News From the Racers and Chasers Camp…

The weather is wet and raining and is much needed for the trails! Look for a course preview video to be posted soon of the fun race course at San Dieguito on March 20th.

Overalls have been posted online for all to see. Check them out and see where you are at. Top 3 races are scored for the overalls. Three race participants score better than 2 race participants.

The start and staging area for the March 20^th San Dieguito is located at Bandy Cyn rd and HWY 78. This will provide us plenty of room and great scenery for the race start and finish.

Online Registration is up and running for the March 20^th at San Dieguito. This will be the finals of our series and will have critical points for the overalls. Overalls will be handed out Saturday March 20^th.

We are getting very excited to announce our next race series that will be again located in and near San Diego. The series will include venues we all love at locations that are convenient to all! All of the locations will have great racing!

The first ever mountain bike and motocross biathalon will be held on June 27^th at Cahuilla Creek. This will be an extremely fun event that will be sure to test the skills of everyone. Team and individual classes will be available for all to enjoy!

Here are a few images from Cahuilla Creek shot by: Gina Silva

To see all the images by Gina Silva click here!

The Tour of the Tucson Mountains

This is an exciting race the entire family can take part in! Open to all ages and abilities, the Tour offers 70 and 27-mile courses.  The 70-mile event is a perimeter ride around – not over – the beautiful Tucson Mountains.  Both routes begin at Marana Town Hall in Marana, AZ and are generally flat, perfect for beginning riders!

If anyone has pictures from last years event please email them to me.
echo[at]womenscyclingmag[dot]com

REGISTER HERE!

January 30-31 is the kickoff of racing season on the South Coast with the Poor College Kids Road Race and Mothballs Criterium. Not only that, but the weekend is going to be a very special one for the women of cycling too!

Together with the Women’s Cycling Challenge, we have created a weekend not only of amazing racing opportunities for women, but also a weekend full of activities… just for you. This is an opportunity to learn more about your sport, meet other women who ride, and possibly challenge yourself through one of the races being staged.

There will be something for everyone this weekend. Whether you are a seasoned racer, considering it for the first time, or are happy pedaling your own speed down the open road – be part of the community! We invite you to join us to celbrate how fun it is to ride, meet others with the same passion, and share your ideas on how to encourage more women to set out on two wheels.

Women-focused activities will include:

• Poor College Kids Road Race and Mothballs Criterium 2-day Points Competition: Highest two day point total for junior, Cat 1/2, Cat 3, Cat 4 and masters 45+ women will receive special awards/recognition on Sunday
• 6:00PM Saturday evening dinner/mixer
• 8:30AM Sunday casual women’s ride “Santa Barbara Spin”
• Goody Bags for all participants!

Poor College Kids Road Race:

• visit the Women’s Cycling Challenge Booth for more information on Sunday’s events and points competition
• Points awarded in the Women’s 1/2 and 3/4 races to Cat 1/2, 3, 4, and Juniors and Masters 45+ in either race.

Mothballs Criterium-Women’s Focus Events:
*all events meet at the Women’s Team Zone
8:00AM Women’s Team Zone opens: (across from registration)
Lounge and Warm-up area available to all women’s teams…
Bring your team tent and represent!!!
8:30AM Women’s Fun/Rec Ride… Santa Barbara Spin departs
10:30AM Women’s pre-race clinic… open to all women!!!
12:40PM Junior Women’s Race
1:20PM Women Cat 4 Race, with women mentors support pre and post race
2:00PM Women Cat 4 Race debrief and refuel session at Women’s Lounge
2:45PM Cat 4/Junior Women’s Awards
3:05PM Cat 1-3 Race
4:30PM WCC Awards Cat 3/Masters Women

Here is a link to the Poor College Kids Road Race:
Go Here!

Here is a link to the Mothballs race flyer:
Go Here!

Dinner info:
When: Saturday -1/30 6:00P – 8:00P
Where: Silvergreens Santa Barbara
791 Chapala Street,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Map with parking
Dinner Menu

Evening’s schedule of events:
6PM: Social/Dinner – meet SoCal’s women of cycling!
7:00PM Introduce the Women’s Cycling Challenge
7:15PM Overview Sunday’s events at Mothballs
7:30PM Address issues of women’s cycling – how can we grow?
7:55PM Raffle

Lodging: WCC Hotel – Hampton Inn – Goleta:
20% discount rate… $139/nite (Friday 1/29 and.or Saturday 1/30) – 2Q or King Room
Call direct and mention: “Women’s Cycling Challenge – So Cal”
Hampton Inn Goleta
5665 Hollister Ave. – Goleta, CA, 93117
1-805-681-9800

Link to Hampton Inn Goleta

In the end, we are all doing amazing things in cycling – collectively we can do even more! NRC budgets are getting more difficult to promote and races are event cutting women’s events, we need to work together to support our sport!

