tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35962180089886788272024-03-13T05:10:59.387-04:00Ohio SandbaggerOhio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-33292151987961379532022-06-10T17:22:00.004-04:002022-06-10T17:22:42.280-04:00I’m watching<p> The pandemic is over (mostly) and bike racing is back. </p><p>I’m watching y’all!</p>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-38427093868133365912018-09-13T12:39:00.001-04:002018-09-13T12:39:22.797-04:00SOMEONE IS IMPERSONATING ME!SOMEONE ON INSTAGRAM IS IMPERSONATING ME! THIS IS NOT THE REAL OHIO SANDBAGGER!<br />
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While I appreciate the cause, this account is NOT ME!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ohiosandbagger/">https://www.instagram.com/ohiosandbagger/</a>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-53887846527230505282018-08-27T22:11:00.000-04:002018-08-27T22:11:03.908-04:00I’m BACK! 2018/2019 EditionI’m BACK! It’s another year and another season of calling out SANDBAGGERS! Sorry I’ve been absent for the past few seasons but it looks like my public service is needed once again. I’ve recruited some more eyes and writers so now it is a collective delivering this much needed philanthropies. Even the Ohio Cycling Association is cracking down on sandbaggers in their recent post saying they will be aggressively enforcing automatic upgrades. However, they can only enforce what is written in the rules but the internet has no rules, Ohio Sandbagger has NO RULES! No one is safe from the call outs of OHIO SANDBAGGER!<br />
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Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-51371460895752492832014-08-07T17:20:00.001-04:002014-08-07T17:20:31.432-04:00Taylor KruseI hate to have to call out Taylor, but you know what, you just have to. I'm an equal opportunity sandbagger-caller-outer. I've got to be fair to ALL of you sandbaggers (and yes, your time is coming, you know who I'm talking about.)<br />
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The first short track race of the season was last night at a new, old venue. No longer were we racing on the taint pounding, uneven hard pack of Darree fields, we were racing on a slightly better course, Big Run. The course was similar to the cross races of years past, just a little shorter, no road section and the course didn't cross the road (twice) to get the bonus grassy section.<br />
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Out of the gate, it was The Taylor, The Kruse Missile Show! Setting a blistering pace, he slowly, I mean quickly, gained time on everyone. He lapped everyone in the Single Speed field and he probably lapped most of everyone else in the race as well. I know the Single Speed category is an "Open" field, but come on, you are simply doing nobody justice.<br />
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To even put more salt in everyone's racing wounds, Taylor toed the line again for the Cat 1/2/3 mens race. This obviously was more of his race as he battled up front. He was in 2nd place for a good portion of the race until Doug Caraway turned on the afterburners and caught up to the Kruse Missile. They battled on for the remainder of the race and Doug just nipped Taylor at the finish line.<br />
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The winner? The Teenage Dream, who also almost lapped the entire field.Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-67077576662694423752014-07-21T11:20:00.002-04:002014-07-21T11:44:41.511-04:00Sandbagger City, Athens, OHSeems like those boys down in Southeast Ohio have been racking up the wins and podiums! This weekend at the State road race, those Athens boys went 1-2, and also put 5 in the top 10 in the Cat 4 race. Are they running an institutionalized sandbagging regime? Might be time for a few of those guys to upgrade!<br />
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Speaking of upgrading, the winner of the race, Chris, has been on my radar for quite some time. A quick check of his race history shows a lot of 1's and single digit numbers in the placing category. Don't know where he came out of, but he's certainly one of the hottest Cat 4 racers in the state, and hopefully soon to be Cat 3.<br />
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<br />Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-86205691925539083912014-06-28T18:03:00.002-04:002014-06-28T18:09:33.655-04:00Noah's Brother!Come on, you call yourself out on Face Space? You don't choose the terms on when you get or not get called out on this glorious blog!<br />
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<br />Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-47219197348041491762014-06-12T10:27:00.001-04:002014-06-12T10:27:09.812-04:00This Blog is a Public Service!I hear and read many things that this blog is bad for the sport, the writer should disappear and die, etc. Another thing is people trying to figure out the author of the blog. I have to say I have to disappoint and say that this blog is a collective. It is a collective of everyone's voice, everyone's frustrations, everyone's blood sweat and tears.<div>
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This blog points the finger at people that fingers need to be pointed at, calling out those who need to be called out and most importantly, not sugar coating anything.</div>
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So upset you made Ohio Sandbagger? Well there are certainly plenty of people upset at you. So do the right thing and UPGRADE! Because we won't stop, we won't stop calling all of you out. Maybe even Corey Green will start reading this blog and take some notes on who he needs to auto upgrade.</div>
Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-35144757100867115522014-06-04T11:55:00.001-04:002014-06-04T11:55:39.288-04:00Franklinton Crit!I typically don't start the Sandbagging callouts until cross season, but sometimes you just have to do it. I had nothing to do on Sunday so I decided to head down to the Franklinton crit. When figuring out what time to head down there, I saw Mr. Aidan Seufert registered for the Cat 5 race! Wait, isn't he like a 2 or 3 in cross? Mr. Red Hook Crit? This motivated me to wake up early to make it in time for the Cat 5 race.<br />
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I rolled down to the race with plenty of time to drink a beer and see the start of the race. Every lap, I would see Mr. Seufert 2nd, 3rd, 4th wheel, but never up front doing any work. Typical sandbagger tactics. Needless to say, what I figured would happen, happened. Mr. Seufert easily took a win and did it in douchbaggery fashion by sprinting as hard as he could with no one behind him.<br />
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Here's the video.<br />
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Mr. Seufert, you really need to look up when you sprint. Otherwise you'll run into the back of someone who is much faster than you and its gonna be a bad time.</div>
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And here is the glorious podium shot!</div>
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So after the Cat 5 race, word on the street was Mr. Seufert was completely satisfied with his stealing-candy-from-a-baby sandbagged cat 5 race and didn't want to race again. Only with an investor paying his way into the 4/5 race, was he convinced to toe the line again.<br />
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The 4/5 race was much of the same, sitting in the top 2-6 positions. Note how I said 2-6, not top 6 since I didn't see him see the wind at all in the race. Witnessed some sketchy dive bombing and wheel chopping on Josh Direen, his Columbus rival, but Mr. Seufert couldn't hold him off. In fact, a new face in the race scene from Athens, took the top step of the podium.<br />
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Podium #2:<br />
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Well there you have it. The first installment of Ohio Sandbagger 2014. There will be more to come!Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-73728246671668971262013-10-24T08:37:00.002-04:002013-10-24T09:06:37.767-04:00It's a new season to be Sandbagging!Well just when you thought this site was dead, we're back for another season of sandbagging call outs. Many of you disagree with the point of this blog, and rightfully so. You just don't want to be called a sandbagger, when deep down inside, you know it's true. We feel that this blog is a service to the cycling community by saying what people are afraid of saying, by calling out people who need to be called out, and making people realize the crimes to cycling they are doing.<br />
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First, I'd like to congratulate my favorite person, Joe Hall! He upgraded to a Cat 2 and has done pretty well. In fact, he's left his sandbagger shame behind and left his Columbus team for a team in Cincinnati! Next time you see him, congratulate him from moving out of the sandbagging ranks.<br />
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Now I need to backtrack a little bit into road season. Mr. Mark "The Half Italian Stallion" D'Anniballe! He has been off the bike for a few years but decided to make a comeback. But instead of doing it the right way, he's done it the sandbagging way. He is a Road Cat 3, but he has been purchasing One-Day Licenses so he can race 4/5 races. What a freaking sandbagger. In fact, he's won a few races in his Cat 3 on a One-Day sandbagging status.<br />
