Cyclocross National Championships 2009

I haven't posted anything for quite a while. I didn't have anything to post about until now. I raced the National Championships in Bend this week.








Here I am with Jeff Boyer before the race. I stayed with Jeff and Tracy at their house between Bend and Redmond.



As you can probably guess from the photos, it was cold. Actually it was warm...compared to what it had been. The night before I got to Bend it was 10 degrees below zero. When we got up the morning of my race it was 1 degree above zero and by my race time it was almost up to freezing.
This is what most of the course looked like. It was very slick. I started slowly and after the first lap gained some confidence and picked up my pace somewhat. I was moving up in the standings when I went down twice in the same lap and decided to revert to survival mode. I stayed upright for the rest of the race but didn't pass anybody else. On the last lap a guy in my age group caught me. We got to the run-up at the same time but he stumbled a little. I beat him to the big drop and didn't look back. I sprinted the last couple hundred yards on pavement and almost puked at the finish. When I looked back after the finish line he was nowhere to be seen. He must have fallen on the drop.

There was a set of stairs to negotiate.












I felt pretty good after the finish. Glad to be done.


















On day two I was a spectator, eating some frites.

It was a fun experience. I finished eighth in my age group and didn't get hurt. I'm looking forward to next year.

Outlaw Cross '09 #3

We raced again on Saturday for the third race of the Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross Series. There was mud again. Only a couple of places on the course were muddy but it was a sticky mud that caused a derailleur carnage. The last count that I heard was 13 broken derailleurs out of about 60 racers. I saw two derailleurs broken during warm up laps. I decided I didn't want to ride the course until it was time to race. I was surveying the course and spoke to Thom Kneeland who is an experienced cyclocross racer. He said "work the edges and power through the sticky stuff as fast as you can go". I did that and I survived the race. I not only survived, I finished ahead of several people who always beat me. Steve Law was one of them. He broke his derailleur on about the fourth lap. I think that I might have been able to beat him even if he didn't break down. I was passing him at the end of the course on every lap. He would then catch me but always after the start/finish line.
Look at him. He knows I'm coming and he's hurting. Doesn't it look like he's having some kind of attack trying to stay ahead of me?
















There was a run up that was really muddy. That was the only section that I didn't ride. There were a couple of other muddy sections that I was able to ride without clogging up.
















This was Vern's bike after the race. I lapped him again. For some reason I didn't feel bad about lapping him this week. In fact I had to speed up right at the end to catch him before the finish line.













I feel pretty good about my racing. I think I'm still getting stronger and I'm continuing to learn how to race smarter. I'm think I might be on track to peak for the Nationals next month.

Photos by John Raedake

Outlaw Cyclocross #2

We raced yesterday in Grants Pass. We had mud. It was the Halloween costume race.














I started out going what I thought was pretty easy. I am still hurting from crashing last week and really didn't want to crash again. I was hanging right behind Vern and I quickly realized that he was setting a pretty fast pace. After a couple of laps I noticed 7 on the lap board and started to worry that I might not be able to keep up for that long. Vern started to fade after about three laps and I passed him . He told me his wheels were clogging up with mud. I was running my carbon wheels with the Dugast Rhino tires and they were working pretty well. I was still picking up a lot of mud and it got harder to ride as the race went on. About half way through the last lap I caught Vern. I decided I wouldn't lap him as that might be pouring salt into his wounds. He stopped to clear out the mud and, with a grin on his face, threw a handful at me. So I stomped on him while he was down (figuratively) and lapped him.
This was my bike after the race.













It's pretty amazing that it was even functioning.













The race really took it out of me. When I was walking back from picking up my pit wheels I felt like I might need to sit down a take a rest so I could make it back to my truck. Maybe I shouldn't have ridden 30 miles the day before. I usually don't ride the day before a race but the weather was so nice I just couldn't resist.
Next week we'll be at the Speedway in Medford.

Ugly Race Photos

Have your children leave the room before you view these Photos. They may be upsetting.
I raced yesterday in Yreka. It was the first race of the Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross Series. It started well for me. I was going hard. Richard Bush was riding right behind me. I don't know if he was holding back or I was going faster than normal. At about two thirds of the way through the course I came to a hard, bumpy section. I was still going pretty fast and decided to move to the right side of the track which I thought might be smoother. I was riding gripping the hoods. I hit a rock or something and both my hands came off the bars. I went down, hard. Now I know why people ride rough stuff in the drops. From a review of my injuries I hit on my right knee and rolled to my hip and onto my back. My head also hit the ground as my helmet mount popped loose. Here's some photos taken after I got home.









