After a two weekend break from racing, Sam and I (Shane) got back into the cross race scene we dearly missed! Our first weekend back was the Cross Crusade that took place in Bend at the Deschutes Brewery. Being a local race, we had six other Trinity athletes join us in the battle: Patti, Marny, Dale, Mike, Gary and Steven! The checkers were flying over the two days of racing.
Saturday began with a 'normal' day of racing, where Sam, Marny, Patti, Dale and myself put together a solid day of results, against some great racers!
Sam nearing the top of the long stair run-up. PHOTO: DAVE ADAMS |
Shane riding over the 'fly-over'. PHOTO: DAVE ADAMS |
Steven and Mike battling it out on the run-up. PHOTO: 541 IMAGES |
Yes, those are 16" wheels! Steven doesn't need big wheels to crush it! PHOTO: 541 IMAGES |
Sam making the goop look easy! PHOTO: KENJI SUGAHARA |
As Sam pushed herself to the limit, Brian and I sat on our Blackburn trainers, getting the legs warmed up in preparation for our race, which took place immediately following Sam's.
Brian firing up his engines. |
The WA guy tried to cheat, but OR had won!! PHOTO: LASALA IMAGES |
With a mid-pack start, I was able to work my way in to the Top 10 with the lead group just slightly out of my reach. It was tough to be so close, but it was fun battling back and forth in the chase group on the testing course.
Shane working his way through traffic. PHOTO: KENJI SUGAHARA |
The course had a lot of variation, especially with it's offerings of mud: sticky/gummy, sloppy chocolate shake and very greasy. I had an unfortunate slide out in the greasy section onto pavement, but thankfully it was a super quick slide and damage both physically and in the race was minimal! I was able to hold onto 9th position for the day!
Some proper refueling was in order after our hard racing, so Sam and I snagged some pizza with Brian and his wonderful lady, Becki, before heading back to the High Desert!
After a nice and quick week of work, we were back in the Subie for some more racing! This round was a doubleheader for Sam and I, as we raced the OBRA CX (cyclocross) Championships at Edgefield on Saturday and Cross Crusade: Portland International Raceway Infield on Sunday.
With afternoon start times, we headed over Saturday morning to arrive at the sloppy, slippery grass parking area for the day's race. The race, aka - Pedalers at the Poor Farm, was being held on the beautiful grounds of McMenamin's - Edgefield. While walking the course to preview what we'd be tackling for the day, our legs hurt just looking at it, but the masochist inside us was all kinds of giddy!! Although brutally tough, the course was SO epic! It had fast grass, mucky mud, sketchy off-camber sections, painful climbs and plenty of other great features!
Sam getting excited during the Course Preview |
We got checked-in and began the setup of our brand spanking new tent that Trinity Bikes supplied us to create team HQ at our races! I got it all put together, right as some light rain began to fall, allowing Sam to hop on the trainer and stay nice and dry as she prepped for her race.
The framework for the new Team Tent! |
When the gun went off, Sam nailed her pre-race game plan of getting to the front of the pack, working her way into the front group heading into the narrow singletrack.
I warmed up under the new tent, as Sam's race strung out along the long course. Having a new tent, we had setup a bit back from the course, but it was OK, because I worked on my dismounts to run over and cheer Sam everytime she passed during my trainer warm-up. She rode solid for the day, taking home 7th place out of 16 very strong racers!!
Sam pushing a furious pace. PHOTO: TIM SCHALLBERGER |
Shane on one of the painfully steep run-ups! |
We wrapped up the evening with some super delicious BBQ'd food from Famous Dave's near the Portland Airport. Oh man, was it good!!! The other big plus was that they had some Crater Lake Root Beer on tap for me to enjoy, MMMMMM!!!
The PIR: Infield party central!! |
When Sunday arrived, we headed west from Estacada, where we stayed the night at Sam's parent's house, towards Portland International Raceway for the 7th race of the Cross Crusade Series, 'PIR Infield'. The atmosphere at this event was insanely awesome! The way the course is laid out, it compresses all the fans, tents and vendors into a small area, creating a real festival/party feeling along the course, SO awesome!
After checking in, we cruised along Tent Row and were able to lay claim to a prime spot right at a switchback turn, which slowed riders down so they could be more easily heckled! Sam got situated on the trainer to get her legs rolling as I finished setting up camp and doing a quick check-up on the bikes to make sure they were in tip top running shape! Before we knew it, Sam was on-course racing away and I was on the trainer warming up for my upcoming race! Being on course was much more optimal than the arrangement I had setup at Edgefield the day before, as it allowed me to get some high quality heckling in while Sam crushed the course taking her highest Cross Crusade finish yet, 17th out of 42 riders.
Sam burning her way through the tight turns. PHOTO: KENJI SUGAHARA |
We packed up and began the trek back home, over the mountains, in the snow, barefoot, uphill both ways......OOOOPS, wrong story! Haha. Overall, a very fun and successful trip, gaining some good fitness and experience with a two-race weekend! Next on the calendar is Barton Park, which is supposed to be a brutal one!!!
-Shane Johnson