2008 US Gran Prix of Cyclocross

www.usgpcyclocross.com

The last big season finale: The US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, Portland Cup.

The USGP is a 6 race, 3 weekend series across the nation stopping at Louisville, KY; Mercer Co., NJ; and finishing in Portland, WA. The Portland Cup was held last weekend at the Portland International Raceway. Conditions were dryer than normal for Saturdays race but very cold. The Day started out in the upper 20s but reached low 40 by my race. Sunday's race was quite the contrast as it had rained over night but temperatures rose over 15 degrees to the low 50s for my event.

Out of just under 100 racers in the Men's B field I finished 13th overall on Saturday and 11th on Sunday against folks from Canada, California and Vermont (of all places) and beating most of the guys I raced against in the Crusade series.

Photos from Saturday:

http://sosovelo.com/wp-content/gallery/usgp_menc_ss_08_bulk/IMG_1370.JPG

Photos From Sunday:

Slide Show:

http://pdxcross.com/2008/12/08/usgp-photo-slideshow/

Video:http://www.vimeo.com/2471633

2008 Tour of Walla Walla Race Report

Tour of Walla Walla
April 19th & 20th, 2008

It was a chilly weekend for a bike race in April. Temperatures in the mid 40s, the cat 4 men's field of the Tour of Walla Walla began with a time trial Saturday morning, April 19 in Waitsburg. About 90 racers in the cat 4 field lined up to give it there all in hopes to secure a time buffer going into the stages to follow over the next day and a half. One by one the race officials would count down 5-4-3-2-1 GO! Every 30 second a rider would explode from the start line to attack the 6.8 mile TT in hopes to pass a few riders that started before them and most importantly not GET passed by riders behind. I started about mid way down the pack. My goal: go hard, keep the heart rate up and pass as many people as possible. The start was an upright start with both feet clipped in while a race official held your bike up right. After a lengthy warm up on the trainer and 5 minutes to go, I quickly head to the start line and find my spot in line. "463 to the start line." They counted me off and I was on my way. I quickly got my hart rate where I wanted it and was now in pursuit mode. One by one I would pick off riders reassuring myself I was at least faster then some. The course was slightly up hill and into the wind on the way out and and blazing fast coming back with the wind. I could have used an extra gear as my legs were spinning as fast as they could. I finished the TT in 15:33:21 in 2nd place about 15 seconds behind a Whitman Collage rider Colin Gibson. 3rd place was Claton Binkly riding for Starbucks placing about 26 seconds behind the leader.

After a few hours of recovery, wrapped up in a blanket in a lawn chair and some lunch, it was time to start the 59-mile road race. I suited up and got to the start line early to get a good position up front. After a few words from the race official the men's cat 4 lead car pulled out and we road up the 3 km neutral start (ideal for a pre-race warm up). We crested the top and the lead car pulled away and we were off. I was currently sitting in second place thanks to my stellar time trial performance. It would take lots of attentiveness and luck during this road race if I wanted to move up to first place in the overall standings. The road race consisted of 2 loops (one small that would come back to the base of the 3 km hill at Waitsburg, and one larger loop taking us through Walla Walla and back to the base of the same in Waitsburg for a 3 km climb to the finish). The course had quite a few rolling hills with a significant climb and decent about 6 miles from the finish. If anything was going to happen it would be here. We finished the short loop with nothing too exciting happening. There were a few attempts at breakaways during the longer loop but nothing to worry about has we always reeled 'em back in. At one point in the beginning of the long loop I went for my water bottle and caught it on my race number attached to my bike. It slipped from my hands and down onto the road. "Water bottle!" I yelled, as I heard others yell as well. Crap, I thought, that was one of my favorite water bottles from the Titanium Man triathlon. Sandy and Brian, further back in the pack, noticed the familiar water bottle and both though "yep, must have been Ryan's." The timing was good though as it was just a couple mile to the feed zone where I could pick up some more water. The feed zone was located on a slight incline to make it easier for the exchange as it forced a slower pace. I grabbed a water bottle from a volunteer and noticed they were used donated bottles. I don't think mine was washed thoroughly before had as it had some orange stuff around the mouth piece. Needled to say I didn't drink to much water the rest of the race. I kept an eye on both the 1st and 3rd place riders to make sure I was there if anything happened. About 10 miles to go one guy broke a way and held his position for quite a while. It wasn't 'til the base of the hill with 6 miles to go did 2 other folks jump out to try and catch him. I noticed one of them was the 3rd place guy from Starbucks. I made my move to bridge and try not to pull the rest of the pack with me. I caught them at the crest of the hill and started working together to sprint down the other side in hope to catch the leader. By the bottom we were all 4 together working a very strong pace line but it didn't take long until the original guy fell off the back and then it was just three. With about 4 miles to go and the chase group clearly in site I thought about how risky this would be to spend so much energy to keep away and then have a 3 km hill to climb for the finish. All three of us worked hard in a pace line and eventually put 45 seconds on the case group before the base of the last hill (as one of the race officials told us as he drove up beside us in his car). It's still anybody's game though. I thought to my self this was a very risky move. If I worked too hard to brake away I would risk exploding on the hill. The three of us started the climb. My legs felt good. The other two quickly fell off and I pulled away never looking back. I continued to climb not knowing if anyone was right behind me. About a kilometer to go an unfamiliar rider cough up with me. Obviously someone that hade been playing it conservative during the race to save his legs for this finish. He stayed on my wheel for a bit and then started to make his move. I chatted with him for a bit in as calm a voice as I could to not let him know how very much I was hurting. He then got out of the saddle and quickly started accelerate everything in me wanted to let him go and settle for second but I hadn't worked this hard to just let him go. I quickly jumped back on his wheel and gave it everything I had. It wasn't long before he exploded and and started to slow. I took this opportunity to continue the effort and pass him. He was done. A calm "nice work, keep it up" as I passed him to remind him I was clearly stronger than him and crush any hope that he might have enough strength to hang with me. I continued to pull away and finished 1st putting 10 second him, 30 seconds (plus 10 seconds time bonus for 1st) on the winner of the TT and 37 seconds on the Starbucks guy. I was now sitting in First overall with a 25 second cushion. Just don't do anything crazy during the crit and I would hold my overall placing.

