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.