NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

If you’re interested in participating in great charity race – please come to the Supermarket Street Sweep! It’s our 6th year, and it benefits the SF Food Bank. The event takes place on December 3rd and there’s two categories: SPEED and CARGO. SPEED = go around to grocery stores and buy food as quickly as possible (we give you the list of stores to shop at and the shopping list) and CARGO = bring back as much as possible.

We have awesome sponsors this year, including Ritte van Vlaanderen who are throwing in a Bosberg or Crosberg frame; Montano Velo’s donating a Volume frame and fork; Burley and Box Dog are donating a trailer – and much more!

Visit our blog for more info: supermarketstreetsweep.blogspot.com.

Race Details
WHEN: Saturday, December 3rd, High Noon.

WHERE: Cupid Span’s (Bow & Arrow) atFolsom and Embarcadero.

CARGO RACE: Bring back the heaviest load of food from the designated grocery stores.

SPEED RACE: Buy specific food items from the designated grocery stores and get to the finish as soon as possible.

DOLLARS FOR DINNERS: Raise money for the SF Food Bank. Every $1 you raise provides 4 meals for those in need.

WHAT TO BRING: Bag, box or crate (whatever you rock to the grocery store), a lock and money to buy items (suggested $15-30, whatever is comfy, everything helps).Both races end @ 4pm.

The after party location is TBD.

All items will be donated to the San Francisco Food Bank.

 

Vanderkitten

If you are not on Jono Coulters publicity fire hose, he’s brought Ruth Winder onto the Vanderkitten team. Winder was in purgatory last year after ending a promising run at Peanut Butter, and then breaking her leg in a horse accident in the spring.  She’s an amazing rider and will be an exciting addition to Emily Collins finishing kick.  Podium Cafe is rumoring there will be another big Vanderkitten signing… maybe another Aussie seeing as how the big US folks seem to be committed.

Beth Newell

Speaking of Vanderkitten, Beth Newell is not going to Vanderkitten after all as previously reported.  She’s going with the Now Novartis program, who put together a national championship with Robin Farinha last year.  Looks like Now-Norvatis is stepping up their game brining back Farinha, Samplonius, and brining on Alison Powers too.  Looks like a great stepping stone for Newell who impressed many, except the US Track coach, by winning the Omnium and Points Race at US Track Nationals.  For the record, i’m not Hernando so I can write about this shit as much as i want.

Webcor

The last vestiges of the Webcor pro program appear to have folded.  Rand Miller, the only producer on the men’s side, is moving onto greener pastures, pun intended, while the Women’s Bridge Team (Maroon/Wombat) has disbanded due to contracting budgets. A whimper ending for one the coolest programs in the United States, let alone, NorCal.

Steven’s Bikes

In their place a new women’s team, Stevens Bikes p/b Pactimco. has popped up under the guidance of former beleagured NCNCA president Bill Nicely.  It kind of looks like Touchstone 2.0 with Elis, Pryor, and kinda Mary Maroon, who’s also kinda riding for Rouse/FCS out of Texas. Just received word from Mary Maroon she’s full on Rouse/FCS, team captain y’all, will not be riding for Stevens, and (this is my extrapolation) is helping the Steven’s team in an advisory capacity, in a roll which is yet to be defined. Looks like Mary Ellen Ash is going to Steven’s too, first year teams are rocky but with an experienced roster it might go smooth.  Good Luck Bill.

Counter Attacking the Word “Signing”

Further on Webcor news Rand Miller sent and email to his club and announced he would announce his new “signing” soon.  Aside from the clear over use of the word “signing” by amateur club riders in Northern California this is really the only news I’ve been interested in other than finding out where Gaurnier and Olds were going.  After all the build up Rand is going to Cal Giant? I’m not sure how i feel about that.  I don’t see it.  It’s sort of seems like getting bought by Google – great prestige factor, okay money, and you are never seen again until you resign with a flourish.  Plus – the personality combo of Rand Miller and James Mattis sounds combustible, which on second thought, is just the kind of fire works we need around here. Taking on Rand is like hiring a reality TV star for the Sunday night news, who knows what he’s going to say.  Will he play it straight?  Will he get crazier?  Whatever… this should all be good foder for his blogging.  His last two posts have been awesome – cross and Cal Giant look like they they have rejuvenated his creativity. See the Nemesis post for some funny stuff.

NorCal Big Shots

On the Olds and Guarnier topic…. Megan “Mega” Gaurnier, who’s Italian win was the biggest NorCal win last year IMHO, is sticking with NorCal’s TIBCO program for next year, along with Amanda Miller, who both appear to have just missed the Lulu Lemon train.  Shelley Olds left her Italian team after Bronzini came aboard as the top sprinter, to take up a spot on the Dutch AA Drink leontin.nl with Kristin Wild.  I think that’s cool.  Olds seems more Dutch team, than Italian team anyways.

