Tuesday, January 30, 2007

RACE REPORT: Southridge Winter #2

The folks at dhReno have a cool writeup about the SoCal Southridge Winter DH #2 from last weekend. Wander over and check out the cool pictures and video.

2007 SSWC Dates Set

Looks like the Single Speed Worlds folks have set the dates for this year's event in Scotland:
That's right kids. You've probably already heard that the 2007 Singlespeed World Championships are to be held in Scotland. And now, the fine folks over there have finally announced some more details:

SSWC07 will be held on September 2, 2007 in Aviemore, Scotland. Fore more information, keep an eye on www.ssswc2007.com
It looks like Aviemore is about a three hour train ride from Edinburgh. Noticed over at Singeletrack World.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

2007 Sea Otter Super D Course Video

Although I can't determine it's authenticity, here is a YouTube video that purports to be the 2007 Super D course.

I only post it because it looks like where they would have the course and it's been posted by MotionBased, who often maps that course before the race for the Sea Otter folks.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

New Schedule for CCORC #3 TT & ST

Finally. After the long holidays break, the NorCal 2007 MTB schedule has commenced. The first races of the season are down in Fresno this weekend.

There have been some changes to this weekend's CCORC racing schedule. The time trial (Tri-Sport MTB ST #3) will stay on Saturday, January 27th, but will start 11:30 AM (registration). The short track race (Herb Bauer MTB TT #3) will be moved from Sunday (January 28th) to Saturday (January 27th) directly after the time trail (around 3 PM). Sunday will still be the cyclocross race (for those that ride that way). You can see the full day agenda at their website.

On a more somber note, the NorCal MTBers would like to send their best wishes to CCORC promoter John Fisher, who was involved in a serious skiing accident last week.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

2007 US MTB Nationals Qualification Process

US Cycling has posted the 2007 qualification process for US MTB Nationals:
The qualification procedures for the 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships at Mount Snow Resort in West Dover, Vt. July 17-22 have been finalized. Cross Country, Downhill and Dual Slalom are only open to competitors who meet qualifying standards throughout the season. The qualification period for the aforementioned three categories, which began August 1, 2006, ends July 15, 2007. The events that serve as qualifiers for the 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships include:
  • USA Cycling Mountain Bike State and Regional Championships
  • American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) events
  • USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar events
  • Alison Dunlap Junior Olympic Mountain Bike Series events
  • USA Cycling Mountain Bike Regional Development Camps
Additionally, all 2006 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Champions are qualified to compete in 2007. An event schedule for the 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, registration information and the event website will be announced the second week of February.
Hopefully, this will go more smoothly than last year.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

CHDH Registration Open

The registration for the three race downhill series that will comprise the Corral Hollow DH series is open. Registration will be handled by BikeReg at this page. Each race is $45 per rider and closes a week before the race.

The CHDH series will be held at Carnegie SVRA in Livermore, CA on April 22nd, June 10th and September 9th, 2007. Full information as well as last year's coverage is available in the archives,

Monday, January 22, 2007

Velo Promo Announces 2007 Glory Hole

Velo Promo has announced the 2007 Glory Hole MTB race. Scheduled for March 3rd, 2007 in Angels Camp, CA [ MAP ], this cross country (XC) race is described as a "7 mile rolling loop starting and finishing at Angels Arm. The same course as Iron Angel, but clockwise. Wide singletrack, narrow new track, 1 short paved stretch with uphill finish."
Event: Glory Hole MTB Race
Dates: March 3rd, 2007
Location: Near Angles Camp, CA [ MAP ]
Competition: XC
Cost: $20 by 2/23, $25 thereafter.
URL: http://www.velopromo.com/2007%20Schedule.htm
Registration: onsite
License: NORBA
Velo Promo has also scheduled the 2007 Iron Angels race. This race is NorCal MTB high school league. Same area, same course but on Sunday, April 22nd, 2007.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

New Tahoe Bike Park ?

