Mid-Atlantic Super Series opener

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Mid-Atlantic Super Series season opener 4/13/08

Carpool-$15 each in gas, $38 “day-of” race- entry fee, $10 post-race meal

This past Sunday a few of us Jersey boys rolled down to Maryland to get a jump on the season by racing in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series opener. The H2H series I normally contest doesn’t start until May and I’ve been itching to strap on a number!!

It felt like it was 70 degrees when we left NJ in the wee hours of the a.m. The weather took a turn once we got down into Maryland, it got pretty chilly and overcast, thankfully it held and didn’t rain!!

The turnout was amazing, it seemed like there was 1,000 people there, the line for registration was nutty. Trek had their demo fleet and WSD setup and there was a huge Trek/Fisher presence. I was amazed at how many people were on Fisher 29ers, I felt honored to wear the 29er Crew jersey!! I also got to briefly meet fellow 29er Crew rider Travis Saeler AKA: Stork. (Hey Travis, What are the chances of us getting some pimpy 29er Crew hoodies like you got;)?)

The course was made for 29 inch wheels, super fast and rolling with a mix of double-track and some twisty singletrack in some spots. There were a couple water crossings and a slight touch of off-camber roots. Average laps in the Expert field were about 35 minutes, course was 7.5 miles long.

The race itself went pretty well for me, I decided to run the 1.75 Dry-X’s, which seemed to be the perfect choice, 30psi front, 32psi rear, I was one of the few that didn’t get a flat!! I pushed really hard off the start to use the fireroad and 29 inch wheels to get up to the front. I sat in about 7th wheel going into the singletrack. A small break of 3 got away and I found found myself trapped behind a couple guys not willing to chase, after a couple minutes of asking to pass I decided to go “freeriding” and pass in the woods on a climb. Not the most pro way to go, but I was at least in front of them!! Coming into the second lap I caught 4th place, we worked together for a little and he got dropped, so I was left to chase on my own. My friends Jay and Fred were standing on a pickup beeping the horn and making cowbell noises as we came through the start/finish area, I couldn’t help taking the pain face off and giggled almost all the way down the fire road! For a little bit I got to draft a Fisher pro rider on his way back to his field after a flat. I pushed hard for the last lap and never got to see the break, I finished in 4th, 23 seconds off third. Just missed the podium.

Overall my legs felt great and this is a good sign for the season ahead. Thanks a ton to Fred and Mike for doing bottles for me. People will fear the Fisher 29er Crew!!

-Jim.