No Nutella.

Joshua Creem

2015-11-13

Much beloved OBRA community,

If you have not noticed yet, I have not been manning the CycloSportif waffle tent this season. I left it (and you) in the very trusted hands of Jon Irvin, a dedicated parent of a junior racer and all-around great guy. I did not want to make a big deal about it to you all because, well, the waffles and Nutella are the show and I was just the medium. Of course, in one way my involvement was a very big deal - to me. I'm not sure who needed the waffle tent more over the years - you or me. I cannot explain why the countless carnie folk hours filled me with energy and joy, but they did. Every smile, young or old, muddy or clean, pro or beginner, kept me fueled and happy regardless of sleep deprivation or weather.

I started the tent as a silly idea in 2007. I was taking a much-needed break from lawyering and felt the need to connect with people and use other parts of my soul and brain. I loved cyclocross, its style and its roots. As I raced out there in the cold and rain, it came to me. I wanted something warm and delicious to eat, and I wanted to pay homage to Belgian cyclocross. Why not Belgian waffles? Why not put Nutella on them? A big generator, a tent, some irons, flats of Nutella and vats of waffle batter. I designed stickers and kit in allegiance to black, yellow, red and blue. When I first did the tent it was just me (with the village of my close friends who helped - a special big thanks to Brandt H., Kyle V., Doug W., Patrick M., Cliff H., Steve S., Brad R. and Rick P.! Apologies if I missed anyone as I quickly type this.). I got lucky with right place and right time, everyone loved the tent and the kit, and CycloSportif was immediately and deeply woven into the fabric of
our OBRA culture and my life. Other vendors (Jake's Frites!) came along and the traveling Crusade carnival truly began.

Fast forward to 2015. This past Spring my wife and I made a big decision to move back east to be close to the rest of our family. We wanted our kids to grow up with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Honestly, no other reason could get us to leave Portland or for me to leave CycloSportif. And OBRA is about as close to a family as you can get (and for many is a family).

Unfortunately, my replacement Jon Irvin was pulled away on business and he will not be able to do the tent this weekend - potentially not in the future either. Therefore the CycloSportif era, like all others, may be coming to a close. It is very painful for me to think about races without waffles. If I could fly out there from Michigan to do it, I would. And I well up a bit just thinking about it. The good news is that over the years many fantastic food vendors have popped up along side me and will continue to keep you well-fed and the carnival atmosphere alive.

Cyclocross racing is a jackalope, a unicorn, a children's game - it makes no sense in our daily lives and need not do so. It's meaning and expression are totally up to us. It is a product of pure imagination that is outside the bounds of hard-drawn lines. It is the best of play, where we can breathe deeply with wide eyes and become most creative and therefore most human.

Thanks very much and best wishes to all of you,

Joshua/CycloSportif