Woodward Park Cross

Here's a few pics of Matt and Vinny playin in the mud during Sunday's cross event. Photo's courtesy of HH as the remainder of the team took to the high roads to complete the last of a three week block before Christmas.

today i was lucky to get in three hours with vinny. the legs are pretty shot. so we just wanted to spin 'um, but a 15mph direct headwind for the 1.5 hr trip home has me thinkin about an early rest week!

i'm a puss, i know it.

Team's Newest Edition

Zachary Easterling

Born at 8:12 am. 6 pounds 10oz, 19-3/4”

Congratulations Eric & V

Hittin The Deck

The group got a little zealous today descending Powerhouse and four of us laid it down through the turn above. This is a section that is notorious for icy patches in the winter but today had been warmer than usual and we didn't give it a second thought.

I had been following another rider through the turn and was the first to have my wheel come out from under me and skidded on my side what felt like 50 meters forcing Easterling off the road. His MTB skills took over and he kept his new frame intact for the ride home.

As I came to a halt, I looked back just in time to see Vinny, Britter, and Brandon also on their sides sliding right into me.

As we were checking ourselves to make sure nothing was broken (nothing was), a County Sheriff rolled up, gave us first aid, and took a report. He was also nice enough to give Barrows a lift back to his car which was needed to give Britter and Brandon a ride home. The rest of us rolled in a little banged up and broken hearted but it could have been MUCH worse.

We'll all be able to ride tomorrow

Poor Vinny looks like he's right out of a M.A.S.H. unit

Looky Looky

Here is the first picture of the team ride for 2008.

NICE!

What's on your wish list this year?

hop... john sprints... chad moves to fresno

The fun of riding with two new teammates (Chad and John) on Saturday's HOP was tempered upon learning that we won't be riding the Tuesday Port with Chad anymore as he is moving back to Fresno. Bummer, cause he always good for a strong attack.

John took the two sprints on Saturday, which was fun to watch. Can't wait to be out there in the new kits!

Team Spoc kit

Bay Area riding

Wanted to chip in with the Bay Area contingent goings on... John and I rode the House of Pain ride on Saturday. Chad has done this ride in the recent past and Tim helped start the ride back in the 90's? So the four of us are acquainted with it.

Starting from Walnut Creek out to Livermore and back, it's your typical race/ride: a couple of sprint spots and hard riding guys trying to win them. Wish I had taken some pics of it... I will next time around. Hoping to get some of the Fresno guys up to do a ride before the season starts.

There's usually a whole of Pegasus, some MS, some EMC, sundry list of other riders. Triatheletes squirrelling around us as well at times.

jr

Ode To Wide Lanes

The open range of asphalt paradise we've been accustomed to riding lately has a fresh coat of paint and soon may be open to vehicular traffic. Today may be the last day we get to ride Friant Road as a group with no worries of looking over our shoulders for oncoming traffic. It has been nice hasn't it?
Today's training ride was nice and relaxed. It's just what the guys needed as most were coming off a four day brick session and getting up to O'Neals wasn't what it ususally is. Dead legs and glassy eyes were the theme today and most were happy enough to go home and watch some football. Although I heard, "hanging Christmas lights" in several conversations.

Next week is an week off and most of us will only get a couple of hours riding in. I think next week I'll put some energy in at the office before they start wondering where I've been. Maybe some of the guys should spend some time with their wives. Maybe Vinny should take his mom out to dinner. LOLIt was nice to have Greg and Toby drag us in. It was pretty windy on the ride home and even though we weren't racing, it was no fun on the front.

Lar's on his new bike punked everyone for the final sprint of the day up Willow. I think it's time to pin a number on that guy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bosch baged the brown box again to hang with us for the start of the four day Thanksgiving block.


He did however, show us where he spends his days as we toured the countryside in and around the metropolis of Orange Cove. From there it was up Sand Creek back through Minkler and home.


Together with "Pocket Rocket", Vinny, and Bosch, we limped home all consuming more calories than typical. I think tomorrow is going to hurt for em. I however won't be joining them, electing to hang with my lovely prego and spending the day with family instead.

I read a new poll today that says the typical American gains seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years...it sure a tough time to be a bike racer.

Summer in November

Rode up to O'neals today for a casual ride with friends and sponsors and took a few pics.

We're still blessed by the weather. It's amazing to be able to ride mid November in 70 degree temperatures.

After the ride we jetted over to Woodward Park to watch the cross races and even sat in the feed zone to hand water out to our boy Britter. He was definitely feeling the pang in his legs from the 100 miler yesterday.

We then even had a chance to catch Sasser mixing it up with some of the kids in the BMX events. It's pretty cool that we have so much in cycling in Fresno right now.

I was able to get a couple of shots of the boys making the climb today. The one above is Dan Barrows racing Bosch to the top. Then all around good guy Toby Johnson and Lars at the bottom providing a good draft for the big rig on his tail.

All in all, a good day!

Team SPOC

Today is the start of great things to come. This is the strongest team that I've ridden for in the 17 years I've raced. Great group of guys. The 2008 Team SPOC will be a decisive factor in both Masters and Elite races. Can't wait to pin the numbers on.

team pic

Great Day for a Sick Day Ride

Today was 80* and I chose to ride 84 miles with Vinny "the kid" Owens and Coby "big rig" Horton, instead of driving the brown box 140. I must say that "the kid" has come a long way from the day he first came out to ride with the group. Today he showed me just how much it sucks getting old. Every time the road looked upward, vinny would vanish into the horizon.

Mark my words, people. This dude is going to be a BIG player in '08.

Looking forward to a great group ride this weekend with the new team.

There's a lot of talk out there about who's going to do this and that, but that's talk. It will be pretty interesting to hear the talk after the season starts.
hate!hate!hate!hate!hate!

-bosch

Cobra Kai Tribute

Now this is what I had in mind...

Bicycle Polo

So if you haven't heard, this is what the team is doing next year.

Off Week

The Fresno Crew meandered up to O'neals today for a slow social pace. It's more of a "calm before the storm," as training kicks into gear again next week.

Up at O'neals, we dumped off Eric and Greg as they headed up Walkers and Powerhouse and we turned back.

The weather was surprisingly warm and the layers were quickly shed after the start. We can definitely feel the difference in the air from the blazing infernos down south.

Construction on Friant Road is almost complete. It's been nice having two lanes of fresh paved road to take up with no worries of any cars. That luxury will soon pass but the bike lanes should soon be wide enough and the pavement FAST. The Tuesday Night Worlds Championships should be pretty exciting this spring.

It's October!

We were lucky on our Sunday ride to not only have terrific weather but lucky enough to be joined by some of our friends and sponsors. Sponsors...you gotta luv em. They do so much for us just for the love of the sport. It's awesome to be out there with them. Thanks to the folks at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic Center, Stewart Title, Mercedes Benz of Fresno, Barrows, and others"

I brought the camera out today for the first time ever and had a blast taking a few photos. I know I probably irritated the hell out of the guys and I wish I could have posted all the pics but downloading these suckers would take all night. Learning how to blog.......well, that's another story.

Here's a pic of Bosch and Eric Hanson setting pace on the front

Vince...this kid is faster than crap but when you have to wait for him to change a tire, forget about it. Take a look at Eric's expression.
Vinny
Cruising to the top of Spark Plug hill. I hate things that go up!
Thre crew bright an early

Bill...this guy is great to ride with and loves to go down hill!
The skipper and little buddy
Bosch and Hanson still at the front
Hanson and Britter deep in thought

-Thanks for reading-



Coby