If you want to get involved to support or have any other fun ideas, activities for the weekend extravaganza, please let us know! We’d love your support!

Questions re-Racing/Clinic events: anne@photosb.com or jcandau@gmail.com

Questions re-Women’s Cycling Challenge: dot@SoCalCross.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 1, 2009) — While many medical students and health care professionals spend time behind closed doors promoting world health, a select group of these students and professionals, along with community representatives, will be participating in a bike ride across the nation.  This group of 25 bicyclists will embark on a journey called Ride for World Health to help raise awareness of the various issues of health care that greatly affect the world—healthcare access, poverty and disease, infectious diseases, and women’s and children’s health.  Along with health awareness, Ride for World Health will also raise funds for their yearly beneficiaries, World Bicycle Relief and HEAL Africa.  The cross-country ride will begin March 30, 2010 in San Diego and will end May 25, 2010 in Washington D.C.

Ride for World Health believes education and empowerment of the public is a critical step toward improvement in global and domestic health.  During the ride, “Global Health Days” are organized in select U.S. cities with scheduled “Coast-to-Coast Lecture Series” that help to educate various audiences about the current state of global health.

“The mission of R4WH is to address global health disparities by focusing on education, advocacy, and fundraising which are addressed by utilizing a national cycling event as a vehicle for change,” said R4WH Co-Founder Andrew Wagner.  “Each year, 
our Coast-to-Coast Lecture Series initiates meaningful dialogue throughout communities along our 3,300 mile journey.  Through our efforts, we raise significant funds to support a non-profit organization with goals consistent with our vision, and empower our audience to become informed and active global citizens.”

Last year’s R4WH team delivered nearly 50 lectures to audiences around the country and were able to donate $80,000 to their 2009 beneficiaries, Esperanca and Village Health Works through solidarity rides and fundraising events.  Ride for World health actively seeks sponsors that share their commitment of health awareness and while each rider is responsible for most of the personal costs of the ride, donations can be made to an individual rider or the organization.

Ride for World Health is a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 2004 by a small group of Ohio State University medical students as a reaction to the state of domestic and global healthcare.  For more information about the ride and how to donate please visit www.rideforworldhealth.org.

It’s about time I do another product review. To kick off November I thought I’d spread the 411 on a up and coming company called Ridge Medical. It was just over a month ago I met Mike Curry and his wife at Interbike in Vegas. I was passing by their booth and stopped to give them a magazine; as it turns out that was the most important stop I made that day. I had already been walking around the convention non-stop the previous day and for about 4 or 5 hours that day.

I had no idea what their booth was for I just wanted to pass on my business card and magazine. Long story short I was dying of lower back and knee pain not to mention my inner thighs where chafed all to hell! There must have been something in my eyes or perhaps despair in my voice that prompted Mrs. Curry to offer me a BIG tube of “Faster Than Glucosamine” for my back and knees and a canister of “TriSlide” for the chafing.

Needless to say I made a Speedy-Gonzalez-B-Line for the bathroom and I’m happy to say I found a tremendous amount of relief. If I didn’t already say thank you… THANK YOU, Ridge Medical!

Oye vay, I’ve got to tell you Interbike 2009 was my first working convention where I actually was working, walking, talking and networking non-stop. I guarantee you I learned my lesson; before walking a half marathon passing out business cards and magazines it’s a smart idea to lube up before you saddle that horse!

Back to the product at hand. After returning home and doing a little research over the past month or so I’ve found that it’s not just me giving praise to Ridge Medical. All sorts of media publications and outlets seem to be riding the Ridge Medical bandwagon… why wouldn’t they? If you’ve got a good product it pretty much does the marketing all by itself.

In any case, I can say with confidence if you have knee, joint and muscle pain settle for nothing less; Faster Than Glucosamine will exceed your expectations and have you sighing in relief. I’ve found that if I put a little on before I go riding it helps me warm up faster, this is a BIG plus because this lowers my chances of strains and injuries.

So swing on by the Ridge Medical website and show this local SoCal company some WCM love!

Minneapolis (Oct. 19, 2009) – A national program is offering race promoters the opportunity to send their top amateurs to the 2010 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix (Minnesota & Western Wisconsin, June 16-20) to compete against the country’s top men and women professional bicycle racers.

Entering its third year, the “Nature Valley Pro Ride” will select amateur men and women at regional races around the United States to become part of a pair of Nature Valley composite teams for the 12th annual edition of the five-day stage race that begins June 16.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is the top ranked event on the 2010 USA Cycling National Race Calendar (NRC), attracting tens of thousands of cycling enthusiasts, pro athletes and avid recreational riders to Minnesota.

