Anne Pike and Dylan Johnson Get It Done at Hampshire 100

By Ryan O’Dell

In 1809, General John Stark, a Revolutionary War Soldier from New Hampshire, declined an invitation to a Battle of Bennington reunion because he was ill. Since he could not make the event, he sent a letter with the quote “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” that was to be read for the toast. New Hampshire later used part of this toast for their State motto: Live Free or Die. The tenth annual Hampshire 100, located in Greenfield, NH, decided to use a portion of this motto on their race logo “Live Free & Bike!”

Race Director, Randi Whitney, “The Hampshire 100 is a true community event, with many local civic and non-profit groups from the surrounding area putting a shoulder to the mountain of necessary tasks to put on an event of this nature. Whether it is a 4-H club, a Boy Scout troop, a rescue squad, a school PTO, a recreational trails group, or supporters of a local library, they all help to make it happen.”

Whitney also announced that she will be retiring as race director of the Hampshire 100 and as director of the EFTA, Eastern Fat Tire Association.

“As Event Director of the Hampshire 100, it has been a pleasure to bring a uniquely New Hampshire flavor to the world of endurance racing for the past ten years. The opportunity to see both pro level and first time racers on the same course together, and all levels reaching deep into their special abilities that they may not have known they had, has been an experience not to be forgotten.

Sadly, after ten years of dedicated efforts, it really is time for, not only myself, by also for so very many of the most generous of volunteers, to turn some of our attentions and time to other important life pursuits, such as family. Our wish is that many enduring memories of triumph, perseverance, joy, and great camaraderie with fellow athletes will fondly remain part of the Hampshire 100 legacy. May taking the long trail continue to be the right one!”

 

WOMENS OPEN

Pike achieves her first NUE win!  

Anne Pike, Team DNA-Movement p/b Penetron, claimed her first ever NUE win at Hampshire finishing in 10:52:40. “This was my fourth consecutive year of competing in this race and although the course has been slightly different each year, this one, even though a little more tame for us, still certainly lived up to its reputation of being one that is fun yet very tough!

I started out feeling pretty good but quickly knew I needed to settle and take the first lap as it came, knowing that the majority of the energy sucking trails were saved for the later part of the lap. In that first lap I was back and forth in 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and headed out on the second lap in second.

I really had to keep my head strong knowing that it was still fairly early in the day and, if I was to be able to fight back in to first, I just had to focus on myself and my race. That paid off as I caught back up, passed, and managed to gain a fair lead, holding off until the finish!

I am super happy with my first NUE win and especially so as this race has become one of, Dave and my, favorites and as well, learning that it was in its last year. We really love the atmosphere surrounding the race. Thank you to the NH100 organizing team and volunteers for making this a great race we have wanted to come back to each year!

Elizabeth Bove, NEMBA Racing, was second finishing in 12:11:52. Julie Huang Tucker was third at 13:01:09.

With just three races remaining in the NUE best four of fourteen race series, Carla Williams, Joe’s Bike Shop, continues to lead the NUE Series with three wins including Cohutta, Tatanka, and Wilderness 101 plus a second place finish at the Pierre’s Hole 100.

 

MENS OPEN

Johnson gets his third NUE win, now leads NUE Race Series!

21-year-old Dylan “The Kid” Johnson, Giant Co-Factory Northeast, earned a hard fought win against a stacked field to claim his third NUE win of the Season with a winning time 7:49:25. With victories at both Cohutta and Mohican plus his second place finish at Tatanka, Johnson now leads the NUE Series.

“Last year the Hampshire 100 was one of the hardest races for me. Much of the race I battled bonking and fatigue alone out on course. I kept this in mind coming into the race this year and I think it payed off. I stayed on top of my nutrition and rode conservatively until it counted. The lead pack gradually dwindled to five riders by the final lap. This group included Schworm, Tinker, Lideen, Wadsworth, and me.

I had a hard time judging how fatigued the others were so I decided to test the waters on the ski slope climb out of aid station 1. At the top of the climb I looked back and saw a small gap had opened so I decided to continue on alone. By the final single track section I paid for my efforts, battling cramps in my forearms and triceps over the roots. By the end I could feel a bonk coming on but luckily I was close enough to the finish to hold off Schworm and the others. I am thrilled with the result and, hopefully, I can maintain this fitness for the Shenandoah 100 and series final at Fool’s Gold.”

