Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing

Paul McKenzie (l) and Rick Reynolds (r) race side by side through the chicane in the crit
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

The Northern California District Master's Championships takes place each year with a Saturday road race on the beautiful Diamond Valley loop near Woodford's, CA, followed by a criterium on Sunday in Minden, CA. The CWC team had a few takers that made it out to both events, and although no medals were brought home, we had numerous top tens for a strong showing. There was also a Cat 3,4,5 race added for Elite racers and Matt and Ben raced, but at this writing we have no results or reports from them. Here's the tally:

Road Race

• Rick Reynolds (50+) 4th
• Andy Scott (35+) 7th
• Paul McKenzie (55+) 10th

Criterium

• Ramsey Etchison (40+) 4th
• Paul McKenzie (55+) 8th
• Rick Reynolds (50+) 21st

Paul McKenzie Road Race Report

I'm looking forward to racing with Rick in the road race, but the fields for 50+ and 55+ are so large, that a request by Larry Wolff to the officials to split the groups is granted just before the race. I have mixed feelings. The course is 11 miles, and features a gradual downhill, followed by two stiff climbs in succession that are a few minutes long each, then a gradual uphill to the finish. Not a climber's course by any means, but the big guys will be dropped if they can't climb. We'll do 4 laps.

We go over the climbs the first time and a third of the field is dropped. A dog runs out in front of the group on the downhill on lap two, but disaster is averted through good communication in the pack -- we see it coming and everyone is shouting out warnings.

Peter Taylor (Reno Wheelmen) gives me the eye hoping I'm hurting as much as he on the climb. I am.
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

Next time over the climbs a few more are dropped, but I'm still good. Third lap is really hard as the attacks begin. It gets really twitchy before the climbs on the last lap and I'm attentive and stay at the front. We're down to a dozen guys. Last time over the climbs inflicts serious pain but it becomes clear that this dozen will go to the line together.

Attacks happen in the final few kilometers before the finish but nothing sticks except for one guy who manages to slip off the front when nobody wants to chase. The rest of us sprint for the line in a messy fashion. Centerline rule applies and it's a narrow road. I get bumped twice by Mac Carey, the second time he knocks my bars with his hips and I struggle to keep it upright. My only opening is in the right gutter so I go for it. Unfortunately, a dropped P 1,2 woman with another lap to go is right on the finish line (right gutter) rolling at a snail's pace. I shut down my sprint as others fly by and have to settle for 10th. Oh well.

Rick Reynolds Road Race Report

It was my first time racing on the Diamond Valley course and all in all I would say it's a fair course. It does its job separating the athletes who have good form and those who don't.

In the 50+ race World Champion Rob Anderson went on a flyer after 2.5 laps (4 lap race) and took the win uncontested.

Rick rides in the bunch up the climb on an early lap
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

On the final lap I attacked with full gas on the last climb and splintered the field. My goal was to try and put the hurt on Rob's teamate (and also World Champion) Larry Nolan. When it came time for the field sprint Nolan went first and won the field sprint and ended up 2nd. I was boxed in but still muscled out a 3rd place...... but was relegated to 4th after being pushed over the center line. Somewhat frustrating when the cyclist who pinched me should have been relegated for blocking. Thus is bike racing.

In the end, I feel realy good about the 4 day stage race I'll doing in Vermont first week in Sept.

Andy Scott Road Race Report

I ended up 7th. Andres Gil rode away on lap 3 climb, another gear. Two other guys were up the road who I was told were strong . . . all the guns seem to know who each other are . . . Me and 3-4 other guys did work, but not great organization. We mowed down the guys that werent Andres as they blew in the heat/wind. On lap 5 I looked back and noticed that the field of 50 was down to 8. So short of an implosion on my part " which was no given " I would hit my goal of top 10. On the final lap (six) two guys rode away separately, not even attacking just kind of rode away. Nobody said anything . . . silent and tacit acknowledgment that we were all smoked . . . so there went 2nd and 3rd. The sprint was funny, a bunch of guys moaning and groaning in slow motion. Anyway, 7th. Awesome race. Hard. Talented and strong field and no bullshit. I have only one more year for the 66 miler!

(ed. note: I guess this means Andy is looking forward to getting older.)

