Heather VanValkenburg
Question. I use gmail. Is there any option to block any further threads of
the same conversation? No reason... just curious...:)
On 4/28/09, Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team
wrote:
>
> I have not seen anything. I would love to find out what town that is in. I
> am looking to get a place to camp or motel for 40+ people
>
> Cliff McCann
> Pistis Ministries
> Pistis.us
> 541-659-4104
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> From: dirtsurf@ykwc.net
> To: mountainbikepros@msn.com; useyourdagger@gmail.com; obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Fwd: up front BS
> Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:34:34 -0700
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> 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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