RACE REPORT: PCRS#3

So this will be an extended race report for the Prairie City Race Series #3 since (a) I had someone with me to take pictures (thanks kelly) and (b) I got a new GPS unit that mapped this week's course. Let's start with the track: PCRS#3 was a dry, fast and short course. Measuring only 2.72 miles and 315 feet of climbing per lap, the pace was fast and ferious from the initial downhill. The only real problematic area were a set of rollers towards the last third of the course - it often piled up with slower riders and/or crashes. There was also a small bit of mud but nothing to complain about.

(PCRS#3 course map courtesy of Google Earth)

With the nice weather (temps in the mid sixties), there was a huge turnout. I think I heard over the PA that there were 216 riders tonight. I seemed like the everyone had decided that today was the day to try their hand at the beginners category. Kelly said there were scads of them tonight.

However, like any good race, I had to lay my bike down somewhere. Today, I had my most terrifying crash this year -- I tiggered over a set of whoop-dee-doops went headlong into a erosion ravine and stacked at about 25 miles per hour. In fact, I crashed so hard (a) I believe the woman behind me gasp'd when I hit and (b) I thought I might have taco'd my front wheel (or head). Luckily, it looked far worse than it was, and after a few seconds to figure out which way I should be riding, I was back on my way. On the minus side, my crash happened right in front of a bunch of photographers, so you might see some graphic pictures over on the Race MTB site. Overall, I thought this was one of my better race -- mostly because the shorter, less climbing courses favor my larger size, but also because I felt that I was in better shape after the last week or two of solid good weather and racing. I even had negative lap times for the last two laps (yeah).

Oh yeah, when they post the results, you need to check out the aerial photos page to see the UFO camera footage.

More photos from PCRS#3 are posted at the PCRS site. I'll link to results when they get posted (usually Thursday night). Results are posted here.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, mtb-racing, MTB-XC, norcalmtbracing

Norcal Racing This Week: Apr 19 - Apr 21, 2006

Only one race on the mid-week schedule this week:

Tonight (WEDNESDAY) is the third Prairie City Race Series (PCRS#3) race. After two weeks of overcast (but dry) conditions, this week is going to be just perfect. Forecast for the Sierra hills are high 70s with lots of sunshine. So you may not get double points tonight, but you will get a great race. The PCRS is a Sacramento area local XC race series held on Wednesday nights. Riders do a varying amount of 4 mile laps depending on category. Registration starts at 4:15 PM and costs $25 (subsequent races cost $10). Make sure to come out to Prairie City (near Folsom, CA) tonight for your enduro-style XC racin'.

There's talk of rain in the forecast this weekend, so don't miss your chance to race on actual dirt instead of mud this spring.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, mtb-racing, MTB-XC, norcalmtbracing

Iron Angels Is On

So after calling them out that I didn't think they were going to have the race this weekend, Velo Promo has posted details for the 2006 Iron Angels MTB race this morning. This XC race will be held south of Angels Camp, CA (east of Stockton) at Glory Hole Recreation Area. The course is described as "a 7+ mile rolling loop starting & finishing at the parking lot. Most of the loop is single and double track established mountain bike trails (that hold up well even wet)." Begineers will do two laps, Sport will do three laps and expert/pro will do four laps. Racing begins in waves at 9:00 AM, registration opens at 8 AM.

Event: Iron Angels
Dates: April 23rd, 2006
Location: Angels Camp, CA [ approx MAP ]
Competition: XC
Cost: $25 (?)
URL: http://www.velopromo.com/iron-ent.htm
License: NORBA (one day licenses available)
Registration: onsite

For those of you wondering, the Iron Angels race takes the place of the previously scheduled Glory Hole race. Iron Angels was cancelled back in March due to poor trail conditions.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, MTB-XC, norcalmtbracing

Downieville Registration Opens Tonight!

the Downieville Classic, NorCal's and America's premiere downhill event, opens registration for the 2006 race tonight at 8:00 PM PDT. Electronic registration is available at:

https://secure.nccn.net/classic/classicentry.html

The Downieville Classic is a weekend festival of riding and racing, featuring possibly the world's most famous downhill and a point-to-point XC course. You can view record holder Mark Weir's 2005 downhill run over at Motionbased's blog.

