NorCal Cycling News

Lovely Linda Locke (the one in blue) … had herself a spill at the track last night.  She took the ambulance ride for the hell of it ~ to where they treat SanJose gang’ers under cop’er care.

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coupla’ fractures to the pgirdle … but heal-able.

gracias, for that.

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seeing that pic, and then drifting over to more of Lauren’s … i’m reminded of how much work Linda does every Surf City.

crazytalk.

She’s there all day long ~ setting up KiddieCross, or pounding stakes with us out on the A-dults course, or cleaning the 3tons of mayhem afterwards … wadding up football fields of marking tape, lugging 5lb sledges over hill and dale … doing it all.

 

Surf City is in honor of Linda this year … and folks like Linda.  Few, but loved dearly.

see you there. (details soon)

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No Mas Aaron’s?

Apparently not … i’m receiving scuttlebuttlery that the women in red won’t be dancing next year.

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i just can’t believe that action.

I mean, there was NO more exciting team to watch and yell for on the US Pro Circuit than the femmes d’ Aaron’s.

they were never intimidated by the big eurodawgs, never unwilling to face the pain, always ready to scratch for the V.

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Carmen D’alusio put together and directed one helluva squad … and they will be missed.

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but gaaaawdamn … that’s one MONSTER TIBCO team they’re shoveling coal on.

silver-linings, n’ all.

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So … to drown out the sorrows … i will gaze longingly at this hipbit of photography by my other favorite Aaron … the salsa diva.

that’s his girl, NatashaPerry … winner of the Coyote Creek Circuit WatsonVile Criterium this year and all-around wonder woman.

righteous.

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PS … check the Women’s NRC standings, current:

Women’s Team Standings
1 Cheerwine Professional Cycling Team

2 Aaron's Cycling Team

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... damn shame, i tell you.  Damn shame.

So much time and so little to do.
Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. 

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National Championships d’ TrackGeezers

As many know, I am a HUGE advocate for masters level racing.  Why?  Because if these people are out getting exercise and concentrating on the fight of the bike …

well, they are healthier and … since they’re so damn focused on nabbing that wheel in the sprint before their competitor that … well, they just might not be all that interested in making real war.

Yaaay for active lifestyles and peaceful warriors!

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Unfortunately, I’m going to be MIA for this year’s Natz … even though it’s at my home track and i’ve been doing nothing but drink, breath, and have naughty thoughts about the event for the past year.

buggah x 1000

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But, reports are trickling in that our home crowd heroes are kicking up the good stuff.

Hootch nabbed a bronze in the points race last night.

Meatcalf and F-Truck won a bunch of titles for the SpecialKids.

DonnaTheWoods nailed an amazing silver medal in the 500m … even after being all decked and tarmac’d but a short few weeks ago!!!  What a stud.

DeVigus crushed the pursuit with his teammie Miller for gold/bronze Berry Action.

and PROMAN’s Jarvis went ballistic in her TT and grabbed a gold … with Nikki going huge with a PR and silver, as well.

.Right on ~ and please toss out some updates if you have any.
gracias.

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Cheerwine goes flat for a year …

Cyclingnews reports that owner Anne Bolyea announced she’ll be taking next season off from running the Cheerwine professional cycling team.  She’s quoted as saying it’s time for a rest year … and lawdy knows how much running a cycling team wears a body down …

and i say ~ good on ‘ya, sistah!

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Cheerwine has been one of my favorite squads in the US these past few years.  The team is chock-full of attacking banshees and nose-grinding hardchicks … and dammit all if these women don’t rock every race they show at.

I’ll be very, very interested to see where these riders land next year.

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VanderClinic of HotBikeAction

hello … it’s FREE???  hayle-yeah.

If you’re in the SF area on Sept 13th and would like to work on some madskilz on the bike … i’m telling you, head on over to Chrissy Field and peg your fun-meter to 11.

