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ARCHIVE NEWS 2006

La Grande to Host Mountain Bike Race & Trail Run Event
Sept 5, 2006 - The Archery Range Trail System is the site for a mountain bike race, run, or walk festivity. A second event may take place in October. Read the following for details:

The Tom Goodall/Stan Wilde/John Manwell
Ride, Run, Walk for Health

When?-Saturday, September 16th. Registration at 9:00 am.
Where?-Registration will be at the Owsley Canyon Trailhead. From Blackhawk Trail Lane drive north on Owsley Canyon Road. After 2.5 miles the road will fork. Stay to the right, go up a short hill, and park.  See also marker north of La Grande on map below.

Schedule?-The race schedule is as follows:

10:00 am- Mountain Bike Race Time Trial: 100% singletrack, 11 mile and 5.5 mile courses.
10:30 am- Trail Run/Race Time Trial: 11 mile and 5.5 mile courses.
11:00 am- Just for the health of it: bike/run/walk
12:00 pm-Awards

Cost?-$15/person. Proceeds will benefit the Igo Lane, Owsley Canyon trail system (aka Mt. Emily Recreation Consortium)

Barbeque or catered food will be available.

Questions? Contact…
David Monnig david.monnig@gmail.com
Print version of Race Flyer  
 

RSS Feed Added
Sept 3, 2006 - Individuals using news aggregators to catch the latest feeds can access LGR's feed at http://www.LaGrandeRide.com/lgr_feed.xml

The advantage of using this feed is that new items on the LGR website will come straight to the subscriber. Popular RSS readers include Sage, RssReader, Google Desktop (also Reader and Gmail), Desktop Sidebar, and browsers such as Avant. Wikipedia also has more extensive information about RSS.

New Sections Added to Skills Challenge
August 29, 2006 - Two new sections add distance and more challenge to the "Skills" trail for the 2006 riding season. Click here to read more.

BMSTC: Trail Work on Wednesday
August 27, 2006 - Message from the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trail Club:

We will work on the Indian Rock Trail--starting at Owsley Canyon, on Wednesday August 30, 2005 @ 5:30 PM. We will be using hand tools to cut brush and to smooth out damage caused by heavy use when trails are wet.
Please bring stiff rakes, shovels, etc. There will be extra tools in the trailer at the Owsley Canyon trailhead--grab one and follow the trail towards the Archery Range/S-Curves/Bowen's Bridge...see ya there.

Observer Article about CycleOregon
August 23, 2006 - Click here.

Click on images below: The road to Union on the Airport TT is smooth and fast..

The hill before cove offers a challenging incline.

Cove highway (looking east) is long and straight with a good shoulder and white line.

La Grande Area 40k Time Trial Courses Mapped
August 20, 2006 - Two time trial courses in the Grande Ronde Valley have been charted and certified as 40 kilometers . This is a popular time trial distance and is the same length as the Oregon and Washington time trial championships. Both are relatively flat on good roads and start near Island City, just outside of La Grande.

The Airport Loop 40k starts at Pierce Rd and travels in a clockwise loop on Cove Hwy, Union-Cove Hwy, and Union Hwy ending at the La Grande Union County Airport. The terrain is very flat with only about 100 feet of total vertical gain. The quality of the road surface on Union Hwy (maintenance underway summer 2006) will be a big factor in the overall course speed. This course is not advised during high wind.

The Cove 40k course is an out and back from Island City to Cove. The advantage of this course is a very consistent road surface with ample shoulder space. Also, north or south wind conditions have a negligible effect on results. The course does have a challenging hill just before Cove that gradually rises just over 200 ft.

Both courses offer scenic and wide-open riding. The Cove 40k is recommended for windy conditions and preparation for hillier time trial courses. The Airport Loop provides a challenge in preparation for flat courses like the Oregon championship.

Archery Range Lease Benefits Local Mountain Bikers
August 18, 2006 - Near the end of July, the Board of Directors for the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trail Club voted to enter a lease agreement for a key portion of the Mt. Emily property owned by Forest Capital Partners/Gallatin. The leased includes the property from Mt. Emily Road east to the edge of the property. This area includes the popular mountain biking trails known as The Archery Range System (aka Mt. Emily Trails, Igo Lane).

The land is now designated for non-motorized use only, except for Mt. Emily Rd (4x4s and ATVs allowed), Igo Lane (ATV only), and portions of Conley Creek Rd (ATV only). The area is open to horseback riders, but may be closed to horse activity if trail damage continues. Horseback riders should refrain from trail use in wet conditions.

Another important aspect of the lease is an agreement to allow events, post signs, implement trail closures, and coordinate maintenance and clean-up.

On November 1, all motorized use of the area will be curtailed.

The lease runs through April 2, 2007. Ongoing fundraising efforts are necessary to cover the lease, insurance costs, signage, and trail improvements. Contributing organizations include the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trail Club, Grande Ronde Road Runners, and the Nordic Club. Those interested in contributing should contact Bart Barlow.

Adventures Biking in Baghdad Part V (With More Pictures)
July 28, 2006 -

The Army makes the world a small place, since no matter where you go, you are likely to see someone you know. Such was that case with me last week when an Army buddy and team-mate of mine that I had raced mountain bikes with back in the states arrived here ‘in-country’. It has been great to see him again, and we have been able to ride together once or twice a week.

Click on images below: Author in his business suit at the International Zone helopad in central Baghdad, escorting some journalists and State Dept mukie-muks..

East side of BIAP, looking north. Off in the distance on the left is where SGT Smith earned his posthumous "Congressional Medal-of-Honor" during the battle that also destroyed the enemy tanks that I'm standing on.

