Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1366987
18 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com Over the past several years, I've been lured into the AHRMA vintage scene. Not that it took a lot of prod- ding since I've been into vintage bikes long since they were considered vintage. Fresh off a killer high from the White Lightning Na onal Cross Country last month in South Carolina, there was no way I was going to miss an invite by AHRMA Northeast Region Cross Country Coordinator, Dave Kutskel for their first event of the season. For a guy based in Maine, a ending an AHRMA event entails a lot of windshield me, but let me tell you, every mile was worth the drive. Having grown up in New England, I'm used to rocks and roots. In fact, it's basically all we have here, and we've learned to make the best of it. What's always fun is venturing out of the comfort zone, and this old dog has learned a few new tricks by riding so much unfamiliar terrain over the last several years. South Carolina's red clay was a game-changer. Slicker than gorilla snot, racing in wet clay keeps you on your toes. When locals tell you to keep a line as close to 90 degrees over wet roots, they mean it; you let your guard down and you're on your face. Other surpris- es such as wet flat rock offer zero grip, and you find yourself looking for wet clay for trac on. Strange indeed, but they are skill sharpeners nonetheless. This par cular event, the Anthracite, was held smack dab in the middle of coal country in Locust Grove, Pennsylvania. Having never rid- den this area or ridden coal, I knew I'd be in for a treat. The loca on was a working strip mine. Yup, very much Erzberg in nature but on a slight- ly smaller scale. Being a new loca on for AHRMA Northeast, most of the course was freshly cut. Laid out over a hillside formed by strip mining back in the 1940s, our course consisted of most- ly ght single-track, up and down many steep climbs and descents. As for the riders' mee ng, that was eye-opening as well. Dave Kutskel did his best to convey the situa on and course. "This is not a novice course," he said, driving home the fact of how dangerous some sec ons were with drop-offs of 400-500 feet, literally within feet from the race course. "Sorry, but this is all we have to work with at this loca on," he offered, which meant racers would be in for a challenge. Some riders who were fresh off last year's inju- ries were freaked out and elected to race anoth- er day. As a life-long skep c, I rarely take what others say for gospel and have to see for myself what the situa on is all about. AHRMA Northeast Anthracite Cross Country AHRMA Northeast Anthracite Cross Country Rolling Coal in Pennsylvania Rolling Coal in Pennsylvania By Kurt Flachbart By Kurt Flachbart