Words by Kathy Portie writing for the Big Bear Grizzly
Pro XC start: Garnet Vertican, Steve Kinney and John Nobil head the pro start. Charles Jenkins #70 stretches his legs.
Commercial: After a lap Chuck already had a huge lead and proved how useful ESI Grip's new Hand Off waterbottle system is.
Wolfman: Mike Scratchy Johnston runs Promotion Sportswear and is getting way too fast for someone who owns his own business...
Pro Women XC start: Natasha Hernday, Heidi Bowen, a hidden Kim Hermon, Vanessa Humic and Christie Pleiss.
Virtual Rim Nordic: 3rd place Beginner 19-24 Jeremy Maldonado rides for Sho-Air/VeloSport/Sonance.
Titus versus Titus: Mark Owens (Pedalsmith-Geoladders) ahead of David Jurist (San Berdoo Chicken Ranch) on the start loop.
Perks: MBA's Eddie Arnet opted for the VIP Membership (available to everyone) for signup perks and custom number plate.
Thrill ride: Look at the perfect dirt and insatiably busy singletrack. Joe Hamlin won the 25-29 Sport Stage Race.
Through the trees: Thomas Hamilton of Fellowship Riders was 7th best in a huge 40-44 XC Sport class.
Classic Rim Nordic: 6th fastest 35-39 XC Sport Tim VanGilder on the legendary steep and busy singletrack.
In 2000, Bev Brown decided to bring a little Tour de France-style bicycle racing to the San Bernardino Mountains. And so, Rim Nordic's SoCal Mountain Stage Race was born.
Four years later, the race evolved into a memorial event for mountain biker Mark Reynolds after the Orange Country resident was killed in a mountain lion attack while on a ride in Whiting Ranch. "Mark won his category (in the stage race) the year before, and we decided it would be good to be able to give something to his charity,” Brown said.
The Mark Reynolds Memorial Children's First Bike Fund promotes safe bicycling for children. Donations are used to purchase new bikes and helmets for less fortunate children. Reynolds was an avid cyclist who raised money to purchase bicycles and helmets for children. he worked with local churches to find children whose families couldn't afford the equipment without assistance.
"Mark felt it was imjportat to get kids started early," Brown said. Rim Nordic doesn't charge a high entry fee for the race. The amount donated to the fund depends on how many riders sign up for the event. "I don't make a set amount," Brown said. "I donate what I feel we are able to give each year."
Brown isn't sure how much Rim Nordic can donate this year because of the ailing economy. There were 80 competitors in the event in 2007. "We have a couple of dozen riders signed up so far," she said. "We usually get a lot of same-day registrations since we don't charge a late fee. I hope we aren't below 60 for the stage race."
The SoCal Mountain Stage race includes three events over two days--a hill climb and dirt criterium on Saturday, and cross-country on Sunday.
Up next is XC Series race #3, also included as round #6 of the Cal State XC & SD Series. For more information blast rimnordic.com.
