Cameron, Terrell win final Monday night PIR races

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
Portland International Raceway
Aug. 31

Novice Women
1. Lewis, Leigh 15
2. Fanning, Linda 12
3. Thompson, Lynn 10
4. McCasker, Cindy (Portland Velo) 8
5. Parker, Rachael (Olson's Hammer) 7
Novice Men
1. Nor, Adam 15
2. Murphy, Douglas 12
3. Sundberg, Joseph 10
4. Hein, Mark 8
5. Geschke, Grant 7
Masters Men 4/5
1. Aldersebaes, Dave (Ironclad Performance Wear) 20
2. Berndardt, Eric 19
3. Kowalsky, Greg (Team Oregon) 12
4. Anderson, Eric (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 8
5. Cecotti, Shawn 7
Masters Men 1/2/3
1. Cameron, Molly (Portland Bicycle Studio) 16
2. Creem, Joshua (Portland Bicycle Studio) 16
3. Holcomb, Joseph (Specialized River City Bicycles) 15
4. Alling, Chris (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 9
5. Mallison, Dickie (Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop) 8
Senior Women
1. Tyrrell Leia (CAPA Cycling Team) 22
2. Bussell,Cara 19
3. Livingston, Denise (Three Rivers Racing) 10
4. Reeve, Lisa (Veloforma) 12
5. Moss, Jan (Team Group Health) 7

Tyrrell, Tresser top Monday PIR fields

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Series
PIR, Aug. 24

Novice Women
1. Hackenberg Emily (ZteaM) 15
2. McCasker Cindy (Portland Velo) 12
3. Thompson Lynn 10
4. Daniel Heather 8
5. Armbrust Tori 7
Novice Men
1. Usher, Craigan 18
2. Hewitt, Dan (Mt. View Cycles) 12
3. Lehto, Danny 10
4. Bauch, Todd 10
5. Murphy, Douglas 7
Masters 4/5
1. Lanners, Eric (Word-RCB) 16
2. Anderson, Eric (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 15
3. Deaton, Christian 10
4. Polonsky, Jon 8
5. Dirks, Tony (Mt. View Cycles) 8
Masters 1/2/3
1. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 21
2. Wessel, Robin (Team Oregon) 12
3. Schwaeber, Steve (Veloce/Felt) 11
4. Holcomb, Joseph (Specialized River City Bicycles) 10
5. Ryan, Kelly (Portland Bicycle Studio) 8
Women
1. Tyrrell, Leia (CAPA Cycling Team) 20
2. Reeve, Lisa (Veloforma) 18
3. VanValkenburg, Heather (Land Rover-ORBEA) 13
4. Larson, Elena (Therapeutic Associates Cycling/GENR8) 9
5. Levo, Jenn (Bridgetown Velo) 9

Harwood, Miles win Monday night PIR races

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
Portland International Raceway, Aug. 17

Novice Women
1. Bruening Joy 15
2. McCasker Cindy (Portland Velo) 12
3. Fanning Linda 10
4. Hackenberg Emily (ZteaM) 8
5. Thompson Lynn 7
Novice Men
1. MacLeod, Douglas 15
2. Wilson, Craig 12
3. Sundberg, Kevin (Showers Pass) 10
4. Murphy, Douglas 10
5. Coca, Tony 8
Masters Men 4/5
1. Dirks, Tony (Mt. View Cycles) 23
2. Loeb, Curtis 12
3. Anderson, Eric (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 12
4. Lanners, Eric (Word-RCB) 9
5. Radich, Matt (Cat 6 Racing) 8
Masters Men 1/2/3
1. Harwood, Jeff (Ironclad Performance Wear) 15
2. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 12
3. Allen, Gary (Liberty Cycle) 11
4. Holcomb, Joseph (Specialized River City Bicycles) 10
5. LeBus, Joshua (Bridgetown Velo) 8
Senior Women
1. Miles, Karey (Therapeutic Associates Cycling/GENR8) 21
2. Reeve, Lisa (Veeloforma) 20
3. Letts, Caitlin (Bridgetown Velo) 13
4. Tisdale, Sarah (Sorella Forte) 9
5. Heathman, Lisa 7

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

PIR racing begins winding down, last chance to catch rider clinics

August tips its hat to another season of Monday and Tuesday racing at PIR by offering a bonus week of racing for the women and masters. The five-Monday month means an extra week of racing for the Monday night series, which finishes Aug. 31. The Tuesday night series finishes six days earlier on Aug. 25.