To add insult to injury, when I finally got ready to continue, my rear tire was flat and I had to run quite a distance to the pit. It should go without saying that Vern beat me.
I'm OK though. I'll be back next week to race at Paradise Ranch in Grants Pass.

KFCX '09 #2

I raced in Klamath Falls again on Sunday. I've been putting off posting about it while I waited to see if I could find some photos. I didn't find any of Vern or I but I found some that showed parts of the course. Speaking of Vern, I beat him this week. I don't want to gloat about it because Vern is a good friend and a fierce competitor but, having said that, I SMOKED him. I had decided that I really needed to figure out how to ride the sand pit because that is where I caught up to him each lap at the last race. Vern and I discussed the sand pit and decided that the left side looked ridable. The tape was a little wide of the pit so at about half way through you could try to bounce out onto the grass.
This shows the sand pit. It is the right side and from the clouds it is the first race. The weather was much nicer this week.















I decided that I needed to go through it ahead of Vern on the first lap so I passed him on a 180° turn prior to the pit. I hit the sand pit going pretty fast and was able to coast to a spot where I could exit on the left side onto the grass. That didn't work every lap but, when it didn't I was able to pedal out to the end. Then when I got to the uphill pavement section I pounded it. I hit it hard. I had noticed, in earlier races, that if I let Vern stay ahead of me for very long he seemed to draw on some inner power to keep ahead of me. Anyway, Vern had trouble with the pit and I didn't. After a few laps I was far enough ahead that I could back off a little on the uphill.
Here's a photo showing the steps after the uphill section. Actually there is a short downhill before the steps that allows for a little recovery.















On the next to last lap Steve Law passed me. I thought that he was lapping me but he said "Now I'm on the same lap as you". He had flatted earlier. If I hadn't backed off maybe I could have beaten him. That would've been sweet.
This weekend starts the Southern Oregon Outlaw series in Yreka, CA.

Cross Crusade #2 2009

I raced the Cross Crusade race on Sunday at Ranier High School near Ranier, Oregon. I try to do at least one of the series each year. I go for the experience not expecting to be competitive. It was an experience. I think there were nearly 1,200 racers. My race included Masters B 35+ (107), Masters 50+ (68), and Junior Men (26). Staggered start but still over 200 racers on the course at the same time. I'm always amazed at how well the OBRA racers are run. My race went OK. It is a tough course with a long, killer hill and a short, steep forced run up. I just tried to survive. I finished 62nd out of the 68 50+ riders. Some of those guys are 14 years younger than me. That's what I have to remember as about one third of them lapped me. I didn't take any pictures but you should look at these to get a feel for the race. You can also read about it here. I did find some pictures though.
I look like I was really going fast here.












I lose weight and get fit, but I'm still an old, fat guy trying to be a racer.











Here's Thom Kneeland going fast in the Masters A 35+ race. It was really great for me to be racing 300 miles from home, all by myself, and come around a corner to find Thom and Scott Churchill rooting me on.

Next week I'll be back in Klamath Falls for finish the two race series there. Then it's the Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross Series.

Cyclocross Klamath Falls

My cyclocross season has now started. I raced at Klamath Falls on Sunday. I picked up Steve Law in Grants Pass and headed over the mountain on Highway 140. When Steve put his stuff into my car I thought that it didn't look like he had enough clothing. When we got near the top of the mountain and it started snowing he said "What's this?". I asked if he hadn't read the weather forecast. "No. Is it supposed to snow in Klamath Falls?" They had been forecasting snow all week. All my Southern Oregon cycling friends on Facebook had been talking about it. Steve needs to get connected. Lucky for him I had thrown some extra clothes in at the last minute. So he didn't freeze. It didn't really snow at the race but it was really cold.
Here's Steve looking good with my cap and long sleeved shirt on under his jersey.

















I guess I can't delay any longer saying what all my loyal readers want to know. Big Vern beat me again. He bested me on all parts of the course. He was able to push a bigger gear up the longest hill. I didn't have my legs. I couldn't quite catch him.
The course started on an uphill section of grass that didn't look difficult until you tried to ride it. Grass makes a hill steeper than it appears to be. Then some more grass through a couple of switch backs leading to a volleyball court sand pit. I had successfully ridden the sand pit during warm up laps but crashed into the sand on the first lap. I ran it after that. Then more grass and onto an uphill paved road. That's where I couldn't seem to catch Vern. Then downhill on the road to a set of stairs where these pictures were taken. Then onto a dirt trail downhill to an off camber grass downhill to the parking lot. Then along a concrete path with a couple of sets of stairs back to the start. Each lap I would catch Vern at the sand pit but then just hang with him on the uphill and he would get away on the downhill. He was strong. I wasn't.
I was sporting a new jersey advertising Drop Top Amber Ale. At least I looked good.
I rode the wheels with Mavic Reflex rims and Tufo Flexus tires at 26 and 28 psi. Worked fine. I just need to work a little harder.
I'm racing next weekend in Portland. Cross Crusade at Ranier High School. They had almost 1,500 racers last weekend at Alpenrose. I hope there's not that many next weekend. I'm sure I won't do well enough to get any points but the experience will be worth the drive.

