Race report by Matthew Palmer, member of The Path Bike Shop race team

I've heard about Counting Coup and Vision Quest for a couple years now. It's the local ride (race) hosted by the Warrior's Societythat starts way too early in the morning, and covers a majority of the Santa Ana Mountains I ride in isolated segments all year long. I tried to register for the 2012 race, but after logging on an hour after registration started, I was immediately denied. So for 2013, I was  eager to register, not knowing what the ride demanded.

By Josh Jacquot, member of The Path Bike Shop Race Team

The email from UQ race organizer Dave Wonderly the night before was as simple and it was true: “It’s going to be epic.”

And when the morning dawned wet, cloudy and warm, there was ample conjecture among UQers about what we faced in heights above. Speculation was as thick as the mud we’d be riding through as to how much frozen precipitation the mountains might hold. And with routinely minimal fanfare, DW lifted the flag and the pedaling began.

Sixty meters later, it ended.

Kudos to all The Path Bike Shop team and shop riders - (pictured, left to right) Jesse, Gerrin, Jake, Darin, Sanjay, and Josh - for their participation at the 2013 Ultra Quest this past weekend! They rode 38 miles, 12,000' elevation gain, 90% single track. Whew!

The conditions were amazing, the riders were stoked, the finishers were tired and a new course record was laid down.

Results: 

• 1 - Josh Jacquot 0:00 6:53
• 6 - Sanjay Shanbhag 0:49 7:42
• 9 - Jesse Peterson 1:24 8:17
• 12 - Jake Nelson 1:50 8:43
• 37 - Darin Maxwell 4:53 11:46

The annual 12 Hours of Temecula Endurance Race Series had its first race of the season on January 19, 2013. The Foothill High School Mountain Bike team came out with a strong four-person team. They ended up landing a solid 3rd place finish in the 2-4 person Jr class, completing 12 laps in just 10 hours and 58 minutes.

Upcoming races for the team include 5 High School races, then State Championships in May 2013.

The Orange County Register did a feature on mountain biking in Orange County that included an interview with Ross Bennett, head coach of the Foothill High School team. This article also appeared in the print version of the OC Register with an additional interview from Tani Walling, owner of The Path Bike Shop.

We're really happy to sponsor and support such a great group of young local riders, and they're really proving what great accomplishments they are capable of.

For more information, race schedule, and to support the SoCal High School Cycling League, visit their website.

Top photo: Foothill High School team member McHenry Carlson prepared for his first lap with teammate Chris Taylor at the 12 hours of Temecula.

by Bryan, a.k.a., "The Lad"

It was a great turnout for the last race of the season at Casper Wilderness Park on November 3^rd, 2012 for the Enduro Stuff OC Parks Tour Race series.  We had perfect weather conditions, an exciting technical course, and lots of energy all around. 

Being a US Kenda Cup racer for the past 2 years, it was a pleasure to have participated in a local race series which utilizes the mountains I consider my backyard.  I was thrilled to have placed 1^st for the Single Speed category and placing podium for all 4 races which resulted 1^st for the season. 

I’m grateful to have support and motivation from my family and friends.  It is of great honor and privilege to be riding with some of the best riders out there.  A special thanks to Tani Walling, Neil Adams and my fellow teammates from the Path Bike Shop.   It’s been a great season, and I’m pumped up for what’s to come for next year’s series.

Race report by Matthew Palmer, member of The Path Bike Shop race team

Really fun race on August 25th, 2012 out at O'Neill Regional Park as part of the Enduro Stuff OC Parks Tour Race series. The overcast conditions that have been hanging around the past couple days decided to stay around just long enough for the race to conclude. The weather made for comfortable riding on a fast and technical course. For me, it was awesome to reconnect with the local race community after participating in so many sanctioned races up in the mountains for US Cup and Rim Nordic.

I felt really sharp for being so late in the season. This race was one of my last for the year for XC MTB, so I was ready to go out on a high note alongside other Path riders and spectators. I continued to feel great during the fast 14.5 mile race with 2,200ft of climbing, finishing 1st in the Open Single Speed class.

by Carla Bray, Webmaster at The Path Bike Shop

race photo: Ruandy Albisurez Photography

I thought I'd share my experience racing downhill for the first time in the Pacific Northwest.

I've raced out at Fontana and at Woodward West in California. That's the extent of my downhill racing experience, which is not very extensive to say the least. It's been a couple of years since I've tried racing DH again. An opportunity came up to race at the NW Cup Race #5 which was held at Skibowl in Mt. Hood, Oregon. I thought I'd give it a shot.

Saturday's practice day was bright and sunny, a welcome sight around these parts. Dirt was in perfect shape since it had rained the night before. Skibowl has a chair lift, which was separated into two lifts in order to get all the way to the top.

race report by Eric (Auk) Akiyoshi, member of The Path Bike Shop Ambassador Race Team

Course Marshall report? What the heck?  This is a slightly different perspective on an age old tradition of ride reports and race recaps, the "Course Marshall Report."

The Path Bike Shop was the featured bike shop at the June 19th Over the Hump Race:  an hour long lactic acid sufferfest and all around good time!

Matt Wenger and crew put on a great race and encourage a strong family atmosphere with kids races, music, and good food: oh yeah, the adult races are well put together too!  The Path Bike Shop had: 1) racers (shop regulars, employees, and race team members) in virtually all categories (Experts, Super Sports, and Sports), 2) a tent with fruit platters, special edition water bottles, and mechanics, and 3) a small army of volunteers to help with course marshaling the race.

race report by Kimmi Hotchkiss

This journey started last year. A dream to participate in, and hopefully finish, the Leadville 100 Off Road Race. Problem is, it's so popular, that you have to either A) get in by their lottery system, or B) Qualify at one of their few qualifier races through-out the country. We didn't get in via the lottery, so entering a qualifying race was necessary. The Barn Burner 104 is the closest one to home, in Flagstaff, AZ. It's a 104+ mile off-road race. And my odds were better competing in the Female Singlespeed Category, because so few women do it, and only one has ever completed it. (And now I know why!) I went in hoping to win, and get an entry into Leadville. I left with no podium finish, no entry into Leadville, and no praise/glory. And that could've been the best gift of all. For this was all about the journey, not about the results. Had I won and gotten what I "wanted", I surely could've lost sight of the journey. Here's my story.

race report by Chris Heinrich

So I got back from a week and a half shindig in Hawaii a couple days before the Idyllwild Spring Challenge May 5th. I new it was going to be a painful race after a week and a half of sun and gluttony so my plan was to ride my own race and not get caught up in the hype of a world cup start, blow my load, and try to recover over the rest of the 25 miles of dirt and pavement.  I wore a Camelback filled with my delicious blueberry pomegranate sports drink, confident enough that I would stay hydrated and I wouldn't need a feed. I normally would bottle feed, but an unfortunate injury to my FEED thumb told me otherwise...by the end of the race I was shifting with my palm. I had my Gu's and my tools and even got in a decent warm up.

I was ready to race, but within about 40 minutes I would find out that I wasn't prepared.