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Annual Rules Meeting and Awards Party

Our Annual Rules Meeting and Awards Party will be held on January 12th at Chris King Precision Components HQ.

The schedule will be as follows:

2:00 – 5:00 pm – Rules Meeting

6:00 – 8:00 pm – Awards Party

OBRA Members Receiving Awards

Large Trophies:

Senior Men: Jeremy Russell – River City Bicycles

Senior Women: Jennifer Haliewicz – Metropolis Cycle Repair

Masters Men Overall: Tom Webb – Team Rose City

Masters Women Overall: Pam Reid – Team Rose City

Junior Men Overall: Tygre Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Junior Women Overall: Summer Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Team Champion: Dialed Cycling Team

Small Trophies:

Junior Men 10-12: Hunter Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Junior Men 13-14: Ian Brown – Bend Endurance Academy

Junior Women 13-14: Spring Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Masters Men 45-49: Demian Bailey – Mary’s Bicycle Club

Masters Men 50-54: John Prosser – Revenge Cycling & Racing

Masters Men 55-59: John O’Brien – Evolution Racing

Masters Men 60-64: Jeff Hollister – Team Oregon

Masters 70+: Loren Russell – Vegan Fleez

Category 3 Men: Chris Sarrett – Dialed Cycling Team

Category 4 Men: Mark Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Category 4 Women: Jesse Whitaker – Dialed Cycling Team

Singlespeed/Fixed Men: Seth Patla – PDX Ti

Singlespeed/Fixed Women: Kaya Lydamore – Battlekats

Clydesdale: Mark Westerfield – Dialed Cycling Team

Masters Men 30-34: Chris Waggoner – Therapeutic Associates p/b Pacific Office

Masters Men 35-39: Mark Jamison – Grouptrail Cycling

Masters Women 50-54: Carolyn Daubeny – Deschutes Brewery

Winners Not Receiving Awards (not enough disciplines raced)

Junior Men 17-18: Aidan Richards

Junior Women 15-16: Kylie Eckert – Bend Endurance Academy

Junior Women 17-18: Kaylie Ragsdale – Fred Meyer Lakeside Cycling Team

Masters Men 40-44: Rob Angelo – Evolution Racing

Masters Women 30-34: Laura Beko – CX Pistols P/B Gigantic Brewing

Masters Women 35-39: Pam Power – Bonk Collective

Masters Women 40-44: Rebecca Hillary – Team AF

Masters Women 45-49: Susan Renn – Team Slow

Athena: Sonja Ebert – Dialed Cycling Team

Category 3 Women: Kristi Cutter – Therapeutic Associates Racing p/b Pacific Office

Masters Men 4/5: Brian Kohagen

Category 5 Men: Connor Shimamoto

Category 5 Women: Sarah Umberhandt – Stumptown Cycling Club

Please RSVP Here

Proposed Rule Changes

If you are interested in proposing a rule change. Please submit them to Chuck (ckenlan@obra.org) by December 15th. Proposed rule changes should include the current rule that is being changed with the old language followed by the new language you’re proposing. If you’re proposing a new rule, please include the current rule your new rule would fit under. Once submitted, we will publish all proposed rule changes, giving the membership time to look them over before the Annual Meeting.

Rule Changes Proposed by Kevin Blair:

Obra rule 6.1
Riders who are more than halfway through a series may request a waiver of a mandatory upgrade so that they may finish out the series under the conditions below:
(i) The series is covered by a single permit and one race Director. 
(ii)The request is approved by the race series director and OBRA. 
(iii) The waiver is granted for a maximum of three event days.
(iv)Such a waiver may only be used once per rider per category

Rule Changes Proposed by Steve Westerberg:

Existing:
6.1 Upgrading and downgrading Upgrading and Downgrading guidelines for road and mountain
bike racing will be published by the Executive Director. Ability categories provided by other
organizations will be recognized by these guidelines.

Addition:
6.1.1 Riders who are more than one-third through a series may request a waiver of a
mandatory upgrade so that they may finish out the series under the conditions below:
 The request is approved by the race series director and OBRA.
 Such a waiver may only be used once per rider per category per year.