The extra week makes three more opportunities for beginner and novice riders to take advantage of race clinics offered by OBRA Cat 1 racer and Upper Echelon Fitness coach Chris Swan.

Swan said the clinics have averaged about 10 riders a night and cover everything from basics like number-pinning to more advanced lessons on bumping, cornering skills and pack riding.

The Aug. 17 clinic will focus on pacelines and echelons. The hour-long pre-race clinic will cover tricks for saving energy, riding smoothly and safely maneuvering in the group, improving riders' ability to move in the peloton as well as improving the ability to work with other riders in race, training or on group rides.

Other clinics cover race tactics and how to execute tactics in a race.

"It mostly pertains to PIR, but I also try to broaden out to other races as much as possible," Swan said. "If riders have questions about specific races coming up, I'll give them a little insight into that race and also how PIR experience transfers to other races."

The weekly clinics also include in-race instruction from coaches on the course, tips and advice, as well as post-race analysis and conversation.

Swan said the clinics have drawn riders of all skill levels.

"We've had people who show up and it's their first race and they have no idea how to pin a number on or even what the categories are," he said. "We've even had a couple Cat 3s that have been racing for awhile that already have a private coach but they come here and check out the skills. It's always good to learn more about handling the bike."

Riders participating in the clinics also get one upgrade point for the class, or they may use the clinic to count as one race toward their upgrade to category 4 or 3. No prior clinic or race participation is needed to attend.

Clinics begin at 5:15 p.m. at the racetrack and cost $15. Sign up is at the Monday PIR registration table.

Steger, Reeve start August Monday PIR series with wins

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
Portland International Raceway, Aug. 3

Novice Women
1. Lewis, Leigh 15
2. Henricks, Roslyn 12
3. Thompson, Lynn 10
4. Medellin, Allison 8
5. Stenhouse, Yvonne 7
Novice Men
1. McBride, William 15
2. Cox, James 12
3. Bauch, Todd 10
4. Wilson, George 8
5. Cady, Josh 7
Masters Cat/4/5
1. Kowalsky, Greg (Team Oregon) 18
2. Aldersebaes, Dave (Ironclad Performance Wear) 15
3. Timmerman, Edward 13
4. Berndardt, Eric 11
5. Polonsky, Jon 8

Senior Women
1. Reeve, Lisa 19
2. Moss, Jan (Team Group Health) 16
3. Armstrong, Alana (Sorella Forte) 13
4. Pressey, Lana (Ironclad Performance Wear) 9
5. Larson, Elena (Therapeutic Associates Cycling/GENR8) 7
Masters Cat/1/2/3
1. Steger, Mark (Nike) 18
2. Drake, Peter (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 12
3. Warner, Charles (Veloce/Felt) 11
4. Larson, Dan (Half Fast Velo) 10
5. Martin, Joe (Veloce/Felt) 9



Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Warner wins Monday night Masters race on toasty PIR Tarmac

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
PIR, July 27

Novice Women
1. Lewis, Leigh 15
2. Karottki, Mary 12
3. Thompson, Lynn 10
Novice Men
1. Usher, Craigan 15
2. Zimmer, Darrin 12
3. Lehto, Danny 10
Masters 4/5
1. Hemming, David (Rapha Racing) 21
2. Radich, Matt (Cat 6 Racing) 12
3. Kyper, Robert (Tireless Velo) 10
4. Loeb, Curtis 10
5. McGuire, Matt (ZteaM) 7
Masters 1/2/3
1. Warner, Charles (Veloce/Felt) 21
2. Ghilarducci, Thomas (bicycleattorney.com) 12
3. Hopper, David (NoMad Sports Club) 12
4. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 10
5. Alling, Chris (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 8

