I made a list of some of my favorite former Oregon MTB events that no
longer exist. Note, these were all held between June 1 and
mid-September. Interestingly, these were my favorite because the
weather was nice! Was it because of the weather, or my easily garnered
successes due to lack of competitors. Did they all burn out? Or was I
just faster.

Euphoria Ridge Rumble (Myrtle Point)
Mt. Ashland Rendezvous (Ashland)
Black Forest Rally (Hoodoo)
Shredtopia (Corvallis/Starker)
Flying M Ranch (Yamhill)
Klamath Heat (Klamath Falls)
Dustslinger (Bend)
Gorge Games (Post Canyon Hood River)
Santiam Pedalfest
Oakridge Fat Tire Festival

I've always wondered, in all my years racing MTB in Oregon, why there
are so many early season races and why so few later ones. I know I am
not alone here, and I share many of the same opinions as Evan Plews.
(Link: http://tinyurl.com/33ejzq ) I could never understand why
people chose to train and race when the weather is the worst, and the
daylight is of short supply. Yes, in order to be successful at
something, you have to put a lot of time and energy into it, and that
isn't always pleasant. Starting to train in those cold/wet months is
the correct time to do it, in order to be on peak form for those early
races. But, if the races were later, you could apply that same exact
training plan to a slightly later time frame and, more than likely,
find more pleasure in doing it! It really IS miserable to try to put
your long easy base miles in when it's dark and raining after work or
on the trainer. Not if you live in Southern California, but in Oregon,
yes.

You don't have to stop racing mid summer to prepare for cyclocross.
Maybe a couple light weeks as a break is nice. It doesn't require that
much more specific training than necessary for other types of racing.
Only some running, and shorter but harder workouts to mimic the nature
of those sub-1 hour events. But, even still, if you start too early
for CX, you'll end up w/ TOO MUCH intensity in your legs and become
frazzled and burnt before CX season is over.

Now that CX has become so popular, more and more racers are needing a
break from the intensity of racing for 10-14 weekends straight,
sometimes twice a wknd. It seems to me now that it makes even MORE
sense to delay the start of spring/summer events. Especially as they
start to consider extending CX into January. !?!? If not, will those
early season promoters start to see diminished participation?

Maybe a delay isn't the sole solution either. Maybe it is simply a
matter of having no more than 2-3 weeks in a row, before a week or two
off. Seems to me that would keep folks fresher and eager to race, yet
also encourage continued recreational riding on the "free weekends"…
ideally group rides that include newer/younger racers to learn the
ropes, build friendships, and gain experience before jumping into an
"epic muddy death march" out in the middle of nowhere. As an elite
racer with a full time job, it is difficult to make the time to
include new folks when I'm racing EVERY weekend!

Looking forward to racing the MTB this year. Thanks again to all the
promoters that make this happen, regardless of when you hold your
race. Without you, we'd still be a bunch of complainers, only w/ fewer
races to attend.

Chris Brandt