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On Saturday, October 1st, 2011, it was the National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. We decided to join in on the festivities at the local event that Adam Davidson was hosting in Irvine Park. Over 150 people in attendance and about 80 of that number were kids!

We signed up for a short 4 miler ride that consisted of paved and fire roads.

Big thanks to Adam Davidson for putting on this event for the local OC folks.

Tons of bikes everywhere!

Aleah in her giraffe jersey waiting to get her raffle tickets. She took home some nice schwag that included a hat, gloves, a Hans Rey poster and a t-shirt. The grand prize for the raffle was a brand new Rocky Mountain 24″ Reaper mountain bike. A lucky 5 year old boy won it.

Priscilla and Aleah enjoying the event.

Aleah and Dad. Like my white sunglasses? Dollar store. Get yours today!

Here’s a video the event organizers put together.

Ride like a Kid 5 from Me NotYou on Vimeo.

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OK the time is near, I feel it in my bones, like the birds that get the urge to go south for winter or the migration the whales do to baja, its time, time to make our trek to the city of sin, the city that never sleeps, the city where a beam of light shoots into the air and breaks into space never to be seen again. On the way we pass an old ghost, a road named Zyzxx, the worlds biggest thermometer. The pull, the pull its getting stronger. I start looking at the hills and mountains and think to myself how would I go down this hill, how would I climb it.

This place, this place in the desert that lights up so bright at night like a diamond waiting to suck the life out of some, but not me, not me for I’m on the way to my “MECCA”, my place of worship once a year where we gather, we the media, we the dealers, we the makers that give you the riders what you want.

Ohhhh I feel it, my place of worship, my “MECCA”, but the first stop at my “MECCA” is the place in the desert where we start our trek up and down the hills of this place that will torture our souls with dust, heat, beer. A place of tents with goods, but none to trade only to show, touch, and drool over, but this is only the start for their is much, much more to be had in the fallowing days. It is not just of feasting on what the makers bring for us to show you, but to also catch up with old friends, see new movies, go to feast, drink free beer, and more beer, and then some more AAahhhhhh, INTERBIKE is coming!!!!!

The Start of MECCA

And in this time it is up to us the media to show you as much as possible to entice you as we get enticed by all that the makers bring to show us and the dealers what will be out in the coming months. You will start to see the pre spy photos and new lines of gear, parts, and bikes ( I have goose bumps just thinking about it.), and as we pass through the gates where only the chosen are allowed we will bring it to you through email, tweets, Skype, Youtube, and websites, and all manner possible.

So to give you your pre shot you need here is a taste of last year’s travel to my mecca, “INTERBIKE !!”  Enjoy.

Pro's show there spirit being here.

MECCA ALIVE!!!

Friends come to share smiles, we walk along in the wonderful sunlight and ride all that is new to us, oh what a wonder time we live

They just wait for us.

in.

There is so much to see while you are here you will surly miss much.  One has to slow him or herself down to not miss anything, control, control, you must learn control.

If you love the things you do, do them to the fullest extent and never stop. I truly believe that you will remain younger at heart in your mind as well as your body.

My bro stash

While I’m here I make my peace with all that is cycling, from road to mountain, to BMX, cruiser, and yes even fixie ( The latest fade that has lasted for what over five years now, OK it’s not a fade anymore.)

LAST YEAR WAS TO BE THE LAST YEAR IN THE DESERT OF DECADENCE

Yes this was to be true 2010 was to be it for Interbike here in Vegas. The kegs were going off the parties were many, heck one group was doing it big by giving top notch whiskey shot as a toast fair well to the Vegas venue just about every hour and handing out mustaches to go with the toast. Now this is STYLE!!
And you would look for the popping open of the kegs of beer.

READY FOR FUN!!

Pouring the necter of the gods.

NIGHTLIFE IN VEGAS WE KNOW

As the show ends for the day it is time for us to venture out into the lands around us, to see the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people that walk about, ahhh it is quite the adventure here in our annul trek to our “MECCA” we call INTERBIKE.  All that we suffer to bring you the newest pics of the the best bikes and products, the stories of things to be and the things that never will.

Now I won’t boar you with all the same old bike pics you see, but rather all that we go through to bring you what you want to see. We go through the hardships for you our reader so you won’t have to. You see this is hard for us, up early,to bed late, all day meetings, talking to so many people and so much more. Yes this is the “MECCA” for seeing all things bikes for the new year to come and the pull to go there is strong to make the trek here every year.

THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE NIGHT

I look forward to this, but this year it is different for me, for I am going as the media. Not as a exhibitor or dealer, so does this mean more work, well I will find out.

“I feel the pull in me to go to the city in the desert getting stronger, my heart is beating harder and harder. I can’t wait.”

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This summer here in Orange County at Irvine lake is a local mountain bike races series on Tuesday nights. The Over the Hump series spans about three months and is twelve races long. This past Tuesday concluded the second installment of the series.

Riders gathering before the race.

The first race had around 600 hundred riders participate and there were 77 riders in my class alone. The course is a fairly simple one with no major technical sections, and only two longer extended climbs. The starting line is a fire-road type section overlooking a nice view across Irvine Lake. From the starting line the road makes a generally straight shot to the first climb, but it is subject to two way traffic from the riders (mainly expert/pros on the first lap) ahead returning from the first loop. The course takes a hard right hand turn up the first climb of the lap.

Waiting for the race to begin.

The climb starts the first part of the loop and at the top it levels off hits a added section that differed from the first week’s course. It went through a few turns and and headed down the other side of the hill from what we climbed and then back around and up to where we dropped down and back down the way we came up. After this descent was the fireroad that led back to the starting line.

Down the first descent of the course.

