BASP 1, Candlestick point

 Unfortunately, my camera is dying but here's what I got for photos this day. The team began early and Brent Harris and I were racing the 55+ master's at 8:00 a.m.  We both managed to stay upright and get on the podium with me in 4th and Brent in 5th. Later, the 45 B and 35 B groups were off with huge sold-out fields. Benoit Dubuisson finished an impressive 8th out of 60 riders followed by Michael Schaller in 34th. Zac Stanley was sidelined by an early crash but still made the top 20 in the 35 b group. The ride of the day had to be in the women's A race as Ellen Sherrill made a move in the first lap that proved to be the winning move. She was joined on the podium by Katie Jay Melina in 5th. Natasha Perry and Mary Ellen Ash both got delayed by flat tires but both finished.

 Janel Lodge made the podium in the women's 35 + race with a strong ride. Brian Staby finished 7th in a nearly sold out 35 A group with Jason Ralhwes in the top 15. Mark Howland had a top 20 in the men's 45 A race.

Another stellar ride was Scott Chapin's 3rd place from a 4th row star in the men's A race. The only two riders in front of him were pros, the Jaques Mayne brothers. Scott is getting closer every race to these guys. Aaron Odell continues with an 11th place followed by newcomer Andrew Juiliano and Ben Dodge in the top 15.

2012 team issue cyclocross bike

I wish to thank all of our parts sponsors for helping out our elite squad with some really excellent hardware. Here's the list:
Easton Bell sports : Fork, wheelset, bar,stem and seatpost
Chris King components : Bottom Bracket and headset
Paul Component engineering: Brakeset, cable hangers where needed , crankset and hubset on the single speeds
Giro: You can't see it in the photo but we all wear 'em- Helmets !

CCCX III CSUMB

 This was a new course for all but the team rode it like they knew it for the most part. In spite of some mechanicals and flat tires the results were excellent with Natasha Perry and Janel Lodge going 1st and 3rd in the women's 35 + race. Ellen Sherrill fought hard for the win and finished 2nd followed by Katie Jay Melina in 4th in the women's elite race.

 Michelle Perez was so far out in front in the women's 45 + race she didn't know how many laps she had left to finish. Fortunately she did them all and took the win.

 In the men's elite race Scott Chapin led from the gun and took a convincing win. Team mates Andrew Juliano and Alex Work held off all but one of the field coming in 3rd and 4th. This was Andrew's 3rd ever cyclocross race.

 Here's Scott in front, in control and staying smooth.

 Michelle Perez working hard for that win.

 Ellen racing with tired legs from CrossVegas still able to be at the front.

 Katie Jay showing why she is an Elite.

Late in the race Andrew moves past another rider to get his first CCCX podium. Other placings coming soon.

In their tires......

It has been said that an army marches on its stomach. A cyclocross team rolls on its tires and here's a box filled with the fastest rubber we could afford. I think I have ordered about twenty tubulars so far and there's little doubt that there will be a need for more before the season is over.

Post team party recovery ride

 Tom Cuthbertson's circle of stones near the university.

 Eucalyptus grove overlook, Wilder ranch.

Chinquapin road , upper campus.

Photos from CCCX II

 Howie gets on the podium with a 4th place in the 45 A group.

 Jason Rahwles continued his podium count with a 4th place in the men's 35 A group. Benoit Dubuisson also got 4th in the men's 45 B group followed by Michael Schaller in 10th. I got 5th in the 55 plus followed by Brent Harriss in 6th.

Scott Chapin broke up the Cal Giant podium sweep with a solid 3rd place. Andrew Juliano followed in 8th, Aaron Bradford in 10th followed by Alex Work and Ben Dodge. Aaron Odell had a douple wheel change that relegated him pretty far back in the field. . ( More placings soon. )  Natasha Perry won the 35 + women's race followed by Janel Lodge in 3rd. Ellen Sherrill got 4th in the women's A racefollowed by Katie Jay Melina in 6th.  Newcomer Kate Furtner got 4th in the women's B race despite a double flat.

Maiden voyage on the new sled

Ellen and Katie Jay on the Friday ride that wasn't supposed to happen. I guess it did have to happen as Ellen's new bike had to get ridden for the first time. Tomorrow it will get raced for the first time.......Katie Jay will take to the course for the first time this season. It should be a real beat down.

Time to get ready.............

This season Easton set our elite team up with some outstanding wheels.Scott is setting up his EC90 wheels with white Grifo file treads for the early dry conditions.

CCCX 1 Fort Ord

 The Bicycle Bluebook women were nearly all on the podium today starting with Natasha Perry winning the 35 + race. Janel Lodge followed in 3rd.

 Ellen Sherrill was our only Womens A rider to show up to this early season race but she represented well with a 3rd place.

 This fuzzy photo shows Michelle Perez atop the podium with a win in the 45+ group. Kathleen Bortolussi kept her  company up on the boards.

