Here’s some pictures from last weekends race at Longbranch Park. It was a blast. BTB’s Fitz, Wes, and Randy came out to race.
Pictures reappropriated from Phil and Rebecca see more here.
SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! BE THERE!
Hello,
Once again we have an enticing weekend activity for your enjoyment this weekend.
This weekend the Syracuse Grand Prix Cyclocross in Memory of James Konski will be held at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, NY.
If you have any interest in finding out more about what Cyclocross is, heckling the riders, or just having a good time out of doors you should prolly be there.
Racing starts at 11am (schedule).
YOU PAY FOR THE WHOLE SEAT BUT YOU ONLY NEED THE EDGE!
(there is no admission fee)
LaFayette Apple Run
This past weekend was the applefest in LaFayette, where all of central new york converges on the small town of LaFayette, technically just west a bit nearing the town called Cardiff.. infamous for a hoax you can probably find in your history books if you care to look for it. That hoax would be known as the Cardiff Giant. Some crazy man who inhabited the valley years and years ago claimed to have found the skeletal remains of big foot… pretty cool actually…
Read more about the Cardiff Giant: applefest; wiki; hoax museum
Anyhow, there is a festival of apples, the lands were settled and planted with apple orchards due to the hillsides which were optimal for growing of apples. Some of the best orchards are out there and everyone from the area has a fond place in their hearts for the apple fruit. So naturally they should host a festival every year.
At this festival there is the apple run. A bunch of years ago, around ten or fifteen they used to hold the race but had since had stopped. Last year, 2008, they brought the race back and teamed up with the Syracuse Track Club and the Apple Fest, offering a 1mile fun run, a 5k (3.1miles) and a 15k (9.3miles).
I grew up in Syracuse and I can remember wayy back to the great fall days when we would travel south out of the city up and over the hills down through the colorful valleys through what seemed to be a bit of a trip back up on the hills to this area to pick apples at the Beak n’ Skiff orchard.
Then mid-way through highschool the Hadzor family moved out of Syracuse and down to LaFayette… where I ran XC and started the mini make shift track programs and stuff at LaFatte Jr. Sr. Highschool… so I call this my hometown race.
My dad and I did the 15k this year:
I ran last year and got second to some Navy SEAL guy who was rediculously fit, and was using the race as a tempo run… but this year I won with a time of 55:25.
It was exciting and I got one of the awesome hand carved apple trophies!
My dad also did well in the 15k, using the race as a decent uptempo run as part of his marathon training awarding him 33rd place with a time of 1:11:30.
Check out the Apple Fest& the Apple Run:15k Results,5k Results
Ommegang CX
So this past weekend was Cyclocross at Ommegang. It was a delicious time. I’m still a bit sore, a good sore, that you know you worked hard and had fun kinda sore.
So the BTB cast for the weekend consisted of Daniel Fitzgibbons, Wes, and myself. Accompanied by crew members Sarah and Marcus on mountain bikes monitoring the perimeter and guarding the vehicles.
Dan Finished up in 2nd place in the Citizens/Cat 4 race, and came back with a solid attempt in the Cat 3/4.
Wes was in the top ten for most of the race until he dropped his chain and lost some time and places there. He came back in the Cat 3/4 race, where his chain decided that was it as he was shouldering the bike over the barriers and came apart.
Yes, ^ that is the moment of impact which broke wes’ chain.
I was pumped for the singlespeed race. Thought I would see what it was like racing against similarly impaired bicycles to the frankenbike… These guys .. and their bicycles are sick. Disc brakes, handle bars designed for racing, very solid competition. It was a blast, until my chain also decided it had had enough, and after a couple little creaking noises I looked down to watch it break and next thing I know it has vanished. Still missing to this day.
Here are some exciting links related to the day:
King of Cross: hand up
More photos someone took.
Photosnaps I captured.
Write up on the event from the editor lady of some bicycling mag. That’s the rumor anyhow.
What you are doing this weekend.
This weekend beginning at 9:15 they will be serving up cyclocross at Ommegang. Bicycling and belgian beers, you know you don’t have anything to do, so come out and watch.
It’s like road racing… for the woods.
So anyway, come on out it’s Cooperstown, if you can’t find diversions at the brewery there are plenty of fun filled activities for the whole family in the quaint region of NY:
the farmers museum
the baseball hall of something
there’s a lake (you can swim in it)
there’s restaurants and stores (to buy your forgiveness from your significant other after you may have over indulged at the brewery)
fenimore art museum
glimmerglass state park
Ch-ch-check out the schedule. Both Randy and I will be in the Citizens/cat4 race, then I will be in the cat3/4 race, then Randy will potentially be racing in the single speed bonanza of speed.
Then stick around to watch the really fast guys and hell why not enjoy some adult beverages and post race festivities. Bring your bicycle and extra clothes so you can get dirty, play in the mud, and have fun.
Last Weekends Tomfoolery
This past weekend marked Randy Hadzor’s first foray into the realm of cyclocross. Good job for finishing about mid-pack and having about 10 less gears, and 19 less speeds than everyone else. Well played sir, well played.
Randy on the frankenbike:
It was mudtastic:
Photos unknowingly appropriated from Rebecca Bostwick, thanks!
[ see more from the race ]
Weekend competitions!
Saturday marks the kick off of the Upstate New York Cross Country Series, at Jamesville Reservoir where Randy will be competing for the Syracuse Track club.
Sunday, Sarah and Randy will be heading down to West Longbranch, New Jersey to participate in the WAR on the SHORE triathlon, put on by the Sandy Hookers.
Feel free to come out and see what these events are all about and good luck to all competitors this weekend!