HardCore 24 Course Recon

Been spending quite a bit of time down at the Hardcore 24 race course at Ontario County Park. Lots of laps and dialing things in as much as possible. Funny thing is, I’m not doing the race solo this year. For the first time ever, I’m doing it as part of a team. Matt Hanggi, Mark Hartman, Casey Conte and myself are gonna rocket around that course this coming July! (PS Go Register here)

This past weekend I managed to get down to OCP both on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I ripped around for 2 laps, and thankfully the course is mostly marked. Though I was confused a bit crossing the Orange trail and getting back onto the Brown. Looks like they still need to build a section. Which personally I think is dumb, you guys need to stop building trails a month before a race and make the racers burn them in. Seriously?? Remember last year, yeah the course sucked when it rained?? I don’t know why they aren’t using the Orange Trail? It’s pretty kick ass and it was the only trail that held up to the rain last year. Plus its for like 100 yards?? Besides they completely eliminate the Awesome overlook view of the valley?? That’s all part of the allure, but I guess not /rant over…

Ok, where was I, got off track a bit there… So Saturday was 2 laps on the course, and sunday I went down and did some extra riding. Started at Parish Hill, up through Hi-Tor, down the DEC, up Gannett Hill, 2 laps on the Hardcore course and out the orange trail, down the abandoned road, stop get a chocolate milkshake and roll back to the Car. Seriously, nothing better than rolling up to the ice cream stand covered in sweat, dirt and grime and ordering up a chocolate milkshake for the mile roll back to the Car! I managed to rip some laps on the course and 45 minutes seems to be my gold standard, give or take, even 3 hours into the ride, still turned a 45 minute lap. I think, fresh and race day… 40 minutes will be the fastest, maybe sub 40 if it’s super dry day.

Needless to say, the big frigging deal of the weekend was me seeing a Black Bear up in Hi-Tor!! After crossing the 4 way intersection and heading towards the DEC, as I was up top by the ponds, I came rolling around the corner and BAM! almost ran into him. Scared the crap out of me and he took off into the woods. Tried to get the camera out, but no dice. He was gone! Thankfully the rest of the ride was just super fun ripping on the bike and I didn’t get eaten

Last Night, Hanggi and I ripped some laps on the Hardcore course again. As is par for the course, turned some 45 minute laps! Frig, I gotta get faster! But we rode pretty solid and pretty much Sweet Spotted for 90 minutes! Just railing the course and getting the lines down.

This weekend, will be hitting up Naples with Brendan and the Minerva Design Crew to have a good fun team ride one the road bike, haven’t done been out with the guys in a bit! Need to catch up!