Peninsula Velo star rider Thomas Feix put together some very outstanding photo and video re-caps from the Cyclocross clinic action that went down recently. This is very cool stuff and really highlights the awesome spirit Cyclocross can bring out in the riders. Please have a watch!
This Saturday in Folsom the race season springs into gear with the Cyclebration Cyclocross event Presented by: http://www.kineticcycles.com/. I have great confidence in this event, as Kinetic Cycles is a true supporter of all that is Cyclocross. I am sure they will put together a great day for athletes and spectators. The 2009 Junior National Cross Champion - Cody Kaiser - is involved in the course design for this event, so creativity will certainly be put to use in course lay-out. All info on this strong event can be found here. One thing you can count on is a powerful group of Nor-Cal racers ready to have at it Cyclocross style. The course itself will use grass, dirt, single-track, pavement, and no stadium stairs. This will provide a ample mix of terrain when you mix in a few dismount sections as well.
Some good info is starting to appear on most major cycling news outlets regarding the start of the Cyclo-Cross season. My next post will be on the opening race of the NCNCA season, The Folsom Cyclebration held at the Folsom Rodeo Grounds.
The season's first NCNCA Cross races are near, and already some gossip is starting to appear about the 2010 National Cyclocross Championships in Bend Oregon.
Don Myrah, Alan Coats, and Todd Hoefer, are Nor-Cal Masters Men racers who each have cycled to a National Cyclocross Championship in their riding carriers. Masters racing in the NCNCA region is the best in America, and this has been proven year after year...
Each season in the NCNCA riders go to war on course to raise the level of riding among the top competitors. This ends up with some seriously on form competitors heading to the USA National Championships from Nor-Cal. Here is some info anyone who is thinking of racing this years USA Cyclocross Nationals should be aware of.
For the second consecutive year, the championship course is located on the grounds of the Deschutes Brewery, adjacent to the Old Mill District, but it has been lengthened to help prevent lapped riders from becoming an issue. Returning will be the staircase run-up, set of barriers and off-camber sections, but the addition of a fly-over will allow pedestrians to easily access the vendor area, beer garden and team car parking lots – without needing to cross the course. 
Only in Belgium will they turn a moment like this into a top selling video game...
If you win Cyclocross races in Belgium you will become rich! So on course it is every man for himself, and team tactics hardly surface. Wellens comeback after a poor season in 2009 will be one of the big stories for Euro Cross 2010...
Local CX Clinic Information:
Ciclista Bonita reports- Ben Jacques-Maynes confirmed as instructor of our CX Clinic on 9-5-110
pre-registration available here: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=11566
Ben Jacques-Maynes confirmed as instructor of our Cyclocross Clinic this Sunday in Aptos!!! Sign up now for this amazing opportunity to learn from the Pros!!!
Ciclista Bonita Cyclocross Clinic Presented by Bike Station Aptos
Who Can Attend: Everyone is Welcome, including Juniors (must have parent/guardian sign waiver).
Instructors: Ben Jacques-Maynes, Pro Cyclist of Bissell Pro Cycling Team & CX National Champion 2000, U-23
Stella Carey, 2-Time Single Speed Cyclocross World Champion
Courtney Shipman, CX Nationals Podium 2009- Women B 1st Overall CCCX 2009
Kathleen Bortolussi, 1st NCNCA District Championship 2006 Master 35+
Gannon Myall, 2nd CX Nationals 2007Master 40-44
Anastasio Flores, 2nd NCNCA Disctrict Championships 2009, Master 35+ A
Location: Polo grounds, map: http://www.scparks.com/pologrounds.html
Schedule:8-9 a.m. Registration & Sign In
9-9:15 Introductions - 9:15-9:45 Basics of Cross - 9:45-10 Break into Groups by Experience - 10-11 Cross Instruction on Bikes - 11-11:30 Break - 11:30-1 Cross Instruction & Mock Race - 12:30-2:30 Lunch
Cost: $25 includes lunch, $10 for JuniorsRegistration: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=11566
Questions: Email missmary@ciclistabonita.com
HELMETS REQUIRED FAQs:-Mountain Bike OR Cyclocross Bike Ok- All levels welcome, you will be placed in groups depending on your previous experience.- no usa cycling license required Day of registration for this clinic will be available, but please pre-reg as we need to know how many people we need to feed!
Visit Ciclista Bonita on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ciclistabonita
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Jon Suzuki reports- Missing Link / 3rd Rail CX Clinic, Sun Sept 12th
Missing Link / 3rd Rail CX Clinic
Sun Sept 12th Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley, CA
9:00am to 11:00am All levels welcome! No fee!