“This is a chance for a race promoter to raise the participation and visibility of their event at no extra cost,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Race Director David LaPorte said. “As for the riders who are selected, they can look forward to racing in front of huge crowds and being treated like a rock star at our event.”

“I made the commitment to drive the 13 hrs to St. Louis for the Hillsboro-Roubaix road race”, wrote 2009 Nature Valley Pro Rider Chris Winn of Lakewood, Colorado, in his blog. “Long way to go for a bunch of Coloradans for a weekend suffer-fest. The race was the second qualifier event for the Nature Valley Pro Ride, a chance for amateurs to get the complete pro package treatment in a composite team for the Nature Valley [Grand Prix] Stage Race in June.”

Amateur racers (Category I men and Category 1,2 women) who qualify at a Nature Valley Pro Ride event receive a “battlefield promotion” that earns them free entry to the race, travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite team.

Races that become part of the Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule can expect an aggressive marketing and media relations campaign, as well as on-site sampling of Nature Valley Granola Bars and complimentary staffing of the booth by company representatives.

“We’re looking for the top regional races who want to take their game to a higher level,” LaPorte said. “We’ll consider road races, criteriums and stage races, as long as they get strong fields. And our promotional programs will make those fields even stronger.”

To be considered for the 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride, a race must be permitted through USA Cycling and take place no later than June 13. Preference will be given to races that take place between March and mid-May.

Interested promoters must submit their application by Dec. 15. More details and a downloadable application can be found at www.naturevalleyproride.com.

The 2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule will be announced Jan. 4, 2010.

— more —

About the Nature Valley Grand Prix
The Nature Valley Grand Prix began as a one-day criterium in Saint Paul in 1999. Its schedule and prestige have grown steadily until now, in its 12th year, it is ranked at the top of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix schedule includes a unique mix of three criteriums (short circuit races), two road races and a time trial as the stages of the race move from downtown Saint Paul, to Cannon Falls, to Minneapolis, to Menomonie, and, finally culminates in Stillwater. For more information visit: www.NatureValleyGrandPrix.com

About Nature Valley
Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings variety to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome and great-tasting snacks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Nature Valley is part of General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products.

About the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar
Entering its 14th season in 2010, the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) is an all-inclusive road cycling series sanctioned by USA Cycling. It is designed to provide a ranking system for all elite-level cyclists, both amateur and professional, through participation in the nation’s premier cycling events. For more information on the NRC, visit USA Cycling or contact Micah Rice at (719) 434-4283 or mrice[at]usacycling[dot]org.

Thanks to our wonderful friends at Perimeter Bicycling for the update… now all you WCM readers in and around the Tucson area… it’s time to “Cowboy/girl-UP”!

El Tour is a fun ride attracting some over 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and beyond, including novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders. Participants often take part in El Tour and its festivities simply due to their passion for cycling, while others choose the event as part of a healthy lifestyle change or as part of their wellness program as a survivor from cancer or other life-threatening illness. Many are attracted to El Tour’s variety of fund-raising programs for charitable agencies, for which the event raised over $1.39 million dollars last year. What all riders of El Tour share is a desire to get on their bikes, meet great people and have a fun doing it!

Participants may choose to cycle 109, 80, 67 or 35 miles, plus a 4-mile & 1/4- mile Fun Ride, open to kids, parents and friends. Main routes take participants around scenic areas of Tucson, with beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges – three rising over 9000 feet- all complete with the backdrop of the mighty saguaro cactus, icon of the Southwest’s Sonoran Desert. Course profiles can be rolling to moderately hilly, though the 35-mile route is basically flat and great as a family affair or for beginners!

El Tour cyclists receive an official event t-shirt, goody bag, police, route and SAG support, aid station refreshments, published results and more! And all finishers are awarded a special engraved medallion at the finish line for their accomplishment. Links to the left offer further information.

As an El Tour cyclist, you, your family and friends are invited to participate in any of El Tour’s other events and activities

REGISTER HERE

Some ideas just make sense! That’s the first thing that came to my head when I met Nan Kappeler, owner and founder of T Mat Pro™. Nan and I met at the Interbike convention this year and in our brief discussion and exchange of business cards she managed to pass on a little information about a product I had yet to discover, the T Mat Pro™.

What I’ve come to find in the weeks that have past since Nan and I first met is that I along with numerous other bloggers, magazines and athletes agree the T Mat Pro™ is a great product and surprisingly useful for multiple applications.

Another bonus is the T Mat Pro™ can also be used in companion with TRIslide lubricant spray to shave off precious seconds at your next triathlon race!