I’m still trying to dig up a few other NorCal “signings” if you hear anything let me know…

 

Kind of like boxing’s Marquess of Queensberry Rules, but more about making sure nobody gets arrested.

1. No touching riders actively racing

2. No throwing, spitting, or discharging objects from a device at riders.  Even if you know them.

3. Heckling insults should rely on wit rather than obscenity, replies will reflect the original statement.

4. Foul language is permitted as long as there are no children within an acceptable distance. Acceptable distance will be defined as the length of the biggest hill in the race since it is a well known fact that sound travels down hill.

5. Hand ups are permitted as long as a person’s body remains behind the course tape

6. Acceptable handups include: Beer in cans, paper money in denominations of $1 and higher, pizza or other awesome type of food like donuts, beer in plastic cups.

7. Unacceptable handups include: Beer in bottles, canadian paper money, slimy food like baloney, and weather inappropriate items such as Hot Chocolate on a hot day.

8. Spraying riders with beer or other liquid is acceptable only if the promoter has designated a portion of the course as a “spray zone.”

9. Heckling shall be confined to portions of the course a rider is most likely to wipe out and suffer further humiliation.

10. Acceptable Locations include run ups, steep inclines, difficult barriers, mud pits, sand pits, or high speed down hill turns.

11. A rider hopelessly out of contention and suffering shall be heckled excessively, and offered double beer, but no cash.

12. Costumed hecklers will be given priority placement along the course tape.

13. Excessively drunk obnoxious hecklers will leave the venue upon first request.

14. Heckling requires a minimum group of three persons.  A group of less than three hecklers will be considered lame losers and risk being heckled by riders for their lamosity. Solo hecklers armed with megaphones shall not require teams. This is applicable to and shall include all foreigners, and even Canadians (THE ALTI AMENDMENT)

15. Priority heckling position will be given to those with voice or noise amplifying instruments such as air horns or electronically powered megaphones.

16. The Stevil Compromise: Onsite amendments are deferred to Stevil or other riders called Stevie.  To learn more about Stevil go to to allhailtheblackmarket.com.  He will most likely approve or deny anything, he hates rules but loves loud and drunk.

17. Unicorn Rule: All rules are null and void if a unicorn with a rainbow tail shows up.  (THE INNES TANAKA COMPROMISE)

18. Foreigner Rule: All foreigners are exempt from rules because “they just do not understand.” (THE YUKIE/JONO APPEASEMENT)

 

 

MTB Legend Ned Overend to Host NorCal CycleFest

An Evening With One of the Sport’s Greatest Names
Contact: Vanessa Hauswald or www.norcalmtb.org

BERKELEY, CA – Mountain biking’s first UCI world champion, Ned Overend, is the special guest at the tenth annual NorCal CycleFest, the Bay Area’s cycling social event of the season, Saturday, November 12, at the Mill Valley Community Center.

This entertaining ‘must-attend’ gathering of Bay Area cyclists of all types has become an annual meeting place for many of the sport and industry’s most famous names, and is the main annual fundraiser for the NorCal High School Cycling League, the organization that led to the formation of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

The evening of cycling stardom starts with special patron hour, then a mixer combined with silent auction, before our featured student athletes, and a gourmet dinner accompanied by on-stage conversation with Ned himself. Since Ned seldom steps into the limelight, this is a rare and special occasion. With one of the sharpest minds of any bike racer, Ned’s insights and observations are sure to enthrall and entertain all those in attendance.

A live auction, which is usually very animated and includes some impressive offerings, concludes the evening’s entertainment. Ten people will be able to bid on an small-group mountain bike ride on Sunday with Ned.

Overend said, “The NorCal High School Cycling League showed us not only that high school mountain biking is possible as a widespread activity, but also they showed us the right way to plan and manage this. Having been a keen follower of this movement since its inception, I continue to be more and more impressed by the high level of professionalism and the desire to continue learning that is contained within this organization. The NorCal League has played a leadership role in the national movement, and like any strong leader they aren’t resting on their laurels. For anybody who loves cycling, or is interested in the well-being of California’s youth, this is one of the most important organizations to support, and it is my honor and privilege to speak at the NorCal CycleFest, and help them raise funds for their on-going work.”

