NorCal Cycling News

so, last night got a glimpse of how me and the SpecialKid’s BInnes could completely dominate the US Natz Madison Champ’s this year at Hellyer.

We’re of the same age and did some exchanges last night during the events. Let’s just say there would be nothing but carnage at our feet if we somehow found the time and gumption to team up for the Natz throwing contest.

i’m sure our team rides will see us on opposite sides for the big show (i can still dream), but maybe i’ll be able to sweet talk him into hooking up with me for the AVC. We can do the Elite’s that way, besides.

better competition for us.

Anyway, last night also saw a couple confirmations that some (trackies, and potential trackies) might be interested in:

1) FresnOakland “sponsored” Friday Night Track Race, May 23rd … yeah, we may see some serious VanderKitten action for that night.

VanderDave Verrechia (owner of VK) has tentatively committed to sending a crew and a venue setup to knock socks off at the FresnOakland party.

During the warmup circle at last night’s Nolan Endurance Fest, it was decided with a bunch of us hommies that we would have an endurance p1/2/3 event on the 23rd that would be a Mystery Points Race … meaning, it’ll be a 60 lap event with 10 sprints, but the sprints will be MYSTERY signaled.

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The only persons who will know when the sprint laps are will be the officials and the Celebrity Bell Ringer, hopefully Liz Hatch of VK. (Liz, please come to our shindig … we promise we’ll keep Beth under control and not have her rub her hotness in your face, too much).

Either way, I’m hoping that MadMaryMaroon is in town and will return and represent VK out on the track again for the 23rd. Crowd Pleaser.

What a party, what a party.

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2) Also confirmed, we’ll be running Kierin Qualifiers for the May 23rd Match Sprints.

We’re expanding the Sprint roster to 16 riders for the 23rd event, each Sprinter will do ONE (1) Keirin qualifier in Round 1. The Kierins will be 4-up, and top-2 advance. Then, from Round 2 on to the Finals, it will be 2-ups for our Sprinters, just like last week’s event.

Last week’s opening Friday Night Finals were an AWESOME match between my teammie, Matias “Mr.Pink” Elgart and the ageless adonis, Larry Nolan of the SpecialK’s.

and i hope we get even more Sprint action on the 23rd. Please email me if you want to be added to the Sprint List … remember, only 16 spots and some are taken already - so act fast.

3) Remember, free music, food, drink at each Friday Night Race at Hellyer. Check the Hellyer Calendar for more info on the 23rd event, and the rest of the series. Updated information with more details will be available before each Friday event.

Cash prizes + some merchandise, too (Peet’s Coffee + Voler Team Apparel gift certificates from Linda and John Elgart).

FUN!

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CONGRATS to the NorCal champs up crushing that Prologue at Mt. Hood.

nice win, Ben. And AJM in eight? And how about Patella’s 12th? and Gomez in 7th?

nice opener.

and is this the quote of the month, or what?

Beyond being a specialist at the short prologue races, Jacques-Maynes said he had a little extra motivation today. “The guys here were asking me to win it for the circuit tomorrow. It is supposed to be pretty tight and they wouldn’t mind being on the front for that! So I obliged them.” [cyclingnews]

yeah baby!

Locals only, yo ~

I’ll be putting on a Beginner Session this Monday, May 12th at the Hellyer Velodrome. Here’s a wee blurb:

The Monday night Beginners are introductory sessions oriented towards introducing you to Hellyer Velodrome rider etiquette, rules of the track, and concepts of track racing. These workouts will be low-intensity - focusing on application of etiquette/rules of the track in a fun, relaxed environment. Track opens at 5:30pm, Session begins at 6pm, close at sunset(ish).

Beginner Sessions dates thru end of June:
May 12, May 26, June 9, June 23.

Come on down if you can. And i won’t turn anyone away for being late, just try and get there as early as you can.

You can rent bikes there … and they aren’t too shabby.

You can show up just to watch, if you want to see what the hullabaloo is all about.

Directions to the track are here.

lemme know if you’ve any questions.

~m

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a bit O’ hotness from the track last Friday.

“The Women’s Points Race would be won in dominating fashion by World Cup rider, Shelley Olds. However, Miss-n-Out winner Beth Newell would lead a valiant chase with Donna Woods and Sabine Dukes as they attempt to get on terms with the PROMAN/Paradigm rider.”
credit: OTB Photos, http://www.otbphoto.com/

“Jenny Oh and Beth Newell were crowd favorites at the opening Friday Night event at Hellyer.”
credit: OTB Photos, http://www.otbphoto.com/

“PROMAN/Paradigm’s Shelley Olds would take a lap on the field and show that 2008 will be another stepping stone towards her goal of the 2012 Olympics.”
credit: OTB Photos, http://www.otbphoto.com/

“Mary Maroon has been racing heavily on the road circuit thus far in 2008, but this Friday showed that the VanderKitten rider is ready to attack the track and show why she has become an icon in the NorCal fixed gear community.”
credit: OTB Photos, http://www.otbphoto.com/

“Donna Woods of Team Walthour is another rider looking to prepare herself for the US Masters’ National Championships at Hellyer in 2008.”
credit: OTB Photos, http://www.otbphoto.com/

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hey now … got word that our UC Davis hammerheads went 1st in the Men’s Div 1, and 4th in the Women’s.  And, lo, STANFORD takes the Women’s.  West Coast Mafia, eh?

that rocks.

here’s a nice blurb (thanks E.O.B & Swatters) ~

This morning the UC Davis men’s squad of Shawn Rosenthal, Tyler Dibble, Paul Mach and Phil Mooney WON the team time trial at the National Collegiate Cycling Championships in Ft. Collins, Colorado, beating CU Boulder by nine seconds. Stanford, last year’s Team Omnium Champion, finished eighth.

