All Things Cycling…..

Hi Everyone!!! I would like to thank everyone who came out to this morning's Vilas Road Uphill Time Trial - we had 23 riders out there taking part in this event(along with a few spectators at the top) in great weather conditions(although a tad bit chilly at the start)! A HUGE thank you goes out to Gary Fowler for volunteering to start the riders off this morning - even after slicing his thumb while fixing a flat on his bike!!! Hope that thumb heals up quickly, Gary - and thank you so much for all of your help today!!! You are a trooper!!!!

Okay, below are the Combined Results from this morning's Category 1 climb of the Vilas Road Uphill Time Trial - followed by the Current Overall Standings in the Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series. Today's event was #8 out of 16 events - the next event is next Saturday's Honey Run Road Uphill Time Trial - Saturday, March 6th at 9:00AM! This one goes from the Honey Run Covered Bridge up to the Muffler Shop at the top of Honey Run Road(just before you get to the Skyway). Also, this is our second Category 1 climb in the Butte Hill Series - and is approximately 5.3 miles in length and climbs approximately 2,300 feet or so. Remember - you can always come out to any or all of the Time Trials - just go your own pace, do your own thing - just you against the clock, no big whoop - and it's FREE! We have a wide variety of riders out there - ALL are welcome to come out and give it a shot!! AND - if you don't want your time recorded in the Official Results, it's okay - just let me know at the Start when you sign in.

Next Saturday's Honey Run Road Time Trial will also have some treats brought to you by The Bicycle Shop up in Paradise!! After the event, please visit them(the shop is right at the top of the TT - just go around the corner to your left at the top) for some goodies!! A HUGE thank you to owners Holly & Brian! The Bicycle Shop is located at 6133 Skyway - please visit their website at http://www.siberianbikers.com/ , and on Race Day stop on in for some treats and to check out their shop!

For a map of next Saturday's Honey Run Road Uphill Time Trial Course, please visit:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Honey-Run-TT

Registration will open at 8:30am at the intersection of Honey Run Road & Centerville Road(across the street from the Honey Run Covered Bridge) - first rider will take off at 9:01am, and we will go in 1-minute intervals. I still need someone to help me start the riders off, so if you can volunteer to help out, just send me an e-mail at lorrod7@comcast.net - you still get to race, just be the last one to start.....and you get a 3 Point Bonus in the Series(along with my undying gratitude)!

For some photos of today's Vilas Road Time Trial and yesterday's Tour de Ed, please visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo/

****REMEMBER also: The Tour of the Unknown Valley South is next Sunday, March 7th starting between 7:00am and 9:00am at the Willows Fire Department(for the 100-mile route) or in Maxwell(for the 65-mile route)!! For more information, please visit:

http://www.chicovelo.org/main/index.php/century-series/27-tourunknownvalleysouth
(No Criteriums next weekend, unfortunately - after the TT in the morning, I have to jet over to Willows to get ready for the Unknown Valley South Tour. BUT - there WILL be an Airport Criterium on Sunday, March 14th at 2:00pm, called Kaleb's Kriterium, in honor of birthday boy Kaleb Traficante!!).

Please let me know if you see any additions, subtractions, corrections, deletions or any other changes that need to be made in the results below - I may have guessed on some of the Age & Categories, so let me know if there's an error. Results will be final after a 24-hour protest period - starting now:

COMBINED RESULTS - VILAS ROAD UPHILL TIME TRIAL - FEB. 28th, 2010:
1. Jesse Rushing 32:10
2. Lowell Moural Jr. 35:26
3. Kyle Hughes 35:47
4. Josh Bullock 36:32
5. Mike Trowbridge 39:40
6. Mike Watson 41:04
7. Lee Altier 41:12
8. Denny McKenney 41:19
9. Forough Molina 42:41
10. Mark Wolford 43:47
11. Gary Fowler 43:57
12. Marty Crosley 44:30
13. Jon Walker 45:00
14. Byron Fountain 45:59
15. Randy Will 47:56
16. Jay Rawlins 49:11
17. Caryn Jones 50:52
18. Jim Mensching 51:10
19. Norm Rosene 53:45
19. Ariana Altier 53:45
21. Skip Lees 55:19
22. Trevor Stewart 55:33
23. Aliya Traficante 56:37

