Rock Cobbler in Bakersfield, CA | Pro Cyclist Stefano Barberi's Recap
Race-day recap written by Pro Cyclist Stefano Barberi
“After many months of planning and putting in the work, somewhat quietly at home, the 2025 season has finally begun with a good start. I went down to Rock Cobbler in Bakersfield, CA this past weekend, which is also probably the strangest event there is, not often do you race through restaurants and people's living rooms, but also have massive hike-a-bikes. Rock Cobbler is technically a "ride" (mostly because of the fees associated with getting permits for a race event instead of a ride) but if you put a start line, a finish line, and give all 1000 people number places with timing chips they will always race.
The ride started off with a bit of pack racing till about 15 miles in when we hit the first climb. Lance Heidet and I managed to ride clear from the rest of the field, and had some fun ripping the next long FAST Downhill on drop bars, and from there we stayed on the gas and kept pulling away our gap. After a few close run ins with cows (which this event has gone viral for), I ran into a small issue at around mile 50 after hitting a G-out spot on the road and bumped the tip of my saddle down. I had to drop back to fix it and then from there on out it was a chasing game and we spent the next 20 or so miles between 25 and 75 seconds. I would get closer to Lance, and then he would pull out the gap a bit. At mile 65 we had to ride through a restaurant, while they were open and serving food——I could just see him in front leaving the restaurant as I was entering 😂.
About 5 miles later we entered back into dirt and at mile 75 we had the massive hike-a-bike, and just over the top I went to pass a rider from a different ride distance and I said "cobbler on the left" and he told his buddy to move right and then swung all the way across the dirt road to the left and proceeded to take me down. I was a bit stunned but got back up and finished a few miles later in 2nd overall again, after my 2nd place there last season.
After many months of training It's always nice to get to the first event and see how things measure up against everyone else. This was a much deeper field, and I'm stoked to say the form is better than it was a year ago, so I'm very satisfied with where things are, the work I have put in, and I'm looking forward to building towards my best season yet. “
Stefano Barberi is a 2025 Bicycle Accident Law Sponsored Athlete. Meet our whole team>