Category: News

Greetings, OBRA Members,

With the upcoming 2022 race season fast approaching, we want to help you take your training and racing to the next level with a brand new Stages Cycling power meter or Dash bike computer.

Stages are generously offering all active 2021 OBRA members 20% off any of their power meters or other items. To take advantage of this deal, please email both Chuck (ckenlan@obra.org) and Joel (jfletcher@obra.org) and one of them will get back to you with your discount code. The code can be used once per member on up to three items. You will also need to make sure you have created a Stages account and are logged in to that account for the discount to take place.

Click here to view all of the Stages Cycling products.

This discount can be used by active OBRA members only. If you aren’t an active OBRA member or haven’t renewed for 2022, and would like to join, please click here: obra.org/membership/new.

Dear OBRA Community,

It has been an amazing 2022 so far; race numbers are back to 2019 numbers (in some cases higher) and OBRA membership is up 20% from last year, on track to reach the 2019 numbers. Other than track, we have a full slate of OBRA Championship races starting at the end of the month. You will find out more information on them later in the newsletter.

The OBRA racing rules are typically amended at the OBRA annual meeting. The board can also amend them if they are time sensitive. This year, the board has amended three of the rules:

• Removed the COVID mitigation rules
• Changed the minimum racing age from 10 to 9 for all disciplines (it was 9 for CX only)
• Clarified the time trial rules on what constitutes the racers start time

I will bring these rules up for a vote at the annual meeting at our next annual meeting.

The OBRA equipment program is an important part of what we do. The reason we have a full calendar is that race promoters that put on one or two races a year don’t have to purchase their own equipment or rent equipment for a very high price. When we were asked to remove all our equipment from Alpenrose, our friends at Castelli offered the use of their secure parking lot. It looks like this is coming to an end as the owner of the property has plans to develop part of the area. We are looking at all possible solutions but finding it difficult to locate a property that is secure and convenient for our equipment manager and the promoters. Please, if any of you know of a secure property, let me know. We have one box truck, a box trailer, an open trailer with the CX cones. A large space in a RV storage facility will work but it is a long wait for a space to become available.

Thank you to all our hard-working race promoters and to you for showing up and pinning on a number. See you at the Championship races!

Chuck

With the NICA schedule having its first race weekend on August 28th and 29th OBRA and Mudslinger Events have decided to move the Junior Mountain Bike Championships to earlier in the season at Alsea Falls XC on July 24th. We hope this move will allow more NICA racers to race at Alsea Falls.

We hope this will open up more NICA racers to come to experience the racing at Alsea Falls. This will be a great junior event and all juniors will race FOR FREE at the Alsea Falls Junior MTB Championships.

More race information can be found here: mudslingerevents.com/cyling-race-events/alsea-falls-xc-race

Registration can be found here: bikereg.com/alsea-falls-xc

NOTE: All non-junior categories will still have their OBRA MTB Championships at Left Coast XC on August 29th.

See you there!

Greetings OBRA Community,

Although it looks a bit different, bike racing is back! The Shasta Gravel Hugger and Echo Red to Red took place in March. I want to thank the race promoters for instituting solid COVID risk mitigation plans and for the racers that complied with them. Congratulations to all of the OBRA members who found themselves on the virtual podiums and to the members that may have done their first race. I also want to congratulate our friends to the north for pulling off the CX test event in Port Angeles. I understand that this is an exciting new venue with aspirations for running UCI events.

As you can see on the OBRA race calendar that there are quite a few events scheduled though it is far from the numbers in past years. Many of the venues are still hesitant to host events and some jurisdictions are still not permitting events. We will keep you abreast of new events being scheduled as things start to open up more. A few events that I added to the calendar this week are time trials at Hagg Lake (Banana Belt Course) on May 9-10, a criterium series in Bend beginning on June 23, and, wait for it… Zaldercross on October 3 which will be a part of the early season CX series.

Our membership numbers continue to grow as well as our OBRA team memberships. We are tracking all of the single event memberships this year and are offering discounted annual memberships to these people. After two races we are already seeing this payoff. Thank you to those people that took advantage of the discount and welcome to OBRA! For the OBRA teams, remember that the membership must be renewed for the team name to show up in results and for the team to qualify for the team BAR competition.

I will be at the Mudslinger XC this Saturday. I look forward to seeing you there.

