beth h

As part of the deal with my spouse that I would not be gone racing cross every weekend, I skipped Barton and stayed home to help in the garden -- so that I could race in the Womens' Singlespeed category being offered next Saturday at OBRA CX Championships.

So LADIES: If you want to race in a Womens' Singlespeed category and were bummed because you couldn't do it earlier this season --

Here. Is. Your. Chance.

I want to see all the women who raced 'cross this year on singlespeed bikes, in their respective A/B/Masters categories, all sign up to race those bikes in the Womens' Singlespeed category at OBRA Champs. I want to see two dozen women on the starting line in this category next weekend. I want to line up with all those singlespeed women and pedal hard through the mud until I'm cross-eyed; and if I get my head handed to me by every other woman in the category, so be it. I will still be thrilled.
I want all this because I think it would be awesome.

Since there will now be -- get this! -- Singlespeed national champions' jerseys on the line in Bend, one each for Mens' and Womens' Singlespeed, this will be my last nagging email about the category to the OBRA list during the 2010 cyclocross season. Thank you to every race promoter in the state who offered separate categories for Mens' and Womens' Singlespeed this year, in short-track and 'cross. I hope to see many more women racing singlespeed in 2011.

Beth Hamon
Velo Bella