It's a brand new season for the 12 Hours of Temecula race series, and Team SHOEBACCA made a strong showing with four riders participating in this first event of the year.

"We've had the rainiest week in the last ten years for Southern California, so we knew the trail was going to be soggy," said Dee Folse, Team SHOEBACCA captain. "It wasn't really muddy, but the ground was just so soft that if you weren't pedaling, you weren't moving, which makes it even tougher." I guess we know why they call these races "endurance" races now!

"We left out early under rainy skies, heading toward more threatening skies in Temecula. When we got there, it was 37 degrees, but the skies started clearing a bit," said Folse. "It was a great race day, despite the weather, and our riders all really poured their hearts into it."

Of particular interest this round was a newcomer to Team SHOEBACCA's participation in the SOCAL Endurance Race Series, Chris. Chris is 17 years old, and this was his first endurance ever. The longest road ride he had done previously was 70 miles, and at the Temecula event, he racked up 9 laps, 82 miles and over 12,600 ft of climbing. After his extreme efforts, Chris managed to pull off 2nd place!

"I had nearly every piece of SHOEBACCA gear on that I own," said Folse. "When the sun set, it started getting cold quick, and within a couple hours of sundown, you could start hearing the frost crunch under your tires as you rode the dark trail."

Wanna look as good as Team SHOEBACCA does when you hit the road on your bike? The same gear that our Team SHOEBACCA riders are wearing on the trail is available at SHOEBACCA.com to give you eye-catching style while you conquer your own races. From jackets to socks, you can sport the same gear that is winning races and looking sharp for Team SHOEBACCA! Click HERE to see it.

Team SHOEBACCA also saw the husband and wife team of Jack and Ann who rode as solo participants, but stayed at each other's side throughout the event.

When all was said and done, Team SHOEBACCA had a great day with two top placing riders and zero injuries to the team.

More information on the SoCal Endurance race series is available online at the 12 Hours of Temecula website.