Andrew Bennett - State CX Champion

Washington County Fairgrounds,
Hillsboro, OR

Congratulations to Andrew Bennett for winning the 2008 Junior Oregon State Cyclocross Championships! The talented 16 year old showed his strength leading the race through the bumpy grass fields, multiple slippery mud corners, high speed gravel lanes, barriers, and deep, sloggy mud. A nice way to end the season and another championship medal to add to the others. Way to go Andrew!

Luke DeMoe (Singlespeed) and Chris Brandt (Men A) also raced. Though the results didn't match up with previous performances earlier in the season, they both gave it a go, hoping for luck to turn. Luke survived a nasty wipeout in the start and, after getting his bike back in working order, focused on having fun as he entertained the crowds with his dramatic mud running techniques (look out for the brown splatter, folks!) and barrier bunny hopping skills. Chris started off decent but went backwards fast, feeling a culmination of fatigue after a long season with minimal rest. When the mud is deep, you have two choices. Run it or ride it. Whatever gets you through it all the quickest, with the least amount of energy.

Barton Park - Cross Crusade #6

Barton, OR - The rain is back! So is the MUD. Barton Park is known for its misery inflicting terrain and nasty conditions. This year was no different.

Luke DeMoe and Andrew Bennett both showed what they were made of, tearing it up in their respective racing fields. Andrew came away with yet ANOTHER WIN in the Junior category and Luke performed well in the Singlespeed event, having recently abandoned his Fixed Gear setup for one that was a little more practical in technical, muddy terrain. Luke finished in 12th place.

Justin Thayer and Chris Brandt raced in the final time slot of the day, shortly after the clouds opened up w/ a steady downpour, making things messy. Justin pushed himself hard through the elements to finish in 33rd place in the Masters 35+ A men.

If there is a course made for Chris, Barton Park is one of them. With five years in a row of bad mechanical luck at this venue, he was hungry to set things right. Despite taking the lead in the "A" race after lap one, Chris had a series of 5 (!) misfortunate crashes that first dropped him from the front, then to the second and third chase groups. The soupy mud is difficult to manage when you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, as you cannot control when a blinding spot of mud will land in your eyeball. Once contact lenses become mucked up, the danger level rises at race speeds. Two high speed slams to the right hip, one full on flip onto his helmet, and an entanglement with a sapling tree did not make for an easy day. But with great legs yet again, it was tough to quit. Muddy and bloody, Chris was able to ride back up to finish in 11th A Men, which is useful in the overall series points ($) hunt.

Next weekend is quite the event at Portland International Raceway. Another flat course w/ mud in the forecast. With the Singlespeed World Championship race happening on the same day, there should be plenty for spectators to be thrilled about.

Astoria - Cross Crusade #4 - #5

Clatsop County Fairgrounds, Astoria, OR - Sunny weather and warm temperatures again made for another great weekend of 'cross racing. When it's dry and warm, the post-race cleanup is minimal at best. That's a good thing. That dryness, though pleasant, brings with it another tough variable when racing in pasture land - bumpy hillsides.

There were two days of back to back racing in Astoria. Saturday was a typical race day, and Sunday was dubbed "Costume Day", due to Halloween being so close. It's really quite a spectacle to see so many racers goofing off and having a good time, all while pushing their limits physically. For a good sampling of the many great costumes, check out some of the pics here. The big winner for creativity was a group of racers who went as "Tron". Impressive!

The race course for day one included an all out sprint from the gun, which led into a high speed bumpy downhill, leading into a series of tight looping turns in a pasture. The sprint out of those turns led to an uphill single barrier, followed by a masher climb on some slightly damp soil. Smooth technique over the barrier gained valuable momentum, and that combined w/ all body efforts up the climb could win you the lead into the series of narrow barns that followed. If you were careful, it was possible to sneak a slight recovery before popping out of cover for another hard, bumpy, and steep uphill sprint. The downhill that followed was not a chance to rest though, as it was also so bumpy that one could barely hang on to the handlebars. A series of loose turns, swoops, and short roller hills brought you back to the prime spectator area and a sequence of 6 barriers. Because of the relative shortness of each lap, and the amount of climbing each time around, it was a real test of power and skill.

