Gorge Roubaix and Road Races on Sundays?

Jeff Lorenzen

2013-01-31

I drove the Gorge Roubaix course yesterday.  It's really not that hilly - three steep punches (one in the neutral roll-out, one gravel, and one at the finish line) and a lot of rolly-rolly.  Plus, the neutral zone ends just past a church, so if you're feeling guilty about racing on a Sunday and you'd like to drop out, you'll be set.

 
Jeff Lorenzen
Double Cross
541.490.6837

________________________________
From: T. Kenji Sugahara
To: Jeff Tedder
Cc: Obra Contact
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?

LOL.  It'll make you stronger.  Heck- if you do it, I'll do it with
you.  And we can complain to each other the entire way.

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 11:22 AM, Jeff Tedder
wrote:
> ya no thanks....not interested in packing my fat ass over 72 miles of up and
> down : ) just sayin..........
> I will leave that one alone....but sounds like a great race for some.....
>
>
>
>
>
> Original Message ----- From: "T. Kenji Sugahara"
> To: "Jeff Tedder"
> Cc: "Erik Long" ; "Obra Contact"
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 11:19 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?
>
>
>> you could always wait till the Gorge Roubaix to get your fill!
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 11:14 AM, Jeff Tedder
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> that's to bad, was looking forward to a short circiut with gravel.....
>>> and close to town so we could ride to the venue.....
>>> onward and upward I guess : )
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "T. Kenji Sugahara"
>>> To: "Jeff Tedder"
>>> Cc: "Erik Long" ; "Obra Contact"
>>>
>>> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 11:09 AM
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?
>>>
>>>
>>>> There was some safety issues with the venue.  We tried really hard to
>>>> help make it work but we just couldn't.  David was awesome and found
>>>> another venue.  (Big kudos to him for that)
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 11:06 AM, Jeff Tedder
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hmmm, I thought these races were in Troutdale by the airport??? with
>>>>> some
>>>>> gravel sections....just asking, don't come back and start bashing.....:
>>>>> )
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "T. Kenji Sugahara"
>>>>> To: "Erik Long"
>>>>> Cc: "Obra Contact"
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 10:55 AM
>>>>>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dirty Circle races are on Sunday.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> which by the way as an update- will be run on part of the old Piece of
>>>>>> Cake course in Woodland, WA.
>>>>>> (I don't believe there will be any gravel)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 10:38 AM, Erik Long
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> To each and every individual who suggested that I "put on my own
>>>>>>> race"
>>>>>>> (particularly if you're a race organizer), that is neither helpful,
>>>>>>> nor
>>>>>>> productive.  Oregon has plenty of good race promoters and the last
>>>>>>> thing
>>>>>>> Obra needs is an amateur like myself mucking about, and you know it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When a customer asks about details related to your product, the
>>>>>>> appropriate
>>>>>>> response is to answer with the relevant information on hand.  "Make
>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>> own" is a way of giving your customer the finger.  If a customer
>>>>>>> comes
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>> and asks why the bike I'm selling to him has no fender eyelets, I
>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> to tell him to "build his own".  Either I put him on a bike with
>>>>>>> fenders
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> meet the needs of my customer, or I explain why there are no full
>>>>>>> fenders
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> fit a 29-inch full-suspension fat-bike recumbent.  Similarly, when my
>>>>>>> employer tells me I'm needed to work on Saturday and I answer "do it
>>>>>>> yourself", the result will not bode well for me.  Better to meet the
>>>>>>> needs
>>>>>>> of my employer who is, in many ways, a customer of my very own.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sundays.  The reality is that at the moment there are exactly two (2)
>>>>>>> road
>>>>>>> events occurring on Sundays between March 24th and June 16th and both
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> them are Gran Fondos (A.K.A. expensive charity rides).  I'm sure
>>>>>>> they'll
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>> a lot of fun, but that's 11 Sundays in a row during the height of
