Welcome to the 2015/2016 Cyclocross season, it has arrived!

I've been kind of purposely not blogging.  I haven't figured out a good topic, no, how about a GREAT topic.  Cyclocross is always a GREAT topic, so lets talk CX.  

This summer was a crazy blur of work, training, and putting together my sponsors and program for the year.  I was extremely late to the "get your sponsor" game, due to topics I don't need to discuss on the World Wide Web, but I am extremely excited to be working with the same sponsors from last year, plus a couple of new ones.  I love having a one on one relationship with my sponsors, I love talking directly to them and thanking them for everything they do.  I love that I trust my sponsors and their product, that when I'm making a sales pitch to someone, I truly and honestly believe they should use x, y, z of my sponsors.  

But Courtenay, who ARE your sponsors?  Lets review, plus one comment on why I LOVE each product:

Rock Lobster (aka Paul Sadoff):  hands down, my favorite bike (next to my Transition Scout) to ride.  Why I love Paul's bikes, they fit me.  #1, I'm 5'3 (maybe 5'3.5), I'm short, stock bikes, they aren't made for short people, and they come with a lot of toe overlap with the front wheel (in my experience) or a top tube that is just too long for me.  Plus, my bike is hand made in the USA, Santa Cruz, CA to be exact.  I love repping my Rock Lobster frames across the Nation and Globe. In a sea of carbon, my aluminum handmade bike, gets the job done, and it gets the job done FAST.  Plus, Paul's bikes are beautiful and sometimes when I'm racing people sing "Rock Lobster" to me.  

American Classic Wheels:  Why I love these wheels?  Aside from the company being wonderful and incredibly good people, their light and durable wheels, that spin up really fast.  They handle anything form rough to smooth terrain and take it like a champ!

Lizard Skins:  Bar tape, crusher!  I LOVE this bar tape, why?  For starts I use the DSP 2.5 mm bar tape, it has lots of cushion when going over any bumpy terrain, but my absolutely favorite part about this bar tape, when it rains, it's grippy and it's self cleaning!  The bar tape ACTUALLY gets cleaner in the rain.  Stop by your local bike shop and buy a roll to see how awesome it is for yourself.  If you live in Bellingham, Bikesport carries it.  

KASK: My favorite helmet supplier.  Why I love their helmets?  They're the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn, and I've worn quite a few helmets.  The retention system is really amazing, you can adjust the back system to place it wherever on your head is the most comfortable and then tighten it from there.  The chin strap?  It's leather, only the best for this fine Italian company.  The helmets also come in a large variety of colors, which makes it a lot of fun when trying to find the right helmet to match your team kit!  I would say one of the best features about the KASK helmets, they don't dent my head like other helmets I have worn!  Big thumbs up from me!

WD40 Bike:  Only the best in bike cleaning products (and once again, people).  This is a small company run down in Southern California.  I know most of you know about WD40 Bike, because they spend their time cleaning your bikes at the biggest and most fun events on the UCI CX Calendar (plus other events around the US during the other times of the year).  They don't mess around with their water based products, follow instructions and your bikes will be sparkly clean and your chains lubed well!  My favorite part?  Smell their chain lube, it's something out of an Axe commercial.  

Borah Teamwear:  If you're looking for a new clothing company for your local team, may I suggest Borah Teamwear?  But Courtenay, you HAVE to say that.  Remember how I said I use product I trust and believe in?  This company has awed me in SO many ways.  A (once again) hand made product in the USA (Wisconsin to be exact) with the best customer service.  I can't even put into words how amazing of an experience I had producing my kit with Borah.  Their turn around was also incredibly fast, maybe 3 weeks, 4 at most.  The quality of their clothing is nothing but top notch, seriously.  I'm in love with their bib shorts, which I'm REALLY picky about, they fit well, are flattering, and their powerband actually stays down on my leg!  If you want to check out some of their clothing pieces, find me at a race and I would be glad to show it off.  Did I mention how much I love the way my kit turned out?  They nailed it!  

Fizik:  Bars, stems, seat posts, and saddles have never felt so good before.  I'm super excited to running with Fizik, and their saddles keep my backside happy.  

TRP:  Have you seen the new TRP thru axle forks?  Next time you see my bikes, look at the fork, holy smokes they are beautiful!  Not only is TRP supplying me with some top notch forks, but also I will be running the Sprye SLC for all my braking needs.  I'm digging the braking predictability with the disc breaks, so far, so good!

Bikesport:  Just your friendly local Bellingham bike shop which will provide me with some awesome overhaul and bike needs throughout the season.  Stop into Bikesport for any and all of your biking needs, they have a lovely collection of items and great customer service.  

Dave Pearson:  Just your not so average friend who has raced cross forever and wants me to do well, so he has adapted the task of tire gluer, product grabber, and the make sure you bike is built guy.  He's all around pretty awesome.  

Other supporters include (not in any particular order):

Clement cycling, Stages Cycling, Smith Optics, GE Capital, Alliant, United Healthcare, Zones, Xelleration, Digipen, Meltzer Group, The Moore Hotel, Kibble and Prentice, and Motofish.  

If you see me at the races please be sure to say hello!  I am a little bit of a gypsy bike racer, so my home base does change for every race, but don't be shy, find me, say hello!  If you have any product questions feel free to drop me a message on my contact me page, I love answering peoples questions, or even just a friendly hello works too!

Thank you for always supporting me, following a long, and cheering from the side.