A quick trip home for dinner and a good night's rest would lead up to the final event the next day. The last event was a criterum held in downtown Walla Walla. A beautifully constructed crit course consisting of 6 corner, 1/2 mile course, complete with hay bails and spectators running directly in front of Starbucks. Who could ask for more? Conditions were cold but dry. After a 1/2 hour warm up on the trainer, 10:00 am rolled around and the men's cat 4 field were called to the start line for our 40 minute race. I quickly found a spot in the front on the start line. A few words from the race official and without further adu, we we were off. I quickly clipped in (flawless) and hammered to the first corner to lead the pack. It was there I would stay for the next three laps pushing the limit, stretching out the pack and dropping a good portion of the field. Cheering spectators lined the streets with clanging cow bells and yelling which helped keep the excitement going especially some very enthusiastic kids with official "Tour of Walla Walla" cow bells that made sure no one was going to give anything less than their best effort. I eased back and let some others take their turn leading the group but never letting any more than 5 or so riders get in front of me. It was too easy to get swallowed up by the pack so I worked hard to stay near the front using corners to move back up. Passing the start/finish line I hear the prime bell. Prime lap! There would be two primes today; each offering a 2 second time bonus for the first one across the line for that particular lap. Ok, I'm going for it. I surge off the front and pull a significant gap on the group right from the start. Every corner was hit fast and hard using up the entire road to complete the turns. Rounding the last bend into the strait-a-way to the start/finish I punch it and give it everything. Ok, the 2 seconds are mine and nobody else's. Granted, I really didn't need the 2 seconds but I couldn't resist and I wasn't about ready to just give it way. "If you want it ya gota work for it." I eased back into the group and continue to push the pace to stay out front. Every lap at a point further around the course I would hear "Go Ryan Brown!" as my friends were walking the course making sure I was on top of the game. I am truly blessed with such great friends. Thank you! Another prime bell rings. What the heck. I give it everything and pull away from the group. This time I'm starting to feel the affects of the hard efforts I've been sustaining. Two corners from the strait-a-way to the start/finish line the 3rd place Starbucks guy catches me. I felt a little relieved as I could let him pull me for a bit and take it at the end. I let him pass and as he come up beside me he asked me to give him the time bonus as he needed it to keep his placing in the overall standings. I thought for a second and decided I would help him out. After all, he was in my break away group during the road race giving it everything he had so I felt I owed him. And I didn't need that prime anyway. So I surge ahead to help pull him then let him pass for the prime. A few more laps at we were upon the final lap to the finish. I attempt another breakaway with a lap to go but did not have the power as I had earlier and just strung the group out. Approaching the finish I keep up the effort and let the rest of the pack sprint for the win. I finished the crit with the lead group in 10th thus securing my 1st place overall placing with a 22 second lead on the Whitman Collage guy and just under a minute on the Starbucks guy. With my win on Saturday I now have more than enough points for an upgrade to cat 3.

Thanks to Richland Bycycles and Fitness for repairing my bike after my crash at Tour of the Frozen Flatlands two weeks earlier.

Other Chinook riders were Brian Schur and Sandy Poulson for cat 4 and Mark Skiffington in cat 5.

Final results can be found here: http://www.tofww.org/results.html

Up next: Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, May 15 - 18

Thanks for reading!

