Just as cyclocross stars like Wout van Aert make their season debut in Europe, cyclocross racers in Norcal emerge from a few weeks off for the holidays to prepare for what is the “peak season” of cyclocross for many of them: Rockville Cyclocross Series in Fairfield, CA.
This year, the eight-week cyclocross series in Norcal that runs every Sunday in January and February will have quite a number of changes.
Don’t worry, the grassroots Fairfield-based cyclocross series that is within an hour of the Bay Area and Sacramento isn’t changing location or raising prices from its ultra-affordable $25 entry fee.
Rather, the race series has expanded race-for-free options, finally added an official website, is offering and encouraging online registration, has a new bike shop owner in Mike Flood at the helm of promotion, has a new podium introduced in the middle of last season, and unfortunately will be forever missing one of its most loyal and friendly racers in Phil Heiman. Read on to learn more about what’s in store for this season’s best-kept secret cyclocross series.
Juniors Race Free in Memory of Phil Heiman
Ask any longtime Rockville Cyclocross Series racer who their favorite racer is, and Phil Heiman would be at the top of nearly everyone’s list. The affable Masters racer was a mainstay of Rockville cyclocross, and thrived in the sloppy conditions that often greeted Rockville racers at the Solano Community College campus course. The worse the conditions, the brighter Heiman’s smile.
Unbelievably, Heiman will be missing from the start line this year, due to his death from a freak accident at a Sacramento Cyclocross race. Heiman swallowed a bee while warming up, and although not allergic, stopped breathing when his throat closed due to a sting. He received medical attention and eventually reached the hospital, but it was too late. After a week in a medical coma, Heiman passed surrounded by family…