2008 rideSFO Bike Expo & Swap

I spent the day down at the Cow Palace near San Francisco at rideSFO's first Bike Expo and Swap meet. The expo filled the void caused by VeloSwap's pull out and then some. Some random photos and videos from today:

Random sights caught around the expo

Vendor Hall (North):

Jim Northey recruits new riders for this year's Coolest 8/24

Swap Hall (South): It's all about spinners

The Expo continues Sunday (tomorrow) all day.

Sand Hill Reborn for 2009

Interesting news coming out of the East Bay's Sand Hill Racing:

The SPRING GRAVITY SERIES 2009 (alternating Dual Slalom and Mtn-X) will be March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4 (final and raffle), just in time to tune up for the Sea Otter event (April 16-19, 2009). Sign ups and practice 8-10 am. More info coming.

Happy to see Bay Area gravity racing back. The Sand Hill people also let loose this other tidbit:

A third Race For Tara benefit (2009) is tentatively scheduled for Oct 17 &18 weekend (Yes! A two day event with Mtn-X racing and Dual Slalom qualifying on Saturday, then Dual Slalom racing plus The Raffle on Sunday). Save the date and more info will be posted when we get it.

Impressive for a place that was about to close down just a few months ago. All info via Sand Hill website.

rideSFO Bike Expo & Swap Reaching Capacity

It's the final few days before the big rideSFO Bicycle Expo and Swap hootenany at the Cow Palace in SF this weekend and the boys wanted people to know that there is still a bit of space left for exhibitors:

We’ve extended the deadline for booth registration till Wednesday, the 26th @ 1 PM to give the folks that were on the fence and chance to register. Tell your friends to go to the following link:

http://www.ridesfo.com/servlet/the-template/expo_booth_pricing/Page

Also, the SF Bike Expo has been placed on SF Station homepage as part of the SF events this week.

Seriously, go ahead and sign up -- everybody is going to be there.

Preliminary 2009 NorCal HS Schedule

A 2009 preliminary schedule has been released for the NorCal High School league series. It looks like there might be a few new venues this year:

2009 NorCal High School MTB Schedule
March 1, Ft. Ord in Monterey (same course)
March 14, Folsom Lake in Roseville (same course)
April 5, Marin County (new venue!!!) or Toro Park (same course)
April 26, Nevada City (new venue!!!) or Angels Camp (same course)
May 17, Boggs Demonstration Forest (same course)

Via El Cerrito High School Mountain Bike Team

2009 24 Hours of Adrenalin™ Schedule

The folks at Twenty4Sports have announced their 2009 24 Hours of Andrenalin schedule (almost the same as last year):

04/25/09: Hurkey Creek Park Spring (Idyllwild, SoCal)
06/06/09: Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA)
07/25/09: Canmore Nordic Centre (Alberta, Canada)
09/19/09: Hurkey Creek Park Fall (Idyllwild, SoCal)

Via 24 Hours of Adrenalin™ website.

It's nice to see Laguna Seca still on the schedule and it not conflicting with anything this year.

American Mountain Classic Confirms for 2009

It looks like the American Mountain Classic, a MTB stage race held in Brian Head, Utah, will be returning for 2009:

"Race Director Tom Speigel has confirmed to MTBracenews.com that the American Mountain Classic (AMC) stage race will return to Brian Head, Utah, in 2009. The race, which consists of an opening prologue followed by three stages in and around the Brian Head area, will be held August 20-23rd."

Via MTB Race News.

SSWC09 1×1 Film Festival

If you heading out to Durango for next year's SSWC and a budding director, you might want to take note of this:

"We are now accepting singlespeed only videos to be shown throughout the weekend. Two movie nights will showcase the sweetness that we receive. The deadline for the films to be received is June 7th of 2009, so send a scratched dvd or a flawless VHS to Passion Productions 1×1 at 135 E. 13th street, Durango, Colorado 81301. The content of the films can be anything sweetly singlespeed. 7 minutes or under is preferred, but sweetness has no time limit, so keep it real. This will be an audience judged thing and the winner will win something from our future pile of good bike, or beer stuff."