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Now on to the more pertinent stuff, Cyclocross! The first sandbagger I'm going to highlight has been tracked a little bit earlier into the Short Track season.<br />
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***Drum Roll Please***<br />
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Mr. Nathan Fields!<br />
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Mr. Fields double podiumed (Cat 2/3 and 1/2/3), and in fact, won both races of the Cap City Short Track Finale. Now moving on to cyclocross season, He has a win and 2x 3rd places in the 4/5 races and an 8th and 10th (and 24th) in the 3/4's. Doing two cyclocross races in one day is pretty hard, so I would bet Mr. Fields would have done better if he stuck with the correct category.<br />
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Next up is Mr. Aidan Seufert. I had trouble decided if Mr. Seufert or Mr. Fields should come one or two, but in the end since Mr. Fields sandbagged in the Short Track series, I let him have the honors.<br />
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Now Mr. Seufert pulled off a 3rd place at Summit Vision in Cat 4/5. He did not double up in that race but at Big Run, he climbed up on the 2nd step and in the following 3/4 race, came in 3rd. Now at this point any non-sandbagger would focus their efforts on getting an upgrade and only doing 3/4 races. But at Cap City #3, Mr. Seufert climbed up on the 2nd step in the 4/5 race again! Now we also read on Facebook, Mr. Seufert claiming he has four races to do this weekend! How about you just focus on the appropriate category and do two races (and our apologies if you are planning on racing single speed and 3/4).<br />
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Next up is Mr. Vincent Francis. A 5th, 3rd and 5th place puts him on the sandbagging radar and we'll keep an eye on him in the coming weeks.<br />
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Now we can't be everywhere and we need your help to help cycling! You can anonymously send us sandbagging reports to ohiosandbagger@gmail.com. Until next time!Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-72295265307359806302012-12-07T13:20:00.000-05:002012-12-07T13:20:34.543-05:00Bravo MABRAcrossFinally, a local association/upper management cracking down on sandbaggers<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="227" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19315367?autoplay=1" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="403"></iframe>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-86906230251223451492012-10-20T19:37:00.001-04:002012-10-20T19:37:12.455-04:00Broken Spoke foils Hall's attempt at 30-34 championshipUnfortunately for Joe Hall today, an untimely mechanical ended his quest for the Men's 30-34 Masters State Championship medal. Out of the gate and into the first turn, he led but broke a spoke and sadly put him out of contention.<br />
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Joe was aiming to win the 30-34 race today and the Men's Category 3 open race tomorrow. Tomorrow will give him another chance to redeem himself.<br />
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<br />Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-62672843080972257722012-10-17T21:30:00.003-04:002012-10-17T21:37:25.592-04:00Parking lot Justice!<br />
Remember that video of the start line crash I posted a few days ago? Well if you don't, here it is again<br />
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Well apparently, according to the gospel of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DeeDubbaYoo">Don Walker</a>, it is ok to take matters into your own hands and hand out parking lot justice.<br />
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REALLY!?<br />
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Crashing sucks and sucks even worse when it is deliberate but don't you think you should just let the officials handle this?<br />
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I guess you speak the truth DW (his own words), but is the truth you need violence to take care of matters? Shit happens, crashing happens, bike racing is dangerous. If I took it to the parking lot every time I was involved in a crash, there would be a lot of bloody people out there. And also jail is a very cold dark place that no sane man would ever want to be in. I thought of you as a respectable man in the cycling industry but now not so much.<br />
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Watch the video a few times and make your own judgement. IMO, I think the guy just doesn't know how to ride a bike and was over geared.<br />
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Pulled from DW facebook page. I didn't bother removing names because A: This information is public, I'm not friends with DW on Fb and anyone can see this, and B: I'm too lazy to remove all the names<br />
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As of 9:30 10/17<br />
Folks, you know how I am by now. I speak the truth, or at least my version thereof. I can't stand for people to be wronged. I stick up for the little guy. This youtube clip was from the Cat 4 Masters race yesterday at Gun Club. There is one guy in it who causes a huge pile up and unfortunately, one of my friends ( Jeremy Brown )had to be carted away to the hospital. The sad thing is, the guy who caused the carnage was leading the points in the OVCX series and the two Rogue Racing riders he takes out are within striking distance in points. Coincidental? Watch the video and you be the judge. IMHO, the offender needs a suspension and also be dealt with in the parking lot by all those affected. Lets face it, we're Masters. We have jobs to go to on Monday and families that rely on us. Being taken out because of some ass hat trying to protect his point lead is unacceptable. if you need to, watch it a few times...<br />
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Diego Delgado damn<br />
Monday at 10:14pm · Like<br />
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Mike Griffus Idk bro', it looks like he actually had trouble balancing, but then again, you've seen these things more than I have, either way, I would still be p.o.ed, cause this guys supposed to be experienced, and that looked like a rookie move.<br />
Monday at 10:19pm · Like<br />
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Daniel McAfee I don't even ride in things like this, but my natural reaction if I was losing my balance would be to clip out not drop a people's elbow on the guys next to me.<br />
Monday at 10:21pm · Like · 1<br />
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Stefan Rothe very slight chance he hit a "air hole" but he's leaning heavily before he's falling...so yeah, make up your mind.<br />
Monday at 10:22pm · Like<br />
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Crashtopher Jones How hard is it to do a start. Especially if you are at the front. I would like his name. I don't want him coming to the velodrome and doing a standing start next to me in the chariot race.<br />
Monday at 10:22pm · Like · 1<br />
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Don Smith No way, that was a controlled lean and pile-up or I went to a hockey game and a CX race broke out. Sorry, I would have that dude but on the done for the season list. You don't need to win that bad.<br />
Monday at 10:22pm · Like · 1<br />
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Scott Bond If he was planning on taking out the rogue boys - he took himself out too...... looks more like he lost control because he was overgeared for the start....it's master's 4s -- they're not exactly known for their handling skills..... If your privy to a confession ---- share it here - otherwise chalk it up to inexperience and move on......<br />
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Don Walker Scott, he finished 7th in the race even after that start. Judge for yourself with that info.<br />
Monday at 10:25pm via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Harold William Holdren yea...I mean...I have seen all kinds of craziness at starts. It sucks, but racing happens.<br />
Monday at 10:26pm · Like<br />
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Ray Napoles That's not racing. That's pathetic.<br />
Monday at 10:27pm · Like<br />
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John Molnar what an ass clown. total take down. he just lays down on them. weak.<br />
Monday at 10:28pm · Like · 1<br />
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Scott Bond Franky T will put the hit out on him next week ---- I'm not party to the Masters 4 drama -- but if there is foul play afoot - Karma (Butch Farrell) has a way of getting even ----- I hear Karma is downgrading to cat 4s just for BloomingCX.....<br />
Monday at 10:28pm · Like · 2<br />
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Crashtopher Jones Over-gearing makes sense as an issue. Him being up in points and their standings as well make it seem more intentional than if that happened to me in the back of the race.<br />
Monday at 10:31pm · Like · 1<br />
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Don Walker Bingo.<br />
Monday at 10:33pm via mobile · Like<br />
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Butch Farrell Oh lord......<br />
Monday at 10:33pm via mobile · Like<br />
