LaGrandeRide.com Northeast Oregon's Premiere Cycling Resource
NEWS ARCHIVE 2007

Five Under Fifteen: Quality Gear On The Cheap
by Brian Sather
Originally published in Oregon Cycling Magazine, October 2007, vol. 16, no.8.
The maxim “You get what you pay for” does not always apply to cycling products. Sometimes the high-end lightweight equipment is the first to fail you during a ride. By contrast, some inexpensive items turn out to be your favorite and most reliable. The products I regularly use cover the full range from high-end to low-end. I have avoided the urge to review dazzle and bling components in this article; instead, I chose to review the low-end items I have found to be quite useful.
Read More. . .

3 La Grande Triathletes Participate in Xterra Nationals
Sept 30, 2007 - One of the most represented towns at the Xterra National Championship Triathlon was La Grande, Oregon. The USA championships are held yearly in Incline Village, Nevada on Lake Tahoe. Sandra Isbell finished 9th in the Women's 25-29 division (209th overall, 188th on the mountain bike segment). Cory Larvik and Korrie Dubray were scheduled starters, but are not listed in the results. (see results)

MTB, Run, Kids Race Scheduled for Oct 6 at Owsley
Sept 20, 2007 - From the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trails Club:

Please join the Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club in celebrating "National Take a Kid Mtn Biking Day" on October 6, 2007. Information shown below is still being finalized--but the event is a go, so we wanted to get it on your calendars.
Where: Owsley Canyon Trail Head, Near Grande Ronde Bowmen Range
When: October 6, 2007
What:
1) Mtn Bike Race and Trail Runners, Race starts @ 10:00 AM Sharp ! (registration starts at 9:00 AM). Expert class 12 miles minimum; all others 6 mile race.
(Registration is $10.00 and all participants must sign a waiver) All proceeds go to trail maintenance, property lease, porty potties, etc....
2) Take a Kid guided Mtn Bike or BMX bike ride--guided--for all abilities. Start time pending--Actual start time is pending (probably 11:00 or 12:00)
Families and invdividuals are welcome. A great chance to burn off some excess energy and to become familiar with the trails in the Owsley Canyon/Mt Emily area. Drawing for prizes for all kids 15 yrs old and younger who come and ride a bike.
(no registration fee but must sign waiver)
3) Barbecue at either 1:00 PM (burgers, hot dogs and drinks), courtesy of the Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club. No fee but donations will be accepted.

Locals in State Hillclimb: Allen 3rd, Monnig 4th
Sept 9, 2007 - Larch Mountain played host to the Oregon State Hillclimb Championship today. Matt Allen of La Grande finished 3rd in the Masters 45-49 category and 13th in the overall combined (results). David Monnig, who recently moved from La Grande, was 4th in Category 4 and 17th overall.

The Best Bike for NE Oregon?
by Brian Sather
Originally published in Oregon Cycling Magazine, September 2007, vol. 16, no.7.
Sept 8, 2007 -  If a cyclist was allotted only one bike to ride in Northeast Oregon, it ought to be a cyclocross bike. This type of bike is best suited for handling the roads and weather conditions of the region. Here is the scenario: a cyclist is enjoying a nice paved road through some scenic countryside. Then, the pavement abruptly ends. Instead of turning around, the rider equipped with a cyclocross bike continues on. In this story, the cyclist benefits from more miles of enjoyable riding; but more importantly, he or she avoids falling prey to cyclist’s most dreaded course, the out-and-back.  Read More . . . 

Romer Caps Season with High Result in Eugene
Sept 5, 2007 - During Labor Day weekend, Eli Romer completed the Eugene Celebration Stage Race with a 5th place finish on the General Classification for Category 4. The race included 2 road races, a criterium, and a time trial. In the opening day's road race, Romer sprinted to a 2nd place finish. He followed this with a 10th place in the time trial and finished with the pack in the criterium. This dropped him a few spots on the general classification. On the final day's road race, Romer regained ground by forcing a breakaway that survived the finishing climb up Lorane Hill and gave him a 3rd place result. This concludes his racing season, which has included steady improvement throughout.

Past Weekend Yields Local Top Placings in Triathlon, Bike Racing
Aug 30, 2007 - Four local triathletes took to McCall, Idaho for the Xterra Wild Rockies Triathlon this past weekend. The result was 3 first place age group finishes by Korrie Dubray (Women 35-39), Sandra Isbell (Women 35-39), and Mary Ellen LaBerge (Women 55-59). La Grande resident Cory Larvik overcame a broken pedal and placed 9th in Men 35-39 age group. (see results)

In other racing action, Eli Romer finished 8th at the High Desert Omnium Road Race in Bend. (see results). He will be in action at the Eugene Celebration Stage Race this Labor Day weekend.

