CCCX #3 Toro Park 01/08/2012

Slacking time is over! Not only because of the holidays being past us. I also wasn't very proactive with my workout schedule in the last months. So as a new years resolution I was planning on spending more time breathing hard.
So there was not even a question if I'd do the first CCCX DH of the new year. Scott was in as well and we headed down to Toro Park, where there were steel blue skies and, later in the day, balmy temperatures around 70 degrees.

Since it hasn't rained in a while Toro Park was bone dry and the sandy soil made for a dusty, slippery cornering experience. Some of the berms were halfway broken and washed out so you had to be careful to not push too hard. But both, Scott and I didn't have too much trouble with the conditions, unlike quite a bunch of poor chaps who washed out and crashed.
Compared to the previous races in the series I actually felt pretty good and was able to apply some of the tips from one of the guys who are usually half a minute faster (mind you, the runs are only 3-4 minutes) then me: pedal, pedal, pedal.
Well, that's what I did and I had a pretty good run. I ended up 7th out of 15 in the Cat 1 19-34, the first time I got into the first half of that group - yay!
I also started in the chainless category, like I did in all the other races this season. It's always fun, not only because of the pre-start party the 50/50 team is always having on the top of the mountain, cheering on the last regular racers and even more so the the other chainless contenders. This time the female members declared a no-shirt race and went through with it ...
I ended up 5th place, which I was happy with.

Scott decided to skip the chainless race this time and only did a hardtail run instead. Three runs on the same day is just madness, considering that for two practice runs you'd have to push your bike up the mountain 5 times. He finished 5th there as well.

Full results are here.

Click here for the full gory details!

2011 Livewire Classic

Whenever someone is driving up to Northstar to get some DH shredding in I'm usually the last one to say no. But last time I chickened out of doing a race down Dog Bone (for those who don't know: that's a really gnarly double black trail), just didn't feel ready for it. But this time it was the Livewire classic and this trail is real jumpy goodness.

Doing the race with Schlachter-Factor made sure we showed up pretty late, so late in fact, that they closed the trail for practice runs like 2 minutes before we got to the top of the mountain. Now Livewire isn't too technical so at first we didn't think much of it and warmed up on some other trails instead. Then we were hanging out with the other racers at the starting line. Scott met an old friend of his and we asked him how the trail was, expecting a plain "as usual". However this dude told us that they put in a step-up to a 10 ft ladder drop and they made all the jumps lippier (for the XC weenies: that means it kicks you up high and if you're not prepared you are doing an involuntary front flip). So we kinda freaked out a bit and decided it might be good to have at least a look at this stuff.

Turned out the step-up to drop wasn't bad at all. Super solid, super nice landing, actually looking real fun. We couldn't check out all the jumps, though, since they were kinda hard to get to apart from riding the trail. Well, this just had to do. So we went up back to the start and got a bit delayed because some guy crashed and had to be helicoptered out - so much for confidence boosting.

Then it was time for the race and I was just concentrating on doing a clean run. I was unsure of most of the jumps and hit them way too slow. Some I didn't even get close to the landing transition. The drop was easy and, as expected, real fun. The last time I rode Livewire a couple of weeks ago the berms were super loose and I washed out a bunch of times so I took it slow - to slow. The berms were solid this weekend and I wasted huge amounts of time in them.

So I made it to the bottom and looked at the clock: 5:18. I knew that was bad, real bad. And sure enough I scored a solid DFL in the Experts 30-39. I think that was my first DFL, I'm kinda proud ;)

After this I was a bit pissed. So I just waited for Scott (who was equally good ;)) and then I headed over to the other side of the mountain since I had some outstanding business with the water-fall section on the Karpiel trail (I crashed there pretty hard last time). Scott was heading up to the start again to do the chainless race instead.

Cruising down Karpiel with an ease I didn't expect and cleaning the water fall with no problem my mood got better. Back at the bottom I met Scott whose chainless race wouldn't start until later in the afternoon and we had lunch.

Scott then talked me into doing the chainless race and I signed up for it as well. I had never done that before so I felt a bit uneasy at first but after mastering the first two tables I had a blast. I was a bit concerned if I would clean the step-up without pedalling but I just pumped the bike into the take-off and it went fine.
After coasting down the course with a big grin on my face I get to the finish line and it turns out I was only 4 seconds slower than in my race run (where I pedalled my lungs out), and this for an over 5 minute run, so much for the value of practice runs.

After the race was over we both headed back to the top of Livewire to get more runs in, just for the fun of it. And now, with two runs in and chains back on the bike, we were flying down this hill. I was even cleaning the long tables at the bottom and I'm sure I was at least 10-15 seconds faster than in my race run. But I guess I'll have to wait until next year to redeem myself.

And I didn't even have to go home empty handed: I won a gift card for a free pair of Maui Jim shades in the raffle - sweet.

Erik

Click here for the full gory details!

Kirkwood 6 hr Super-D

After having a blast at last years annual 6hr Super D of Kirkwood I was looking forward to do it again this year. My schedule looked good and a bunch of buddies (Schlachter-Factor, Curtis and Will S.) wanted to go as well, so it was on like Donkey Kong.

For those not so familiar with this event a little explanation: You take a lift to the top of the mountain, then ride for a couple of miles mostly downhill but with a good amount of uphill pedalling and repeat that until 6 hours went by.

Last year a bunch of people complained that you could actually bypass the first of the two lifts which was quite a bit faster. So this year they used only one high speed lift everyone had to take. They also had a completely different course so the whole thing was pretty much new to everyone. What I remembered from last time was that you had to do a short road loop to sort out who gets on the lift first - so I prepared for sprinting.

In the starting grid I locked the suspension of my 6" Giant Reign and got ready to kill myself. The tactic worked out and I was the 3rd on the lift. Curtis, of course, was sitting in the first one.

On top of the mountain I was looking forward to a nice descent but no, there was like 1.5 miles of climbing to be done first - in 9000ft of elevation, on loose, sandy ground up a steep trail. Didn't feel it at all in these conditions and got passed by two people immediately and the whole group just pulled away. Oh well, it's 6hr race.

Finally I got to the descent and enjoyed the trail. It was way more gnarly than I expected and I got a bit scared how these loose, off-camber switchbacks with a good amount of exposure would feel like in 4 hours from now. Later I hit way smoother single track through the woods and there were a lot of hikers - that didn't seem right. At some point I asked if they had seen other riders and they said no. Ok, I was off-track but halfway down the mountain so I continued down. Eventually I hit the highway and rode back into the Kirkwood village. Darn!

Back at the finish line they told me I'm good but they won't count my first lap. Oh well. Luckily I came there at the same time the first guys came down the right way. So I didn't have a lot of slow folks in front of me for my next lap.

After my second lap, this time on the right track, they told me that they actually would count my first lap. Apparently I wasn't the only one who made this mistake. So I was back in the game. I figured there couldn't be that many people in front of me and that I should be able to place on the podium. In the following laps I got pretty familiar with the course and it wasn't so scary after all, more like really fun. I was still dying in the upper part of the course and was walking most of the steep sections, every lap.

Towards the end the course became pretty rutted and really sketchy to ride in places. I washed out once but didn't hurt myself. All in all the rest of the race was unspectacular except for a stuck derailleur and some air loss in my rear tire.

So I ended up 6th overall with 7 laps and won the 30-39 age category. Curtis won the pro category with 8 laps (that dude is an animal) and Scott churned out 6 laps. We were all pretty toast afterwards but everyone enjoyed the race.

Good times, can't wait for next year.
Erik

PS: On the way back we made sure the Wrong Way spirit stays alive (for the veterans - note the font):

Click here for the full gory details!

CCCX DH Race Report by Eric Trausche

So yeah, I forgot to write race reports for the Kirkwood 6hr Super D
(really fun, more climbing than expected, 1st place in my age category)
and the Watsonville Surf City CX race (first race on my CX bike,
blisters on my hands afterwards, 6th in the Open B's). So now a full
report on last Sundays CCCX DH race at Toro Park.I went there together with Scott, who was the only one who I could
persuade to go. Lot's of people tried to convince me to do the CX race
in Golden Gate park but a DH is way more fun.

The weather turned out to be perfect. It was sunny and pretty warm when
in the Sun. The rain from the day before made the track super tacky and
really fun to ride. We got there pretty early at around 9:30 which gave
us enough time for a couple of practice runs. We met a bunch of people,
amongst others Scott Seery, a former TWW warrior.

Eventually it was time for the race and started out on the first stretch
on straight fire road, spinning my legs out with my 36t chainring. I was
sporting my Reign since the course doesn't really require a full DH rig.
I just put on one of the new WTB Weirwolfs on my front wheel and whoa,
I've never ridden anything that grippy. There was one pretty moist and
loose off camber section in the course which really freaked me out but
the tire would hold the line really well and I made it safely to the
bottom. Just before the finish line they had a nice double which we
practiced a bunch of times before but in the race my chain got stuck and
I couldn't pedal to get enough speed for this thing so I came up a bit
short but made it anyway. I guess it's time to put the chain roller back
on my crank.

So yeah, I ended up winning the Sports 19-34 (under my pseudonym Frik
Transcheke as the result list indicates) but I was more stoked about
stealing a second off Scott's (who secured a podium himself) time.

But then again if you see the times of the pros going down this hill I
don't even know where they gain that much time on you.

Next race is Dec 12. and I will probably go there too, if it isn't
raining cats and dogs.

Erik

Click here for the full gory details!