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Larry Pethick I'm with Scott. Too big of a gear, slight brush, overcompensate, kersplat. It's the CAT 5's of cyclocross. The gear selection is indication of experience. We all know guys with legs and no real skills.<br />
Monday at 10:34pm · Like · 2<br />
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Myles Romanow Hmmm.....first if you said it happened that way im inclined to believe you.<br />
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That being said...as a cx promoter....bad start line, looks like maybe too many people, a turn shortly after the line and grass (?). Accident waiting to happen.<br />
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Im inclined to believe no one is that dumb on purpose. If you are going to try to take out your competition the start line is probably not the place to do it.<br />
Monday at 10:35pm via mobile · Like · 3<br />
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Adam Rodkey Guy in orange? I wouldn't say intentional take out. But very aggressive/sketchy move. HE got sketchy, then stuck HIS elbow into the guy(s). Very bad move. We have an overly aggressive sketchball in the elites too. Not fun to be around.<br />
Monday at 10:37pm · Like<br />
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Scott Bond Starting grid was skewed --- you had a pinch on the left 100 feet into the start - when the course turned left -- and a full on funnel....<br />
Monday at 10:37pm · Like<br />
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Doug Hamilton Looks like bad bike riding to me....to big a gear, nervous, all those guys piling in from the left......he suddenly found out his line wasn't where he thought it was and boom!<br />
Monday at 10:39pm · Like<br />
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Matt Kraus all I see is a bunch of guys who dont look very good and one poorly balanced clip in<br />
Monday at 10:40pm · Like · 4<br />
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Merlyn Townley That looked pretty intentional to me.<br />
Monday at 10:50pm · Like · 1<br />
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Richard Sachs .<br />
Yeah what Matt says atmo. Couple this with that it's 1) a Cat 4 event and, 2) it starts on grass (not pavement...) and you should expect anything. PS crashing is part of CX and no one there looks like they had a hint of malice. Being Cat 4 Masters I think it's a case of inability meeting inexperience with a dose of way-too-many-fucking-people-in-such-a-tight-space.<br />
Monday at 10:51pm · Like · 7<br />
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Richard Sachs .<br />
PS You look skinny DW atmo.<br />
Monday at 10:54pm · Like · 1<br />
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Myles Romanow if you really want to take someone out of a cross race you can do it in a turn or run them into the tape. You don't fall on them on the start line risking yourself getting run over and your bike smashed. did you intend to stick his elbow out ? Absolutely. but it wasn't because he wanted to take someone out, it was because he is a total jack tard on a bike<br />
Monday at 10:54pm via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Don Walker One last reminder; the guy that caused it is leading in points. He knows a bit more about starting than you 're giving him credit for.<br />
Monday at 10:56pm via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Richard Sachs .<br />
DW - the cat is leading for points in a CAT 4 Master CX event. What he knows about starts and 'cross almost runs counter to this. If he "knew", he'd more likely be racing in an experienced group atmo. We all have to begin somewhere, and it looks/reads as if he is still beginning.<br />
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xxoo -<br />
Monday at 10:59pm · Like · 3<br />
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Mike Otte Don , I don't even race bikes and it looks pretty sketchy to me. I think you should send him some training wheels.<br />
Monday at 11:00pm via mobile · Like<br />
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Merlyn Townley And while they are cat 4's they could also be "expert" in MTB racing....<br />
Monday at 11:02pm · Like · 4<br />
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Rich Weinstock Watched it frame by frame on a large display. Doesn't look intentional... Just a total spaz move.... And I've seen worse starts. eRichie calls it right. this post is just way too emotional. Dealing with it in the parking lot? really? Thats the kind of behavior that deserves suspensions.<br />
Monday at 11:15pm · Edited · Like · 2<br />
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Myles Romanow Just did the same. It looks like he hit a tire track and went a bit sideways. The guy in the black and green actually was ahead of him for a bit, and he took him out amidships...<br />
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Although, I've got to give a huge shout out to the ground crews on this one. Nice fly over bridge. Thats way cooler than a straight asphalt start line that doesn't have parked cars in the middle of a turn 15 feet from the grid.<br />
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@coursesetupfail.<br />
Monday at 11:10pm · Like · 1<br />
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Shamrock Cycles Falling happens. Roll with it and race your race. John and Fred were both on my bikes and in my jersey that race. They were two of the last people to get going because they were right behind the pile up. They battled through 30 to 35 plus guys and finished strong and happy. That's how it is done.<br />
Monday at 11:11pm · Like<br />
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Don Catlin Love the guy with one arm! My hero<br />
Monday at 11:14pm via mobile · Like · 3<br />
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Eugene Olson WTH was that must of came from a bmx background.<br />
Monday at 11:15pm · Like · 1<br />
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Brian Hitchman That's cat 4 racing for you and s narrow start. Sprint a little harder for the hole shot.<br />
Monday at 11:18pm via mobile · Like<br />
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Shamrock Cycles His name is Charles Scott McDonald and he is 100% bad ass.<br />
Monday at 11:19pm · Like · 1<br />
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Wes Oishi That's bike racing.<br />
Monday at 11:22pm · Like<br />
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Matt Falwell Beat the crowds and have plenty of room on the start line at the barkley bootlegger Nov 3rd. No sandbagging and plenty of beer and moonshine!<br />
Monday at 11:26pm · Like<br />
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W Whitney Bazemore DW - I am with you. That move deserves a post race parking lot meeting for sure...<br />
Monday at 11:30pm · Like · 1<br />
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Michael Williams Ok, it was cat 4 but still the guy is an ass hat. Not acceptible.<br />
Monday at 11:36pm via mobile · Like<br />
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Dean Frieders I did the full screen/hi-res thing too. I don't see his tire hit a rut. I see him steer into the guy next to him, as soon as the guy next to him starts to pull ahead. Looks pretty damn iffy.<br />
Monday at 11:38pm · Like · 1<br />
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Ato Thej I was all prepared to disagree DW, if only for argument's sake, but nope he's a dick. And as I would have been in a parking lot meeting for sure<br />
Monday at 11:38pm · Like · 1<br />
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Scott Kalkman Racing Incident. Get over it!<br />
Monday at 11:39pm via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Shamrock Cycles It ain't Professor Plum in the Library with the candlestick and it ain't the grassy knoll. It is crash in a bike race. I was there and I am fairly confident there was zero ill will intended. Circus move? Perhaps. Intentional? I seriously doubt it.<br />
Monday at 11:44pm · Like<br />
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Rich Weinstock Again with this cat 4 post race parking lot crap... This post is really effin irritating. Rubbin is racing. Go race your effin bikes and HTFU. Train like gladiators and ride to win. And most importantly, have fun... Off the field, Be nice. Be nice to your fellow racers... Socialize... Help others.<br />
Monday at 11:46pm · Like · 1<br />
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Ato Thej Of course this is facebook and no one is forcing you to read.<br />
Monday at 11:50pm · Like · 1<br />
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Rich Weinstock Deb Schiff - Thoughts?<br />
Monday at 11:58pm · Like<br />
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Steve Stewart That's an asshole with an elbow. 100% intentional. Video does not lie.<br />
Yesterday at 12:12am · Like · 1<br />
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Sean Coffey Ride with some honor. if you're so desperate that you need to throw elbows at the start of a 40min race, you're weak.<br />
Yesterday at 12:48am · Edited · Like · 2<br />
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Craig Thomasian Not a racing incident. Avoidable contact. Needs to be penalized. Other methods of penalty can be employed.<br />
Yesterday at 1:13am via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Jim Glose That's pretty damn blatant contact. I'm with you on the punishment side.<br />
Yesterday at 1:17am · Like · 2<br />
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Adam Laurent Going against him: One usually does not lean that hard left when touched on the left. Going for him: It is a Cat 4 race.<br />