Just five minutes later, Brian Schworm, Think Green-VO2 Multisport P/B, placed second at 7:54:46. Schworm has led the NUE Race Series for most of the season following wins at Lumberjack and Wilderness 101 plus second place finishes at Cohutta and Mohican. Schworm is still in contention needing just one more win to contend for the title at the Fool’s Gold 100, where all ties will be broken.

“I was apprehensive about the Hampshire 100 for a few reasons.  First, I had never ridden the course.  I heard that the course was fun but it was also very demanding. That, in conjunction with the high temperatures, had me a bit worried before the start of the race.  I knew I was going to be extremely challenged physically. In addition to this, the list of registered competitors let me know it would be tough.  Tinker was going to be there!  He has always been my hero and I knew he would be fast!  Also, Dylan Johnson and Taylor Lideen were registered.  Up to that point we each had two wins and at least one second in the series so I knew this race would be important for the overall standings.

The start of the race was relatively mellow until a few of the 100k racers caught us (they started about 30 seconds behind the 100 milers). The pace then quickened and we had a fast first lap.  By the second lap a group of seven or eight had formed: Tinker, Dylan, Taylor, and me from the Open 100 mile race, Gordon Wadsworth racing singlespeed, and Drew Purcell and Dereck Treadwell with Alex Pond just behind racing the 100k.  The second lap was also very quick, mostly due to the 100k racers. It was neat to watch Drew attacking in the singletrack and Dereck trying to chasing him down!

The third and last lap started at a snail’s pace. I didn’t mind…I was hurting and I knew things were going to get intense soon. Sure enough, once we hit the ski slope climb, Dylan attacked and the group fell apart. Initially, I was in the back of the group but climbed up to second position by the top with Taylor on my heels. We worked hard to chase Dylan down but to no avail. On the next climb with the “babyheads” (there was a neat sign announcing the presence of these babyheads; aka rocks, along this trail), Taylor dropped back a bit and I continued to try and chase Dylan down. I was getting time checks of about a minute but as I continued to chase to the finish, the gaps kept growing. “Two minutes”, some would say. “He’s just three minutes ahead”, others said later. It just kept growing. In the end, Dylan finished five minutes ahead with me coming in second position.

Overall it was a fantastic race. The course was incredible with all the technical singletrack and I was satisfied with my result since I knew I gave it all I had. Dylan is an amazing racer and great person with an incredible future ahead of him and definitely deserved the win. I guess this now puts him in the lead of the NUE series with me in second. Next up for me is Shenandoah 100 in Virginia followed closely by the series finale Fools Gold in Georgia.”

Three minutes later, and fresh off his second place podium finish at Big Bear, Hall of Fame Mountain Biker and Two-Time US Olympian, David “Tinker” Juarez, Cannondale, placed third at 7:57:37. At 55, Juarez continues to display amazing strength and stamina as an ultra-racer, often competing with racers young enough to be his grandkids. His passion for the sport he started in as a kid in the world of BMX has been an inspiration to NUE Racers and his many fans worldwide.

“I had great race. The course was the best ever since I started racing here. This is my fourth year racing here and I have made the podium three out of the four times. The conditions were the best ever and the course was awesome. This couldn’t happen without many great volunteers to make this happen. I pray for someone with great love and passion for the sport to keep this epic event going.”

Five minutes behind Juarez, NUE Series contender, Taylor Lideen, Pivot Cycles 92 Fifty Cyclery was fourth at 8:02:09. Lideen is ranked third in the NUE Race Series following wins at True Grit Epic, Big Bear, plus an eight place finish at Bailey Hundo.

“I was super excited and am really thankful to have had the opportunity to be able to travel and race an NUE back east this year. I really didn’t know what to expect racing the Hampshire 100 for the first time but I was really impressed with the course!

The first two laps had a small group of us off the front and we all seemed to be having a blast riding together, especially on the amazing singletrack! As we finished up lap two, I knew I was in for a rough finish. You always hope you don’t have “one of those days” during a big race but that’s what happened. The legs just had enough and I really struggled to put out any power for more than half of the final lap. I think my body was screaming at me for some rest.