Breck 68 Race Report by Matt Leonard

A few months back, I noticed Isaias had posted a note about some race in Breckenridge Colorado. I took a look, and thought like it looked like an awesome course. After a quick call to see how serious he was, I was in.TI mentioned it to Katie and it seemed like within minutes her mom had booked an eight bedroom house in Breckenridge and the whole fam damnily was coming for a family vacation. (Katie’s parents, brother, sister, and six nieces and nephews all live near Boulder.)

So, here I was, busy with life wondering how I’d ever manage to race my bike 68 miles, at an average altitude of ~10,500 feet, and climbing approximately 9000 feet. I tried to squeeze in a ride here and there, but with moving and trying to find new daycare for Alex, I wasn’t left with much free time. Mid-July came pretty quickly, and reality was setting in. I borrowed a bike box from Paule and Julie, got a brief tutorial on how to properly pack a bike, and with a few last minute panic moments, I was ready to go. Unfortunately, earlier in the week, Isaias and Joie got some bad news and were unable to make it out to CO. A quick email to Ty and I had a fill in for a racing buddy.

We arrived in Breckenridge at around 4:00 on Thursday, and I quickly assembled my bike and headed out for a ride. I looked at the maps, and planned on doing the first 5 miles or so of my first loop, then cutting the course to the last 5 miles or so of the 35 mile loop. A quick spin over to the start finish and I hit the single track. I went up, then up some more, then up some more. It was really nice swoopy single track, if I’d been descending. I climbed from 9,600 ft up to about 10,500 feet, the first peak of the race. After about 20 minutes dealing with shortness of breath, I warmed up, settled in and felt like come race day, I’d at least finish my first loop. I hung out at the abandoned mine with some new friends from Park City, Utah and Springfield, Missouri. After some chatting about the race, I bombed down the fire road, and then took a left to cut over to the end of the course and head back in to town. On race day, I’d take a right and ascend a rocky double track trail up to 11,500 ft.

On Friday, my brother in law rented a bike and we headed out to the start of what would be my second loop of the race. We climbed pavement for a half mile or so which would be part of the course, then jumped on to some more fun single track which gradually gained elevation. After a few miles, we hit pavement, which turned in to fire road, which turned in to rocky double track with creek crossings, then up, up and more up. We turned around after about a total of 5 miles or so to head back and meet up with Ty. But after two days of preriding, I was feeling good, even though both days it took about 20 minutes for my lungs to warm up.

Race Day: After an evening of carbo loading at the local brewery, Ty and I rolled out around 8:30 to the race to go check in. With a 10AM start, we had a lot of time to kill. But it gave us a chance to take it all in and watch the first 75 people roll through the start/finish who had started at 6AM for the 100 mile race. Those masochists added about 30 miles and another 4000 ft of climbing to the beginning of our 70 mile race.

Just prior to our 10 AM start, Ty somehow without me knowing snuck up to the front row of the neutral start. We rolled out of town casually and climbed up the pavement a few miles to thin the group out and then dove in to the single track climb I’d preroad Thursday. The atmosphere was calm, since we had 65+ miles to go together, so the group rolled along casually. Once we crested the first peak at 10,500ft, I bombed the descent passing 5-10 people. We began our first climb of the day to 11,500ft. Fire road qhickly turned in to rocky double track, which had people walking near the top. Once the trail flattened out, it was rolling single track as we rode at 11,500 ft for a few miles, and then started a mean fire road descent. After a long descent, I opted to skip the first aid station and began climbing again in some nice wooded single track. At this point I was feeling tired, but good.

Once we crested the next peek, somewhere around 2 hours in, we started an awesome semi technical descent. At this point I caught Ty, and we started passing people left and right. At some point I passed him since he was on his single speed, but I just kept railing the single track and passing a ton of people. Then we started going up again, a lot. At this point I was in my granny gear every time the trail went up, and we climbed for what seemed to be forever. After some more up and down single track, we popped out on the last bit of our first loop which I remembered from Thursday. I rolled through the S/F just under 4 hours and was feeling good. Ty called it quits, which I can’t blame him. That loop was brutal with gears, so I can’t even begin to imagine doing it on a SS.

A quick pit stop, and off I go. I took the first few miles easy since I knew what was coming and I took the chance to spin and rest. Right about where my brother in law and I turned around on our preride Friday, the trail got significantly steeper and almost completely loose rock. I walked with several other folks for about a half hour, stopping to accept an offer of handfuls of blueberries from a volunteer. Off I went, with about 3 more miles of smooth fire road climbing to the first of two 11,500 ft climbs for this loop. It was sort of a figure eight which doubled back on itself at the top of the peak. A nice stop at the aid station for some refueling, and off I go again. A quick right turn in to the single track and I felt like I was in Downieville; endless swoopy single track with roots, rocks, water, pure ear to ear grin type descending. Again, I was passing people left and right.

The 1800 ft descent had enough brief sections of climbing to almost break my spirit, but the trail would turn downward before doing so. So, 5 hours and 45 minutes in to the race I’m sitting at the second to last aid station outside an old mining town. I knew I had about 10 miles and 1800 ft of fire road ahead of me, but figured I’d put my head down and do my best to crush it in about 45 minutes. I figured miserably wrong. For the first 15 minutes or so, I rode at about 15 mph with a guy who was doing the 100 race and had just two weeks prior finished in 10th place at the tour divide. As soon as the trail pitched up a bit, I said goodbye and settled in to reality. I was watching the feet tick away on my Polar watch ever so slowly and knew I had a long way to go. People started to go by me pretty frequently, offering words of encouragement as I sat on the side of the trail stretching and trying to force fluids and calories in to my body every 15 minutes or so.

It took me an hour and 15 minutes to get back up to the aid station at the peak. Okay, all downhill from here! I asked the volunteer how long to the bottom, and his response, “About an hour.” I hung my head in dismay. I’d been on my bike for 8 hours and was really tired. I hadn’t cramped yet, and I think the altitude was actually benefiting me. For the entire 8 hours, I was never able to give it full gas. My legs just didn’t have the capability to put any power to the pedals. Fortunately this meant at no point during the day was I able to burn myself out. Anyway, back to the volunteer… I told him I’d been crushing the descents all day and he said maybe I’d get to the finish in 45 minutes. I said, “I’m doing it in 35,” shifted in to the big ring and started bombing the rutted out fire road descent.

Psssh, an hour, whatever… After about a mile of 30 miles an hour and passing support vehicles, reality presented itself. Like a 100 ft mythical creature blocking my path, I watched as volunteers were directing me in to a single track climb. Up we go again, super granny gear, I slogged on for a bit. But after a while, the trail started going down, fast. I felt like I was riding the South Burma trail in Annadel, but for about 5 times as long. A ton of roots, rocks, small jumps, and steep descents. I stopped for a few minutes to help a girl with a flat, but she decided to ride it in even though she had a spare tube. After trying to help her get the Stans to seal it, and unsuccessfully trying to convince her to put her tube in, I rolled on. More steep, rocky, technical descents, and then there it was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; the road back to the start finish.

I bombed the pavement in full roadie tuck, and took a short bit of single track behind some houses. I missed an arrow or something and wound up riding on the city streets for a little detour back to the S/F. So I had to make my way around a gate and enter the grass field to cross the finish line. Ty greeted me with a much deserved congratulations after 8 hours and 39 minutes on the bike. I sat stunned for a bit, shocked I’d completed such a grueling race. I’d never attempted anything like this before, and afterward told Isaias and Joie that I felt I’d basically done the Downieville XC race 3 times back to back.

All in all, I ended up 21st out of 39 people who started the race (4 DNFs) in the 30-39 age group, 2.5 hours behind the leaders. Even more crazy, is that the pros finished the 100 mile race in about 20 minutes less time than it took me to do what turned out to be a little over 70 miles. People keep asking me if I’d do it again, and I think I will next year and invite my parents along for the big family vacation. We’ll see though, time to start thinking about the SoNoMas race!

Matt

Click here for the full gory details!

Breck 68 Race Report by Matt Leonard

A few months back, I noticed Isaias had posted a note about some race in Breckenridge Colorado. I took a look, and thought like it looked like an awesome course. After a quick call to see how serious he was, I was in. I mentioned it to Katie and it seemed like within minutes her mom had booked an eight bedroom house in Breckenridge and the whole fam damnily was coming for a family vacation.(Katie’s parents, brother, sister, and six nieces and nephews all live near Boulder.)

So, here I was, busy with life wondering how I’d ever manage to race my bike 68 miles, at an average altitude of ~10,500 feet, and climbing approximately 9000 feet. I tried to squeeze in a ride here and there, but with moving and trying to find new daycare for Alex, I wasn’t left with much free time. Mid-July came pretty quickly, and reality was setting in. I borrowed a bike box from Paule and Julie, got a brief tutorial on how to properly pack a bike, and with a few last minute panic moments, I was ready to go. Unfortunately, earlier in the week, Isaias and Joie got some bad news and were unable to make it out to CO. A quick email to Ty and I had a fill in for a racing buddy.

We arrived in Breckenridge at around 4:00 on Thursday, and I quickly assembled my bike and headed out for a ride. I looked at the maps, and planned on doing the first 5 miles or so of my first loop, then cutting the course to the last 5 miles or so of the 35 mile loop. A quick spin over to the start finish and I hit the single track. I went up, then up some more, then up some more. It was really nice swoopy single track, if I’d been descending. I climbed from 9,600 ft up to about 10,500 feet, the first peak of the race. After about 20 minutes dealing with shortness of breath, I warmed up, settled in and felt like come race day, I’d at least finish my first loop. I hung out at the abandoned mine with some new friends from Park City, Utah and Springfield, Missouri. After some chatting about the race, I bombed down the fire road, and then took a left to cut over to the end of the course and head back in to town. On race day, I’d take a right and ascend a rocky double track trail up to 11,500 ft.

