I've been eyeing down the Ronde van Mullica for a couple months now. Its a 10 mile circuit in southeastern New Jersey and, despite the drive, looked like it would suit me pretty well. The course was pretty flat and just exposed enough to get some good wind going.

George and I made the early (but not as early as the spring series) trip into NYC for Grants Tomb this year. It was a cold morning, with some snow leftover from the storm two days earlier and it was questionable as to whether we should even be racing at all. I'd never raced Grant's before, so we rolled around and scoped out the course. Three 90 degree lefts followed by a right and a 180 with some decent elevation change makes for an interesting race.

George is a volunteer Fireman and was on hand to put out a fire at the Port Jeff dock a few days ago.
I am impressed and thankful that George does this for our community.
Way to Go!George Cross Training

As now the CX season is pretty much finished with the UCI CX Worlds excitingly hold in Louisville this year let's look back what we got here locally.
It all started late or eventually not at all, thanks to the devastating impact of super storm Sandy causing a destruction of the SICX location and LIPA/repair troops logistics related take over of Eisenhaur park.

Last minute decision for GAB Py to join some of the LLV women's for a road trip to CT via ferry for some first CX fun at Hope Brook. A great and fun race setting!

But eventually WLSCC got off ground a few weeks later at some emergency relocated setting. Weather on the rescheduled weekend was fair, very moist to wet.

Later the local Kreb Cycle Kings Park CX got off grounds.

See also: http://pyzahl.blogspot.com/2012/12/kpcx2.html

It seems like just yesterday we were doing the end of season fall rides, and here we are one month away from our next race season. I am happy to report that the entire team is rubber side down at this time and progresssing well in their race prep. Karl has a new coach and a new focus that is already showing dividends. Owen has recovered from his Post Sandy incident and piling on some base miles. Percy is riding consitently, taking part in many of the area group rides and night mountain biking. Kris is using his time well, managing to fit in lots of training between flights.

A little escape of two GABs Karl and Percy from rainy foggy wet conditions on Long Island to riding a wet mountain road in varying dense fog or cloud. At least clean roads and little to no traffic on this nice climb at the nearest possible location from home, Bear Mountain. Meeting at the road side just at Iona Island at 9am for a climbing series. A astounding number of cyclists and teams around there, possible all hoped for a little more sun... well, at least it wasn't so cold and no wind. A warmup climb, one pretty much full speed ahead climb and a few more to make it a day!

So again going for a series of five x all the way up and down.

See also:
http://pyzahl.blogspot.com/2013/01/karls-ninja-bear-mtn-assault-series.html