Get Ready For A Hectic End of Non Race Season Schedule

Get your riding/partying non race shoes on, here is what the MRC has in store for you in the month of August -

Saturday 8/23 - Chinaman 100k (aka Kenny Chin 100K)
Beautiful scenery
Only one climb (yeah it is about 10 miles long)
A death defying descent (see the Gran Fondo KoM, Braveheart, show off his gravitational skills)
Espresso stop at Grace - ah duh, this is the MRC
A BBQ to rival all BBQs hosted by the infamous Top Chef
Hot tub heaven on Mr & Mrs Top Chef's back deck

Saturday 8/30 - Red Neck Roubaix
Venture to the home state of Jerry Sandusky for some amazing gravel grinding
A rare appearance by the one and only Mayor
Yet another MRC BBQ
Beer, beer and moar beer

Saturday 9/20 - Beer Cross
The non race responsible for all this insanity
A party like no other party
Water ballon gauntlet
Run through the barn party pit stop
Bonfire
Beer, beer, beer and even moar beer
A massive celebration as Braveheart joins the "Fuck You 50s"

Keep you eyeballs glued to this blog and your Facebook pages for moar details, these are events that if you miss you will want to inflict maximum pain on yourself for being so stooped.

Save The Date & Hide The Children - This Is One You Don't Want To Miss

And if you missed it here are some of the antics that went down at last year's season ending non race -

Gran Fondo - Powered By Excitement

Hello there rabid fangirls and loyalistas of the NECS, once again we are rather tardy in bringing what is sure to be a spellbinding non race report from the 6th annual NECS/MRC Gran Fondo but there is good reason. So infamous is our event in the close knit world of non racing that coverage of the event was spearheaded by these two characters.

The influential friends and bank accounts of the MRC were able to convince NBC Sports to leave the reporting duties of that second tier race, the Tour de France, in the capable hands of Bobkie and Christian and once the final circuits of the Champs were done the following non race report was quickly penned.
Arriving at NECS HQ all the riders were greeted by our official mascot, Towelie, who wanted to make sure that nobody forgot to bring a towel for the post ride BBQ. So inspired were the MRC board of directors that there was a super secret board meeting being held behind these very doors as the paparazzi were snapping shots. And this was no ordinary board meeting, the very direction of the remaining non race series was being discussed over red leafed lettuce and Beekman 1802 blaak cheese (from the Amsterdam store).

Full up with the required provisions the board came out to the shareholders meeting and quickly assessed that this was the perfect group for the days rolling terrain where the pack would put in a hard day of non racing.

After pleasantries were passed among the peleton and the first of the rollers appeared it was if the dogs had been unleashed and immediately our beloved Braveheart was dancing on the pedals up the climb to Trapps bridge. Top Chef and C-Dubbs looked at each other, turned to Makers Mark and commented that it was going to be a hard day of non racing. Clearly Braveheart was laying down the foundations for a run at the polka dot jersey. In no time most were on the rivet and early signs of the troubles to come emerged as riders were tailed off the back on the final ramp up to the bridge.

#Gran Fondo Selfie

Due to the torrid pace we arrived at the High Falls "feed zone" in record time before the crowds had an opportunity to congregate on the roadside and cheer on the warriors of the asphalt. As with all MRC non races the "musettes" consisted of pastries and single or double espressos. Like panting dogs in the heat of August drinking any liquid around the challengers for the Lantern Rouge stepped up (with the pace Braveheart was setting that was most of us) and went for the triple espressos.

The Newest MRC Endorsed Espresso Station

Top Chef - Zen Master of the Espresso

Makers Mark Getting Her Espresso

Fired up on the high octane beans of goodness we passed the infamous ice caves of Rosendale where even on the hottest days of summer the flow of cold air is so fierce everyone was blastin nips as we rode by.

Revived by the cooling powers of the mighty caves Braveheart continued riding on courage as he assaulted the climb up the Keator Ave climb and continued the blazing a lonely trail up front on the run down Springtown Road. With Dubbs drilling it at the front of the chasing pack, Makers Mark knows a good wheel and was right on me like a fly on shit making sure everyone was going forward as one in an attempt to chase down Braveheart.
Powered by excitement, Braveheart continued drilling it all the way down Brunswick Road to the base of the feared Shaft Road climb. Sucking his wheel the whole way Dubbs had planned on making his move for glory as everyone turned onto Shaft but right away Braveheart was going full gas for the summit. Slowly clawing back to his rear wheel Dubbs received "the look" and was dropped, right there we all knew we were racing for second place and there was no stopping the crazed Scotsman. With Obamador guiding Long Lost Rich to the summit Braveheart sealed the KoM with two seconds and a first.
With the group wilting under the Scotsman's brutal pace our new "Patron of the Peleton" guided us back to HQ where rounds of the Peruvian beer drinking game Sapos commenced. 

And moar NECS/MRC branded swag was handed out to ensure maximum enjoyment of the ice cold beers. It was at this point that Braveheart learned that the pain one dishes out to win the KoM does come full circle. This year the prize for winning the KoM was a choice - a game of roshambo with the non race organizer or chug two pints (which Braveheart quickly and happily consumed).

Remember gone are the painfests of past Gran Fondos and despite the Scotsman putting the hurt on everyone during the climbs this truly was a kinder and gentler Fondo. Keep that in mind and make sure to have this one on the calendar next year.