Cross season is just around the corner. Everyone is getting psyched. And rightly so thanks to the growing local race scene. We’d like to highlight some of the local races this fall. Mark them on your calendar and invite your friends and tell your buddies across the state what they’re missing out on.

Appalachian Cyclocross Series

10/2 – Waynesburg, PA
10/17 – Fayetteville, WV
10/23 – Washington, PA
10/30 – Morgantown, WV
10/31 – Morgantown, WV
11/6 – Lost Creek, WV
11/13 – Morgantown, WV
11/21 – Bruceton Mills, WW

Murrysville Cyclocross – 11/7 – Murrysville, PA

Month of Mud – 10/3 – Grove City, PA

Maybe there are even more we’ve missed or haven’t been announced yet. Either way Pittsburgh Racing will be covering all the local cyclocross races.

Between the local races, make sure and check out other nearby series such as the MABRA, Cap City, or NEOCX series.

EDIT: Fatmarc would very much like you to consider attending some MAC series races.

Also check out the Pittsburgh Crossers google group and calendar.

Coopers Rock

Rob Spreng (Dirty Harrys) – 1st overall
Rob Lochner (Iron City Bikes) – 2nd singlespeed
Aaron Shelmire (Pro Bikes) – 3rd singlespeed

Full Results

Altoona Crit

Jacob Yundt (Iron City Bikes) – 1st Mens 4
Joe Lydic – 2nd Mens 4

When: Saturday September 4-5, 2010
Where: 7 Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, PA
Event Website

The Pittsburgh Bellas won in 2009

Registration is already closed for the 24 hour race at 7 Springs this year, but course recon, bike preparation and trash talk are all welcome until the race gets underway at noon on Saturday September 4th and goes until noon the next day. Officially known as the “Seven Springs 24 Hour Champion Challenge”, the tag-team style race takes place on the cross country mountain biking course at the 7 Springs Mountain Resport. The roughly 12 mile loop winds down the mountain through the woods, features several rock gardens and a few soul crushing climbs. All racers, in teams of 1 to 8, try to finish as many laps as they can in the 24 hours with only one rider allowed on course at a time. Lap times for the fast riders will approach the 1 hour mark (in good conditions). Last year the winning team (Dirty Harry’s Bicycles) finished 21 laps. Riders bring lights to ride through the night and tents to camp out in. Those that aren’t out racing have the choice to rest up for their next lap or hang out at the all night party on the mountain. Non-racers are also allowed to hang out and witness the action.

It’s that time of year when thousands of students return to Pittsburgh for another year of school.  We’d like to highlight the prominent collegiate cycling clubs in the area at Pitt, CMU and IUP.

All of the clubs have both casual riders and competitive racers and are open to all students. They receive funding through member dues, appropriations from the student governments and generous donations that allow them to put on and participate in a variety of events. All three clubs regularly send groups to ECCC collegiate races. Collegiate racing has been designed for riders of all abilities and most people get their first start racing in college.

In 2008, CMU and Pitt joined forces to put on a collegiate race weekend in Pittsburgh, bringing other collegiate racers to Pittsburgh from both the ECCC and the MWCCC.

If you’re a new or returning student to Pittsburgh, whether you’re a seasoned bike racer or you don’t even own a bike, you should check out the clubs. Cycling is an amazing sport on its own but what makes it really great is when you get together and ride with other people. Some of the benefits of joining include:

- Make new friends
- Stay in shape
- Find people to ride with
- Learn the local routes
- Weekend trips to races
- Deals on clothing and bikes
- Sweet kits to show off your school pride

Below are links to more information about the clubs:

University of Pittsburgh Cycling Club

http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/cycling/
http://pittcycling.blogspot.com/
Facebook
Twitter
Google Groups

Carnegie Mellon Cycling Club

cmucycling.org
tartancycling.blogspot.com
Facebook
Google Groups
Twitter
Flickr
Youtube

Indiana University of PA Cycling Club

http://iupcycling.blogspot.com/
Facebook
Twitter
Google Groups

Local Pittsburgh racer Montana Miller has driven half way across the country to Breckenridge, CO to participate in the Breck Epic after winning a free entry in their blogger grant contest. As part of his free entry, he will be blogging his experiences on Mountain Flyer Magazine. Follow along when the race starts tomorrow. Until then, read up on his blog about his trip across the planes and his race preparations.

Big Bear Ultra

Rob Spreng (Dirty Harry’s) – 1st
TJ Platt – 2nd
Justin Pokrivka (Pro Bikes) – 1st singlespeed (4th overall)

Full Results

Black Bear

Gunnar Shogren – 1st expert vet (3rd overall)
Betsy Shogren – 1st women expert (16th overall)

Full Results

Photo by Twila Jeffries Miller

High Cascade 100 (NUE Series) – Bend, OR

Gerry Pflug – 1st singlespeed (8:55) (report)

cyclingnews.com coverage, photos and results.

