Winter Race Round Up

Big ups to Team HBW at the Charlotte Short Track Series.

Jamie battled off the Kenda squad for five races to score a 2nd place overall in the Expert Men.

Toby P stayed in the mix for 4 races to score a 6th overall in the Single Speed Class.


Plus Damon, Toby S. & Monty all pitched in on the scare tactics. Helping lending team support to Jamie in the expert field.

To the North, mountain man Leroy "Extreme Tomato" plowed his way through a grueling 36 hour epic in Pisgah. Follow his adventure here

Night Riding at Harbison

If you have not heard, they are trying to open Harbison up to night riding.
http://www.thestate.com/events/story/314461.html
Even if you can not make the ride tomorrow, please email Friends of the Forest and let them know you are interested in riding out there.
friendsofhsf@friends ofhsf.org
It has been a long time since we have done any riding out there....Legally. It sure would be nice to have it as an option before the time changes.
Thanks,

Victory #1 in 08

Congratulations in race 2 & 3 of the Charlotte STXC series to the HBW racers. Saturday and Sunday's races had Jamie battling the Kenda squad from Mt. Airy NC. Out numbered, but managed to out wit and overpower most of there team. Jamie pulled out two bronze finishes for the weekend. This puts him well in the hunt for the overall mens expert series.

Damon and Toby P also made a showing in the singlespeed class. Toby pulled out a bronze and gold for this weekends races. Saturday's race had Toby off the front for the first half and slowly fading back into a battle for third place w/ a Kenda rider. Patience was the key for Sunday, Toby sat on the lead group of 4 till two to go and launched attack after attack till the line. Pulling out Victory #1 for the HBW squad in 2008.

Next STXC race is Sunday

Are U Ready For February

Double Race Weekend - Winter Short Track Series to ramp up Sat. 2/02 in Charlotte. Follow that with Sunday's make-up race. Should be great weather this weekend.

If your in the Fontana area check out the Icycle. It's going down this weekend. HBW very own "Extreme Tomato" will be on hand to sign autographs & breasts. Come one come all to the festivities.
Rumor has it that this is a jam up event in the Fontana area of NC. XC, Night DH & Social events galore. Fear the social event.

FATS Donation Ride

Everybody,

There is a FATS benefit ride this Sunday. It is a 50 miler with a supported sag stop. Bring what you want to drop at the sag and some $$$ for trail donations. The suggested amount is $25.

I will be coordinating a carpool for those who are interested in carpooling from Columbia.

We need to get a head count so Bill and crew can support us, so let me know soon. I will post up more details as I know them.

Check out their site for all the details: http://www.sorbacsra.org/

Edit: Change of plans as I will now be leaving from Greenville. However you Columbia slackers should still come out and give me a head count. . .

Early 2008 Events

Upcoming events in the field of MTB for January & February. Winter Short Track Series to kick off Sat. 1/19 in Charlotte.

Edit: "Well folks, sorry the confusion last weekend with the weather fiasco, it looks like the weather for the kick-off for the EBB & G Winter Short Track on SUNDAY should be great. East Blvd Bar and Grill is cooking up their tasty chili for the event this Sunday. We have postponed the Jan 19 event to Feb 3, Super Bowl Sunday. For the weekend of Feb 2 and 3, we will host two races at the winter short track. Great way to burn a few extra calories so you can party hard during your Super Bowl events on Sunday evening." Promoter


Rumor has it that this is a jam up event in the Fontana area of NC. XC, Night DH & Social events galore. The "Extreme Tomato" will be there cleaning up all events. This man is feared in many areas especially the social event.

Lake Loop 2008 Recap

The 2008 Lake Loop has a huge success. A good move to the Sunday following New Years Day. The biggest turn out of any local club ride with 60 riders. We had riders from all the bike shops represented, a large group from the Columbia area, some Charlotte and Charleston making the trip. The Toby special of this ride treated all riders with 1/2 mile of dirt. A welcomed surprise for all and hated by some. Doug was kind enough to map the route with gps and post it here. I'll follow it up with a turn for turn cue sheet in a few days. For those who showed thanks and I hope you all enjoyed it.

Toby

2008 New Years Day Ride

2008 NYDR (Updated 1/4/08)

When: 1/06/08

Where: Ballentine DMV

Well How Far: 66ish (ballpark 66.7 miles)

What Time: Roll out 10 A.M

Why: Because the Sunday after New Years most folks will be back in town from their holiday getaways and the hangovers will be history. Besides it will give everyone time to install their new bike parts in time for the ride. Please remember that this is NOT A RACE so get that ego shit out of your system before you show up. Thanks

What History: This will be something like 7th annual - Not sure I've lost count. This route will be a traditional loop around Lake Murray in a clockwise fashion. This will be a self supported ride. So plan for one stop. Stay tuned in here for more info to come. Feel free to respond.

Update 1/4/08 11:27am
Looks like the loop will be counter clockwise this year, new loop same idea. The shortest possible route without all the sketchy highway sections. Planning on hitting the station at the traffic circle around the hwy 391 & 378 area. Something like 36ish mile point. Looks like good weather for the ride.

