Back to the Norm ~ SS/CXFT3

So the local Pollock Spotter, a.k.a 'alive weather cam Lars', indicates that our home trails are mostly rideable, just in time for the December edition of SS/CXFT3. So what do you say, let's get back to the norm and go for a ride, at night, in the cold, in the mountains (on single speeds, or CX). While the temptation to race Folsom Rodeocross is great, I am confident SS/CXFT3 will provide both sufficient training and handups as necessary. Anyone in need of a Wednesday CX race should make carpool arrangements in the hidden comment field.

CX Racing took place again this weekend and FT3 riders Lars and NoHandle did us proud on the Sac CX Circuit. A race report, as provided by NoHandle follows; Lars and I kept it real on Sat up in Grass Valley for what I would rate as the most fun course I've raced, maybe a tie with SF. The course had plenty of climbing but even more technical stuff. The tight off-camber and slippery turns had me on my ass three times including the pre ride lap (which I am glad to report in an official modifying the spot that took me out). Unlike Lange Twins course this one actually allowed us to apply some skills other than fitness - which makes the race so much more fun. In the end I Finished 7th and Lars was right behind me finishing the last lap and a half on a flat...solid FT3 throw down, but there were only 11 starters. Lars stands atop of the points race so far for FT3 with cappy on top counting a throwout race. [Administrator's note; "Practice Harder!!" is what the heckler's would have said at Folsom Rodeocross.]

Next weekend, Saturday, is the annual Bicycle Planet CX Race at Willow Creek/Folsom High School. I am IN, as is NoHandle, and I hear Green Fro will be making an appearance!

Late breaking edits: ONE!

Big ups to the Female arm, or leg(s) of FT3 as I understand that the great marathon runner and other half of Lars acheived some stunning results in her finish of the California International Marathon. I'm no mathematician, but she finished in the top 100 of women in her age group and something like the top 20% of women overall, out of something like 5,000 women?? Lars can provide better stats, but either way big ups to her. She even qualified for the Boston Marathon, which in bike terms is like qualifying to race CX Worlds!

Ride like the wind,

Cappy

Chaining the Guard

The winds of chain are indeed blowing as this your Cap'n's first official post to the FT3 blog. This chain, however, unlike a chain on one of B's heavily abused singlespeeds is not broken... only slightly bent. This chain has taken a turn on the cog of time and the links of FT3 are taking on a new shape. They will soon grow up to be blog worthy, race ready, and will conquer the steepest, muddiest, dustiest and coldest slopes. Without further adieu, post number one rolls on;

Tuesday Ride Report submitted by C-Man;



Steeps and Streets, continued...

After realizing the W in SKTPBJCXW referred to Wednesday, I found myself the sole rider for Tuesday night. Given I had the pass, and some time to kill, I did what any FT3 member would do; I went to Cappy's house for beers and food. Following some proper nourishment and pre-ride hydration, I opted to cover what Cap'n had left out of last week's tour. From the EDT, I followed Smith Flat to Broadway and then up Airport Rd. After a short, but steeeep climb, I rolled down to Cedar Ravine. From there, it was over to Texas Hill, and then up again to Newtown Acres. At Newtown Rd, I was supposed to cross over to Still Meadows. As it turns out, the street is actually Ivy Knoll. I made a quick and cold detour South on Newtown looking for both the entrance and a signal. Once I got Google Maps up, I turned round and headed back to Ivy Knoll. Up, up, and more up until I found a dead end in someone's yard, and then the connection to Still Meadows and eventually back to the EDT. The ride back to the house was fast, and nearly involved a T-bone with a deer. And to think, my wife was worried about mountain lions.

Despite the odd stares and the concerned neighbors in Still Meadows, it was a good bit of nighttime work. With near freezing temps, I anticipated ice, but encountered little to none. I think I saw 5 cars the entire ride. To add that piece to the Steeps and Streets tour would make for a long night. We'd have to fill No-cars other bag with dinner.



Folsom Cyclocross Report Submitted by yours truly:

Put the "F" In Cyclocross

FT! FT!! FT!!!!!! The boys at the heckle zone at last nights Folsom Rodeocross race did FT3 proud. Beer handups abound, cheers and jeers roared, and these guys made it seems like we were racing in a small town on a cold night in Belgium. Lars and I thoroughly enjoyed our racing experience at last nights Rodeo Cross and we represented well, keeping the hecklers happy by taking all available handups. The course was a legit mix of pave and dirt with plenty of tight turns, technical sections and a couple not-too-sloppy mud pits. I personally, was more proud of my ability to keep the hecklers happy than of my ability to keep up with the three other A's in a small but fast group. They dropped me shortly after the first lap, but I am proud to say that only one single speeder came by me after that. Lars had a an excellent start and a good race although he lost a chain and had to fight hard through the fodder to regain position. There are only two races left and Lars and I feel strongly that a bigger group of FT3 riders needs to get down there and represent hard for the next two races. The Folsom Breakout boys expressed interest in a cultural exchange as they typically ride on Tuesdays as well, we may need to take a ride with them and vice-versa in the future.

Ride like the wind,
Cap

What's that in the wind?

As with all things, change is the only constant in life. Maybe punctuated by last nights ride confusion or general blog dictatorship or maybe just a lack of creative ideas, a change is in order. Now, don't fear, there will be no changes to FT3 schedule, direction or tire pressure, just to blog authorship. Therefore, with this post LOtB will exit the blogoshpere and hand the reigns over to an FT3 consortium of authors.

Two years of highlights:
1) First and foremost, the fact that in two plus years of Tuesdays (give or take a day and weather dependent) there has been a group of Placerville area guys mount bikes for friendship and fitness is an amazing thing!
2) FT3 24 hour team established our credibility!
3)FT3 CX racing demonstrates our dominance!
4)SSFT3 secured us as the true "hardmen" on the block!
5) "This many" (hand hovering above empty bottles) nuff said!
6) Men writing bike related poetry and quoting Shakespeare all in the name of two wheeled pursuits!
7) A secret network of trails named by us and known only by us!
8) The fact that my children ask me why I am home on any Tuesday I don't make the ride!

The highlights are really too numerous to list but this starts to give the feel of the culture established by our group. In thirty years when FT3 generation number two is introducing cycling to gen three, we will look back on these early years as the beginning of the ground swell of a Mt. Bike culture and mecca that is Pollywood!

Look for a race report or ride report coming your way soon from any number of various authors. LOtB will be taking a bit of a writing break, but I might rear my head again sometime!


Viva FT3
Until we ride,
LOtB