Harpoon Brewery hosts indoor brewery ride
ITT winners Ethan Brown & Karen Smyers
Who needs a yellow jersey if you win the coveted Podium Bar Stool?
Such was the prize when Harpoon Brewery recently opened its warehouse to cyclists for its annual Indoor Time Trial - and beerfest.
The Harpoon ITT pitted cyclists on stationary trainers against each other on an 8K course, surrounded by beer and the scent of hops.
“The Harpoon ITT celebrates the intensity of indoor cycling,” the brewery proclaimed, “and the camaraderie of a post competition beer.”
The event has swelled to nearly 300 riders in its second year, up from about 180 in its inaugural year in 2009. One of the race sponsors said it is the largest indoor time trial of its kind in the country.
Prizes included cases of Harpoon beer and spots in Harpoon’s
annual brewery to brewery ride in June, which has already sold out.
Motivated by the post-race beer, former Ironman World champion Karen Smyers came in first overall for the women in just over 21 minutes and paced Team Psycho to the team title.
“I get distracted by the smell of the hops. I’m a very well-known beer drinker,” Smyers told NPR in Boston. “It’s hard, it’s hard to stay focused.”
(Thanks to Collin Burton for the tip)
