Woodland Park MFG # 6
Cody Cupp
11-13-11

    




I finally won!  I have been working all season to get a win in a big cross race and I choose the perfect one to finally do it. Until now I always seemed to have something go wrong every race and keep me out of that top spot, but in Woodland Park things just seemed to go my way. I knew it was going to be a good day as soon as I got there. There was a huge crowd and tons of people with very few parking spaces near there course but we lucked out and managed to get one of the closest spots there. I would also like to give a big thank you to Blue Star Coffee! They got my entry fees taken care of and that has been great. As I registered, changed into skin suit and prepared to warm up, I felt great. I was super confident and just knew that it was going to be my day. 

    The course was definitely the best MFG course of the year. All of the turns were super slick and fun and the straights were really fast and gave you a chance to really put a hard effort in and make yourself hurt. There was also a well placed set of barriers and a stair run up that led to a sometimes rideable run up with a log at the top to bunny hop. The course was pretty much perfect for me. The technical turns gave me a chance to put my mountain skills to the test and the numerous climbs gave me a chance to really put my legs to work.
    To start the race, I shot out to the front and managed to get a big lead quickly. I kept my big gap for almost two laps out and set what I thought was a pretty hard pace. I had a group of seven chasing me but three of them eventually broke off and caught me. We quickly dropped one of them and with about three laps left in the race I, along with guy who came in second, started to pull away from the one left in my group. Once we got a ways away from him I, of course, messed up trying to bunny hop the log on the run up, tripped while trying to recover myself, lost a lot of time, and ended up back with the guy we had just dropped. I had to spend the last two and a half laps trying to catch back on to the leader and just worked myself over in the process. For a while I didn’t think I even had a chance of getting him but as we came in closer to starting on the last lap he was getting closer and closer. I finally caught back onto him right after we started into the last lap and about a third of the way in I skipped around him on the barrier set then pulled away on the run up and just kept sprinting out of every corner and up every hill until I finally, victoriously, crossed the finish line. 

Cascade Cross Series
Cross Border Clash
Noember 5th


Cody Cupp

The third Cascade Cross series race course was so awesome! We raced through an industrial park in near Ferndale. There were two sand stretches on the course, a sometimes ride-able run-up, a technical single-track section through the woods, and a sweet pump track. The rest of the course consisted of fast grass straights with perfectly set up corners that you could really hit hard.
    
I raced in the top category for the first time in this race and definitely got worked pretty hard.  Right out of the start I got a bunch of grass jammed up in my cassette so I spent a good part of the first lap with my chain skipping around and popping all over the place. I lost a little time from this, but the grass eventually worked its way down deeper into the cassette so I was soon able to pedal hard again without worrying about the chain skipping through its gears. For the most part the pace of the first lap was surprisingly easy, but somehow by the time we came around for the second lap, everyone was going crazy fast and the top three guys pulled way ahead of everyone else.   
    
I ended up in the second group back and for a while we had three or four guys with us.  After a little bit they dropped off and one other racer and I got a pretty decent gap on everyone else. I sat behind the guy in front of me for a couple laps then moved out ahead of him to pull for a little while, thinking he would stay on me, but a gap quickly grew between us so I ended up spending a couple laps just trying to keep the gap in between us and stay out ahead of everyone. With a lap and a half to go someone who was in one of the further back groups made his way up to me and skipped out ahead. We both attacked hard on the last lap and I came into the final corner right on his wheel but wasn’t able to beat him on the sprint. I was still pretty satisfied with 4th place though considering that it was my first with the fastest guys. 

Magnuson Park Cross Race
Oct 29th


Julie Grialou


I participated in my second cross race this past weekend.  The race was held at Magnuson Park.  For this race, I brought my nine-year old son, Travis.  He planned on doing the juniors’ race, which started immediately after mine.  For me, the race was “interesting”, fun, and a learning experience.   Things started out with a collision during the warm-up.  I was heading down a grassy slope and this guy rode out from behind some bushes at a 90 degree angle to me.  We collided, with his helmet hitting my cheekbone pretty hard, and both of us skidding a bit on the pavement.  Although we were both shaken up, neither of us was really hurt.  My handlebars and brake lever were crooked, so I got a tool and straightened those out, then headed to the start line.


As far as the race goes, my favorite parts were where you needed to carefully pick your line.  For instance, deciding whether to hug the narrow strip of concrete next to the tennis court fence, or take a wider turn into the mud.  I was feeling good and was riding with another rider and was about 10 to 30 seconds behind the front group of 4.  We were supposed to do 6 laps.  Towards the end of lap 5, the woman I was riding with was beginning to tire.  My plan was to pass her at the beginning of the 6th lap, then see how I could do with trying to catch the front group of 4.  As we were about to cross the lap line at the end of the 5th lap, these three guys sprinted past us, and then slowed down.  I thought it was strange, but didn’t really know what to make of it.  Then, the woman I was riding with said, “We got lapped”, and we had to stop our race.  I didn’t realize that getting lapped by men who started several minutes before my group would matter.  I thought you just couldn’t get lapped by people in your own category.  So, it was a real learning lesson for me, and also disappointing and an anti-climatic finish.

As far as my son, Travis, he had a fun time in his race and says he wants to do it again.  He was one of only a few kids who didn’t have a cross bike and didn’t have a team jersey.  When I asked him if he cared about that, his response was, “Nah, it didn’t matter.  Those kids are just fancy.”

