Last night I drank a cask conditioned dark beer @ The Brewers Union public house. Met the owner who believes that his business will survive. Great beer and fun place. Met Ben who works there and is a mtn bike advocate. I learned from him last night. I met him again today and learned some more. Last night I drove back to same camp spot up on logging road for XM reception. temps are in 40s @ night for good sleeping.
I was told that if I hung at the TrailHead cafe between 8:30 and 9;00 that I might be able to hook up with local riders. I hung and no one showed. I worked on my bike outside and discovered that I had smoked thru another set of brake pads. The downhill on Alpine was not the only culprit in the wear but it was a big part. Again the search for Formula pads begins.
I drove into Oakridge from downstream and saw more of the city including a laundromat. Oakridge was a resource extraction community and the economic engine died. the town is in both a dying and emerging state. The bike shop is a funky place in a small town way. Today McKenzie, the owner was on duty as well as Catrina. Wow. She was on a hotshot crew for 9 years. I told McKenzie that I was helping on the Cream Puff and waiting for Scott, the promoter to contact me. MC said he just talked to him and he would be at the shop soon. Soon came and went as I hung around. I missed a ride waiting to offer my help.
I met Scott @ a closed school which is the race headquarters and more learning occurred. We drove into Oakridge to Trail Head where about 30 watermelons were waiting our pick & delivery back to the school. 3 melons in a box is a heavy lift.
200 racers for the 104 miles event. yesterday i rode the road climb up to drop in of the Alpine trail: 8 miles of logging road gaining almost 3000′. And the grade touched 12% @ times. 1 hr 40 mins to ride 11 miles. The downhill was much swifter. the course requires this climb 2 times.
back in ’88, ’89, & 90 I raced The Boss, a 100 mile mtn bike race in Siletz, OR. That was when I was way younger. Could i complete this race as just a fast hard ride? I wonder. I have not been training for this kind of race, for that matter not training at all, just riding. It is a bruiser.
Tomorrow is a ride and helping if needed. Scott gave me a tank top for my current and promise of future help.
Leaving the school for logging road camp.