Union County Cyclists Still Racing Strong
Aug 20, 2007 - A few local racers participated in OBRA races during the past weekend. Eli Romer placed 5th and David Monnig was 7th at the Cat 4 Woodland Road Race (results). Matt Allen took on the Mary's Peak Hillclimb (results), one of the most renown climbs in Oregon. Despite a mistake that had him arriving at the start a couple minutes past his scheduled time, he finished 2nd in his category and 14th overall. His actual time on the climb would have moved him up a few places in the overall.

Couples MTB Ride Scheduled
Aug 19, 2007 - From the Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club:

Please join us for a "couples mtn bike ride" this Wednesday August 22, 2007, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. The ride will start at the Owsley Canyon Trailhead parking area (by the archery range gate). We will ride the Valley View Trail--a loop out and back (about 1 to 1.5 hr ride). The Valley View Trail is comprised of gravel surfaced road, unsurfaced road, ATV double track and a short section of singletrack. There are only two technical sections that may require a short bike push. If you would prefer, you may also jog along side of the Peleton.

This ride is for "all abilities." You do not need to have a top of the line mtn bike or be in race season, physical condition. This is a great opportunity to get to know other mtn biking couples in the area and to get to know the trail system in the Mt Emily Area.
 

Maguire 16th at State Time Trial
Aug 6, 2007 - Tim Maguire was the only Union County participant at this year's Oregon State Time Trial Championship on August 5. He posted a solid 1:09:33 for the traditional 40k route near Corvallis. The result netted him a 16th place in Category 4 and 175th of 202 racers overall. This year's event was plagued by gusty winds, specifically the traditional north headwind that plagues riders on the return during the out-and-back course. Maguire's times have drastically improved in 2007 on the local Foothill TT course, and the state championship result confirms his developing form.

The Anthony Climb: Northeast Oregon's Clandestine Challenge
by Brian Sather
Originally published in Oregon Cycling Magazine, August 2007.
July 31, 2007 -  In recent years, Eastern Oregon’s Dooley Mountain climb has developed some notoriety for its brutal role in the outcome of the Elkhorn Classic Stage Race. Many of the race participants are unaware that a more formidable climb lurks nearby, the climb to Anthony Lakes. One year the race organizers proposed an additional day of racing that included this climb. The racers took one look at the elevation profile and quickly persuaded the organizers to banish the thought. “The Anthony Climb” is a goliath by more than just Northeast Oregon standards, it is arguably more difficult than the more well-known climbs in the state like Larch Mountain, Mary’s Peak, and Mt. Ashland. Read More . . . 

Boise Twilight Criterium Tests 2 Local Racers
July 23, 2007 - The Wells Fargo Criterium in Idaho is one of the most esteemed bicycle races in the Northwest. On Saturday, July 21 both Eli Romer and David Monnig tested their cornering and acceleration skills in this rectangular course in downtown Boise. The result was 8th place for Romer and 21st for Monnig in the Category 4 race.

Duo of Locals Ride Cascade Classic
July 16, 2007 - Eli Romer and Matt Allen raced in Oregon's most prestigious stage race this past weekend, the Cascade Classic. Temperatures soared in Bend, as Romer used some consistent results in the 4 stages to earn a 17th place finish in the category 4 general classification. His more impressive result was a 13th place, same-time finish on the final stage, a hilly circuit race with 2 steep and challenging climbs. Allen's best finish was 10th place in the mountainous Stage 3 Cascade Lakes Road Race, which moved him into 15th place in the masters 45+ general classification. Then, he elected to skip the final stage in favor of a return to the beautiful comforts of La Grande, Oregon. Full results are listed here.

Monnig to Read Published Essay in La Grande
July 9, 2007 - Resident cycling enthusiast and racer David Monnig has published an essay in the book Cycling's Greatest Misadventures. The book tour will visit La Grande on Friday, July 20 at 7 pm for a reading by Monnig himself at the Highway 30 Coffee Co. shop. The book editor will also participate in the event. The coffee shop location is 1302 Adams Avenue in downtown La Grande.

Romer 6th in State Cat 4 Championship
July 2, 2007 - The OBRA State Championship Road Race took place south of Eugene on July 1. The Category 4 championship was filled with attacks by some strong teams on the hilly circuit course. La Grande based racer Eli Romer put in a hard charge up Briggs hill that put him in a good position in a chase group, netting him a solid 6th place finish.

