Hilly Billy Roubaix & A Challenge

Last summer I started riding my mountain bike on the back roads, farm roads and rail trails near XXC World HQ a LOT more. I even forced my want to put in miles via Western Pennsylvania's shit roads on the readers of XXC #3. I found myself embracing the "shit roads" of my neck of the urban decayed woods rather than shunning them as I would on my narrow tired road bike. The more pot holed filled and gavel covered the better. Sure a cross bike may have been better suited for the rides but when life hands you 29er hard tail and no cross bike... you ride the 29er hard tail.

You may have noticed from the coverage here at XXC over the past year that have also been into the idea of races like the Three Peaks, Iron Cross, and Southern Cross (not too mention all the gravel races!). Races that aren't cross races, aren't mountain bike races, and even though they sometimes contain some road, they sure-as-hell aren't road races! Races that should at least be done on a Cross bike, could be done on a mountain bike (except Three Peaks which forbids their use), and should PROBABLY not be tried on road bike.

Well I was happy to see that this sort of racing also caught the attention of Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association director J.R. Petsko too. So along with some nut kicking road races (if you swing that way), and some eye bleeding cross races, J.R. has come up with the Hilly Billy Roubaix. 60 to 70 miles of pavement, gravel roads and some of the nastiest West Virginia back "road" riding around.
In XXC #6 I promised that a preview of the course was coming. Well, due to race schedules, family schedules and life getting in the way, our pre ride never happened for me. BUT J.R. has busted out some video to show some folks what they have in store for them. Check it out....

Winning times are expected to be in the 5 hour range with slower times reaching the 6 to 7 hour range. There will be fully stocked Aid Stations with a laundry list of foods and drinks to help you along the way, and there will of course be a SAG Wagon for the crushed (or hurt).

Well seasoned endurance vet Gunnar Shogren has ridden the course and has this to say on tire choice: "I would not run smaller than a 30mm tire. If you run a 28mm you will be severely limited on the downhills. They needn't be knobby (for the current conditions) but you will need the volume. I don't think tubulars would be very smart either. I'm planning on 32s." He also said "you kids stay off my lawn!" but I really didn't see what that had to do with the race.

You may even see some folks on mountain bikes! Check out with "friend of XXC" racer Gerry Pflug raced at the recent Fawn Grove Roubaix, near York, PA (Pfoto by Pflug)...

Yep, Gerry rode this set up to a 3rd place finish amongst the road and cross bikes. Check out his report here. But not until you GO REGISTER FOR THE HILLY BILLY ROUBAIX!

THE XXC DOUBLE X CHALLENGE

Don't forget that the day after the Hilly Billy is The RVMBA Wayne Ultra (WVMBA Ultra #2). To which I offer this challenge- If you do BOTH the Hilly Billy AND the Wayne Ultra and FINISH both events* I'll send you a free XXC T shirt of your choice and copy of XXC #8 when published in late July**.

*Just in case there a whole bunch of psychos planning on doing both, it would the first person to e mail me their results from both races, Scratch that last bit, if a bunch do it, it will go to the best combined time.

**Yeah, yeah, I know I'm not exactly giving away fists of cash, but it is free stuff AND bragging rights on the Web!

Now go register for these great events and good luck!

Jason Mahokey
xxcmag.com