Robert Burney
The Bike Gallery sponsored the annual New Year's Day bike ride again in
2002. The ride was held from the Battleship Oregon Monument at Waterfront
Park to Laurelhurst Park. This traditional recreational ride drew a good
crowd considering the weather conditions: 40 degrees, wind and rain. After
the regular ride there was a special event to benefit three local charities.
Thanks to all of you who donated money to the New Year's Day charity sprint
among David Auker, Jay Graves and Robert Burney. With your generosity, we
raised $280 to benefit Sisters of the Road Cafe, The Bicycle Transportation
Alliance and Burnside Transition Projects. If anyone forgot to mail your
tax deductible donations, just send them to Robert Burney at the address
below. You can make the check to any of the charities listed above and we
will get the money to them.
The format was much the same as last year: a rolling start at about 15 miles
per hour then a full sprint for 300 meters to the line. This year the
weather was cold, windy and rainy. Last year David negotiated for a
slightly uphill course to capitalize on his climbing strengths. We used
that course again, but this time it was uphill into a fierce wind. Did I
mention that it was about 40 degrees? This year Jay Graves volunteered to
race as well.
As they approached the start line, David and Robert changed the starting
point at least three times and confused Jay. When Robert and David started
the sprint, Jay was caught off guard and reserved his energy for another
day. Robert knew that David had superior endurance and jumped hard in an
effort to get a gap. The same strategy had worked the prior year, and was
still good in 2002. As they approached the finish, David began to close the
gap, but Robert held on for the win.
As everyone stood around afterwards congratulating Jay for another
successful New Year's Day Ride, John Forbes suggested that David should
challenge Robert to another sprint. Robert, his mind numb from the cold,
foolishly accepted, and away the three contestants rode for another
sprint-off.
Jay was not to be fooled again and jumped at the start with Robert and
David. David must have had turbo chargers installed between the rides
because he held Jay and Robert's jump. That is really good since both Jay
and Robert were track racers and sprinters, and David has always been a
hardened road racer. David has always raced better in the harder races, and
this second ride was no exception.
As the miles wore on (alright, it was still only 300 meters, but it felt
much longer), David piled on the power and pulled away to a convincing
victory. Robert was heard to mutter that he must have been cracked to race
twice on one day with David.
Thanks again for your support. Come out again next year and donate to your
favorite charity.
Robert E Burney, JD
340 Oswego Pointe Dr
Suite 106
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Rob-@corben.org
503-636-0097