News:
Cynergy Cycles Wins the Masters Cycle League Series.
8/29/07 - The Masters Cycle League (MCL) finished up its most competitive season ever with the conclusion of the MCL finals at the Ladera Ranch Grand Prix. With five new venues, which required talents ranging from track skills to long distance endurance to climbing, the MCL season was a huge success. With the exception of Torrance, every race course was an MCL first. LA Circuit Race started the teams off with the challenge of endurance hosting a 36 mile long circuit race that tested teams with the best endurance riders. La Grange took the first MCL points of the year with a decisive win of the first points preem. But it was Cynergy Cycles that came out on top with its points for the day. In April, NOW/MS took the lead at Torrance with the duo of Rondash and Galvan taking first and second. It was a very close season with Cynergy Cycles and NOW/MS Society trading the lead each week until the final two races at the La Mirada Grand Prix and at Ladera Ranch. A late entry by Amgen/Giant Masters threatened the leading teams and they managed to make a podium showing of third overall by the series finals. A big thank you to Accelerade, Central Coast Magazine, Motortabs, Sixtufit, Pen CC and the rest of the teams for our most competitive season yet and for showcasing teamwork for the MCL and all it’s fans. Watch for MCL to add a Northern California division in 2008.
The Cynergy Cycles boys won the MCL Series. Congrats!
Sean Donovan Wins Again at Rim Nordic XC #4
8/29/07 - Sean Donovan riding for Cytomax takes top honors at Rim Nordic's XC#4 Series Final on Sunday 8-26-07 with a time of 1:43.47 for the 21 mile course. Rain threatened but never materialize as the last of the XC series ended with a cool day of racing. Additional race has been added to the season...back is the Autumn Cup scheduled for Oct 21st and a Super D tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct 20th. Top Team overall honors went to Bear Valley Bikes, AFP/Velosport was 2nd , Sho-Air was 3rd.
Top Team overall honors went to Bear Valley Bikes at Rim Nordic XC #4.
photo © Korey Brown
Summer Race Report - By Coryn Rivera
8/27/07 - I’m finally home from my journey of the highlights of my season. First off was the Jr. Track Nationals on July 1, 2007. I placed 1st in the 500m time trial with a time of 37.47 which is currently the National Record for 15-16 women. The next day was the scratch race, I placed 2nd. On the third day I won the final points race. With winning 2 out of 3 races I won the overall women 15-16 omnium. I also participated in the Jr. Women Team Sprint. My other teammate was Collen Hayduk. We beat second place by a whopping 7 seconds. Collen being 17-18, we both had to go through Anti-Doping. On July 4th there was an Independence Day Grand Prix. I raced in the Elite Womens Points Race, Sarah Uhl won and I placed 4th overall. more >
Celebrating on the podium at the Le Tour de L’Avenir du Saguenay.
Ivan Dominguez Second At Chris Thater Memorial
8/26/07 - With one lap to go Sunday at the Chris Thater Memorial, it looked like history was about to be made. Only once in the race’s 24 editions had the 50-mile (80 km) criterium come down to a field sprint. But with nearly the entire Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team on the front of the 70-rider strong peloton, it appeared the National Race Calendar event was headed for a massive, curb-to-curb sprint to the finish. But the final time up the only hill on the 1.2-mile (2 km) course, Kyle Wamsley (Navigators Insurance Pro Cycling Team) surprised everyone by jumping out of the pack, opening a small gap and sailing through the final three corners to solo in for the win. more >
Lance Armstrong on Meet the Press on Sunday, August 26th
8/25/07 - Lance Armstrong on the fight against cancer & his 2008 Livestrong Presidential Forums. Then, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) who just returned from Iraq on the state of the war. Plus, a roundtable with Richard Engel, Tom Ricks & Michael Gordon. more >
La Route de France Victory - By Amber Neben
8/24/07 - It is always fun when you win a big race, and it is even better when you can add the team gc, a stage win, and even a stage win by a teammate. The 8 day - 9 stage race that just finished up in France was a very successful end to my latest European racing adventure. Since the Dutch national championship time trial conflicted with the race, my Team Flexpoint was not entered. This left the door open for me to race with the USA National squad. And what a team it turned out to be! I had the privilege of racing with Amber Rais, Katheryn Curi, Kori Seehafer, Mara Abott, and Meredith Miller. I went into the race knowing that I had a good chance to win. more >
Amber on her way to winning the Time Trial. Photo © Jean Luc.