Day 1 results:

Chris Brandt - 18th Men A

Luke DeMoe - 14th Singlespeed

Andrew Bennett - 1st Junior Men

Chris Wherity - 46th Master 35+ Men B

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Day two was similar weather, and routed over a similar course. The difference (besides the costumes) was that we raced in the opposite direction, and a long straight length of gravel and asphalt roadway was added. This reduced the total amount of climbing per race and added an element of road racing speed. For spectator interest, there were a couple wooden "jumps" added to the course which drew many cheers and jeers, depending on the amount of "air" one caught. Really, it was a big PARTY with a bike race that happened to be winding through it all. Anyone caught racing without a costume was given plenty of flack as it violated the spirit of this exciting event.

The trick w/ costumes is that they can really interfere with the bike handling. Last year, the black cocktail dress really kept catching on the saddle. A tight fitting outfit makes things easier and this year, Chris wore a referee suit which certainly fell in that category. A whistle came in handy to alert spectators that some "big air" was coming, and to serve as a warning when things got too rowdy. No technical fouls were thrown though there were plenty of drunken "zebra" jeers. Referee's don't get a lot of love, it seems.

Miriam was the second Collins team rider to wear a costume and she was much more elaborate, going as "Little Red Riding Hood". Cyclocross racing isn't her favorite thing to do, but who can pass up an opportunity to break out the costumes? She did a great job finishing decently on Sunday, but more importantly, she had fun.

Day 2 Results:

Chris Brandt - 11th Men A

Luke DeMoe - 9th Singlespeed

Andrew Bennett - 3rd Junior Men (flat tire)

Miriam Gillow-Wiles - 31st Women B

Rainier - Cross Crusade #3

Rainier, OR - This fall is turning out to be quite a delight for cyclocrossers, with comfortable temps and lack of rain for the past two weekends. Certainly some are dreaming of a return of the mud, but dry racing certainly makes the cleanup simpler.

This particular race setting, held at Rainier High School was a spectacular venue complete with expansive grassy terrain, a brutal paved climb, some bumpy roots, off-camber corners, and uncharacteristically high-speed descending. Brilliant fall color and views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens added to the dramatic backdrop.

16 year old Andrew Bennett showed the crowds what he is made of, breaking out his tough-guy face while putting the hammer down for another WIN in the Junior category. Due to his rate of climbing speed, it would be easy to mistake him for one of the more advanced Category B racers, who were simultaneously racing on the course. Not yet, but just wait... soon he will be bumping elbows for the top step of that podium as well.

Luke DeMoe brought the Fixie again for the Singlespeed race. Unlike last week that was more technical and flat, he found it quite a different type of challenge due to the steep, sustained climbing as well as the high speed descent. It's difficult to pick the perfect gear for that, especially when it's impossible to coast! Luke toughed it out, placing an impressive 12th.

Justin Thayer made it through a race finally without a "flat tire gremlin" in his back pocket. And what a difference it made! Mr. Thayer picked his way around the flowing course with finesse, finishing in 40th in the Master's 35+ A category.

Despite another awesome front row call up, Chris Brandt had a rough day in the Men's A race. Not due to any sort of bike mechanical, this time it was just general fatigue combined with a stomach problem. Generally, climb-centric courses w/ minimal technical demands are not the place for Chris to shine, so it was a day of "hanging in there" and searching for something positive. That wasn't too hard considering this was such a spectacular course, and the crowd energy always counts for something. A 26th place finish, though not comparable to last week's result, is still decent. Hopefully some rest will bring things back together.

Next weekend, a double-header up in Astoria with races on Saturday AND Sunday... and Costumes! Should be fun.

Eugene Psycho Cross #2

Eugene, OR - Three Collins racers showed up for the second event of the local Psycho Cross series, held at Camp Harlow. Decent weather and a new route made things interesting. Narrow singletrack, a steep sandy climb, two barrier sections, and some bumpy riding through plowed farm fields afforded little opportunity for recovery.

Miriam Gillow-Wiles dusted off the cobwebs for her first cross race of this fall, racing on her mountain bike to a decent 4th place in the Women's B event.

