Melissa Boyd

Today's course was icy and slippery-slidey, but the sun was shining and
temps went above freezing. There were tons of awesome cheering fans and a
great team of support crew and volunteers! I had a totally wonderful time,
and am thrilled that Natz are in Bend next year and we can do it again. You
should have seen the Junior fields race; they were a real inspiration.

Big thanks to all of you who made it happen, and all who turned out to race.

Melissa

On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM, john wrote:

> The real reason cross is popular in cold regions, is that you stay quite
> warm while doing it... held in the woods, with run-ups, etc, little
> relative wind... one stays warm and toasty . Great winter training...
> Cyclocross, mtb in the winter is definitely a much easier and way more
> enjoyable experience then a road race or ride say in early march in
> michigan. snow packed roads, windchill below zero, if you really want to
> test your skill and 'toughness', try that. If you want to stay warm, have
> relatively good traction, and a short walk to your car, whenever, try
> cross. having done both, nowadays i will stick with the mtb/cross in the
> woods, much easier and pleasant! but if you want something to write home
> about...
>
> On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic wrote:
>
>> Further testament that Americans are weak and whiners when it comes to
>> the world of Cyclocross Racing. In Europe these conditions would be
>> considered balmy. I have thought of this question before. Why are cross
>> nats run in cold northern regions. Unofrtunately it comes down to a lack of
>> support or interest in the Southern locals compared to the Northwest and New
>> England. Both the Northwest and New England are the hot beds for the sport
>> (figuratively not litterally). Remember a couple of years ago when cross
>> nats were in New England and they had to postpone racing due to far more
>> extreme weather. Its cross love it or leave it. Besides for our elite
>> representatives that will be traveling to worlds this year!
>>
>> That said if you like the hot weather the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and
>> Cascade Cycling Classic are your races. Come on out in 2010 and get a
>> bitching tan!
>>
>> Chad
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> *From:* Brent Chapman
>> *To:* holstein71
>> *Cc:* obra@list.obra.org
>> *Sent:* Friday, December 11, 2009 9:40 AM
>> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather
>> historybefore having race here???
>>
>> yah, and if we had it in west palm beach FL and the weather was the
>> current 80 F you would be sending another variation complaining about that
>> its so hot people are passing out.
>>
>> If you want a race vacation package, start looking into road racing which
>> is in summer months.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71 wrote:
>>
>>> When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who the
>>> hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national syndicate team mate
>>> raced today and will race more races this weekend, wrote on our site www.
>>> crossniacs.com about guys going down all over cause the course iced up.
>>> All im saying is that there is a better chance every year for this type of
>>> weather in Bend then Portland or another location. This weekend at the
>>> Grand Prix there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was
>>> damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch. Im not
>>> talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but seriously...all
>>> that will happen in Bend is that someone will break a hip, and no one will
>>> come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great page to write this
>>> on... Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a storm warning this
>>> weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood joke...sorry*
>>>
>>> moo...moo...
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OBRA mailing list
>>> obra@list.obra.org
>>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> jms, pe pdx, or
> http://bikeeng.blogspot.com/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

john

The real reason cross is popular in cold regions, is that you stay quite
warm while doing it... held in the woods, with run-ups, etc, little
relative wind... one stays warm and toasty . Great winter training...
Cyclocross, mtb in the winter is definitely a much easier and way more
enjoyable experience then a road race or ride say in early march in
michigan. snow packed roads, windchill below zero, if you really want to
test your skill and 'toughness', try that. If you want to stay warm, have
relatively good traction, and a short walk to your car, whenever, try
cross. having done both, nowadays i will stick with the mtb/cross in the
woods, much easier and pleasant! but if you want something to write home
about...

On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic wrote:

> Further testament that Americans are weak and whiners when it comes to
> the world of Cyclocross Racing. In Europe these conditions would be
> considered balmy. I have thought of this question before. Why are cross
> nats run in cold northern regions. Unofrtunately it comes down to a lack of
> support or interest in the Southern locals compared to the Northwest and New
> England. Both the Northwest and New England are the hot beds for the sport
> (figuratively not litterally). Remember a couple of years ago when cross
> nats were in New England and they had to postpone racing due to far more
> extreme weather. Its cross love it or leave it. Besides for our elite
> representatives that will be traveling to worlds this year!
>
> That said if you like the hot weather the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and
> Cascade Cycling Classic are your races. Come on out in 2010 and get a
> bitching tan!
>
> Chad
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Brent Chapman
> *To:* holstein71
> *Cc:* obra@list.obra.org
> *Sent:* Friday, December 11, 2009 9:40 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather
> historybefore having race here???
>
> yah, and if we had it in west palm beach FL and the weather was the current
> 80 F you would be sending another variation complaining about that its so
> hot people are passing out.
>
> If you want a race vacation package, start looking into road racing which
> is in summer months.
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71 wrote:
>
>> When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who the
>> hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national syndicate team mate
>> raced today and will race more races this weekend, wrote on our site www.
>> crossniacs.com about guys going down all over cause the course iced up.
>> All im saying is that there is a better chance every year for this type of
>> weather in Bend then Portland or another location. This weekend at the
>> Grand Prix there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was
>> damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch. Im not
>> talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but seriously...all
>> that will happen in Bend is that someone will break a hip, and no one will
>> come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great page to write this
>> on... Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a storm warning this
>> weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood joke...sorry*
>>
>> moo...moo...
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

