The Strawberry Century

Before I get into the wonderful time that was had by all at the Strawberry Century. I wanted to take a minute to talk about Jim Henry's Funeral that took place on Sunday.

It was a lovely acknowledgment to a man who obviously meant a lot to many people.

Some of the Scott's group as well as the Capitol Velo team rode their bikes to the funeral. Which I thought was a nice tribute to him. As well, I would like to recognize both Phil and Thomas. Who staid outside to keep an eye on all the bikes during the service. That was a very nice thing to do guys. Thanks...

If the measure of a man is by the number of people that cared and loved them. Then Jim Henry was as big as the all outdoors. He will be greatly missed.

RIP Jim....



All the photos were stolen... Er, ah, borrowed, from Martin. And were taken by his lovely daughter Xochitl. Thank you!


The annual Strawberry Century event ride was held in Lebanon this last Saturday. And to be honest it's one of my favorite rides of the year. Not only because it gets me out in some areas of the valley that I don't get into very often (If only this one time of year.).  But it's the scenery and the roads themselves that make this ride exceptional.



Hollie looking gorgeous as always. Don't be jealous...


I think there is maybe 4 blocks worth of bad road on the whole ride (I should specify that our group went on the fifty five mile version. Not the hundred. And while it's beautiful too. It's more mileage than any of us cared to do.). All the rest is a butter smooth tarmac that curves and swoops around the countryside like a lovely ribbon. Just couldn't ask for nicer.


Then there is the scenery. If I were to take a snippet of what Oregon is to me.  This ride would probably be a third of the footage. It lets people see a lovely part of the rural valley that can only be accessed by getting off the major highways and freeways. There are fields, streams, lakes, rivers, a couple small waterfalls, and beautiful old farms.



We started our ride fairly early so we never really saw a vast majority of the crowds. Which is nice. It's a double edged sword on a lot of event rides. Because a lot of them are charity based it's nice to see a large participation. But on the other hand it's no fun passing a row of Fred's as far as the eye could see. But timing is everything. And earlier seems to work better for dodging the crowds.



Me doing my level best to suck in the gut...


The weather was good. It was maybe a little cool starting out but once we got moving I was shedding layers at a pretty consistent rate for the whole ride. The wind didn't blow hard until the last ten miles or so ( I was thinking about the 75-100 mile riders having to go out in the flats by the freeway. I imagine it got pretty blustery out there. Poor bastards...). So it was pretty pleasant in that respect.

All said and told a blissfully uneventful ride. Just enjoyed the company, scenery, and the whirring sound of bicycle tires on dry pavement.



I think J's expression pretty much sums it up.


It was just lovely...

Rubber side down,

Big E

PS~ Adam and I are headed down to the Twilight Crit series tonight. To hone our ninja like skills. News of that shall be tomorrow. You've been warned.

We Lost A Friend, Teacher And Compatriot

Jim Henry  passed away yesterday because of complications from his bicycle crash two weeks ago.

I really don't know what to write...

It's always sad when we lose someone we know. It blasts us in the face with our own mortality. And the thoughts that we will never be able to interact with that person again. He'll never be on a group ride again. He'll never be able to squeeze his boy's. He'll never get to kiss his girlfriend. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Especially when the cause of his death is something we all dearly love.

I believe that part of the reason there is such a thrill and excitement about bike riding is the inherent risk that is involved. We all know it's there. But over coming that fear and being successful at coming through the other side is, in part, where the satisfaction comes from.

But then something like this brings it all crashing back down to reality.

Cycling is risky. Period.

I know it, you know it, and Jim knew it.

That doesn't make it any less beautiful, fun or scary. It just is what it is.

Christ, I'm just rambling...

I want to yell and scream and tell everyone that we should be more aware. Enjoy more! Love more! Laugh more! And LIVE. Live while you have the chance.

It sure seemed from the small, tiny sliver of Jim's life that I saw that he did all those things. And that's all you can really ask of this life.

Take advantage of it while you are here. Cuz we aren't here long. And you never know when it will end.

I'm sure Jim would have agreed with me.