On Friday, my brother in law rented a bike and we headed out to the start of what would be my second loop of the race. We climbed pavement for a half mile or so which would be part of the course, then jumped on to some more fun single track which gradually gained elevation. After a few miles, we hit pavement, which turned in to fire road, which turned in to rocky double track with creek crossings, then up, up and more up. We turned around after about a total of 5 miles or so to head back and meet up with Ty. But after two days of preriding, I was feeling good, even though both days it took about 20 minutes for my lungs to warm up.

Race Day: After an evening of carbo loading at the local brewery, Ty and I rolled out around 8:30 to the race to go check in. With a 10AM start, we had a lot of time to kill. But it gave us a chance to take it all in and watch the first 75 people roll through the start/finish who had started at 6AM for the 100 mile race. Those masochists added about 30 miles and another 4000 ft of climbing to the beginning of our 70 mile race.

Just prior to our 10 AM start, Ty somehow without me knowing snuck up to the front row of the neutral start. We rolled out of town casually and climbed up the pavement a few miles to thin the group out and then dove in to the single track climb I’d preroad Thursday. The atmosphere was calm, since we had 65+ miles to go together, so the group rolled along casually. Once we crested the first peak at 10,500ft, I bombed the descent passing 5-10 people. We began our first climb of the day to 11,500ft. Fire road qhickly turned in to rocky double track, which had people walking near the top. Once the trail flattened out, it was rolling single track as we rode at 11,500 ft for a few miles, and then started a mean fire road descent. After a long descent, I opted to skip the first aid station and began climbing again in some nice wooded single track. At this point I was feeling tired, but good.

Once we crested the next peek, somewhere around 2 hours in, we started an awesome semi technical descent. At this point I caught Ty, and we started passing people left and right. At some point I passed him since he was on his single speed, but I just kept railing the single track and passing a ton of people. Then we started going up again, a lot. At this point I was in my granny gear every time the trail went up, and we climbed for what seemed to be forever. After some more up and down single track, we popped out on the last bit of our first loop which I remembered from Thursday. I rolled through the S/F just under 4 hours and was feeling good. Ty called it quits, which I can’t blame him. That loop was brutal with gears, so I can’t even begin to imagine doing it on a SS.

A quick pit stop, and off I go. I took the first few miles easy since I knew what was coming and I took the chance to spin and rest. Right about where my brother in law and I turned around on our preride Friday, the trail got significantly steeper and almost completely loose rock. I walked with several other folks for about a half hour, stopping to accept an offer of handfuls of blueberries from a volunteer. Off I went, with about 3 more miles of smooth fire road climbing to the first of two 11,500 ft climbs for this loop. It was sort of a figure eight which doubled back on itself at the top of the peak. A nice stop at the aid station for some refueling, and off I go again. A quick right turn in to the single track and I felt like I was in Downieville; endless swoopy single track with roots, rocks, water, pure ear to ear grin type descending. Again, I was passing people left and right.

The 1800 ft descent had enough brief sections of climbing to almost break my spirit, but the trail would turn downward before doing so. So, 5 hours and 45 minutes in to the race I’m sitting at the second to last aid station outside an old mining town. I knew I had about 10 miles and 1800 ft of fire road ahead of me, but figured I’d put my head down and do my best to crush it in about 45 minutes. I figured miserably wrong. For the first 15 minutes or so, I rode at about 15 mph with a guy who was doing the 100 race and had just two weeks prior finished in 10th place at the tour divide. As soon as the trail pitched up a bit, I said goodbye and settled in to reality. I was watching the feet tick away on my Polar watch ever so slowly and knew I had a long way to go. People started to go by me pretty frequently, offering words of encouragement as I sat on the side of the trail stretching and trying to force fluids and calories in to my body every 15 minutes or so.

It took me an hour and 15 minutes to get back up to the aid station at the peak. Okay, all downhill from here! I asked the volunteer how long to the bottom, and his response, “About an hour.” I hung my head in dismay. I’d been on my bike for 8 hours and was really tired. I hadn’t cramped yet, and I think the altitude was actually benefiting me. For the entire 8 hours, I was never able to give it full gas. My legs just didn’t have the capability to put any power to the pedals. Fortunately this meant at no point during the day was I able to burn myself out. Anyway, back to the volunteer… I told him I’d been crushing the descents all day and he said maybe I’d get to the finish in 45 minutes. I said, “I’m doing it in 35,” shifted in to the big ring and started bombing the rutted out fire road descent.

Psssh, an hour, whatever… After about a mile of 30 miles an hour and passing support vehicles, reality presented itself. Like a 100 ft mythical creature blocking my path, I watched as volunteers were directing me in to a single track climb. Up we go again, super granny gear, I slogged on for a bit. But after a while, the trail started going down, fast. I felt like I was riding the South Burma trail in Annadel, but for about 5 times as long. A ton of roots, rocks, small jumps, and steep descents. I stopped for a few minutes to help a girl with a flat, but she decided to ride it in even though she had a spare tube. After trying to help her get the Stans to seal it, and unsuccessfully trying to convince her to put her tube in, I rolled on. More steep, rocky, technical descents, and then there it was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; the road back to the start finish.

I bombed the pavement in full roadie tuck, and took a short bit of single track behind some houses. I missed an arrow or something and wound up riding on the city streets for a little detour back to the S/F. So I had to make my way around a gate and enter the grass field to cross the finish line. Ty greeted me with a much deserved congratulations after 8 hours and 39 minutes on the bike. I sat stunned for a bit, shocked I’d completed such a grueling race. I’d never attempted anything like this before, and afterward told Isaias and Joie that I felt I’d basically done the Downieville XC race 3 times back to back.

All in all, I ended up 21st out of 39 people who started the race (4 DNFs) in the 30-39 age group, 2.5 hours behind the leaders. Even more crazy, is that the pros finished the 100 mile race in about 20 minutes less time than it took me to do what turned out to be a little over 70 miles. People keep asking me if I’d do it again, and I think I will next year and invite my parents along for the big family vacation. We’ll see though, time to start thinking about the SoNoMas race!

Matt

Click here for the full gory details!

SB Racing Finals By Mik Urbina

Decided to go single speed on this one. Off the line I was spinning out again but not DFL this time. Actually started passing some people on the fire road then it was onto pavement (Jacks Road) and climbing..We then hung a left onto a groomed but very gravelly fire road that started out fairly steep. Needless to say I was having trouble finding traction but stayed on the bike. Even some on geared bikes were walking this.


This lung burning section went on for about a half mile then we started descending. After about 3 miles we are back on Jacks Road and going downhill. I am first single speeder at this point. I sprint to catch a draft off a guy on a geared bike and tuck in right on his rear wheel. His rear derailler starts acting up and I get a little worried that his chain may wrap up with me about 2 inches from his wheel. Up ahead I see a sharp left back onto the dirt but something is not right. There are riders coming up the road toward us, funneling into the dirt. A photographer yells "you guys went the wrong way". I go you've got to be kidding but no, he says "you were supposed to turn right about a quarter mile back up the road". The guy in front of me and a guy behind me ignored him but I went back UP the road and found the correct trail, losing about a minute and a half in the process. I was pissed.
Ok, now let's see if I can do it all over again! Part of me just wanted to give up but I put my head down and decided not to. I can see Brett Hahn, another single speeder, up in the distance and make him the target. I know there is at least one other SS'r in front of us and that he has a vertical stripe on the back of his jersey (I made a mental note at the start). I caught up to Brett and ask him if he'd seen the other guy and he says yes. I start to try and put some distance between Brett and I but he is glued to my wheel. As we enter The Grind I can see Mr. Stripe up ahead and he looks like he's laboring a bit. I tell Brett "let's get this guy". I pick up the pace a little and begin to close in little by little. As I catch him I take a quick look over my shoulder to see if Brett's still with me. He's about 100 yards back now. I pass the lead SS'r (John). At first I pull a good enough gap to where I can't see John anymore but then he seemed to catch
fire. On the singletrack before Hurl Hill I get a glimpse of him. Oh crap. From there I just gave it all I had and railed all the downhill sections to keep him at bay.
Despite running scared at the end, I crossed the line in first. Good racing.

--Mike U. 1/5 Sport Single Speed

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CCCX #5 at Fort Ord By Mike Urbina

I went into this race fully expecting it to be a fight! Three of my friends from NorCal Bikesport, Curt Kimble, Dave Wolbeck, and Keith Flood came down from Santa Rosa and they are all competetive.TAnd another TWW'er actually showed up (Jeff Hane) with family in tow.
Off the line I took the lead and held it into the single track. We did a small loop about a mile long before going through the start/finish, then started the first of 4 laps. To make a long story short, I held the lead to the finish but it wasn't as easy as it sounds. I was pushing hard to get away but every time I would roll out of the start/finish chute to start the next lap I would look back and see Curt just entering it. That meant I only had about 15 seconds on him. Each lap I would pull another couple of seconds on him but he was hanging tough! It wasn't until I completed the third lap that I looked back and didn't see him. He would later tell that he started cramping on the third lap which allowed Glen Cockrell, another top 3 regular, to get around him for 2nd. Dave W. ended up on the podium as well with a 4th place finish right behind Curt.
It was good to get some new blood into the series and I was hoping that one or more of the NorCal boys would finish between Glen and I to help me in the points but Glen was having none of that. Keith D. put on another great race! It was a fast course which made for a fast paced race.
Oh yea, I have to say the new tires I got from WTB worked fantastic today and I'm not just saying that because they sponsor us. I'm running a Nanoraptor on the front and a Vulpine 1.9 semi-slick on the rear. I had some doubts about the Vulpines' climbing ability but it worked great, especially on this course.

