Randy,
I believe you have every right to discuss this here. It is all bike racing!
I am only in my second year of mountain bike racing, but I think that if the
venues were were closer to the major metro areas (maybe I am wrong as the
Mt. Hood races are pretty close) that might make the time committment for
races less of an issue. I know it would entail working with more private
property owners if close-in, but it might make a difference. I have really
enjoyed the courses I have raced, but some of the distances make think about
the trip. I also heard one racer mention that the XC races were so few,
with too much time between... he looked to road racing as an alternative. I
do not think that OBRA, as it is now staffed can offer as much support to
mountain biking as it does to road and track. I do not think it is not
wanting this support to be there... but there are just so many people and
hours in the day. I was surprised to see the posting about not having two
events at one venue on the same day (PIR short track getting the boot as an
example). That upset me at first as I am racing the short track and am very
aware of NOT impacting the road racing. Maybe there are problems that
cannot be solved between promoters. I would think that there would be the
ability for the two to take place in a smooth manner instead of a "You are
either with us or against us" type of rule change being suggested. But what
do ya do? Someone thinks that way. I do not know all the in-and-outs of
PIR, but I would think that Wed. Thur. or Fri. would be much more difficult
to schedule for bike racing because most auto races take days of set-up and
practice time. I think the short track in the Portland area is a VERY
IMPORTANT way to promote mountain bike racing and bike racing in general. I
would race it any day. Thanks to you and all the promoters of races...Road,
Track and Mountain!!!!!!!!!
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Dreiling"
To: ;
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 8:51 AM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Is Cross Country racing dying?

> Hi All
>
> Hope you don't mind me putting this on OBRA race as
> this is 100% about racing.
>
> Minus the Bend area, cross country racing numbers are
> way down.
>
> WHY?
>
> I would have guessed gas prices, but Mt Hood is the
> closest race for many racers, yet there were only 60
> racers at the state games.
>
> I have heard people say race fee's are up, BUT that is
> just not true, I have race flyers from 1993 and the
> race fee is the same or went up by $5 at most
> depending on your classes, this includes the late fee.
> In fact Hood's fee is now $15, which is less then the
> 1993 rate.
>
> Is cyclecross getting so big people are skipping the
> summer XC races to race cross?
>
> Why do you think it is slowing down??
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Randy Dreiling
> Owner Oregon Adventures www.oregon-adventures.com
> Executive Director Oakridge/Westfir Area Chamber of Commerce
> www.oakridgechamber.com
> Mt Bike Oregon www.mtbikeoregon.com
> Other Oregon Adventures Events
> Oakridge FTF, 12/24 of Willamette Pass
> Willamette Pass Downhill/Super D's Series
> www.oakridgefattire.com A simple site to download flyers
>
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