Rest in peace buddy...


Rubber side down,

Big E

This Kid Knows What It Takes!

My Uncle sent this to me. And I must say I think it's great. More intelligent words were never spoke. Enjoy!


Kid Gives Speech After Learning To Ride A Bike - Watch more Funny Videos



Rubber side down,

Big E

A Great Example Of What Not To Do

So the Hammer Velo Crit was on Saturday. I rode terribly. Both in the mind and in the legs. The legs were something that I could have predicted before hand. The mind is something that I definitely need to work on.

It all started with the couple of days coming up to the race. I rode really hard on the Thursday night group ride. Which at the time I really didn't think anything of. I never felt out of my comfort zone. But I did a lot of work at the front and some pretty big changes in tempo.  When I woke up the next day I could feel it in my legs. And in my brain I was thinking "Uh, oh".  Because, at least most of the time. I really feel the effects of a hard workout two days later. Let's see... If I did the hard workout on Thursday... Friday... Saturday...



So like I said before. The bad legs were predictable considering. Although you would think that I would know better by now not to do something like that.

I almost had myself fooled during my warm up. But after about 4 laps into the race I tried to cover a break that had gone up the road. And on a slightly downhill tail wind section of the course I couldn't must more than 27 mph. For me, that's a problem. As any of my friend's know, going downhill is what I do best. And when I looked at my speedo to make sure I wasn't going to far in the red and saw those little numbers staring up at me I knew it was going to be a long day.

The second part of what I shouldn't have done was I put in a full days hard work the day before. I have a physical day job. But even after that I went home and took care of a bunch of yard work that I'd been putting off. And then.... (I know, I know.). I staid up late.

So just to recap I did a hard workout right before a race. I didn't rest and take it easy when my body told me too. And I didn't get enough sleep before the race.

Earl = Dumb.



Don't be like me kids....

The mental part of me being a poor example is I let one guy piss me off enough that I didn't try my hardest in the finish (You are probably noticing a pattern between this race and the last one I was in.)

I got into a verbal altercation with a guy about working at the front.  I was just trying to get the guys up at the front to start working together to close down that break that I had mentioned earlier. And for some reason this guy took it personal and asked me why I don't go up there and, in his words, "Fucking pull!". I kinda took exception to that since I had done quite a bit of work out there already. And this guy acted like he was getting sandblasted anything his nose was out in the wind.

Now please don't get me wrong. I don't give a shit if he sits in. I just took it a little personal when he got in my face about the whole pulling thing. I know all this is really petty. And I also know that this is just a bike race for fun. But in the heat of the moment I verbally slammed this guy. Which, like most times when I do crap like that I instantly feel bad. Like I got suckered down to the other guy's level when I should be better than that.

So I sat mid-pack for most of the rest of the race. Fully intent on just beating just this one guy (Like I said before, I'm juvenile.) When he pulled a pretty brilliant (Tactically) move. He went up the road with about 4 laps to go. I instantly had a decision to make. If I tried to go with him more than likely he wouldn't work with me and we would get caught and I wouldn't have anything left for the sprint. Or I was hoping that the group would close him down in short order.

Well that didn't happen.

Instead everyone stared at each other. With in half a lap I knew he was gone.

I can't tell you how pissed I was.

To give him credit, he made the right move and had the conviction to see it through. But that doesn't stop me from being bitter.

With about two laps to go I tried to be in the proper place within the pack for the sprint. But in the last two 90 degree corners of final lap I lost half a dozen places and never regained them.

All in all kind of a tough outing...

But enough of this downer crap!

Tomorrow I'm going to try and make this blog a little happier place. Thanks!



Rubber side down,

Big E

Hammer Velo Race Criterium

This is going to be a quick post. I just want to give everyone who read my little note at the beginning of this post from last week. Our friend Jim Henry who wrecked very badly isn't doing very well. He was taken off the coma inducing medicine on Monday and still hasn't regained consciousness. They did an MRI yesterday and I guess it wasn't to good. So please send good thoughts/prayers to him. Thanks.

