Cyclocross Weekends

Bikes, bikes, bikes!  We have been very busy the past few weekends with lots of bike races!  Last weekend, Mike raced in the Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross Race on Saturday, followed by the Stratton Brook Park Cyclocross Race on Sunday.  The Mansfield Hollow race was a very exciting location because it was just minutes away from where Mike lived during his summers while interning in Connecticut.  Also exciting was a chance meeting with Mike's good friend and college roommate, Pete.  Pete spotted Mike warming up for the race and Caroline was able to snag a picture of the two before the race.

Mike and Pete before the race!

In the end, Mike and Pete finished within seconds of each other, in 5th and 4th place, respectively.  It was a great race, but the weekend had just begun!  The following day we headed to Stratton Brook Park in Simsbury, CT (a little northwest of Hartford).  Mike got the win at this race, placing first in the Category 3/4 race!  It was a pretty long course, including a very sandy beach and a pinwheel at the start!

Coming around the first turn to start the race!

The pinwheel - it's very confusing!

Mike trekking across the sandy zone of the race.

After great placements over last weekend, Mike was having so much with racing that he decided this weekend he would do two races on the same day.  So on Saturday we headed back to Connecticut to the Smith Farm Cyclocross race.  The race course meandered its way around an apple orchard and was so much fun for racers and spectators alike!  And after two hours of intense and fast-paced riding (with only a 15 minute break in between), Mike placed 4th in his first race and 2nd in his second race!  All in all it was a great event and we enjoyed apples and homemade bread from the farm after the race.

Mike zooming, jumping, and zooming some more through the first race!

The race looped throughout an apple orchard.

The colors are starting to pop!

Racers at the start line!  Mike lining up for his second race of the day!

Mike is photo ready at the finish line :-)

Caroline needed a picture too!

Yesterday we went hiking up Mt. Toby and got a TON of amazing pictures so stay tuned for our next post with the much anticipated New England fall foliage!!!