Wednesday, Dec 30

Ride is leaving Starbuck's @ Perrin/Chestnut @ 8am...

Tues 12/29

Tuesday, December 29, 2009. There will be a ride leaving from the Starbucks on Perrin and Chestnut at 9:00 AM. Show up a little early if you'd like a warm drink. We (Tim & Vinny) were talking about doing the Raymond loop (you can call it the Belgian loop if you like).

For reference only...

Wednesday, Dec 23rd Ride

Plan is to leave C/W @ 8am...easy/steady ride - plan on 4-5hrs

Christmas Sweaters & Egg Nog

Put on your favorite christmas sweater and join our good friends and team sponsor Rubber Soul Bicycles for their annual Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 16th from 6-9 PM. This is a party not to miss.

Sat. Dec 5th

The ride will be leaving at 8:00 AM on Sat. from Shaw and Academy. The plan is to ride out to Orange Cove / Hog Back. Bring some food and money, this should be a 100+ mile ride.

Weds. Dec 2nd

There will be a group leaving from the Starbucks at Perrin & Chestnut (Summerville) at 9:00 AM. Typical 4-5 hour ride. If you want to enjoy a warm beverage before the ride, please arrive early.

Sunday, November 29 Ride

Leaving c/w @ 7:30 am to do Pine Flat Loop...good ending to a four-day block or riding...

Thanksgiving Day & Friday 11/27

Thursday (11/26), we will be giving thanks by leaving from Copper & Willow at 7:30 AM. Riding Alder Springs and the 4-Lane.

Friday (11/27), we will be burning some Thanksgiving calories by doing Balch Camp. Leaving from Shaw & Academy at 7:30 AM. So go ahead and enjoy some pie (not the whole pie).

Wednesday, 11/25

Meeting @ c/w @ 7am...

Sat. 11/21/2009

Meeting at Copper and Willow - 7:30 am.

Wednesday, November 18th ride

This Wednesday we will leave c/w @ 7am...4-5 hours steady/easy riding...

This past weekend we had some great riding:

Saturday: up Walker, over to North Fork, down Italian Bar into Redinger (holy crap that is a rough road...), with a solid tough tempo climb up Italian Bar to Jose Basin, home through Auberry...

Sunday: Pine Flat loop

Good number of riders out both days...good job to all - keep it up!!

Saturday, November 14th Ride

LEAVING c/w @ 7:30 am...if you are late, you are chasing...out Friant, up Walker, straight over to North Fork, continuing up Mammoth Pool road to Italian Bar Road, down into/out of Redinger, home thru Auberry...tempo climbing, brief rest stop at top of walker and at auberry store...time/distance/climbing will be similar to last week


FYI: from this point forward, we will move ride time to 7:30 on Sat/Sun, unless otherwise posted, as we are in colder months

Wednesday, Nov 11th Ride

We are leaving c/w @ 7:30 am...

Sunday, Nov 8th Ride

Leaving c/w 7am...today we had 10-12 riders up Walker, Teaford Saddle, into North Fork and climbing out of Powerhouse, heading home via Prather...95 plus miles and over 6,000ft of climbing...cool

Saturday, Nov 7th Ride

The suggestion has been made that we do Walker/Teaford/Oakhurst and back, or continue to Rd 600, and home via Raymond...leaving c/w @ 7am...feel free to state your preference...

Wednesday, November 4th Ride

Leaving c/w @ 7am...should be nice weather this week...

We had a great weekend of riding - Powerhouse plus Boothill loop on Sunday, and Pine Flat on Sunday...Had 10-12 riders - sure makes the ride that much more enjoyable...Victor is logging some serious miles and getting stronger every week...good to see John D. join us for Sunday's ride...rode solid tempo both days...so far an excellent beginning...

Wednesday 10/28 and Saturday 10/31

Both days, the plan is to leave c/w @ 7:30 am...plan on 4-4.5 hours of steady tempo riding...We had a great ride around Redinger last Saturday...