Nike's Steger takes monday night PIR race

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Series
Portland International Raceway, July 20

Novice Women
1. Bruening, Joy 15
2. Karottki, Mary (Fly Cyclery) 12
3. Lewis, Leigh 10
4. Pollock, Erika (Portland Velo) 8
5. S, Yvonne? 7
Novice Men
1. Usher, Craigan 15
2. Henitt, Dan (Mt View Park) 12
3. Wilson, George 10
4. Hackenberg, Alex (ZteaM) 8
5. Shedd, Tom 7
Masters 4/5
1. Burton, Nick 15
2. Emersonn Mike (Capitol Velo_ 12
3. Anderson, Eric (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 10
4. Timmerman, Ed 8
5. Wolf, Jeff 7
Masters 1/2/3
1. Steger, Mark (Nike) 18
2. Miller, Benjamin (Team Guinness Cycling) 15
3. Hagen, Karsten (ZteaM) 10
4. Denham, Mitch (NoMad Sports Club) 8
5. Hopper, David (NoMad Sports Club) 7

Steger takes PIR Monday night masters; Levo tops women's field

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
Portland International Raceway, July 13

Novice Women
1. Karottki, Mary 15
2. Holfeltz, Vanessa 12
3. Thompson, Lynn 10
Novice Men
1. Sundberg, Kevin (Showers Pass) 15
2. Usher, Craigan 12
3. Chandler, Kevin 10
Masters 4/5
1. Hemming, David (Rapha Racing) 18
2. Polonsky, Jon 13
3. Smith Chad, (Team Oakland) 12
Senior Women
1. Levo, Jenn (Bridgetown Velo) 15
2. Metz, Tamara (Veloce) 12
3. Kennedy, Ann (Team Guinness) 10
Masters 1/2/3
1. Steger, Mark (Nike) 16
2. Batke, Darroll (MAC Club) 15
3. Mauer, Jason (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 12

Tyrrell continues PIR win streak, Olympian joins men's race

Capa Cycling Team's Leia Tyrrell continued her winning streak Monday night at PIR, taking her fourth consecutive Senior Women's race in the series. The streak easily earned Tyrrell the June overall prize and now puts her in the lead for the July series.

The Capa Cycling Team rider finished ahead of a trio of Ironclad Performance Wear riders, Anna Clark, Deann Krill and Lana Pressey. Bridgetown Velo's Jenn levo was fifth.

The Masters Men 1/2/3 field got a break with June series winner Christian Tresser, the Cyclepath Racing Team sprint specialist, absent from the Monday race. Veloce/Felt's Dan Quirk capitalized to take the first win of July in front of David Hopper (NoMad Sports Club), Kent Johnson (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team), John Mitchem (Guinness Cycling Team) and Dickie Mallison (Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop).

Two-time Olympian Bob Mionske joined the Masters 1/2/3 field, finishing 11th. Mionske represented the U.S. in the 1988 games in Seoul, South Korea, where he made the winning break in the Men’s Individual Road Race, finishing in fourth place. In 1990, Mionske was the U.S. National Champion in the Men’s road race. Mionske made the United States Olympic team again for the 1992 games in Barcelona, Spain, assisting teammate Lance Armstrong to a 14th-place finish. Mionske turned pro after the 1992 games, racing for Saturn for one season.

