Trail hugs mtn side under cliff band above cabins

While I haven’t been out racing like some of you guys I have been getting in some long rides, thus giving me the excuse to go up to Kirkwood last Saturday (Aug 1) and try riding the Kirkwood 9-5 endurance mountain bike race put on by Team Bigfoot. I didn’t approach it as a race as much as ride and experience. Despite a long hard day it was a lot of fun, something I plan to do again, and recommend to others.

Kirkwood parking lot - ride through self support pits

Taking place at Kirkwood from 9 AM to 5 PM there were about 120 total participants with around 80 being solo and others on teams…sure didn’t seem like that many. I pulled up to the parking lot and the guy next to me recognized the Etna/DeSalvo kit, seems he was from Sac and knows Chris Bauman. Sorry forgot the name but says ‘hello’. His truck and red hardtail below.

While a bit of a group at the start, the race thinned out nicely and people were very cool about passing…significant time was not lost getting stuck behind slow people on course (I jumped aside quickly). The course was about 6 miles long and mostly single track with some fire road climbing. I pre road the course the day before at a comfortable pace in about 45 minutes but didn’t feel as well and struggled for that on race day. Took a pretty hard spill on my second lap that put me to the side of the trail taking inventory for about 20 minutes. The course ran through the pits, a big parking lot (see pic), where it was self-service. After lap two I started taking pretty regular 10-15 min pit stops and maybe a half hour at the mid point, not having an ‘on’ day I was just trying to keep it fun and minimize the damage. It was a tough six and seventh lap to finish my day, despite the fluids and taking salt caps I was getting cramps and trying hard not to let the legs lock up. Ended up in the middle of the Masters 40+ and made the most of it so I was happy to finish but not overly stoked on my performance. Being from Sea Level the 8k plus altitude didn’t help but sure made for a nice venue.

*Shasta Lake, September 5th Clikapudi 6PM to Midnight (6 hours event)

I’m planning to come up for it, any chance of getting more of the team interested!?! Teams of two? Yes it’s all in the dark and lights needed.

Hearing about Steve's pajama days I thought this might provide a little inspiration for the Spring days to come.

With the tour passing so close I had to go up on the hill and lend support. I went to the top of Tunitas Creek (climb 1 approx. 2000ft) just meters before the KOM banner. Rain rain rain, that's all we had so I ditched the bike up idea ... good thing with a delay at the start I would have been like other fools freezing in the wait. Even almost an hour early the cars were parked over a mile from the hilltop. By the time the riders were expected I couldn't believe the crowd. Some teams set up tents at the top of the climb and sold pancakes and hot cider....where are they when I ride Tunitas?!? I walked just a hundred yards down Tunitas where I found some guys that had come real early to get the very best parking and had a laptop set up so could follow the race, nice guys, one was from Texas and had come out to watch...another couple next to me were from Wisconsin! They had watched the start in SF then hit the hill and were heading to the finish in SC then following the tour onward. I expected any break would be moving through but WOW were they going fast! It was great seeing such a crowd up there on such a shitty day and that so many are supporting cycling in the US. From here on out it's Versus coverage for me, hope you are all enjoying it too!

Just a couple pics from the race.

Hey Everyone,

First I want to say Great Job on the New Website, definitly a step up from what I had put together and a great service for the team. Look forward to seeing  a lot of use on here this year.

I basically just wanted to give a greetings to everyone for the new year, brief on my racing situation, and provide some other information that might be useful to some. Sounds like there are some miles being put on out there this winter. The warm dry days sure aren't lacking down here this year, several days have been hitting 70 here in the bay area! 

As Shawn I would love to see some of you down here this year for an event or two, then again I will try to make it up for a few events as well. If anyone is interested in seeing the Tour De California I have an open room as well...the Sausalito to Santa Cruz stage passes about an hours ride from my home.

CYCLOCROSS : Bay Area Prestige Series

http://pilarcitos.com/2008Cross.htm

I got a new cross bike this year (custom steel DEAN with disc brakes only, a little heavy but great ride) so finally got my ass out there and did the last 3 of the 5 in series in the Masters 35+ B. Last time I did cross it was Central Coast series almost 10 years ago, far smaller and more casual...there were circa 70 guys in my class at these races! I took it easy and started in the back figuring if I started passing a lot of guys then next time I would start further up. In the end I finished about were I started (around 55 of 70 never got lapped!) Courses weren't overly technical which didn't help me, Great fun and I did get stronger over the weeks...and some motivation to actually road race this coming year.

VELONEWS ARTICLE: Collegiate Cycling with PIC of Ally in ETNA KIT

Not sure if any of you caught it but there is an article on Collegiate Cycling on the Velonews website. Top of the article is a pic with Allly and a couple of her team mates except Ally is wearing the Team Etna/DeSalvo Kit!

http://www.velonews.com/article/86826/rick-crawford-college-days

TEAM HELMETS

I still have two medium helmets new in box for anyone interested. They are the combo red/black/white. One Bell Sweep R $65 and one Ghisallo $50

COMMUTER BIKES

Glad some other bike commuters on the team. I have done my share, my current commuter has been with me for over 15 years and used for years commuting on Caltrains to SF. While I have been tempted by the green bar tape, I stuck with the more traditional black/grey given how it goes with a suit and tie!

Not sure if those pics worked out or will display HUGE.

OK, that's it. Time to spin.

Brian Kadan