Tour de France Adventures - By Simon Anderson
8/23/07 - I was watching the Tour from my home in Venice Beach, CA on July 21st and getting excited about a potential podium finish for Cadel Evans, my native Aussie countryman. After talking with my dad in Australia, I got the wild idea to fly to France and fly him there as well, and join the Tour in the Pyrenees. Within 24 hours I’d booked the flights, packed the bikes, and was on my way to meet dad at Charles de Gaulle airport on the morning of Tue July 24th. We rented a car and drove 8 hours to Pau in the Pyrenees, camped beside the road on the Tour route, and rode the Col D’Aubisque ahead of the Tour the very next day – what an experience! Saw the start of the next stage in Pau then we tackled the Col du Tourmalet in hot conditions and enjoyed the esprit do corps at the top with Spanish, French and German riders. Rejoined the Tour in Cognac and rode into the starting street for the time trial at 6.45am, and managed to confuse the gendarmes sufficiently to ride the complete time trial course before the Tour that day all the way through the finish – perhaps the Wilier Le Roi XL gave the impression we were with Lampre J. Saw Cadel almost get the maillot jaune from 50m from the finish, then off to Paris for the Champs Elysees – a perfect finale. To cap it off, we headed south to the Alps and camped in Bourg D’Oisans, then rode Alp D’Huez, Col de Glandon and Col du Galibier over 3 days before flying back to SoCal for some sleep and rest.
Simon Anderson (right) and his dad set off to enjoy a day of fun at the Tour.
SRAM Rival Product Review - By Frank Sarate
8/21/07 - Rival is the perfect name for this steller groupset which just entered the market last year. Back in the late 80’s, I used the SRAM Grip Shift shifters, which were the trick components that started the SRAM revolution and paved the way for Grip Shift shifters to be spec’d on several mountain bikes and recreational bike today. Over the past few years, SRAM has been working on a complete road group that would be competitive with Campy and Shimano. SRAM has definitely done their home work on the R & D. Not only did they enter the market with one groupset they came in with two lines: the Rival and the Force group sets. I used the Force group set mostly over the winter to see if the components would live up to the hype, and they did with flying colors. more >
O'Bee Wins Second Career USPro National Criterium Championship
8/20/07 - Kirk O'Bee of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis earned his second career USPro Criterium Champion's stars and stripes jersey in a rain-soaked Downer's Grove Sunday afternoon.O'Bee finished second in the race in a photo finish with Canadian Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies), but as the top American, earned the right to wear the jersey during criteriums for the next year. Shawn Milne of Health Net Presented by Maxxis finished third in the race." "The rain had a pretty dramatic effect on the race," noted Health Net Presented by Maxxis directeur sportif Jeff Corbett. "Our strategy was to avoid crashes, keep it upright and save a bit of gas for later in the race." more >
Jose Manuel “Chepe” Garcia of Toyota-United leads the field down the
course’s downhill stretch. Photo © Kurt Jambretz, Action Images
Toyota-United's USPro National Criterium Report
8/20/07 - Bobby Lea’s eighth-place finish led three other Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team riders at a rain-soaked edition of the USPRO Criterium Championship Sunday in Downers Grove, Ill. IIn addition to Lea’s top 10 placing, Sean Sullivan finished 22nd, Chris Wherry was 26th and Heath Blackgrove was 36th. The four were the only Toyota-United riders still in the race at the halfway point of the 62-mile (100 km) event. Canadian Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling Team) narrowly won the race in a sprint with Kirk O’Bee (Health Net presented by Maxxis) while Shawn Milne (Health Net) finished third. By virtue of being the first American to cross the finish line, O’Bee was crowned the U.S. national criterium champion and will wear the stars-and-stripes jersey in criteriums for the next year. more >
Pic, Holloway Win National Crit Titles
8/19/07 - Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) collected her fifth national title in six years while Daniel Holloway (VMG Racing) picked up his first on Sunday at the USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. As in Saturday's Pro-Am Challenge, rain played a starring role - particularly in the 80km elite men's race, which saw crashes in each of the last four corners and perhaps half the 163 starters finish.The field mostly stayed together during the 50km elite women's race, until trackie Anna Lang (Karl Strauss-SDBC) took a dig with four laps remaining, opening a 40-meter gap. more >
Sean Donovan Wins Rim Nordic XC #3
8/17/07 - Pro racer, Sean Donovan, took home the cash prize for the fastest pro racer at the Rim Nordic XC #3 on Aug 5th. That day's racing concluded the weekend of racing which was part of the So Cal Mt Stage weekend benefiting the Mark J Reynolds Foundation. The Series Final will be Aug. 26th, but adding to the schedule, Oct 21st....the Autumn Cup returns.