Descending Slayer Hill- 1 of 2 artificial mounds about 210ft high (the highest point within 100 miles) and is the spoil from the nearby artificial lakes that Saddam built around his palaces. Now used for Radio towers and an 'armed' Observation Post over-watching a nearby Baghdad slum neighborhood.

Climbing Liberty Hill- 1 of 2 artificial mounds about 200ft high (the 2nd highest point within 100 miles) and is the spoil from the nearby artificial lakes that Saddam built around his palaces. Now used for Radar and Radio towers.

My old team-mate from the States, doing his tour with me in Iraq. Don't let his cheap Huffy and look of terror fool you. The guy is a skilled rider and racer... Downhill, Cross Country, and 24hr Endurance events.

Brian heading for the 'run-out'. This is the best down-hill there is within 100 miles..

Brady w/ Huffy Debris Field - A more humorous demonstration of 'Cost -v- Quality'. After bending his derailleur straight again (sort of), we attempted to limp home with what gears he had available. We didn't make it a 1/4 mile before the whole derailleur 'grenaded'. Notice the sprocket in the foreground, then cage screw, then the whole derailleur on the ground... and the resulting saggy chain. We towed him home with a length of twine... and Much Ribbing, of course.

Huffys Can't Hang - A practical demonstration of 'Cost -v- Quality' as it relates to bicycles. Notice the derailleur alignment after a little hill climbing action on this sub-$100 'PX Special' bike. Poor thing just can't hang..

He is a Day Guy, while I work at Night, but we had opportunity to do night ride last week when I got another day-off (my 3rd this year). I got to introduce him to the adventures of riding among the night time truck convoys and the best practices of approaching our Ugandan friends at the checkpoints during hours of darkness.

All went well with little to tell, though notable was our encounters with the local wild life… of which there were two:

The first was an interesting moment with a bat. We started our ride just after dusk, and the bats were many and active. As we had our bike headlights on, the bugs tended to center themselves on the road in front of us. The bats recognized a good thing, and started to tag along. For a time, there was as many as a dozen leading the way for us, at various distances before our headlights, matching our pace. One bat in particular un-nerved me some, as for about thirty seconds he matched my speed about six inches in front of my nose. I actually felt the flutter from his wings on my face until some bug caught his interest and he darted-off. It made for a very surreal view, with the silhouette of a bat super-imposed over the illuminated area of an otherwise dark Iraqi highway.

The second interesting moment to all parties involved was with a pair of Jackals (Iraq’s version of Coyotes) eating on a road-kill rabbit. The pair was fairly involved with their feast and did not hear us approach…. And we did not see them in our headlights until it was very close to ‘too late’. As the sequence of events unfolded, we all become aware of each other’s presence at about the same moment. As you might expect, Chaos was the result. Squealing brakes and startled yelling as Brian and I attempted to slow down and steer clear without crashing into the Jackals or each other (Brian says I screamed, but I’m sure it was him that did so :-). There was a fair bit of yelping from the Jackals as they levitated in surprise, and then the sound of doggie toe nails on pavement as they clawed for traction in an urgent attempt to ‘be somewhere else’. Their eyes must have been washed out by our headlights, because both took off to the wrong side of the road and ran directly into a chain-link fence. They yelped some more as they bounced off as they would off a trampoline, and then dashed back across the road, through our headlights again, and splashed into a water filled ditch (I don’t think they expected that, either). More yelping as they dashed off through the reeds. Once Brian and I slowed both our bikes and our heart-rates, the ‘Keystone Cops’ theater presented by the Jackals was good for a belly-laugh.

Ahhhh Yes… Survived another ride!

PVT Parts

Upcoming Events in Union County
July 23, 2006 - Cycle Oregon is coming to Eastern Oregon September 9-16 and will pass through Union County. Another event on local roads is the Wallowa Classic touring ride hosted by Cycling Crazy on September 2-3. Wild Heart Cycling also has a number of supported touring rides that pass through.

Adventures Biking in Baghdad Part IV (With Pictures)
July 7, 2006 - From Iraq:

Working during a war is pretty much a 24-7 kind of job… Of course. Weekends and holidays don’t count for much here… They are just ‘another day’- And if you think about them too much, you just get home-sick & melancholy.

I work 12 to 14 hour shifts here, but every now-and-then I might be lucky enough to get a full day-off. My last day-off was 7 March, and I remember it well.

Click on images below: Looking NE across Baghdad and Date Palm Groves from the highest ground within a 100 miles.

North end of BIAP looking East along the main truck route. Part of my usual 14 mile lap around the airport.

The South end of BIAP looking East. This is the other half of my usual 14 mile lap around the airport. The 'bad guys' are on the other side of that wall to the right.

My Ugandan buddies at the check-points. Nice guys during the daylight... but a little skittish when it gets dark.

Hero Pic in front of the Al Faw Palace. This is where I work... every damn day.

Had to pull over for a Combat Patrol heading outside the wire for the night. "When we send 'Tanks', we care enough to send the very 'Best'."

A photo of My Horse. She gets it done.

Because I work the ‘night watch’, a ‘day-off’ was actually a ‘night-off’ for me… But still no reason not to Ride, yes? For night-riding, I have my bike set up with a pair of battery powered LED commuter type headlights (ViewPoint Flare~5), another little white LED light (Nashbar Brilliant 3) set to ‘rapid-flash mode’, and another ‘no-name’ 18xLED helmet mounted light. It is not the kind of light set-up I’d want to use to ride fast through the ‘rock garden’ at night, but it works for around here.

In order to ‘be seen’, on the back I just use a little ‘red LED safety light’ on a strap (Cateye LD100) set to ‘flash mode’, but all around I have reflective sidewall tires, spoke reflectors, rear reflectors, and a neon green reflective belt around by waist. When I ride around here at night, I look like some “Supernatural Glow-Being”… And that was exactly the problem. Not many folks ride bikes at night here.

