After many years of galavanting around the ‘States chasing after some MTB racing dream or another things have changed. I came up with a simple calendar of out-of-state travel for the seaon that included a handful of special events.

The second on the list was DIRT SWEAT and GEARS in Fayatteville, Tennessee. Unfortunately while this event delivered with a great promotion it completely lacked any sense when it came to race day logistics. Now I wish my calendar was at least one trip shorter!

It seems that no one in the organization actually rides bikes because as soon as the race began, everyone racing immediately realized that the race was really over before in even started.

Evidently this part of the country is suffering from some sort of global climate affliction and has been having torrential rain for the last month or more. (note: they have had drought for several years… but I digress–again)

Anyway, the rain started about 5 minutes before the race and water was coming out of the sky, out of the ground and seemingly everwhere where else. While it was just a brief shower the damage was done and as soon as the rain stopped, the said muck morphed into cement.

Within a lap and a half the race had deteriorated to carrying 80lb bikes through the woods. Wow, fun–really worth the trip guys!

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/videos/coverage/view/234968

To make matters worse, it seems that some of the east coast boys and the USAC officials have forgotten that this was a mountain bike race and supposedly conducted with rules. Rules that state that all repairs must be done by the racer and that the racer must compete on the same bicycle throughout.

While some of us spent lots of cash to fly across the country on airplanes with bikes, these folks evidently thought that switching bicycles twice per lap and having mechanics clean and repair them while they continued to “race” was fair play. I even had them asking me for tire sealer so they could change to cross tires!

Bottom line: I didn’t have extra bikes or mechanics; my drivetrain broke off the bike before I could finish two laps and “racing” was over for me. The “winners” did four laps in 12 hours with all their bikes and support and I went home out about a grand… Enough said!

Ciao,

VP

It is beyond me why we are already nearly half way through the MTB series here in Oregon and it is the first week in May…

Must be time for the Championships! Sorry for the cynical attitude but I still haven’t recovered from snow-bike-walking last week.

On to Blogett, Oregon for umpteenth Mudslinger Classic. Usual Oregon crowd fighting it out in the usual mud bog. I tried to drop them at the starr, and throughout the first lap, but just didn’t have the usual hammer for some reason… Then my seatpack busted off–nice, tools MIA.

Carl Decker (Giant) put the hammer down on his singlespeed and dropped us–Erik Tonkin (Kona), Sean Babcock (S&M),and I. Then silly decided he wanted his tools and tried to make a quick pitstop but ended up wiping out and playing “can I stand up and walk uphill in the mud”.

Racing over with an underachieving 4th place. Makes me wonder what would have happened with a little more bike RIDING last week! Oh, and a little luck with the bag–thanks a lot Topeak! I can say that since they are NOT my sponsor…

Thanks YOU all, though, for your support–maybe another OBRA championship next year for me!

-VP

Bear Springs Trap is one of my favorite courses. The race is put on by the crew from Mt Hood Skibowl and they have been promoting races forever.

In fact, my second race EVER was at Skibowl several eons ago. I have had many great times racing with these guys, but this event was NOT one of them. Right now I am looking for excuses not to keep racing the same old events, so thanks for the BIG FAT one folks!

Seems that myself and many others noticed the news report stating that areas around Mt Hood had received record snowfall during the month of March–as in nine FEET! So we inquired during the weeks leading up to the event if snow would be a problem on the course…

We were assured that snow was NOT going to be an issue. but rather downed TREES. Since I know these guys I trusted them and Kurt, Brett and I headed up for the whole mealdeal (short track included). We arrive to 36 degrees, snow flurries and snow on the ground.

I immediately asked what was going on since snow was NOT going to be an issue. Again, I was assured that the snow was not the problem… Well, it ended up being one for me when I dropped my chain on the first short track DISMOUNT and never saw the front again. I still fought back for second place, though.

Whilst trying to thaw our bodies we tried to “pre-ride” part of the XC course and made it about 100 yards before meeting an endless glacier of snowpack. Hmmmn, the alarms are going off and other racers are leaving! Should we?

NOOOOO, instead I corner the promoter and ask AGAIN about the snow on the rest of the course. Answer: just a little on the start loop and tne part we saw, but there are “trails” around it.

Fast forward to the race… SNOW, SNOW, SNOW. The most walking I have ever done in a race. Total joke, waste of time, debacle. Thanks a lot chump!

We asked–you lied. Period. RIP B.S.!

Do you want to know the worst part? The Willamette Stage Race was cancelled this week on account of lack of entries… Makes me wonder how many folks were mis-led into this at the expense of losing Willamette forever…

Alas, the state of the sport is still… RIDICULOUS! Moral of this report: promoters be honest about your events–and remember, it is never too late to postpone or cancel!

Ride on, friends…

Before I digress too much… I have to clarify that while I didn’t win the Eugene Roubaix bicycle race Saturday, I did WIN the annual mullet competition!

Even more gratifying than beating most all of the(ninth place) local wheel-sucks (roadies) was my utter domination with my hair, outfit, equipment ensemble!

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did… Kudos and thanks to “The Uncommon Cyclist” for photos and special effects!

http://commoncyclist.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

Check it out, now.

I had originally planned to double up with the Table Rock Road Race this weekend but my wife’s work schedule precluded our planned road trip to sunny, southern Oregon–hope to get another crack at that one again next year!

-VP

I just got done racing the local Kings Valley road race. It is typical of most Oregon road events in that most everyone stays together to the end.

Obviously those who are out of shape or in the wrong category get dropped but the rest just battle for position going into the final sprint.

The best part about this event is that it takes place about 1/2 hour from my home on roads I used to train frequently on when we lived in Dallas.

Unfortunately this year I lost the battle for position when some other yahoo ran me into the gravel with a couple k’s to go. By the time I fought back up toward the front, things had already gone off.

Instead of sprinting for a place I was simply passing all the dudes who blew up! Oh, well, that is why I focus on racing MTB–generally the best finish at the front and typically it is a handful or less!

Otherwise it was a nice day and some good hard riding, so I will be better for it in a month or two.

Cheers!

—> Many of you know that I opened the 2009 racing season with a visit to the 10th annual KONA 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. This was to be my first attempt at a 24 SOLO event, so I wanted to be well prepared. With support from my family and teammates, I was able to train consistently since the 1st of January and arrived at the race in decent shape for this time of year. The race began with a “shotgun” start and a 1/4mile lemans run. I was able to get out in the top 20 and settled into a reasonable pace. My plan was to maintain my 100 mile pace for the entire 24 hours. It worked well and soon I had caught and passed the early leader Tinker Juarez and was riding alone in the lead as darkness approached. I stopped for about 10 minutes to install my lights and add some more clothing. Throughout the night I maintained consistent laps and stopped only at midnight to lube my chain and change batteries. My form was good until about 5am when temperature seemed to drop and the wind began to pick up. I started to get cold even after daylight and another quick stop to remove my lights. I wasn’t able to warm up and my lap times did not improve even though it was daylight. At 11:11am I lapped Tinker and decided that it was time to rest. We had a little recovery meal, pulled some cactus spines out of my legs (overzealous cornering!), and crossed the finish line victorious at 12:01 pm. I want to thank all of my sponsors, but especially NoTubes.com for the totally rad new race wheels/tires, Magura for the new brakes, fork, and rear shock, and Scrub Components for the sick brake rotors that all arrived just in time to win! Even though I rocked it last year, this was a tough year for sponsorship. This race was on me, but I appreciate all of you out there that believe in my dream and support my cause. Thanks again and savor this one with me! The best is yet to come… VP