Yesterday at 1:21am · Like · 1<br />
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Bill Richardson blatant, straight disqualification required.<br />
Yesterday at 2:21am · Like · 1<br />
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Paul Adamson That's the kind of BS that young, beginner racers do. Shameful. The best you can do is make a spectacle of him on youtube so the world can see what a douche bag he is.<br />
Yesterday at 3:06am · Like · 1<br />
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John Young He went in aggressively with an elbow. Douche move. I suppose "that's racing" but there's a few assholes in racing. Future career cAT4 sandbagger man-bitch right there. Still not sure about the crash...poor bike handling skills? Looks like a guys front wheel washed out on him when he got hit?<br />
Yesterday at 5:05am via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Don Walker Folks, I appreciate all your comments and insight. I don't want to get into the whole entire "well, thats racing" debate on this. Yes, accidents happen in races, for sure. If we've raced, chances are we've been accidentally taken out, and yeah, it sucks. I've done the frame by frame analysis and imho, this is clearly a hook, imho. I see an elbow, and a continued left heading even after contact. If I bumped someone doing 35 on the drome, I don't keep bumping them all the way to the rail or to the apron, I back off and hold my line, because again, crashing hurts and I have to go to work tomorrow... I still say this was absolutely intentional and this ass hat needs a suspension. As for the parking lot "discussion", I bet he understands everyone's point after its over. just sayin.<br />
Yesterday at 7:42am · Like<br />
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Jeremy Brown I believe I got the worst end of that deal. I understand the whole "cat4 noob" issue, but I'm racing cat 4 and I'm not a bicycle/racing noob. I can handle a bike fine, just like some of the other "cat4 noobs". I don't take offense to being called a noob, mind you, I'm simply reminding you that it's a mixed bag of athletes. Some are VERY strong cyclist who are starting out in CX and required to race cat4. As far as the offender is concerned, I don't know his experience level but losing balance in that situation is highly improbable unless you are 5 years old and learning to ride a bike. Do some of you folks really thinks it takes a lot of skill get your bike rolling from a dead stop without falling over? I'm not advocating pitch forks and torches but something needs to be done about that guy whether it was intentional or not. If it wasn't, then his ass needs to be on the back row, not the front. Because of him, I'm out of training/racing for a few weeks, out of a brand new rear wheel, and god knows how much money for my ER visit.<br />
Yesterday at 7:47am · Like · 1<br />
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Don Walker Great point Jeremy. However, during the reply, he doe's look like he throws an elbow long before he "loses his balance", imho. One last, last comment; His remount and acceleration away from the incident tells me that it wasn't too big of a gear.<br />
Yesterday at 7:53am · Edited · Like<br />
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Dean Frieders I'm with Sean Coffey...with one edit.<br />
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Ride with some honor. If you're so desperate that you need to throw elbow at the start of a 40 min CAT 4 RACE, you're weak.<br />
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My edits are in caps. I say this as a Cat 4 rider.<br />
Yesterday at 8:13am · Like · 1<br />
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John Young I don't get some people. If I were fast enough to be winning a cat4 series I'm fast enough to upgrade and that is what I would do. I just started getting to the front 25% of cat4 races. Looking forwsrd to the back half of CAT3 soon.<br />
Yesterday at 8:30am via mobile · Like · 2<br />
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Myles Romanow @dean frieders...Let's really look at it. See those two deep tires tracks in the grass? Those are the two yellow trails that go perpendicular to the start line...As he runs over one, he gets all sideways and cockamammy and then goes nuts. Next analyze the rest of the clusterfuck. I can count 9 guys on the front row, with maybe a few more. (Tough to tell). I can see three cars parked into the course, separated by snow fencing. How someone didn't fall on the car and loose teeth I'll never know. Then I see a turn and a funnel 20 yards into the course, and another turn 20 yards further out.<br />
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And a really nice flyover in the back ground.<br />
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The promoter should get a parking lot meeting.. Seriously. Great flyover, try making a safe/UCI compliant start. (while I know it's not a uci race.. the regs are there for a reason.. check em out at uci.ch)<br />
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And finally. Seriously guys? It's a cat 4 race. That means beginners. No cat 5 cx. Why the promoter is keeping series points for cat 4 I will never know. And beyond that... would we be having this conversation @Don walker if your buddy got the center row call up and not the extreme left hand side? If the rolls were reversed would we be saying to your friend that got hurt, "hey we should beat you up in the parking lot?" Thats just pathetic, you should all be ashamed of yourselves.<br />
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While I Agree that we all have jobs, and no one likes to get hurt, I think the insinuation that this was all some sort of bag job is ridiculous. The guy that was seriously hurt was 4 bodies in, so you think the guy in teh center took him out deliberately from 4 guys away? I've seen a lot of shit in my years racing, but the crap flying around this post takes the cake.<br />
Yesterday at 8:51am · Like · 2<br />
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Jeremy Brown @Myles, evidently you didn't read my post. I agree that the design of the course start was poor. I even heard some race officials acknowledging that fact before the race. One official asked if they should move the line up and another told us to be careful of the rider to our left because they had nowhere to go.<br />
Yesterday at 9:02am · Like · 1<br />
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Jeremy Brown Those tire tracks you spoke of weren't deep at all. Certainly not enough to get all out of balance like that. I don't think he was trying to take me out so much as he was taking out the Rogue guys right next to him. I was just the last domino.<br />
Yesterday at 9:03am · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow But sweet flyover huh.<br />
Yesterday at 9:04am · Like<br />
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Jeremy Brown i only rode it twice in practice but, yes, it was a lot of fun.<br />
Yesterday at 9:05am · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow Look, if you really think the move was intentional then you take it up to the officials and suspend the guy. Easy. If the officials think the course design was poor and/or dangerous, then it was their duty to change it and or make is asafe, and or prevent the start. Thats their job. PRoblem? Sue for medical damages.<br />
Yesterday at 9:06am · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow (you missed the point on the flyover)<br />
Yesterday at 9:06am · Like<br />
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Jeremy Brown i have already done so. Thank you for the advice.<br />
Yesterday at 9:25am via mobile · Like<br />
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Christopher Neil Morgan Looks pretty straight forward to me. SAD! Sorry you got hurt Jeremy, heard about it. Only think that kept me out of it was missing my callup which made me end up on the right side.<br />
Yesterday at 9:31am · Like<br />
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John Young PS @Jeremy sorry you got hurt. It supposed to be for fun and blow off some steam.<br />
Yesterday at 9:36am via mobile · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow Exactly... it sucks that someone got really hurt at this, and I'm sorry you have to miss work, etc etc. No bueno.<br />
Yesterday at 9:37am · Like<br />
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Jeremy Brown thanks guys. Im glad no one got any worse than me.<br />
Yesterday at 9:44am via mobile · Like<br />
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Don Walker Myles, its not pathetic if you take into consideration that the guy who CAUSES the incident is leading the points series and that the two guys he takes out are in striking distance from him. I find that its just too much of a coincidence to be a random accident. The parking lot discussion has always been an option in bicycle racing, and I've seen it happen a few times in my lifetime, too.<br />
Yesterday at 10:00am · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow But youre calling for what amounts to vigilante justice over what may have been a total accident.<br />
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In a cat 4 masters race<br />
Yesterday at 10:07am via mobile · Like<br />
