From New England to Northern CA

16 hours of travel from door to door... and a HUGE pack up

So much has passed since we've been in California (7 months), but happily so much seems the same.   The changing of the season and being back in my home state has brought a familiar rhythm to our nomadic travels.  The short days require a type of discipline to fit everything in before it's dark at 5:00.  The good part being that it gives us longer nights to catch up with our family/friends and still have time for tons of sleep. 

Our arrival to California coincided with attending the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco - a unique spectacle for sure!  It was definitely a BIG push to attend as it coincided with Mike and I relocating our life to the Bay Area for the next months.  Adding the logistics of prepping bikes for competition while wondering where you are going to sleep at night is never easy but it really has become sort of a specialty of ours.   

Living out of the van again... Mike still works his magic!

We landed in CA and only had a few days to brush the cobwebs off our storage unit and get things together. Mike did an awesome job of converting my sweet little flat bar cross bike to a one speed rocket ship and his 29er into a rigid skinny tired single speed race machine. He got the bikes dialed just in time for the qualifying event on Saturday

where we rode the bikes for the first time. 

The qualifier was a scheme devised to divide the mens field into 2 groups for sunday's race(s) while out on a scenic 20 mile tour of some of San Francisco's finest sights.  a cool opportunity to meet with other riders within smaller groups of 10 or so.  Along the tour we had to competed in "5 feats of strength" which the results determined which guys raced in the 1st or 2nd heat. It was a fun way to open up our legs and lungs with a nasty hill climb, epic endless stair run up, beach sprints, among other random competitive games. It set the stage for a fun and friendly weekend of partying and hard core cyclocross racing...  

We were lucky to enjoy stunning clear crisp city touring weather but the rains came in and stayed put the night before the main event ensuring a muddy mess for the main event... 

The course was set up in Golden Gate Park and consisted of undulating single and double track winding through huge trees and over and around some oversize obstacles: 3 foot logs to scramble over (if your legs weren't long enough), a very low (actually dangerous) head high scaffolding to duck/ride under, an excruciatingly steep run up and a custom made run

through water pit.   The chaotic start format had us all running to our pile of bikes from down a hill - it was hilarious to see all the awesome costumed riders scrambling to get to their bikes and racing to get on course.  It really helped to have an "oh well no big deal attitude" as far as the seriousness of the event as nothing was clear or laid out in a typical race structure. 

Women's start scramble over first (of 4) massive log barrier...

As hard as I was trying to get to the front, I couldn't help but laugh at the scene - a mass of costumed women scrambling over the high logs: bodies, bikes and funny costumes surrounding me...  I did not get the hole shot but had the leaders in view... giving an earnest effort, I finally made contact at the water pool crossing... I tried to make a

pass and pretty much caused a huge pile up in the water tub, subsequently denting my shin on something and coming out of the water with a front wheel that wouldn't spin.  after taking some time to free a brake that was stuck in my spokes I began to chase down the field…  I felt good and thoroughly enjoyed ripping the muddy course and managing the crazy

obstacles.  The Crowds were awesome - yelling, ringing bells and heckling the racers... I eventually made my way back up to the leaders by the end last lap but could only manage to nip into 3rd place at the line. 

I must admit, our costumes were last minute... but homemade.  My unicorn horn was badly drooping by the end.  Ah well, at least I had the perfect gearing!!

The crowds were thick for the mens race, by the time I got back from a particularly miserable clean up, Mike was flying through the forest towards the front of the race with his hand stitched (by me) blue helmet horns slicing through the wind and his lovely brunette red wig flowing behind him.  I couldn't believe how hilarious the whole scene was as I

watched the train of 100+  men racing in some impressively silly costumes.  Many of these guys were displaying immense finesse and athleticism even as others slogged around the course swilling beers and really focusing on other aspects of having a good time.  

The blue horned beast slogging in the mud.

Mike was in his muddy element riding and negotiating the course like few others.  He confessed to getting lucky at the start and feeling as though he could just maintain his front position but what I saw was more like a wild beast leaping over the logs in a (almost) single bound, mashing up hills, and sliding through rutted corners with little regard for

anything but moving forward and perhaps trying to (good naturally) sling a little mud on those spectators who had come to heckle at the event.  At the end he was happy to have the highest place that did not come with a tattoo requirement.  

I was stoked some of my family came out to cheer and I can only imagine the memories my 4 year old niece must have... Some of the costumes were surely eye popping - bikinis, skirts, furry beasts, skeletons, wonder woman clad boys, everyone muddy and having a good time.  Huge props to the the SSCXWC staff who put on a unique and fun event and to all the people who made the effort to come out and take part as well as spectate!  

Huge THANKS to ALL our great sponsors!!! We are honored to represent!!

We were really happy to have been a part of this fantastic celebration of bike!  For Mike and I the fall months have been spent purposely away from the demands of "A" priority racing.  It has been a lovely break for the mind even as we made efforts to attend races just about every other weekend to stay involved with the local scene and maintain the body somewhere closer to that lovely feeling of being race fit. 

Mike shredding the 12 foot paddle board

It has been a luxury for us to have a break from needing to train specifically and rest up for a critical weekend competitions. AS SUCH we have been able to dig deeper - i.e surf when it comes up, paddle board till exhaustion, hike and run around till blistered and weary and get in lots of big fun rides. 

Doing errands and product testing 650 B wheel sizing = part of my off season training for the day

Our program had recently been based on a lot of alternative activities but it is far from casual or neglectful for our cycling goals.  We have found this type of training to indeed be real training and have made it part of our yearly cycle.  It seems that many of the challenges we give our bodies in other sports can translate to being better in some aspect of cycling.  I often practice yoga and think about the moves that parallel to the sports that I love and how I will use the power of these moves to enhance my sport! 

I love epic paddle board missions!  Noman's Island in back ground

A consistent element of structure to our training is a progressive strength and conditioning program.  Our programs (mike's and mine) are different and diverse but focus mostly on core strength and balance training.  Working constantly around our mobile lifestyle we have found ways to address almost everything with as few tools as the yoga matt/ balance board, medicine balls and some random furniture.  Keeping it simple means we always have a method to get in what we need to build and maintain the body even with the limited equipment allowed by our travels. 

Our east coast preparations were perfect in that we didn't do a lot of biking but were able to work out consistently and effectively with other different sports.  Now that we are back into some serious cycling terrain we are looking forward to getting into longer rides and a program with a greater emphasis on endurance and being on the bike.     

Epic trails in Santa Cruz, CA = bliss

We got off to a good start with two huge days of shredding in Santa Cruz this past weekend … reminded and blown away by the extensive high level trail systems.  The number of people riding MTBikes was really shocking… a good number of shredders weaving through a sea of weekend warrior group rides.  It is obvious why all those people are out there as riding in the redwoods is nothing less than fantastic - you would love it. 

Mike loves to jib.

Here in West Sonoma the riding we like to do is more remote steep and tricky to find. You have to have a keen eye for phantom trail heads and good standing with the locals to get the goods here.  Though once you get some semblance of the place you can ride ride fresh trail all week and when you get around to riding the same section again practically see

your own lines from last weeks ride.  

Northern/central California is in general a great place to be as a cyclist.  Often the weather and the camaraderie come together in a way that can bring on the highest level of cycling experience.  We are really enjoying getting reacquainted. 

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so much to be thankful for!!

All the best,

M n M

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