Local man about town on two wheels, Eric Lundgren, fires off his ever informative update for what’s going on in and around the Salem area in the bike world. Thanks Eric! (Be sure to visit The Salem Breakfast on Bikes blog if you don’t already read it!)

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It’s cold!  But it’s beautiful, and if you’re dressed right it feels great!

Not so many date-bound events this time of year…but lots of bits of news!

Breakfast on Bikes – Friday, Dec 11th
We’ll be at Mission and Winter.  Thanks to Cascade Baking, Coffee
House Cafe, LifeSource Natural Foods, Salem Bicycle Club, Willamette
University!  For complete details see -
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/12/breakfast-on-bikes-december-11th.html

Parade – Saturday, Dec 12th
The PGE Festival of Lights Holiday Parade is this Saturday!  All
riders are invited to join in the bike float!  For more information
see -
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-watch-you-can-bicycle-in-holiday.html

Kidical Mass
Kat’s planning Kidical Mass rides for Salem!  These are short rides
for families and kids, not more than 5 miles with stops at parks and
for ice cream and fun stuff!  To learn more or to volunteer to help
with planning see -
http://kidicalmasssalem.blogspot.com/

Salem Bike Taxi
Have you seen the new pedicab downtown?  Check it out!  Michelle’s
also looking for help with maternity leave…let her know if you can
take a shift or two!
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/10/salem-bike-taxi-joins-mix-of-downtown.html
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/12/3-great-ways-to-help-bicycling-this.html

Commercial Restriping Plan
Council passed the plan to put sharrows downtown on Commercial!
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/11/council-approves-restriping-plan.html

Bike Friendly Business Apps
The deadline for the LAB Bicycle Friendly Business award is January
15, 2010.  Who will be Salem’s first?
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-you-know-bicycle-friendly-business.html

Union & Front Video Camera
Video traffic light controllers have been installed for traffic on
Union at the eastern bridgehead of the Union Street RR Bridge!  Now
bicyclists don’t have to use the crosswalk.
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/11/traffic-lights-at-union-and-front.html

Cyclocross
Lots of local racers participated in the fall cyclocross season.
Check out Paul’s great coverage of the races and local riders at
Pacific Pedaling!
http://pacificpedaling.com/

Salem Bicycle Club
If you haven’t tried club rides, consider the introductory High
Wheeler Rides every Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm.  For more information
see -
http://salembicycleclub.org/calendar.plx?id=1

Whimsy
Want a bit of whimsy in the cold?  Here’s some sweet bike propaganda!
http://breakfastonbikes.blogspot.com/2009/12/whimsy-for-cold-copenhagen-errol-morris.html

Join the BTA
Need a gift for a bicyclist you know?  Consider a BTA membership!
It’ll help with legislation and advocacy statewide.
http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2009/12/01/donate-to-the-bta-by-december-15-and-win-tickets-to-cirque-de-soleil/

I’m a little behind this week on updates, but check out this edition of the Cyclocross diaries. The beloved Crusade announcer “Splinter,” (yes, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles master) throws some great words around about our young fella on the team. The whole edition is great and worth a watch.

The Maneater, Barton Park, claims another victim....and those aren't carbon.

Note: a few of my favorite shots down through this post, the full 200+ on the Flickr page. Be sure to check out PDXCross.com too, Ellen and Peyton (Tyler’s son) both made it this week.

I’d been dreading Barton just a little…ok, maybe a lot, ever since I saw it would be the last race of the my first Crusade series. Mention Barton and get a plethora of responses:

“Oh, the Maneater.” “I hate that course.” “I love that course.” “We called the ambulance 3 times last year.” “Wear a mouthpiece.” “I’m skipping that one.” “Good luck, you’ll need it.”

Martha, coming around the corner after railing the off camber downhill.

I’d heard the stories, seen the photos, and watched the videos of people descending that big ol’ hill, and crashing on the way down, at the bottom, and even up into the rock pit. As a newbie, I figured I’d be eating dirt along with many others, but was hoping to avoid being someone who’d need medical assistance. Thankfully I can say I made it through the final race of the series, and lived to tell about it.

Tyler, leading out the Clydes at the start of the race.

