Lunenburg Bike Barn Cyclocross Race #2 at the MARC

The switchback starts to fill up with early race leaders in the first lap. 

All photos Dec. 1, 2013 @ the M.A.R.C., Dayspring, NS

 Still more room at the top....

Almost full of riders!

I decided to play around with capturing speed blur shots for the rest of the race, here are some of my better results:

Shawn Marshall, race leader for many laps, finished #2.

 Not sure if the smiles were due to the early stage of the race or the fact that the labyrinth/spiral/vortex race feature was gone.

Shane Eno with his eye on the prize.

Jack be nimble....

Glad I lucked out and got two racers in this shot.

Jack be quick....

The aftermath of the race.  Mild temps made for slicker conditions than last week.  I witnessed a couple spills during the race but luckily nothing serious.

Lunenburg Bike Barn Cyclocross Race - Nov. 24th

(all shots from Dayspring, NS, Nov. 24)

Racers gather at the start line while Al and Tobias sort out last minute details. ^_^

Cyclocross, wut?  File under: it's big in Europe, especially....Belgium?  This was my first cyclocross race and it won't be my last.  Cyclocross races typically have many short laps and what seemed like a short race duration.  They also feature technical course sections, forcing racers to slow down as they navigate tight hairpins/switchbacks and other interesting elements like this pinwheel/labyrinth:

Did I mention dismounting?  You heard right, it wouldn't be a *cross race unless riders were forced to get off and push their bikes up steep sections.  The sawpit in the background is usually a soupy mess of sawdust but on this race day it was looking pretty frozen:

Those that managed to ride up the steep section had a slight speed advantage on the exit, which I hope my 'speed blur' attempts convey:

To add insult to injury, there was a stair/step section and this lone obstacle which forced all riders to dismount and carry their bikes.  I was hoping for an epic bunny hop over this one but as far as I could tell, no takers that afternoon:

Riders will return to the MARC next Sunday, Dec. 2nd for another cyclocross race.  The course makes for great viewing as a spectator and by all accounts the racers liked it too.  Even the pinwheel.

See you at the MARC!

What's on this weekend? Horse & ox pulls! Sailboats! Eco fair! Blueberries!!

Several festivals on this weekend, if you are anywhere in the Bridgewater to Chester area, there's something happening this weekend. ^_^

For those who have been searching for the date of the upcoming Conquerall Bank planked halibut supper, it's next Sunday (Aug. 25th).

Breakfasts

August 17 

Firemen's Breakfast 

Petite Riviere Fire Department Hall

$7 per person

Community Events

August 16 & 17

New Ross Community Fair

Schedule of events here

Aug 14 - 17

Chester Race Week

Official site

Aug 13- 17

Growing Green Festival

Bridgewater, NS

Official site

Suppers

Saturday, August 17

Blueberry Supper, 

St. Jerome's Church Hall, West Caledonia,

4:30- 7 p.m. 

Adults $10; under 12 $5; under 5 free.

August 25

Planked Halibut Supper; 

Conquerall Bank fire hall.

4:30-6:30 p.m. 

$15 adults, $6 children and under 5 free. 

Seating area inside while you wait. Wheelchair accessible.

Okay, I gotta go, I'm in the middle of a big Bike race!

Shot hastily from the Lahave ferry this past Sunday, apparently some of these guys raced for 160 km!

There was a stiff onshore wind that afternoon, though on this leg of the race it must've provided a nice tailwind up the river.

Points if you catch the reference in the title...