STAGE 1 HILLCLIMB
2 miles with 500 feet vertical gain
TOP TEN ELITE HILLCLIMB
1. John Nobil...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...9:31.59
2. Romolo Forcino...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...9:53.57
3. Jason Siegle...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...9:55.57
4. Steve Kinney...Pro...Steven K Sports...10:28.06
5. John Parson...Exp 19-24...SimplyFit-ActionSport...10:28.30
6. Ben Jones...Exp 30-34...Celo Pacific...10:34.03
7. Henry Valenzuela...Exp 40-44...10:37.03
8. Bob Kmetz...Exp 40-44...Sho-Air/VeloSport...10:39.67
9. Derek Hermon...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...10:47.71
10. Mark Campaigne...Exp 35-39...Celo Pacific...10:56.01
CLASS WINNERS
12. Mark Scheetz...Exp Sng Spd...11:04.12
13: Zach Valdez...Exp 18-...11:04.50
14: Lucas Weins...Exp 25-29...11:11.05
15. Eddie Arnet...Exp 45-49...MBA...11:19.14
19: Christie Pleiss...Pro Wmn...Bear Valley Bikes...12:07.39
21: Rob Bernhard...Exp 55+...12:24.82
22: Garner Palenske...Exp 50-54...Cal Coast...12:52.88
26: Vanessa Humic...Exp Wmn 19-29...Backbone......14:45.19
TOP TEN SPORT HILLCLIMB
1. Brian Adler...35-39...GS Arroyo...11:41
2. Casey Williams...18-...Bear Valley Bikes...11:53
3. Alan Jenkins...35-39...Velo Bum...12:33
4. John Holthaus...50-54...Sho-Air...13:02
5. Shawn Siese...Sng Spd...NuVision...13:19
6. Vicki Chernoff...40-49...Sho-Air/VeloSport...13:22
7. Mike Johnston...Sng Spd...Promotion Sportswear...13:29
8. Joe Barbee...30-34...Circle City Cyclery...14:01
9. Joe Hamlin...25-29...Bear Valley Bikes-Taco Village...14:20
10. Raul Tarango...45-49...Bear Valley Bikes...15:20
CLASS WINNERS
11. Doug Benedon...50-54...Bear Vallen Bikes...15:23
12. Ed Mundy...55-59...Incycle...15:34
14: John Clemmitt...60+...19:29
TOP TEN BEGINNER HILLCLIMB
1. David Kotlarski...40-44...12:02
2. Cameron Williams...11-12...Bear Valley Bikes...12:20
3. Evan Williams...11-12...Bear Valley Bikes...13:29
4. Josh Heveron...35-39...VeloBum...13:43
5. Paul Amodei...Clyd...Coates...13:47
6. Bryan Furbaholic Furbee...55+...ToysRUs...14:25
7. Vladimir Popovic...40-44...Sho-Air/Sonance/VeloSport...14:33
8. Jim Palmer...Clyd...VeloBum...14:50
9. Cheyne McKeever...25-29...Bear Valley Bikes...15:06
10. Tim Andrews...40-44...15:14
CLASS WINNERS
11. Rhonda Warden...Wmn 40+...Bear Valley Bikes...15:34
13. Kelley Brunson...Wmn 30-34...17:16
14. Ernst Mueller...50-54...Bear Valley Bikes...20:56
STAGE 2 DIRT CRIT
Half mile loop; pro/semi 15min, Exp 12min, Spt/Beg/Wmn 10min; all +3
laps
TOP PRO DIRT CRIT
1. John Nobil...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...20:02
2. Romolo Forcino...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...21:03
3. Jason Siegle...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...21:06
4. Steve Kinney...Pro...Steven K Sports...21:16
5. Derek Hermon...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...21:26
6. Tom Koerner...Semi...pulled
TOP TEN EXPERT DIRT CRIT
1. Bob Kmetz...40-44...Sho-Air/VeloSport...16:45
2. John Parson...19-24...SimplyFit-ActionSport...16:46
3. Brian Wilmot...30-34...Bechert...16:56
4. Ben Jones...30-34...Celo Pacific...17:05
5. Dan Nielsen...25-29...Bear Valley Bikes...17:08
