In The Crosshairs

Pipes, Maxwell and Kuliecza at the 2009 Urban Cross

The BikeReg.com MABRAcross Series for 2010 is turning it up to 11. Eleven races, that is. With three new venues joining the ranks, the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association’s cyclocross series, MABRAcross, will have ‘crossers toeing the line on almost every weekend from September through November.

New to the MABRAcross series are the Winchester Apple Harvest Cross, Hyattsville CX and All Hallows Cross in Hughesville, Md.

Along with the new venues, MABRAcross continues to feature some of the most exciting cyclocross events the East Coast has to offer. Kicking off the series is the eighth annual Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross, MABRAcross’ longest continuously running race. That race is followed by a Western Maryland weekend featuring the Breast Cancer Awareness Cyclocross Challenge and the Winchester Apple Harvest Cross race. The show then heads back to the DC metro region for Hyattsville CX.

After a two week hiatus, MABRAcross comes out swinging with DCCX. Featuring the largest fields in the series, the only cyclocross race in the nation’s capital is not to be missed. Starting off November, the long running Tacchino Ciclocross is back to put some funk in your trunk, along with a heaping helping of hurt. Riders can expect a “typical Squadra Coppi course”—fast, a little bit technical in a few places, and a stiff test of fitness and resolve. The show then moves south to Charlottesville, Va., for Urban Cross. This technically and physically challenging course features the “Stairs to Nowhere” and the scenic ruins of the Frank Ix & Sons silk mill.

The Howard County Double Cross represents “go time” in the MABRAcross series. Points leaders look to secure their position and challengers look to move up the rankings. The HoCo2xCx weekend starts out fast and furious at Schooley Mill Cross and finishes up with dirt trails and technical goodness at Rockburn Cross.

The MABRAcross finale once again takes place in Taneytown, Md. The Turkey Chase is a make or break race. Not only is it the MABRAcross Championship, but it also the state cyclocross championship event for Delaware, Maryland and D.C.

2010 MABRAcross Series Schedule

9-26     Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross (NCVC)

10-2     Breast Cancer Awareness Cyclocross Challenge (Antietam Velo Club)

10-3     Winchester Apple Harvest Cross (Winchester Wheelmen)

10-10   Hyattsville CX (Route1Velo)

10-24   DCCX (DCMTB)

10-30   All Hallows Cross (Patuxent Velo)

11-7     Tacchino Ciclocross (Squadra Coppi)

11-14   UrbanCross at Ix

11-20   HoCo2xCx: Schooley Mill Cross (Team BBC and Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV)

11-21   HoCo2xCx: Rockburn Cross (Adventures For The Cure)

11-28   Turkey Chase/MABRAcross Championships (T.E.A.M. Fuji)

To get the latest info on MABRAcross be sure to follow the Twitter feed: MABRAcross. The series is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MABRAcross.

DCCX took place October 18 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C. It may have taken a bit longer than planned to get these interviews posted, but they are by no means out of date. Lots of great stuff here by some of the fastest men and women in the Mid-Atlantic. 

Dombrowski tagging on to the lead group

Thanks for reading. 

How long have you been racing ‘cross? Did you come from a road or MTB background? 

Joe Dombrowski (Haymarket Bicycles/Home Visit, 2nd Place Men’s Elite):This is my second season racing cyclocross. I come from a mountain bike background, but will probably split most of my time between road and ‘cross in the future. 

Dave Fuentes (Battley Harley Davidson/Sonoma, 1st Place Masters Elite): I have about 17yrs of road racing under my belt. I started racing cross last year. I got my first taste at Kelly Acres in the Cat 4 race. They upgraded me to Category 1, which matched my road category, immediately after that race. This has been my first full season of cross. 

Jay Morali (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes, 1st Place Men’s Masters 3/4): This is my 2nd season. I have a minimal road background. 

Lenore Pipes (Unattached, 3rd Place Elite Women):I started racing road and cross last year. Road is my main focus but I love cyclocross. 