Dubray Takes Solstice Triathlon Win
June 27, 2007 - Korrie Dubray of La Grande won the women's division in a very close Xterra Triathlon at Morgan Lake on June 23. After falling behind the leader by 5 minutes in the swim, Dubray put in a solid bike leg and scorched the run to take the lead and win by just 23 seconds. MaryEllen LaBerge and Kristen "Tiger" Rice also competed in the women's race. Full results are posted here.

The Solstice Triathlon is a grueling event that is part of the Xterra series. It features a 1k swim in Morgan Lake, 25k mountain bike on rugged terrain, and a brutal 10k run on rocky dirt roads. The weather was perfect for this year's event.

Three La Grande men also competed. Bill Gerst used a fast bike split to place 8th overall. Local attorney Cory Larvik was close behind in 13th and La Grande city councilman Steve Clements was 25th.

Hartz Places 14th at Elkhorn, Romer 22nd
June 25, 2007 - In an Elkhorn Classic that included more attrition than previous years, Whit Hartz capitalized on a strong time trial to finish 14th on the general classification in the Category 4 race. Eli Romer also had solid finishes on each stage and a 22nd overall. Brian Sather finished in 20th place on Stage 1, but faded to 52nd overall in the Category 3 field.

Raffle Winners Announced for Mt. Emily Support
June 25, 2007 - From the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trail Club:

A HUGE, SPECIAL THANKS to all you who purchased tickets or made donations to help off-set the costs of the lease and the associated requirements with Forest Capital Partners for a portion of their property we all cherish in the Mt Emily area (all FCP property located east of the Mt Emily Road--County Rd). And, a very special thanks to the following DONORS of Prizes:

Cycle Sports 1910 Island Ave, La Grande
The Mtn Works, 1307 Adams Ave, La Grande
Blue Mtn Sports, Grande Ronde Mall
NY Richies, 10303 Island Ave
Laughing Frog Farms, Owsley Canyon

A total, gross amount of $2,270 was raised for the raffle, which should allow BMSTC to maintain its lease through 2007 (pending negotiations with FCP).

RAFFLE DETAILS: Winning tickets for the Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club raffle were drawn at 12:04 PM on Saturday June 23, 2007 at the Solstice Xterra Triathlon at Morgan Lake, in Union County, Oregon. You did not need to be present to win. A total of 217 tickets were sold. All tickets sold were placed in a clear glass two-gallon container, mixed thoroughly, and winning tickets were drawn by Chris Appleton, Xterra Course Chairman, Boise, Idaho. The following winning tickets were drawn in numerical sequence:

First Prize: $500 gift certificate, CycleSports,1910 Island Ave.
Winner: Mark Lewis

Second Prize: $500 gift certificate, The Mt Works, 1307 Adams Ave.
Winner Dennis Young

Third Prize: $100 gift certificate, Blue Mtn Sports, Grande Ronde Mall, Island Ave
Winner Annette Howell

Fourth Prize: $50 gift certificate, New York Richies, 10303 Island Ave.
Winner: Russ West

Fifth Prize: $60 gift certificate, Laughing Frog Farms,  natural fertilizers or red worms.
Winner: Clint Williams

Sixth Prize: Blue Mtn Singltrack Trails Club T-Shirt ($30 value)
Winner: Steve Lyon

Seventh Prize: Four Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club Water Bottles ($20 value)
Winner: Maryellen Laberge

BMSTC will mail a copy of this notice/results to all Raffle participants: (THANKS THANKS THANKS !!!!)

3 Locals to Race Elkhorn Classic in Baker This Weekend
June 21, 2007 - Baker City hosts one of the most renown cycling stage races on the west coast June 22-24. The Elkhorn Classic features a road race on Friday afternoon, time trial Saturday morning, criterium in downtown Baker Saturday afternoon, and a long challenging road race on Sunday that finishes on Mt. Dooley. Participants from Union County include Whit Hartz of The Mountainworks and Eli Romer in the Category 4 race, and Brian Sather in Category 3. More information about the races is available on the race website.

Help Save Mt. Emily Recreation Area: Buy Raffle Tickets
June 19, 2007 - From the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trail Club:

Do you Hike, Jog, Mountain Bike, Pick Berries, Ride Horses, Hunt, or Cross-Country Ski in the Owsley Canyon, Igo Lane, Mt Emily Road, Starr Lane Areas ? If so, Please Help Us to Preserve Those Uses !

