Is this the End for Pandas?

The final BASP cyclocross race at Coyote Point saw Panda action in two categories.

C Women’s Race. Race Women! Race!
The canon sounded and the women were off and up the hill with Fox quickly settling into her new race strategy of finishing mid pack while providing color commentary to the Fandas. That is until the last lap when her competitive instincts kicked back in and she found another gear to finish within the group she had been chasing for a top 10 finish! Pantastic! Women’s Cs also saw Tara making her cyclocross (and Vertical Panda) debut, finishing in fine form, with only 2 crashes and one drop chain – better than I can say on my debut. Although she crossed the line in last place, she scored double points to finish 39 out of 44 in the GC.

Men’s B (or not to B?)
Three Pandas entered - only two Pandas would survive. Mark and Stephen got their call up while I clapped from a decent spot near the front. After a slight delay, the canon boomed and the race took off up the pavement and up the first hill. Dismounting before the crest, I ran by Stephen, head down and consoling his rear derailleur that in a word was “broke.” For Stephen, the race was finished. Myself, I moved with the pack down the tight turns among the Eucalyptus trees and onto the beach. I tried running past another racer on the inside, but ran out of room and remained stuck while my group took a 20 yard break. Goodbye group, goodbye. Although I lost contact with the group I was trying to stay with, I did settle into a second group.

With three laps to go, I made my move on the pavement so I could be first up the off camber dipsey doo squirley roo thing. The move proved decisive and I pulled away on the hill. Cresting over the woodchips, with Clark shouting "Push it", I saw a wonderful sight. Was I dreaming? Is that realy pork on the race course? Not only was it pork - it was fried pork, or more specifically - bacon. Only one thing a racer of my caliber could do: I grabbed it and I ate it. I shoved the piece into my mouth without thinking and I ate the bacon. I. Ate. The Bacon. Must say, not the smartest thing to do while riding racing - very dry, nearly choked but after 3/4th of a lap I was ready for another piece. Grab bacon! Grab!

Mark finished 18th to take 9th GC while I finished 54th finishing the series 73rd out of 159. Chris and Stephen finished 30th and 49th respectively in the GC.

Although BASP has ended, Vertical Pandas remain. There are other cyclocross race series (Livermore, Peak Season, Santa Rosa) and we can always just go for a bike. Ride Panda, Ride!

Pandas in the Park

Sunday after Thanksgiving in the park: sun shining and pandas smiling. A perfect day for getting vertical. Christine made her debut cross race this season tearing it up with the Women's C's. Nora and Chris, Julie and Jeremiah cheered on, "Go Panda! Go!" while Christine responded with snappy quips ("Drooping Panda") and even smarter poses. Christine crossed the line in an impressive 20th place, finishing on the same bell lap as the leader.

Men's B saw another large crowd, despite the absence of two Pandas. Mark and Jeremiah lined up front, and despite my decent start there was some bottle necking to get the hole shot on the first turn. Good day of racing, and I guess the big story for me is a dropped chain which caused me to lose contact with my group. Still, a good race - not lapped and sprinted to a 74th position. Mark crossed the line in 7th place, retaining his top ten overall GC (7th). After the race, two Vertical Fandas hop on borrowed bikes and rode up the course into the sunset. Will we see them at the starting line next season?

Next Sunday is the last BASP, Series Final at Coyote Point. GC points are doubled, so a good showing here with a little luck can move a rider up the GC significantly.