Author: Chuck Kenlan

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. 

OBRA is excited to partner with the Girls AllRide Mountain Bike Camps to provide two scholarships specifically for two different OBRA junior members to attend any one of their camps in Bend, OR in 2021.

OBRA and Girls AllRide are offering these scholarships to help more young women feel comfortable in the sport of mountain biking.

Girls AllRide has a mission to use mountain biking as a tool for youth to build community, discover potentials and strengthen themselves – inside and out. The main goal is to help girls develop their mountain biking skills and have fun, while also helping them learn how to face fears, believe in themselves, and think positive, logical thoughts instead of reacting with fear.

There are a few steps for applying:

1. You will need to be an active OBRA member to apply for the scholarship. If you need to sign up for your 2021 membership, that can be done here: industry.obra.org/product/obra-junior-membership.
2. You will need to pick what camp you are applying for. Click here: ladiesallride.com/girls-allride to view all of the camps. *The Girls AllRide are running camps across the county but only Bend, OR camps are available for this scholarship.
3.  The third and final step is to fill out the application form. That can be done here: forms.gle/vefCoETrbrqA3uPc7.
4. Anyone who identifies as female is welcome to apply for this scholarship.
5. Girls AllRide runs camps for 9-13-year-olds and 12 – 15-year-olds. If you are between these age groups, you are welcome to apply for a scholarship to attend one of their camps.
6. All skill levels from beginners to experts are welcome to apply for one of the Girls AllRide Camp scholarships.

The application will be open through March 31st. From there, we will review all applications and notify the winners by April 2nd.

If you have any questions please email our Junior Racing Director, Joel Fletcher at jfletcher@obra.org.

Greetings OBRA Community,

OBRA has had a great start to 2021. Thank you to all of you that have renewed your OBRA membership and to our new members! And, thanks to the support you gave us through your memberships and contributions, OBRA is in a healthy position for success this year.

With the positive news of better vaccine distribution and the declining COVID-19 numbers in Oregon, we are hopeful that we may see some more “normal” racing opportunities later in the year. Please stay diligent about protecting yourself and others.

We have two races coming up in March; the Shasta Gravel Hugger and Echo Red to Red. The promoters of both these events have come up with solid plans and race formats that are in place to keep the racers, staff, officials, and volunteers safe while following their local COVID restrictions and guidance. It is also up to you to follow the risk mitigation plans they have implemented. We view the communities where our events happen as the key to maintaining racing opportunities for our members. When traveling to races, please do your best to be respectful of their citizens and minimize unnecessary contact. 

I met with the cyclocross race promoters last week and I think this could be one of OBRA’s most exciting CX calendars in a while. Almost all of the races are on the OBRA calendar https://obra.org/schedule There are some of our old favorites in Corn Cross, Heiser Farms, the Crossword Challenge, the Outlaw Series, and all the amazing Cyclocross Crusade races. There are also some cool new events starting with Left Coast Cellars CX on August 29. On September 11-12, there is Can Chaser CX at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. This Brad Ross-designed course will utilize the rodeo arena and horse stables. On September 25, Clint Culpepper of Trophy Cup fame will be promoting Vanport CX at PIR which will run into the night under the lights. Clint is currently working with these early season weekend events to create an exciting new series. 

By now I am sure that most of you have read our announcement about the closure of Alpenrose. This is a special place for many people in our community. We have left the Blind Date Series on the calendar because I know that Tony and Joe are trying to find a new venue. Once they do, I know that series will be special again because of them and the community. Their passion and sense of humor are not going anywhere. The dirt may be different but the race remains the same. The same thing goes for the Cyclocross Crusade. I know many will miss that fantastic finish on the velodrome but it is the community and the culture that makes these races special. 

Although this decision is coming earlier than in past years, we are thrilled to announce that the 2021 OBRA Cyclocross Championships will be Bridge City CX at Oaks Park Amusement Park on October 9-10. It has been a goal of ours for this championship to be a two-day event with a day of non-championship category racing on Saturday (with some fun stuff thrown in) and the age group and elite championship races held on Sunday. We know that Erik Tonkin and the Sellwood community are up to the task and will produce an excellent weekend of racing. 