Rule Changes Proposed by David Marchi:

1. Mandatory upgrades should not be based on points accumulation in a series rather than a number of wins in that particular category.  I would say 3 wins would deem a mandatory upgrade.
2. Voluntary upgrades are capable once a particular point threshold is met.
3. Mandatory upgrades should not take place mid-series in each of the racing series.
Figuring that each series on the OBRA calendar rarely stretch more than 2 months.
Thrilla, blind date, trophy cup, Oregon crit, tt series, crusade, GP, etc.

Rule Changes Proposed by Erik Hammerquist:

New rule: width of cyclocross courses must be a minimum of 3 meters wide in all places of the course.
New rule proposal 2: cyclocross barriers or planks cannot be more than 40cm tall and can only be a set of 2. No stand-alone barriers or more than 2 in a row.

Rule Change Proposed by Steven Beardsley:

Update cyclocross racing age to match the rest of the world. After doing this for juniors in the 2018-2019 cyclocross season, we have figured out the best strategy for communication to reduce confusion with racing ages. This rule will be especially important as the national championships will be so close in 2019.

Current Rule:

6.5.1 Racing age

Racing age is defined as the age the rider will be on December 31 of the current year.

A Junior rider’s racing age in cyclo-cross is their age on December 31st of the year that the cyclo-cross season ends. Cyclo-cross season begins on September 1st of one year and ends on the last day of February of the following year.

New Rule:

6.5.1 Racing age

Racing age is defined as the age the rider will be on December 31 of the current year.

Junior rider’s racing age in cyclo-cross is their age on December 31st of the year that the cyclo-cross season ends. Cyclo-cross season begins on September 1st of one year and ends on the last day of February of the following year.

Rule Changes Proposed by Jay Hamlin:

15.1.2 General rules

In road races allow dropped riders to ride together regardless of group. It’s hard enough when you are dropped, let fellow dropped riders work together and still have some fun and build a little camaraderie.

15.1.3 Field passing

Allow dropped riders to ride at the back of a caravan when passed by a different pack. If a caravan passes then allow the dropped rider to ride at the back of the pack as long as they stay there and don’t interfere with the race. It is also far safer riding in the caravan. A good example was this year’s Cherry Pie Road Race where there were many aggressive drivers honking and buzzing single riders.

15.1.1 Course design

Require bicycle event signage prior to a road race. Post signs along the route prior to the event to raise awareness to the local residences of the upcoming event. Let them know the day and hours racers will be on the course. Kings Valley Road Race did a good job of this. 

6.6.3. Mixing of Classes

Add 60+ age group podium when there is a 50+ age group podium. Have 60+ be scored separately from 50+. 60+ podium doesn’t need prizes, just the recognition and BAR points.  

4.1 Minimums and maximums

Give 60+ their own race when there are 10 or more 60+’ers signed up. As a group 60+’ers are always combined with 50+’ers and sometimes even 40+’ers. When we enter some of these fields we know we will be time trialing off the back at some point or if we do manage to hang on we will not be sprinting for a win. It would be nice if at least a few times a year we could actually truly race against our peers. Opportunities like this will help increase rider participation in the 60+ age group and this is a good thing. 60+ers are at a time of their life where they can dedicate time and money to their sport and are not looking for anything more than an opportunity to race. They are not looking for big prizes, just for a chance to go out and have some fun racing. Being combined with racers that are younger and stronger means knowing you will most likely be dropped at some point. 

Rule 4.1 Field limits

8. Race numbers

OBRA numbers colored by age to make identifying fellow competitors easier when racing in combined fields. Right now before a race, the starter will ask 60+’ers to raise their hand before the start. Hey, we are over 60. It’s hard enough to remember where we parked, let alone who raised their hand at the start of a race when a break is going up the road. If colored race numbers are deemed too costly then include colored ribbons with the yearly OBRA number to be used when age groups are combined.

Board Positions Open

We have two OBRA Board Positions that will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. If you are interested in running for the OBRA Board of Directors please provide background on yourself and what you think you could bring to the OBRA Board of Directors. These are due by December 15th and can be submitted to Chuck (ckenlan@obra.org). Once submitted, we will publish all Board of Directors applications so the membership has time to look them over before the Annual Meeting.

