Hopper Haiku

winter’s wet hopper:
embrocate, butter and lube.
willow creek – no mas.

http://www.strava.com/rides/67787

Hele Dag

For some the cross season is over, for others nothing is over until they say its over. Panda strongman, Mark "Hele Dag" Shaw continues to show his race form into the peak season taking 8th up the San Bruno Hill CLimb and a silver medal at CXSR Galvin Park.

photo credit veronika lenzi

Although some of the other pandas spent the holidays getting "zacht en vet", don't put your cross bikes away just yet. While the Shack and Team Sky head into the season kissing wallabees, pandas are putting together their most agressive spring campaign to date. Of course there is the Hopper Series (Old Caz - 1/30/10), but what about Copperopolis and Leesville Gap? What about an Etape ToC? What about Death Valley and La Pyreneenne? Can you feel me?

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/)