Pringle Creek Race Report: Fall Down, Go Boom



Showing off my "good side" after the crash.

This was a big race for me. I didn't really say it before I guess because I'm superstitious. I didn't want to jinx myself (See how well that worked out?). But this race was one of my main goals of the year. I've been trying to peak for this. And all in all I think I was pretty successful (Until the end.) in that. I wasn't ever out of the top ten. I was shadowing the three guys that I thought were a threat (One of them won. The other got second. I don't know where the other one was. So I guess my instincts were right.)
And then it happened....

Coming into the final lap I was fifth wheel. Exactly where I wanted to be. On the guy who ended up seconds wheel. Waiting and biding my time.

There is 180 degree corner on the course that's off camber. And almost every lap I would hear guys clipping a pedal on the inside as the tried to keep going. So I knew that was a dangerous spot. But I got through that with out any problems. I was following the wheel of the guy in front of me as he was setting up to bank the next corner when a guy came on the outside (left) of me and, without looking, darted across the front of me. Knocking my front wheel out in the process.

I landed straight on my left ass cheek. Then, with the inertia I rolled forward onto my left shoulder, elbow and head. Creating a perfect tripod as I skittered to a stop.




The cleaning process.

Now I must take a moment to apologize to any women or small children who where around me at that moment. Because the constant flow of profanity that came out of my mouth for a solid 10 to 20 seconds would have made a long shore man blush. It just pouring out of me like someone speaking in tongues. It was pretty impressive. Even by my standards. So if you were there. "I'm sorry."

Anyway, on with the story.

When I got done with my vocal performance. Steve was already out of the mechanic car and was checking my bike. He made sure it could roll. Got the chain back on. Then asked if I was ready to go. I knew I wasn't badly hurt (I.E. broken bones, that sort of thing.) So I got up. Steve gave me a push and I rounded the next corner.




Scrubbing my knee.

As I did that I saw one of my teammates waiting, looking back. It was Thomas. There are moments in a person's life that mean a lot. This was one of them for me. Thanks Thomas....
As I rode up to him, he asked if I was alright. And I said, NO. Not so much that I was hurt physically. But I was PISSED! I was out for blood. Had that guy been there right at that moment. Or even been tangled up with me in the crash. I would have thrown down right then. I've only been to that point a couple times in my life. It's a place I don't really like to go. But I was definitely there.




Another lovely patch.

As we finished up I saw Hollie and some friends on the road side looking at me. I rolled up to them and really started to access the damage.
My ass cheek was hanging out of my skinsuit. The shoulder of it was shredded too. My helmet was cracked in several places. And the plastic had burned off where it had made contact with the ground (A great reason to wear one. I wouldn't look good with a trashed noggin). My gloves were torn in a couple spots. But my hands were okay.

As I was there. The guy who crashed me rolled up. And he apologized up and down. Said he felt really bad and hoped I was okay. Well that kind of deflated my rage. I knew even at the moment that the crash happened it wasn't on purpose (I would have seriously jumped into his shit if I even remotely thought he did it on purpose.). And after all it is a race. Wrecking is just a price you pay to play. That's the bottom line.  So I accepted his apology and shook his hand.

After the initial adrenaline rush came down. I was starting to hurt so I headed over to the medic tent to get checked out. I got set up with the "deluxe" road rash kit.

I then went and collected my stuff and went to the car where Hollie was waiting for me.

Thanks for reading.

Rubber side down (And I mean it, damn it!)

Big E

Brison's Videos #2

This and the other video were the guys fooling around in "Basic Training".

Rubber side down,

Big E

Brison's Videos #1

This is the practice run that he took the digger. It happend literally right after I stopped recording.

This is Brison's first timed run. He looked good.

Twilight Crit #2

Thomas, Adam and myself went down to Eugene for another round of the Twilight Crit Series last night. It was a lot of fun.

The weather was great! The wind wasn't near as hard as last week and the temperature was in the upper 70's. Really couldn't have asked for better conditions.

As like last week the Eugene teams were out in force. With Life Cycle by far having the largest numbers (I think they had 10 racers). But Paul's, Blue Sky, and Hutch's were all there in multiples.

As we drove down there we discussed some team tactics. And like last week I figured that something with most of those teams represented would maybe be given enough leash to have a go at it. And if that didn't happen we could try for the sprint at the end.

The race started off with several attacks going with in a few laps but none were successful.

I had a go with one other guy at about lap 10 (Out of 25 laps.). But it was obvious they didn't like that and we were reeled back in within 2 laps. Another went on the prime lap which Thomas covered. But unlike last week that wasn't the winning move either.

I always find it interesting what can make up a winning move. Sometimes it can be one guy. And the entire group will hunt them down like a dog until they're caught. And others times a move with 6 strong guys in it. People will look around expecting someone else to do the work. They aren't necessarily trying to be team players either. Its a weird dynamic that I still can't figure out. Anyway...