Andrew Bennett took yet another win in the Junior category, and used the event as a tune-up for the big Cross Crusade event one day later.

Luke DeMoe showed his strength in the Singlespeed category, racing his FIXED GEAR cross bike to the finish line, and another VICTORY!

Great job.

Villebois - Cross Crusade #2

Wilsonville, OR - One week after the muddy series opener, it seemed that summer had returned for one last hurrah.

Villebois, a new race venue for the widely popular Cross Crusade series, provided 1,213 (!) racers with a uniquely challenging course that pushed the boundaries in terms of difficulty. Hard packed dirt and some rough "construction site" conditions turned this day into a battle of "who can hunker down and suffer the most". Sharp rocks left many by the sidelines, decommissioned by flat tires.

The Collins Cycling Team is slowly creeping up the ranks, with an excellent showing by four team racers who made the trip.

Andrew Bennett, racing on his fancy new cyclocross bike, set the stage, winning the junior race, and riding laps quickly enough to be competitive in the "B" category. Keep your eyes peeled (yes, this has been said many times before) because this kid is still growing (and getting faster).

Luke DeMoe, wearing the tallest blue socks at the venue, was literally tearing it up out on the course, leaving his competitors in his wake during the singlespeed race. Racing with one gear is certainly challenging, but Luke isn't one to make it THAT easy, so he added a few extra variables to his Specialized Tricross bike setup. For one, he had only a front brake, and to top that off, rode with a fixed gear - meaning no freewheel. If the rear wheel is rotating, so are his cranks. To be able to pull that off on one of the most technical cyclocross courses is a feat in itself, but even more impressive... Luke got 6th place the singlespeed race! Superstar. (edit - the results keep getting updated, first with Luke winning, then 4th, now 6th.)

Justin Thayer learned that bad luck sometimes travels in threes, as he suffered yet another frustrating flat tire. He didn't let that stop him as he made it to the pits, took a bike exchange, and finished on his spare singlespeed bike. If tradition holds true, the remainder of his season should be filled with good fortune, starting at next week's Rainier event.

Chris Brandt was so distracted by selling some used parts and getting a warmup in that he lost track of time, nearly missing the start of the Men's "A" race. When he was being called up to the front line, he was at his car pulling on his jersey. Total amateur move. A spectator walked by and said "hey Chris, they just called you up!" Fortunately he was able to sneak into the second row and in a decent start position. It was a rough battle on an extremely abusive, bumpy course that required some big gears and plenty of momentum to survive. Chris kept the hammer down, fired up by a wasp sting between the eyes mid-race, as he pedalled his Specialized Tricross bike to an excellent 8th place finish. It's a real feat to break into the top 10 at the highly competitive Cross Crusade, and it takes a lot of hard work. Hopefully the good results will continue!

Next weekend is a very fast, european style course in Rainier, OR. Will it be a Belgium-esque mud bog like last year, or fast and dry? We'll certainly find out soon...

Full results here.

Alpenrose - Cross Crusade #1

Portland, OR - The skies finally opened up, bringing some traditional cyclocross racing elements in the form of MUD, dismounts, and running.

Chris Brandt, Justin Thayer, and Andrew Bennett all showed up to face the muck and battle for glory in what turned out to be the cyclocross race with the biggest participant numbers EVER! There were over 1,265 racers making laps around the sloppy course throughout the day. That is a lot of bike parts to wear out.

Andrew, racing his mountain bike, raced well to a 6th place finish in the Juniors. Surely he was wishing he was riding a cyclocross bike, which is typically 4-6 lbs. lighter with narrower knobby tires, which pack up with less sticky mud. But he made the best of it showing that this discipline is right up his alley.

Justin started out on his geared cyclocross bike in the Master's A field and was having a great day until a mechanical setback forced him to hop on his spare bike in the pits. Low tire pressure and ONE GEAR wasn't the easiest choice, but it got him to the finish line in one piece. Great job Justin.