Because we are a Multinational Coalition here, I am never surprised when I see soldiers from other countries… But sometimes they are surprised to see me. In this case, we have Ugandan infantrymen to guard the checkpoints on the roads around the camp. They are small, black men that can look pretty fierce when they want too, but are generally friendly, happy, and a good bunch of guys. Makes me glad we are all on the same side.

At 2:00 AM however, they can be a little skittish. It does not help when from a mile away they see this ‘Glowing Being’ coming at them- Not behaving like a car- Not making any noise like a motorcycle- Not flying high enough to be an aircraft… It almost looks like it is ‘floating’. What Is That THING?!?!?!

As I was approaching this particular checkpoint, I could see a guard standing in the bright floodlights and hear him call into the guard-shack in slightly agitated tone. Then two guards appear, and also call back into the guard-shack. Now four guards are out front, and by what I could see of their body-language, they were a little bit excited about something. I thought to myself, “Dang- I wonder what is going on up there? Maybe I’ll slow down to a slow roll, just in case there is something going on up there that I don’t want to be a part of.”

I guess when I slowed down, to them I really looked like I was ‘floating’, because they got a little more excited and were looking down the road in my direction with their rifles at a ‘low ready’ position.

So now I’m thinking to myself, “Dang- whatever has them all spun-up must be coming up from behind me. I better look back and check… Well… I don’t see anything, but they must know something I don’t, so perhaps the best place for me to be right now is behind them, rather than between them and whatever it is that has them upset.”. So I resumed my pace in order to get up to the checkpoint.

WELL… That Really Got them into a Low Hover! They started jumping around- A couple got down behind a barricade, and one took a knee in what looked to me remarkably like a good ‘firing position’. “Dang… What the hell is going on?”

By this time, I’m about 100m away and starting to slow back down when one of the guards remembers a very useful ‘English’ word…”HALT!”

So I do, just to be safe, and not confuse the issue any further than what it already is… because I know I am a fair bit confused right now. Once I got stopped, a couple of them approach me- real slow- rifles at the ‘low ready’. I’m a bit more confused and getting a little concerned, too.

About 50m away, the guys’ eyes must have adjusted to the darkness, and they see me for what I am- a bike rider at night. Their body postures visibly relaxed and they start chattering to each other in whatever language Ugandans chatter in. Next thing I know, I have four Ugandan Infantrymen surrounding me, laughing hardily, pointing at all my head-lights, and patting me on the back. HHaahaha.

I’m laughing with them, because it was kind of funny… But I also laughed with them out of personal relief from the late realization of what just happened, or rather- almost happened. Yeah, I scared the hell out of those poor guys. I was some kind of a “Boogy-Man” to them. They never saw a night-rider before… But then, they were the ones with the rifles, which got my heart-rate up a bit, too. As I said… I’m glad we are all on the same side.

Whew!!! Survived another ride. HHHHaaahahahaha. Good thing, too. That would have been a tough one to explain to my Mom. She worries about me some, for no real good reason.

PVT Parts

La Grande Area Racers Post Good Results at Elkhorn Classic
June 26, 2006 - Three racers from Union County took on a very competitive field in nearby Baker City for the Elkhorn Classic Stage Race. This four-stage event draws strong road racers from from all over the United States. The La Grande participants, along with one from Baker City, were the only who lived close enough to sleep in their own beds and commute to the race. Their general classification (i.e. overall) results are as follows: Matt Allen, 17th of 59 for the Masters 40+; Brian Bartel, 26th of 93 in Category 4; and Brian Sather, 36th of 108 in Category 3. Results are posted on the OBRA website.

Solstice Triathlon 2006 Results
June 20, 2006 - The La Grande Observer reports the results.

Elkhorn Classic Racers to Briefly Visit Union County
June 16, 2006 - The key first stage of the Elkhorn Classic Stage Race passes through Union County the afternoon of Friday, June 23.  The course takes riders into North Powder and through  Union. The racers then climb up past Catherine Creek State Park and the groups usually break apart on the difficult climb to the summit. Races continue through the weekend in Baker City. A few local La Grande area riders will be competing in this demanding road race that draws individuals from around the US and Canada.

3 Rivers Race Results
by the race organizers
June 16, 2006 - The Fifth Annual 3 Rivers Race was a huge success. Sixty-three riders participated in this event that traveled around the Grande Ronde Valley. Some rode/ ran 80 miles while others biked the 100 mile course. All were out to create awareness about problems of domestic and sexual violence and raise money for Shelter From the Storm, Safe Harbors (Enterprise) and Mayday. A record amount was brought in - over $11,800. The event was finished off with a picnic at Riverside with music by the “False Summit”, drawings for our many prizes donated by La Grande business owners and awards for race winners. The organizers want to thank all who participated – you helped achieve a wonderful goal – moving us one step closer to ending domestic violence.

Results:

• Individual that raised the most money – Roger Averbeck (Enterprise) - $1625

• Team that raised the most money – Just for the Health of It - $2096

• Most Inspirational team (most people, most money per person) – Go Go Gadget Rabits

• Individuals raising over $500 – Kim Sorenson, Korrie Dubray, MaryEllen LaBerge

• Individuals raising over $300 – Nancy Bachman, Glenn Doster, Sharon Evoy and Lynn Willis

• Fastest 80 miler – Korrie & Kody Dubray, Craig Nightingale and Rick Stanton – 7:09

• Fastest 100 miler – Brian Sather – who flew around the course in 4 hours and 58 minutes

• Second 100 miler - Sandy Isabell and Brian Bartell

• Fastest 80 miler with handicap (child in tow for last 10 miles) – Korree Dubray – 7 hours

• Fastest Mixed team – Run Kathy Run -

• Fastest Team – Easy Riders

• Most Inspiring Individual – Jessica Peck – who completed 80 miles even after landing on her head!!

