Time on the farm

In the early 1950's my grandparents moved from Shoshone which lies on the out-skirts of the Death Valley National park and bought land in the fertile San Benito valley with the goal of starting a family. Nestled between Hollister and San Juan Batista, my family have been growing walnuts on the farm for nearly half a century. Although most of the trees have been taken out as they became to demanding for my aging grandparents, we still have a handful of fruit trees and 15 walnut trees. Apple, peach, nectaplum, lemon, pear and pepper trees can all be found growing on the property. As with any farm, there is some upkeep. If you ask most farmers what they despise the most they might say pruning, harvesting, watering or weeds. If you ask my grandmother what she dislikes the most she will most definitely say weeds.


Today I ran the Kubota disking and cultivating the soil in an effort to KILL ALL WEEDS. After a handful of hours running the tractor and using a shovel it was hard not to notice the look of glee on my grandmother’s face. On my grandmother's "little piece of heaven", a tidy farm is the only way. Now there is talk about getting a cow and maybe a goat to accompany the five cats and five chickens which are already on the prowl. I must say, the Bradford for farm is quite a gem, something I feel fortunate to be a part of.



Panaramic view of the farm




Lots of shade under the big white oak




Walnuts ready to go through the nut huller




Standing next to grandma Bootie

2011 Sea Otter Classic

Off and on over the last twelve years the Sea Otter Classic has been on my race schedule. I remember showing up in 1999 to race the Jr sport race which aside from being my first SOC, it was my first time competing in a Jr. field larger than 20 riders (that year I believe there were over 100). Since then, I've raced a spectrum of events such as short track, super-D, slalom, along with my more traditional event being cross country. Starting at the amateur level I have now progressed to racing professionally which has been an immense challenge. Despite many years of competing my approach to every race I enter has remained the same, give it everything I got. Over the years I have been on the podium racing as a Jr. and once for Pro super-d but I have never won a race. This year I raced Pro single speed and this year I was rewarded with standing on the top step. It's early in the season and I know it’s going to be a long year of racing but I'm stoked to see all the hard work this past off season is paying off. Next up, the Lemurian Classic.



Riding in no mans land. Photo: Steve Anderson




Scott slaying




My borrowed bike from Ian at Family Cycling Center.




The Inglis on West Cliff




SeaOtter podium - Evan Plews, Aaron Bradford, Dejay Birtch

Current projects and such

Last night the group took off from Aptos/Nisene Marks parking lot for the usual Wednesday night bike ride. Nick Weighall of CalGiant Berries has been in town logging in miles riding the best Santa Cruz has to offer so it only made sense to get him out on the night ride. We left my house at 5pm, started the climb from Aptos at 6 and got back to my house a little after 10. After three weeks without my Stumpjumper, I was once again on my favorite bike and out getting it muddy in the woods. Good times in the woods ripping trails with your buddies, my idea of a good time.

Stumpy dialed and ready for another season

XX goodness


The grocery getter

Sram XX, stoked to be running their products for another season

Sand is hard on things

Homemade bearing press. Gets the job done

New Avid Elixer 7's

Clear coat for the XO brake levers

New clear coat for the outer ring on the townie

Doin' work

The 2011 mtb season has officially kicked off with the LA races in Bonelli and Fontana. With company from fellow bike racers Scott and Derek, traversing the 6 hour drive to LA was certainly less painful than normal. Pulling my trailer with bikes loaded, we mobbed up the Grapevine with the pedal to the floor in 4th. Rolling into LA around 6pm, we met up with Derek's brother Curtis, unloaded the bikes and strolled around Huntington Beach for a taste of SoCal night life. After spinning our legs we were back at Curtis' in time to devour some amazing stir-fry; thanks again for your hospitality.

The following morning we were up and out the door at a reasonable hour and headed to the the venue for the Pro cross country race. After a humbling 35th finish, I was off to check out the Super-d course before my 5pm start. I had a fast start in the SD then had a couple bike issues; sometimes that's how it works out. I did get in a big whip off the roller/step down near the start which I was stoked on. Scott and Derek dominated in their SD races which was rad which resulted in some podium time.

That night we landed a cheap hotel not far from the race. As we were checking in to get a room I noticed a sign which stated "no parties and no prostitutes in the rooms." Bummer. Anyways, we unloaded the car and piled in the room. After settling in, I turned on the TV to check out the weather only to find out the only channel we got happened to be some horrible 80's porn. Guess it could be worse though I did find myself wondering, where are we and what are we doing here?

Fueled with coffee and donuts, we were up and out the door by 7am headed to the venue for Scott and Derek's XC race. Scott was leading before getting a flat and finished 3rd. Derek dominated and finished 2nd in his category. After their xc races we killed time for 6 hours waiting for the start of my short track race. My bike stayed together and I finished 17th. I was pumped. First races of the 2011 season in the record books.

Two weekends after Bonelli the same crew piled in the Mazdarati as we once again rolled down to LA for the Fontana national. Same format as the Bonelli Triple Crown race with a cross country, super-D and short track race for the pros and a super-D and cross country race for Scott and Derek. I had a decent finish in the xc, a rippin' 6th place finish in the super-D, and finished a respectable 22nd in the short track. Word on the street Joe Lawwill designed the super-D course. Not surprised but it turned out to be a totally legit track and best of all, individual starts.

For the SD and ST I borrowed the new crazy fast S-works Epic, it didn’t let me down. The Epic is a completely carbon full suspension bike with carbon wheels and weights less than most hardtail cross country bikes. That bike is the ticket if you want to go fast.

Derek had a solid super-D and then killed it in XC the next day showing consistancy. Scott regulated in the super-D to take the win, no surprise there. In the XC though Scott rode like a noob and botched the first turn during the holeshot, wrecking in front of the whole fast charging Cat 1 field. After all the dust settled, Scott's bike was deemed unridable. Guess you can’t win them all.

Fun times and good racing in both Bonelli and Fontana. After two hard weekends of racing I find myself sitting well in the overall for the US Cup National series which is pretty cool. This weekend will be the Santa Cruz Bike Festival. Hope to see you all out there!

Bonelli XC

Bonelli starting line, Scott with the eye of the tiger

Derek Yarra riding to a strong 2nd place

Putting down food after Bonelli short track

Photo: Jimmy Mac, Fontana short track

Photo: Jimmy Mac, A wide open section on Fontana super-d.

Fontana Short track

Scott, #1 in team Santa Cruz leisure attire, Fontana SD

NorCal locals Kevin Smallman and Jim Hewett



The Enduro lookin' good after 5 laps of Hwy 9

Represent