Just past the starting line the course makes a left across the lake. After a short rise and matching decline the course leads into another flat. The flat leads around the back of the back the hill which holds the final big (relatively to this course) climb of the lap. From there a short descent leads to the the longest section of mainly single-track with some quick turns. The first week this area ended in a big very muddy section through the brush, but for the second race was a reroute through the sand. Once out of the brush a short fire-road leads to the finish line.

Finishing up the first lap.

The first week I was in a rather large class, as I mentioned before, and I started near the back of the group. So for the second race I made sure to try and start closer to the front of the pack. Once off the line the leaders where in a full-out sprint. I sat and spun at a good clip and tried to keep the leaders in site. By my count there were about 7 riders ahead of me at this point and I was trailing the lead pack. We hit the first climb and I thought I passed about 5 riders on the climb. I stood the whole way through the climb hoping to put the other two riders back in sight, but to no avail. The first lap continued uneventful I didn’t see any other riders from my class.

As I exited the brush at the end of the first lap a I finally saw another rider from my class as he passed me. I made sure to stay tight on him through the flats to the first climb where I return the favor and passed him. I pushed hard up the hill to put as much ground as I could between us. Down and back up the back side of the hill I pushed hard before heading down and out of that section. As I crossed the lake the other rider in may class was able to pass me again. After leading through that section of flats I didn’t have enough to fend him off. I made sure to keep him in sight and thought I should be able to gain some ground back on the final climb. I did gain ground, but only cut the distance in half and it was not enough to pass him again. Only twenty yards or so separated us as we zipped through the remaining single-track. As we hit the sand he was able to get around a sport rider who was keeping a good pace. He was going fast enough that I didn’t have enough left to pass him through the sand. As I hit solid ground again it was a hammer-fest to the finish line I was stood the last quarter mile in a full sprint to the finish line.

Clearing the top of the final climb.

I finish 14 seconds behind the other rider in my class, thinking we were probably about 4th & 5th respectively. Once the results were in to my surprise, I was way off. It turns out I finished 2nd, and once the results were finalized, after the first two races I am leading the series as well.

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This past Tuesday was the kickoff for the 2011 season of Over The Hump. If you are not familiar, this is an XC event held at Irvine lake on Tuesday nights. I participated in a few last season, and enjoyed the laid back, friendly vibe. So I am back again for some more fun. One thing I noticed right away, it was packed! There were 450+ racers! And tons of sponsors on hand to help out. I got there early, check in was a breeze. Met up with teammate Dan B, and hit the course for a pre-ride.

The course was close to last seasons. The lake is full right now, so some of the single track on the first half is under water. This lead us to run a lot of fire road this time out. One lap was just at 4 miles. Also one thing to note, the last section, ( which never had any mud last season ) was little muddy on the pre ride.

After the kids race, the masses lined up. It was kinda hectic at the start, I couldn’t tell how big may class was. I got a spot on the front row, planning for a good start. When the horn went off, I sprinted to get out front. That didn’t last too long. Guys were going all out to get a good position on the first climb. I settled in the middle of the pack, and fought some traffic up the hill. Once we hit the return road I was able to pass a few, and jump on a group charging the flat road to the other side of the lake. This side has a short and a longer climb that leads into twisty stuff, the entire course is pretty smooth and super tame, this meant guys were hammering the whole time. At the end of lap 1 we hit the muddy section I mentioned. By now it was worse, I was able to pedal through it, but it was tough. Part way into lap 2 I wasn’t feeling so good. I think it was the bad result of eating a banana, Honey Stingers, and a GU before the start. I backed off a bit, but kept a good pace. once I hit the mud again, there was no riding through it. I dismounted and ran past a few guys trying to ride it out. How muddy was it? Heres an idea.

The third lap my legs felt good, but my poor choice of food was messing with me. I didn’t see any others from my class. There was another bottleneck in the mud, so I jumped off again and this time it was ankle deep. I know most of the racers hated this section. But honestly it was a great place to pass the faster guys that didn’t want to get their shoes dirty. After a quick spin to the finish line, it was all over. At just under an hour and 12 miles, this race was a real fast paced. I placed 17th the a class of 43, I got some work to do to hit the Top Ten. The word on the street is, no muddy section next race. Stay tuned for more reports from the OTH series.

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Come Participate in the First Ever XC Race in Orange Counties’ Irvine Regional and Santiago Oaks Parks – Saturday, July 16th

Irvine, CA (CFEpr+) May 16, 2011 – - Okole Stuff, makers of the “Worlds’ Best Chamois Ointment” announce the inaugural OKOLE STUFF CUP mountain
bike race for riders of all levels, to be held at Irvine Regional Park on July 16th, 2011.

In addition to the race, multiple manufacturers will provide bikes for consumers to demo on the course when the racing is finished.

“Okole Stuff is proud to present the first mountain bike race to ever be held in one of Orange County’s awesome parks ,” states Ron Sawicki, President of Enduro Stuff, makers of Okole Stuff. “I’ve been to World Cups around the globe, and this course is absolutely World Class.”

For multiple reasons, OC Parks have never authorized anyone to put on a race in County property, until Sawicki presented his plan for the Okole Stuff Cup.

THE COURSE

“The course itself is unbelievable,” continues Ron, “we start in the back of Irvine Park at our Festival-style Start/Finish area, then make our way on pavement to some open fireroad, across the creek and then onto incredible new single and double-track climbs in Santiago Oaks, before dropping down the ridges back to the Festival area.”

Each nine-mile lap contains over 1000 feet of climbing, smooth singletrackand technical rocky drops, providing exciting mountain bike action for participants and spectators alike. Beginners will do one lap, while Pro’s will do three on kona use this this challenging course.

For more info, READ THIS. T0 register for the Race HERE.

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