Bike Route Map for Solstice Triathlon Posted
June 9, 2006 - View the map for the mountain bike segment of the local triathlon scheduled for June 17 at Morgan Lake.

Pictures for 3 Rivers Race Posted
June 3, 2006 - Click here to see.

Adventures Biking in Baghdad Part III
May 27, 2006 - From Iraq:

I had a Close Call here (Baghdad) the other day. It was as much my fault as the Truck Driver's. Agricultural activity is returning back to normal (well… maybe not 'normal', but improving) around here. Dates are Iraq's #2 industry after Oil, and getting such industries back on their feet is a big deal. There are two rather significant campaigns to apply pesticides here. One is to the Date plantations using Russian build Crop-Dusters (Huge Biplanes), and the other is to the local marshes to reduce the mosquito population and associated heath risks (yes- there are marshes here between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. 'Mesopotamia'). The marshes are treated by 10 ton trucks with big paddle-tires, like what you may have seen on the peppermint fields there in Grand Ronde… except bigger, uglier, and poorly maintained.

Anyway, in a chain of events leading up to an "Oh Sh#%$!", I was riding past the North end of the BIAP runway, following one of those SwampBuggy spray trucks, getting choked by the nasty exhaust and memorized by the hypnotic sound of its' paddle-tires on the road, (WWaahWWaahWWaahWWaah… you know the noise). I eventually snapped out of it and decided it was time to pass the truck. I 'cleared my six', signaled a lane change, and picked up a brisk spin to overtake the truck. As I did so, one of those big Russian Biplane Crop-Dusters flew over my head, coming in for landing at BIAP to reload. Now, I'm also an airplane enthusiast and pilot, so I just could Not help myself… I Had to Watch! Not the best of times to do so, I know… but I HAD to.

Turns out the driver of the truck also liked airplanes… so he was gocking out his left window, watching the Biplane, too. Neither one of us was paying any attention to the important task at hand. Recalling advanced lessons and experienced in Riding - What happens while we are driving/riding and 'we look over our left shoulder'? Yes- we drift to our left… And we did. Next thing I know, I'm getting pinched between a ditch on my left, and a huge spinning paddle-tire on my right (WWaahWWaahWWaahWWaah…), and the gap was closing Fast!!!. "HEY!!!", I yell!

I jumped up out of my saddle in order to get ready to deal with an 'emergency ditch entry' just as the driver snapped out of his gocking mode and yanked his SwampBuggy back onto the correct lane. WHEW!!! Poor guy- Scared the hell out of him… But then, it got my heart-rate up a fair amount as well.

A Close Call, successfully averted. Good thing, too… It would have been tough to explain that one to my Mom. She worries about me some, for no real good reason J

PVT Parts

3 Rivers Race Map Posted
May 23, 2006 - View the map for the 3 Rivers Race scheduled for June 3.

Calculate Distances Using Special Gmap Tool
May 22, 2006 - Thanks to Outside magazine for a tip about a Gmap utility called Gmaps Pedometer. With it, the user can mark any route to determine distance.

Pumpkin Ridge Pictures Posted
May 20, 2006 - On a beautiful day in Imbler, Oregon, local runners and cyclists took on Pumpkin Ridge. Some ran part way to a cache of bikes, which they road down the hill and back. See pictures below:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6

Adventures Biking in Baghdad Part II
May 17, 2006 - From Iraq:

While doing as much riding here in Baghdad as I can, I’ve found a remarkable motivation for ‘Sprint Training’, though it is difficult to replicate at home, and I’m not sure you would really want to try.

Toward the north end of BIAP, there are a few Artillery Guns that are manned 24-7 in order to conduct Counter-Battery fire missions, meaning that they shoot big bullets back at any of the Bad Guys that shoot big bullets at us. That fact right there should be a little clue, huh? Every now and then you hear them launch a few ‘outbound’ in support of what the radar picks up. It is no big deal. You get used to it. In fact, it is a rather comforting ‘Boom’. Better ‘outbound’ than ‘inbound’, right?

A while ago I was doing my usual 14 mile lap around BIAP, this time doing it clock-wise, just because I was feeling nutty and wanted an exciting change of pace (ChaYah!). After I passed near the Guns on my lap, I heard a very loud ‘KaWhump’ off in a field behind me… It was Not the comforting ‘Boom’ sound that I mentioned previously. Upon hearing it, I thought to myself, “Self - that was not the comforting ‘Boom’ sound that you like to hear. That did not sound right at all. It was a ‘KaWhump’ sound! What Was that Sound?”

So in ‘stupid prairie dog’ like fashion, I sat up on my saddle and looked behind me to see what made that noise. ‘KaWhump’!!! Another One…off in the field near the runway… and it was Not ‘Our Guns’ making the noise.

Once realizing what was happening and recovering from my ‘Darwin Moment’, I thought to myself again, “Self… Are you feeling up to a little ‘Sprint Work’? - Because this would be a really good time to GO FASTER!”

So I did… And in the process I passed a few TCNs in their trucks that had similar good ideas, though they took much less offense to me passing them this time. Go figure.

As I built up some distance behind me, I heard some of the familiar ‘Boom’ sounds that I’ve come to like so much. Ah,Yes… Our guys sending a little ‘love’ back the other way.

PVT Parts

Oregon Trail Classic Results Show High Finishes for Local Bikers
May 14, 2006 - The Oregon Trail Classic mountain bike race, held April 30 in Baker City, now has results posted online. Many Union County residents competed, with some impressive placings in the various categories.

