Welcome to SoCalCross

The Southern California Prestige Series of Cyclocross formed in 2005 by an association of  cycling clubs motivated to become the premier cyclocross series in Southern California and the nation! The SoCalCross Prestige Series hosts races weekly across Southern California kicking off with the Happy Hour Tour series of promotional clinics and events running from September to January each year.  SoCalCross also hosts gravel events in the Spring and Summer signature LA Roubaix kicks off our Spring/Summer gravel ride season!

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Spooky Cross Night Race REPORT

SPOOKY CROSS RECAP PLUS OJAI IS THE PLACE TO BE THIS WEEKEND FOR CX & GRAVEL GRINDING!

Went to a Halloween party the other night and a cyclocross race broke out. The sixth edition of Spooky Cross had the distinction of being Round 5 of the SoCalCross Prestige Series, this year haunting the Baja Beach Club area of Irvine Lake on the eastern outskirts of toney Orange County.
As always, Spooky Cross was as much rave as race. Sure, a full slate of classes started being ticked off just after lunch until well past sundown, with some righteous two-wheeled war being waged on a hilly 1.74-mile/2.8km course that was half lawn bowling, half gravel grinding.

But the reason Spooky is one of the most popular CX events in these parts is its pervasive All Hallows theme and, most of all, the after-dark costume race and contest. Quite a number of grown men and women put a lot of time and effort into looking like prepubescent trick-or-treaters, then line up and tear out on a short loop to wreak a bit of good natured, well-lubricated havoc for ten minutes (or when the Easter Rabbit barfs). It’s not every weekend you get to see how riders handle a pumpkin barrier. Now that’s entertainment.

How about that racing? The Elite A Women’s race got the whistle just as the sun was setting, making for rapidly changing light conditions and an impossible choice in lens color. Amanda Nauman (SDG/Bellwether/Krema Peanut Butter) made her return after skipping last weekend’s event, and picked up right where she left off: snaring the early lead and never looking back. Scoreboard: leading every lap of every race she’s participated in with SoCalCross this year; chalk up five wins so far.

In the absence of her biggest rivals-Christina Probert-Turner and Nicole Brandt, the latter of whom was scoring UCI points at the Gateway Cross Cup in St. Louis-Nauman was again in a league of her own. Up-and-comer Summer Moak (Felt/K-Edge) was able to keep “Amanda Panda” in sight for a lap, but the 15-year-old, recently arrived in SoCal from Katy, Texas, was soon relegated to best-of-the-rest status.

Behind them, AJ Sura (G2 Bike) made her series return for this season and became ensnarled in a skirmish for third place with Christine Pai (Knobbe Martens Intellectual Property Law). Pai prevailed, Sura was fourth and uber-consistent McKenzie Melcher (The TEAM SoCalCross) rounded out the podium.

“The way the light was changing was a challenge,” stated Nauman. “It was dusty but fun. Summer was riding strong on the first lap. That’s good, it keeps me honest.” Nauman also beamed that she had taken her first-ever dollar hand-up. You’ll have to forgive her-she’s only been doing this a couple of years.

Portable lighting had been towed in to allow for night racing at this facility, but several parts of the course were still as dark as a tall espresso. About a third of the 21-rider Men’s Elite A field elected to mount lights for their 60-minute event.

Frenchman Jean-Louis Bourdevaire (Blackstar) and defending series champ Brandon Gritters (Rock N’ Road/Big Red Coaching) jostled for the holeshot, with Gritters leading the way out of turn one. After a lap or two to sort things out, Gritters found himself in the company of Elliot Reinecke (Famous Horsemen Masters Development Team), Alfred Pacheco (Buena Park Bicycles) and Garreth Feldstein (Famous Horsemen).

This was Feldstein’s first race of the season, having spent the last couple of months transferring his job with Chevron from Bakersfield to the Bay Area. With no points, he had to start on the last row but was on the charge. If you’re wondering about that team name, it’s derived from a line in a Saturday Night Live skit, delivered by Sean Connery. There are three Horsemen, actually, the third being the always-entertaining Alan “Danger” Zinniker, who won another Singlespeed A race just minutes before. Fun and games.

Anyway, Feldstein finally bridged to the break and promptly face planted at the barriers. With five to go, it was Reinecke, Pacheco and Gritters with a comfy gap on Bourdevaire and a recovering Feldstein. Kyle Gritters (Rock N’ Road) was suffering an off night and riding a lonely sixth.

Pacheco became unhitched as the paced picked up on the penultimate lap, and Reinecke came by just ahead of him with a genuinely desperate look in his eye. Of course it was Gritters leading the way, placing everyone else into the hurt locker. On the last lap he flipped the lid and snapped the locks. The ginger ninja crossed the line 11 seconds in front of Reinecke, who had taken a soil sample on the final lap.