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Bike maintenance, bike handling, pack skilz and more … these are the tricks of the trade the Vanderkitten racers and staff will be talking about. VK is also tossing a bunch of product prizes to participants on the day … which just rocks, eh.

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And there’s DeLaPaz Coffee!!!!

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So head on over there and hang with some down-home cool folks.  And what the hell … you might grab onto some new sassy skilz and be able to wow the hawtdawgs in your hood.

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NorCal High School MTB League … FUNDRAISER, yo!

Chileno Valley Cycling Classic … a fully supported, super-schwagalicious bike ride through the heavenly rollers of Sonoma.

awww yeah … a delicious bit of pedaling through wine country in early fall.

Nothing better.

Check it out, folks … the ride is so well supported that they have to limit the participants at 100.  So, be sure to check on it today!

Fundraising minimum includes…

• Specialized optics
• A crank Brothers pump
• A commemorative event t-shirt
• Clif product and other treats at the amply stocked aid stations
• Road support throughout the course
• Post-ride massage
• A ticket to the Chileno Valley Feast
• A tune up or bike fit at The Pedaler

Post-Ride Party features . . .

• Music by the Bluebellies, a local stand out band
• Gourmet dining in a garden setting
• Beverages from Marin Brewing Co.
• Straus Creamery Organic Ice-Cream
• Awards for the top fundraisers - includes:
  1. Specialized bike
  2. Swobo bike
  3. Giro helmets
  4. Gift certificates to top notch restaurants and shops
  5. More to come . . .

awesome.

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Whole Athlete-dness

Last weekend I was able to get a chat in with the founder of Whole Athlete, Dario Fredrick.  I’ve been a fan of Whole Athlete’s coaching system for years - but, BigD was telling me about their new Development Team … and i just about started to cry with joy.

Whole Athlete is the kind of grass-roots organization that offer tangible, concrete improvements to our sport.  We’re talking about preparing our fellow competitors to be better, safer, stronger cyclists.  We’re talking about forging good habits and principles in our youth.  We’re talking about spreading the joy of the bike.

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right on, BigD.

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and finally … take a look at Ander Lucia

this cat is maybe 15 years old … maybe.  but going on a thousand in the soul, if you catch the drift.

He’s just started writing music last year and if you’ve an ear and open it … you’ll get an idea of the beauty this boy will unleash as he moves through the world.

soft, melodic, haunting … but his music pierces.
it is only his youth that limits the depths of his explorations of self and society.

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can’t wait to see what develops.

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Big ShoutOut to JonE

Jon Eropkin is the cat who’s been behind a lot of the spring races we all have come to love and flock to in the Central Valley.  Jon and his wife, Jamie, are vital volunteers in the Fresno cycling world and work many, many hours to bring us high quality, high fun events every spring.

Jon is also a big talent in the p1/2 races.  He’s been racing up and down the state grabbing placings and improving his abilities.  Unfortunately, at the Dunnigan road race on Sunday, big JonE had a front wheel go to smithereens after it took a big hit from one of the potholes out on course.

The wheel failure was one of those freak moments of physics where just the right amount of pressure was applied to just the wrong angle against the rim.  And it just … disappeared.

JonE went straight into the pavement and straight out of conscious-ville.  A couple minutes later and after some scary spasms … JonE was awake and ready to assess the damage.

bummer.

300 stitches to the lips and chin were tossed together … le’ ouch.  But that was the nasty stuff on the outside - on the inside, there were a couple fractures to neck vertebrae and a good bit of throat impact damage.

suck.

But, after a couple of nights of ICU observation and wife-aid from Jamie … it looks like our man is gonna be set free from the healthcare chains and sent packing back home for a long bout of rehab.

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So, if you have a free moment and want to pep up one of the true-blues of cycling in our region … shoot a note over to JonE, jonathan.eropkin @ gmail.com (no spaces in actual email address).

He’s one of the best.

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lies and exaggerations coming up…

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… spater.

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