It’s been a long 12 months of racing and the legs had enough on the last lap. That is what makes racing excited I guess! You roll the dice and hope it works out on the day but you need to roll with the punches when it doesn’t. A big massive thank you to everyone involved with this race! I don’t think I would have made it out for the event if not for so many kind and helpful people!

Gregory Jancaitus, Bicycle Express Racing, was fourth at 8:20:54. Five minutes later, Scott Hoffner, CIC Racing, was fifth at 8:25:16.

 

SINGLESPEED

Wadsworth crushes the field, earning back to back wins at Hampshire!

Two-time NUE defending Champion, Gordon Wadsworth, Blue Ridge Cyclery/Pivot CYC, earned his second straight win at Hampshire by a HUGE margin finishing 7:58:44, good enough for fourth overall. Wadsworth now has three wins including True Grit Epic and Wilderness 101 needing just one more win or a second place finish to become the NUE Series leader.

“My SS win started with a little bit of drama! Immediately out of the gate my seat post began to slip and I found my knees in my chest before long! I eased up, put my weight on one leg and was able to loosen the post enough to pull over, eyeball the height and go with it from there. Fortunately my Thomson Dropper post allowed me to fine tune it enough to complete the rest of my day with only minimal adjustments along the way. This had me really glad I decided to keep the dropper onboard for the Hampshire 100, although it’s usually a good choice to run a dropper.

My usual tactic is to remain with the lead group as long as I can, trying to make it a fun ride along the way. This time, it gave me a great front seat to some of the best racing the NUE might see this year. Dylan, Brian, Taylor and Tinker are all always great to ride with and as a group we had some real fun ripping New England’s old school turns and trails.

The race also gave me a front seat to the Men’s Open 100K with an ON FIRE Drew Purcell fighting an, always fit, Derek Treadwell. Their battle and Drew’s two attacks on the second lap put some stress into our leading group which cut it down to just me, Tinker, Taylor, Dylan, and Brian. That group was amazingly cordial on a course known for attrition; agreeing to stop at aid stations and even regular nature breaks, what gentlemen.

The race opened wide open on the third time up the ski hill and I battled back up to Tinker to ride much of the lap with the living legend and friend. We eventually caught a flagging and cramping Taylor before Tinker launched his own attack, distancing himself from Taylor and a little bit from me, not far from the finish.

The SS race had an on-a-roll Kip Biese and an always strong semi-local Will Crissman but I felt comfortable in my ability navigate the course away from these two strong men; knowing the course which brought me a second place overall in 2015. I can’t say enough how much fun my Pivot LES SS continues to be on the technical and varied #BeastCoast course. The LES; like every Pivot bike just rides everything with aplomb. I’ve yet to find a place where it doesn’t feel absolutely at home. Here’s to finishing out another NUE season strong and safe!”

Will Crissman, Dedham Bike, was next taking second at 8:43:56. “After an easy first ten minutes or so, the race took off and a group of about eight riders got a big gap. I managed to stay about 3-4 minutes behind them riding mostly by myself for the first lap with the exception of a short time when the second chase group got me.

I crashed hard about a mile from the lap point and had to take a few minutes to re-group, doubting I would be able to continue and finish. After eating and drinking some after lap one, I decided to keep going and, after a few miles, I managed to latch onto a few guys. We rode together for much of the second lap and then I slowly peeled away from them. Jeff Clayton and I rode together for a bunch of lap three and I managed to get away from him on the climbs. I caught one more rider in the last few miles who seemed upset that a rigid singlespeeder had caught on so he hit the gas and beat me by about a minute.

In the end, I was thrilled with my finish, my best overall result at an NUE – second singlespeed and ninth overall. I rode a 32-19, basically the same gearing as Gordon. I’ll never catch him, though. He’s a true professional racer with a fitness level I’ll only dream about. NH100 was a great event – I’m sad it’s ending. This was the only NUE I could get to this year. Hope to be back at Mohican next year and maybe try out a couple I haven’t done before.”

Kip Biese, KJ Bike Coaching/Old Town Bike, placed third at 9:29:05. Biese continues to lead the NUE Race Series with ten straight finishes, including seven top three podium finishes. Biese is attempting to complete the maximum possible of 12 of the 14 races in the NUE Series.

