RED. HOOK. NIGHT. CRIT.

I feel like I should have mentioned this earlier. Its another thing to be stoked about. To be downright scared about. I'm going to Red Hook on Saturday night, to race in the 2nd annual Red Hook Night Crit. This event is basically David Trimble's birthday party. ..and its fixed gear street racing at its finest. I heard that it was intense last year, and this year the ante has been upped. Roadies, trackies, couriers and hoons will be battling together on a semi-closed industrial road coarse.

Last year's flyer:



Interview with David August Trimble up HERE on BikeblogNYC.

INFOS YOU SHOULD KNOWS

The Red Hook Criterium returns in 2009. Saturday March 28th

This race can best be described as a hybrid street criterium and caters to the strange half-breed racer type that is a combination of glory chasing scenester and ultra competitive road racing athlete.

The .75 mile 10 turn course in Red Hook is tight, twisty and dangerous. The course is haphazardly closed (with volunteer street marshals) and lighting is dim at best. A fast cobblestone hairpin requires teeth chattering grit to transverse smoothly and a wide open and brightly lit finishing straight offers a perfect runway for a chaotic sprint finish. In order to do well in this race you’ll need street tuned handling mechanics and an engine to match. Brakeless fixed gear bikes are required (as are helmets). Gearing is recommended to be somewhere between 85 and 90 gear inches. Lapped riders will be allowed to stay in the race but will be shown a blue flag when the leaders are approaching and must get out of the way. The finish will be video tapped for accuracy and scoring provided for at least 25 places. I will also be posting a chart with a run down of each lap time. The entry fee is $10.

Last year the race had 25 entries and 5 made it to the end to contest the sprint. Kacey Manderfield made good on her trash talking and dusted the field in the final sprint. A former national collegiate champion and a current National track champion she played her cards perfectly. She is rumored to be returning to defend her title. I (the race organizer) finished 2nd last year barely squeezing out Shusaku in the final sprint. Young prodigy Cooper Ray was 4th and ever imposing Prentiss 5th.

This year the competition is expected to upgrade. Many top local road and track racers will see if they can control their brakeless track bikes and compete with the best street racers. I will be compiling and updating a list of confirmed race entrees in the run up the event. The prize for first place is $300 cash ($150 for 2nd and $50 for 3rd).

The race will be 30 minutes plus 3 laps. The final race course design will posted in the next week. I am expecting a tighter and more technical layout which will include the same cobblestone stretch on Columbia St but avoiding the highly residential street of Dikeman. There will be (3) primes. One at the end of the first lap, one at the end of the halfway mark and one with 3 laps to go. The prizes for the primes will include homemade granola and booze. There will be a bell indicating primes as well as a board counting down the laps with 5 to go (based of a time calculation to determine how many laps the race will be).

Race registration starts at 9 pm. The race itself starts at 11:00 pm. Awards will immediately follow the race at 65 Dikeman in conjunction with my annual birthday party.
This race will be excellent for spectators and photographers as most of the course is visible from the start/finish line and fast lap times will be around 2 and a half minutes.

Date: March 28th, 2009
Registration: 9:00 pm at 65 Dikeman
Race Start: 11:00 pm (pre race meeting at 65 Dikeman at 10:45pm)
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: $300 1st
$150 2nd
$50 3rd

Primes: (3) Prizes to be announced.

Rules:
Brakeless Fixed Gear Bikes only
Helmets required
No free lap allowed

Here's this year's course map:



Latest Press Release:

On Saturday, March 28 the 2009 Red Hook Criterium will take place and will be be filmed as a competitive sporting event. The film will be produced by Kalim Armstrong (Orange Bikes Take Manhattan, Messenger) and John Hoppin, with assistance from Daniel Leeb (Cinecycle). The race organizer is David August Trimble, and the race director is Al Barouh.

Multiple HD cameras will be set up to film the race. At least one helmet cam will follow race action firsthand. Additionally, a surprise helmet cam shooter may be in town to cover the race. We will have a camera at the podium presentation immediately following the race.

Live race commentary and analysis will be provided by John Hoppin and Michael Green (bikeblog NYC).

The 2009 Red Hook Criterium is an unsanctioned race through a desolate post-industrial part of Brooklyn. Brake-less track bikes are mandatory for riders. The field will be a mix of semi-professional cyclists, bike messengers, and urban cyclists. The race consists of 16 three quarter-mile laps of a course which features several hairpin turns, a fast sprint through the parking lot of a chain retailer, a cobblestone stretch, and a sprint finish. Start time for the race is 11pm on Saturday night. Bus and automobile traffic on the course, even if kept to a minimum, is a near-certainty.

The first person to cross the finish line at the completion of 16 laps will take home $300. The second place finisher will receive a $150 prize, and the third place finisher will pocket $50. Additionally, the first rider to complete the first and eighth laps will receive a prime, or prize, to be announced on race day.

Immediately following the race will be a house party where the podium presentation and distribution of prizes will take place.

