Sunday, August 10, 2014

Tour de Millersburg -- A tale of kind people, host housing, and small town Pennsylvania

Yeah, I haven't done this in a while.  It's been a frustrating season for Jake for many reasons and we don't like to focus on those struggles.  But this is going to be about a different part of bike racing: the people you meet and the different things you do.

So, after crashing out after Stage 1 of the Tour of L'Abitibi, an international stage race in Canada (a story unto itself), Jake wanted to get in more racing, so we decided to do the Tour de Millersburg, a 3 stage race in Millersburg Pa.  It's a very small town 30 miles north of Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River.

Where to stay was a bit of a mystery.  There is maybe one crappy old hotel in town or else hotels in Harrisburg, a 30+ minute drive away.  I knew guys who had done the race and stayed with "host housing" where local residents take racers into their homes.  So I clicked on the link and contacted the promoter.  Julia Hoffman was incredibly helpful and responsive.  She hooked us up with Deb Wire, who had an extra mattress that jake could sleep on on the floor and I would get a cot or air mattress.  Well, it sounded ok, so we were in.

The drive up on Friday afternoon was hellish traffic, but we got there around 6pm.  Deb has a very cool old, circa 1890s, house on the corner of Market Street.  She also hosts a couple of other guys who have been staying with her every year for several years.  On Friday evening we sat out on the front porch and chatted. The temperatures quickly got almost chilly.  It was very nice. 
Deb lights her table top tiki torch
Deb was an incredibly interesting woman.  She raised 5 children by herself.  She had one son and was a foster parent and adopted 4 of the kids, all with some level of special needs.  She had great stories about taking in children who were in high risk situations.  She clearly had a genuine love for taking care of people, children in particular.  She treated me and Jake and the other 3 guys (Ryan, Jared, and Sal) like we were her sons.  She had mini fridges in the living room for Ryan, Jared and Sal and one in the dining room where Jake and I slept.  It was really nice.

And the location was so incredible.  The time trial Saturday morning started literally 50 yards down the road in front of Deb's house.  So Jake just had to walk out the front door and warm up on the sidewalk.
Jake had a really really good TT effort. The placing wasn't what he wanted, but it was probably the best TT effort he's ever done.  His heart rate was high and his wattage was even and solid going out and back.  But it was very flat so big guys who outweigh him by 30-40 pounds could just go faster.  Deb took these great photos of Jake
Go fast, get Pancakes at the Moose Lodge


The Crit was just 3 blocks up from Deb's house in the afternoon.  I carried the trainer up the street and Jake warmed up while the Men's 123 race went by.  The crit was very tight and Jake started well but faded with legs shot from the morning (ok, only like 18 guys were left at the end).  There were guys who did not try in the TT in order to save their legs for the crit.  We would see them just roll by easy.

Deb caught a few shots of Jake -- significantly outweighed by his competitors



This is bike racer porch life at the Tour de Millersburg


On Saturday night Deb cooked us chicken parmigiana and pasta with blueberry cobbler for desert and refused all help.  After dinner I walked down to the town square to get some cash from the ATM and grab a soft serve ice cream.  The little town really comes out for the race.  It was great to see.
The road race Sunday started *literally* right outside Deb's front porch.  So again we just rolled out the front door and there was the start/finish and also the feed zone right on the main street.  No need for sitting in a ditch in a field like usual.  It was great.
That's Deb's house

Looking at the officials from the porch

Cat 3 RR start
 I had to walk like 20 yards from the porch to get here.
This is my "where is Jake" stance
 
There was a big crowd to watch the finish along the main street (Market Street).  It was really cool.  Jake had mechanical trouble that took him off the group on the second of 3 laps which sucked and was just entirely too typical of how this year has gone.

Despite the races not going quite how Jake would like, it was a really fun experience.  Host housing was an enriching experience, meeting new and interesting people, just hanging out.  Even though the courses suit a "big" rider better than Jake, I can imagine going back next year.  Lots of fun.

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