2007 Fund Raising Raffle ~ Tickets on Sale Until June 23, 2007

The Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club (BMSTC) has leased the property controlled by Forest Capital Partners LLC, located east of the Mt Emily Road. This includes the trails in the Owsley Canyon, Igo Lane, Mt Emily Road, Starr Lane areas. To cover the cost of the lease and to fulfill its requirements (trail maintenance and improvements, signage, insurance, garbage pickup, porta-potties, etc), BMSTC is sponsoring this raffle.

Raffle Timelines: May 18, 2007 to June 23, 2007. Tickets: $10.00 each.*

When Will Winning the Tickets Be Drawn ? Winning tickets will be drawn at 12:00 PM Pacific Time, on June 23, 2007 at the Xterra Solstice Triathlon, at Morgan Lake go to {www.solsticetri.com}. You do not need to be present to win. Items will be awarded as follows (prize donors all located in La Grande, Oregon):

First Prize: $500 gift certificate, CycleSports,1910 Island Ave. phone 962.7441.
Second Prize: $500 gift certificate, The Mt Works, 1307 Adams Ave. 963.3220.
Third Prize: $100 gift certificate, Blue Mtn Sports, Grande Ronde Mall, Island Ave, phone 963.5115.
Fourth Prize: $50 gift certificate, New York Richies, 10303 Island Ave., 962.6175.
Fifth Prize: $60 gift certificate, Laughing Frog Farms, 962.7491 natural fertilizers or red worms.
Sixth Prize: Blue Mtn Singltrack Trails Club T-Shirt ($30 value), 963.9740.
Seventh Prize: Four Blue Mtn Singletrack Trails Club Water Bottles ($20 value), 963.9740.

Tickets will be available from those shops listed above beginning on Saturday May 18, 2007, or from the BMSTC Board of Directors listed above. If you would rather make a tax deductible donation to BMSTC to be used towards the lease, please contact a Board member.

Go to www.BlueMountainSTC.org for updates and details.

* A maximum of 350 tickets will be sold.

Record Money Raised in 3 Rivers Event
June 18, 2007 - This year's 3 Rivers Race hosted 98 participants, up from 63 the previous year. More importantly, the $18,600 raised for domestic violence far exceeded the goal of 15,000. Awards are listed below:

Participants Complete Challenge of 3 Rivers Race
June 12, 2007 - On June 9, runners, cyclists, and a wheelchair participant covered the courses of the 3 Rivers Race. The event started and finished at Riverside Park in La Grande, Oregon. Afterward a celebration in the park highlighted the reason for the event, raising money and awareness for domestic violence.

The day started off nice and sunny as participants departed throughout the morning, some as early as 6 am. Later in the morning a strong South wind picked up and created a challenging headwind for participants covering the final miles back to the park on Hunter and Mt. Glen roads. Clouds eventually rolled in but the rain stayed away long enough for the completion of the event.

Results are listed below:

Pair of Local Racers Undertake Mt. Hood Classic
June 5, 2007 - Over the weekend, Eli Romer and Brian Sather took on the challenge of the Mt. Hood Classic, a grueling mountainous stage race outside Hood River. The race draws some of the strongest racers from the northwest and other neighboring states. Romer scored an 18th place finish on both the road race and the general classification for Category 4. Sather was 42nd in Category 3. Results are available on the OBRA website.

3 Rivers Race Starts Saturday, June 9
June 4, 2007 - One of only a few local bicycling events starts at Riverside Park in La Grande this weekend. This annual charity ride features a 80 and 100 mile course on some very scenic roads. See the event website at www.3RiversRace.com for more information.

Werst Race Pictures
May 28, 2007 - From the May 19 Werst Race, La Grande, Oregon:

MTB Racers Participate in Coyote Classic
May 26, 2007 - A few local female mountain bike racers visited Boise for the Coyote Classic on May 20. Mary Ellen LaBerge finished first in her age category, and Sandra Isabell and Korrie Dubray were both 2nd in their respective age categories in the Expert division. See results here.

Cyclists Hold Off Charging Runners in Werst Race
May 19, 2007 - When living and training in La Grande, Jason Werst had a notion that Morgan Lake Road would be a perfect venue to have runners and cyclists race head to head. The road is so steep, that the advantage of a bicycle is negated. His idea came to fruition May 19 with The Werst Race, an event organized to help pay expenses for his fight against leukemia.

The race started at Bernie Park, just south of Eastern Oregon University. All participants started on the sound of the gun. The paved stretch down B Avenue is the flattest section of the course, and the lead cyclists quickly built over a minute advantage on the runners before turning left onto Walnut St. and hitting the gravel for the steepest sections of climbing. Then, the lead runners began reeling in the bikers as the gradients reached over 20 percent.

