Mike Ripley

Funny....

When you put out surveys and how many ways one can refine and make things
better for all who race.

We did have 3000+ riders last year and being that the series is stretched
out over the entire state I know the promoters appreciate all of your
dedication to come to the events!

The reason I do this....I love racing and especially mountain biking, and
after fielding so many ideas, complaints, advice, praise, constructive
criticism over the years and especially last year as the Mudslinger guy or
OBRA person or whoever I am on a given day I want to be as forward with my
events as I can and support the events in the Oregon XC Series.

Thanks especially over the years to Kenji...such a great guy and friend to
listen to all of my old school rants.....and to the Murray's who some 10-12
years ago allowed me to guide mountain biking with OBRA and to refine it,
and attempt to keep it low key and fun as possible.

The survey
40% of the respondents raced less than 2 times but over 60% say they will
be racing 6 or more in 2014...which is great!

*General impressions*

First of all my gran idea based on 160 respondents to go away from ability
levels was met with NO WAY! Well maybe not those exact words but people do
like a ability level to attach themselves to for XC.

So how about terms to Describe mountain biking (Elite, Expert, Sport,
Novice), split with current Road terms Cat 1,2,3 that OBRA adopted to
maintain reciprocity with USAC some 6 years ago.
(Note we do not share the same reciprocity as back then)

The reason to even hassle with changing.....from our side of the table
(Promoter wise) it is very difficult among all the training for volunteer
crews to explain what Cat 1 means ect or weather Cat 1 is a slower ability
level or faster....hence the change

What each term means

Elite......Super Fast *requires an upgrade* (Formerly Pro and changed in
2013 do to the fact that OBRA can't upgrade anyone to Pro (USAC term) USA
Cycling

Expert (Cat 1) Fast and long course staging with the Elites, People race
this for either the distance or because they are fast, or like to be away
from all the other groups behind them.
This is the Cash purse crowd for the Series at each event!

SS Men and Women go this distance as well....because they like it!

Sport (Cat 2) May race as the longest course at some venues but not quite
ready to step up to the fastest group (Largest fields by far) Most age
groups are offered by the Oregon XC Series in this intermediate field. This
is the typical distance for Clydesdales 200+ also.
In many cases the top 3 in this category would place top 10 in Expert (Cat
1) for the Men

Novice (Cat 3) Just starting out? Or I like to race 1 hr to 1.5 hrs and am
out for fun!

For 2014 I anticipate a reduction in the number of Categories to go from 32
to 23 which has been a consistent request from OBRA to me over the years

The common thought overall is that we have changed so many times

Since 2001 we have changed age groups from 19-29,30-39,40-49 ect to
19-34,35-44,45-54, ect and back to the former on age groups to adjust for
an aging population (This is only a Oregon XC Series choice, all other
events can provide different groupings to suit their needs as long as they
offer, Junior, Senior and Master Categories.

This is why Short Track may have different age groups or a new event may
have less age groups when hosting smaller number of riders.

Category terms have changed 1 time in 20+ years!

For perspective back in 1991 I had under NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycle
Association)
A 450 person event would have

13 categories
Pro/Expert Men and Women (yes we would split out for awards and pay
together)
Sport 19-34,35-44,45+ Men and women
Beginner Men, Beginner Women
Junior Men
Junior Women
Clydesdale

Do not think SS existed as a cat.....

Last year the age groups for Cat 2 were very well balanced verses other
years and we will not be changing Sport (Cat 2) age groups for 2014 from
what they were last year.

For 2013 we added Cat 1 50+ and very few raced it but we tried, so to move
in a positive direction for 2014 we will split the men up at Expert (Cat 1)
19-44 and Expert (Cat 1) 45+ to run with the Elites.
This will be the best competition and the Elites better be on their A game!

Staging (The most important part of racing)

A well staged event allows riders to self select prior to singletrack and
by default is safer for all.

The challenge is squeezing 300-500 riders into a 3 hr window given all of
the pace differences inside of each ability, especially if the course does
not have enough elevation change to sort the riders out.

The Oregon XC Series does reward starting position for the top 5 in every
category, so please come to the front in 2014 like other years if this is
you!

>From your responses these things were what you liked the most about the
series

- Course variety and terrain
- Friends
- Good staging preferably with a Hill to sort out before singletrack
- Competition

How many races should count in a 11 race series

6 of 11 with over 50% (somewhere just over 50% is great to allow a rider to
race more and toss out an event or 2 if a mechanical takes place)

Things you do not value or come to race for

- Paying $60.00 for a USAC license or having a USAC Event in Oregon
- OBRA BAR points (This is a mountain bike thing for some reason, except
for juniors and a few master riders)
- Beer
- Cash for any overall Series Points chase
- Raffle Prizes

I do know that it takes 1 minute to give away 60 Beers from our long time
Supporter Deschutes Brewery...so not sure on the Beer response and I do
think people like raffles as long as they are not over 15 minutes to 30
max. We will have Beer as select events where allowed....as long as people
continue to be responsible

Things that could be better

- People want to win more
- Slow results
- Poor Passing

On the value of an racing license

- Overwhelming support for $25.00 and OBRA! We do have some amazing
people!
- Almost as much support to pay $30.00 when that time ever comes....
- Good support for a 10.00 discipline license with the ability to
convert to an annual but this would be logistically insane for OBRA, and it
is a challenge enough to check licenses with new volunteer crews during the
registration process anyway.

On a Series pass
Neutral response or 3, would be possible if registration was under one
umbrella

On course time for the long course

- 2hrs for the winner with over 50% (This time frame does allow a 10am
start to have most finished by 12:30 to do awards hopefully by 1:30-2pm,
sooner is always better.

People like the Champion Jerseys verses the other abstract choices

Thanks for letting me take your time with all of this sorting out to
provide the best racing possible in 2014........Hope everyone had a great
weekend of Cross racing or Gravel Grinding!

Oregon XC Series schedule of races will be announced on 11/1/13

Mike

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Mike Ripley
Mudslinger Events/Oregon XC Series
PO BOX 87
Monroe, OR. 97456
541-225-7946