I didn’t get to experience the course before this year, but knew that they had taken out The Hill that ate so many riders before and turned it the other way into a big, rocky run up. A different off-camber trick hill replaced it, and I couldn’t have been more proud than when I saw Martha, without a preride (as far as I know) cut across both lines and take it on a straight shot when she came down around the corner. I had a blast watching all the Pacific Pedaling riders and appreciating what a great series we had as a team! It was also fun to have David Rasca donning the big green P kit and ride with the crew!

The new downhill section claimed it's fair share of riders and bikes.

Tyler had a great holeshot off the line in the Clydes race, and finished with a 5 finish to wrap up a nice series. Martha rode a strong ride, railing the off camber section. Pat and Ellen both did the single speed race, swapped out bikes and jumped into their A races, and James, coming off his rib injury, put his bike down again on the slick pavement corner, and got back on the beast to finish out his race.

Racers "cleaning" their bikes in the ginormous mud puddles at Barton Park.

In addition to a great day of riding for the team, the final race of the day was easily the best race all year. With Cameron holding a one point lead on the series, it was bound to be a good one. Standing at the top of the run up, just a few feet from the gasp heard round the world when Cameron hit the ground, I can assure you it was a thriller down to the wire.

Martha and Ellen, both happy and muddy after a cold and wet day of racing!

Editors Note: This week, the ladies of Pacific Pedaling offered to report on last weekends crazy full schedule of racing. This report is brought to you by Martha Paulus and includes some of my favorite shots from the day. Another hundred and some photos are on the Flickr page – click here for those. Thanks Martha!

Saturday the Oregon State Fairgrounds hosted the last race in the Willamette Valley Cross Series and the  event was also for the OBRA Cross Championship . The organizers worked hard and put on a great race.  I stopped by Friday to help out and to get a sneak peek at the course.  It was a long one, 2.2 miles.  It meandered through the fairgrounds horse arena, motocross track, volleyball court, warm-up barn, and out into an open grassy area.

Martha killing it in the motocross arena.

The morning of the race was pleasant and little sunny.  I went out to cheer on Paul during his race and was pleased to see the chopped motorcycle track had already been tracked out making for a much easier section.   I noticed a medic attending to several people who appeared to have road rash due to slippery spots on pavement no doubt.  Note to self, don’t take the corners too fast.

Tyler working his way through the life sucking grassy part of the course.

At the 2 pm line up for the woman’s race the weather  had taken a turn for the worse.  The start was fast as it went down a paved section the length of the motorcycle arena and then a hard left which was slick.  As I headed for the first pass through the warm-up barn and out into the open part of the course the rain was coming down pretty hard.  The open grassy section was tough,  back to back barriers through switch back turns and mud of course.  As I remounted and headed back in, the headwind made my bike feel like it weighed a 100 lbs.  Ouch!  More winding around through grass, water, mud to the sandpit for a mandatory dismount.  This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, however I’m glad the organizers shortened the distance, five more strides would have killed me.

Paul smiling too much....gotta sign up for Heidi Swift's Cyclocross Mean Face class.

Before entering the warm-up barn again, I struggled  through the longest stretch of mud the course had to offer.  I could see my team tent at the far end of the barn and got a much needed boost in morale.  That headwind nearly crushed me.  The horse arena was great, hearing the live band play as I made my way though the loamy dirt helped spirits too.  Did I mention that I’m second to last in Women’s Masters 35+ at this point and only 1 lap in?  Whatever, I’m having fun out there in spite of the pain.   Now on to the motocross track and I feel better and gain some ground on another girl.  Yeah!  Uh oh, she’s pulling away from me on the flat parts again!

Muddy Pat.

I had a great time doing the Willamette Valley Cross series!  Thank you to all the sponsors who made it happen.

Pat working a tough, muddy off camber section at PIR. Photo copyright PDXCross.

We had a HUGE weekend of racing with OBRA Cyclocross Championships here in Salem on Saturday, Cross Crusade #7 at Portland International Raceway in Portland on Sunday, and wrapping up with the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships to wrap up the day. Whew! We have some great race reports and TONS of photos starting tomorrow, but for today, check out some cool shots from PDXCross. James gets another 15 minutes of fame, and this time Pat gets in on the action too, pictured above.

