I met Bustin and Denial early on this fine autumn morning for race 2 of the Cross Crusade: Rainier High School in Rainier, OR. The early rise hurt but once we got rolling up I-5 the coffee was flowing and the tunes jamming. Parking in the lower lot we unload the Monger-mobile and got to work setting up our base camp. The agony laid out on this course is legendary. It even drives little girls to pull up a chair to see what all the fuss is about.
Before we knew it the Beginners were rolling by and then the Cs/Clydesdale's. Ed got the BMCC off on the right foot or pedal. He looked so happy and content once it was over....cheers Ed!!!
Just last week I suggested that our Master C field had been decimated, enter Marc and new rider Brian Little plus Kyle and I. A hell of a course for your first race of the year, well done Marc and Brian for not being afraid to push yourself so close to vomiting on your first week.
Abram must drink the same water as Brian L and Marc cause he started his season with Rainier too. Damn it!!! There are some sadistic MoFo's on this team. I could train all year and it would still come damn close to killing me.
The dry conditions allowed folks to open it up on the downhills. The only problem with this strategy is the uphills come back around so quickly. Brian comes flying down the long descent here....vroooom!
Solid work Stroup...I am not sure where that smile comes from, other then the fact that you are done. Yipppeee!!!
Rainier is such an awesome venue that we even scared Kyle H into riding his Salsa Fargo up some logging roads from Scappoose to come and hang-out. Here he explains to Bustin that you don't need to race to get worked by hills in this part of Oregon.
The Mongirls were next and with a solid showing of lime green and yellow kits they made the course look like a mess of swirled peas and corn...As previously mentioned the Cat Cs are stacked with Mongers and every week these girls are fighting it out against each other. Shawna and Lindsay were wheel-to-wheel for several laps. Here they push each other up the long hill.
Its on courses like this when I really need the cheering of teammates and friends. However, shouting at people to pass someone when they are recovering is just not that helpful... I can tell Abby is like, "shut-up Campbell I am trying to breath here!!"
Steph had a killer race and she gave it her all on the steep climb to the finish...how very Tour de France of the Cross Crusade crew.
Jericho opening up the speed on a downhill sprint toward the barriers.
Julie is becoming the Real Deal again with some amazing performances...on one of the hardest courses in the region she grabbed 3rd place and let all the other Master B ladies know that the pre-race bourbon shot can fuel you to the podium.
Lastly we had the Cat. Bs...these fellas stood around all day hearing about how hard the other races went, not sure if they should have a brat, worrying about their bikes and then its time to go....and go they did. Denial has been ripping up the Cat Bs with a single speed and he pulled a 5th place finish on a hilly-arse course with a singlespeed.. Amazing!!!!!
Bill his working his way up the Cat B ladder and he had a solid race....coming by the tent here ready to recover...oh hell no this guy recovers after the race.
Bustin had a solid race but he tried out a Sage Cycles bike with gears and dropbars...YIKES!! No photos were taken of this experiment to protect the innocent. All in all the Mongers had a stellar day and we are in the top 20 for the team competition. Abram and I had to slide out a little early to watch the Timbers beat the Seattle Flounder 1-0 at the JW. RCTID!!!!!
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