CATEGORY RESULTS - VILAS ROAD UPHILL TIME TRIAL - FEB. 28th, 2010:

Category "A" Men Results:
1. Jesse Rushing 32:10 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Lowell Moural Jr. 35:26 (26 points + 3 = 29 points)
3. Kyle Hughes 35:47 (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
4. Josh Bullock 36:32 (22 points + 3 = 25 points)

Category "B" Men Results:
1. Marty Crosley 44:30 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Jon Walker 45:00 (26 points + 3 = 29 points)
3. Trevor Stewart 55:33 (24 points + 3 = 27 points)

Women's Category Results:
1. Forough Molina 42:41 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Caryn Jones 50:52 (26 points + 3 = 29 points)
3. Ariana Altier 53:45 (24 points + 3 = 27 points)

Womens 45+ Category Results:
No Competitors.

Clydesdale Men Results:
No Competitors.

Mens 45+ Category Results:
1. Mark Wolford 43:47 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Randy Will 47:56 (26 points + 3 = 29 points)
3. Norm Rosene 53:45 (24 points + 3 = 27 points)

Mens 55+ Category Results:
1. Mike Trowbridge 39:40 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)
2. Mike Watson 41:04 (26 points + 3 = 29 points)
3. Lee Altier 41:12 (24 points + 3 = 27 points)
4. Denny McKenney 41:19 (22 points + 3 = 25 points)
5. Gary Fowler 43:57 (20 points + 3 + 3 Bonus Points = 26 points)
6. Byron Fountain 45:59 (18 points + 3 = 21 points)
7. Jay Rawlins 49:11 (16 points + 3 = 19 points)
8. Jim Mensching 51:10 (14 points + 3 = 17 points)
9. Skip Lees 55:19 (12 points + 3 = 15 points)

Juniors Results:
1. Aliya Traficante 56:37 (30 points + 3 = 33 points)

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS IN THE 2010 BUTTE HILL CLIMB TIME TRIAL SERIES AFTER 8 EVENTS:

Category "A" Men Overall Standings:
1. Jesse Rushing 176 points
2. Jim Roberts 139 points
3. Lowell Moural Jr. 63 points
4. Chris Roots 50 points
5. Kyle Hughes 46 points
5. Greg Golet 46 points
7. Josh Bullock 44 points
8. Brad Foster 40 points
9. Josh Rowe 32 points
10. Tim Olson 27 points
10. Ian Boswell 27 points
12. Alex Blease 21 points
12. Rich Thurman 21 points
14. Brian Larson 17 points
15. Joe Shelburne 15 points
15. Jeff Galland 15 points

Category "B" Men Overall Standings:
1. Jon Walker 177 points
2. Marty Crosley 117 points
3. David Dura 114 points
4. Luke Wentland 73 points
5. Ben Wentland 53 points
6. Chris Devine 42 points
6. Tom Embree 42 points
8. Alex Roberson 32 points
8. Darrin Bell 32 points
10. Daniel Law 30 points
11. Trevor Stewart 27 points
12. Bryan Slinkard 23 points
13. Derek Moffitt 21 points
14. Bobby Just 19 points
14. Greg Wright 19 points
16. Don Curtis 17 points
17. Nate Vigeant 16 points
18. Brian Oppy 15 points
19. Octavio Valencia 13 points
20. Steve Chollet 11 points
20. John Jacobson 11 points
22. Alex Albrecht 9 points

Women's Category Overall Standings:
1. Forough Molina 129 points
2. Caryn Jones 56 points
3. Lisa Berry 46 points
4. Ariana Altier 27 points
4. Chloe Brandow 27 points

Womens 45+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Janine Rood 100 points
2. Jeanne O'regan 63 points
3. Elizabeth Brent 59 points
4. Anne Yates 27 points
5. Margaret Bomberg 19 points
6. Mary Ann Bachus 17 points
7. Ruth Lee 15 points

Clydesdale Men Overall Standings:
1. Rick Carhart 69 points
2. Clay Johnson 27 points
3. Colin Moakley 23 points

Mens 45+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Mark Wolford 192 points
2. Randy Will 109 points
3. Norm Rosene 84 points
4. Doug Weseman 77 points
5. Mike Jessen 23 points
5. Charlie Pelton 23 points
7. Dennis Schmidt 19 points
8. Jon Zuehlke 17 points