Wednesday, 10/21 Saturday, 10/24

Wednesday 10/21: plan is to leave c/w @ 7:30 am / should have a good-sized group - steady tempo riding

Saturday 10/24: leaving c/w @ 7:30 am - doing Redinger lake route....steady riding, there is minimal stopping...bring $ for Auberry store on way back

Saturday, October 17 Ride

Per BB, leaving c/w @ 7:30 am, doing wildcat, burrough valley, tollhouse, pittman, watts valley...big ride, easy/steady tempo

Saturday Ride - 10/10

Leaving C/W at 7:00 AM Saturday, October 10, 2009. We are planning on doing the Pine Flat loop.

Grizzly Ride - What A Great Day!!

We had exceptional weather, great group of guys (and gals) and sushi at the rest stops...They had snow flurries at Cold Springs Summit today (our last rest stop), elevation 7300'

Grizzly Ride, Saturday

FYI - Bosch sent out a text that most should have received...we are meeting at the Northfork School @ 7:30am - riding @ 8am...

Wednesday, September 30th

Leaving c/w @ 7am for our "furlough Wednesday ride"...btw realized the waterfall video was of previous trip....waterfall looks the same, substitute Vinny, Jeremiah, John Pellanda for Matt P, Dave, and Dan and it works...

M$M Waterfall II

Great ride Saturday along m$m, shaver and home...

Sunday, September 27

Leaving c/w @ 7:30 am

Saturday, September 26

For those not riding the Lighthouse Century, there will be a ride leaving c/w @ 7am...

Wednesday, September 23 Ride

Leaving c/w 7am for 4-4.5 hours of easy riding...The furlough days are kicking in for some, so we should have a good group...

Saturday, September 20th Ride

going to leave c/w @ 7:30 am...note half hour later start time

Saturday, September 19th Ride

leaving c/w @ 7am to do either pine flat, or alder down tollhouse...popular vote chooses ride...either way it will be easy riding

Saturday, September 12 Ride

Leaving c/w promptly @ 7am - riding will be steady, easy to tempo, with minimal stops

Labor Day Weekend Racing

Sierra Pacific racers made their presence know this past weekend at the Clovis Crit Series and the Giro di San Francisco. Some of the highlights included, but not limited too...

Curtis Eastin - 1st on Sat. at the Harlan Ranch Masters 123 Crit.

Brian Bosch - 3rd on Sat. at the Harlan Ranch Pro 12 Crit.

Syd Newsom - 1st on Sun. at the Downtown Clovis E 4/5 Crit.

Curtis Eastin - 3rd on Sun. at the Downtown Clovis Masters 123 Crit.

Brian Bosch - 3rd in the Masters 123 at the Giro di San Francisco. Thus placing 1st in the Cal Cup Series for the Masters 123.

Even D-man pounded the pedals with a smile on his face.

Labor Day Ride

Leaving the corner of c/w @ 8:30 am for easy ride...

MacGyver - Move Over!!!

This video should need no explanation...btw - for those not racing tomorrow, (Saturday 9/5), some of us are riding from c/w @ 7am - Go 'Dogs, beat the Aggies!!

Cal-Cup Series

Going into this final weekend of racing for the Cal-Cup series, Brian Bosch is in 1st in Mstr 1-3, Eric Easterling is in 8th, and Tim Granshaw is in 10th...Great job guys....

Wednesday, September 2nd Ride

C/W @ 7am...

Vacaville Grand Prix

Sunday - August 30, 2009

Eric Easterling wins the Masters 123 race (2nd year in a row), Brian Bosch takes 3rd.

Saturday Ride, August 29th

Leaving c/w 7am...plan is to head toward Prather...some who are racing Sunday will probably do Lodge road, others of us would like to ride to the waterfall on M$M...all are welcome

Wednesday, August 26

Leaving c/w @ 7am...

San Ardo RR, August 22

Master's 35 1-3: Tim Granshaw initiates a 9-man break, including Eric Easterling which stayed away...Tim did HUGE amounts of work in the break...Eric finished 4th, Tim G., 9th while Curtis and Tim B. rode strong in the group, controlling any attempts at a bridge...good work by all, Bosch, on his death bed, still retains Cal-Cup points lead...

