[borregokid]

Its the next to last biker race in the Indie Series and it up in Bellingham. This is a very demanding short course and this year the promoters decided to add a couple of laps for the guys over 40 to keep things interesting.

Kevin Bradford-Parrish riding for Bicycle Butler out of Spokane has been the man to beat this year and I dont think anyone has. Could be an interesting race up in the Open-Pro with a couple of strong Bellingham riders including a couple of forum members. Could it be the guys from Bellingham are building a special trail for Bradford-Parrish? The Bellingham riders, and there are lots of them have the home field advantage on this course.

So who's up for the Padden Pedal?

 

[djcrb9]

I won't be racing, but i may show up... depends on how the party the night before goes. If the turnout is half of what last year was, it will be huuuuge.

And i hear this lady is showing up. So beware.

 

[Borneo]

Who races anymore??? Just kidding.

Kick some old man butt up there and be nice to the Luna chikkies.

Thanks for the bread and brew. You're the man!

 

[chrisp86]

It will be tough to beat Kevin... even with the home field advantage. I'm looking forward to the race. If Benaroya sends their full force perhaps he will have some competition or if Knapp comes. I don't think Wicks or Trebon will be there b/c of NORBA champs.

 

[borregokid]

Who races anymore??? Just kidding.

Kick some old man butt up there and be nice to the Luna chikkies.

Thanks for the bread and brew. You're the man!

You know what I wont even be at the race and here I am calling the roll call! Especially with the Luna Chix coming. This race for some reason has the most women racers of any. I just got my STP ticket for a one-day double century. I have been thinking about it for about 20 years and I figured I better do it while I can.

Chrisp you have your work cut out for you. Word has it Mark Hansen has a new bike and he will be at Padden. I am guessing that means the rest of BRI. Thats going to be a fun race. I really would like to see the expert race, I was in it last year and managed to pull a DFL . I am sure the Vikings and the Canadians and the rest of the B'ham crew will pretty much dominate.

 

[Borneo]

With names like Hanson and Knapp, this is starting to sound like a mid '90s Eric Eaton NW Mountain bike race. Those were the days. Camping, partying, and, oh yeah, a little racing...

Go for the STP Borrego. It's worth doing once in your life. Heck, you may be one of the younger ones knowing the Cascade touring club. :eekster:

 

[DoubleDiamond]

When is someone ever...

With names like Hanson and Knapp, this is starting to sound like a mid '90s Eric Eaton NW Mountain bike race. Those were the days. Camping, partying, and, oh yeah, a little racing...QUOTE]

Going to put on a series like that again here in Western Wa?

To me, those races defined "mountain bike race" One long loop (none of this "lap" style racing we have now) with big climbs.

The value of my schwag was always worth more than my entry fees!
One race at Capitol forest I won a case of Red Hook in the post-race drawing. As you can imagine, I was quite popular that afternoon!

Someone needs to look up Eric Eaton and talk him into puttin on his series again.

 

[borregokid]

One Big Loop This Year-Winthrop

The last really big loop race was two years ago at Capitol Forest. Everyone did the same big loop. We raced up to Capitol Peak and back down. It was about 90 degrees that day and the only racers that showed up were expert and sport. Not one woman that day raced. The Winthrop race a couple of weeks ago had one big loop for the Sport class in a figure 8 configuration of about 17 miles. Beezley Burn in Ephrata is the top schwag race in the state followed by Winthrop.

Borneo-I will blowing out on STP pretty early and hopefully put some space between me and the seniors. I can just envision I knock off the first hundred and then run out of gas and am laying by the road when a group of seniors wearing Bell Helmets, mirrors, fenders, flags, on vintage mid 80's bikes goes past at 14 mph. Cascade actually started a new group of riders this year that does their rides at 20-22 mph. I am guessing you have to be fairly young for that pace.

 

[santa_cruzer]

those were some great races, sad to see they are no longer going on. IF you want racing like that you will have to move to CO

www.racemsc.com

 

[Borneo]

Somebody should bring those back. Those were the best. I can't afford to lose more money that I don't have.
Anyone remember when Heitman was 15 and beating Dale in the races? or, the time the little sh!t was in the outhouse when his name was called for the win?

Eric took a stint on a side project with Flytrap snowboard bindings and then left the shop and went full bore into rally car racing with an old Subaru Impreza. I think he's doing that full time now.

I hope racing makes a comeback. but, for now, the long backcountry rides are where it's at. I signed up for the SC Hell Ride again. So, IF they pick me this time, it will be a race to keep up. (With the gals...)

 

[ACree]

those were some great races, sad to see they are no longer going on. IF you want racing like that you will have to move to CO

www.racemsc.com

OR has a bunch of nice races that are single loop courses too. As an added bonus, they're not NORBA, so they're cheaper, and the money stays local to promote local cycling and racing. And as a result they now have one of the biggest racing scenes in the country, especially cross, and with a pretty small population base.

 

[santa_cruzer]

do you have a link for more info. I will be out that way in August/Sept . thanks.

 

[DPCX]

do you have a link for more info. I will be out that way in August/Sept . thanks.

Here is the Oregon link if thats what you meant.

http://www.obra.org/

I've been at it (racing) since 91 & I too miss the big old loops we used to have. Those 10mi climbs near Cliffdel (Little Naches/Manastash) or the Summer Sizzlers at Cap Forest. I remember a Sum Siz. back in the day that had 87 riders in the expert/pro class, all funneling into a single track after a 200 yrd dash on a fire road. Or, my first beginner race in 91 out at Tahuya (Bear Trax...) where i lined up w/ 207 beginners. Flatted in the first mile, fixed it & passed 150 riders by the time I hit the finsih. I was hooked after that.(even beat the G-man (heightman) but of course he ate a box of doughnuts on the way to the race & got an upset stomach after leading the first 3/4 of the course. Good times.

No Padden for me, I'm heading to Bend/Sunriver on Sunday for a week. Any must do rides I should put on my list??

DP

 

[chrisp86]

What a great race and great turnout. Anyone know where or who took all the photos on the course?... Many of them had pro cameras so I assume they'd put them online somewhere?