Chris was honored to have been called up to the front row of the big "A" event, sandwiched between racers that have competed at the World Championships. The "call up" is typically where riders w/ good results recently, or a reputation for dominance get placed. It's one of the advantages of being ranked well, and having years of experience. Starting at the front makes a big difference during the first few corners as there is a major accordian affect behind. Usually the speeds from the gun are very fast and there is only one line to take in the corners, so it instantly goes single file. Last year, Chris made the first turns in 2nd position, which was ideal. Unfortunately, even though he got a good start, some diagnal riding by adjacent competitors forced him to hit the brakes early and he was instantly in the mid-20's with a mucky field to crawl back through.

Lap one was a tight, sinuous string of riders winding through the course, trying to stay upright. The portion of the course that looped through the Alpenrose Velodrome was particularly dangerous, and it was important to stay off the painted surface. One rider went down hard right in front and that was all the reminder that was needed to be careful. Regardless of that care, Chris proceeded to crash 4-5 times in the slippery mud as he clawed his way back up in the final 3 laps to finish 11th, at the tail end of the "fast guys" club. His Specialized Tricross bike worked perfectly and there was no need to make a pit exchange (and thankfully, no need to make two bike overhauls).

Next week is a new venue for the Cross Crusade series, held in Wilsonville. Most likely, there will be another muddy battle.

Photos taken by www.oregonvelo.com and www.pdxcross.com

Battle at Barlow Cyclocross

Gresham, OR - Hot weather made for a day of hard suffering at the old classic course at Sam Barlow high school. Last year, it was terribly muddy and nasty. This year, if you didn't sneak a bottle in your pocket, you'd be dying of thirst.

Chris started out fairly conservative after rolling a tubular off the rim during his pre-race inspection. It's hard to be confident in the corners when you're afraid your tires are going to peel off. Since all the tires were glued at the same time and with the same method, it wouldn't be a surprise if it happened again.

This "battle" course has some significant running as one set of barriers are negotiated on a downhill section, followed by more downhill running over some sketchy roots, over a footbridge, then up the legendary railroad tie runup. This is the one place where long legs and a running background gives you a clear advantage. Unfortuntately, there is also some significant pedalling involved and you need more than running skills to be competitive. There was a strong group of about 6-7 guys riding within 10 seconds of each other. Eventually Chris got over the tubular tire fear and the competitive urges kicked in enough to work back up to a decent 8th place finish.

The next race is at Alpenrose, the first of the highly competitive Cross Crusade series. Will this be a year of good legs and good fortune??? It certainly looks like the mud will arive, just in time.

Eugene Cyclocross Series - Race #2

Camp Harlow - The season, it is a changing. With that transition to fall brings disappearing daylight and the last of our evening riding w/o headlights. Tonight's race emphasized that point as the final race concluded in near darkness out in the more wooded sections of the course. Navigating the challenging roots, rounded river rock stones, or loose corners was not done by sight, but by feel and memory of what was seen in previous laps!

Andrew Bennett won the Junior race, then made his foray into the men's B category race, placing a respectable 3rd! Great job.

Luke Demoe showed up with some serious motivations, wearing TEAM COLLINS shorts and putting the power to the pedals for a WIN in the singlespeed category. Will we see him take charge of the "one gear" racing scene?

Chris Brandt thought he was in for an easy evening, with only four category A racers present at the start, none who had proven themselves in past races. With some tired legs from the previous weekend, the goal was to start easy. This was not the case as new-to-cyclocross rider Quinn Keogh (fast roadie) kept him on his toes with the throttle wide open until the very end, with a tight sprint finish. Chris had to pull out all the tricks and various techniques, and that fortunately paid off. He won the battle for the evening, as well as captured the overall series prize.

Hood River Double Cross

Hood River, OR - Two days in a row of racing cyclocross is a good way to tire a person out. Fortunately this year, the weather was a bit more mild, with lower temperatures and a slight misting in the air to help with the dust.

The classic race course of years past was modified this year on day one to go in reverse direction. A bumpy/fast descent followed by a heavy braking 180 turn, some super running sections up/down ravines, and some dusty loose corners made it quite challenging and new. There was a set of 3 barriers right at the finish line that could be taken w/ a lot of speed, affording spectators plenty of exciting views of the action.

