Aaron standing tall holding his prize

Poolesville is a classic MABRA race.  In various forms its been around for a long, long, time.  The contemporary course features rolling terrain, some flat sections and a long stretch on a less than pristine white gravel road.  It is a race known for claiming tyres, wheels, saddles and the occasional bike.  The suffering it causes makes those who claim it as their prize enjoy the ride so much more

The cat 5 race was fast and attacks came furious throughout.  DVR’s crew found themselves off the front on numerous opportunities.

Aaron, PJ, Josh and Elliott savoring the sweet taste of victory

In the end it was the work of the entire team that brought the victory home to the blue and white armada.  On the last lap another new entry to the collective, Elliott Largent, attacked hard and found himself up the road.  A group attempted to bring him back but failed.  However the group’s efforts allowed PJ to bridge up to Elliott.

In the final stretches of the race it took the combined efforts of the field to bring back PJ and Elliott; however, that left the group shattered except for DVR’s Josh Wadsworth and Aaron who had smartly remained up front but out of the wind.  What was left of the field was no match for the DVR duo.  Aaron flew off the front and no one was able to catch him.  Setting his wings wide he took the “W” in his debut appearance for DVR.

In the 43-mile road race featuring 4800 feet of climbing in the picturesque Black Moshannon State Park Hannah shined.  The steady long grades were just what the doctor ordered for Dr. Arem, one of Yale’s newest PhD.  The size of

This is what fast look likes from the official’s camera

the women’s field slowly shrank under the increasing pressure until only four remained.  Two of the ladies escaped leaving Hannah and a West Point compatriot to fight it out for third.  True to form Hannah turned the screws on her competition during a long climb shattering her opponent’s will to fight.  She finished third on the day and first overall.  A truly incredible run.

Down south at the Tour of Page County, Kevin Cross and an intrepid crew in the cat 2/3 and Master’s 35+ field went to work in three stages over two days.  The team rode solid in the first two stages but the third stage is where DVR’s strong man flexed his muscles.  The final stage of the Tour of Page County is a devilishly hard technical crit.  It features a steep climb and a figure 8 course with several tight turns.  Add to this year’s addition a large field and a fresh rain storm and the stage was set for a hard race.

Kevin and Tony sharing the victory at TOPC

It only took a couple of laps before the field started shrinking dramatically.  Kevin and cohort Tony Abate stayed up front and out of trouble as the back of the field splintered along with the legs of many of the area’s best riders.

Kevin attacked, attacked again, and then attacked another time.  With about 5 laps to go Kevin put in a dig over the crest of the climb and got a gap.

The primal roar of VICTORY!

What followed was nothing less than amazing– the will of one man held off the fight of the whole pack.  For the next five laps Kevin held a 10 second gap on the field.  An unrelenting effort and a never say  die attitude brought Kevin to the finish line, the winner.  A truly deserving victory for a valiant competitor.

Next up is Turkey Hill and Bunny Hop.

The most exciting part of these 7 top tens is that they came in a variety of fashions.  In fact, it was almost as many ways as varieties of our favorite espresso drinks from FIlter Coffeehouse and Espresso Bar.  It started with Dave Muse who delivered a second place with a tour de force sprint in the 35+ cat 5.  That was followed by Josh Wadsworth who claimed his first top 5 for the boys in blue & white in the men’s cat 5.  Hannah Arem rounded out a phenomenal morning with another great performance in the Women’s Cat 4 claiming a 4th place.

At midday we were treated to a top ten finish by savy Missourian turned Marylander turned Arlingtonian Patrick Dolan in the 35+ cat 3/4 race.   His top ten came complete with a solid team effort from Chas Offutt and Grayson Church who took turns making sure the field stayed in control until Dolan could deliver the goods in the sprint.

The day wasn’t done yet.  In the afternoon DVR put up two more top fives.  First it was Sam McCadney who took a late race solo flyer in the Cat 3 field.  In a move that lesser men would dub as desperation, the Silver Fox cooly served up a full plate of awesomeness, fighting off a hard charging field for second place.

The day ended with Tony Abate in the cat 1/2/3/ field.  In one of the boldest, toughest and down right courageous performances seen in MABRA, Tony controlled the field and led the effort to bring back a dangerous early break. In the last lap he capitalized off that effort, joining a small breakaway that would fight against the will of the entire pack and succeed.  In the end, as the field clipped at the heels of the break, Tony sprinted for a well deserved fifth place. 

But folks, that was just Saturday and weekends around these parts have two days.  And DVR’s success, unlike the mail, gets delivered on Sundays too.    At the border of Maryland and the north, the master’s 55+ field was alit with the best MABRA has raised this last half century.  Among them was DVR’s Tony Allen-Mills.  T2 to those in the know, would weather the fury and storm of his competition and emerge at the end with a solid ninth place.  

Phew, I’m worn out.  Next up, Tour of Page County and the first stage race of the season!