Sean Donovan (Cytomax) on his way to winning. photo © Korey Brown
The Vargarda World Cup Race Report - By Amber Neben
8/16/07 - Ouch. That one did not go as we had expected. I will keep the report brief, since it is better that I say less than more. The team raced hard, but we ended up with nothing in the results column. My day was a hard one. I raced aggressively early and often. Obviously, Susanne being the home girl would be given a chance to win. However, Mir and I were free to be a part of any opportunities that worked in our favor. Somewhere in the middle of the race, after a series of attacks (I think most were mine,) I was finally able to free myself from the small bunch. more >, video >
Team Flexpoint at the team presentation at the Vargada World Cup.
The L.B.C.'s Tony Cruz Signs with BMC
8/15/07 - Local Pro Tony Cruz just signed a contract with BMC for two years on the heels of the Discovery Channel Cycling Team calling it a day. I am glad to see Tony found a good team to call home so quickly. Nathan O'Neill is jumping the Health Net ship and will be joining Tony at BMC strengthening their program even more.
As Ralph Elliot puts it, "Bike racers cannot survive on a steady diet of
industrial park crits." Ralph is right, and riders and spectators were
served a tasty downtown meal on Sunday August 12 when racing returned
to San Luis Obispo's thriving center. Photo © www.ironstring.com
Cyclists Circle in SLO
8/15/07 - Cyclists from all over the state and across the country raced on some of downtown San Luis Obispo’s major roadways Sunday for a professional bicycle festival that has returned to the city after a few years’ absence. The San Luis Obispo Downtown Criterium Classic and Cycling Festival started at 7 a.m. and featured teams on a short-course track, which started and finished at Chorro and Higuera streets. The criterium was last held in 2001. more >, Video >
The riders navigate the tricky chicane in SLO. Photo © www.ironstring.com
Big Leadout Delivers Another Win in Elk Grove for Toyota-United
8/15/07 - A modified version of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team lead-out train helped deliver Ivan Dominguez to victory Sunday in the final stage of the two-day, three-stage Tour of Elk Grove. Dominguez won a close bunch sprint at the end of the 68-mile (110 km) Gullo International Criterium to score his 12th win of the season and finish fifth overall. Taylor Tolleson (Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle) held on for second in the sprint while Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefits Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling) was third. Toyota-United Report >
Dominguez certainly had plenty of company for his victory celebration
at the end of the 68-mile race. Photo © Kurt Jambretz, Action Images
Pasadena Bike Ordinance Tabled, Cyclists Come Together
8/14/07 - Whoever said you can't beat City Hall must not have been a group of tenacious cyclists. In short, our efforts to prevent the bike ordinance from going into effect in Pasadena were successful. The Pasadena City Council listened to representatives from the Rose Bowl Ride, LA County Bicycle Coalition, CABO, CICLE, a former City of Pasadena Transportation Dept. employee and others. In addition, the Pasadena City Council took the time to read the emails that we sent and listened to our ideas and suggestions. They could see that the "Peloton" is not the only problem and there are many issues that need to be addressed with traffic flow, pedestrians and other user groups at the Bowl and all groups should be held accountable for adhering to the traffic guidelines set forth. They have tabled the bike ordinance and have agreed to work together to come up with solutions on how the Rose Bowl Ride and other groups can coexist safely in the next six months. Thank you to the Pasadena City Council for being fair and to everyone that took the time to make a difference and be heard!!! Fellow cyclists, let this be a wake up call to you ~ Don't take our group rides and races for granted, police yourself and others that are putting our rides and races in jeopardy! Be courteous to others and respectful of the community you are riding in.
Watch City Council Meeting (Aug 13, Item 9.b) >
Rose Bowl Ride Needs Your Help Monday Night Aug 13th!