Cody Cupp

The fifth MFG cross course of the year turned out to be a blazingly fast, slippery, and fun course. The corners they set up had awesome flow to them and there were quite a few smooth straight sections that you could just open up and fly on.

At the start I did a very poor job of selecting a gear and I ended up dropping my chain right out of the gate and got a terrible start. I got pushed to the back but luckily the leaders weren’t pushing the pace very hard and I was able to climb back up to the front in about half a lap. Right when I hit the front I jumped out to the lead and put a small attack on to push the pace and spread the race out a little bit. We soon came to the muddy section of the course and the pack was instantly pulled apart. I ended up taking a really bad line so I came out of the mud and onto the road in the pack that was second from the front.

There was no way I was just going to sit in that pack and let myself take eighth or ninth so I spent two to three laps pushing forward by myself trying to bridge back up to the front. Once I finally caught back on I just sat on their wheels and drafted on all the fast sections for a while. By the time I had recovered we were onto the second to last lap. I slowly made my way up to the front and just before we came around for the last lap that guy that ended up winning and I broke away jumping out to a big lead.  We worked together to increase our lead for most of the last lap but I slipped out around a turn and lost a few seconds on him towards the end. I made a frantic effort to catch back up and try to beat him in the sprint but I just couldn’t do it so I ended up taking second for cat 3 men. Overall I had a pretty good race though, and felt good so I’m pretty satisfied with my result.

Wooley Cross
October 22, 2011
Julie Grialou


I participated in my first-ever cyclocross race today, the Bellingham Series’ Wooley Cross in Sedro Wooley.  The race took place on the grounds of an old state mental hospital.  Around the registration area, there were a lot of old, abandoned buildings, kind of spooky - would make a great haunted house site.   
I did a warm up lap on the course.  It was raining, but not cold.  The course was wet with a combination of grassy, muddy, and  gravelly areas.   There was one run up and two barriers that were near the end of the lap.  As far as the race goes, it was a blast!!  I think I missed my calling 20 years ago with cyclocross.  Dealing with mud, tight turns, barriers, etc. , all on a glorified road bike, is a lot of fun.  My bike, a Jake the Snake, handled beautifully.  Coming from a mountain biking background, it’s surprising to me how well those relatively skinny tires can do in loose conditions.  Everyone out there was friendly, encouraging, and accommodating.  I was even offered a Rainier beer at the end of the run-up on the fourth lap.  I told the guy I’d be ready for it on the my 5th (and last) lap.  True to form, the guy handed me a beer the next time I came by.  A few sips hit the spot, and after a few more turns and the barriers, my race was over.

Starbucks GP Race Report
Cody Cupp
Oct. 2nd


The Starbucks GP course, held in North Bend, was super flat and really bumpy. Many other racers liked it but it wasn’t my type of course at all. I struggled with holding onto the wheel ahead of me through all the long, flat, straight stretches and had trouble powering through all the bumps to keep my speed going.
    
I managed to get a great start and shot out ahead with another junior quickly putting a small gap between us and the rest of the pack. A ways into the first lap I started to drop back a little from him and one other racer who had passed me then quickly fell back into the next group of about 8 to 10. For the most part I stayed up towards the front of the group, taking the lead numerous times, while we tried to chase down the front two.
    
As soon as we came around for our last lap I broke away from the group and managed to create a big gap pulling quite a ways ahead. I kept the distance for a minute or two but once we came into the final stretch the group came chasing me down. I had to sprint as hard as I could to the finish line and just barely managed to hold onto 3rd place for the Cat 3 men.
    
In the last race the junior that was ahead of me beat me by over a minute but at the Starbucks GP I was able to close the time down to only 17 seconds so hopefully next race I will be able to stick with him the whole time and manage to take it at the end. 

c. A Malakoff

2011 Rafa Focus Race Report

Cody Cupp

Sept. 18th

The second MFG cyclocross race of the season was awesome! The course was super fast and fun. There were two killer sand stretches, one that ended with a ledge so you had to dismount and run over it and one that was too deep to ride altogether, along with lots of fast, slick turns to blast around. 

Due to the fact that I didn’t finish last race and didn’t have any points for the series I had to line up about half way back in the pack but as soon as we started I managed to weave my way through everyone and get in the front pack of about ten. A few people crashed and fell back in the first lap so by the time I came through for my second I was sitting in about second or third. 

Catching one more racer on the barriers, I was able to stay at the top four or five for pretty much the whole time, always trying to catch back on to the leader that had pulled away early.  It started to rain pretty hard about half way into the race and I was trying to gain time and was taking chances.  Going too fast through a few corners I ended up falling as I slid through the corners and fell once more in the sand just because I was so tired. 

In the final lap of the race a guy that I race with quite a lot and know pretty well managed to catch up to me but I managed to battle him off and pull away from him in the running portion of the sand.  I caught one more racer going over the barriers right before the end of the race. I ended up taking second in Category 3 men, losing to another junior that I have also raced quite a few times and yet to beat so that is pretty much my only goal for the next couple of races.

MFG Series Cycle U Kick-Off Cross

Cyclocross!!!!

Sorry that this report comes a bit after the fact but better late than never.

