Poster:	wongwongway
Date:	2008-01-24 11:44
Subject:	JOIN US SUNDAY, 1/27 CX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PARTY
Security:	Public

SO CAL’S YOUTH REIGNS SUPREME IN CYCLOCROSS!
HELP CHANCE NOBLE IN HIS ROAD TO THE WORLD CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
So Cal’s own, Chance Noble will be representing the United States this weekend at the Cyclocross World Championships in Treviso, Italy. This is Chance’s 3rd appearance at CX Worlds… an amazing feat for a young athlete and especially a crosser from Southern California. Chance races for Cal Giant/Specialized for the past two seasons and represents the team as one of the top U23 racers in the country. With cyclocross growing exponentially here in So Cal each season, look for more from our So Cal youth in the coming years. Chance began racing cross when he was 10 years old and can be considered a veteran at age 18. Recent success also included Junior female racer, Coryn Rivera (Redline) who recently won not only the elite women SCNCA districts and SoCalCross Elite Women’s title, but also has won the CX National Championships for two years straight in only her 3rd season of cross! This season a new breed of young racers made cyclcross their fall/winter sport making the future even brighter!

Join us on Sunday, 1/27 (5p-8p) CX World Championship Party at Florentine’s Grill in Fullerton
This is also a fundraiser for Chance Noble to help cover his travel expenses and will include a silent auction and door prizes. Chance has spent the last two weeks in Europe gaining some much needed racing experience prior to the coming World Championships. Even with support from his team, Chance will have to cover much of the costs on his own. This weekend’s festivities include a silent auction: Team Discovery autographed jersey from Tony Cruz, a George Hincapie autographed ditty bag and Cobles Baby DVD, Cane Creek’s sleek new headset, an SDG saddle and seatpost, a Specialized winter jacket and door prizes including Pro Cyclocross DVDs!
In addtion, Chance has produced organic cyclocross t-shirts (Ink Clothing): https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Item.aspx?item_id=1956

Link to CX Worlds Party and Fundraiser invitation and donations link can be found at: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=UVCUSWADANNYWHMDGWQT

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT… WHO IS NEXT???

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-12-25 22:58
Subject:	Old guys rule!
Security:	Public

Who says getting old sucks? Bobby Langin Sr. shows us otherwise!

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-12-06 15:45
Subject:	Bakersfield weekend
Security:	Public

Does anyone have photos from the weekend? Particularly Sunday? Please shoot me an email deeporbit@gmail.com.

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-12-02 20:10
Subject:	Pics
Security:	Public

I have some photos up of some recent races. Check em out!

Mark Campaigne and Paul Avila: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deeporbit/1990865685/in/set-72157603121049500/
Bobby Langin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deeporbit/1991670474/in/set-72157603121049500/

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-11-30 09:26
Subject:	The season
Security:	Public

So far this has been a great cx season in SoCal. I missed last  weeks race in Glendale but I did bring my bike with me to NorCal I and I raced in San Francisco. The Pilarcitos series held their 4th race on Sunday 11/25/07. The fields were large and the competition was fierce. To put it in perspective we got to the course at 9:00 AM and there were any parking spaces, I mean ZERO. The place was packed! The course was all dirt with fast downhills and the rowdiest run-up I have ever seen. There was beer drinkin and money going to the racers willing to take on the challenge!

This weekend in Bakersfield should be awesome! Hopefully the fields are large and the racing is close!

Poster:	bobbotron
Date:	2007-11-07 10:04
Subject:	Repairs
Security:	Public

So it looks like I'll be building myself a new rear wheel this week. The cheap formula hub I was using started to act up, so I've decided to replace it with an XT, which will hopefully be a fair bit lighter and more robust.

Have you guys and gals lost any parts to cross yet this year?