--
jms, pe pdx, or
http://bikeeng.blogspot.com/

Ron and Dorothy Strasser

Holstein,
I raced yesterday and it was total concentration each lap. I slid out 4
times, down once but not bad. Last lap into tape. Here is the deal from my
standpoint. It was not the most fun race I have done this year, but it was
the same for every racer who chose to give it a go. That part is fair. The
fact it is in Bend is OK with me as the history of the sport shows it does
not need to be in places with balmy weather. I prefer mud even though I
grew up on the East side. My reason is that it easier to ride faster in
muddy conditions than icy conditions. I do not look at one race as bigger
than another (I know that is not the norm), so I am just stoked that I get
to do another race in the Psycho series on the 19th in Eugene. That log at
Sherwood was dangerous. I fully support all those riders dismounting to go
over it.
take care,
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "holstein71"
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 9:20 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather historybefore
having race here???

> When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who the
> hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national syndicate team
> mate raced today and will race more races this weekend, wrote on our site
> www. crossniacs.com about guys going down all over cause the course iced
> up. All im saying is that there is a better chance every year for this
> type of weather in Bend then Portland or another location. This weekend
> at the Grand Prix there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them,
> it was damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch.
> Im not talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but
> seriously...all that will happen in Bend is that someone will break a hip,
> and no one will come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great
> page to write this on... Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a
> storm warning this weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood
> joke...sorry*
>
> moo...moo...
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

holstein71

Ill end my two cents here, i do cross because my teammates are the greatest, (yes i did barton park) and said teammates we do most of the mtb races, and yes i love warm weather and i do love to gripe. I grew up outside of Astoria, and have weathered cold rain all my life, these last week nights training up on skyline blvd have been coldest ever. I love Sisters alot more then Bend but i love everything about central Oregon. So am i bitter about not racing this weekend??? yes. Will i be at Psycho cross in Coburg...yes.. But just racing on an ice rink, i cant see much fun in that...like i said a lifetime of coast weather has made me long for only warm conditions. So if you want to flame away, go ahead i have cow work to do and trying to keep warm in these barns, everything is frozen.

moo...moo...

Stephen Fitzgerald

When I heard "Bend In December" I thought "Wow that'll be interesting...
but its cyclocross so thats the whole point".

I don't know about this weekend, but I raced yesterday and found the
course to be yes - challenging, but also incredibly fun. It was actually
probably the most fun course I'd seen all year. The snow/ice weren't
much different than mud, if much colder. It was unpredictable for the
first lap, then you adjusted your approach. Sometimes you crashed,
sometimes you railed. If you dressed with some thought the cold was
entirely manageable and many people were even sporting long sleeves and
shorts (I was heavily layered)

I found the snow and the setting to be surreal and inspiring (really,
inspiring!). My wife and kids came and loved the shopping 400ft from the
course. They cheered for me then disappeared into Gap Kids. How awful is
that? Where are you going to find better family conditions than that?

We had so much fun it was HER begging ME to stick around 2 more days for
the Saturday race so we could soak up more of Bend. Alas... I've got a
job that made me us come home.

If it snows much more tonight it'll be a completely new course with its
own challenges, but I don't think thats a bad thing. And before anyone
complains about the road conditions, how many people here and elsewhere
brave identical conditions to go skiing?

If the potential to break your hip is enough to keep you from racing,
this sport may not be from you. Ever been to Barton?

Cheers to the organizers and the selection committee, Bend was a blast!

-Steve F.

> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71
> > wrote:
>
> When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i
> thought who the hell thought of this...Bend in December?????
> My national syndicate team mate raced today and will race more
> races this weekend, wrote on our site www. crossniacs.com
> about guys going down all over cause
> the course iced up. All im saying is that there is a better
> chance every year for this type of weather in Bend then
> Portland or another location. This weekend at the Grand Prix
> there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was
> damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to
> watch. Im not talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be
> great, but seriously...all that will happen in Bend is that
> someone will break a hip, and no one will come out to watch.
> Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great page to write this on...
> Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a storm warning
> this weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood
> joke...sorry*
>
> moo...moo...
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic

Hey one other tid bit that is interesting. During road nats this year Bend experienced the hottest weather week of the entire year (near record setting heat). Talking with the locals this week cross nats looks to have fallen on the coldest weather week of the entire year (record to near record lows). What are the odds of both events falling on record setting extremes!