Your cat 4 Tour of Walla Walla Champion,

Ryan Brown

2008 Tour of the Frozen Flatlands Race Report

Tour of the Frozen Flatlands Race Report

Location: Cheney, WA

Race Type: Multi Day Omnium

Last weekend's race consisted of a 1 hour circuit race at the Spokane Raceway and a 50 mile road race in Cheney. Brian and I left town around 10 am to meet up with Sandy and Robyn at the race way only to be greeted with winter like conditions. The temperature was in the mid 30s and there was a 2 hour delay to clear snow that had fallen that morning. Two hours later we start our warm up while Robyn starts her race in the women’s cat 4 field. She finished strong in second place. 3:30 pm roles around and Sandy, Brian and I then line up to start our event in the men's cat 4 field. This is a multiple loop circuit race lasting 1 hour. The gun fires and we're off. My legs feel heavy as I hammer to sprint to the front to avoid all the chaos that trail behind the lead bikers. Especially in a circuit or criterium, being stuck in the back is not the ideal spot to hang out. As the front group slows for sharp corners and then speeds up out of the turn these motions are greatly amplified in the back as the pack acts like an accordion hitting hard on the brakes coming into corners and standing out of the saddle, sprinting to catch the group out of the corner. So the front is where I tried to stay. After about 200 yards we take our first right hand turn. The track is wet but doesn’t seem to affect our handling. Next, a gradual sweeping left then an immediate right that takes us toward an 'S' turn. The 'S' turn consists of a very hard 135 deg left, a short striate section, followed by hard right. Negotiating these turns can be quite difficult in a mixed cat 4-5 field as inexperienced riders take shallow lines and try to pass on the inside forcing others to change a smooth line into a sharp turn while braking to avoid over-shooting. After cautiously negotiating the ‘S’ turn was a fast, slightly down hill, tail wind stretch to get back up to speed before a wide right hand loop back into a slightly uphill, headwind stretch to the Start/Finish line. One lap down. The next three laps were pretty identical in nature. Nothing too exciting. Just trying to stay in the front and not go down in the ‘S’ turn as the wet conditions made it very slick. As we made our approach in the 4th lap to the Start/Finish line things started to get a little skittish. I was about mid pack, Sandy was about 4 riders up then Brian right in front of him. I noticed Sandy try and maneuver around some very unstable riders when he clipped someone’s back wheel and went down fast and hard. Two more people in front of me went down. I had two options. 1) Ride over Sandy and keep racing or 2) try to swerve and risk clipping a wheel. I chose option 2. I did clip a wheel and did go down. No injuries although Sandy wasn't as fortunate. A pretty good sized bump and some bleeding on his head as well as a completely destroyed helmet. I got up, brushed myself off and assessed the bike. Bent front rim, ripped handle bar tape, and miss aligned shifter. I quickly reattached my chain, straitened the shifter, opened my front brake and started chasing the group. My front wheel is pretty bent and still rubbing on my brakes. I struggle a bit in this first strait section as there is a bit of a head wind. "I'll catch'em on the other side with a little tail wind," I thought. Ok, passed the Start/Finish, through the first left hand turn and on to the 'S' turn. With a little bit of tail wind and exceptional cornering skills, I'm starting to gain some ground, but not enough. Back to the strait section into the wind and loose a little ground. 3 more laps I would gain ground with the wind and cornering and loose ground into the wind on the strait section. Overall, each lap I would gain significant ground as riders would fall off the back of the main group and I would try to motivate them to help me out. It was no use. At this point I was really starting to get tired and the group starting to gain more and more ground. Finally I sat up and finished the last lap as a cool down. I was pretty bummed and wanted to call it a weekend and go home. But I still had tomorrow's road race and some fun activities planned for the evening in Spokane.

My first stop for the evening was to check into my hotel, clean up and dress for the remainder of the evening's events. My next stop was an impromptu dinner visit at a house warming party of one of Brian's friends in north Spokane. I felt a little over dressed as I was wearing a suit and tie for the Spokane Symphony to be enjoyed a few hours later. A couple of very tasty hot dogs, hamburger and pasta salad all washed down with a beer completed the formal setting I was so dressed to attend. Ahhh, a very much needed (and appreciated) dinner followed by a relaxing visit with friends and new introductions but it was time to depart for the symphony.

The Spokane Symphony, for the longest time, had been performed at the Opera House (built 1974) at the Convention Center in down town Spokane. In 2007 the Symphony purchased the Fox Theater (built in 1931 as a movie theater) and remodeled it for use as their performing arts theater. The remodeled theater seats 1725 and was a full house for the evening I attended. The Symphony's guest artist was Anne Akiko and is recognized as one of today’s most inspiring and sought after violinists for her impassioned performances. ...and what a performance it was. She walks out on stage in an elegant red dress contrasted against the black and white of the symphony members; it was quite a sight and, I might add, was nothing compared to her performance.

Ok, 2 hours of classical symphony? ...I'm ready for bed! A few blocks down the road and I'm at the hotel. Through the entrance, passed the night club (no thanks!) and to the elevator. It wasn't long before I was fast asleep dreaming about winning bike races.

Suddenly I was awoken by a very particular, annoying, sound. I'm a little disoriented and not quite sure were I was. The only thing on my mind was "what the heck is that annoying buzzing?" I burry my head under the pillow to try and block it out. No good. A moment later I start to get my bearings and look at the time. 2:00 am?!!! I smack the alarm to try an turn it off. No good! What the heck is going on? Wait, I remember this? This is familiar. I've practiced this at school and at work several times. Ok, so I trip over my bag, stumble over my shoes and stub my toe on the chair to get to the door. I poke my head out into the hall (one eye still glued shut) to find many confused people packing their bags and children down the all. Fire alarm! Crap! I quickly gather all my things (good thing I left my bike with Brian at his friends house) and head to the stairs. Oh yeah, I remember the attended saying while I was checking in "why don't I put you on the 11th floor so the traffic noise doesn't bother you while you sleep?" "Ok, sure" I remember replying. 11 flights of stairs later and I'm in the lobby getting ready to exit the building when I hear "false alarm!" Apparently some punk decided it would be fun to pull the alarm and run. A few moments later the firemen show up to turn off the alarm and give us the OK to go back to our rooms. This time I take the elevator.