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-11-06 16:20
Subject:	SoCalCross Prestige Series Race #5 Convert Cross
Security:	Public

This weeks race was held at the Lake Casitas Recreation Area near Ojai. There was a good crowd on hand including many roadies that stopped by to cheer on their friends in the various races. The course layout was excellent. Featuring a long, long paved straightaway at the start leading to a hairpin left turn onto grass along the lake's edge, up and over a steep run up, a few zigzags through trees and back to the pavement again made for a challenging venue.
In my race, Men's 35+ 3/4, there were a few regulars there and a few newcomers. It's always good to see new blood in the races! The race got underway on the long straightaway. I settled into 5th spot as we sped towards the first turn. I made it around the turn and stayed on the wheel of the guy in front of me. The long grassy stretch back towards the spectator area featured a log that required a little bunny hop followed by a sharp left and an immediate right up a short steep section. Two guys tangled it up and blocked most of the course. I was able to get around them but I had to dismount to do so. I inherited 3rd place and cranked away towards the barriers. I got passed by one guy near the barriers. As we made our way around the grass towards the dirt section I was feeling good, not great, but good. I got passed by a few more riders and made it up the wall, I mean run-up, and settled into a good rhythm. I stayed focused and passed a rider or two and then got passed by a few others. As we made our way around the course the field stretched out pretty good. I was racing alone until my bud Tak Tsubota passed me. I gave my bike an extra bit of encouragement and tried to stay with Tak but he was getting out of sight slowly but surely. I tried a few times to pour on any bit of extra energy I had but it just wasn't happening. I couldn't get back to Tak. On the last lap of the race I went for the wall with all of my dwindling power and almost made it to the top. I consider this race a success for me. Two goals I set before the season started were met. First off I moved up in category, and most importantly, I didn't get lapped! Until next time, keep on CX'ing!
 

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-10-29 16:50
Subject:
Security:	Public

On Sunday I made the drive down to Harbor City for the Urban Series race #2. I should have stayed home. Everything in race prep went normal. No surprises the night before, my bikes were ready to go, all clothes were clean and ready. The coffee pot timer worked as designed. All was good as I left for the race.

When I got to the race I had time to sign up and get ready. I got in 2 quality warm up laps and as I was getting towards the end of lap #3 I felt my rear tire acting like it was low. My rear tire was going flat! I flew back to my car at 8:56 AM. The race start was 9:00 AM. Time for action! I grabbed my spare tube and quickly replaced the flat tube. A friendly fellow racer offered to tell Brad to hold up the race. I pumped up the now repaired tire and it wouldn't hold air. Double turds! Later on I checked the spare and it had a hole, probably from being rubbed while strapped to my tool bag. Back to the story. I instantly popped off both wheels and put my bike in the trunk of my car and ran towards the wheel pit to get my mountain bike. Like a meathead I left off my extra set of clipless pedal and just had some old hunky platform pedals on there. In the past I only needed my spare bike for one lap so I figured why switch pedals, etc. Now I know better. I made it to the start line and Brad had held the start for me, thanks! I got going pretty good at the sound of the whistle. The course was pretty flat so hanging with the CX bikes was hard. There was a nice wreck after a few turns which was exciting - bike crash to the left! Two bikes crashed to the right! I inherited 2nd place! I quickly got passed and start fading. My tankish bike was killing me without my pedals. Then, as if I needed more grief, my rear tire started going flat. I had no spare for my spare bike so I just kept going. I got left super far behind. When the race was over and I got home I checked my rear tire and it had less than 20 lbs of air. So, lessons learned are 1. bring a spare bike fully prepared. 2. Bring a good spare tube. 3. Don't get flats.

I will be back for more this weekend!

Poster:	bobbotron
Date:	2007-10-22 14:23
Subject:	Mountain to cyclocross conversion
Security:	Public

I posted here earlier today on my mountain bike to cyclocross conversion, I thought that I should post it here as well.
http://community.livejournal.com/bikepirates/2931844.html

Had a good race yesterday! The course was a little boring, we were mostly racing on fields. Some really brutally decent hills to run up and race down though.

Poster:	bobbotron
Date:	2007-10-15 12:48
Subject:	Cross sunday
Security:	Public

Yesterday was a blast. I went to the Almonte cyclocross race in the morning, my second cross race.

The course highlights were:
* a sketchy narrow downhill followed by a narrow rooty uphill (good fun)
* a hairpin turn on a steep hill. Everyone overshot it the first time around. Apparently one guy did a full 360 washout turn on it!
* a killer set of stone steps we had to run up
* two really muddy stretches

I want to get a proper cross tire for my back wheel, my back end was sliding all over the place! :P

I uploaded a few photos here and took two videos. 1, 2. The one shows the one run up, the other the hairpin turn. I really liked the concrete slab you had to ride over after the turn, jumping off of it was great.