The MFG cross series opener on Sept. 11th marked the beginning of the official cross season for Methow Cycle and Sport / Blue Star Cycling team. After Joe bailed the night before we were left with Cody, Keelan and my self for the long haul to Seattle and back.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet Dan and Meg from Blue Star in the parking lot. They have stepped up once again to support the MFG cyclocross series, and were in attendance of their first cyclocross race. I really don’t know how they manage to be so generous to so many diverse causes in and out of the Methow. Thank you guys!!

For those of you who are not familiar with cross I will spare you the explanation here, and just say that it is pure pain, suffering, and extreme fun.  For the Juniors the racing went great. Keelan, in his first cross race ever did wonderful looking smooth and confidant on his shiny new Kona, the entire race pulling out a 27th place in the cat 3 men. Not bad at all. Cody, after flirting around in the top 3 to top 5 had an untimely flat on the last lap and had to call it a day. All and all I am very proud of them both, For where they are in their training and their limited racing experience I could not be happier with their progress.

As for my self, things went about as expected for only having ridden my bike consistently for two weeks prior to the race. I relied heavily on experience and survival skills to pull out a top 5 in the 1/2 race. I had a blast, as usual, and worked out the kinks in both my legs and my equipment.  If felt really good to represent our local sponsors and show Seattle that we Methow folk have some decent legs over here in the boonies.

We plan on attending the entire MFG series and will keep you all updated with reports and photos (when I remember my camera).

Thanks for all of your support.

Solomon

Park City Point to Point

Jake Whipple

September 3rd

For my last endurance race of the year, I had high hopes of a strong finish at the Park City Point to Point.  I had heard that it was a tough race on many fronts, three prominent aspects being altitude, lots of technical riding, and almost all single track.  I was most worried about the altitude because the opportunities to train for elevation in the Methow are fairly limited; as for the technical single track, well that just makes for a more fun and challenging race, right?

For the second race in a row, the early morning start saw everyone shivering in crisp 33 degree temps.  I was in the third wave of starters trying to patiently wait my turn...  Once off, the sun started to rise, the trail turned up, and things got nice in a hurry.  Save for the low angle of the sun making the trail difficult at times, the first ten miles or so flowed fun and fast around Round Valley.  Coming through the start/finish again I tossed aside the jacket I was wearing and started to warm up looking forward to more climbing.  Once the trail started climbing in earnest I started passing quite a few folks and was feeling great.  I kept wondering why the race director said quite a few times that he thought the race was a “Camelback race.”  Once I was racing for a bit, I quickly discovered why: the trials were pretty unrelenting.  Not crazy technical, but fast enough and difficult enough that you really needed both hands on the wheel at all times.  Trying to find a stretch where I could grab a bottle would be a recurring difficulty throughout the day!  Hmmm, maybe my aversion to Camelbacks could be overlooked next year?  Topping out at about 9075 ft I suddenly realized that I felt fabulous!  The elevation wasn’t turning out to be a big deal which was great news.  I could definitely feel it, but it wasn’t weighing me down like I thought it might.  With that question out of the way I started to ride a bit harder, trying to pick off as many people as I could.  The race continued great for most of the day.  I was lucky and had no remarkable mishaps again, and slid across the line good enough for 9th out of single speeders.  I was pretty psyched about that result because of the competitiveness of the field.  I got a little strung out towards the end, but that’s been the norm for me each race this year; it’s been hard to keep slamming fluids at the end of each race as it’s felt like my gut has started to shut down.  

As a whole the Park City Point to Point was great event.  I will definitely try to be back next year as it’s one of only two stops in the west for the NUE series which I will try to be focussing on more next year.  

Endurance Test: Cascade Creampuff Report

Jake Whipple
Cascade Creampuff
Oakridge, OR

I can't believe another Creampuff has come and gone!  The Cascade Creampuff is an endurance mountain bike race held on the trails near Oakridge Oregon that takes you through the spectacular Willamette National Forest east of Eugene.  Each year the course changes a little bit, but averages somewhere between 18,000-20,000 feet of climbing spread out over 100 miles.  What all that work gets you are hour+ descents on some of the sweetest single track that I've ever ridden.  If you've never heard of Oakridge, definitely check it out.  It was named as a Ride Center by IMBA for good reason!

This was the third year that I have ridden the race, and it's one I look forward to each year.  The communities of Oakridge and Westfir rally around the event and many residents turn out to help staff the aid stations and support the riders during the race.  It is one of the best supported endurance events I've been to, a fact that I was grateful for this year as the course seemed harder than last year.  It consisted of three laps of 33 miles or so with 6100 feet of climbing each lap.  Most of the climbing is on unrelenting dirt roads that take you further and further up into the Willamette, eventually topping out at about 5000'.  The weather was perfect for the race if a little hot, so hydration was key for me.  I made it to the race this year feeling pretty run down after fighting a sinus infection for a couple weeks.  Coming off a course of antibiotics, I didn't expect much the day of the race.  Taking the first lap conservatively was definitely in my game plan! 

Feeling fine after the first three hours, I rode the second lap much the same, still feeling strong.  I kept expecting my legs to start shutting down at around the 60 mile mark, but it never happened.  The last lap came and the long 18 mile climb loomed in front of me.  Those are the moments that I love the most in endurance racing; looking ahead at a very difficult obstacle like that climb and not knowing how your body will react.  I'm happy to say that, miraculously, I felt pretty darn good for the last lap.  I climbed to the top faster than the previous two times and was left with long rolling single track bliss for the duration of the race.  I'd like to say that the descent was the easy part but after 10 hours of riding, all the contact points were beginning to ache just a fair bit so I took things pretty easy on the way down. 