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Christopher Neil Morgan I think you are reading into what Don is saying. I think what he is saying is we need to discuss the idea of sportsmanship and the purpose of CAT4 masters racing with this guy. We all have families and jobs. We are racing because we love bikes... Not for the saddle or crankset you get of you win!<br />
Yesterday at 10:18am via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Myles Romanow "Imho the offender needs a suspension, and also to be dealt with in the parking lot by all those affected.".<br />
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Sooooo.....exactly how should I take that? We're going to have a nice chit chat by the minivan and share some milk and cookies?<br />
Yesterday at 10:28am via mobile · Like<br />
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Don Walker dealt with = discussion. sometimes they get solved without a single blow being thrown. Again, we all have jobs to go to on Monday and no one likes showing up with their eye dotted or a broken nose. If 5 or 6 guys show up and let him know what he did was stupid, he should get their point.<br />
Yesterday at 10:33am · Edited · Like · 1<br />
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Christopher Neil Morgan Nope. Thought he was gonna hire a hitman. Ha<br />
Yesterday at 10:31am via mobile · Like<br />
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Scott Hirshorn looks like a pretty standard CAT4 Masters race to me... LOL<br />
Yesterday at 10:32am · Like<br />
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Myles Romanow Confronted by a gang is always the best way to solve a problem<br />
Yesterday at 10:53am via mobile · Like<br />
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Don Walker Myles, its not a gang. I think you are reading ay too far into it. Solving issues like this in a parking lot rarely comes to blows. If you look at how many people this sh*theads maneuver had effected, that's the number of folks that need to remind him of his mistake. Its not about a gang beating. Its about making sure the ass hat doesn't do the same thing ever again and he understands that the folks he's wronged have a name and a face and a voice. plain and simple.<br />
Yesterday at 11:15am · Like<br />
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Christopher Neil Morgan But if were a gang it would be a cool gang!<br />
Yesterday at 11:17am via mobile · Like · 1<br />
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Don Walker Cat 4 Masters Gang Fights. "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way...."<br />
Yesterday at 11:18am · Like · 3<br />
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Scott Hirshorn yes!!!!! more stuff for cyclists to argue about all day long!<br />
Yesterday at 11:19am · Like<br />
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Scott Kalkman So....."dealt with in the parking lot" means a respectful conversation. Oh! I see my understanding of the language is lacking. I mistakenly assumed there was hostility in that statement.<br />
Yesterday at 11:33am via mobile · Like<br />
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Don Walker You take it away from families and children and anyone who might be offended by language and/or fisticuffs, should they break out. Hey, this isn't Rec League Ice Hockey where we just deal with it on the ice....<br />
Yesterday at 11:35am · Like<br />
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Jason Garneret More visuals to let you decide. Jeffrey Jakucyk caught it in hi-res, hi-speed still shots. http://jjakucyk.exposuremanager.com/g/highlights_misc_53#l_dsc_8457_1_1_20_3_1<br />
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Highlights & Misc.<br />
jjakucyk.exposuremanager.com<br />
Click to visit gallery<br />
Yesterday at 2:38pm · Like<br />
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Matt Kraus the guy become unbalanced and instead of looking forward to avoid he looked next and thats the way his bike went. Elbows are a normal reaction when your gonna bargy someone.<br />
Yesterday at 2:53pm · Like<br />
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Jimmy Flaherty shit's totally intentional. I've got a BMX career littered with taking people out and that shit was obvious. typical cat 4 take down though as he couldn't stay clear of his own mess. unfortunately it's a standard OVCX situation of some shithead sandbagger that has to be a winner at something in his life. congratulations boss, you're the best beginner.<br />
23 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-85633626528353311502012-10-15T21:39:00.001-04:002012-10-16T17:21:25.511-04:00Joe Hall Again!How many times do I have to mention Joe Hall. He is the ultimate sandbagger. He was recently upgraded to Cat2 road (EDIT: AUTO Upgraded), but he continues to dominate and race Cat 3/4 cross. When will his tirade end?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHdxkbYbBQNbcn5lTx_sOnRYaSD9vJhJh1moyF6NYXbdIOCMV-opCIcNQU9-PafJiwdzUbiqkII8YqlAb0dAflcNvO-cVVdyc9eFUJrFDO49gcF49U0WXr1cxSZkw9x8pcIhfGOv1RoI/s1600/WP_005018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHdxkbYbBQNbcn5lTx_sOnRYaSD9vJhJh1moyF6NYXbdIOCMV-opCIcNQU9-PafJiwdzUbiqkII8YqlAb0dAflcNvO-cVVdyc9eFUJrFDO49gcF49U0WXr1cxSZkw9x8pcIhfGOv1RoI/s320/WP_005018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On another note, here is an awesome startline crash.<br />
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<br />Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-26498965990322479582012-05-08T10:05:00.000-04:002012-05-08T10:05:22.082-04:00New DomainWell if you haven't noticed, I purchased a domain name and now you don't have to type in .blogspot.com.<br />
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Just plain ohiosandbagger.com. You can still go to the old address, but you'll just be redirected.Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-12583941630969434942012-05-04T08:41:00.003-04:002012-05-04T08:41:46.256-04:00Joe HallJoe's been mentioned several times on this blog and ask anyone Columbus why and you'll get a good answer.<br />
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But I've heard through the grapevine that Mr. Sandbagger is getting an automatic upgrade to Cat 2! Unfortunately it is not until the end of the Spring Series but at least it is progress.<br />
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Congratulate him when you see him next time.Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-61147716390459071302012-05-02T09:25:00.002-04:002012-05-02T09:25:51.555-04:00Road SandbaggersWell good thing Ohio has a bunch of Sandbags, we'll all be safe from all that rain we had last night.<br />
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It seems to me that in Ohio, the Cat 3 field is the sandbagger's field. Cat 5's and Cat 4's seem to be pretty good at moving up. Rarely do you see "Career 4's" but certainly you see many "Career 3's".<br />
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I'm sure the Top 5 Cat 3's in the <a href="http://bigdavesports.com/events/ohio-spring-race-series/">Ohio Spring Race Series</a> would do fine in the Cat 1/2/3's. I guess the big question is will those top racers move up next year, or will they still fight for the #1 Cat 3 title?Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-24841073225379129082011-10-28T11:46:00.001-04:002011-10-28T23:18:31.473-04:00Ohio ChampionshipsSorry for the delay but better late than never.<br />
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The Ohio State Cyclocross championships, dubbed "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DublinCX">Two days in Dublin</a>," this past weekend, was one of the most spectacular sandbagging events I have ever witnessed!<br />
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But before I go into my rants, I would like to thank everyone involved in running the event for a good weekend of racing. Andys and Amanda Burns, Kirk Albers, all the officials (Mitch, Dave, Andrew, Alan), the cute girls at registration, all the setup and tear down crew, food vendors, the sponsors, and anyone else I missed. Also my #1 Hater was there doing the announcing. Well I gotta hand it to you Scot, you know how to work a mic. I know this thanking is kind of going against my MO, but I gotta support my state and its races.<br />
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Now back to what you all came here to read about...<br />
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The first race of the weekend was the non-championship Category 3/4 race. The Category 3 or 3/4 race is often considered the breeding ground for sandbaggers (in all disciplines of cycling, not just cross) and boy did it not disappoint. The star of this race was Chris Metzler, or Noah's brother as some may call him. Joe Hall took the holeshot and lead for the first lap or two until Chris got up to his wheel, then was never seen again. He did the same the previous week at Big Run. And to add to the sandbagging, he didn't even race on Sunday! Must be to avoid that auto-upgrade.<br />
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Another big sandbagger in the 3/4 race is the 5th place finisher Trevor Miller. At Big Run in the C race, from start to finish, it was the Trevor Miller show. At Dublin, it was the same deal. He kept up well with the other sandbaggers in the 3/4 race and on Sunday, he just dominated the Championship 4 race. A quick look at his results this year shows two wins, 4, two 5's, 6. Not too shabby on the road either. I hope he will be getting an upgrade, on his own accord or by forced upgrade. Oh yeah, I guess 4's can't be auto-upgraded, something USA Cycling needs to fix for this year (and add a Cat 5 men's category.)<br />