I had under inflated my front tire a bit. It seemed alright, but in my first lap, I hit something (a curb?) with speed, and it made that unmistakable "rim absorbing a blow" ding. I'll have to make sure to inflate it a bit more next time - I had to pay close attention to it the rest of the race to make sure I was hopping it over things. I don't think I've dented the rim.

Poster:	wongwongway
Date:	2007-10-13 10:10
Subject:	SPECIAL FEATURE - SOCALCROSS PRESTIGE SERIES RACE REPORT - FROM THE RIDERS!
Security:	Public

SPECIAL FEATURE - SOCALCROSS PRESTIGE SERIES RACE REPORT - FROM THE RIDERS!

Each week the SoCalCross Prestige Series will feature an individual rider's race report. Please submit your report from any of our SoCalCross Prestige Series races in this blog and you will not only live on in infamy but you will be automatically entered into our drawing for a Trek Lemond Poprad courtesy of Trek Bicycles!

Stay tuned for more action at: www.SoCalCross.org

Poster:	wongwongway
Date:	2007-10-13 10:07
Subject:	SPECIAL FEATURE - HOW I AM BECOMING A GREEN RACER!
Security:	Public

SPECIAL FEATURE - HOW I AM BECOMING A GREEN RACER! - SOCALCROSS PRESTIGE SERIES

Each week the SoCalCross Prestige Series will feature..."How I am becoming a Go Green Racer" blog. Please submit your report to this blog and if your report is chosen, you will not only live on in infamy but you will also receive a special gift from Sock Guy at the next race AND each submission will be automatically entered into our drawing for a Redline Commuter courtesy of Redline Bicycles to be awarded at the SoCalCross Prestige Series Finale.

Become Certifed Green at: www.SoCalCross.org

Poster:	bobbotron
Date:	2007-10-10 21:21
Subject:	Cross mount tips
Security:	Public

Hey everyone!

I'm just getting into cyclocross. I did my first race two weekends ago, I'm doing my next on Sunday. I had a lot of fun at the first one! I found I couldn't do the 'cross mounts and that I lost a lot of time every time remounting. Are tips? Is there some progression you can follow to make your way up to hoping on the saddle? I know you're supposed to land on your inner thigh first, and then readjust (or slide?) onto the saddle. I was practicing it a bit tonight. So far I can sling myself onto the seat from a jog, but it aint pretty. :P I guess practice makes perfect. :)

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-10-08 23:24
Subject:	Prestige Series Race #2
Security:	Public

I posted a bunch of pics of the Men's 35+ 3/4 race from this past Sunday. The course was great. A little bit of everything - including a short steep leg zapper climb covered with pine needles!
Photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/deeporbit/sets/72157602332468989/

I managed an 11th place finish in the Men's 4 race. I was running in 9th when I got a slow leaking flat rear tire on 2nd to last lap. I had to ride most of the course with my tire getting worse and worse. By the time I got to the pit area and switched bikes I lost one spot. I got rolling on my trusty MTB and got passed again. This bothered me so I really dug in and passed my nemesis back. He managed to  get around me  on the straightaway to the line. He pulled off a big sprint early and I couldn't get my bike to shift into the biggest ring. This delay of a second or two was all it took. By the time I got up to speed I could only get to within about 10 feet of the guy. Not bad I suppose. I felt pretty good and now I am confident I can move on over the Masters category and give it a shot. My goal - don't get lapped!

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-10-05 09:19
Subject:	The link is up!
Security:	Public

This journal is now linked from www.socalcross.org. Let's get to it!
Race action resumes this Sunday in Sylmar. Hopefully the large crowds from last week move north to Veterans Memorial Park for round 2 of the Prestige Series. See you on Sunday!

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-10-02 10:29
Subject:	Muckenthaler Cross Festival
Security:	Public

The first race of the Socal Cross season got underway on Saturday 9/29/07 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, CA. The Saturday schedule was elite class racing for men and women followed by food, beer, and bike related movies. The food was great. We went with the chicken burritos with Fat Tire Ale from the New Belgium Brewery. We made it about 1/2 way through Corey Arballo's Light It Up before our kids started to crumble. We went back to our hotel and took it easy. Or so I thought. I forgot all of my tools, I mean everything was left behind. I only had a pump. So I had to take a trip over to the local Target to find a 1/4 allen wrench for my Phil hubbed front wheel.