By the top of the 2 mile climb, all but 4 cyclists had held off the top runner, Pat McCurry. Cyclist David Monnig led most of the race, even though he dismounted because of a gearing issue and considered pushing his bike to the finish. Instead, he decided to chuck his helmet in the ditch and continue the race on his bike, perhaps inspired that the winner was to receive a brand new helmet from Cyclesports in La Grande. Monnig, a masters degree candidate at Eastern Oregon University, still scorched the field with a 20:55. Matt Allen, a local radiology doctor at Grande Ronde Hospital was close behind at 21:16.

More runners than cyclists participated in the event. Many were top class athletes who had previously run for Eastern Oregon University, and came to support their former teammate Werst.  The top female in all categories was Lindsey Ulrich who finished in 28:40. Jeanna Romer was the 2nd place female. Tim Riley (23:29) and Mike Anderson (23:33) were the 2nd and 3rd runners to the top, behind McCurry's 22:27 time.

Click here for full results

During a brief awards ceremony following the event Werst, a top-level runner and cyclist himself, said he appreciated the money but, "It means even more that you are all here to enjoy the event." 

Special thanks to sponsors Blue Mountain Sports, Cyclesports, Bandanna Running & Walking, Eastside Track Club, and EOU Cross Country & Track. Also, Bob Kelly and the Union County Public Works Department deserves a special thanks for ensuring the road was good for the race.

Emmett-Roubaix Race Concludes George's Series 2007
April 30, 2007 - Results are online for the Emmett-Roubaix road race in Emmett, Idaho. David Monnig scored a fantastic 4th place result (category 4) on the hilltop finish up Old Freezout. Brian Bartel and Whit Hartz also participated in the race, with Hartz holding 2nd place on the general classification despite having a flat tire before the final climb. Brian Sather held 2nd place for the Category 3 general classification.

Racers Competed in Road Tour and MTB Race
April 25, 2007 - Last weekend, some local racers hit the asphalt and some took to the mud. Matt Allen, Brian Sather, and Eli Romer participated in the Tour of Walla Walla stage race (results | blog). A couple other riders headed west for the Mudslinger (results) mountain bike race. Whit Hartz placed 10th in the Expert category and David Monnig 1st in the Sport category.   

Chicken Dinner 2007 Photos
April 25, 2007 - Photos from April 15, 2007 Chicken Dinner Road race in Caldwell, Idaho.

Chicken Dinner Racing Results Posted
April 15, 2007 - Results are posted for the Chicken Dinner Road Race in Caldwell, Idaho. Four local racers participated in this circuit race that featured some challenging climbing. Brian Sather bested the field in the Cat 3 race and Whit Hartz worked with a small lead group to place 6th in Cat 4. High winds and blowing sand combined with the terrain to splinter the groups of riders, making it a race of attrition with many DNFs. Brian Bartel and Eli Romer were hampered by an early flat and finished 19th and 20th.

Updated Time Trial Information
April 10, 2007 - Next week's Oregon Trail Time Trial will be moved to Tuesday, April 17 instead of Thursday for riders taking part in the Tour of Walla Walla. As always, time trials can take place any time, and results submitted to results@LaGrandeRide.com to be posted online. Time trials will resume bi-weekly on Thursdays until June 14.

A new bi-weekly event will begin this Thursday and alternate with the Oregon Trail Time Trial. This will be the Morgan Lake Hillclimb, a 2 mile climb on a steep gravel road (mountain bike recommended). It will be a mass-start event a 7 am.   See the Events & Results link for updated information.

More Local Race Results for Early April
April 10, 2007 - Area racers continue to show high placing in recent races. Three riders visited Spokane for the Frozen Flatlands Omnium. Brian Sather placed 5th overall for Category 3, with a 3rd place in the road race and 10th in the circuit race. Matt Allen placed 3rd in the road race for Masters A. Eli Romer had a high placing in Category 4, but current online results only show placings for the top 10.

The previous week, David Monnig finished in 6th place at the PIR Category 4 race. Jody Prummer also had a top 20 finish at the Icebreaker Criterium in Eugene.  

Gear Up for 3 Rivers Race
April 4, 2007 - The 3 Rivers Race is scheduled for June 6 (see flyer). Below is a message from the 3 Rivers Race promoters:

Hey All you 3 Rivers Race Fans!

It's time to spring into fitness and start training for the 6th annual 3 Rivers Race scheduled for June 9th. In addition to our 80 and 100 mile routes, we've added a new marathon/half marathon route this year to make it more appealing to those who want to run or walk We've also added an incentive for families to participate at a special entry fee of $100. The event is again open to individuals and teams and the post race event promises to be worth staying for!

