2008 CCCX DH Finals Results

I'm still nursing my shoulder from a nasty digger I took yesterday, but I wanted to link over to the race results:

• Race 6 results have been posted
• Final CCCX Fall DH series results are also up.
• Rick R has posted all his photos over on his SmugMug site.

I am still combing through video but I should have video and my race report either tonight (... assuming I don't get drunk first) or tomorrow (assuming my hangover isn't too bad).

LAST WARNING: SSWC signups tonight !

Registration for the Single Speed World Championships 2008 (SSWC2008) in Napa, CA, USA, will open on January 1, 2008, at 12:00 a.m. pacific standard time (AKA: California time).

CCCX Fall DH Finals (live)

Just left the CCCX Fall DH Finals in Monterey and thought I would post a few pictures before I get home.

Curtis Beavers wrapped up the Pro series win with a win today over a visiting pro (didn't catch his name other than he was from Costa Mesa):

The course was pedal-ly at the top (with two big climbs), then a bit technical in the middle and then screaming fast on the bottom.

I'll have a race report, more photos and a lot of video later tonight when I make it back to the foothills.

Jacques-Maynes Wins CX Masters

Here's a happy ending to this summer's story about Andy Jacques-Maynes' crash:

"Andy Jacques-Maynes' debilitating crash during a cycling race last May left a sizeable dent in the steel light pole he hit. It did no damage, however, to the Capitola athlete's confidence.

After more than six months of intense recovery that started with Jacques-Maynes' biggest accomplishment being just getting out of bed, the cyclist achieved a lofty goal he'd set for himself long ago. Sloshing through an unpredictable course of mud and snow on Saturday, Jacques-Maynes won the Masters A 30-34 race at the National Cyclocross Championships in Kansas City, Mo." (Via SantaCruzSentinel.com)

You can check out Andy's account of the race over at his blog.

CCCX DH Finals Preview

This Sunday is the last MTB race of the year, the CCCX Fall DH finals:

The final race route of the CCCX Fall/Winter Series will be very similar to the final route used in the past two series final race. The finish will be in the Bessie Canyon Parking area, which is also where the series final awards will take place following the timed runs. The course starts out with a new section that is rocky and full of land mines. Then the course flows on to a long fire road, and there is some pedaling after the rocky start. Then the course switches off between single track and fire roads the rest of the 2 mile trail. This particular course will test a riders strength and speed, as well as turning and braking skills. Traction and dirt hookup will be awesome as recent rain has made the dirt grippy and ready to rip.

Also, get in a good cause to help a fellow rider:

Please be sure and help support "Mr E." by getting involved in the series final raffle in his name. The CCCX Series sponsors, such as X Fusion, have stepped up with some great prizes for the CCCX Series final raffle, so please be sure to purchase a ticket at registration. All of the funds raised in the raffle will go directly to "Mr E." who was hurt in a bad fall at another event up north.

2008 SSWC Registration to Open New Years Day

The folks behind this year's Single Speed World Championships (held in NorCal's own Napa this year) wrote in with some new information:

Registration for the Single Speed World Championships 2008 (SSWC2008) in Napa, CA, USA, will open on January 1, 2008, at 12:00 a.m. pacific standard time (AKA: California time). We will post an on-line form for people to fill out and email to us soon. Again, registration does not open until January 1, 2008 at 12:00 a.m. Any emailed registration forms prior to that date and time will be deleted. We will leave registration open until it fills up, maximum riders will be 350. Everyone will be emailed letting them know if they are in or out. If you are in, there will be instructions on payment via PayPal. Registration is $35 U.S. dollars. If you don't make it in, we still encourage you to come out and play that weekend anyway. There will be lots of rides going on all over the Bay Area. More details about the race weekend will be posted soon. Good Luck! Please forward to friends that might be interested and please post on blogs and websites, if applicable. We really want to inform as many as possible so that everyone has a fighting chance to get into the race. Thanks.
Curtis, Ken, Jeff, Andrew, Dennis & Mitzi

That means as soon as 2007 becomes 2008, registration opens. So put down the champagne and run to the nearest computer and register!

