Two of the last four weekends have found me heading west from Bethlehem to the hills and valleys of Michaux State Forest near Carlisle, PA for bike gigs. Iron Cross kicked off PA’s unofficial bike month with the largest mass start cyclocross race in the world shown here navigating the Death Spiral; yours truly rode shotgun.

Actually I drove lead vehicle and tried to keep everyone on the 60 mile course rather than scattered about the woods. Iron Cross hits up some pavement and trails in Michaux, but is mostly about the fire roads. These gravel roads are well maintained and great for just crusin’ through the woods by bike, car, foot, horse or even Segway especially during the leaf show Mother Nature puts on this time of year in the PA forests.

Then last weekend had me fitting a friend to a bike and heading out to sample some super sweet singletrack around his joint. Michaux is one of the many incredible riding spots in PA and while I’m drawn there by the technically difficult mountain bike trails,  I can easily hop on one of those forest roads to chill a bit or even just take it all in by cruising through the valley between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Furnace SP on pavement or hitting up the rail trail for some dead flat spinning. I love it when a plan comes together.

Here’s a shot of the Iron Cross piece de resistance, the Wigwam “run-up.” A feature in cross racing that forces riders to shoulder their bikes and run is taken to an extreme at this race.  These fellas are about to top out.  Its a great way to spend a day in the woods.

Photos courtesy of Don Pagano.  Color courtesy of Mama Nature.

Leaf Michaux You Somethin’ (Michaux = ME-sho)

Two of the last four weekends have found me heading west to the hills and valleys of Michaux State Forest near Carlisle, PA for bike gigs.  Iron Cross kicked off PA’s unofficial bike month with the largest mass start cyclocross race in the world and a portion of the 300+ who took part

shown here navigating the Death Spiral; yours truly rode shotgun.  Actually I drove lead vehicle and tried to keep everyone on the 60 mile course rather than scattered about the woods.  Iron Cross hits up some pavement and trails in Michaux, but is mostly about the fire roads.  These gravel roads are well maintained and great for just crusin’ through the woods especially during the light show Mother Nature puts on this time of year in the PA forests.

Then last weekend had me fitting a friend to a bike and heading out to sample some super sweet singletrack around his joint.  Michaux is one of the many incredible riding spots in PA and while I’m drawn there by the technical difficult mountain bike trails I can easily hop on one of those forest roads to chill a bit or even just take it all in by cruising through the valley between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Furnace SP on pavement or hitting up the rail trail for some dead flat spinning.  I love it when a plan comes together.

Here’s a shot of the Iron Cross piece de resistance, the Wigwam “run-up.”  A feature in cross racing that forces riders to shoulder their bikes and run is taken to an extreme at this race.

These fellas are about to top out.  Photos courtesy of Don Pagano.