Photos by Jamie Douglass

Catching Up

I guess, since cross season is about to start, I should catch up this blog. Also Brooks just updated his long ignored blog so I should follow suit.

I've been racing STXC in Grants Pass on my Niner One 9 single speed. There have been five single speeders in the series. My usual rival, Vern, has been off his game and not a factor, until the last race. Usually I'm faster than him on the uphills and he's faster on the downhills. In the last race of the series he passed me on one of the uphills and I never could quite catch up with him. The only other notable happening during the series was when I crashed twice at the third race. Once during warm up and again during the race. Different corners, same ribs. One month later I'm finally able to sleep without pain. My mountain biking buddy, Brian, did the series and finished second overall in Cat 3 riding his single speed. Before he bought a used single speed he couldn't understand the attraction. Now his full suspension geared bike sits in his garage most of the time.





Last month, August, Brian, Ethan and I took a road trip. We hooked up my trailer and drove to Sam Brown Campground near Grants Pass between Hwy 199 and the Rogue River. We met Steve Law who guided us. We rode the Jedi trail and the Briggs Creek trail. It was great fun.
We camped at Sam Brown where Brian learned that he likes red wine. We drank my red wine allotment for the whole trip the first night. We stopped at Safeway in Roseburg the next day to replenish our supplies.












We drove to the McKenzie River where we camped at Paradise campground. A nice spot. A different experience from Sam Brown where we were the only campers.










We were right on the river.













The next day we drove to the upstream trail head and rode about 21 miles back to our camp. I had hooked up with a guy from San Francisco on one of the forums who camped and rode with us and provided a shuttle back to my truck.









The upper half of the trail is really scenic.
































It's really rough, though. If I ride there again I won't do the upper half.












The lower half is just as scenic and a lot easier to ride. The upper half took 4 1/2 hours and the lower half 2 1/2 hours.




































Now it's time to get ready for cross season. I'm racing in Klamath Falls this weekend. I'll be racing the same old Blue cross bike. I'd love to get a new bike but I can't afford it. I haven't been working lately and I'm broke.

Mill Creek Ride

Yesterday I rode what's known as the Mill Creek Acquisition. It is the land formerly owned by Miller-Rellim Timber Company. It was purchased by the Save the Redwoods League and donated to the State in 2002. The State hasn't decided what to do with it yet. They are doing watershed restoration and decommissioning some of the roads. It is only open to the public for day use on weekends. It has tremendous potential for recreation use. 25,000 acres with old logging roads all through it. The riding on the old logging roads is pretty good but very steep. Our ride yesterday included over 3,800 feet of climbing in 18 miles. 1,800 feet in 3 miles at the beginning. A lot of hike a bike. Coming back down is great fun.
Here's Ethan and Billy walking up one of the hills.













You can see the ocean from here but there was too much moisture in the air for it to show in a photo.











Very rugged country. I can't imagine how difficult it was to log here.












If you enlarge this photo you can see where we started riding. It is the light spot in the exact center of the picture right over the ridge in the center.










This is the view to the east.













We were the only vehicles in the parking lot at the trail head. This property doesn't get much use. I fear that the State budget cuts might cause it to be closed to all use.

Here's a link to the activity on Garmin Connect.

Return on the Jedi and other races

Since my last post I have raced Spring Thaw in Ashland, the Jacksonville short track xc series and the Return on the Jedi race weekend. I was having trouble deciding on Cat 2 or Cat 3 at Spring Thaw but went with Cat 3 since they have cut off times that I might not have made. It was very enjoyable. I'm happy with the decision.
Then it was the 4 race series in Jacksonville. They had two new courses along with the old one. The new courses included some steep climbs so I rode my geared bike. I rode the two races on the old course with my single speed.

This is one of the new courses on my Orbea Alma 29er.


















I camped in the same site as last year at Return on the Jedi.












The only difference in the picture is Jake's new ramp. He blew out his ACL and had surgery to repair it. He can't jump into the back anymore. I suspect that's how he injured it in the first place.