Suisun Harbor Crit

Sunday - August 16, 2009

Wednesday, August 19

Riding from Brian Bosch's house at 8:15am....maybe out toward Watts or Wonder Valley...

8/15 Ridin'/Racin'

BB finished 8th @ Dunnigan Hills RR, Tim Granshaw was 4th, getting a way in a break...great job guys...Bosch has Cal-Cup lead...

For those who stayed in Central Valley, we had a great ride around Watts, Wildcat, and Pine Flat...great to see John Palanda and John Devere back on their bikes and riding strong!!!

Saturday, August 15th

Riding from c/w @ 7am...we are going to let Curtis pick the route...

Wednesday, August 12 Ride

As per usual, we will leave c/w 7am...route tbd

Warnerville TT/Patterson Pass RR

Bosch rolls Warnerville TT/ wins with fastest overall time, then wins the Masters 1-3 Patterson Pass RR today - congrats to Brian...that is one tough race course...we should send him to France every year...He can give you the details - both races begin the Cal-Cup series - great job BB!

Matt Paliughi, one of Sierra Pacific's up and coming U23 riders wins Patterson Pass RR today...by far, one of the most coachable, talented guys around - he has only been riding a bike for a few months...

Saturday, August 8

Leaving c/w @ 7am...ride tbd: 4-5 hrs

Timpani Crit

Sunday - August 2, 2009

John Wilk came in 4th and Brian Bosch took 5th in the Pro 1,2 race.

* Sunday - Aug. 2, 2009 *

The ride time has been changed to 6:30 am for anyone wishing to ride in Fresno. Like usual, we will be leaving from Copper and Willow.

Day 5

Day 5 was to be a rest/easy day. Just 60K (2.5 hrs) with 1800m of gain. They told us the ride was pretty much just one climb up the backside of Alpe d'Huez. So, I'm good with that. Thinking that 60K most of it going down and only having to go up a 14K climb would be good. Well, we most have made a wrong turn. Because half way down Alpe d'Huez we make a left and the road went up. Not sure how far we rode on this climb, aka "wee bump." But it was long enough to take the "rest" out of rest day.
So, over the bump and past some towns to the real climb of the day, the Col de Sarenne. Which happens to be a 19K climb that starts at 930m and summits at 1999m. Starts off nice only to bite you in the last 6K (guessing around 10%). Great climb with some great views.


-bosch

Day 4

Day 4 was probably the hardest day for me, because of how hard day 3 was and the fact that this was the 4th day in a row of riding. I really haven't been riding much this year. So, I was way over my head on this trip.

Anyway, the day's ride was just 107K, but with another 2800m of climbing. Start off by going down Alpe d'Huez (this only means I'll have to come back up at the end of the ride) to the town of Allemont. Make a few turns and up we go on the Col de la Croix de Fer (2064m). This climb is almost 28K long. It gives you two breaks to recover on but after each it starts back up with some steep sections of 11%+. The climb was pretty much a death march for me, but I made it.

Ran into the little deli/store at the summit and ordered a few cokes and a ham and cheese sandwich to fuel up for the ride back. Yeah, back up Alpe d' Huez.

Half of the group got in the van at the bottom to get a ride back up to the hotel. At first, I was one of them but for some silly reason, at the last second, I asked Curtis to get my bike down from the top of the van so I could ride up. 59min of pure misery!

-bosch

Day 3

Day 3 was a big day. 184K with 4,450m of elevation gain. The day started off right out of the hotel with the Col de L'Iseren (17K w/about 900m of gain).