After breakfast at my favorite bagel shop in Spokane "The Rocket Bakery," I'm off to pick up Brian, our bikes and a spare front wheel. The weather forecast wasn't favorable; rain and low 40s. Driving the course earlier on Saturday morning, Brian and I had the perfect plan to break away from the group and finish with the top 2 placings. Our race started promptly on time at 9:50 am. It was cold and dreary, but nothing like what we had in store for us further down the road. The neutral start led us away from the high school in Cheney, down the block and across some rail road tracks. Our pace car pulled away and we were off. The first 20 miles were pretty uneventful except for the occasional one or two people trying break away from time to time but would always get sucked back into the group as if a big fish was swallowing up its dinner. The next twenty miles were some of the most uncomfortable riding I've done so far. Instead of rain we got a hailstorm. This stuff hurt too. You couldn't look up for more than a few seconds to make sure you were still riding strait before the pain of the hail stones hitting your face would force you to look back down to block it with your helmet. These conditions would last for the next 15 to 20 miles. Yuck. It wasn't too long before a group of eager riders decided to break away -- and with authority. This time it was for real and I was stuck in the chase group. As soon as I realized these guys were for real it was too late to just jump on to the tail-end of their group. Waiting a few moments for the perfect time to jump and not take anyone with me I went for it. It took about 4 miles to bridge but eventually caught up, and with some well needed recovery. A few moments of spinning my legs I jumped in to help pull. These guys were so unorganized with their pulls I was afraid the chase group was going to catch us. Over the next 5 miles most of the riders started to get their act together and work more efficiently in a pace line but the chase group was still gaining. At about that time we came upon the hill were Brian and I had planned to make our big break, only no Brian. Apparently he was stuck in the back of the group before it broke up and was stuck in a 2nd chase group. Well, I thought, I guess I'll have to do this alone. It was perfect. With 10 miles to go, there was a short, very steep hill followed by a similar descent with a very hard right turn at the bottom, then rolling hills, gradually twisty turns, a slight elevation gain on average AND a slight tail wind. Perfect for a breakaway. So I hammer up the hill to break away, bomb down the other side in a very low tucked position and hit the turn wide and fast (knowing that it had been swept the day before and could be taken hard). Now it's time to get out of sight. I hunker down in the most aero position I could and just started crankin' out the miles. In no time I was out of sight but didn't want to let up. It was just me and the lead car and the occasional woman from the women's cat 1/2/3 field that started ahead of us. These last 10 miles was just a time trial for me, but hey, that's what I do best. The finish line approached, I through my arms up in the air and celebrated my victory. It would be over two and a half minutes later before the chase group would cross the finish line. With a DNF the day before and a win for today I would receive 2nd place for the weekend's omnium. Next stop, Tour of Walla Walla April 19 and 20.

Thanks for reading. See you at the races...

Ryan

2007 Cross Crusade #7: Series Finale - Hillsboro Stadium

Cross Crusade #7:

Series Finale - Hillsboro Stadium

Hillsboro, Oregon

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Chapter 1:

To Pee or not to Pee

Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. For weeks I’ve been racing cyclocross in warm, sunny, dry conditions, all a while hearing stories of what cyclocross is really about. The cold, the rain, the mud, the thick goo… We’re now down to the last race of the series and so far have not yet seen true cyclocross conditions. I want to play in the mud and rain, I wished, just like when I was a kid, only now I wouldn't have to answer to mom when I come home.

I arrived in Portland the day before to meet up with some friends for dinner. It was raining, it had been raining, and it was going keep raining. Race day I awoke to... yep, more rain. My wipers were working overtime as me and a friend made our journey to Hillsboro Stadium. After arriving I suited up to take a few warm up laps before my event. This actually made me colder so I road back to my car, got in and turned up the heat. After my "warm up" and a quick stop at the port-o-let I arrived at the start line with a second row starting position after the call-ups. 20 minutes to start and I was already getting cold. Running in place... jumping jacks... whatever I could do to stay warm.

The race start was approaching and my nerves were starting to get the best of me. Do I wear sunglasses to protect the eyes, would they get coated with mud and not allow me to see? I decided against the glasses as so did the majority of the group. I now had to pee again. Still cold, jumping up and down and having to pee. Not a good combination. This could be easily remedied I thought, I mean, I was already wet -- right????.....

Chapter 2:

Ryan vs. the Barriers

Bang! The start was a long strait stretch of paved parking lot. Plenty of room to get a good position in the lead pack. Now wishing I had my sunglasses I could not get a good draft due to the spray of road grime in my eyes forcing me to ride on the outside. A hard left turn forced a realization the it actually was slick out there as my rear tire slid out, slingshotting me from the inside of the turn to the outside. Staying up right I continued to power on. A right turn brought us to our first mud bog. Ok, not so bad, a little sticky but ridable. Up on a flat and fast dirt road now. Grime flinging in my eyes, I could hardly see; constantly blinking. My left eye temporarily out of commission as my contact sifts due to the overpowering grime. Now riding with one good eye, I see our first set of barriers approaching. My dismount was too late. I blame this on having no depth perception as a result of mud in my eye. As I leap one direction over the first barrier my bike slams into it forcing it in the other. I'm now a human mobile with bike, arms and legs flailing every which direction as I do my best to stay upright and not fall on the second barrier. Left foot, knee, right foot, twist, step, reach, hand, left, right, left, right... remount, pedal, pedal, pedal... whew, that was close!

