CCCX 6, Toro Park

Although not many folks made it to this race as the district championships were the day before , the racing was still very competitive . Our team showed up on almost every podium, the exceptions being mostly classes where we had no entries.....that would certainly make it difficult to make the podium ! The windy and sometimes rainy conditions made the track a little slippery in places and made for classic cyclocross conditions,something we have missed in the last few seasons for the most part.
In the men's 35 A group, Alex Work continued his streak of medal runs with a second place.
Janel Lodge did the same in the women's 35 plus race. She, like Alex was our solo entry in that class.
The empty 2nd spot on the women's elite podium was for Stella Carey but she was racing the A single speed class at the time. Sarah Kerlin got 5 th for a medal as well.Katie Jay Melina just missed the podium with a fine 6th place.
The mens elite race got split up early but Dave Wyandt and Scott Chapin stayed in the hunt and wound up 4th and 5th respectively. Kevin Crossley just missed the podium in 6th .
Not seen in a photo yet but in the 45 B class Benoit Dubuisson continued his streak of podium appearances with a 4th place, followed by Jeff Traugott in 5th , returning to form.In the 55 plus, I scored a 4th place in a tiny field-hey, it's still a medal and a podium so I'll gladly take it !

Photos BASP Sierra Point

Pasta man Loren Soltes suited up and raced in the men's 35 B race after delivering a cooler full of pesto and fresh pasta. He was one of three riders on the team who are sponsors as well.
Meet Jon Mason, formerly of Oregon-now a bay area resident and a 35 B racer on Bay 101/HRS/Rock Lobster. You can see that helmet hair runs in the family.
Alex Work getting set for his start in the 35 A race, never taking things too seriously. He would retain his series lead with a 4th place.He would be followed by Brian Staby coming in at 16th with Matt 'Tiki" Jordan coming in at 29th.
Our tent was the place to be in all respects. If you were warming up, there were trainers. If you were warming down, there was a BBQ, a gourmet cheese course and Franks beer on tap. If you were just a little off your rocker, you fit right in. Decor was provided by the Jordans.
Scott rode the course so well that nobody could match his speed. His margin of victory was pretty commanding, well out of sight of the next rider in the men's A race.
Janel and Kathleen were back up in thier customary spots on the women's 35 + podium in second and third.In the women's A race, Stella Carey would come in 8th and Katie Jay Melina would ride to 19th.
Looks like the old man came through with a third place.......hopefully not the last !Below, Benoit Dubuilsson negotiates the run-up on his way to 14th place in the men's 45 B race follwed by sponsor Jeff Traugott in 18th.In the men's 45 A race, Brett Lambert would lead the team coming in at 11th, Tim Watson next at 13th followed by brewmaster Frank Kalcic at 14th.
Brent the Elder

Photos BASP Coyote Point

Brent The Elder

Pilarcitos II Coyote point

The rain is what made this race epic in the classic sense.....the mud really slowed the pace of riders and the hot dusty conditions of the previous weeks were nowhere to be seen. A few folks stood out as the toughest on the slippery mud. One of those was our own Dave Wyandt who soloed away from the men's A field to win by over a minute.
This is Dave crossing the line in solitary splendor,well out of sight of the nearest competitor.
Here's the men's A field getting under way with Dave in the center.
Another heroic ride was Benoit Dubuisson getting 4th in a field of 37 45+ B riders. This is Benoit's 4th podium in a row.
Alex Work nearly won the 35+ A race, only being passed by Don Myrah a couple laps from the end after soloing from the start.
This is the start of the men's 35+ A race with Alex in the series leader jersey. Other folks on the podium this weekend :
Stella Carey, 4th women's A race.
Janel Lodge, 3rd women's 35+ race
Mark Howland , 4th men's 45+ A race.
Cow Palace cyclocross:
Brent Harris, 1st men's 55+ race.
More photos should be coming. For much of the day I was either working in the pit or cowering under the tent during the downpours !

Surf City Halloween race

The longest running cyclocross series in the USA is supposedly the Surf City series.....a race that almost didn't come off this year but thanks to Ciclista Bonita and a host of other folks, it lives on. This edition was a tough race for most, lots of flat tires on the wrong side of the course and a few wipe-outs that spoiled a few good starts. The roster of podium folks that won pumpkins are:
Stella Carey , 2nd. women's A race.
Janel Lodge , 1st. women's 35 + race
Benoit Dubuisson, 5th men's 45 B race
Mark Howland , 5th , men's 45 A race
Josh Snead , 5th , men's A race
Paul Sadoff , 3rd, men's 55 + race.
Alex Work, 3rd, men's 35+ A race