2008 SSWC Results

I haven't seen anything official (or as official as things ever get from the single speed folks), but it appears NorCal native Rachel Lloyd took the Women's Single Speed World Championship and Carl Decker won the men's.

Here are some links to run down what went down this weekend:
MTBR SSWC 2008 thread
SSWC 08 ... Oh Snap !
Jacquie Phelan's SSWC roundup
Single Speed Tandems ?
Carson Blume's blog and photos (thanks for the links, Carson)
Tatoos ? More Tatoos ?
Nicola's photos
Swobo Wrapup

Oh, and it looks like 2009 Single Speed World Championships are bound for Durango, Colorado.

Truvativ HammerSchmidt

So I've seen a lot of press on this new crankset, but sick Lines has posted a really good review/explanation that shouldn't be missed:

"It’s not every day that you get to ride something as unique as the Truvativ HammerSchmidt. What Truvativ has designed, a planetary gear system, is impressive to say the least."

Via Sick Line's Preview: Truvativ HammerSchmidt.

Jeep 48 Straight on TV

I think this is the successor to the Jeep Challenge, which has been televised in the past:

"I could get used to watching BMX and mountain biking on television and fortunately there’s more to come after the Olympic coverage this month. CBS Sports will be airing coverage from 3 stops on the Jeep 48 Straight mountain bike series this fall on Sept. 28, Oct. 12, and Nov. 1. Unfortunately all the TV coverage airs well after the events so we’ll try to give you a spoiler alert here on the blog when we start talking results.

Speaking of Jeep 48 Straight, there are finally some details posted over the on the website including information on musical acts and race event times and riders. If you live anywhere near the tour stops this year (Vernon, NJ - this weekend!; Park City, UT; San Luis Obispo, CA) try to make it out and share your pics with us!"

Via More MTB on TV

2008 PCRS Fall Flash #1 Results

Results from Wednesday night's PCRS Fall Flash #1 have been posted.

Congrats to Matthew Obregon and Shayna Powless who won the Men's and Women's Expert Plus categories.

Photos are available at the PCRS website.

RACE REPORT: Prairie City Fall Flash 1

Since it was the start of the fall season at Prairie City weeknight races, I dragged my lazy ass decided to go out and get in some practice for the upcoming fall races.

It was standard Fall Flash fare: smaller crowd (maybe 150 people and only 12 in my Sport class), shorter course (3.25 miles/lap) with a bit less climbing (300' per lap). All of which fit me fine, since I hadn't raced in a bit.

My race actually went really well. The course was fast but a bit technical (sandy with sharp turns) in a few places. I was able to stay with the lead group in class for the first lap, drifted a bit back over the next two laps (+1 and +2 minutes per lap for the second and third laps :( ). However, I felt relatively good and probably placed better than usual. The only downer was a fairly epic digger that I took, literally on the last UPHILL. Not quite sure what happened -- was out of the saddle peddling hard and the front tire must have washed out in a rut. Whatever if was, I was down in a flash and probably lost a spot of two in the standings.

Here is some pretty raw video that I shot after I had finished:


Results will probably be posted sometime Thursday night.

2008 SSWC Pre-ride Schedule

The folks organising the 2008 Singlespeed World Championship have released the pre-ride schedule leading up to the race this weekend. Although the race is sold out, you can still get in on the pre-race action:

"These rides are not being hosted by anyone in particular - someone will show up and take you on a sweet ride.  If your training schedule will permit - then you may want to attend one (or all) of the following:

Wed 8/20 - Howarth Park Dirt Crit Santa Rosa, CA

Thursday 8/21 - Meet at the Java Hut in Fairfax at 10am and enjoy the Pine Mountain loop.  It's a great loop in Marin with plenty of options to get back to town.  Fairfax is about 45 minutes from Napa.

Friday 8/22 - Meet at the Lawndale parking lot at Annadel in Santa Rosa for a 10am ride.  These are by far our favorite trails to ride - lots of single track - perfect for a one speed.  Then in the evening head to American Cyclery  in San Francisco at 4pm for a ride through the city across the Golden Gate Bridge for a BBQ in the Marin Headlands.  It's about an hour drive to San Francisco from Napa.

Saturday 8/23 - Registration at Skyline Park starting at 12-5pm.  Party to follow somewhere in town TBD. 

