Pictures and story from the race →
Bicycle after bicycle rode up to Professor’s Pub Saturday afternoon for Kent’s latest alleycat race. Sporting fake blood, space helmets and dirt, cyclists discussed the race and exchanged strategies for getting through the intense 20-mile race held Halloween afternoon.
The race took off in an alley behind the Pub and the 21 bikers rode out to various check-points set up in advance by Brian Marsh, coordinator of the race and Kent State student.
“I did a lot of the promotion and got a lot of the sponsors,” Marsh said. Dead on Arrival production took about six weeks, according to Marsh, who got sponsors from surrounding bike shops and bars.
Working in conjunction with the guys from Blaq Design Ltd., a local bike bag company, Marsh, Jeremy Neal, Paul Johnson, Aaron Painter, Chris Barnes and Chris Pitts set up stops, including Beckwith’s Orchard and Fred Fuller Pavilion. Cyclists had to complete each stop, where volunteers signed their registration papers after they finished tasks, including chugging chili and bobbing for apples.
Exhausted, bikers trickled back into the Pub around 5 p.m. Smiles were wide as Neal jokingly said, “I think I just won my own race.”
Coming in first to the Pub with a time of one hour, 27 minutes was Neal on his fixed-geared bike. (Neal wasn’t competing to win his own race.) Pitts followed and won first place on his geared bike, with an hour and 29.
Winning first place fixed-gear with an hour and 39 was Chris Sans, followed by Brian Dages with an hour and 47.
After recuperating with drinks and free food, the group reconvened on Depeyster Street for track stands and skid and trick competitions. A crowd formed outside “Brain Mansion” to see bikers take off at full speed from down the street and skid their fixies as far as they could balance.
Winning the Skids Competition was Branden Vondrak, winner of Trackstands was Marsh and winner of Tricks was Kyle Vorannes. Winners received prizes from Blaq, including bags made especially for the race detailing the zombie theme. Pitts designed the artwork, while Johnson and Neal sewed them into functional, vibrant packs. Congratulatory handshakes were exchanged and riders got ready for a night of Halloween mayhem.
Following the awards, people headed to Turnup Records where bands performed and Halloween celebrations cranked up along with the volume.
Don’t worry if you missed out on this year’s race. Marsh, Blaq and company are planning on future races as soon as the weather warms up.
“We’re definitely going to put one together for the spring,” Marsh said.
Congratulations to everyone who was a part of Dead on Arrival!
-Laura Lofgren
Facebook photo album
Photo finish album
Results:
1:27 - Jeremy Neal (Fixed)
1:29 - Chris Pitts (Geared)
1:39 - Chris Sans (Fixed)
1:47 - Brian Dages (Fixed)
1:47 - Justin Austin
1:47 - Paul Johnson
1:48 - Taylor Kruse
1:48 - Dave Schlamo
1:48 - Will Wiseman
1:51 - Chris Leppla
1:54 - Karin Waskiewicz
2:02 - Brett Macdonald
2:04 - Schuyler Kerge
2:05 - Kyle Johanne
2:05 - Matt Herald
2:05 - Billy Graves
2:05 - Abrahm
2:08 - Grant Thompson
2:09 - Dan Moirrison
2:35 - Matt Moran
2:47 - Bryce Forman