CVCCA - Parker's Team

I have started the fairly LONG job of posting the photos I took of the Washboard 100.  This will take several evenings work. See:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/72085627@N00/sets/72157604991147911/

Having taken well over 400 images, I anticipate posting well over 100 of them.  I do plan to show the complete selection at the team party next Saturday night.  Small files can be downloaded directly from Flickr, or, you can purchase a snapshot from them.  For anyone who wants to have a print that would be larger than 4 x 6 inches, please see information posted on the site, regarding the suggested donation to CVCCA for that.  

I have now posted about HALF of the Washboard 100 photos, so far 85.  Time to take a break to watch the coverage of the  2008 Giro d'Italia, featuring the first American Maglia Rosa, Christan Vandevelde, since 1988, when as you may recall, Andy Hampsten won the entire race, after the epic stage over the snow-filled Gavia Pass.  Alas, there is word that another American rider, our National Time Trial Champion, David Zabriskie, suffered an untimely encounter with a railroad track, and is now out of the race.

As Mike and all the coaches have explained, always cross railroad tracks at as close to a RIGHT ANGLE as possible, even if that means slowing down.  In my experience, the great majority of tracks in our Central Valley, which runs north by northwest, to south by southwest, are on a diagonal relative to our north-south and east-west oriented roads.  

Beautiful pics as usual Alan.  i especially like the wipeout shots in the washboard section.  That should be on th FCF website for next year! ;-)

Well, Nader, I really DON'T like the "wipeout shots," but felt impelled to post them in the spirit of journalistic integrity.  This was an unfortunate accident that resulted in what I understand to be a shoulder dislocation or fracture, and also, some knee injury. I would appreciate it if someone who knows this rider could post his name, and an update on his condition.

I would also like EVERYONE to take a look at the shot I took entitled "Blackbird Bend: Off-Camber Curve," or something like that, so that everyone can understand WHY the crash occurred, and WHAT we all need to be aware of, relative to road contour, that created the risk.  A few years ago, when the group was riding under the TNT banner, we had a rider who suffered a significant head injury, surviviing due to the skill of UMC Neurosurgery, due to a fall during a descent from Spring Valley, where there is a corner or two also OFF-CAMBER. 

Off camber means that the road surface is banked in the WRONG direction. With that, one can either fall, or go right off the edge of the road.  So, if a coach mentions that a downhill has an "off camber" section, LISTEN AND TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY, and ride accordingly!

So I got a little focused, and FINISHED posting all of the photos I care to post.  183 in all. I have shots of probably 95+% of anyone who rode across the dirt, plus some scattered shots from elsewhere along the course.  Most viewers will want to select the "slide show" option, though that does not include the few scattered comments I have made. One can also go through shot by shot, which does access the comments.  For the most part, I have not attempted to attach rider ID's, mainly to retain the file ID.

Alan,

Awesome photos.  You were omnipresent and truely captured the spirit of the day.  Thank you.

"truly captured the spirit of the day"

Just for that unduly kind remark, Carl, I'm posting one more photo...of you! 

 Hey Alan, I believe that is Jeff, I am going to butcher his last name, Rohrer, that took the fall.

Yes, you have the name correct, Jeff Rohrer, based upon a comment entered onto the photo site by Michelle Rohrer.  She indicates he suffered a fracture of his clavicle, and also, scapula. Many cyclists have successfully rehab'd from such an injury.