Cascade Classic

[Veronica]

Is anyone going to see any of the stages? Garmin-Chipotle has fielded a team. Levi and Chris Horner are suppose to be racing there as well.

V.

[maillotpois]

We get up there the day AFTER the race. Stupid Death Ride.

[Veronica]

That's funny. I was thinking - stupid tri.

V.

[SadieKate]

There is a solution to both.

[Veronica]

Well, yes... but I do need to do another practice event before Aug. 2.

V.

[jobob]

As we were driving back from Orygun the other day, we saw a caravan of Rock Racing trailers heading north on I-5. Maybe Fast Freddie & Tyler et al will be in attendance.

[SadieKate]

Alas, no Fast Freddie but I drove back over Awbrey Butte after getting a nail removed from a tire and there were some mighty fine views up there.

Interestingly, they were labeled Rubicon-Orbea and Jelly Belly.

http://www.mbsef.org/cascadecyclingc...egistered&id=1

[Eden]

I am not there, but I am getting daily race reports via some one of my teammates who is there - racing! We sent a team to the women's field this year, so if you see any teal and chartruese those are the fast women of TGH.

[SadieKate]

Oh, man. Except for one, these cattle guards are all on flat roads and easily ridden. Wonder if it's just the dynamics of the peloton. We're guessing that he crashed on the only one on a climb, and after a tight corner.*

The guards are in darn near perfect condition, especially compared to our RR crossings in town which are pretty hazardous.

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc...v_category=CCC

On the 4th, Jobob, Bubba and I actually stood near one (waiting for Mr. Bob to, um, whatever) and watched in amazement as 3 people stopped and walked across one, in cleats. I think walking cattle guards is actually riskier than riding.

*Jobob, they rode the course backward, as in they had to climb that incredible descent.

[jobob]

Wow, too weird. He must have approached the cattle guard at an angle. Poor guy.

They had to go up out of that valley ??? Argh. Well, better them than me.

[SadieKate]

Went to the Friday evening downtown criterium. You have to love Bend. Wall to wall people all the way around the course even for the women's, which sadly doesn't happen all that often.

Also saw a couple of Davis women who I ran into all the time back when who are up here racing. Just affirmed why racing the local fun TT back in Davis was just for my own gratification. Kelly McDonald and Jane Robertson are in 9 and 19 in the GC. Jane is 43 so there is hope for some of you yet.

Lot of crashes in the men's crit field but Toyota United controled the race with Chris and Levi sitting right behind and made it safely home. I love watching crits but, boy, they can end your season fast.

I didn't see it but Chris apparently "rode" another rider into the finish of Mt Bachelor yesterday. Someone crashed and his bike broke so Chris put the guy on the saddle of his own bike with the guy shouldering his broken bike, then stood up and finished the course standing the entire way. A friend of ours up here doing support for SRAM who was taxed to find them on their way to the finish quotes Chris as saying "No, I'm good." as he continued to the finish. I wish I'd seen it. Chris had a huge mechanical on stage 1 and lost time, and essentially has been riding for Levi any way so no worries about his GC. I'm really missing his interviews on Versus during the TdF. He's local so maybe I'll just have to lay in wait for "man on the street" interviews.

[snapdragen]

Priceless!

http://www.velonews.com/article/8008...-spending-july

Photo from Velo News

[SadieKate]

What do you suppose that guy weighs? Sheesh.

[Pedal Wench]

That photo really shows the damage to the other guy's bike -- check out the shifter and front wheel.