For race #7, the Utah Cyclocross Series returns to the Wasatch County Fairgrounds, in Heber City, Utah … home of mud (either dried, lumpy and hard, or soupy, sticky, and deep) and grass and horse poop!

Jon is promising a longer course, and the weather we’ve had the past few days out to make for a more challenging course as well; possibly snow, possibly mud if the snow has melted.

Mount Heber should still be included, and hopefully more twisty turns leading into the finish area …

We had a scheduling conflict at Fort Buenaventura with some Annual shooting event. We have run races in the past with the Mountain Men shooting around us, but the Championships event is way larger and Matt and Jon felt it would not be safe.

So back to Weber County Fairgrounds it is, on November 22nd. The County even promised that the Portajohns would be picked up, cleaned, and ready to go, so we don’t have to traipse halfway across the fairgrounds.

We will be sure to announce this at the next 2 races as well.

Categories/Times:

1:30 PM (60 Minutes)

• Men A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters Men A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12:30 PM (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters Men B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:45 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

* We found that Junior riders aged 15-18 would rather try and beat up on Mom and Dad!!!

10:45 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ Open

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

• Men C (First Timers, Entry Level Racers, Cat 5, Beginner)
• Master 55+ Open
• Women B (Beginner, Cat 4, Cat 5)

From the USA Cycling 2008 Racing Rules for Road, Track and Cyclocross

1H2. Women may enter any race for which they are eligible by age, category, and any performance requirements and may enter categorized races for men that are up to one category lower than their women’s category, or in the case of category 1 women, up to two categories lower. In addition, category 4 and 3 women who are 35 or older may compete in Masters races for all riders up to 20 years greater than their racing age, subject to other eligibility requirements.

This means that a woman with a Cat 4 license can race in a men’s Cat 5 race, and that a 36 year old woman can race in any Masters race from Men’s 35+ to 55+.

Now the UTCX Series doesn’t use licenses … we let people self-categorize; but can and will upgrade people at our discretion, which means that if any person (men or women) start dominating a particular category, then we’ll upgrade them if necessary.

But until then, I don’t like having to pull out the rule book to say that it’s okay for a someone to play with the boys. Deal with it. It’s supposed to be fun.

Gear up! Break out the Belgian Knee Warmers! Smell the glue! Right now the weather report is calling for an 80% chance of rain and showers, with highs temperatures in the low 60s. In other words, perfect ‘cross conditions for the first race of the season.

Those of you who have been racing cyclocross in Utah for awhile may remember this course, but it has changed quite a bit. The entire course will now be on the Equestrian Center side of the road. This will definitely be a fun course.

On Friday, October 3rd, from 4 to 7 pm there will be a Thorn Removal, Registration, and Number pick-up gathering at the Equestrian Center.

Pre-registration price applies: $22 for race and $10 one-time Season Number Fee (unless you lose, misplace, or forget your number, in which case we’ll charge you again). We do have duplicate numbers available for some of you who take your ‘cross racing more seriously and have 2 bikes.

We have NEW numbers made by World Cup Supply, which look great and should make scoring easier.

Bring a shovel or rake and come pick your number up Friday so you don’t have to stand in line on Saturday morning! The thorn situation is the best we have seen it, with just a couple spots that need a little help to be cleared.

** As always some kind of tire sealant is recommended for all Utah Cyclocross Series Races. We live in Utah and Goatheads are plentiful!!!!!

Categories/Times:

1 PM (60 Minutes)

• A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12 Noon (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:30 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

* We found that Junior riders aged 15-18 would rather try and beat up on Mom and Dad!!!

10:30 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ B

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

• C (First Timers, Entry Level Racers, Cat 5, Beginner)
• Master 55+
• Women B ( Beginner, Cat 4, Cat 5)

Once he dominated - now Lance could own the Tour - Sport - smh.com.au

Rupert Guinness

LANCE ARMSTRONG says the reason for his return to road cycling is to engage in a global war against cancer. He also says more details of his battle plans will be revealed on Wednesday, when he holds a press conference in New York while attending the Clinton Global Initiative.

Rumours are circulating that behind Armstrong’s decision, which will allow him to race in next year’s Tour de France, is an audacious plan that will change the face of cycling.

It may not be unveiled next week, but the word is that Armstrong is involved in a possible buyout of Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation from its parent company the Amaury Group.

Furthermore, Armstrong may saddle up in the deal with Hein Verbruggen - the former president and now vice-president of cycling’s world body, the Union Cycliste Internationale. Some say it may be an Armstrong-UCI deal.

Do the Aussie’s celebrate September the 20th Fools Day? Because this MUST be a joke.

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time

“If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the Republican Party,” Dean said Friday in an appearance on NPR’s “Tell Me More” program.

Unreal.

I’m a 42-year-old white man, lifelong Democrat, raised in the South, lived most of my adult life in Northern California, and now live in the Republican bastion of Salt Lake City, Utah.

I cannot believe that Howard Dean (whom I supported in the 2004 campaign) would stoop to this level. I am offended and ashamed that a member of my Party would utter such a snarky, racially-motivated comment to denigrate our opponents.

It’s the 21st Century! Race should play a very small role (if it should play any role at all) in modern politics.

Another frightening thing is the recent mom-spam I received, entitled “Proud to Be White”, which I won’t dignify by quoting here, but if you really want to read it, just do a Google search for “proud to be white” (in quotes), and you’ll get an ample number of results. This from my mother, who is also a life-long Democrat, and who taught me to be colorblind.

Here was my response:

Perhaps if white people hadn’t treated everyone else in North America like complete shit for the past 400 years, there’d be no need for any of those groups that Mr. White Pride listed in his diatribe.

We don’t need an NAAWP, because white people already control the United States; whites don’t need to be advanced, because we are already “on top”; and anyone who doesn’t see that is a complete and utter idiot.

The NAACP and other similar groups are not about advancing their demographic at the detriment of white people; it’s not about blacks or Hispanics or Asians on top while white people get pushed down the ladder to some sort of second-class status.

White students are not prevented from attending historically black colleges; however, blacks were excluded from attending many universities for many, many years.

It’s about equality.

Think of it this way. Who is more likely to agree with this tripe? Someone who thinks like me? Or someone whose views tend to coincide with those of David Duke and Tom Metzger?

Whose company would you rather keep?

I’m not proud of being white. Sometimes I’m guilty about it. What I am proud of is being an American; an American who can think for himself, and who accepts or rejects people based on their actions and not their skin color.

I don’t know … perhaps similar feelings were what Howard Dean had in mind when he made his rather idiotic comments about the Republican Party, but there’s no reason to put a label on it … it’s just as bad as labeling people of color with any of the various epithets they’ve had to deal with for the past 4 centuries.