Sunday 8/24 - Race 10am at Skyline Park.  Get there early cuz someone will have something to say beforehand.  Registration will open at 8am for those that don't make it Saturday. "

Via SSWC Blog.

2008 12 Hours of Humboldt Results

Results have been posted for yesterday's 12 Hours of Humboldt.

Congrats to Dez Wilder and Sean Allen, who turned in 15 laps (not sure who won this), and Marja-Liisa Magnuson, who completed 10.

Pictures have been posted over at Flickr and race reports are at MTBR.

2008 Lake Sonoma Series #4 Results

Results have been posted for Lake Sonoma Series #4 over at BikeMonkey.

Congrats to top female finisher Barbara Howe and top men's finisher Roger Bartels.

High-End Cycling Gear Juices Your Ride

There is actually a thing or two in here that I hadn't heard of:

"The dog days of summer are upon us and if you're anything like the crew here at Wired.com, you still haven't logged as many miles as you had hoped.

Well, there's no better motivator than new gear to get you back on track. After all, isn't that why you're a cyclist, not some sad-sack runner pounding the pavement in a pair of worn Adidas? You need something shiny and new to put you in the mood for a few late summer spins. "

Via Wired Gallery: High-End Cycling Gear Juices Your Ride

2nd Race for Tara Scheduled

I totally didn't know this was coming, especially on the same day that I posted her recovery video:

"We are planning a second benefit race for Tara Llanes ('Race For Tara-2') for November 8, 2008. It will be similar to the one we did in 2007 except that this time Tara herself will be here. More race info coming but save the date now! There will be a race practice weekend on November 1 & 2 from 10 am to 5 pm but until then the bicycle park is closed for regular practice."

Via Sand Hill Racing.

So this partly answers the earlier posting about Sand Hill ceasing MTB racing. Check out the archives for more information about the first Race for Tara.

Tara Llanes Recovery Progress

I originally saw this video of Tara Llanes' progress over at Bike Magazine:

Riding the spin bike


Great to see.

Hellride 5 Winners

Santa Cruz Bike's Hellride 5 is in the books:

"all riders were given a one hour head start over weir and rachel, as well as an extra hour bonus because weir wouldn't wait. in addition, kurt, matt, aaron, and erin all had an extra half hour time bonus per person for performance in the feats of strength. all numbers crunched, only kurt and erin were able to stay 'theoretically' ahead of weir and rachel.

kurt - finish time - 5:45pm. ride time - 10 hours, 45 minutes.
matt - finish time - 6:15pm. ride time - 11 hours, 15 minutes.
erin - finish time - 7:52pm. ride time - 12 hours, 52 minutes.
aaron - finish time - 7:56pm. ride time - 12 hours, 56 minutes.

weir - finish time - 4:24pm. ride time - 8 hours, 24 minutes.
rachel - finish time - 6:52pm. ride time - 10 hours, 52 minutes.
"

See the full story at Santa Cruz Bikes Hellride 5.

2008 Northstar DH #3 Results

Results are up for last weekend's Northstar DH race:

"Results for August 10th (PDF)

* Expert / Pro: Dogbone, top to bottom, to stadium jump finish.
* Sport / Beginner: upper Karpiel, to Speed Control, to Phodogg, to staduim jump finish."

Via Northstar at Tahoe Mountain Bike Events.

Congrats to Jon Wilson and Tasa Herndun, who I believe won the Men's and Women's Open categories, respectively.

dhRENO has pictures and video of the race.

2008 Howell Mountain Results

Results from this weekend's Howell Mountain Challenge have been posted.

Jason Moeschler took the Men's Open, Rich Maile captured the Singlespeed Open and Jamie Stamps won the Women's Open.

There is some video and a few race reports over at MTBR.

2008 12 Hours of Humboldt

This weekend marks the return of the 2008 Solo Cup series with the 12 Hours of Humboldt, held inside Redwoods Park in Arcata, CA (map). This year the annual has a few changes:

"NEW KINDER GENTLER COURSE
More single-track and less climbing! Our course is under the redwoods of the 680 acre Arcata Community Forest. Every year the local mountain bike community works with the city to build new trails. The new addition to trail 6 that was built last summer wasn't ready for the 2007 event, but it is now! and it's sweet!

