2026 Southridge Winter Series Race #1: Pale Monkey

 I don't know, technically, if this should be considered race #1 or race #2, I mean since the first race of this years' series was cancelled two weeks ago due to a high wind event. Whatever. Today was the first day of the series with folks actually out on the course which, i guess, makes it race #1. Although the cancelled race of two weeks ago is not being made up, just cancelled, which kind of makes this race #2, Ugh, i could go round in circle with this, but what's the point. Let's just say this was the first race with points counting toward the series overall and leave it at that. 

Romolo Forcino and Kevin Stewart were never far from one another throughout their three laps

Quite some number of years ago USA Cycling did a campaign asking what if there were no racing. I don't remember the whole thing, but i remember the one image of a guy in a bowling alley wearing cycling shoes - did i every tell you about finishing 9th one year in the Los Angeles City bowling tournament - my big bowling claim to fame. Anyway, what if we turn that just a little bit and ask, what if there were no races? There have been years when i have wondered how much longer they can keep this thing going. Of the thirteen categories between Pro men and beginner women, not a single one had more than two racers in it. That is a far, far cry from the way things were when i first started coming out to Southridge. That said, we can sure count on the guys from Bear Valley Bikes, and those from The Cyclery Bike Shop to do their part. Year after year, they are getting their seasons underway on that rocky hills sides. 

I guess, for now, it is what it is, and whether you were racing against no one but yourself, or you were competing against another, there was still more challenge along the trail than there would have been if no one showed up. And if you understand that, you're ahead of the game.

Anyway, "pale monkey?" Ya'll probably didn't have time or occasion to notice that, mixed in with the expanses of mustard and sunflower, there was a pale yellow Monkey Flower growing in several places along the trail. I was surprised, as i can't recall ever seeing any up there before. The lack of competitors left a lot of time to notice things - wild flowers, birds, rocks, clouds, dogs - it was a kick watching someones dog following its human down the downhill course and then sprinting back up the road to do it all again.

See you again two weeks from now for race #3. Or is it #2?

that dogs' bark was as close as it could get to whoopin' and hollerin' like a human

checking out the race too

monkey flower

all aboard the downhill shuttle

The link to the photo album which, this time, contains a selection of seventy-six pics - XC and DH practice runs. This time out, i didn't get any pics of the beginner group(s), only the riders who went up the big hill.