Mike U. 1/14 Sport 45-54

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Lake Sonoma Race Report

Saturday was technically my first "real" race as an expert/cat 1. I raced the solo 8 hour race at boggs as an expert, but it didn't really matter what category I registered as, I still had to go in circles as fast as I could for ~8 hours. Saturday was different. By doing well enough last year, I treated myself to the upgrade and earned bonus laps at several races this year (Lake Sonoma, Tamarancho, Skyline, and the HMC). Life has been hectic, and I've barely been riding, but Katie kicked me out of the house so I could treat myself to a day with bikes, beers and friends; sort of an early birthday present. .My alarm went off Saturday morning and I struggled to get out of bed, gather my things, and load up the car. But once I was on the road, the lack of responsibilities tugging at me every which way was calming. I turned the radio up and enjoyed the nice drive up 101. I showed up about an hour early and there were maybe only 20 cars in the lot. I got my bike ready and laid everything out I'd need for the day. People started to arrive, and I greeted Paule and Tom Taylor from Roaring Mouse, as well as their carpool buddy Cisco Moran.

After catching up with them, I road around a little, trying to convince myself the 4th lap woudn't be too bad, and to just go have a good time. This was one of the few times prior to a race where I had no strategy, didn't care about results, and just wanted to enjoy myself out on the trails. About 75 people lined up, none of who seemed anxious, and with a 5-4-3-2-1 GO!, the Pros and SSers were off; sort of a mildly chaotic, "Oh, is that us? Excuse me, can I get up to the front?" A minute or so later (with a count down from 5 to GO! that took only about 2 seconds) I took off with the other 15 or so experts, and I think I hit the top of the paved climb in 2nd to last. No big deal though. I had to bleed my front brake the night before and other than the 10 minutes warming up, I hadn't had a chance to really feel 100% confident I'd done the job right. Oh well, they seemed to be fine.

As soon as we hit the first downhill, it was clearly evident that I've been riding my mountain bike, but haven't actually been mountain biking. My little SF loop and the headlands have helped me maintain my fitness, but not my technical skills. I struggled most of the first lap, and was quickly passed by the lead sport guys. No worries, I was holding on to Hans Kelner's wheels (Sycip), and I've always felt he is a solid rider. I passed him about half way through, then caught Paule who was on his SS. As we came through the start/finish, I was pleasantly surprised as the lap was shorter than I expected. I kept the pace easy knowing I'd blow up if I tried to actually race the entire 2 hours.

The 2nd lap was pretty uneventful, more comfortable on my bike, but starting to get a little tired. Paule grunted by my on the climb to the S/F never to be seen again. On the 3rd lap, I could feel myself fading. About half way through, I rolled up on a younger guy with a flat and decided I could use a rest. Turns out he was racing expert and crushing it, but didn't know how to use the CO2 cartridge someone had lent him. We got it figured out as more sport folks passed us. Back on the bike, and the kid took off like a rocket. By this point, my chain sounded like garbage, and I needed to get some lube on it or I was calling it a day. I started up the little fire road climb to the parking lot, and the top 2 pros (Brian Atell from Marin and Jason Moeshler from WTB) lapped me sprinting to their finish, flying by as if I were standing still. As I crested the hill, I asked spectators for lube. No luck. At this point, I wasn't going to win any trophies or medals, and decided just to roll over to my car, lube up my chain, and go back out for my last lap. At this point, about half of the racers already had a cold beer open and had finished their first burger.

Okay, lap 4, here we go... I'd stuck to my rule of avoiding my little ring for the first three laps. But I had promised myself that since I'm doing the extra lap, I could treat myself to the granny ring only on the last lap. And I used it plenty. As I started the last lap, I could see Hans behind me about 30 seconds to a minute, but since the beginners and sport folks had finished for the day and the course was empty. We passed two straggling sport racers, but other than that, we were on our own. I was able to ride almost everything and never really bonked. But it was definitely a slower lap.

I rolled in alone, had a hamburger and a couple Coronas with friends and called it a day. The weather was perfect, zero traffic both ways for the drive, and course was challenging enough to feel a sense of accomplishment, but moderate enough not to break my spirit. All in all, a good morning of bike riding.

Matt
11/13 expert men 2:09ish

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Sea Otter by Mike Urbina

I really wanted a podium this year so I concentrated on being ready for this one. I ate right, got more sleep, trained according to how much time I had until the race. The week before the race I did an epic ride that started in Morgan Hill and included Metcalf Road, Quimby Road and upper Mt. Hamilton. I felt like superman that day. The very next day, Saturday, exactly one week before the race, I woke up sick. Really sick. So sick I didn't go to work Monday and Tuesday. I stayed home and pretty much slept for 2 days. The day before the race comes and I'm still far from 100% but hey, I'm paid up so I'm going for it.TI got a good position on the starting line for a change which was nice. On my right was my friend Curt Kimble who had just come off a 2nd place finish at NVDC. Off to my left I saw Glen Cockrell who I battled all race long for the lead at CCCX#4. I knew I had my work cut out for me.We took off around the track and I knew I didn't want to get pushed too far to the edges of the peloton. Well, I'd never been in the MIDDLE of a peloton this size and it was a scary place! There was alot of bumping and leaning on each other going on. As we rounded turn 11 Glen took the lead and I settled into the top 5. Through Rainey curve I got hit from behind by someone who almost went down. I just kept looking forward and kept the bike straight. Up the corkscrew I got passed by about 20 people before we funneled into the dirt. No problem methinks, there's plenty of room to pass up ahead. We got to the fire road and I watched Curt and many others slowly pull away from me. I was kind of in denial about what effect my illness was having on me but now I had accept that I was getting dropped and there was really nothing I could do about it. The technical sandy sections were fun as always. About 2 miles before I got to The Grind I could see Glen up ahead. Before long I caught and passed him. As I went by he said "I'm done". I replied no you're not, get on my wheel and try to relax. Damned if he didn't do just that! We motivated each other all the way up the grind and we were slowly picking off other riders. About a half mile from the top I could see Curt up ahead and then it was ON. He became my target for the remainder of the race. As we reached the summit of The Grind, my focus switched from holding off Glen to catching Curt. It was then that I finally pulled clear of Glen. I was closing on Curt but ran out of time, I finished just behind him by 19 seconds.We were talking after crossing the line and wondered if we might be in the top 10 but it was not to be today. We took 13th and 14th. I was a little disappointed but felt I did all I could do so....what the hey.
Usually at SOC I bolt right after the race but since Curt camped with a friend with a trailer, I went over for some post-race refreshments. We checked out the expo, partook in some of the food which was surprisingly good and ran into some some of our competitors. It was cool getting everyone's perspective after the fact. As we were eating, up walks Sherlock who sat down and ate with us. Unfortunately he didn't race due to other commitments.

--Mike U. 14/56

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SBR #3 Henry Coe Race Report - By Mike Urbina

This race was at Henry Coe Park which is right down the road from me so I couldn't miss it. Arriving at the venue it was bloody ass cold! After the sun came over the mountain it warmed up quite nicely.
I've lived in Morgan hill for 4 years and still have never ridden at Coe. Many years ago someone told me that most of the terrain was either straight up or straight down. They weren't far off the mark.

The start of the race was a little over 2 miles up the road from the parking/sign-up area which made for a good, much needed warm up.
They started all the sport racers together so it was a mass start. Again I got a crappy spot on the grid....gotta stop doing that. So as we're waiting to go I'm noticing we are already sitting on an uphill grade and the trail keeps going up. When the green flag dropped I was way in the back and it took about 15 seconds before I or anyone around me could start moving. Up up we go, doing nothing but climbing. On the fire road before the singletrack I managed to get in contact with the front sport guys. Great, but I'm working pretty hard. Into the singletrack I looked up ahead only to see everyone in front of me in a serpentine line still going up with no end in sight. We started hitting some really rocky, slippery, technical uphill stuff that was causing some riders to tip over, walk, etc. I got over most of it, making some passes in the process. I was thinking "wow this hurts like a mother but it's nice to see some technical stuff for a change, you usually don't see alot of this on a race course anymore". And there was reason for that. We were no longer on the race course.
Racers started coming back down the hill announcing we'd taken a wrong turn! After debating for a couple of moments whether to follow suit, I turned around and joined the conga line back down the mine field we'd just climbed. Ok, let's get back in this!
BUT we kept going down, down, down. When we finally got back on the course I'd estimate we'd gone about 2 miles out of our way. Not good.
Now we are on fire road and climbing again. And climbing more. Near the top I started to slowly get dropped by the main pack until they were out of my sight. All I could do was keep plugging along and hope for the best. After the summit we finally got some up/down action that included a few mud bogs that would just sap your energy. After the middle portion of the race I got a second wind and started passing people. Up ahead I see most of the group that dropped me earlier and that was all the motivation I needed. I could feel myself getting stronger on the last part of the climbing before we entered what would be about 2 miles of mostly downhill singletrack. I passed a couple guys in the group of around 7 riders ahead of me before we hit the the downhill. As we started the descent, everybody was definitely going for it and I was just biding my time until I could find a spot to get around someone. I got around one guy, then another. Now the trail gets steep, FAST and sketchy with some ruts thrown in for good measure. I was behind about 4 guys and saw there was a narrow line on the left that no one was using. I called out "on your left" and passed 3 of them one after the other. The next guy I came up on was actually an expert single speeder (they had a longer course) and he let me go by (thanks dude). After that I let go of the brakes and put a gap on the pack I'd just passed. I must say though, that downhill was pretty high on the pucker scale. I was doing probably 35-40mph and down the trail I'd see a slippery, off chamber turn. Whoa racerboy, better get your braking done before you get there cause if you try to do it IN the turn you're gonna be on your a$$.
When I got to the bottom I was treated to 4 really good creek crossings, 1 of them very deep! This went on for about a mile before crossing the finish line.
Since I had caught and passed most of the group from the start, I thought there may be a chance that I'd podium'd but the wrong turn was too much to overcome.
Looking at the sport results you could definitely see a pattern; 1st and 2nd would be fairly close in time, then 3rd place was 8-9 minutes behind. My theory is that the lead group opened a gap at the start, went the wrong way, then the group behind us went the right way and opened a gap of their own.
No excuses though, the course was marked well enough and it was my (our) own fault for not paying attention and just following the guy in front of us. That's racing.

