New Bike and Incycle DH team

My 2009 Race Bike!

Lala (Incycle) brought a white stem and bars to the race, Todd and I got them on in time to race. The warmup was a bit short, but I had a white stem! Incycle can get anything quickly, they usually have it in stock and can ship out same day (or if you are lucky, bring it to you at your race). The final Shimano Winter Series Race (CA) was this weekend. I was the only Pro Woman, but that didn't matter to the Incycle DH team who cheered from all parts of the course, thanks guys! Blair heckled a guy in front of me then yelled at me to go catch him, Jason followed me up a singletrack climb (on his DH bike) and coached me to the top, of course Lala screamed from the Incycle pit.

Another race picture by Eric Foltz

.

My picture on the Downhill Team Race Trailer (and van). The Team Chillin' Jason 4X Race Jason Post Super-D Race Brothers Jason and Joe Simpson

Sold - Power Tap

edit: Sold Now I am am really hoping my Disk version ships soon, I have been waiting 2 weeks, the order form says "orders take 2-4 weeks to process/ship". Keeping my fingers crossed.

Wireless SL 2.4 PowerTap Hub. Currently built on a 26" MTB Dt Swiss XR 4.1 V-brake rim and set up tubeless with NoTubes rim strip.

I will include a brand new road axle if requested. This will allow you to build up a road wheel instead.

Computer, USB Downloader and Heart Rate Strap included.

1 year old, works great. (I am getting a new frame that I cannot weld V-brake mounts to so I have to buy a Disk version PT, big $$ and long wait...)

This hub is rock solid. I have other older PT hubs with issues but this one is awesome, it never seems to need to be re-zeroed. I have raced with it, no drop outs; last summer I rode through creeks with it and never had a problem.

.

CS M-770 XT 11-34 cassette included for an additional $40. Almost new Kenda Small Block 8 tire 2.1 included for an additional $15 (it has two rides on it).

Thanks for looking! If you are interested email me, KristaParkMTB@yahoo.com

Racing

It is that time of year, races everywhere. These are "race with the guys" races and so much fun.

Thursday Joy and Adam put together a last minute weekly short track practice. 10+ racers showed with about one day's notice. Pretty cool. To make it even more fun we did a figure 8. ever seen figure 8 car/bus racing? that was us. see Joy and Matt's (March 13th) write up. The course was open so we had a family out for a hike complete with off-road stroller on the course for a while, crazy. Going through the crossover/two-way section the on-coming racer yells to me "stroller!" my thought was "huh??", then as I rounded the blind corner "oh".

.

Saturday's Racers and Chasers race was great, a mass start of ~ 100 racers, lots of fun singletrack, including switchback climbs. The branded handmade leather number plates was an original idea.

.

I just dropped the fireline off at Incycle, if everything goes right I'll pick it up tomorrow and it will have become a Specialized S-Works Carbon race bike! The fireline frame will become a designated singlespeed!

SoCal MTB High School League Race #1

What a fun day. Sunday was the first ever SoCal High School Racing league race, NorCal has a very successful program, SoCal is now following that model and the first race was a big success. Vail Lake Resort (Temecula, CA) was a great venue complete with camping. Thank you Michael McClure for the first two pictures. . Great turnout for the first ever race, 75+ racers (only 6 girls though...). For more race info and pictures see the socaltrailriders post. I wore a Marshal's vest, carried a radio and rode the course during the race to verify all course marshals were okay and to transfer any information required due to intermittent radio contact. The course marshals were various kid's parents so it was cool to talk with them and to cheer their kids on. If there was a crash on the course someone would announce it on the radio (very professionally, "MP 7 reporting, rider down between MP7 and MP8") and if it was in my area I would ride to the crash and make sure they were okay. There was one channel for all course marshals and one person who was in touch with the race and medic crew who were on a different channel(s). It was all very well thought out and explained at the meeting. The meeting was complete with vests, radios, maps, marshal locations and a sheet of rules. The last rule was that you are relieved of your post when the last Sweep Rider comes by and tells you so, he had a race plate that said Last Sweep and was wearing a SoCal League jersey. I'm telling you they did such a good job. This was not an easy course, the racers really got a workout and tested their skills at speed in singletrack. No one was injured, one racer taco'd his wheel. I tried to straighten it, but didn't have much luck; it was good enough to roll to the finish, but that was about it. If a racer receives outside assistance they are penalized 5 minutes but may continue the race. I was impressed with the amount of preparation, attention to safety and awards (trophies, medals and nice leader's jerseys). This is a great thing, hopefully it will spread across the US.

more on US CUP #1

The week before the race was a bit crazy as more parts arrived just in time, NoTubes wheels and Magura forks and brakes! I tore my Fireline apart (looks like I will be riding last year's Titus frames for a while) and replaced every single thing except the headsest, cranks and pedals. I headed to the shop to get the brake lines and steerer tube cut. Incycle hooked me up with new Specialized shoes and a Specialized helmet. Thanks! I picked Todd up at the airport Saturday night, he flew in just to help me on Sunday and flew back out early Monday morning. Thanks Todd!

The highly anticipated US Cup (Sho-Air, Kenda, Specialized) kicked off Sunday at Bonelli Park in San Dimas, exceeding expectations in every way. Driving into the venue, the changes and improvements were obvious. From the giant black and red blow-up Kenda arch to the newly detailed trailer, gates and start-finish banner, all in black with red trim.

Turnout was huge, parking was scarce and the races were delayed about 15 minutes due to massive lines at registration. Even with the large fields, the races ran smoothly. Thank you to Scott Tedro and Ty Kady of Sho-Air, Jim Wannamaker of Kenda, Tom Spiegel of Team Big Bear, the volunteers and everyone else who made this happen. see pictures in post below.

It was crazy hot (87) and there was no shade on the course! With the snow covered mountains in the background you can't tell how hot it was from the above picture.

The only things I focused on during the first two laps were 1.) trying not to overheat and 2.) keeping an eye on Melanie McQuaid. At one point I passed a rider with a flat, I thought it was Melanie, so I slowed down a bit. After a while I saw her up ahead and kicked myself for losing time, I sped up just a bit to keep her in sight. On the third lap Todd told me to go and I started closing the gap, I actually made contact before I meant to and just hung back for a while as I wasn't sure how hard we would have to go once I tried to pass her, my main concern was still overheating. Once I decided to go, I was surprised with how good my legs felt, I was able to pedal away and cross the finish line ~1:30 in front of Melanie.

.

I did a quick cool down and changed quickly to do my race clinic. I got called away from the clinic twice, once for awards and once to pick up my check (they wouldn't let Todd pick it up and they said they were leaving so I had to get it right then). Sorry guys, we'll schedule the clinic a little better next race.

Sometimes things go according to plan and Sunday was one of those days! I'll take 1st place any day. Last year at Fontana both Melanie and I had a bad race and came in at the same time, she beat me by 1 second. Fontana is the next US Cup race (March 28th), that should be fun, hopefully it will be cooler...

US West Cup #1 Bonelli Results

1st Place in San Dimas, CA! This season is off to a good start! more later... till then read: http://www.mtbracenews.com/

Thanks to Michael McClure for this picture of the venue, lots of people!