COMING SOON-TEAM CTHULHU: THE ALBUM

(okay not really, but kit proofs are coming soon, for real.)

New teammate Josh keepin’ it Brutal!

Sick BMX-trix

Ironclad fun times

The 1st heat

Team Cthulhu has been having a blast this winter so far. We are staying on the bikes and keeping it Brutal.

I got an e-mail from Amanda from 21st Ave. Bicycles about the next totally awesome super sweet event she is throwing at the Lumberyard. Imagine this..Brand new indoor Mountain Bike park, Cross bikes, Beer, Great people and oh the winner of the Mens and Womens Category get’s a Raleigh Roper but don’t you worry everyone will receive a high-five.  OK I am done rambling..if you do not believe how awesome this is going to be don’t take my word for it show up and race or don’t and miss out on one of the best events of 2012 until the next blam is thrown!

For more info Please check out the Backyard Blam blog.

We had a rad time hanging with buds and getting brutalized by this course. Christina broke her saddle because her sheer leg power ripped the seatpost into the seat tube. I tore some legs off and actually ate it twice. One guy I was racing with yelled at me as I passed him after falling “ARE YOU OK? YOU HIT SO AHRD YOU BOUNCED?!” I just looked back and yelled “BRUTAL!”

A great time was had hanging with Kevin, Jose, Sharon, Jeremy, Byron, the Rusty Switchblade crew, and others. Besides the dry, warm weather it was a great race!

Jose has WAY more photos on his Flickr (here), but here’s some stuff we snapped.

Cross Crusade Hillsboro 2011

I loved this course from the sand pile to the platform run up, it
was just fun from start to finish.  I got a good spot on the start
line this week, but unlike in the past once the dust had settled from
the sprint I was able to hold my place for the most part.  I often go
to what I know so when I saw Tony P. ahead of me flying the Team Beer
colors the chase was on, I was slowly closing in on him for the first
and second lap, I noticed him going into the pit for a wheel change
and knew this was my chance.  I put the spicy mustard on and was
passing and trading spots with racers all day, I could see Tony P.
making his way up to me which motivated me to drive hard, this made
all that more fun.  I suffered through five laps with Tony on my heels
which pushed me past some friends that I didn’t think beatable this
year, with the help of the cheers from my fellow Cthulhu’s and many
others this all made for the best race I have experienced in all my
years.

I can’t forget to mention the great efforts from Byron, Max,
Christina, and our newest member Kevin, Sharon with the move up to A’s
and our Captain taking pics in support after raging the Cross on
Saturday.

Go Cthulhu!!

The Ninkassi logo transformed into a painful joke

There were rumors abounding the morning we arrived at this race, most prominent was that this course would provide more climbing than the notably hilly Cross Crusade Rainer race. I didn’t believe it. I looked out over the hillside, across the Ninkassi logoed switch-back climb, and scoffed at the idea that this course would be for climbers.

Boy, was I wrong.

What a race! I suffered the whole 45minutes, if not more. It went something like this: up, up, up, up, down, up, up, up. I honestly think there was some sort of time/space wormhole that made us climb more than we descended…. at least it felt like that.

I murdered my legs, then Sharon and Christina challenged the ‘cross gods. We all deserved some sweet Ninkassi nectar afterwards, and gladly partook in our free beers for racing (and then some).

Sharon landed a top 5 finish! Christina took 20th in the Beginner Womens, and I scored a solid 18th in the Clydes. Jose was on hand giving support, being epic, and snapping the action one frame at a time.

All in all, a DAMN good race.

Christina throttling up the slick mud hills

Sharon putting out the watts on this power course!

John Rambo and Godzilla rallying with me.

Check out Jose’s full gallery from Ninkrossi 2011 ->

Tiah had a few tough crashes on the first lap, she is covered
in scrapes and bruises, but we all know once she has made up her mind
there is no stopping her. I got to see her in a few spots and she was
giving all she had. I never got to see Byron but was told he was
raging on the course in his usual fashion.

I went off three minutes after the Bs and got a decent spot
around mid pack, I felt pretty strong on the first few laps but was
failing technically. It was a mudfest and lost a bunch of spots due
to not having shoe spikes, one run up I looked like I was doing a
Jerry Lewis re-enactment. lol I was able to find a few more lines
later in the race, but the legs were starting to backfire. I got
caught by Kevin (Team Beer) half way through the last lap, mustered up
enough energy to pass him back on the next climb, just to have him fly
by me on the next run up and never saw him again (maybe next week-Ha).

Our fearless captain was on hand, I never saw him, but could
hear his cheers from the stands. I got a ton of support from all
parts of the course from Tiah, Charlie, Team Trusty, and folks I’m not
even sure who they were, it was great! Another great day of fun and
racing in the great state of Oregon.

Go Cthulhu!!

Tiah performing the “mudfoot shuffle”

After some suggestions from fellow Cthulhu’s I headed out the
Gresham way for a day of muddy fun, it was a day of spotty rain, but
fairly warm. I missed Max’s race which ended with a mechanical on the
1st lap, but got to see El Capitan taking lots of pics & Sharon who
did great with a 2nd place finish in the B’s!

I spent the week with some intervals and a pretty good ride up Leif
Erickson, but was feeling some butterflies with a large group strong
single speeders on hand, 59 starters to be precious. Jose and Joel
were correct it was a pretty fun course with the wall of railroad tie
run up, but was still having a bit of trouble finding the strength to
turn my gears smoothly (all in due time). I was feeling like I was in
the mix trying to chase down Kevin (team beer) with no luck and a few
riders floating off the back. I passed some back of the pack B’s and
wasn’t lapped by any B’s either, this made me feel great, till the SS
leader passed me like he some were to be.

All in all I ended up having a great time and finished 40th just
behind John Howe and Kevin who got away from me, maybe next week. Hope
to see you guys out at Alpenrose wre I’m sure there will be a huge
turn out.

Go Cthulhu!!

The author, Ullie

mud victim

Max looking for that bastard that stung him

Anona crushing it.