ronde ohop: results and notes

A couple notes:

1. I am in the midwest on business so that's delayed getting results up on this site. The officials worked extra hard to get the place of everyone who raced -- that caused a delay since they didn't have everyone's name. Once I get home I'll update the results with names andsend to wsba and post here and at the Ronde Ohop website.

2. Thank to bikehugger for the writ-up and pics. I would like to point out that just because Hugger wants me to promote the Ronde as a cross race doesn't mean my messeging is confusing.

3. Thanks for the stories you've sent! I've gotten some pretty cool ones and it's great to see how many have embraced the beauty of NW Kermesse racing. Send more!

Point - CounterPoint

Ronde Ohop sucked by Racer PruDog

Yah KR won and got 5,6 and 9 place. But I flatted three times and only got 16th (if I had been able to ride hard the last two laps maybe 14th but just didn't have it left). This ride sucks and I am never doing it again.

Ronde Ohop rocks by Promoter PruDog

101 riders on the day! Woot Woot! The best turnout for an epic (classic?) race. You guys rock and this race has made it. Beer Garden next year!

No more Mr. Nice Blog

My promoter hat comes off at 10pm tomorrow and my race face goes on.

Gravity Sucks

Last night was a great night for the team with Mike Hainsworth p/b Leg Breaking Power rode hard and got 2nd. Erik Scheller has discovered that riding himself into the ground for Hainsworth is fun! Sorry Randy, you can't have all the glory.

Ion the otherhand am reminded that after a torrid affair back in the 90's, Gravity is still mad at me and won't pass up any chance to remind me. How many times do I need to apologize????? I am sorry for choosing the time trial over climbing as my focus back in the day. It was a mistake alright. Forgive me yet?

Also too, gonna smack myself up at Ronde Ohop. Just so that Ross doesn't get a chance to.

Ronde Ohop - Things to do in Eatonville when you're (not) dead

In Lee's QA she noted how beautiful the Ohop-Mashel area is and after the Petite Fondo Martha commented how cool it was that many of the riders hung out and did local stuff afterwards. And it's true! There is a lot of stuff to do there and it is really really nice. So, here's a quick list of some stuff I recommend:


Food:
So you just raced and now you want to eat? In Eatonville there are a couple good options:

Jelbino's, an Italian restaurant, and Bruno's, more of a family pub style joint. Both provided generous support to the Keller Rohrback Road Race and to Ronde Ohop. I don't recommend Subway -- they are not supportive of our racing and despite dropping quite a bit of money their last year pretty much told us to screw off this year.

Activities:
Pioneer Farm is 2 miles from the race and is family fun. Northwest Trek is about 10 minutes away. And Paradise is about 40 by car.

Bike Shops:
Eatonville Outdoor has been a huge advocate of the races and promoting us in the community. Even if it's just a tire, go buy something from Len and show our support.

Ronde Ohop QA - Lee Smith (Womens Edition)

While the Ronde Ohop has been a predominately male affair a few brave women have lined up as well. Lee Smith deserves some kind of frequent flyer miles and definitely knows the Ronde Ohop.

PruDog: What was the biggest difference between the first and second time you raced the Ronde Ohop?

Lee: The first year I did the Ronde Ohop I was a cat4 racing in the women’s 1-2-3 field, and we only had the loop that consists of ½ dirt + ½ pavement. We raced mixed in with one of the men’s fields, because the women’s field was so small. The second year (last year), we had a nice loop of highway before hitting the dirt+pavement loop, and that was fun, plus we got a great warm-up in. That year the women also raced with the men, because there were only 2 of us. The winner got a fabulous trophy made of pavé (cobblestone). I’ve heard that this year we will do the paved highway section twice (reverse direction from last year, and *no*, it is not the same as the KRRR course – it’s not hard!), and a couple of fewer laps on the dirt section . This is a really fun race, so hopefully the women will turn out in force so that we get to race separately.

P: Everyone asks me (as the promoter) to describe the dirt sections and the Mur de Mashel. How would you describe the dirt sections and the Mur?

L: The dirt sections and the Mur are totally non-technical. You don’t need to be a mountain biker or a cyclocross racer to ride these sections on your road bike (although you will want to run wider tires than normal, and at lower pressure than normal). The “mur” (wall) is very short, and not very steep – it’s easily ride-able by everyone. Then it’s on to flat, fast, wide dirt+gravel that is just plain fun (if a little bumpy at times – one more good reason to run wider tires).

P: The Ronde seems especially intimidating to women yet you’ve done it twice. What brings you back and why do you think women racers should do it?

