Mountain Bike Mike
Well-Known Member
IDEA for money - Cross Reality TV Show staring the Heckler in a show named "The Heckler"
The Heckle Report
- Thread starter The Heckler
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- beard cyclocross recap
This is a UCI race? That changes the game even more. I was told that to be a UCI race you're talking $2000 for the weekend, just to play ball. USAC with the officials and insurance will be more like $7 a head. I think we ended up spending $11 a person with USAC/NJBA combined. Assume this is not a series race, but if it is tack on another $3 a racer, something in that ballpark.
If you're talking 200 racers per day, there's no way this race makes a dollar. I imagine they do another race that makes money and they use that surplus to help pay for this one. Maybe they get the venue for free? If they drop $4000 for the venue, this is probably a deeply red venture.
Maybe they have some good sponsors. But in general, sponsors are in the Blood From a Stone category.
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
HAH, It would be a show of me fretting about what time to poop, trying to find my thin gloves and eating a lot after my race.
I read some very good points in the responses. It's great to hear from people putting on the events and your concerns and struggles.
The initial reason this bothered me so much is because in the first 49 CX races I've registered for the price has never gone up for "late registration." I now know I need to fully read the page and anticipate the cost increase. It looks like they are doing the same fare hike for NBX
Now that I'm adapted to the new methods it's only the cost for the beginners that really bothers me.
-Side note-
(Almost) final reg is at 820 people (~410 per day) That means ~300 registrations came in during the last 24 hours.
Things that I would consider "value added" for this event:
-Takes place at a school, they open up the building some so there are locker rooms, indoor bathrooms (maybe showers?) and a heated cafeteria to sit in.
Things that made me come back for a second year:
-Very challenging course that really tests bike control. Off cambers, hard fast elevation changes, New England weather.
-Part of Verge Series
-Free place to stay within ~1 hour drive.
-No other races going on this weekend. (on bike reg - Closest other race is in Maryland)
Delish
Well-Known Member
Oops, I looked at crossresults and saw 400, 400, 400 for past events but that's per-day. So 800 for the 2 day race weekend. But looking at the bikereg page, they are paying out nearly $4000 per day for the UCI races as well...so it still works out to be a $10/entry tax to support the UCI fields. The numbers look a lot better at 800 races but it's still not a big money maker.
Early reg discounts (or late reg penalties, depending on how you look at it) make a lot of economic sense for late season races. Nittany or whatever UCI race that takes place the 2nd weekend of September will always draw numbers. Although people like to talk about how awesome "cross conditions" are, when it comes down to it you get a lot of no-regs and no-shows if the forecast calls for meatballs.
Sounds like they have the event priced pretty smart. It's about value, not cost-plus. Value is great venue, great course, "extras". If they are getting 800 at those prices, clearly the cost of entry is not the barrier (sad pun intended). Makes me wonder why Nittany doesn't charge $100.
Early reg discounts (or late reg penalties, depending on how you look at it) make a lot of economic sense for late season races. Nittany or whatever UCI race that takes place the 2nd weekend of September will always draw numbers. Although people like to talk about how awesome "cross conditions" are, when it comes down to it you get a lot of no-regs and no-shows if the forecast calls for meatballs.
Sounds like they have the event priced pretty smart. It's about value, not cost-plus. Value is great venue, great course, "extras". If they are getting 800 at those prices, clearly the cost of entry is not the barrier (sad pun intended). Makes me wonder why Nittany doesn't charge $100.
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
Races 25 & 26 - Baystate
Wow. This weekend was absolutely the most wild two races I have ever done. Up to this point this year I saw total mud at Night Weasels, Whirlybird, CSI Day 1, and 1/2 mud at Supercross days 1 & 2.
This weekend was something truly special. The Thanksgiving "snow storm" dumped a hearty 6 inches of 'pow up in central Massachusetts. Due to changes on plans I bundled up in big blue and drove north alone on Friday. Oh, did I mention my car doesn't have heat?
I made it to my buddies in Amherst in decent time and had a good chill on Friday night. Saturday I woke up and headed out around 8:00am in a blustery 15 F. I took my WWII overcoat which doubles as a blanket. Good choice that was. By race time it was about 35F.
My route to Sterling took me North on 202 around the Quabbin (some of the same roads I raced in the spring) then East on 2. If you've been on these roads ever you would know they are incredibly scenic. Adding in the tranquil snow still hanging off every branch it was truly a winter wonderland.
The course Saturday was 70% snow covered and 30% mud / ice with conditions changing by the minute. Sections such as the steep hill side were shoveled clear which only exposed frozen dirt which made both riding and running very difficult. I managed 1 ride in 2 attempts while pre riding but had to run all 5 laps of the race. It is much steeper at the bottom then it looks.
