Cyclists taking over Danielson

On any other day you would get arrested for riding like this.

Police take notice when a cyclist sprints down the middle of Main Street, goes up the front stairs of a municipal building, charges through the door, rides down the hallway and turns through the building, then goes out the back door and down the back stairs.

But if you compete in the Battle of the Borough, that’s just part of the course.

The Battle of the Borough is a five-person team relay race at 11 a.m. Aug. 19 in Danielson, Conn. The twisting 1-mile course includes not only a ride through a municipal building but racing down closed streets, turning down tight alleyways, winding through parking lots and hopping curbs onto sidewalks.

“You never get a chance to race on closed streets. You’ll never see anything like it,” said Don Dauphinais, owner of Danielson Adventure Sports, which is presenting the race. “When a racer comes through a building and takes corners in a building it’s pretty weird. You never see anything like that. There’s a buzz, and spectators say it’s pretty cool.”

Cyclists must ride bikes with 26-inch wheels or smaller. Each must have a rider at least 45 years old, a female rider and a rider 16 years old. Each team can only have one pro rider.

“That’s basically to even the playing field so you can’t stack your team,” Dauphinais said. “And it gets everyone involved.”

The race was held for the first time last year and five teams participated. Dauphinais said he expects more teams this year.

“It was something they’d never done before. I think it was the stairs and going through the building, people were amazed,” he said.

The concept for this event stems from a race in which Dauphinais participated in Durango, Colo., a few years ago. He said that race was a little longer, went through a few buildings — including a bar in which a huge front window was removed and cyclists charged through the opening and across the bar — and had about 5,000 spectators.

“We’ll never recreate that in Danielson, but maybe we can build it up over the years,” he said. “Nobody’s ever done anything like that before around here. Once things catch on, it’s contagious.”

All teams start at the same time and each racer completes one lap.

Some teams will be out to have fun, Dauphinais said, like a local group of BMX riders who can’t wait to ride on closed streets and another group that may wear chicken suits, but others will be competitive and aiming to win the race.

The race starts and ends at Dauphinais’ shop on Furnace Street in Danielson. A pasta dinner and live music are planned after the event.

For more information, visit www.bikect.com or call the shop at (860) 774-6010. To register for the race, visit www.bikereg.com.

David Flynn once again turned the cycling world upside down.

The pro downhill racer went back to downtown Worcester last weekend and defended his title in the George Street Bike Challenge for Major Taylor, a 500-foot uphill time trial.

Discarding his heavy downhill bike and body armor, Flynn used a borrowed Specialized Allez road bike and hammered his way up one of the steepest hills in the city. After 126 riders took the challenge, Flynn again had the best time of the day, at 23.74.

Last year, Flynn, of Shrewsbury, broke the course record with a time of 23.13.

“I wanted to beat my old time but I didn’t,” Flynn said. “I was close.”

Flynn, who competed in the downhill and dual slalom pro national championships at Mount Snow the week before, didn’t abandon his roots. He wore his baggy shorts, loose-fitting downhill jersey and BMX-style helmet during the uphill race, which was presented by Barney’s Bicycle and the Seven Hills Wheelmen.

“I don’t really look at it as a road race. It’s really just a sprint,” said the George Street record holder and two-time champ.

His powerful sprinting speed up the hill and his free-ride apparel were not the only thing that got attention. Flynn’s technique on the road bike flashed a lot of lateral motion that indicated drop bars and a light bike were not what he is used to riding.

“I heard my sprint was pretty ugly,” Flynn said. “It’s just a completely different feel on that bike.”

Flynn had the best overall time and won the 18-34 division. Peter Vo of Braintree, competing in the 18-34 division, was second overall with a time of 24.27. In third place in the 18-34 division was Thomas Carr of Worcester. Eric de Rivera of West Boylston won the 50-59 division with a time of 24.57 and had the third best overall time.

Mark Conti can be reached by e-mail at mconti@telegram.com.