There was a noticeable change in pace with about 8 laps to go. Two guys were off the front. But not by much and it was pretty obvious that they were going to be caught as soon as the pace picked up for the end. So the group kinda hung them out there to dry for a while.  I must admit I was getting kind of nervous before the catch was made. But I guess I was just being paranoid.

With about 6 laps to go I was stuck on the guy who had won last weeks race like a sucker fish. He had looked cool, calm, and collected all night long (Just like last week.) So I figured he was the guy to mark.

Thomas was near me as well looking strong. He was trying to get into a position to lead me out in the sprint. With about 2 laps to go the speed really started to pick up. Which I think everyone was expecting.

I was doing my best to stay right on the winner from last week. But on the third corner he went to the outside through a window in the group and I couldn't follow. Then Thomas and I got separated.

The previous winner accelerated out of the final corner. And I was boxed in some what. It's one of those situations that I had to "re-start" my sprint. Which only took a second. But in racing, that's all it takes. I passed a half dozen guys on the way to the line. But last weeks winner won again. 

He's good. Someday I'm going to figure out a way to beat him.

So I ended up 5th. Which I'm pretty happy with.

Thomas got 14th. I guess once we got separated he backed off the gas quite a bit. But he did great. Every time I race with Thomas I'm impressed by his ability.

Adam did awesome too. He held on and finished with the field to finish 28th. That's a huge improvement over last week. And I'm sure he'll keep improving with each race.

The average speed was 24.1 mph  for 17 miles. For those of you interested in some numbers.

The next race is this weekend on Sunday here in Salem. It's the Prinlge Creek Circuit Race (Formerly known as the Fariview Circuit Race.). So please come and check out some great local racing! There will be great racing all day long. I believe my race is in the morning.  So if your feeling extra frisky please come out and cheer me and the rest of the Cat. 4/5's on.

Men 4/5

Pl	Num	First Name	Last Name	Team
1	5412	Stephen	Kocher
2	4118	Matthew	Erdelt
3	T00	James	Duke
4	4452	Randy	Paschall	Life Cycle Bike Shop
5	4129	Earl	Hazekamp	Capitol Velo
6	T58	Scott	Fildman	Life Cycle Bike Shop
7	T56	Okon	Udosenata
8	4263	Steve	Troseth	Pacific Power Blue Sky
9	3047	Jason	Ford	Paul's Bicycle Way of Life Cycling Team
10	4227	mark	lipchick	Life Cycle Bike Shop
11	4029	Martin	Lisk	Hutch's-Eugene
12	T19	Jin	Hwang	Life Cycle Bike Shop
13	5227	Dennis	Sibilia-Young
14	4298	Thomas	McCain
15	5272	Ken	Rodgers	Oregon Paddle Sports
16	4260	Jeff	Sakacsi	Wolf Creek Racing-Kendall Subaru
17	8019	Adam	Oliver
18	5200	Dan	Mahoney	Team Oregon presented by Laurelwood Brewing
19	T61	Ian	Best
20	5362	Scott	McCanna	Pacific Power Blue Sky
21	5085	tim	christie
22	4008	Guy	Polson
23	T72	Ray	Bourne
24	T88	Jonathan	Heritage
25	7114	Kristen	Fauria	Life Cycle Bike Shop
26	8003	August	Frank	Life Cycle Bike Shop
27	5509	Ryan	Garner	Tensegrity PT Cycling
28	5800	Adam	Bergerson	Capitol Velo
29	5212	Alexander	Chow	Life Cycle Bike Shop
30	5452	Scott	Remiro	Life Cycle Bike Shop

I'm going to get the video up of Brison's race tonight. Promise. Scout's honor. Until then...

Rubber side down,

Big E

Black Rock Flow Cup Downhill Race #2

Yesterday I took Brison up to Black Rock for the second in the series of Flow Cup Downhill races. And he did great! As he always does...

We arrived there at just a little past 9 in the morning and didn't get out of there until almost 6 o'clock in the evening. It made for a long day. I think the guys that put this series on have a very "Fluid" sense of time. But I will say that they didn't seem to make the same mistakes as they did last race. These were a whole new batch. The way I see it, that's progress. It's when someone beats there head against the wall again and again expecting different results. That's when I get really frustrated.

But the fact that we got there early let Brison get a couple practice runs in. Which was a good thing, because they changed the course slightly.  So he hopped on the first shuttle up the mountain after signing in. Which Aaron (My friend who I bamboozled into coming too.) and myself  did as well. I wanted to see the changes and get an idea of the route they were going to take.

As a side note. The shuttle drivers are crazy! They were bombing up and down that logging road like their hair was on fire. I was towards the back of the truck and was getting bucked around like I was in a rodeo or something (I left my ass less chaps at home.).

