Passing the torch...

Hey folks, Funke here...

Just thought I'd drop a note to the community to let you know I'm handing off NCNCA Cyclocross Website duties and stepping down as the main content editor and webmaster of the NCNCA CX site. Injuries have forced me to quit racing cyclocross and my time is at a premium with a new job and family duties, so I need to move on.

I've got someone else doing my dirty work for me - I think that person will reveal himself to you shortly...

Anyhow, it's been great being part of the scene these last few years - I have been fortunate to have met so many of you over the years and I really enjoy what the Nor-Cal scene has to offer in the way of racing and just plain fun.

I'll be checking in from time-to-time, and hopefully so will some of our guest bloggers. Keep an eye out for new content from our new content-master...he's super-excited for the job.

Have a great season, y'all.

Farewell,

-John Funke

UCI CYCLOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WEBCAST

UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM TO WEBCAST UCI CYCLOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Same Day Webcast Starts This Sunday From Netherlands
 
LOS ANGELES – January 28, 2009 – UniversalSports.com, in conjunction with International Cycling Union (UCI), presents same day webcast coverage of the Cyclocross World Championships this Sunday from Hoogerheide, Netherlands.

COVERAGE UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM:  UniversalSports.com will post the elite men’s and women’s races same day for video on-demand viewing. Coverage only available in USA.

CROSSVEGAS ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, available in 30 million homes, will present encore presentations of CrossVegas on Friday, Jan. 30 at 11:30 a.m. ET and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 6 a.m. ET.
 
CYCLING CONTENT ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: In addition, fans can visit the cycling section on HYPERLINK "http://www.universalsports.com/"UniversalSports.com for updated broadcast schedules (TV and online), news, video highlights, special features, photo galleries and more.

 
ABOUT UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online. Universal Sports is a 24-hour television channel available in 30 million television households in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Hartford, New Haven, Las Vegas, Reno, Omaha and Albany. Major world championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports ranges from track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons and cycling, to volleyball, rowing, triathlon, fencing, speed skating and martial arts. UniversalSports.com delivers an immersive experience via live and on-demand competition coverage, interaction with top athletes through blogs and in-depth access to Olympic sports news and information year round. For more information on the availability of the Universal Sports 24-hour television channel, please visit UniversalSports.com.

Here is the direct link to the event:
http://www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=13044&SPSID=105620

Is Cyclocross a Snow Sport?

I'm starting to think the USAC thinks so.

Anyhow, I've been looking for an excuse to go to Bend, Oregon, and the 2009/2010 Cyclocross Nationals just might be my chance. Granted, I was hoping to go in the Summer - but maybe I can bring my snowboard along...

I am wondering when the USAC will wise up to the fact that the historically-absent regions of the Southeast US and Southern California seem to be putting on some damn fine races AND their weather is a bit more temperate in December. Or are they hoping for another Kansas City 2000/2007 or Providence 2005?



Heck, why don't they just host them at Squaw Valley?

I'm sorry, but racing in frigid snowy conditions is not epic - it's a crapshoot for competitors, and sometimes it's just plain miserable...

One more thing...by the end of 2010, Oregon will have hosted 4 of the last 8 Nationals, and I'm sorry but that also sounds a bit wrong to me.

Welcome to the Peak Season

Sacramento, CCCX, and CXSR Series still in full swing, and Peak Season just getting started!

We have now entered the part of the season between US Nationals and Worlds - the Peak Season - when you stop intense training and ride the crest of that fitness peak you've worked so hard to attain. Peak Season Race 1 kicks off Sunday within Santa Cruz city limits at Harbor High School and plenty of people will be out showing off their post-nationals form.



It's looking like there will likely be some mud to prepare you for the NCNCA Cup Finals (a.k.a. Peak Season Race 2) in Watsonville in two short weeks...

The Sacramento Series and the CX Santa Rosa Series each has two races left - including the Sac race this Sunday at Granite Beach...and CCCX Finals are in three weeks.

We're looking at our most complete January of Nor-Cal racing ever.

One or two hard races a week and you can ride that peak right into February.

Help Send Cody Kaiser and Jeremy Ferguson to Europe!

Norcal junior racer Cody Kaiser and U-23 racer Jeremy Ferguson have been selected by USA Cycling to attend Euro Cross Camp. Please help a couple of our rising stars experience this unique opportunity to grow and learn.




Donate here:
http://kineticcycles.com/CycloCross%20Fund%20Raiser.html

Final Award Ceremonies at CCCP

* It was lumpy grass at McLaren Park
* It was muddy for the first time at Candelstick Point
* It was dusty and warm under the lights at Sierra Point
* It was the best of all worlds at Golden Gate Park

And it all comes to a 2008 conclusion at the Beach Run at CCCP - Cyclo Cross @ Coyote Point this sunday with Round 5 of the Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclocross Series, presented by Kaiser-Permanente/Team Oakland. And then - our final awards ceremonies for the 2008 season. We will be distributing $20,000 worth of merchandise prizes to our Amateur categories and our "A" Men and Women will have their pay day, too! Our website has the distribution for final Cat. "A" prize money and as of Golden Gate Park, here are the stats.

"A" Men starters - 184 - that means $1,840 is currently in the prize pot and final payout will be determined by starters at CCCP.

"A" Women starters - 75 - that means $750 is currently in their prize pot with same conditions for final payout as the Men.

We'll have the hand calculator ready to crunch some numbers.
And for our Beginner categories - Men and Women "C"'s - for the first time we'll hold a special raffle for your top prizes in those categories - with every rider present that day eligible for a shot at the gold ring. We'll take your actual race numbers from that day, drop them into the box and draw the winning race number.

See you Sunday for CCCP, Comrades!



Tom Simpson
Pilarcitos Cyclesports
732 Fairfield Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
www.pilarcitos.com
info@pilarcitos.com

New Directions to Coyote Point

Caltrans in midway through a major highway improvement project in the Burlingame/San Mateo area on US 101 which has rendered our old directions to Coyote Point absolutely useless history. Please check our website links for current directions to Coyote Point.

http://www.pilarcitos.com/pdfs/2008raceflyerCCCP.pdf

http://www.pilarcitos.com/pdfs/CCCPdetour.pdf

We will try to place Pilarcitos red arrows on A-frame barricades and poles for directional help but please note this doesn;t conform with Caltrans regulations and we may not be able to place them.

And please note - this is "Cyclo Cross @ Coyote Point" so, Comrades, watch for the Red and Gold marking the beaches and forests of Coyote Point - and you gotta love that Red Army Chorus! Those guys can really sing up a storm - a Red and Gold Cyclocross storm, that is.

Tom & Alec Simpson
Pilarcitos Cyclesports

Tom Simpson
Pilarcitos Cyclesports
732 Fairfield Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
www.pilarcitos.com
info@pilarcitos.com