Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium

It was over a year ago that we began our trajectory towards last weekends Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium in Bend Oregon. In January of 2020 my wife Deanne decided it was time for me to add a check to my bucket list of rides. She contacted my gravel racing partner Adam for ideas. Adam contacted our Cyclopath friends Les and Mike who started helping with logistics and Adam and I were soon signed up for the 2020 version of this epic three race gravel event.

Covid-19 scuttled last years race and some of the grander aspects we planned for the weekend. It also provided an additional 365 days of race preparation. We did our best to leverage every day. For 2021 the Bend Omnium became the 'A' event of our racing calendar and we focused our training strategies to target peak fitness for Bend.

Adam and I started our weekend by driving South towards Tumalo State Park campground on Thursday. With the course elevation profile in hand we agreed where it would pay to conserve energy and where to put down the power. We also talked about the depth of the competition. This event was predicted to bring out many highly capable gravel racers.

While Adam piloted the truck I enjoyed my time watching the world whiz past the windows. This was my first taste of Central Oregon. The change in geography and landscape as compared to Western Oregon was stark. Adam spent time in this region in years past and was a fine guide as I took it all in.

My time as a sightseer was interrupted with more strategic conversations. We faced two tough decisions.

The Cascade Gravel Grinder was scored as an omnium. The Friday time trial paid omnium points only down to tenth. Any watts that didn't result in tenth or better would have been ignored by the scorecard. We pondered if it might be wiser to save those matches for use on Saturday.

Even less palatable was the late breaking news from the promoter in regards to start waves. Central Oregon Covid restrictions had tightened and the promoter was forced to split our classes into separate starts. It was always our intention to race as a team. We were faced with a difficult choice. One of us would switch classes and ride solely in support of the other. Covid-19 had again reached out and forced us to alter our plan.

We ride for Cascadia Wheel Co. and take our equipment's comfort seriously.

Before these strategic questions could be answered we arrived at our campground, set up camp, and watched the light fade to night. We practiced our patience and accepted that Friday would deliver clarity towards our best strategy.

This race recap continues as part two of the Cascade Gravel Grinder Omnium Friday Time Trial.