Day two had to use the same school venue due to a conflict at the fairgrounds, so they re-routed things in the opposite direction and added some nice improvements to the old classic route. Still two run-ups, but there were no flat barrier sections. Many fresh faces showed up to race on Sunday making the work a little harder for those who chose to race both days. With a 180 degree turn on grass only 8 seconds away from the start line, it made a difference who entered the corner first. Chris led out the race for the first 400 meters or so, but then the fresh power riders took over to set the pace. With some fatigue in the legs, and knowledge that there would be a cumulative effect of all the running per lap, it was a good choice to let off the throttle a bit and see what happened. Turned out to be a wise choice.

Chris Brandt Results:

Day 1 - 4th Cat A men

Day 2 - 6th Cat A men

Eugene Cyclocross Series - Race #1

Eugene, OR - The pre-season buildup has finally been released - cyclocross season is here!

The first local cyclocross race took place at Camp Harlow Tuesday evening. With smoke in the air, dust whirling from narrow knobby tires, and the fall season looming, daylight was of short supply.

Andrew Bennett started the evening out with a win in the Junior race. With competition lacking, we will surely see him make a step up and race in the more competitive B category next week.

In the final race of the evening, Chris Brandt led out the "A" Men's field and kept the pace high from the gun. A softening rear tire late in the race made things slightly complicated, but a spare bike in the pit enabled him to make a last lap exchange, preserving the lead.

Justin Thayer, coming back from a mid-summer shoulder injury, picked up right where he left off last fall, winning the single speed category. Luke DeMoe made his presence felt too, finishing in 3rd, also riding his single speed and wearing some camo baggy shorts. Rumor has it, next week he's coming for battle, complete with team jersey and a desire to drive the freight train.

Full results here.

Mt. Ashland Hillclimb Championships

Ashland, OR - Two mountain bikers and one "roadie" from the Collins team made the trip south to do the strenuous climbing race up to the ski area starting in Lithia Park. Andrew Bennett took the paved route, riding his road bike while Chris Brandt and Miriam Gillow-Wiles each chose their mountain bikes, and the off-road route.

Traditionally, this event is a chance for the roadies and dirt folks to prove just who is the fastest, ascending up approximately 4,500' in perfect weather. This year, the dirt turned out to be where its at.

Results:

Andrew ended up winning the Junior race. Miriam won the Sport Women category, gaining the "Oregon Hill Climb State Champion" medal. Chris climbed better than he ever has, placing Third in the Pro category, finishing behind the winner Evan Plews and only 13 seconds behind second place Jon Meyers.

It was a fun event, great atmosphere, and a nice, casual ride back down to Ashland for a well deserved lunch.

Sponsor Profile - ELETE

By Mike Adams:
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eLETE Electrolyte Add-in

One of the benefits of being on the Collins cycling team is sometimes getting some new products to try. We got some of this electrolyte product called elete this year. I gave it a try early on and at this point use it during pretty much every ride and race. There is a liquid form you can add to water or drinks and there is a tablet form (Tablytes). I sometimes take a tablet after a race if I get that sort of headachy, dehydrated feeling but mostly I don’t get that feeling anymore because I’ve been adding the liquid form of elete to my water. I usually like to drink a combination of water and energy drinks in pretty much any ride or race. Often, about half my fluids come from water. I like being able to add elete to the water. I’m a very heavy sweater and I need a lot of fluids. Adding elete has noticeably helped with the way I feel late in a race and after a race. Others say that it helps with cramps. I can’t really vouch for that because I’ve never had much of a problem with cramps. The other thing that I have noticed is that it seems to help to add some elete to drinks the day before a race if I’m really trying to hydrate. Not sure about the science here but it has often seemed to me that simply pounding water all day results in a lot of peeing but poor hydration the next morning (judging by urine color). Adding elete to a couple of those drinks the day before has fixed that problem for me and is now a standard part of my routine.

So, two thumbs up for elete from me. Hope we get some more next year!

Cyclocross is Approaching

We are very close to the season opener races here in Eugene. There is one more cyclocross technique workshop/clinic scheduled to take place. Last chance to get a refresher, or to learn some new fundamentals of the skills needed to dismount/run/remount over a barrier.

What is cyclocross?

