Marine Corps Base Quantico -- The Cranky Monkey bike race returned to the trails aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico for the seventh year recently.
Two-hundred-three cyclists tackled this year’s race. Riders could choose between two events: An endurance race, in which solo riders or teams of up to three attempted to finish as many nine-mile loops as possible in the six-hour race time frame, and a cross-country race, in which riders competed in different categories to finish one, two, and three-mile loops in the fastest time.
Riders as young as 14 took to the trails, which were significantly muddy after weeks of rain. But it was a sunny, warm day and families were out for the day to cheer on their favorite cyclists.
The race was managed by Singletrack Cycling Open Registration Events, Inc., better known as SCORE, an organization founded by retired Marine major Kevin Adams. All net proceeds from the race are donated to local organizations to care for the area’s mountain bike trails.
Holly Fisher, SCORE Executive Director, said that the Quantico Mountain Bike Club (QMTB) will receive a “good-sized grant” to maintain MCBQ’s trails. The club exists to promote the sport of mountain biking aboard base and provide recreational rides to its members. It’s open to all Department of Defense personnel and their families and to civilians with no affiliation to the base, provided they do not make up more than a third of the total membership.
The overall winner of the cross-country event was David Pike, 35, of Earlysville, Virginia., who completed three nine-mile laps in 2:10:56. The winner of the endurance event was Heath Thumel of Severna Park, Maryland., who competed in the category Solo Male 44 and Under. He completed seven laps in 5:20:24. QMTB members James Long and Dave Schwietert came in second place in the endurance event and first in their category, Duo Male 80+ (combined age). They completed seven laps in 5:51:22.
“SCORE enjoys the opportunity to showcase the amazing network of singletrack [trails] Quantico offers which otherwise is closed to the general public the rest of the year,” Fisher said. “Also, SCORE’s founder and president, Kevin Adams, is a retired Marine and enjoys supporting the QMTB Club through this race.”
Writer: auphausconner@quanticosentryonline.com
More Media