SERC #2: Columbia, TN (3/29/2010)

What an epic weekend!  Inland Construction/BTD Elite Team scattered riders across the country at races in California, Tennessee, and NC!  Saturday’s pre-ride on super buff piedmont, Tennessee soils was a sharp contrast to the muddy dungeon trails on race day.  The course was a great mix of fast flat trails along a river, twisty climbs up out of the floodplain, rocky outcrops, and some technical rooty creek crossings, switchbacks, and descents.  Unfortunately all these fun technical aspects became severe challenges with the addition of MUD!  The skies opened up the night before the race and a mix of peanut butter and snot awaited the riders in the pro race Sunday morning.  Elite rider Scott Frederick traveled to Columbia with Alex Ryan (Champion Systems/Cannondale) (NC) and battled on the front lines with riders Thomas Turner (GA), Seth Kemp (SC), and Regan Woodall (FL).  Twenty seven miles of mud later and numerous dabs and wrecks, Frederick maintained his 4th position thirty seconds behind Alex Ryan in 3rd.  Thomas Turner took the win with Seth Kemp following in 2nd and Regan Woodall in 5th.  The course was quite challenging and demanded total focus and the proper equipment.  Overall, the race was a success and Frederick maintained a top spot in the series points standings.  Next stop, Bryson City, NC on 4/11.

Pro XCT #1: Fontana, CA (3/27-29, 2010)

Inland Construction sent elite rider Lucas Livermon to the Pro XCT opener in Fontana, CA over the weekend.  The course had an epic climb every lap that left riders gasping for air followed by fast, dry single and double track trail.  In a very competitive field Livermon battled for position and had several good laps before mechanicals slowed him down.  Even so Livermon maintained 64th overall and put out a great effort in the early season cross country event.  The short track and super D events were fast a furious with Livermon holding on to 49th and 12th respectively.  Next race on the Pro XCT tour for the elite team is Monterey, CA with the Sea Otter Classic (4/17).

S. Classic#2: Uwharrie National Forest, NC (3/29/2010)

The Pro/1 19-29 race was fast and furious with Michael Kobala representing Inland Construction at the second  Southern Classic Series race in the Uwharrie National Forest.   Nathan Wyatt (Carolina Fatz) took the win with a strong showing by Tim Mosher and Andy Applegate (Champion Systems/Cannondale) taking 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Other great showings by Inland Construction riders include junior Byron Rice capturing a big win on a challenging course (great job!), Howard Ryne (8th), Michael Kobala (2nd), Todd Hunter (5th), Manning Mulloy (1st), David Rice (8th), and Allison Ryne (1st) in their respective categories.  If anyone has a good race write-up please send it on…..Great job Inland Construction!

Thanks to all the sponsors for your support and getting Inland Construction/BTD elite team racing strong in the first quarter of 2010!

Southern Classic Series #1: Hobby Park – Winston Salem, NC (3/21/10)

The southern classic series opener had a great turnout with 25 riders in the Pro-XC1 field.  The entire Inland Construction/BTD elite team was represented at the race; Charlie Storm, Will Black, Lucas Livermon, and Scott Frederick.  As usual, the pace was extremely fast from the gun and 3 out of 4 Inland riders were in the top 10 at the top of the soapbox derby hill leading into the single track.  The course is famous for its roller-coaster hills and tight, twisty single track.  Course conditions were perfect with just enough soil moisture to keep the mountain machines flying!  The pace never slowed as the riders finished the first of 3 laps of the 21 mile race.  Given the short distance, any mistake was amplified and difficult to recover time lost.  An early hard attack on the first lap put Frederick in 3rd position 5 sec back on the heels of 2nd place rider Robert Marion (American Classic/Kenda/Tomac).  L. Livermon and Will Black maintained strong positions the entire race battling with rider Nathan Wyatt (Carolina Fatz) and Alex Ryan (Champion Systems/Cannondale).  Travis Livermon (Champion Systems/Cannondale) kept the pace high and secured the win.  Frederick maintained his position from the first lap and placed 3rd for a podium spot in the series opener.  Elite riders Lucas Livermon (5th) and Will Black (6th) were not far behind and secured solid finishes for Inland Construction/BTD.  Charlie Storm finished 12th after mechanicals slowed him early in the race.  The next S. Classic Series race will be held in Uhwarrie National Forest on 3/29.

SERC #1: Gainesville Florida (3/14/10)

NC Crew..........Scott, Lucas, Travis, & Alex

The elite team headed to Florida along with other local elite riders for the Southeast Regional Conference Series opener in Gainesville, Florida.  In a very stacked field elite riders Scott Frederick and Lucas Livermon muscled their way into the front of the field.  Twenty one pros carved the first turn of the somewhat flat, fast course routed through abandoned limestone quarries in north central Florida.  The only thing to slow the riders down were slick live and willow oak leaves spread like a carpet on portions of the trail.  The course had some rolling hills in and out of quarry pits, fast sandy soil ridges, and twisty single track between trees draped with Spanish moss.  Frederick had a strong start and found himself in 6th position early on the first lap.  Livermon was a few bikes back and continued going into the 2nd lap.  At the end of the 2nd lap, Frederick ran into lapped traffic and had difficulty passing a rider.  The rider accidentally ran into Frederick and he hit the ground causing a mechanical, jamming the chain, and nearly ripping the rear derailleur and cable off the bike.  Frederick got the bike riding but with only a few gears available and limped around to the feed station to grab a tool from the pits.  After fixing as best as possible he reentered the race 5 positions back and nearly 1.5 min lost.  Livermon also suffered from mechanicals and dropped back to 12th with no recourse.  After chasing hard the rest of the race, Frederick pulled back all 5 riders and secured 5th place a minute plus behind 4th place rider Travis Livermon (Champion Systems/Cannondale).  Overall, Inland had a successful weekend at the SERC opener placing a rider at the top in series points and look forward to Columbia, TN on 3/29.