Ruts slowly formed in the snow through the day but they were very narrow and staying in them was a chore. Passing was impossible unless someone crashed or fell out into the deep snow. Le snowy course:
I botched my start and ended up going out in the bottom 50%. Countless errors scored me a 40/50 finish. Talk about worst result of the year! My first time in snow mixed with my lack of training the last couple weeks really was a punch in the face.
In other news Saturday was my 50th start racing cyclocross!
SUNDAY
I had almost convinced myself I wasn't going back Sunday. Saturday sucked. I was slow and out of fitness, but I payed a lot to race and I scored a ride out with a teammate who convinced me I love this too much to blow it off.
Sunday was much warmer. The car read external temperature at 55F after my race! Almost the entire course has a 1 foot wide rut formed. The ramaining snow pits were much easier to traverse. The course also featured a few additional features which made the whole thing an off camber mud fest. Super challenging, super muddy, super fun.
The super gnar run up turns into a downhill on day 2. As you roll the crest you are greeted by 15 feet of natsy ruts which if you don't navigate with control send you to the bottom line which since it's off camber mud crashes you into the snow or fencing. Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
I managed the downhill considerably well. I didn't hit the ground and I only slid out once which happened because I couldn't clear the mud from my cleats from the previous run up and went down with almost zero brakes and my forming an upside down V with my feet sticking out to the sides. I did a little more then a 180 and put a foot down to carry the momentum into a full 360!!! SPIN MOVE NUMBER TWO OF THE SEASON!!! The onlookers cheered and one man told me "Best save of the day!!"
Because conditions were so much faster Sunday timing worked out that we would do 7 laps. Due to the mud I wore through my pads after 3. Every lap I wanted to quit but this was the last race of the year, I had to stay in.
Again I messed up my start, ran a long snow section in the top field and bled more spots but managed 22nd/59 (11 of those were DNFs...)
Everything hurts. I only fell a few times this weekend, but everything hurts. Riding in those conditions requires so much core and upper body. Damn. Here's one of me and some uncharacteristic sun glasses that I borrowed since I took a piece of debris on Saturday that had my left eye seeing double until the next morning:
Sunday was also my 50th cyclocross finish!! Kinda cool.
I am registered for one more race. The season cap: Ice Weasels. This is more of a party then a race for me. One last hurrah in the bitter cold with free beer and good friends.
Beard Report: I... May need a trim..
Wow. This weekend was absolutely the most wild two races I have ever done. Up to this point this year I saw total mud at Night Weasels, Whirlybird, CSI Day 1, and 1/2 mud at Supercross days 1 & 2.
This weekend was something truly special. The Thanksgiving "snow storm" dumped a hearty 6 inches of 'pow up in central Massachusetts. Due to changes on plans I bundled up in big blue and drove north alone on Friday. Oh, did I mention my car doesn't have heat?
I made it to my buddies in Amherst in decent time and had a good chill on Friday night. Saturday I woke up and headed out around 8:00am in a blustery 15 F. I took my WWII overcoat which doubles as a blanket. Good choice that was. By race time it was about 35F.
My route to Sterling took me North on 202 around the Quabbin (some of the same roads I raced in the spring) then East on 2. If you've been on these roads ever you would know they are incredibly scenic. Adding in the tranquil snow still hanging off every branch it was truly a winter wonderland.
The course Saturday was 70% snow covered and 30% mud / ice with conditions changing by the minute. Sections such as the steep hill side were shoveled clear which only exposed frozen dirt which made both riding and running very difficult. I managed 1 ride in 2 attempts while pre riding but had to run all 5 laps of the race. It is much steeper at the bottom then it looks.
Ruts slowly formed in the snow through the day but they were very narrow and staying in them was a chore. Passing was impossible unless someone crashed or fell out into the deep snow. Le snowy course:
I botched my start and ended up going out in the bottom 50%. Countless errors scored me a 40/50 finish. Talk about worst result of the year! My first time in snow mixed with my lack of training the last couple weeks really was a punch in the face.
In other news Saturday was my 50th start racing cyclocross!
SUNDAY
I had almost convinced myself I wasn't going back Sunday. Saturday sucked. I was slow and out of fitness, but I payed a lot to race and I scored a ride out with a teammate who convinced me I love this too much to blow it off.
Sunday was much warmer. The car read external temperature at 55F after my race! Almost the entire course has a 1 foot wide rut formed. The ramaining snow pits were much easier to traverse. The course also featured a few additional features which made the whole thing an off camber mud fest. Super challenging, super muddy, super fun.
The super gnar run up turns into a downhill on day 2. As you roll the crest you are greeted by 15 feet of natsy ruts which if you don't navigate with control send you to the bottom line which since it's off camber mud crashes you into the snow or fencing. Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
I managed the downhill considerably well. I didn't hit the ground and I only slid out once which happened because I couldn't clear the mud from my cleats from the previous run up and went down with almost zero brakes and my forming an upside down V with my feet sticking out to the sides. I did a little more then a 180 and put a foot down to carry the momentum into a full 360!!! SPIN MOVE NUMBER TWO OF THE SEASON!!! The onlookers cheered and one man told me "Best save of the day!!"
