Race Report Oth #1 2013(merged)

That's awesome. One of my regular riding buddies is someone I met when he finished behind me at the first race last year.

 

Next race, bring youre GSXR-1000 with nobbies and show him some lines =)

Dude, pictures are freakin Crisp, nice job.

Im on the same boat as you, i had a really good time as well. Too bad my kids did not race. Always good to hear riders making new friends.

This Summer will be off the Hook.

Constructive Criticism, very well taken, thank you =)

 

Bro I haven't been on my race bike for a year now....I need to get to the track !!

You site in the only one that is allowing me to buy.....all the others the links don't work, but it might be cuz of my work computer....but not sure.

 

As the guy behind it is YOUR job to pass when it is safe. It is not their job to "move over." Granted out of common courtesy most will try to stay right. Please remember that many on the course are brand new to racing, and having a bunch of pros blasting up on your rear wheel can be downright frightening. I always dread when the experts and pros come to lap me. That said, I have never had a problem and they've all been very nice and encouraging as they race around my tired arse

 

Just let the guy contend for a podium this year (unless he gets bumped up before then) - then he'll get bumped up next year anyway. Great riding Mario! :bang:

 

PLS Photography has not given a link yet because there are still pictures loading. I will give a link as soon as all the pictures are posted (later today).

 

Yeah, I had some encounters with him as well. Looks like the same guy. He was really having trouble on the DH sections then ate it at that short but super steep vertical ascent towards the tree/brushy area and one of the female riders was totally yelling at him on the first lap. It was hilarious listening to her go off on him. She wasn't cussing but something along the line of "oh come on! get out the way!" Classic.

 

There are a few out there who are worthy of the cross bike during the race...and just like everyone else they are faster in certain areas and slower in others...the good news is they kick up less dust on the flats and if they're racing proper, will pull their turn in a paceline better than the others.

If they choose to sit on your wheel (most don't) or do the dreaded tight pass-crash in braking zone/climb fail-block the trail, they will never hear the end of the next week.

Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing.

 

Pictures are now posted from Tuesday's OTH kick-off race. Over 2000 pics from a variety of locations around the course. PLS Photpgraphy will return to OTH on June 25th. Thanks in advance for your purchase!!!
Here's a link to the pics: http://www.plsphotography.com/Sports2013/Over-The-Hump-2013


Photo by Mike Phipps for PLS Photography

 

Matt and John are really good about bumping riders up that are in the wrong class.

 

Being my 1st race I decided to sign-up for Beginner (not knowing what to expect). I looked at my lap times and decided this week to move to Sport.

 

Remember though.....your lap times are based on 2 laps.....for sport you will have to do 3 laps. So the question is whether you can maintain those lap time over 3 laps.

 

Thanks....going to give it a try!

 

Funny thing about the cyclocross riders at OTH. I race CX and at know a majority of the regulars and at least recognize the rest.
Most of the CX riders at OTH I haven't seen at CX races.

Saw a few pics of CX riders at the first OTH race this year and don't think I've seen most of them at a CX race.

I did see Tyler warming up on his CX. That kid just plain kicks butt.

 

While this is the fairest thing, i hope they keep in mind that some ppl are just very strong riders even though they are very new to the sport. Less than 5 races and less than a year of mtbing tells me that some ppl may be simply a very strong beginner.

 

WOW! Seems to be a whole bunch of racers complaining about other racers being in their way. There must be a pretty big prize purse at these races. What does first place get? A $1000 bucks or something? Man, maybe I need to go out and try my hand at these local fun races! In beginner class of course.

 

It was the first race. Things will get sorted, they always do. Just like last year and the year before.
Nothing really to keep in mind either, it really is black and white once the line gets drawn. They are either to fast or they are not. If they are going faster than 80 racers in a 85 man field, they are to fast and its time to move up. That's just a huge field full of 85 people who want to race. You're fast if you come out on top of that race. If you're a true racer, moving up is the goal and all the training has paid off. kudo's to those that chose to upgrade do it on their own

 

Well I don't think it had to do about the prize... unless you're a pro and sponsored then Ya you want the win and glory, as for me and anyone who trains there ass off just to do good.... Ya it's important. When you got a field of 84 tufts in your group and 60 in the group ahead of you and your passing 30 of those it's gets tough. I was pissed at how many spots I lost to due crashes from slower riders and bottle necks on the course. It was my first race with this org, but to me having that many people it over doing it.... the fun factor is there as well as meeting new people, but having all of socal in one race in a 2hr part of the day needs to be improved or make it an all day event.

 

This thread is too funny.

Read any OTH race report from the previous 4 years...go on...search, read, and enjoy.

It pretty much amounts to the same thing every year.

1. Get over yourself.
2. For this series, its about fun. Not results.
3. Get over yourself.
4. While racing etiquette suggests the slower rider should yield to the faster rider (its really only strongly suggested if the race leaders in a different class are coming through), nothing about it requires the slower rider to pull off the trail or single racing line, put themselves in danger (which is just as likely to put others in danger as well), or have to deal with some wanna-be knocking bars through a narrow section.
5. Its dusty. There's pollen in the air. Its usually hot. Somebody crashes. Occasionally you might be inconvenienced by someone else's pain. I'm not aware of anyone who intentionally crashes.
6. If you don't like the crowds, come on out to one of the local weekend races like US Cup or Endurostuff or Racers and Chasers or Fontana or Knobby Time or Rim Nordic or Quick and Dirty (apologies if I missed anyone) or any of the other events.
7. Its a mountain bike race...there are bound to be some portions that are not freeway wide. If you want that, shave your legs, get some skinny tires, and ride counterclockwise in 1-mile circles for 30-50 minutes in a pack of 75-100. Or go clockwise on a 2-mile course in a 40-50 person pack over at the Great Park on Thursdays. Its still fun, but in a different way.
8. BTW...if you shave your legs, and you're not a chick, you are not a beginner. The inverse is also true...if you don't shave your legs, and are a chick, you are not a beginner.
9. Get over yourself.
10. Somebody's going to win the race. Somebody's going to think that winner is a sandbagger. People are going to get upgraded beyond what they think their own abilities are...we all chip in to fill out the categories so more people in the thinner categories can take home some pint glasses.

...and finally...

Get over yourself.

Grab a beer after (or during) the race. Encourage someone during the race. If you don't like following the huge packs, come on up to expert. The course is wide open for the 1st lap, and if you're slow, it'll be the end of the 2nd lap before you start catching the crowds. You won't care about the crowds on the 3rd lap because you think you're dying, and by the time you come around on the 4th lap, you get to enjoy the sunset with the others who are happy to be out there.

 

well clearly they need to make this an all day race and send one racer out at a time and wait for him/her to finish so that nobody holds you up or, God forbid, crashes in front of you.