Keith Rohr (Adventures for the Cure, 3rd Place Masters Men 3/4): This is my third year of ‘cross and what will be my first full season of racing. The past two years I only jumped in 5 or 6 ‘cross races. I’ve dabbled in some road racing, but really enjoy mountain biking and totally love the camaraderie of ‘cross racing. 

Becky Frederick (Kelly Benefits Strategies/LSV, 2nd Place Women Cat 4): I picked up cross last year once I figured out what it is.  A buddy mentioned at a mountain bike race (I was new to that last year, too) that I’d like it.  He wasn’t wrong. 

Now that we are in the thick of the ‘cross season, what does a normal training week look like for you? Do you do any off-the-bike training during cross season?

Mike Birner (Ben’s Performance Bikes/BMC, 3rd Place Elite Masters): In the week leading up I only did a light ride on Wednesday, some hills and short motorpacing session behind public transit on Thursday and a short ride with some openers on Saturday.  All of about 4 hours not including race day. 

Joe Dombrowski: Less volume and more intensity than the mountain bike season; this is more true as the season progresses. Typically, I reserve Mondays and Fridays as easier spins, with intervals on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday is my longer, endurance pace ride for the week. I also incorporate core work, plyometrics, and cx skill sessions during the season.  

Lenore Pipes: On Tuesdays, I run up the Philly Art Museum steps like in that film Rocky … except shouldering a bike. On Thursday nights, I race at Fifth Street Cross (formerly the coolest cyclocross ever®) where I’ve won Schick Smooth Move Rider of the Night for gracefully crashing into the barriers and I was Lantern Rouge for the entire series last year which might be partly due to the fact that I still have yet to take a PBR Shortcut. 

Jay Morali: I try and get two good weekday workouts in. I try and focus on rest and recovery. 

Dave Fuentes: I am fortunate to have enough time mon-fri to do 5-6 hrs if I want. I usually peak out at about 25-30 hrs a week for road racing, but after a long road season, I can get by with about 12 hrs a week for cross races. Since the races are shorter, my training is much shorter, but very specific, depending on what I want to do for the day. 

Keith Rohr: Usually an easier Monday and Tuesday followed by a more aggressive Wednesday and Thursday then easier Friday and Saturday. My off the bike training usually includes some running with sprints as well as upper body weight training and core work.  Continue reading »

Kemmerer pulling away at DCCX

Arley Kemmerer (Hub Racing) is an elite level women’s cyclocrosser that has been racking up UCI points this season with a slew of top 20 finishes at big races. In her third season of ‘cross, Arley has established herself as a top racer in the Mid-Atlantic region. Happy, but not satisfied, with how her season has progressed so far, Kemmerer would like to improve on her already impressive top 25 national ranking and finish out the MAC series in the top three. 

When it comes to the MABRA Cyclocross Series, nobody has come close to Kemmerer. She powered away from the competition in the muddy Ed Sander Memorial race back in September and did the same at this past Sunday’s DCCX.

We caught up with Arley—who somehow balances a full race schedule with the demands of being in her third year of law school—to learn more about her season, training and the DCCX race. 

Thanks for reading.

You were a skier before bike racer. How does the skill-set from skiing transfer to cycling? 

Ski racing has definitely helped for cyclocross. A big part of ski racing is carrying your speed efficiently around turns, which requires you to choose and hold a fast line, which translates well into navigating a cyclocross course. 

How long have you been racing ‘cross? Is CX or road your main cycling focus? 

This is my 3^rd cyclocross season. I’d say I focus equally on road and cyclocross, but I definitely have better results in cross.  Continue reading »

DCCX took place October 25, 2009, on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. A beautiful day for racing and spectating. As always, there was good competition, good food and good times.

In ‘cross luck lurks around every corner. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s bad.  At the 2:00 minute mark, the bad kind jumped out and got me. But that’s racin’. Get up and go. Dust off later.

Thanks for watching.