Still buzzing from yesterdays Mount Tamalpais dirt climb. 

ZEN

Phone photos of this race machine fit to my preference. Levels are running high over here at the Racing Division.

This years race bike is a handbuilt frame from Andrew Low with a Ritchey bar/stem provided by Cadence. City + County put this together and will be providing support all season. Thanks to all the people who made this possible, foremost, TCB Courier Racing Division. Lets try and have a good season.

NonDrive BodegaBike

GGB

cx-tcb

setting goals for the upcoming cyclocross season and most of them have nothing to do with being on the bike.

The Low down

I had the opportunity to visit with Andrew Low of LOW Bicycles last week. I first met Andrew at a pre-party for SSCXWC here in SF a few years back (that I didn’t make it to the start of, that’s a party story for another time). Since that time we have chatted off and on both in person and online. I rode a track frame he built on his first batch in the summer of 2012 from San Francisco to San Diego at the height of what we thought was a great idea, Trackbike Touring. (SF to LV, SEA to SF, PDX to LA) I let that frame go to build on the natural progression of using bikes for a variety of purposes outside of intended reasoning. We had been doing this Tuesday morning ride out of our friends local shop Mash Transit. We would take our track bikes on these fire roads both north and south of the city. Some mornings were short and sweet others we would go out and place ourselves in full trust of the guy in front of the group who usually started with ”yeah I’ve taken this, it shoots you out on the road on the other side,”then having aquantences become friends become teammates and travel companions.

Let me digress and say that the first time I was introduced to Andrew was the day that I build up my bike he had built. Most people were on a wait list that was growing and at the time I think was at 4-5 months. I bypassed the list and went to a local shop called Freewheel Hayes where Andrew had dropped off a couple of frames just a week prior. At the time I was working 50hrs a week and had a few dollars to spend. On this same day I meet for the first time, Dustin Klein.

Freewheel is an awesome place because it fosters community by allowing you to use their stand and tools in the front of the shop to work on what you need to get up and running. Dustin was living in the city and building up a cross bike on this day. We got to chopping it up and he invited me to meet up with Andrew.

After now knowing Andrew for a few years and respecting the craft I enjoy every chat we have. His intrigue into what I’m riding and what I’m working on both on and off the bike is what really makes people like Andrew and Dustin a cut above the rest. Every time I work with these guys it is an enjoyable experience.

With that being said I eventually sold the track bike to fund a cyclocross build. Eventually opening the door to racing and working for TCB Courier, allowing me the opportunity to race and travel while attending school full time. The love that I felt since day one in San Francisco is incredible. I sit here as a part of the TCB family working with Andrew on his new line of race bikes. It was only a short time ago I was getting introduced to this community of artist who continue to inspire and push me to grow.

Ramon Jacquez

flic.kr/ridefast

In the Cadence/Central kit.

I'm here.

I submitted my graduation application for a Baccalaureate in Latina/o Studies from the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. Also, my class in the department has selected me to speak at our commencement ceremony. A culmination of time and effort, support from loved ones and a strong community has placed me at this crossroad. Knowing that the schooling system is setup to fail me and it has worked very well (in failure) for so many around me, I stand up for my brothers and sisters who are not able escape the tentacles of oppression that we must navigate just to stay above water in this sea of life. If you need help jumping through the hoops, reach out If you are tired of jumping through the hoops, reach out. I'm here for you.

I have a theory:

Every race you complete should be "the hardest race I have ever done." To theorize is to develop this body of knowledge. We consider all of the variables, contrast and contradictions, and conclude that bike racing is unpredictable yet stable.

In bringing theory to practice we strive to reach higher levels of competition in the process of self exertion.

(I am rereading Plato’s The Republic / Listening to Minor Threat’s Out of Step)

Balance is essential to living, I have discussed this in excess with close friends and mentors. Finding and continuing to search for said balance is a lifelong process. It is important to recognized the privilege to be able to remove and include weight on either side of the balance. That being said, I see no balance in the world around me. Its unjust and I’m out of step. Bringing theory to practice is and will be my life’s “Race Report.”

With several weeks of racing behind us the support up to this point from the team, sponsors and my lady have been incredible. Looking forward to finishing strong. foto: buffaloa