MČRSS 2010 maps

new champions

we introduce the new czech men's and women's Single Speed National Champions:

Kateřina Veselá and Zdeněk Fiebinger, in their winners' jerseys!

The race started out with nice weather which turned sour rather quickly.

But the 25 or so racers were so fast at times that they didn't really pay attention to the trail markers.

To be fair the course was a bit crazy and twisted, and being overcast and with some rain, it was at times difficult to track. (We will plan on a pre-Christmas leisurely group ride to lead anyone who wants on a relaxed pace guided loop of the course to end back at a hospoda for warm soup and griotka.)

Just a quick thanks to the presenting sponsors who helped make the event work, the other sponsors who supplied great prizes for all participants, and the super volunteers who orgainized whatever was possible and made the race happen.

Thanks and we look forward to riding with you all soon.

-Cory, Veronika, & Rebecca

OK, it's here: 16.10.2010, 14:30

Join us this week-end for the annual Czech Single Speed mountain bike National Championship. 

We will be set up across from the airport GPS: 49°59'13.687"N, 14°25'51.516"E

Shoot us an email or give a call if you still have questions.
(let us know if we forgot something!)

mcrss2010 [at] gmail.com or 728.zero-three-one.154 or 776.eight-seven-five.370

see you Saturday!

How to get to the race?!

This week-end's event is being held in the same area as last year, but there is one small change this year.

The race this year will Start AND Finish in the SAME location, the Točna airport area, just as last year. We encourage everyone to drive to this area where there is plenty of parking, and we will generally be able to keep an eye on our cars. This does create two concerns:

1. The only permitted access to the area is across a rough dirt road leading from Cholupice. If you are not comfortable driving your nice shiny new car across this road please carpool with another rider. (That being said a normal car driven carefully will be fine.) The paved road connecting the airport to Komořany below can only be used in the direction leaving the airport.
   
2. Second, our event encourages recreational drinking of alcohol during and after the race. PLEASE carpool together and bring a designated driver. The race is less than a 2km ride up the hill from the Praha-Komořany train station, about 4km up from the Poliklinika Modřany tram stop, and just 1,3km from the Cholupický vrch bus stop.

Now that you know that you are planning to drive, so here is how:

From Prague:

1. follow the Vltava south past Braník and the Barrandovský most, direction Modřany
2. 3.7km past the Jižní spojka/Barrandovský most access, turn left at the stoplight (underneath the tram overpass), direction Modřany
3. turn right at the first stoplight, direction Cholupice
4. follow the main winding road 3.7km to Cholupice
5. turn right onto the dirt road immediately after entering Cholupice just before the town football pitch (Loc: 49°59'15.889"N, 14°26'43.38"E)
6. drive straight across the open field, and park across from the fenced children's playground
7. the start/finish area will be at the edge of the forest opposite the playground (Loc: 49°59'13.633"N, 14°25'51.096"E)

From the south (Brno) coming towards Prague on the D1:

1. take Exit 10 west on the D1/R1 new Pražský okruh, direction Plzeň (newly opened motorway)
2. take exit 3 Vestec
3. go left through the roundabout at the end of the access road, direction Libuš/Kunratice
4. go left through the next roundabout, direction Libuš/Pisnice
5. turn left at the end of the road, direction Pisnice
6. approximately 400m outside of Pisnice, turn right, direction Cholupice
7. go through the curved center of Cholupice
8. turn left onto the dirt road immediately after the road towards Točná and the town football pitch (Loc: 49°59'15.889"N, 14°26'43.38"E)
9. drive straight across the open field, and park across from the fenced children's playground
10. the start/finish area will be at the edge of the forest opposite the playground (Loc: 49°59'13.633"N, 14°25'51.096"E)

From the north and east (Liberec or Hradec Králové):

1. take the Prague Štěboholská spojka R1/Jižní spojka MO (old Pražský okruh), direction Braník/Barrandovský most
2. take the Braník exit (do not cross the Vltava)
3. turn left at the stoplight at the end of the access road, direction Modřany
4. in 3.7km, turn left at the stoplight (underneath the tram overpass), direction Modřany
5. turn right at the first stoplight, direction Cholupice
6. follow the main winding road 3.7km to Cholupice
7. turn right onto the dirt road immediately after entering Cholupice just before the town football pitch (Loc: 49°59'15.889"N, 14°26'43.38"E)
8. drive straight across the open field, and park across from the fenced children's playground
9. the start/finish area will be at the edge of the forest opposite the playground (Loc: 49°59'13.633"N, 14°25'51.096"E)

From the west (Plzeň) coming towards Prague on the D5:

1. take Exit 1 east on the R1 new Pražský okruh, direction Brno (newly opened motorway)
2. take exit 3 Vestec
3. go left through the roundabout at the end of the access road, direction Libuš/Kunratice
4. go left through the next roundabout, direction Libuš/Pisnice
5. turn left at the end of the road, direction Pisnice
6. approximately 400m outside of Pisnice, turn right, direction Cholupice
7. go through the curved center of Cholupice
8. turn left onto the dirt road immediately after the road towards Točná and the town football pitch (Loc: 49°59'15.889"N, 14°26'43.38"E)
9. drive straight across the open field, and park across from the fenced children's playground
10. the start/finish area will be at the edge of the forest opposite the playground (Loc: 49°59'13.633"N, 14°25'51.096"E)

Championship Rider jerseys for sale

With the support of our presenting sponsors and Champion Systems, we are offering our custom 2010 Czech National Single Speed Championships jerseys for sale to anyone who rides in this week-end's event. The Rider jersey is the same design as those awarded to the race winners, minus the red, white, and blue accents.

