We could live offa the fatta the lan'

Steinbeck Criteriums, baby ...

the poor bastards are really gonna let me MC this beeyotch.

~ oh, daddy. circle the wagons.
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It's dia day los mamacitas ... so that's gonna impact attendance all around. AND, it's scheduled the same day as the Sacto bro's Golden State Crit ... which is a huge bummer. We BagBoys are spreading ourselves thin to attend both events, cuz' we want to support it all, yo.

The Steinbeck crits are offering pretty damn big bank for the ladies ... $500 for a straight up 3's event, $250 for a 4's race, and a cool $1000 for the femmes' p1/2/3 race. booyah!

Kind of the hip thing, too, is that the women race earlier in the morning ~ so, if you've got mama day activities planned you still might be able to swing over to the crits, do one, then skiddaddle out for a late brunch with the matron.

Or, if you've got no plans for the day ~ stick around and race in the men's events. I am of the opinion that the men's 45/55 events are some of the best to race for women who want to get in a good speedwork session. just pull out on the last lap and stay away from that field sprint!

And the men's events? I'm thinking these are the days for the upgrade hounds. Fields that are spread out between two good events ... just the right mix to work your way into a top-10.

... and there's cash, yo.
- - -

Yesterday i was in the Bike Trip down in the sCruz, getting Sabine's fork cut and buying a few doodahs needed for her mtb when Mary-Anne the Hunter noticed me drifting around aimless and pulled me aside for some chitty-chat. She was talkin' bike with this friend of hers and so i said my own "hi" and Mary-Anne intro'd me as belonging to Sabine. (oh yeah)

The friend looks me over with a slight recognition, a moment of pause, and then ... "Oh, the guy who announced at Surf City - " and with one of those shakes of the head in almost pity - "yeah, i remember you."


i consider that a good omen.

Bring on the Menace! If you show up to race at Steinbeck ... know that it's very likely i know of you and you will be fair game for commentations galore. I will wax extravagant about your tan lines and fill your suitcases to bulge with hyperbole and descriptions both non-sequitor and giggilicious.

Your name will be screamed to the heavens and your sufferings made our own. I will shout out biased encouragements and wag the occassional finger at any snooties or better-than-thou's who think they deserve more just because they might pedal faster than some.

No, no ... ours is a participants' sport and all who show up and risk will have the wreaths thrown at their feet, they will be heralded as breakers of the norm, rebels against the machine, glorious wearers of the silly spandex.


... and that's all before 8:10am.