Tag: Robin Cummings

  • 2026 JCS Race Recap #2: Heiser Farms

    Based on Summer’s report and Chloë’s photos, the second round of the 2026 OBRA Junior Cyclocross Series was blessed with a second-straight bout of perfect, early-season cyclocross weather at Heiser Farms, although I’m eagerly awaiting mud! I’m told the course retained its timeless combination of flow and tech, with a run-up that surely felt like a relief after last week’s wall at Cascade Locks. I suspect that the omnipresent bog threw a wrench in a few folks’ lines as well, both junior and adult racers alike! 

    The Yakima Hot Lap competition saw one repeat winner in Gabby Linn (Mettle Cycling) and a newcomer by way of the menace that is Jack Abel (Team Booger), who has been on a tear since XC mountain bike season and is racking up UCI points on the national junior circuit. Gabby won the 13-14 Junior Women category uncontested, but only pipped Vivi McManuis for the hot lap by a single second. Vivi, however, returned the favor and out-sprinted Gabby for the overall Junior Women’s victory on the day, winning the 11-12 Junior Women’s race in the process! Both riders consolidated their leads in their categories. Vivi was joined in her podium for the day by Bobbi and Willow Buswell, both of Team Booger, in second and third, respectively. The Buswell sisters now occupy those same slots in the overall competition for the 11-12 Women. The Junior Women’s 9-10 race started out close, but the consistency of Eliza Hazboun (Corvallis Junior Cycling) allowed her to pull away for the win over Fast Fun Nice p/b Steeplejack’s Edith Brown, also earning Eliza the series lead ahead of Edith. 

    Returning to the Junior Open Categories, Nicolas Rinaldi Ceroni (Biciclista) bested Wyatt Russell to win the 9-10 age group, flipping the prior week’s result, and tying them for the lead in the series. Wyatt Sells put in a measured race to place third on the day, putting him on equal points with Jude Smith overall. The 11-12 age group is likewise at a dead heat for the series. Luka Dedrick (Grouptrail Cycling p/b Ruckus Composites) steadily built on his speedy first lap to get the best of Fast Fun Nice p/b Steeplejack’s Cyrus Brown. Meanwhile, Everett Hawes (Corvallis Junior Cycling) replicated his bronze from Race #1 and stands third after another consistent ride in Race #2. Everett’s brother and teammate Garrett did one better in the Junior Open 15-16 competition, but Axel Weaver (Team Booger) put in a measured effort over three laps to take victory. Garrett now leads the series, with Axel tied with Race #1 victor Bjorn Swanson (Dirty Fingers) for second. Benjamin Krawachuk-Miller, Corvallis Junior Cycling teammate of the Hawes brothers, earned a tie for the series lead with a win in the 13-14 Junior Open race. Dylan Glazer will surely be back to battle for that leader’s jersey in future rounds, though, with fellow Team Booger rider Carter Hayden now third overall. Jack Abel wasn’t satisfied with the Hot Lap win and pipped his Booger teammate and fellow UCI competitor Bennett Gassner for the 17-18 Junior Open victory, with Meko McDaniel (Corvallis Junior Cycling) earning third courtesy of a strong ride. These three now hold the same places for the overall standings. 

    I’d also like to take a moment to shout out a number of junior racers who doubled up on the day! Meko put in a strong effort in the Cat 4 Open field for fourth; Gabby dominated the Cat 4 Women, winning by more than four minutes; Jack and Bennett nabbed second and third in the Cat 1/2 Open; and Axel muscled out fifth in the Cat 3 Open. 

    I’ll close the recap, as usual, with some odds and ends. As I mentioned last week, I’ll be absent from Willamette Supercross in Eugene. This was my favorite new-to-me course last year! The views are lovely, the elevation gain is deceptive and the off-cambers are just enough to catch you out without being high consequence.

    Make sure to stick around after every JCS race for podium photos, leader’s jerseys and hot lap prizes, and don’t hesitate to ask me (or my substitute next week, Taylor Pasquariello) if you’ve got even the slightest suspicion that you or your junior racer has earned any of the above!

    Thanks to Heiser Farms promoter Eric Vickers, who Summer tells me was exceptionally enthusiastic about the junior racing, our series and prize sponsors and prize providers sponsors Castelli, Yakima, BikeTiresDirect and Sellwood Cycle Repair, and, of course, the parents who drive our racers, make sure their bikes function and take their handups. We’re still working on a date for our end-of-season party—we’ll keep you posted. I’ll see you all at Heron Lakes!

    —Robin

  • 2026 JCS Race Recap #1: Cyclocross Crusade Cascade Locks

    Our juniors were greeted with sunshine and warm weather in Cascade Locks—two rare occurrences in what I think might just be the rainiest part of the Columbia River Gorge—for round one of the 2026 Junior Cyclocross Series (JCS) courtesy of Cyclocross Crusade.