Then down a crazy fast descent (no guard rails on these roads) to 700m. Where I began the Col du Telegraphe (12K of 7% to 9%) up to 1566m. From there it was a small decent to the town of Vallorie (1410m) and the start of the Col du Galibier. This climb is just over 18K long and starts off easy with 1K at 8% and then easies up with 3K of 2-3%. But on that day there was the worst headwind (I'm guessing 30-40mph) I've ever ridden in. At full gas, all I could get out from the engine was 10-12kph. Now that I'm totally turned inside-out, I start the real part of the climb. 10K of 8% and the final K at 10% up to an elevation of 2648m. Not really that hard of a climb, but with the wind, and it's getting stronger as I go up, this climb was a beast! By the time I reached the top, over an hour and a half to do the 10K, I was getting tossed around by 60mph+ winds.

When you're at the top all you can do is go down. That's what I did for the next 40K (down to 600m) and it started off like this.

Now that I'm 170K into this ride and all I can think about is getting to the hotel and finding something to eat! So, with only 14K to go, what better way to end the day than with the hotel being atop Alpe d'Huez.

From 600m up to 1815m in 14K, with the first 3K at 12%, cake! Remember, I just came from 40K of descending. So, for the first few K's I was in shock. Made it to the top in 54min.

BIG FLIPPIN' DAY!

-bosch

Day 2

Day 2 was 116K with 2200+m of elevation gain. On this day we dropped down to Seez (26K). To climb up the Col du Petit St. Bernard (a 26K climb 5%avg grade). The tour raced dowm this mtn. to the finish. This was the mtn that Jens Voigt crashed on.

Not a bad climb for me, but to carry a backpack (15lbs) up a 26K climb on the 2nd day???

At the top of the KOM

The switchbacks at the top.

And a photo of the race. This is just before Armstrong catches up with the leaders on the climb.
-bosch

France Trip

Sorry for not posting each day as planned, but my days were a little "up and down." I will write a new post for each day of riding (7).

So, on day one, I arrive in Lyon, France and get loaded up in one of 4 vans and head to Val d'Isere (1800m). Meet the other 32 people willing to try and ride 720K (450 miles) with 16,500m (54,000ft) of climbing in the Alps. After everyone got their stuff unloaded and bikes built. We head out for a little ride to get the blood moving in the legs. A 14hr+ day (6000 miles) in a plane is hard on the legs (When I do this again I when pay for First Class seating). The ride was a 24K out and back with 600m of climbing (a 4K climb). Easy ride - I big ring the whole ride. 53x19.-Bosch

John Wilk is Masters Champ

Congrats to John Wilk who is the District 30+ Criterium champion...John almost had a double championship, finishing a close 2nd in the road race...great job John!

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday Rides

Wednesday, 7/29 leaving c/w @ 7am
Saturday/Sunday 8/1-2 leaving c/w @ 7am

Sunday, 7/26

Riding from c/w 7am

Watsonville Crit

Have you met Matt P. yet? Here he is throwing down with the rest of the Cat 5 riders in Watsonville in his new Sierra Pacific kit. He's a new racer out of Fresno that likes to ride hard. On the final lap he towed another rider all the way around the course for him to get over taken right before the line to come in second. Nice work.

Sat. July 18, 2009, Eric put the hurt on the Masters 35/45 crit. He worked the field including all 15 of the San Jose riders to take 1st. A great win.

Weekly Ride, Bosch FF miles, best wishes for Coby

This week of riding is easy for most of us...standard ride time M/T/Th/Fr leaving Copper/Auberry sharply @ 5:30am - but easy this week...Wednesday from Copper/Willow @ 7am - easy...

Congrats to those racers doing well at Watsonville crit this week...feel free to post your own rr's

For those who don't yet know, Brian should be somewhere in France by now, hookin' up with Curtis and Kristi Eastin...going to watch/ride the Alps and watch the TDF - check the blogsite, as he should be posting some pics as he travels....he will be the guy running up Ventoux with nothing on but a speedo and a viking hat with the "Clovis Rocks" sign...swear, that's what he said

We want to wish Coby and Heidi best wishes as they head north to Modesto - truly class people and will miss them...safe travels and a smooth transition is our hope

Saturday, July 18th

Leaving c/w @ 6:30 am - going to be hot...Spring Valley, Walker, some turning around there and coming back...others will do either Teaford or Powerhouse

Wednesday, July 15

Riding from c/w @ 7am

Saturday, July 11th Ride

Leaving c/w @ 6:30 am...note earlier time...supposed to be hot Saturday...suggested routes are Tollhouse, Alder Springs, etc...