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series
Portland International Raceway, July 6

Novice Women
1. Lewis, Leigh 15
2. Kennedy, Ann (Team Guinness) 12
3. Bruening, Joy 10
Novice Men
1. Pickel, Sean 15
2. Sundberg, Kevin (Showers Pass) 12
3. Echerer, Brian (Butts on Bikes) 10
Masters Men 4/5
1. Smith, Chad (Team Oakland) 18
2. Hemming, David (Rapha Racing) 14
3. Anderson, Eric (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 10
Senior Women
1. Tyrrell, Leia (CAPA Cycling Team) 18
2. Clark, Anna (Ironclad Performance Wear) 15
3. Krill, Deann (Ironclad Performance Wear) 10
4. Pressey, Lana (Ironclad Performance Wear) 10
5. Levo, Jenn (Bridgetown Velo) 10
Masters Men 1/2/3
1. Quirk, Dan (Veloce/Felt 24
2. Hopper, David NoMad Sports Club) 15
3. Johnston, Kent (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 10
4. Mitchem, John (Guinness Cycling Team) 9
5. Mallison, Dickie (Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop) 7

Tyrrell, Tresser continue to top PIR Monday night fields

CAPA Cycling Team's Leia Tyrrell won her third Monday night PIR race in a row, adding to her commanding series lead for the June overall win. She joins Christian Tresser (Cyclepath Racing), who's not only won the last three June Monday nights, but hasn't been out of the podium all five weeks this month.

RESULTS
River City Bicycles Monday Night Series
June 29, PIR

Novice Women
1. D'Elia, Traci (Portland Velo) 15
2. Brueuing, Joy 12
3. Kennedy, Ann (Team Guiness) 10
Novice Men
1. Pool Eric 15
2. Pickel Sean 12
3. Usher Craigan 10
Masters Cat. 4/5
1. Cagampang, Juan (Hammer Velo) 19
2. Smith, Chad (Team Oakland) 18
3. Bernhardt, Eric 10
Masters Cat. 1/2/3
1. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 21
2. Mitchem, John (Guinness Cycling Team) 15
3. Hopper, David (NoMad Sports Club) 14
4. Holcomb, Joseph (Specialized River City Bicycles) 9
5. Johnston, Kent (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 8
Women
1. Tyrrell, Leia (CAPA Cycling Team) 21
2. Miles, Karey (Therapeutic Associates Cycling/GENR8) 16
3. Tisdale, Sarah (Sorella Forte) 10
4. Rueter, Kim (Sorella Forte) 10
5. Krill, Deann (Ironclad Performance Wear) 7

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Tresser, Tyrrell repeat PIR Monday night wins

In a repeat of last week's showing, Cyclepath Racing's Christian Tresser rode away with the win in the Masters 1/2/3 race, and Capa Racing Team's Leia Tyrrell won the Women's race.

Tresser finished ahead of Tony Kic (Gentle Lovers) and Guiness Cycling Team's John Mitchem. Tyrrell secured her second consecutive PIR win in front of Hammer Velo's Sam Yeo and Bridgetown Velo's Jenn Levo.

RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series
June 22

Novice Men
1. Usher, Craigan
2. Munson, John
3. Spillman, Erik
4. Bauch, Todd
5. Echerer, Brian (Butts on Bikes)
Novice Women
1. Gibbs, Zan (Sorella Forte) 15
2. Lewis, Leigh
3. D'Elia, Traci (Portland Velo) 10
4. Brueuing Joy
5. Marcoe Suzanne (Cross Fit Portland)
Masters 4/5
1. Smith, Chad (Team Oakland)
2. Desmond, Richard (Team Oregon)
3. Clemow, Chris (Hutch's-OIC)
4. Burger, Steven (Sunset Cycles)
5. Van Dusen, Ryan (Unattached)
Women
1. Tyrrell, Leia (CAPA Cycling Team)
2. Yeo, Sam (Hammer Velo)
3. Levo, Jenn (Bridgetown Velo)
4. VanValkenburg, Heather (Land Rover-ORBEA)
5. Larson, Elena (Therapeutic Associates/GENR8 Cycling)
Masters 1/2/3
1. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing)
2. Kic, Tony (Gentle Lovers)
3. Mitchem John (Guinness Cycling Team)
4. Walton, Hugh
5. Romney, Eric (Cynergy)

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Tresser, Tyrrell top Monday night races

(The complete Cycling Action photo gallery for this race is now posted online HERE).


