Indian
Summer is upon us, and there is no better time to come and visit Santa Cruz
county and ride the roads and trails that make this place the cycling destination
that it is. We’ll be staying at Camp Loma, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, right
in the thick of the best road and trail riding in the area.
$70 per
person includes:
·Camping Friday and Saturday night at Camp Loma,
29650 Highland Drive. We will have use of the camp during the day on Sunday.
·Pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
·Swimming in the on-site, creek fed swimming pool.
·The camp has showers, a kitchen, and a fire pit
amphitheater for your ghost story telling pleasure.
·Road and Mountain bike rides planned for Saturday
and Sunday. Let us show you our favorite local rides.
Brought to you by Hunter Cycles, Frances
Cycles, and Black Cat Bicycles.
Saturday at the races. CCCX#2 back at in in the Ord. Finally, some drizzly legitimacy.
Good course this week- a back and forth between the 2 low ridges around the old Boy Scout Camp. I was very close to vomitus for my 1st lap. 2nd lap...DNF. Front flat. I'd gotten a front flat in my pre-ride and rushy rush changed it (using the 1 spare tube I had) just in time for the 35+B's call-up and to talk a little smack about thorns on the course (you know to get in folks' heads. How do they race where you are?) only to re-flat. I guess I should get a new tire for reals. Apparently the duct tape booted sidewall tear is not kidding around.
This did, however, give me the opportunity to stand around and heckle with the rest of the seedy bottom feeders from Monterey. We chose the 3' drop over by the hidden playground as being more prime time than the barriers. I had opted for the right hand line in practice and found myself with much more hang time than I'd bargained for, so it was the place to encourage others. To encourage them to race fast and take chances!
It goes without saying that_______________. But, a few did take up the gauntlet and let fly. Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted: "Men will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon", and it still holds true though it might be paraphrased as "Cyclocross racers will perform for some jeering and cowbells." Leave it to DFL's own P__ M____ (whose brother _uck, 1st introduced me to fixed wheel bicycles and the phrase "Cuz it feels so good when you stop." in Moab, UT circa '96) to pick up a little bit more speed and a little more air each time round until the inevitable. Somersault dismount. P__ had already been taunted. On his 2nd lap, his front wheel had been hit with an empty beer can. He'd flipped the bird and raced on, head down. Not catching anyone, but still- willing. I don't know if it was the determination to win at all costs or the increasingly antagonistic "cheering", but he took the right line and sentit. Sent it sideways and high-sided the landing for a dramatic tumble. No stranger to this type of set back, he wisely sat still where he landed and regrouped. Asked for a beer. (We failed him there-the beer was all drunk- and I promise it will never happen again) Got back up, straightened his rear shifter (I failed him there- I'd checked the wheels and headset, but did not check the shifter...DOH! Always check the shifter!- and I promise it will never happen again) and jumped back in that race. Well played!
The Little Corporal also said "It requires more courage to suffer than to die."
I have some reservations about these so called "friends" who are in it with me, but still...
Like these people, who loitered in my yard all day, stinking up the place and dragging down property values.
Like this guy,seen here setting up the course on race day. He claimed that one tower (which had been gonna be a fine and sneaky stop) was in the process of being hived up as hundreds of bees swarmed all around it, requiring a small but significant reroute. Then he borrowed my bike and did 360s on to the giant airbag they had set up at Sea Otter.
M___ decided to go for the glory early and stacked up in the sandy wash at the bottom of the initial fire-road drop towards #50. He and another guy converged on the single line, and they both crashed hard. I was in the front (ahem) and all I heard was a little girl yelling "Oh my God!" It was carnage when I got back to the wash. As a nice twist of the knife,while he was gimping himself up the hill to head for the hospital, M___ said he could hear us hollering across the valley as we ascended 50 on the North side hurling invective at one another. Having fun and such. For spending the night in the ER he was awarded a shower of popcorn, a bunch of jeers, and a sweet puking clown Surly t-shirt. I think he earned it the hard way. I overheard him telling his old lady she was gonna have to wear her doctor outfit...
At a couple of stops we had been instructed to write on our feet (BIGfoot theme?). LOVE and HATE. It was fun seeing everyone barefoot in the sleazy dive.
Some people misunderstood the instructions.
Seemed like cross bikes were the vehicle of choice. Folks in it to win it.
This obsession with victory at all costs was not without costs. For example the choice above. 23mm rear=flat. Only one?!? I am amazed. Especially since this entrant's cut-throat style marked him early as equal parts reckless and dangerous.
One of the nicer machines. Black Cat Bicycles custom cyclocross. The photos do not do it justice. The tinted clear coat over the braze? Oh.
Like buried treasure.
See how these people treat sweet adventure bikes? This was perpetrated upon me while my bike was safely tucked into the cozy environs of a sleazy dive bar. Every now and again on the ride back home, I'd come across some new and (purposely) inconveniently located sticker. I guess I can't have nice things.