L: The Ronde Ohop is in a very pretty, quiet area. It starts with two loops of nice, barely trafficked highway, where the race is like a real road race. Then the fun begins, with multiple loops of the dirt+park pavement section, where everything spreads out and it becomes more like an off-road race. Everything is low-key, and everyone has fun. There is nothing at all sketchy about the dirt sections, and I have never heard of anyone crashing in this race. At worst, there are some flat tires, but I’ve heard that this year there is neutral support . I would encourage any women who are looking to have fun, and to try something different, to turn out for the Ronde Ohop!

P: If you could give someone who has never ridden it before one piece of advice before their first ride what would it be?

L: My advice would be to follow the promoter’s guidance about wider tires, and to lower your tire pressure. Last year I lowered my tire pressure below what I would normally ride on the road, but then found after the race that a bunch of the men used even lower tire pressure (in the 80-90 psi range). I’m going to give that a try this year, if for no other reason than comfort in the bumpy sections.

About the Ronde Ohop
The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The Ronde Ohop is a Belgian style Kermesse race that covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

I'm going to smack KR up by Fake Dave Hills

I'm Gonna Smack Keller Rohrback up
by Fake Dave Hills

I've got a confession to make. I know everyone thinks I'm a climber. Well, that's what I want you to think. I'm no one trick pony. In fact, I've been waiting all year for the Ronde Ohop so I could finally show PruDog and his "Killer Rohrbots" how a Kermesse is really done. I've got my bike read and guess what? It's the same as my regular bike 19c tires and all. You know why? Cause I am just that good. I mean, I define the term float. How the hell am I going to get a flat when I only weigh 80lbs? Seriously, think it through.

And what was Olson thinking with the whole Killer Rohrbots thing? Don't quit your day job.

In conclusion, it's on like Donkey Kong. Hills is coming for you and he's going to Smack. You. Up.

Ronde Ohop - QA with Randy Salamon

Fresh off his incredible support of Mike Hainsworth at the Gig Harbor Circuit race Randy Salamon gives us the Ronde Ohop 411.

2006 or 2007 I think was the first time I rode the Ohop. It was the first year of the race. I remember it like this "Damn, for a short course this is hard and people are killing themselves, wait, we're not even on the dirt yet. Oh crap this is gonna hurt.......". It wasn't raining but it there was a deluge the night before. The dirt (read MUD) section was slicker than snot on a doorknob and the Mur was murder to get up because your wheels simply stuck into the mud . There was a little trail of water that ran down the length of it and everyone was trying to hold that line. I was talking with Wanda Howlett before the race and she told me to have wheels in the middle of the pave until the end. I didn't listen and flatted out on the last lap about 20 meters from the road section.

Roadies should do it to prove they are not the wussies 'crossers think they are. Road season is coming to an end and you need to go out with a bang. Figurative not literal.

Dirt good, embrace the 2-wheel drift.......

Ride soft. Let the bike float over the pave'. Sit back, hands on the tops arms loose, KEEP PEDALING!!!!, and keep your freaking head up! You have to pay attention because or your race will go sideways real quick. Other than that, I would say 25-28c tires with 80-90psi, eat your wheaties and be ready for some fun.

Ohop is one of those races that you do simply because it is fun.

About the Ronde Ohop
The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The Ronde Ohop is a Belgian style Kermesse race that covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

Memo to Ross Gilbert

Hey Ross, I am gonna exorcise my demons from last year's Ronde Ohop by smacking you up this year. Believe that! (Or, more likely, you are gonna make me cry again).

Ronde Ohop QA - Ross Gilbert

Ross Gilbert holds the distinction as the only person I've seen who actually looks good going up the Mur. Predictably, he points to it as the key to the race. For the record he owned me there last year like a cat owns a mouse.

PruDog: What do you remember most about your first Ronde Ohop?

Ross Gilbert: The most friendly atmosphere I have found at and during a road race.

P: You are the only person that's ever looked good going up the Mur de Mashel. Any tips?

RG:No tips...I need all the advantages I can get. Well, okay: For me the Mur is what this race is all about. Keep your weight back for traction. Go up it at your own pace - you have the rest of the lap to recover!

P: Why would you recommend the Ronde to someone who asks you if they should do it?
RG:Is totally different to any race I have done. It has something for everyone and there is never a dull moment.

The Ronde Ohop
The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The race covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

Ronde Ohop - QA with David Richter

David Richter showed earned his stone (literally, you get a mounted stone when you win! See what I did there?) last year with a 30 mile solo move. Here's his perspective of the Ronde Ohop:

PruDog: You won the Ohop on your first ride last year. What do you remember most about it?

Richter: How epic it was. I couldn't believe what had just happened.


P: You went solo for most of the race with an attack on the Mashel-Eatonville-Mashel loop. Did you know how hard the dirt would be? Or was that part of your plan?

R:I attacked on the road section, knowing the dirt was going to be insane. Just like what happens at Paris Roubaix before the Arenberg Forest.

P: You’re known as a road guy. But people forget you raced pro mountain bike and have ridden cross. What is one reason a roadie should do the Ronde?