— Chuck

To highlight some of our OBRA Members, new for 2021 we will spotlight a different OBRA member each month. For April we bring you, Brenna Wrye-Simpson from Portland, OR. Enjoy!

Name?
Brenna Wrye-Simpson

Where do you live?
I live in Portland, OR.

What team do you race for?
On the road, I race for DNA Pro Cycling Team, a women’s professional road racing program based in Salt Lake. During the cyclocross season, I race for Team S&M!

What is the first OBRA race you participated in?
2012 Barton Park Cyclocross Crusade! It was so fun and on course and off. I remember the sensations of a fast, turbulent downhill starting chute, the loud cheers and exuberant energy from the rows of team tents, the heavy breathing on the run-up with some quiet reprieve before the off-camber drop. It was all so new and overwhelming and so dang fun at once. It was a great first-time experience. It opened the door to how racing could be approachable and something I could do, versus something I saw others do but could not relate to. It also introduced me to a new host of people who became my friends. And this last part is what it took to keep me racing–I didn’t line up at a race again until I met the wonderful people of the Ironclad Cycling Team (now Rainier Beer Cycling Team). I joined the team and had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals “emphasis on fun” of road racing with a squad of other women new to the sport, surrounded by supportive senior teammates who were excited to share their love of the sport with us. It was an incredible gift!

What do you enjoy about racing in OBRA?
OBRA is an energetic, accessible, encouraging community. If you want to get involved in any aspect of racing, it’s possible to plug right in and start doing so, whether that means racing every subtype of bike racing there is, or if you want to learn how to officiate, volunteer your abilities at an event, help promote an event, join a team, start a team, join the OBRA board, or introduce a rule or topic for consideration within the community at the OBRA annual meeting. The intention behind the organization is that the sport and its constructs should and can be accessible, and choosing to get involved makes us a stronger community. I am so grateful for the care and continuing interest that has been extended to me and my development as an athlete and community member, and it means a lot to me to be able to keep paying this energy forward so others can find the success and support network they want and need, too.

What is your favorite OBRA race?
It’s impossible to pick just one! I love so many for different reasons! The Cascade Cycling Classic for its gorgeous, incredibly hard courses and diversity of competition levels (from beginner to pro!). The Franz Bakery Crit for its fun, swoopy course, and incredibly fun environment. Bridge City Cyclocross!!! For the beach, the Party Zone, the amusement park backdrop, and the vivacious energy. PIR for weeknight bike practice and speedwork. Gorge Roubaix in all its iterations for its unforgiving, beautiful courses. Tabor for the weeknight picnics and more midweek character building.  And so many more. We have such a diversity of events!  Thank you to the hardworking promoters who keep us moving!

What would you tell people who are thinking about racing for the first time?
If the flashy trappings, high-end gear, and bright, matchy-matchy kits are intimidating, disregard ’em and remember that everyone’s a little nervous when they’re about to do something difficult. Run whatever gear you have. Pick an event that looks intriguing and go with a friend. Share the first-time experience together! The OBRA community wants and welcomes new faces, you’ll come out of the experience with some good memories and new friends. Bring lots of snacks and water and don’t forget to keep eating and drinking 🙂
Also, on this note, experienced OBRA members, keep bringing your friends to events!  It’s a lot easier to try something for the first time if you’re guided by someone who has been there before.

What new races would you like to try in the future?
Six Hours of Mt. Hood! I have yet to try racing MTB and I’d love to race this unique, often team-based event that’s well known for its great environment and fun course. It’s also a special event for my shop/employer, Sellwood Cycle Repair. We’re a sponsor and it’s a high point on our calendar every year.

To highlight some of our race promoters across OBRA, new for 2021 we will spotlight a different promoter each month. For April we bring you, Will Laubernds from Camas, WA. Enjoy!

1. Name?
Will

2. Where are you located?
As of late, Camas Washington. Previously I was in Portland right by Alpenrose (RIP).

3. What race(s) do you put on?
Currently just Tuesday Night PIR. In the past, I have put on a few other races and series and helped other promoters with their races.

4. What made you start promoting bike races?
When I raced for Team Oregon we put on Monday Night PIR to help fund some of our racing expenses. After getting that experience I started working with other local promoters helping them with their events, which led to me putting on events myself.

5. What would you like the OBRA membership to know about your races?
That we can’t wait till the races at PIR can start safely again!

