Million Man Natz?

Don't know how many of you NorCal folks are headed out to the 2006 Cyclocross Nationals, but a big question on many minds is just how large the fields will be.

Last year, many of the fields (mainly B's and masters) filled up to their 150-rider capacity, more than a month before Natz. As a result many riders didn't even get to start -- yet many others who reg'ed did not show up. Those who did faced endless traffic jams on the course. So is there a better way to do this?

If there is a better system, the promoter hasn't spelled out what it will be. This year, there are no published field limits, no rider counts are shown in the BikeReg info, and all fields are apparently still open with two weeks to go, welcoming anyone with $37 and an appetite for chaos. There has been no talk of entry requirements, qualifying heats, or anything else to bring order to the situation other than the complicated callup procedure. The promoter's site notes that a "confirmed rider list" will be published tomorrow, December 1, though reg will stay open for an additional ten days. And that's after more than 600 riders signed up in just the first ten minutes of the reg. period back in October!

It's going to be interesting to see what that "confirmed rider list" reveals tomorrow. Rumor has it that the promoter has decided just to throw field limits to the wind, and let things sort themselves out. In the masters championship events, that actually might work: judging by the low raceday turnout in many of the full fields last year, maybe only the riders who really feel ready will come to the Natz, and you'll have an authentic, competitive race.

On the other hand, past experience also shows that the non-championship B race (which gets a large local draw) will be attended by everyone in driving distance regardless of the conditions. So those events are sure to be a real adventure, at least for anyone not in the front row callup. Who knows, maybe the promoter will have to issue massive 5-digit race numbers (covering the entire rider's back) to get enough numbers for all the entries.

So, how about all of you out there in the Babblesphere? Are you signed up? Are you going? Are you concerned? Do you care?

CX ... in the New York Times?!

Wow, if the New York Times is covering cyclocross, maybe time to find a new fringe sport. The secret's out. Though the report only mentions Portland -- we're safe for now, I guess. Read the article here.

ps. you may have to register to read the article

Funke Won't Post (So I Will)

Three-dot lounge for a gray rainy afternoon:

Upcoming this weekend: the much anticipated Superprestige race at Golden Gate Park. Great venue, great race, and after last week's tragic cancellation of the Surf City event there should be plenty of amped-up racers in attendance with big scores to settle. Also a reminder: this year you should tell all your friends to come out and watch your race. I mean, this is San Francisco, there's no reason we can't have massive, screaming, bell ringing crowds just like the Presidio Natz. So pass the word.

Now a word on personal race results. Reflecting on my own recent race performances, I have to admit to myself that I used to suck less. This really hit home recently when I ran into a friend of A racer Jeff Hantman at a party (Jeff had already left to go sleep, pro-racer-like) and the friend passed along Jeff's observation: "Where has Dave been this year?" It's true, my babble posts outnumber my race appearances this fall by an uncomfortable margin. And despite one decent performance this year, on the whole we gotta say I used to place better, too. Not making excuses here (that's Funke's job), but I gotta admit: I could be doing better. Time to reprioritize my work-life-bike balance. Starting this Sunday.

Was I the one pleading for rain recently? What was I thinking? Rain sucks! Rain makes training no fun! Rain promotes colds and viruses! So I hereby amend my wish list: I want MUD. Rain I can do without. The ideal 'cross weather pattern should be this: Clear fine weather all week for training and setting up the course. Then torrential downpours all night before the race, ending at dawn followed by crisp cool sunny weather all day for the event itself. Fantasy, you say? Well then, it should be noted that two years in a row as a promoter I delivered exactly that script for the Infineon Cyclocross. Take that.
I finally figured out how to make the Blogspot image feature work and now I have genuine Herb Caen-esque three-dots for the three-dot lounge. How cool is that?

Here's a little shout out for my new favorite tires. I've been a big fan of Michelin Mud tires for a long time, even though they seem to roll a little slow compared to what is apparently the favorite of the rest of the world (at least the non-sponsored rider's world), Tufo. My problem with Tufo was that nice tractor tread always lacked a solid shoulder knob for cornering traction. (the first time I tried to apex on those tires, ouch!) So here then is my new favorite tire: The Vittoria Cross Evo - lightweight, supple casing, tractor tread and a really healthy corner knob. And it comes in equally nice tubular and clincher for a reasonable price. Dare I say it, now I'm even starting to feel a little of that Rich Maile velcro ability in the corners. But only a little, ok I'm sorry I even compared myself to the Dark God...

See you on the course -- Dave.