--Mike U. 5/16 @2:12:18

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Big Sandy Race Report By Jeff Hecox

A month ago I had no idea this race existed, after watching a video on mtbr.com showing this single track downhill at a race in Fresno called Big Sandy it caught my eye. Well after doing the SF Enduro II last weekend with my buddy Justin and hearing that 10 of the Sheila Moon riders planned on going down, Justin said lets go.

Saturday afternoon we headed down to Fresno, we stayed in a hotel 25 minutes from the start. At sign up on Sunday morning I found, to get all of the sweet single track on the long course, (23 miles) I had only three class options, under 35 years of age or over 35 years of age or Single Speed class. Damn no 45+ class!

At 10 am they started by sending off the first race groups on the short course in 5 minute intervals, Then the Pro/Expert and single speed riders for the long course took off 10:10 am and the rest of the long course riders at 10:15 am.

The race started with a 300 yard road climb and then a right turn into some single track and I don’t think we saw more then 400 yards of fire road for the next 23 miles, all single track!, some double track for passing but not much.

The first part of the long course was the 8 mile Squaw Leap Loop, it started with a down hill to the river. After the bridge was a steep rocky hike a bike section that everybody was running with their bike. Then the loop opened up with some steep rocky technical single track climbs, about 1,400 ft to the summit in 2 ½ miles. I kept thinking the climb needed to go higher since the web site said 2,500 ft of climb for this loop. But down we started, 2 1/2 miles back to the river, fast narrow and rocky. I had the Superfly today and kept thinking the MOJO would be nice right about now. We must have crossed 5 or 6 small creeks on this loop with more to come for the day.


We crossed the river at the bridge and started climbing back to the start area, it was getting hot and I was beginning to think I didn't have enough water to last the race. Once we got back up to a parking lot we crossed the road and entered the River Trail for the next 15 miles to the finish. Things opened up on the River Trail, for the next 11 miles it was fast and bumpy, with 300 foot climbs and descents, there were some cows grazing about and more creek crossing. I passed a few people hear and there on the climbs. I passed two Sheila Moon riders in this section and then came across a local rider that I just could not drop! We ended up trading places 5 or 6 times over the next 10 miles, I was faster on the climbs and he would catch me on the down hills. The last climb before the finish was grinder, 800ft in a mile. I came across Isaias walking with his chain less single speed in this climb. I ran out of water with about 8 miles to go and was beginning to feel dehydrated, I had a dull headache but no cramping. This local rider was right there with me and we hit the last summit together. On the down hill to the finish he had me, with his full suspension bike and local knowledge of the downhill. Come to find out we were in the same class, damn!

12th out 19 in the Long Course Cat 2 35+ Big Sandy 03/28/10

Jeff Hecox

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SF Enduro II By Jeff Hecox

Having done the first SF Enduro a little over a year ago, I really wanted to make the second running of this race (I use the term race loosely for me since I just wanted to finish after making all the check points)

The Start was 9 am in Golden Gate Park at the William McKinley statue. About 70 riders signed up for this day of pain. I saw my other Wrong Way team mate Erik Trauschke a few minutes before the start and he was planning to latch on to Isaias Job wheel and not let go for the day. There’s no way I can ride at Erik’s pace, so no thought entered my mind of ever riding with him. My plan was to pace myself and ride with a group of friends for the day. No classes for this race and Murphy announced two bonus sections out on the course, the first one would be a loop in Tamarancho of all single track for a 1.5 hour time reduction off your overall time and a second bonus, a climb up Loma Alta to the top of Big Rock to the Radio Towers, for a 2 hour time reduction. At this point at the rider's meeting, no one new where the ride was going yet, no maps of the course had been posted, we had all been told no matter what bike you bring it will be the wrong bike at some point!



Last year I rode my Salsa Cross Bike and cross bikes dominated that race, I had a feeling Murphy would make this race a little tougher on the Cross bikes so I set up my 29er Fisher Superfly full rigid with some fast rolling tires this time.



We were told to put all our bikes on one corner of the lawn about 100 yards away and come back to the Statue for a quick riders meeting. The first maps where set down by our bikes on the lawn and we were told that a second map would be at the first Check Point for the rest of the race course. After a quick briefing on the race we had a Le Mans Start with a run around the McKinley Statue and off on the bikes.



It was mayhem and confusion, after getting our first map, we had to ride to a Check Point at the Legion of Honor and pick up a new set of maps for the rest of the ride. Hopping on our bikes and heading out into the street of San Francisco. Once rolling I tried to get together with my group that I planned to ride with for the day. Our group of 6 quickly became 4 with Justin, John, Craig and I. Craig was our navigator since he knew San Francisco and Marin well. After the Check point at the Legion of Honor and a new set of maps, we headed over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin for a climb up Mt. Tam on Old Railroad grade.



Water management was a key for me since I was only using two bottles to keep the weight down. After we made the summit of Mt. Tam we all topped off our bottles at the look out and had a quick bite to eat before headed down Eldridge grade. Craig quickly flatted in the first 1/2 mile and was fully prepared to deal with it. Eldridge grade was littered with cross bikes and MTB with flat tires. About 2/3 of the way down Eldridge we stopped to regroup and wait for Craig with some Roaring Mouse riders on cross bikes waiting for one of their team mates that flatted. They were not roaring about their cross bikes at this point, they were eyeing our MTB 29er's with envy.

Just past Lake Lagunitas we were now a group of 10-12 with the 4 Roaring Mouse riders and our new navigator Moab Johnny, who lives in Fairfax and knew all the local trails.



Johnny knew where all the hidden water spots where and kept us on track for the rest of the day.(we owe this guy big time) We all headed off for the climb up Pine Mt with Johnny leading the way to the next check point.



Just past the Check Point 2 on Pine Mt, Johnny took some of us on a little side single track called Paradigm, the top 1/3 was great, but the next 2/3 had suffered in this winters storms , there were about 30 trees blown down, that turned into hike a bikes, we lost some time here but it was single track!



We climb out of the canyon up to Check Point 3 at White hill fire road and then headed off to check point 4 for the Tamarancho extra time loop. At check point 4 we came across Erik and Isaias, they had just finished their loop in Tamarancho. Erik gave me a few words of encouragement and I was off for my bonus loop in Tamarancho.



After Tamarancho we headed to Check Point 5 with a stop under the bridge at Sir Francis Drake Blvd. before the climb up Gun Shot. Murphy was there with cold beers, cokes, Water, and popsicles, wow how nice was that at mile 45. All I can say is the climb up Gun Shot SUCKS, but Check Point 5 was at the top and the out and back extra time bonus to Big Rock started there. I made it to the top of Gun Shot about 5:10pm and missed the 5pm cut off for the extra time bonus. I was pretty beat at this point anyway so no great loss for me. My buddy Justin and Moab Johnny went for the bonus anyway. Out of the 70 riders, only 9 made this extra bonus climb, (Team Wrong Way rider Erik Trauschke being one of them).



From Check Point 5 I now had a 25 mile ride back to San Francisco, I was on my own now since Justin and Johnny where going for gold. I did take a wrong turn going back down Gun Shot and ended up on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., for the long road ride back to San Francisco and the Party at Murphy's place.



My stats where 9,940 feet of climb 81.82 miles, I made all 5 check points for the Enduro and the Tamarancho bonus loop.



Can't wait for the next one.



Jeff Hecox



.