Because conditions were so much faster Sunday timing worked out that we would do 7 laps. Due to the mud I wore through my pads after 3. Every lap I wanted to quit but this was the last race of the year, I had to stay in.
Again I messed up my start, ran a long snow section in the top field and bled more spots but managed 22nd/59 (11 of those were DNFs...)
Everything hurts. I only fell a few times this weekend, but everything hurts. Riding in those conditions requires so much core and upper body. Damn. Here's one of me and some uncharacteristic sun glasses that I borrowed since I took a piece of debris on Saturday that had my left eye seeing double until the next morning:
Sunday was also my 50th cyclocross finish!! Kinda cool.
I am registered for one more race. The season cap: Ice Weasels. This is more of a party then a race for me. One last hurrah in the bitter cold with free beer and good friends.
Beard Report: I... May need a trim..
Juggernaut
Master of the Metaphor
Great post! Now aren't you glad your buddy guilted you in to staying? Congrats on the big five-o! 🙂
Mountain Bike Mike
Well-Known Member
Nice recap Sir - Glad you toughed it out.
Maybe next year, you will do some push-ups, pull-ups and dips, run one day a week and build up some upper body strength... So when you need to get off the bike and haul ass, you could make it happen.
I'll make you a deal, you help me with some cross skills and I'll help you with strength stuff..
Maybe next year, you will do some push-ups, pull-ups and dips, run one day a week and build up some upper body strength... So when you need to get off the bike and haul ass, you could make it happen.
I'll make you a deal, you help me with some cross skills and I'll help you with strength stuff..
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
My secret:
Upload to Imgur, click the "large thumbnail" in Sizing options, copy and paste BBC Code into here.
Boom.
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
sounds good.
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
My Saturday summed up in one picture.
I had this kind of race:
I had this kind of race:
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
2014 Race Finale - The Ice Weasels Cometh.
This weekend will be my last cyclocross race of 2014. One last road trip! The original plan was to stay at my buddies parents place and party out the North Shore but the event promoter, Colin Reuter (the same man behind Crossresults.com) sent out an email stating that two days before the event there would be a venue change from Rowley, MA to Cumberland, RI. It sounds like 5 inches of rain not only has the entire venue underwater, but also torn up with vicious drainage ruts. Hats off for the execution of a contingency plan!
This will be my second time "racing" this race. It had now been many weeks since I have trained so I'm going for more or a fun time beer ride then a race. Last year I was in the back of the starting pack and it was 25 degrees and snowing. Needless to say I fell off the back and started taking beers and whiskey every chance I could get. I didn't finish last and I had arguably the most fun.
Laughing Dog - racers, friends and family
Shout out to my amazing network of teammates, our friends and our family for the endless generous support that helps us do what we love.
The Ice Weasels recap will be the last recap of 2014, however not of the season.
I would like to announce I will be racing 1/11/15 at nationals!
....Not the USAC nationals in Austin TX, but "Scrub Zone Nationals" in West Warwick, RI!
Because cross!
This weekend will be my last cyclocross race of 2014. One last road trip! The original plan was to stay at my buddies parents place and party out the North Shore but the event promoter, Colin Reuter (the same man behind Crossresults.com) sent out an email stating that two days before the event there would be a venue change from Rowley, MA to Cumberland, RI. It sounds like 5 inches of rain not only has the entire venue underwater, but also torn up with vicious drainage ruts. Hats off for the execution of a contingency plan!
This will be my second time "racing" this race. It had now been many weeks since I have trained so I'm going for more or a fun time beer ride then a race. Last year I was in the back of the starting pack and it was 25 degrees and snowing. Needless to say I fell off the back and started taking beers and whiskey every chance I could get. I didn't finish last and I had arguably the most fun.
Laughing Dog - racers, friends and family
Shout out to my amazing network of teammates, our friends and our family for the endless generous support that helps us do what we love.
The Ice Weasels recap will be the last recap of 2014, however not of the season.
I would like to announce I will be racing 1/11/15 at nationals!
....Not the USAC nationals in Austin TX, but "Scrub Zone Nationals" in West Warwick, RI!
Because cross!
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
For Pearl, as promised
One "High Res Scan" of my family's X-mas card. He made it on via the HPCX mud tree barrier, as you can clearly see in this ultra high res photo of a card of photos taken with a pair of chopsticks.
One "High Res Scan" of my family's X-mas card. He made it on via the HPCX mud tree barrier, as you can clearly see in this ultra high res photo of a card of photos taken with a pair of chopsticks.
