A LOT has happened!

Friday June 9, 2006 by Terri Gooch

Camp news: Both the 3 Day and 4 Day Training Camps were great successes again this year. We had the privilege to travel around the state with a number of our solo racers, a couple of Cannibal Headhunters and three Llamas. The 3 Day Camp (held the first weekend of June…i.e. the old RAO weekend) made us especially glad that we moved the race date. It poured on the riders – especially Headhunter Bill Nicolai who seemed to travel with his own private rain cloud. Seriously, the other riders would hit showers here and there but, for the most part, stayed dry Friday afternoon. Not so for Nicolai who is one of the few people to have been drenched on Bakeoven, Clarno and Fossil. The rain never washed away Bill’s smile – who, after completing the 165 mile route, declared it one of the best rides of his life.

Some things we learned: The 50+ Solo Division has a good chance of producing the overall Solo Champ. Wade Baker is riding stronger than I’ve ever seen him. He is climbing even faster than last year and has improved his speed on the flats. David Holt – the current 50 + record holder at the 508 – is shockingly fast. It’s a good thing no other soloists were there to watch him tow riders through the town of Monument at 30 mph. And no, there was not a tail wind. David’s combination of speed and saavy are going to make him very difficult to beat. Gregg Geser is back training with a vengeance and he’s having fun. Geser has raced RAO three times – twice in the solo division. Of his two solo finishes he placed first in ‘02 and second in ‘03. He lost his course record to last year’s winner Kenneth Philbrick by one minute. He wants it back. However, to reclaim the record, Gregg will have to win on:

The new course. Yup – it’s done. We’ll have the profiles posted in the very near future. Bag Balmer Richard Seton is owed major kudos for doing such a wonderful job on the elevation profiles and maps. The camp participants provided wonderful testers for the route changes. They gave positive reviews. There are two changes which shorten the route by a total of 4 miles but generously allow you another 1,000 – 1,500 feet of climbing. Change # 1 is at Prineville. The time station remains the same but rather than riding toward O’Neil and Terrebonne, racers will exit Prineville on hwy 26 and ride to Madras. This lops 12 miles from the old route. 26 has fewer cars and much less truck traffic than 97. The terrain is rolling with a few steady climbs and a nice descent to Madras. Change # 2 takes place after the 216/26 junction. Three miles after joining 26 you will turn right on FR 43. Enjoy the eight flat/downhill miles as Mt. Hood will make you get them back when you turn left on FR 48. Seven miles of climbing lead you to 35 where you’ll turn left. Three miles later you’ll re-summit Barlow Pass (you rode over it in the opposite direction the day before) and then coast to the merge with 26. You are now back on the old route about 1.5 miles from Timberline Road.



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