Gateway Off-Road Cyclists // GORC // Gallery

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Sunday, September 7, 2008

2005 Gallery: Single Speed World Championship, State College, PA

Some of the GORC crew like their single speeds. The Missouri terrain is forgiving to a degree. Pennsylvania is not. That state prefers slick, sticky trails covered in blood and vomit. Think Chubb or Greensfelder but, you know, f*'ing hard. Maybe like 6 sets of the "Steps" in a row or a slippery Greensfelder descent for 3 miles. For the easy stuff. No lie, PA keeps its trails real. Nasty like.

But we went for the party. Really.

Over 500 "racers" showed up to lay it on the line over a 27 mile point-to-point singletrack rock/boulder/WTF? trail with dirt thrown in to give you a break. Most of the climbs were fire roads but that didn't mean they were cake either.

John, Greg and Matt stuck together for most of the event while Ron, John Pimp and Tom pedaled ahead. We, on the other hand, were racing for last. And I think we won. It was hard - there were many who looked like they were going to collapse. Some quit, others probably died.

But we persevered and came across the finish line as the go-kart finals (to determine the male/female winner - you thought it was just about bikes??) were wrapping up.

John and Matt owe super thanks to Greg because he drove their asses TO and FROM Pennsylvania in one shot - and he partied like an MF!

Date: 08/20/2005