Pumpkin Ridge Half-Marathon in Imbler/Summerville
May 11, 2006 - Run, walk, or ride a bike in the Pumpkin Ridge Half-Marathon Saturday, May 20. The event includes options for a 3, 7.5, and 13.1 mile loop that starts and ends at Imbler City Park. This is sponsored by the Grande Ronde Road Runners and starts at 9 am.
Race Flyer | Map 

Adventures Biking in Baghdad
May 11, 2006 (foreword by Brian Sather) - Somehow one of our Mountain Biking La Grande, Oregon books landed in Iraq. The recipient was a local mountain bike enthusiast fighting for our country. Today I received an email from him with some very interesting quips about serious mountain biking over there. He agreed to share if he could remain anonymous due to the serious nature (i.e. dodging mortars Iraq vs. avoiding cow poop at Archery Range) of riding in hostile territory. After all, there's no need to alarm family just because you're compelled to take your bike for a spin. Enjoy:

For obvious reasons, my biking is limited to the military camps here. Fortunately, a very large military complex surrounds the Baghdad International Air Port (BIAP… as we must make acronyms out of everything), and all the camps are connected my (sic) secure (relatively speaking) routes between which can produce a 14 mile loop around the fence-line. More if you want to add some loops together.

One challenge here is co-existing with the large trucks. Now, being from Oregon, that in and of itself is nothing new. Been around Logging Trucks all my life. No problem co-existing with Oregon Loggers. But Here, the challenge is not the trucks, but the TCNs (3rd Country Nationals) hired to drive them… most seem to be Pakistani.

Now the roads in Iraq are as you may expect (remember my recent pothole and spoke?), so the truck convoys can not travel much faster than 20mph… usually less. Such being the case, they frequently travel slower than a moderate MTB pace on packed gravel or pavement. So, there comes a time when it is necessary to pass the trucks.

Now, I am convinced that there is some deep rooted cultural aversion or prohibition, for which I must be horribly insensitive to, that absolutely forbids a Bicycle from EVER passing a Truck driven by a Pakistani. Much more often than not (and I do mean ‘much’), as soon as the Driver sees me making a pass in his rear-view mirror (1-assuming he has mirrors. 2- assuming he uses mirrors)… Holy Cow – The Race is ON!!!

A pass that could have been accomplished at a brisk spin winds up being an All Out Sprint in order to out-accelerate the truck and get tucked back into the correct lane.

Then you get to deal with all the honking and hollering from the TCN for having the gall to pass him. But that is OK, because for him to speed up on such a poor road, I get to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing him bounce himself to death in the cab as his truck hits all the pot holes.

Aahhh… What Fun!!!
PVT Parts

Local 3 Rivers Race Scheduled for June 3
April 13, 2006 - The fifth annual 3 Rivers Race takes place in the La Grande area the first weekend in June. This is one of the few local events that includes cycling and also running. The event offers a myriad of participation formats such as team participation and combinations of running and/or cycling over an 80 or 100 mile course. Those interested in this charity event against domestic violence can register at Signmeupsports.com or by emailing maryellenlaberge@hotmail.com
Race Flyer (0.8 mb) | Cover Letter (0.6 mb) | Details (1.0 mb) | Waiver (0.4 mb)

Solstice Triathlon Kicks Off at Morgan Lake in June 
April 13, 2006 - On June 17, the La Grande hosts the popular Solstice Triathlon. This grueling race features a 1k swim in Morgan Lake, 20k mountain bike on a wicked track, and a 10k trail run. Individuals or teams can register at active.com or in person at Cyclesports in La Grande.
Race Flyer | Registration Form  | Webpage

Observer Features MTB La Grande Book
March 24, 2006 - The recently released book Mountain Biking La Grande, Oregon, is reviewed by Dick Mason in The Observer. The feature is presented as the cover story for the Outdoor section of the daily newspaper for Union and Wallowa counties. 

Road Construction This Summer
March 21, 2006 - The La Grande Observer reports details about summer construction on Union Highway and above Catherine Creek State Park. Also, the highway from Union to North Powder to Baker City will be repaired. 

Bicycling Essentials for Northeast Oregon
March 13, 2006 - Click here to see the article published by LaGrandeONLINE news. 

Oregon Trail Time Trial Results Posted
March 2, 2006 - On a beautiful spring day on Foothill Road, some local guys braved the wind to record the first time trial results of the year. See results here. 

MTB La Grande Book Set to Release
February 26, 2006 - Mountain Biking La Grande, Oregon is scheduled to release March 7th. The book, by local authors Mark Larson and Brian Sather, features mountain bike rides within 1 hour of La Grande. Click here for more information.

Oregon Trail Time Trial Begins Next Week
February 22, 2006 - The spring bi-weekly time trials on Foothill Road will begin Thursday, March 2 at 3:45. These serve as a measuring stick for local riders to judge performance gains leading up to better weather and the racing season. The course is on a gently rolling road through scenic land at the base of the mountains and edge of Ladd Marsh. Participants keep their own times and report at the finish.  The time trials will continue approximately every other week and will be moved to 4:45 as the sun goes down later. To become part of the email list for the schedule, send a request to info@LaGrandeRide.com.The route can also be attempted at any time and results submitted. Details are included below:

Oregon Trail Time Trial (Foothill Rd) View Map
Length: 11 miles (17.7 km)
Start Marker: Foothill Rd at stop sign at bottom of 20th street (below the cemetery)
Turnaround: Blue JCT sign just before freeway overpass
Stop: Right turn warning sign near starting line

Union County Welcomes Cycle Oregon
February 9, 2006 - Cycle Oregon travels through the Grande Ronde Valley again this September 2006, staying two nights in Union and then traveling north through Cove, Island City, and Summerville. Visit the Cycle Oregon site to see the route.