Guest instructor, Barbara Howe
email jbscmt@yahoo.com for questions
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Brian Staby reports- North Bay Cross Clinics
When: Sept 16, 22, 29 and Oct 6 & 13
Where: Franklin Park, Santa RosaTime: 5:30 to 7 pm
Cost: $10 DONATION
We will be practicing mounts and dismounts, barrier technique, starts and other cross techniques. All skill levels welcome. Bring a cross bike or mountain bike. Helmets mandatory. Free adult beverages afterwords...of course!
Presented by:www.bikemonkey.net -Norcal Bike Sport -Rock Lobster
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Matt McNamara reports- Sterling Sports Group Fall Cyclocross Training Series-
Start Date- Tuesday, September 7, 2010
End Date- Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Address - Several South Bay/Peninsula Spots
Fees- $25 per day
Brief Description-
Our Cyclocross Training Series is a collection of 6 highly focused sessions dedicated to this most beautiful of obsessions! Give yourself an advantage this year with these weekly training rides offering techniques and skills, race specific intervals and lots of personal attention. We'll master: starts, mounts & dismounts, barriers (run & hop), hills, technical sections, and the physiological elements needed to be at the front of the pack.
Additional Information
This course will be lead by USA Cycling Elite Licensed coach Matt McNamara, author of the Cyclocross Training chapter for the new USAC Level 2 Coaches Manual. We will also have some special guest instructors for some of the sessions!
Check the Sterling Sports Group website www.sterlingwins.com updates and additional information.
Cyclocross clinics are firing up all around Northern California leading up to the first races of the Cross season. I highly recommend taking part in any of these clinics which feature Cyclocross discussion and application of basic skills and techniques, practice on all aspects of the sport, knowledge shared by instructors and participants, plus some high speed work out sessions of on course race situation action.
Not as smooth as before, but still fearless, Gentes FLIES over any obstacle that stands in his way...
Jim Gentes set the standard quite high for any future Nor-Cal Junior rider to chase their dreams of speed and taste success at the National level. Sacramento's Cody Kaiser(Cal Giant Inc./Specialized) lived this dream claiming the Junior National Championship this past season in Bend Oregon.
I like the collared shirt on this rider going through hub deep water and mud- a very stylish shirt for racing. Nor-Cal needs more of these deep water-mud pits to spice things up...
Today's Nor-Cal Cyclo-Cross is lacking the 1 or 2 minute long run-up sections...
This photo below reminds me of a section of course from some of the classic "Jungle Cross" Nor-Cal races of the 80's- one line of trail and if you get off that line trying to pass or something, you are most likely going to be down in a ditch looking up at the racers rolling past...
The more things change- the more things stay the same! Our run ups are much shorter in today's Cross events, but the spectators still migrate to the top of the run-ups to get the best view of the suffering at hand...
I want to see some downhill running sections this season- the extra large fields of today's Cross would be quite entertaining trying to navigate super steep running sections of loose and twisting downhill trail- this would make for quite the spectacle...
You know it is steep when the racers use their off hand to maintain balance and dig into the grass and dirt to keep upward momentum...
I think there was heckling going on back in the day...
CrossVegas boasting strongest ever field assembled at American cyclo-cross event.Preliminary starters for the fourth edition of CrossVegas have been announced in what is shaping up to be the strongest ever field to take part in an American cyclo-cross race.
"The winners of the CrossVegas titles are going to come from the best field ever assembled in America," said CrossVegas organizer Brook Watts. "Whether you break it out by national champions attending where we've got eight nations covered, or if you look at the international rankings we've got three of the top 10 riders in both the elite men's and elite women's categories.
"If you look at it from another level, you've got the returning champions from the previous editions of CrossVegas. And then to really top it off you've got a dozen 'wild card' contenders and any one of those riders could draw an ace on race day."
The men's field features American champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), Canadian champion Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), Italian champion Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing), French champion Francis Mourey (Francaise des Jeux), Belgian elite champion Geert Wellens (Champion System), Danish champion Joachim Parbo (KCH Leopard Cycles) and Hungarian champion Zoltan Tisza (Tecnofilm Bentonexpressz 2000).
The women's event has a pair of national champions slated to start: American champion Katie Compton (Planet Bike) plus Czech champion Katerina Nash (Team Luna Chix).
In addition to the assortment of national champions scheduled to compete, a strong selection of riders in the top 20 of the UCI rankings will take part in CrossVegas. The men's field features fifth ranked Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank Continental Team), Francis Mouray (Francaise des Jeux) at seventh, Switzerland's Christian Heule (Rendementhypo Cycling Team) at ninth and American Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) at 18th.
The women's field will include fifth ranked Katie Compton (Planet Bike), Katerina Nash (Team LUNA Chix) at 7th and Nash's American teammate Amy Dombroski (Team LUNA Chix) at 16th.