A spirited group of the finest that District Velocity Racing p/b Bicycle Pro Shop can offer made the short drive through some of the prettiest countryside to Charlottesville on Sunday.  Veterans of the race can tell you, the weather at Jeff Cup can play a big role.  It can either be the most miserable experience of the year with 2c (metric is cool) and rain or it can be picture perfect, sunny and warm.  This year it was the latter, the first genuinely Spring like day of the year.

A portion of the DVR squad that raced Jeff Cup. (Left to right standing) Rob, Myke, Tony, Silver Fox, Grayson (kneeling) Dolan and Kevin

DVR fielded a small but determined group spread among the Cat 5 and 4 races, the Masters 35+ field and finally the Pro 1/2/3 race.  And the guys who put themselves into the grinder did so with true DVR spirit.  The day would see desperate breakaway attempts, leg splintering climbs and explosive field sprints.  In the end DVR walked away with a top 5 in the Cat 5 race from PJ and a host of good race stories .

In the Pro 1/2/3 race DVR was lead by Kevin Cross who with reckless abandon threw himself off the front again and again.  On multiple occasions, Mr. Cross found himself up the road with genuine pros and the best MABRA has to offer.  A strong and smart racer, Kevin put himself in what many thought was the move of the day about mid-race.  A small but stacked break developed which featured the right mix of racers.  Only a desperate chase by the field was able to reel the escapees back in.

In the Masters 35+ field, Messrs. Patrick Dolan, Sam McCadney, a/k/a/ the Silver Fox and Grayson Church revived their previous roles as animators of the race and stalkers of the pointy end of the field.  Always mindful of staying up front, these road warriors put themselves into breaks and drove the field when necessary, including a massive late race effort by the Silver Fox.  Ultimately a field sprint consumed the bunch; but it was not without a serious effort by these three to make the field a wee bit smaller.

Overall it was a solid weekend for District Velocity Racing and there is nothing but good omens for the coming weekend of slightly more local racing to come.  Next up Chantilly and Carl Dolan.

The hill climb was a mass start event with the A and B fields climbing a challenging course at the same time.  Even though this was her first competitive bike race, Hannah held on to the leaders in the A group through much of the climb, shedding the other Bs and some of the As along the way.  Toward the end of the climb she lost contact with the few remaining As and only one woman from her field remained ahead of her.  True to the form displayed this Fall in WV, Hannah kept a stoic composure as if she was the Queen of England of herself.  Eventually her remaining competition faded and Hannah made the catch.  Through will and sheer driving determination Hannah eventually beat her opponent into submission.  Hannah’s reward was DVRs second “W” of the season.

Hannah reminding us that part of every good pre-race plan is some quality time for stretching.

Sunday’s road race was 54 miles and featured 4500 feet of climbing (87 km & 1371 m for those who have already realized we will all eventually convert to metric).  The course was dominated by a climb in the middle nicknamed “Horse Killer Hill” by the locals.  Another mass start event for the ladies, in her first road race start Hannah found herself mixing it up with veteran collegiate racers.  The climb proved pivotal in the race.  Each time up more and more ladies found themselves split from the leaders.  Hannah stuck it out with the As almost to the last lap.  Soon after cresting the climb the last time she found herself in a small group sprint with the one other lady from her field.  In the ensuing sprint, Hannah went just a touch too early and got passed on the line.

Hannah in her Yale colors detailing the importance of mid-race nutrition.

The perpetual student always eager to further her studies, Hannah reported some lessons learned after the race:  1) sprint harder; 2) climb faster and 3) don’t let your leg warmers slide down.  True veteran testimony from DVR’s racing phenom.

The first time one toes the start line in a race is such an auspicious moment.  Even for the veterans of the sport, the start line still provide a certain degree of anxious energy;  so much anticipation, so many nerves, so much uncertainty, the magnitude of the unknown but anticipated still awaiting you.  It is a new beginning and a new opportunity each time your front tire crosses it.  For PJ, Morgantown 2013 Cat 5 was the first time he lined up to do battle for the blue and white armada and the first time he started a road race.  When the day was over and the bills were paid in sweat and pain, only PJ remained . . . the sole victor.

Victory!!!

For those who have never made the voyage to MABRA’s western neighbor, the Morgantown road race is a marvel.  A point-to-point single loop race.  Rollers, winding roads and three challenging climbs awaited PJ’s field.  PJ, fresh off his phenomenal performance at the Raw Talent Ranch a few miles away in Mathias, WV, set out on the first of those climbs to distinguish himself.  A fury of tempo left the field in disarray.  Over the crest a group of ten or so formed and built up a solid lead on the field.

The second climb of the day proved less decisive but then the third climb, a kilometer or so of a wall, shattered the remnants of the leaders.  PJ crested the top of the climb, like a gazelle possessed with the spirit of a cheetah, solo.  Of the ten guys who once formed the lead group, PJ and eventually one other brave companion joined forces for the approximately 10 km dash to the end.

