I'll let you decide which one is more real!
Yesterday was Crusade #2 and a brand new course down in WIllsonville. The event was held in a subdivision that is being built up on the grounds of the old state mental hospital.
The course seemed more like a short track mountain bike course than a cross course. A single run up, a trio of barriers, but beyond that the course was 100% rideable once you got out of traffic. Course was super technical as well. I'm happy that it didn't rain as the dirt section would have been almost impossible to navigate if wet.
The course was brutal to tires. I think I saw more people with flats in this race than I saw at Krugers, PotP, and Alpenrose combined. The one-two combination of bumpy terrain and very very hard surfaces complete with broken chunks of concrete and bits of metal everywhere (yes, there were pieces of flashing on the course during warm) beat the tar out of people and equipment alike.
The event was huge just like last week. My field had 145 people who finished in it this week opposed to 121 last week. Results for me were not as good this week, although I felt great the first lap and a half. I need to not go out and do 50miles on my fixie the day before.
Mounts and dismounts felt good, so good I ripped my jeans during warmup. Bike handling was a bit sketchy with all the loose gravel sections. I don't like loose gravel. Loose gravel and I have a bad history. This race was a serious gut check for a lot of people it seemed. Anyone who made it to the finish should be complemented on their insanity, and anyone who had to go to the medical tent to pick gravel out of their hip is a stronger person than I.
At the end of the day, a lot of us got a hard as hell workout and a few cuts and bruises to show for it. Afterwards we ate some great food and drank a lot of beer.
Speaking of beer, the homebrews were a big hit. Sal said the Purple Haze was like "drinking cake". Kenji was the recipient of the other bottle of Purple Haze and went giggling off into the women's field with his bottle spewing pink foam everywhere. When next I saw him he was channeling his inner Mr. Roboto in a killer Super Relax kit. Heidi went from the running machine to chilling in the tub after taking on pretty much an entire bottle of my Russian Imperial.
Last update on PotP until next year most likely.
Burk Webb from Portland Velo came out to Pain on the Peak last month and filmed this masterpiece. The video below just doesn't do justice to Burk's creation and filming ability. I get goose bumps every time I watch this in HD.
Huge thanks to Burk for the surprise. Beer for you!
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