BASP Champion

"Ik wil snel gaan."

Pandas in the Park

Pandas fielded their strongest team this weekend, with 8 riders competing in three different categories. Chris got the most “vertical” with not only a win at Golden Gate, but also taking the BASP leader’s jersey for Master 35+ Bs. With one more race left in the series, CCCP will see Chris defend his top spot from the likes of the lads from Berkeley Bike Club and Sycip. The real question is whether Chris will keep his porn star good looks, finding strength in his mustache ala Samson, or will good taste and hygene prevail? Either way, should be a good showdown that you won’t want to miss. Also in the 35+ Bs, Mark again proved why he is the panda strongman, stringing out the field to take the hole shot. Mark kept the speed up during the race as he made another trip to the podium, claiming 3rd for the day and 4th in the series.

For me, I started the race at the back, I mean way back. The back of the back. According to Julie, about nine places from last place. That would put me at about 81st place going into the first turn. No gentleman’s slide for me today, I was in for some work (VdB: Good, you need to work you luie vet koe.) So I started to work and after the first lap, I had moved up to about half place, where I stayed until lap 3ish. Coming into the backside, word came out that a rider was down in the sand. I approached the sand, cautious and staying left to avoid the downed rider and his attendees. I guess I strayed too far left and smacked a tree with my shoulder. (VdB: Not only luie vet koe, dom onhandig mestkever!) Knocked off my bike, more embarrassed than hurt, I tried to regain my position. However forced to run that section until the gradient eased, I gave up perhaps ten spots, never to be regained. I finished strong (that is what you say when you do not win – you finished strong) and stayed competitive to the line finishing 53rd. Greg finished shortly thereafter in 62nd.

In other races, VdB was pleased with the pandas, though they could still use some work he said. While Christine continued to flex her muscles in the women’s Cs, 2nd place behind the series leader, the Men’s C field saw panda after panda cross the line (Dave -27th, Mike W – 45th, and Mike S – 97th).

“We raced well today, the pandas suffered. Their faces, their teeth were marked with dirt. Their legs, spent. They worked hard. In the end, Chris was first, the rest were last. Nu naar huis en eet je in poedervorm donuts en drink je bier met een rietje.” - VdB

Een Frite Zonder Mayo, A Tale of Two Pandas

photo credit SWoo

For one panda, the pinnacle of the sport - the top step of the podium. For another panda, a late night visit to the emergency room. Pandas started BASP No. 3, Sierra Point with Christine taking a 6 second lead into the bell lap. Unlike her last race, her bike held up to the added pressure as she motored away to take the checkered flag. Chapaeu!

Away in Europe, Dave missed his call up for Men's C, but Wolfe and Shwe took to the course, representing the pandas to solid placings.



Chris and Mark were ready for their callups at the Master 35+ Bs while I lined up in the pack. A crowded first lap kept the speed down for us in the mid pack, until a second (or third) lap crash saw me slip down the pack and finish a lap down from the leader. Chris took third, while Mark finished strong despite a sticky rear wheel.



Stephen was not so lucky. He crashed at the same spot I did, but unfortunately he was unable to return to the course and officially DNF. VdB was first to the scene, and recalls,

"I saw the blanca kit, white thigh with a strip, 'pandas.' My gaze followed the smart looking kit to see the sweat soaked mustache of Stephen. Dear Lord I thought, he has been making kissy faces with the ground again. But this time the kissy face was serious, een frite zonder mayo."

A trip to the ER confirmed a broken collarbone. Een frite zonder mayo indeed.

Panda Meet Monkey

Bike monkey, bikemonkey! The lads and lasses at Bikemonkey put on some great events (check out the Hopper) and CXSR is no exception.

Pandas took Master Bs by storm at CXSR this past weekend with Shaw ripping it up on a short coarse for the silver in 35+ Bs. Donahue started off well until an unseen bump caused his brakes to permanently brake. Despite this challenge, he was able to gets some assistance in the pits and continue the race. Rounding out the pandapodium was Dave taking third in 45+ Bs. Overall a fun and fast course - three minute laps, a race announcer providing authentic Belgian color commentating, beer tent and podium girls ensured this race was not only rider friendly, but fan friendly as well. Can’t wait to see what they do with the Cow Palace!

Johnson: Whew, great race! That was fun – super fast on the backside.

VdB: So superfast then why you finish on the backside of the pack?

Johnson: Whoa VdB, that’s uncalled for. I was going for dollar grabs, and there were some technical sections near the bridge. Beside, the official results are off, I was not counted on a lap. Had a great time out there, gave it my all.