The Hammer Velo Criterium is tomorrow up in Portland. My race is early in the morning so it's back to my race status of a pee-on.  Getting up at the butt crack of dawn to make to the race on time. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted...

Although I'm looking forward to mixing it up on a new course. I've never done this race before and the anticipation is palpable. Nothing like learning/doing something different to make life interesting.

The only sting about doing this race tomorrow is that a group of my riding buddies are going on a longer ride in the morning. So I had to choose...

And while this wasn't any thing like Sophie's choice~



I still wish I could do both. Meh. What you gonna do?

I'll have a report about the strange goings on this weekend on Monday.

Until then go out and enjoy this one little spot of nice weather. It may be the entire summer. So go and Carpe that Diem!

Rubber side down,

Big E

Brison's Black Rock Flow Cup Win!



Number 3947 is Brison. In his category his closest guy was 10 sec. down.



Please allow me to brag on one of my boy's accomplishments this last weekend. Brison did his first downhill (DH) mountain bike race at Black Rock in Falls City this last Sunday. It was the first race in the Flow Cup Series.

All the guys loading up on the shuttle.

Mountain biking is something that Brison loves to do. I think he likes to ride and race his road bike. But he loves to ride his mountain bike. Especially freeride/downhill stuff. So when the opportunity came along for him to participate in a race on his home course (Black Rock is the closest freeride centric tail system in the area. But he's only been there a hand full of times.) he really wanted to do it. And I really wanted to be there.



Waiting between runs.

His Mom went up with him on the practice day on Saturday. As I had predicted earlier, she was scared out of her mind. Not only at watching Brison fly down the mountain and over jumps. But at everyone else doing the same. I think my favorite quote from her is, "Does your mother know that you are doing this!? Because I don't think she does..." To funny.

Anyway, the race consisted of two timed runs and then they take your best one as your score. There are several different categories. Pro, Cat 1, 2, 3, Women's and Hardtail. By the way , I need to give a shout out to the hardtail guys. One in particular flew down the course at a pace that I would have let loose in my pants if I didn't have suspension. 

The phrase take your brain out, put your helmet on and go really fast comes to my mind every time I see one of these guys go down the hill.



Everyone waiting for the results.

They weird part with DH racing is there is about 10 seconds of real intense viewing as they go by and then nothing... And then 10 seconds, and nothing... It's an old spectacle to watch.
But both times I saw Brison go down he looked great. To my eye's every bit as fast as half the guys there. I mean the Pro's were on a different level but everyone else seemed to my eye's pretty similar.

Once the two runs were complete it took a long time to get the numbers up on the board. I don't know if there was a problem with the tally. Or perhaps some names got rearranged. But what ever the reason it took about an hour and half to get the results up. Which for the guy's racing it wasn't a big deal because they would just take advantage of the shuttle and make a few more runs down the mountain for shits and giggles. But for a pour spectator like me it made kind of a long day. But I kept myself amused with watching the "4 Monkeys" try and figure out how to post the results on the board.

Once everything had been sorted out on the leader board it still took me a while figure out where Brison was in all of it because they just had their numbers up there and no names. But once I correlated (I.e. found Brison and looked what his number was. LOL) the two I was thrilled to see he whooped up on them!

Everyones final score.

He beat his closest competitor by 10 seconds! And during his best run he fell. So Lord only knows where he would have ended up had he not. But I was happy as a puppy with two peters! Just awesome.

He's already made plans to do the next race there that's on June 19th. So we'll how his skills and speed improve with each race.

I'm so excited for him. To cool! :)

Rubber side down,

Big E

Race Report: Bend Don't Break

So this is the view as I was going over Santiam Pass. It is May 28th right!?

The Bend Don't Brake road race was on Saturday. It's the first race I've done in over a month. Bend is a ways for me to go for a race but I decided to go for two reasons. First, my race was in the afternoon. Which means I didn't have to get up at o'dark thirty to get there in time. Secondly, the course is a reasonably flat. Although not pancake flat like a few people would have me believe. But still a nice circuit for a guy like me.

