Saturday Morning arrives and Michelle and I are still not sure about making the trip to Langhorne for the MASS race since the threat of T-storms in that area remained for Saturday and late Sunday. Driving 360 odd miles, getting a room only to have the event called on the account of storms would be a real drag especially when we would have to drive back the 360 miles all for nothing.
As we studied the weather on line Michelle mentions a small race held in Sigel Pa which is 50 mins north east from my place and about 8 miles from my dads camp. A couple quick clicks and we found the site with the information. Damn straight, it was in the Clear Creek State Forest area which is about as local as a race gets for me! With my excitement of finding something so close I pack up and drove there to inspect the course. I meet the race director/promoter/trail builder Mike White. We talked for a minute while he showed me the map of the course. As he did this he explained all the work he's put in with the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and private landowners to create the 11+ mile course. I commended him on his efforts and rode off to rate the trail for myself. What bliss! This course took off from the Laural Fields and traveled some forestry grassy roads/paths, bombed down an awesome decent and bottle necked right into a wonderful rocky single track with overgrown Mountain Laurel lining the sides. Back to some access roads for gas wells and timbering before hitting a hiking/biking trail that climbed steady for over 2 miles to the Bear town Rocks parking lot of Clear Creek State Forest. The remaining miles of the course rolled through more of the Forestry lanes but had a few sections of newly built rock gardens that proved to be quit technical! Over all this course was going to be fast with so many open areas in the "Big Woods" for the racers to turn up the speed cranking in the big ring! 
Back at the Cranberry Tart as i finished and my mind was made up... I would be racing this on Sunday! I drove back home excited about the next days race.
Some interesting facts.. from the DCNR Webpages
Forestry Roads:
Mountain Biking
All state forest roads are open to mountain bicycling. In addition, many rail trails and district trails are available for riding.
The story on the race to follow....
stork
se you haven't read some of my previous posts Chris is a great friend who teaches High School and organizes a couple programs like Archery & Mountain Biking for his students. Bob Myers also came along to the race with a young gentleman Josh and while Josh raced Bob watched Alex for TJ. Bob is one of our biggest supporters and when I say "our" I mean TJ, Chris & Myself. Bob helps Chris out with his student program so all the youngsters are riding Trek gear. here is a photo from last year with the "Bad Boys"
, and as for TJ & I, you all should know how he helps us out. I mention his name almost weekly in a post somewhere!