Andy Scott lays down the big effort at Diamond Valley Road Race
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

Paul McKenzie Crit Report

The wide angle lens makes Paul's thighs and calves look massive
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

Last lap I do my best to move up as much as I can, taking the risky inside line on the turns and staying hard on the pedals. I do the best I can on the sprint having no idea where I end up until the results are announced. I finish 8th, which is great news for me. We average 26 mph during the race covering 22 miles in 50 minutes.

Ramsey's Crit Report

I got 4th in the 40+ field. super fun course. We did 24 miles in our 50 minutes. I achieved a new max heart rate today by 5 beats. Yahoo... I guess? Also today should get me my 2 points to upgrade with!!!!!!

Ramsey rips through the chicane doing the Oakley glasses proud
Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

Fun watching the incredible hulk. Really fun watching Paul and Rick race. You guys rock.......
(ed. note: Thanks for the cheers Rams!)

Special thanks to Tommy Compton for these great images. See images of other racers on Tommy's site:

• Diamond Valley Road Race
• Minden Park Criterium

Katerina Nash, Sidnee Riley, Paul McKenzie in Virginia City, NV

Today I had the pleasure of competing in one of the Reno Wheelmen Hill Climb Series Race, the Geiger Grade Hill Climb. This wonderful climb ascends from South Reno up to Geiger Summit near Virginia City. It was a "B" race for me, just go out and have fun and get a good work out. But it turned out to be more than that. A revelation about racing and a good time with friends. Read on...

I send a note out to teammates saying I'm heading to the Geiger Grade Hill Climb, any takers? No response. Oh well, I'll just go at it alone. I arrive at the start and register. These events are sooo low key. Just show up day of, no pre registration, no full categories, etc. Give 'em yer 20 bucks, show your racing license, sign on the dotted line, and you're good.

Pulling the bike off the car my friend Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) walks over and says hi. Immediately after, friend Nancy Farzan (Velo Bella) also walks over to greet. We hatch a plan to ride on to Virginia City after the finish, check out the sights, then return via a back road recommended by Katerina, the Louiseville loop. Sounds like great fun!

Women's winner Katerina Nash at the summit

The climb is just shy of 8 miles and rises 2100'. It's never steep so the climbing speed is fairly high. Definitely some wind today but nothing devastating.

My start time is 9:16. I roll out of the start and tick off a nice tempo pace.

Out of the saddle big-ringing the climb

Photo Courtesy Tommy Compton

I've learned not to go out too hard on a TT. I slowly ease my HR up to threshold, about 168 bpm. I start passing riders very shortly (riders go off at 30 second intervals). A few minutes in, one rider passes me, which is demoralizing at the time, but he ends up being the only one who passes me. Meanwhile I keep passing riders and quite easily achieve my goal of sub 40 minutes with a time of 38:01. Keep in mind Bobbie Julich's record on the course is just under 30 minutes! Geez. We don't get Katerina's time at the top, but to use a term I learned from teammate Ben Ragains, I'm certain I got "chick'd."

(ed note: Katerina finished in 34:13, for 7th overall and 6 minutes faster than the closest woman!)

When I arrive at the top, Katerina (overall women's winner) and Nancy are waiting. We head on to Virginia City and stop for some liquid at an ice cream parlor. In walks a cowboy with two 'for real' six shooters on his belt. We strike up a conversation with him and have some fun taking photos with Nancy's iPhone.

Sidnee shows off the six shooter

He's interested in our bikes, so we show him. He asks how much they weigh as he lifts my Scott Addict. I ask him how much his two .357 six shooters weigh. "12 pounds," he says. "My bike weighs not much more that that," I reply.

Lifting the Scott Addict is effortless

We then return via the Louiseville loop with some wild horse sightings and a mellow ride through a remote neighborhood I didn't know existed.

Nancy Farzan with the Gunslinger

Just have to say that doing a fun, low key "B" race and doing a nice cool down ride with friends afterward can make for a pretty nice day on the bike. It's a revelation how much fun a low pressure race can be, and a hill climb with just you and the clock creates a no pressure situation vs. racing in a pack. Special thanks to the Reno Wheelmen for putting on these cool, low key events that make bike racing accessible to everyone.