The good folks at dhReno have a short story about people trying to get another mountain bike park (if you count the on-again, off-again NorthStarAtTahoe) going. Very preliminary, but still interesting. Check it out over at dhReno.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

2007 Downieville Classic Update

The folks over at the Downieville Classic have posted an update on the 2007 edition and it contains some interesting tidbits:
  • The race appears to be July 13 - 15 as we previously speculated. That would mean July 14th for the XC race and July 15th for the DH. This is still pending approvals.
  • They have announced Santa Cruz Bicycles as their title sponsor. This figures, SC has been a major player up there for a number of years and they also run Hell Week in the same area. It also doesn't hurt that Santa Cruz Nomad Posterboy Mark Weir wins there occasionally.
  • They've lengthened the DH run to included the Sunrise trail, which adds 2 miles of singletrack at the top, making it about 17 miles.
I think the most interesting bit of their update is thrown in at the bottom of the page though -
Stay tuned for Downieville Classic particulars, dirt on SBTS Mountain Epic rides, and the lowdown on the Sierra Crown trans-sierra mountain bike stage race.
The folks here at NorCal MTB Racing are wondering if the Downieville folks are telepathic or tapping our computers. Very, very interested in the stage race.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The Rise of the Ultra MTB Races

While it is very early in the new year, I think we are starting to see a clear trend for 2007 MTB racing: the rise of ultra marathon and stage races. Just this year, we have the following 100 mile plus races on the schedule:
  • Durango MTB 100: The Durango, Colorado MTB 100 begins at the base of Durango Mountain Resort and climbs to a summit of 11,500 feet in elevation in the San Juan Mountains. Riders can choose three courses; the 100 mile, the 100 kilometer course or the 50k course.
  • The National Ultra Endurance Race Series: Comprising of a seven 100+ mile races ( Cohutta April 21, Mohican June 2, Lumberjack June 16, Breckenridge July 21, Wilderness August 4, Endurance Aug 25, Shenandoah Sept 2), this series looks to crown the ultra endurance MTB racer. Most of the races are throughout the midwest.
  • The Endurance 100 also has there own series of endurance races, with a stage race at the end.
  • Leadville 100: Although Lance and Floyd might not be going head to head, you can still try and get into Colorado's toughest ultra MTB race.
  • The Trans-Iowa III: Covered here before, but a race across Iowa.
  • The Seven: A classic (but pricey) seven stage race from Victoria to Whistler, British Columbia.
  • The Cascade Creampuff: One hundred miles with 18,000 feet of climbing through the Cascade Mountains near Wilmette Pass, Oregon.
I am sure I am missing some. Anyone know of any 50+ mile races here in NorCal ?

Monday, January 15, 2007

2007 CCCX Schedule Changes

Keith over at Central Coast Cyclcross (CCCX) dropped me an email to say that he needed to make some changes to this year's CCCX XC and DH schedule. Here are the changes:
  • Due to the Firestone Walker and 24 Hrs of Andrenalin events, some of the dates have changed.
  • XC races #6 and #7 have changed dates. Race #6 is now May 19th (moved from April 27th) and race #7 is now June 3rd (from June 10th).
  • Sites for the XC races have been announced. All of the races are either in Fort Ord East Garrison or Toro Park.
  • DH race #3 has been moved from April 28th to May 20th.
  • There is a new opener for the DH races series on Saturday, Feb 17th
  • Announced the scoring for the XC and DH series: throw out the lowest score of the series except the final, highest total score wins. For the DH races, this is best of six. Best of nine for the XC series.
This makes the combined schedules for the XC and DH series look like this:
XC #1 : February 11 (Ft. Ord East Garrison)
DH #1 : February 17 (Toro Park)
XC #2 : February 18 (Ft. Ord East Garrison)
XC #3 : March 3 (Ft. Ord East Garrison)
XC #4 : March 10 (Toro Park)
DH #2 : March 11 (Toro Park)
XC #5 : March 31 (Toro Park)
DH #3 : April 1 (Toro Park)
XC #6 : May 19 (Toro Park)
DH #4 : May 20 (Toro Park)
XC #7 : June 3 (Ft. Ord East Garrison)
XC #8 : June 23 (Ft. Ord East Garrison)
DH #5 : June 24 (Toro Park)
XC #9 [XC FINAL]: June 30 (Toro Park)
DH #6 [DH FINAL]: July 1 (Toro Park)
I'll update the iCal schedule and sidebar with the new dates.