Online Discussion Forum Added
February 9, 2006 - LaGrandeONLINE.com has graciously provided an online forum for cyclists in the area. The forum can be accessed directly from the LaGrandeRide.com main page.

La Grande Winter Riding Guide
January 16, 2006 - This Winter Riding Guide (PDF) is an excerpt from the upcoming book Mountain Biking La Grande, Oregon, scheduled to be released in February 2006.

Winter Clothing Recommendations
December 20, 2005 - Access the LaGrandeRide.com Cycling Temperature-Clothing Matrix for suggestions on clothing for different weather. An area winter riding guide will be posted soon.

Winter Road Conditions
December 7, 2005 - Many of the gravel farm roads offer smooth riding conditions with the recent snow and cold weather. A winter riding guide will be posted here soon.

Elgin Construction on Highway 204
September 19, 2005 - Most of the road surface on Highway 204 (Tollgate) in Elgin is torn up for the construction project. Those on road bikes should exercise caution and use side streets through the town.

No Chip Seal!
August 27, 2005 -According to the county roads department, there will be no chip sealing of roads this year. Chip sealing will likely resume in August 2006.

Future Ride Expansion
August 23, 2005 - The rides listed below will be expanded throughout the development of this site. Be patient--easier rides will be listed later.

Site Launched
August 22, 2005 - LaGrandeRide.com launched to serve as a home for information about bicycling in Union County, Oregon.

Brian's Bicycle Blog Archive 2006

Honey Stinger  Aug 19, 2006 Today I was out for a ride and got hit by a bee, stinger-first into my lip. Fortunately, I wore my mirrorized glasses today. These came in handy for pulling out the stinger, which was a difficult task considering my whole lip was numb and bleeding. I haven't been wearing mirrorized glasses much lately, but now I have found out they are a useful tool for emergency facial surgery. My lip was quickly swelling and I turned to head home, since I was fairly close to a shortcut. Then, my bike suddenly turned back around on the original course to finish my ride. There is something very unsatisfying about prematurely ending a bike ride. I've done this on several occasions. Rather then use common sense to go home early (like the times I've been cold or out of energy), I talk myself into continuing the ride. Although I wouldn't advise others to do this, I've found that often the bike has healing powers. I've ridden on through near bonks, body pain, cold, and mechanical problems to finish a ride feeling good. Usually the rain storms get me though. In this case, the swelling subsided and the pain went away by the end of the ride.

Elkhorn  June 30, 2006 As a participant in the Elkhorn Classic (of Baker City) last weekend, I can say this is one of the best races I have participated in, and it gets better every year. I was crazy enough to choose this for my first race a couple years ago, and now I look forward racing it every year. The Hobson family does a very professional job organizing the race. Also the camaraderie with the riders from all over the West makes the challenge even more enjoyable. We cyclists in La Grande are privileged to be able to ride the same roads that are raced, but it is nice to share the roads with the high caliber riders that visit for the race. I would like to see this bike race continue for a long time.

Gross Anatomy on Deadman June 12, 2006 The two Brians (me being one) took the Old Highway over to Mission and back early this morning. For those of you who haven't taken this trip, it is magnificent. We only got passed by about 3 cars in 4 hours of riding. Plus, the descent from and climb back up to Deadman Pass is one of the most serpentine roads I have ever been on. Nothing beats the views from it. From Mission it took use just over an hour to get to the very top. I think one of the European bike race artists has visited that climb. In the lower sections of the climb, I rolled over some male genitalia. It was an exact replica of the ones seen on roads of the famous climbs in the Tour de France. It was truly inspiring.

Snap, Crackle, Pop May 22, 2006 Just last week I was thinking (while riding of course) that it was very early in the year for the roads to be turning to Rice Krispies in what seemed like 100+ degrees on road surface. In a way, this is good because auto traffic in hot conditions helps smooth out the roads. Only so many days a year are favorable for this. I've been noticing that Palmer Junction Rd, far north on Hunter Rd, and even Market Lane are all getting quite smooth. On the the other hand, the surfacing tar on chip sealed roads is annoying for cycling because it sticks to your tires. Today was cooler, and I was out for a beautiful ride. Suddenly, I was trying to outrun thunderstorms and losing, ducking in a grain elevator for shelter in Alicel, getting pressure washed by passing trucks, and jumping straight in the shower at home. This is more like the May riding I know in La Grande.

Time Trialing & Tanning Cream May 11, 2006 Six riders were involved in the local time trial this week. Great turnout! We were treated to one of the worst wind directions for Foothill Road (NW), but survived the push back into the wind to post some respectable times. I've been impressed by every riders' time this year. Realize that Foothill is a slower course. This is due to the non-stop winds, rolling terrain, and rough road surface. Posting a good time on this course can ensure that you will be much faster on a flat windless course. For example, I just got back from the Treasure Valley Stage Race last weekend where I posted a 28+ mph time on a 10k course. This placed me in 3rd place for the Category 3 riders. The Foothill TT prepares one mentally for any challenge. Well, almost any. Last year we had snow one day on the road for the time trial and I was slipping around and wasn't prepared with the right clothing. I turned back for a long shower, even though one ride-in-anything stud finished the TT.  I'm always amused when I hear riders at other races and in other towns complaining about a stiff wind, when I hadn't noticed there was even a gentle breeze. The wind in La Grande has made me a much stronger rider. For one, if you can endure the psychological battle against the wind, it demonstrates fortitude. You can either think of the howl in your ears as a coach yelling at you to go harder or the crowd noise up an Alp in the Tour de France. I spent quite a bit of time this winter training in strong winds and I'm producing quite a bit of power this spring. I've been able to place 1st and 2nd recently in races, which helped me upgrade. Amusingly, the weather in La Grande has left my legs shockingly white despite logging thousands of miles this winter. Before the race I won about a month ago, I bought some of the darkest bronze tanning cream I could find and loaded it up on my legs. This gave me an appearance that I'd been down south in nice weather training all winter. I guess that intimidation technique gave me the edge I needed in the race. On another note, those of you who like watching bike racing, and get Dish Network should order Channel 600 this month. It costs about $12 to get this Italian language channel that shows the Giro d'Italia which is one of the most entertaining races of the year. It will continue for the next couple weeks airing at about 6 am PST.

