Surf City Final Word
January 5, 2007
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Surf City cyclocross races and put up with our shenanigans! Big slurpy kisses to all of our Surf City sponsors. It was a crazy season for sure. But in the end, we hope everyone had a great time. Because otherwise, whats the point of so much suffering?
We want to especially thank Barry Wicks, Ben Jacques-Maynes and Andy Jacques-Maynes. They were our top three overall finishers in the Men A category. At the awards ceremony, they decided to donate their cash winnings to the Nor Cal High School Mountain Bike League.
Their generous act inspired us too, and so the Surf City crew decided to match their donation.
It made us feel so warm and fuzzy inside that we think we might make this an annual tradition.
High School race season starts soon. If you want to feel warm and fuzzy inside, consider a donation to one of the finest junior cycling programs in the country.
Click here
And see you next year!!
San Bruno HillClimb
January 4, 2007
by Cheryl
Jan 01 2007 – no time like the present for sticking to the new year’s resolution to get on the road and RACE!!
This morning was the san bruno hillclimb and yet another hill to become acquainted with, or should I say feel the love for!
Step one was to check in (get the free h2o bottle) and get situated with race number etc. On the way to warm up on the road – since I haven’t sunk any cashola for a trainer – ran into liz b and wayne (thanks wayne for the adept placement of my number). Had a quick chit chat there till I realized my teeth were doing the chattering!!
Being my first road race, I decided to test the theory that google-ing warmup protocols for bike racing could actually return something of value and ta-da .. I got something with enough detail but not too much to put me off .. so I proceeded to test it out thru the chilly and deserted, let alone foggy and depressing office park in Brisbane, hoping not to get lost and miss the start of the race! Amazing how quickly you can fill 30 minutes!
Rightio .. back from the warmup and time to strip off a layer and get ready for business!
Definitely a low key very friendly vibe in the pkg lot. Lined up in the cat 4 women’s section and got ready to hit it with my best shot – thanks to pat benatar and my new shuffle! Lots o’velogirl action, an EMC2 girl, bicycle trip and other random folk.
The start is kinda cool to see everyone spread out on the road – albeit ahead of you!! Lotsa frantic folk blasting up the hill and initially quite demoralizing but applying the same logic as cruise control on the freeway at a constant speed, I settled into a fairly good pace and was happy to see the flashing light signifying the intersection to the cow palace.
Why happiness you ask?! With my’undercover brother’ knowledge from driving the course earlier, I knew that a flat section was ahead and a chance to make up some ground .. and that I did! Kept cranking till I had a few surprise interactions from strangers that helped with the motivation all the way to the turn into the park and the realization that I was about half way to the top.I eyed a couple of people ahead of me and used them as motivation to get to the top – a velo girl and a squadra girl.
I started to hear the voices at the top and coming around the corner realized it was time to turn on the juice and I sprinted past a couple of people – including the squadra girl and got 6th out of 16. This was a really fun race and I really look fwd to the honour to wear vbk colours at more races during 2007 and continuing to learn about road racing.
January 1, 2007
2006 BAR (Best All-Around Rider) Northern California and Nevada Cycling Association
1st, Erika Donald, Master Women
2nd, Elizabeth Benishin, Master Women
2006 BAT (Best All-Around Team) Northern California and Nevada Cycling Association
3rd, Velo Bella-Kona, Women 4
1st, Velo Bella-Kona, Master Women
Mt. San Bruno Hillclimb, CA
5th, Elizabeth Benishin, Women 1/2/3
6th, Cheryl Hennessy, Women 4
