Cyclocross Racing - Cross Crusade #1, Alpenrose Dairy

Here are a few pictures from Cross Crusade #1 at Alpenrose Dairy and some commentary.

This first pciture is the only one I'm in. It was taken by Bike Portland's Elly Blue. The Flickr page says I'm supposed to give proper attribution. It also says I'm not supposed to modify it. Oops.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3982473655_509eaba9a8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473655/)

There were 141 riders in my group, plus unicyclists who started a couple of minutes after us. We got called to the starting line in random order based on the last digit of our number. My group was last, and I lined up at the back of my group. There were times on the first lap when I was worried that the unicyclists were going to catch me. I do have to give a shout out to our new sponsor Deschutes Brewery for supplying a six pack to those of us unfortunate enough to draw the shortest straw.

The velodrome was my favorite part of the course, both as a rider and as a spectator. With the large fields, it became virtual chaos with riders heading in every direction.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3982473631_d85f65f128_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473631)

A close second as a spectator was the run-up, though I didn't enjoy that nearly as much while racing.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3982473691_7800a8f08c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473691/)

When I looked at the course map online (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=108907454630463163469.000474abb6391081ccfd7&ll=45.481137,-122.7412&spn=0.003099,0.006899&z=17) the day before the race, I noted the marker labeled "double stairs" and in my mind I pictured two steps. My mental picture was a bit off from reality.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3982473909_df47577a4f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473909/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2607/3982473831_b2f684e6d5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473831/)

The mixing of the Juniors with the Master B's made for some interesting scenes.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2568/3983235478_edb7f36103_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235478/)

Of course, we like barriers around here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3983235448_4b382d9569_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235448/)

Finally, the course had a few tasty off-camber grassy turns. This one leads to the bottom of the run-up.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/3983235654_4b7e4b7e74_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235654/)

What's that you ask? "Is that guy wearing the national champion's jersey?" Yes, yes he is. He's also riding a singlespeed Major Jake (no, not a Major One).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/3983235680_3a2c4903e6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235680/)

Here's a shot of Team Kona (Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks and Erik Tonkin) going up the stairs in the A race, previewing their podium finish.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3983235706_f6942c0d4d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235706/)

Here's what I learned watching Ryan Trebon race:

1. Warm up by winning the singlespeed race.
2. Bring a domestique or two, either of whom could also beat everyone else in the race.
3. Be really fast and really smooth.

It's just that easy.

A few other tidbits, that put me over the single post image list the first time I tried....

Alpenrose Dairy is an incredible location for a cross race. Apparently, it's good for a few other things too.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3983235312_2535c66a8b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235312/)

This may be why the barriers are so popular.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3983235388_ae06b09bea_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3983235388/)

A street sign I'd like to see more places.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3982473885_3d98c694a3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26382505@N08/3982473885/)

are you just starting this thread to make me jealous?

if so, mission accomplished

Thanks for posting...these pics are awesome. I just might make the trip from Boise with some dudebros next year. Would be cool to meet up.

Good god that looks fun. I might need to take the trip down from Seattle this season and give a crusade race a whirl. there'd be no question at all if I hadn't JUST moved to Seattle a month ago. We'll see how the finances play out.

Thanks for posting...these pics are awesome. I just might make the trip from Boise with some dudebros next year. Would be cool to meet up.

Definitely, but why wait until next year? There are 7 crusade races left.


Good god that looks fun. I might need to take the trip down from Seattle this season and give a crusade race a whirl. there'd be no question at all if I hadn't JUST moved to Seattle a month ago. We'll see how the finances play out.

Yeah, it was that fun.

This weekend is the Oregon/Washington border clash, Saturday at Lakewood, WA and Sunday at Rainer, OR.

http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/series-information/cross-clash/

The Rainier course got high marks last year from the folks around here. Unfortunately, I'll be missing both races because my daughter's birthday is preempting cyclocross for me.

Need more details on tree farm's singlespeed...
dropouts or track ends? tensioner? eno hub? magic gear?

[QUOTE=Andy_K;9808919]Definitely, but why wait until next year? There are 7 crusade races left.