>>>>>>> "Road
>>>>>>> Season" without any "Road Races".  That's really strange.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Finally, Thank you, Jeff Mitchem.  You have given a simple answer to
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> simple question asked by a customer.  The conflicts you mention -
>>>>>>> venue
>>>>>>> changes, pre-existing events -  are fully understandable.  You'll
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> money at Montinore.  Also, thank you for moving Banana Belt to May.
>>>>>>> That
>>>>>>> move was long overdue, and if I can sneak out of work on a Saturday
>>>>>>> without
>>>>>>> putting myself on thin ice at work, I'll be handing you even more
>>>>>>> cash.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you,
>>>>>>> -Erik
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:01:18 -0800
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?
>>>>>>> From: jeff.mitchem@gmail.com
>>>>>>> To: drew_coleman@hotmail.com
>>>>>>> CC: rickcjohnson1@gmail.com; elongride@hotmail.com;
>>>>>>> obra@list.obra.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So, it seems that it comes down to God or Money. Apparently, Saturday
>>>>>>> races
>>>>>>> draw a more pious crowd, while Sunday races bring in the money
>>>>>>> grubbing
>>>>>>> heathen seen gallivanting about those Crusade events. Well, I love
>>>>>>> both.
>>>>>>> Unfortunately, as a race promoter, it appears I cannot always please
>>>>>>> both. I
>>>>>>> guess I'll just have to be OK with that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As for BB13 (May 4, 11, 18), two factors have contributed to moving
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> Saturday - 1. the schedule change from March to May resulted in
>>>>>>> conflicting
>>>>>>> road use permits with a pre-existing event. 2. course and race
>>>>>>> staging
>>>>>>> venue
>>>>>>> changes resulted Sunday conflicts. However, there is an outside
>>>>>>> chance
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> the first BB may be held on Sunday (more soon on that).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As for Montinore (July 14), Sunday it is! So, all you Crusaders
>>>>>>> better
>>>>>>> budget extra $ for some vino! And, in true Crusade style, there will
>>>>>>> likely
>>>>>>> be vino primes and overall prizes (more soon on that too).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ride safe,
>>>>>>> __________
>>>>>>> Jeff Mitchem
>>>>>>> banana belt, sat
>>>>>>> montinore, sun
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 10:43 AM, Drew Coleman
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I, for one, am super jazzed about the trend towards Saturdays.  I
>>>>>>> cannot
>>>>>>> race on Sundays at all due to church conflicts, so I'm looking
>>>>>>> forward
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> full, consistent road schedule.  That being said, I feel your
>>>>>>> frustration.
>>>>>>> I can't do many of the cross races for the same reason I just
>>>>>>> mentioned
>>>>>>> (have only been to one Crusade race), but there is more balance
>>>>>>> between
>>>>>>> Saturday and Sunday.  However, I believe more people race cross so
>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>> more riders to support more events.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Drew
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:28:41 -0800
>>>>>>> From: rickcjohnson1@gmail.com
>>>>>>> To: elongride@hotmail.com
>>>>>>> CC: obra@list.obra.org
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Why are so few Road Races on Sundays?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't think you're crazy. I think there should be a balance between
>>>>>>> Saturday vs Sunday races. My belief is it comes down to travel
>>>>>>> distance.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Saturday races primarily work well for those who don't have far to
>>>>>>> go.
>>>>>>> One
>>>>>>> can take care of Friday's business (work, etc.) and still prepare a
>>>>>>> bike,
>>>>>>> eat well and get some sleep. With a short trip (ideally riding) to
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> Saturday event all is well. Sunday is then great for recovery,
>>>>>>> honey-dos
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> the like.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But if one has far to go to the event Saturday sucks. It usually goes
>>>>>>> something like this: Finish up a hectic work week, rush home and try
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> the bike(s) ready, eat, prepare the car (or coordinate car pooling)
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> hope
>>>>>>> to get to bed at a decent hour. Then get up early, rush through a
>>>>>>> morning
