bryanfbanducci

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Cyclocross Nationals, Hartford CT

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We skipped HPCX day 1 in favor of Cheshire, which I don’t regret other than having crashed. With a repaired bike and refreshed mindset I started front row in a very light field. Wasn’t sure how my legs would cooperate but managed to create a gap at the front with a few strong riders and was stoked to be riding in contention for the win. I never was strong through the second sand section and I bobbled the stairs a few times, and definitely could have closed the gap to the lone leader in the last lap but I rode too conservatively. Going into the uphill sprint for second i unclipped and barely kept it upright but was able to pedal in for 3rd, collecting a few more upgrade points towards my Cat 2. As always, super rad to watch my teammates suffer in the UCI race. Crazy how warm this race was compared to last year. 

[bryanfbanducci]

Cheshire CX is a truly unique and challenging (read: dangerous) course I will never miss the opportunity to race. First year I ran clinchers and flatted out. Last year was the first year I finished and was in the points. This year I was on track for a podium when i washed out on the steep descent after the hill straight onto my shoulder and threw my derailleur into my spokes. After having already had a frustrating first few laps I called it a day and heckled my friends on the hill. 

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Unintentionally long but epic upstate jaunt for some hard climbing miles and foliage peeping with master router Ben Newell. 

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Day 2 at Gloucester. Patrick got a few photos of the 3/4 squad and I shot Tim and Keith doing their thing in the UCI race. Tim finally got the best race number of the season :) #69

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Gloucester Day 1: One of the best weekends of the year, always. We’ve rented the same AirBnb 3 years in a row now and it’s been fun to introduce new team members to that strange little part of Massachusetts. Racing was super good both days, I blew a sprint for 9th on day 1 by leading it out into the uphill finish, then flatted 10 minutes into the race on day 2 and just had to pick people off for the remainder. Drank some beers, cooked dinner with the team, shot some photos, and had a blast both days in very excellent weather. 

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My cross bike with a rattlecanned replacement fork, and a couple photos of Tim in the UCI race at Charm City day 2. First day was a mess, rain on and off the whole day and I fell at least 10 times and somehow managed 13th. Second day was dry and dusty and hot, I fell in one of the first turns after having a good start and I proceeded to not ride my bike well the rest of the race. @trevorraab won the 3/4 which was rad. 

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KMC Cross Fest previously known as “Providence”. New venue, mediocre location, bad race organization and not worth it for how much registration fees are. Bummer because the previous course in Providence was really fun and challenging. I crashed on the huge off camber hill section day 1 and shattered my fork. Somehow acquired a replacement fork on day 2 and was able to race but i couldn’t hang with the leaders and I started going backwards into a chase group. Something about knowing there’s only one more lap of a course gives me a second wind and I’m able to hold position and race a little better, but I need to work on harnessing that energy mid-race.  

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Nittany Day 2: Campsite bro sesh the previous night left everyone feeling a little fried (not to mention a suspect bed bug scare in the cabins). Ultimately Shawn’s bachelor party weekend was a success. I rolled two tubulars on the front of the race, pitted and raced back into the top 15. 

[bryanfbanducci]

Nittany Day 1: Sort of the beginning of what would become a frustrating pattern of mediocre results and a string of bad luck for my racing season. But as always, stoked to be hanging and racing with friends and feeling lucky to be able to travel and see strange little snippets of the east coast every weekend. Cesar won the 3/4 race and I couldn’t close gaps and pedaled in for 9th. 

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Granogue is always one of the first cross races on the calendar for us and it never disappoints. There was rumors of a storm this year but that didn’t stop us from camping the night before and riding hiking trails around a large pond/RV park. We got to the race early for the 4/5 races and I got to make coffee and cook breakfast over a camp stove in between preriding, then I managed to ride for podium contention in the 3/4 race. Such a physically demanding course and hot dusty conditions almost took me out with cramps, but I was happy to pedal in for 3rd. Such a great weekend to kick off the season. 

[bryanfbanducci]

Riding back into NYC,over 90 miles of the flattest and most treacherous suburban and urban terrain, specifically the industrial outskirts of Newark. Finished with a ferry ride and back to where it all started in Times Square. #searchbrigade

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End of the #searchbrigade trip day 1. Sam and I took the train to Philly, time trialed to meet the group off the river path and then rolled our way to the camp site for the night. Got lost a few times and drank many beers that evening while getting murdered by mosquitos.

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Rocky Point trails in Long Island. We tried some sandy euro-esque descents, got lost and made it to a questionably polluted beach for a dip before burritos.

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Cunningham sesh on an obscenely humid weekend.

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The 2016 Irrelevant Road Ride - described as “THE COUNTRY'S SINGLE MOST CHALLENGING DIRT ROAD RIDE”, and on paper they aren’t really messing around - “120ish miles. 13,000' climbing. 85% dirt roads. Route includes several class 4, class 5 roads. The single hardest one day ride you'll attempt.” We ended up riding well into the dark in a little over 10 hours which certainly could have been faster had we not stopped and waited around as much. But that’s what riding with a group is all about, and companionship adds to the “epicness” of long days on the bike. What’s the point in not being able to look back and share the collective experiences of rides like this?

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Bike camping during the “heat dome” - not one of our smartest decisions but Don’s route and camp spot did not disappoint. Awosting Lake and the entire surrounding area is really amazing. Can’t wait to come back here.