The T Mat Pro™ is great for fast triathlon transitions, changing clothes at your car and stretching.  The bright colors make it easy for triathletes to spot their bikes at races, and the non-skid rubber backing keeps the mat flat, so it doesn’t bunch up like a towel when you wipe your feet.  The mat rolls up to fit in a backpack and can be easily transported in your car for changing before and after a ride.  No more pebbles in your underpants!  After changing, just place the mat on your trunk floor or car seat and store your sweaty clothes on top.

Nan and T Mat Pro™ are also partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training! Women’s Cycling Magazine would like to commend Nan for her efforts at raising awareness and making a difference. Show your support by checking out Nan’s page here.

For more info on the T Mat Pro™ check out the video below.

Yesterday at around 3 in the afternoon all eyes and attention went to the east wing of the Interbike convention center to see the start of the fashion show and (see if anyone would fall)!

The show started off with a boom boom pow thanks to Dj Miss Dust who was by far the best female dj I’ve ever seen. Having 14 solid years under my belt as a dj myself and turntables in my front room to prove it, you can rest assured when I say this girl was slamming… she was slamming!

So with the beats bumping, beer and vino flowing it wasn’t long before the area cordoned off for the fashion show had swelled to a nice little rowdy crowd of the cycling industry elite and wanna-gonna-bees. The heads where bobbing, hips where shaking and if you were there you would have thought to yourself as I did all it’s going to take to get this party started is one person to start dancing!

If I wasn’t there representing Women’s Cycling Magazine you better bet’cha I would have gotten out in the middle of everyone and got them all dancing! Since we’re not living in Echo’s fantasy world nothing of the sort happened.

What actually did happen is the host came out after the crowd had gathered and was completely liquored up and announced the show would be starting in five minutes! All the media shutterbugs, bloggers and who’s who of the industry gathered around one of the three different stages set up and that’s when the show began.

This fashion show was unlike any other fashion show I had been to or been in. What was so different about this show to start with was that there where three different stages as I mentioned, in addition all the models were not only wearing different fashions from head to toe but they were also modeling bicycles and accessories.

I’m happy to say nobody fell down, thank god. I’m actually surprised because one of the gents pulled a couple of wheelie’s on his bike and people were passing him beers as though he was in a cycling road race or marathon… it was extremely entertaining to say the least.

This year was my first Interbike convention and now I can tell you with conviction and certainty that I love the cycling industry! There was so much “stoke” going around each day, thousands of positive folks rushing around feeding off each others positive vibes it was great! Who’s to say that you can’t mix business with pleasure?

These past 5 days I had the perfect mix of business and pleasure. I got the chance to meet a lot of really great people, see tons of new product and I networked my little butt off. Women’s Cycling Magazine definitely got the word out, we’re here with a great quality product and if you haven’t heard our slogan already… “IT’S ABOUT TIME”!

Stay tuned for video from the fashion show in a couple of days. I’ve got to get back to the office in SoCal and edit the vids! As soon as I piece everything together you’ll all be the first to know!

[flashgallery background="http://womenscyclingmag.com/images/misc/bg-for-flash-gallery.jpg" height="500"]

You will be treated to a beautiful calm swim in Castaic Lake. The Magic Mountain Man Triathlon will have a “European Style” bike course with epic views of the local mountains. The bike course will start at Castaic Lake and finish close to Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. The run will travel through the streets and bike paths of Santa Clarita.

Finishers will be part of a fabulous celebration that includes post event music and refreshments. All Magic Mountain Man Triathlon participants will have a chance to buy discounted tickets for Magic Mountain. Finishers will get a finishers medal, event technical T-Shirt and more. You won’t want to miss Los Angeles’ inaugural long distance triathlon.

This is road triathlon (not off-road). Participants should have good bike handling skills for the long climbs and steep descents. It could be the hardest, most technical and ultimately, the most rewarding bike course in the US. We recommend that participants try to ride the bike course before the race if possible. Renegade Racing is offering free pre-rides open to anyone on July 19, August 8, and September 19. See schedule below or see the Participant Fact Sheet for all the details.

* September 19 Bike Course Pre Ride 7:00 am Castaic Sports Complex (56 miles) Start at Castaic, both loops, finish in Santa Clarita (Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita 91355) with limited transportation back to Castaic Lake.

Arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to prepare and leave the parking lot at 7 am. The First Pre-Ride on July 19th course temperatures climbed to 103 degrees F. Water and support will be available but riders should come prepared with 2 water bottles, food and salt replacement tablets. Renegade Racing suggests participants use a bicycle with road bars and clip on aero bars. Participants gearing choices should reflect their ability to climb. Climbing gears and triple chain rings are recommended.

Castaic Sports Complex
31230 North Castaic Road
Castaic, CA 91384

For more info on this event visit the Renegade Race Series Website.