Yes, the Homegrown Cyclocross is still a go for this fall.

Official schedule is at valleycx.com, race one is 10/10/10.

CCORC hopes that you will join us for the fall series in the park. We love promoting the races and all of the proceeds go directly to our trail work and bike advocacy programs.

 Check valleycx.com for updates from the CCORC Cyclocross Cadre

Get your cowbell ready. See you at the races.

September 2010
 
I’m in need of an intervention! It’s bad, real bad, and I’m afraid it’s getting worse each passing day.  It all started so innocently. A few hours on Versus watching the Tour, then a few stops at roadcycling.com and before I realized it was standing in the hair removal aisle at Target mulling over whether to use Nair or a safety razor. I had been in a fugue state as I wandered the aisles. Standing there with a bottle of Nair in hand, I realized that imagery of Alpe d'Huez had been populating my day dream in place of Houffalize. With utter shock and dismay, I become cognizant that I was wearing a ridiculous cycling cap in public and even worse I had on sandals along with my cycling socks. Similar to when Adam and Eve's eyes were opened upon eating the fruit, I was filled with sense of shame and guilt. My mountain biking innocence was gone! In desperation and fear, I tried to cover myself with a box of Fig Newtons and rushed home.

Still hoping it was all just a dream, I opened my cycling storage at home looking for my baggie shorts and they were nowhere to be seen. Panicking, I rifled through all of my cycling equipment looking for any evidence that I was still a MTBer. After digging through piles of recently used spandex shorts and European racing jerseys, I found several pairs of wrinkly baggies. Not good at all, the baggie shorts looked like they had been in storage for months and months. At that moment, from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my dusty mountain bikes.

Thank God! Seeing my dirty bikes buoyed my sprit and helped to tone down my waking nightmare. A dirty bike must indicate recent use.  While my mountain bikes were in fact dusty, I was mortified to discover that it was ordinary house dust and lint which had accumulated from disuse. What had I become? Was it true that I was a roadie? I thought back on the last time I had ridden one of my mountain bikes. Last week, two urban assault rides at CSU Fresno. While they were close to a qualifying MTB ride, it was not good enough. This called for immediate and decisive action. No simple ride in the park would fix what was ailing me. Something big and extraordinary was called for. Luckily for me the CCORC Coastal Campout and Bike Jamboree at Morro Bay is only 4 days away. A weekend of nothing but mountain bike riding and being surrounded by fellow off roaders may be just what the doctor ordered. Will it work, who knows? Only time will tell.

One thing is for sure, Morro Bay is a special place for me. (First time on a MTB, Morro Bay SP 1987)

Until my next report in October…keep me in your single track thoughts and send fat tire energy my way. I hope you joined us at the Camp Out. 

Euro Report 

Well this is late, but there has been so much going on lately that I just haven't had the time.

I was lucky enough recently to have the opportunity, along with my wife, to go to Europe and enjoy all they had to offer. As we journeyed through London, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, and Paris we noticed one thing that was common with every country. They LOVE bikes. I was amazed to see the number of bikes every place we went. People rode to work, to the store, and my favorite location, the pubs! I really think they have it down over there when it comes to getting around. There were cars of course, but the number of bikes was such a great surprise. In Amsterdam we saw a three level garage that was just for bikes. And some women who were stuck behind glass windows with red lights above them. Hmmm... Anyway, the number of bikes and riders was a very cool thing to see. It made us talk of how much Americans can, but don't ride as often as they could. I am the first one guilty of this. And judging by my waistline after this recent trip, it's apparent that I need to jump on the bike more often.

This got me to thinking about things that can change to help my shorts fit better, and just get back on the bike more.

• take evening rides just because
• commute to work a few times a month (maybe when it gets cooler)
• start the CCORC conga rides again...these are fun
• join the club rides and stop making excuses

Well the list can go on, but the point is to just ride more. I hope those who haven't joined CCORC will get on board and join a great group of men and women who love and celebrate all things bike. Well, most things bike...

I guess our recent trip made us realize that when people use and appreciate their bikes, it just makes things a lot better.

Get out and ride and with our Homegrown Cross series around the corner join CCORC and get in on all of the fun we have to offer. And our meetings are the best in town, guaranteed!!

Until soon...Mark

When choosing a ride, please do not attempt rides significantly beyond your level of experience. Your presence may hinder other riders and you may injure yourself trying to keep up. CCORC encourages advancement, but we don’t want you to become discouraged by biting off more than you can chew. If in doubt, err on the conservative side and call the ride leaders for their opinions of ride difficulty.