Shannon Ridge Showdown

After going through the 2008 USA Cycling schedules, it's a bit bleak for NorCal. About the only bright spot is the final race on the Ultra Endurance schedule: Shannon Ridge Showdown. Held on our vineyard property over looking Clear Lake, CA the 16 hour race course is described as:

"Very hard and hilly course with approximately 50% single track and 50% narrow fire access roads located completely within the Shannon Ridge vineyards. Race loop is 7 miles with approximately 1700 feet of climbing per lap. Climbs and descents through vineyards, spectacular views. Race will start in downtown Clearlake Oaks in front of the Shannon Ridge tasting room and travel 2 miles on flat pavement before turning left onto Morine Ranch road for the climb into the vineyards and to the start of the 7 mile race loop. There will be a ‘King and Queen’ of the Mountain award for the first male and female riders to reach the amphitheatre (880 feet of climbing in 1.5 miles)." (Via Shannon Ridge Showdown)

I'll post more information before the registration opens on March 1st, 2008.

Lloyd is back on the scene and making a big splash

Nice story on NorCal local MTB and CX racer Rachel Lloyd:

"With an upgrade to the professional ranks, Lloyd raced year-round for the next seven years. Every spring and summer was spent on the mountain bike (both cross country and downhill) for big pro teams like Gary Fisher, while fall and winter were reserved for cyclo-cross. She was a threatening force on the pro circuit, making regular podium appearances in all three cycling disciplines.
But in 2004, at the top of her career, Lloyd walked away. While typical post-career protocol includes overindulgence in food, drink and socializing, Lloyd simply carried on as normal - minus the racing. She continued working as a massage therapist, riding her various bikes on local trails and roads, running errands on her BMX bike, rock climbing, trail running and taking her motor-cross bike out for periodic spins."

(Via Marin Independent Journal - Christine Vardaros: Lloyd is back on the scene and making a big splash)

2007 CCCX Final Date Change

Just a quick date change for the last race on the 2007 schedule:

"The final race of the CCCX Fall DH series has been changed to Sunday 12/30/07.
Here is the number of awards by category."

Via 2007 Central Coast Downhill Race Fall Series website.

Buck Ridge Race (1 & 2)

Some more racing news from the Central Valley:

"Spatdog.com is kicking 2008 off with a Bucking BANG! The Buck Ridge Mountain Bike Race at Hensley Lake is on!  If you have raced our other events, then you have come to expect the unexpected and so be it!  We will be running the same course as last year only to run in the opposite way on May 10th for the second race at Buck Ridge in '08." (Via Buck Ridge Race, Hensley Lake, CA)

The course is described as "6 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." Here are the particulars:

Event: Buck Ridge Race
Dates: February 9 and May 10, 2008
Location: Lake Hensley, CA (north of Fresno)
Competition: XC
Cost: Pro/Experts = $45.00, Sport/Beginner = $40.00, 14 Under Beginner Boys/Girls 1/2 Lap only = $25
URL: spatdog.com
Registration: http://www.spatdog.com/buckridge/buckentry.htm
License: None

Sea Otter Update

Some updates on this year's Sea Otter Classic:

• Course Maps Delayed until March 14: "At the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), course maps for the Sea Otter Classic mountain bike and road race events will not be available until March 2008 ... As responsible stewards of our environment, we continually work with governing agencies to minimize our impact on our community ... Final course maps will be produced by Garmin and posted to the Sea Otter website on March 14, 2008." Via Sea Otter Course Maps Available March 14, 2008
• Campgrounds Status: "A", "B" and "C" campgrounds are already FULL. It looks like there are still a good selection of "E", "F", "G" and "H" which are on the other side of the track. Via Sea Otter Camping.
• Registration is open: check their page over at active.com.
• Discounted Hotels: Sea Otter has teamed up with a travel agency to provide discount hotel search. I used this a few years ago and saved some cash. Might do better with Kayak or Expedia these days tho.
  

More updates when we get into the new year.

2008 USA Cycling MTB Calendars

USA Cycling, the UCI MTB governing body here in the US (also referred to as NORBA), has announced their 2008 endurance (XC/STXC), ultra-endurance (8/16/24 hr and marathon) and gravity (4X/MTX, DH, SD, DS) schedules:

"With more than $150,000 on the line to off-road cyclists next season, the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars were announced today by the national governing body.
 
The 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross Country Calendar welcomes eight new events and features four UCI-sanctioned races and the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. The calendar begins in early spring with the 20th Annual Keyesville Classic in Lake Isabella, Calif., March 15-16 and concludes seven months later with the Piney Hills Fall Classic in Ruston, La., Oct. 25-26.