Local Elite racer Chris Brandt will be on-hand and available for demonstrations. In the event that you are unable to attend, he will also be available to offer tips at any of the local Eugene races. Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself.

Location: Crest Elementary School, Eugene, OR
Date: Tuesday, September 9th.
Time: 6:00 pm

Race info: Here

City of Portland Triathlon 2008

Megan writes in w/ some Triathlon updates:

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T-Bone is the man! He won his age group at the Portland Olympic tri last Sunday. He also looked very good in his Collins gear on Evan Pilchik photography cover shot. Hope that makes up for an early mistake in the results that cost T-Bone his bottle of wine.

And how about that Scott M. To make it more fair for the Sprint tri competition on the bike leg, he split his tire to give them a 10 minute head start. Despite that handicap, Scott finished on the podium in 3rd. And if he hadn't gotten a flat, was an age group win in the cards?

Dave Matthews scored the most swag, winning the sprint overall (we think). He passed me on the bike and was so focused, didn't even notice.

I (Megan) did okay too--crushed the competition in the more mature ladies division and maybe qualified for the "Best in the U.S." competition in Arizona. It would be a roll down slot and who's ever heard of "Best in the U.S.?" I was hoping for "Very Mediocre but Has Fun Doing It."

Gina was second in her age group by one second!

We all survived swimming in the Willamette and the new bike course was hilly but enjoyable. The run across the bridges and along the waterfront was great. The race organizers are very cool. I highly recommend the race!

Eugene Celebration Road Stage Race

Congratulations are due for Collins team racers who rode strongly during the Labor Day weekend stage race, gaining several top 10 results, and placing well in the final general classification. Keep an eye out for these guys as they will be upgrading to Cat. 2 in no time!

Team Results:

Luke Demoe: 5th Overall - Cat. 3 men
5th - Maxon Road Race
8th - Kent Peterson Time Trial
25th - Celebration Criterium
6th - Wolf Creek Road Race

Andrew Bennett: 9th Overall - Cat. 3 men
5th - Maxon Road Race
18th - Kent Peterson Time Trial
4th - Celebration Criterium
9th - Wolf Creek Road Race

Guy Polson: 37th Overall - Cat. 4/5 men
38th - Maxon Road Race
37th - Kent Peterson Time Trial
32nd - Celebration Criterium
35th - Wolf Creek Road Race

American Mountain Classic - MTB Stage Race

Brian Head, Utah - Cycling is a lot of fun. Getting out and riding off road on fabulous trails is even more fun. Add in a little sunshine, amazing scenery, challenging terrain, and fresh air. Before you know it, you've reached a place where it seemingly just cannot get any better.

The only thing that makes it slightly "less" fun, is when you live at about 450' elevation and you travel to race at 9,000 - 11,000 feet. There's not a lot of oxygen up there. Add in some big climbs, extra challenging terrain, and some longer race course lengths over 4 days (in a row) and it's almost enough to make you throw in the towel... except, for that "fun" part. It's the part that makes the grins poke out of the dusty grit and make you forget the pain.

Mike Ripley, Mike Adams, and Chris Brandt traveled the long road trip (18 hours each way!) to Southwestern Utah to race their mountain bikes in Brian Head at the American Mountain Classic, and to have some fun along the way. And after racing over 170 miles, they certainly had much opportunity for it! Brian Head has some really great trails and there's nothing quite like the challenge of surviving two laps through the gnarly "Dark Hollow" descent.

Stage 1 - 6 mile prologue
Stage 2 - The Rim. 55 miles. 5,000+ Feet of Elevation Gain
Stage 3 - The Peak. 55 miles. 4,000+ Feet of Elevation Gain
Stage 4 - Dark Hollow. 54 Miles. 5,600+ Feet of Elevation Gain

Results:

Chris Brandt - 20th Place Elite Men
Stage 2 - 4:29:16.1 / Stage 3 - 4:25:35.1 / Stage 4 - 5:24:27.0 / Overall Time - 14:19:18.2

Mike Adams - 4th Place Masters Men 40-44
Stage 2 - 5:23:12.0 / Stage 3 - 5:02:30.5 / Stage 4 - 5:57:50.1 / Overall Time - 16:23:32.6

Mike Ripley - 7th Place Masters Men 40-44
Stage 2 - 6:08:03.0 / Stage 3 - 5:56:09.6 / Stage 4 - DNF / Overall Time - 12:04:12.6

Full Results here.
A slightly boring video montage from the web here.
More photos in gallery here.