This year our goal is $20,000; $5000 more than last year. We can't do it without you!

Here's what you can do to help.

1) Participate!!! If you were a captain last year, we hope you will be again. If you were on a team last year, we hope that you had such a good time that you will be willing to organize your own team. If that's not appealing please do what you did last year's. I've attached the registration packets and we also have a new website with not only registration packets you can download but pictures and results from last years event and maps as well!! www.3riversrace.com

2) Ask you friends, family, neighbors, people you work with, or people you meet on the street to participate either by entering the race or by pledging.

3). Ask the administration of your organization to be a sponsor! $500 will get their logo on the website and their business name in bigger
font on the t-shirt; $250 will get their business name on the website and on the t-shirt. We also recognize sponsors on banners throughout the race, in the media, and at the BBQ.

4) Download the attached flyer and post them in your place of work or make copies and hand them out! If you can't download the file let me know.

5) If you want to help out in some other way, maybe volunteering at the race or whatever, email me and I will put you to work!

We so appreciate your support. The domestic violence centers have been plagued with funding cuts so much that it's getting difficult to even to provide the most basic services. Your participation is invaluable!

More Top 10 Results at Birds of Prey in Boise
April 1, 2007 - Results are up for the Birds of Prey Road Race in Boise, Idaho. Sandy Isbell decided to race for the first time, and only managed a 2nd place finish in the women's category 4 race. The winner and her built quite a gap on the remaining field. In the men's category 4 race, Brian Bartel finished 4th and Whit Hartz 6th in a bunch sprint that almost caught a lone rider who survived a long break. Brian Sather took 4th in the Category 3 race.

Oregon Trail TT Pictures From March 8, 2007
Mar 21, 2007

4 Locals Place Top 10 at Slammer Race
Mar 18, 2007 - La Grande racers made the drive to Boise, Idaho to mix it up with the Idaho crowd in the Slammer. The results were impressive with 4 riders in the top 10 for their respective categories. The big finisher was Brian Bartel who pulled out a field-sprint win against a strong Category 4 field. Brian Sather placed 4th in Category 3, but more importantly took over the GC lead (unofficially by 31 seconds). Matt Allen finished 8th in a very strong Masters A field. Others in Category 4 included Jody Prummer (10th), Whit Hartz (13th), and  Eli Romer (16th).

GC Reveals Local Rider Positions for George's Series
Mar 15, 2007 - George's has released a General Classification (GC) for the spring series after Stage 1. Locals' standings includes Brian Sather in 2nd for Category 3 (+0:50). Category 4 includes Brian Bartel at 3rd  (+1:58), Whit Hartz at 4th (+1:59), Eli Romer at 12th  (+3:11). The race includes 4 more stages, where time is cumulative for each. Pictures of the time trial are below:

Strong Showing at Jason Broom TT for LG Riders
Mar 11, 2007 - Results are posted for the Broom TT in Boise. These do not show a breakdown of categories. Of the 160 riders (men and women) on the list, local names include Brian Sather (24th), Matt Allen (51st), Brian Bartel (53rd), Whit Hartz (54th), Eli Romer (88th), Jody Prummer (102nd), and Tim Maguire (144th).

Tuesday Niter Sprint Training Begins March 13
Mar 9, 2007 - March 13 will mark the inaugural Summerville Sprint Circuit event for local cyclists. The training is designed to improve sprinting performance and pack riding skills, in addition to providing a regular get-together for local enthusiasts. Details are provided under events and results.

LGR Race Checklist
Mar 8, 2007 - La Grande area cyclists travel a long way to race. Arriving at a race sans shoes or helmet would be devastating. Thus, it is essential to ensure everything is in the bag before leaving. LGR presents a checklist to examine before heading out of town. 

Idaho Velodrome Coming in 2008
Mar 4, 2007 - The city of Eagle, Idaho plans to build The Idaho Velodrome and Cycling Park. This will give La Grande cyclists a nearby opportunity to race track, since Eagle is only 2.5 hours away. Eagle is much closer than Oregon's Alpenrose velodrome, which is over 4 hours away. Since there are only 22 velodromes in the US, this will present a unique opportunity for local cyclists, who can start saving their money now to build a track bike. The park is scheduled to open April of 2008.

Second Running of Oregon Trail TT
Feb 21, 2007 - Results will be updated as they are submitted: visit link.

