because the first team back has not produced gps proof that they (mostly) followed the correct route and there is some disagreement about whether or not their minor shortcut was valid. Oh, and they kind of sort of ditched their NH teammate to fend for himself so even though he was at the finish line with them, I think they are DSQ for not staying together as a team.
The truth though, is that Bikes not Bombs was the real winner on Sunday. Over $1300 raised which is awesome!
Send me your gps routes and I'll update the table below. Might even add some fun facts like who rode the furthest, longest time in the saddle, most lost, etc.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ronde v2.0 taking shape
I'm scheming, plotting, and inventing some challenging upgrades to the route. More trails, more climbing, more suffering with your teammates. It'll be your own little taste of Paris Roubaix, but without the radios and team cars and with some much more challenging trails in place of the cobbles.
We raised over $700 last year. This year, we have some really great stuff from Raleigh USA and Lazer already committed for our raffle. We're looking forward to crushing last year's number to once again support Bikes not Bombs.
Make sure you're reaching out to me if you plan on taking part. I've got 25+ confirmed so far and the limit will be 100.
We raised over $700 last year. This year, we have some really great stuff from Raleigh USA and Lazer already committed for our raffle. We're looking forward to crushing last year's number to once again support Bikes not Bombs.
Make sure you're reaching out to me if you plan on taking part. I've got 25+ confirmed so far and the limit will be 100.
Friday, January 21, 2011
It's coming
Ronde v2.0
April 10th. Start training, find your teammates (3-4), and tell me if you're in for another edition.
April 10th. Start training, find your teammates (3-4), and tell me if you're in for another edition.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
too much of a good thing
(Maybe should have published this on Tuesday when I wrote it. Seems less interesting now in light of the UCI/USAC fiasco going on)
We got what we asked for in New England. Lots and lots and lots of cx racing. So much racing that people are burnt out. Did we bring it on ourselves? 15 UCI events in New England, as many as 40 races, including a new phenomenon in New England, the midweek night race! We talk cx 7 days a week on twitter, facebook, the blogs, and via email. All the talk, all the action, all the options seems to have worn us down more than ever before.
Some people race a bunch during the summer, entering cx season after a brief break, or maybe without one at all. It's not surprising to see these people pulling the plug early on cx. But I am surprised at the die hards who've hung up the tubulars early or even reduced their racing schedule from years past. I suspect the total number of registrants this season was higher than previous years but it also seems the total number of races was greater.
We got what we asked for, but now racers are dialing it back, being more selective in when and where we spend our racing dollars. Big events that shelled out big dollars didn't draw enough to break even while smaller events had their greatest numbers to date (I think). What's the formula for success? Is it historic performance? location? timing? cost?
What needs to change, what needs to give in 2011 to sustain 40+ events? Nationals will be in January so people are calling for a longer racing season to support those who plan on attending. Given the current registration numbers for an event in mid December, it will be interesting to see how New England (and other regions) copes with stretching the race season through the holidays into the new year. Will the number of races in August decrease as events push back into late December and January or will the experiment of holding nationals in January leave most racers with a 3-4 week gap in their race schedule leading up to the main event? Will the overall attendance of Nationals drop due to the timing?
I don't know the answers. I do know I love gluing the tubulars, pinning on a number (not shoulder numbers, those are fucking pain in the ass), and putting myself deep into the red as often as I can with 15 or 150 other racers. Come winter time, after 20 cx races though, I love the mountain bike, long base mile rides, and not loading a bunch of gear in the car to spend an entire day for 45 minutes of racing.
We got what we asked for in New England. Lots and lots and lots of cx racing. So much racing that people are burnt out. Did we bring it on ourselves? 15 UCI events in New England, as many as 40 races, including a new phenomenon in New England, the midweek night race! We talk cx 7 days a week on twitter, facebook, the blogs, and via email. All the talk, all the action, all the options seems to have worn us down more than ever before.
Some people race a bunch during the summer, entering cx season after a brief break, or maybe without one at all. It's not surprising to see these people pulling the plug early on cx. But I am surprised at the die hards who've hung up the tubulars early or even reduced their racing schedule from years past. I suspect the total number of registrants this season was higher than previous years but it also seems the total number of races was greater.
We got what we asked for, but now racers are dialing it back, being more selective in when and where we spend our racing dollars. Big events that shelled out big dollars didn't draw enough to break even while smaller events had their greatest numbers to date (I think). What's the formula for success? Is it historic performance? location? timing? cost?
What needs to change, what needs to give in 2011 to sustain 40+ events? Nationals will be in January so people are calling for a longer racing season to support those who plan on attending. Given the current registration numbers for an event in mid December, it will be interesting to see how New England (and other regions) copes with stretching the race season through the holidays into the new year. Will the number of races in August decrease as events push back into late December and January or will the experiment of holding nationals in January leave most racers with a 3-4 week gap in their race schedule leading up to the main event? Will the overall attendance of Nationals drop due to the timing?
I don't know the answers. I do know I love gluing the tubulars, pinning on a number (not shoulder numbers, those are fucking pain in the ass), and putting myself deep into the red as often as I can with 15 or 150 other racers. Come winter time, after 20 cx races though, I love the mountain bike, long base mile rides, and not loading a bunch of gear in the car to spend an entire day for 45 minutes of racing.
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