When I was getting all my crap ready for the trip over there I checked the weather. Even though the weather people were saying that it was a good chance of rain.  The temps and wind didn't look terrible. That was until I looked at the day of forecast. 40 degrees, 15 mph winds with varying precipitous conditions. Oh goody!

When I rolled into the check in parking lot it looked like I might get away with some pretty decent weather. When the sun peaked out from behind the clouds it was actually pretty warm. But as soon as the clouds rolled over it got cold quickly.

I signed in and jabbered with a couple friend's. I saw Craig there and asked how his race went (He was part of a masters race that finished up in the morning.). He said that because of the wind and all the 90 degree corners to look out for a break to go and stay away. I thanked him and headed for the line. Which was about a mile and half away from the check-in area.

We were given the usual spiel about yellow line violations, wheels in wheels out, blah, blah, blah. And we headed out.

Within about 200 yards it started to lightly hail. After about 2 miles it started to really hail. Luckily the ground was warm enough that it was melting as soon as it hit the ground. But I could tell things weren't going to improve much during the race.

The mood of the group was interesting. The peloton was acting like an accordion almost out of the gate. We were either going 18 mph or 28 mph. There was no in between.

Then the hail turned to snow. Perfect...  Luckily that didn't last to long (Maybe a half lap.) and then is started to rain.

I was beginning to wonder why I was doing this. But I had come a long way to race and my legs felt good.  I told myself anything with four or more guys in it I'd try to go.  Well towards the end of the second lap (Of five) it happened.

Now before I get into all this I want to say that, I'm about to get on my soap box. You've been warned....

As this break of about 6-7 riders started to form I was watching to see how quickly they got organized before I bridged. Well they had about 50 yards and were looking good so I was about to jump. In the mean time a group of 4 guys from Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care Racing came to the front and started blocking.

 Now when I say blocking I don't mean disrupting the rotation of the chase. Or sticking everyone in the gutter because of the wind. Or even chasing down anyone who tried to bridge the gap. No, I mean literally blocking the road. Fucking shoulder to shoulder from the yellow line to the white line. And of course there is no solid shoulder to speak of so I wasn't going to risk that. I wasn't near the yellow line either or to be honest I might have risked the wrath of the official and just jumped across there.

I was pissed! What blew my mind was that no one else said anything. I was the only one who was yelling.

Then they started to slow down! Like to 17-18 mph. I couldn't believe that I was seeing this kind of bush league maneuver even in a Cat. 4/5 race. In any other category they would have gotten a bottle thrown at their head (Which I seriously considered doing.). Or worse. It was unbelievable.Their blocking technique only worked until we turned to a wider road with a shoulder.

But by that time the break had a good quarter of a mile on us. I tried to bridge the gap with a couple other guys. Who either were just going along for the ride or couldn't maintain the pace I was doing because the minute I rotated through they slowed down substantially. I kept working at it for a mile or two and it was obvious they were gone. And if I kept that pace up without help I would have popped completely and been done for the day. So I soft pedaled back to the group and sat in the back being pissed and grumpy.

Something I did learn from this experience is to not let a situation like that keep me from trying to race. Because I didn't really contest the sprint at the end. I only put in about a 70% effort in the final push to the line. I passed a few guys. But I certainly didn't put in the effort that I should have. I ended up 13th. Which is better than I thought. Looking back at it. If I had really tried I'm sure a top ten would have been very doable. Meh, live and learn I guess.

Oh, just to pour salt on the wound Total Care's guy in the break won. What a bunch of crap. I don't begrudge him the win. I'm assuming he didn't know what his teammate's were up to in the main group. But that's a bullshit way to win races. They are going to get schooled in the upper categories if they try that. In my mind what they did is no different than grabbing someone's jersey pocket to keep them from racing. It is totally and completely unsportsman like conduct. Period.

Okay, enough of my bitch fest. Tomorrow (Or hopefully later today.) I'm going to write about what proud guy I am. And what a fantastic job Brison did on his first downhill mountain bike race.  You see what I did there? That's called a hook....

Rubber side down,

Big E