Monday, September 12, 2011

FOLSOM CYCLEBRATION CYCLOCROSS - TEAM RAMBUSKI VIDEO

Next up on the Northern California Cyclocross Tour is the Folsom Cyclebration Cyclocross. Early season Cross racing is good times for all!


Many of Nor-Cal's best Cross racers are heading to this Wednesday's Cross Vegas to hit the strip clubs and race their Cross bikes. More good times!


Do check out this really sharp video below from Logan Kelsey & Team Rambuski from CCCX #1.  Judging by the pure speed on course, the Masters racing is going to be "World Class" in Nor-Cal this season.


It was nice to see Team Rambuski rider Kevin Merrigan get top honors at CCCX #1 in the big group Masters 45+ Cat. 1/2/3/4 division.  The video above shows Merrigan riding to his victory, as well as many other Nor-Cal Cyclocross stars in action.


Sunday, September 11, 2011

CCCX #1 RESULTS


Congratulations To Elite Division Winners
Devon Gory- Team Rambuski Law &
Andy Jaques-Maynes- Bissell Pro Cycling.

The Elite Women's race had the smooth riding Devon Gory locked in a thrilling dual with hard charging Stella Carey(BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster) for the win.  The crowd was amazed by the battle on course, and in the end Gory out distanced Carey on the finish line by a scant 4 seconds.  Katheryn Mattis(Webcor/Alto Velo),
Trina Baumsteiger(Rambuski Law), & Josie Jaques-Maynes(California Giant Berries/Specialized) made up the rest of the top 5 Elite Women.

The Men's Elite division was dominated by Bissell Pro Cycling strongman, Watsonville native Andy Jaques-Maynes.  The speedy Jaques-Maynes found the technical course to his liking and posted a victory by 1 minute 30 seconds over a tremendously talented Elite field.  The rest of the Elite podium was made up of Scott Chapin(BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster), Aaron Bradford(BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster), 
 Cody Kaiser( Cal. Giant/Specialized),
& Chris Jackson(Team Rambuski Law).

Andy Jaques-Maynes shows them who is boss...

 Devon Gory and puppy on the top step of the podium...

Master 45+ "A" group at full speed up the start hill...

Here is a list of all division winners on the day-

A special congratulations to race teams Ibis Buy-Cell.com, Team Rambuski Law, BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster, California Giant Inc./Specialized, & Menlo Velo Bike Shop for winning 2 or more divisions on the day!

Elite Women- Devon Gory- (Team Rambuski Law)
Elite Men Andy Jaques-Mayens- (Bissell Pro Cycling)
Single Speed Cat. 1/2/3/4- Brock Dickie (Ibis/Buy-Cell.com)
Masters Men 35+ Cat. 1/2/3/4- Alex Work- (BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster)
Masters Men 45+ Cat. 1/2/3/4- Kevin Merrigan- (Team Rambuski Law)
Master Men 55+ Open- Frank Cuaresma- (Cal. Giant/Specialized)
Masters Women 35+ Open- Janel Lodge- BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster)
Masters Women 45+ Open- Cheryl Shue- (RED Racing)
Men Cat. 2/3/4- Ricardo Moran- (Wrench Science)
Masters 35+ Cat. 2/3/4- John Mason- (BAY101/HRS/Rock Lobster)
Masters Men 45+ Cat. 2/3/4- Chip Gale- (Third Pillar)
Single Speed Cat. 2/3/4- Christian Parker- (Menlo Velo Bike Shop)
Women Cat. 2/3/4- Monica Harris- (Fun Sport Bike Cycling)
Men Cat. 3/4- Christian Parker- (Menlo Velo Bike Shop)
Women Cat. 3/4- Kete Riedell- (Marin Spice & Wellness)
Jr. Men 15-18- Tobin Ortenblad- (Cal. Giant/Specialized)
Jr. Men 10-14- Chris Hyde- (Ibis/Buy-Cell.com)
Jr. Girls- Isabella Myrah- (Ibis/Buy-Cell.com)

Friday, September 9, 2011

NOR-CAL OPENS RACING SATURDAY! - MORE TEAM & EVENT NEWS COMING SOON...