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Riley's First Race - by Scott and Riley Schlachter

Riley and I went to the Santa Clara BMX Track yesterday and tried our hands in BMX Racing. I recently bought an older, used Mini BMX bike for Riley that needed a bunch of work - spent the weekend fixing it up, and got the final adjustments made on Sunday morning

The weather was perfect, the course in good shape, and we both had a blast. Since it was our second time to the track (first time was just a practice day), I had to sign us both up for ABA licenses - but at $85 for both, it wasn't too bad. I entered in the "Cruiser" class, and Riley in the 5-and-under amatuer class. We decided to just do the practice session and see how it went. When it came time for the qualifiers, Riley said he didn't want to race, but wanted me to (with him watching from the bleachers). Then after the first two qualifier rounds he rode up to the start entrance with his helmet on and said "I want to race Daddy". We got there just in time for the third and final qualifier. I went first and barely made the cut - on my 26" wheeled dirt jumper mountain bike (they were calling me the "mountain bike guy" on the PA system). Then Riley went - with all the lanes full (I think there are 8 total). He took 2nd place in his qualifier! Then, in our respective final races, we both took 3rd. I think there were 5 people total in my race - two older guys who were really fast, a 10 year old kid, and I think a woman. Riley, on the other hand, had a full set of lanes again, and managed to do really well with the third placing. I was so proud. He's hooked, and wants to go again next weekend. I just picked up a real cruiser frame from craigslist... :-)

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SBR Series #2 By Mike Urbina

I had Saturday slated for a long road ride but instead I made a spur of the moment decision to do this race (South Bay Racing series #2).
I looked outside and saw that it was only 42 degrees and asked myself "do you want to spend 3 hours in the cold or go and race and possibly have some fun. The latter won out. Standing in the garage looking at all the bikes my head was going "eenie, meenie, minee moe" and I stopped on ....the single speed! Yea, let's change things up this week.

Warming up at Fort Ord I could tell that I was a little under geared but whatever. The course was a mix of the old and new Sea Otter course.

Off the start we had about a mile of flat, then slightly downhill fire road. I quickly spun out and watched as most of the pack pulled away. I only saw one other single speed rider at that point. After the fire road we turned back onto pavement and started a short, steep climb. Now the pack is coming back to me as I pass those who sprinted out too quickly. Here I started to lose the other single speeder I saw on the fire road. Now we're into some twisty, sandy uphill terrain and I'm stuck behind slower riders. They lose traction on some of the steep sections and have to dismount. Since I'm at their mercy I end up doing the same. As we're pushing our bikes I see a spot to get around so I sprint around 3 guys, more importantly getting around the one that's causing most of the bottleneck. I then took off after the main pack. Around the middle of the race we hit the long fire road climb that is the end of the Sea Otter course. Now I'm passing lot's of people including another single speeder. When we get to the top we take a left (as opposed to right and to the track like the Sea Otter). More twistys and down to a straight single track valley then back up to the Three Sisters. I'm running with a pack of about 5 geared bikes and I must admit it was fun giving them fits. They'd pass me on the flats and downhills and I'd get 'em back when we hit the hills. I would l latch onto their wheel and draft wherever I could, saving precious energy. It took my a while but I finally managed to gap them before the last, long twisty berm section. Man, that was fun! I had a photo finish with a guy on a geared bike but didn't quite get around him.
Didn't know exactly where I finished but I found out later that I'd won. Not bad for what started out as a casual just-get-out-there-and-ride day.


Mike U. 1/5 @1:25'44

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CCCX #2 at Fort Ord report - By Mike Urbina

I'm almost hesitant to reveal all the details of this race day in that some of you may start to question my mental capacity (if you haven't already).

So, it's Friday night and I'm knockin' back a few beers but I'm not over indulging because according to my calendar I have a race on Sunday. Around 11pm I decide to go
to bed but first I check my e-mail. There I see a post from Hane asking who is showing up for tomorrow' s race. I'm thinking "for chrissakes Hane get it right, the race is on Sunday". Out of curiousity I check the CCCX website and see the race is
indeed on Saturday. D'OH!
My bike is on the work stand right where I left it 2 weeks ago after CCCX#1 where it was making all kinds of terrible noises. Oh well, I'll get up a little early, give it a quick tune up and I'll be good to go.
Saturday morning: Get up still feeling kinda sore from Thursday's road ride (I
thought I'd have 2 days to recover), eat breakfast, work on bike, get all gear laid out and packed, load truck. I roll out of Morgan Hill with just enough time to get to the race and still have decent time to suit/warm up. I get about 15 minutes from the house and my mind starts to wander as it often does (insert swirling dream sequence music here) "wow, good thing I checked my e-mail last night, and I did get a good night's sleep, I wish I'd packed everything last night instead of this morning, you know how you always forget things when you wait till the day of the race". It was at that moment a small light bulb went on over my head and I realized I'd forgotten my FRONT WHEEL! I'm way too committed so I go back and get it. I know exactly how long it takes me to get to Fort Ord and now if I'm lucky I'll get there with enough time to get suited up and maybe make my start. My prediction is exactly correct as I get there right as the sport class is all lined up and getting ready to go.

I sprint to registration and as I'm frantically filling out the waiver I hear a voice to my left saying "you're late". I look over and it's Allan. I run back to the truck and he follows me with a camera, taking delight in my plight. He gets some great shots of me fumbling around, trying to pull it all together and get to the starting line.

Ok, here's the race:

I pull up to the line just as the 35-44 guys are going off. As we, 45-54 and 55+ (combined again) pull to the start line, the starter yells "2 minutes". Ok, no warm up for me but that's fine, I've been told warming up is for pansies. Off we go and I'm mired in the pack. Hane is getting through pretty good so I follow him. I didn't get a chance to check out the course so I don't know exactly where we'll be turning onto the dirt. I get to the point where I can see the cones directing us and I've got enough in my legs to surge up into the top 5. We turn left onto a gravel strewn fire road that goes up for about 150 yards and I start going anaerobic. Damn! All I can do is watch while about 7 guys pass me.
Half way through the first lap I started to calm down and find my rhythm. I was catching people but only recognized a couple from my group. At that time I settled into a battle that included Russ from Team Roaring Mouse, Bill Cleavenger (One of my competitors from last year who is now in 55+) and a guy named Dan.
As the race progressed, Russ ended up dropping out with chain suck problems. The course was nice and tacky save for 2 or 3 good size mud holes. This made for some drivetrain problems of my own later.
So now it's Me, Dan and Bill freight training the course, running into alot of traffic but doing alot of passing. I didn't know what position I was in but I kept thinking that Dan and I were probably running 5-6. This guy was stuck to me like glue, lap after lap. (see photo)
I stopped looking back because I could hear him braking right behind me, breathing right behind me. When I passed certain groups of spectators I'd go by then immediately hear them yelling "Go Dan!" When I passed the photographer he'd snap my pic then I'd hear him snapping Dan a millisecond after. You get the picture. When we'd hit the technical sections/downhills I'd gap him pretty good but as soon as we got back on a flat or a hill he'd close it right back up. On the 3rd lap (of 4) I started to lose it a bit from being pushed; I was bouncing off my anaerobic rev limiter and getting sloppy. If I wanted any chance of keeping Dan behind me I knew I had to ride smart, stay smooth, and calm down. Problem with that was, as soon as I'd let off even a little bit he'd show me a wheel. On lap 4 we're going into a short, steep uphill section. I went to down shift and my chain got all tangled up. Bill had pulled between Dan and I at that point and he pounced. He goes by and pulls right away. I could tell he had saved something for the last lap. Dan has pushed me much harder than I would have gone had he not been there and I'm tired. As we cross the paved entrance road for the last time, with about a mile to go, we begin the 150 yard fire road climb. Dan is right there and I figure this is where he'll make his move and take that last podium spot from me but....he doesn't. At that moment I realize I have a good chance of holding onto my position. We're about to head into a rutted out downhill section with a tricky turn at the bottom followed by a big mud hole. We've got 3 slower riders about 10 yards in front of us. I know if I can get around them before the section it will be a huge advantage so I go for it. Coming out of the mudhole I look back and I've gapped Dan by about 50 yards. Ok, great but I kick it up a notch because I know if I don't he'll come right back. As I entered the finish chute I dared to glance back and didn't see him. Man, did I (finally) breathe a sigh of relief.
I thought there was a chance I'd finished in a podium position but wasn't sure. I
never checked because I was so busy after the race taking with the others about the epic battle. It wasn't until I was back at the truck changing when a fellow competitor came up and told me I'd finished 2nd. No wonder it hurt so much!

Other highlights:
Allan Sherlock with a convincing WIN in the Expert SS division, Jeff Hane with a 7th in my division.

Mike U. 2/17 @1.38"47

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CCCX XC #1 -By Mike Urbina

What a great day, the weather was perfect. You wouldn't think so by the way things looked when I left Morgan Hill, but as I made my way down 101 the fog amazingly lifted.
Since it was Valentines Day and only the first race of the series, I didn't expect a great turnout but I couldn't have been more wrong; it was the biggest one I've seen for this series.
Hell, I didn't decide to go until the day before.