“I had another simple slogging race; I’m still very tired for some unknown reason. I started fine but, on the very first fast gradual road downhill, I couldn’t hold the wheels of the lead group. When we finally hit a bit of an up and I stood, I realized my front tire was slowly leaking so I stopped to add CO2 and make sure it held. I knew I fell back a long way at that point, but as I’m still racing fatigued, all I could do was simply my own ride.

Afterward, I just counted how many SS’ers I caught the rest of the race (8) and eventually worked up to third, another long hard day on the SS, but worth it because the second half of the course is fun and it’s a cool event. I went with 32/19 gearing on a 29er and have two more NUEs on my calendar; the Volcano 100 and Fool’s Gold.”

 

MASTERS 50+

Clayton wins, now tied for NUE Series lead!

51-year-old Jeff Clayton, Georgia Neurosurgical Institute, earned his fourth NUE Series victory of the season with a decisive win at Hampshire in 8:48:11. With this win, Clayton is now tied with Greg Golet who also has four wins setting up a showdown at the Fool’s Gold 100 Championship race where all ties are broken in this best four of fourteen race series.

“I started the race with ten stitches in my arm from a nasty crash a week before…thankfully I finished with those stitches still intact! Carl Reglar and Roger Masse were two guys I knew to watch carefully.

The first surge of the race came pretty early on a dirt road climb and I managed to stay in the front group. After a few rough descents and climbs, Carl had a gap on me and I had a gap on Roger. Roger found some allies and caught me shortly before the singletrack descent prior to the Croched ski area, but then dropped off again. Carl was ahead, but I soon found him on the singletrack after the ski area. Carl and I marked each other throughout the rest of the first lap but, by not stopping in the pit area, Carl put a sizable gap on me starting lap two….he seems to have a strategy of not stopping for nutrition. I kept my pace restrained on the dirt roads and stayed patient. Eventually, I caught him while he was taking a nature break and decided he looked a bit rough so I surged a little and he dropped off.

I had been pacing with Steven Edwards in the 100k and then Will Crissman, the second place 100 mile singlespeeder. He was a monster on the rough climbs and I could catch him again on the dirt roads. Will and I rode together for much of the second and third lap until I decided to ride more conservatively in the technical sections (no more stitches!). I finished tenth overall in what was the hardest NUE race for me yet. Many thanks to my awesome wife Jodi for her aid station support. I’m looking forward to the Shenandoah 100 and The Fools Gold finale.”

Two-time defending NUE Masters Champion, 53-year-old Roger Masse, Rare Disease Cycling, took second in 9:05:26. With top finishes at True Grit, Mohican, and Wilderness 101, Masse jumped up to third place overall in the NUE Series Standings.

Six minutes behind the defending champion Masse, 54-year-old Carl Reglar, Verge Sport/Test Pilot, placed third at 9:11:47. Reglar got his first win of the season at Mohican plus a second place finish at Wilderness 101. His third place finish at Hampshire means that he can still take the third spot overall in the NUE Race Series with just one more top finish.

“The race started pretty mellow. As soon as we hit the first long climb at around mile ten, the fireworks began. After the dust settled, I found myself in a good group with Jeff Clayton and Roger Masse, feeling pretty good and confident about my chances. I’m not sure why but the wheels started to come off on the second lap, and by the third lap I was running on fumes. The single track was amazing but I think it was also my undoing. It was a great race! Huge thanks to organizers and all the volunteers.”

Seventeen minutes later, 55-year-old David Boyce, Jawbone Racing/Berkshire Bike, finished fourth at 9:28:55. Seven minutes later, 2015 Hampshire 100 Masters winner, 53-year-old Terry Blanchet, North American Velo, claimed the fifth spot at 9:35:01.

What’s NEXT?!

The Kenda NUE Series heads due south to the only NUE race held outside of the USA for NUE #12. The Rincon Challenge, now the Volcano 100, featuring a rematch between USA Champion, Todd Wells and the former Costa Rican National Champion, Paolo Montoya, will roll out on September 1 from Liberia, Costa Rica. The very next day, NUE heads to Virginia for NUE#13, the Shenandoah 100 on September 2.  www.nuemtb.com

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