david baker
Speaking of coast hills, is there any info out there, in particular what town?
----- Original Message -----
From: Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team
To: useyourdagger@gmail.com ; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:24 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Fwd: up front BS
Hey Craig, I won't ask you to put on a race. Just show up at the races that are in the weather you like. So, I look forward to seeing you at the Jedi, Coast Hills and Diamond Lake.
Cliff McCann
Pistis Ministries
Pistis.us
541-659-4104
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Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:41:37 -0700
From: useyourdagger@gmail.com
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Fwd: up front BS
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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