    Familiar to anyone who’s had the opportunity to race it, the course had a bit of single track, lots of rocks (visible this year due to relatively dry conditions), the biggest run-up in OBRA Land and plenty of sand. The dry weather made the sand especially challenging this year with the lines changing lap after lap, with no consistent riding lines developed. For those with the eyes and awareness to take advantage of this dynamic part of the course, there were lots of opportunities to make up time, and/or save energy. During the morning races, I joined some of our young racers in tempting some of their parents and peers with an assortment of hand-ups. Before we knew it, it was time to get the JCS properly started.

    Unsurprisingly, things were competitive from the start. An assortment of goodies from Yakima for the new Hot Lap contest for the fastest first lap spiced this up a bit (thank you, Marie!), but I do suspect it made only a fractional difference in the early efforts expended. The winners of the Hot Lap clearly didn’t burn themselves out, as both ended up winning their categories overall, with Bjorn Swanson (Dirty Fingers) and Gabby Linn (Mettle Cycling) nabbing the honors.

    Bjorn was joined by Garrett Hawes (Corvallis Junior Cycling) in second and Zach Tristan (Grouptrail p/b Ciclo Wealth) in third on the Open 15-16 podium. He must not have been satisfied with a single win on the day, as he hopped back out onto the race course to join in the Category 3 Open race shortly after finishing—one of our many juniors who doubled up! Gabby bested Bella LaDolce in the Women’s 13-14 race and has thus earned the right to wear one of the new Castelli leader jerseys next week. 

    Jumping down in age groups to the Women’s 11-12 race, Vivi McManuis (Team Booger) and Bobbi Buswell (Team Booger) were locked in a tight battle during the first laps, but Vivi opened a gap on lap three and left no doubt who would be atop the podium by cutting nearly 90 seconds off that time for the fourth and final time around the course. Phoebe Hogue (Team Booger) and Willow Buswell (Team Booger) were in a similarly compelling competition for the final podium slot, with Phoebe winning out courtesy of a fast last lap of her own.

    The Open 11-12 race saw Cyrus Brown (Fast Fun Nice Racing p/b Steeplejack) open a lead over Luka Dedrick (Grouptrail Cycling p/b Ruckus Composites) and maintain an impressive level of consistency in his laps and line choice to hold on for the win; Everett Hawes (Corvallis Junior Cycling) regained some time after a rough first lap, but ultimately ended his day in third. 

    Dylan Glazer (Team Booger) put in a dominant ride to finish ahead of his teammate Carter Hayden in the Open 13-14 competition. Eli Baraff (Grouptrail Cycling p/b Ciclo Wealth) found an extra gear or two in the last ten minutes of racing, but still couldn’t manage to reel Carter in.

    The final competition of the day saw a well-earned victory for Wyatt Russell (A&B Bike) in the Open 9-10. I’m not sure exactly how, but I do imagine the dirt jumping he does—far beyond my own skillset—played a role in the win! Nicolas Rinaldi Ceroni (Biciclista) and Jude Smith joined Wyatt on the podium in second and third, respectively.

    Unfortunately, I will miss the next two rounds—at Heiser Farms and Willamette Superchamps—but have secured more-than-capable substitutes, including Summer Newlands and Taylor Pasquariello. Summer is my friend and teammate, and possibly the best bike handler I know. Ask her for some tips! Taylor is a fixture in our community and pet lover. They’ll be under the same OBRA tent where you usually find me, and I’ll be sure to emphasize the importance of supplying our junior racers with hand-ups before, during and after their races!

    A few updates and reminders. First, our photographers are working hard to provide photos of both race and overall series podiums as soon as possible. Hot Lap prizes are also being distributed just after the races. Second, our end-of-season celebration with medals, prizes, a raffle and jerseys (for those who haven’t already claimed theirs) will be concurrent with Cyclocross Crusade’s annual bash. Details TBA!

    Think you finished well in the individual race or series standings? We encourage junior racers and their parents to stick around after the race to wait for results. Either myself or a parent volunteer have physical spreadsheets to quickly confirm where things stand. This will help us award leader jerseys and grab podium photos.

    Thank you to our OBRA promoters, our sponsors Castelli, Yakima, BikeTiresDirect, and Sellwood Cycle Repair, and most of all, the parents of our junior racers—we could not do any of this without you. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions or feedback!

    —Robin

  • 2026 Junior Cyclocross Series Kicks Off on September 19

    Featuring six races this fall, the OBRA Junior Cyclocross Series (JCS) kicks off on Saturday, September 19, at Cyclocross Crusade in Cascade Locks. The fifth race in the series, CX Bike Indy, will also serve as the 2026 OBRA Junior Cyclocross Championships.