Board Nominee: Saul Lopez

“Dear OBRA –

My name is Saúl Lopez, and I am seeking election for one of the open OBRA Board of Director positions.

I’ve been an avid rider and racer since 1992, starting out road racing for the University of Illinois Cycling Club and the Central Illinois Bicycle Racing team.  I moved to Oregon in August of 2003 and joined OBRA soon thereafter, racing for Team Half Fast Velo.  I added cyclocross to my racing calendar in 2007.  I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the OBRA community and would like to give back to the sport that has been an integral part of my life.  I am passionate about cycling and wish to see it grow – both competitively and recreationally.  I believe that my participation as an active racer and my background uniquely qualifies me for the position of board member.

My interest in joining the OBRA Board is multi-fold:

1) I would like to employ my background and skills in identifying how best to serve our OBRA community – our consumers – from officials & volunteers to racers, to promoters, to fans, and to sponsors.  By better understanding their needs, we can continue to support the growth of our sport.

2) I believe there is a great opportunity to help the sport grow among women and minorities, with a keen focus on bringing in new racers through junior development.

3) As an avid racer, I have noticed the decline in road racing (open road, criteriums, etc.) and I would love to bring my expertise and develop a plan on how to grow the racing calendar and ensure our membership has great options to compete throughout the year – across all cycling disciplines.

4) I would like to collaborate with our OBRA community toward making the sport more accessible and easier to take up.  Cycling can be intimidating if you don’t know where to start, and we can only help it grow by exposing more and more people to how amazing riding and racing can be.

5) Finally, Oregon is a hotbed for bicycle racing talent!  We need to ensure Oregon bike racers are on the map and that we are able to form strong partnerships with racing organizations across the country and provide them the opportunity to continue to pursue their dreams!  Ensuring our racers are noticed nationally and internationally can only help grow the sport.

Here is a bit more of my background.  I am currently working at Nike as Marketing Director for Football (Soccer) for our Latin America and Asia Pacific region, based here in Oregon.  Prior to this role, I was a Marketing Director managing our Brand marketing efforts for the Rio Olympics.  I’ve been at Nike for 15 years, have an engineering degree for the University of Illinois, and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  I am originally from Guatemala and grew up in Chicago.  I am multi-lingual, speaking fluent Spanish and Portuguese.  Finally, I am also on the BOD of Half Fast Velo.

Thank you for your consideration.

Saúl A. Lopez”

Board Nominee: Steven Beardsley

Steven Beardsley (incumbent)

“I have served as a team elected OBRA board member for the last three years and am seeking your vote to serve another three years.

During my first term, the leadership team at OBRA tasked ourselves to think outside the box and innovate to keep OBRA and bike racing relevant in Oregon. These changes have brought a new mission and vision statement, a detailed five-year plan, updated organizational bylaws, category reciprocity with USA Cycling, the hiring of a new Executive Director, and, in response to OBRA community feedback, implemented a new Code of Conduct and Transgender Athlete Policy. Although these are great steps forward for OBRA, there is still much work to be done to get to where we need to be.

With your support, I look forward to spending the next three years working to fill out our board and committee structures to secure a more inclusive and diverse group of leaders in positions where they can continue to do good work for our community. I want to see OBRA become proficient at welcoming in and retaining new members and deploy strategies to serve the communities that OBRA is currently under-serving across our state. Additionally, I will work to help OBRA become even more adept at its’ core competency of providing leadership, facilitating competition, and inspiring participation in the sport of bicycle racing.”

Experience:

    • Cat 1 racer in Road, Track and Cyclocross, Elite MTB

    • PDX DEVO Junior Cycling team coach and mentor

    • OBRA Race Promoter

  • OBRA Official

All OBRA registered teams are able to send one member to vote on Rule Changes and Board Positions at the Annual Meeting. You can send as many team members as you like, but only one representative will be able to vote.

Location:

Chris King
2801 NW Nela St.
Portland, OR 97210

Parking:

You may park in the areas marked in red, or if you cannot find parking there, you can park along 29th Ave.  You will be towed if you park by Metro or any of the other businesses.  Entrance along the alley on the left side.

parking

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