James bombing down the crazy muddy off camber crash zone. The crowd roared when he flew through. Photo copyright PDXCross.

I was shooting over at the run up and heard the crowd explode and then saw James come out the other end of the off camber mud pit. I figured he either crashed hard, or bombed the corner…sure enough, he kept the bike upright and pleased the crowd.

Be sure to hop over to PDX Cross to see complete photo wrap ups from the weekend races.

View from the seats in the horse arena, which will house the beer garten and live band. Photo thanks to Matt Haughey

Mark your calendars for a full day of cyclocross racing this coming Saturday, November 5 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The Willamette Valley Cyclocross Series wraps up with the OBRA Championships at the Fairgrounds. Check BuyLocalCycling.com for more information. Last minute registrations are available at the venue on Saturday, and races start at 10 am.

Series Points 10 deep (15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2)

Prizes:  $1500 min. cash payout for SR A Men and Women for the top five in the series.  Swag for top three in other categories.

Series winners and OBRA CX Champions will be recognized on Nov 7th, 2009.  The ceremony for the morning racers will follow the kiddie race.  Afternoon racers will be recognized after the A race.

Start Times/Categories/Race Length

10 am Beginner Men/Category C Men/Masters C 35+ Men (45min)

11 am Masters Category B 35+ Men/Masters 50/60+ Men/Clydesdale Men (45min)

Noon Oregon Junior Cyclocross Series

12:30 pm Kiddie Cross

Series / OBRA Champs Recognition #1

1 pm Category B Men/SS Men & Women/Unicycle (45min)

2 pm Women Category A/B/Beginners/Masters 35+ (45min)

3 pm Category A Men/Masters A 35+ Men (60min)

Series / OBRA Champs Recognition #2

Pat's training for Halloween Cross Races - a wig and a bucket of doughnuts. Genius.

All this time I’ve been trying to eat better, get more exercise, and ride as much as possible, but it turns out I didn’t know the true key to cyclocross success. Over the weekend our spy photogs snagged a shot of the training tent in Camp Sherman where Pacific Pedaling rider Pat Kudszus shows that lean meats, fruits and veggies do not cut it. Apparently a big bucket of Voodoo Donuts, cheese puffs, Fritos, mystery meat, and a beer tucked under the arm are needed. Toss on a wig for recovery compression and you’ve got the magic combo! Thanks man, I’m kickin’ it up a few notches now!

It’s always a little moment of happiness for me when the Cyclocross Diaries come out. Heidi and Eric not only gut it out on the course each week, but then they put on their media minds and get busy cranking out the insider report for racers. Couple of glimpses of Pacific Pedaling riders in this edition too…I at least caught James while he was still alive. Enjoy!

James, hanging on for life at the end of his race. This photo belongs to http://www.pdxcross.com/ - all rights and credits belong to them as well.

In the world of local cyclocross photography, PDXCross is known for being the ones to catch the great shots. Racers look forward to their gritty (no pun intended) black and white photography every week from each race. Pacific Pedaling rider James once joked, “I know I’m famous when I’ve made PDX Cross. Well, welcome to your 15 minutes of fame James.

Visit PDXCross and see the complete set of shots from this past Sunday’s muddy race. I had to miss this race, so please enjoy the photo work from the pros.

Mark your calendars for our next local cyclocross race right here in Salem, Oregon at the old Battle Creek Golf Course on Commercial. The fellas over at BuyLocalCycling.com are working hard to put on a cool and fun event here in the Capital City. According to the site:

The Battlecreek golf course in Salem, OR sets the stage for race #2, Saturday Oct 24th, of the WVC series.  The golf isn’t manicured any longer but the picture below should give racers a general idea about the terrain and course layout. We’ve run the course over every tee box to provide some hills! Online registration ($20) will be open until 5 pm on Friday.  Day of race registration ($25) is open 15 minutes before your race.

Entrance/Parking:  The entrance to the course is tricky.  It’s a very quick turn off of Commercial through the gate.  The entrance is located off of Madras.

Be sure to hop over to their site to see a map of the course, register, and find out more information from the promoters. Last years Battle Creek race was the first cross race I ever even attended, and I made the following video from my day as a spectator. Y’all should come out!

Battlecreek Cross from nwduffer on Vimeo.