After months of hard work and planning…in a word WOW!  In another word AWESOME! Folsom Cyclebration was everything we had planned and more! Thanks to all of you cyclists, enthusiasts and support teams for your participation in the first annual Folsom Lake Bike Festival.

I visited each of the events and heard many wonderful comments from our participants.  Friday afternoon started with two excellent time trials. The road racers commented that the Folsom South Canal course was a “perfect” time trial.  The top speed was nearly 30 mph average for 10 miles!  I heard an interesting statement repeated a couple different times about the MTB time trial, “I’ve raced cross-country several times, but this time trial is making me really nervous.”  Afterwards, the crowd at the finish line was unanimous in their opinion that MTB time trials were really fun and they wanted it back next year.

What can I say about Fam Jam?    The success of this event was at best unknown.  But then, several hundred people showed up…maybe 1,000 or more, and then dozens of talented riders showed up and put on a truly memorable show including flips and 360’s, and even jumping over the fence and completely out of the bike park. Unbelievable!

A nearly constant flow of people came in to Negro Bar throughout the Festival Saturday.  The decorated vendor area made the festival fun and lively as many of you perused bike related and food vendors.  The 100k riders reported that the course was terrific, well marked, and the rest stops were well stocked with good food.  The cross-country MTB racers reported that they really liked the added features that aren’t normally found at Granite Bay races, as well as the stage race format.  The criterium course was solid and riders reportedly liked racing in the opposite direction normally used there.  We saw some excellent cruiser bikes that certainly haven’t been seen around Folsom before.  I also heard nice reports from participants in the Family Treasure Hunt.  Favorite stops included the historic turntable and Snooks Candies of course.  The Cyclocross was a blast and the race course circumnavigating the festival added a good dynamic to the day’s activities.  Overall, it was a great day with live music, bmx exhibitions and plenty of cyclists coming and going.

We wrapped up the weekend with the Two Bridges Circuit Race.  The compliments and enthusiastic encouraging comments to do it again are still rolling in.  The racers were happy and thought the course was great.  They thought the fans were great.  One racer said he’d done 52 races in 2008 and we had the second biggest crowd.  Several racers said, “We can’t believe you stopped a train for us.” Two other racers said, “This kind of event coordination and set up is incredible for a first year event.  You would have no problem qualifying for a masters national race.”  Another racer said, “This event was better run than several I go to run by seasoned promoters.”  My hard working staff appreciated the high praise!

We appreciate all the race promoters, sponsors and other resources that it took to put together such a premier and memorable event.  I can’t wait until next year.  09/11-13/09

 

 

Robert Goss

Director of Parks and Recreation

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