Hood River Doublecross, Saturday by Greg

The Travel:

Dave Wingard and I left rainy SE Portland to be greeted an hour later by broken clouds and blue sky in Hood River. We drove up through the city orchards to Hood River Valley High School. Friend and former teammate Darren Pennington was warming up for the Master's C race as we parked and headed over to registration. The food vendors were stoking up an enormous BBQ as I went out for a pre-ride lap before Dave's race started.

The Course:

The course was very similar to prior years, with some sections run in reverse. The start was a flat grass lane for 50 meters or so, then into a wide short sand section, then a hairpin grass 180 degree left turn. Then a right and all the way around the big grass field, and along an off camber berm. The entire grass section was at least 10 feet wide and not as bumpy as past years. After cresting the berm, the course turned to a dirt downhill trail, then up a little rise with a couple swoopy turns before a right turn in loose gravel put you back on the dirt.

Back on to the grass for a slight descent, turn and climb, then bomb down the dirt/gravel into a trail (the high school cross country running trail) and the first foot bridge. This bridge platform was just high enough off of the trail that it could easily cause pinch flats or worse. The fast trail then turned to new fresh loose gravel before a single barrier and a sharp left turn over the second footbridge and into a railroad tie run-up. At the top of the run-up the trail went down, up, swooping narrow turns, before kicking back down into a sketchy turn into the 3rd foot bridge (I think this was the one Dave flew off of last year). After this bridge the trail continued another 20 meters or so before turning uphill with a sharp right turn (ridable, yet a possible major congestion point as some would surely dismount for it). Then an sharp uphill left turn that I planned to dismount and run. Another right, and one more left then the run-up was done and the trail crested into the parking lot.

Now through the coned chicane in the parking lot (wide lane for passing), around the school, through a gate and into the grass where the start/finish was located.

The Race:

After some cheering/heckling for Dave's race, I went and warmed up on the roads around the high school. After coming back and stretching I headed to the start about 20 minutes before race time. There were about 8-10 racers starting to file in, including teammate Eric Lanners. I took a front row position second from the left, while Eric looked to be front row on the right.

I got a good jump at the whistle and an immediate clip-in. I went into the sand 2nd or 3rd wheel, then was sitting in 3rd when we got off of the grass and into the first trail section. One or two passed me, and then I passed them a few laps later. My tire pressure was dialed in perfectly, as I could power out of turns in the loose sand/gravel/dirt that others were sliding in. I used this to gain good position so I could soft pedal/recover on the downhills while on someones wheel. About mid race the RCB guy up front faded and I passed him, while clinging to Karl Mikkelson's wheel. I passed and gave a good pull to try and bridge us up to Jeff Edes, but started to blow up and could not bridge. Karl then came around and put a little gap on me.

I caught back on to Karl, and Jeff was in sight, but the leader was not. Karl then took a bad line on the off camber and I got past him with 3 laps to go. I got up to Jeff when he got in traffic behind lapped riders, but when he saw me, he jumped and put in an effort I could not match.

At the time, I thought I was in 4th, but I later learned I finished 3rd. Eric came in 9th, with another solid race but a locked up back that caused trouble. I'm happy with my race, as I rode clean and had solid fast lines over the entire course. I kept my head in the race and did not make any mental mistakes that often cause technical errors. My bike was dialed-in, and the tires/pressure were spot on for the course.

I was motivated to do well, as there is talk of using Hood River and Barlow top 5's as seeding for call-ups at the first Cross Crusade race. This isn't a sure thing, but it helped me train and focus for a good result.

It sounds like we'll have a much bigger Team presence at Barlow, so I look forward to seeing some of you there. Good practice for the huge fields that the Crusade will no doubt have.

Greg

Recovered Footage!

Previously Unreleased

Racing was rampant on Knapp Street when kids zoomed from telephone pole to telephone pole after the food was all gone Labor Day Monday at the Atomic Ranch . 

A Star is Born.