Perennial podium placer and May series winner Christian Tresser (Cyclepath Racing) jumped back onto the top spot Monday night at PIR, the first time he's won the evening race outright since May 12. Active in all the breaks attempts throughout the evening, the Cyclepath sprint specialist accumulated enough points to finish ahead of Nike's Steven Wright and Fred Meyer/Lakside's Jason Mauer.

In the Women's race, Capa Racing's Leia Tyrrell joined Sorella Forte's Alana Armstrong and BRIHOP's Camille Hook in a successful breakaway that built a sizable lead on the bunch. Tyrrell and Armstrong dropped Hook for the finale, where the Capa Racing rider easily took the two-up sprint from Armstrong. Hook held on with enough points for third.




RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series,
June 15

Novice Women - 15 finishers
1. Rich, Cate 15
2. Heathman, Lisa 12
3. Medellin, Allison 10
4. Marcoe, Suzanne 8
5. Kennedy, Ann (Guinness Cycling team) 7
Novice Men - 23 finishers
1. Spillman, Erik 15
2. Stolberg, Eric (Grundelbruisers) 12
3. Sundberg, Kevin (Showers Pass) 10
4. Billingsley, Kevin (ZteaM) 8
5. Johnson, Steve 7
Masters 4/5 - 34 finishers
1. Smith, Chad (Team Oakland) 18
2. Crocker, Robert (Team Cyclogy) 15
3. Conley, Shaun 10
4. Suzuki, Aijiro (Ten Guys Named Alex) 8
5. Desmond, Richard (Team Oregon) 7
Women - 10 finishers
1. Tyrrell, Leia (Capa Racing) 21
2. Armstrong, Alana (Sorella Forte) 16
3. Hook, Camille (BRIHOP) 13
4. VanValkenburg, Heather (Land Rover-ORBEA) 9
5 266 Tisdale, Sarah (Sorella Forte) 8
Masters 1/2/3 - 58 finishers
1. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 17
2. Wright, Steven (Nike) 15
3. Mauer, Jason (Fred Meyer/Lakeside Cycling Team) 10
4. Hueser, Brandt 8
5. Creem, Joshua (Portland Bicycle Studio) 7

Brubaker takes first June PIR Monday; Steger repeats in shortened Masters race

Veloforma's Tina Brubaker won the first night of the Monday PIR June series in a race marred by a crash in the last lap that required medical attention for at least one rider.

Brubaker won the Open Women's race ahead of Nissy Cobb, Laura McGraw and Dawn Riddle.

In the shortened Masters 1/2/3 race, Mark Steger (Nike) repeated last week's win by racking up five hot-spot points. Charles Warner (Veloce-felt) and Christian Tresser (Cyclepath Racing) finished with three points each.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series, June 1

Novice Masters Men
1. Hagmeier, David
2. Munson, John
3. Gotting, Tad
4. Gornick, Jon (Hammer Velo)
5. Koller Mark

Novice Women
1. D'Elia, Traci (Portland Velo)
2. Graham, Lisa
3. Heathman, Lisa
4. Gibbs, Zan (Sorella Forte)
5. Parker, Rachael (Olson's Bikes)

*Masters Men 4/5
1. Pollock, Jeffrey 6
2. Borum, Jason 4
3. Cagampang, Juan 3
4. Emerson, Mike 2
5. Martin, Joe 2

Women's Open
1. Brubaker, Tina 20
2. Cobb, Nissy 14
3. McGraw, Laura 10
4. Riddle, Dawn 9
5. Krill, Deann 7

*Masters Men 1/2/3
1. Steger, Mark (Nike) 5
2. Warner, Charles (Veloce/Felt) 3
3. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 3
4. N/A
5. Quirk, Dan (Veloce/Felt) 2

*finish canceled due to crash, based on hot spots only

Steger, Miles top PIR Monday night fields

Mark Steger (Nike) returned to PIR for another win Monday night, following up on his victory last week in the Masters Men 1/2/3 race. Steger finished ahead of ZteaM's Kartsen Hagen, Portland Velo's Brian Ratliff, Cyclepath's Christian Tresser and Vanilla Bicycles' Shannon Skerritt.

