For the third year running, the OVC Burley Oak Fun Ride drew yet another record crowd of riders and surely to become a staple of local bike rides, even the chilly temps at the start didn’t deter 80 plus riders from taking to the road from the Burley Oak Brewery on a bustery mid-October morning.
OVC closed out the season in style with the 2015 Seagull Century. 8 riders -- Dean P., Barry, Roscoe, Caleb, Scott, Sonny, Jude, and Josh -- assembled at Rise Up on College Ave. around 745am for some pre-ride caffeine and hit the road at about 815am. The course was unusually empty this year, but some sprinkles and breezy conditions may have contributed to the empty roads.
In what is becoming a fall tradition, six OVC riders headed over to Harrisonburg, Virginia for the 5th edition of the Alpine Loop hosted by professional mountain bike racer Jeremiah Bishop. On Saturday evening, after getting their numbers, the group enjoyed a team dinner of pasta and pizza courtesy of Culver & Pierson, with the 3 ride veterans (Ted, Dean, and Caleb) doling out last minute words of wisdom to the 3 rookies (Mark, Jason, and Roscoe).
For the second year in a row, Dean Pierson and Lee Walker came home from California as winners of the Endeavor Team Challenge. Congrats, guys!
Riders from Sussex, Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester, and Caroline Counties took advantage of a beautiful holiday weekend to ride the backroads of Delmarva. Rolling out at a few past 8am was an impressive peloton of about 32 riders, including: Mark L., Roscoe, Ken, Scott, Jamie, Dave K., Dave R., Eric, Caleb, Phil, Kevin, Barry, Paul T., Ted, Matt B., Paul G., Jody, Maria, Brian F, Crystal, Kim, Mike, Desmond, Dave R., Charlie and son, Martin, Rick W., Dawn, Matt M., Desmond, and Brian O.
Hoping to strengthen their legs for the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo, 7 OVC riders -- Dean P., Alex, Caleb, Roscoe, Ted, Mark, and Jason -- accepted an invitation from ESVA’s Jeff and Donnie to join them in the hills of Frederick County. OVC met at Easton’s Rise Up for red-eye’s and espresso and then headed on to Thurmont for the 10AM start. Conditions were perfect -- sunny, low humidity, and 70 degree temps -- and foreshadowed the great day of cycling to come.
OVC closed out racing season with a bang this weekend at Dawg Days Circuit Race in Bowie, MD. Presented by Artemis Racing, the 1.1 mile office-park course usually provides for fast, steady racing. This year, high temps and gusty winds challenged everyone, but our 6 man squad was up for it.
To commemorate the recent opening of Rubber Soul Brewing, Co., Salisbury’s newest brewery, OVC and SV combined for a metric century out of north Salisbury. Approximately 30-35 riders shoved off a little after 8:30AM to head west toward Hebron, Quantico, and Mardela, including Roscoe, Kevin, Paul G., Jody, Tom A., Phil, Alex, Matt D., Trey, Josh H., Brian O., Brian F., John J., Ken T., Jude, Nathan, Lisa, Kim, Charlie, Desmond, Barry, Dean S., Demetrius, Cindi, Fran, Mike, Jamie, Jim B., Dave R., and Ed (I missed a few, I know -- please add to the list!).
OVC took the show on the road this weekend for a 63-mile ride from Burley Oak Brewery in Berlin. 15 Riders from Laurel, Preston, Salisbury, Lewes, Bethany, Newark, Berlin, Reisterstown, and Powellville made the trip -- including Roscoe, Brian J., Caleb, Sonny, Kevin, Drew, Lee, Mike, Maryellen, Ken, Shelley, Ted, Ric, Dave K., and special guest Hans R. from Team BBC. The route took the crew west to Parsonsburg, south to Newark, and back north to Berlin.
Giro di Coppi -- On Saturday, 5 OVC racers -- Roscoe, Ted, Sean, Mark, and Alex -- headed up to Montgomery County for Giro di Coppi, a road race whose hills are made more challenging by steamy July temps. OVC was undaunted and made the most of the trip by coming home with a victory. In the Cat 4 race (50 miles and 5000 feet of climbing), Mark gambled at 500 meters to go with a solo attack up the final climb. The gamble paid off -- Mark claimed victory and 10 upgrade points! Congrats, Mark! Alex hung on for a mid-pack finish, and both stuck around to man the feed zone for the masters race -- thanks, guys!
In the Masters race, Ted and Roscoe were well-positioned for the finale. Unfortunately, a strict interpretation of the yellow-line rule shuffled Ted to the back and the hill proved too much for Roscoe. The duo ended up finishing with the pack. Sean lined up for the Cat 5 event, but a puncture abruptly ended his day early in the race.
The group retired to Dogfish Head Alehouse for burgers and beers generously financed with Mark’s winnings -- thanks, Mark!
Brambleton Criterium: On Sunday, a few other OVC members -- Dean P., Matthew P., and Frankie -- headed to Brambleton, VA for a fast, fun, multi-turn criterium. Matthew P. continued his dominance of the Cat 5 category and claimed 2nd place -- Great work, Matthew! Frankie doubled up for his first races as a cat 4 and finished mid-pack for both the straight 4 and Masters 3/4. In a tough masters race, Dean started a little out-of-position, but hung on to get 4th in the field sprint and 6th overall for the 45+ Masters. For fun, Dean also raced the 1/2/3 event and finished with the pack.
Great weekend of racing, OVC!
