RE and JW represent at OBRA Championships!

Last weekend, my teammate Ryan Eisele and I headed to the Alsea Falls switchback XC/Oregon State Championship mtb race. We both raced single speed but were also were scored in our age category as well. Ryan had ridden the course before so I took his advice on gearing for the day. The course was about eight miles long and we were to three laps. After a short warm up, we lined up buried in the back because of a mass start. After the gun fired we both put in a hard effort to try and get close to the front. I followed Ryan for as long as I could up the first three mile paved climb. He began pulling away from me pretty fast and seemed to be riding well. Once at the top we hit a fast gravel downhill with small water bars then onto the first single track where I caught and passed two SS riders. I held the two riders off for 2 miles of single track and then began a climb in the middle of the race that hadn’t been included previous years. It was about a mile long, steep and the gravel was really loose. About half way up I began wishing I had a lower gear. I came through the start/finish and started my second lap but before long the two SS riders I’d passed closed the gap and then returned the favor. I was able to pass them back, but worried I was in trouble with two more trips up the steep gravel climb remaining. I managed to hold my pace for another lap finishing in 8th in the SS and 9th in my age category. Ryan finished 5th in SS and 3rd in his age category. This was the toughest races of the year for me so far! it was a great course and Mike Ripley (Mudslinger Events) always puts on a solid event so I will be back for more next year!

JW