Open letter to the riders and results:

Last Sunday all of you showed up to some place in the woods to attempt to have your best performance on a technical and fitness testing course.

Participants came from all directions, all skill levels and many age ranges. Amongst the large cast of great characters to show up at 9AM were a trio of double X assassins from Campmor, a visiting dignitary (dignitary- the term I use when I forget my shoes/helmet/bike for an event, ride or race.) from NYC's finest shop, a fine photographer, the tribe, some of the best from the north, a show of force from mountain bikers from the city, representation from the world famous WMBA, someone who has never raced ever in her life and a man who showed up riding a rigid singlespeed who knew a thing or two about going fast.

The experience was setup with a test down the Monster trail and up Ned's. Format: Riders set off at 30 second intervals.

While there are many highlights, here are a few that stick out:

A. A certain racer who after having a little trouble finding the start (he got a little lost) rode up the monster trail missing the official start. Out of breath from rushing up the climb, drenched in sweat from the effort, but in true style, stopped only for a minute at most to then turn around and do the whole course. A great way to honor the event.
B. Rigid and single: Sometimes it is so humbling when one of those guys shows up and just straight up murders.
C. People riding with people they did not really know after the event- For some reason that resonated with me when a couple of people told me that they rode with people they did not know. Why not know more people? Very cool.
D. My girl: while I would not been able to discourage her, and I certainly did not approve, as most may not know this, but it is a Herculean effort to be on a bike 3 days after treatment (let alone go down monster)-she help make it a day I wont soon forget. A man is lucky when his girlfriend is a member of the Super Friends.
E. The racer who came across the line chain in hand after sprinting the last 1/4 mile. The competitive spirit that pushes you to run and not walk is great to witness.
F. The finish: A short, sharp rise that can ensnare the best of us. Whether or not you cleared it or not, the look of relief that it was made the event a success in itself.

Thank you participants for your time and energy: The process, the effort and idea were all vindicated by you- I had hoped for this, a gathering of like minded people for an event in the woods.
New friends made: Check!
Old friends seen again: Check!
A few laughs: Check!
Painting finished: Check!
Fulfill need to create bike gathering: Check!

Gracias people.

See you at the next one!

TBR.

Results:
1. Ellen 32.40
2.Tony 35.27
3.Lorenzo 28.03
4.Aaron 33.38
5.Marianne 30.18
6.Darlene 30.21
7.Samantha 48.45
8.Brittney 1.10.47
9.Guillaume 27.19
10.Robert M 35.16
11.Robert D 33.18
12.Dave S 44.56
13.Daniel 27.08
14.Tony B 34.18
15.Jonathan 39.37
16.Jose 41.09
17.Dave L 26.10
18.Jamie 27.34
19.Chrissy36.40
20.Bob 32.40
21.Kim 46.05
22.Mike O 31.50
23.Austin 28.57
24.Chris S 30.02
25.Matt J 31.59
26.Danny 38.00
27.Oreo 33.05

A few more pictures.

A little hustle:
First blood:

From the north:

Some style:

Some smiles:

Some love:

The end.

Monday, September 27, 2010

That was fun.

Thank you.
More information- pictures, times etc- will be forthcoming.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

See you at the start....

Saturday, September 25, 2010

The plates.

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Details.

Thank you again for your interest. I am sincerely humbled by the number of great people coming.

Please find attached two pictures of the map of the course and the meeting point. Course will be very well marked the night before, but there is a course description below as well. The maps will also be posted on thebottleride.blogspot.com site as well.

Rain policy: There is a possibility of rain this Sunday....that being said,this is not a rain or shine event. If it is raining that morning I will call the event. If there is any uncertainty please check thebottleride.blogspot.com as I will post any changes. I will also be sending out an email the morning of (no later than 6.45 AM in order to give everyone ample travel time), or the night before if there is any change. It would be irresponsible of me to run the event on this prime singletrack- as mountain bikers, I know you will understand.

