Emily Martini

First of all-if you have not ever participated in a race that Jesse and the Capital Velo crew put on-you have really missed out. I had the privilege of being an assistant OBRA official for the first time at Silverton, and my first time Chief Judging at Salem yesterday. The price list was very generous, the sponsors were awesome-the venue and weather perfect.

This was the first opportunity I had to see the entire production of a race-from the last minute delivery of the Porta Pots, to the quick teardown and team work of Capital Velo and the volunteers from beginning to end.

I was very humbled by the number of racers and volunteers that came up to ME at the end of the day and thanked me for coming out and working the race. It's these thank yous that keep me coming out and working bike races a few times every week.

Now-not to close on a sour note-but I wanted to get to the other point of my post-leaving the negative closing thoughts to the end. It only takes a couple bad apples to ruin a bushel (or something like that) and I was very dissappointed with the conduct of a few people yesterday that was reported back to officials or experienced by the officials from riders. We are talking a small, small number of riders-and nothing that rained on our parade-but it still leaves me dumbfounded that grown adults can be so blantly disrespectful to other riders in a race and/or officials working the race. To disrespect the integrity of the sport, race, OBRA and potentially the safety of others around you, and further disprespect those that remind you of the rules is uncalled for. The couple incidences were handled appropriately-but they should never have occured in the first place. The rider(s) know who they are-and I hope this was an isolated incident and that the teams of the rider(s) furt
her steps in and takes action to maintain their own integrity.

Anyhow-that's my final two cents. See you at the bike races this week-hope to see many in Eugene for the Firecracker TT and Crits!!