…more friends, more fun, more banjos! A recap from Captain Rae.
Every year, on the last Saturday of August, a gnarly, foul mouthed cadre of mountain bike and gravel racers assemble at the ancestral home of Mandalorian Clan McLain. For 7 generations, these beautiful people have inhabited a particular holler (as they call it in the local vernacular) deep in Jefferson County, OH- home of the Hellbender Giant Salamander and occasional haunt of the Mothman of Point Pleasant.
This unique race is a combo event fit for both mountain bike enthusiasts and devotees of dropped-bar gravel racing… but only the hardest… and it is a points race for both Northern Ohio Mountain Bike Series and Ohio Gravel Race Series. It’s kind of gravel, kind of single track, kind of a baby CrusherRace. Dollars exchange amongst volunteers as to the winners of each category- will it be drop bars or flat bars? Will registration be higher for one group or another? How much shit will be talked at the Friday night communal firepit? (answers, in order: always a 50/50 shot, always evenly split, and, of course, all the shit.)
Typically, Team Mandalore helps with orgnanising and also fields a large group of hooligans on course, but we did it a little different this year. While Josh and Martin competed in the event, Rae and Jeff worked with Rust Belt Revival Trail Coalition to run aid station #2 with some friends from the Irondale Fire & EMS. We handed out water, fixed a few bikes and rang cowbells like crazy. Because we don’t have a proper race report for this event, we’re cribbing from our friend Justin, who put up a great post on the Ohio Gravel Race Series blog.
There are many reasons to come to the farm for this adventure, this was my fourth time and i’ve oscillated between the 40 mile and 60 mile routes each year; each time expands my appreciation for this beautiful region and the grassroots vibe of this event. This year we came out early and drove some of the route to preview conditions (which completely changed overnight and during the race), then drove down to Wintersville for dinner and came back before sunset to set up camp in the field by the barn; a storm blew through (and blew a few trees down on the course) and dampened the prospect of a community bonfire but we got to hang out, enjoying a beautiful evening on the farmhouse porch with Mike McLain (the organizer and host), local firefighters (who volunteer in support of the event), and friends.
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Community, despite the absolute ruralness, is the vibe of this event; some of the proceeds go to support local trail building and ecological preservation efforts (the Hellbender isn’t just the 60 mile course name – it’s the largest Salamander and native to the area). Coming here is a flashback to mountain biking in the late 80’s – early 90’s, before NORBA and such incorporation of events took over, it’s a good time with an organizer that loves, and wants to share the awesome riding around his home; plus, there’s a great pasta meal after the race (ok, not a great meal for certain dietary considerations, respectfully). Whatever you’re riding for, this event has it, and probably more! As an exercise in self-preservation and acknowledgement that more isn’t always better, i opted for the 40 mile route this year and avoided cramping until the very last bend with the finish in sight; so it goes, i was able to ride through and, unexpectedly (results indicated) came in 3rd in my class. Whatever placement, punishment, peril…i count this event a pleasure and look forward to returning next year; hope to see you there too!
The event also functions as a fundraiser for the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District. We were able to donate $1000 to the JSWCD, to help with their “Save the Hellbenders” campaign & the fastest riders will get a plaque on the Piney Fork Trail! Plus, we had $300 in donation for the Irondale FD, so they can continue their youth outreach program in one of Ohio’s most economically disadvantaged counties.
Team Mandalore is proud of the work we do in our community, for the environment and our fellow riders. Rust Belt Revival is entering “membership drive” season with IMBA, and we’re hoping you’ll join us as trail stewards and stewards of the stoke!
Here’s a fun video we took of me hosing Justin off with the garden hose. Don’t ever say I didn’t do nothin for ya, Justin!!!