This project is made possible by the Bicycle Film Festival family, a festival showcaseing films featuring the bicycle in 39 cities annually. The Proud Sponsors of the Red Hook Criterium are the Coffee Den, Katherine's Homemade Granola, Zafeiropoulou, Trimble Racing, Sam Trimble Design, Taki's Express, and Roo Design.

... uhh.. High Def footage anyone? Could THIS be our special guest cam?

Here's the vid of last year:



..and the winnar! (OMG A GIRL):


..and some more photos to get ya stoked.

Okay. This is seriously. RLY SRSLY. Glad I went and climbed hills yesterday. Anyone want to lend me a light weight front wheel and some race tires?

Vallie Components Hub Official Release

"Parts for people who break parts" ... hey, that's me!

Lyle is on his way to Indianapolis with the physical manifestation of years worth of effort: the Vallie Components Street Fixed Hub and 15 tooth ISO cog.

We've been waiting for this for a long time. I remember when Lyle introduced me to the work that George French was doing with his G-Sport brand: bringing new ideas to the BMX market to shake the issues of the old designs and ride fresh parts. I was intrigued by the designs that seemed so far from the norm, but at the same time were so logical. 

Now, we have this type of innovation in our own midst. Lyle made a huge step in quitting his engineering job to forge ahead in bike parts design. When we were both working jobs that we were tiring of, this seemed so far away, so revolutionary. Vallie Components is now a reality. It was a step toward working for himself, in an industry he supports. In the years between then and now, we've met and become friends with many people through the international culture of the bicycle.

Project B's presence at 2007's Mini Bike Winter IV had Lyle on the Tour de Bomb podium on his custom-built Killhlimber. This event was a major milestone in our relationship with Portland. We continued to build friendships that had been started a few months earlier at Velomutations. We came back on a high. We were stoked to ride mini bikes.

The following year, Lyle headed down a week early to check out the NAHBS show, meeting up with our Portland friends and making new friends with the hand made bike community.

The 2008 Tour de Bomb was the Portland debut of The Cheetah, a bike that was designed to "give back" to Zoobomb after all they had given to us. And give back it did. Lyle won the freaking race!

It turns out Gabe wasn't that mad at Lyle for winning, though, as he helped him out with the awesome logo and business card design. Just in time for NAHBS 2009 (show coverage at Urban Velo), Lyle's got his site all polished up with the lovely Rhiannon's help. Click through there, and send him a message!

Of course, the final touch on the site is these great photos from WMD:

I've got one of the prototypes in my hot little hands. It's going to be built up soon, I promise - the Rocky has been salivating in anticipation. People who break parts, stay tuned. I'll probably get photos up on flickr before anywhere else.

Team BMX wins inaugural East Van Spot Rush

This round of BMX vs. fixed gear freestyle was a win for the little ones. Barber got an extra 27 points added to his score because Louise's initials looked like the number. This day was also another first: the Stairmaster's first rain day. Another thing: the Powell and Clark rail is now painted with something soft and sticky, and I stuck a peg stall in the rain.

Who let these guys run a race?

Bike Swappin'

Since Lyle broke the Bianchi, he has been riding my Sekine. As he was looking for a new frameset and wanted to ride track geometry on the street, it was a no-brainer that he try out my KHS as well. Here are some photos from Wednesday's bike swap breakfast. It's interesting to see how much longer Lyle's legs are: 7cm to be exact.

2005 KHS Flite 100, 57cm square, Reynolds 520. This was the "Ugly-look Winter KHS" that I took to the 2008 6 Days of Burnaby. Race winner; clavicle breaker.


Lyle needed only put 30km on this setup before ordering the identical frameset from Spicer. Fortunately, the SLUT seat post is long enough for him. I'm looking forward to dropping the post and trying out the bullhorns and Sora-Ace caliper.


1981 Sekine, 56cm square, Tange #2. 1cm shorter in the seat tube than Lyle's broken Bianchi. This is what Nick T. would call a "proper gentleman's bike," as it exudes class.


I wanted to try this look on the Sekine ever since I stole its original bar/stem/saddle on the Marinoni. I apologize about the blue tires; they look horrible, but are the best tires I currently own in terms of traction. In fact, I think Lyle's cockpit just doesn't look as good with 7cm less post. After 30km on this setup, I think I'll keep it this way for a bit. Very upright and gentlemanly.

Happy Birthday Morgan and Louise

The day started off with a hearty breakfast, some rocket fuel, and making a lunch.
Raingear? check. blinkies? check. coffee? check. gloves? check.
This would be a long day.

On the run out to Lord Stanley's park, I picked up some glass with my front tire. I first noticed it in chinatown, and thought we'd better book it if I wanted to make it across the downtown core before the tire completely deflated. So book it we did. I managed to make it to the ReThink Offic on Pender@Georgia before hitting rim. Close enough. I'll walk it.