Photos courtesy Nancy Farzan

Action Photo courtesy Tommy Compton

I raced Downieville (XC, Expert) on Saturday. First Dville, first Mountain Bike race. No course pre-ride. No goals other than don't destroy body or bike and *have fun*. Mission accomplished -- but easier said than done. Ended up 11th, which I'm still strangely pleased about . . . or don't care about. This day is the epitome of the experience -- the journey -- trumping any goal. Bike racing can cloud that life maxim but it shouldn't. I won't go deep in detail here as others will and it is not my story -- but some teammates got hurt on the course (they are ok now overall). Perspective. I can say that this was one of the best days of bike racing I've ever experienced blowing away many where I exceeded my expectation in results (including winning - the ultimate goal -- right?). Awesome. Random thoughts and observations:

*This is beyond a race. The day reminded me more of a ski mountaineering adventure/epic. Sensory assault. Physical and mental suffering, incredible highs and lows, every moment rich and layered and deep . . . a trip.

*Wow am I slow on the descent . . . to get better here is some combo of growing sack, practice -- at speed -- on more technical terrain than I typically ride, pre-riding course/course knowledge. Bike/gear is no excuse . . . dudes on hardtails (Conrad/Matt) smoked me. Did I mention this was my first Mt bike race . . .

*The post race scene in Dville is beyond awesome. No cars (mine was 13 miles away in Sierra City at the start). Post race endorphins. Teammates/friends and sharing stories. Cold beer, food, bike, bike, bike. Tiny old town. Cold clear river. Bike jump arial show into river. On and on

This event is firmly on the annual calendar, hopefully for the whole family next year. Riding back to my car late in the afternoon (shuttle bailed, I didn't care?) looking forward to the short and beautiful drive back to Truckee and hanging w/ my family I felt incredibly humbled and fortunate and just stoked . . . still buzzing 2 days later.

AFTER SOME MORNING PAN HANDLING AND A FALAFEL

BURRITO I PUT ON MY NEW LUMA SKIN SUIT

AND RACED THROUGH THE STREETS OF SAN RAFAEL.

ALL ABOARD!!!!!!

VONRAINBOW ANDTHE NEW SENSATION.

ATTACKING!

TURN FOUR HAD RHYTHM, OUT OF A DOWN INTO AN UP.

SECOND PLACE GOT ME FIVE POINTS CLOSER AND TWO POINTS AWAY.

THE WINNING LOOK.

THANKS OAKLEY.

This article was originally published in the Friday July 10th 2009 edition of the Lake Tahoe paper, the Sierra Sun.

on my bike

he spoke in words

I didn't know

on my bike

a boy teenage riots

his parade on fire

on my bike

laying in the grass

in a secret location

on my bike

I remember

on my bike

someone else's face

behind the boys laughter

on my bike

he used to scream

in public places

on my bike

those sad soft eyes

it's all right

on my bike

tying moonlight in knots

instead of resting

on my bike

his romantic melancholy

his addiction

on my bike

it's safe today

Team rider Ramsey Etchison is the author of this week's Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing column. Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing (www.cwcracing.org) is a Truckee-based cycling team focused on racing and local bike advocacy.

This article was originally published in the Friday July 2rd 2009 edition of the Lake Tahoe paper, the Sierra Sun.

About 20 local hardcores hit the first ride/race in the Chickadee Underground Series last Sunday. It's a 52-mile epic link-up of much of the best North Tahoe single-track one can ride, rolling from and returning to Blue Coyote in Truckee. A fantastic outing.

Most got a little lost or had mechanical issues " or both. That is to be expected. A few had slightly more experience with the route and blazed it. In the end all persevered and ended up back at Blue Coyote for beers and food that never tasted so good.

It was great preparation for Downieville.

Downieville Downhill, Death Ride and the Tour de France

The Downieville Downhill takes place in the Downieville/Sierra Buttes area the weekend of July 11. Winners will be able to climb and descend. Reports are the wet spring has the course in fantastic shape. Come to race, stay for the scene, check out the carnage.

Also next Saturday, July 11, is the Death Ride out of Marklieville, which earns its name from its 130 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing. So road or dirt, you've got your choice of epics.

On the larger stage " make that the largest stage " the Tour de France starts July 3.

Lance Armstrong makes his return to the most prestigious bike race on the planet. Can the former best stage racer in the world win an unheard of eighth title " with the world's current best stage racer, Alberto Contador, on his own team?