 Scott Chapin rode a solid race and came in 2nd behind Cal Giant rider Andy Jaques-Mayne, a former national team member. Scott is showing serious form and should be a threat . Alex Work finished in 6th and newcomer (in the photo below) Andrew Juliano , Ben Dodge  and Jeff Patton rounded out the field. Sean Coffey scored a top-10 finish (7th) in the single speed A group and newcomer Zac Stanley got 4th in the men's 35 B group. Jason Rahlwes got a 4th place in the men's 35 A group. Mark Howland got a top 10 in the men's 45 A group . Benoit Dubuisson got 8th in the men's 45 B group followed by Allan Bennett in 12th.

Scott was happy to give an English-as-second-language interview at the end of his race.

Not quite ready for prime time

Here's Ellen Sherrill's 2012 team bike in process. I don't have shifters yet so it will have to sit out the race tomorrow. The Easton wheels are really going to make this thing a rocket sled.

The last Friday pre-season ride

We were treated to a visit by team veteran Dave Wyandt. New rider Andrew Juliano got a skinny tire dirt intro on the pit single speed , Scott Chapin rocked his steel bike and Kathleen Bortolussi got a bee sting on the downhill. I got a pinch flat about the same time but with all that it was still a great ride. Next weekend the races start at CCCX and I think we'll be ready. Team sponsors Pro-Gold, Giro, Easton, Paul Component engineering have provided us with generous support. Our title sponsor Bicycle Bluebook has really set us up with resources to have a full program for our elite team. Returning sponsors HRS,Traugott Guitars ,CX Nation and Pasta,etc. Have come through for us in a big way. Hopefully we will match the success of the last few years and possibly even improve on our record.

The team rolls on Pro-Gold

It is with great excitement that we announce our newest soponsor, Pro-Gold. We will be set with the best chain lube and bike wash for the cyclocross season. These boxes are filled with the stuff that will keep us rolling. Come by the tent and we'll oil your chain.

The proof is in the jersey.

 Historically speaking some gnar has been shred by this team, lately by the dirt-faced kid below. With luck we will continue our shredding ways in the upcoming season with help from a new sponsor, ProGold lubricants. The lube and bike cleaners will keep us rolling all the way to Feb. and the end of the season.

Team ride

Every Friday  until the races start there will be a team ride meeting at the shop at 5:00 p.m.  The cyclocross team has been officially re-launched for the 2012-13 season with a new name : Bicycle Bluebook/HRS/Rock Lobster. We wish to thank new title sponsor Bicycle Bluebook , returning sponsors HRS, Traugott guitars, Easton-Bell sports, Giro, Chris King, Paul Component Engineering, Pasta, etc., Mavic, FitYu, Bob's Red Mill . We would like to welcome new sponsors : CX Nation, Buckler Embrocation, Mark Stevens Yoga. There are other sponsors pending as well and I'll update the list soon.

Time to get ready....

Motorpacing for 'cross ? -Don't laugh.....it works. Here's Aaron Bradford's rig for doing just that. With a couple more racks for wheels and a roller in back for safety this little moto will be ready for service. The Friday team rides started last week so the preparation has officially started.

Surf city final and county championship

Janel and Natasha rode another great race to finish 2 and 3 on the day. The course was really hilly and demanding, much more difficult than Harbor High courses of the past.


Howie and Tim were 1 and 2 in the mens 45 A group with Howie claiming the county champion hat.
This was a huge victory for Will Hall in the 45 B race getting the overall series victory and 2nd on the day. Will finished no worse than 2nd in the four race series. Benoit Dubiusson finished 6th on the day
Brent Harris and I fought it out with the field of 13 in the mens 55 group. I came in 4th and Brent came in 6th.....the results for the day and the overall were not quite dialed.

This is Brent after his collision with a tree and some dehydration from the warm dry conditions.
Here's Tim Watson attempting to explain how he got 2nd place after spending a few days this week in bed with food poisoning......he was in disbelief ! Both Tim And Frank made for a really festive last race of the season with a super barbeque and folks from the team and outside the team were well fed. Although I didn't get photos, Aaron Bradford showed up and rode to 2nd place in the mens A race and secured 2nd overall in the series. Ben Dodge rode to another top-10 capping off an excellent season. Michael Schaller rode in the 35 B group but I was unable to get a placing for him. Alex Work dominated the single speed race again adding a county championship to his district championship.Results can be seen at Surf City cyclocross.

CCCX Final Fort Ord

Here's Benoit Dubuisson after a sprint finish in the 45 B group. He finished 8th on the day and 6th for the season. Alan Bennett would finish 14th.
The CCCX final at Fort Ord saw a windy, chilly day of fast riding and changing fortunes in the overall season standings-for the most part, favorable for our team. Jon Mason finished 7th on the day but 2nd overall in the mens 35B class, capping an excellent season. Michael Scaller would finish 11th on the day.
Michelle Perez ended her CCCX with a second place.
Natasha, Janel and Kathleen went 1,2,3 in the series with Janel at the top of the podium.
Scott Chapin could not stop the Cal Giant train but stuck it out for 4th on the day and 4th in the series with Ben Dodge going 6th on the day and 3rd for the series. Jeff Patton missed the series podium by only three points.


Mark Howland came back from broken ribs to finish 3rd on the day and 4th for the series in the mens 45 A group.
Jason Rahlwes got 5th for the day and 5th for the series in the mens 35 A group.

I had my best CCCX finish of the year with second on the day and 3rd for the series.