Nor-Cal Cross Season Begins Now!


First race of the 2011 season is tomorrow, Sept. 10, on a super fast and technical CCCX course near Monterey.  The route is a long one, with a bunch of fun riding mixed into a 2.1 mile loop.  Climbs, descents, double track roads, single track, 2 board sections, a bunch of fun trails, all for the taking for those who show.

Don Myrah- IBIS/Buy-Cell.com

Karen Brems- Team Rambuski Law

Coming early next week here.... more information about the Nor-Cal teams & riders that will feature prominently at the head of affairs during the 2011 race season.  Plus news on events like the Surf City Series and the ever popular Bay Area Super Prestige races from Tom & Alec Simpson.


A team full of Cyclocross Thoroughbred's.
Team Rambuski Law shows speed and class from each rider of the squad, with Devon Gory, Karen Brems, Trina Baumsteiger,  & Courtney Van Dimpel making up a tremendously talented Women's race contingent.  While the fast men of Rambuski Law are Kevin Merrigan, Edwin Rambuski, Logan Kelsey, Karl Ehlert & Chris Jackson.

One of the CCCX highlights this Saturday is the free kids race that starts at 12 noon.  The kids are amazing to watch doing a fun filled race, with parents encouraging them to get a move on, and in some cases pushing and pulling the littlest ones along!



Ride Safe & Most Of All...
Keep It Fun!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

"SUPER TEAMS"

NCNCA Cyclocross racing can be defined by it's amazing racers and the teams that support the true stars of Northern California Cyclocross.  The best riders from the NCNCA region are truly dedicated to their craft, Cyclocross is the calling in their athletic life.  Year after year the legendary riders of Nor-Cal rise to the top of the results list, fueled by passion and a fire from within to race full force on all types of Cross courses under all types of conditions. 
Simply go to one regional race and watch the Masters & Elite racers have at each other, the speed and fight is evident from the gun. 
 NCNCA Cyclocross is fast, furious, and fun.

If any rider wants to get to the front of the Women's or Men's Masters or Elite division they will find themselves bumping elbows with a rider from the two "super teams" that dominate the Nor-Cal racing at the highest levels.


Justin Robinson

David Wyandt

Directors Paul Sadoff of Rock Lobster & Anthony Gallino of California Giant Berries have put together world class racing teams for Cyclocross over the past decade, featuring the very top of class riders Northern California has on offer. 

Stella Carey

Gina Hall

 Each season brings new challenges and drama for these two directors.  Yet the fulfillment of their hard work comes from the outstanding racing that goes off each weekend at the front of the local races in Nor-Cal. 

Alan Coats

Brett Lambert

Of course each director has National results as a huge goal, but it is the local race scene that begins the quest for Gold Medals at Nationals, and Rock Lobster versus California Giant Berries is sure to be the headlining act this 2011 Cross season.

Scott Chapin

Cody Kaiser

One shocker to the regional battle of Strawberry vs. Lobster, is Rock Lobster adding Aaron Bradford to their Elite roster.  Rarely can a rider step into the NCNCA region and have instant impact at the front of the Elite division of Cross racing.  Kerry Barnholt and Devin Gory are two riders who did this in the Women's group.  Aaron Bradford is one male rider who is a pure bad ass on the bike and his Cross skills have put him right on the front row of the fastest group in Nor-Cal the past two years.  Bradford is now a Rock Lobster sponsored rider for Cyclocross, and this could tilt the balance of power clearly to the side of Paul Sadoff & the Lobster crew.  Only time will tell...


The Cross events such as CCCX, Surf City, The Bay Area Super Prestige Races, The Lion of Fairfax, Sacramento Series, The Santa Rosa Cup, & Stafford Lake Cross will decide which team dominates regionally.  One thing you can count on is the chase for supremacy will be a fun ride for all. 

A fact that can not be contested is California Giant's Masters team as being the best in the U.S.A. for Masters racing. 

Todd Hoefer

While Rock Lobster holds most of the cards for stellar results in Elite regional races,  The California Giant Berry Masters team is the most dominate Masters Cyclocross team in America.  The California Giant Masters team results speak for themselves...