In all, the race went surprisingly well.  I was pleased with my result of 34th overall, had no wrecks or mechanicals, and I ended loving my Kona single speed even more than before!  It's an event that I will return to again next year

2011 Mountain Bike National Championships, Sun Valley, Idaho July 16-17, 2011

Race Report from Karla Segale

 I’m a roadie at heart, so I certainly did not start out this season expecting to spend much time on a mountain bike.  For one thing, I don’t like dust. Or mud.  What my young teammates refer to as pebbles on a downhill are boulders in my book.  And while I do have pierced ears, so far my nose, navel and eyebrows are virgin territory.  No tats, either.  I have, on occasion, uttered the word “Dude”.

Put another way, my experience coming to Sun Valley for mountain bike nationals was akin to Dorothy’s trip to Oz—if only Oz were at 6,000 feet, loaded with gnarly single track, 25% grades, and people with really baggie shorts and T-shirts peppered with names like Bone Crusher, Cranky Monkey or PsychoPATH.

I am, as our coach and team manager Joe Brown says, a “little stiff” on a mountain bike.  “You’ve got to stay loose, Karla.  Loosen the death grip on the handle bars and let the bike do the work”.  Who is that man talking to???  I’m a control freak.  I trust no one and nothing. 

The day we arrive at the course, Joe takes me and my junior teammates Cody Cupp and Keelan Christensen out to preview the course.  It’s brutal.  But hey, it is, after all, Nationals!  Joe talks strategy with the boys.  I’m thinking survival.  As we’re hanging out cleaning our bikes the night before our races, someone starts up with the saying: “Represent”.  We are here to represent the Methow, and our generous sponsors who have supported us throughout the year.  When the gun goes off, that’s our job: “Represent.”

Before I get to the race itself, a word of thanks to our sponsors.   We looked super cool out there.   Best looking kits by far.  Distinctive orange Giro helmets that could be seen from anywhere.  Schwalbe tires that “shred” (just one of many additions to my vocabulary).  Amped on high octane Blue Star Roasters coffee and the confidence and support of all of our sponsors, we rolled up to the line with a singular purpose: “Represent.”

The cross country race was estimated to take about an hour and 45 minutes for my age group.  The good news for me was that there was some major vertical—first on very technical single track, then about a mile more climbing on double track before the descent.  My goal was to pass everybody I could on the climb and not give anything up on the descent.  At the start the officials had marked our calves with our respective ages, so it was easy to spot the competition.  I passed all but one of my competitors on the climb.  So far so good.  The tough part for me was not to buckle on the descent.  First came the double track, which was steep and fast and full of gravel.   “Stay loose, Karla.”  “ Let the bike do the work.”  Now was as good a time as any to see if that worked.  To my utter disbelief, nobody passed me on the double track.  Next came the single track, which by the time we raced had gotten pretty rutted up.  To sweeten the pot, there were a number of difficult switch backs with steep side-hill drops added in just for fun.  Miss the turn and over the bank you go.  

“Stay loose, Karla.”  “You did not work that hard to get to the top only to lose on the downhill.”   I got passed three times on the single track—all on the switchbacks—and all by women out of my age group.  The last switch back before the finish was the toughest.  I did an endo but sprang up like my hair was on fire.  Only a short straight-away to the finish.  I am not about to lose a place here.

I crossed the line with a time of 1:04:50—40 minutes ahead of the predicted finish time. As I cross the line, I hear my name being called by the announcer, along with something about the silver medalist.  My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are at the finish line waving their hands and jumping up and down.  My teammates and their parents are doing the same.  Something must have happened.  And then it hits me.  They are celebrating for me.   I just picked up a silver medal in mountain bike nationals.  MOUNTAIN BIKE…NATIONALS.

Dude, that is so chill.

Keelan Christensen:

                First of all Id like to thank Joanne Metzler for an awesome condo almost directly next to the race venue that made time between rides and races very relaxing. And that relaxing time was very needed because the course was incredibly strenuous. To start, the climb was on a doubletrack loose dusty road going up the ski mountain at a 26% grade, in other words, STEEP! The descent was, however, not very steep, and filled with semi=technical switchbacks. Near the bottom of the descent was a fun rocky part called “the waterfall.” After like 10 runs at it, Cody and I found a good line, and all we had to do was get back over the saddle, stay off the front brake, and it wasn’t too hard at all. On the flats before the climb were two rock gardens that made it hard to get a good rest in before the climb. As Cat 1 juniors, we had to do the course 4 times! I felt okay out of the start, but I wish I didn’t do as much riding the day before. The competition was as I thought, very difficult. I started near the back of the junior 17-18s and finished the same. I gave it everything I had and pushed myself as hard as I could to keep climbing up that terrible road. I finished 39^th out of about 55 in my category. Going into this race, I had no idea what to expect, therefore I had no expectations for myself. This year I raced for the experience, and next year I will be a lot more competitive, hoping for a top 15 finish next year. Still, it was a fun weekend, watching the pros was exciting, and my Kona King Kahuna worked great over all the rocks! Through August, I have a couple of fun races scheduled, perhaps a sprint triathlon, and then I set my sights on Cyclocross.