6. What is your favorite thing about promoting bike races?
For sure the community we have here in OBRA. I’ve met a lot of my best friends through bike racing and putting on a weekly race series over the summer is a great way to connect with everyone.

7. What advice would you give to any team or individual that is considering putting on a race?
Do so as a team or with a partner to help cover all your bases and grow your event.

8. What is the greatest challenge you face in promoting your race?
You are at the mercy of a lot of factors outside your control like the weather, wildfires, other overlapping events. It takes a good amount of luck and some planning to have successful seasons year after year.

OBRA is excited to partner with Unior Bike Tools as the main sponsor of a new junior racing initiative for 2021. This initiative will provide junior bike racers of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and racing experiences, more support, and a more welcoming race experience at OBRA events throughout the year.

Please stay tuned for more updates on this as the 2021 race season moves forward.

Unior Bike Tools is a perfect partner for this initiative. They are a tool company that owns the entire process from manufacturing to distribution. They own their own factories where people making living wages produce tools and distribute them around the world to World Tour Teams or individuals looking to build out their home workshop.

Unior is offering all OBRA members a special discount on any of their tools and an even better discount to OBRA junior members. Please email Joel (jfletcher@obra.org) and Chuck (ckenlan@obra.org) to receive your or if you have any questions.

Only active 2021 OBRA members will be eligible for this discount. If you need to purchase your 2021 OBRA Membership, that can be done here: obra.org/membership/new.

Click here: uniorusa.com to view all of the Unior Bike Tools offerings.

As we continue to celebrate AAPI and BIPOC individuals in the OBRA community, we are happy to talk to Virginia Xing about how she came to the bike racing world. Virginia has a great story on how she came to be a part of the cycling and bike racing community. She is truly an inspiration and as you can see from her photos, always has a smile while on the bike. If you’re ever in Eugene, OR, make sure to check out her bike shop, Bicycle Way of Life.

I recently sat down with Virginia for a virtual interview. Keep scrolling to give it a read.

–  Joel Fletcher (OBRA Marketing Director)

Name?
Virginia Xing

Age?
53

Where are you located?
Eugene, OR

How did you first get into bike racing?
I was 41 living in Taiwan for my kids to attend education in Taiwan so they could speak/write/read Mandarin Chinese. Having just had my 2nd boy 2 years prior to moving back to Taiwan, I was overweight at 180 lbs with high cholesterol when I had my first annual exam at age 40. I was at a Giant Cup circuit race and saw the US lady who won the women’s race and after calculating what her average speed was, I decided to pick up my 7-year-old boy’s road bike we bought for him and started riding and picked up racing a month after I started riding a road bike. Since I was a late starter, I decided only one way to catch up was to ride more. I’ve since averaged at least 1000 kilometers a month and in 2020 with the pandemic, I had 4000 miles outdoors along with 6000 miles on the trainer. I started racing road in 2008, picked up racing cyclocross in 2013, and mountain bike racing a couple since 2014, to most recently some gravel racing in 2019. 

What is your favorite thing about bike racing?
Meeting other great people on bikes who push themselves a bit further while being super sports and the community we build centering around that.

What piece of advice would you give to others interested in racing?
Just give it a try and the sky’s the limit on the potential of everything in bike racing and fun for sure!

Who has been most influential in your bike racing career?
That’s a good question and there is more than one I am sure but I am going to fall back to Eddy Merckx and quote what he said as one of my fav cycling quotes – “Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.”

What can we do as a community to take care of our AAPI/BIPOC friends while new people of color are joining the sport?
Treat, respect, and love everyone the same as you would to your family and how you’d like to be treated by others. Nothing more and nothing less!

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting and sharing a bit about Clara Terrell. Clara runs Twilight Operations, a non-profit that promotes bike races in OBRA. We hope her interview inspires and encourages many more women to do the same. Be sure to say hello to Clara and the Twilight Operations crew next time you’re at one of their races.

Promoters are the lifeblood of OBRA bike racing. Their hard work is what provides all of the different racing options to our community. Without our great promoters like Clara, the races you all love would not exist. Race promoters are always looking for volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer, please reach out to see what they need help with.

OBRA has quite a few women race promoters including Clara, Jana Jensen, Molly Cogswell-Kelley, Ann Leitheiser, and Carol Cohen to name a few. We will continue to share stories about our great race promoters throughout the year.

Click here: industry.obra.org/promoters to learn more about promoting races.

Enjoy!