Friday, January 12, 2007

USA Cycling Announces 2007 Calendar

Well, a month or so after they announced it, here is the revamped 2007 USA Cycling MTB calendar:
After unveiling plans for a new season-long mountain bike initiative last October, USA Cycling announced today the 53 races that comprise the inaugural USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars.

With over $200,000 in prize money on the line, the calendars encompass all disciplines of competitive off-road cycling and are divided into three primary categories – cross country, gravity and ultra endurance ...

... Consisting of 29 events across 17 states, the cross country calendar kicks off March 25 with the Chickasaw Trace Classic in Columbia, Tenn. and stretches six months to the last weekend in October when the Piney Hills Classic XIV in Ruston, La. concludes the calendar. In between, notable events such as the Sea Otter Classic and the six National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) races from USA Cycling’s previous national series model are included.

Each of the 29 events on the cross country calendar is categorized according to the amount of overall ranking points available. Five category-1 events offer the most points – the Sea Otter Classic, the Snowshoe MTB Festival in West Virginia and the NMBS stops in Phoenix, Park City, Utah and Banner Elk, N.C.

The cross country calendar also includes three category-2 events, seven category-3 races and 14 category-4 events...

... The 18-event gravity calendar, which features downhill, 4-cross, super D and dual slalom events, will span 11 states. With similar category designations, there are six category-1 events and 12 category-2 events. Category-1 events include the Sea Otter Classic, the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, N.M., the Blast the Mass in Snowmass Village, Colo., the Mountain States Cup races in Telluride and Keystone, Colo. and the Rock MTN G3 Series Race in Angel Fire.

The ultra endurance calendar, which consists of 62-mile races, marathons and 12- and 24-hour races, includes six events. As in the cross country calendar, the gravity calendar and ultra endurance calendar will also crown overall champions at season’s end.

Here are links to all the 2007 MTB calendars:
See the full announcement here. I'll have more about this tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

2007 Sea Otter Discount

For those of you not on the MTBR.com newsletter, they are offering a "New Year's Sea Otter Classic Special" for a 15%-20% discount when you register online for the 2007 Sea Otter Classic.

To take advantage of the offer, visit the Sea Otter Classic website at www.seaotterclassic.com to register. Enter the following promotional code to receive your discount.
Promo code: 101007
You need to hurry to get your discount. This offer is only good from Jan 8th-12th, 2007.

Monday, January 08, 2007

2007 Buck Ridge MTB Race Announced

Spatdog.com is starting their season off early with the 2007 Buck Ridge MTB race on February 10th, 2007. The course is described as "8 mile circuit course. A rolling trail with short fast climbs and short fast downhills. Mostly single track sprinkled with fire road. Not real technical and an absolute blast to ride. Laps vary on category." Complete details on last year's race is available over on GeoLadders.com (although they may run it backwards this year).
Event: Buck Ridge MTB Race
Dates: February 10th, 2007
Location: Hensley Lake at Buck Ridge Recreation Area, near Madera, CA [ MAP ]
Competition: XC
Cost: $45 (Pro/Expert), $40 (Sport/Beginner), $25 (14 and under)
URL: http://www.spatdog.com/buckridge/buckridge.htm
Registration: http://www.spatdog.com/buckridge/buckentry.htm
License: None

PRODUCT REVIEW: Versus Trigger

An interesting review of NorCal's own Versus Trigger from the folks across the pond at Descent World.