6th Annual Methow Cycle & Sport Mountain Challenge at Loup Loup

Julie Grialou:

The pre-cursor to the race started for me with a Wednesday team ride of the course. As my bike was in the shop, I was using a borrowed hardtail and borrowed pedals. I felt very awkward on the ride, missing some switchbacks and other technical sections that I would have expected to clean. I also was having a hard time getting out of one of my pedals. On the downhill, I felt like I was bouncing all over the place.

The night before the race, I had some odd dreams. In one of them, it was race morning and my car, with the bike on top, got stolen. I was frantically trying to get another bike to borrow, but the pedals were all in little pieces, and I was struggling to get them together. The dreams reminded me of the missed-my final-exam dreams that I, and I think many others, have had in college.

On race day, I was glad to have my own bike back and was looking forward to the fun and challenging singletrack on the race course. I got up to the race course in late morning – great race weather and a vibrant venue.

Joseph Weaver, from Methow Recycling (one of our team’s sponsors) had just entered his first mountain bike race, doing the Beginner’s course, and had come in first. Go Joseph!

I proceeded to do my warm-up and noticed my front brake was rubbing pretty badly. Lucky for me, there was a Kona mechanic on site, and he fixed me up. I never got his name, but thank you, whoever you are! For the race, I decided to head out with the Open Women (I think my pace is generally somewhere between the Expert and Open racers). Three of the four other women went out together and FAST. Too fast for me, so I ended up being on my own for a while, eventually going back and forth with a few men. I felt good on the whole first lap. But unfortunately, I faded on the second lap. On the technical downhill on the Bear Mountain Trail, I did pass the woman who was in third place. Unfortunately, she passed me later on the climbs and I couldn’t get up the energy to push past her. She ended up about 30 seconds ahead of me. All the team’s juniors had great racers – congrats. Overall, a great course and a fun time.


Solomon Woras:

The Joy

Such a great weekend of racing last weekend. It was so wonderful to see the community that has developed around this team in action. Between Meg and Dan serving up smooth shots, rocking horse's delicious baked goods, Kona, Methow recycles, Shimano, Methow Cycle and sport, and all the great volunteers, it is so fun to see all of these great companies and people come together to make such a fun event happen. We all owe a great thank you to Joe and Julie for all of their hard work and passion, making all of this stuff happen. I'm sure I left out someone but to you all. Thanks!

Really, that was the theme of the weekend for me. I have been working way to much and riding way to little lately so rediscovering the joy and pleasure that a weekend of racing can bring was critical. It was just one of those days where you are so happy to have to opportunity to be doing what you are doing that you feel no pain, just the pleasure and freedom of being on a bike. There have been times in my life where riding a bike was my job, and unfortunately it became just that, (a job). Sometimes we forget why we do this, we get wrapped up in how much work we put in, training, racing, planing events, organizing volunteers, building trail, and we loose sight of the enjoyment it brings. For me, racing my bike has now become a purely indulgent act, one of the few things in my life right now that I do entirely for my self, and I can't think of a better way to indulge than to feel that wind through my helmet my hands on the bars, and my mind clear of everything but the trail and the next rider on the road ahead.

So thank you all for making it possible for my self and so many others indulge.
Solomon

Jake Harrop:

The race on saturday was really fun and i thought it was going to be a little bit more technical than i could handle but in the end i conquered the course and loved it. there was a good turn out and the course was in good riding condition. At the beginning of the race i sprinted ahead with Cole Paton of Wenatchee to try and get seated in a good spot, i held my spot in second and through the whole race i felt great. there was some spots in the race where i had to get off my bike due to slower racers in rough spots of the course or technical uphills.
Jake

Cody Cupp:

For me, this year’s Methoww race was fantastic. I felt really good and raced better than I ever have! The course was a ton of fun and I think all of Joe’s hard work on the course really paid off.

I took 1st and junior expert and placed 4th overall in open expert. On the last descent of the race I managed to catch Solomon and we rode tire to tire for about the last 10 minutes then sprinted it out for the finish line. It was a very exciting and fun way to end a race.

A few days before the race I put new Shimano XT shifters, derailleurs, and a new crankset onto my bike, along with a nice pair of Easton Haven wheels. The new gear worked perfectly and I was pleasantly surprised how much better than my old set up it was! The combination of the new gear, Joe’s hard work on the trails, and the training plan Solomon has set up for me gave me a great race!

Keelan Christensen:

Our home course at the Loup is a unique race as it consists of two 13 mile loops on some steep single-track climbs, previously built by our team. It seemed the weather could not make up its mind the morning before the race, but it turned out to be a fairly warm day. My Kona King Kahuna felt great on this course, with Shwalbe Racing Ralph tires that felt like Velcro on the ground. The first lap felt pretty good for me, until about 10 miles in where I got a side ache. Still, I managed to push through it, still holding 2^nd place in my category. I managed to ride the entire course with no putting my foot down or crashes, so I was feeling confident. However, on the second lap, I cramped up in my hamstrings on the final climb of the race. I knew that the 3^rd place kid was a long ways behind me, but I still managed to finish strong on the climb and finished with a respectable 2^nd place finish. Overall, I am mostly satisfied with the race, but I would like to shrink the time between me and Cody. After the Criterium State Championships in Bellingham, the next race for me Nationals in Sun Valley, so my life is full of hard training until then.


