Paul's Cycling Team

February Team News
 
Well the first race of the year, the Cherry Pie road race, a staple on many riders early season calendar is just around the corner. I am happy to say that we have some riders in real good form going into the first race of the year and the team is full of excitement. It seems like last season ended so long ago but in reality Cycle Cross season was just getting over in December. The Cherry Pie marks the start of a long season ahead and different team members have different goals throughout the year. From the sounds of it we will be representing in events across the board.
 
The team is also been very busy with planning our stage race www.willamettevalleyclassic.com as well as the time trials, hill climbs and OBRA championships. We have had a lot of interest in the stage race and registration is filling up quickly. If you want to help out let us know so we can get you on the list.
 
Not a lot of other news happening right now but I am sure come March we will have plenty of news to report from the team.

January Team News - posted 1-5-06
 
Team clothes have arrived as of January 3rd, a great New Years present. Most of the team got out on one of the scheduled New Years Day rides, The Polar Bear road ride or the Hangover MTB ride.
 
The road ride was fast and furious as it is every year but the wind played a large part this year. From what I hear there was only 4 riders left at the end, out of about 45-50 starters.
 
The Mtb ride was a lot of fun until our very own Nick found not one but two places to closely inspect the top soil of a recently built trail. He ended up in the ER getting a scan to the skull cap and some stitches as souvenirs. He will survive and be back at it in no time. The rest of the ride went off without a problem as people enjoyed sunny 50 degree weather for another great ride.
 
The road season is just around the corner and some of us are ready, some of us are not. The Cherry Pie is happening in February and is usually the best attended race of the season it seems like. You get a lot of variety in the riders with some folks flying already and some just wanting to get the race in the legs.
 
On the Mountain Bike front, the team is sure to turn out in force to help with the DOD’s annual All Comer Meet ride at the infamous Whypass riding zone on January 21st. A fun event that has numerous different levels rides being led in what has become a popular winter mountain bike zone.
 
To finish up, our OBRA standing came in at 21st out of 56 teams for the year, someone sent me another way of looking at it where we came in at 6th for the year based on points to rider ratio.
 
We are all looking forward to a great year supporting cycling and our sponsors.
 
Time to Ride,
Richard

December Team News- posted 12/1/05:

Well November was an exciting month for the team, Cyclocross season is coming to an end and Cross Crusade had their last race of the season which was the State Championships. Our very own Joel Wilson scored a solid 2nd place to receive a silver medal in the “B” category and in the process getting upgraded to the “A” field. Greg Crawford provided what proved to be one of the best crashes of the day and Richard Sweet placed 12th in the SS field.

 
For December there are a couple races left, one of which is the Physco Cross series that will finish off at King Estates Winery on December 3rd. Currently Richard is leading the SS category and Joel the B category, though with Joel being upgraded he may not hold onto his overall placing. This race promises to be a really fun one to come out and watch or race, then get a nice bottle of wine to go.
 
Other team news;
Clothing is scheduled to be in our hands come the week of December 19th, everyone is anxiously awaiting it with the prospect of a cold and wet winter ahead of us.
 
We will be having our next team meeting in January, location and date to be determined.
 
The race scene only takes a short break before the road season starts back up with the Cherry Pie in February, basically work out to about 1 1⁄2 months off for some of the team.
 
Plenty of riding still going on, off road and on road, the team is in the winter riding mode with smaller groups getting together when the can. There are several team led rides during the week, Tuesday Hill climb, Wed night road or mtb ride, Thursday afternoon ride. Email Richard for more info to join in on the fun.
 
We will be having a team outing sometime in January over in Bend to get as many people as possible together.
 
Time to Ride,
Richard

November Team News- posted 11/8/05:

Much of the team is in their winter training programs now, whether sitting on the couch drinking a cold one and surfing the TV channels or out suffering like a good little cyclist in the wonderful Oregon weather. Everyone has their own system and as long as they are having fun more power to them.
 
On the racing front, Cyclocross season is about half over. State Championships are on November 20th and it looks like we might get 3-4 folks to head up to represent the team. The Physco CX series is going good for the team with Richard leading the Single Speed class and Joel leading the B class, Brice & Greg have also scored some points while slip sliding around in the mud.
 
Team group rides have been set up for the 1st Saturday of the month being a road ride and 3rd Saturday being a MTB ride. Meet at Paul’s 6th Street location at 9am. Rides are open to anyone wishing to go out and enjoy a nice Oregon winter day.
 
Weekday rides are plentiful, we have to thank the winter time and lack of racing to be able to do something regular again. Tuesday hill climb rides, meet at Paul’s Alder at 5:45pm, Wednesday road or mtb, email Richard (bikinjoe@rio.com) for meet times and locations, and Thursday afternoon rides with Justin meeting at Paul’s 6th at 1:30pm.
 
We are working on sponsorship for 2006, trying to line up the same folks that so graciously supported us in 2005 and asking for some other to fill a few voids.
 
We are also working on the 2006 events hot and heavy, with the www.willamettevalleyclassic.com in April, state championships in June & July and the Time Trial and Hill Climb series April-May we have a busy year ahead. We also have the Summer Ride Fest in con-junction with the Oakridge Fat Tire Race at the end of July, time to relax and enjoy a non-competitive ride.
 
Team Bio’s are coming in slowly but surely J, we need everyone to get theirs in as soon as possible.
 
The new team kit’s look to be delivered middle of December, those winter bib knickers and jacket’s will come in handy then. The design is pretty awesome and our new clothing supplier www.uplandsg.com has been great to work with.
 
Thanks for reading and check back the first week of December for updates on what the team is doing.
 
Time to Ride,
Richard