DH race series in Monterey/ Salinas area
- Thread starter Cheetabrian
- Start date
Zark said:
this is the picture they have of the course. not looking very DHy.
"Slap on some lycra and do a wicked time trail down a muddy fireroad "amydalayna said:
Sorry to be so cruel about this race you've posted Cheetabrian, I'm just a little upset with the state of "DH racing" in Cali. Its a goddamn joke statewide. The only race I'm doing in the rest of the year is Parkfield. Elings Park is gonna be a state series race this year
It's no Ellings Park then eh?Zark said:
I think that's an older shot from the XC earlier in the year, hence the cross bike...amydalayna said:
this is the picture they have of the course. not looking very DHy.
Zark said:"Slap on some lycra and do a wicked time trail down a muddy fireroad "
Sorry to be so cruel about this race you've posted Cheetabrian, I'm just a little upset with the state of "DH racing" in Cali. Its a goddamn joke statewide. The only race I'm doing in the rest of the year is Parkfield. Elings Park is gonna be a state series race this year
Makes me almost think I should put that proto DH frame together for s*** & giggles.Zark said:Missed my next post dude, pissed about that race too
Don't really need too much, chainguide, brakes, and that's about it.
Hmm...
then they might think of dropping that photo from their DH race page. It's not really tempting me to come on out.Just James said:
I agree. I don't know those folks though.amydalayna said:
sriracha (or anyone else here) have you ridden Toro Park? If so what's it like? The discription of the event sounds more like a SuperD tan a DH. Something else they might want to think about instead of billing it as a DH. Either way I've missed just about every race between the S.O. and Nationals so I'd just be stoked to race, not to mention I dig SuperD racing too.
Zark said:
Thanks for being supportive of someone trying to make the current state of DH things in CA better. I'd like to know what you have organized. Now shut the hell up with your bitching and come support the first real attempt at improving DH racing. The negativity in this thread is making me sick. I am fully stoked that CCCX, that usually puts on some great events, is back in action and trying to revive the NorCal DH scene. I will also be there on the 17th, racing, and fully enjoying myself. If you come and try to have a good time, I will personally give you one of my beers.
Easy there turbo. Noah had a lot to do with building the course down at Ellings Park in Santa Barbara. He's not just some guy mouthing off on teh intarwebs. Having a picture of a guy on a cyclocross bike riding a muddy road on the DH page isn't probably the best face for the course.bikenweed said:
I think they're looking at previous DH races in the Monterey area, i.e. Sea Otter, and comparing that to either many of the trails he's ridden, or a lot of the DH races from Big Bear, Mammoth, North Star. You have to admit that places like Toro, downtown Santa Barbara, or Fontana don't hold quite the same...challenge...shall we say? I'm not saying that these aren't fun races, and the more DH we have, the better.
Noah, if you feel like coming up, I have an open couch...
JJames
Morning sunshine!bikenweed said:
I've been involved with the Firestone course since its inception, worked on the Elings course (for what its worth) helped AMBP with plans for Baldy and regularly perform trail maintenance in SB county. But yeah, I'm just some loudmouthed some do-nothing internet complainer
My negativity is driven by the fact that I haven't raced a real "DH" race with signifigant elevation drop in the last two seasons. I'm frustrated by the current pathetic choice of venues. The promoters are trying to make lemonade out of lemons and I don't mean to belittle their efforts. At the same time I don't think I'll be there, I'll have to wait until I see some info on the course.
I for one am excited about the race. It's less than an hour away and looks to be decently fun even though the course is obviously going to be lacking.
Yeah no sh!t this isn't a real DH race, look who's organizing it. CCCX puts on local XC and CX races around Monterey, this isn't a National or something. It's a mellow local race. I hardly care as long as there are races, this year was terrible with the lack of races in Cali, and I appreciate someone stepping up and making it happen.
So like bikenweed I'm not going to be bitching about a photo of a 'cross race they put on the DH page and I'm going to be stoked on a well-organized local DH race. Maybe I'll even bring the hardtail.
Yeah no sh!t this isn't a real DH race, look who's organizing it. CCCX puts on local XC and CX races around Monterey, this isn't a National or something. It's a mellow local race. I hardly care as long as there are races, this year was terrible with the lack of races in Cali, and I appreciate someone stepping up and making it happen.
So like bikenweed I'm not going to be bitching about a photo of a 'cross race they put on the DH page and I'm going to be stoked on a well-organized local DH race. Maybe I'll even bring the hardtail.
black noise said:
I'll get ya a beer at the first race, let's do what we can to help this series grow and hopefully expand to some venues in the Sierra Nevadas. CCCX is good people, I used to race their cross events, and they were super well organized, with great prizes, good courses, and nice people.