This is a great story if nothing else. I say Contador blows his doors off, and, well, he should. Lance is old. Come on! The race airs every day for about a hundred hours on the Versus channel. If you've got a DVR, record it " this is the best way to catch the critical race deciding action, assuming you have some other semblance of a life and schedule for the month of July.

That being said, kick back and relax for a full four to six hours on a few days and take it in like the French " as it unfolds. Slow down and take a virtual spin with the peleton through the gorgeous French countryside. You'll be stoked to get out and ride yourself!

The local road report

Of course the north shore of Donner Lake has been under construction all spring and summer and a nightmare to ride. But, that has led many to discover the awesome route around the south shore of the lake.

The road dead-ends for cars (not bikes) at the state park, so vehicle traffic is minimal. There are more joggers and bikes than cars. And now, the north shore construction is getting very close to being done. It's wide and smooth, and a bike path stripe to come!

At least as of July 1, riding clockwise around Donner Lake was awesome. Do it in the morning when the lake is glass and traffic is light and the temps are in between the chill of night and heat of the afternoon. Wave to everyone. Do it alone or with friends, on anything with two wheels.

Wow, that was sweet, let's do it again.

Team rider Andy Scott is the author of this week's Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing column. Cyclepaths/Wild Cherries Racing (www.cwcracing.org) is a Truckee-based cycling team focused on racing and local bike advocacy.

I'm bummed that I missed Leesville Gap this year, especially with the contingent of CWC racers that went down... oh well.

Davis

I had never raced this crit before, and was a little concerned about the heat prior to getting there.... it wasn't too bad. Since there is a lot of prize money and some big premes thrown out (2 for $650 each!) there was a strong pro showing there, including Crit National Champ Rashaan Bahati. The course is pancake flat and L shaped... not too technical, and FAST. I worked my way up near the front of the 100+ strong field, and tried to attack and cover breaks. In these races I usually figure that my best chance for a good finish is to get in a breakaway, so that's what I was determined to do. Nothing got more than a 10 sec. gap on the field for the duration of the race. By the end I had wasted myself trying to bridge to worthless breaks, and didn't have much left in the tank. My only hope was to keep myself in really good position for the final few laps, so that's what I tried to do. With 2 to go, I am sitting in about 10th wheel and feeling good about my positioning. The Bahati comes bulldozing through the middle of the field, knocks my handlebars with his hip, and I go flying out of position and lose about 10 places. Then I manage to regain my composure, but with about 1/2 lap to go, my front wheel is totally chopped out from under me. I think it was airborn, and my body moved sideways, but somehow I managed to bounce off of the guy next to me and keep it upright. Of course this ruined my chance for a good sprint, and I ended up rolling in at 27th... money to top 20, crap. Next year I am going to sit in during this race and wait for the final sprint, since apparently breakaways never stick.

Photo courtesy Garrett Lau

Oakland

Never heard of this race. Deep in the heart of downtown Oakland... The course was neat, with a nice long, fast gradual uphill and a downhill section. A few technical sections, but not to the point where the course was sketchy. I like these kinds of courses, they weed out the fat guys (Davis didn't). Just as I did yesterday, I tried to maintain good position near the front to cover attacks and try to make some on my own. The down side of racing with no teammates is that you can't possibly cover every attack on your own, and in races like these the breakaway always stays away. I got into a couple of moves early with some strong guys, but got pulled back. The one that stuck was the one that I missed.... 5 or 6 guys got away. The peleton took turns attacking each other and taking pulls to bring back the break, but I figured that they were gone. With about 10 laps to go, I look back to survey the damage to the peleton, and only about 15-20 guys from the original 70+ remain! It was a tough course to try to sit in. For some reason, a fire truck decides that it would be faster to move the course barriers and travel directly through the course instead of turning either right or left and going around it. According to some of the guys in the breakaway, they were almost taken out by the fire truck. Good old Oakland... This disrupted things for them, but didn't affect the peleton too much. We caught the break with 5 to go, but allstar Chad Gerlach and another solid pro Daniel Ramsey managed to stay away. I kept myself in good position for the final uphill sprint and hung in for 6th!... just missed 3rd by a few feet.

Photo courtesy Garrett Lau