Via SSWC09 1×1 Film Festival « SingleSpeed World Championships Durango 2009

2009 CCCX MTB XC Race Series

As promised earlier, here is the 2009 CCCX Cross Country (XC) race schedule:

• Race #1: SAT February 14, Fort Ord
• Race #2: SAT February 28, Fort Ord
• Race #3: SUN March 15, Fort Ord
• Race #4: SAT March 28, Toro Park
• Race #5: SUN April 5, Toro Park
• Race #6: SUN May 17, Fort Ord
• Race #7: SUN June 7, Toro Park
• Race #8: SAT June 13, Fort Ord
• Race #9: SUN June 28, Toro Park

As with the DH races, it looks like most of the details have stayed the same (alternating locations between Fort Ord and Toro Park, both near Monterey). You can look in the CCCX XC archives to check out past year's race reports.

Full details at the 2009 CCCX Mountain-Bike Race Series webpage.

2009 CCCX Downhill Race Series

With a brief lull for some extended cyclocross racing, CCCX racing is returning with a vengeance for 2009. I'll go thru the downhill races first, then the XC races in my next post. The 2009 DH schedule is as follows:

• Race #1: Sunday February 15
• Race #2: Sunday March 1
• Race #3: Sunday March 22
• Race #4: Saturday April 11
• Race #5: Sunday May 3
• Race #6: Sunday May 31
• Race #7: Sunday June 14
• Race #8: Sunday June 21

Although these are the 2009 dates, most of the 2008 rules, locations and prices are still in effect. All races will be held in Toro Park (near Monterey, CA) and will cost $25 for juniors and $35 for women or men.
See the full race list and rules over at 2009 CCCX Downhill Race Series. To see past year's coverage, try the CCCX DH archives.

Global Biorhythms Finalizes 2009 Leave No Trace Series

Global Biorhythms, organiser for the popular Coolest 24 and Tahoe-Sierra 100 races, has finalized the 2009 Leave No Trace series. The completed slate of races include:

• Coolest 8 & 24 hr Race Against Cancer in Cool, CA (May 2-3, 2009)
• Coolest II 8 & 24hr Race in Cobb, CA (June 20-21st, 2009)
• Tahoe Sierra 100 (September 13, 2009)
• SLY Park 50 & 100 in Pollock Pines, CA (October 3, 2009)

The previously included bikemonkey races (Boggs IV and So No Mas 100) will still be held but not as part of this series. More details, including series point system, are available at http://www.globalbiorhythmevents.com/.

2009 So No Mas 100 Scheduled

Details have been posted for the fourth leg of next year's inaugural Leave No Trace Ultra-Endurance Series, bikeMonkey's So No Ma 100:

"Registration opens SOON!

Sabado el 16 de Mayo, 2009
May 16, 2009

Food, drink and music provided for all. Pain for the racers, relief later…

3-Person: Challenging relay around Lake Sonoma - 33 Miles and 6,000′ per lap.
SOLO: it’s all yours.

SOLO CATEGORIES
Pro - 100 Miles - 3 Laps - 18,000 Feet
Expert - 100 Miles - 3 Laps - 18,000 Feet
Semiexpert - 100 Kilometers - 2 Laps - 12,000 Feet
Sport - 100 Kilometers - 2 Laps - 12,000 Feet
Sorry kids - no beginners

TEAM CATEGORIES
3-Person Open (3 Laps)
2-Person Open (2 Laps)
All team categories include Mens, Womens, and Coed breakdowns.

FEES
3-Person Team - $150
2-Person Team - $100
Solo 100 Mi - $70
Solo 100 k. - $60

DESCRIPTION
This race is no joke. I mean to say you will have a hard time finding the energy to smile when Lake Sonoma spits you out. Anyone saying ‘I’ve ridden that far before’ has another thing coming. Be prepared and be fit. It can be extremely hot this time of year so camelbaks are a practical necessity unless you’re a camel yourself.

This route consists predominantly of wide single-track with a roller-coaster profile."

Via bikeMonkey's So No Mas 100 webpage. For those of you not in the Bay Area, Lake Sonoma is North of San Francisco.

rideSFO Bike Swap to Feature Goldsprints

One more reason to get out of the house during the coming holiday weekend and head down to the Cow Palace for rideSFO's Bike Expo and Swap:

We are cutting the lights off on one side on the Cow Palace. Throwing up 4 bikes on stage and focusing the spotlights on the West Coast Goldsprints!

Race! Drink beer ..... Heckle your friends! Win GOLD and take home a 2009 Marin Ignacio! + more prizes for podiums.

