River Ride World Champions

2014
Men - Bryan Larsen
Women - Phoebe Hill Climber

2013
Men - Bryan Larsen
Women - KC Huthins

2012
Men - Chuck Hutcheson
Women - Emily Kachorek

2011
Men - Chuck Hutcheson

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000
Men - Ryan Smith

1999
Men - Chuck Hutcheson

1998
Men - John Brady

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991
Men - Scott McKinley

1990
Men - Dominique Anderson

2014 River Ride World Championship Race Report

What is epic? If it's rain, if it's wind, if it's cold, if it's fifty or more riders battling for the win - the Sacramento River Ride World Championship was all of these. 

Though the rain let up by the halfway mark, the pace never ceased. The race ride was animated by a never ending flurry of attacks from the Killer B's, Byron, Bob, and Bryan. Casey Fallon and Chuck covered many of their attacks, with Chuck eventually flatting out after Metro AirParkway. 

Eventually an attack from Bryan through the airport separated him, Bob, and Casey from the group after Byron made a wrong turn. Their lead looked insurmountable until they were stopped at the light on Del Paso, which at the scolding of Bryan the would wait for because "those are the rules!" The field would get within shouting distance by the time the light turned green. Both groups rolled through the same light cycle. 

Surprisingly the trio held there slim advantage down Garden Hwy. with two miles to go, what looked to the field to be cat and mouse tactics in the break was in reality utter exhaustion. With 500 meters to go an outsmarted Bob was caught off guard while on the front from the untamable long snap of the eventual winner Bryan. Bob held on for 2nd while Casey was absorbed by an angry field led by Chris Espy for third.

Phoebe Hill Climber was the one lone woman who showed.  Though her presence was to film the ride, she becomes the Women's  2014 River Ride World Champion!

Congratulations Bryan Larsen and Phoebe Hill Climber, your 2014 River Ride World Champions! 

Sacramento River Ride World Championship - 2014

Grab your popcorn! 

Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sacramento River Ride World Championship is ON!

The long course IS BACK! 

River Ride World Championship route, notes and FAQ

What: River Ride World Championship
When: Leaves at 10am
Where: 2419 K st Behind City Bicycle Works (in alley)
Why: For a shot at immortality
How: By crossing the finish line 1st in a SAFE manner

FAQ

Q. I want to participate, what do I do?
A. Show up at the start a few minutes early to hear the route and get told not to cross the center line, run red lights or do stupid things that can injure yourself, other riders or break the law.

Q. What is the "center line?"
A. It is the long yellow line down the center of the road. In the United States we ride on the RIGHT SIDE of it. If you ride on the left side of it you endanger other riders, cars passing, cars coming forward and yourself. If you do cross it, simply "U" turn and ride the direction of the lane you are in and disappear into the sunset.

Q. What if I come up to a traffic signal and it is red and there is a group ahead of me, or I am in a group off of the front of the pack?
A. You come to a complete stop, put your foot down and wait for it to turn green before proceeding.

Q. How do I get the win?
A. By not crossing the center line, obeying traffic lights, riding in a safe manner and crossing the only sprint on San Juan 1st.

Q. What do I get if I win one of the other sprints on the route?
A. You get to look silly because on this ride there is only one sprint, the one on San Juan.

Q. What is the route?
A.
Warm up:
Start in the Alley behind 2419 K street. Head west and make a right on 24th st. Left on C st. Right on bike trail between 19th and 20th street. Exit bike trail on Northgate Blvd - head North. Left on Garden Hwy. Pace picks up after the I80 over pass.

Fast part:
Continue Garden Hwy. Right Elverta. Right Metro Air Parkway. Right W Elkhorn Blvd. Left Power Line. Right Bayou. Right Airport Blvd. Right and loop around Crossfield. Left N Bayou. Left Garden Hwy. Left Power Line. Right Bayou. Bayou becomes El Centro Rd. Right Del Paso Rd. Left Power Line. Left Garden Hwy. Left on San Juan Rd.

Finish.
On San Juan.

Good luck River Riders!

Congratulations to Chuck for winning his final River Ride! Punk.
If you didn't know already, today was Chucks final river ride. That doesn't mean we can get lazy and slow. We must continue with what he has taught us, to be savage unrelenting weaklings. No but seriously, Chuck has made us all better in some way or another and I for one really appreciated all the beatings. So lets continue to keep the River Rides interesting but most of all as safe as possible.
Farewell from all of us River Riders and best of luck at the races!

Evening River Rides Begin March 10th!!!! - Monday River Ride 5:30

Well, its that time of year again!  With the time change on Sunday March 9th, we will have enough time to do River Rides on Monday March 10th.  Sunset will be at 7:08 pm, so bring a blinky light for your ride home.

Monday North 5:30 Description

Tuesday South 5:30 Description

Thursday North 5:30 ride Description

Note: Routes may be shortened.

Larsen Brothers - The Banned Video

The return of Retro Rick - Time constrain your Dino Mojo

Dinos

You've heard about Dino Riders?  Yep, those guys and gals whom talk in terms of years ago, sometimes wear wool, ride steel, post ancient race photos, ride epically but finish up in time to eat, drink, and tell war stories  epically too.  You think you're a Dino or maybe you just wanna be a Dino?  Well, there's nothing to stop you cause it's just a matter of attitude.  Yes, if you got attitude, you're a Dino.