Mens 55+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Byron Fountain 141 points
2. Mike Trowbridge 133 points
3. Gary Fowler 118 points
4. Mike Watson 117 points
5. Jim Mensching 111 points
6. Denny McKenney 82 points
7. Jay Rawlins 77 points
8. Skip Lees 34 points
9. Walt Schafer 28 points
10. Lee Altier 27 points
11. Bill Brent 9 points

Juniors Overall Standings:
1. Aliya Traficante 206 points
2. Davis Foster 23 points
2. Samuel Bransky 23 points

The 2010 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series Information:

Hi Everyone! So, we are starting a NEWER Hill Climb Series this next Spring - The Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series in Spring 2010 will visit various parts of Butte County, with the climbs and dates below. There was a similar Series done years ago here in Chico - 1981 or 1982 - by Tom Devol and Jeff Smith, who owned Cyclesport bike shop at the time. And, of course, now there is that almost-famous Low Key Hillclimb Series in the Bay Area every fall. In any case, we decided to have our own and revive the old Hill Climb Series.......with a few route changes. Below is a list of the tentative events with dates. It should be mentioned that these dates could change depending upon other events going on. And, of course......the weather! Rain will NOT cancel - but snow and ice will.

16 events - 30,000 feet of total climbing - held over a 5-month period from January through May 2010!! Bound to be a very challenging and memorable Series. Sure - there will be pain and suffering - but it's the good kind!!

Note: The Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series will be back in the Fall/Winter of 2010 - starting in September with the Cohasset Hill Climb TT! The Butte Series will go from January 1st, 2010 through May 2010. This Series follows a progression over 5 months - starting with the Category 3 climbs early to get your legs ready and all warmed-up........and ending with the Hors Category climbs in May. This should help you take advantage of those springtime miles - and get you ready for those hilly summertime Centuries and races!!!

How does it work??? Below are each of the 16 Events in the Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series. Each climb has been given a rank based upon feedback from some well-known riders in the area (and climbers in particular - yes, I know - everyone is different, but this is just a low-key have-fun series, so no big whoop). Hors Category and Category 1 climbs are the hardest, with Category 3 being.......let's not say easiest.......let's say........not quite as hard as Category 1! Points will be awarded to the top finishers in each Hill Climb TT - the folks with the most points at the end of the Series, wins the overall title in their respective categories........along with the coveted Butte County Hill Climb Champion Trophy. Never done a Time Trial before?? No problem - it's just you against the clock.....go your own pace and just do what you can out there!!!

RESULTS: I will try my best to have results out from each Time Trial within a 24-hour period, as well as the Updated Overall Standings after each event. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I don't foresee that happening this next year(unlike the Chico Hill Series!). The results will be posted to all of the e-mail groups, on Facebook, on Twitter, on my blog, and to the Chico Enterprise-Record(although, they may not post them).

EVERY competitor who starts and finishes an event receives an additonal 3 points PER event. It should also be noted - there MIGHT be an additional point(s) awarded for "adverse conditons". One year, we had an absolute freezing cold downpour of rain at the Centerville Time Trial and I awarded everyone 2 extra points for "adverse conditions"........but, again, this is a BIG "might" and the conditions would have to be atrocious. ANY person who helps me start the riders off at the events receives an additional 3 points for volunteering - I usually only need 1 or 2 people, and can almost always use the help.....and you can still race the event - just be the last one out of the starting gate and you'll be good-to-go!!

The Point Breakdown for placings is as follows:

Hors Category Climb = 40-36-34-32-30-28-26-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (In other words, 1st place in an Hors Category Time Trial gets 40 points, 2nd place gets 36 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 1 Climb = 30-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (1st place in a Cat. 1 TT gets 30 points, 2nd place gets 26 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 2 Climb = 24-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1(The winner of a Cat. 2 climb gets 24 points, 2nd place gets 20 points and on and on.)
Cat. 3 Climb = 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1

And here are the Time Trial courses, the tentative dates, and their listed difficulty category. Starting times for the events are normally consistent - 8:30am registration opens, 1st rider off at 9:01am. **PLEASE NOTE - These dates are extremely tentative, and almost all of them fall on Saturdays. However, that does NOT mean that they will stay there - any sort of scheduling change for an event could put it on a Sunday(very easily) and dates may be switched around or pushed until May - or even June - 2010. Reasons for a change in dates include snow and ice on the climbs, other events going on that same day, a change in the R.A.C.E. calendar or Rodney being ill or out-of-town, etc. So, take the dates with a grain of salt....for now:

January 1st - Humboldt Road Time Trial - Cat. 3 - approximately 3.4 miles; 764 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 2nd - Centerville-to-Gravel Time Trial - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.6 miles; 1,364 feet of climbing.(Yes, I know - sorry). - COMPLETED!