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I gripe I do have about this race was the lack of categories in the Masters races. All Masters races were category 1-4. Look at the OVCX, there is Elite, Cat 3 and Cat 4 Masters Category. How is one supposed to win their age group in if you are a Cat 3 or 4 if you have Elite racers in your age group!!!<br />
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All this sandbagger talk is making me a little sandy so I'll end here.<br />
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It is Halloween this weekend and 5, count it 5 races going on this weekend. Uncle Steve's, two days of Chagrin River CX, Lion of the Den and Storm the Greens. Send me your best costume pictures and sandbagger reports!Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-31387648865265199662011-10-08T21:52:00.003-04:002011-10-08T21:56:52.533-04:00Response from Doug GreenLooks like I got a counter response from someone I called out, Doug Green. I would like to first preface this post by saying thank you to Doug for A: responding and voicing his opinion and B: being the upgrade guy and taking shit from people like me and people who have been denied upgrades. I've held a similar position and well it's not all the fun but someone has to do it.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Posted below is Doug's email to me about his position. Read it and voice what you think. It is nice seeing someone taking the time to rebut my posts. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So before I paste his email, I have a few things to pick at. Doug, you say that you take it to the book and give upgrades solely based on points. Cool that is fine, that is the way you want to do it. But then you also say that you don't like to give out automatic upgrades. Wait a minute! You said you give out upgrades straight to the book. If you were to go straight to the book, then you would give out auto-upgrades. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Read the email, see what you think and please comment.</div><div><br />
</div><div>There is no further commentary from me below.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">I can’t seem to post a comment on the blog so I thought I would email it to you instead. You can post this if you like, let me know if you have additional questions.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Not sure this is the best forum for the discussion but I’ll respond. It’s a thankless and unpaid job being the upgrade coordinator and I am sure there are some that are not happy regarding their upgrade requests being denied. I have heard from quite a few already. All I can say is that I try to be fair to everyone and I am simply following the requirements set out in the rules, it’s not personal. Upgrade requests are handled through the user’s accounts on the USAC website to maintain the integrity of the system. The first step is always up to the rider so I would encourage every rider to take a look at the following links so that they have a better understanding of the requirements. If they have additional questions regarding their requests being denied then they can send me an email and I will be more than happy to discuss it further. I tend to be brief with the initial responses but generally try to give the basic reason for the denial. Riders get an email from me after I respond to their upgrade request. We try to avoid automatic upgrades especially in circumstances that would prevent the rider from winning an overall series.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">I am not sure how my presence at CX races would improve the upgrade process. In my view the upgrade point system, while not perfect, is pretty straightforward. The rules state the number of points or races required, the rules do not say “almost” X points or beat the field by X minutes. These are subjective measures and simply impossible to apply consistently. Again, the idea is to be fair to everyone.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">OCA Website: <a href="http://ohiocycling.org/category-changes-how-to/" target="_blank">http://ohiocycling.org/<wbr></wbr>category-changes-how-to/</a><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">USAC Rules: <a href="http://www.usacycling.org/forms/USAC_rulebook-1.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.usacycling.org/<wbr></wbr>forms/USAC_rulebook-1.pdf</a> (upgrades start on page 11)</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div></div>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-17796636416528896312011-10-05T10:28:00.004-04:002011-10-05T10:29:13.206-04:00Quote of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHKvNKuTlEn3k8oeVa_SArx9tUuuweIyeFYSKwTK5uF4gJTHXlQmUG9xknPVb2oeENx24WzuhEaB0J2-MRjAHujZUopAXt6kuPgATJQ2kSemsTL8KusstZWTi9VRoCViiaV2E4F8Co5o/s1600/323220_10100983679305705_12413565_66924997_1743029499_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHKvNKuTlEn3k8oeVa_SArx9tUuuweIyeFYSKwTK5uF4gJTHXlQmUG9xknPVb2oeENx24WzuhEaB0J2-MRjAHujZUopAXt6kuPgATJQ2kSemsTL8KusstZWTi9VRoCViiaV2E4F8Co5o/s400/323220_10100983679305705_12413565_66924997_1743029499_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Photo Daniel Newhart<br />
<br />
Overheard this while at John Bryan:<br />
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"Hey Cleveland! He's sandbagging you harder than you are sandbagging the rest of the field!"Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-34389184461318499652011-10-03T22:56:00.000-04:002011-10-03T22:56:45.834-04:00Cross Rage!Sorry ahead of time, but this post is going to be a bit opposite of my norm.<br />
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I've heard a lot of people say they like racing cross because it is more laid back and there is less Roadie Rage commonly found in road racing. However lately, I have been seeing as this sport grow, that Roadie Rage is starting to creep into cyclocross. I am starting to see more hostility toward "Sandbaggers."<br />
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I do take some responsibility for stirring up the pot and calling out sandbaggers. But my intention for this blog is to be satirical in nature and not to be a witch hunt website. I witnessed this weekend people outright disrespecting others in their face about sandbagging. I do not condone such actions. If you are going to heckle people, heckle them while they are racing. Don't pull them aside after the race and spit in their face. What is that going to accomplish?<br />
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You will always have people who are passing through categories and appear to be sandbaggers. Unfortunately we will all heckle them on the race course for being in the incorrect category, but those racers don't have a whole lot of choice. They have to play by the rules, get their race experience and points, then upgrade.<br />
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Another problem is the strict enforcement of categories. While the OVCX categories have made it so it is less sandbaggy this year, there are still no mixed 3/4 category. 4's who have grown out of their category cannot race up in the 3's unless they get an upgrade. The officials will not do on site upgrades and won't let people race up. Blame the system.<br />
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Also I rarely see the local upgrade coordinators at cross races. In fact, I have never seen Ohio's upgrade guy, Doug Green, at a cross race, let alone many road events. I see more of Curtis Tolson (especially with his Roadhouse team kicking my ass on the road), but only occasionally at cross races. How are these upgrade guys able to handout automatic 2-win upgrades if they are not present at these races? Sure they can look at results posted days later (though props to OVCX getting out results very quickly), but on paper, first place is first, second place is second, etc. It doesn't show dominant sandbagging performances definitely evident when you are out there watching the race.<br />
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I also heard from lots of people, that they were getting denied upgrades. They were short a point or two and just shut down. Like I said in the previous paragraph, on paper, 1st is 1st, 2nd is 2nd. It does not show that the top three put 2 minutes on the 4th place person, etc. Again, showing the need for some of these upgrade people to make it out to the race and check things out.<br />
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Ok there is my rant, a little off character but it needed to be said. But to get back on track, with these new revised "waves", I see less dominating sandbagging. I would say the top 5 of the Cat 4 race is sandbag worthy but most likely those individuals are just passing through. We'll see next week and if they are still racing 4's, they'll definitely get called out by name.Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-33311140991290776152011-09-29T23:26:00.000-04:002011-09-29T23:26:59.817-04:00Dayton Double HeaderThe Dayton Double Header is this weekend. A new event <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13245">GearFest</a> and a racer favorite, <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=14163">John Bryan</a> (though not a state championship event this year.)<br />
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Double header weekends are great. You get to hang out with your racing buddies for two days heckling the SANDBAGGERS!<br />
