Mike Hosang, race director

 I have started, deleted, restarted, redeleted several profiles of Mike Hosang on this blog.  If I were a better writer, I would be able to capture his dynamic personality, wit and ability to inspire others.  But I will need to settle for simply describing him in terms of a race he has directed for 5 years, Trashmore Cross.  Here is Mike's diagram for the set up crew this morning for this year's edition of the race.  Several of the 102 participants today commented on how much they enjoyed the course which is a tweaked revision of the previous course on Virginia Beach's only "mountain" at Mt. Trashmore city park.





Though the source is obscure, the last words of a fictional Sam Byck, "And a man is only remembered for his work," come to mind when I think of Mike.  John Blazszack once commented that Mike had done much to inspire cooperation amongst all 757 teams to organize cross training and racing.  Indeed, this year, of the 9 Virginia series races, 4 have happened in Hampton Roads compared with only one (Trashmore) from Hampton Roads in the series as late as 2008.  


Born in Spain and transplanted to Virginia Beach, Mike carries the tradition of introducing European- born cyclocross to his hometown reminiscent of how the late Peter Teeuwen brought road racing here from the Netherlands.  In fact, Mike received the annual Teeuwen award in 2009 partly for his leadership in cross.  It is no coincidence that Mike's childhood home is right down the street from Trashmore, in clear view of a fledgling Town Center (pictured left) that has grown up to parallel his dreams of bike racing events in his city. 

He makes it a point to race in the events he promotes--a monumental task any organizer would say.  Most promoters are happy just to serve as pack fill with a lackluster finish to burn up the remaining fumes left after a week of nursing event details.  However, Mike solidly won the masters 35+ event today after no warm up.  What I noticed about Mike as he spoke with a newspaper reporter  is that publicity for the race is important to him, but what is most important is the sport itself, in isolation to any notoriety it may bring him.  Interacting with the course on his bike is where he was most grounded today, in spite of his great job at organizing it.


(2 bottom photos by BJ Samuel.  See her gallery of photos from the race today!)

Peer Pressure

Saturday, I caved to the pressure of a motivated team.  Tripower is leading the team points race in VA Cyclocross series, and I have sat out the first 6 of 9 races.  Bennett's Creek (#7) was scheduled for this weekend, and since I have been feeling left out, I headed out to Suffolk. Well, "left out" is not the right way to say it.  I feel on the one hand pride in my team for leading the series and on the other hand like a huge slacker.  They certainly don't need me to win the series, and I thank them for the fire to get me moving.  It's like when, unprompted by extra money or orders from the boss, you step up to help a colleague with a project that will ultimately benefit the whole workplace.  Or you step up to help even when there is no projected benefit, just because you are on the team and that's reason enough. 

I find myself racing for different reasons as the years pass.  I started some 20 years ago with the belief that I had some talent and that I may be able to take it somewhere.  That quickly was resolved, and then it became about competing against certain people within my ability range.  In recent years, it was about trying to "get back" to where I was at the beginning.  Now, I think it's all about stopping for a moment in time to block out the rest of the world and immerse fully in kicking my own a$$.  The one thing that never goes away over time--the temptation to quit in the middle of the race. 

I finished 4th out of 5 women cat 1-3, with 3 of about 15 cat 4 women catching me.  Next stop is the State Champs at Trashmore next week!

Team Tripower Cross racers 2010  (photos by Mike Park, Tami Cole and Dan Gibson):

 

Please poachers!

 As a mountain bike rider and long time Hampton Roads resident, I have an enduring relationship with Seashore State Park.  First, I will never be able to call my old friend and former employer "First Landing Park" as it was renamed in 1997.  I also see the park as an older woman who has not lost beauty or allure over time--the park is well maintained and has the permanent makeup job of protection from developers. Indeed, part of me resents being relegated to only the main double track Cape Henry trail and not being invited onto the singletrack trails that only hikers may enjoy.  So it goes that mountain bikers are banned from the best trail system in South Hampton Roads, prompting JB to dub it "Sea Snore."  So it goes.

YET, I don't have to dig very deep to realize the State
of Virginia long ago made the right decision to keep bikes off the technical trails we so love. The Long Creek trail (pictured above) and Osprey trail (right) would quickly deteriorate with regular riding. If mountain bikers really felt banning bikes were an antiquated and unjust ruling, wouldn't we long ago have sought access from the State?  If the mass of mt bikers rode here, re-routing trails would be needed within a year, and with precious few acres and tons of interior wetlands, we would tear up the place in probably less than a decade.

Therefore, it was quite discouraging to see several fresh tire tracks on these two highly sensitive trails as I walked the 6 mile loop from the 64th street lot. Discouraging because if they are novice riders, they can't read signs, and if they are experienced riders, they appear to have no respect for something larger--the sport's mutual dependence on the environment.


It is against bikevoice's policy to call out squirrels, draft-attackers, poachers, etc., but one such rider who will remain obscured (right) happened upon us on the most endangered part of the Osprey trail.  This section fights erosion and constantly regenerates its trees since nothing tall can even survive along this Broad Creek shoreline.  I said to him, "Hey, bikes are not allowed on this trail."  He said, "Oh really, I didn't know," in the high pitched tone of a lie.  I won't say that mother nature has a way of dealing with poachers (I don't believe in systematic divine intervention and I think that attitude prompts inaction), but I sure hope this post motivates even one person to keep the bike off the singletrack at Seashore.

Team Thomas

Halloween was a little different this year.  Thomas Jessop is a 14-year-old triathlete who has peddled across the USA this summer and fall.  He was supported by his 15-year old brother David and father as they travelled in a converted bus with him from Santa Barbara, CA to Florida.  Thomas is raising awareness for the homeless, in particular the "half homeless" who live in automobiles but often face difficulties finding places to park them overnight.  He has been featured in several news articles across the country including this one and this one.  Bethany met them at her church, Unity Renaissance, and we had them over for dinner during their brief stay in Hampton Roads.

We hooked him up with Harlan's Cannondale frame and other parts that were left over from donations we got for the Broad Creek Bike fair.  Chad (pictured left) set up Thomas with those sweet Sidi shoes (pictured above) and Wes (right) brought over some components for the frame.  We also had some wheels left over and the brand new Fat Frogs insulated skin suit that Amber Goins donated!  Thomas is also the proud owner of a 757cx skinsuit, but I warned him about how impossible it will be for him to breathe in it! 


Here is their travelling home.  Next stop is Washington, DC where they hope to get a meeting in the White House to talk about the homeless.  I hope Pennsylvania Ave. can handle this beast!

We still got to hand out candy and hang with Mini Mouse, so the holiday retained some convention.  Kaitlyn is pictured here with Jen Cohen.