Adoration

October 3, 2010 -- CX4@Brewery Ommegang

Tentative date for the 4th edition of CX @ Brewery Ommegang -- October 3, 2010 !!

Ommegangsters Upstate CX Assault

Yup, they were out in force. This past weekend saw Ommegangsters at Richford, NY, Saratoga, NY and Pittsford, NY for a diverse batch of CX action.

Richford, NY -- Red Cross: Saturday ..... Mud, more mud, stupid mud and for the Seinfeld afficionados "his mother was a mudder" mud. The motocross track for the Red Cross at Richford was just mud soup. Lot's of rain made it a pretty challenging course. Ommegangsters included Gordon S, Sean B, "K" in the 3/4 race, Drumroll in the 35+, and Skinny Phil playin w/the elite big dogs. The 3/4 guys all placed in the top half with 2 in the top 10 and another just outside. Drumroll sloshed his way to a 3rd in the "old guys class" (with the 3rd place prize ironically being a 750 ml of Hennepin) and Skinny P finished mid-pack w/the elites. Also a nod to Mrs. Walker for her win in the elite ladies group.
Link to Red CX results at BikeReg.

On to Sunday ...

Saratoga Spa - NYCross: Skinny Phil, Jeff W (w/lovely wife Katina), and Jeremy K headed up to the land of the fast horses and springs. Word has it that it was a good yet tough course for a first time event. In the 3/4 men, Jeremy K finsihed mid-pack while Skinny Phil finished a respectable 5th after another poor starting spot. The Jeffina raced the Men's 45+ and elite ladies with each maintaining their series point lead with a 3rd for Jeff and 2nd for Katina. Saratoga Spa Results Link at BikeReg.

Pittsford, NY -- Park Ave: Drumroll was the lone Ommegangster that went west on Sunday. For the 40+ event, he overcame a poor starting position (lesson learned), a dropped chain (be gentle when setting down your bike after the barriers .. lesson learned again) and a wipe out in slick grass (seems like he'll never learn) to pull up on the tail of his rival Diamond Dave in the last few hundred meters of the final lap for an exciting sprint for the win in the Men's 40+. Props to Ommegansgster bud Joe Mag for his big orange fairy-pumpkin outfit for a 1st in the costume dept. at Park Ave. Park Ave Results Link.

Daylight and the season are both getting shorter -- better get your butt out there before it's gone.

Did Someone Say Clearance?

You know you've looked over at some of the other guys with envy as they hop aboard their sweet Soul rigs. Now's your chance, maybe you can be the one the other guys (or even the gals) envy. (We're still talkin about bikes here mind you.)

Our friends at Soul Cycles have some goodies on clearance. Components at some sweet discounts with frame info coming shortly. Check out the Soul Cycles Blog for more info and keep checking back for clearance frame info.

And if you are an astute observer (like me - ha), you'll also see why we are Soul fans ... these guys not only build some great products, they're "keepin' it real". Need proof ....

(1) Check out the Soul Cycles "Fidel" style logo hat and the intended use: "POST RIDE CRUSTY HAIR HIDER/SUN BLOCKER".

(2) In looking over the clearance component list, you'll see "SHIMANO ALIVIO REAR RAPID FIRE W/ V-BRAKE LEVER" on the list. Under the respective Notes section for this item, you'll see "WHERE THE HELL DID THIS COME FROM?"

To paraphrase Larry The Cable Guy ... "Now dat dere's funny".

Syracuse GP Recap & State Champs

Long Branch Park -- the home court of 'cross for a handful of the Ommegangsters. Never thought "home court advantage" mattered in CX but maybe it does. Lotta 'gansters in attendance Sunday including Gordon S, Eric the Bolt, Skinny Phil, Drumroll, King Karl, Jeff W, Anthony R, Hey-Seus (JK), "K", & Bike Shop Brian.

A scan of the Syracuse Grand Prix CX race results shows the Ommegangsters had it going on this past Sunday. The "experienced" guys (aka 40+ Masters Men) field saw the Ommegangsters in spots # 1 (woo hoo), 4, 5 and 11 out of a field of 29. And it should be noted that a couple of the guys even had to overcome tire & mechanical challenges. In the Open Men's field of 54, 7 Ommegangsters toed the start line with finishes of 6, 7, 11, 12, 27, 30 & 52.

It was great seeing all the Team SCARR-Ommegang/Syracuse Bicycle 'crossers in action at the same event -- definitely one of the best team turnouts of the year. And props to Jeff W for the double -- a 5th in the 40+ (after a flat) followed by a 6th in the Open Men's. And Ommegangster bud Wayne B -- holy crap, you are on fire -- congrats.

The day's bonus was when the 2nd place finisher in the men's open event quietly comes over to me during the awards ceremony and asked for a recommendation of which Ommegang brew he should pick from the prize table. Congrats to the OCC for a really great event.