Jake Whipple:

It's easy to get sucked into the selfish world of training, racing, and recovery and forget about the efforts of others that make these events happen.  As I drove into the venue on Saturday at the Loup, I was instantly reminded of that as I watched all the hard work of Joe, Julie, and the many volunteers transform the Loup into the Methow Cycle & Sport Mountain Challenge.  What a great event.  Great sponsors, great trails, and people.   Sitting here now, sick as a dog, I'm struck with this thought, "...time to shift my focus..."  This team has put a face to cyclists in the Methow, but that is only a small part of the story.  With the incredible support of all of the sponsors, volunteers, and riders I hope we continue to grow cycling here into what it can be; a center for riding trails and roads with fun races and events for everyone to share their experiences through.  Saturday, for me, was a struggle.  Feeling the effects of being sick, I watched folks just ride away from me and there was nothing I could do!  I've been lucky the last few years and avoided many mishaps, including sickness, in all of my races.  Saturday was a great reminder of why it is I ride.  It's fun.  That's it, really.  It doesn't matter that I was sick, I was still able to ride and for that I am grateful.  Thanks to all our sponsors for continuing to help make this happen. 

 

Pics from the 6th Annual Methow Cycle & Sport Mountain Challenge at Loup Loup

Images by Stephen Mitchell

Echo Ridge 30/60 Mountain Bike Race June 11th

Joseph Brown:

On Saturday June 11th, four Methow Cycle & Sport - Blue Star Cycling riders tackled the Echo Ridge 30/60 mtb race held near Chelan, WA. I was registered for the 60 mile event which was decidedly further than what I was prepared for! With our own mtb race coming up, preparation was certainly not happening adequately. On Friday,  the day prior to the race Kona called and asked if I wanted to ride a 2012 prototype carbon 29er. I of course agreed and the bike was delivered late Friday night. After a few minor adjustments, the bike was ready to roll, much more than I was.

When I woke up on race day morning, I felt surprisingly good. Jake Whipple and I carpooled down to the race venue and were greeted by Meg and Dan from Blue Star Coffee Roasters, who were already pulling beautiful shots for racers. It was really great to see them with the La Marzzocho GS3 at a race, producing great espresso. After the typical frantic equipment and food organizing, we rolled up to the pre-race meeting.

As the gun went off, I was bombarded with questions of why I was doing this and how I would do. The first part of the course was a 2.5 mile climb on a service road and since it was a long race, the pace was nice and relaxed. I couldn't believe how well my legs and body felt. I wanted to go harder but knew it was a long day so was content to relax a little.

On one of the first stair step sections, I shifted down to the small chainring and "Pow!!!!" the chain was lodged above the chainstay! Unfortunately, there was nothing that I could do but turn around and roll down to the start in search of an 8mm hex wrench so that I could remove the crankset and ultimately free the chain. Needless to say, my race was over. One thing is for sure, the Kona Carbon 29er for 2012 is going to be amazing!

Jake Whipple:

The Echo Ridge 30/60 in Chelan was the first major event for me this year.  Coming in at 60 miles, it was a good tune up for some of the longer, more difficult races that are to come for me later this summer.  Of most remarkable note on the day was the weather!  After many days of training in the cold, wet Spring we've been having here in the Methow, the sunny and warm conditions that greeted everyone felt fantastic.  The course was fast, rolling, and non-technical.  Consisting of four laps of 15 miles each, there was somewhere around 8000 feet of climbing total. 

I was lucky and had none of the mechanical problems that plagued Joe (another benefit of riding with one gear) and had a mostly smooth race.  The weather did play a factor for me though.  I am often challenged by leg cramps in longer races if I'm not paying close enough attention to my hydration and, sure enough, come lap four the warm weather had it's way with my legs.  The heat and the distracting gorgeous scenery were a great recipe for dehydration.  Debilitating leg cramps are a strange event.  One second your feeling grand, pedaling along, enjoying the view and then the next you feel that small twinge that for tells of impending doom!  Moments later, everything starts to spasm and you can either ignore it and force yourself to pedal through, or get off your bike which, for me, makes it 10 times worse.  All I could do was pretend it wasn't happening (yea, right...) and slam electrolytes and water.  I made it through to 29th overall, and promised myself that next time I wouldn't ignore the advice that so many have given me time and time again: "Drink before your thirsty, and often!"

It was great to see Blue Star with the GS3 right next to the sign-in tent pulling fabulous shots and putting smiles on the faces of the racers!  Thank You!  One other note - I usually get soar feet after riding over 5 hours on trails.  This year I am riding in a pair of Shimano M-315 shoes and they are amazing.  Very stiff, and fit like slippers.  Really.  They're that good! 

Next week it's to Oregon for the Test of Endurance 50 mile.  Thanks for reading!   -Jake Whipple

Julie Grialou:

I was one of 4 team riders who raced at Echo Valley last weekend.  Karla and I were signed up for the 30 mile race, with Jake and Joe being crazy enough to sign up for the 60 miler.  We got to the venue in plenty of time to warm up and check out the scene.  I was psyched to see a fair number of other women warming up – I’m the kind of racer who really enjoys the challenge and camaraderie of having others at my level to compete with.   Meg was there making Blue Star coffee drinks – unfortunately, I was having a bit of a nervous stomach so I chose not to take advantage of a pre-race caffeine fix.