----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Chapman
To: holstein71
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather historybefore having race here???

yah, and if we had it in west palm beach FL and the weather was the current 80 F you would be sending another variation complaining about that its so hot people are passing out.

If you want a race vacation package, start looking into road racing which is in summer months.

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71 wrote:

When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who the hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national syndicate team mate raced today and will race more races this weekend, wrote on our site www. crossniacs.com about guys going down all over cause the course iced up. All im saying is that there is a better chance every year for this type of weather in Bend then Portland or another location. This weekend at the Grand Prix there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch. Im not talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but seriously...all that will happen in Bend is that someone will break a hip, and no one will come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great page to write this on... Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a storm warning this weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood joke...sorry*

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

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

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

Steve Brown

This is just another reason why an indoor velodrome makes sense.
Warm in the winter, cool in the summer.

Steve Brown
www.pdxvelo.org

On Dec 11, 2009, at 9:54 AM, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic wrote:

> Further testament that Americans are weak and whiners when it comes
> to the world of Cyclocross Racing. In Europe these conditions
> would be considered balmy. I have thought of this question
> before. Why are cross nats run in cold northern regions.
> Unofrtunately it comes down to a lack of support or interest in the
> Southern locals compared to the Northwest and New England. Both
> the Northwest and New England are the hot beds for the sport
> (figuratively not litterally). Remember a couple of years ago when
> cross nats were in New England and they had to postpone racing due
> to far more extreme weather. Its cross love it or leave it.
> Besides for our elite representatives that will be traveling to
> worlds this year!
>
> That said if you like the hot weather the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
> and Cascade Cycling Classic are your races. Come on out in 2010
> and get a bitching tan!
>
> Chad
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brent Chapman
> To: holstein71
> Cc: obra@list.obra.org
> Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 9:40 AM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather
> historybefore having race here???
>
> yah, and if we had it in west palm beach FL and the weather was the
> current 80 F you would be sending another variation complaining
> about that its so hot people are passing out.
>
> If you want a race vacation package, start looking into road racing
> which is in summer months.
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71
> wrote:
> When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who
> the hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national
> syndicate team mate raced today and will race more races this
> weekend, wrote on our site www. crossniacs.com about guys going
> down all over cause the course iced up. All im saying is that there
> is a better chance every year for this type of weather in Bend then
> Portland or another location. This weekend at the Grand Prix there
> were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was damn cold
> to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch. Im not
> talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but
> seriously...all that will happen in Bend is that someone will break
> a hip, and no one will come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal,
> but a great page to write this on... Currently it is 8 degrees
> downtown...! and a storm warning this weekend. This is not a log in
> the course *Sherwood joke...sorry*
>
> moo...moo...
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic

Further testament that Americans are weak and whiners when it comes to the world of Cyclocross Racing. In Europe these conditions would be considered balmy. I have thought of this question before. Why are cross nats run in cold northern regions. Unofrtunately it comes down to a lack of support or interest in the Southern locals compared to the Northwest and New England. Both the Northwest and New England are the hot beds for the sport (figuratively not litterally). Remember a couple of years ago when cross nats were in New England and they had to postpone racing due to far more extreme weather. Its cross love it or leave it. Besides for our elite representatives that will be traveling to worlds this year!

That said if you like the hot weather the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Cascade Cycling Classic are your races. Come on out in 2010 and get a bitching tan!

Chad

----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Chapman
To: holstein71
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Bend Cross Nats...any nat rep ck. weather historybefore having race here???

yah, and if we had it in west palm beach FL and the weather was the current 80 F you would be sending another variation complaining about that its so hot people are passing out.

If you want a race vacation package, start looking into road racing which is in summer months.

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM, holstein71 wrote:

When i first read months ago Bend got the Nat Finals, i thought who the hell thought of this...Bend in December????? My national syndicate team mate raced today and will race more races this weekend, wrote on our site www. crossniacs.com about guys going down all over cause the course iced up. All im saying is that there is a better chance every year for this type of weather in Bend then Portland or another location. This weekend at the Grand Prix there were little to no fans there...i dont blame them, it was damn cold to race in and further even more chilling cold to watch. Im not talking Nats need to be in Maui, which would be great, but seriously...all that will happen in Bend is that someone will break a hip, and no one will come out to watch. Sorry not an OBRA deal, but a great page to write this on... Currently it is 8 degrees downtown...! and a storm warning this weekend. This is not a log in the course *Sherwood joke...sorry*

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

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

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