News: Waco Bicycle Club: National Mountain Bike Racing News

National Mountain Bike Racing News · 04/15/2008 07:24 AM

On Sunday, April 6th, Fred Schmid (Bicycles Outback) won his category of the NMBS Cross-Country Race #2 and wrapped up the G.C. win of the Stage Race conducted at McAllister Park, Fountain Hills, Arizona. This win puts Fred currently in the lead of the NMBS Series.

The Stage Race consisted of a Super-D, a Short Track and the Cross-Country. On Friday they held the Super-D. (A Super-D is a fast downhill, not very technical, usually on jeep roads or a downhill portion of the cross-country course. This is so it can be ridden with a normal cross-country bike, rather than requiring a monster deep-suspension downhill bike.) The winner in Fred’s category rode the 7-mile course in 21:02—nearly 20 mph! Fred was 11 seconds back. The pros rode it at over 30 mph. As Adam Craig commented, ‘You’re speed limit was more mental than physical.’

Saturday was for the Short Track. (Short Track is a dirt criterium, usually 1.5-2 miles in length. Lapped riders are pulled.)

The course contained an interesting feature: a nearly unclimbable sand wall that made it more of a cyclo-cross event.

Here’s a picture of Texas pro, Brian Foley (San Jose Cycles) riding it up while other pros walk. In the expert men’s class, both Fred and his main competition were pulled because they were on the track with younger, faster age categories. There was a little confusion here. Fred sprinted across the line to end the lap on which they were pulled; then, he slowed down to exit and his competition passed him getting off the course. The line judges recorded Fred as first; the exit supervisors listed his competition, Jurgen Leiser, as first. Fred protested. Applying the wisdom of Solomon, the judges decided to give both riders a first place. So it all went down to the Cross-Country!

Fred’s group raced 2 laps of the 9-10 miles course starting at 8:20am. The desert was it’s usual dry and cool at that time of day: perfect racing weather. Fred stayed with Jurgen on the initial, flat 1-2 miles. Then, they reached the hills. Fred passed and kept the pressure on from there. He finished in 1:40:37, 8:23 ahead of second place.

There were no other WBC members competing, but there were two fellow Texans. Brian Foley finished mid-pack among the pros and Tanya Woody, finished 6th among expert women 40-49 in 1:46:57.

The next race is at Santa Ynez, CA, May 17 & 18.

Lancaster Ride Tuesday Dam Ride 4/15/8

National Mountain Bike Racing News · 04/15/2008 07:24 AM

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