R: To really experience what epic is.

P: What is one reason a cross rider should do it?

R: because a bunch of roadies will be doing it & they'll [the cross riders - ed] smash the most decisive part.

P: If you could give someone who has never ridden it before one piece of advice before their first rider what would it be?

R: ride as aggressive as possible & drink before the dirt loops.

The Ronde Ohop
The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The race covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

Ronde Ohop - Three Pro Tips

Riding a Roubaix or Kermesse race is both exciting and intimidating to riders. These races are different, but it's also important not to overthink them. As Nick Legan recently said in his VeloNews column:

The beauty of dirt road riding is in the doing of it. Not in the researching of it. The adventure is sometimes in not necessarily having the perfect tool for the job. Enjoy

With that in mind, here are three basic tips that will make your Ronde Ohop manageable:

Equipment: Don't worry about whether you need a cross bike, road bike, double tape or any of that stuff. Just make sure your bike is in good working order, you are using file-tread or road tread tires and running 25c tires.

Technique: This isn't mud or ruts. We're not running up and down cut backs. The turns are easy and the road straight. The two things you want to do is let the bike float and not try to overstear and push a big gear to minimize the impact of vibration on your rythm.

Tactics: You'll be riding hard once you enter the Sector de Suffering until the race is over. You'll have to tackle the short (50 meters) but challenging Mur de Mashel 10 times. Don't over do it. Save your energy when possible, use road section to recover and try to stay with a group. It was epic when David Richter won the elite field with a 26 mile solo move last year but for the rest of us riding that's a but much.

In other words, just be cool and your race will work itself out.

About the 2011 HSP Ronde Ohop p/b ByrneInvent
The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The race covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

Washington Cup Rd 3 Scoring

The 3rd and final round of the 2011 Washington Cup is the Ronde Ohop Sunday August 21st, 2011.

Scoring at the Ronde Ohop will differ from the previous two rounds in two ways:
• Double points will be awarded based on placing in each official race.
• While there are only four official races, points will be available for each of the Washington Cup categories. This will be accomplished by each race will have designated categories that riders can assign their points to that align to the previous rounds.

The official races and assignment options are as follows:

Masters 30+: points available for Masters 30+ 1/2/3 and Masters 40+ 4/5
Womens: points available for Womens 1/2/3 and Womens 4
Cat 4/5 and Masters 50+: points available for Mens 4/5 and Masters 50+
Mens 1/2/3: points available for Mens 1/2 and Mens 3

For example: Jeff Reed is racing the Masters 30+ in support of Sean Phillips* . Andy Salmon is also racing the race. Mike H and Sean Phillips have attacked with Ross Gilbert leaving Andy Salmon and Jeff to fight out 4th and 5th place. Jeff’s disarming smile lulls Andy Salmon into a false sense of complacency and Jeff easily takes 4th with an electric sprint. Andy Salmon gets 5th. Jeff gets 60 points for 4th. These are applied to the Masters 40+ 4/5 Washington Cup. Salmon is a Cat 3 so he gets 52 points for the 30+ 1/2/3 Washington Cup.

Points for the Masters 4/5 and Masters 50+ field will be assigned based on registration.

*I am assuming Mirante rolled a tubular earlier in the race and is at the finish drinking beer

Funny is as funny does

I am tired, so tired.

PruDog's Races: The Mission

For the record (and the win!) the goal of my races events is to find ways to do things with bikes we don't normally get to do. Apparently I pull that off even without trying -- see KRRR the easy summer race which turned out to be the new NWClassic.

2011 Petite Fondo Paradise Results

Because no event, Grand or Petite, is complete without results here are your times for the Petite Fondo Paradise. We will likely do this again next year with a field limit of 30 riders. It will be interesting to see if Kerry Farrell can win it again in his 53x18 or if he'll have to bring out the big boy 54.



Short videos taken from my iPhone are here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mapei123#g/u

Ronde Ohop - Decided on the dirt

I keep getting asked this. For the 100th time neither the Col du Ohop and Cote de Soul Crusher are included in the Mashel-Eatonville-Mashel loop. These two climbs are featured in the Keller Rohrback Road Race on the Eatonville-Ohop Valley-Eatonville loop. We were going to use the same loop as KRRR until we realized (or you did!) how hard those two climbs were. The road sections in a Kermesse or Roubaix race should be tactic sections, not spring boards to victory. The dirt should decide the winner.

If you did the Ronde last year the road loop is the same but in reverse.

2012 Washington Cup - On Like Donkey Kong

Despite winning three road races this year we've been tagged as a crit team. We are! But also that's fighting words so now it's on like Donkey Kong. I will not only manage a Washington Cup of 10 races next year KR for the Masters, Mens 1-2 and Womens 1-2. We are also going to sweep the Cup.