Chapter 3:

Mud

The dirt road now turns to another mud bog. This time there is a deep puddle leading into the thick goo. I think I can ride it. Nope! Stopped dead in my tracks. Note to self: Run this next time. The spectators that have congregated to this spot are now screaming "run! run!" I'm now running, slightly up hill in thick goo, hoping not to loose my shoes. Man, this crap goes on for ever. After leveling off, I get tired of running in goo and remount to make an effort at riding it. The crowd is now yelling "ride! ride!" It is ridable, though not much faster than the guys running next to me. The goo clears and I get back up to speed for a bit before dropping back into it again. Front wheel turning this way and that, just trying not to run off course into the course markers. Another set of barriers forces a dismount and run up a short hill. Remount fine, clipping in, not so fine. I spent precious seconds smacking my foot against the peddles to try to clear the twigs and grime from my cleat. Once clipped back in, down we go again into a quick off camber visit to the mud. Down I go, over the handlebars flat on my back. Note to self: avoid the big hole.

Chapter 4:

More Mud

I peel myself up out the mud, grab my bike and start running. It's official now, I'm dirty. After a short hill it was back to high ground, remount, shake the cleats clean, clip in and go. Gloves and handlebars are now lathered with mud making it difficult to get a secure hold as my hands slip all over the bars. A sharp right hand turn back into the screaming crowd to a slightly down hill mud bog that paralleled the previous stretch I was forced to run. My favorite spot. Apparently JohnnyG's favorite too, and it's no wonder. It was a downhill slippery slide roller coaster that landed you right in a giant mud puddle on a hard left turn. Powering though the giant puddle at the bottom, I cleared it. Throwing rocks and mud from my rear wheel trying to keep forward motion and it was back to pavement for the final stretch of the first lap.

Chapter 5:

Lots More Mud

My hands now are very cold and am having difficulty holding on to the bars. The second lap was better than the first as I stayed up right and remembered some of the tricky sections from the first although each successive lap seemed to get more sloppy than the previous. Mud continued to fly. My eyes seemed to catch most of it as I was really struggling to see. Blink blink - clear - blink, blink - blur. The mud in my eyes felt like sand paper, it was really starting to hurt now. "Ok, one more lap, you can hold out for one more lap." I could really start to feel the weight of the mud and grime collecting in my cloths, my bike and my shoes. I thought to myself: "how was I ever going to get them clean again?" ...Ok, not really.

Four laps total and finished in 17th. Just squeaking in under the 18 limit for points earning. It was now time to clean up and head home. Cleaning up was not quite as successful or rewarding as I has forgotten my solar shower at home. I wiped what I could with a small towel and hid the rest with my street cloths.

Results for Men B: http://app.obra.org/results/2007/Cyclocross/6467#race_90349
Video: http://www.crosscrusade.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1523&PN=1

All in all, a great series with plenty of friends and co-racers for support and company. Thank for reading and for all your encouragement.

Happy Holidays!

Your humble race reporter,
Ryan Brown

2007 Cross Crusade #6: Estacada Timber Park

Race Report
Cross Crusade #6: Estacada Timber Park
Estacada, Oregon
Sunday, November 11

Cross Crusade #6???  What happened to 4 and 5 (for those of you keeping track)?  Well, #4, Astoria, I was out with the flu and Barton Park was the same weekend as one of our mountain bike events held in Echo, OR; couldn’t miss that.  Plus, I was getting a little burnt out on driving to Portland every weekend.

Fully recharged and ready to hit the cx scene again, JohnnyG, Brian and I left the Tri-Cities last Sunday morning to attend Oregon’s 6th cyclocross race in the Cross Crusade series (www.crosscrusade.com).  Brian would be racing first at 10:00 am, John at 11:00 then finally I would race at noon.  In order to make Brian’s race start we had to leave super early.  We realized this as we pulled into Starbucks’ parking lot only to find a dark, deserted building leaving us with a dark, deserted pit in our stomachs.  Luckily I had brought a thermos of coffee from home.  At this point I was hesitant to reveal it in fear of being attacked but I decided as being the driver it was medically necessary in order to arrive at the venue safe and on time.  …that was my defense and I was sticking to it!  Stopping in Hood River along the way relief was in sight.  We arrived at a brightly lit Starbucks with many happy baristas ready to take our order.  Things were looking up.  Already having my coffee I went across the street to grab breakfast at McDonalds.  The Deluxe Breakfast consists of 3 pancakes, 2 scrambled eggs, 1 biscuit, 1 sausage and a hash brown (a pre-race meal adopted from a fellow triathlete friend of mine).

Brian was the first one to race in the Men's C category.  Remembering his last experience at Horning's Hideout he decided to forgo the warm-up lap and jump strait into the race cold.  A pre ride of the course wasn't going to keep him from racing this time.  Still recovering from a dislocated finger immobilized in a brace, 4 laps and a middle of the pack finish and injury free, Brian was happy.  John was next up in the Masters B 35+ category.  5 laps and dropping to a 10 place finish, this was not quite what he had hoped for especially after a strong 2nd place finish at Alpenrose.  Still a great finish in my book.