VdB: I know, they sent some of it back saying it smelled like oude gymzaal sokken uit een scheet gezicht slak. Now go get me a beer, I think you can manage since there are no barriers leading up to the tent.



Check out the following photographs by Veronica Lenzi, Through My Eyes Photography (also check out her photographs from other local norcal events)

http://www.veronikalenzi.com/CXSRYouthCenter110709.php

Next week – Sierre Point, Disco under the lights!

Taking it Down to Surf City

Always gaining, but never catching. Stephen had Chris in his sights until ...

Say that five times over, and you have Stephen's race report. While some cry "Foul" and others "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Gods of War!" Stephen mumbled the appropriate curse and continued his pursuit. However, with each nonscheduled dismount, VdB's consternation rose. "Donahue! Quit making kissy faces with the dirt and ride schoon als achterkant van een non!" Despite an unhealthy affinity with the ground, Stephen finished 10th in the open Bs, with Chris leading the pandas at 8th place. Mark again proved to be panda strongman with another dubble taking 16th and 9th over the two days.

photo credits - swoo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swoo/sets/72157622580230217/)

Still Last

With one lap to go, Christine had the lead. Later that afternoon she pushed her bike to Mojos. In between – cyclocross.

Vertical Pandas BASP No. 2, Coyote Point. Christine powered away to create some space, taking the lead into the final lap. However, with a RockLobster closing, Christine’s real derrailuer had to abanon the race. That is to say, it broke. True to BASP’s promotional materials, everyone finishes with the help of Cannondale neutral bikes, but the damage had already been done. Although she missed the podium, she finished a respectable 6th.

Which is less than I can say for me. I bounced around and skidded. I was worried that my rear tire could be loosing air, when all it (and I) were loosing was time and places. In the end I finished 54th. Afterwards I speculated that I was running too low a pressure, a mistake not to be committed twice. Despite my luke warm performance, the course was solid and I look forward to returning. Chris and Mark enjoyed pandapodium, battling with the likes of Sycip, Berkeley Bike Club and HUP United to finish 2nd and 4th respectively.

Here are some good pics of the epic battle -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swoo/ /

Although not all pandas were wearing white, Dave and Mike rode well, taking 28th and 82nd in Men’s C respectively. Dave then abandoned his bike for the camera, taking some great photos, including an expose on comparison dismount techniques.

In the end, it was Chris who proved to be the fastest panda, reciveing a congratulatory pat on the back from VdB, "Good race Donahue, but remember you still finished last."

als je niet eerste bent,

bent u het laatst

Come Play in the Sand

Ruddervoorde last year.

BASP this year!

http://pilarcitos.com/CP_notes.htm

Oh yeah, look for pandas in the new blanca kits!

Pandas Roar at Lions of Fairfax

Start of Men's C

Arriving 15 minutes before the start of my race, I heard the MC announce results from earlier in the day, “Alexander Shwe, fourth place.” Ahhh, Pandapodium!

Up and Over Mike

I pinned up my jersey, number on the left, and previewed the course. Although unable to match Shwe the younger, Mike and Dave remained competitive (37th and 6th respectively) which is more than I can say for myself. A flat with three laps to go saw me run the last half of the course to finish 2 down, DFL.

Crusing home on a flat
VdB: Keep running!
Me: That’s it, I’m done, official said I’m done.
VdB: Official?!?!?!? He blows his whistle like dronken schildpad. You’re not done yet. Keep running! Run!!!!

Talking about finishing strong, Shaw also provided some pandapodium taking 5th. Did he do the dubble on Sunday ? Not sure, come on out to BASP next week and ask him yourself. He is sure to be sporting the new panda blanca.

Shaw on the Corners

I Said, Don't Panick

photocredit: Swoo

Despite fatigue early in the season, Sven Nys celebrated his first win of the season in Ruddervoorde. Similarly, Pandas showed good form this past weekend despite (fatigue, hungover, gopher bites, belgium fried sandwiches, etc. ...) with Shaw doing the dubble (9th at Livermore and 4th at Surf City) and the Donahue brothers (Stephen 17th in Mens' B after a rear tire mechanical and Chris taking an impressive 2nd place in Mens b 35+).

Next up, Lions of Fairfax this Saturday.

All These Laps, Dirt, Hills And Barriers Are Making Me Tired

Now I have something in common with pros -

From Cyclingnews -

"Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) has blamed fatigue for his poor showing in the early cyclo-cross races of this season. Just days before the first Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy round, a major money-spinner for European ‘cross riders, Nys says he’s not panicking about his results since the season commenced in mid-September."

I can see it now, finishing a lap down and not contesting the sprint for 73rd place:

VdB: Johnson, what happened? Why are your ridding like my vet schoonmoeder?