Allan showed up as I was heading to registration. Nice of him to show up early to take pictures and cheer people on. His race didn't start til 1pm.
With registration out of the way I got suited up and unloaded my mountain bike which hadn't been ridden since last June...... at the CCCX finals last year...... Yea......
At the starting line I only see 2 guys I recognize from last year with all the rest being new guys. One of the new guys was wearing TWW shorts but I did not recognize him. I went over to introduce myself and he indentified himself only as "JL".
We were already a big group (21) and they added the 55+ guys with us as well. Off the start I'm near the back but I wasn't too concerned as I have no plans to set the world on fire today! We get about 2/3rds of the way to where we turn right onto the dirt and I see the pack starting to slow a bit so I break to the outside, out of the saddle. I get into the singletrack in about 5th position. A mile or so into it there's still alot of jockying going on and I somehow find myself in the lead. This isn't supposed to be happening and I seriously doubt I can hold on to it very long. I was correct. Over the next 2 laps some guys in my category came by me but I'm not getting totally dropped and we're having some good little battles. I keep count as they go by to see if I can stay in the top 5.
On lap 3 I'm in 6th place (at the time I thought I might be in 5th but no) and trying hard to reel some people in. I make up alot of time in the twisty berm sections (way fun) but I just don't have the goods to keep up on the climbs and I start to see them pull away.
Just after the start of the 4th and final lap 2 more guys get by me including JL. I see any chance for a podium completely dry up then!
Now my goal is to keep them in sight and maybe get them back. At that point I concentrated on being as smooth as I could with my cadence and keeping corner speed to a maximum. It works as I pass the first guy in front of me then I set my sights on JL. I catch and pass him on a long, exposed flat section and pull away. I was feeling pretty confident that I'd put him away but in another half mile he catches and passes me. Crap! As we drop down out of the singletrack onto the pavement before the last quarter mile to the finish, JL has about a 15 yard gap on me. I see Allan on the side of the course and he yells "Stand up Mike". With the last bit of gas I have I do just that and hammer out of the saddle, closing the gap as we make the left hander back into the dirt.
Thanks Allan.
Another short straightaway and we approach a 90 degree right hander that has 2 distinct lines. I'm sizing up JL waiting to see if he will take the inside or outside. He chooses the outside so I go inside braking ever so slightly so as to keep my corner speed up. I nail the turn and unfortunately for JL he goes slightly wide, allowing me to get by. I then give it all I've got to the finish and cross the line in 6th. After the finish line JL and I congratulated each other on a great battle. This is what racing is all about!!
I hung around to watch the start of Allan and Rich H's (Expert!) races and took a couple of pics. Kirsten McDaniel was also there and had a podium finish.
Great day, great weather, great racing, great to see everyone again. Time for me to get back in the saddle!
Mike U. 6/21 @1:32:15

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CCCX Downhill - by Erik Trauschke

Ok, so here's my version of yesterday:
I had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning even though I went
to bed early. However, I drove to Scott's place to meet with the others
and catch the van. And surprisingly enough, we left almost on time, even
though Scott was part of the group ;)

In Toro park we met Rich and Rafael and a bunch of other guys. Everybody
was trying to get going as fast as possible to get registered for a good
start time (which actually didn't mean much) and to get enough practice
runs in. I realized that I had forgotten my shoes but luckily Rich had
some old spares. I registered for the Hardtail class, since I'm still
waiting for my "real" bike.
I did my practice runs together with Scott so we both started climbing
up at about 10:00. The weather was really nice and we actually got
pretty warm climbing up to the start. I left Scott going ahead of me and
started immediately after him to try to keep his wheel. The first part
was all medium steep fireroad with a few rollers where you couldn't see
what was behind the top. That probably was good since otherwise I would
have braked too much going over the rough stuff on the other side. But
the bike just flew over it.
Then there was a singletrack section which had bunch of sandy
switchbacks with steps in them and in one of them I just went over the
bars since the sandy surface didn't make my wheel rolling around the
corner. But nothing happened. I continued, got shaken good by the rutted
sections and finally got to the bottom.
Scott just switched his Nomad for his Hardtail and we were going back up
again. At the top, Scott started messing with his seat, tried to fix it
and we went on for our second training run. Somewhere in the switchbacks
I saw him at the side of the trail with his seatpost about to
disintegrate. At the bottom he tried to fix it and he got the regular
500 opinions from 500 people on how to fix it. In the end he came up
with a very neat contraption, which looked hilarious. I think most of
the people made a photo of that so there should be a picture coming up
soon.

Then it was finally time for the race. We headed back up and at the
start were like 100 people waiting to race that course. With 1 minute
time gaps you can calculate how long I had to wait. Got a mild sunburn
while waiting (yeah, it was actually gorgeous weather) and at some point
it was my turn to go.

My goal was not to embarrass myself and not to get caught by guy after
me. The latter wasn't that hard since the whole run only took 3-4
minutes, depending on the rider. So I shot down the fireroad section,
always telling myself "take the finger of the brake! let it run!" and I
was feeling pretty fast. Then I got into the singletrack section, which
by now has been pretty beaten up by all the riders. Especially the brake
bumps in the corners were killing me. But I got through it without
problems, but also pretty slow. At the bottom was a section which was
very smooth, flat and at one point even ascending. So I started kicking
the pedals as fast as possible to race to the finish line.

So I ended up 5th in the HT class, out of 8. I was ok with it since I
also wouldn't have been last in the sports category of my age class.

Now I'm looking forward to my new bike even more, I definitely will do
that again. Props to Jeff, Scott, Rich and all the others who won medals
in our group. Next time, though, we have to send down Scott in 3
categories, so that he can get one medal of each color ;)

Erik

PS: the barbecue afterwards was awesome too :D

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CCCX Downhill - By Rafael Ruis

I'll keep this one short. It was a nice TWW turnout with Rich, Scott, Erik,
Jeff, Dan, Patrick, and many other friends showing up.

Anyways, I'm entered in the regular DH and the SS cats. So I do one practice
run on each bike, and on the second practice run, I got up to hammer and test
the legs in the uphill section, but I feel the same cramp from yesterday's
grasshopper. Oops, oh well, its not that bad. The race came and went with too
much brake checking. The runs weren't that good at all, and kinda
disappointing, but I stayed up, and had a great time with the TWW guys and bbq.
I didn't do well at all for the day's race, but I ended up in 2nd for the
overall singlespeed, and in a tie for 3rd for the beginners, despite missing
half the races. I realized I have many DH weaknesses to work on, but I'll be
back! When it comes to a 3.5 minute race, I need to learn how to let it go and
take more risks. I'm used to xc/endurance racing where you take a lot less
risks.

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Grasshopper - By Rafael Ruis

IMy first grasshopper, and definitely not the last. I carpooled with Morgan
Fletcher and several other guys from Team Oakland, and we got to Occidental at a
good time. Registered, geared up, and ready to go. This is about 50 miles of
mixed road and fire road, and if you were sneaky, some singletrack. Weapon of
choice was the CX bike. Levi Leipheimer was among us lining up, and soon we
were off with a neutral roll out until the first big climb.

The pros were gone,and the rest of us were sorting ourselves out. Most of the
ride was pace line,fire road climb, slick dirt descents (passing roadies on cross bikes,
and getting passed by mt. bikes). Pretty soon we were at the Willow Creek crossing,
which was a thigh deep, pretty fast moving river thanks to the recent storms. I
had actually opened a slight gap on most of my group during the descent, and I
noticed one guy at the creek removing his shoes. Being that we still had about
25 miles or so to go, I decided to take mine off too. It was a smart move
because right after I crossed, a rather large group came through, and we formed
a nice little group for the upcoming road grind. My group included Justin
Morgan of Sexual Camel fame, and Allison, the first female finisher. We formed
a pretty good paceline dropping a few and picking up some stranded solos (I
would have been one of these solo stranded pick ups if, but with soggy shoes).

By the time we reached Willow Creek road, we picked up a couple of familiar
faces (Michigan Matt, Paule of the mice who stopped to help Kristen who crashed
hard due to a broken frame… ouch). We kept going until the broken road turned
to the fire road climb. Justin gave me the details, 3 miles of dirt climbing,
then 2 miles of road descent. Being the punk I am, I tried to drop everyone I
was with, mainly wanting to beat Matt, but dropping Justin would be a nice
surprise. I put my head down, and a couple minutes later, I opened up a gap
enough where I didn't see anyone behind me. Once we got to the top of the dirt,
there was a tiny bit of pavement climbing, and I started to cramp but was able
to soft pedal it out. Justin caught back up to me, and we formed a small group
of 4 for the rollers and descent. Finished 109/250ish at 3:24, about 42 minutes
behind the winner and Levi. As we roll into town, there was a benefit bake sale
going on by the local school kids, so of course I had to tear into some rice
krispy treats and cookies. Then beer, then pizza. Overall awesome time, even
though it's not really a race, and more of a training ride. Can't wait for
Chileno Valley on 2/20.

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Race Report(s) - CCCX Fall DH #4 by Rafael Ruis

Toro Park - My second (and third) downhill race. Based on the course from the previous race (primarily the DH portion of the XC course at Toro), I decided to enter the single speed category in addition to the regular race. I finished 2nd in my first DH race a month earlier, and was considering moving up to sport for this one, but was convinced at check in to stay in beginners for the rest of the series (this and one more race). After all its just a time trial, and not any different between cats.

First practice run was on the SS, and first impression was "whoa, this is a bit
different than the previous course". Several steep drop-ins and small kickers, a table top, and a good size gap jump/step up at the bottom of the course. Not exactly the course for my xc/weight weenie SS. Seemed like I was on the brakes the whole run down, and only hit the little jumps and very slowly rode all the drop ins. Oh well, I already registered for the SS. Next was the practice run on the Reign. I took most of the turns and drop-ins a bit faster, but still a bit slow. In hindsight, I should have been using this run to test my limits a bit more. I guess I'm learning how this DH thing works.

For the race run, I went a bit faster, but scrubbed way too much speed in about 3 or 4 corners that kinda bothered me. Hit all the jumps except for the gap/step up at the end (there were about 50 spectators that I didn't feel like hearing a bunch of oooohs from). Finished the run at 3:46, feeling like I could have easily done at least 5-10 seconds faster. After all the others in my category finished, I was still in first! Sweet, first win of the year! (1st / )

For the SS category, there was only one other competitor. He did his SS run first, and we were chatting before our second runs. He crashed, and finished at 4:10. So with this, I knew all I needed was a clean run. Well off I went, and I was feeling good. Surprisingly, I wasn't scrubbing as much speed in the upper switchbacks, and felt like I was moving at a similar pace to my regular run. Then I got to the tight, steep left handed turn/drop in. My front wheel got stuck in a rut that had gotten bigger since the first run, and I did a 3/4 endo. The bike bounced off the trail and I had to scramble a bit to retrieve it. Eventually got back on the bike, and took the rest of the run easy as I was a bit shaken up. Oh well, got a second place DFL (2nd / 2).