The finale of the race is atop a short steep rise.  The two-man breakaway that formed from the lead group worked well, taking equal pulls to the base of this climb.  PJ found a way to stay sheltered in the draft of his companion into the base; but then with the last once of force that he could muster from legs, like steel forged in the furnaces of Smoke Hollow, he sprinted past his companion for the line and claimed his first victory.  It was definitely a proud day for all of us.

PJ atop the podium at Morgantown

Grayson Church and David Bender also added another pair of top tens to their growing resumes in the Cat 3 and 4 fields respectively.  Big things on the horizon for them all.  Next up– THE Jefferson Cup.

Calm cool and collected, David Bender at DVR Team Camp 2013.

Black Hills is 1.5 miles of racing fury wrapped up in a picturesque Maryland park.  The course is marked by quick turns and the “hill” — a short steep kicker that has broken many a racer and makes rolling in a small breakaway for prolonged periods a painful experience.  Shortly into Bender’s race a solo break got established and stayed away for the duration.  It came down to a field sprint for the remainder and as many of us who have had the opportunity to train with him know, Bender has a quick turn of speed and an eagerness to use it.

With a finishing line just south of the crest of the kicker the Cat 4/5 field sprint became a test in timing and patience.  The ever stoic monk David Bender was long on patience and perfect on timing.  As the bombs exploded in the field and his opponents struggled to continue pedaling in circles, Bender waited his time and measured his effort carefully.  Then like a caged leopard suddenly freed, his legs exploded in a focused explosion that left the field stunned.  He quickly passed the early starters and took second in the field sprint for a solid third overall and a great opening to the season.

The look of focus, DVR’s Tony Abate showing off the redesigned 2013 team kit in the men’s 1/2/3 at Black Hills

Next up, Morgantown and Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.

Rolling into the future. DVR at the Raw Talent Ranch, March 2013

District Velocity Racing p/b The Bicycle Pro Shop has had a banner off season and is so totally stoked about the dawning road season.  To that extent, DVR is proud to announce a host of new talented teammates who have joined our collective during the off season.  We have added their distinctiveness to our own   Here is a short bio on the new recruits:

Hannah Arem:

The newest addition to our women’s squad comes to us by way of Yale, where she just finished her doctoral studies in public health.  In those studies she focused on chronic disease epidemiology with  research on diet and physical activity and is applying it in her career at the National Cancer Institute.  Off the bike she is a talented yoga student but on the bike she is a fierce competitor.  This Fall at the team camp out at the Raw Talent Ranch she went toe-to-toe with the rest of us with a massive turn of the gears and put many of us in the proverbial “spot of bother.”

Patrick Jarenwattananon:

Hailing from just outside of Milwaukee, WI, PJ (because Jarenwattananon is frankly a lot of letters to type) joins us for his first road season.  A dabbler in CX he is making his move to road this year and recently laid the ground work for an incredible season with a stellar performance in the mountains of West Virginia at the Raw Talent Ranch.   Off the bike PJ “makes the internet” for National Public Radio, which we hear is a crowd favorite.  In the kitchen he makes a tasty stew as well.

Mykel Nahorniak:

Coming to us originally from across the stream in Reston, this now resident of Takoma Park (truly bi-coastal) is in his second season on the road.  He’s looking forward to sacrificing himself in the service of his fellow teammates of the blue and white armada in the Cat 4 field.  Given how hard he’s been riding this off season on our DVR team rides we have absolute confidence that he’ll be doing more than just domestique work this season.  When he’s not out there rolling the miles, this entrepreneur is the CEO of a local (ist) software company.

Alex Porter:

You could say Alex is the rarest of the rare breed.  Virtually a unicorn or a caught shooting star.  A true Washingtonian, a native born right here in DC.  He grew up riding mountain bikes and has been riding his road bike for a couple years now; but, this will be his flagship season of racing.  If the hurt he puts down on our Saturday ride from Filter Coffeehouse and Espresso Bar is any indication, this will be a breakout year for him too.  In the last year Alex took the plunge and launched his full time career as a studio artist.  So this is a real year of firsts for him

Josh Wadsworth:

Raised in the warm center of the universe that is Chicago, Josh migrated to DC via a short stop over in the wild’s of north Florida and South Carolina.  Another first timer with serious experience, this will be his inaugural season of racing.  Josh is a Non-Profit Program Officer now living in Maryland.  He’s looking forward to discovering the joy that is bike racing in MABRA.  We are looking forward to seeing him drop the hammer on the field with every opportunity.

The men and women of DVR are looking forward to joining up with these new teammates and seeing all of you out there on the road.

In addition we want to say thanks to our wonderful families, spouses, significant others, children, parents, friends, supporters and employers who joyfully encourage our bike racing obsession. Without you all we would not be able to continue and most assuredly would not be as successful. And last, but not least, we want to say thank you to all of our fellow competitors.   Sharing the road and the trails with you this year has been an incredible honor.

We are looking forward to a great conclusion of the 2012 CX season and the start of the 2013 road campaign. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!

The best cure for too many Friday leftovers…Long Friday miles.