Events: Doylestown Bike Works - Goldsprints Championship
(2017) This past weekend we sent our hero, Mike, to race in the Goldsprints sponsored by Doylestown Bike Works. This is the second season for the indoor roller event, and it saw some remarkable growth. Have a read from Mike's perspective.
The Goldsprints is an event so unique, the only way to experience the atmosphere is in person.
Bikes, beer, rally buckets (incase you over indulged in any or a combination of the first two listed), costumes, jorts, and a fair share of heckling… it was the Doylestown Bike Works - Goldsprints Championship.
DBW would make me face off against a childhood hero (photo: Nikki Adamsky)
If we could have predicted temperatures nearing 70s months back perhaps the event could have taken place on the outdoor patio of Puck but who would have thought that to be a possibility in mid-February.
Entering to the lower level of Puck in Doylestown brought back a similar feeling I might have had 10 or 15 years ago, attending a show in the basement of someone's house to listen to friends jam and test the volume knob on their 30 watt Peavey combo amp. Sunday provided a similar feeling but this time the watts were being turned by the legs of professional cyclists, weekend warriors, 9- to- 5ers, Olympians, superheroes, hometown heroes, and yes, a Ninja Turtle. As I alluded to earlier, it's a scene you must see for yourself.
Tara Gormely (left) taking on competition in the women's open division. (photo: Nikki Adamsky)
For those unfamiliar with this event, cyclists face off head- to- head in a 300 meter, pedal mashing duel. The winner advances, while the loser receives a drink ticket redeemable for a beer courtesy of Doylestown Brewing Company at the bar. Not a bad consolation.
At 4:45pm the bar was packed and racing was underway. Paul Blackaway took the Men’s open division, edging out Chris Heerschap in the semis and Mike Moore in the finals. Doylestown’s Jamie Lugo took the win in the Women’s Open division.
Josh Bloch and Eric Ness highlighted the Men’s Elite opening round with a flat-out dead heat. Eric would eventually come out the victor. They are still friends.
Josh Bloch vs Eric Ness took 2 heats to determine a winner. (photo: Nikki Adamsky)
After an early exit last year I moved my way through the Men’s Elite bracket, received a much needed 3rd round bye, and was eventually sent to the bar by Jason Wood in the finals. Perhaps we should have gone for the best of three after a pedal malfunction in the first attempt. However, based on the way I felt after the second attempt I think I would have needed the rally bucket by heat three. Well done Jason!
The main event would be the Bold Sprints. Like last year’s event, the fork mounts were put away and bikes with two wheels made an appearance. Doylestown’s hero Chris Meacham took the best time in the 500m qualifier, but would fall to Olympian Bobby Lea in the Kilometer finale, with both riders exceeding speeds of 50mph (no speeding tickets issued).
An impromptu “Beer Kilometer” would be the encore. Gui Nelesson with an impressive beer leg took a commanding lead and the win over Bobby Lea.
The Beer Kilometer. (photo: Nikki Adamsky)
Whether you were pushing through zone 5 intervals Christmas morning in preparation for season’s roller races or yesterday was the only 15 seconds you plan on spending on a bike this year, you belonged. The latest edition of the Doylestown Gold Sprints was a great success.
Many thanks are due to Doylestown Bike Works and Puck for putting on such a great event.
Check out some great photos (including the feature photo here) of the event taken by Mike Maney here: http://www.mikemaney.com/Images/Events/DBW-Goldsprints/
