Mark Miskowiec
Randy,
I personally have missed a lot of races this year beacause I have been in
crappy shape. I don't think that the race fees are unreasonable, you
usually get your money's worth. It's the races that don't even provide
energy food at the aid stations that I question. $25 for a few cups of
water?
Like you said, I think that the main reason that people are not racing is
because of the cost of gas. We have a hobby that can get pretty expensive,
and $3 a gallon for gas puts some of us over the edge. I have also heard
some talk about the reduction of categories. Age 19 to 39 for sport and
expert seems a little vast. It's hard to compete. Do you know why this was
done?
However, your races are always one of the best of the series. Good support,
well organized, great trails, and of course, free beer! I was dissapointed
to miss it this year. Thanks for listening,
Mark
>From: "Ron and Dorothy Strasser"
>To: "Randy Dreiling" ,
>,
>Subject: Re: [OBRA Race] [OBRA Chat] Is Cross Country racing dying?
>Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:39:30 -0700
>
>Randy,
>I believe you have every right to discuss this here. It is all bike
>racing!
>I am only in my second year of mountain bike racing, but I think that if
>the
>venues were were closer to the major metro areas (maybe I am wrong as the
>Mt. Hood races are pretty close) that might make the time committment for
>races less of an issue. I know it would entail working with more private
>property owners if close-in, but it might make a difference. I have really
>enjoyed the courses I have raced, but some of the distances make think
>about
>the trip. I also heard one racer mention that the XC races were so few,
>with too much time between... he looked to road racing as an alternative.
>I
>do not think that OBRA, as it is now staffed can offer as much support to
>mountain biking as it does to road and track. I do not think it is not
>wanting this support to be there... but there are just so many people and
>hours in the day. I was surprised to see the posting about not having two
>events at one venue on the same day (PIR short track getting the boot as an
>example). That upset me at first as I am racing the short track and am
>very
>aware of NOT impacting the road racing. Maybe there are problems that
>cannot be solved between promoters. I would think that there would be the
>ability for the two to take place in a smooth manner instead of a "You are
>either with us or against us" type of rule change being suggested. But
>what
>do ya do? Someone thinks that way. I do not know all the in-and-outs of
>PIR, but I would think that Wed. Thur. or Fri. would be much more difficult
>to schedule for bike racing because most auto races take days of set-up and
>practice time. I think the short track in the Portland area is a VERY
>IMPORTANT way to promote mountain bike racing and bike racing in general.
>I
>would race it any day. Thanks to you and all the promoters of
>races...Road,
>Track and Mountain!!!!!!!!!
>ron
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Randy Dreiling"
>To: ;
>Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 8:51 AM
>Subject: [OBRA Chat] Is Cross Country racing dying?
>
>
> > Hi All
> >
> > Hope you don't mind me putting this on OBRA race as
> > this is 100% about racing.
> >
> > Minus the Bend area, cross country racing numbers are
> > way down.
> >
> > WHY?
> >
> > I would have guessed gas prices, but Mt Hood is the
> > closest race for many racers, yet there were only 60
> > racers at the state games.
> >
> > I have heard people say race fee's are up, BUT that is
> > just not true, I have race flyers from 1993 and the
> > race fee is the same or went up by $5 at most
> > depending on your classes, this includes the late fee.
> > In fact Hood's fee is now $15, which is less then the
> > 1993 rate.
> >
> > Is cyclecross getting so big people are skipping the
> > summer XC races to race cross?
> >
> > Why do you think it is slowing down??
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> > Randy Dreiling
> > Owner Oregon Adventures www.oregon-adventures.com
> > Executive Director Oakridge/Westfir Area Chamber of Commerce
> > www.oakridgechamber.com
> > Mt Bike Oregon www.mtbikeoregon.com
> > Other Oregon Adventures Events
> > Oakridge FTF, 12/24 of Willamette Pass
> > Willamette Pass Downhill/Super D's Series
> > www.oakridgefattire.com A simple site to download flyers
> >
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>
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