Sarah Ps Report

What an ass-kicker this race was. Ditto what Cathy Claire said� In addition to the bumps (wish I had a carbon fork), the temperature was hot and dry. I felt like I was back home in the NV dessert. I got a lousy start and had to maneuver my way around people. Definitely a rookie move on my part. All categories raced together so I did not know how I stood until the end. Second place again, but it was still a blast and I was happy to have my new cross bike. The lap in the velodrome was fun and a great chance to recover from all the bumps. My hubby flatted twice in one lap and a guy I rode past during warm-up hit a bump and lost his seat and God only knows what else.. ouch. But I was fortunate in the bike mechanical department, thankfully. Next week is the Velo Bella race in Soquel before jaw surgery and 2 weeks off for me so until then�

Cathys Report

It was a day of second place podium appearances for NorCalVelo today, with me 2nd in the 35+ and Sarah in the Women C category. Finishing off the 2nds was Christy Murphy (former NorCal girl) with a 2nd in the Women B category. The course today was hard, fast, and bumpy. People were throwing their chains and flatting left and right. I kept enough air in my tires to avoid flatting, but the resulting ride was akin to descending at speed over dried out horse paths in August. Still, it was a great race. The course started on a hill, which served to promptly split the field.

The barriers seemed really high, but that might have been my 60.5 inches complaining late in the race. My favorite parts of the race were the dusty off camber chicane sections that snaked a 90 degree turn around a Eucalyptus tree and then presented two barriers to begin a run up. I actually felt like the run-up was a strong point for me; this was a first! Those nasty red line training runs finally paid off. Another highlight of each lap was the spin around the velodrome. I raced Super Cup here in 1998 and I remember loving the velodrome section even then. However, in 98 the race was held during the rainy season, and the course included sections over bogged down grass that sapped your legs immediately. How to explain the love/hate appeal of cyclocross? I just know my husband is relieved to have me back racing instead of in a PhD program...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004