8/11/07 - Thank you for your tremendous support over these past several weeks. We made quite an impact at City Hall last Monday evening (and Tuesday morning). The ordinance will be read for the second and last time this coming Monday, Aug. 13 at the Pasadena City Hall (100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249). We have formed a small group committee to address the City Council. We need your help in numbers one more time. This time we ask you to come, but not to speak. We have been offered more time for fewer people to speak in order to state eloquently why the ordinance does not suit the uses of the Rose Bowl. We need everyone to stand and be counted so that the Council will see that we are committed. Please come and support the effort. Please talk to Fernando Burgos at the meeting for more information. The Public Hearing begins at 7:30 pm.~RB Ride Committee
Tailwind Sports, Discovery Channel Cycling Team to Disband
8/10/07 - Lance Armstrong's famed Discovery Channel cycling team is nearing the finish line. Tailwind Sports, owner of the Discovery Channel Profesional Cycling Team, is expected to announce Friday that the team will cease operations at the end of this season. One of the winningest teams in the sport, Discovery and its predecessor, the U.S. Postal Service Team, won eight of the last nine Tour de France championships: seven consecutive from 1999-2005 with Armstrong and in 2007 with Alberto Contador of Spain. USA Today >
Rose Bowl Ride Featured on ABC Channel 7 News
8/9/07 - Veteran news anchor Gene Gleeson interviews local riders and Rose Bowl Ride proponents Raphael Gomez, Mark Rich and Maria Gutzeit regarding the bike ordinance that the City of Pasadena is unfairly imposing. The video is called "Proposal to Slow Down Pasadena Cyclists."
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Cannondale’s First Full Carbon Race Bike
8/9/07 - In the opening stages of the Giro d’Italia, a keen eye would have noticed a slight change in the Green Machine of Team Liquigas. Vincenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti were aboard prototype race bikes from Cannondale. Nibali actually baptized the bike with its first win a week earlier in the Giro di Toscana in Italy. Cannondale Engineers have given this new prototype the name ‘SuperSix,’ and it is the next evolution in elite racing machines from Cannondale. “Every year we learn more from our pro riders,” says Chris Peck, VP of R&D at Cannondale. “They ask the right questions, they push us and they inspire us. The result is always something that exceeds their expectations.” more >
The new full carbon Cannondale SuperSix delivers.
Rose Bowl Ride, Ped Infractions and Traffic Analysis
By Christy Nicholson
8/8/07 - We went out to the Rose Bowl Ride last night. Frank did the ride while I rode easy going the opposite direction of the ride (counter clockwise.) I needed something to entertain myself, so I decided to do some traffic analysis.
Here are my findings:
1. In one lap, I counted nearly 300 hundred pedestrian offenders going the wrong direction that the pedestrian lane says they are supposed to be going, as well as walking in the buffer zone where no one is supposed to be and walking outside of the buffer zone in the street.
2. I also had a car coming head on towards me in my lane when I was heading south on West Dr. The driver got antsy after the intersection and decided to pass the car in front of him going over the double yellow line while gunning it.
3. After the ride, we rode 2 abreast in the clockwise direction so we were next to the pedestrians. This was much more dangerous than when I rode counterclockwise on the opposite side of the pedestrians. The pedestrians kept coming out into what was supposed to be our area, forcing us to go out into the center of the street where cars were coming up on us from behind.
4. Also when we were riding 2 abreast on the bottom section (west bound toward Lot K), a driver almost plowed into us as he was driving North. He waived his hands in the air like we were in the wrong and I told him we had the right of way. A pedestrian that was traveling in the wrong direction in the ped lane yelled at him agreeing with me, "Damn straight we do!" At least the offending pedestrian was on my side!
After Monday nights City Council meeting and Councilman Gordo's admission that they needed to look at the pedestrian's offenses, I thought I might see the Pasadena PD policing them. I did not see any police on the streets. There was a helicopter flying above that I was told was the Pasadena PD. Hopefully, they will see the pedestrian and vehicle infractions if they were video taping, instead of only finding the peloton's mistakes.
I believe the Rose Bowl facility has gotten so busy with traffic and pedestrians in the last few years, that they need to make the traffic go only one way (clockwise) or they are opening themselves up to all types of liability possibilities from pedestrians and vehicles. There is no reason that traffic can't just go in one direction making it safer for all. It may take a few minutes longer to drive, but in the end it will save lives and cut down on traffic related injuries.