RACE REPORT: Reno Wheelmen's TMTB#1 Results

The Reno Wheelmen have posted the results to Twilight MTB race #1 from last week. This race was held at Hidden Valley outside Reno, NV.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, MTB-XC, norcalmtbracing

2006 Jetway Chevrolet Rainbow Ridge Challenge

Okay, so I kinda missed the boat on this one, but I figure its better to post it late than never: The Jetway Chevrolet Rainbow Ridge Challenge will be held this weekend, April 23rd, 2006 in Fallon, Nevada (just east of Reno). A NORBA sanctioned event, this XC race is also the kickoff of the Northern Nevada MTB Cup series. The course is stated as "This event is Cross Country with 6.1 miles loop with Pro/Semi-pro riders 3 2 laps, Expert & Sport riders 2 laps, Beginners riders 1 lap, and Junior riders ½ lap. This is very technical course with some climbing over jeep trails and extreme drops over single track." Entry is $45 with NORBA license.

Event: Jetway Chevrolet Rainbow Ridge Challenge
Dates: April 23rd, 2006
Location: Fallon, Nevada (just east of Reno)
Competition: XC
Cost: $45
URL: http://www.churchillcounty.org/parksnrec/index.php?ctr=101
License: NORBA (one day licenses available)
Registration: active.com

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, mtb-racing, MTB-XC, norcalmtbracing

Late April Race Updates

Here are some updates on some of the races scheduled through the end of this month:

• The LemurianGuy has posted some trail pictures over at MTBR for the April 29th Lemurian Shasta Classic course. It looks like they may also be posting GPS trail profiles. The trail doesn't look too muddy at all.
• MTBR has posted some trail pictures from next weekend's Napa Valley Dirt Classic course. It looks like it might still be a little bit wet.
• There are no updates for Velo Promo's Glory Hole MTB race. Although the race is still listed on their MTB race page, there are no details posted and they haven't responded to email inquiries. After the Iron Angels race was cancelled earlier this year, this one may also be in trouble. I'll will keep you updated. UPDATE (04/18/06): It's on. See here for details.
• There are also additional details on The Slippery Eel Chainless downhill (DH) race. The Trinity River Pirates have also tentatively scheduled a few more races for this summer.

I'm heading out to the Napa for the Dirt Classic next weekend (assuming that it isn't raining buckets like today), so I should have some more updates this week.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, mtb-xc, norcalmtbracing

2006 Pine Nut Cracker

The Alta Alpina Cycling Club has announced their 2006 Pine Nut Cracker will be held on Saturday, May 20th, 2006 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Gardnerville, Nevada. The race, the second competition in the Northern Nevada Regional Championship series, will be a NORBA sanctioned cross country (XC) event.

The course is described as "great epic loops with plenty of climbing, exciting single track, exhilarating descents, and some of the best dirt Mother Nature has to offer." It will vary in length between 10 and 30 mile depending on category: Beg / Sport / Clydes will do 1 lap, Pro / Semi / Exp / SS will do 2 laps.

Event: Pine Nut Cracker
Dates: May 20th, 2006
Location: Gardnerville, NV [ MAP ]
Competition: XC
Cost: $30 ($10 for juniors)
URL: www.AltaAlpina.com
License: NORBA (one day licenses available)
Registration: via mail (see site)

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-racing, norcalmtbracing, mtb-xc

PRODUCT REVIEW: Cannondale Rush

So this isn't NorCal related, but the folks over at The Biking Hub have posted a review of the Cannondale Rush under race conditions. This is a lot better than the usual "I rode it through the parking lot off a few curbs" kinda review -- he actually used it in the Paris To Ancaster race in Canada last weekend.

RACE REPORT: PCRS #2

So I fought off my sore body, radar-induced rain fear and piles of work to haul my ass out to Prairie City for the PCRS #2 race tonight. I hadn't made the first race last week (I was sick), so I felt too guilty to skip another one.

And I am glad I did. Weather radar said that a storm front was moving in, but it was slow moving and we didn't have a drop of rain until most of the people had already finished. The course had muddy parts, but the organizers kept us off many of them, making for a enjoyable course. I had forgotten how much fun these races are, but as soon as it started I remember instantly.

The week's course was the "to the right and down the hill" layout, which makes for a really fast start (all swoopy downhill for about 1 mile, then a short steep climb to string every one out). The course was only about 3.5 miles tonight and I thought I did alright -- I certainly didn't end up walking anywhere and I would say I passed more people than passed me. I only kept with my categories lead group for the first 3/4 of the first lap, but I don't think that is that bad since I raced Sea Otter on Sunday. My only real regret is that I didn't get any big air off the jump where one photographer was laying for an ant's perspective.

I'll post results and photo links as soon as I see them. Photos are posted here. Results are posted too.

Norcal Racing This Week(end): Apr 12 - Apr 16, 2006

So we have a nice schedule of racing this week(end) for people of all abilities living in different parts of NorCal:

Tonight (WEDNESDAY) marks the second Prairie City Race (PCRS#2). Last week's race was relatively dry, but it's scattered rain today, so it might get a bit muddy (double points!). Riders do a varying amount of 4 mile laps depending on category. Registration starts at 4:15 PM and costs $25 (subsequent races cost $10). Make sure to come out to Prairie City (near Folsom, CA) for your enduro-style XC racin'.

Tomorrow (THURSDAY) is the opening race in the Reno Wheelmen's Twilight MTB series in Reno, NV. This week's XC race will be held at Hidden Valley [ MAP ]. The race costs $10 with onsite registration and starts at 6:30 PM.

This weekend (SATURDAY) features the delayed start of the Billy Cross XC Racing Series at Lake Sonoma [ MAP ]. Registration starts at 8 AM, racing at 10 AM and onsite registration costs $30. This is a NORBA sanctioned event, so 1 day licenses are available for an additional $5.

Let's stay dry out there.

RACE REPORT: 2006 Sea Otter Final Roundup

So after four or five days of all Sea Otter, all the time, this is the last (I hope) post about the event. Below is a list of link for photos, race reports and news on this year's Sea Otter Classic:

• My day 1 race report and roundup
• My day 2 race report and
• My day 3 race report
• My day 4 race report
• MTBR's Sea Otter race page
• MTBR's Sea Otter race report forum
• d4er's XC race pics
• MTBR's non-race stories thread and some more photos
• MTBR's photo thread
• Obionespeedonly's race blog (he's even got the mandatory otter picture)
• Velonews' Sea Otter coverage
• Cycling News' Sea Otter coverage
• Sea Otter website news
• Sea Otter official results
• SFist Sea Otter wrapup
  

If I missed anything, drop me an email at norcalmtbracing AT gmail DOT com.

Technorati Tags: mtb, MTB-DH, MTB-DJ, MTB-DS, MTB-MTX, mtb-race, mtb-racing, MTB-SS, MTB-ST, MTB-SuperD, MTB-XC, MTNX, norcalmtbracing

2006 Sea Otter Product Roundup

So I have really just focused on the racing for most of my posts, but the Sea Otter is far more than just a race. With about 100 vendors on hand, many manufacturers take the chance to show off their new 2006 wares. Both of the major trade magazine sites had some good roundups:

• Velonews product coverage
• Cycling News product coverage day 1, day 2 and day 4

I also staggered around the marketplace for a good while on Sunday (trying to stay out of the rain). Here is a sampling of my picture and thoughts about some of the new kit:

• Shimano had their 2007 XTR on display. Aside from the new "X" aesthics, Shimano hopes that it will start to reclaim some of the industry buzz away from SRAM's X0 series. Overall, I don't get that excited by the super high end bling components, as I was much more interested what was going to trickle down to the more affordable XT or LX lines. It looks like a lot -- already were are seeing external bearings on the LX cranks. The one XTR component addition that I really liked was the new XTR pedals. It's about time that Shimano started producing a pedal comparable with some of the smaller vendors. SRAM also intro'd some new kit, but I didn't get a chance to see it. The Biking Hub has some good links to news about both the Shimano and SRAM components.
• Crank Bros new Smarty pedal: $59 sealed cartridge platform pedal that was advertised to weigh in around 289g per pedal (which are lighter than the Candy SL). Unlike the Candy pedals, these pedals aren't rebuildable. The rep at their tent said that these pedals were a low end entry into the market.
• My favorite booth for the high end bikes was the Titus Cycles tent. They not only had my current wish bike (Titus RacerX), they even had it in the ultra-pricey ExoGrid frame. Nice.
• I didn't get a chance to slip into Santa Cruz for Saturday night's premiere of Roam, but Pink Bike got the pictures.

Technorati Tags: mtb, mtb-race, mtb-racing, norcalmtbracing

RACE REPORT: 2006 Sea Otter (Day 4)

So by the time I had finished my XC race, stuffed a burrito the size of a football into my face and grabbed a Sierra Nevada, the Pros were lining up to start their race. While it had been beautiful all morning, it started to turn ugly as it approached noon. The temperature dropped sharply and a cold drizzle started to fall. I siddled up close to the retaining bar and snapped a few pics of the top pros as they lined up. The one thing that struck me was, Geoff Kabush is big guy. I mean I don't shop in the petite section, but Geoff looked like football player next to the other riders. It was heartening to see someone who didn't weigh 150lbs doing well as a pro.

Alas, this didn't appear to help him as Liam Killeen came in to the finish almost alone with a lot of chase riders a minute or so back. The race must have been a test for the riders, as both the course and the weather conspired against them. I was going to stick around for the ladies race, but between the beer and the weather it just got too cold.

Here is a roundup of the other news:

• Velonews Pro XC coverage
• Velonews Dual Slalom coverage
• Cycling News XC coverage

RACE REPORT: My 2006 Sea Otter XC

The Otter

So after a few days of watching other people race, Sunday brought my Sea Otter event, cross country (XC). After days of me predicting doom and gloom about a soggy course, Saturday was a beautiful, dry day and Sunday started off the same. Although cold (it was barely 40F when I stopped for coffee in Seaside at 6:00 AM), there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It would stay this way all Sunday morning for the amateur races.

The race organizers had done wonders with the course. Other than just a few bogs of mud scattered around the course, the ground alternated between moist pack, sand and hardpack in a nice variety. The idiot announcers said that the promoters had trucked in a bunch of dirt, but I have no idea if it was true. Whether it was that, or two days of dry weather, it was hard to complain about the course itself.

The course starts on the Leguna Seca raceway, curves up and around the corner then heads for singletrack. For anyone that does large NorCal XC races, it follows the standard layout: starting on asphalt, narrow to singletrack climb, swoopy descent, rolling hills, big sustained climb bringing you to downhill finish. Clocking in at 20 miles per lap, the Sea Otter was no different.

I started off pretty well. Middle of the pack for my cat/age group on the track, moved up on the short singletrack climb, and barrelled through the descent. Unfortunately as we started to hit the first of the uphill climbs, my front wheel started to wobble. A simple tightening of the quick release solved it, but cost me a few seconds and let some slower climbers ahead of me.

Although it had been cold at the start of the race, it quickly got pretty warm and humid. I must not have been drinking/eating enough because around mile 10, I got caught behind someone who stacked going uphill and when I dismounted, I could barely stand due to cramps. I walked it off (and it was better pedaling than walking), but I couldn't shake them the rest of the race. Several times, I had to unwind my calf on the sustained climbs. It would have been really nice to have more than one water aid stand.

Mile 15 was the start of the real test. Basically, from there to the finish is a series of steep, sustained climbs meant to crush your spirit. And it did. At one point, bodies were strewn alongside the trail of people who had either blown up or cramped out. I was able to take all this in well, as I was only pedaling about 4 miles per hour. I think the worst part of the last climb wasn't even the climb itself. It was really the people who kept telling the riders "last hill, push for it", when they knew damn well we had 2 miles of climbing left. Ignoring them, I dug deep, finished the climb, raged through the short swoopy section that led back to the racetrack and sprinted downhill to the finish with a group of about 5 guys.

While I finished well, well back in the standings, I thought I had a decent race for the first major of the season. Of course, the guy in the Otter costume in the picture to left probably beat me, but everything is relative.

Race results for the amateur XC are posted here.