Race 4: PCRS Flash 2

PCRS #2: Trailing My Twin
Originally uploaded by /k.

Second round of enduro racing at the PCRS flash series and they decided to reverse the track layout so that we had fewer but steeper hills. This made the course really fast with a few jumps for the descenders.

Turnout was about the same (perhaps a few more), but the steep hills really thinned the field -- by the end of the first lap, only me and one other guy (see photo) were still in contention. Luckily, it was the other guy's first race of the series and I dropped him a quarter of the way in the second lap to win my age group.

Jack Johnson Concert

Jack Johnson 8/21 Sacto Stage
Originally uploaded by /k.

Shelley and I went to see Jack Johnson play in Sacramento last night.

I was suprised to see the number of people who turned out -- parking was a complete nightmare. However, other than that and the chilly night, the concert was quite good.

Someone will probably post the concert recording here in a few days.

Races 2 & 3: PCRS Flash 1 & Northstar XC Finale

PRCA Race 1
Originally uploaded by /k.

Got in a busy week of mountian bike racing this week with the start of the Prairie City Race Series starting and the finish of the Northstar XC series.

I started Wednesday over in the OHV in Prairie City (just down the road from me on the other side of US-50) to do the PCRS races. They put on a damn fun race -- they use the motocross course full of bermed turns, steep decents/ascents, drop offs and 2' whoops through the 3 miles course. With the race being just two laps for begineers, this is a pretty full on race from the get go. I raced begineer again (they divided it into 35- and 36+ which rocked). Although I endo'd on one of the bermed turns (a mean 4ft high, 270 degree berm) and laid my bike down on a descent, I won my age bracket and came in second overall in the begineer class. I'm the person in the back with the long sleeve jersey in the picture.

Things didn't fair as well for the Northstar at Tahoe series finale. They shortened the course length from 4.5 miles to 3 miles but added a second lap for our class. After racing the night before, I was spent and the extra lap of climbing didn't help. I limped into 7th place in my class which dropped me to 10th place on the final series point list. I'll have to start earlier next year to be competitive in this series.

Pre-season MNF

Pre-season MNF
Originally uploaded by /k.

It's Monday Night Football time again.

While our local bar has not started their regular season festivities yet, Kelly and I thought we would get a jump on the action by taking in some pre-season on the porch.

Race 1: Northstar@Tahoe XC #5

Northstar 8/11 Race Finishline
Originally uploaded by /k.

After months of procrastinating, I finally got my act together and hiked up the hill to race in a ski resorts summer cross-country mountain bike series. Northstar at Tahoe is a ski resort located in near Tahoe City (north Lake Tahoe near Truckee) just over the border in Nevada. In the summertime, they open up the park as a mountain bike course, complete with gondolas to take you to the top of the mountain.

I learned some valuable lessons from my first race. Some things to remember:

1. Racing at 6800' bears little resemblence to biking at 1000'. Especially when you drive up 1 hour before you race.
   
2. Repair your rear wheels before arriving late to register for your race
3. Pre-ride the course -- I think my wrong turn at the finish might have cost me a minute or two.
4. Elbow pads are not optional equipment. Do not find this out on a 6% downhill slope.
   

Although I basically got my ass handed to me, I did manage to place 3rd in my class (00:40:50 for the 4.3 mile course). I'll try to get some better pictures next week.

Rivercats Foul Ball Patio

Rivercats Foul Ball Patio
Originally uploaded by /k.

Shelley, Kelly, Rachelle and I went to see our hometown Sacramento Rivercats take on the Albuquerque Isotopes last night. Although it was 105F yesterday, the night cooled off nicely and we were able to take in the entire game and fireworks afterwards.

Although the Rivercats lost 5 to 3, the only real lowpoints of the night were the constant rain of large cockroach- type bugs falling off the high intensity stadium lights (apparently they get to hot) and the insane amount of "body art" being displayed.

Idiot Proof

Idiot Proof
Originally uploaded by /k.

I took this set of pictures last week, but it happens almost every day so I can't say its really old news.

The kid you see in the picture is on the outside of the Fair Oaks bridge railing (over the American River about 35 feet below). It took him ten minutes to climb over the 8 foot guard rails and "No Diving ! Danger !" signs to get there.

For the rest of the story, see these pictures over on my flickr page.