Weather junkies get your fix

As we approach slowly, slowly, the season in which the weather may resemble what passes for winter in this area, you eager cross fans might get a kick out of the NOAA Forecast Discussion, which reports on the expected weather with much finer granularity than the typical talking head evening forecast. Here's an excerpt from today's discussion of the upcoming weekend's rain front:

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE NEXT PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEM IS PROJECTED TO MOVE INTO OUR DISTRICT. LATEST MODEL INDICATIONS ARE THAT RAIN IS LIKELY TO BEGIN IN THE NORTH SFO BAY COUNTIES OVERNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN SPREAD SOUTHWARD INTO THE HEART OF THE BAY AREA LATE THAT NIGHT OR DURING THE FIRST PART OF SATURDAY MORNING. THIS SYSTEM IS INDICATED TO BE SOMEWHAT STRONGER THAN THE ONE TODAY...AND PRODUCE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER PRECIP. EXAMINATION OF LATEST GFS AND NAM/WRF QPF OUTPUT SUGGESTS MAX RAINFALL TOTALS OF ABOUT 1.25 INCHES AT THE WETTEST LOCATIONS IN THE NORTH BAY COASTAL HILLS...0.25-0.60 INCHES IN THE HEART OF THE SFO BAY AREA...AND THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISHING AMOUNTS TO THE SOUTH. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...ALL BUT PERHAPS THE SOUTHERNMOST INTERIOR PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT ARE LIKELY TO HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST SOME RAIN. BOTH THE GFS AND NAM/WRF PROJECT A MODERATELY STRONG SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE SURFACE FRONT ITSELF... AND IN FACT THE NEW 18Z RUNS OF BOTH MODELS EVEN HINT AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CIRCULATION CENTER ALONG THE FRONT AS IT MOVES ONSHORE TO THE NORTH BAY COAST FRIDAY NIGHT. EXAMINATION OF NAM/WRF OUTPUT INDICATES SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 925 MB GETTING UP AS HIGH AS 35- 40 KTS OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR DISTRICT BY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... AND THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED IN CASE A WIND ADVISORY IS ULTIMATELY NEEDED FOR PORTIONS OF THE HILLS.

Did ya get all that?

Get Well Josie

I hate having to relay news like this - (read below), here's a quick note from Colorado from Andy Jacques-Maynes concerning an incident in yesterday's Boulder Cup involving Josie Beggs:

JoJo crashed herself out but good yesterday at the Boulder Cup (USGP#4)...

there was an incident at the start, which held her up (minor mechanical after a quick bump from a crashing River City girl). This was enough to hold JoJo up and once the main pack flew by, the crowds would run across the course to the next vantage point. Josie said there were 50+ spectators crossing the course and she had to weasel through. Once in a clear section of course, she hit the gas, set up for the next off-camber corner and was instantly on the ground. Evidently a 10 year old kid ducked under the tape right in front of her, and Josie never saw him. No brakes, no nothing, just instant flip and auger at Mach 7.

She ended up with a facial cut that required 16 stitches, a mild concussion, and four facial fractures. Her cheekbone is floating right now, attached to nothing. She'll have surgery later this week to repair the broken bones, but for now she's just resting and trying to lay low. She has a Rocky Balboa-style shiner and her face is getting pretty puffy.

I just wanted to let everyone know that she's doing OK, and that she'll heal up fine. I also wanted to thank everybody who's contacted the two of us with messages of sympathy and support. If you can pass the word, that would be awesome.

AJM (and JMB)

Josie, I think I speak for the entire Nor-Cal CX community when I say best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. You inspire us all with your sportsmanship and class, and we hope to see you out there inspiring us again real soon.

Feel free to leave your wishes as comments to this post...

That Dirty Girl

Patrick O'Grady, columnist for Velonews (who would be called a blogger if he wasn't paid by an actual print magazine) waxing poetic about his love of 'cross: A Dirty Girl

Mudvember!!

The Babblemeister smiles from his throne: All is well in crossdom.

His latest babble post hit an all time record for number of comments -- and without falling into the well of bile and vitriol that scarred earlier musings. The cyclocross masses have spoken and future seasons will be graced by a new kingdom wide Cross Cup. A messy civil war has been averted.

Babblemeister smiles... the Games are always helpful to pacify the seething crowd.

And to top it off, the weather has smiled upon the kingdom: a solid piece of rain falls in San Francisco just in time for Mudvember. There WILL be joy in Mudville this season.

From under the dirt encrusted throne, the Babblemeister draws out a tattered, dog eared yet much loved treatise. Stumbling to the castle wall (beer in hand) he lazily tosses the screed and it flutters down to the hungry masses: The Mud Index.

Race in contentment, my flock.