Series Winners

Final race of the Bank of North Carolina Short Track Series comes to a close this past Saturday. At the head of their classes - Congratulations to Jamie Hyatt Expert Series Winner and Clint Harshaw Sport 40+Series Winner. This draws a close on the 2007 season for most HBW riders. Enthusiasm for the winter short track series in Charlotte has already started.

Back in Action

Rumor around the computer fire is the infamous blue socks will be dusted off and back in action for this weekends short track race. Race this week will be in the dark. Guaranteed to be a whole lot of blue on one person. Good thing it'll be in the dark.

Race 4 of Bank of NC Short Track Series Saturday (12/1). Info here, no sense needed apply within.

Update on this weekend's race - Harrell's Team finishing positions in the Sport Men 40+ Clint Harshaw took 2nd place in a tight race for the overall lead in the series. In the Expert race Jamie Hyatt takes another win on the series and Toby P finds the podium in third.

Lynch's Update

Toby and I put in some maintenance work on Lynch's Woods today. Most of the trail is clear now, but there are still some patches that need a little work. I'm headed back in tomorrow for some more touch-up and then get in a couple of loops on the Paragon.

The erosion-prone power line climb got some attention. We're working on a re-route around that that would increase the length of the climb, add a big sweeper around the rim of a natural bowl on the power line, duck back into the woods at the top of the climb and have a really fun section before joining the trail. If you're out that way, look for the flagging at the top of the climb and try it out up to the power line. Anyhow, it's going to take some time and some sweat, but we hope it will both avoid the erosion altogether and be more fun that it is right now.

We're also going to work on a bridge over the small creek crossing before the rock section. The really tough creek crossing is going to be a challenge because it needs either a curve/corner in the middle of it, or it needs to be around 20 feet long, and will probably require some support in the middle. It's definitely going to take some planning.

Interested in MTB ride

Anyone interested in a MTB ride at Harbison on Sat (11/25) in the am?

Win #3

Congrats Jamie on win #3 in the stxc series. With 2 races remaining in the series, Jamie has a great chance of overall victory to close off an impressive season in 2008.
HBW (Monty, Jamie & Toby) grabbing the holeshot of the expert race.


Monty sets the pace for a rapid start and playing a vital role as temmate for Jamie's third win.
Jamie on his own covering the breaks late in the race.

It's Time To RAIL - So Get On THe Horse!!!!!!!!

Just three races left and Harrell's Team rider Jamie "Jan" Hyatt is on a roll. Two WINS in two races Jan is going for number three this weekend - so get on the horse J and give 'em hell!
Plus Clint Harshaw took top spot in the Sport 40+ - Good Luck this weekend fellows!

Bank of North Carolina Short Track MTB Race Series.
Saturdays Nov. 17, Dec. 1* & 8 (* indicates a NIGHT race)

Harrell's Team Rider Jamie "Jan" Hyatt takes the top spot in the expert race.

For more info go here and support your somewhat local race series. It will be tons of fun last year.

Cola, Cross and Short Track

Everybody, Anybody, Somebody. . .

Edit:

Meet at Harrell's at 8:00 Saturday morning for a ride at Lynch's.
I will leave a time for Manchester on Sunday later.

I will be in town again this weekend looking for some good rides.

Does anyone know if there are any cross races in Columbia, Greenville, Charlotte area? I want to try this cross sport. I have heard it is painful and I now have the almost right machine for it. . .

Charlotte Short Track: I am wondering what kind of course this is? Can I run my slicks and 32X15 gearing to smash the field? Are there lots of roots or is is mostly rolling?

I am ready for some races!

Peace

Urban Night Adventure

Date: Tuesday & Thursday evenings
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Food Lion Parking lot on Broad River road, close to the intersection of Greystone. Or most of the time you can find the group on the River Front paved path shortly after 6:30.

Rides can run anywhere from 1.5 - 2 hours. The ride is mostly based on pedaling and not much jumping off of city dwellings. So leave the downhill gear at home. Bring your own lights and a mtb or an urban rocket if you have one.

Cola Weekend Rides

Yo yo,

Later Edit! Rode Harbison today, nice and dry. I am taking tomorrow off and JP and I are riding Manchester @ 9:00 on Sunday morning.


I will be in town looking to ride Friday, Saturday and maybe Sunday. I am thinking early in the morning out at Manchester on Saturday. Or I could be talked into FATS if anyone else can go.



Shout out what times and places are best.



Peace

Harrisburg Short Track Racing

It that time again folks short track racing at the Harrisburg 1/2. Dates listed from the charlottemtnbike.com website: 10/27, 11/10, 11/17, 12/01, 12/08. Rumor has it there could be two night events this year. It was loads of fun last year.

Congratulations Jamie!

Way to go Jamie! Silver-medalist at the SC/NC State Road Race Championship.

Road Racing and Mountain Rides

Peeps,

Lots of action in Greenville this weekend. If you are up for the activities, give me a shout. The Tomato is even going on a (gassssssssssssssssssp) road ride tomorrow to see the time trials.

Big news is the Mountain ride leaving from Kitsuma Monday morning at 7:30. We will be riding up the old Toll Road and bombing Heartbreak. Get in touch with me if you want in.

Peace