Ken Luke

And it would have worked if it wasn't for those meddlesome kids...

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 11:31 AM, eric aldinger wrote:
> I actively voted for the extra lap. My plan was that everyone would DNF I
> will finally place well enough to get some points.
>
> On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 9:38 AM, Russ Rainforth wrote:
>>
>> Ron (and all)
>> Oh, believe me- I *wanted* to speak up AGAINST adding a lap, but as a rank
>> newbie MTB'er, felt like it wasn't my place.
>> I think if it had been dry conditions, the extra lap would have been fine,
>> but with the uber-muddy slop it was definitely the wrong call.
>> Myself and everyone around me was out of water, out of food and out of
>> energy. Everyone around (not incl the passing Cat 1's) agreed it was one lap
>> too many.
>> No one seemed prepared for that endurance slog.
>> Talking to others beforehand, I estimated it at 50- 90 minutes. I raced
>> almost 2 hours and 45 minutes.
>> Although I finished, barely, I'm not proud- I spent the entire last
>> grueling lap looking for a place to bail.
>> Many of my friends, incl my wife, DNF'd. Thank you for your kind words to
>> her yesterday.  :-)
>> I think they were the lucky/smart ones...
>> Russ R
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> On Apr 10, 2011, at 7:24 PM, "Ron and Dorothy Strasser"
>> wrote:
>>
>> Horning's racers,
>> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I
>> want to thank Tom for putting the race on.  I want to thank the volunteers
>> for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects
>> during the day.
>> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable
>> number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a
>> group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not
>> one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance.  Ripley said the new numbers are
>> on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them.
>> Moving in the right direction!!!  And remember to give the officials a break
>> as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue.
>> They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
>> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how
>> impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this
>> race.  The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard
>> physically and mentally.  I saw some very tired faces which were the windows
>> into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on.  If you finished or
>> even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort.  That
>> was a very tough course today.  I was amazed at how tough you were!  You
>> guys and gals rock!  There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots
>> of smiles after the race.
>> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
>> ron
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> obra@list.obra.org
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Eric Aldinger
>
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>

--
------------------------------------------------------------
 Ken Luke
 "Complexity is easy; Simplicity is hard."
   -- Edmund Keane
------------------------------------------------------------

eric aldinger

I actively voted for the extra lap. My plan was that everyone would DNF I
will finally place well enough to get some points.

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 9:38 AM, Russ Rainforth wrote:

> Ron (and all)
> Oh, believe me- I *wanted* to speak up AGAINST adding a lap, but as a rank
> newbie MTB'er, felt like it wasn't my place.
> I think if it had been dry conditions, the extra lap would have been fine,
> but with the uber-muddy slop it was definitely the wrong call.
> Myself and everyone around me was out of water, out of food and out of
> energy. Everyone around (not incl the passing Cat 1's) agreed it was one lap
> too many.
> No one seemed prepared for that endurance slog.
> Talking to others beforehand, I estimated it at 50- 90 minutes. I raced
> almost 2 hours and 45 minutes.
> Although I finished, barely, I'm not proud- I spent the entire last
> grueling lap looking for a place to bail.
> Many of my friends, incl my wife, DNF'd. Thank you for your kind words to
> her yesterday. :-)
> I think they were the lucky/smart ones...
>
> Russ R
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Apr 10, 2011, at 7:24 PM, "Ron and Dorothy Strasser" <
> rondot@spiritone.com> wrote:
>
> Horning's racers,
> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I
> want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers
> for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects
> during the day.
> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable
> number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a
> group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not
> one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are
> on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them.
> Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break
> as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue.
> They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how
> impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this
> race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard
> physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows
> into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or
> even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That
> was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You
> guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots
> of smiles after the race.
> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
> ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>

--
Eric Aldinger

Russ Rainforth

Ron (and all)
Oh, believe me- I *wanted* to speak up AGAINST adding a lap, but as a rank newbie MTB'er, felt like it wasn't my place.
I think if it had been dry conditions, the extra lap would have been fine, but with the uber-muddy slop it was definitely the wrong call.
Myself and everyone around me was out of water, out of food and out of energy. Everyone around (not incl the passing Cat 1's) agreed it was one lap too many.
No one seemed prepared for that endurance slog.
Talking to others beforehand, I estimated it at 50- 90 minutes. I raced almost 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Although I finished, barely, I'm not proud- I spent the entire last grueling lap looking for a place to bail.
Many of my friends, incl my wife, DNF'd. Thank you for your kind words to her yesterday. :-)
I think they were the lucky/smart ones...

Russ R

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 10, 2011, at 7:24 PM, "Ron and Dorothy Strasser" wrote:

> Horning's racers,
> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects during the day.
> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them. Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue. They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots of smiles after the race.
> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
> ron
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Don Leet

I also did one more lap than I expected as last year we did the 2 and 3/4 thing. I couldn't hear anything at the meeting though I tried, after all I have been racing mountain bikes in Oregon for almost 30 year now. When I went by the finish the third time I tried to find out if I had another lap to do and I was told it was my responsibility to know that. I said I was a sport and had crossed the finish three times, again blank stares and finally some one told me I had one more lap to do. No complaints I just got on with it. I thought the officials were more cranky than I. I can see why, the numbers all falling off, the riders not knowing what was happening etc. That kind of stuff happens in bike racing. The racers are tired and the officials stressed.
That was one awesome course, one of my favorites also one of the hardest rides I have done. Isn't that what racing is about. Thanks to everyone who helped and especially to the official who told me to keep going. I didn't feel that way at the start of the last lap but when Ron Strasser handed me a Cliff shot I felt like another lap wasn't so bad. I figured I paid for three laps and the last one was free, pretty good deal really. I hope this race continues. We need races that have fun single track that is ridable in the mud.
Don Leet
On Apr 10, 2011, at 9:07 PM, Josh Cady wrote:

> Glad I missed this one. I think I'd rather sew my face to the carpet than race mtn. bikes out there today.
>
> When does 'cross season start again?
>
> On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser wrote:
> Horning's racers,
> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects during the day.
> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them. Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue. They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots of smiles after the race.
> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
> ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> obra@list.obra.org
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Josh Cady

Glad I missed this one. I think I'd rather sew my face to the carpet than
race mtn. bikes out there today.