LG Locals Dominate Top Spots at Cherry Pie
Feb 18, 2007 - The Oregon racing season starts each year with the Cherry Pie Road Race. This year, a good contingent traveled from La Grande and bested most of the competition in the Category 5 race: Brian Bartel, 2nd; Dave Monnig 4th; Whit Hartz, 5th; and others placed high. Results will be posted on the OBRA website soon after the race.

Time Trial Results Posted for Feb 8
Feb 8, 2007 - Oregon Trail Time Trial Results 2007. Past  results are posted under the "Events and Results" link above.

Runner v Biker: Werst Race Slated for May
Feb 7, 2007 - An exciting new event is scheduled for La Grande on Saturday, May 19. The steep Morgan Lake climb will be the venue to test both cyclists and runners. Titled "The Werst Race," the event aims to help Jason Werst, a former local racer who unfortunately was just diagnosed with Leukemia. The race will start at Bernie Park with a brief gradual uphill before hitting the base of the climb proper, where the pavement ends and the gravel road pitches upward. During the 2 mile gravel section, the average gradient is 12% with sections as steep as 25% (see map of this section). More race information and registration forms are available at http://www.eastsidetrackclub.com/werstrace.htm

Foothill Road Scheduled for Resurfacing in August
Feb 7, 2007 - A chip seal surface is scheduled to be administered to Foothill Road in August of this year. This will threaten the location for the spring time trials for 2008, because the surface will be rough like Booth and Gekeler roads, which have recently been sealed with the same size rocks.

Support Stops Immediate Sale of Mt. Emily Recreation Area
Feb 6, 2007 - In a "good news" announcement to supporters of the Mt. Emily Recreation Area, coalition leaders have indicated Forest Capital will forego listing the property for real estate sale. From the coalition:

Both the Coalition and FCP underestimated the support and committment [sic] Union County residents have for saving the Mt Emily area. The vast majority of Union County residents want Mt Emily to be retained for public use forever, to not be clearcut or subdivided and to be a producer or natural resources and public recreation--forever. FCP and the Coalition have agreed to work together to ensure the Coalition's goal for the property can be met.

MERA Update: Hold Letters to County Commissioner
Jan 30, 2007 - From the MERA Coalition:

. . .Continue to send letters of encouragement to John Warness at Forest Capital--please work with us, be a part of the community, etc. Show cc's to Union County Commissioners, but just hold the letter to them in the event they ask for it. The good news is the our Commissioners are at least making a run at Forest Capital and agree with the Coalition that the Mt Emily Recreation Area should be saved !!!

Letters Requested for Support in Saving Mt. Emily Recreation Area
Jan 29, 2007 - Forest Capital is planning to sell the Mt. Emily Recreation Area (MERA) later this spring. This directly threatens miles of local recreation trails that are popular for mountain biking. The MERA Coalition is calling for letters of support to help save this vital ground. Full details are presented in the Coalition's Action Alert.

Time Trials to Resume on Foothill Road for 2007
Jan 17, 2007 - Thursday, February 8 is the date set to kickoff of the bi-weekly time trials on Foothill Road in La Grande, Oregon. Participants will start at 3:45 pm, meeting at north (Gekeler) end of Foothill Rd. The early scheduled dates are dependant upon good weather (i.e. no snow on road, no "high wind" advisory).  The start time will change to 4:45 after the spring daylight savings begins. See map. 

Sather Blog: 80% Pass Rate
Dec 9, 2006 - New entry at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brisath

Sather Blog: The Palomar Epic
Dec 2, 2006 - New entry at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brisath

Dubray and LaBerge Compete in Xterra Wold Championship
Nov 3, 2006 - Hometown triathlon racers took some top spots last weekend at the Xterra World Championship in Makena, Hawaii. MaryEllen LaBerge finished 2nd in her category and Korrie Dubray finished 3rd in hers. Results are available on the Xterra website. La Grande hosts an Xterra event every spring.

Valley Webcam to be Installed
Nov 3, 2006 - A request by LaGrandeRide.com has prompted a local business to agree to install a 360 degree webcam in the middle of the Grande Ronde Valley. The location will be an excellent viewpoint for current weather conditions, particularly for storms approaching over the mountains to the west. This vantage point will compliment existing webcams at Ladd Canyon and at Eastern Oregon University. The webcam will also be helpful to motorists traveling Hwy 82. The project is scheduled to take place in the upcoming months.