And yes, it will include Ronde Ohop, Spokane Roubaix and likely a season starting old school Ohop Kermesse. So live with our glory.

Ronde Ohop - Don't be scared of a little dirt

The first Roubaix type race I ever did was the Spokane River Roubaix in the mid 90's. I had never ridden a road race with dirt sections before and was intimidated by it. But I was younger, hungrier and ready for anything. To make a long story short I made it over the dirt climb (and it was a real climb!) with the lead group before grovelling into a lowly 16th (although Iwas credited with 6th). I was exhausted (I later learned I had strep throat) by this different kind of race. I was also in loved.

Whenever you hear about a road race with dirt sections the hyperbole starts. It's epic! It's super hard! No one wants to ride it but everyone wants to win it!

To me the reason to do A Roubaix or Kermesse type race with dirt is that everyone earns their place. Let's be honest, in a regular road race most riders are just getting sucked along. Got 16th? Meh. Maybe you earned it maybe not. But 16th at the Ronde Ohop is deserved; you can't sit on the guy in front of you and just pip him on the line. There are tactics and tricks for improving your result (I can probably get 2 places because I know the course so well) but you still have to ride your bike hard and smart. Even if you aren't in for the win, that ability to really earn your place even if it's dead last is something that you can take with you and build on for other races.

The 2011 Herriott Sports Performance Ronde Ohop power by ByrneInvent is August 21, 2011 and is the final round of the 2011 Washington Cup.

The race covers a 6 mile paved circuit 2-4 times (depending on the category) before finishing with 10 laps of the Mashel-Nisqually Loop. The loop features 1 mile for paved road and 1.25 miles hard pack dirt.

Road or Cyclocross bikes can be used but 25-28c road or file tread tires are recommended (neutral wheel support is provided by FSA).

For more info visit the Ronde Ohop Website at http://www.dirtymoose.com/2010ohop/index.htm

What is this S^%t by Fake Sean Phillips

What is this s&^t by Fake Sean Phillips

I have three words for PruDog after that lame ass excuse for a blog post about Boston Harbor.

What. The. Hell.

I am going to name you PruLame because that's what that was. Ozymandius? If I wanted the classics I'd borrow your Frisky Dingo series DVD set. I don't come to this blog for culture. I come hear to read about my exploits on a bike. Remember yoru bike? How can you forget given the amount of noise yours generates everytime you look at it. Just so you know, they have these great things now called "bike mechanics". They can fix that stuff for you. Rumor is you have a real job so it's not like you can't afford it.

If you want to do poetry how about this:

There once was a rider for SCCA/SBUX
Who covered an attack early in the day
Despite the Garage and uneven odds
He still pulled off 3rd that day

See, now that's mother&^$#$g poetry. Step your game up Pruitt. I am not askingnicely again.

Boston Harbor Post Game

The Tale of Keller Rohrback

We met some riders from KR land
Who said: `Two vast and powerful legs of power
Stand in the race. Near them, on the course,
Half sunk, many a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its owner well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear --
"Our Name is Keller Rohrback, master or Masters:
Look on our works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level riders stretch far away

Update: F^%&(ing Ozymandias! Does no one read the classics anymore? Shorter version: KR Won.

I don't think sketchy means what you think it means

As a side note and not meant as a call out to any individual perse. I mean, you all suck so just assume this is aimed at you personally and everyone on your team.

I've noticed a tendency of the 50+ crowd to complain about how sketchy the under 50 crowd is in Masters races. I think the comment usually takes the form of "the 50+ race is so much safer because guys ride better lines" or some such.

Yah, so that's not true. In general, the older the field the worse the bike handling skills are. The difference is that the older the rider, the more consistent they are in how they suck. For example, I see more insane drop kicks from the 50+ riders than .. well.. I don't see it in any other field. That said the riders that drop kick do it every time in exactly the same way so if you ride that field you get used to it. What happens when the 50+ set mixes with the youngsters isn't that we are sketchy it's the we don't get out of the way either because we don't know your gonna drop kick or because we are less forgiving.

Another example is dive bombing corners. I saw a lot of older dudes flying into corner 2 and 3 at Tacoma only to get put into the curb. Listen, that's a bad line and if you dive bomb a corner it's not the guy with the correct lines and strong position responsibility to get out of your way. I think in the 50+ though guys move. Again though, that's not cause we're sketchy. It's cause guys are less likely to move.

That said, crashing yourself out on the crease at Boat Street is something we younger guys are very very good at.

Just Can't Quit You

Apparently Dave Hecht just can't quit the ground. After beating it senseless at Olympia Stage Race and then PR, he apparently decided to show the pavement who is boss again at Skagit Flats.

Dave, listen. We know you are one tough M&^$##$^&r but let it go. I don't know what the cement ever did to you but at these point you just seem petty with this vendetta of yours.