The starting gun starts the adrenaline...
... and up the hill they go starting 7.2 mile course
The 7.2 mile Appalachian Bike Classic was blessed with clearing weather over the
weekend, after heavy rainfall made the trails muddy. About 125 racers from West
Virginia and the region participated in the seventh annual event.
Three different classes of racers navigated the trail from one to three times,
cheered on by spectators around the loop.
This was the first year for bikers to pump across the Gene Vance Trail, which was
dedicated last year in memory of the West Virginia soldier, who was an avid biking
enthusiast and attendee of the Classic.
Bikers went down slippery slides, splashed through mud holes and crashed in sloppy
bogs, but mostly it was just hard work keeping upright on the rain-soaked trails. The
"Power Slide" which descends to a bottom along Phillip's Run was highly greased,
but few crashes occurred.
Bikers came from West Virginia and the region
Some spilled in mud holes and down narrow trails
The Classic, according to some bikers, is one of the states outstanding tracks.
The dedicated group of local biking enthusiasts with the help of faithful volunteers,
put on the event, which is a fundraiser for Calhoun County Park.
The big drop "Power Slide" had only a few spills
Pumping down rutted trail
You had to notice this guy
On the road repairs
See story on Pond Jump 6/8/03.
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