Raggy23

First thanks for the kind words

Yes dave started the ftf he was a great man

Mike is right oakridge has been an long ongoing ordeal this year.

But to be clear I said 2007 MIGHT be my last year

I had planned to put on the ftf and I was excited to have a prime weekend
When the forest service did not ok the weekend that is what killed the race

I did not want to host another 50-75 person summer race, while it shouldn't be about $ at the same time a promoter shouldn't loose $ either

I will try to get something going in 2009
Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 26, 2008, at 1:01 PM, "Mike Ripley" wrote:

Hello,

I Did not want to start the season with sour grapes and am upset that Oakridge is not a part of mtb racing for 2008, but I also have a duty to all mountain bike racers and the facts involved.

First of all when Randy mentions the series he should put in (Mike Ripley) I handle the organizational structure.

Randy had announced his retirement last year at Oakridge and at that time, I asked him to co-produce it with him and re-energize him and or arrange something as he wanted to focus on MBO (Mountain Bike Oregon) The race was in limbo for most of the Fall and Winter and only until late November did I receive any communication that the event was going to happen. By then most of the dates has been filled and only 2-3 dates were available before July. Randy's moved the date back to June in 2007 to avoid the heat and his low turnout if he remembers. I thought Memorial Weekend would be a great weekend due to numbers that races used to draw in the late 1990's. The other option was to go to June 2 or June 8th as picketts just moved to June 22nd do t a forest service conflict. Until 2-3 days ago Randy was working to secure one of those dates. As a whole mtb numbers are growing and we have excellent races from Portland to Ashland to Bend and MT Hood and in between
with dedicated promoters.We would like to put on races in August but if the fire danger gets high the race will be canceled.This is not a result of the nature of mtn biking but as a result of an adjacent land owner closing off their lands and the site where the event is in most cases follows suit to avoid a lawsuit. Cyclocross is awesome! and brings new riders into mtb racing and vice versa. I had two divisions at the Mudslinger last year won on Cross bikes. Of course it seems like I bring rain wherever I go so blame me for the wet weather. (cyclocross had little rain until December so bring out those cross bikes) The finals this year is Picketts Charge on June 22nd and it will be the best 4 of 7 races.

The mtb season is short and I do wish in future seasons that the "Series" will go until mid July if the support is there and the venues available. I have known Randy for many years and wish him the best and hope that you support him at MBO and the dry trails of summer. I have known alot of you for many years and will continue to see mountain bike racing grow and support all racing over the state.

Thanks guys
Mike

Your dedicated mtb guy
and rain maker

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Ron and Dorothy Strasser

Mike,
You are rock solid as our MTB leader. You are consistent, considerate and dependable. You cannot please everyone. Thank you for your dedication.
"Don't let it bring you down,
It is only castles burning"
.......Neil Young
These guys are right. It sucks to lose a race, but stuff happens. So it looks to me like what we riders need to do is support the races on the calendar this 2008 season and get others we know that might be interested to give it a try. Randy said he looked forward to 09. Maybe he will be back or someone will step up with another race at some point if what is offered is well supported. Long travel distances to races can make a huge difference in ability to attend the event (cost and time). It makes sense that races closer to the Portland metro area are going to have a larger turnout than races in other areas as a general rule. I know that Bend and Ashland can have big numbers as well, but the distance aspect is real. I have been very impressed with how many dedicated riders living in areas well away from Portland travel up this way to take part in the races put on in this area. On the other hand, when I have attended races far from Portland, I have not seen as many folks from the Portland area in attendance. I admit it is no doubt a more soothing experience traffic-wise to return home on a Sunday PM in a town like Corvallis, or Grants Pass than the Portland metro area where there are so many with the same plans....to just get home.
People have busy lives with other commitments. I believe that fact alone (as in family vacations especially) is the reason MTB race numbers fall off in the summer. It is much more convenient to get a close race "in the schedule" than one where you have to drive several hours and still maintain personal relationships with friends and family.
I hope all the folks out racing this spring and summer have fun wherever they travel.
Choose the best line and have some fun!
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Ripley
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Oakridge canceled

Hello,

I Did not want to start the season with sour grapes and am upset that Oakridge is not a part of mtb racing for 2008, but I also have a duty to all mountain bike racers and the facts involved.

First of all when Randy mentions the series he should put in (Mike Ripley) I handle the organizational structure.

Randy had announced his retirement last year at Oakridge and at that time, I asked him to co-produce it with him and re-energize him and or arrange something as he wanted to focus on MBO (Mountain Bike Oregon) The race was in limbo for most of the Fall and Winter and only until late November did I receive any communication that the event was going to happen. By then most of the dates has been filled and only 2-3 dates were available before July. Randy's moved the date back to June in 2007 to avoid the heat and his low turnout if he remembers. I thought Memorial Weekend would be a great weekend due to numbers that races used to draw in the late 1990's. The other option was to go to June 2 or June 8th as picketts just moved to June 22nd do t a forest service conflict. Until 2-3 days ago Randy was working to secure one of those dates. As a whole mtb numbers are growing and we have excellent races from Portland to Ashland to Bend and MT Hood and in between with dedicated promoters.We would like to put on races in August but if the fire danger gets high the race will be canceled.This is not a result of the nature of mtn biking but as a result of an adjacent land owner closing off their lands and the site where the event is in most cases follows suit to avoid a lawsuit. Cyclocross is awesome! and brings new riders into mtb racing and vice versa. I had two divisions at the Mudslinger last year won on Cross bikes. Of course it seems like I bring rain wherever I go so blame me for the wet weather. (cyclocross had little rain until December so bring out those cross bikes) The finals this year is Picketts Charge on June 22nd and it will be the best 4 of 7 races.