If you rode this, and have photos or stories to share, go over to the SLEAZE OTTER website and bother them. For my part, I can say it was the worst Sleaze Otter. Ever. And that's saying a lot.
3 simple rules in the English language. Words to live by, folks.
Night rides? yes. Leaving your lights off to save power? you might be seeing more than you'd like of the peelers. We'd taken the bike path out to the Ord (why?) and so were cornering our way back to the Parker Flats cutoff entrance, when upon making a fast right, we popped out in front of the popo. All lit up from behind, and a fuzzy amplified voice telling us "You 3, pull over NOW." Oops. "Why didn't you pull over when I told you the 1st time?" We had the wind in our ears. "I'll take that. What are you doing riding with no lights?" We thought our blinkies were on. We were trying to save the headlights' power. We're turning them on right now. Shuffle and scrape, my sons. Smile and nod. Bow and whimper. "It's for your safety. What are you doing riding out here?" Training for a 24 hour event. (ha!) "That's admirable. Let me see your licenses. Not riding the trails out here are you?" No! I won't go into everthing surrounding this, suffice it to say I began sweating for a whole new host of reasons. My backpack full of beer and camping supplies wasn't helping. Neither was that other thing. Or that other other thing. And I didn't have my ID. He was a block from his HQ, and too eager to end his shift to run the IDs, and we had pulled off seeming sober respectful citizens, so...it went as well as possible.
I am inspired to cast these pearls, so, when dealing with the one time, attempt to control the situation in the following ways... 1. Don't panic. 2. Be respectful. This really should go without saying, but I have been in similar situations in which companions have copped an attitude and/or been surly. This never works. Johnny Law will never let this slide. Shut the hell up and take it, or they will make it worse. Believe me. 3. Steer the encounter in the direction of you needing help, not enforcement... You're injured. You have mechanical problems and need tools or are waiting for a ride home with your broken machine.It's a winning strategy! This switches the scene from administering justice to administering aid; a shift in your favor.
You're welcome.
After all this, what was left was to immediately hop on those trails, pop some tops and drop some hammers. We stowed our packs in the bushes, and rode around real fast. Then I piled up inside a loose corner on downhill 50 and cracked some ribs on my left side.
OMG, this hurts. It is the hurt that keeps on hurting. I never realized how much movement depends on oblique abdominals bracing. You know what they brace off? Ribs.
Start out cold, settle in, climb some, descend at speed, maneuver (how's about shaking it around a little).
On account of last week's relative inactivity, riding is hard again. My left TFL (tensor fascia latae) is my bugbear, and increasingly constant companion.( I know, alls it needs is attention/stretching/work, but it's easier said than lived).
...is that you?
On account of last day and night's rain, the trails are tacky again. And plus, the rain warshed away all the duff in which I'd cleverly cached the velocache name of Dirty #30 (I know, but they can't all be gems) so as I passed it today I re-cached it.
On account of people breaking balls, bike choice is in my mind today. So let me just say this: I like bikes. I like road bikes (geared and fixed wheel) and mountain bikes (geared {full squish and sprung on the front and fully rigid} and singlespeed {fully rigid and sprung on the front} and fully rigid fixed wheel). My wheel size of choice is 700c/29", and that is cuz I'm a long tall Texan. I think proper wheel size is more a matter of relation to rider size than anything else; you should ride what fits you. I enjoy most of all to ride the cross bike (geared or singlespeed or fixed wheel) so's I can take roads and trails.
So. If you don't like one or more of the above options- well then it's time to _uck or _ight.
And further, if you are of the opinion that one or more of the above options is not legit, then you need to stop kidding yourself; a different ride is a different ride which allows for a True appreciation of any one of those options. The wheels on the ____ go round and round.
Any questions? Oh. THE FULL HUNTER MOON WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED, FRIDAY 22ND...DARK THIRTY AT THE WATER TANKER. Corner of Parker Flats Cut-off and that other street. Any other questions?
What a day for the camera battery to be dead. J requested Brown Lunch in Fort Ord, so he could ride his "new singlespeed" 16" bike (it's a hand me down that "we" overhauled and repainted).
We're still hunting and pecking up a new mostly dirt route from the Parker Flats Cutoff entrance, and we're getting there. Saw a turkey and a coyote up close. He rallied so hard. He rode Mudhen Express and Blair Witch. 7ish miles? Good Times.
...which is an admittedly huge category. From photobomb, and especially relevant now that Prop 8 has been overturned and 2 people who love one another are getting another chance at saying I Do.
My favorite is: "I will have no choice." That is correct white teenage girl! You WILL have to...uh, what was it she will have no choice about again? Whatever. Hey all you gays- you stop destabilising my marriage! It is on the rocks now on account of you and your darned love for one another!