After the final and series results were posted, I found I am in third place for the overall category (despite only doing 2 of the 4 races), and in 4th for the SS category. So, hopefully I can make some moves up in the overalls on January 31st.

Also, congrats to Jeff Hecox for a podium in his first ever DH race also!

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Surf City CX #5 (Finals) report by Scott Schlachter

The last Surf City CX race was yesterday at Aptos High. They ran a version of what I think the typical course is "in reverse", which was kinda fun. Weather: perfect. Crowd: big. Times: good. Kids race: always a hoot. Coffee from the coffee stand, and burritos and tamales from the mexican food stand: AWESOME...

My race: I was in 4th place for the points series, and this got me into the
call-ups, which was cool. Keirin (in 3rd place) and I both sprint horribly
though, and I'd guess 3/4 of the field blew by us in the first hill. As typical
for me, I have a slow/painful first lap, do great in the middle laps, and
struggle in the last couple. I had a pretty non-eventful race, which was good,
and ended up in 10th. I think the long-@ss ride we did after the Hub meeting
only hurt me a little in the long-run - but I don't think it would have made any
difference for my placing. Keirin, the guy who was in 3rd in the points had a
good enough lead on me that I don't think I had much of a shot at all to beat
him in the final race, and I think a similar situation was between me and the
guys behind me. For the race, as typical, they only had podiums for 1st-3rd,
but for the larger classes for the series, they extended podiums and prizes down
to 5th. This boded well for me, as I got a few nice nick-nacks and a picture of
me on the podium in my TWW T-shirt (I had left my jersey back in the van, which
was too far away by the time I thought about it).

When the first posted the prelim results, they had missed me and the 9th place
guy in the 4th lap, so they had us down by a lap. So we were place wrong - but
they were quick to fix it and re-post the results which was very cool. Overall
these guys run a very organized race, very smooth with registration and results,
great coffee and food boothes, very cool free kids race, great music (there was
a DJ at this one). It was organized with a combo of the Vela Bellas and the
SCCC, who run the "Peak Season CX Races". Those races are still coming up, and
I plan to attend - highly recommended... First one is Jan 24 in Watsonville.
-Scott

Surf City series (photos, results, etc): http://www.cyclo-x.com/
Peak Season series: http://www.cyclocross.cx/

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Turning Wheels for Kids - By Matt Leonard

Ten of us showed up bright and early Saturday morning* to build a couple of bikes for deserving kids. I think all of us remember our first bike and the smile it
brought to our faces. I know I'll never forget my dad hiding a bike in my parents bedroom on christmas, and after moping around after watching my brother open all sorts of cool presents, my dad pointed out that he thought he saw something that anta might have left in their room on accident. (That Santa is one sneaky guy.).

Not everyone is able to afford a bike for their child, and thats where Turning Wheels for Kids steps in. Through donations and generosity from local organizations, TWFK was able to acquire over 2000 bikes this year. Problem is, they all need to be assembled, which requires 100s if not 1000s of man ours. That's were Team Wrong Way and many other great groups step up and offer their time and experience to help assemble these bikes. After it was all said and done, approximately 700 volunteers assembled 2258 bikes that will be delivered to children across the bay area just in time for christmas.

I think most of us use this event as an excuse to get together and visit with friends, and we sort of forget how important it is. But I'd like to thank Sue and all of the people involved with TWFK for putting this event together every year. Team Wrong Way first participated in 2006 and we were a title sponsor, even made it on the t-shirts! If I remember correctly, we built about 1000 bikes that year. The event has grown significantly since then but it's still very well organized and it is something we all look forward to participating in each year.

I took a few pictures which didn't come out too well, so I'll just steal some from our buddy at Fox, Frank Walden:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14055929@N07/sets/72157622992481348/

And here is a short clip from CBS 5 news I saw Saturday night:

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=59209@...

Thanks to everyone who was able to come out and help this weekend!

Matt

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Schlachter's crosscapades by Scott Schlachter

Anyhow - here's a nice looong rundown of my races thus far for anyone who might give a flying yahoo. It's long, so delete now if you'd rather eat a worm than read a cross report. All races except for the Halloween race were in Mens B 35+:.

9/5/09: LARPD #1 (Livermore): started the year with a 12/23 placing - almost perfectly at the mid-pack mark, which totally followed suit with how I did at almost every race last year. Sorta fun course, very flat though.

10/4/09: BASP#1 (MacLaren Park, SF): everyone told me this was a good "mountain
bikers course" going into it. I didn't get that... It had some switchbacks
going up, and some hillside singletrack, but no more single track than Aptos
high, and I thought it was pretty boring. Anyhow - pulled my usual mistake of
lining up too far back, and then cursing the Barny's who are going slow as
snails in every technical corner - this is always worse in the first lap - in
this case it was painfully slow. At one point I couldn't help myself and even
yelled out (to no one in particular) "if we were going any slower, we'd be going
backwards!". The guy behind me commented "and you'd be on the perfect team"
(TWW), which made me laugh. In the end, I suffered to get 33/76. Pretty darn
close to that half-way mark of 38th, but at least on the good side...

10/11/09: Surf City#1 Soquel High: I always enjoy racing at Soquel - not
necessarily because of the course, but because of the nostalgia/juxtaposition.
See, this is where I started High School as a freshman back in 1981. I only
went there for that one year (even longer story). This is where I went from Jr.
High Geek to High School Stoner. I used to hang out at the "smoking section",
which interestingly, is part of the typical cross course now... I'd smoke
cigarettes during breaks, and get high at lunch. This place is where I took a
wrong turn in life. At least I didn't totally fry my brain - For example, I
remember there was a major storm that Winter which devestated SC County. School
was closed for two weeks due to Aptos Creek overflowing and flooding downtown.
Anyhow, here I am now, 28 years later, happily married, three amazing children
of my own, solid career, happy. It's just trippy to go back there and race my
bicycle... OK, back to the present: this race was fun. At one point I lunged
ahead of a guy that kept skidding in the turns in front of me, almost causing me
to wreck into him (happened repeatedly). So, I got sick of it and finally
lunged in front of him right before one corner, and did the same thing to him
(sliding out right in front of him and slowing *him* down). I actually didn't
mean to slow down, but it happened, and apparently that pissed him off. Next
thing we're bumping elbows around the next few corners (this was in the
serpentine grass section). Another racer behind us actually told us to "settle
down guys". I was actually having fun, but we settled down. I let him
temporarily take the lead, but stole it back a few hundred yards later and I
never saw him again. I managed to get 10th/32 - the best I'd done in B's at
that point. Holy crap - I'm in the top third! Riley, Liam, Shaney and Aleah
cheered me on, then Riley and Liam raced in the kiddie cross race, got medals
and treats, and had a blast.

10/25/09: BASP#2, Coyote Point. One of my favorite cross venus. Fun course,
and the boys get to play at one of the coolest kid playgrounds I've ever seen
while I'm out racing. Poor Hane had a crash at his start, cracked his helmet
and looked like he ruuuung his bell. Sorry dude. I managed to get 25th/69,
sticking with the almost top-third theme.

10/31/09: Surf City#2 SC Fairgrounds(Halloween). Showed up in the family
minivan with the whole family in tow, right as the MM 35+ B's were taking off.
Damnit. OK, signed up for MM 35+ A's. Two goals: don't get lapped (by Don
Myrah), and don't DFL. I like that course. I managed to not get lapped (by Mr.
Myrah), and got 39th/44. Mission: accomplished.

11/1/09: Surf City#3 SC Fairgrounds. The day after - MUCH smaller turn out (and
I wondered how many of them were hung over :-)). No family this time, but I
baaaarely got there in time for MM 35+ B start. No warm up, registered and went
directly to the start line. I handed my wallet to one of the Bellas working the
start line (I think it may have been Miss Mary - not sure). Starting whistle
blows - damn I actually felt good. Maybe there is something to the
school-of-thought that you should get some short intensity riding in the day
before a race - Eric T. and Ross M. were telling me this after the previous
weeks' Weds South Bay Ride. Ended up getting 4th/20. Best place in B's yet.
In the last lap, I traded places with a guy I've gotten to know at the races
named Kieran Sherlock (nice guy - not related to Allan, but this guy is almost
as strong). I was ahead of him the whole race, and then he caught me in the
last lap and we traded places about 5 times, with him getting me the last time
just after the last hike-up. Podium went down to 3rd place, and he would have
won a nice big delicious looking bottle of imported beer, but wasn't present -
damn roadie...

11/14/09: BASP#3, Sierra Point. It's a little boring, and very flat, but for
some reason I kinda like that course. As Matt said, I managed 27/72 -
struggling a little behind that 1/3 mark... Scrounged a Grilled Bacon Chile
burger and fresh beer from the Team Sheilla Moon booth - ooooh that was good.
Then some spiced cider as it proceeded to get damn cold out there. Heckeled
Matt a little - I think he's getting slower. :-) It must have been freezing by
the time Allan raced (on his spectacularly beautiful new Ibis) - though I don't
see his time in the results - wussup???

Next up: BASP#4 at Golden Gate Park on 11/29. Last years course there was one
of the funnest...

Damn, that was a fun break from work... :-)
-Scott

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