The "Lou" Night Race At Woodward Park In Fresno On Jan. 23

J.P Sickler will be hosting the 6th annual "Lou" Cyclocross Night Race at Woodward Park in Fresno on January 23. This event is a one of a kind Cyclocross classic race held in the cycling friendly environment of Woodward Park. I have personally raced this event on multiple occasions, and it is one of the best times of the year for having fun while racing your Cross bike. The course is put together on a awesome piece of land in Woodward Park and the riding here is very good even in stormy conditions. Headlights or handle bar lights are mandatory for this event making it the only true night Cyclocross race in Nor-Cal. When you are out on course your bike light is key to your success. They line the course with highway bot-dot lights, and they have plenty of lights near the start-finish area. Yet on course bike lights will be needed to race, and this makes it a true night race. There are no man made flood lights to line the route. Just darkness, which makes for a amazing spectacle when the racing gets going. Watching the night race, and the riders with lights is just as fun as participating. Seeing the long string of riders zoom off into the darkness of night, guided only by their high tech bike light systems, is a must see for Nor-Cal Cyclocross fans. This event is a must do! It is a party and a race, & I highly recommend you make the trip to Fresno for this great event. Info can be found here- http://www.sickpromotions.net/Site/Home.html.

Velo Promo To Host Cross Races In Sonora On Dec. 26 & 27

Bob Leibold will host his Velo Promo Cyclocross events at Cover's Apple Ranch and the Calaveras County Fairgrounds on December 26 & 27. Saturday's event at Cover's Apple Ranch will use a race route in and through the local Apple Ranch. I have raced many times and this venue and it will definitly test Cyclocross skills and fitness to the extreme. Be sure and stock up on Apple Pie's and Pastries after the competition at Cover's Market which is on site. Sunday's event is taking place at Calaveras County Fairgrounds. I have raced her previously, and this course is more of a modern day layout for Cross, featuring mud, pavement, grassy slopes, obstacles, & stairs. Both races are a must do for Nor-Cal Cross racers.

Info-Directions-Start Times, can be found here- http://www.velopromo.com/cycx-ent09.htm.

Bob Liebold is one of the founding fathers or Nor-Cal Cyclocross, please support his events!

California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized sponsored Cody Kaiser Selected To USA Cyclocross Worlds Team

Sacramento's Cody Kaiser has just been selected to the American contingent of racers who will travel to the 2010 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic, Jan. 30-31. Kaiser is the new Junior USA National Champion of Cyclocross, and will now move forward to represent the USA at the highest level, the World Championships. Here is Cycling News complete report on the nomination of Kaiser to the USA Worlds Team- http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/usa-cycling-makes-first-selections-for-cross-worlds. Congratulations to Cody, his family, and the Cal Giant Inc. Cross team on the great season they produced. I am a little disappointed to see Jeremy Ferguson(Cal Giant Inc.) not selected to the U23 Worlds Team. Ferguson just made the podium of the U23 National Championship race in Bend Oregon, and I was personally hoping that two of Sacramento's best Cross racers(Cody & Jeremy) would make the Worlds Team. Here is a link to the Cal Giant Inc.'s cycling web site, where you can read more about Cal Giant Inc's entire Cyclocross team.- http://calgiantcycling.blogspot.com/

Steph Thompson, Courtney Shipman and John Elgart Strike First for Nor-Cal At Cyclocross Nationals

Steph Thompson(HRS/Rocklobster), Courtney Shipman(Bike Station Aptos) & John Elgart(Webcor) hit out for Nor-Cal at the USA Nationals making podium in their respective divisions on the first day of racing. Steph Thompson led the charge with the Silver Medal in her class. In my previous writings I declared I was fully positive Nor-Cal racers would make podium appearances on many occasions over the 4 days of racing at the USA Nationals. On the first day of competitions it was Thompson, Shipman and Elgart who struck first in representing Northern California on the awards podium in freezing Bend Orgegon. Both Shipman and Elgart raced to the Bronze Medal in their divisions. Congratulations to all three riders!!

Other racers to fight through low temperatures to outstanding results were Ron Riley (Team Santa Cruz), Mike Macdonald (Jaeger Wheelmen), Frank Cuaresma (Cal Giant Farms), John Brown (Family Cycling Center), Michelle Monroe (Joselyn's/burnham Coaching), and Justin Morejohn (Davis Bike Club). These talented riders all made top 10 in their races!

Both Friday and Saturday should be big days for Nor-Cal racers to make the push for podium and the Gold Medal-Stars & Stripes jersey combo in Bend.

Andrew Yee(CX Magazine) in the cold........

Jim Gentes(Rambuski Law) had a strong ride going.......

Photos Of The Week- B.A.S.P. Golden Gate Park

John Suzuki of Team Oakland and Andrew Yee of CX Magazine fame are the featured photographers in this weeks version of Photos Of The Week. Suzuki and Yee always venture deep into the thick of the action to piece together stories and tales of the racers plight in their photos. The intensity of B.A.S.P. at Golden Gate Park was sure to provide a perfect back drop for Cyclocross racers to be captured in movement and motion and seemingly frozen in time. Here are some of their photos that made the grade for this weeks feature.....

John Suzuki of Team Oakland

http://www.teamoakland.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95428591@N00/sets/72157622909663744/

Andrew Yee & CX Magazine

http://cxmagazine.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21899363@N06/sets/72157622912060488/