Salt Lake City Riding Apr 30, 2006 The past week I was in Salt Lake City for a professional convention. This afforded me some riding opportunities on new roads. I wasn't that impressed by the riding in and around SLC, but I did see a lot of cyclists there. The roads were congested with traffic and every road had bumpy and inconsistent surfaces. Fortunately, I was able to spend a few days in Park City, and was very impressed by the riding there. When I first looked at the map, I didn't think it would offer good riding but quickly found I was wrong when I hit the roads the first day. The roads I sniffed out in Park City were awesome and I climbed thousands of vertical feet just riding through neighborhoods. The rides would be even better later in the summer when the high passes open. If anyone wants to know some roads I found, send me an email at bsather@LaGrandeRide.com Also, congratulations to local racer Brian Bartel for his 18th place GC finish in his first race, the Tour of Walla Walla.

First Good Day Apr 18, 2006 I've designate today as the first good riding day of 2006. I rode my cyclocross bike to and from work and the weather finally felt like spring. The combination of little wind, sunny skies, and a warmish temperature made for a pleasant ride. On the other hand, it wasn't so warm that I was able to let my knees see the sun for the first time. My legs are shockingly pale considering how many miles I've ridden this year. I'm hoping for warmer weather soon, like everyone else in La Grande.

Oregon Trail TT Apr 12 , 2006 I've been getting more inquiries about the TT on Thursday, so hopefully we'll have a few more people out this week. The forecast is showing it will be warmer and the winds normal (15 mph is normal). I want to emphasize that this is not intended to be a competitive event. Rather, the combination of external motivation, camraderie, and racing a bike on a standardized course provides good structure to spring training. Everyone should be looking for improvement based on their own times. I definitely use this course as a good benchmark for my training progress. The reason I post results is to formalize the times and provide historical reference points for everyone. A record of the conditions, dates, and times is also helpful for self-evaluation purposes. Also, I want to encourage other cyclists to make use of the discussion forum. I know quite a few people are accessing this site, because I see the web statistics almost daily. I'd like to hear more feedback and input about the site. Soon I will be putting up information for our upcoming local races, the 3 Rivers Race and Solstice Triathlon.

Getting High Mar 30, 2006 Today I put in a good time trial on Foothill Rd. The effort out was into a pretty nasty, gusting wind. When I made the turn, I saw my time was very good so I was inspired for the return trip. On the way back I experienced "runner's high." This is a phenomena in endurance sports that sport psychologists can't fully explain. It is something above and beyond the regular endorphin release in ordinary exercise. Another term psychologists use to explain a similar experience in other sports is "flow."  During flow the action seems to move in slow motion and movements are effortless while the athlete produces an extraordinary performance. The runner's high is somewhat different because it occurs during endurance activities and the athlete achieves a euphoria along with the effortless movement. In my case, I was cruising after a hard effort into the wind and I couldn't even feel my legs. I saw the road, bumps, and surrounding landscape with heightened acuity. My time definitely confirmed the experience as the return 5.5 mile trip took 10:47 which is just under a 31 mph average. Now I know what it is like to average TT speeds like the elite pros, the only difference is that I had a 17 mph tailwind.

More Flats, More Winds Mar 26, 2006 Another weekend riding in Boise, another flat. My three-year flat-free streak is still alive for road biking in Union County, but once again I got a goat head in my tire riding in Boise. Thankfully, the change was completed right before a volatile thunderstorm hit me and another rider just short of our destination. Winds were clocked at 50+ mph and then hail started pelting us so bad it stung. Amusingly, the wind was wreaking havoc and causing all kinds of pandemonium in the Treasure Valley; yet it felt like a typical ride in the Grande Ronde Valley. I regularly experience winds like that while out on the road. In fact, on a nice sunny Friday I confronted similar winds in Baker City. On my way to Boise I stopped there for a quick ride past the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This is a really nice ride from the freeway exit and the little climb up the to the interpretive center is very impressionable.

Single Speeds & Boise Racing Mar 19, 2006 I just got back from another Sunday race in Boise. That makes two straight weekends of racing there. Today I finished 5th in the Hillsdale Circuit Race, which was a 5 mile circuit in which we tackled a steep hill 6 times. The weekend before I finished 14th at the back of a bunch sprint in the Slammer Road Race. Results for these races are posted at Spondoro.com. I was in the Category 4 races. At this time,  I'm lacking some punch at the end of races, but I'm now entering the speed building period of my training which should solve this problem. I've been happy with my ability to stick with the lead group on all accelerations and even climbing. Someday I'm going to write a guide about Boise vs the Oregon races. Both have their advantages and Boise is nice because it is only 2.5 hours from La Grande. Friday before I left, was was doing some climbing repeats on Hug Road and my chain broke. I had to do an emergency fix that I had only read about. Because my chain requires a special link and I didn't have a backup, I had to bypass the rear derailleur and reattach at the break. This left me with a single speed, fortunately on a gear that allowed me to finish three more climbs. I can say that this is a solution that works, although I had quite a few ghost shifts during my spin home.