Name?
Clara Terrell

Where are you located?
Eugene

What race(s) do you put on?
Twilight Time Trials, Twilight Criterium, Twilight Hill Climb, Twilight Cyclocross, Psychocross, 2019 State Championship TT and Crit, etc.

What made you start promoting bike races?
Sal retired and told me to do it.

What would you like the OBRA membership to know about your races?
The valley is a great place to live the bike life and the local races in and around Eugene are the best way to commune with the people who are making the most of it.

What is your favorite thing about promoting bike races?
My first races were weeknight Twilight races and they altered my course. My favorite part of promoting bike races is seeing new racers stumble in, recognize new capabilities in themselves, and decide they love the pain and absurd glory of it.

What advice would you give to any team or individual that is considering putting on a race?
Every race promoter learns by doing. The first year I promoted races, I hosted more than 20 races and survived, while working an unrelated full-time job and training for my own racing goals. Imagine if 20 OBRA racers next year decided to show how much they loved the sport by promoting just one new race! What a fascinating variety of venues and formats we would see.

What are the greatest challenges you face in promoting your races?
Weather, wildfire smoke, plagues, off-leash dogs, and whiners.

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting and sharing a bit about Sue Foster.  Sue runs the Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team, one of the biggest and longest-running teams in OBRA. While women running teams this large isn’t too common, we hope her interview inspires and encourages many more women to do the same. Be sure to say hello to Sue and Deschutes Brewery Cycling team next time you see them.

Enjoy!

Team Name?
Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team

Your Name?
Sue Foster

Your role within the team?
Team Captain

How did you first get into cycling and what was your first OBRA race?
I was gifted a Murray Meteor Flight by my parents in 1968. It was set up with double baskets on the built-in rear rack and I used it on my paper route. I’ve been a bike owner/ rider of one sort or another ever since. My first OBRA race was a Thrilla at the Athletic Club of Bend in 2013. I was a late bloomer.

When was the team created?
Legend has it that a handful of guys from the Brewery started riding together a few nights a week after work, and before beers. One thing led to another. This was circa 2011.

What would you say is the best thing about your team?
Why, the sponsorship and support of Deschutes Brewery, of course! But also, the diversity of our riders, the genuine camaraderie, and the fact that we are a CX-specific team, meaning that when September rolls around, we reunite the family, and we are all in for racing and supporting each other for the next 3 months. Our limited time together is totally engaging and fun. Oh, and the beer’s rather good too.

What are a few things you would tell someone who is looking to join your team?
Someone once told me that they heard it was necessary to have a resume of podium results to join our Team, but that is not true. We don’t have results expectations! What we are looking for are riders who want to participate and contribute to the Team. This will require clearing many of your fall weekends to drive hundreds of miles to race your bike. In return for this, we offer great coaching and many great benefits that will help you reach your own personal goals while enjoying the warm support of our Team culture. Racing CX with Deschutes will be one of the most rewarding and fun experiences you will ever have on a bike. 

What is your team’s ethos?
Our Team ethos was originally embodied and established by our founder, former captain, and friend, Colby Nightingale. Colby had a giddy enthusiasm for racing bicycles with his friends. He was competitive by nature but at the end of the day, never held himself to performance expectations. Racing was more about doing what he loved with all the folks he loved, to the best of his ability. His unwavering loyalty and commitment to the Team, the respect and support he showed everyone on and off the racecourse, and his unique ability to lift everybody up to their absolute best, have become the behavioral model and cultural focus we now share, and expect from all our riders.

What is the story behind your team’s kit?
I’m so glad you asked this! We just went through a new kit design process, working with a member of the Deschutes Marketing Group. For 2021, we had a style in mind and integrated a couple of the Brewery’s spring branding initiatives, specifically, a focus on the NW IPA’s and a move to increased can production. The accent colors on the kit are from the “Fresh Squeezed IPA” packaging, and the sublimated pattern across the jersey and shorts is actually rows of pull tabs from a can… It’s super cool!

If your team were to compete in a game show, what gameshow would it be and how would it go?
That’s a tough one. I think with our strong support dynamic, we would do well in a collaborative contest that doesn’t require any training or preparation, like Family Feud. The randomness of the Family Feud questions and answers though could easily become fodder for our elite heckling contingent, and things could go south pretty fast. We’d need to monitor that. In the end, we would crush the competition fair and square, donate the cash prize to a local charity, and brag about winning for at least a year.