January 9th - Cherokee Time Trial - Cat. 3 (Start at Coal Canyon Road, across from Wheelock Road) and go up Hwy. 70, turn right at Cherokee Road) - approximately 4.8 miles; 1,076 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 16th - Cohasset to the Store Time Trial Cat. 2 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 30th - Pentz Road Time Trial - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.8 miles & 1,142 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 13th - Clark Road Time Trial - Cat. 2 - approximately 7.5 miles & 1,800 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 20th - Coutelenc TT - Cat. 2 (Just stay on Coutelenc) - approximately 6.8 miles & 1,593 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 28th - Vilas Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 (From Nicalog to the end of Vilas) - approximately 7 miles & 2,363 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

March 6th - Honey Run Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 2,421 feet of climbing.

March 13th - Dark Canyon Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 4 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing!!

March 27th - Cherokee to Lunt Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,950 feet of climbing.

April 3rd - Table Mountain (Wildflower Side) Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 1,621 feet of climbing.

April 10th - Forest Ranch to Lomo Time Trial - Cat. 1(starts at Forest Ranch Store; ends at entrance to Butte Meadows) - approximately 13.2 miles & 2,346 feet of climbing.

May 1st - Lomo to Jonesville Time Trial - Cat. 1 (starts at Hwy. 32 at entrance to Butte Meadows - ends at parking lot in Jonesville) - approximately 10.2 miles & 2,077 feet of climbing.

May 8th - Lovelock to Inskip Time Trial - Hors Category - approximately 10.4 miles & 2,800 feet of climbing.

May 15th - Cohasset to Gravel (from Nicalog to the end of Cohasset Road) - Hors Category - approximately 9.4 miles & 2,847 feet of climbing.

16 Climbs, approximately 30,000 feet of total climbing, held over a 5-month period from January through May 2010(if dates need to be changed, we could go into June 2010). Consistency will be key to winning the Overall Series.

PARTICIPANT CATEGORIES: The following categories will be offered for the Series(see below). The winner in each category will receive the Butte Hill Climb Champion Trophy, along with Bragging Rights.........as well as any stuff we can get to give away as prizes:

Category "A" Men
Category "B" Men
Women's Category
Womens 45+ Category
Clydesdale Men (No no, I'm not gonna weigh you - just show up and tell me and I will give you a yes or no answer.....however, I'm looking for about 200 pound body weight or more)
Mens 45+ Category
Mens 55+ Category
Juniors (Looking at 10 to 16 years of age for this particular Category, but may be changed depending upon who shows up!).

As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged (A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event). Also, if there are a lot of folks in one particular category, we may split those up into sub-categories, if needed. In turn, if nobody - or very few folks are in one category, we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it(these COULD include tandem categories, Category "C" or any other age Categories). At the end of the Series, we will have an Awards Ceremony at the Madison Bear Garden, one of the local bicycle shops or another establishment that would have us invade with cycling trophies/awards!! Hope to have some Butte Series T-shirts to give out as well, but will be dependent upon my extremely limited budget.

One note - Any rider caught giving grief to the Promoter, the Timers or the Starters of these events will be automatically disqualified from - not only the event - but the entire Series. So, do what ya always do, and just have fun with the Series - it's no big whoop, we're just out there having fun and getting some good fitness!!! (No no - we've never ever had a problem with getting grief - just wanted to state it so it will continue to just be a fun event for everyone involved!!). AND - Helmets are MANDATORY!

This Series is FREE - so come on out and take advantage of some, or all, of these Time Trials in Spring 2010! Although donations are always appreciated, they are NEVER necessary to enter these events - I just want y'all out there testing yourselves on your bicycles!!! Hope to see you out there - and I will have more details, maps and information as we get closer to the events.