OVC took a 4-day hiatus to celebrate the 4th of July, but reconvened for another Tuesday on the brink. 17 starters -- Dean P., Dean S., Mark, Roscoe, Jason, Mike B., Brian J., Barry, Sonny, Alex, Caleb, Chad, Chris, Paul T., Scott, Sean, and Ted -- rolled out from the church in Fruitland to meet their cycling destiny.
On Saturday, OVC headed to Virginia for the Richmond Road Race. The course featured a 22 mile loop with mostly rolling terrain and one punchy climb about 2 miles from the finish. Bad weather threatened the entire event, but an early morning email assured the club that the race was a "go.”
About a dozen strong riders -- Dean S., Brian F, Crystal, Glenn, Jason, Brian J., Maria, Roscoe, Kevin, Caleb, Jeff (who’d ridden up from Pocomoke), and Mark -- rolled out from Rise Up in Salisbury on Saturday for a 65 mile tour to Public Landing and back. Temps were nominally moderate, but high humidity made conditions a little more grueling than expected.
The trip down to PL was smooth and efficient. The double-paceline group hardly noticed the slight headwind and arrived at their destination in about 1.5 hours. Of course, the last 1.3 miles were into the wind and at a 27 mph pace. Dean S. took the honors, with Jason and Mark right on his heals. After getting a team picture and watching some poor guy get pinched by a crab, the crew rolled out for the 35 mi journey home.
The pace ramped up mid-ride one more time as the group approached US 113 outside of Snow Hill. Favorable winds and smooth tarmac pushed speeds to over 30mph for the 1 mile stretch. Also, Barry, after 36.5 miles alone in the wilderness, dramatically rendezvoused with the group at just the right time -- glad you could track us down, Barry! I believe that Dean S. again claimed the prize, but not after getting a serious run for his money from Mark and Jason. Average speed for that mile was about 33 mph.
After rehydrating in Snow Hill, the group soldiered on for the 20 mile push home. A few riders were feeling the effects of the heat and looking a little weak in the knees. Just about this time, Dean S.’s tire exploded, requiring some emergency work to get him home. I suspect sabotage was the cause so that someone else could win the final sprint up St. Lukes.
With a tailwind at their backs and many strong riders remaining, the finale would not disappoint. The last 2.5 miles was completed at a 29+mph pace, stretching everyone to their limits. As the line approached, Caleb dug deep and took a monster pull. I followed with a burst to base of the bridge, and Jason easily came around for the victory with Mark not too far behind.
Several riders retired to SG to rehydrate with liquid bread and to lower their core temperatures to a reasonable level. The 65 mile course was completed in about 3 hours 5 mins for an average speed of just over 21 mph. Great ride, OVC!
13 riders 12 of whom were from OVC (Dean P, Dean S, Kevin, Phil, Matt D, Bruce, Brian J, Caleb, Roscoe, Jim B, Barry and Russ) and the 13th visiting from the coast (Randy M) made their exit from SG and rolled to the start line just a few ticks before 6 pm. With no clear cut plan on this warm humid night other than a few intermediate sprint zones, the pace went back and forth depending who was at the nose of the peloton and by the time the riders reached Allen via Cooper Rd, one rider had already lost contact with the group and another decided to sit up and go back and retrieve his fallen teammate.
On Saturday, MABRA visited the Eastern Shore for the Church Creek Time Trial. For years, ABRT has promoted the event, and this year OVC accepted an invitation to pitch in. OVC would like to thank its members who took a time-out from riding to volunteer their time. Terri, Matt D., Dean P., Sean, Alex, Barry, Mark, and Frankie braved hot temperatures in the Blackwater Marsh to ensure the race went off without a hitch -- Thanks, guys!
On Saturday, 11 riders -- Sonny, Rick W., Caleb, Brian J., Brian F., Roscoe, Mark, Tim, Ted, Jude, and Scott -- kicked off the summer season with a 100 mile endurance ride from the farm. The day’s course avoided most population centers and headed into the heart of Delmarva, winding through Sussex, Wicomico, Dorchester, and Caroline counties.
This past weekend about 8 OVC racers took part in one of the marquee races of the season, the Poolesville Road Race. The 10 mile course has it all -- narrow, rough roads, sweeping turns, tree-lined twisties, a punchy climb or two, and, most famously, 1.3 miles of pot-holed gravel. Poolesville races historically have high attrition rates due to flat tires and the tough course. Luckily, the weather this year was cooperative and the gravel was just about as nice as it could be.
A solid crew of 13 riders -- Dean P., Dean S., Brian J., Roscoe, Nate, Chris D., Caleb, Alex, Sonny, James, Bruce, Ted, and John J. -- departed from the church for a breezy and unseasonably warm Tuesday Night Ride. Things got off to a fast start, with the first third of the ride being polished off at a solid 26 mph despite a bit of a crosswind that may have dislodged at least one rider. Most stayed on through the rollers of Nassawango, but things got hot at the end of Dividing Creek.
A fine collection of local cyclists took advantage of the clear, warm, and calm conditions to participate in the Cinco de Mayo Edition of OVC’s Tuesday Night Ride. Making the trip to Fruitland were: Dean S., Dean P., Frankie, Roscoe, Sonny, Chris D., Caleb, Ted., Alex, John J., Chad, Bruce, and James (in his TNR debut).
On Saturday, a few of us (Roscoe, Caleb, and Alex) headed up to Lancaster for Turkey Hill's annual road race. The weather and venue were spectacular and the racing was tough.