6. Eddie Arnet...45-49...MBA...17:36
7. Zach Valdez...18-...17:46
8. Lucas Weins...25-29...18:05
9. Mark Campaigne...35-39...Celo Pacific...18:22
10. Christie Pleiss...Pro Wmn...Bear Valley Bikes...18:27
CLASS WINNERS
12. Rob Bernhard...55+...Cal Coast...18:38
14. Mark Scheetz...Sng Spd...pulled
17. Garner Palenske...50-54...Cal Coast...pulled
18. Vanesa Humic...Wmn 19-29...Backbone......pulled
TOP TEN SPORT DIRT CRIT
1. Casey Williams...18-...Bear Valley Bikes...16:01
2. John Holthaus...50-54...Sho-Air...16:04
3. Alan Jenkins...35-39...Velo Bum...16:10
4. Brian Adler......35-39...GS Arroyo...16:12
5. Vicki Chernoff...40-49...Sho-Air/VeloSport...17:00
6. Mike Johnston...Sng Spd...Promotion Sportswear...17:39
7. Joe Hamlin...25-29...Bear Valley Bikes-Taco Village...17:56
8. Joe Barbee...30-34...Circle City Cyclery...pulled
9. Raul Tarango...45-49...Bear Valley Bikes...pulled
10. Ed Mundy...55-59...Incycle...pulled
14. John Clemmitt...60+...Club Enduro...pulled
TOP TEN BEGINNER DIRT CRIT
1. Cameron Williams...11-12...Bear Valley Bikes...16:47
2. Dave Kotlarski...40-44...16:48
3. Paul Amodei...Clyd...Coates...18:00
4. Josh Heveron...35-39...VeloBum...18:13
5. Cheyne McKeever...25-29...Bear Valley Bikes...18:24
6. Evan Williams...12-...Bear Valley Bikes...18:26
7. Jim Palmer...Clyd...VeloBum...18:27
8. Vladimir Popovic...40-44...Sho-Air/Sonance/VeloSport...18:47
9. Ernst Mueller...50-54...Bear Valley Bikes...19:10
10. Alex Lutkus...35-39...Sho-Air...pulled
11. Rhonda Warden...Wmn 40+...Bear Valley Bikes...pulled
12. Tim Andrews...40-44...pulled
13. Bryan Furbaholic Furbee...55+...ToysRUs...pulled
14. Kelley Brunson...Wmn 30-34...Bear Valley Bikes...pulled
STAGE 3 CROSS-COUNTRY
And race #2 of the Rim Nordic XC Series
TOP TEN 3 LAP RIDERS
7.25 miles lap with 1000 feet of gain.
1. Charles Jenkins...Pro...Cytomax-KHS...1:31:55...14.2 mph av
2. John Nobil...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...1:33:34
3. Romolo Forcino...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...1:34:46
4. Jason Siegle...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...1:38:04
5. Hal Helbock...Pro...Cytomax-KHS...1:39:38
6. Todd Stephenson...Exp 45-49...Sho-Air...1:39:51
7. Ben Jones...Exp 30-34...Celo Pacific...1:40:44
8. Derek Hermon...Semi...Bear Valley Bikes...1:41:08
9. Brian Wilmot...Exp 30-34...Bechert...1:41:13
10. Bob Langin...Exp 45-49...Platinum...1:41:34
CLASS WINNERS
13. Yoshio Garcia...Exp 19-24...Coates-Freedom...1:43:03
18. Henry Valenzuela...Exp 40-44...1:44:28
22. Tim Sparks...Exp 35-39...Sho-Air...1:45:24
27. Craig Sisino...Exp Sng Spd...Sho-Air/VeloSport...1:47:14
30. Lucas Wiens...Exp 25-29...1:48:01
WOMEN
1. Natasha Hernday...Exp 30-34...Amgen...1:51:42
2. Christie Pleiss...Pro...Bear Valley Bikes...2:00:09
3. Vanessa Humic...Exp 19-29...Backbone...2:10:37
4. Kim Hermon...Exp 30-34...Bear Valley Bikes...2:29:13
5. Heidi Bowen...Exp 30-34...Idyllwild Cycling...2:49:35
TOP TEN 2 LAP RIDERS
1. Tom Andrews...Spt 40-44...1:10:04...12.4 mph av
2. Zach Valdez...Exp 18-...1:10:54
3. Gerrit Slingerland...Exp 50-54...Switchback Bikes...1:11:00
4. Bryan Taylor...Spt 35-39...1:11:23
5. Casey Williams...Spt 18-...Bear Valley Bikes...1:13:016. Curt