Save the Rose Bowl Ride City Council Meeting Recap
8/7/07 - It was quite a night! I thought I'd be in and out of there in an hour and eating dinner and enjoying a nice glass of wine by 8:00 in a nice Pasadena Restaurant. Boy, was I wrong! The Council didn't even address the bike ordinance until 11:30 pm and we didn't finish until 1:15 am. My head is still spinning from all of the double talk at the very end, when none of us were really sure what motion was passed. Politicians at their very best! I believe the bottom line is the ordinance won't go in effect until November and if there is a resolution between the RBOC and RB Ride Committee it can be amended. Great job to everyone that showed up! It was great to see all of the cyclists (racers, commuters, recreation riders) and even pedestrians come together. I think there was around 120 people, the size of a large peloton, plus more that had to leave because it got so late. About 45 people spoke for a minute or two presenting their views. The ball is rolling and hopefully solutions can be found on all sides. The Council realized that all of the problems are not from the cyclists and they are going to take some initiative in cracking the whip on the pedestrians too. They are also realizing that the Rose Bowl is a huge recreational facility and they need to look at ways for all groups using it to get along and coexist.
Rosebowl Video On the Pasadena Star News
8/7/07 - This is an awesome video featured on the Pasadena Star News by reporter Kenneth Todd Ruiz on the Rose Bowl Ride. The SoCalCycling.com forum > gets a shout out.
Save the Rose Bowl Ride, Your Help Needed Monday Night August 6th
8/5/07 - Please come to the Pasadena City Council Monday evening at 6:30 at Pasadena City Hall (100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249). This will be the first reading of the ordinance that states riders may not ride more than two abreast in the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl Ride Committee is working on alternatives to the ordinance, but we need your help in numbers. Please come to the meeting dressed as citizens (street clothes) and fill out a speaker card. You will be allowed to speak 3 minutes. All you need to say is that you are opposed to the pending ordinance. If you are a Pasadena resident we REALLY need your help to do the same. Please do not be apathetic! Numbers will really help. Come to represent your club, yourself, your neighborhood. Send this message to all cyclists you know. Read more in our forum >
Toyota-United’s Ivan Dominguez leaves little doubt about who is first across the
finish line Sunday at Hanes Park. Photo © Kurt Jambretz, Action Images
Ladera Ranch to Host Cycling Grand Prix and 5K
8/3/07 - The race is on and it’s time to get out your road shoes – for cycling and running! Ladera Ranch will host its first annual Cycling Grand Prix and 5K on Sunday, August 19, 2007 with presenting sponsors, 24 Hour Fitness, Ladera Legs and Ladera Cyclery. The Cycling Grand Prix is fully sanctioned by the United States Cycling Federation and offers a cumulative purse of $4,500 for nine categories of winners. The inspiration for the event came from Jeff Davis, the owner of Ladera Cyclery. “I’ve had the vision for bringing a world-class cycling event to Ladera Ranch for years,” says Davis. According to Davis, when fellow Ladera Ranch resident and friend, Jodi Miller, established the Ladera Legs, a non-profit running club, it provided the perfect complement to the cycling event and would allow them to feature the beautiful Ladera Ranch community to the world. more >
On July 11 we caught three So Cal women doing some serious secret training in the French Alps. Caroline Dahllof (Helens, l) and Jamie Hughins (Helens, c) were on their way to climb Alpe d'Huez while Melinda Johnson (SDBC, r) was headed for an ascent of the Lauteret and Galibier. Photo © www.ironstring.com
Rose Bowl Ride Update
8/1/07 - On Monday night a small group of spokespeople representing the hundreds of riders that particpate in the Rose Bowl Ride twice a week spoke to the Pasadena City Council. The Pasadena City Council is considering passing an ordinance that would only allow riders to ride two by two, which would not permit the group to ride as a pack in the future. For a detailed update of the meeting and future updates on how you can help please visit our forum. You can watch the video of the City Council Meeting. On behalf of SoCalCycling.com, I would to like to say thank you to the rider representatives that stepped up and spoke to the City Council on all the riders behalf that have ridden the ride or plan on riding it in the future.