Our women’s squad of Amanda Seigle, Marisa McAdler, Amy Encalada and Amy Chandos finished fourth. Stanford’s women won.

Preliminary calculations place the Aggies in first place in the Team Omnium competition after the first day. This weekend the Aggies will compete in a road race on Saturday and a crit on Sunday. I’ll be filing news stories with the local papers on Sunday evening, but I’ll also post updates, quotes, and photos on http://sportclubs.ucdavis.edu/cycling/ as they become available.

suh-weet.

go get ‘em, you hounds!

Hey there folks, here’s some newz for yo’ shoes ~

KENNY SCHICK ~ Live at the ‘Drome!

Just in case you wanted to listen to some kickass music while you watch people go in circles.

Directions to the track are here.

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We’ll have free food and drink, so come on out for a later afternoon of relaxing and kicking off your weekend with biker friends.

Bring a jacket, get there early, heckle the bikers.

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Speaking of Biker Friends ~

Check out this awesome program that the Bicycle Trip in Santa Cruz is putting together.

This is VERY important stuff … well, from the opinion of a person involved in public health. It’s striking us all, that more and more ~ the modern lifestyle is one of valuing physical activity less and less.

And weirdly, our culture seems to be losing an appreciation of the beauties and sublime pleasures of physical activity in the outdoors. But, maybe that’s just my interpretation of our culture.

Nonetheless, the folks at Bicycle Trip are reaching out to youth and offering them glimpses of what fun and benefit one gets when soaking in movement, diving into the outside world … getting away from that damnable idiot-box, if you know what i mean.

Now, it’s kind of subversive … what they’re doing … disguising the program as a “bike shop” at the school … but what they’re really doing is kicking interest in youth about bikes, and riding, and laughing it up with the heart rate above tv-eating levels.

hell yeah. check them out, and if you’ve got a few extra bucks … think about becoming a sponsor. Contact Julie Mitchell if you want more info, julie @ bicycletrip.com.

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NorCal MTB League RAWKS!

Hey, aside from all the amazing races and outreach these folks put in … they’ve also got an ART CONTEST going on!!!

Right on, right on ~ combining a couple of my favorite activities … bikes and drawrings.

Spread the word, yo. And be sure to check out the cool stuff you can buy from the League.

Good cause, and all.

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Speaking of Good Causes … PROMAN’s Phone Program

yup, the PROMAN beauties are doing their own kind of good works.

be sure to play along with the beauties, folks. it’s good karma and … well, it just feels fine.

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ok, gotta jet … too much to do, never enough time …

lates,
~m

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nice work, Daniel.

Getting a tight 2nd to Sven Tuft at the Championships?

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zowee, that’s a stomp of a ride. come back and show us how it’s done.

~m

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FRIDAY NIGHT RACES … come to my party!
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NorCal fans of the cycloverse ~ how about coming over to the Hellyer Velodrome this Friday (May 9th) to watch some track races. I’m gonna be promoting the 2008 Friday Night Races ~ dates are here.

This Friday is actually “presented by norcalcyclingnews” … meaning, i’m gonna go out and grab a bunch of viddles and drinks for everybody to nosh on while they stomp and scream at their favorites out on the track.

But i need people there to party!

So, come on out and have a good time with us. The weather will be angelic … and you haven’t experienced “golden hour” until you’ve seen Hellyer at twilight. It’s magic … so think about bringing your camera.

And hey! Come out and give me a few good heckles ~ cuz i’ll be on the mic all not long … busting out the falsetto commentos and giggled up mega-cheers for the racers and fans. Here’s what to expect:

• There is plenty of parking [directions] (does cost you $6 County Park Fee, but you can pay by card - but, no costs beyond that to spectate at Hellyer),
• there will be free food and drink (while it lasts, yo), and
• if you get there by 6pm, you’ll hear some sweet live music by Kenny Schick.
• At 7pm the racing begins. We’ll end a bit after 9pm, or soonest possible.
  BRING WARM CLOTHES JUST IN CASE.

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If you’re a road rider and want to really see what finishes of races look like up close and personal … the velodrome is the PLACE for you.

On a Friday Night, you’ll see dozens of sprints and you won’t be able to stop yourself from learning a few tricks of the trade … and maybe get a little taste of it in your mouth, eh?

And you never know … you might find yourself checking the Hellyer Calendar for any of them Beginner Classes to get all certified and educated for track riding.

it’s fun, it’s easy, it’s the INCREDIBLE training for both the body and mind of a racer.

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This Friday you’ll be able to see some quick and burly Match Sprints, a crazy Win-n-Out format that will leave you laughing, and the always crowd pleasing Miss-n-Outs where you’ll be body twisting and gasping in body english as you watch racers dive smoothly around each other.

And, for the true roadies there will be the standard Scratch and Points races - which we of the tarmac seem to gravitate towards …. for some reason.

If you’ve never been to the track, this is a great night to come out and see quite a few different disciplines revving up engines on the banks. There will be Women’s racing, men’s racing, and even a KiddieKilo that you BET you can enter your nipper in.

email me if you’ve any questions and i hope you’ll come to my party.

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thanks,

hernando