Once we got to the top all the riders were shuffling there way to the starting ramp to take their turn.

The ramp rolls you straight into a pretty gnarly rock garden with in about ten feet. And not little rocks either. nice fat shin and ankle bitters. I can see why a lot of guys said that was one of the toughest parts. As Aaron and I walked down the hill I was amazed by some of the other trails and stunts around there. A couple of the larger gap jumps made we want to pee a little... I don't know how the riders do it.

I guess it's true what they say, "Take your brain out. Put your helmet on and bomb that way, really fast."

Here's B at the top of the ramp~

And here is part of the rock garden I was talking about~

The photo doesn't do it justice at all. You can only see the beginning of it on the left there. But anyway...

On his second practice run he ended up taking a digger after the road gap right in front of us. I'm not sure if it was just circumstance or if we were distracting him ( I hope it wasn't that.) But he rung his bell pretty good. And as Brison was sitting on the ground dazed another rider came with in a few inches of nailing him. I'm sure that would have hurt a lot more than the actual wreck. But I ran down, he got up and sat on a near by picnic table for a couple of minutes. In the mean time I checked his bike. It was fine and after a bit he was too.

After that episode we went down to the bottom to talk to Tracy for a while. He was catering this shindig. And once lunch rolled around I sweet talked him into a hamburger in trade for a future Guinness (Thanks Tracy!)



The dog's name doing a little "Hoovering" was Zeus. He was very interested in the bacon.

 Once the shuttle headed up the mountain for the first timed run Aaron and I went back up to get a good view at the road gap.

Brison flew by with little problem this time. He looked good, fast and smooth. Although I must admit not really knowing what I'm looking at can be hard sometimes.  I saw a couple guy's fly by at what looked like break-neck speed and their times didn't really reflect that at all. While others swooped on by with little muss or fuss and absolutely killed it time wise. Go figure...




Brison and Aaron hanging around (There was a lot of that.).


We walked back down to the shuttle area to see how Brison's first run went and to hangout while everyone else finished up their first runs. And then we waited, and waited, and waited some more for the second timed run to start.

I guess one of the drivers left without telling the right person so the other shuttle driver had to make a special trip back down for the stragglers. Who of course were some of the guys that were suppose to go off first. Seems like everyone involved could use a lesson in communication. But I digress...

We hungout at the finish line and talked with the guy in charge. It was interesting to see how the timing system was set up. And how they went about sending people off from the top.

Once Brison had completed his second run I was excited to see how he had done.




Its hard to see, but he ended up cutting 16 seconds off his time between the two runs!  That's pretty substantial. His best was 5 minutes, 17 seconds. Good enough for third in Category 2 juniors (After the last race he moved up a category).

He was pretty happy with that. And I must say I was as pleased as punch. He did great!



Great job Brison!

 
Tomorrow I'll try to get the video up. It takes more computer horsepower than I have at my disposal. Until then...

Rubber side down,

Big E

PS~ I'll be turning the pedals in anger here tonight for the second time at the Twilight Crit Series down in Eugene. I've got a couple teammates going with me.  I'll let you know how it goes!

It's A Beautiful Day!

I rode the "Super Beast" into work today for the first time since we moved to the new house.  It's not that I haven't wanted to bike commute. But with the way the family schedules have coincided. There just wasn't anyway that I could have done it. Unless I got something cool like this~



Or this~



Or this~



But I'd rather have this~



Bike Snob NYC talks about the smugness of cargo bikes. And while right at this moment in time they may be the equivalent of a Toyota Prius on the "I like the smell of my own farts" smug scale. It doesn't stop the fact that they are very utilitarian in form and function.

Down at Scott's Cycle and Fitness right now they have the Trek Transport on the shop floor.



And to be honest if it wasn't one size to small it probably would already be in my garage (Stable). I could go and grab our youngest one from his after school program and bound our way down to home. While simultaneously being able to stop and get groceries or "transport" (Get it. Hahahaha.) stuff around.

But since it's summer time and the boy's are out of school for now. It gives me the opportunity to tootle (Yeah, that's right. I used the word tootle.) may way into work.

What a morning it was to do it in too. Man, I don't think we've had that pretty a sunrise here in Salem since the end of last summer.

So hopefully this will give me the impetus to ride in at least a few times a week. And I'm looking forward to it.

On another note. Brison will be taking to the downhill course again at the Black Rock Flow Cup Series this Sunday. I'm sure he'll be kicking ass and taking names.

So there will be a full report and photos/videos come Monday.

Until then, Cape that Diem!

Rubber side down,

Big E

Twilight Crit

So yesterday Adam and I when down to Eugene (The land of organic, locally grown everything. Eugene knows I kid...) to partake in one of the Twilight Crit races. This is a series of races that go on through the summer. They are very similar to the Tuesday PIR series up in Portland. With several distinct differences.