Returning are 2009 CrossVegas champions Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Katie Compton (Planet Bike), who also won in 2008. Ryan Trebon (Kona), winner of the 2007 and 2008 editions of CrossVegas, will also be returning. Trebon and Compton are the only two-time winners at CrossVegas.
"Don't underestimate the other great riders who will be coming to CrossVegas," said Watts, who named men's contenders Jeremy Powers (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), Adam Craig (Rabobank-Giant), 2009 men's runner-up Chris Jones (Rapha-FOCUS), Italy's Davide Frattini (HUDZ- Subaru), Belgium's Tim Van Nuffel (Vangoethem-Prorace), Switzerland's Martin Grujan (Cannondale Factory Racing) plus women's contenders Georgia Gould (Team Luna Chix) and Meredith Miller (Cal Giant-Specialized).
"I've probably missed a half a dozen top guys and gals that are capable of turning CrossVegas upside down," said Watts.
Complete CrossVegas information is available at www.crossvegas.com.
Mark Howland is one the 16 NCNCA riders featured in the new posting of NCNCA Cyclocross Photo Page- Paul Doran's work from the BASP Series final 2009.
One Northern California Cyclocross team that has had a very large impact on this regions racing over the past few seasons has been Tim Cannard's - Buy-Cell.com squad. This forward thinking group of racers has set a standard of excellence on the Single-Speed Cyclocross circuit in Nor-Cal. Time after time Buy-Cell.com star rider Cesar Chavez has proved himself to be one of this region's premier Single-Speed competitors. Chavez was the Single-Speed Champion of the BASP Series in 2007 & 2008, as well as the Surf City Series & CCCX Series champion during a stellar run of results for 2009. The Buy-Cell Single-Speed men swept the top three placings of the BASP Series for 2009, with Cannard leading the way followed by Julian Villafane, then Chavez. Another Buy-Cell.com rider who posted strong results in the Women's division during 2009 was Michelle Monroe. Monroe was a first year Cross racer who's talent was crystallized while being surrounded by the Buy-Cell bunch. Monroe responded by riding to the NCNCA's best all-round rider(BAR) classification in her division during the 2009 season. Another giant move by Cannard which had large ramifications on the Nor-Cal race scene was his help to motivate and support Don Myrah in his comeback to racing. The rest is history- as Myrah is back in style after a few seasons of races to find his form- and now is once again one of the USA's top Cross performers in his age group. Myrah will have his own sponsorship package from SRAM & IBIS for 2010. The Buy-Cell.com team will be generously supported also from IBIS, and will be racing on the finely crafted Hakkalügi Cross steed at select Nor-Cal events. Tracking and supporting up and coming racers, and challenging Cyclocross legends to return to the sport they dominated in the past, is a theme that Cannard and the Buy-Cell.com team appears to keep focused on. More big news from their camp has one of Northern California's all-time great Cyclocross legends being edged back into competition with support from Buy-Cell.com and IBIS.... Larry Hibbard will be back in action and making some special appearances at races near you during 2010. Hibbard is a true legend of the sport and his return to competition will be exciting to follow this season. Other figures from this team who always seem to be running hot and constantly at the front of affairs in Nor-Cal Cross are the popular Brock Dickie, the super smooth Mike Sooder, the powerfully built Mike Matthews, and the aggro riding Scott Zavack. Buy-Cell.com brings even more surprises to the table for 2010 Cross by stacking the already fully stacked Nor-Cal Women's Elite division with gifted rider Jamie Busch, from Boulder Colorado- who has a past Collegiate cycling title in her resume.
On a local level this is not an issue, but for major events some new rules will be enforced this season...
CrossVegas moves to close women’s prize money gap...