Honkers = Wavers Mar 13, 2006 While riding in Boise last weekend, I got some more insight about people honking at cyclists. While cruising through some very open landscape well south of the city, I heard a honk and had time to look up to see a signal. The driver was an elderly gentleman clearly waving at me with a smile on his face. I thought this had answered my questions until the next day. I rode with a group I like riding with when I visit Boise, Lactic Acid. During the ride, an oncoming car honked and inside I could see a hand waving against the window, but clearly only one finger was up. Because of the mixed messages from the different drivers, I'm still at a loss.

Honkers Mar 7, 2006 I've never been able to figure out what drivers are trying to communicate with me when they honk at me on my bike. A couple drivers on separate occasions honked at me today, and this is something that happens regularly everywhere I have ridden. I could understand if it was a long blast or a couple toots, or if it was by drivers approaching from behind; but, usually it is a regular honk by both oncoming drivers and those who have already past. Since there is no inflection in a horn, I'm always left guessing what drivers are trying to communicate. Here is what I have come up with: (a) Hello!, (b) Get off the road, (c) I'm letting you know I'm here, (d) Did I just scare you?, or (e) Nice workout. If you are a honker, let me know.

Banana Hammock Mar 5, 2006 Today I had a chance to show my legs for the first time this year. The 50+ degree weather at the Banana Belt Race southwest of Portland allowed me to strip down to my knickers for the first time this year, exposing some skin. The field for the Category 4 race was alarmingly big, but when I looked back after the first lap over half the field was gone. I don't know how they disappeared, but I guess we were cruising pretty fast the entire race. I felt good the entire route, and even got in a short breakaway. The group wasn't letting anyone get off the front though. With about 5k to go, I was fairly active at the front but made a tactical error with 1k to go by not grabbing a wheel. Instead I was leading out the bunch and I got swamped during the sprint, finishing 12th. It was a good race. Very well organized. Nice work race organizers.

Gutter Ball Feb 28, 2006 A few days ago I was riding on Booth, and caught a glimpse of a bowling ball in the ditch. Unlike an area rider I know that collects roadside tools, I wasn't about to drop that ball in my jersey pocket. This has to rank up there with other weirdest things I have seen riding, along with the swastika spray painted on a mailbox on Courtney and a shoe tree north of Elgin. However, these pail in comparison to the cat I saw on a bike on Hunter. No literally, it was a cat poking his head out of a guys coat. What was even more weird was the industrial catering-style coffee warmer/dispenser strapped behind his seat. That's one way to stay warm and alert riding in La Grande.

Feb 22, 2006 The coverage of the Tour of California on ESPN2 has been enjoyable to watch so far. They air an hour of coverage at 10 or 11 pm. My brother will be attending the final day, so I'll be able to get a recap from the ground. ESPN2 covering this reminds me of the first "real" coverage of cycling on TV in 2000, by the same channel. OLN eventually picked it up, but I'm wondering how much they really will show this year. After all, OLN is commonly referred to by cyclists as the Only Lance Network. OLN has been eliminating much of their cycling coverage and now they're preoccupied with hockey. Because of this, last may I enjoyed watching the Giro on RAI, an Italian channel that you can order on Dish Network.

Feb 15, 2006 I've been working really hard the last couple days trying to figure out the code for using Google maps. This has been somewhat difficult due to my limited knowledge in advanced webpage coding. Through some help in the Google discussion group I have been able to provide the map below. I think this will work as a better venue then my previous format. Enjoy. Feedback is appreciated.

Feb 14, 2006 On my ride into work from Summerville this morning, twice I received heartwarming "Happy Valentine's Day" comments from girls waiting for the school bus. But there was a more flattering comment to come. As I passed three kids on BMX bikes heading to La Grande high school, I overheard one say, "That is the kind of bike I want to get."

Feb 12, 2006 We've had some good road riding conditions for over a week now. I'm surprised at how clean the road are outside of La Grande. While the road in La Grande are filled with gravel on the sides, making the bike lanes worthless, roads outside of the city are very clean. I'm fairly certain I didn't see the sun here for over a month, but when the clouds broke a couple weeks ago we've had some great sunny days. Now, all of the road in the valley are clear of snow and ice, even in Summerville. Two road I have recently been impressed with are Elgin Hwy (82) and Union-Cove Hwy (237). On Hwy 82, new pavement between Alicel and Market Lane is perfect and this has a very wide shoulder. My normal route is to skip this section by taking Case Rd in order to stay off the highway. However, the mint condition of this road forces me to skip the bypass because it is the best stretch of road in the whole valley.

Feb 9, 2006 I figured I would start blogging some of my thoughts, but I'm not sure what to start with since I have so many endless ideas while I'm on the bike. Next time I'm out, I'll decide what my first official entry will be. For now, readers can just see that the blog is officially started. Check out the forum I just added to the site. I'm hoping it has some potential use.

Pictures

Riders at the Archery Range System.

New trail sections for Skills Challenge are shown in yellow.

Local racer Brian Bartel (2nd wheel on the breakaway) during
the Elkhorn Criterium. 6-24-2006

3 Rivers Race participants on Hunter Rd.  6-3-2006

The knee-buster downhill on Hug Road.

Mt. Glenn Road with Mt. Emily in the background. 3-29-2006

Wind powered trike on Lower Cove Road

Hunter Road in late January 2006

Indian Creek Road below Mount Harris in January 2006

Indian Rock overlook

Wagoner Hill Road November 2006

Site Maintained by Brian Sather
Contact bsather@LaGrandeRide.com

http://www.eou.edu/~bsather
Brian Sather is an Assistant Professor of Physical Activity & Health at Eastern Oregon University