>>>>>>> routine, then get in a vehicle and sit still for one, two or three
>>>>>>> hours.
>>>>>>> Jump out of the car, deal with whatever registration SNAFU is
>>>>>>> happening
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> day and hope to get some sort of a warmup in. Eating a good breakfast
>>>>>>> usually doesn't happen and God help you if the lines for the
>>>>>>> port-a-johns
>>>>>>> are long.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rick Johnson
>>>>>>> Bend Oregon
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *    *    *
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Political Parallelism, part 1
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Most criminals are aided by the use of a motor vehicle. Therefore I
>>>>>>> propose
>>>>>>> we limit the size of all fuel tanks to a maximum of 5 gallons.
>>>>>>> It's a "common sense regulation" that will impede unlawful use of
>>>>>>> motor
>>>>>>> vehicles while not infringing on the right of people to travel.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 1/30/2013 10:06 AM, Erik Long wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It seems like all the prominent one-day Oregon races are on Saturdays
>>>>>>> now.
>>>>>>> I'm scratching my head as to why.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Once Upon a time, Road Races in Oregon were held pretty consistently
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> Sundays, when virtually anyone could get a day off of work and, you
>>>>>>> know,
>>>>>>> pay an entry fee and race their bikes.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why are the vast majority of Oregon's one-day races now on Saturdays?
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> that we have weekly races and those are good training, but there's
>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>> so
>>>>>>> much that a rider can get out of a weekly series.  I understand the
>>>>>>> importance of Sundays to many people as a self-imposed day of rest
>>>>>>> (religion, family, etc.), but many of us who want to race real road
>>>>>>> races
>>>>>>> have jobs that don't offer Banker's Hours and are expected to work on
>>>>>>> most
>>>>>>> Saturdays.  By comparison, I know very few people who work on Sundays
>>>>>>> (actually, I can't think of anyone I know who consistently has to
>>>>>>> work
>>>>>>> Sundays).  As a full-time bike shop employee, I've worked exactly 5
>>>>>>> Sundays
>>>>>>> in the last 4 years.  Like many service/retail jobs, my place of work
>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>> often closed on Sundays, eliminating the conflict altogether.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wouldn't say anything, but look at the 2013 road schedule and
>>>>>>> you'll
>>>>>>> find
>>>>>>> that if you're a road racer who works Saturdays, there's almost
>>>>>>> nothing
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> you after March.  This reality may be one of the reasons that the
>>>>>>> mighty
>>>>>>> Cross Crusade sees the level of participation that it does with the
>>>>>>> vast
>>>>>>> majority of its events occurring on Sundays.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Many Obra members have work schedules that already prohibit them from
>>>>>>> riding
>>>>>>> any stage races, so why make the one-day events so elusive?  Why keep
>>>>>>> so
>>>>>>> many riders from handing over their money on race day?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If I'm crazy, tell me I'm crazy.  But if you're one of the many Obra
>>>>>>> riders
>>>>>>> who will have to races like King's Valley and the Banana Belt because
>>>>>>> they're not on Sundays, please speak up!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Erik
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> OBRA mailing list
>>>>>>> obra@list.obra.org
>>>>>>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Kenji Sugahara
>>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>>> Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
>>>>>> Phone:  503-278-5550
>>>>>> http://www.obra.org
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> OBRA mailing list
>>>>>> obra@list.obra.org
>>>>>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>>>>>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kenji Sugahara
>>>> Executive Director
>>>> Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
>>>> Phone:  503-278-5550
>>>> http://www.obra.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Kenji Sugahara
>> Executive Director
>> Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
>> Phone:  503-278-5550
>> http://www.obra.org
>
>

--
Kenji Sugahara
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
Phone:  503-278-5550
http://www.obra.org
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

© 2025 Oregon Bicycle Racing Association