The days seem to be quickly ticking past, leading up to the first few races of the NCNCA Cyclocross season for 2010. Looking at the NCNCA calendar, it shows a full five months of Cyclocross racing which will fire up in early September and run non stop into January. This full schedule of races allows Nor-Cal riders ample opportunity to find their best form leading up to the 2010 USA National Championships, where our most talented local racers have shined so brightly year after year. The full schedule of events also allows for Cyclocross racing on a local level to be run during the peak season of Cross, the true Winter months, where conditions can become epic during December and January in Northern California. The early season races are usually contested on fast & dry courses where speed is plenty, and dust is prevalent. While the late season competitions favor the true "mudders' and hardened riders who can handle the most brutal conditions Winter racing can bring to the table. The two most dominate Cyclocross teams in Northern California, California Giant Inc./Specialiazed and Bay 101/HRS/Rock Lobster, have their lineups set for 2010. The on course battles between these two top tier Cross teams have been outstanding the past few years, and this season should be more of the same. Anthony Gallino's Cal Giant Inc. team features three of the top male Elite riders in Nor-Cal, Justin Robinson, Cody Kaiser, and Jeremy Ferguson. These three riders are serious studs and can contend for the win in any race they enter. They are backed by the very best Masters team in America. The Cal Giant Inc. Masters team is stacked and raises the bar extremely high for anyone trying to race for victory in events like the BASP Series, the CCCX Series, & the Surf City Series. The Cal Giant Masters team consists of Gina Hall, Carmen D’Aluisio, Josie Jacques-Maynes, Alan Coats, Todd Hoefer, Gannon Myall, Steve Reaney, Ana Flores, Rob Meighan, Norm Kreiss, Dave Anderson, Don Langley, Eric Bustos, Jessie Moore, Jordi Cortes, Frank Curesma, and Tom Ryan. Cal Giant Inc. Masters have brought home 6 National Championship Medals along with 11 top five National Podium finishers over the past 5 years. Nor-Cal's other top Cross squad is Bay 101/HRS/Rock Lobster. Bay 101 will now be co sponsoring the HRS/Rock Lobster team, which is sure to boost this high flying unit which competes on the beautifully crafted Rock Lobster Cross bikes. Leading the charge of this team are three of Nor-Cal's most consistent high finishers over the past few seasons, Sarah Kerlin, Stella Carey, and Josh Snead. Kerlin and Carey are guaranteed to throw down at the front of affairs in the Women's racing. While Snead has been the regions top male Elite performer in local racing the past two seasons. The other extremely high caliber Lobster racers are Dave Wyandt, Scott Chapin, Aaron Odell, Alex Work, Brett Lambert, Aaron Kereluk, Brian Staby, and Jon Mason. This fast group is backed by team owner Paul Sadoff and mechanic Ryan Bontrager, making for a strong and well organized team that races hard and still keeps it fun. 2010 is shaping up to be a very special year for Cyclocross racing in the NCNCA region I must say...
The Cyclocross season is just around the corner and racing begins in only a few weeks time. Nor-Cal's Cross teams are starting to come together, with rosters filling out, solo and group Cross workouts firing up, and the NCNCA Calender of races becoming just about totally complete. The Scaramento Cyclocross Series dates have been added to the calendar, as has the Bike Monkey Santa Rosa Series event dates. The CCCX Series, the Surf City Series, and the BASP Series, all have dates claimed in what looks to be a awesome season of Cross racing ahead. Classic events like the Folsom Cyclebration Cross, and the Lion of Fairfax Big Swingin' Cycles race only highlight what a great schedule of racing Nor-Cal Cross athletes can pick and choose from. Most of the best riders in Northern California race virtually each weekend to dial in their fitness and practice their chosen craft of cycling's most athletic discipline- Cyclocross. I highly recommend all racers keep a sharp eye on the the NCNCA calendar, as race dates can change and nothing is set in stone with regards to the current calendar listings. Each race season in Northern California brings new surprises. Established teams always seem to add new riders, thus making for fierce competition just in each team, let alone on course racing against other squads. Certain riders step up and deliver great and surprising performances during the year. Ranked riders from other regions relocate to Northern California making the Nor-Cal racing even more competitive. Like Scott/Ritchey rider Kerry Barnholt last season, who dominated Nor-Cal racing in 2009, then went on to win a National Masters Championship in Bend Oregon. New teams form each season, which keeps the Cyclocross energy high and introduces this great sport to new riders of all ages, gender, and cycling ability. One new team which is sure to have a impact on race days is Ciclista Bonita. Women Cross racing overall in Nor-Cal is stellar, the fields in all divisions are large, and the Nor-Cal ladies dominated the USA National Championships in 2009. Ciclista Bonita is a new women's Cross team that is sure to bring more female racers to the table while showing that a healthy lifestyle can be achieved by taking part in the sport of Cyclocross. Bike Station Aptos is backing this group of Women led by Mary Perez. Other riders on this new team are Goldi JM, Winona Hubbard, Rachel Wolff, Livia Peras, and Karen Kefauver, Jenny Meyer Feix, and Dionne Ybarra. I am all for more Women racing Cross and Ciclista Bonita is leading the charge in this realm. Another team note regarding one of Nor-Cal's leading ladies is Karen Brems, who was one of the best Elite Women racers in the NCNCA for 2009 Cross, joining up with Trina Baumsteiger at Team Rambuski Law. These two fine riders are sure to find success in 2010. This race team is also strong on the Masters Men's side with Kevin Merrigan being a new recruit, and set to join Tim Thompson, Jim Gentes, Logan Kelsey, and Edwin Rambuski. I hope to track down more team info to share and continue the build up to the first race of the 2010 Cyclocross season. Cross is King in Nor-Cal, and each and every year I see growth in participation and the level of competition on course. However, please always remember to keep it fun...
