OHSU sports medicine research

Just ran across some interesting research about sports medicine and the cutting edge treatments available at OHSU. Check it out at: http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/medicine/hpsm/research.cfm

They've done some awesome research on pioneering everything from sports strengthening programs to youth injury monitoring and prevention. They're even "in" with the up and coming athletes and sports-oriented on Facebook and Twitter.

Check 'em out...

Perfect Day...Bike 'n' Hike around Bend & Sisters

Every now and then all the puzzle pieces fall into place to make one of those days that puts a smile on the face. Our 2yr son was covered for two whole days, the freezing fog and rain had finally lifted and we had an evening reservation at the rustic Lodge at Suttle Lake.

Heading off early to the Cline Butte / Maston area trails on the singlespeed for a good 3.5hr spin through the twisty old canal trails was a nice way to greet the morning. Didn't see a soul out there snaking around the grippy dirt, frozen puddles and ice-laden juniper trees. The trails are in great condition considering its min-January and there had been plenty of two-wheel traffic to beat in the sandy conditions for fast conditions. An hour of this led me across the street to the Butte and the grunt climb to the top for the hairball descent to the Red Cinder Road. From here you can drop down to the river and follow some fun, tight singletrack north up to Eagle Crest Resort.

Dropping the bike and gear with the in-laws at their condo, I met my wife for a stop at Angeline's Bakery in Sisters (the best bakery by the way) before heading up to Upper Three Creeks Sno-Park for a nice hike along Nancy's and Warren's trails to the Mt. Jefferson Shelter. Beautiful, quiet and empty and a cool little shelter, wood stove and up-front and personal view of Mt. Jefferson.

Back in Sisters, we hit the local favorite, Three Creeks Brewing Company for dinner and drinks, starving after 5 miles tromping around in the snow. Starting with the 8 beer sample platter we worked our way through the Pale Ales, Reds, IPAs, Ambers and Seasonals finally settling on their delicious and nutritious Bier Noel. Paired up with Halibut Fish Tacos, good conversation, no childcare timeline, and the warm glow from the large river rock fireplace, we basked in the schedule-less bliss of being on a "date". Rad.

The Lodge at Suttle Lake is a beautiful, rustic lodge west of Sisters off of Hwy 20. Originally built in 1929, its popularity has largely followed the boom bust cycle of the economy and most recently was completely redone in 2005. Waking in the New Moon suite to the fog rolling over the lake and Sisters Coffee in the perc couldn't be more relaxing....

Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, Oregon

Can't believe its actually over now but the cyclocross season wrapped up this past weekend with a bang here in Bend at the US Cyclocross National Championships. 4 days of racing saw conditions from snow to ice, blue skies to frozen grass forcing riders to pre-ride often to keep tabs on the changing conditions. After staying warm in the Sunnyside Sports tent and downing a cup of Thump Coffee supplied jet fuel, I took my 23rd call-up spot for the 100+ Masters 30-34 field and lined up second row surrounded by all the usual suspects in Oregon cyclocross including Sunnyside Sport's Damian Schmitt and Matt Fox.

The course featured a 200 yard pavement sprint into a hard, tight left U-turn transition to dirt. Sketchy. I squeezed through wide right as the crowd bottle-necked and tangled pedals, bars and limbs. By keeping the gas on, and more importantly the bike upright, I inched up from 8th place to 7th, 6th, etc. taking advantage of all the pre-ride laps I got in as well as others mistakes in the rutted muddy hairpins and slick grass off-camber. My titanium DeSalvo cross bike worked flawlessly and felt like a glove as we manhandled the steep, bumpy sidehill descent into yet another hard right turn.

Coming into the final circuit 3rd place and I were locked in a seesaw battle trading positions 3 or 4 times during the lap. Just before the barriers he washed out his front wheel on a grassy u-turn and I stood on the pedals giving it all I had left. Luckily this was enough to hold onto the small gap until the finish line to take a 3rd place.

The crowd, even for the Masters race, was huge, loud and encouraging the whole time. So much fun to race in this atmosphere and wow, what a difference from the USGP race the weekend before. I'm already excited for 2010!!

Cyclocross Nationals video - Master 30-34

Just ran across a pretty cool video of the US Cyclocross National Championships Masters 30-34 race in Bend, Oregon on CXMagazine.com's website. There are a lot of good photos, race reports and videos of all the categories racing in Bend at the Cyclocross National Championships. Enjoy!

CYCLE CROSS BEND OREGON 2009(sat. last race mens) from FARfromEARTH Films on Vimeo.