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Who should we all be on the lookout for? Will we see people upgrade under their own will or get forced up by the local reps?<br />
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If you use twitter, please use the hashtag #OHsandbagger, pun intended.Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-7125106366209189702011-09-27T13:31:00.001-04:002011-09-27T14:26:31.640-04:00Sandbagger Alert!Oh no, we have a new sandbagger developing!<br />
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Let me direct you to Mr. Michael Clevidence. Mr. Clevidence kicked off the season at Lionhearts CX in the Beginner category and placed second. He then raced the next race, C's, and won.<br />
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Fast forward a week and we see Mr. Clevidence at NEOCX Wendy park. Once again racing C's and guess what, he won that race too! Two wins and a second place.<br />
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TIME FOR AN UPGRADE!<br />
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In fact, when I chatted with him, he said many people were yelling at him that he was a sandbagger. When I asked him on his thoughts of upgrading, he blatantly said no and he does not feel like he can be very competitive in the B's/3's.<br />
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I check the registration for this week's Gearfest/ John Bryan double header and sure enough he is still registered as a 4. So what are you going to do Mr. Clevidence, just going to keep bullying the true 4's and keep stealing their lunch money?<br />
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Unfortunately USA Cycling does not have the 2 wins Auto-upgrade policy for 4 -> 3 upgrade. So the best we can do is to ridicule him as a sandbagger until he upgradesOhio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-74254682962479996712011-09-12T09:11:00.000-04:002011-09-12T09:11:35.517-04:00Any Sandbagger news?We had Huber's Apple Cross, Lionhearts CX, and NEOCX #2 this past weekend.<br />
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I need your sandbagger tips! All emails are anonymous unless you want me to release your name. Send me the scoop at <a href="mailto:ohiosandbagger@gmail.com">ohiosandbagger@gmail.com</a>. Thanks to all who have already submittedOhio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-24800558973182558332011-08-27T10:03:00.000-04:002011-08-27T10:03:34.530-04:00OVCX Director Warns SandbaggersSandbaggers beware! Besides getting ridiculed on this blog, Mitch Graham, the OVCX director, is giving out a warning to OVCX racers. Don't sandbag and if you win two races, you WILL be automatically upgraded. Glad to see the series promoter is doing his part in the fight against sandbaggers.<br />
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Well obviously if you don't win two races, but consistently "come in" 2nd or 3rd, you won't be upgraded automatically in the eyes of USAC. These guys are the real sandbaggers, avoiding wins by blatatly letting others win, or accidentally going off course so they get passed.<br />
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If you haven't seen the email, here is the entire OVCX 2011 FAQ Mitch sent out.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="line-height: 1.22em;"><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Dear OVCX Racers~</span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Lots of excitement is brewing with the start of cyclocross season less than 4 weeks away. There are many questions about the Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series for this upcoming season - so I wanted to take a moment to try and tackle some of the more FAQ to hopefully help to make your goal-setting and fun-planning easier for the upcoming fall/winter. This may be a lengthy message, so I'll put the more "important" FAQ's towards the beginning in case you get bored and stop reading. Here we go:</span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Why the OVCX Series?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Each regional "scene" - Louisville, Indy, Dayton, Lexington, Cincinnati is awesome and strong. But all together, we are much stronger. The larger our</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> <b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">collective</span> </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">scene gets, the cooler and more competitive it gets. We have over 10,000,000 million people within our collective region. The strength and growth of our womens, juniors, and mens categories hinge on all of our commitments to each other's respective scenes. Everybody has worked really hard to grow their cx scene -</span><i style="line-height: 1.22em;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">let's support each other's events.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">What is the 2011 OVCX schedule?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">There are 10 events that qualify for points in this year's OVCX Series. <span style="color: #234786; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.ovcx.com/Schedule.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1e66ae; line-height: 1.22em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;">Here's the schedule</span></a></span>. Due to a new rule handed down from the UCI, our largest event weekends, the Cincy3 and USGP Louisville, are not allowed to be scored events in the 2011 OVCX Series. </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Where can I find general series info, categories, prize money, etc?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="color: #234786; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.ovcx.com/SeriesInfo.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1e66ae; line-height: 1.22em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;">Right HERE.</span></a></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">How many races count for the overall?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Your best 7 OVCX finishes.</span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Is there a Zipp raffle?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Yes. It will be seriously mongo this year. The Zipp raffle will work like in previous years - you compete in 10 events and you get in the raffle (racing twice in one event does not count as two events). <i style="line-height: 1.22em;">The Cincy3 and Louisville USGP count this year (in addition to the 10 OVCX events) in the raffle.</i></span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"> So if you compete in the minimum of 10 out of the 15 events - you are in the raffle. Last year nearly 80 raffle prizes went out. We will destroy that this year.</span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Is the final OVCX event worth double points like in the past?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">No</span></b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">, the finale at Kings CX in Cincinnati will</span> <b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">NOT</span> </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">be worth double points this year,</span></span><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;">b<i style="line-height: 1.22em;">ut you do need to be in attendance at the raffle to win</i></b><i style="line-height: 1.22em;">.</i></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">What's this "Zipp Sponsored OVCX Athlete of the Week" I just read about?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: red; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">(NEW)</span> </span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">This is a brand new program we pitched to OVCX title sponsor Zipp that we're pretty stoked about. After each OVCX race weekend, we will award one male and one female racer the honor of "Zipp OVCX Athlete of the Week." Each male and female Zipp OVCX Athlete of the Week will be provided one set of Zipp 303 tubulars to race on at the next OVCX event. For the Zipp OVCX Athletes of the Week we are not necessarily looking at the winners .... but the most-improved, hardest working, loyal and good-spirited OVCX racers - those sorts of qualities. We'll have consultants from each scene - Louisville, Lexington, Dayton, Indy, and Cincinnati help us make the call each week. </span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">What about chip timing?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Last year about one-half of the OVCX promoters ponied up and hiring a chip timing service to time the riders. We have a contract for</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> <b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">every</span> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">OVCX event</span></b> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">to be chip-timed in 2011. The timing chips are custom and yours to keep; it goes up on top of your helmet and you will use it</span><i style="line-height: 1.22em;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">all season long at every race.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"> If you lose yours, you will need to pay $10 for a new one. So don't lose it. Chip timing will be used for lap splits and as back up for finish results - we will use our officials for finish results.</span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></b></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">How do these new categories work?