NYS Champs -- On Saturday, Skinny Phil & Jeff W went out to the NYS CX Champs in Troy. Skinny found out at the start that call-ups were by registration order rather than NYCross points -- bummer. So from a crappy starting spot in the back, he clawed his way up to a very respectable 6th in the 3/4 field. Jeff W ended up with a bronze in the 45+ field to follow-up on his NYS Champs podium last year. Nice work guys.

Criss 'Crossin & Humbled

Ommegansters were spread across the state doing their own 'cross thing this past weekend. A handful at Cobbs Hill in Rachacha, a few at the Swandrome and the Jeffina down in the Hudson Valley.

Cobbs Hill: Hate that hill ... Jeremy (the lord) K, Eric the Bolt, and AJ raced the open mens event on a fairly tight course and that long freakin hill. Of the 51 racers in the open men's field, Ommegangsters wound up with an 11th, 13th and 23rd. On the senior circuit (40+ Masters), Drumroll gets a 6th out of 33. (Kudos to Ommegangster friend Diamond Dave F for the Masters win & 15th in the open .. give us a chance man.)

Swandrome: The King & Krew got in the grassroots groove at Swanny's place just up the hill from Ithaca. Karl King of Kross F representing in the Masters with Mike K and Cory P in the open for a 7th & 13th.

Hudson Valley: The Jeffina tandem did the back to back Sat & Sun with stellar results. Both races, both on the podium. Sat & Sun saw Jeff finish in the 2nd spot both days in the Masters 45+. Katina (the lovely wife) also managed a great weekend with a third on Sat and 1st on Sun in the Elite Womens races. Congrats !!

Also gotta note a handful of the Ommegangsters participated in Syracuse Bicycles Trek Women's Ride for Breast Cancer Awareness on Saturday. Always good to be humbled and reminded it's not all about racing and results. Nothing like riding next to a breast cancer survivor to help one keep their perspective on what a real challenge is all about.

CX @ Brewery Ommegang -- Thxs !!

Wow, what a turnout -- 174 racers. First a great big and humble thank-you to all the riders and supporters who came out to the brewery for this event. We really tried to take it to another level this year and hopefully it showed.

Where to start, well, I guess with my list of thanks....

• Brewery Ommegang -- for hosting us in your beautiful setting, the t-shirts and socks and (woo hoo) the recovery beverages
• Syracuse Bicycle -- for the incredible amount of swag (CX tires, jerseys, booties, socks, and on and on), plus the course marking tape
  
• Soul Cycles -- for the Soul Swag and the banner (long live SS)
• ChomperBody -- for the Ballocks chamois cream & Crank embrocation
  
• Endurance Factor-- for the VO2max testing gift certificates
  
• Accelerade -- for the loads of Accel Gels & water bottles
  
• Road ID -- for the race #'s & gift certificates
• Bicycling Magazine-- for the race goodie bags
• The Herbs - for the fine post event entertainment

A last shout out to the Ommegangsters, their significant others, and a few good friends that helped make the day a success.

Below is a list of various collections of pictures and/or others thoughts on the event (including some really kind words from Bicycling Magazine's "Fit Chick").

http://bicycling.com/blogs/fitchick/

http://campyrider.wordpress.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/skbehrman1/OmmegangCross#
http://picasaweb.google.com/ewenique/2009104BreweryOmmegang?authkey=Gv1sRgCIuU9NiR1MisQA#
http://picasaweb.google.com/PhilRebecca/OmmegangCX2009#
http://blue-mondays.blogspot.com/
http://catskillscycling.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-another-day-at-brewery-ommegang.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43282854@N05/3993905448/in/set-72157622544361102/
http://armandarekian.blogspot.com/2009/10/blood-sweat-and-beerscyclocross-brewery.html

Announcements ....

Announcement #1:  We're working on getting the results up
for CX @ Brewery Ommegang.

Announcement #2:  If you aren't racing Saturday, you should
participate in the Trek Women Breast Cancer Awareness Ride
Sat Oct 10.  The event is being hosted locally by our
friends at Syracuse Bicycle.

Info:  http://syracusebicycle.com/page.cfm?pageid=208
Register: Syracuse Bicycle/Trek Women BCAR

Announcement #3:  William N has been booked for a solo
performance THIS THURSDAY evening in Fayetteville
at Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar  (next door to EMS in the Towne
Centre Plaza... Panera,Target, Red Robin, etc.)
6:00 PM
Free!!! Free!!! Free!!!

http://www.theherbsband.com
http://www.sonicbids.com/theherbsband
http://www.myspace.com/williamnicholsontheherbs

CX @ Brewery Ommegang -- Pre-reg closes 1:30 pm Fri Oct 2

CX @ Brewery Ommegang -- Oct 4, 2009 -- Update:

** NOTE: Pre-reg closes at 1:30 pm tomorrow (Fri Oct 2). **

As of 8:32 pm Thursday eve (Oct 1), we have 99 folks pre-registered. This is incredible as we only had 90 some racers total last year. I think the 100th pre-reg will get to race for free.

The weather forecast for Sunday is for mostly sunny skies, Hi 63 / Lo 43, and a 20% chance of precip.

You'll be sorry if you miss this one -- it will be talked about well into the winter months.