The distance this year is 8 miles with 1320' of climbing per lap, versus the 8.7 miles and 1475' of last year. And, since the new trail flows better in the opposite direction than the way we've always run our course, that's just what we're gonna do. Yeah, after all these years of doing the Arcata Community Forest clockwise this year its counter-clockwise. It's gonna be good! "

The coolest part about this race is that it's practically in town, just minutes away from grocery stores and such. It goes 8 AM to 8 PM and uses computerized timing. You can register for about $55/person (there are solo, 1, 2, 3 and 4 person teams) at BikeReg.

Find out more at 12 Hours of Humboldt page or MTBR.

Howarth Park #8 Results

Results for this week's Howarth Park Dirt Crits have been posted.

Jim Hewitt edged out David Yakaitis for the "A" win, Colby Pasteore won "B" and Griffen Wigert took the "C" crown. In the Juniors category, Jacob Picard edged Alex Perreira while Kerry Gesell won the Ladies competition.

2008 Caspar Classic

The Caspar Classic is returning for 2008:

"Mendocino Coast Cyclists will again hold the Caspar Classic Race on Sunday August 31st, Labor Day weekend.

The course is the same as last year, a 7-mile loop with 500ft of climbing, about 1/3 dirt road, 1/3 double-track trail, and 1/3 single-track trail.

Beginners: 1 lap / 7 miles / 500ft climb
Intermediate: 2 laps / 14 miles / 1000ft climb
Advanced: 3 laps / 21 miles / 1500ft climb

Racer groups for woman, single speeders and others will also be formed as needed.

Race fee is $25"

Via Mendocino Coast Cyclists.

Eatough, Sawicki defend 24-Hour Mountain Bike Titles

"Nine national champions were crowned at the USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships this morning after the nation’s best ultra-endurance mountain bikers wrapped up 24 grueling hours on the trails of Wisconsin’s Nine Mile County Forest.
 
Riders set out on Saturday for as many laps as they could complete on the 14-mile course in a 24-hour period. When time ran out this morning, Chris Eatough (Baldwin, Md.) and Pua Sawicki (Mililani, Hawaii) both defended their titles in the men’s and women’s solo divisions.
 
It was the fifth year in a row for Eatough to take the win in the men’s open division, but he first had to overcome strong opposition from runner-up Josh Tostado (Breckenridge, Colo.) who hoped to dethrone the four-time defending champ. Early on, Eatough and Tostado clearly defined themselves as the strongest riders in the 36-man field and the ensuing battle saw the pair swap the lead several times and complete 20 laps of the 14-mile course before the clock stopped.
 
Sawicki successfully defended her title from a year ago with 18 laps which she completed in 24 hours and 3 minutes. Taking a huge lead right from the start, she put 13 minutes on her nearest threats in just the first lap and continued to distance herself from the rest of the 11-woman field over the 24 hours."

Via USA Cycling.

2008 Northstar XC Results #3

Results from this week's Northstar XC race have been posted (in PDF). And it looks like the races are a hit:

"This season’s Cross Country Race Series has seen record attendance. With over 16 different categories and close to 100 competitors there is something for every one ... The course changes every week with laps varying from 3.5 to 4.5 miles. Experts do 3 laps, Sport 2 laps, beginners 1 lap. For more info check out
http://www.northstarattahoe.com/info/summer/mtn-biking-events.asp"

Via Lake Tahoe Mountain Biking.

Shimano Shuns Cables for Full Electronic Shifting

This isn't MTB specific but since most of Shimano's road advances eventually trickle down to their MTB kit ...

"Japanese parts manufacturer Shimano is launching an electronic shifting system for high-end road bikes that it claims will vastly improve performance and reduce maintenance. By replacing the conventional levers that pull wound-steel cables through protective housings with solid-state switches and rubber-coated wires, there's no chance for road gunk to clog things up and interfere with shifting, or, for that matter, your post-ride beer.

Thursday's announcement that the system, called Di2, will hit shops in January 2009 settles a question first raised in 2005 when prototypes began cropping up on the bikes of select Shimano-sponsored racers in the pro peloton ... Shimano plans to offer the electronic setup as an upgrade option within the 7900 group -- which is preselling for $2,600 -- so parts such as the two-tone cranks and brakes will be the same. (No word yet on the additional cost for electric; it could be double.) Di2 consists of two brake-and-shift levers, two derailleurs whose springs have been replaced by servo-motors, a 7.4-volt lithium-ion battery pack, and the wiring harness that connects everything."

Via WIRED: Shimano Shuns Cables for Full Electronic Shifting.