Mary Jane Circuit – Winter Park, CO

Montana Miller (Speedgoat) – 1st singlespeed (report)

Interview on speedgoat.com

Sub 9 Super D – Nashville, IN

Tim Carson (Pro Bikes) – 1st
Montana Miller (Speedgoat) – 4th

Full Results

Two Mile Run – Bike the Wilds

Aaron Shelmire – 3rd Singlespeed overall

Full Results

Photo: © Brian Hodes/VeloImages

Sinead Miller has been busy racing with her Peanut Butter & CO TWENTY12 team. She recently posted an article on cyclingnews.com describing her experiences at the USA Elite Nationals and at the Women’s Giro d’Italia. Below is an excerpt of her describing the Nationals Criterium:

This was only my second time racing with my teammates so far this season and I was very motivated to support them in whatever way possible. In the criterium I was able to cover attacks and help bring breakaway attempts back. The race ended up staying together. In the end Kat and Lauren gave Shelley one of the best lead-outs I have ever witnessed and this helped propel Shelley to take the victory in the criterium, while Lauren finished third to round out the podium! It was a great race to be a part of and I was so glad to be able to help the team secure a criterium national championship win.

Now she’s getting ready to head back to college and claims to be taking some time off. Though the team website claims she is competing in the upcoming Tour of Holland. Good luck Sinead!

[via cyclingnews.com]

Check out http://www.veloimages.com/.

Lots of recent results to catch up on:

Masters Nationals

Bob Gottlieb – 3rd Crit 50-54
Dan Greene – 19th Crit 35-39
Barb Grabowski (Steel City Endurance) – 5th TT, 3rd RR, 4th Crit Women’s 55-59 (report)
Gunnar Shogren – 27th RR 45-49
Betsy Shogren – 5th Crit 30-34
Gunnar + Betsy Shogren (Dynamic PT) – 5th Mixed Tandem 70-99
Glenn Snyder (UPMC) – 11th TT Men 50-54

More info on usacycling.org
More pics of the Shogrens at nationals.

Barb Grabowski placed high at Masters Nationals - Pic by Fred Jordan

Tour of the Catskills

Stephen Cummings (IRMC) – 70th Stage 1, 41st Stage 2, 49th overall (PRO/1/2)
Bob Stumpf (IRMC) – 58th Stage 1, 58th Stage 2, 60th overall (PRO/1/2)
John Minturn – 5th TT (beat Floyd by 3 seconds) (PRO/1/2)
Patty Buerkle (Fruit 66 – Artemis) – 2nd TT, 9th Stage 1, 4th Stage 2, 4th overall, 4th QOM (Women Open)

Full Results

Smith Dairy Milk Race

Andrew Seitz (IRMC) – 2nd 2/3
Mike Quigley (SCE) – 1st Masters (report)

Full Results

Pics by Orville Cycling Team

Tour de Millersburg

Gray Patton – 6th TT, 7th Crit, 7th RR, 4th Overall

Gray Patton has been on a winning streak lately - pic by Ben

Full Results

Appalachia Visited Road Race

Bob Stumpf (IRMC) – 2nd 1/2/3
Joe Ruggery (Freddie Fu) – 3rd 1/2/3
Gunnar Shogren (Dynamic PT) – 1st 40+
Gerry Pflug (Salsa/SPK) – 2nd 40+
Ray Russell (Sette Nova) – 1st 50+
Betsy Shogren (Dynamic PT) – 1st W1/2/3

Full Results
Series Overall Results

Masters 40+ Series podium - Pic by JR

Zoar

Samson McHugh (CAT) – 6th 1/2/3
Gray Patton – 1st W Open
Mike Quigley (SCE) – 2nd M3/4

Full Results

It’s August and that means it’s time to gear up for the ever-encroaching cyclocross season.  There looks to be a few more “local” races this year, thanks in large part to the promotion skillz of JR Petsko.  Last year I started a google group dedicated to cyclocross racers in the Pittsburgh area to communicate and arrange practices and rides to races.  It also includes an extensive list of upcoming races.  Check it out at:

http://groups.google.com/group/pittsburgh-crossers

John Heffner broke the 25-mile record

This past Friday Night at the Track was a 25-mile time trial. A packed crowd of 30 racers showed up to try and join the “one hour club” (i.e. finishing 25 miles in under 60 minutes averaging >25mph). Indeed 12 of the racers finished under the 60 minute mark. In the process, John Heffner set a new record with a 53:48:00 – that’s 27.88mph average for 50 laps of the oval – beating the old record by 10 seconds. Gray Patton also broke the women’s record – by 6 minutes – and also became the first woman to finish under one hour in recorded oval history.

Full Results

Gray Patton set a new women's record

This Friday Night at the Track will be a 10-mile time trial.

***photos by Fred Jordan***