Obviously.

by

J. Fritzgerald B.

Photos by WINGMAH

Borne from the world of running,

seasoned by a full season of cycling, including the track,

his feet have hit the ground.

Jake Hansen has been running since he was a child. He ran competitively 

in High School, and in college at Portland State University. 

It would only figure that in Cyclocross, he's a natural.

Entering his first Cyclocross race at Pain on the Peak in the ever fast "Senior B's" he came on late and finished 3rd.  Don't we all wish for an entrance like that.?

Easy money says watch out for this guy in the Crusade.

Pain on the Peak recap a dap, by Jake

Cyclocross Dustbowl!

Veterans got out hot!

Temperatures were high and so were the spirits of Cyclisme racers DeyShaun Lee, Eric Lanners, Dave Wingard, Greg O'Brien and Jake Hansen on Bald Peak today.

Being quite nervous before the start of my first cyclocross race, it was reassuring to see my teammates Greg and Eric get out HOT in the Masters B race. They were in 2nd and 3rd, respectively, on the long starting straight away.

They hammered through the hills and switchbacks of the slippery hay course for a good 45 minutes. Eric ended up in 5th and Greg got 13th.

It gave me confidence seeing them get out like that.

Dave was up in the mix mashing hard in the Masters C race and wound up 33rd in the biggest field of the day. Langston and his wife were there to spray me and DeyShaun with water when we needed it most.

DeyShaun got out hot as well, setting a pace for the first lap that was being matched only by National Track Star Grant McElroy (he is like 12). A bad fall and some mechanical problems (chain breaking) forced DeyShaun to call it quits after 3 laps and got him an 8th place finish. He was really looking good and will have a good CX season if we get some more practice in and get him to stay in his little chainring.


After DeyShaun's race, we switched pedals and I borrowed the donated bike that he had raced on. I wore Greg's old Mt Bike shoes, slid around (literally) this crazy course for 45 minutes and got 3rd place.

Photos courtesy of Dave Wingard

Chef hits Ranch with gourmet extravegance!

Garden Dinner

features 

Chef Jay

Ferries



Squash risotto, with collard greens and chicken or tofu.

Lemon cucumber and tomato caprese salad in balsamic vinaigrette.

Fresh made potato gnocchi in the most amazing rosemary creme sauce.



All were the creation of the soft spoken twenty three year old transplant from Memphis, Tenessee, Jay Ferries. (looking at the camera in his grey/green baseball cap and t-shirt)

His food was thrilling to the entire party.

Guests included John's mother, JoDeanne, restauranteur Sousan Dalahi, Malachi Byrd, Laura Ellis, Meghan Moore, Naomi Byrd, and all were wowed by the genius of the young chef from the South.

Sunday/Monday Rides 9-6 & 9-7

CX Ride, or whatever bike you're comfy with in Forest Park. Meet at 9:00 at Dragonfly, roll out around 9:15. 2-3 hours, re-group points as needed.

Monday how about a morning CX skills session and race sim at the 205 area?

Greg

Veteran Masters Deardorff and Word!

        

 Dominion! 

By these seasoned veteran Masters throughout the season, but especially last weekend at the Masters Track Champs on the Alpenrose velodrome, their performance was stellar! It saved the team while big Master's teams picked up spots on the BAR.

Randy Word won the Gold in the Pursuits for 40-45year old Masters for a little over four minutes work.

Chris Deardorff won the Silver in the Match Sprints where he has been an inspiration to us all for many years now.

1 Word Randy Word-RCB 04:05.47 Randy Word also took third place  in the Masters 40-49 Points Race,  winning Bronze. All of Randy's success comes the night after  Chris Deardorff turned in  an unprecedented,  and timely performance  in the Kilo TT, winning Gold! 1 Deardorff Chris Word-RCB 01:16.12 Chris Deardorff, often thought of  as a pure power sprinter  has stretched himself to suffer  in a whole new house of pain (Brian Aber's Coaching).  Beating Bike Central's superstar  Stephen McLaugry  couldn't have happend on a better day!