Thursday, August 10, 2006

I see cross people


You know what the toughest part about putting on a cross race is?

Its not the advertising, or the sponsor procuring, or even dealing with USA Cycling.

Its finding a venue.

In this litigious society, people don't want crazy cyclists racing all over their grounds. They also are waaay too worried about what we'll do to their fine grass. But they are right on that front. We can "f" up some grass real good in a cross race.

Remember Napa during the monsoon? Those vineyards were thrashed. I wonder what the faces of the Domaine Chandon folks were when they arrived at the offices that Monday morning and saw the carnage left behind.

So, I have been spending time thinking about new venues for Surf City. Course design is the #1 priority for the series. We want to find cool places. But man, is that ever hard.

I find myself driving around and eyeing potential locations. I see potential cross courses everywhere. I can imagine the course streaking across some lot and into the trees, I can imagine the specators, I can eve hear the clanging bells. But sadly, most of those places are not available to us. And you know what I think would make an ideal location and there are a shitload of them around here?

Golf courses.

Man, I would love to throw a kick ass cross race on a golf course.

They have undulating elevation changes, woods to scamper in, cart paths to go fast on, sand traps to bog down in, and luscious green green grass to beat all to hell. We'd just need to make certain they stock their bars that day with plenty of Pabst.

So if you know of any golf courses, that would be willing to give up a day of earning ungodly green fees off of golfers, to allow a bunch of wacked out cyclists to careen around and generally make havoc with their hallowed grounds, let me know.

10 Comments:

At 12:54 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger VeloRainDog said...

how 'bout just not asking?

"what? you mean we can't do this here??"

 
At 12:55 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger norcalcyclingnews.com said...

... but we paid our green fees!!

 
At 1:52 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger X Bunny said...

speaking from experience, if you want to do something on a golf course, just schedule it for about midnight and if you aren't too noisy (just tell the crossers to whisper) you will probably get away with it

 
At 1:55 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger Unknown said...

ooooh mindight cross!

(finally broke through the firewall here at my new work)

miss you all!!!

 
At 2:26 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger X Bunny said...

hi miss mary!!!!

--

i remember how badly parts of golden gate park looked after last year's race and wondered if we'd ever be allowed back....

--

we could find lots of fun places up here if you get desperate....

 
At 2:42 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger Ron Castia said...

Golf, a way to ruin a good walk.

Golf on a Mt. Bike or Cross bike? Yeah, now that is a game.

Nolan will be breaking out the MTB Polo clubs soon. Beer, bikes, and wacking things with a hammer at the end of a stick, who could ask for anything more?

 
At 7:20 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger PAB(a.k.a.CID) said...

hi mary!

ooh, its been a long time since i played bike polo. that is some serious fun! (unless people start to take it all serious...)

this is too obvious--i'm sure it has been thought of, maybe even done... UC Santa Cruz? They let us ridiculous roadies out there...howsabout some crazy crossers?

 
At 7:36 PM, August 10, 2006, Blogger X Bunny said...

bike polo!!

another thing i totally suck at but is sooooo much fun!

a field without giant wheel-swallowing gopher holes might help

 
At 11:14 AM, August 11, 2006, Blogger Unknown said...

hey vb-I sent you a clinic write up to your email. can you let me know if you got it or if my new email is going to your junk mail like my last work account.

thanks-mm

 
At 11:35 AM, August 11, 2006, Blogger Brent said...

Golf courses are hard to repair. plus their greens fees are soooo high just to play they don't need any extra money.

I seem to recall a cross race years ago (early to mid 90s) at Delavega golf course. It was tough and used a lot of the outer edges.

There was one about 5 years ago put on by SCCCC I am pretty sure, but that was up on the disc golf course and those guys threw a tantrum.

Monterey hieghts near cabrillo used to be a golf course. not sure if there is any land left there.

 

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