Karey Miles (Therapeutic Associates Racing/GENR8) took her first Monday night win of the season in the Senior Women's race. Miles finished ahead of Land Rover-ORBEA's Heather VanValkenburg, Wenzel Coaching's Kendra Wenzel, Wines of Washington rider Pam Massey and Sorella Forte's Anne Linton.

RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series, May 25

Novice Women - 13 finishers
1. Hackenberg, Emily (ZteaM) 15
2. Gibbs, Zan (Sorella Forte) 12
3. Shepard, Amy 10
4. Pranian, Katy (Sorella Forte) 8
5. Kennedy, Anne (Team Guinness) 7
Novice Men - 16 finishers
1. Hagmeier, david 15
2. Wolf, Jeff (Organic Athlete) 12
3. Stewart, Donovan (Portland Velo) 10
4. Pool, Eric 8
5. Payson, Matt 7
Masters Men Cat. 4/5 - 33 finishers
1. Desmond, Richard (Team Oregon) 15
2. McDade, Stephen (Beaverton Bicycle Club) 14
3. N/A
4. Aldersebaes, Dave (Ironclad Performance Wear) 10
5. Rich, Tim (Team Rose City) 7
Senior Women - 23 finishers
1. Miles, Karey (Therapeutic Associates Cycling/GENR8) 21
2. VanValkenburg, Heather (Land Rover-Orbea) 14
3. Wenzel, Kendra (Wenzel Coaching) 10
4. Massey, Pam (Wines of Washington) 8
5. Linton, Anne (Sorella Forte) 7
Masters Men Cat. 1/2/3 - 43 finishers
1. Steger Mark (Nike) 15
2. Hagen, Karsten (ZteaM) 12
3. Ratliff, Brian (Portland Velo) 10
4. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 10
5. Skerritt, Shannon (Vanilla Bicycles) 8

Diary of a novice rider: Am I made for racing?

By Katy Pranian

(Novice rider Katy Pranian competed in her first-ever bicycle race May 11 at Portland International Raceway as part of the Masters' and Women's Monday night series. She sent Cycling Action this recollection of the experience).

I knew there were many reasons why I quit smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using other drugs, but I never once thought that taking up bike racing at age 35 would have been one.

Last summer I switched from a mid '80s TREK 1000 that was too small for me -- and was equipped with downtube shifters and toe-clip pedals -- to a lightly used but very nice 2003 Litespeed Hyperion with full Ultegra and Miche 502 clipless pedals. Gone also were the Adidas running shoes, replaced by proper cycling shoes and cleats.

Since I made that switch and started riding with other avid cyclists and racers, I've been told things like, "Katy, you really are a fast rider ... you have nice downhill form ... you corner really well ... you really should start racing!"

So after a year of encouragement from my good friend Zan, a former Ironman finisher and now my constant riding companion, I finally joined Sorella Forte, Zan’s team, and entered my first race at PIR.

I had done several organized rides, like the Harvest Century and Monster Cookie and had been taught to draft and "chase down that wheel" and a handful of other really valuable tips from other women riders. The thought of racing started to seem less and less like a crazy idea and more like something entirely plausible, so I started talking about it with other Sorella riders on the Saturday morning RCB social rides. People kept telling me to go on out there and give it a shot, so I did. By the time Monday rolled around, however, I was questioning my sanity.

"I don’t even care about winning," I told myself as the race day approached. "Why am I doing this? I am not even really that competitive, honestly I think I will just race this one race. Folks will see that I am not really made for racing and then they will stop telling me those things."

All day long I was spinning in my head about it and couldn’t concentrate on anything. I kept imagining horrible crashes and being afraid of getting hurt, afraid of my bike getting wrecked, afraid of getting dropped, afraid of not being fast enough and afraid of my own fear.

