{"id":2394,"date":"2015-09-29T11:34:56","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T15:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=2394"},"modified":"2015-09-30T10:34:13","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T14:34:13","slug":"2015-oktoberfest-super-d-at-blue-mountain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=2394","title":{"rendered":"2015 Oktoberfest Super D at Blue Mountain"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 4th annual Oktoberfest Super D took place this past weekend at Blue Mountain Bike Park<\/a> in Palmerton, PA. This event has become a “must do” race to attend each year as we change seasons. For my trip west I was nervous driving towards Philly as the pope was in town this weekend. I was afraid that the roads closer to Philly would be a little congested, turned out the opposite.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4549\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The weather turned out just about perfect, partly cloudy with temps in the upper 60’s!
\nUnfortunately I would make the trip alone this year as Susan<\/a> is going through chemo treatment again. It was a last-minute decision for her to stay home and she was missed.<\/p>\n

\"Heading<\/a>

Heading up for my first practice run.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Super D course for this year was similar to what we raced last year except that they removed the short climb near the beginning. This was a welcome change by everyone that I spoke with. 1.5 miles of mostly downhill trails filled with rock and more rock! There were plenty of challenges along the course as well as spots to really get on the gas! I think it was the best Super D course I’ve ridden and other riders would agree.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The 1.5 mile Super D Course for the day.<\/p><\/div>\n

After a couple of practice laps I was starting to get comfortable again with gravity riding. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I don’t have too much elevation where I live so it takes me a couple of rides down the mountain to loosen up a little. After the third practice run I felt that I was ready to go! <\/p>\n

\"On<\/a>

On course during practice of the Oktoberfest Super D at Blue Mountain Bike Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

With so many riders practicing, parts of the course wound up with more exposed rock and ruts. This mountain is famous for showing its teeth. Rutted out sections of trail with sharp rock sticking out ready to rip your tires apart. Of course there were a handful of flat tires & other mechanical issues in practice and in race runs. Fortunately for me, my tire and wheel setup still provided consistent performance! I love that I can count on the Mavic Crossmax<\/a> gear!<\/p>\n

\"12049146_1067652256579789_8623660318789797717_n\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m riding on the Mavic Crossmax Enduro wheel and tire system but am using the 2.4 Charge XL front tire<\/a> on both wheels. This would give me more tire front and rear for this kind of terrain. My rear tire had seen about 3 months of riding before the day but still took the brunt of the gnarly course had to offer.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

This rear tire has seen better days!<\/p><\/div>\n

Overall it was a fun day of riding and hanging with friends! It is always great to get out and ride with like-minded mountain bikers and old friends. Dan Whitehead<\/a>, his wife Jocelyn and their son were there. Dan, who may not know this, was instrumental in getting me hooked on Super D and Enduro racing. He used to put on a number of Super D races years ago at this mountain that I had participated in. Those events were so fun and had a real welcoming feel that I wanted more of this style of racing! <\/p>\n

It was also great to see the boys from Reading, PA again. Fred Heinly, Tony Pajakinas, the “Amish Mafia” and some others that are heavily involved in the Reading mountain bike scene. All rippers and great people to hang out with! Thanks for the beer!<\/em><\/p>\n

Results<\/h4>\n

I wound up 4th in the 40+ division, I’ll take it after a costly mistake near the top of the mountain. I got a little off course and had to use the brakes to avoid hitting a tree. I tried to get back up to speed but the flow was gone for a moment. That is all apart of racing. I was up against some fast riders which is always welcome. <\/p>\n

\"40+<\/a>

40+ podium: 1st Fred Heinly, 2nd Dan Whitehead & 3rd Tony Pajakinas<\/p><\/div>\n

The Pro\/Expert podium was all 40+ guys as well, all impressive riders!<\/p>\n

\"Pro\/Expert<\/a>

Pro\/Expert podium: 1st Jonny G, 2nd John Ronca & 3rd John Milby<\/p><\/div>\n

Thanks to the Milby’s<\/a> for the riding photos!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 4th annual Oktoberfest Super D took place this past weekend at Blue Mountain Bike Park in Palmerton, PA. This event has become a “must do” race to attend each year as we change...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35,13,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-races","category-super-d","category-trail-riding"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/12049146_1067652256579789_8623660318789797717_n.jpg?fit=850%2C567&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1YdqL-CC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1732,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=1732","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":0},"title":"8 to 8, A Day at Blue Mountain Bike Park","author":"Gerry","date":"June 15, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This weekend I set out for Blue Mountain Bike Park in Palmerton, PA. The plan was to ride the stages for the Eastern States Cup Enduro which is being held on Sunday June 22nd. That weekend there will also be a Super D at Blue Mountain on Saturday June 21st.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Enduro"","block_context":{"text":"Enduro","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=14"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2334-e1402860020203.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2334-e1402860020203.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2334-e1402860020203.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2334-e1402860020203.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1986,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=1986","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":1},"title":"Oktoberfest Super D","author":"Gerry","date":"October 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Having been off of the bike for several months after my crash I was quite surprised how well I felt when I got back to Blue Mountain Bike Park for a Super D race recently. I hadn't been on any real gnarly east coast rocky down hill trails since my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "races"","block_context":{"text":"races","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/1801217_967864559905678_359109302172180663_o.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/1801217_967864559905678_359109302172180663_o.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/1801217_967864559905678_359109302172180663_o.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/1801217_967864559905678_359109302172180663_o.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":533,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=533","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":2},"title":"2013 Bear Creek Super D preview","author":"Gerry","date":"May 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I planned a trip for this holiday weekend to accomplish two things, pre-ride the new Super D course at Bear Creek while getting some climbing in and to ride at Launch Bike Park. I was going to do this on a Saturday but the weather didn't cooperate so Sunday was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "reviews"","block_context":{"text":"reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=26"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/GerryCreighton-BearCreekSuperD6113c.jpg?fit=639%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/GerryCreighton-BearCreekSuperD6113c.jpg?fit=639%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/GerryCreighton-BearCreekSuperD6113c.jpg?fit=639%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1182,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=1182","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":3},"title":"Pocono MTB Club Super D","author":"Gerry","date":"October 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This past weekend was the Glen Park Super D put on by Dan Whitehead and the Pocono mountain bike club. The race was held in Glen Park which is in Stroudsburg, PA. The 2.5hr drive took me through the scenic Delaware Water Gap which was a nice surprise for me,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "races"","block_context":{"text":"races","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/driveToGlen.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/driveToGlen.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/driveToGlen.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/driveToGlen.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":462,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=462","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":4},"title":"Pro GRT Super D preview trip!","author":"Gerry","date":"May 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I got a message from Jeff Lenosky asking if I wanted to ride some time soon so I figured it was time for a day off from work and decided to meet him at Mountain Creek Bike Park on a Friday. We planned on getting in some runs on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail riding"","block_context":{"text":"Trail riding","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ProGRT-Super-D-Start1.jpg?fit=640%2C357&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ProGRT-Super-D-Start1.jpg?fit=640%2C357&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ProGRT-Super-D-Start1.jpg?fit=640%2C357&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":816,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=816","url_meta":{"origin":2394,"position":5},"title":"USAC Nationals Super D","author":"Gerry","date":"July 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The day had arrived, the USAC National championships Super D at Bear Creek Resort was here so an early start was upon us. 5am arrives a bit too early for my liking but Susan despises more than I. It's all apart of living where we do and racing Super D\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "races"","block_context":{"text":"races","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/winnerSuperD.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/winnerSuperD.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/winnerSuperD.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/winnerSuperD.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2394"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2449,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions\/2449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}