Rodney........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Annoying Cycling Events
Chico, CA

Just a reminder that the Tour de Ed is on Saturday, February 27th(tomorrow!) at 10am(registration opens at 8am at the downtown municipal building parking lot) - and the Vilas Road Uphill Time Trial is on Sunday, February 28th at 9:00am(see info below)!

The next event in the Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series is The Vilas Road Uphill Time Trial - Sunday, February 28th at 9:00AM. This one goes from Nicalog Road(at Cohasset Road) up to Cohasset.....past the Cohasset Store.....to Vilas Road, and up Vilas Road almost all the way to the gravel. Also, this is our first Category 1 climb in the Butte Hill Series!! It's approximately 7 miles in length and climbs approximately 2,363 feet! And now the BIG points will start being handed out in the Series. Remember - you can always come out to any or all of the Time Trials - just go your own pace, do your own thing - just you against the clock, no big whoop - and it's FREE! We have a wide variety of riders out there - ALL are welcome to come out and give it a shot!! AND - if you don't want your time recorded in the Official Results, it's okay - just let me know at the Start when you sign in!

For a map of this Sunday's Vilas Road Uphill Time Trial Course, please visit:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Vilas-Road-Time-Trial

Registration will open at 8:30am at the intersection of Nicalog Road & Cohasset Road(there is a dirt parking area there) - first rider will take off at 9:01am, and we will go in 1-minute intervals.

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS IN THE 2010 BUTTE HILL CLIMB TIME TRIAL SERIES AFTER 7 EVENTS:

Category "A" Men Overall Standings:
1. Jesse Rushing 143 points
2. Jim Roberts 139 points
3. Chris Roots 50 points
4. Greg Golet 46 points
5. Brad Foster 40 points
6. Lowell Moural Jr. 34 points
7. Josh Rowe 32 points
8. Tim Olson 27 points
8. Ian Boswell 27 points
10. Alex Blease 21 points
10. Rich Thurman 21 points
12. Kyle Hughes 19 points
12. Josh Bullock 19 points
14. Brian Larson 17 points
15. Joe Shelburne 15 points
15. Jeff Galland 15 points

Category "B" Men Overall Standings:
1. Jon Walker 148 points
2. David Dura 114 points
3. Marty Crosley 84 points
4. Luke Wentland 73 points
5. Ben Wentland 53 points
6. Chris Devine 42 points
6. Tom Embree 42 points
8. Alex Roberson 32 points
8. Darrin Bell 32 points
10. Daniel Law 30 points
11. Bryan Slinkard 23 points
12. Derek Moffitt 21 points
13. Bobby Just 19 points
13. Greg Wright 19 points
15. Don Curtis 17 points
16. Nate Vigeant 16 points
17. Brian Oppy 15 points
18. Octavio Valencia 13 points
19. Steve Chollet 11 points
19. John Jacobson 11 points
21. Alex Albrecht 9 points

Women's Category Overall Standings:
1. Forough Molina 96 points
2. Lisa Berry 46 points
3. Chloe Brandow 27 points
3. Caryn Jones 27 points

Womens 45+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Janine Rood 100 points
2. Jeanne O'regan 63 points
3. Elizabeth Brent 59 points
4. Anne Yates 27 points
5. Margaret Bomberg 19 points
6. Mary Ann Bachus 17 points
7. Ruth Lee 15 points

Clydesdale Men Overall Standings:
1. Rick Carhart 69 points
2. Clay Johnson 27 points
3. Colin Moakley 23 points

Mens 45+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Mark Wolford 159 points
2. Randy Will 80 points
3. Doug Weseman 77 points
3. Norm Rosene 57 points
5. Mike Jessen 23 points
5. Charlie Pelton 23 points
7. Dennis Schmidt 19 points
8. Jon Zuehlke 17 points

Mens 55+ Category Overall Standings:
1. Byron Fountain 120 points
2. Mike Trowbridge 100 points
3. Jim Mensching 94 points
4. Gary Fowler 92 points
5. Mike Watson 88 points
6. Jay Rawlins 58 points
7. Denny McKenney 57 points
8. Walt Schafer 28 points
9. Skip Lees 19 points
10. Bill Brent 9 points

Juniors Overall Standings:
1. Aliya Traficante 173 points
2. Davis Foster 23 points
2. Samuel Bransky 23 points

The 2010 Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series Information:

Hi Everyone! So, we are starting a NEWER Hill Climb Series this next Spring - The Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series in Spring 2010 will visit various parts of Butte County, with the climbs and dates below. There was a similar Series done years ago here in Chico - 1981 or 1982 - by Tom Devol and Jeff Smith, who owned Cyclesport bike shop at the time. And, of course, now there is that almost-famous Low Key Hillclimb Series in the Bay Area every fall. In any case, we decided to have our own and revive the old Hill Climb Series.......with a few route changes. Below is a list of the tentative events with dates. It should be mentioned that these dates could change depending upon other events going on. And, of course......the weather! Rain will NOT cancel - but snow and ice will.

16 events - 30,000 feet of total climbing - held over a 5-month period from January through May 2010!! Bound to be a very challenging and memorable Series. Sure - there will be pain and suffering - but it's the good kind!!

Note: The Chico Hill Climb Time Trial Series will be back in the Fall/Winter of 2010 - starting in September with the Cohasset Hill Climb TT! The Butte Series will go from January 1st, 2010 through May 2010. This Series follows a progression over 5 months - starting with the Category 3 climbs early to get your legs ready and all warmed-up........and ending with the Hors Category climbs in May. This should help you take advantage of those springtime miles - and get you ready for those hilly summertime Centuries and races!!!

How does it work??? Below are each of the 16 Events in the Butte Hill Climb Time Trial Series. Each climb has been given a rank based upon feedback from some well-known riders in the area (and climbers in particular - yes, I know - everyone is different, but this is just a low-key have-fun series, so no big whoop). Hors Category and Category 1 climbs are the hardest, with Category 3 being.......let's not say easiest.......let's say........not quite as hard as Category 1! Points will be awarded to the top finishers in each Hill Climb TT - the folks with the most points at the end of the Series, wins the overall title in their respective categories........along with the coveted Butte County Hill Climb Champion Trophy. Never done a Time Trial before?? No problem - it's just you against the clock.....go your own pace and just do what you can out there!!!

RESULTS: I will try my best to have results out from each Time Trial within a 24-hour period, as well as the Updated Overall Standings after each event. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I don't foresee that happening this next year(unlike the Chico Hill Series!). The results will be posted to all of the e-mail groups, on Facebook, on Twitter, on my blog, and to the Chico Enterprise-Record(although, they may not post them).

EVERY competitor who starts and finishes an event receives an additonal 3 points PER event. It should also be noted - there MIGHT be an additional point(s) awarded for "adverse conditons". One year, we had an absolute freezing cold downpour of rain at the Centerville Time Trial and I awarded everyone 2 extra points for "adverse conditions"........but, again, this is a BIG "might" and the conditions would have to be atrocious. ANY person who helps me start the riders off at the events receives an additional 3 points for volunteering - I usually only need 1 or 2 people, and can almost always use the help.....and you can still race the event - just be the last one out of the starting gate and you'll be good-to-go!!

The Point Breakdown for placings is as follows:

Hors Category Climb = 40-36-34-32-30-28-26-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (In other words, 1st place in an Hors Category Time Trial gets 40 points, 2nd place gets 36 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 1 Climb = 30-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1 (1st place in a Cat. 1 TT gets 30 points, 2nd place gets 26 and on down the line - every person who competes in the event gets at least 1 point).
Cat. 2 Climb = 24-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1(The winner of a Cat. 2 climb gets 24 points, 2nd place gets 20 points and on and on.)
Cat. 3 Climb = 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2-1-1-1

And here are the Time Trial courses, the tentative dates, and their listed difficulty category. Starting times for the events are normally consistent - 8:30am registration opens, 1st rider off at 9:01am. **PLEASE NOTE - These dates are extremely tentative, and almost all of them fall on Saturdays. However, that does NOT mean that they will stay there - any sort of scheduling change for an event could put it on a Sunday(very easily) and dates may be switched around or pushed until May - or even June - 2010. Reasons for a change in dates include snow and ice on the climbs, other events going on that same day, a change in the R.A.C.E. calendar or Rodney being ill or out-of-town, etc. So, take the dates with a grain of salt....for now:

January 1st - Humboldt Road Time Trial - Cat. 3 - approximately 3.4 miles; 764 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 2nd - Centerville-to-Gravel Time Trial - Cat. 3 - approximately 6.6 miles; 1,364 feet of climbing.(Yes, I know - sorry). - COMPLETED!