When does 'cross season start again?

On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser <
rondot@spiritone.com> wrote:

> Horning's racers,
> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I
> want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers
> for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects
> during the day.
> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable
> number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a
> group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not
> one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are
> on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them.
> Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break
> as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue.
> They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how
> impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this
> race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard
> physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows
> into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or
> even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That
> was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You
> guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots
> of smiles after the race.
> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
> ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

dacrizzow

always wanted to do that race, glad i finally did, will probably never do it again. or maybe i will. i'm one of those guys who continues to do the same thing over and over again but expect different results. must have crashed about a dozen times. stopped counting after eight. bike, body, and clothing a wreck. every time i passed the parking lot i kept looking to see if my brother had bailed and put his bike up. if he did that meant i could quit. he didn't. so i didn't. saw some amazing jr's out there too. they'll be edited off my helmet-cam video. can't have kids passing me on youtube. now back to the road until this crap dries up around here.

Sarah Tisdale

It was a hard course and a longer day that I (and I suspect many) expected.
I saw several people get up from hard falls on those descents. Of course,
we wouldn't have it any other way, right?

Perhaps Ron is talking about me (though I'm sure there were many cranky
bonky racers out there today). I'll admit that I let myself get bonky and
threw a little "hissy fit" at the start/finish line when I was told I had
one more lap. I understood how many laps I was supposed to do but I had
lost count (not an excuse - just an explanation). I'm sure officials get
used to "Whiny Racer Syndrome" on days like this. Still, after finishing, I
went back and apologized to the race promoter and officials for my poor (and
frankly embarrassing) behavior.

With some reflection, there were super fun parts of that course, and
obviously challenging sections. I think I came out the other side a better
(albeit inordinately dirtier) rider.

When the race promoter announced this might well be the last Horning's
Hideout race, I suddenly felt excited to be part of a fittingly difficult
final edition.

Sarah

On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 8:51 PM, wrote:

> My wife and I were both there a the pre-race meeting and did not hear
> anything of the lap choice. My guess is the riders had no clue that the
> "start" lap was over 1/2 a lap on a very tough course. That is something the
> promoter should have done ahead of time so there was no confusion. Almost
> everybody parked around us had no clue if they finished the race correctly.
> I did not. I did three laps. I crossed the finish line three times so in my
> book and many others we completed the posted distance. Thanks to the
> promoter, volunteers and the officials there job was a difficult one today.
>
> Scott
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: eric aldinger
> Sender: obra-bounces@list.obra.orgDate: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:19:11
> To: Ron and Dorothy Strasser
> Cc:
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] horning's hustle mtb race
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
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> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
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>

halfwheelhill@yahoo.com

My wife and I were both there a the pre-race meeting and did not hear anything of the lap choice. My guess is the riders had no clue that the "start" lap was over 1/2 a lap on a very tough course. That is something the promoter should have done ahead of time so there was no confusion. Almost everybody parked around us had no clue if they finished the race correctly. I did not. I did three laps. I crossed the finish line three times so in my book and many others we completed the posted distance. Thanks to the promoter, volunteers and the officials there job was a difficult one today.

Scott
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: eric aldinger
Sender: obra-bounces@list.obra.orgDate: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:19:11
To: Ron and Dorothy Strasser
Cc:
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] horning's hustle mtb race

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eric aldinger

Ron -

Which riders that did finish the race fail to impress you with their
character? I think this is important enough for us to call them out
publicly.

>> I want to say how impressed I am by the character of almost all the
riders who
>> completed this race.

On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Ron and Dorothy Strasser <
rondot@spiritone.com> wrote:

> Horning's racers,
> I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I
> want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers
> for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects
> during the day.
> I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable
> number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a
> group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not
> one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are
> on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them.
> Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break
> as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue.
> They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
> With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how
> impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this
> race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard
> physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows
> into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or
> even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That
> was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You
> guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots
> of smiles after the race.
> You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
> ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>

--
Eric Aldinger

Ron and Dorothy Strasser

Horning's racers,
I bailed not long after completing the start lap (physical reasons), but I want to thank Tom for putting the race on. I want to thank the volunteers for stepping up their time to help get it all prepared and help with aspects during the day.
I know there was some confusion about laps and the special biodegradable number plates added to rider and official confusion....but we riders as a group had not one, but two chances to call the start lap a full lap and not one hand went up when Tom gave us a chance. Ripley said the new numbers are on order now that they have found out the wrong ones were shipped to them. Moving in the right direction!!! And remember to give the officials a break as they need to get the results figured out with the number plate issue. They amaze me at how good they are at their work.
With all that water under my feeble one lap bridge.... I want to say how impressed I am by the character of almost all the riders who completed this race. The slick conditions made the race (up and down) so very hard physically and mentally. I saw some very tired faces which were the windows into the tired bodies, but a tough spirit to carry on. If you finished or even if you did most of the race, feel really good about your effort. That was a very tough course today. I was amazed at how tough you were! You guys and gals rock! There were (even with such tough conditions) still lots of smiles after the race.
You earned your nice warm shower or bath and nice soft pillow tonight.
ron