Finally, I want to thank OBRA’s newest business partner, Stages Cycling which is offering a generous discount to current OBRA members. This is a great benefit to our members from a company right here in our backyard. I also want to remind you of the Spot Insurance benefit for current OBRA members. For $59 a year, OBRA members get a $25K out-of-pocket medical benefit anytime they are injured while riding a bike including during OBRA sanctioned races. Find out more about these benefits by clicking on the links below.  

I look forward to seeing you (at a respectable distance) at the races.

—-

Chuck

Stages Discount: industry.obra.org/obra-stages-2021.

Spot Insurance: industry.obra.org/obra-and-spot-insurance.

Name? Mielle Blomberg

Location? Portland, OR

What team do you race for? Team S&M

What is the first OBRA race you participated in? Hood River Double Cross 9/19/2009 (beginner men because I thought all beginners raced together).

What do you enjoy about racing in OBRA? I enjoy the community support aspect of OBRA. You can participate at any level and find support. When I started racing road bikes at PIR, I was terrified because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. The senior women were so helpful and supportive in trying to teach me and help me have a great experience. There is a genuine desire to pass on knowledge to help new racers feel comfortable so they keep coming back. OBRA members also give back to the community with events like Pay It Forward to benefit families of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, and Food Deliveries by Bike coordinated by Community Cycling Center to support families in need during the pandemic.

What is your favorite OBRA race? Favorite race? Can I pick two? For mountain bike racing, 6 Hours of Hood. It was my first real mountain bike race in 2010. For cyclocross (know how hard it is for me to pick one), I would have to go with Cyclocross Crusade Halloween Weekend. Both events have outstanding social elements that I have been missing so much.

What would you tell people who are thinking about racing for the first time? For the bike race curious, I would ask them what kind of racing they are interested in. Normally I would recommend a beginner-friendly race based on their interest and bike experience, suggest they join a group ride to gain pack riding experience or sign up for a beginner clinic. Clinics are a great way to get a feel for the genre of racing and meet other beginners. Large group rides are not happening currently due to Covid-19 restrictions, but eventually, we will be able to ride shoulder to shoulder again. Another recommendation, for cyclocross especially, ride the mountain bike or cyclocross commuter you already have. No need to invest in a new bike until you decide if racing is for you.

What new races would you like to try in the future? I would love to do Shasta Gravel Hugger in California. The route and views would be well worth the trip when I can travel with a group.

I have known Mateen for years. He has attended our Junior Cyclocross and Track Camps as well as Cyclocross clinics throughout the years. I have seen him grow up from a fast kid with a bike to a young man with a dream to encourage more Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC) to ride bikes.

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

–  Joel Fletcher (OBRA Junior Racing Director)

Name? Mateen Ky’Ray Richey

Age? 18 years old

Where are you located? North East Portland Oregon 

How did you first get into bike racing? As an 8-year-old kid, I went to the Blazers Boys and Girls Club. The program B.I.K.E saw me every day for the next couple of weeks and challenged me to ride laps around the club while not putting my foot on the ground….I’ve been with the program ever since.

What is your favorite thing about bike racing? My favorite thing about cycling is the challenges you face and how you stack up against them. One day you might not do well, but you always have another chance to test your skills. It’s all about perseverance.

What piece of advice would you give to others interested in racing? Put one foot in front of the other and give it your best shot. If you believe in yourself then you can do it!

Who has been most influential in your bike racing career? I have to give that to my coach John Benenate and to the people who have done well by the B.I.K.E Program. It’s definitely helped a lot for my development as a cyclist and person.

What can we do as a community to take care of our BIPOC friends while new people of color are joining the sport?  It doesn’t have to be anything big. You don’t have to give away a $10,000 bike. Words of advice and support mean more. Welcome and surround us with love. It takes a village. Everyone needs to buy into this plan!

Greetings, OBRA Members,

With the upcoming 2021 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.

Click here to view all of the Stages Cycling products.

If you aren’t an active OBRA member and would like to join, please click here: obra.org/membership/new.