BACKYARD CRIT SERIES
Most Sunday morning's in early summer, Raleigh's Berger Hardware Bikes throws a race on the grounds of N.C. State's Spring Hill Campus. It draws racers from across the state looking for a chance to ride and compete in a smallish format. A similar series for cyclocross starts in September.
For some, it's the first time pinning on a number, others are looking to "Cat. up" while some have a perpetual "cross is coming" mentality. It's a gathering of friends old and new, teammates and nemeses, almost all more bent on riding well than winning. The fields aren't huge, the prizes aren't grand, but there's an encompassing passion for riding. All finish with lifelong memories to be called upon at unexpected moments.
I spent several Sundays photographing the races. Over s series of weeks, I saw the same faces, the same groups, the same spirit. This photo essay is broken into sections: Set Up, Before, Start Line, Racing, Spectators and After.
Thanks to everyone who shared their time and thoughts, especially Todd Berger and his team.
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set up
About 7 a.m. every race day, Berger Hardware Bikes' Todd Berger, right, and Mike Mueller clean up the course, which is mainly on unused streets on NC State's Spring Hill campus in Raleigh.
Mike Mueller sweeps the course after a Saturday storm left an abundance of debris.
The race officials' tent is the first structure to go up near the start/finish line.
before
The entry table at the start of the day.
Charlton Stainback, 12, is given the all clear by his father, Richard, after his number is pinned. Charlton attends Creative Studies, a school in Durham that has a cycling team.
Koa Kaliebe, 12, readies for the junior race with his father, Kurt.
Hugo Schreur, 15, warms up while his father, Jan, helps with his number. Hugo races as a Cat. 4 and participated in a three-week, July racing camp in Belgium. The Schreur's live in Chapel Hill.
Noel Nunkovich, left, and Chris Crandall pin on their numbers. Avid racers, they frequently participate in a time trial series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. One weekend they raced in three events, including a mountain bike time trial at Lake Crabtree on Sunday afternoon.
Andrew Shetler of Chapel Hill races for the Oak CIty Cycling Project Race Team.
Will Belote, 15, of Cary warms up before his race. Belote mainly competes in triathlons. His father, Brett, is at left.
Pit stop.
start line
The Cat. 4/5 field gathers at the start line.
Fields can be small in the junior category.
Dariusz Tyborowski, left, talks with Jacob Richardson at the start line.
Trampas Nevius helped his wife, Sherri, with a last second, start line adjustment. They have two sons, Korbin and Luke, who also race.
When he forget his shoes and pedals, Jesse Keicher of Durham raced it anyway.
The Constellation juniors were the majority of the junior field one Sunday.
Peter Kreuser of Raleigh at the start line. He races for the Oak City Cycling Project and upgraded to a Cat. 3 mid-series.
Robin Baxter and her daughter, Megan, left, compete in most of the series.
Seconds before the start of her father's race, Lucille Bota, 3, plays with his bike. Louis Botta was waiting for his wife, Jamie, after she completed her race.
A lone rider straightens the start/finish line.
After the women's race, friends and teammates gather at the start line of the Pro/1/2/3 event. At center is Lucas Livermon, a mainstay at the series.
racing
Lucas Livermon of Chapel Hill with The Happy Tooth team leads to field.
Ross Bowden, center, with the Oak City Cycling Project Race Team.
The course has a long hill through the Spring Hill grounds.
Terry Huss at the front of the Pro/1/2/3 race.
Racers near the crest of the course's hill.
Jessica Winebrenner rides for the Oak City Cycling Project team.
Hugo Schreur, 15, races as a Cat. 4.
Waiting for their race to begin, riders watch the women's event. A street sign tells motorists about road closure dates. In the foreground is Robin Baxter.
The course uses several streets on the Spring Hill grounds that haven't been used, or maintained, in years.
Tanya Harris of Raleigh rides her rollers in a shady spot while another category races. Harris is a Cat. 4 and just started racing; this day was her sixth criterium. The Spring Hill campus grounds are close to downtown Raleigh.
Jennifer Campbell, right, and Jamie Botta lapped the women's field on the last Sunday.
Eddie Jones of Raleigh clipped a pedal. He rides for Spoke Cycles of Wake Forest.
spectators
A mix of spectators and racers are drawn to the start / finish line.
Katie McKenney cheers on a teammate after her race with Kristina Vrouwenvelder and Julia Howland-Myers. They are all from Chapel Hill.
Terry Huss and his son, Ayden, hang out before Terry's Pro/1/2/3 race. Terry sometimes rides to the venue from his Clayton home, about 25 miles one way.
Bryan Hoffman of Raleigh cheers on the field.
Beth Hancock plays with her son, Colby. Beth and her husband, Todd, will be racing cyclocross for the Oak City Cycling Project Race Team.
after
Pete Kreuser, left, and Terry Huss cool down after their race.
A bike throw by Brock Denis won his race over Charles Huegel. In the next photo, they congratulate each other.
After the race, Denis and Huegel congratulated each other. Denis won on a bike throw, shown in the previous photograph.
justin Evans, left, and Mike Roberts greet each other. Both work for Hawley's Bicycle World in Fayetteville, though Evans is now a student in Boone. Roberts is the race director for the team.
Jan and Hugo Schreur discuss the race.
Joshua Eisner, 15, recovers with his father, Joel. Joel helps run the junior team for Constellation.
George Hatcher, 59, is a fixture on most race days. He is gearing up for a good race at January's cyclocross national championships in Asheville.
Randy Parker, left, and Ted Hopkins chat on the podium. Parker, of Raleigh, is a three-time national champion.
The top three put on their medals before the podium pictures.
Jessica Winebrenner, left, and Kristine Allyne after the podium photos are done.
Todd Berger is the organizer of the series.
A rider carries his wheel bags at day's end.