Race FREE with paid admission.

Qualifying: Sat 1-5 PM
Race: Sun 4-8 PM

Free Bike Parking available!

'For those of you who are not familiar with the events, 4 riders race heads-up for 500 meters on a stage on identical track bikes mounted to trainers. While the heats typically last only 20 seconds, spectators are guaranteed exciting racing with competitors going all out to ensure they advance to the finals.' - Marin Bikes

Via rideSFO Goldsprints. The rideSFO Bike Expo and Swap will be held November 29-30, 2008 at San Francisco's Cow Palace. Pictures and videos of past Goldsprints are available at the website for the curious.

2008 Race For Tara 2 Results

Sorry for the delay on this, but as you could probably guess, the last two weeks have been really hectic for me in my "day" job. Anyhoo, Sandhill hosted the second Race For Tara to raise money for Tara Llanes, who was injured racing the 2007 Jeep King of the Mountain event in Colorado. Congrats to the mountain cross winners:

Pro Women:
1st: Lainey Aldridge, Santa Cruz (Gravity Addix)
2nd: Tasa Herndon, Stateline, NV
3rd: Kelly Moore, Monterey
4th: Rosie Bernhard, Santa Cruz (Another Bike Shop)

Pro Men:
1st: Drew Powers, Novato (Black Market)
2nd: Jared Rando, Newbury Park (Team Giant)
3rd: Mikey Haderer, Concord

It looks like they raised over $8000 during the event, which Tara herself attended. A race report is available here.

Via Sand hill racing website.

More 2009 Global Biorhythms Events

Date for the 2009 editions of the Tahoe-Sierra 100 and new Sly Park 10 have been set:

• Tahoe-Sierra 100 is Sept 13th Sept 12th , 2009
• SLY Park 10 is October 3, 2009

More details to come.

NorCal HS CycleFest and Auction

I been very tardy in posting about this worthy event for the NorCal MTB High School League:

The USA’s current number one stage racer, Levi Leipheimer, will take center stage among numerous celebrity guests at the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League’s 2008 annual CycleFest weekend, for three exclusive events; a Friday night cocktail party, a Saturday gala dinner with silent and live auction, and a Sunday morning bike ride through Marin County.

Cocktail Party: Friday, November 7, 6 pm – Leipheimer will recall stories from his most memorable races, talk about the highs and lows of the 2008 season, and speculate on having Lance Armstrong back in the peloton for 2009, during a cocktail and buffet party hosted by Charles and Lotte Moore at their home in Mill Valley. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $50 or $100 at http://www.mcguire.com/party/levi_party.html.

Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, November 8, 6 pm – Leipheimer will guest host the weekend’s main event, a gala dinner featuring the nation’s brightest cycling stars as well as the finest bicycle exhibits on display from 12 of Northern California’s most prominent custom frame builders. Regular tickets are $150.00, and Patron tickets, which include a cocktail hour with Levi, are $200.00. All tickets are available online at http://norcalmtb.org/spon/dinner_2008/buy.htm. In addition, a live and silent auction featuring a wide range of items from sought-after brands, ends at 10:00 p.m. Those unable to attend may view and bid on auction items at http://norcalmtb.cmarket.com.

Group Ride: Sunday November 9, 9 am – Leipheimer will lead a group ride beginning and ending at the Woodlands Market in Kentfield, Marin County. The ride will go to Nicasio Reservoir, stop at Point Reyes Station for refreshments (included), and continue along Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake Blvd back to Kentfield. The route will cover about 50 miles. Tickets are $75-125 and can be purchased online at http://norcalmtb.org/spon/dinner_2008/buy_ride.htm.

I have my eyes on the singlespeed.

2009 Prairie City Race Series

The race dates for the spring 2009 Prairie City Race Series have been posted. This XC series runs weekly on Wednesday nights near Folsom, CA:

"12 races Wednesday evenings from April 1st until June 24, 2009 (We will count your 10 best finishes toward your points total) NOTICE!!! There will NOT be a race on May 27th due to the Hang Town Motorcycle Races!

APRIL: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd*, 29th
MAY: 6th, 13th**, 20th (NO RACE the 27th!)
JUNE: 3rd***, 10th, 17th, 24th
JULY: BBQ & Awards - Date: July 1st - Location: Beal's Point at Folsom Lake. 6pm-ish"

Via Prairie City Race Series.