Cascade Cream Puff 100

Oakridge, OR. - On the same day two Collins racers were at the Oregon State (XC MTB) Championships down at Jedi, there was another mountain bike race going on. The one for the truly TOUGH people!

100 miles of mountain bike racing. Over 18,000' of climbing. In one day. That is not easy.

Starting at 5:30 am, Mike Adams and Carl Gurney gritted out a tough day in the saddle finishing the race over a new course for 2008 (excessive snowpack at higher elevations eliminated some parts of the old route). 100 miles of trail riding, stormy then hot weather, dehydration, and cramps weren't the only challenges they had to overcome. Mid-race, Mike was faced with the setback of a broken shoe buckle. His mechanical solution? -- Zip Ties! Brilliant. Leave it to a mountain biker to use some ingenuity, rather than drop out.

Collins Team Results:

Mike Adams, 63rd, 13:33

Carl Gurney, 75th, 14:04 (on a singlespeed!)

Oregon State MTB Championships

Return on the Jedi - 2008
(Near Grants Pass, OR)

Miriam Gillow-Wiles raced well in another brutal, long loop, classic mountain bike race down in Southern Oregon. She toughed it out in the heat, surviving a crash, and got another medal on the PODIUM! Second Place Sport Woman. Her post-race drink of choice? Cold Coca-cola.

Chris Brandt was able to put together a decent ride as well, finishing 5th in the Pro category, and within one second of 4th place. It was a close one with a full speed sprint to the last corner. Another race ridden on the Specialized 29er hardtail, this time with a super low rolling resistance "Crow" tire and ultra low pressure (22psi). A little sketchy in the most technical, loose descents, but ever-so-fast rolling in the smooth sections.

Pro course map here.
Elevation profile here. (just a wee bit of climbing at 5,800' in 30 miles)

Pickett's Charge MTB Race

Bend, OR. - Collins was represented well again with some impressive race performances at the classic Pickett's Charge mountain bike race. Andrew Bennett and Miriam Gillow-Wiles both made appearances on the podium - a reward for their hard efforts.

Not only did the 15 year old Andrew finish in 1st place at Pickett's, he won the Series Overall (!) in his category (Jr. under 18). Wow, that is quite the accomplishment and surely only one of many successes to come. (If you haven't met Andrew, he is a great kid with a good head on his shoulders. It has been fun to see his development in the short time that he has been bike racing. Andrew has the attitude to keep it fun, while still making his competitor's legs hurt!)

Miriam finished 2nd Overall Sport Woman in the series and her trophy serves as an exclamation point to a fantastic rise through the ranks in her first year racing off road. She finished in 5th place at Pickett's too, timing her efforts and coming around Anna Saltonstall just before the finish line. Great job and smart tactics!

Chris Brandt raced faster than ever on the course most suited to his strengths. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the past SIX YEARS (!), his performance was hampered by bad mechanical luck. He got a great start in the Pro race and was sitting in 4th place heading into the first singletrack section. A strong group emerged shortly thereafter and got a good gap off the front, chasing the ever-so-strong Carl Decker. Unfortunately, Chris suffered his first of THREE (!) flat tires and had to fall back for a quick repair. When his second flat front tire forced him to collide with a pine tree, a more lengthy repair was necessary. After making a serious comeback effort catching back up to nearly all that had passed, he was struck the final frustrating blow with a cut rear tire. A spare tube bummed from a spectator got him back to the finish line in one piece and 10th overall. (6th pro - of course, there were only 6 pros!)

Jeff Bennett achieved a 7th place in the beginner category. Carl Gurney pulled off a decent ride in the Expert field riding his singlespeed bike to an impressive 9th place. Mike Adams toughed out a rough race with a blown rear shock, but with plenty of air in his tires. He finished in a respectable 14th place on a hot, dusty day for racing.