3 Rivers Relay Website
Oct 30, 2006 - The 3 Rivers Race, a local charity event , has a new website http://www.3RiversRace.com

A Cyclist's Guide to Wind in Union County, Oregon
Oct 29, 2006 - The literal winds of change arrive every fall in La Grande, Oregon. There are two main ingredients on which to focus in La Grande weather forecasting--moisture and wind. Since the former is infrequent in the area, the latter should be the main concern. The winds of the Grande Ronde Valley occur daily and can be ferocious. This notion is supported by incidents of semi-trailer trucks being blown over on the freeway, an airport building being toppled, and even folklore of train boxcars derailed near Hot Lake. It goes without saying that cycling activities will be affected by these winds. Read More

Blogging is Underway
Oct 2, 2006 - Two blogs are available for local cycling enthusiasts, and more will be added soon. The addresses for the blogs are listed below:

Brian Sather http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brisath
Brian Bartel http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brianbart

To get RSS updates when new blogs are posted, enter the following addresses in a reader:

Feed  http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brisath/rss
Feed  http://www.bloglines.com/blog/brianbart/rss

Also, readers are encouraged to start a blog of their own to add to be added to the site. Sign up for a free service and get your blog on.

About the LGR Banner
Oct 1, 2006 - The top banner on the new LaGrandeRide.com website features local riders in distinct locations. Starting from the left, Brian Bartel (in red) is pictured leading the Category IV field during the criterium of the Elkhorn Classic Stage Race in Baker City. The second picture is of resident trail builder and outdoor enthusiast Bart Barlow mountain biking a trail he built at Archery Range System. The third picture is Brian Sather, riding a cyclocross bike up Mt. Harris road, which overlooks the Grande Ronde Valley. The final picture is Bartel again, at the beginning of Foothill Road just outside La Grande.

More Pictures of Goodall/Wilde/Manwell Event
Sept 17, 2006 - Click on the thumbnails below for pictures compliments of Ed Shaul:

Pictures of Goodall/Wilde/Manwell Event
Sept 16, 2006 - Click here.

Race Results for Goodall/Wilde/Manwell Event
Sept 16, 2006 - Local mountain bikers and runners hit the trails on a misty Saturday to enjoy a cool workout on mint trails. Results can be accessed in PDF or HTML. Pictures will be posted soon.

Goodall/Wilde/Manwell Race Map Posted 
Sept 14, 2006 - The challenging course for the Sept 16 race and run event has been mapped. Individuals can run or bike the short loop or more demanding long loop. Both offer scenic and challenging terrain.

LaGrandeRide.com Launches Redesigned Website 
Sept 12, 2006 - LGR has been retooled for the 2007 riding season. In addition to a simpler design, users will find a new section called the "LGR Hub." This is a communication area featuring blogs and forums. Readers using mobile devices like handheld computers or cell phones will find the content more accessible at http://mobile.LaGrandeRide.com/ . This is further enhanced by the recent addition of an RSS (aka XML) feed at  http://www.LaGrandeRide.com/lgr_feed.xml  Please report problems to info@LaGrandeRide.com

La Grande to Host Mountain Bike Race & Trail Run Event
Sept 5, 2006 - The Archery Range Trail System is the site for a mountain bike race, run, or walk festivity. A second event may take place in October. Read the following for details:

The Tom Goodall/Stan Wilde/John Manwell
Ride, Run, Walk for Health

When?-Saturday, September 16th. Registration at 9:00 am.
Where?-Registration will be at the Owsley Canyon Trailhead. From Blackhawk Trail Lane drive north on Owsley Canyon Road. After 2.5 miles the road will fork. Stay to the right, go up a short hill, and park.  See also marker north of La Grande on map below.

Schedule?-The race schedule is as follows:

10:00 am- Mountain Bike Race Time Trial: 100% singletrack, 11 mile and 5.5 mile courses.
10:30 am- Trail Run/Race Time Trial: 11 mile and 5.5 mile courses.
11:00 am- Just for the health of it: bike/run/walk
12:00 pm-Awards

Cost?-$15/person. Proceeds will benefit the Igo Lane, Owsley Canyon trail system (aka Mt. Emily Recreation Consortium)

Barbeque or catered food will be available.

Questions? Contact…
David Monnig david.monnig@gmail.com
Print version of Race Flyer  

RSS Feed Added
Sept 3, 2006 - Individuals using news aggregators to catch the latest feeds can access LGR's feed at http://www.LaGrandeRide.com/lgr_feed.xml

The advantage of using this feed is that new items on the LGR website will come straight to the subscriber. Popular RSS readers include Sage, RssReader, Google Desktop (also Reader and Gmail), Desktop Sidebar, and browsers such as Avant. Wikipedia also has more extensive information about RSS.