January 9th - Cherokee Time Trial - Cat. 3 (Start at Coal Canyon Road, across from Wheelock Road) and go up Hwy. 70, turn right at Cherokee Road) - approximately 4.8 miles; 1,076 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 16th - Cohasset to the Store Time Trial Cat. 2 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,600 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

January 30th - Pentz Road Time Trial - Cat. 2 - approximately 5.8 miles & 1,142 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 13th - Clark Road Time Trial - Cat. 2 - approximately 7.5 miles & 1,800 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 20th - Coutelenc TT - Cat. 2 (Just stay on Coutelenc) - approximately 6.8 miles & 1,593 feet of climbing. - COMPLETED!

February 28th - Vilas Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 (From Nicalog to the end of Vilas) - approximately 7 miles & 2,363 feet of climbing.

March 6th - Honey Run Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 2,421 feet of climbing.

March 13th - Dark Canyon Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 4 miles & 2,400 feet of climbing!!

March 27th - Cherokee to Lunt Road Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.1 miles & 1,950 feet of climbing.

April 3rd - Table Mountain (Wildflower Side) Time Trial - Cat. 1 - approximately 5.3 miles & 1,621 feet of climbing.

April 10th - Forest Ranch to Lomo Time Trial - Cat. 1(starts at Forest Ranch Store; ends at entrance to Butte Meadows) - approximately 13.2 miles & 2,346 feet of climbing.

May 1st - Lomo to Jonesville Time Trial - Cat. 1 (starts at Hwy. 32 at entrance to Butte Meadows - ends at parking lot in Jonesville) - approximately 10.2 miles & 2,077 feet of climbing.

May 8th - Lovelock to Inskip Time Trial - Hors Category - approximately 10.4 miles & 2,800 feet of climbing.

May 15th - Cohasset to Gravel (from Nicalog to the end of Cohasset Road) - Hors Category - approximately 9.4 miles & 2,847 feet of climbing.


16 Climbs, approximately 30,000 feet of total climbing, held over a 5-month period from January through May 2010(if dates need to be changed, we could go into June 2010). Consistency will be key to winning the Overall Series.

PARTICIPANT CATEGORIES: The following categories will be offered for the Series(see below). The winner in each category will receive the Butte Hill Climb Champion Trophy, along with Bragging Rights.........as well as any stuff we can get to give away as prizes:

Category "A" Men
Category "B" Men
Women's Category
Womens 45+ Category
Clydesdale Men (No no, I'm not gonna weigh you - just show up and tell me and I will give you a yes or no answer.....however, I'm looking for about 200 pound body weight or more)
Mens 45+ Category
Mens 55+ Category
Juniors (Looking at 10 to 16 years of age for this particular Category, but may be changed depending upon who shows up!).

As usual, sandbaggers are strongly discouraged (A Sandbagger would be a Category "A" rider entering a Category "B" event). Also, if there are a lot of folks in one particular category, we may split those up into sub-categories, if needed. In turn, if nobody - or very few folks are in one category, we may eliminate it and add an additional category where the numbers allow it(these COULD include tandem categories, Category "C" or any other age Categories). At the end of the Series, we will have an Awards Ceremony at the Madison Bear Garden, one of the local bicycle shops or another establishment that would have us invade with cycling trophies/awards!! Hope to have some Butte Series T-shirts to give out as well, but will be dependent upon my extremely limited budget.

One note - Any rider caught giving grief to the Promoter, the Timers or the Starters of these events will be automatically disqualified from - not only the event - but the entire Series. So, do what ya always do, and just have fun with the Series - it's no big whoop, we're just out there having fun and getting some good fitness!!! (No no - we've never ever had a problem with getting grief - just wanted to state it so it will continue to just be a fun event for everyone involved!!). AND - Helmets are MANDATORY!

This Series is FREE - so come on out and take advantage of some, or all, of these Time Trials in Spring 2010! Although donations are always appreciated, they are NEVER necessary to enter these events - I just want y'all out there testing yourselves on your bicycles!!! Hope to see you out there - and I will have more details, maps and information as we get closer to the events.

Rodney........
R.A.C.E. - Rodney's Amateur Cycling Events
Chico, CA