The National Gravity Calendar also opens with the Keyesville Classic in March before concluding with the Whiteface Third Annual 5k Downhill in Wilmington, N.Y. on Aug. 31. New events include the Keyesville Classic as well as the Sol Survivor in Sol Vista, Colo., the Third Annual Capital Cup at Wisp in McHenry, Md. and the Sol Squared, also in Sol Vista, Colo.
 
After featuring six events last season, the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Ultra-Endurance Calendar will include eight races. Added to the Calendar next season are two national championship events – the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships in Breckenridge, Colo. on July 4 and the USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships in Wausau, Wis., Aug. 2-3. The last event on the Calendar – the Shannon Ridge Showdown in Clear Lake Oaks, Calif., Oct. 18-19 – is also new. Once again the Calendar begins with the Mas O Menos 100k in Terlingua, Texas, Feb. 14-16.
  
For compete 2008 calendars, click on the corresponding links below:
2008 MTB National Cross Country Calendar (PDF)
2008 MTB National Gravity Calendar (PDF)
2008 MTB National Ultra-Endurance Calendar (PDF)"

View the press release over at USA Cycling website (2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars announced). I'll have some analysis of the calendars this weekend.

2008 Downieville Update

It looks like there is a date for the Downieville Classic registration:

"RACE REGISTRATION IS SET TO OPEN APRIL 21st at 8:00PM. FEELIN LUCKY? ALL-MOUNTAIN RACE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE SOON - STAY TUNED!"

(Via Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival)

2008 Mammoth Bar DH Series

Information and solid dates have been posted for the inaugural Mammoth Bar DH series near Auburn, CA:

"This new and very challenging Downhill race series is held in the heart of the gold country ... The Mammoth bar OHV area is part of the Auburn State park recreation Area. It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills about thirty miles northeast of Sacramento ... We are shooting for the best combined time of two runs. We will be using either stonewall to rocky or murderers to rocky.

This will be a three race DH series over the summer. At the end of the series the top 5 with the most points in each category at the end of the series walks away with some great awards and prizes. (Prizes yet to be decided). June 7th being the 1st race date and July 26th, and August 30th.

A very cool Mammoth bar DH series t-shirt and free shuttles, two runs in one day in a great mountain setting alongside the Middle fork of the American river. More information will be coming your way in the weeks to come."

Via Global BioRythm Events website.

CX US Nationals Champs Crowned

CX Magazine has the scoop on this weekend's US National Cyclocross Championship in Kansas City:

"Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) returned to normal winning ways with her fourth national championship today in muddy and icy conditions. Unlike her last three championships, she had strong competition from a determined Rachel Lloyd (ProMan), who closed within 15 seconds on the last lap after Compton has a slight bobble with less than a half lap to go. Lloyd, from NorCal, surprisingly loves the snow and ice, and the conditions allowed her technical mountain biking skills to propel her past all the favorites except Compton." (Via Nats Champs Crowned: Compton 4-peats, Johnson Survives : Cyclocross Magazine)

Go check out the videos over at CX Magazine.

2008 Singlespeed World Championship Dates !

Just as I was about to post a bunch of boring links to tied you over for the weekend (don't worry you'll get them this weekend), this popped up in my rss reader:

"Stay tuned...In between training and pre-riding the course, we're also working on this here website ... dates confirmed Aug. 23 - 24, 2008" (Via SSWC08==>Napa, California)

and then this:

"I could give you a lot of details, but then it wouldn't be the SSWC. Some things have to stay cloaked in darkness for little while. We will have more details around the first of the year for everyone, including registration. The venue is Skyline Park, one of my favorite places to ride. Get to know poison oak and dry heat. It is a hard course and we are already thinking about prizes for those who actually finish all three laps. We want to set up rides every day leading up to the race and a few afterward too. We really want to show our out of town friends what it's like to ride in Northern California. We have enjoyed such great times from our hosts at other SSWC cities and want to share what we call home with those who make the trek West" (Via Dirt Rag {Web Rag})

Judging by the website, it looks like the SSWC08 organizers are on the ball with their preparations for this year's event in Napa, CA.

Cool MTB Race Open For Registration

The Cool Mountain Bike Race is now open for registration.