The meeting point of the event: the morning of registration the meeting point will be at the entrance of the Myx Monster Trail. Please note that this is a distance away from either parking lot. Note on the parking map the two different lots. I have marked the easiest path from the lot to the start. More than likely you will not be able to go back to your car prior to the start unless you are super fast and get there early. From either parking lots it should take roughly 20 minutes or less to get to the start. Please note that the Montrose station lot there is no bathroom facilities and limited parking- but it is the quickest way to the start.

The format: the format of the event is a time gentleman's ride (time trial) with riders going out every 30 seconds starting at 9.30AM on the dot. We will have a pre-ride meeting at 9.15 for roughly 5 minutes- this is just to go over the format of the race.

The course: The course starts at the entrance of the monster trail and follows the monster trail crossing over the Maple ave trail: you will be riding the full Myx Monster Trail. Once you have ridden down the monster trail you will take a left on the boundary trail and head up Ned's Left lung. From there it is up a fire road climb back to the start of the Myx Monster trail. The start finish is in the same spot. Again, the course will be well marked the night before.

Once you are done riding please return your number plate and you are free to ride the great trails or wait for everyone to finish. I will be awarding the bottles to the winner at the end of the event- if for any reason you are not there to collect your prize I will be at the Peekskill Brewery by 1PM or so.

If you have any questions, please email me.

If for any reason you are unable to make the event- please let me know before 7 AM on Sunday.

Thank you again for all of your interest.

Sincerely,

TBR.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The finest of folks showing up.

Thank you again for your interest and support.

Note about weather- this is not a rain or shine event. The trails are too delicate after a rain storm to be ridden. As we get closer to the event I will email out more details.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Invites are out. Confirms are in.

A sneaky peak below:
Invites are out and confirms are in: I am very pleased with what a great group people are slated to show up, including much of the podium real estate from the last 2 H2H races. Honored is a better word to describe the feeling. Thank you for your interest.

More details to follow soon- Part two will be ready on Friday including maps.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The details soon to be released.

Details to be emailed out in the next 24 hours.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Preparation continues...

Sometimes it feels like a race within a race.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Three quarters full.

Three quarters full.
Email to thebottleride@gmail.com for your spot.
Thank you for your interest.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

UPDATE: The First One & The Skinny 9/26/2010

The Bottle Ride 9/26.

Please Note the Date change: The event has been moved from Saturday the 25th to Sunday the 26th.

What is this? A group ride that happens to be timed with a bottle of wine as the prize.
Format: Timed runs with riders separated by 1/2 minute intervals. Fastest person to go down, then up earns themselves a bottle of wine. If 5 or more girls ride, their prize is a bottle of champagne. If 5 or more singlespeeders show up, then their prize will be a bottle of wine. Strict adherence to the honor code and all IMBA rules apply.
Limited Seating: Capacity constraints keep this event to truly limited seating. Advance registration only. Please email to reserve your place. Due to the nature of the event, details are on a need to know basis and will not be release until a few days before the event.

Admission: No cost other than being a participant through out the ride. Come to the meeting point. Sign in and register. Hear the opening statement. Line up. Race. Finish. Stay for the brief closing ceremony and awards. At that point you are free to go ride and explore the most excellent trails.
The event is free with a few conditions: 1. Due to the nature of the event the first rule of the bottle ride is don not talk about the bottle ride. 2.One must be willing to have your picture taken. 2. Must return the number plate. 4. Finally,all rules apply. These include the following: A. It is a gentleman's (or gentlewoman's) ride, so obviously no cheating. B. If someone is hurt, please stop and help-this is about fun. C. IMBA rules apply. D. No drinking of the wine on site of the event- Anyway, one should be drinking fine wine with fine food.
Apres Ride: After the event and a good bit of dirt riding, riders are encouraged to go to the Local Brewery for booze and victuals at around 1PM.

When: Sunday the 26th of September. Sign in as 8.30AM. Ride starts at 9.30AM.

Please email for more details and entrance into the event: thebottleride@gmail.com.