We got there early for the women’s clinic. I signed up and joined in the clinic as they were talking about the pack and drafting and hand signals and not crossing wheels. We rode around the track together as the coaches watched us and gave us random tips. After the clinic, however, I was 10 times more confused and nervous than when I had showed up, as nothing the coaches had said made any sense to me. Suddenly, it was 6:20 p.m., Novice Women’s start time. Without knowing exactly what I was doing, I quickly positioned myself at the front and the whistle blew. Here we go!

I was immediately out in the front, and as the race got going, so did my nerves. My mouth was dry, my heart was racing and my breathing seemed out of control. Still, I hung in there and I actually managed to stay out in front and take the lead the first three times around. I had to work hard talking my breathing down, telling myself that I really needed to relax and take it easy. Once I was able to calm my breathing down, I focused on really seeing the whole course, trying my best to watch every rider in front of me, "not just the wheel in front of you" as they had told me. Being part of Sorella Forte made all the difference, because several times during the race, a team member would tell me, "Katy, get out of the wind, get back in here" or, "Go Katy, grab that wheel!"

Right before the last lap, one of the clinic coaches, who was riding with us during the race, came up behind me and put her hand on my back and kept it there as we were riding.

"I can see you are a very strong rider," she told me, "but you are wasting energy that should be saved for the end." I can’t remember what else she told me, but her hand was surprisingly comforting on my back, and her message was encouraging.

Things seemed to tighten up as the end of the race neared, and around the very last lap, right towards the end, I could tell folks were about to start going for it. I was looking for a hole and I found one. I made it through to the left of the pack and so did a few of my teammates and friends. Jen Ulrich was screaming at me to go, just screaming, "Katy GO! You can do it, GO!" If it weren’t for her screaming at me, I don’t know if I could have pushed it like I did at the end. And one thing I am kicking myself for now is that I forgot to stand up to sprint.

I placed 6th, Jen placed 5th and our friend Melissa took 3rd. The race was SUCH a rush, and I can’t believe I did so well, even if I did waste a bunch of energy at the beginning, starting "off like a rabbit" that no one wanted to chase, as they told me. I also had no idea that I would have it in me to want to win so badly. I was so spun out all week long from placing 6th, that it was all I could think about to do even better next time.

I still have a lot to learn, like working as a team, pulling my teammates and saving my energy and learning to really stand up and go for it at the end. I’m coming up on two years off of being a smoker for 14 years, I just raced in Silverton Sunday, and I can’t wait for my next race at PIR.

Oh, and did I mention that I love being a Sorella Forte!? Thanks Zan, Jen, MJ, Shari and Anne. You women are amazing!

(Race photos courtesy of Tim Schallberger).

Kandra continues PIR spree; Steger takes first Monday night win

UPDATE, Tuesday, 3:45 p.m. - The complete Cycling Action photo gallery for all of the May 18 races is now posted online HERE.



Hammer Velo's Lindsay Kandra continued her good form at week three of the River City Bicycles Monday Night Series, which continues at Portland International Raceway each week through August.

Already tied for the May series lead after taking third in week one's weather-dominated event and first last week, Kandra stomped her way to another win, solidifying her edge in a tight overall race with Beth Burns (Veloce/Felt), who finished second to Kandra again Monday.

Sorella Forte's Anne Linton, who was third overall based on her week-two performance, finished third in the race, solidifying her position in the monthly overall contest. Nissy Cobb finished the night in fourth.

In the Masters Men 1/2/3 race, Nike's Mark Steger took his first Monday night win of the season in front of series strongmen Christian Tresser (Cyclepath Racing), Shannon Skerritt (Vanilla Bicycles) and Guinness Cycling Team's Benjamin Miller and John Mitchem. Ironclad Performance Wear rider Jeff Harwood, injured earlier this season in a PIR Tuesday night crash, was sixth on the night.

Steger's win marks his first points for May's overall race and should improve his position in that contest considerably. ZteaM's David Hopper, who came into the night leading the May series with 22 points, finished 14th.

Tresser's second-place finish Monday should give him the series lead, with Skerritt not far behind.

RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series, May 18

Novice Women - 20 finishers
1. Reeve, Lisa 15
2. Zilka, Maria 12
3. Stenhouse, Yvonne (bicycleattorney.com) 10
4. Graham, Lisa 8
5. Mishoe, Michelle (Specialized River City Bicycles) 7
6. Cate, Melissa (Cycology Mobile Bike Repair) 6

Novice Men - 23 finishers
1. Fitzgerald, Jamie 15
2. Stewart, Donovan (Portland Velo) 12
3. Shedd, Tom 10
4. Spillman, Erik 8
5. Long, Paul 7
Masters Men Cat. 4/5 - 36 finishers
1. Martin, Joe 21
2. Rosenfeld, Jake 13
3. Crocker, Robert 13
4. Aldersebaes, Dave 9
5. N/A
Women - 25 finishers
1. Kandra, Lindsay (Hammer Velo) 15
2. Burns, Beth 15 (Veloce/Felt)
3. Linton, Anne (Sorella Forte) 10
4. Cobb, Nissy 8
5. VanValkenburg, Heather (Land Rover-ORBEA) 7
Masters Men Cat. 1/2/3 - 58 finishers
1. Steger, Mark (Nike) 18
2. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 16
3. Skerritt, Shannon (Vanilla Bicycles) 16
4. Miller, Benjamin (Guinness Cycling Team) 15
5. Mitchem, John (Guinness Cycling Team) 7

Kandra, Tresser take PIR Monday Night week-two wins

(The complete photo gallery from Monday nights' race is posted online HERE).

After last week's biblical spring downpour stifled turnout for the River City Bicycles Monday Night Race Series opener May 4, more than 150 racers turned out to kick off the series properly this week.

Lindsay Kandra (Hammer Velo), one of those brave riders who faced the opening-week weather maelstrom, picked off her first PIR Women's 1/2/3 win of the season with 21 points in a race decided by a combination of points earned in hot spot laps and the grand finale. Kandra continued her duel with Beth Burns (Veloce/Felt), who took the win on week one and finished second Monday night with 16 points. Anne Linton finished third with 10 points, while Kira Crawford, who finished third on week one, slipped to fourth this week with eight points.

Cyclepath's Christian Tresser continued his Tuesday night pace, picking off the final sprint and tallying 16 overall points in the Masters Men 1/2/3 race. Shannon Skerritt (Vanilla Bicycles) was second with 12 points, and Specialized River City's Joseph Holcomb was third with 10.

Week-one winner David Hopper (NoMad Sports Club) slipped to fifth this week with seven points, just behind Portland Velo's Matt D'Elia in fourth with eight.

RESULTS
PIR Monday Night Series, May 11

Novice Women - 26 finishers
1. Hagen, Laura 15
2. Park, Alan 12
3. D'Elia, Traci (Portland Velo) 10
4. Reeve, Lisa 8
5. Urich, Jennifer (Sorella Forte) 7
6. Pranian, Katy (Sorella Forte) 6

Novice Men - 24 finishers
1. Fogli, Sean 15
2. Jones, Jeff 12
3. Koller, Mark 10
4. Pool, Eric 8
5. Anderson, Richard 7
Novice Men 4/5 - 34 finishers
1. Cecotti, Shawn Portland 16
2. nsi 15
3. Mcdade, Stephen 10
4. Van Dusen, Ryan 8
5. Popp, Steve 7
Women 1/2/3 - 26 finishers
1. Kandra, Lindsay (Hammer Velo) 21
2. Burns, Beth (Veloce/Felt) 16
3. Linton, Anne 10
4. Crawford, Kira (Ironclad Performance Wear) 8
5. Yeo, Sam 8
Masters Men 1/2/3 - 39 finishers
1. Tresser, Christian (Cyclepath Racing) 16
2. Skerritt, Shannon (Vanilla Bicycles) 12
3. Holcomb, Joseph (Specialized River City Bicycles) 10
4. D'Elia, Matt (Portland Velo) 8
5. Hopper, David (NoMad Sports Club) 7