Hello Fellow Bike Riders!

Another goal of the Stump Grinder Bicycle Club is accomplished! We have successfully taken SYV based SGBC members, without any USA Cycling road racing or criterium racing experience and turned them on to this awesome sport. At Saturday’s Island View Crit in Goleta we had 5 members race the beginners Category 5 event, everyone finished & nobody hit the pavement! Justin, Matt, Joel, Paul H. & Ryan all said that they had a great time, that any fears they had were unwarranted and that they all want to do it again! SUCCESS! These guys are all now REAL BIKE RACERS, congratulations gentlemen! The Cat 5 race had 50 racers in it.

In the 35+ race we had Rich, Steve D., Mike, Greg & Rene. Mike was near the front and in two of the hour long race’s major breaks, only to flub it the final two laps. Rich road well as well, and both Steve, Greg, and Rene were happy with their efforts in their first races in a while. The Masters 35+ race had 90 riders in it.

In the Pro 1/2/3 main event, an 8 rider break went up the road on lap 1 and lapped the field before the 75 minute event was even half way through! There was some major So Cal horsepower in the break with Rock Racing and Team Bissell representing. Local boy Cody O’Rielly riding for Team Bissell won. As for our little team of Rich, Pete T., Greg and Mike, we had no real glory, we all did show up at the front of the pack from time to time. Pete got 19th & Mike got 20th. If Mike had “pulled his head out” a bit more on the final half lap it might have been a bit better, but he was too timid going into the final turn to punch it into a hole and to take Pete where we needed to be to brake the top 10. Next time we’ll do better! The Pro 1/2/3 race had 93 starters.

It’s a good start!

The next team event is the Solvang Century “100 Practice Race”, we will be leaving the Bulldog Cafe at 8 AM this Saturday the 14th. Wear your kits! I’ll be getting you all your socks this week as I see you.

Also this Wednesday out at the SG Dirt Club the SGBC will be starting up our Weekly Wednesday Night Ride of the 9 mile XC loop used for the Santa Ynez Valley Classic. We will meet at 6 PM and the ride leaves promptly at 6:05. Please bring a light for the first few weeks, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Our next USA Cycling event as a team will be the LA Circuit Race on March 29th. http://www.backontrackproductions.com/

Enjoy the ride!