T. Kenji Sugahara

Folks-

Here's the most up to date course conditions from Greg.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Greg Aldrich
Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Subject: Bear Springs Conditions

Hi  Mike & Kenji

I am hoping you could do me a huge favor.  I need to spread the word
about Bear Springs Conditions.

Petr and his fabulous crew have shoveled every bit of snow down to
asphalt or dirt so there will be at least a wide path on the trails so
no running through large snow patches or hiking over drifts.

Even though Government Camp has been receiving snow, Bear Springs area
has not received any of that due to the fact that  it is on a totally
different weather pattern than the west side of the mountain, I drove
through from Bend today and no snow until Govy.

Lastly encourage people to register on Saturday from 11 am to 2pm and
Sunday we open at 8am and don’t start race till 11, but like you saw
last year they all show up at once at 9:30-9:45 and still expect that
the race will start on time and that we give them optimum service.
This just won’t happen.  Could you encourage as best you can for them
to arrive as early as possible to help prevent that at all cost.

Again conditions are good and ready to ride!

Could you please spread the word about it, your names means a little
more than mine in the OBRA/cross country community.

Thank you so much, if I don’t hear from you by noon tomorrow I will
send one out any explaining this.  I will be putting together a quick
time schedule sheet and sending that out to help when riders line up
at start line.

Thanks again

Greg Aldrich

Rental Shop Manger & Assit Night Ops

503-272-3206 x 1110 office

503-709-2481 cell

503-272-3554 fax

--
Kenji Sugahara
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
Phone:  503-278-5550
http://www.obra.org

Rick Johnson

I can't say what the current conditions are but Petr will still run the
race. We've done it before with snow, despite a shortened course and
some hike-a-bike sections. One year some of the volunteers even shoveled
and used snow blowers on part of the course. Hey, it's the mountains,
there will be snow in some places longer than others and as long as OBRA
members keep supporting earlier and earlier races every year this is
going to keep happening.
That said even with snow it's a great course and one of the top three
MTB races in the state (IMHO). If I wasn't injured I'd be there.

As for suggestions in dealing with late season snow east-siders usually
do pretty well because those conditions are not that uncommon for us.
Watch for Hutch's, Web, Sunnyside and other jerseys from over here - pay
attention to what those riders are doing. A lot of them have long
experience in this game.

* Use wide, deep lugged tires. Tread that goes across your direction
of force (such as chevron formation ">" in the front for turning
and "I" patterns, like little paddles, for driving the rear) work
well. Studs are useless for anything other than hard ice - don't
even bother.
* Same goes for your shoes, more tread is better. Rubbery soles are
better than plastic. Lace-ups will be more comfortable and allow a
better fit for thick socks.
* Wear warm socks, your feet will be wet and cold so overdress them.
Waterproof socks or liners are a real good idea too. Wool ski
socks are great. Just smile knowingly and laugh at anyone who
thinks what you're wearing looks funny.
* Spray some non-stick lubricant in your pedals and cleats to help
keep them from clogging with ice.
* Consider the unridable sections an early taste of cyclocross -
dismount and run, keep up your momentum. Use light shuffling
steps, close together, and put some weight on your bike to keep
from breaking through the crust ("post holing"). Pretend you're a
Ninja gliding quickly and lightly across rice paper. It'll
infuriate the lumbering flat-landers as you dance past them.
* Have some warm dry clothes ready for when you're finished. Petr
always has tasty beer and great raffle swag so you want to be
ready to hang around and enjoy it.

Good Luck,
Rick

Rick Johnson
Bend Oregon

On 4/23/2011 5:51 PM, Maggie Rising wrote:
> Anyone know if the Bear Springs trails still have snow on them? I would predict there would be snow. We were near Gales Creek a few weeks ago (coastal range), and we learned that mud tires spin and spin in snow. Bear Springs is Mt. Hood so I'm fearing vast slippage . . . Someone tell me Bear Springs is passable because I need another fix next weekend!! (or maybe studded tires?) I'm a newbie to mt. biking, so if any die-hards have snow survival skills, I'm all ears.
> Maggie
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Maggie Rising

Anyone know if the Bear Springs trails still have snow on them? I would predict there would be snow. We were near Gales Creek a few weeks ago (coastal range), and we learned that mud tires spin and spin in snow. Bear Springs is Mt. Hood so I'm fearing vast slippage . . . Someone tell me Bear Springs is passable because I need another fix next weekend!! (or maybe studded tires?) I'm a newbie to mt. biking, so if any die-hards have snow survival skills, I'm all ears.
Maggie

Omer Kem

What's the drive into the camp ground like? Gravel I assume, but do I need a truck?

Omer Kem

On Apr 24, 2010, at 6:36 PM, Will Sullivan wrote:

How is the XC course? Deep rutted mud? firm base with soft top layer? mostly dry? Trying to decide what tire to mount up. Any update is appreciated
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Will Sullivan

How is the XC course? Deep rutted mud? firm base with soft top layer? mostly dry? Trying to decide what tire to mount up. Any update is appreciated