Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing

On Sunday, Dec. 7th, I participated in the Series Finale of the Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclocross Series. All I can say is that I'm disappointed that I didn't figure out how much fun this racing is until the end of the series. I participated in the last two races (see previous blog report, Bay Area Super Prestige #4).

This time, for race #5, the Finale, I was ready to do better than my first race. The course was harder. Some longer flat sections, and some very steep, very short uphills...but lots of them. I thought with the climbs, I might do better, but these climbs are better suited for those who can crank out the watts for short spurts, not the true climbers. The weather was cool, the soil soft and loamy, tons of low speed tight hairpins, a looong sand pit, and wood chips everywhere -- that's right, wood chips.

I lined up, and like last week, got a pretty good hole shot. They called up the first 20 riders in the series, which obviously didn't include me, but then I nudged my way up and punched it at the start. I was probably in about 10th place when the course narrowed down. Since last week, I'd "Mastered" the barriers, which in my case simply means that I'm a Masters racer, and I made it over the barriers.

All kidding aside, I did much better in the barriers, my dismounts and mounts had gone from dismal to decent in just one week (I'm on the steep end of the learning curve in that area), and I fully expected to put in a better performance.

But alas, like last week, I started going backward. I ended up 26th, another mid pack finish, but came away with a smile on my face.

With a little work, and some better winter fitness, I should be able to move up substantially. I considered not writing a report for this race, but then I found some great photos from photographer Veronika Lenzi, which inspired me to post. Ronnie's got a ton of great photos on her site, including a great crash series where a rider rolls a tubular 'cross tire and endo's over the bars! Check out her photos of the race here:

http://www.veronikalenzi.com/basps52008.php

And check out a great video of the event from May Woo that really captures the spirit of the series. Serious fun:

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2466005&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Pilarcitos Cyclocross 2008 - Race #5 - Coyote Point from May Woo on Vimeo.

Two teammates participated in the series, so here's the end of season tally for CWC in the Bay Area Prestige Cyclocross Series. These are the results for the 5 race series. Note that on 3 occasions, Glenn participated in both the Single Speed and the 35+ A race. Nice work, Glenn!

Glenn Rawlinson 35+A, 5/5 races, 10th in series out of 72 racers
Glenn Rawlinson Single Speed, 3/5 races, 17th in series out of 65 racers
Rich Blanco Single Speed, 2/5 races, 24th in series out of 65 racers
Paul McKenzie 45+B, 2/5 races, 36th in series out of 66 racers

In September, I wrote a story of my experience with a guy who was on the show "Intervention." If you didn't read it, check it out here:

http://cwcracing.org/?section=blog&post;_id=2008/09/folsom-cyclebration-experience.html

Now it is barely 2 months later, and supposedly Chad is sober and back on his bike. Rumor also has it that he has also been signed to a pro contract! Judging from his condition in September, this is nothing short of a miracle.

http://californiabicycleracing.blogspot.com/2008/06/chad-gerlach-on-es-intervention.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-1155-Cycling-Examiner~y2008m11d28-Troubled-Chad-Gerlach-reportedly-returning-to-pro-cycling-with-Amore-e-VitaMcDonalds

Ahhhh, cyclocross in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mud, freezing temperatures, clogged up bikes. Not! Were currently experiencing one of the best Novembers (weather-wise) in memory. After a few gloomy, foggy days, the skies opened up for the Bay Area Super Prestige Series race #4 in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008. Sunny, with temps in the mid 60s and a tacky, moist, course made for awesome racing conditions. After threatening to race cross for about the last 6 years, I finally took the plunge. This was to be my rookie attempt at cross racing. My friend Zack was doing it, and racing in my category, so I had a buddy to roll with. I met Zack at his home in the Presidio (with amazing views of the Golden Gate bridge) and we rode to the venue, making for a nice warm-up through San Francisco streets on a beautiful Sunday morning. Race time for us was to be 10:00 A.M.

We lined up the start. My plan was to have an easy start, be safe, stay out of trouble, then move up if I could. It turned out to be the opposite. My racing instinct took over when I lined up. After the call up of the top 20 riders in the race series, I nudged my way up to the second row. Zack was behind me, egging me on, "Move up, get on the front!" When the gun went off, I was ready! I punched it for the first 200 meters, 100 meters gradual uphill on pavement, then leveling off for another 100 meters before turning onto the dirt. Ive got no sprint whatsoever, but somehow my hole-shot got me into 5th place as we entered the dirt. I was flabbergasted at being in such a forward position so quickly. Wow, maybe Im a good cross racer after all! Uhhh, maybe not. After that, I started going backward immediately. Zack passed me half way through the first lap and drifted forward, then others began passing. I found I could hold my own on the uphill sections, but lost tons of time in the transitions. My run-ups, mounts, and dismounts were dismal.

I settled into a good pace and held my own for the rest of the race, learning a lot, and having a ball. I finished 24th, about mid pack, a satisfactory effort for my first time. Its a great crowd out there and I look forward to doing more CX racing. The course in Golden Gate Park was awesome, and the organization of the race was dialed, thanks to Tom Simpson and his crew. My Scott bike was superb, and handled the course with ease.

Teammates Rich and Glenn, avid CX racers were there, and both had great days. Heres Richs report:

Pilarcitos Seizoen Zes #4 (Golden Gate Park) SingleSpeed 16/52

Racing in the heart of the city under sunny November skies is not to be missed. The Pilarcitos crew set up a nice ~6:30 to 7min lap which included a wide start/finish asphalt straight, several sandy/rooty sections, one barrier with short up, one mess with your head barrier aka groove killer, and a final climb to a double barrier before hitting the repeat button. My first laps were really consistent and I kept the top guys right in front of me, but never closed the gap which is a big mistake in CX. In the middle of the race, I took a nice fall (of course on my broken leg side), but slid out of it fine, and I ended up only losing some skin and contact with my little group of suffering. The rest of the race was just picking off geared guys and watching the top A guys come a flying by (that is really the best way to learn ... just get behind one of these rocket ships and hang on for dear life).

It was great seeing Paul and Zack out there and am looking forward to another brutal hour next Sunday at Coyote Point, San Mateo.

Later, Rich