RACES THE PAST TWO WEEKS

HERE ARE THE 13 RACES I'VE DONE WHILE IN CALIFORNIA

(Look closely, some number plates have multiple races done with them)


Its been a few weeks and as usual I have had a few races in that time as well...If you didnt hear the West Coast had a minor heat wave a week or so ago and the race last weekend (17th & 18th) was in the triple digits...it was (as Robin Williams said in Good Morning Vietnam)..."DAMN HOT"...The race was in Santa Ynez, south of here approx. 246 miles down by Solvang, Santa Barbara. It was actually held on the Firestones Vineyard property...VERY open...everytime I saw a tree in the distance I prayed the trail would go under it just to get a brief moments shade...didn't happen but like twice in the whole race...this race was a National Qualifier so important for me since I did so crappy at Sea Otter...I entered as Sport Single Speed and "officially" finished in 7th, so I will get my letter of invite to the Nationals...but there was definently "screw-ups" at the race. They had the beginners start directly after the sport, we all headed out group at a time with approx 2 min intervals (same as most races), BUT some of the differences were: they put colored dots on our number plates, one color for sport and a different color for Beg. This was to help the course marshall identify the racers as they came down the hill from doing the "Pro-Lap", which the Beg's did one then were sent left to do one lap around the long loop...the Sport group did 2 "Pro-Loops". So at the bottom of the hill we were to be directed to the RIGHT...well a number of Sport riders went LEFT after just one "Pro-Loop". Needless to say it really messed up the results, and in my class (Single Speed) we had problems...they STILL didn't get it right, but oh well...we ALL answer for our "karma" either here or at the Pearly gates.



Then Wednesday night the group from Boggs organizes an after work ride in Hayward/Oakland area at Lake Chabot...fantastic...we started at approx. 6pm and rode into the dark till 9:15pm... I think approx. 15-20 miles...I was with the "fast & fun" group...the trails were really fast even on the climbs...this will be my LAST ride in California this coming Wed. Kind of sad, just now starting to meet great riders and friends. We had a BBQ afterwards and forgot all about the time till the Police came by at just a couple minutes to 10pm to remind us about the curfew at 10...:)

This weekend is packed full of rides all over the Bay area and North as well as east into the mountains...what to do...well I stuck close to "home" and did my last race...felt really good and strong today...came in 5th, my best showing at the CCCX just another one or two and I might have been able to crack into the podium...:) It was good to attend, had a chance to say bye to some of the racers I've just breifly gotten to know...the course is the one that I pulled out of a month or so ago because of my heart, so it felt good to be able to complete it strongly today and feel healthy about it...Thanks to ALL of you that I got to know and compete with it's been a blast...will miss ya all, but as you know I have been getting VERY ANIXOUS to get home...funny I feel torn now between the "coast"...hmmmm.

BOGGS

Boggs was great...SWEETEST flowing single track since I've been here...they could have filmed "Roam II" on some f it...that's what it looked like from 4th in back watching those in front flowing down the trail....come into a turn, slight brake before, swoosh through, pedal hard and fast out, coast, hit the next turn, do it all again, over and over...the forrest was GORGEOUS redwoods, blankets of pine needles...my slid out felt those on some pre-existing scraps, that are now "NEW" again (can you say...SCREAM!)...but that only lasted for a few seconds until I was back up and feeling the sweep of the single track again...even the hills weren't to bad...and geez we climb to nearly 4,000', taller than anything back home! I was on my Cannondale so got to really put it to good use...and even kept it in the middle gear, seriously thinking of turning it into a 1X9, never felt any reason for any other gears but those...the SSing has really help that out... The group I got to ride with were great...really enjoyed making friends with them and look very forward to doing some more rides together...
Don't really know how it can get any better, each "free" ride keeps getting SWEETER, so we'll have to wait and see till the next ride...maybe end up going to Downiville, they say THAT is the place...
Till then, thanks to everyone, and you all enjoy the pictures on my "flickr" link...Ed

The Offical Results are in for Coolest 24/8

Here are the official results for my class at Coolest24/8 this past weekend...I'm pretty stoked about my turn out, I have worked hard to make improvements since I've been out here in Cali...thanks for everyones support....I am listed under 8 Hour Solo Single Speed:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pIh6QJpLLS40pth9QbFBSfg

The Coolest24/8 Hour Race is Completed

The Coolest24/8 Hour Race this past weekend was FANTASTIC!!!! There were so many things that made it so good…some were personal goals I had, LIKE FINISH… Also since as most of you know I have been riding and racing my single speed since I’ve been out here, doing an 8 hr endurance race first of all is a goal, secondly to actually do it and complete it was a huge goal…plus the 50 milers I did last year were completed in 8 hours so this would be a good barometer to beat those miles in that time frame…yes that is “back east” trails vs. here…I do believe though the total elevation out here in CA turns out to be more and I am on a single speed for this one vs. last year was on my geared bike…anyways I looked down at my odometer at 5 hours 35 minutes into the race and saw I had done 50 miles…with a total of 63+ miles completed...that really put a smile on my face…

This race was to have 100% of the proceeds (and many $1,000’s in donations) go to Cancer Research…what an awesome job they did…hoping to raise at least $55,000 (last year was $44,000)..I truly hope they did it…during the entire event, everytime you would think about this being a “Race”, there would be someone or something to remind you that there is more to it than that…there were and are many lives being touched by “the MONSTER” everyday, and that’s what this is all about…celebrate your lives that we can all be out there racing and celebrate those that are fighting, as well as those that fought harder than any of us did in the race to maintain their lives…Britney you truly are a worthy recipient of this years Cancer Cup…I was so glad I had on my sun glasses, as the tears flowed…What a fighter you are, your dad is blessed to have you…I wish I had the privelge to know you…I was very inspired during the race at all the photos on Memory Mile…I met a young lady along the race just prior to the pictures that told me the story of her father, as I did the same about my sister, we both I’m sure shared a tear or two as each lap passed and we said hi to our loved one along this stretch…it certainly kept me going strong up that hill to the drink station each and every lap…

The course was SOOOO Dry, it was incredible with the mass start the amount of dust that was in the air the first lap…some locations had so much dust I felt like a pilot flying into a cloud…the total unknown of what lay inside waiting…when we were all going across some of the meadows you could see the longest line of riders ever…with a huge bank of dust following…really an amazing site…and geez lets not forget what most all of us were breathing in…yikes…the course had some great spurts of single track blended in with some fun and fast downhill sections…got up to 34 mph on 2 of the sections each lap…”knickerbocker” creek proved well to “rinse” off the bike and quiet down all the grinding and squeeking it was doing from the dust bath…by the last 2 laps it was running smoother again…the hill climbs were more grueling after each lap…except of course the overall and class winner on the single speed a 19 year old young man that literally “BLEW” by me like I was standing still (probably was at the time) on his way UP HILL…and I saw him on his last lap today going almost as fast…amazing…

I met SO many great and wonderful people along the way…I don’t remember eveyones name, but hopefully if any of you are reading this, I’m the SS from back east out here temporarily…each and everyone of you were so encouraging and helpful, thanks…I was very impressed with the strength of so many riders, the hearts so big…what a wonderful sport we’re in…look forward to many more like this…

Seems after talking to the promoter Jim, after the awards ceremony today I might have been the only mess up to the results, but the time keeper, Carlos from Bike Monkey (hope I got his name right or I might not even show on the results next week at Lake Sonoma…Just kidding) wanted me to email him my name, number and class…the results showed me in open solo 8 hours at 24th position 5 laps 7:22…I should be Single Speed…putting me in at 5th out of 10 (unfortunately that messes up everyone elses spots, sorry everybody)..kick my butt next week, should be easy enough since it will be at Lake Sonoma…4 grueling laps there…whew…

Well check out my flickr site for pictures…I was busy racing so there are not a lot of “racers” in action, but enjoy anyways…Thanks.