12:00 pm:  it was now my turn.  After a 30 minute warm-up I was the first to arrived at the start line.  I wasn't going to get a bad start this time.  Front tire on the start line; the race director announces "one minute to start."  Bang!  Struggling to get clipped into my peddle, I immediately fall back several places.  Not quite the start I had hopped for.  Riders swerving this way and that, all I could do was ride safe and avoid getting my front wheel clipped thus falling back several more places.  After making the first right turn I realized just how muddy and slippery the course was going to be.  The sun was out and it was warm but the previous days of nonstop raining had turned the course into a true cyclocross mud fest.  The first lap revealed a relatively flat course with many turns, a couple of them way off camber and a few steep descents and hills.  The conditions were muddy and slippery but the new Michelin Mud 2s really gripped well.  The off camber corners needed to be approached with caution.  Just at the crest of the first big decent was a structure reminiscent of my childhood days.  It was about 4 feet wide, 3 feet long, about a foot high in the back and tapered off to a point that met the ground in the front.  Wee!!!  I launched of that sucker with grace and style.  I felt like I was in the air for an eternity.  I must have caught a 3 feet of air! ...and every lap after that.  I was a kid again.  Later on the course was a narrow slippery bridge that exited to a sharp left causing a bottle neck every lap.  The last climb would have been ridable under dry conditions, but alas, these weren't dry conditions.  This was Portland and it was cross season.  I would get half way up thinking I could ride it when my rear wheel would just start spinning forcing a dismount to run the rest.  The remount was a struggle after clogging my cleats with grass and mud.  It would be several yards before getting clipped back in.  And just after fighting that battle.  It was time to dismount again...  The infamous "6 pack" of barriers were back.  I haven't seen these since Alpenrose.  The approach to the barriers was a muddy gooey mess on a 180 degree turn forcing a early dismount.  Again, after running the barriers, the remount was a struggle, this time standing trying to force the cleat through the grass and mud stuck to the bottom of my shoe.  The first lap was flawless, so the next lap I decided to pick it up a notch on some of the corners.  Not 30 seconds into the second lap I was pealing myself up out of the mud.  My entire left side was covered in mud and I had a tweaked the left shifter; also caked with grass and mud.

After a quick remount, systems check and loosing another few places, everything was operational and off I went.  I was now behind this guy with obnoxious red socks that covered his entire lower leg.  I don't know why but I had to beat him.  At this point a top finish was out of the question and I needed a target.  He and I were back and forth for the next 2 laps.  He definitely had better handling skill than I.  Every lap would pan out like this:  He would gain some ground on the twisty section through the trees.  I would catch and pass him on the strait flat sections and a few of the shallow climbs on the other end of the course.  He would then regain his led on the final descent that led directly into the final steep climb just before the finish line.  He was able to ride this climb but I was force to run it every time.  The final lap was no different than any other except we were both giving it everything we had.  I was ahead, and had some ground on the red socks guy going into the bridge.  Making the final descent, I picked a wide line to get some speed going into the hill.  I got halfway up before I couldn't go any further.  A flash of red caught my eye.  I quickly dismounted and started running but it was no use.  He had already passed me and was still on his bike making his way to the top.  ...but wait, trying to maneuver around another racer he got cut off and was forced to dismount.  As he and the other racer were struggling to get off their bikes and start running I put the hammer down and sprinted up the hill giving it everything I had.  All a while people screaming and cow bells clangin' to help us up that last hill and on to the finish.  Quickly remounting, I powered through the last 20 yards in a dead sprint to the finish; beating Mr. Red Socks Guy and leaving with sense of accomplishment.  I finished pretty consistent with my previous races in 16th place out of 80 or so riders.  (Results: http://app.obra.org/results/event/6466#race_89069) Definitely my favorite course so far.  It was now time to shed the muddy clothes, remount the buddy bikes atop my car (now muddy) and exchange tall tells of our glorious victories as way make our journey home.  Up next, the series finale at Hillsboro Stadium.  Double the points, triple the mud, quadruple the fun!

‘Til next time, your humble race reporter,

Ryan Brown

"The 6-Pack"

2007 Cross Crusade #3: Rainier High School

Race Report

Cross Crusade #3: Rainier High School

Rainier, Oregon

Sunday, October 21

If last week was a journey to the ol’ south down in the bayou, this week was a drive to the early nineties to a high school that sat atop a hillside that brought memories of football rivalries and homecoming celebrations.

Rainier High School is located on top of Rainier Hill just 30 minutes north of Vancouver, WA.  It is vary pretty this time of year with all the fall colors coming out and glistening from the previous day’s rain storm.

I arrived a day early to meet up with some friends in Vancouver for dinner.  The drive past Hood River was nerve-racking as the rain fell in sheets and covered the freeway.  Wipers at full tempo and knuckles white with a death grip that could crush a rock (not really, but that’s what it felt like), it took a few seconds after I stopped just to relax enough to let go.  My friends were very hospitable as I was given a warm bed, allowed me to sleep in and fed a gourmet bagel breakfast sandwich and tasty coffee in the morning.  I had everything I needed for a great race that day.

Arriving at the venue a few hours before the start of my category, cars packed into every nook and cranny, racers huddled under their tents on trainers warming up for their event and bikers riding this way and that, I instantly felt at home or at least amongst a familiar setting.  It took some searching to find a place to park but after a few minutes we found a spot high above the high school and race course.

