Shannock Valley Mountain Bike Race Report 2012

The Shannock Valley 15th Annual Mountain Bike Race certainly had a lot in store for the 82 riders lined up at the Start this morning. The forecast '30% chance of rain' turned out to be a 100% heavens-wide-open deluge that turned the trails into a mud fest, albeit surprisingly rideable one.

(Note: you can skip the entire report and get right to the 300 Race Pics HERE)

Mark Liti, a satisfied survivor of the mud fest

Except maybe, for the hills.

Butler YMCA Triathlon 7 July 2012 Report

I think I have just found myself a new favorite sprint distance triathlon. It's the Butler YMCA Triathlon. It calls for a 400 m swim, 7 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. Not that I took part or anything crazy like that. I merely spectated and snapped about 2000 photos of triathletes as they passed me. Still, I was pretty bushed at the end of the entire thing! (Note: If you raced, there is a high likelihood that there will be a pic of you in my uploaded album, and that pic may even be flattering! If you only want to check yourself out, skip down to the end - the link to the photo album is at the bottom of the post).

Ok, why is the Butler Tri my current fav? Well, it is the most, and I mean MOST laidback triathlon ever. Ever. They don't mark up bodies like in most other triathlons. The transition area isn't barricaded or regulated even, and nobody seems too concerned either. This totally laidback atmosphere, I totally dig!

The 2008 Ohiopyle Falls Festival

Summary of post

Spencer and two hundred other boaters go over the Ohiopyle Falls in one of the biggest whitewater events in the USA. Nobody dies.

A terrifying fall

Going over an 18 foot waterfall at the Falls Race in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, is as good an excuse as any for peeing in your pants. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do it? The frothing, churning waters at the bottom of the drop look rabidly angry. There's a punishing hydraulic that sucks you in and whirls you around and around under the water. There's also an undercut that could trap and hold you underwater... indefinitely...

Somebody's gotta do it

The only time boaters can legally go over the Falls is

Ninth Annual Subaru 24 Hour Champion Challenge 2008

Summary of post

Thrills and spills... guts and glory... pushing and breaking the limits of human endurance in a 24-hour mountain bike relay race at Seven Springs Resort, PA.

(The pic above taken by Mark Dempster)

The Race

Over 300 men and women, in teams, duo or solo, tested their mettle mountain-biking repeatedly on a punishing 12-mile course this past Labor Day weekend. The aim was to complete as many laps as possible within 24 hours, which meant riding in the night. That's right - d-a-r-k. The course has a tight, twisty single-track through the woods, some extremely technical barely walkable 'rock garden' sections and a long, steep, uphill, heart-attack-inducing climb.

14th Jackie Kallal Triathlon 2010 Race Report

The 14th Jackie Kallal Tri held Saturday 12 June 2010 (yesterday) was a resounding success with a record 137 racers of all ages and walks of life. Forecasted thunderstorms were a no show, instead racers enjoyed a sweltering hot day with temps in the 80s.

There were already hundreds of people milling around Yellow Creek State Park when we rolled in at 8.10 am. Registration was from 7.30 - 8.30 am, so there was ample time for Ben B. to sign up and hand over his forty bucks to Habitat for Humanity. Spencer had pre-registered, so all he needed to do was pick up his race packet, which contained a t-shirt, swim cap, bunch of goodies and race info. Donuts and other breakfast foods (generously donated by various local sponsors) were provided for the racers - Ben grabbed one. Mmmm.

After being branded by a friendly volunteer, we headed over to

Yellow Creek SP Mountain Bike Race Series: #3 May 2010

In the biggest turn out so far, 27 racers blasted out of the starting blocks for the third race of the season for the bad@ss 10.5 mile YC Grassroots Racing Series 2010.  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping...

TeamSOG Yough Xtreme Adventure Race 2010 Race Report & Results

  
Think you could ride 25+ miles of mountain bike trails with relentless kick@ss climbs and hairy downhills? Could you paddle 9 miles of whitewater with up to class III rapids? Is 20 miles of running/hiking a 'walk in the park' for you? Does a 140' rappel sound like a good time?

How about doing ALL the above in hypothermia-inducing rain, chilled to the bone, with cramping muscles? And do all that in under 10 hours...

If this still sounds like fun, then you probably are one of those 138 folks who did (or attempted!) the 12th Annual Yough Xtreme Adventure Race yesterday (24 April 2010). This multisport event set in the wild and gorgeous

28th Annual Frog Hollow Canoe Kayak Trip 10 April 2010

The Frog Hollow Paddle, held annually since the 80's, is not any ole paddle. It's what sets the boys apart from the men... or should I say 'men apart from the boys' ;) .

The 14 mile paddle down Buffalo Creek, PA - by tradition a 'male only' event - is a hallowed rite of passage celebrating all things manly/manliness in general, and also marks the start of trout season.

A record 115 men and boys participated this year. A hearty breakfast of Brian's amazing sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches was

Yellow Creek State Park Monthly Mountain Bike Race Series 2010

The ubiquitous Buffalo Riders were out in full G-4 Force at the Inaugural Yellow Creek State Park Mountain Bike Race, on the morning of 27 March 2010. 


The temperature was a cringe-inducing 30 degrees F... Registration at was at 9.30 am, and 10.30 am saw 16 brave riders at the start line. Among the ranks of these stout-hearted were Anthony C., Pat K., Ben E. and Spencer Clark, supported by Lindsey C. the Buffalo Riders photog. I on the other hand was sound asleep in my nice warm bed :).


The Shotgun Start 10.30 am was the beginning of a kick-@ass 10.5 mile loop wasting no time setting the pace for the race with a dizzifying 100 foot climb. 

At the top, the trail opens up into a grassy plateau that all too quickly channels into a tight single track with zig-zaggy switchbacks in a gorgeous pine forest setting. Then there are some

Celtic Cross Cyclocross Race March 21 2010

A ridiculously summery-like day set the scenario for the perpetually-postponed-ever-anticipated Celtic Cross Cyclocross Race held at the Frick Slagheaps yesterday. There was a decent turnout of about 40 winter-paled bodies, including two representatives of the 'Buffalo Riders', a relatively obscure but cool bunch of spandex-donning dudes from north of Pittsburgh.  

Ready.. set.. GO! 

And off they went for an hour's worth of torturous physical exertion repeating a 1 mile loop that involved the following: