NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

Hellyer Velodrome … the champs keep rolling out

It’s that time of year when the drum starts to beat proudly about how cool and kickass our track racing scene is here in Norcal.  Events are beginning to pick up steam as riders hit the oval and turn on the quick.

Just as a reminder, the past 3 national criterium champions from our area all have spent significant time at the velodrome working on their speed and pedalstroke.  Current Pro champs Dan Holloway and Shelley Olds are consistent track riding icons, and Elite Champ, Steve Reaney supplements his ridiculous raw strength with the agility and leg speed that the velodrome pumps into veins.

The track … it offers the best spectating, the best speed work, and is just plain fantastically fun.

Rising stars?  um … yeah!

Joining a serious crop of uber-talented young talent stemming from the Hellyer ranks this year is Vincent Juarez.

Vincent-O just popped a huge PR in the 4K, going 4:57 in Italy for the Paralympic World Championships.  That’s 20 seconds faster than his effort at Elite Natz back in September.  Suh-weet … but i hate it when kids get faster.

Vincent is part of the SJBC youth movement that has produced super stars like Daniel Farinha, Ryan Gadow, and Kenny Strickland.  Names to watch!

Upcoming Hellyer Events:

Get Ready For Summer!

This weekend is one of Rick Adams’ classic “Get Ready for Summer” early season events.  It’s also the first qualifier for the Testarossa Velodrome Challenge, one of the premier track racing events in the nation.  Last year, the Testarossa Winery put on a party that will be hard to top … at any sporting event.

If you haven’t watched the TVC yet, PUT IT ON YOUR SCHEDULE.  You will be amazed at the speed and skill of these world-caliber athletes.  And remember, you get to watch every milli-second of the racing.  It’s drop-dead-sexy.
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TUESDAYS w/ Maurice, McCook & a moto

Beth Newell has lead the charge for training and bringing in new promoters to the Hellyer Velodrome scene.  It is the most tangibly beneficial thing for the racing scene at Hellyer that anyone has done in years.  YEARS.

Part of that new crew of promoters are track diehards, David McCook and Maurice Monge.  They are putting on a sweet set of races that will be run with motor-pacing.  If you’ve never done this type of racing, you have GOT to check it out.  It’s safe, it’s incredibly fun, and benefits anyone’s fitness level.

You can sit comfortably behind the motor and get in fitness and bike handling training, or you can slay yourself by attacking and trying to get a lap on the field.  Of course, when the moto is rolling along at 24-25mph … you’ve got to have some gas in your tank to take a lap!

Check out the details on the new event, Derny for the Masses.
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Sprint for a Wish!

Another new Hellyer-trained promoter for 2011 is Joakim Vinberg.  Joakim is this ultra-cool guy who is promoting a series of Sprint Tournaments that raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.  How kickass is that?

Details for the series can be found here, with the first race happening on March 20th.

Sprint Tournaments are an excellent way to initiate yourself into the track racing scene (don’t worry, you won’t have to sprint against these beasts above … they’re Pete Billington and Kevin Mansker, btw – two incredibly nice, but brutally fast individuals).  You do a flying 200m time trial, then are seeded to do match sprints against riders in your range of ability.

Match Sprints are short, tactical, exciting races that teach you vision, acceleration, and how to think on the bike.  Anyone who is interested in racing the track and has been hesitant about starting with mass start events (races with packs) should seriously consider Joakim’s sprint series as the perfect way to try on the velodrome for size.
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Shameless Plugs for my Events

And finally, I’ll be promoting some Tuesday Night events in April, and then the big-show Friday Nights starting in May.  More details and drum beats will be out about those events and our other Hellyer events … soon.  Please stay tuned, and do consider taking off a Saturday or two to get down to Hellyer for one of the excellent introduction classes led by the dedicated Hellyer volunteers.

Check the info on Intro Classes and the fast-track upgrade system for experienced road racers.

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