No worries, because Adam and Louise weren't there yet. I laid out my stuff, and got to work patching the tube. Louise arrived, then Sascha and Rhiannon. A full crew!



Off we went up the causeway. At the top of the bridgespan, we determined that we'd need less rain gear. It was getting nicer out. Time to strip. ..and have a shot of fireball for energy.





We made it around the mall just at the North end of the bridge, and then onto Marine.
Ahh west Van traffic. Most Vehicles were over $40k, and most of the drivers were unsure what to do when passing a peloton of 5 cyclists.

Things got twisty and tight. There are weird driveways connecting to the main road. There was no shoulder. Sometimes you just have to assert yourself for your safety.

I took it upon myself to 'coach' the motorists into slowing through use of hand signals. Then when I felt it was clear for them, I'd wave them on. Most people are good about this sort of thing. Theres only the odd asshole that completely ignores your hand signal, and passes anyways when there's an oncoming car around the bend.

I'm not sure if it was advantagous or not, but our pack would break apart on the hills, due to our differences in gearing. I suppose having to pass 3 groups of cyclists is more stressful than one?

Morgan led us down a remote road to 'The Dale' so we could stop and check out the view of the ocean.
We took a few shots on the rocks there:





Once we we cooled down, we decided to continue onwards, and go to Whytecliff park.
This is where people go to watch the submarine races, and to scuba dive.

The ride out there took us through a pretty posh West Van marina. It seemed half the traffic that was passing us, were pool/spa trucks. Does everyone have a pool that needs servicing out here? I waved at the soccer moms in their SUVs. They looked confused.

We made it.
At the park, we rode past the people with their scuba gear, to the lookout circle.
It appeared to be a great place to watch the races from.

Rhiannon, blew me away when she pulled out a red and white checkered picnic blanket. I think I have a preparedness crush.
We laid out all the food on it. Fruit, lasagna, carub bars, walnut bread, turkey sandwiches, fireball, coffee.
Never have I been to such an incredible November picnic.
What else is in that Pannier?

At the park we met a couple roadies named Dave and Chris from Kits. These guys offered us some smoke, and some insight on staying young. "Just keep riding." Sounds like good advice to me.

We cuddled in the cold wind, ate as much as possible, and finished off the fireball.
Morgan put Louise's camera to work, for the benefit of the fixed gear gallery. We're all at peace. Bellies full, legs strong, nothing can stop us. Imagine getting to feel this good all the time.







Finally the cold gets to us, and we need to move again. ..but not until we practice skidding along the park drive first. The wrong way. Down a narrow street.
I practice my slaloms, Morgan does the no hands dance. Strike a pose. Vogue. Sascha is happy to just get used to his new frame.



The ride back was just as much fun as the ride there. It almost seemed like the descents were more intense. Was it because our legs were tired? Either way, the pattern was 'grind-grind-grind, take the lane, and spin-spin-spin'. A pool truck passed me dangerously cresting a hill, so I returned the favour when he slowed for the corners, feeling his fender as I did so.

On one of the faster descents, coming into the Marina again, I was completely spun out and hugging the yellow line coming around a left hand corner. All I was thinking about was how long I could maintain this RPM, when suddenly I saw an oncoming bus. His drivers side tires were completely over the line. I made eye contact with the driver, and saw right into his fear. A subltle weight adjustment, and my ride is a meter over to the right, giving me just enough clearance to feel the turbulance from the bus mirror. I feel like a gunslinger.

We're definately slowing down. Apparently these hills are getting to us. Its much harder than the Deep Cove ride. The West Van gas station is all sold out of water, so we get Gatorade. We stop again on the bridge, and decide that our departure point should be Robson square.



The trip East on Georgia is a delight due to the construction.
I caressed an Infinity with a sensual gloved hand, along its entire body. Notice how much better the vancouver traffic is at dealing with bicycles.

We break up, and make our way back to East van. I changed tenses to the past.
We broke up.

On union we ran into Lee (mentioned in the MC3 ride post). He had done a lap of Stanley park on his cruiser, and got 4 flats over the course of the day. Lee is known as the 'Fossilosopher', due to his study of the culture of fossil fuel domestication. Anyways.. after telling us about his flats, Lee offered us a poem.
I was delighted to hear it flowing from his mouth as we made our way East. 4 blocks. The poem was 4 blocks long, about the beauty of fixed gear riding. Thanks Lee.
I don't think anyone has ever recited such an incredible linguistic composition to me while riding before.

After grinding up the last hill towards Victoria, Louise invited us back to her place (3 blocks from mine) to relax and stretch. As a birthday gift, she gave Morgan an old school MTB jersey from Vail Colorado. I'm a little jealous of its old schooliness.

This has been a great day. My heart is feeling it.

Sidenote: Upon my arrival home, I checked my messages, and found that Nick had attended a 'China Creek Jam' on Saturday. It seems no one wants to see these bowls go. The next public meeting on the matter is Dec 5th. More info TBA.