Yeah, it's a shame we don't have better venues being utilized, but hot damn, at least someone out there is putting something on! The fiasco that was Norba Nationals was really shameful. Give the CCCX people some credit for at least stepping it up and giving it a try. Has anyone tried contacting the CCCX webmaster in a positive way about that picture being used? I'd go and check it out if I weren't going to be in Whistler that weekend.
Now if RideSFO would put on a fall event in Livermore, I'd be ELATED! (Come on CHDH 2!!)
Now if RideSFO would put on a fall event in Livermore, I'd be ELATED! (Come on CHDH 2!!)
I see both sides, Noah's desire for a more challenging DH race, and the cool fact that someone is bothering to put on any sort of local race. I have a lot of respect for what those guys do, it's rare that an area has such a well-organized and attended MTB race series of any kind. We'd be much better off for national-caliber races if more places had these smaller, grass-roots series going on. It allows more people to compete in the sport.black noise said:
I'll be there, on my cross bike! (kidding! But I will most likely be there, been a while since I did any sort of DH eh Noah?)
My only complaint is that it's marketed as a DH race. If they are saying, "The trails in this park have Steep Sections and lots of Elevation, Most trails will favor a Medium Range Bike and not a Ski Resort DH Rig", then why not have a Super D series?
I wouldn't mind doing a race this year that actually helped if I was on my DH bike and not my trail bike. My DH bike is very sad sitting in the shed and going unused.
I wouldn't mind doing a race this year that actually helped if I was on my DH bike and not my trail bike. My DH bike is very sad sitting in the shed and going unused.
i've never ridden toro park, but i've ridden most of the other trails in the area. i've always looked over at toro and wanted to ride there. it looks more like a mountain than laguna seca - sometimes it gets snow. the only comment that i've heard is that there's a lot of sand. but i'm sure there's potential to do a DH race with more verticle that the sea otter DH.ricebowls said:
my parents live in monterey, so i'd be stoked to go up there and race.
I'll be doing it on my bullit, until I get a new HT frame. It doesn't sound like what a DH should be, but whatever, it's a race and it's well organized. I've heard the course is fun despite the lack of technical stuff.
I will be at the 2nd one if i can get a ride.
I will be at the 2nd one if i can get a ride.
My bullit has one of those.
Course- The CCCX race routes for DH's #2 and #3 have been finalized.
Race #2 on Sept. 17 will feature the Northern California Single-Track DH Championship. Time trial winners of each group will receive a special award distinguishing them as Nor Cal Champs in Single-Track DH Racing. The CCCX Race #2 is a 2 mile course that consists of 98% single track. This is a intense, tight, single-track course where fitness and trail riding consistency will play a factor in overall times. Most of the single-track is on a steady downhill grade, but not overly steep in any sections. There is lots of open, high speed sections, and there is also many super tight sections with tight turns and narrow trails. There are also a few water bars and water boards placed in the trail so keep alert! Be prepared to hop over, and drop off some wood boards in the trail that are there for erosion precautions. This 2 mile single track challenge is railing in some sections and slightly technical in others, and is a true test of DH skills and fitness. Race times will be longer then race #1 with more pedaling involved, so tighten up your suspension. It is a 35 minute hike to the start of the course from the registration area. This route starts and finishes in a different area then race #1. Parking will be in the same area as race #1. Practice will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 11:50 a.m. There is NO going up the race course backwards as the single-track is very narrow in certain sections. Anyone who practices on Saturday needs to register before practice. Reg. will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat. and 8 a.m. to 11:00 am on Sun.
Race #2 on Sept. 17 will feature the Northern California Single-Track DH Championship. Time trial winners of each group will receive a special award distinguishing them as Nor Cal Champs in Single-Track DH Racing. The CCCX Race #2 is a 2 mile course that consists of 98% single track. This is a intense, tight, single-track course where fitness and trail riding consistency will play a factor in overall times. Most of the single-track is on a steady downhill grade, but not overly steep in any sections. There is lots of open, high speed sections, and there is also many super tight sections with tight turns and narrow trails. There are also a few water bars and water boards placed in the trail so keep alert! Be prepared to hop over, and drop off some wood boards in the trail that are there for erosion precautions. This 2 mile single track challenge is railing in some sections and slightly technical in others, and is a true test of DH skills and fitness. Race times will be longer then race #1 with more pedaling involved, so tighten up your suspension. It is a 35 minute hike to the start of the course from the registration area. This route starts and finishes in a different area then race #1. Parking will be in the same area as race #1. Practice will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 11:50 a.m. There is NO going up the race course backwards as the single-track is very narrow in certain sections. Anyone who practices on Saturday needs to register before practice. Reg. will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat. and 8 a.m. to 11:00 am on Sun.
Sounds fun...
Just got back from practice. Whatever bike (Slalom, DH or All Mountain) is fine as long as you're strong enough to handle it on both fast sections and flatter sections. There aren't any real climbs (except to get to the top of the course) and it's mostly single track. The course is longer than the last race's, and definitely faster. Come on out and have some fun!