So just how Dino are you?  Well, we all know, reptilian Dinosaurs lived during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.  Over time, early Dinosaur species evolved from primitive (Triassic) forms to advanced forms (Cretaceous) until that pesky asteroid changed the game at the end of the Cretaceous.  Homo Sapien Dino riders also follow that reptilian progression, we were primitive at the outset but advanced systematically so we can assign relative ages to ourselves.  Since everyone understands the reptilian Dino timescale, we'll just lift if for our own purposes.  So if you've bought into Dino and are interested in finding out just how primitive you are, read on:

Triassic Dinos (early,  late)

Early Triassic epoch Dinos built machines that allowed them to power them while riding.  Up to this time, wheels were used in machines that were either pulled or pushed by men or beasts (Permian power).  These wooden machines, referred to now as bicycles, used iron tires and Rube Goldberg drivetrains.  Comfortable saddles were well a few million years off.   Dinos who grew up riding these bikes are extinct unless they're frozen in Siberia.  But fossil bikes from this epoch are on display at the Davis bike museum.

Iron replaced wood during the Late-Triassic.  Late Triassic Dinos rode metal bikes with one really large, direct drive front wheel, one small rear wheel, and solid rubber tires.  Comfortable saddles were still a few million years off.  These bikes were tall (affording greater views) and fast so mid-Triassic Dinos took up racing for fun instead of survival.   Late Early Triassic Dinos are extinct too unless they're frozen in Siberia.  However, living Dinos use bikes from this epoch during special events like Tweed Rides.  Watch a Tweed Rider fall from one of these bikes and you'll understand why Late Triassic Dino's are extinct.

Jurassic Dinos (early, middle, Late)

Early Jurassic Dinos rode metal bikes with equal sized wheels, chain or direct drive, single fixed gear, and solid rubber tires.  Bikes now look like today's bikes.  Early Jurassic Dinos road for transportation, sport, and fun.   Early Jurassic Dinos are extinct unless frozen in Siberia

Middle Jurassic Dinos rode all steel bikes that used air-filled tires and chain drivetrains (elliptical chainrings debut too).  Gearing systems incorporated freewheels, internal and external shifting systems, as well as traditional fixed gearing.  Frame shifters dominated although some handlebar shifter systems were available.  Toe straps and clips, nail on cleats, narrow saddles and crude helmets also define the Middle Jurassic epoch and are common in the fossil record.  Good bikes and accessories were European (Campagnolo, Stronglight, Zeus, TA, Nervar), and Dino legends sprang up about which frame builder shaman had the most mojo.  Dinos clothed themselves in wool and were weight obsessed (some drilled holes in their bike parts and frames).  Many older living Dinos are from this period.

Invasive Japanese component companies (Japanolo) ushered in the Late Jurassic.  These companies tried to compete with European component manufactures by copying their parts.  Also, hard shell helmets, high-performance clincher tires, elliptical chainrings (again), and crude index shifting systems also define the Late Jurassic.  Late Jurassic bikes were made of aluminum, titanium, plastic, and carbon too.  Late Jurassic Dinos are relatively common and some are still pretty fast.

Cretaceous Dinos

Early Cretaceous

Clipless pedals, index shifting (an early electric form too), cassette gears and widespread hardshell helmet use ushered in the early Cretaceous.  Steel as a framebuilding material devolved into a cottage industry.  The late Cretaceous saw two copy cat Japanese component companies become extinct while the Japanese company that did things its own way thrived (if you're thinking Shimano, you get a gold star).  As an invasive, Shimano even displaced the premiere Euro company (two stars for guessing Campagnolo) on the European pro circuit.  Many Early Cretaceous Dinos don't know what toe straps,  nail on cleats, wool shorts, or frame friction shifters are. But elliptical chainrings reappeared again.     Carbon as  framebuilding material makes inroads.  Hiring a coach, especially by riders who started riding late in life becomes popular.  Hopefully, many new Dinos will be recruited from this period.

Mid-Cretaceous (We're more or less in this period now)

Carbon dominates as a frame, component, and wheel building material; frames, wheels, and accessories incorporate aerodynamic designs.  Cassettes are often confuse older Dinos because they have twice the gears that were available during their heyday.  Bikes do not need addition lightening but elliptical chainrings reappear again.  Reliable electric-powered shifting systems are introduced and priced for the masses.  Pro-bikes cost as much as a good used car (gee that's like it was in the mid Triassic).   But "Old school" bikes, clothes and components are available as part of a boutique industry (they cost as much as a used car too).   Hiring a Coach is a must do.  Hopefully, many Dinos will be recruited from this period.

Late Cretaceous

Well this epoch is reserved for riders who will start riding in the future using bikes and equipment that us existing Dinos can hardly imagine.   Future Dinos will have to be from this period because the only way to move into the Tertiary is to have another pesky asteroid hit.  If that happens, there won't be any more Dinos, just birds.

Well, hopefully you've been able to find yourself a spot in the Dino timeline as described above.  If you need further information, visit the bicycle historical center in Davis, CA, and visit the Dino Website (a wealth of Dino history, photos, sea stories, and it has an event calendar).

"Retro" Rick Humphreys PG #4304