The race was a mass start of about 100 riders.  At the beginning, I got squeezed between two riders and came close to falling.  Made for a bit of a nervous start.  Anyway, my plan was to keep track of the top women, but also not go out too fast.  Heading up the 2-mile gravel road at the beginning of the race, it was clear that one woman was going to be able to hold a faster pace than me.  I settled in with a few men and one other woman (Leah Stralka).  As we got into the single and double track, I kept trading places within this group of riders.  I was feeling good.  At the end of the first lap, a woman rider came out of nowhere and passed us.  She was going strong!  I rode the first half of the second lap with Leah Stralka, and was appreciating having someone to work with and also someone to help keep me focused.  I did start to get cramps in my calf, which was a real bummer.  About half way through the second lap, I pulled away on downhill – I really appreciated my new Schawlbe tires – they held really well in the corners.  That gave me the confidence to let ‘er rip on the ensuing big downhill section in the latter part of the lap.  After one last climb and a not-so-fun uphill gravel road section, the race was over.   Good enough for 3^rd place and a cool bike chain bottle opener.

Karla Segale:

Bruised (figuratively) by my turn mishap from the State TT, and literally from mud-wrestling my mountain bike on a training ride earlier in the week with teammate Julie Grialou, my confidence is shaken but not my resolve as I head to the Echo Lake 30 miler.  This is my first 30 mile mountain bike race. 

A big fan of endurance suffer-fests, I am actually looking forward to the race.  The bar is set reasonably low for my performance expectations, so I come into the race eager for the experience and excited that I will have some good practicing time to hone the skills Julie taught me earlier in the week.  (As it turns out, I will have a VERY LONG time to practice).

The 60-milers have already been out for a half hour as we toe the line.  Men and women start and race together for this event, and there seems like quite a lot of us.  As the gun goes off, we head up a 2 ½ mile climb. “Up” being the operative word here.  I come in to the race sleep-deprived and feeling a little off my game.  This is confirmed by my heart rate, which skyrockets to near max in the first ½ mile.  I back off and watch the ladies fade away, and I settle into a still blistering but more manageable pace.

The course is not technical, for which I am grateful.  And beautiful.  That I could notice this may be a tip-off.  I ride with a guy for a while, and he dutifully pulls me up to a few more racers.  Racing with men is really fun.  They are always so encouraging and polite, and this guy is no exception. 

In the middle of lap 1, I am chiding myself for not signing up for the 60-miler.  Wimp, I think to myself.  The last part of the lap is more technical, and the concentration it requires takes its toll.  On lap 2 I catch up with a woman from my former team, Group Health.  It turns out she is Izette Swan, a PT and Cat 2.  “Brutal” she says as I join her.  I don’t know Izette well, but she’s a legend on the Group Health team.  I am riding in a mountain bike race with Izette Swan.  I just caught up with Izette Swan!  Then Izette puts the pedal down and methodically feeds me my lunch, until I can no longer match either her pace or her skill.  Not this race anyway, but that’s the good thing about racing.  There’s always another day waiting for you.

Each race, I am learning more about pedaling a mountain bike.  My teammate’s words ring in my ears as I pick up speed I never imagined.  “Look way further out than you think you need to”.  “Elbows down, butt over the back of the saddle, torso low over the top tube.”  “Keep your center of gravity  low and let the bike do it’s job.  Loosen the death grip on the handle bars.” A lot to remember, but I’m amazed at how much it helps.  I finish—grateful that I only did 30 miles. I complete the race in 3:15:07.5.  Not a stellar finish, mind you, but not bad. My teammate Julie Grialou picks up third place in her division at 2:52:37.5.

I learned a ton, had a great time, and know I will be back.  Thank you Julie!

Methow Riders Take on State Time Trial Championships

Dave Acheson:

The Washington State Time Trial Championships  was my last “A” priority event for my 2011 season.  After a good month of racing in May that included my best ever effort at the Enumclaw Stage Race, my plan was to do some focused time trial training in the weeks leading up to the event.  That was the plan, and as you go through life and racing, you learn that sometime the plan doesn’t come to fruition and you just have to adapt and make do.   Life’s other commitments and responsibilities intervened and in the two weeks leading up the State Championships, I rode only twice.  I was rested for sure, but not at my best form.  On the plus side, I got to travel to the race with two of my teammates which was quite entertaining at times and definitely made the hours in the car pass quicker. 

The race was held in Tenino as it has been several times in recent years.  It’s a course that I really enjoy and most of it has been recently resurfaced which made the ride even better.  As for the race itself, it was pretty unremarkable.  I got off to a good start and settled into my pace easily.  I caught a few riders prior to the turnaround.  On the way back, I was passed by one rider, but I kept my pace high and felt strong all the way to the finish.  My time of 59:18 ended up being good enough for  7^th place in the age 40+ Category 4-5 group.  An okay result from an okay time resulting from okay form.  Hopefully, next year the plan comes to fruition and the result is a little better!

Chris Casey:

It turns out, It's all about the goats! I should probably explain that statement, considering this is a race report, but it is relevant, trust me! 