Pacheco dug deep to secure an impressive third place with a soft tire half a minute in arrears. He had started near the front but got tangled in some course tape on the first lap and dropped all the way to seventh before rebounding, so he was a happy camper. Bourdevaire prevailed in a semi-close battle with Feldstein to set the final podium positions.

According to Gritters, “I was better on the climb, and Elliot was more daring on the grass and in the dark. I put the pressure on going up the hill, then just sort of rode the rest of the course.”

Run concurrently with this final race was the Elite Under 23 class. At the finish, Dillen Maurer (Montrose Bike Shop) had claimed the division win and 11th overall, followed by Nick Padilla (G2 Bike) and Michael Barker (Team Velocity).

Full results from Spooky Cross as well as the following day’s Dia de los Muertos ‘cross at the same venue (hint, Nauman and Gritters did the double) can be found at socalcross.org.

Head to Ojai this November 1st and 2nd to enjoy an epic weekend of racing and riding in one of the most beautiful settings in the country!

SATURDAY: PELOTON CROSS presented by Panaracer!

Coming back for its second year, peloton cross will once again feature a course designed by US ‘cross legend Tim Johnson. It’s a fast, flowing roller coaster with big rewards for every effort. On the shore of Lake Casitas, the race provides plenty of great viewing and a fantastic atmosphere for friends and family to watch you race. Peloton, The Mob Shop and numerous industry partners have come together to offer the best prizes in all of SoCal ‘Cross. Wheel sets, helmets, components, tires, etc… And you don’t have to win a race to win a prize. Every rider will be entered in our raffle to win a SRAM Force CX1 group! We’ll announce the winner after the Elite men’s race. You must be present to win. Of course there will be cash prizes for the Elite men and women too! There will be food, beer and an industry expo right in the center of the course. SCOTT also provides prizes for the SCOTT Hole Shot in every race, so get out of the gate fast!

There is plenty of camping at Lake Casitas, much of it on the course, so make a weekend out of it and ride the Gravel MobSunday. Head to CasitasWater.org for camping info. Look for Site G and T to be near the action. Click here to check out the categories and register at socalcross.org. This race is sanctioned by North American Bicycle Racing Association.  No race license necessary.

SUNDAY: GRAVEL MOB!

Big climbs, stunning views, groomed fire roads, rutty, rocky dirt roads, single track , creek crossings (could be wet, could be dry), rewarded with a sweeping ten mile road descent down Rose Valley back to Ojai.

The first 7-8 miles is on pavement and is a neutralized roll. After that we hit the Sulphur Mtn. climb on a groomed fire road that’s almost 10 miles long, then we’re back on pavement for about 7 miles for the transfer to the next section of dirt. The descent off of the first climb is paved, narrow, tight and technical. Always stay far right and be prepared for traffic.

The second dirt climb, Sisar, is rutty and rocky for the first 3-4 miles then gets a bit smoother for the next 4 miles. After the official climb, the dirt continues along a rolling (sometimes steep) section until it meets loose, dirt single track descent called Howard for the last 2-3 miles of dirtiness. This descent will be neutralized and a 10mph speed limit will be in effect. The final 15 miles is paved and includes a long, sweeping rewarding 10 mile descent down Highway 33 back into Ojai.

Route Highlights:

Sulphur: 16k, 2200 feet of climbing

Sisar: 13k, 3100 feet of climbing

Howard: 3.5 KM, 1000 foot descent

Oh…and the views from both climbs are stunning!From the ridge line look left and the Channel Islands lie on the horizon, look right and the vast Sespe Wilderness beckons.

SHORTER ROUTE OPTION:  Two monster dirt climbs is a big ask so no one will dispute the desire to head back into Ojai for a coffee or some R&R a bit early. To skip the second climb of Sisar, simply turn left on Highway 150 after the road descent from Sulphur Mountain and it’s a quick five miles back to Ojai and The Mob Shop for a total ride of less than 40miles. You also get to descend Dennison Grade, which has featured in the Tour of California many times. A sign denoting this short cut will be placed at the intersection of Sulphur and Highway 150.

WHAT BIKE?  We’re recommending a cross or gravel bike with compact road gearing, but you could probably swing it on a road bike with a wider gravel or dirt tire. Just plan on walking/running a bit and/or really picking your lines through some sections. Of course a mouton bike will be fine as well.  SoCalCross has CX demo bikes as well.  RSVP: Dot@SoCalCross.org

To sign up for the Gravel Mob hit BikeReg.com/gravel-mob.

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