The first being the field sizes. Generally speaking the group sizes at PIR are quite a large. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing. But I prefer the smaller sizes of the Twilight series. At least in a training crit. I'm not out there bumping bars or elbows all the time.

Another thing that I like about this series is that team tactics can (Not always..) actually play a role. It isn't chase down every single thing that goes up the road and wait for the field sprint at the end. The Eugene based teams are usually there in fairly large numbers so if a teammate of theirs is up the road they aren't going to attack or pull the group back up to the break. Which I think is great.

 It brings into play the chess game of bike racing. Who to mark. What teams you should worry about. And what riders aren't much of a concern. It makes it feel like a real race. Not just riding around in circles really fast until the final 200 meters to unleash a sprint.

The final thing I like about it is that the course is about as safe a track as you could possibly ask for in a crit. It's a large D-shaped course that's three lanes wide with very good tarmac. About the only thing you need to worry about are the little reflectors on the road. But honestly if you just relax riding over them is no big deal at all.

As for the race itself. It was pretty fast. 24.75 mph avg  for our race. Which is the fastest crit speed I've ever had.

The attacks came pretty thick and fast for the first half of the race. I went with one that looked like it had the right mix of guys in it but it was reeled back in with in a couple laps.  I was feeling good. I was never really in the red except right towards the end.

There were a few times when I needed close a gap that someone else was letting open. Or even a couple times that I found myself closer to the front than I wanted. But in general I felt like I did a good job of keeping invisible and following the correct wheels.

The winning break went up the road for the prime lap and never looked back. As soon as they went through the start/finish line and just kept trucking ahead I knew I was in trouble. The only team that wasn't really represented was Hutch's but after talking to a couple of their guys it was obvious that they had no real interest in chasing it down. This was all within about 8 laps to go. And seeing their gap grow bigger and bigger I knew they weren't coming back.

So I kept myself hidden and rested until the final sprint and did pretty well. I can't be sure but I believe I was second or third in field sprint.  No one passed me during the sprint. Which was one of my goals. And I'm happy with that.

Adam did really well too. He was in the main field right behind me for the first 4-5 laps and I guess started to slip towards the back of the pack form there.  Once the accelerations started to happen I guess he got popped off the back.

But he didn't give up. Kept chugging along and finished strong.  He wasn't last and all in all I think he was pretty pleased. Which I would agree that he should be.

I got dropped like a stone in my first race too and didn't finish. And there is a big learning curve with crit racing. I can talk about the accelerations and the corners until I'm blue in the face but until you see it and experience it for yourself it's tough to comprehend. But I have good feelings about it and think he'll be mixing it up in the main pack very soon.

The results from the 4/5 race~

Men 4/5

Pl	Num	First Name	Last Name	Team
1	5412	Stephen	Kocher
2	4051	Andrew	Neill	Team Oregon presented by Laurelwood Brewing
3	5259	Chris	Heron
4	4263	Steve	Troseth	Pacific Power Blue Sky
5	4118	Matthew	Erdelt
6	T00	James	Duke
7	4129	Earl	Hazekamp	Capitol Velo
8	T74	Eric	Taylor
9	5200	Dan	Mahoney	Team Oregon presented by Laurelwood Brewing
10	4452	Randy	Paschall	Life Cycle Bike Shop
11	4030	Andy	Stahl	Hutch's-Eugene
12	4260	Jeff	Sakacsi	Wolf Creek Racing-Kendall Subaru
13	4227	mark	lipchick	Life Cycle Bike Shop
14	5272	Ken	Rodgers	Oregon Paddle Sports
15	5212	Alexander	Chow	Life Cycle Bike Shop
16	5385	Eric	Archambault
17	T56	Okon	Udosenata
18	3047	Jason	Ford	Paul's Bicycle Way of Life Cycling Team
19	T55	Timothy	Shreve
20	5085	tim	christie
21	4008	Guy	Polson
22	5534	Brick	Lantz	SLOCUM Race Team
23	T62	Seung	Jim	Life Cycle Bike Shop
24	8003	August	Frank	Life Cycle Bike Shop
25	5227	Dennis	Sibilia-Young
26	4111	Joe	Leineweber	Ironclad Performance Wear
27	5800	Adam	Bergerson	Capitol Velo
28	T72	Ray	Bourne
29	5452	Scott	Remiro	Life Cycle Bike Shop
DNF	4029	Martin	Lisk	Hutch's-Eugene
DNF	7301	Brooke	Bauer	Paul's Bicycle Way of Life Cycling Team
DNF	5267	Luis	Palacios	Life Cycle Bike Shop

I'm thinking I may go down next week too. So I'll keep you all posted. Until then,

Rubber side down,

Big E