Norm Kreiss

Gannon Myall

Ana Flores

 Don Langely

The California Giant Masters team has added two leading performers from last years Cross season to their stellar Masters team which is already over loaded with talent.  Joining the Strawberry bunch for the 2011 race season are current 45+ NCNCA District Champion John Mundelius, and hard charging Tao Bernardi. 

John Mundelius

Tao Bernardi

The next report on this blog will be on the challengers to these "super teams".  The report will feature some of the most outstanding riders
and teams that will surely at one time or another during
the season get the best of the riders listed below. 

After all, cycle sport is dramatic theatre that plays out with no script except for the fight and struggle that races and competition produce.  Anything can happen in cycle sport, and in Cross racing it is all magnified to the highest degree for cycling when the start whistle sounds!

Thank you for your continued reading...

Here is a list of riders that make up two of the best overall teams for NCNCA Cyclocross.

Rock Lobster Racers- Joshua Snead, Scott Chapin, Aaron Bradford, Aaron Odell, Stella Carey , Ben Popper, Simon Vickers, Ariel Brown, Brett Lambert,
Mark Howland, Dave Wyandt, Kevin Crossley, Ben Dodge,
Alex Work, Katie Jay Melina, Eric Highlander, Dean Poshard, Mary Ellen Ash, Matt Jordan, Brian Staby, Alan T. Ott, Frank Kalcic,
Tim Watson, Janel Lodge, Kathleen Bortolussi, Jon Mason,
Benoit Dubuisson, Jeff Traugott, Brent Harris, Alan Bennett,
David Millett, Paul Sadoff, Jason Rahwles, Natasha Perry,
Aaron Hunter, Michell Perez, Ryan Bontrager.

California Giant Racers- Justin Robinson - multiple National medals,
Cody Kaiser -  National Champ., Alan Coats – 3 time National Champ.,
Todd Hoefer – 2 time National Champ., Gina Hall – National Champ.,
JoJo Jaques-Maynes – National Champ.,
Norm Kreiss – Silver Medalist Nationals,
Henry Kramer – Silver Medalist at Nationals and Worlds,
Gannon Myall- Silver Medalist Nationals, Don Langley,
Rob “Buckwheat” Meigan, Ana Flores, Eric Bustos,
Joe Ryan- National Elite Champ 1980,Madeleine “Maddie” Myall (Junior),
John Mundelius-Current District Champ 45+, Tao Bernardi,
Tobin Ortenblad(Junior),
Emma Myall (Junior), Owen Myall (Junior)


Sunday, September 4, 2011

TEAM INFORMATION

Starting after this Labor Day holiday weekend, the Northern California Cross season is "Game On For Cyclocross Addicts" with the first race of the season taking place Saturday Sept. 10 at CCCX.  Then, basically each & every weekend leading to the USA Cycling/NCNCA District Championships on Dec. 4th at Toro Park, and the USA National Championships Jan. 4-8 in Wisconsin, there are awesome Cyclocross races of all shapes and sizes for Nor-Cal diehards to compete in and refine their form as the season rolls along.

If any Nor-Cal teams have information on their riders & sponsors they want posted on this blog, which gets over 500 views per day during the Cross season, please send to the editor who's email is listed at the bottom of this page in the lower left hand corner... 
Rumor has it some big news has been brought to the editors attention regarding some of Nor-Cal's best Cross racers and the teams they will be representing for 2011.  More to come after the holiday weekend...



Friday, September 2, 2011

First Race Of 2011 Set For Next Saturday September 10 In Monterey

The Nor-Cal Cyclocross Season fires off the start line next Saturday- September 10- in Monterey at the CCCX Series.


The Ft. Ord course is guaranteed to be fun riding, yet demanding in all aspects of Cross racing.  It will be a perfect way to open up the legs & lungs, and get the body into gear for Cyclocross racing version 2011.

Please check back on Monday, for some season preview ramblings and reporting on riders, teams, and events that will shape the 2011-12 Cyclocross season which is set to commence next Saturday at the CCCX Series race #1.
Also, please have a view of some solid gold Cross photos below...
Next weekend it is "Game On"!

Simply click on photo to enlarge...