Morlock...Exp 50-54...Bikeshop Henderson...1:13:1
7. Brian Adler...Spt 35-39...GS Arroyo...1:14:09
8. Alan Jenkins...Spt 35-39...Velo Bum...1:14:35
9. Mark Milam...Spt 40-44...1:14:40
10. Terry Watkins...Spt 30-34...1:15:19
CLASS WINNERS
12. Patrick Eldridge...Spt 50-54...Team Ape...1:15:39
13. Matthew Severson...Spt 25-29...1:15:54
15. Richard Kim...Spt 45-49...Sho-Air/VeloSport...1:16:46
26. Rob Bernhard...Exp 55+...Cal Coast...1:20:22
31. Mike Johnston...Spt Sng Spd...Promotion Sportswear...1:20:56
39. Bryan Harris...Spt 19-24...Georgia Tech Cycling...1:22:26
63. Tom Sheppard...Spt Clyd...So Cal Revolution...1:32:18
66. Roger Jorgensen...Spt 55-59...Bikeman...1:33:47
83 Daniel Hanebrink...Spt 60+...Bear Valley Bikes...1:55:55
WOMEN
1. Vicki Chernoff...Spt 40-49...Sho-Air/VeloSport...1:23:01
2. Alexis Jones...Spt 30-34...1:32:56
3. Heidi Slominski...Spt 30-34...Heidi Sport...1:35:06
4. Laura Knight...Spt 35-39...1:39:36
5. Monica Zorrilla...Spt 30-39...Troupe Racing...1:42:52
6. Linh Tran...Spt 35-39...1:48:15
TOP TEN 1 LAP BEGINNERS
1. David Kotlarski...40-44...0:36:08...12.0 mph av
2. Clinton Campbell...40-44...Sho-Air/VeloSport...0:36:27
3. Justin Rosen...35-39...Sho-Air...0:38:43
4. Cameron Williams...11-12...Bear Valley Bikes...0:38:55
5. Andrew Burde...15-16...0:39:22
6. Brad Coburn...40-44...0:39:58
7. Wade Lawrence...40-44...0:40:27
8. Mike Rauls...45-49...Sho-Air/VeloSport...0:40:27
9. Evans Williams...11-12...Bear Valley Bikes...0:40:45
10. Rick Watts...Clyd...0:40:57
CLASS WINNERS
12. Nick Colonelli...25-29...0:41:37
14. Mike Harrison...30-34...0:42:21
22. Ernst Mueller...50-54...Bear Valley Bikes...0:44:32
28. Bryan Furbaholic Furbee...55+...ToysRUs...0:45:56
29. Tim Andrews...19-24...Sho-Air/Sonance...0:46:07
WOMEN
1. Ronda Warden...40+...Bear Valley Bikes...0:49:50
2. Kelley Brunson...30-34...Bear Valley Bikes...0:53:55
3. Denise Henderson...35-39...0:53:58
4. Kim Finch...40-99...0:56:26
5. Rachel Suggs...19-29...0:59:47
STAGE RACE OVERALL CLASS CHAMPIONS
Pro: Steve Kinney...Steven K Sports
Semi: John Nobil...Bear Valley Bikes
EXPERT CHAMP'S
18-: Zach Valdez
19-24: John Parson...SimplyFit-ActionSport
25-29: Lucas Wiens
30-34: Ben Jones...Celo Pacific
35-39: Mark Campaigne...Celo Pacific
40-44: Henry Valenzuela
45-49: Eddie Arnet...MBA
50-54: Garner Palenske...Cal Coast
55+ Rob Bernhard...Cal Coast
Sng Spd: Mark Scheetz
Wmn 19-29: Vanessa Humic...Backbone
SPORT CHAMP'S
18-: Casey Williams...Bear Valley Bikes
25-29: Joe Hamlin...Bear Valley Bikes-Taco Village
30-34: Joe Barbee...Circle City Cyclery
35-39: Brain Adler...GS Arroyo
45-49: Raul Tarango...Bear Valley Bikes
50-54: Doug Benedon...Bear Valley Bikes
55-59: Ed Mundy...Incycle
60+: John clemmitt...Club Enduro
Wmn 40-49: Vicki Chernoff...Sho-Air/VeloSport
Sng Spd: Mike Johnston...Promotion Sportswear
BEGINNER CHAMP'S
12-: Cameron Williams...Bear Valley Bikes
19-24: Tim Andrews...Sho-Air/Sonance
25-29: Cheyne McKeever...Bear Valley Bikes
35-39: Josh Heveron...VeloBum
40-44: David Kotlarski
50-54: Ernst Mueller...Bear Valley Bikes
55+: Bryan Furbaholic Furbee...ToysRUs
Clyd: Paul Amodei...Coates
Wmn 30-34: Kelley Brunson...Bear Valley Bikes
Wmn 40+: Ronda Warden...Bear Valley Bikes