craig austin
I wasn't at the race yesterday. Before you ridicule me for making a comment
when I skipped the race, I'll tell you why: that race was held about six
weeks too early to be a legitimate mountain bike race. We have this
discussion every year, and last year the overwhelming majority of people who
commented were asking for mountain bike races to be held later in the year.
As a promoter, what more could you ask for than free market research from
your target audience? I know Petr doesn't read this list but other promoters
do.
Then this year it started in February.
Mountain bike race attendance is not healthy in Oregon. It's not 1990s level
anywhere, but Oregon's seems to be particularly anemic. The race promoters
I've spoken with have always said the same thing: "No one wants to race in
summer, attendance drops way off." They're correct about numbers dropping
off, but--and I'm just speaking for myself here--not about people not
WANTING to race. By the time good weather hits, the mountain bike season is
three or four months old. I've hiked my bike through unrideable mud for
three months already and am tired of it. I believe that, if we could ever
convince the race promoters to just hold off on the start of MTB season till
May or even June, they'd see bigger attendance than they've seen in years.
People would be impatient to start, families could come along and hang out,
kids would be more likely to race.
And for you promoters, here's the most important comment yet, from Susan:
"I consider myself a good sport and like encouraging other racers as well as
promoters. But halfway through the course yesterday, I decided that not only
will I likely skip BS next year regardless of conditions, I also do not want
to race Mudslinger or any other upcoming event."
The promoters' stubbornness and insistence that races be held so early in
the season are killing mountain bike racing in Oregon.
I know, someone will chime in with "if you want races in the summer, promote
them!" You're missing the point. I'm not a promoter, I'm a customer. I'm
telling you what I want to spend my money on. I chose not to race Bear
Springs and I choose not to race Mudslinger because, fond as I am of mud and
that course, that course is typically not rideable this time of year. There
will still be plenty of mud on those trails in a month, but it won't have
miles of hike-a-bike like it will now.
Mountain bike promoters would do well to heed the lessons of the cyclocross
race series. 'Cross is not successful just because it's held in rain-soaked
mud pits -- it's successful because it's done during the BEST time of year
for that type of racing. Put the 'Cross Crusade in mid-summer and it's a
different story. I don't want easy races, I just want to ride my bike more
than push it.
Please, please, please give us racers a chance to prove we'll show up in
mountain bike season. In western Oregon, that's June, July, and August.
Craig Austin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: susansherman
Date: Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] up front BS
To: obra@list.obra.org
Thank you, Evan! Yesterday I thought I was the only one who felt this way.
And yes, David, I covered all 30 miles of the Cat 1 course.
This was my fourth year at BS and I always encourage others to go because
it's such a great event and the course is my fave. Last year, the upper
reaches of the course had snow in places and was mildly annoying. I found
yesterday's conditions to be downright ridiculous.
I'm an adventure racer and am always up for a challenge. I rarely whine
about conditions. But yesterday's course was more suited to snowshoes and
gaitors than a mountain bike. Some of the best sections of trail were
obliterated by snow and that was quite disappointing and detracted
significantly from the fun of the event.
Given the posts during the past week, I was under the impression that
blowdown was the primary concern on the course, not snow. So I did feel
misled about the conditions. I don't want my money back--I'm happy to see it
benefit the future of mountain bike racing in Oregon. I fully appreciate the
effort Petr and others put into making the race a reality and all the work
that did go into clearing the course. But seriously--this is mountain bike
race--that implies to me that dirt is the primary surface that my tires will
contact. And this is April--on Mt. Hood--is that an appropriate time to plan
a mountain bike race? When there's that much snow remaining, I think the
choices are: cancel, postpone, shorten the course, or give fair warning so
racers can arrive with suitable equipment and clothing.
I had the least fun I've ever had at a mountain bike race. I usually enjoy
myself whether I'm first or last, regardless of conditions. I consider
myself a good sport and like encouraging other racers as well as promoters.
But halfway through the course yesterday, I decided that not only will I
likely skip BS next year regardless of conditions, I also do not want to
race Mudslinger or any other upcoming event.
Perhaps I'm in the minority and I echo Evan's words to those who did have
fun at BS: "rock on!" That's fantastic. I hope most people did have a great
time. I'll spend next weekend on my bike, having fun, in conditions of my
choosing.
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