Harry Phinney
I don't mind some proportion of races having uphill finishes, but there's
certainly no reason that all races should be that way. I'm willing to bet
that I've raced "BBs" for more years than you, and have been personally
involved (i.e. knocked out, literally twitching in the ditch) in a "god
awful" crash on the older Champoeg Park course. There is nothing less "true"
about the competition involved in a fast sprint when compared to an uphill
finish. Sprinting and generally riding at high speeds is part of racing. Do
you really believe that prevailing in a fast sprint does not require
strength and/or talent? If you're really stronger and more talented than the
fast sprinters, then I suggest you drop them before the finish.
Harry Phinney
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of r r
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:49 PM
To: jeff.mitchem@gmail.com; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Banana Belt Updates
Importance: High
I agree. An uphill finish would be better as far as safety and true
competition.
I've been racing the BB's for years, and have seen some (possible
understatement) god awful crashes (people ambulanced out and even
life-flighted) occur because of this downhill finish in the dip that the
line is in. Being in the dip provides just too much speed for the close
quarter chaos of the whole pack trying to sprint. Especially in the less
experience fields.
Didn't Silverton last year teach us any lesson at all about downhill
finishes and safety issues in the peloton at the finish. How many more
tragic accidents need to occur before changes are made, in not just the BB's
but every race that has a sprint heading downhill to the line. Yes, there
was no crash yesterday, but its like an active volcano or fault line, its
only a matter of time till another horrible one happens again. Lets make it
a more safe finish, and a finish where the stronger riders will truly
prevail (which is that not the point of competition; that the stronger
and/or more talented athlete prevails). At the BB's, there is optimal
scenarios for a finish line, with plenty of wide spots in the shoulder to
accommodate the van/tent/camera. It will just mean you may have to ride a
WHOLE mile back to the lot instead.
Safety should be of the up most importance in a bicycle race.
V