Elite Nationals is Colorful!

Bobby Lea

of

Pennsylvania

won everything in the Omnium.

He has been racing since he was 3.




USA Cycling Officials
were everywhere. They were adept at changing the plan.


We had lots of meetings on the concrete infield.
(they eventually let me on)
The crowd
of spectators that was
NEVER THERE

didn't seem to mind.

Of Hagen Berman runs the children's program at Marymoor in Renton, Washington.

My favorite,
Pro track racer,
Jame Carney won a Gold Medal
(his 20th Natz Championship) in the Final Scratch Race
despite having his knee slammed into the bike rack by his girlfriend (on accident) just two nights before.

Bleach blonde superstar Jamie Carney is always kind, even when he is limping.

Micheal Hernandez of Oakland is our pal.
He was supporting his girlfriend only at this event,
though he is fast himself.

We shared coffee from my Thermos in the mornings.

He was always at my beck and call to be a "holder" when they were used for the huge Scratch and Points fields.



Kit Karzen is a consummate pro even though he is just 20 years old. His coach "Coach Roach" and his movie producer dad make quite a racing crew.

Coach Roach wore flaming shirts with matching socks.

Cyclisme Sisters in The Lore, Angel and Nissy Cobb came together with the World Champion Kirk Whiteman camp of speedsters supporting
Nissy's National's bid.

Kirk has finished Nissy into an incredible Sprinter. She won a Silver Medal in the Keirin and the Team Sprint!




Always near at hand,
Lore Hero
and famous photographer,

Jen Brinkman

was speaking softly, and holding a big lens.

Upping the game!

Taking it to the next level in L.A.

Win at Barlow!

Last one Picked for Kickball
by
M. M.Blomberg
30% chance of rain Sunday and we got all 30% between 9 AM and 2 PM
so this course at Barlow was very technical.

Welcome to Cross season!

I jumped off the line
at the start to try and catch the B's that got a 30 sec head start on us Master A's/Master B's. By the time the ladies went off at 2:10 PM, the rain stopped and some of our course was sticky.
It was still very slippery in the grassy sections along the fence and in the off camber sections.

Many of the ladies took to running this to avoid sliding out. I managed a combo of both riding and running but still went down here and there. Less energy to ride it than to run it. I stayed upright for most of the first lap and missed the swarm of bees that other racers encountered throughout the day.

The down hill section to the barriers was well worn from the previous racers and the mud was getting deeper and treacherous. I took the left side of the run up (spikes in my shoes helped) and avoided the railroad tie steps all 3 times(legs are sore from the climbing with 22 lbs of Pinky on my back).

By the last lap, my bike had accumulated so much mud between the back wheel & frame, my rear wheel wouldn't spin. Other riders were having the same problem, but the mud was in their brakes.
See?
Disc brakes do have a place in Cyclocross.
Many of us had to stop & pull the mud out to get our bikes to even roll (having flashbacks of Krugers last year... UGGGHHH). I hated losing time to do this but it wasn't like I could ride and drag my wheel behind me.

I did try though.

With everyone sliding out and tripping over their bikes on the switch back sections by the start shoot, it was very hard to tell where I was in the group. I caught a glimpse of one of my regular competitors just behind me on the last half of lap 3 and it was on.
I kicked my gear up once I hit the pavement and it was a full on sprint. Hitting the final corner around the buildings, I passed a Green Submarine rider, beating her to the finish and bunny hopping the speed bumps for effect...(Bunny hop practice at Alpenrose helped).
I was pretty sure she was in the B's but didn't want to take any chances. Catherine and Sarah finished not long after me.
Awesome job ladies!
Catherine rocked her first race and she started in the B's!
None of that beginner stuff for her.

Like Eric, I had no idea I won and had to check the results once they were posted.
Hope Eric took advantage of the free bike wash they gave to the winners.
Pinky never looked so clean.

Welcome to the A's Eric.

I have also upgraded to Master A's and will be trying this out at Blind Date (All A's race together and are graded together..OMG) @ Alpenrose.
I guess racing in the dark for an hour with the fastest kids on the block will make you stronger.

Or...
make you feel like the last one picked for kick ball.

later barlow!

Lanners at Barlow!
by
Eric. "L" L.

Great to see everyone out at barlow.
my quick race report is
i am still a little sore from the race. it was an epic day with the rain and mud!
i got a sweet start, rolled out second wheel.
then the off camber section went down and got passed by a dozen or so folks.
my neighbor scoffed at my clincher wheel selection last week and gave me some bontragers, i think they were meant more for fast dry conditions since i was slipping all over the place.
the rest of the race was trying to catch folks. greg had a sweet start and i eventually made it back up to him and we rode together for awhile.
i was feeling better and better with every lap, i also knew i was catching people.
i hammered the last lap, going into the railroad run up all the folks in front of me took the left and i took the right. i sprinted up and turned out caught everyone in front of me. a filth and fury dude passed me on the greasy sections but after the barrier, i hammered and caught him.
wasn't sure if he was in first until the results were posted.

great job everyone, great day.
got the email from candi saying i need to upgrade.
hope to see everyone at alpenrose

later lanners

Elite Prep Race

The
Home Depot Center
in Carson, California is an intimidating place,
but our guys did what they do,
and it was cool.


Now it's a week till the Bigs.

peeking over

My USA Cat 2 Coaching License expired in 1994.
(same year we won Oregon Bicycle Racing's "Most Improved" Team.)
They wouldn't let me on the infield in L.A.

After Elimination Race

The Second Race at the Elite Prep Race was an Elimination Race where jake got 5th and bedford finished 7th.

Rotate your Computer!

Warming up before the 45lap "Prep" Scratch Race in 96inch gears.
Brand new Rollers loaned by Dave Pulliam of Major Motion.

Bob!

Poolside in L.A.




Prepping for a Part in the new "Jackass" Movie.
(note loaner wheelchair,
as the securing nut came
loose and the bearings in
the caster headset assembly
in my wheelchair disintegrated
the moment we hit the the Long Beach Airport
Tarmack)

KPTV 12

Help us with the kids and we'll make you State Champion - and who knows we might just send you to Nationals too!!

http://www.kptv.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4343388

Wallace Park Partaay!

More

wisdom

brought

forth

by the

women's

team

resulted in a

pot-luck extravaganza!

People were hanging out

under the overhang at

Wallace Park in NW Portland.

All ages swirled around the food while ten thousand Swifts swirled around a chimney-top on the roof of Chapman Elementary School.

Humans gathered in rain gear with camp chairs to watch the birds fly.





We watched soccer practices, Swifts swirling, kids clanging, homework happening, and all sorts of human activity from our bountiful table of food. Dry under the rood of our outdoor dining room.


Roadies partied with cross crusaders, track stars became transfixed, and children challenged the charity of their elders.


It was a beautiful scene.

Maya Coaches Track!

Coaching paceline exchanges of the lead,
when the leader pulls up track and
then gets back down on the back of the paceline quick, is
an important thing to get right.

OBRA 9-11 yr.old Women's Track Champ
Maya Bergmann takes her work very seriously.

Nationals caliber Points practice!

Motorin! Beardsley, Bergmann, and Benenate all making Jake fast!

Robotron contemplates LOVE...

Love conquers all,
even Robotron!