I suited up to take a practice lap to check out the course as my friend Lori (who has never been to a cyclocross event before) ventured out the see what all the fuss was about.  She saw folks on road bikes riding through the grass and mud like little children who found a mud puddle and didn’t care what mom was going to think.  There were friends and family members, boys and girls; screaming, taunting spectators shaking loud cowbells; bikes of all shapes and sizes.  There were burgers grillin’ up at the start line, Belgian waffles cookin’ at the finish and on top of that a scent pure fun and excitement saturated the air.

As Lori was out soakin’ up the good times I road a practice lap.  The course started out with a climb from the starting line, up past the vendor/expo area and finish line on a paved road to a dirt path that followed the north end of the school property.  The path was wet and slippery but solid.  The path quickly took a left to descended parallel the road we drove up leading up to the high school.  It was interrupted with many root forcing me to stay out of the saddle.  A hard left at the bottom connected with a gravel road for a brief moment and quickly turned right onto some grass above a football field.  An off camber right into an ‘S’ turn around a large tree would spell doom for those coming in to fast.  Another decent down into the football field, behind the goal post and onto the track for a 200 meter sprint to the first run up  (which was very rideable if kept to the outside away from the slippery center).  A quick 180 at the top, back to the track for a quick 100m then a left into the mud bogs.  This was about a 300 meter stretch of pure muck along side the soccer field.  Riding it was questionable as every peddle stroke spun the rear tire as the front sank deeper and deeper.  Now that my tires were 4 lbs heaver with no traction the course headed off into the woods.  Here there were tight twists and turns on a greasy dirt path with a couple of steep climbs that forced a run up because traction was non-existent.  A quick remount at the top and a short flat paved section to spin off the mud a regain traction it was a quick left turn decent into the “sand pit.”  This was a short section of the course that brought us past the jungle gym through deep sand where steering wasn’t an option.  Just like in that game with the ball you drop at the top of an angled surface with several pins hoping it exits the bottom on the big prize slot...  Here, pick a good line at the start of the sand pit and hope you came out somewhere in the middle on the other side and not into the slide on the left or the tree on the right.  After the pit was a hard left, through a set of swings and back into the trees before spitting you back out onto the soccer field.  A wide sweeping right arc though the grass to get up to speed brought you to a 200 meter climb back to the finish.  Fortunately no berries but plenty of slick hills that forced plenty of dismounts.

I arrived at the start early to secure a good position only to be forced to a third row start after the single speed division and the call-ups of my division worked their way to the front.  The whistle blew and we were off for 45 minutes of pure hell.  Five laps later, no technical issues, and staying upright, I had a good race and, down one spot from last week, finished 16th out of 77 Man B riders.

A quick shower, dinner and a short drive I was back home already planning the next adventure which will be held in Astoria, OR (filming location for the hit 80’s movie The Goonies) this weekend for the 4th event of the Cross Crusade series.

‘Til next time, your humble race reporter,

Ryan Brown

2007 Cross Crusade #2: Horning’s Hideout

Race Report

Cross Crusade #2: Horning’s Hideout

North Plains, Oregon

Sunday, October 14

The fog was thick and fluid, the morning sunlight fighting to be seen through the trees; we motored down a narrow dirt road.  Winding around trees and marsh it was a seen reminiscent of Deliverance.  In fact, I think I heard dueling banjos playing in the background.  Wait a minute, it was Dueling Banjos.  Just for fun (after getting a heads up from a fellow crosser that had been here before) I had downloaded Dueling Banjos from the soundtrack Deliverance to my iPod and started it just as we entered the decent into Horning’s Hideout.  It fit perfectly! :^)

Brian Schur and I had left town Sunday morning at 4:00 am to arrive in time for his cyclocross race start at 10:00 am (mine was at noon).  Arriving a few hours early, we had plenty of time to get Brian registered and take a few practice/warm-up laps before his start.  One lap revealed a dry, twisty course with lots of off camber turns and little opportunity for speed.  Constantly braking to avoid sliding out and short steep hills required changing gears often.  There was lots of single track with some grass and gravel road (loose gravel), only two run-ups and one set of barriers; everything else was rideable.

Finishing our first lap and a short discussion about strategy we hit it again.  This time pushing the limits to see where we could make time; power sliding through corners, attempted to “ride” the run-ups, and looking for the perfect line on the descents; it was flawless.  On a distant off-camber left turn that brought you into it from a slight down-hill grassy area on to a gravel road with a lake just feet from the edge, it required finesse and the perfect amount of breaking to survive the turn.  I made it.  Brian, right behind me, was not as fortunate.  Feeling a little too secure about the corner he came in to fast.  Not able to go wide to correct for his speed he was forced to wash out.  He went down hard scraping up his knee and shoulder.  After a quick inventory of “what works and what don’t” he felt a numbing sensation underneath his full fingered gloves.  Removing his left glove revealed a finger that was not like the others.  All he could do is laugh and say “hey Ryan, you got to check this out!”  A quick glance at his had showed a dislocated pinky finger.  “Well, are you going to pull it back into place” I asked?  A quick tug and we were back in business; so we thought.  Every time he tried to make a fist it would “pop” back out again.  “This is not good” he said.  A nearby paramedic was on the scene quickly had a splint in place and sent us on our way.  Brian got his entry forwarded to another race and was now just along for the ride.

