Board Meeting Minutes 1/27/2020

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Click below to view to Board Meeting Minutes from January 27th.

1/27/2020 Board Meeting Minutes

#mybeginnercxstory: Ali Halpin

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How did you get into Cyclocross racing?

It was a brisk damp December day when I got the call. “Want to watch a cyclocross race?” I had spent the better part of 3 weeks in bed after knee surgery and jumped at the opportunity to get out of the house. I grabbed my crutches, and my friend ushered me to this cyclocross race thing. It was the year nationals was in Bend, OR. I saw these bodies seemingly effortlessly hurdling with their bikes over wooden planks. I got this giddy excitement, this looked like total and complete fun. I spent the better part of the next 7 months in physical therapy and saving every penny for one of these cyclocross bikes. With my savings and some student loans, I bought my first cyclocross bike and signed up for my first race. After struggling with knee injuries after high school I lost my love for soccer and ski racing and struggled to find a way to get fit. I struggled with feeling like I had lost my athletic identity and all of my fitness. Cycling helped me find this and more. It made me feel strong and connected me to a new community.

 

 

What is your favorite cyclocross race?

My favorite race was the old PIR Infield race with the drum core!

 

 

What is your favorite thing about cyclocross racing?

The people. I love showing up to a cross race and seeing all my bike friends. I love racing but I also love finishing a race, grabbing a cowbell, and cheering for other racers.

 

What advice would you give to new bike racers?

Find a team or group to join! Racing is way more fun with friends. A team, club, or group is a great way to meet others, find people to ride with, and make racing more fun!

 

 

What does cyclocross mean to you?

Cyclocross means community. Part of what makes cross special is the people and the social aspect of the sport. Even when I travel outside of Oregon I get to see these rich communities built through cyclocross in other parts of the country.

 

#mybeginnercxstory: Annalisa Fish

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How did you get into cyclocross racing?

I first started racing cx when we lived in Bozeman, MT. It was a way for me to stay fit and still ride my bike while the weather turned in the Fall/Winter. I also noticed that it seemed like the cx scene was where the community was. I was racing road a lot at the time and felt a bit isolated. It seemed everyone was out for cyclocross and having a good time. Then we moved to Portland and had some of the same experiences but on a much greater scale.

 

 

What is your favorite race?

I don’t have a favorite, but I do have two favorites! I LOVE Trophy Cup because there are such low expectations and fitness at these races (at least for me). Most of the racers are using it to have fun and get some intensity in prep for some weekend races later in the year. I love the midweek intensity. I also love the Alpenrose Cross Crusade. It can be kind of technical, and then there are these power stretches where I get to tap into my old roadie legs. The vibe at this race is so exciting too, people love the race and really rally around it.

 

 

What is your favorite thing about bike racing?

The community. I took it for granted for a long while, but after sitting out a couple of years and returning to the weekend races, it was such a good reminder how lucky I am to have bikes and support from so many people. We are all really pretty lucky to have that kind of fun well into adulthood.

 

 

What advice would you give to new bike racers?
Very few of us can be pro racers. It’s okay to progress slowly and enjoy the process, especially if you want it as a part of your life for a long time. Remember to value and thank the community you’re a part of.

 

What does this sport mean to you?
A whole heck of a lot. It gave me my job as a bike fitter and physical therapist in the bike world. It provides me with amazing friendships. It keeps me healthy. It’s something I get to share with my family. It pushes me and has helped me understand that it’s okay to struggle at times but you should still show up.

2019 Annual Meeting Minutes

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Please click below to find the minutes for the 2019 Annual Meeting Minutes from December 18th.

2019 Annual Meeting Minutes

OBRA at Cyclocross National Championships

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From all of us at OBRA we want to congratulate everyone who competed in the 2019 Cyclocross National Championships in Lakewood, WA.

 

 

Please give a special congratulations to these OBRA racers who finished on the Podium:

 

 

 

Masters Women 65 – 69

2nd: Bonnie Rosenfeld – Sorella Forte

3rd: Flo Leibowitz – Mary’s Bicycle Club

 

Masters Men 70-74

4th: Ron Strasser – Team S&M

 

Masters Men 75-79

5th: Loren Russell – Vegan Fleez!

 

Masters Women 30-34

4th: Allison Halpin – PDX Ti p/b Elevator Coffee

 

Masters Men 65-69

3rd: Mark Schwyhart – Team S&M

 

Masters Men 35-39

2nd: Andrew Coe – PDX Ti p/b Elevator Coffee

5th: Ben Guernsey – Mettle Cycling

 

Masters Men 40-44

2nd: Molly Cameron – Point S Auto p/b Nokian Tyres

4th: Seth Patla – PDX Ti p/b Elevator Coffee

5th: Gabe Linn – Mettle Cycling

 

Masters Men 50-54

3rd: Paul Bourcier – TCNF.Legal p/b West End Bikes

 

Masters Women 55-59

4th: Carolyn Daubeny – Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team

 

Masters Women 50-54

4th: Erica Wescott – Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team

 

Masters Women 40 – 44

4th: Sierra Domaille – Mettle Cycling

 

Masters Women 35-39

4th: Janelle Bickford  – Metropolis Cycle Repair

 

Junior Men 13-14

5th: Zane Strait – Cascadia Junior Cycling

 

Junior Men 11-12

3rd: Bjorn Blankenship – Cascadia Junior Cycling

 

Junior Men 15-16

3rd: Ian Brown – Speedvagen

4th: Tanner Wescott – Cascadia Junior Cycling

 

Singlespeed Men

5th: Andrew Coe – PDX Ti p/b Elevator Coffee

 

Elite Women

1st: Clara Honsinger – Team S&M CX Sellwood Cycle Repair

 

Click here for full results from the week

OBRA Lifetime Memberships

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Announcing the OBRA Lifetime Membership in 2020!

We are happy and proud to announce that we will be selling 10 OBRA Lifetime Memberships in 2020.

In addition to having your OBRA Membership paid for your life we will have a few other great items to throw in including:

  • One year of free race entries
  • A custom OBRA Lifetime Member kit from Castelli
  • POC Helmet and sunglasses
  • Skratch labs swag bag
  • And more!

Don’t miss out on this offer as we will only be releasing 10 Lifetime Memberships. The cost is $1,000 and you can purchase here: obra.org/store.