Ned Overend has raced for the Specialized team for about as long as anybody can remember. He virtually owned the US cross country mountain bike title between 1986 and ‘92, winning every year except 1988. In 1990, aged 35, he won the inaugural UCI world championship, and the next year placed 3rd. In 1994 he finished second overall in the punishing, season-long Grundig/UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series. Such enduring prowess earned him nicknames such as ‘Deadly Nedly’ and ‘The Lung.’ Always the consummate professional ready with an intelligent quote immediately after finishing a hard race, no matter how exciting or disappointing the result, Ned’s wit and diplomatic approach has continued to earn him friends and fans wherever he goes. After retiring from full-time competition on the world cup circuit in the mid-1990s, Ned has continued to compete in a range of different events ever since, and now aged 56 he can still acquit himself very respectably in a field of the world’s top pro riders.

Ned Overend’s appearance at the NorCal CycleFest will be an opportunity to hear stories that relate the initial growth of mountain bike sport to what is happening now in the US high school mountain bike scene, as well as a choice selection of the stories that arise from such a long career of racing all over the world. Ned’s attendance at the 2011 NorCal CycleFest spearheads the drive to reach the $50,000 fundraising target.

The CycleFest schedule is as follows:
Saturday, November 12th:
5:00 p.m. Patron Cocktail Hour;
6:00 doors open, cocktail party and silent auction;
7:00-10:00p.m. dinner, auction and conversation with Ned Overend followed by Q&A.

Sunday, November 13th MTB ride with Ned for those who bid on it at CycleFest

Proceeds from the ticket sales go to supporting the Northern California High School Cycling League, so be sure to purchase one for your friend/spouse/partner too! Regular tickets are $125.00, and Patron tickets, which include the cocktail hour with Ned (and more), are $200.00.

All tickets are available HERE

What: NorCal High School Cycling League CycleFest, Cycling celebrity, silent and live auctions at the Bay Area’s two-wheeled social event of the year
Where: Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, California
When: November 12th, Cocktail Party; Gala Dinner
Who: Meet Mountain Biking’s all-time great, Ned Overend
Why: Benefit for the Northern California High School Cycling League

**About the NorCal High School Cycling League
The NorCal High School Cycling League, founded in 2000, is a non-profit organization open to students from both public and private schools. The League provides coaching and camaraderie to help students achieve both competitive and non-competitive cross-country mountain biking goals and comprises the easiest route for youth to get involved in the challenging and exciting world of competitive cycling. Each season includes a fall Leader’s Summit for coaches, winter riding camps, the five-race series, and a variety of summer camps. The League exists by virtue of a range of fundraising activities as well as generous donors and League sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar and Co., Primal Wear, Shimano, NCNCA, Touchstone Climbing and Fitness, Santa Cruz Bicycles, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, Mike’s Bikes, El Monte RV, Sheila Moon, adidas Eyewear, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mellow Johnny’s, Mountain Bike Action, QBP, Ritchey Designs, WTB, Capo and Yakima. For more information on the League visit www.norcalmtb.org or call .**

 

The Sportsbase-gate continues to unfold after I received an email and call from NCNCA president Bill Nicely who had been in touch with Dirk Cowley.  Cowley purportedly told Nicely that NorCal promoters would be made whole (paid in full) on the money that is owed to them.  Several promoters who had been trying to pin down a Sportsbaseonline.com representative for the last few weeks expressed and eagerness to speak with Nicely, via our comments section, to figure out more of what was going on with the company which is apparently shutting down operations.  An email was forwarded to us later in the day ,purportedly sent to promoters et al, promising full compensation for money they are owed.  The letter we received is below.

From: SportsBaseOnline Admin <>

To:

Sent: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 1:41 PM

Subject: Update from SportsBaseOnline

First off, we apologize for the unclear email that was sent on Monday, October 3, 2011.  Sports Marketing Concepts, Inc. DBA SportsBaseOnline is dissolving as of October 15, 2011 but has every intention of paying funds owed to all outstanding events with regard to registration fees.

We are currently working to sell company assets and obtain private funding with which to do so.  We hope to have this solidified and have payments dispersed as soon as possible.  We will keep you posted with regard to your payment and what steps need to be followed to complete the transfer of funds.

I especially like how they apologize for how their original communication was “unclear”, that’s a nice touch, and a rather amusing understatement.  I think it was quite clear, as in, “SBO is not going to pay you.”  Of course “intending” to pay out funds owed, and actually doing it are two different matters.  This most recent communication is more promising than the original email which stated everybody was S-O-L.  The original email was likely required as part of a legal dissolution proceeding, something akin to a bankruptcy filing.

While there may be some hope for promoters who have been left in the lurch, extracting money from entities that are going down the tubes is never an easy endeavor.  Our advice to you is stay loud, stay angry, and get a lawyer ready in the wings.