California Block Pt. 1
In April, HART-Accel Pro Cycling went west! Samuel and Isabella tackled the next round of the US Pro Cup out at Vail Lake in Temecula, CA. Isabella then made her way north to Monterey, CA where Jeremy joined for the Sea Otter Classic at the legendary Leguna Seca Raceway. This California block made for all sorts of opportunities from UCI points to sponsor and fan interactions, to marathon racing and bonus disciplines! All alongside some beautiful training rides in sunny coastal California.
Samuel and Isabella discussing the race course.
At the Vailocity Bike Park, Samuel and Isabella got out on an updated Vail Lake course featuring, punchy climbs, high speed single track, not just “oh, man, this is kinds fast” but orbital reentry fast, built berms, BIG jumps, mandatory gaps, rock gardens- a course that feels like a bridge between mountain bike and BMX racing. HART spent their first day riding the course with the Accel U23s and juniors, learning to fly on the huge man-made features.
“The Colosseum” in the center of the race course. The start is just off to the right of the picture and both the XCC and XCO courses pass through the Colosseum valley.
Short Track:
First up for racing, Samuel pulled off one of the best starts of his life in XCC, ripping the first laps just off the World Cup overall winner and previous World Champion. Some bad luck followed with young riders making aggressive moves on the tight and loose track. Samuel still finished strong in 28th.
Isabella ripped the Elite Women’s short track with a fast and strong ride to finish 22nd behind the Olympians.
XCO:
In Cross Country, Samuel had bad luck in the start this time in the Elite Men’s race, getting boxed out going into the key single track on the first lap. He quickly settled in, found his groove, and rocketed forward through the field, powering from the back of the race to 18th. This race in a field filled with these high caliber riders is a great indicator for Samuel’s target races later in the season.
Sam tracking the race line with his Sweet Protection Ronin glasses.
In the Elite Women’s XCO, Isabella held strong in the insanely paced start to settle into her race pace. Isabella found her trail speed and rode faster and faster throughout race, powering to 13th place. This was valuable experience on the fast, loose California trail, much different than Arkansas! With more UCI points in the bag, Isabella wrapped up the US Cup and started setting her sights on Sea Otter week soon to follow.
Isabella’s Niner RKT 9 RDO making quick work of the rock gardens
Vail Lake was the second of five rounds of the US Pro Cups, the primary mountain bike racing circuit in the USA and only opportunity for World Cup and World Championship qualification for aspiring American riders. Next in the US Pro Cup circuit is in Danville, VA where Isabella and a mystery rider will chase podiums in the UCI C2 there. Danville is coming up May 1-3!
Meanwhile…
While Samuel and Isabella raced the US Pro Cup in California,
Sydney put in some great hours on her RKT 9 RDO in Grand Junction, CO and Moab, UT. These towns both feature some of the most technical desert riding there is and some of the most legendary trails like Lunch Loops in Junction and the Magnificent Seven in Moab. Sydney made all of us jealous with a prime training block, sharpening skills and fitness in possibly the most beautiful setting you can find. This desert training block was in preparation for the Whiskey 50, a classic 50mi MTB race starting on Whiskey Row in Prescott, AZ. This race is one of those classic and beautiful challenge races where the best marathon MTB racers battle out for cash and hundreds of other athletes test their fitness and grit to crush a good time on the classic western MTB lap.
Sydney’s RKT on an overlook on the Porcupine Rim Trail, the main descent on the classic Whole Enchilada loop.
Camping out in the desert!
Everyone is jealous of Sydney’s desert adventure training block.
Jeremy got in some great road riding in Fort Collins and on his childhood roads in Estes Park around playing violin for his cousin’s wedding at St. Catherine’s Chapel beneath the face of Mt. Meeker on Peak to Peak Highway. Growing up in this stretch of town and wilderness, it has always been on Jeremy’s bucket list to play his violin in this surreal mountain chapel. It was an honor to play there for such a lovely occasion as a family wedding! At the moment it is unclear whether or not Jeremy will take up the chapel on their offer of more violin gigs.
A dad selfie, so far the only photo Jeremy has of his playing! Featuring Jeremy’s parents, Thaine and Erika.
Jeremy feels more comfortable in a race kit than a three piece suit.
A photo of St Catherine’s chapel under Mt. Meeker taken on a training ride in 2020.
Post-wedding mountain road rip! Nothing like cresting the notorious switchbacks with the Estes Valley opening up in front of you!
Kenda Highlight!
For this update, HART would like to shout out the Vail Lake speed weapon, the Kenda Rush! This low profile, supple tire is as fast as you could ask for on the western hard pack, predictable in the loose, and a lightweight complement to any XC race bike!
BUT, consider this a spoiler, you need to read the following Sea Otter update for some exciting Kenda News!
HART-Accel Pro Cycling’s first look at the Kenda Rush back at Team Camp in January.
Next up:
Stay tuned for our Sea Otter update soon to follow! There are just too many good stories to tell in one go.
Until the next one!
-Jeremy Norris