Bike racing is a mysterious pastime, some days you've got it and others you don't. This years State TT in Tenino was one of those where despite feeling good, the results on the day just weren't. The weather obliged for the first time this race season- warm, no rain, minimal breeze. The course was fairly flat (a little rolly about half way out, but not too bad if you carried some momentum) and the road surface smooth. The ride was hard, as all time trials are, and I was certainly feeling tired by the last few miles.... then I hit the last mile or so where the road turns from asphalt to chipseal and my speed dropped even more... it was clear that this was not to be my day. Final time 1hr 52 minutes and change, good for 9th place in the Masters C class, but way off the sub 1 hr goal. As my last road event this year, I am left with a disappointed sense of the season. My training was diligent (mostly), my weight was good (could have done a bit better, but not bad), but when it counted, it seemed that my 'top end' power/speed was AWOL. Too many night shifts at work? Not enough high intensity training? Training too sporadic because of my work schedule? All of the above? Certainly there is some cause for thought because there is a limit as to what I can or am willing to compromise in order to race a bike. Maybe I need to reassess why I race.... which brings me back to the goats.

Over the last few years of racing, one of the highlights has actually been the traveling to races (namely with Dave A) and the various conversations or experiences that have ensued on the way, during and on the way back. This race was notable because Karla Segale came with us, adding a new dimension to team travel and a vast increase in the sheer number of bags to be squeezed into the car. The highlight of this trip, occured during the drive over to Olympia. As the hunger pangs set in, we found a restaurant (via Yelp on the iphone) which was well rated, served veggie food and looked to be worth a try. It turned out to be a strange experience in more ways than one. The whole place was done up in a Tolkein-like theme (I suppose the name "Mirkwood cafe" was a first clue, the second was the tatoo place upstairs named Rivendell tatoo!) So there we were,  shaved leg bikers mixing with tattoo clad folks, listening to a lone Blues guitarist on the stage, surrounded by 'middle earth' type artwork on the walls. (Karla, It was definitely not Harry Potter!) After one song, the guitarist engaged in some banter with one of the audience who had perhaps clapped a little too enthusiastically and asked him if he played an instrument. The fellow responds, and I quote, "No, but I can eat a burger while hugging a tree.." and here is the good bit, "...and I love goats!" As far as we could tell, nobody had asked about his goat fascination, but the silence was golden as we sat mystified as to what he meant. We never found out- maybe this is a good thing- but needless to say the 'attraction' to goats was mentioned several times over the weekend, with great levity for all!

In summary, maybe it is more about the journey than the destination? However, I will be taking a closer look at what improvements can be made so that the journey and destination both rate better in the future!

Karla Segale:

Okay so I wasn’t reading Tolkein as a kid, and now I’m too old to care about Harry Potter, so I finally made it to my “tweens”.  All I know is that if it is true, as Chris says, that it is more about the journey than the destination, this season has been one heck of a ride!

I came out of retirement (literally) to join this team because I love cycling.  I didn’t think I would be racing again, let alone competing in state or national events in both road and mountain biking.  What I love about racing is that anything can, and frequently DOES happen.  If that isn’t a metaphor for life, I don’t know what is. 

You can train with utmost precision (I don’t), you can plan for every eventuality (personally, I just call Dave), you can hedge your bets with the best equipment (here’s where I excel) and still have a mechanical, a flat, or just feel FLAT! Doesn’t matter and what if it did.  You race because you have teammates that are counting on you, sponsors that believe in you and because there isn’t squat on TV anyway.  

Coming in to the Washington State TT, I had exactly one week on my new TT bike to prepare.  This is because I had only decided a week prior to that to even get a TT bike!  Joe was on it pronto, and he spent the better part of a day getting my bike to fit like a glove.  Riding a TT bike is a completely new experience for me.  The set up is designed for speed, not for comfort, which only stands to reason.  You want to pedal as fast as you can so you can get off the dang thing as quickly as possible! 

We arrive at the venue with plenty of time to drive the course.  As we do, Dave points out the various road features, wind pockets, potholes and strategic places to gear up or down.  I make a mental note of all of them. 

I started out strong, and passed several women within the first ¼ mile of the course.  My strategy was to keep my heart rate and cadence close to threshold on the way out, and punch it over the top on the ride back.  I have tested this approach in training TTs and know that I can sustain a steady pace for an hour if I stay focused.

Barreling down a straight-away,  I come upon a dog in the road, weaving in and out of two cars in front of me.  Course marshals are waving their arms frantically, and I maneuver out of their way on the right side of the road.  I am locked on to my cadence and heart rate, concerned that I may have lost tempo with all the ruckus.

I remain intent on regaining my tempo.  Funny, I think to myself, but nobody is coming the other way and they should have been at the turnaround by now. 

I feel eerily like something is amiss, but I forge ahead, concerned that I am losing ground by losing focus.  Then I come up on a road closure sign.  “Funny” I think to myself again, “ I don’t remember this in our drive this morning.  It was nice of the course marshals to close the road at the turn-around.”

Then it hits me.  I missed the turn in the midst of the dog cluster.  I maintain my pace, because I’m still out on the course, after all.  I double back, make the turn and complete the race in 1:17:10.  Dave calculates that the scenic route cost me silver in Women 35+, which wouldn’t have been half bad for 58+.  And so it goes.  Hey, there’s always next year.  And GPS!