</span></b></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">First, h<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">ere are the</span> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.ovcx.com/SeriesInfo.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1e66ae; line-height: 1.22em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;">new category arrangements.</span></a></span> </span>Take a look at them before reading on.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Now, let's explain why we combined categories. We combined c<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">ategories of similar ability </span>for two primary reasons:<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">First, we did it <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">to even out the </span>number <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">of riders racing at one time. </span>Under the old system, there'd be 80 riders racing in one time slot and 15 in another. The new system should even that out to approximately 40-50 per time slot (wave).<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Second, we combined categories to increase competition and fun. Racing more people of similar ability is more fun. But you really have to be racing them, not just racing on the course at the same time with staggered starts. So we had to figure out a way to accomplish that and yet maintain each individual race category.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">The solution was to drop staggered starts (for the most part at least) and award OVCX Series points by wave, not category. This means that everyone that goes off the starting line together in a "wave" (regardless of category) races each other for the OVCX Series points available to that wave. And because staging/call ups are based on OVCX Series points, everyone in a wave is racing everyone else in the wave for next week's call up.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Yes, you will still be scored in your own category for daily results/awards and for daily podiums and for OVCX overall scoring. Here's how that will work.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Let's say you are an Elite Women Cat 3. At Fisherman's, you would start in the 1:46 wave along with the Elite Women 1/2, Elite Women 35+, and the U19 Elite Girls. Let's say you finish in 6th in the wave and are the first Cat 3 Elite finisher. You would get 6th-place series points and be called up sixth in the wave the next week in Indy. But because you were the first Elite Cat 3 on the day, you won your category and would get the first-place prize for the category and a podium for the day. Your 6th-place series points would also put you in first place overall in your category. This would work the same in every wave with combined categories.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">So if you're a 10-year-old junior girl, you'd start in a wave of 10-14 boys and girls at OVCX #1. Let's say you finished 15th in the wave and were the third 10-12 girl. You'd earn 15th-place series points and be called up 15th in the wave the next week. And because you were the 3rd placed 10-12 girl, you'd get the 3rd-place prize for that category on the day and a podium. Your 15th-place series points would also put you in third place overall in your category, which means you'd get called up 15th in your wave next week.<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Of course at OVCX #1 there will be no series' points to stage each wave with. Therefore, staging (call ups) at OVCX #1 are by order of registration WITHIN EACH WAVE NOT BY CATEGORY. So, depending on how they registered, an Elite U19 Girl might line up next to an Elite 35+ woman, and so on. A 10-year-old girl might line up next to a 14-year-old boy. For OVCX #2 and beyond, the top 25 ranked from EACH WAVE will be staged together in order. After the top 25 are staged, staging will be by order of registration within the wave. This system will work for all combined categories going off the starting line at the same time. Again, each category will get scored separately as well, and get a podium celebration each day as well as OVCX series points for their category.</span><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></b></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Is something going to be done about sandbagging this year?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">This is oftentimes a touchy situation - some of our best friends can be sandbaggers and it's difficult to have that talk to set them straight. What we can say is this - be careful how you set your goals for this upcoming cyclocross year...if you set them too low you might find yourself getting automatically upgraded into the next category and having to revisit your goals again rather quickly. Rules for upgrades can be</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="color: #234786; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.ovcx.com/SeriesInfo.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1e66ae; line-height: 1.22em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;">FOUND HERE</span></a></span>. Two wins is an automatic upgrade. Count on automatic upgrades being given out after 2 wins. If you are upgraded to a Cat 2, you will not be able to race in Cat 3 unless you request and are granted a downgrade.</span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;">If I upgrade categories, do my points carry up like in previous years?</b></span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.22em;">Yes.</span></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Do I have to race the category on my license?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">YES, this was the case at many races last year and count on this being even more strict this year. If you pre-reg for a race in Cat 3, drive 3 hours, and show up showing the nice registration folks a license with a Cat 4 on it, you most likely will not be able to race. Get your upgrade requests in NOW. </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">What awards go out for the OVCX Series?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">The top 3 finishers for each scored OVCX category will be recognized and awarded a trophy after the final race at Kings CX in Cincinnati.</span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">How do I get involved in helping out at these events?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"></span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">Thank you for asking! Contact your local race promoter through their race's BikeReg link - all of them can use volunteers! </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;">That's about it. If you have any other questions I've posted this message to BikeClicks <a href="http://www.bikeclicks.com/BikeCliques/Details/tabid/3161/asg/10/aft/26773/showtab/groupforums/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1e66ae; line-height: 1.22em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;">please reply below the post</span></a>. I'll start a FAQ page on the OVCX website and add more popular questions as we go. </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div><div class="yiv892974751MsoNormal" style="color: #545454; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.22em;">See you in about 3 weeks at Fishsticks! </span></div></span><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;"><div style="line-height: 1.22em;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span></div>Mitch Graham</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;">OVCX Series Director</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'bookman old style', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="yiv892974751Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.22em;">(513) 861-2453</span></div>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596218008988678827.post-72589977685136402892011-08-17T21:05:00.002-04:002011-08-17T21:26:22.255-04:00I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry I went into hibernation but calling out sandbaggers during road season is very hard without informants. You are typically racing concurrently with other categories and by the time you are done, you really don't want to chit chat, but rather pack up and go home, bummed out that you were one out of the money.<br />
<br />
But before I completely cross over to cross, I do want to point out a few SANDBAGGERS!!<br />
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Mr. Joe Hall: If you are a Cat 3 and raced in Ohio, I'm pretty sure you have heard the name. He is consistently in the Top 5 and has not upgraded yet! I am sure he is in the realm of having enough points of upgrading, but not enough for the auto-upgrade. Joe shares the top spot in the USAC Ohio Cat3 crit rankings with Scott Spees (another sandbagger) and the number 2 spot in road racing, just 4 points behind.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Now that Road and Crit season is pretty much over, it is time for cross!!! Cross is much easier to spot sandbaggers IMHO. Though big props to Mitch and the OVCX for making the races a bit more anti-sandbagging and for chip timing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">So in the coming weeks, who will we see mentioned on this blog??? If you have and info, send me email to <a href="mailto:ohiosandbagger@gmail.com">ohiosandbagger@gmail.com</a>. Your emails will remain anonymous unless you specify otherwise.</span>Ohio Sandbaggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14306281392534867583noreply@blogger.com1