Remembering Charles Christiansen

Posted At : July 13, 2009 5:01 PM | Posted By : Erik Voldengen
Related Categories: Bike

charles3 About four years ago, BBC teammate Charles Christiansen died in a bike race at PIR.  He was sprinting, hit a steel pole, and died there on the race track.

The pole Charles hit has been barricaded with rubber, and all his family's notes have since been painted over.  Four years later, I wonder how many people remember this event. 

Charles left behind a wife and baby girl, and it was really easy to relate to this situation.  I'm sure a lot of my fellow racers can say the same. 

So the next time you're out at PIR, give a moment of your thoughts and prayers to Charles' family. 

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85 Days!

Posted At : July 11, 2009 2:06 AM | Posted By : Erik Voldengen
Related Categories: Bike

Holy cow, we slipped right past the 100 day mark in silence.  There's no stopping it now!  Cross is coming. 

85 days until Cross Crusade #1.  There are some early season races in September, too.  Perhaps, but I don't dig sunny cyclocross.  Dust and 'Cross go together like nuts and gum. 

Meanwhile, I guess I should start running (ish), and perhaps build up a little something that's been sitting in my garage:

 

bframe1

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PIR Again

Posted At : July 1, 2009 9:25 AM | Posted By : Erik Voldengen
Related Categories: Bike

Copy-of-pirjune08 I've been negligent with my blogging and race reporting.  I'd better fix that, eh?

I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the weekly race at PIR, both this week and last:

23-June:
Raced with the 1/2/3 field.  I don't remember much about it.  I do remember doing a few things with some very fast people, so I was happy about that.  And I think I finished in the top 20, which is a silly way of saying I finished in 20th place.  It's out of the points, so it's hardly different from 50th.  But I had fun and boy did I get a good workout in.

30-June:
I think I had ridden only once since last Tuesday's PIR, and I was feeling weird on the bike.  I just wanted to ride hard and have fun, and be able to do something aggressive without being laughed at.  So I jumped in to the 3/4 race instead of the 1/2/3 at the last minute.  I guess it went well.

I rode several laps up ahead by myself throughout the race, once on a hotspot lap to get the points.  It was a windy night and it was difficult to stay away, but the pace was so damn slow that I just couldn't handle sitting in for very long.  The pattern seemed to be go slow, sprint like hell, repeat.  Personally, I did not like this at all.  I did what I could to make the race more interesting, especially for me. 

I wanted to win the race in a breakaway, but I could not do it.  In the end, I don't know how I finished, but I didn't win or even get close, so it doesn't really matter.  I had a good time and got a good workout in.  Mission accomplished.

Photo courtesy of Jon Prettyman. Thanks.

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