Cascade Classic - Ali Shanks
21 July 2010
I'm now up in the Cascade Mountain area in Bend, Oregon for the Cascade Cycling Classic. The 6day race has a 2mile Prologue along the river front. I always look forward to the opportunity to get the Avanti Chrono Time Trial bike out and all the race gear - disk, aero helmet etc, and just feel fast......which of course helps you actually go fast!
Then we hit the mountains - 120km stage with a 20km climb up McKenzie Pass to 2300ft in the middle of the stage. Craig and I drove some of the course yesterday and the McKenzie Pass climb ascends through the forest with winding switch backs and then summits among lava rocks and snow covered mountains either side. Very picturesque, although I don't think I will be worried about taking in the scenery tomorrow! We then descend the other side, before climbing another 15km climb to finish the stage. Will be a fun and testing day I'm sure.
The third day of the tour is a 24km Time Trial - half uphill and half downhill, reaching speeds of up to 65km/hr on the way home - I've come prepared and geared up to a 55" front chain ring after learning the course from last year!
Following the Time Trial there is another mountain stage finishing at a Snow Park, then the downtown Criterium on Saturday night and to finish on the final day a 80km Circuit race - again with alot of climbing.
The weather up here in Bend is amazing - 30deg days, clear blue skys, surrounded by snow capped mountains and alpine forest. A very dry heat which is a big change to the 40deg and very humid conditions we have been having over on the east coast in Kutztown, PA.
Well - its time to cook up a pre-race feed of rice to get me going tonight. You will be able to follow race results and reports on
www.cyclingnews.com under Cascade Classic
Will be in touch
Ali
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