Wednesday, July 8th Ride

Leaving C/W @ 7am...should be great weather

M$M, July 4th

Great ride to the waterfall today...refreshing to get soaked and ride out...

Saturday, July 4th Ride

Leaving c/w @ 7am...we are going to ride to the waterfall on M$M and back...bring your cell phone camera...anticipate about 4 hours....some guys will be driving to Davis to do the crit there - rubber side down to those guys

Burlingame Crit

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Shaun Bagley takes 2nd in the Masters 123 race at the Burlingame Crit.

Climb to Kaiser 2009

Congratulations to Brandon Franklin and Vince Owens for completing the Climb to Kaiser in a record breaking 8 hrs 4 mins. Many of the local Sierra Pacific riders were out at the start to lend a hand to this effort. 155 miles and 13,500 feet of climbing = legendary.

Wednesday, June 24/Kaiser

Riding from c/w @ 7am...easier week for most all - ride expected to be 3-3.5 hours...some may go longer...

Reminder - Climb to Kaiser is Saturday, June 27...
Updated info: the ride leaves promptly @ 5:30am from Alta Sierra Junior HS on Teague, between Peach and Minnewawa in Clovis...For those team members planning on riding all/or a portion of C2K, Brian has a few wristbands available for food/drink at the various rest stops...The plan is to meet as a group @ the start/finish line @ 5:15am

Saturday, June 20

Meeting @ c/w @ 7am to do 4-5 hrs...route tbd, but the suggestion has been made of either Alder or Tollhouse...

Also C2K is next Saturday, 6/27...as with last year, Sierra Pacific Racing has been asked to lead the ride out of town...I believe start time is 5:30 am from Clovis High School...Rumor has it that Brandon Franklin will be trying for a sub 8.5 hr time

Wednesday, 6/17

We will leave c/w @ 7am - plan is to do Alder Springs - down Tollhouse and home...

Saturday Ride, 6/13

Leaving c/w @ 7am - route tbd, but it won't be 136 miles in 8.5 hrs :)

Wednesday Ride, 6/10

Great job to Joel - one man wrecking crew this past weekend...cool pics...We are leaving c/w @ 7am tomorrow and doing powerhouse loop, or tollhouse down alder, whichever is most appealing...the ride is easy, but steady

BTW: congrats to Vince Owens - finishing 21st at Mt Hood stage race!!
(The bad news is they paid to 20th)

2 Wheel Crit

For the 35+ race it was me, Tim, and Stephen.  It was a small field, but the new course is great.  Hopefully we'll get a fuller field on that course next year.  

The course undulates, has some twists, wind.  The finish especially finishes with a tailwind and a chicane but its so fast it's safe.

I attacked a couple of times, but was covered then Tim went with four others, Brian Peterson, Bill from Lombardi.  They dropped the Zenn rider and the four man break stuck.  With five to go I got away and tried to bridge over or at least put some pressure on but didn't get close enough for them to see me.  Fonseca joined me with two or three to go.  Tim finished 4th, and I was 6th.  Stephen did some great covering work, but flatted near the finish.

In the p1/2 we had a bit more of a field.  For 15 minutes, there were a bunch of attacks, mostly involving Lombardi who had four or five riders, but they were all brought back.

Then, with an hour left I got away and was joined by Rand (Webcor) and a Clifbar rider.  Chris from Lombardi was with us, but got dropped drinking water!  For the next hour the three of us got a big gap.  It got very painful by the end, but we stayed away pretty comfortably.

Rand attacked last lap and I didn't have much left, coming in 2nd.  Rand did the bulk of the work, so....

Good race, hopefully better fields next year.

2 Wheel Criterium

Sunday, June 7, 2009