Ron and Dorothy Strasser
MessageYes it really improved within 20 minutes. It was similar to a cross or mountain bike race where a track would get worn in. This was the Snake River Valley (Nyssa) so the humidity was nil. We always went too fast and woud wipe out no matter the improvement. But most important we would really develop a really hot inside track and usually another just outside of that one that was a hoot to try to use to pass with more speed than the inside track could hold. If anyone knows of a place where we can build one (or grass) I really think some folks would have fun racing it. I do think that there does need to be some ethics like... if one rider has a wheel in front... he has the track. We did not approach this like a demolition derby... more like the sprint cars you mentioned.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Engelen
To: ron-@spiritone.com ; ob-@topica.com
Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2005 11:06 AM
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Fixed Gear Mania
Ron,
n
Did the track get more traction than normal as it wore-in? I have been told this happens on the dirt oval tracks that Sprint Cars race on. They use a special type of clay soil and prepare it with water and tilling. When the track is in perfect condition it has super traction.
Hey Kris, how about putting a high speed sweeper corner on the PIR short track? Like the one near the finish at Blue Lake CCX last year. Work it into the risk-reward section.
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: ron strasser [mailto:ron-@spiritone.com]
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 3:36 PM
To: mike.m-@obra.org; ob-@topica.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Fixed Gear Mania
On a somewhat similar track...
May not relate directly to fixed gear or grass, but I grew up in far eastern oregon and between the age of 10-14 we had a dirt oval bike track that was a total of about 50 yards long. It was surrounded by sagebrush and we stretched a garden hose from the nearest home to wet it down before we would race. We raced almost each evening in the summer with clunkers totally. Coaster brakes. We would do a few heats and then a long 100 lap race. We trashed more bikes, wheels, etc. and I am still amazed at the few injuries. Talk about a contact sport. Pedals into spokes etc. I remember once two folks got very close in one of the corners and the bikes locked together and the riders ended up ejected while the bikes became "one", standing there like a work of art. No banks on this track, but boy you sure did get into a groove and the great line for speed as the track got ridden in after the dampening. We had as many as 15 kids on the track at once so there was always action. I don't remember getting tired like I do now!!! It was REAL FUN!!!
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: mike.m-@obra.org
To: ob-@topica.com
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 8:59 PM
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Fixed Gear Mania
I have always wondered why there is not more grass track racing. If I lived somewhere that did not have a velodrome I would definitely try to get together some grass track racing. In fact, with just a bit of work a grass track could be very close to a velodrome.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Malcolm [mailto:gary.m-@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 11:51 AM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Fixed Gear Mania
I've been looking into interesting and 'epic' adventures for the new love of my life... my fixed-gear bike. I don't live in Portland + it's not Track season so the options seemed limited until I started googling.
Folks are doing some big rides fixed... centuries, double centuries and the Furnace Creek 508! That last one sounds a bit mental but I wouldn't mind dipping my toe into the Water Melon or the STP fixed as I am both dumb and obsessed.
The other exciting diversion was Grass Track Racing. All the fun and none of the velodrome. Fixed cross? Flat track? Off-road criterium? YES!
Is anyone out there (especially in the Eugene area) as transFIXED with gearlessness as me?
--
Gary Malcolm
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