We will begin taking orders on Saturday following the race.

Jerseys are made for us by Champion Systems, thanks to our cooperation with their Czech representative here in Prague. They are available in either Long or Short Sleeve versions, both for 1250 kč +VAT, in a standard weight poly blend with a full-length hidden zipper and three standard rear pockets in a club cut fit.

Jersey orders placed on Saturday at the race will receive a 20% discount, for a cost of 1000 kč +VAT for either short or long sleeves.

All orders will be collected together from the race participants in the month following the race into a single order with an anticipated delivery of early January 2011. 

16th of October 2010

2009 Czech National Single Speed Championship

Prague, Czech Republic - December 19, 2009.

Another year has passed and the Czech Single Speed championships are just around the corner.

After a successful, if somewhat frigid event last year, the Central Bohemian community of
singlespeeders, present the 2010 Czech National Single Speed Championships in Prague on October 16th.  As in years past, the friendly atmosphere and unique challenges during the race, will allow even a recreational singlespeeder to go head-to-head against their more competitive brethren; and who knows who will win? The race will be held on Saturday, October 16th at 14:30, starting in Prague 14 near the Točna airport and will take place on various trails in this area south of the city. Again the mostly singletrack route and trail markings will only be revealed at the start of the event. Organizers expect more than 35 racers plus many more friends and family at this unique event.

After the race, thanks to presenting sponsors Made Sustainable, Bohemia Cycles, and Park Tool, as well as our other sponsors, all competitors and families will be welcomed to a small cook-out followed by a move to a nearby hospoda for the social completion of a successful day. As the international Single Speeds mountain bike movement has begun to take hold in the Czech Republic, this annual meeting brings riders from different areas together, letting them meet and get to know each other and share a ride. Leading up to the event assistance will be provided to cyclists wishing to temporarily or permanently convert their bikes to singlespeeds to join in on the fun.

Anyone interested in participating, volunteering or supporting the event should contact the organizers at mcrss2010@gmail.com.

16th of October OMG!

OK, so I can't believe we haven't updated here in months.

The race is on! The date is set. The course is always changing.

So the third weekend in October will bring the SS Championships back to Prague. We are sticking with the Točna area to ride, but will have some minor course changes and a new starting point. There will still be a neutral section at the beginning, which like last year allowed us to fix a small problem or two before the real racing started.

Tell everyone you know. (Maybe we strategically leave it to the last minute so no one has a chance to train.) Bring the whole family! We have even had a new playground specially built at the finish to entertain our kids. (Really, come check it out. Hopefully the swings will be repaired in time.)

The weather will be warmer than last year! 

I promise NO fresh snow will be on the course this year! (although that means those of you not in the front will have to pay more attention to our minimalist signage!)

A few sponsors have been lined up, so we can expect some decent schwag for all riders again this year. Plus, both the Men's and Women's winners are going to get custom long sleeve National Champion Jerseys made for us by Champion Systems. After the race all participants will be able to order either a short or long sleeve SS competitor jersey at our group rate (more info on that in an upcoming post.)

We are still courting sponsors, so if any of your employers or friends want to donate some prizes, beer, or any support, we will be glad to recognize them; and we truly appreciate the support. As always this event is both competitive and friendly. All prizes, donations, and money we bring in go directly back out to you the rider. We are not for profit, but for the spread of the singlespeed love!

Mark your calendars and email us to let us know you and all of your friends are coming!

mcrss2010 [at] gmail.com 

Upcoming SS races

a very short update, but much needed:

Pedalsport.cz distributor of Park Tools is sponsoring 2 outside SS races this summer, gather your Single Speed friends and register soon:

1st: 24hr of  Liberec - 12-13th June 2010 

race either solo SS or as a 2 person SS team

2nd: Marathon Krakatit 7th August 2010 in Dobříš (Brdy)

race the 53km 'short track'

Plus a 3rd: National SS championships will again be in Central Bohemia this autumn. The race location and date is not yet fixed (maybe the same area as December), but will be in September or the first 2 weeks of October. Comments and suggestions for where and when to hold the race would be appreciated. Again it will be a similar style friendly race, but with warmer weather for more socializing afterward! :)

PHOTOS!

OK, here are a bunch of pictures in one spot:

(If you have other good ones, please get in touch with me. I only have full size files from one photographer, so his were the ones we were able to submit and will be printed in VELO magazine. If you send me full quality shots, we will submit them to other publications as well. And you will of course always receive credit for your authorship. Thanks!)

Photo gallery of the semi-official 2009 Czech National Single Speed Championships. Photos taken by Jiri Nemecek Photos taken by Tomas Vitvar of Bajk.cz Photos taken by Martin Hubka of Single-Speed.cz and organizer of pasts SS championships