A few hours later, Brian now officially labeled as Ryan’s support crew/camera man; I was making my last few warm up loops around a small hillside surrounding the start line.  I noticed a few riders starting to line up.  I quickly headed down to secure a nice 2nd row starting position.  I immediately flagged down my “support crew” to bring me some water to wash down a gel.  A quick thumbs up to my “support crew” indicated I was good to go.

As we neared the start time the race director informed us he was going to call up the top 15 riders from last week’s event.  Well, I was 13th overall last week so this would mean a front row start.  …not quite.  By the time I was called up, the front line was already full and I was back in the second row again.  Oh well, such is life.

Ok, now I’m getting nervous.  A quick glance to spot my “camera man” I quickly made a few goofy poses at him to try and shrug off the butterflies and remind myself it’s all about having a good time.

Lap 1:  The sun was now shining brightly and the air temp was a comfortable 60 deg.  A calm covered the crowd and now I’m staring strait at a 75 yard climb out of an outdoor amphitheater.  A few moments later the whistle blew and it was complete chaos as cow bells rang, spectators cheered and 80 riders in unison sprinted up the hill and made a hard left turn passed the expo area and a scent of Belgian waffles cookin' in the background.  ...Yum!  I was in about 20th position.  Moments later was a hard right going from gravel up an off-camber climb over an exposed root to a short single track section.  Needless to say this was a spot where many spectators congregated to taunt the fallen.  A few sharp turns revealed a strait stretch to gain some momentum into our first grassy section.  It started with a fast bumpy descent.  Coming in hot I just relaxed the arms and legs and let the bike take the beating.  Needing to get around several I was forced to the not-so-traveled area resulting in even harder conditions. ...I felt my jaw starting to rattle so bad I though it was going to fall off.  A quick break, hard off-camber right then, oh no, crash corner!  Getting into the drops, lowering my center of gravity and hugging the cones, I picked the largest arc through the corner as I could.  Whew!  Still upright but barely scraping the edge of the gravel road; a few more feet and this might have turned into a triathlon.  Now it was back into the trees for some more single track.  A few rolling hills, a short fast section to pass a few more people, a hard 180 right hand turn to a steep steep descent followed by yet another off camber right onto a gravel road.  Don't think anyone actually turned on the road but took it wide and turned on the grass on the other side.  A quick climb to some more wooded single track, another off-camber, foot-down, left hand turn and back to some more jaw rattling rough grassy switch backs.  Our first run-up was an immediate hard right and about 20 yards in length up into the trees.  A quick remount at the top only to dismount again 50 yards later for our 2nd and final run up.  It consisted of two short stair-step style run ups.   I found this to be rideable on my practice loop but was to congested with people now to even attempt.  ...maybe next time.  More single track with a series of short leg burning climbs, another fast decent to a right turn on yet another gravel road, with one more long climb back to the expo area.  A right turn at the top was our final loop away from the expo that brought us to a sticky, slow-you-down, cry-to-your-mama muddy section.  A fast decent into another friggen off-camber sweeping turn.  Again, hugging the cones seemed to work for me.  It was a little more hard packed and less traveled there and my tires were gripping nicely thus allowing me to pass a few more riders.  A fast decent just before a set of two barriers forced me to lay on the breaks and skid into the dismount.  Hop, hop, a quick remount and 6 minutes later, I was off for another lap.

Lap 2: Pretty much the same thing... whoa, there's the root...  ... Fly down the rough grassy descent all the while my brain is being scrambled.  ...Uh oh, watch the "crash corner!"   ...huff it up the run-ups and... Oh no!  Stuck in my large front chain ring???  Un-clipping, I tap "gently" with my toe to see if I can shake it loose.  ...nothing!  There must be something wrong with the shifter.  I am now out of the saddle on the climbs grinding away in my large ring in the front and large ring in the back.  Folks passing me left and right as I give everything I have to keep enough momentum from turning the later hills into more run-ups.  ...hop, hop, clear the barriers, remount and go for lap 3...

Lap 3: Watch the root!  ...make up some places on the down hill trying not to get bounced off the bike.  ...power slide!  Scramble up the run-ups.  Force a grin for my camera man on the hills as I creep by, sweat now pouring down my face.  ...Hop, hop, remount and go...

Lap 4: Root! ...Rattle!  ...Move up a few positions. ...Slide!  ...Crawl!  ...Dig, dig, dig!  ...Loose a few positions.  ...Hop, hop, remount, repeat!

The laps now start ticking by... Lap 5 ...Lap 6  ...Lap 7.  Now at the end of the final lap, rounding the final bend into the barriers, I give it everything I've got.  Two other folks are right next to me; one in front and one behind.  Forced into the barriers on the outside, I take the barriers with force but it was no use.  Having the finish line only yards away from the barriers, no one bothered to remount as the three of us run it in for the finish.  I place 15th overall dropping two spots from last week.  Had yet another fun filled cx race with no injuries and managed to keep the rubber side down.  Lived to tell about it and race another day.

A quick bite to eat and it was time make the journey home.  Next stop: Rainier High School for event # 3 on October 21.

'Til next time...
Your humble race reporter,

Ryan Brown