1st Place OVERALL
Pro/Expert Men
JEREMIAH BISHOP
TREK / VW / JBL

Jay De Jesus - Racer's Edge/VMB

Performing a High-speed manual
(a manual is a controlled, coasting wheelie -- no pedaling, just balance)

Thanks for the Chocolate, Hershey
May 18, 2002
by Jill Wiest

Push it baby…push that extra 30 lb. You'll be sure to burn, and I'm not referring to the extra poundage from the Hershey Bar handed out to the entrants of the Hershey Race for Chocolate on May 18. It's the other thick and gooey chocolate Hershey dished up at the Race - MUD (Mothernature's (other) Utmost Delicacy).

Blue Marsh has nothing on Hershey…it was extra dark, extra rich, and extra heavy and you could feel the pounds piling on as you took more and more of it in. Logs and roots were a welcome sight. Any extra jump and bump that helped knock off a pound was a blessing. And you know how when there's chocolate in the house and you simply can't refuse a piece or two and you end up eating it all? If you maneuvered the singletrack with the same tactic (until it's FINISHED), you got through it with flying colors. Who could deny it was truly a challenge to make it through an off-camber section without sliding down the hill, or take the turn with your bike still upright and you didn't take the tree with you. It was slickery trickery on the trail, but mastery of bike handling 'til you came out.

And when there was too much of the who-can-refuse-delicacy, it turned against us. Everything slowed down and started to stop from the extra weight and sticky mess. You said you had gears at the start of the race? Single speed woulda been the best choice on this ride. And sometimes the delicacy gets so sticky that it takes everything with it - including the chain. Talk about too much to take.

But the chocoholics can't refuse the stuff…they suck it up and deal with the consequences. It just makes them better bike handlers, right? They endured and finished - a feat well won by everyone no matter where you placed on May 18. Those that truly found it weighty said I had enough and admitted to their addiction and asked to be forgiven. MUD turned into DNFs for a few.

Thanks to TEAM Harrisburg, the Mid-Atlantic Series, and Don Morrison for yet another memorable race. I'm sure looking forward to that first perfect-weather and dry trail race! Hershey certainly gave me an education in Mothernature's Utmost Delicacy - bring the plastic bags to cover everything for the trip home.

I'D LIKE TO START SOMETHING NEW FOR OUR NEXT RACE.....

EMAIL A RACE REPORT
(BY NOON THE DAY AFTER THE RACE)
AND WE'LL POST THE BEST ONE ON THE HOMEPAGE AND YOUR ENTRY FEE WILL BE COVERED.

IF WE HAVE ROOM WE WILL LINK ALL QUALITY REPORTS FROM THE HOMEPAGE AND POST THEM ALSO
(You don't have to be a racer to do a report......... in fact we're looking for more objective reports rather than just one individual's experience.................Only the best report will win $25.00)

NO CENTS SUMMER SIZZLER
Sewell, NJ

Gloucester County College
SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2002