    “I’m excited to build on the established success of the Junior Cyclocross Series this year with a focus on fun and growing participation,” said Robin Cummings, the JCS Director. “Our podium finishers will win MapleXO medals and prizes, and there will be a raffle for all JCS contestants. This year, we’ll also be doing a first-lap prime at each race with merch provided by Yakima. And, because our juniors appreciated giving and receiving hand-ups of sweet treats last season, we’re partnering with local bakeries to ensure everyone gets a proper sugar fix.”

    To help young racers and parents register for all OBRA cyclocross races—including those in the Junior Cyclocross Series—all juniors will race in age-group categories instead of ability-class categories. This streamlined approach aligns with junior cross racing at non-OBRA events, including national championships. Visit our JCS page for detailed information on junior racing categories for cyclocross.

    In each of the JCS races, juniors receive points for their placing in that race. At the end of the series, the best four results count toward the hotly-contested individual competition. Castelli is providing custom-designed JCS leader jerseys, and in addition to medals and jerseys, the top three finishers in each category will receive prizes including gift cards from BikeTiresDirect and Sellwood Cycle Repair.

    The series also tracks team results in each of the six races and the winning team will be crowned as the JCS team champions.

    “Some of our parents have offered to help with on-the-ground scoring this year,” said Robin. “This will help us update our series standings as quickly as possible after each race. Once again, we’ll again have talented photographers donating their time to capture as many moments as possible.”

    No bike? No problem. The PDX-based Fast Fun Nice racing team has a fleet of loaner bikes—including many with 24-inch wheels—ready for your cyclocross-curious junior.

    2026 Junior Cyclocross Series Schedule

    Saturday, September 19Cyclocross Crusade Cascade Locks
    Sunday, September 27Heiser Farms CX
    Sunday, October 4Willamette Superchamps CX
    Sunday, October 18Cyclocross Crusade Heron Lakes
    Saturday, October 24CX Bike Indy / OBRA CX Championships
    Saturday, October 31Cyclocross Crusade Edgefield

    As for the ultimate race in the series on Halloween at McMenamins Edgefield?

    “I’m excited to see how everybody balances a fun costume with one that doesn’t impede racing too much!” said Robin.

    Visit the JCS page for more resources including:

    • Junior Racing Categories for Cyclocross
    • JCS Individual + Team Scoring
    • Series Standings
    • Robin’s Race Recaps
    • Swag + Prizes from Our Generous Sponsors

  • OBRA Board of Directors Welcomes Three New Members

    OBRA Board of Directors Welcomes Three New Members

    Because of their generous volunteer service and expertise in various areas, the OBRA Board of Directors is vital to the governance of our non-profit organization. Board members serve three-year terms and may serve two terms consecutively.

    Two of our board members recently completed six years of service on the OBRA Board of Directors. We are deeply grateful to both Christy Hawkins and Stacy Westbrook for their dedication to the mission and vision of OBRA. Christy and Stacy joined the board in 2020 and helped OBRA navigate the pandemic lockdown and the post-pandemic recovery of our organization.

    This year, the Board of Directors and the OBRA staff are thrilled to welcome three new board members who are each beginning three-year terms. Robin Cummings is filling a board-appointed, at-large seat, and Colin Dunlap and Saachi Murthy are filling the two recently-vacated, elected seats. A vote held at the OBRA Annual Meeting on February 28, 2026, confirmed the appointments of Colin and Saachi.

    Please join us in congratulating and welcoming our three new board members!

    Robin Cummings

    A proud OBRA member since moving to Portland in 2016, Robin is avid racer in multiple disciplines, and has also served as an OBRA official. Most recently, Robin ran the OBRA Junior Cyclocross Series this past fall.

    “My love for the sport of cycling—and the community who makes it possible—has only grown,” said Robin. “As an elite transgender athlete, I feel I have a uniquely important perspective on inclusivity, which cannot be taken for granted. Joining the OBRA board is an exciting next step for me, and I want to make sure future generations of cyclists are able to enjoy the sport I adore.”

    Colin Dunlap

    Originally from Bend, Colin began racing as a junior in 2008. His first race was in the 10-18 category of the Portland Cup USGP cyclocross in 2008, and he continued to be a fixture in OBRA junior races in multiple disciplines. He’s also competed in races sanctioned by USA Cycling outside of Oregon, which has given him a broad perspective on the sport and its communities around the country.

    “I’m passionate about giving back to the sport of cycling,” said Colin. “I’m excited to contribute my experience to help OBRA continue to grow and be the best it can be.”

    Saachi Murthy

    An immigrant from India, Saachi has lived in Oregon for 20 years and over the last decade has raced everything from PIR laps to muddy ‘cross courses and even sprints around the Alpenrose Velodrome. His 2024 Oregon Gravel Grinder finish was a huge milestone for Saachi—it was his first major race as a proud new citizen of the US.

    “I’ve seen the incredible grit it takes to keep our cycling scene alive,” said Saachi. “But nothing brings it home quite like seeing my toddler son watch a race and grab his balance bike to ‘go fast.’ I want to make sure Oregon bike racing is still thriving when he’s ready for the start line.”