We got to the course early on Sunday. I got all my bikes together. I had to borrow a pedal wrench to swap pedals around between my backup bike and my singlespeed. The sign up line was exceptionally long which is a good thing. The crowd that showed up to race was big. The long line delayed the start by about 15 minutes. Once that was sorted out things got underway. I got in a good warm-up and felt ok. I had a little sinus and chest congestion so I took a pill to try to relieve the grief. I got to the starting line of the Men's 35+ 3/4 race with plenty of time. I found a good open spot away from the mob. Once the officials called us up I zipped up to the 2nd row. There were 41 guys ready to roll. Once the whistle blew I battle up to 4th quickly and got into a good spot coming down the off camber fast downhill right turn. The usual scenario played out and I got passed by several racers on the climb up to the barriers. Going around the first lap I probably got passed by 10 to 15 people. I was lunging pretty bad from the congestion in my head. I settled into a rhythm and kept the pedals moving. After 4 or 5 laps the officials starting tossing people out that were lapped or about to get lapped. I was almost 30 minutes into it when the leader caught me. I got yanked. So this kinda chapped me. There were a lot of people that were behind me that did not get pulled from the race. I think these guys were lapped at other areas of the course, not at the start/finish line like I was. There were 3 laps to got when I got the noose. I did feel ok by that point. I was warmed up and riding ok. My lower back was a bit sore. I need to move my brake levers up I think. When I got back to my fan club (family) I ate a Met-Rx bar and chilled.

Next up was the kids race. My kids wanted to do it so I got them all signed up and my wife and I put their numbers on.  Due to the previous delay in the schedule the kids race started at the same time as the Men's 3/4 & Singlespeed race. I didn't see the start of the kids race but I did see a couple of my kids racing when I went by!

The start of the singlespeed race was tough. I got shuffled back at the start and couldn't get up to the front like I wanted. Being that I was pretty fried from the first race I settled into my groove and kept the pedals moving. I had a great gear on my bike so I could make it up the climbs and still spin ok on the flat sections. There were 4 guys behind me. I managed to pass one guy, then he passed me back and crashed. I passed him while he worked on his bike. At about the 30 minute mark I got the signal again. However, the guys coming up behind me were not the singlespeeders, it appeared to be the geared class that started 2 minutes before us. That got me fired up again. Plus a guy that was behind me did not stop or didn't realize he got pulled.

In any case I won't let this slow me down. I will be back out there this weekend healthier and ready for more 'cross action!

Poster:	skazat
Date:	2007-10-01 12:57
Subject:	Cyclocross!
Security:	Public

Here's some photos from Sunday's Race at Bear Creek, in Lakewood Colorado. I dusted off the Cutters costume that I made, after seeing another Pirate wear one for that time trial at the motor speed way a while ago - which includes the knee high socks, the short shorts, the cutters shirt (obv), the oversized helmet, and... wig.

I'm also racing my Miyata fixed and this was the second race of the weekend for me - and I rode the 20 miles to the venue. Like ya do. All for the love. The course was great. Big ups to the Red Rocks Cylcery guys, they did an excellent job.

I don't know who took these photos, but thanks, you.

( Lots of photos of me in Red and White )




( And here's much too much dribble writing about this weekend: )

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-09-28 10:04
Subject:	Race this weekend - SoCal style
Security:	Public

The 2007/2008 Southern California cyclocross season kicks off this weekend with a huge event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, California. Check out www.socalcross.org for more info.

Cross is so much fun I will be racing two classes this year so I can double my fun factor!

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2007-09-18 23:28
Subject:	It's on
Security:	Public

SoCalCross is ready to roll. The first race of the 2007/08 Southern California season is on 9/29/07 for the elite classes, 9/30/07 for the rest of us in Fullerton, CA. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poster:	fiddydotcom
Date:	2006-11-28 16:17
Subject:	So Cal Cross video
Security:	Public

I put a video up on Youtube last night.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1zOPILcLkQ