Smethport, PA Bicycle Race

On September 13, 2014 members of the CSO cycling team took on the Wheel Around the Hub race in Smethport, PA.  This year the team was composed of Steve and Miranda Putt, owners of CSO, and CSO summer staff member, Matt Frank.  Bill Gerber, a regular on the CSO weekly group rides and a regular CSO customer, also participated in the event and was part of the team.  The four all participated in the 15 mile event (a 53 mile event is also offered).  Steve, Matt and Bill had all participated in the event in the past, but this was Miranda’s first time.  Steve was coming off of a back injury and was questionable for the event.  However, he decided to participate despite the recent injuries.  The morning of the event was “sketchy” at best.  It had rained, heavily, during the entire trip from Ridgway to Smethport.  The rain stopped just before the start of the race, but overhead clouds would periodically spit out some rain drops through the event.  The course was a little troublesome as it was still wet in places and road repairs and construction in the area made things challenging.

The event is a fund raiser for the Smethport volunteer fire department.  It is a race that is held annually and it gets its heritage from the bicycle races that were held in Smethport in the late 1800’s.   The modern-day bicycle races in Smethport have been running for the last decade. 

The CSO team of four ended up bringing home some hardware from the awards ceremony.  Matt, who managed to stick with the lead peloton throughout the race, was the first in his age group and was 4^th overall.  Miranda finished 3^rd overall in the women’s division.  Steve, with his ailing back, peddled to an 11^th place overall finish, just behind the lead peloton.  Bill finished a respectable 16^th overall and only a few minutes behind Steve.  Once again, the event was well organized and was very spectator friendly.  The Smethport Fire Depart also hosted a great after party with music, food, and awards ceremony.  A video of the race, shot from a GoPro camera mounted to Steve’s bike, can be viewed here: Bike Race Video