I raced STXC on Saturday. There were only two single speeders so here I am with my second place ribbon. I raced XC on Sunday and, again, raced Cat 3. This is the course that I bonked on last year and had trouble finishing. This year it was hot but not as hot as last year. I paced myself on the long climb and thoroughly enjoyed the Jedi trail to the finish. I have decided that I am a Cat 3 racer. I would rather enjoy the races than suffer on the longer and more technical courses.

I don't have any races scheduled in July. The Pistis Racing Team STXC series starts in August. It is a five race series in Grants Pass. That should be a good workout for me to start getting ready for cross season. I'm looking forward to racing cross this year.

Mudslinger

Maybe I really am too old to do this shit. I raced the Mudslinger mountain bike race on Sunday in the Oregon coastal range between Corvallis and Newport. I raced Cat 2 for the first time. About 24 miles, about 4,000 feet of climbing. Hard packed gravel logging roads and slick, muddy single track. I jogged most of the single track if it was uphill or downhill. The uphill was too much effort with no traction and the downhill was too scary, crashing and getting back up is too much effort. I had to stop and clear out the mud from time to time or my wheels would just lock up and skid. At about 1 hour and 30 minutes into the race I came to a junction with course volunteers directing the Cat 3 racers to turn left for 1.8 miles to the finish and the Cat 2 racers to turn right for another 14 miles. I was really tempted to bag it and turn left but I didn't. It was then more than 3 more hours before I finished. That's right. I was out on the course almost 5 hours. Toward the end I was walking the uphills even on the roads. I was able to ride the final mile uphill to the finish though. It took me 4 hours and 40 minutes. The Pro winner took 1 hour and 40 minutes, on a single speed.
I'm racing Spring Thaw in Ashland in two weeks. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to race Cat 3 or Cat 2. It didn't kill me. Maybe it wasn't so bad.

Racing and Drive in the Mountains

I haven't written anything since the Southern Oregon Time Trial Series got over. Some might think that I am bummed out because Vern beat me again. Not true. I'd rather beat him but it doesn't bother me to lose to him on the road. I was surprised though, in the last race when he caught me and passed me, on an uphill. I knew he was faster going downhill but I thought I was faster going up. I learned something that kind of explains why he's as tough as he is. He told me he went to college on a swimming and water polo scholarship. WATER POLO! Those guys are animals. That's got to be the most physically demanding sport there is. He may look like a softy, but he's not.

I'm racing the mountain bike next weekend at Mudslinger up west of Corvallis. Should be better than last year when it snowed. I'm racing the sport class this year. Three years as a beginner is pushing it.

Yesterday we went on a ride into the mountains with Frank and Sally. We drove up highway 199 to Patricks Creek, turned up Patrick's Creek Road and drove up Shelly Creek and over the mountain to Obrian, OR. Nice drive.
This is what it looks like up on top.


















We came across a Darlintonia bog. Interesting plant.

Racing Again

Somebody mentioned, at the race today, that I haven't blogged about the Southern Oregon TT Series. Okay Vern, I'll tell everyone that you've beaten me two weeks in a row now. I have raced the first two out of three races in the series and my times have improved over last year. Unfortunately Vern's times have improved as well. During cyclocross season if the course is mostly uphill I can usually beat him and if there are a lot of fast downhills he can usually beat me. These TT courses are up the hill, turn around and come back down the hill. Today he started two minutes behind me which has been his usual margin of victory over me. When I turned around at the top of the hill and started down I saw him coming up too soon. I knew that he would catch me and that would mean a two minute victory for him. I pushed myself beyond my comfort level going downhill and he didn't catch me until right before the finish line. What fun though.

New Single Speed

I finished the single speed today and Susan Roberts came over to take some pictures before it gets dirty. I felt pretty ridiculous when working on it because I had to wash my hands so often. It was fun though.








Lots of white parts.












I don't know when I'll ride it. I wouldn't want to get it dirty. Maybe when it quits raining.

















Cool Nitto components.












Shimano Sante. Brand new, twenty years old.












The build is:
Soma Delancey frame and fork
Cane Creek headset
Nitto CT-80 stem
Nitto Raundoneur bars
Shimano Sante brakes and levers
Shimano Sante crankset
MKS pedals with Soma toe clips
White Industries bottom bracket
Velocity Fusion rims on Paul high flange hubs
Vittoria Randonneur tires
Nitto 65 seatpost
Selle San Marco Zoncolan saddle

I forgot to mention:
Shimano Biopace (oval) 42 tooth chainring
White Industries 16 tooth freewheel