2008 World Championships DH & 4X Preview

Low quality but interesting video that previews next year's UCI (world) championship downhill and 4X (mountaincross) courses:

2008 Team Bigfoot Schedule

Team Bigfoot has announced their 2008 Endurance (6 / 8/ 24 hour) and MTB schedule. The schedule is similar to year's past, with the glaring exception of the Bigfoot Classic (It appears that the rumors on it's demise were true). On the plus side, it looks like there might be a new six hour endurance race.

MOUNTAIN BIKE EVENTS

• 03/29/08: Pre-Otter CANCELLED - Short-Track XC (Arcata, CA)
• 05/25/08: Gravity Day - Super-D, Downhill (Weaverville, CA)
• 09/19/08 09/27/08: Whiskeytown Classic - Short-Track XC, Super-D, Cross-Country (Whiskeytown Lake, CA)
• 10/17/08: LaGrange Fall Classic - Super-D, Cross-Country, Short-Track XC, Downhill (Weaverville, CA)

MOUNTAIN BIKE ENDURANCE EVENTS

• 05/24/08: 12 Hours of Weaverville (Weaverville, CA)
• 08/09/08 08/16/08: 12 Hours of Humboldt (Arcata, CA)
• 08/09/08: 24 Hours of Humboldt * (Arcata, CA)
• 09/06/08: Clikapudi Six to Midnight (Shasta Lake, CA)
• 10/06/08: Whiskeytown Nine to Five (Whiskeytown Lake, CA)
• 10/06/08: 24 Hours of Whiskeytown * (Whiskeytown Lake, CA)

* These events are tentative pending sponsorship & city approval

2007 CCCX Fall DH #5 Results

Today's CCCX DH Race #5 results have been posted. Congratulations to the following Pro/Expert winners:

• Pro/Semi-Pro Men: Curtis Beavers (Specialized/WTB)
• Pro/Semi-Pro/Expert Women: Jen McNiven (TrailHead Cyclery)
• Expert Men (19-34): Kevin Drake (Specizalized Bicycles)
• Expert Men (35-44): Keith DeFiebre (Calabazas)
• Expert Men (45-54): Patrick Tidd (BTU)

Rick R has posted his photos from the race.



The photo above is from Rick's collection.

CCCX DH #5 Preview

The course preview for the CCCX downhill #5 is up:

Course Profile Race #5: The race route for CCCX DH #5 will be the longest course, in distance and time, used so far in the 2007 Fall/Winter Series. The course opens up with some brand new twists and turns on a steep faced hill. These turns are of the high speed variety, yet are also off-camber in some sections. This will be a test of traction and breaking ability. The course then features fire roads and single track for over two miles to the finish. The dirt should be at its best condition of the season after the expected moisture and rain waters things down. Please follow all of the Toro Park rules when using this great riding area.

Please be sure and help support 'Mr E.' by getting involved in the series final raffle in his name. The CCCX Series sponsors, such as X Fusion, have stepped up with some great prizes for the CCCX Series final raffle, so please be sure to purchase a ticket at registration. All of the funds raised in the raffle will go directly to 'Mr E.' who was hurt in a bad fall at another event up north.

This is the last race before the CCCX finals at the end of the month.

2008 24 Hours of Adrenalin™ Schedule

The folks at 24 Hours of Andrenalin have announced their 2008 schedule:

• 04/26/08: Hurkey Creek Park Spring (SoCal)
• 05/03/08: Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA)
• 07/26/08: World Solo 24 hour Championships (Canada)
• 07/26/08: Canmore Nordic Centre (Canada)
• 09/19/08: Hurkey Creek Park Fall (SoCal)
• 10/04/08: Georgia International Horse Park (Georgia)

It looks like they cut back to one NorCal race in Monterey this year.

Boggs III Open

Boggs III registration is open:

"

Boggs III is Open!"

(Via BikeMonkey.net)

CCORC Winter Schedule

The Central California Off-Road Cyclist (CCORC) have announced their 07/08 Short Track Series:

• SATURDAY December 15 MTB ST #1
• SUNDAY January 13 MTB ST #2
• SUNDAY February 3 MTB ST #3

Check out their website for more information at http://www.ccorc.com/.

Velo Promo Announces 2008 MTB Races

Velo Promo has announced their 2008 MTB schedule:

• March 8, 2008: Iron Angels Mountain Bike Race
• April 27, 2008: Glory Hole MTB Race

These are their traditional two MTB races. Both events take place at New Melones Reservoir (Glory Hole area), Angels Camp CA [MAP].