Yeah baby! Cross season has already started here in Oregon–actually a week ago over Labor day weekend. I waited exactly a week to get in on the action at “Pain on the Peak” just outside Hillsboro.

The real fireworks allegedly went off at the Thrilla’ Thursday series with Page, Trebon, etc showing off over in Bend. Maybe they are “training” for Nationals–hee hee!

Anyway, Trebon and a fair contingent of the Portland crowd showed up for some late summer conditions that conjured up images of the dustbowl. After all we WERE on a farm and it was in fact the DIRTIEST I have ever been in any race sans a drop of water!

I am gonna let you in a my top-secret cyclocross training plan… goes something like this: Hang up the bike after the last race of the previous season usually around mid-december; never ride it and barely look at it for for about nine months (interesting corallary); pull it down and feverishing overhaul it the night before first race of the season; go race!

I know it sounds like I am over-prepared… maybe I could work on my bike the morning of? Anyway, I managed to ride around the driveway Friday and a lap of the parking lot pre-race so my chances were looking good until the start when I immediately went backwards. Got that part right, too!

The dust was so attrocious that I didn’t really get to “look” at the course for 4 laps. Oh, well, by that time my glasses were so dirty I still couldn’t see! Evidently most of the rest of the group was immediately dropped (and lapped) by the TALL rider from Kona and I began passing them all.

At the end I was in striking distance of third place when the officials stopped us what seemed like a lap early–two laps to go, then “you’re done”. Fifth really wasn’t a bad result under the circumstances so I was satisfied.

The sequel was called “Sufferin’ on the Summit” and happened the next day at the same venue. Billed as an MTB race, it consisted of a 15 minute lap on double-loop course. The first loop was fun and relatively mellow while the second half was basically straight down and back up with zero rest anywhere. A little moisture helped qwell the dust from the day before even as I led out the group to avoid it.

The course played on my weaknesses for sure–super steep climbs and no momentum to conserve! I struggled to say the least but still managed to collect a prize by finishing fourth on the day.

Next weekend are is some more cross action up in Hood River and then it is on to the Interbike show to work on some sponsorship for next year!

Send me luck–I am going to need all the help I can get!

VP

A little vacation and a little racin’. This is a great event and I hope the Northwest Challenge grows into a series of top notch MTB races along with all the other competitions. Check it out!

I got off to a slow start with some drivetrain issues (derailleurs don’t like sticks), but things settled down and I moved to the front of the race began to open a nice gap the first time up Mt. Bailey. The trail down is super fun so I am sure my lead increased.

The second time up/down I tried to do everything smoother and it seemed like I did since I won the race easily and averaged 14 mph doing so.

Diamond Lake is one of my favorite Oregon destinations so this event will always mark my calendar!