QUOTE]

Unfortunately, I just blew it all on a trip to Moab, so I am done in for the winter. Local events only.
We also just had our 4th kid (oldest is only 5)...so getting away requires a great deal of negotiation :)

Will definitely try to plan a trip out there next year.

BTW, will likely be doing Seattle To Portland...a great event if you have not done it (and if you have).

Need more details on tree farm's singlespeed...
dropouts or track ends? tensioner? eno hub? magic gear?

He was using vertical dropouts and no tensioner. I can't imagine he'd be using a magic gear, but I guess it's possible. Eno hub seems more likely. I'll see if I have a good pic that I can zoom in on the drive train.

He was using vertical dropouts and no tensioner. I can't imagine he'd be using a magic gear, but I guess it's possible. Eno hub seems more likely. I'll see if I have a good pic that I can zoom in on the drive train.

Cool, thanks.

These are the best I've got.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/3988779809_2e12f13fdf_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3989534214_b70620bc71_o.jpg

I'm not sure how much that helps. Looks like maybe semi-horizontal dropouts?

magic gear. prolly has a half link in there somewhere. that's a cassette hub w/ a quick release.

+1 to magic gear. Not even that "magic" actually. You can get pretty durned close to any given gear-inch with a half-link and one-tooth up or down in the chainring (i.e. quarter link). A bit of slack in the chain is no big deal as long as chainline is straight.

Treefarm just tweeted that he's using a 39x16 magic gear for sscxwc.

SSCXWC? Man, he is just having too much fun this season. Doesn't he know cyclocross is about suffering?

Here's what I learned watching Ryan Trebon race:

1. Warm up by winning the singlespeed race.
2. Bring a domestique or two, either of whom could also beat everyone else in the race.
3. Be really fast and really smooth.

It's just that easy.

yeah....and my first cx race to witness was won by him...big and lanky guy...this was at Granogue...a total mudfest.

Treefarm just tweeted that he's using a 39x16 magic gear for sscxwc.

i realize he's a freaking badass, but that's a stiff gear for racing SS.

It's not that hard....

It's not that hard....

the SSWC course or the gearing? do you race singlespeed?

I do ... and that gearing is not that tough. Pretty good for the races around here. I run that or a 39X18, depending on how hilly the course is. Last race I misjudged and felt spun out with 39x18. Was really wishing for the 16. I know nothing about the SSWC course. And maybe I am reading wrong into your post but if I'm not, you do not appear to be the "ambassador of good will"

I'm expecting the SSCXWC course to be fairly flat -- not that I'm riding. I got my rear handed to me today at the OBRA CX Championship singlespeed race. Of course, that is what I thought was going to happen.

Just keep showing up and having fun. I'm not an authority on the subject or anything, just a slow singlespeed racer but that's what I am doing. Showing up and having fun.

I do ... and that gearing is not that tough. Pretty good for the races around here. I run that or a 39X18, depending on how hilly the course is. Last race I misjudged and felt spun out with 39x18. Was really wishing for the 16. I know nothing about the SSWC course. And maybe I am reading wrong into your post but if I'm not, you do not appear to be the "ambassador of good will"

you can read whatever you want into my post it was a couple of simple questions. I race 36x16 or 36x17. with no SS category here, I race against the geared guys... For the courses I race, and the competitors I race against, 39x16 would be too much gear.

Fair enough. I race against the geared guys too (no ss class) , and 39x16 is often just right.

but it doesn't take a badass to run 39x16. cause i'm not.

So, Andy, is that why your skipped out on the PIR Cross Crusade race yesterday? Basic recap is it was very muddy, and i should have geared taller, lots of flat ground (mostly under water, but still flat).

See ya at Barton Park.

No, Thom, I'm a glutton for punishment, so I would have been out there at PIR if I could have been. I took the day off because that was necessary to make the logistics work for getting my daughter out there for her first race. It looked like a fun course.

PDX Cross says Trebon ran with a dog instead of riding at SSCXWC. The OBRA results say he finished 15th. What's the story there? I'm definitely going to have to stick around and watch this next year.

Oops. Just realized SSCXWC is in Seattle next year, and I was looking at last year's results.