The mtb season is short and I do wish in future seasons that the "Series" will go until mid July if the support is there and the venues available. I have known Randy for many years and wish him the best and hope that you support him at MBO and the dry trails of summer. I have known alot of you for many years and will continue to see mountain bike racing grow and support all racing over the state.

Thanks guys
Mike

Your dedicated mtb guy
and rain maker

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Paul Greenwalt

Mike,

I sure didn't mean for my comments to come off like sour grapes. I appreciate the work done to support MTB racing in Oregon...THANK YOU! And I'm existed for a year of great races.

Last year was my first year back to MTB racing since the late 1990's, and I remembered races running through the summer that attracted many participants (Mt Hood even had a summer series as I remember). So I just didn't understand why a series would not work during the summer. I really don't care about a series myself, I just like the riding, the atmosphere, and competition.

Keep up the good work and see you at the races.

Thanks,
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Ripley
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Oakridge canceled

Hello,

I Did not want to start the season with sour grapes and am upset that Oakridge is not a part of mtb racing for 2008, but I also have a duty to all mountain bike racers and the facts involved.

First of all when Randy mentions the series he should put in (Mike Ripley) I handle the organizational structure.

Randy had announced his retirement last year at Oakridge and at that time, I asked him to co-produce it with him and re-energize him and or arrange something as he wanted to focus on MBO (Mountain Bike Oregon) The race was in limbo for most of the Fall and Winter and only until late November did I receive any communication that the event was going to happen. By then most of the dates has been filled and only 2-3 dates were available before July. Randy's moved the date back to June in 2007 to avoid the heat and his low turnout if he remembers. I thought Memorial Weekend would be a great weekend due to numbers that races used to draw in the late 1990's. The other option was to go to June 2 or June 8th as picketts just moved to June 22nd do t a forest service conflict. Until 2-3 days ago Randy was working to secure one of those dates. As a whole mtb numbers are growing and we have excellent races from Portland to Ashland to Bend and MT Hood and in between with dedicated promoters.We would like to put on races in August but if the fire danger gets high the race will be canceled.This is not a result of the nature of mtn biking but as a result of an adjacent land owner closing off their lands and the site where the event is in most cases follows suit to avoid a lawsuit. Cyclocross is awesome! and brings new riders into mtb racing and vice versa. I had two divisions at the Mudslinger last year won on Cross bikes. Of course it seems like I bring rain wherever I go so blame me for the wet weather. (cyclocross had little rain until December so bring out those cross bikes) The finals this year is Picketts Charge on June 22nd and it will be the best 4 of 7 races.

The mtb season is short and I do wish in future seasons that the "Series" will go until mid July if the support is there and the venues available. I have known Randy for many years and wish him the best and hope that you support him at MBO and the dry trails of summer. I have known alot of you for many years and will continue to see mountain bike racing grow and support all racing over the state.

Thanks guys
Mike

Your dedicated mtb guy
and rain maker

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Mike Ripley

Hello,

I Did not want to start the season with sour grapes and am upset that
Oakridge is not a part of mtb racing for 2008, but I also have a duty to all
mountain bike racers and the facts involved.

First of all when Randy mentions the series he should put in (Mike Ripley) I
handle the organizational structure.

Randy had announced his retirement last year at Oakridge and at that time, I
asked him to co-produce it with him and re-energize him and or arrange
something as he wanted to focus on MBO (Mountain Bike Oregon) The race was
in limbo for most of the Fall and Winter and only until late November did I
receive any communication that the event was going to happen. By then most
of the dates has been filled and only 2-3 dates were available before July.
Randy's moved the date back to June in 2007 to avoid the heat and his low
turnout if he remembers. I thought Memorial Weekend would be a great weekend
due to numbers that races used to draw in the late 1990's. The other option
was to go to June 2 or June 8th as picketts just moved to June 22nd do t a
forest service conflict. Until 2-3 days ago Randy was working to secure one
of those dates. As a whole mtb numbers are growing and we have excellent
races from Portland to Ashland to Bend and MT Hood and in between with
dedicated promoters.We would like to put on races in August but if the fire
danger gets high the race will be canceled.This is not a result of the
nature of mtn biking but as a result of an adjacent land owner closing off
their lands and the site where the event is in most cases follows suit to
avoid a lawsuit. Cyclocross is awesome! and brings new riders into mtb
racing and vice versa. I had two divisions at the Mudslinger last year won
on Cross bikes. Of course it seems like I bring rain wherever I go so blame
me for the wet weather. (cyclocross had little rain until December so bring
out those cross bikes) The finals this year is Picketts Charge on June 22nd
and it will be the best 4 of 7 races.

The mtb season is short and I do wish in future seasons that the "Series"
will go until mid July if the support is there and the venues available. I
have known Randy for many years and wish him the best and hope that you
support him at MBO and the dry trails of summer. I have known alot of you
for many years and will continue to see mountain bike racing grow and
support all racing over the state.

Thanks guys
Mike

Your dedicated mtb guy
and rain maker