‘Tough chicks’ & Richmonders prove themselves in Urban Assault

One of my favorite things about events like Dominion Riverrock is seeing locals get the chance to compete with the professionals — or at least get the feeling that they can hang with the big dogs. The Urban Assault mountain bike race is certainly one of those prime opportunities. So many Richmonders ride and run […]

May 15, 2011; 6:30 AM • by Phil Riggan

So many Richmonders ride and run the James River Park trails and know the course well. They know where they are weak and where they are most comfortable. They just aren’t used to having 20 other riders on their tail trying to get past on the tight and often technical trails that run the hills along the both banks of the mighty James River in downtown Richmond.

I saw at least five people I know that were competing in th Urban Assault today (people I follow on twitter count as friends) and it was a thrill to watch them all geared up and getting psyched before the race.

It was great to finally meet face-to-face with @Amblus (Adrien H.), someone I’ve tweeted with on several occasions. She paced back and for before the race and said she was nervous before her race, but later tweeted ”Urban Assault race – 3rd place! And oh my God, you guys. It was BRUTAL. I’m still sort of dying, I think?” I guess she didn’t have that much trouble with the “real tough chicks” in her Urban Assault race afterall.

It was also great to see my buddy Dr. Mark Rausch, someone I’ve known half my life. I teased him about all the times I’ve seen or heard about him riding the trails and flying over the handlebars, but I couldn’t get him of his game. He was his usual calm and collected self, cracking jokes and chatting up other racers before attacking the course.