Triple Crown Series race # 1 @ Bonelli Park this a.m.

Six Hour Endurance race two weeks ago @ Bonelli for Jodi and I. First race of the Triple Crown this morning again there. Now the first race of Los Angeles Triathlon Series next weekend @ Bonelli too. That Makes a Bonelli sandwich.

Good friend Pavel came out last night and he, Jodi and I had some good laughs at dinner. I thought it best being they included the some what gnarley rock garden  descent maybe Jodi sit this one out. Her decision. I think she made the right one. Some carnage on that section today.

 Corey from Coates Cyclery donated huge for the raffles. People were stoked. Heck wish I would have won something. Al and Omar did what they do: Put on a great event. Big names and teams showed up. Tinker Juarez winning over all. Pavel 2nd in Cat2 division (formerly sport div.) I was very stoked with 3rd Cat 1 division (formerly expert div.) Racing Cat 1 you are guaranteed an extra lap or two. That and monster competition. Team Platinum Cycling/Sho Air were everywhere. The two finishing ahead of me were and I know there  were some close behind. Big team and from what I experienced nice (and damn fast) guys. Their high end Specialized steeds were everywhere. The other Sho Air team were racing Cannondales. Guaranteed you see them wearing the team kit with the team bike they would be hauling ass.
       Safe to say Pavel and I were the only two sporting Kona bikes out there today. And safe to say the only two from Coates Bicycles. Podium for both in the mostly one-dimensional mountain bike racers' arena.

Not bad for a couple mature multi sport triathletes..........................................
 

Inter Bike Convention Las Vegas 2013

Inter Bike this past week as usual was huge. Personally about few hundred thousand people more than I care to be around. But lots of eye candy to be seen in the exibits. The big guns are there and are there to impress. I was stoked to have a few sponsors displaying an image of yours truly. Hammer Nutrition had a nice shot of me from the Furnace Creek 508 race last year. Xterra had me in their catalogue. Just kinda cool when you have a few close buddies from the bike shops shmoozing with you along the isles and you can stop and say: "Hey. I know that dude"   : )

Saturday Suffer-fest

 Al and Omar put on a spectacular event. The turnout was much larger than they anticipated. That's a good thing and they deserve it.  My guess is 3/4's of the field raced team category. I do not know which would be tougher: Scaling back 25% effort and see how many laps you can do in 6 hours solo. Or team up and race it like a freakin' time trial. We learned  fast from the other teams that the transition wrist band / hand off/  delivery is done on- the- fly.

     We completed 10 laps. Jodi was the star on this one. Competition was stupid hard. (that's me whining right now). Pin it, red line it, WFO every lap. In lovely 100 degree Inland Empire weather. You can see the salt deposits on Jodi's kit. Salt I would liked to have had mid into my 4th lap. 

I love this shot of her closing in and soon passing this fellow young competitor. Hooks up on his wheel and then taking the inside on the corner. The other pic would be me. Suffering. But then so was everybody else. 

          We took first place Expert coed team. Narrowly. Battle from the start to finish. And this one is all credit to Jodi. I was damage control when the temp hit triple digits. Cramps suck. But this race and everyone in it didn't. Great atmosphere. Great sportsmanship. Great event. Thanks to all who volunteered. See you next year. With some extra sodium.

            

  

6 hour Endurance Mountain Bike Race this Saturday @ Bonelli Park!!!!

It starts at 9 a.m.  Multiple fun up and down 6 mile loops. For six hours. You can race day sign up. Several categories for all. Going to be a hot one. Bring fluids that you can leave in your pit area.
              Dug up this vintage pic from a Bonelli race. Racing on one of THEEE first single speeds let loose in the area back in the day. It was a Cannondale 1FG. Which stood for one fu#^=ing gear. I remember it well. And I dug it. C'Dale headshock. Lockout at your fingertips. Mechanical disc brakes. Simple. Light. Fast.  Oh and those now pretty much obsolete 26" wheels! Sure worked though.

Tuff Races behind Tough races ahead

With Nutty/brutal Mt. Baldy Time Trial race to the ski lifts done. Even nuttier so the off road Snow Valley duathlon run/bike/run done:  Jodi's long haul/by/herself/roadtrip to Ironman Canada Whistler all behind us (all in the same month)  It is time to chill just a tad. Chill as in still swim around the O'Side Pier. Run the sand to Carlsbad and back. Still bump out a hard ride here in our local San Gabriels.......... With a few potential Hawaiian World Championship triathlon races coming up, being slack ain't happening right now.
      But do get in some dang good surf sessions and long open water swims every time we are down in Oceanside. This shot taken by Robert L. from the O'Side pier Saturday eve. Take off. Bottom turn. Pull into the tube. Repeat. Stoked. Big. No pressure. Good vibes.

Jet Settin' Jodi departing for Whislter Canada

She has trained properly. Tapered correctly. I just packed her bike. It's off to the airport where I will drop her curb-side. It's all good. It's just that 99.9% of the time we travel and race together.  With us down to one lab from the last of three we can not leave our little 'ol girl Roxy without one of us here. Having her failing sucks 100% more than me not going on this trip. Jodi is a great traveler, experienced world wide competitor and will be just fine. And ready to rock the Ironman course. Go girl. We will be with you the whole way.

Hotter Than Hell Mt. Baldy Time Trial his morning

That's one demanding climb. Very much so with the words Time Trial attached to it. Just as long, just as steep as last year. 2012 I took  1st place  category with one hour 16 minutes. This year one minute and 36 seconds faster ( I attribute it to the cooler temp albeit hot as hell still)  Good stuff. Done in my 11-23 cassette. A glutton for punishment yes. Racing attendance seemed double in size. Yet I seen VERY few locals. Wonder why that is? Can't seem to quite figure that one out. Show up. Clip in. Head up the mountain. See what you can do. 

                                                                   Nice going David Robertson. Nice going Scott Palmer. Thanks Robert L and thank you T. for the awesome moral support and pics..and ice freeze down the back of jersey