Thanks to the vigilant people at Sick Lines for the heads up.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Team Bigfoot Announces 2007 Schedule

The good people up north at Team Bigfoot have announced their preliminary 2007 MTB racing schedule:
  • March 31: The Pre-Otter, Arcata (STXC)
  • May 26: 12 Hours of Weaverville, Weaverville (MA)
  • May 27: Gravity Day, Weaverville (SD, DH)
  • July 20-21: Bigfoot Classic (SD, XC, DH, STXC)
  • September 15: Whiskeytown Classic, Whiskeytown Lake (XC, DH)
  • October 6: Whiskeytown 9-5, Whiskeytown Lake (MTB Endurance)
  • October 19-21: Lagrange Fall Classic, Weaverville (SD, XC, STXC, DH)
There are still two events that need to be scheduled: the Humboldt Hoedown (SD, XC, STXC, DH) and the 12 Hours of Humboldt (MA).

I will have more details on these events as the details emerge, but in the meantime you can check out the archives on last year's events.

In addition to the mountain bike racing, Team Bigfoot also promotes a few road and cyclocross (CX) races. These races include: Tour of the Unknown Coast (Road Century on May 12), Arcata Downtown Criterium (Road Race on June 3), Redwood Cyclocross (CX on Oct. 28) and
Annual Stomach Churn (CX on Dec. 19th).

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

2007 Prairie City Race Series Announced

The folks over at racemtbikes.com have announced their Prairie City Race Series (PCRS) schedule for Spring 2007. There will be twelve weeknight XC races in this grassroots series (just like last year), with your ten best races counting towards your overall points series total. Every race has a different course design, but all of them consist of several laps (depending on skill) of two to four miles in length.

This season brings a few new rules to the series: mandatory upgrades, new point system for class changes and few category changes.

The dates for this year's Spring series are:
  • APRIL: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
  • MAY: 2nd, 9th, (NO RACE the 16th!) 23rd, 30th
  • JUNE: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
  • JULY: BBQ & Awards - (TBD)
As they say on the website: "2007 will be the 12th season of this grass roots event. Started back in 1995 by Sherwood Gibson of VENTANA MOUNTAIN BIKES USA as a way to give back to the community and for everyone to have FUN. The first races had 60 to 70 riders each week... today we regularly get over 250 racers!"

The races are held at Prairie City Off Highway Vehicle Park [ MAP ] near Folsom, CA (just east of Sacramento on Hwy 50). Prairie City OHV is a off-roads motorsports (i.e. Motocross) mecca where the annual Hang Town Motorcycle Races are held. You race over the same enduro style course, with numerous steep, short climbs and quick descents on the hardpack trail. Check out the race gallery photos for a better idea of the course conditions. Better yet, check out last year's archives and see GPS maps of the actual courses.
Event: Prairie City Race Series
Dates: April 4th - June 27th, 2007
Location: Folsom, CA
Competition: XC
Cost: $25 for the first time you race, $10 per race there after. Pre-register for a cool t-shirt and swag.
URL: http://www.racemtbikes.com/
Registration: http://www.racemtbikes.com/07reg.htm (and onsite before races)
License: none
I've raced Spring and Fall Series the last two years and thought these were some of the best races I did last year: Low key, fun, great course. And even on a weeknight.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

CHDH Announces Full 2007 Series

The folks over at RideSFO have confirmed the remaining two dates for the 2007 Corral Hollow Downhill (CHDH) Series:
  • Race 1: April 21-22, 2007 (previously announced)
  • Race 2: June 1-3 9-10, 2007
  • Race 3: September 8-9, 2007
The CHDH is held in Livermore, CA inside the Carnegie SVRA. Last year's single race attracted more than 100 riders. Full details on the events are posted on the CHDH 2007 Info page. For information on last year's race, check the archives.