The Heckler
You bring new meaning to the term SUCK
Race 27 - The Ice Weasels Cometh
Final race of 2014! (but hopefully not of the season)
Very impressed that the promoters managed to secure a new venue, plan and lay a brand new course in 36 hours and have it turn out as perfectly as it did.
The course itself had very minimal elevation, a few sections of mud, a couple sections of trail, some frozen dirt corners, a pump track, two sets of barriers, a log, AND the JRA "bad decisions" jump.
Ice weasels has a tradition of being the big end of the season throw down for NECX. USA cycling was not present making hand-ups not only "not a crime" but not even a point of guilt. The sun was shining all day and the temperature hovered around a reasonable 40F. Couldn't have asked for better weather.
Crossresults put me on the front row of a 73 person race. The start was kinda funny because it was a little of a surprise. We had been prompted for 30 seconds but everyone was having such a good time joking around when the call came no one was really ready to move. My attention somehow caught the "GO" signal and I actually managed to hit my pedal and shot out into second wheel! I had more or less written off doing well since I've been off the bike so much but there I was out towards the front.
The first turn was a loose gravel right hand sweeper. The leader broke late on the inside and over cooked it into the outside tape. I came in controlled on the outside shifting in and maintained my momentum. Woah, First place, COOL! I quickly get passed by a younger rider and jump on his wheel. We dip into the woods for a ~80 yard trail section with roots, twists, a quick short rise and some mud. At the final 4' mud pit the kid somehow COMPLETELY biffed it and sent himself OTB completely yardsaling accross the narrow trail. I managed to scoot around the only exposed line and was back in first!!
I actually managed to lead the race until almost the end of the second lap. I was laughing the whole time. I'm not in shape enough to attack or sprint so as guys came by I would watch them ride away while I maintained my smooth tempo pace. One set of barriers were on a straight and were lower in height to encourage bunny hopping. I excel in barriers on straights and can carry a lot of speed through them running. I was passing and gapping guys who were bunny hopping! *the kid still has it* 😎
Anyway, I sprinted the finish and almost caught 4th, but ended in 5th. I can't help but to be stoked about that. It's a great way to wrap up 2014. I raced smooth and stayed on two wheels the whole time. I watched a bunch of guys crash after passing me, I've said it before and I will say it again, it's all about racing clean and staying smooth.
My "that's a wrap, 2014" photo:
NOW that the boring section is over let me talk about the rest of the day.
A RACE/SSCX/FATBIKE up next....
Final race of 2014! (but hopefully not of the season)
Very impressed that the promoters managed to secure a new venue, plan and lay a brand new course in 36 hours and have it turn out as perfectly as it did.
The course itself had very minimal elevation, a few sections of mud, a couple sections of trail, some frozen dirt corners, a pump track, two sets of barriers, a log, AND the JRA "bad decisions" jump.
Ice weasels has a tradition of being the big end of the season throw down for NECX. USA cycling was not present making hand-ups not only "not a crime" but not even a point of guilt. The sun was shining all day and the temperature hovered around a reasonable 40F. Couldn't have asked for better weather.
Crossresults put me on the front row of a 73 person race. The start was kinda funny because it was a little of a surprise. We had been prompted for 30 seconds but everyone was having such a good time joking around when the call came no one was really ready to move. My attention somehow caught the "GO" signal and I actually managed to hit my pedal and shot out into second wheel! I had more or less written off doing well since I've been off the bike so much but there I was out towards the front.
The first turn was a loose gravel right hand sweeper. The leader broke late on the inside and over cooked it into the outside tape. I came in controlled on the outside shifting in and maintained my momentum. Woah, First place, COOL! I quickly get passed by a younger rider and jump on his wheel. We dip into the woods for a ~80 yard trail section with roots, twists, a quick short rise and some mud. At the final 4' mud pit the kid somehow COMPLETELY biffed it and sent himself OTB completely yardsaling accross the narrow trail. I managed to scoot around the only exposed line and was back in first!!
I actually managed to lead the race until almost the end of the second lap. I was laughing the whole time. I'm not in shape enough to attack or sprint so as guys came by I would watch them ride away while I maintained my smooth tempo pace. One set of barriers were on a straight and were lower in height to encourage bunny hopping. I excel in barriers on straights and can carry a lot of speed through them running. I was passing and gapping guys who were bunny hopping! *the kid still has it* 😎
Anyway, I sprinted the finish and almost caught 4th, but ended in 5th. I can't help but to be stoked about that. It's a great way to wrap up 2014. I raced smooth and stayed on two wheels the whole time. I watched a bunch of guys crash after passing me, I've said it before and I will say it again, it's all about racing clean and staying smooth.
My "that's a wrap, 2014" photo:
NOW that the boring section is over let me talk about the rest of the day.
A RACE/SSCX/FATBIKE up next....