JJ: Sorry. I guesse I was just tired.

VdB: Tired!?!? Tired? U bent een dikke trage ezel !!!!!

JJ: Whoa ... take it easy VdB, don't panick. I mean I was really tired. More like fatigued.

Top ten other acceptable excuses for riding like a vet traag ezel :

1) sniffles

2) hungover

3) still drunk

4) taking it easy for tommorrow's group road ride

5) just didn't feel like it

6) its a glandular problem

7) other riders taking your line

8) saving it for the last lap

9)groundhog bit your tire, made it flat

10) stopped for a beer and a fried belgium sandwich at the top of the run up.

Technically, It's Hard

“We all can’t be winners, but each of you can be a loser.”
- Ricky van de Bobke

After previewing the course the night before, I sat in the back of an open hatch back, enjoying a Leffe Blonde and talking strategy with Nora Pants and DS van de Bobke. “It’s going to be technical,” van de Bobke said.
“And hard,” Nora Pants added.

True to the expert’s predictions, BASP No. 1, McLaren Park, provided a technically hard race sporting the biggest run up in all of NorCal, a snaking steep downhill, and two long climbs up the backside. Despite the challenge the course would provide, VP fielded the largest group of athletes and supporters to date, all of whom ensured a successful day at the cross course, regardless of placing.

But it is a race, so placing is important. The good news is that VP enjoyed high placements in a number of categories. First up, women’s C saw Fox shoot off the line and charge to second up the run up. She looked strong and could contest the overall lead until a handlebar, pole, tape incident held her up. Despite losing over a minute untangling her bike, Fox motored upward and onward to a solid top 10 finish.

Men’s C saw cross rookie Gillis take to the line for the first time, making good on earlier promises. Solid placing, 81st out of a huge field of 107. Dave Sams, VP friend finished 40th and also provided VP with some early pics.
Men’s master Bs saw confusion and chaos, both on and off the course. What we do know is that Shaw rode an extra lap and Jeremiah can glue tubular tyres. What is still pending: who finished where? (not literally, of course we all know that we finished at the line, but what place?). According to eye witness accounts, both Mark and Chris finished in the top 10 and Jeremiah did not get lapped, and Shwe proved extremely photogenic.
Despite the uncertainty of the outcome of the men’s master Bs, the women’s Bs lined up with another cross rookie, Cheryl, taking her place in VP black. Piper and I encouraged the field with leg swinging dance moves to the techo pop, “Let the music move you!” And move them it did, with Cheryl taking an official 9th place (though she may have ridden an extra lap as well?)

Finally, young Stephen took the line, men’s B. Not quite yet a master, Stephen raced to 9th place.

If a panda races in the woods, but no one is around to watch, does the panda make a noise? Fortunately you may never need to know the answer to that because of the huge turn out of vertical fandas. The beer, sweets and sandwiches took second place to the friends out enjoying the autumn morning. Technically McLaren Park is hard, but as a member of Team Beer said to me “That’s cross.”

Per Strava –

http://strava.com/rides/40231

vertical flanders

At Least You Suffered

So it has begun. Cyclocross. Lapping the course –

1) Full gas, all out, keep up with the front;
2) recover, stay where you are;
3) battle self doubt, why am I here? Quit. Just Quit.
4) Repeat No. 3.
5) After this, the bell lap.
6) Full gas, again.

September in NorCal Cyclocross means Livermore. The course is flat, fast and can be dangerously hot. Mark braved the first race of the season, lining up with fit roadies coming off their peak season to take a solid 10th after a late in the race crash. Last week saw rain showers dampening the coarse, teasing the racers of muddy dreams while still delivering dust, just less of it.

Mark got off with the Bs, racing to a strong 5th place taking vertical pandas’ second podium spot of the season (Alex battled back from a slow start to take second in the K7-10!) Mike and I started 30 seconds back, now Master 35+ Bs. I raced well, despite a hacking cough taking 18th. I felt good in the first lap, staying with the tip top boys, but faded. I needed to turn on the gas a bit more, and push a bigger gear if I want to get results that will impress Directeur Sportif Van De Bobke (VdB). After the race, all VdB could say was, “At least you suffered.” True that.

As powered by STRAVA -

http://www.strava.com/rides/35501

Are You Ready?

Summer is nearly over, the kids are heading back to school and for a hardy few the change of leaves means cyclocross season will soon be here. Vertical Pandas is looking forward to a strong season of beer and podium spots, perhaps even a win. New kits (blanca) are in store, as well as a few new riders on the team.

The official racing begins in Livermore next weekend, September 5 followed by Central Coast on September 20. BASP starts October 4 at McLaren Park. Are you ready?