April is here, and it is really starting to feel like spring, despite the rain.  The flowers are beginning to bloom, the temps are on the rise, and the trails are melting out.

A number of people are already signed up for this years event, and I’m excited for the new course.  Permit dependent, riders will head up the new trail on the South Side of Salmon Creek, incorporating a technical and challenging new singletrack into the first 8 miles of the race.  It should be a lot of fun!

We’ve people are expressing interest in the unicycle category, but no takers just yet.  I’ll put more details about that course up shortly.  As of now I’m thinking of a Salmon Creek/Larison Rock figure 8, totaling about 20 miles.  This seems in line with the 55 mile challenge for the bikes.

There has been a lot of trailwork done around Oakridge already this year, but much more needs to be done.  The GOATS are organizing trailwork parties at least once a month, as are the DOD, and the FAT 55 will be jumping in to help organize as well.  This year our focus will be on Heckletooth, as we have focused on Larison Creek the past two years.  That said, we will be working on all of the trails involved in the course throughout the year.

I’m looking forward to a great riding season, and have already done an awesome North Fork Willamette mountain uni ride, and a few local trail rides by bike.

Hope to see you out here in the coming weeks and months!

Eugene

I got a late start, it was after 2 when I left, and it gets dark about 6.  But it was a nice day, and I had been inspired by Max who came out and rode Heckletooth yesterday.

I rode down to Greenwaters, and pedaled up the levy trail, following the south side of Salmon Creek all the way up to the new section, above where the bridge used to be before the water washed it away last winter.  The reroute isn’t quite finished, there’s still about 800 feet to go, but over a mile has already been built, so, we’re close.

It was a steep hike up through the woods to connect to the new trail, and I was feeling some muscles burning that have gotten out of shape over the winter.  Once on the new trail, it was a hard push up and over the top, with a few sections where I had to walk the tight new switchbacks.  This new trail is no easier than the rest of the south side.  Rather it keeps in character, and just kicks up the climbing a notch.

Climbing 2408 my legs felt sluggish, but I was short on time, and I pedaled it out, finishing my trail mix on the way up.  By the time I hit the trail I was already feeling kind of worked, but the trail was super fun.  Wet roots, and good damp soil.  I made it to the top of  Heckletooth huffing and puffing, and stopped to eat my Snickers.  I put on a couple layers of extra clothes, and headed down.  Two trees down up high, but they are easy to get over.  The trail was excellent otherwise, only a bit slippery on the corners.

I had hoped to ride the Aubrey Mtn trail down, back up ETC, as the racers will do this year, but I was out of light, and opted to shred down the Wall to Salmon Creek Road.  That downhill is always super fun!  38.5 miles per hour today.

I think this years race will go down in the books as one of the best courses ever.  (if you like lots and lots of technical and beautiful singletrack).  Can’t believe we’re riding it in February!

Eugene

Mid May 2011.  Last year’s race is more than a few months behind us, and the summer riding season is almost here.  This winter brought extremely high water to the Oakridge area, and we lost one of our favorite bridges-the footbridge out on Salmon Creek.  With this key connection for last years course washed downstream the course had to be changed.

This year riders will be racing from the start in Uptown Oakridge out Salmon Creek, past Salmon Creek falls, and on up road 2408 to the infamous Heckletooth section of the Eugene to Crest trail.  I’ve been out surveying the course (read going on great rides) and I think that this new course is every bit as awesome as last year’s, just a bit different.  Instead of the muscle popping climb up to the flowy Flat Creek trail, followed by the challenging Salmon Creek north and south sides, then on to “The Wall”, the course this year will instead feature a fast and flowy start following the grade of Salmon Creek.  The 2408 climb up to Heckletooth is a more sustained climb than anything in last years race, although the grade is no where near the steep pitch of The Wall.  Once on Heckletooth you’ll have a much longer section of singletrack on the ETC (Eugene to Crest Trail), and have to opportunity to ride in the first race ever to be held on this extremely challenging and technical trail.

The snow has been melting around Oakridge, and Heckletooth is officially completely clear of snow.  Justine and I rode it yesterday on an overcast day.  Typical of spring we started in the rain, rode Salmon Creek in the sun, it clouded up on the climb and really started to rain hard as we were topping out.  Worried about getting cold in the downhill we put on all we had and prepared for a cold descent, but were spared from this cold punishment by a radiant sun popping through the afternoon clouds as we crested Heckletooth itself and began the steep switchbacked descent through the cloud forest.

As I rode down Heckletooth I was both excited to be there in the mist, riding at the edge of my ability, stoked for the race to roll those same lines for the first time.  This is sure to be one of the most challenging, beautiful courses of any mountain bike race.  It favors riders who can climb, and descend, ride the road and ride the front wheel.

Welcome to 2011, the Heckletooth Challenge.

The summer has flown past for me, and the race is upon us.  We’ve got a great live music line up in Greenwaters Park all day long.  Rhythm and blues, plus a few local singer songwriters!  The course is in great shape.  We’ve brushed it out, bucked out the logs, done treadwork on much of the course, and finally marked quite a bit of it for the race.

The food is being picked up today, and people are driving here as I write this.  We have entrants from Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, and Idaho!

The forecast is 68 degrees and a 70% chance of rain  on race day, which might not be the best for jammin’ to music in the park, but will probably prove to be perfect for shredding on some of our most fun trails.

Registration will be open the morning of the event from 6:30 to 8, so if you haven’t registered yet, but still want to ride you can!  Make sure to read our “Schedule of Events” page for the details, and come to the Oakridge High School before 8 am to sign up.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all here!

Eugene

Summer is on, and the race is fast approaching.  Gone are the cold wet days of contemplation and brewery beers.  Registration is filling up, deadlines are looming, and it’s time to work!

Norm and I have been getting down to business by building the website you see here, contacting lots of potential sponsors, and working with those we are already partnering with.  We have also been out on the trail testing out the course and maintaining the trails.

This weekend we are inviting you to be a part of the action; WORK PARTY THIS SATURDAY!  We will be meeting in front of the Mercantile at 8:30 am, collecting ourselves, and heading out to Larison Creek for the day.  There are many areas in need of maintenance and repair along the length of the trail, and a couple spots the Forest Service has marked out to be rerouted.  We will be focusing on tread work and brushing including busting out the reroutes just in time for them to be buffed in before the race.

So come out and join in the fun!  Can’t make it Saturday but want to help?  Give us a shout: fatfiftyfive@yahoo.com and we will help you find a way to get involved.

February 11, 2010.  It is raining a steady rain outside the Brewers Union Local 180, and I’m inside drinkng a locally crafted IPA dreaming about 150 people riding up 1st st and beginning a great race through the hills and creeks surrounding our town.

I’m thinking about what the race is.  More than just a competition to see who can ride the roads and trails around Oakridge the most quickly, the Fat 55 is a personal challenge and a broader social challenge.  The Fat 55 is a personal challenge to each entrant.  A time to put your best foot forward.  It is a date in the future when you know you will challenge yourself to complete a difficult ride, and a chance to meet some great people.  But Norm and I hope the race will be more than just a physical challenge.  When we dreamed up the race last fall we agreed that the Fat 55 would be an environmentally responsible event, we would strive to create very little waste, to encourage people to think about the repercussions that their actions have on the environment around them.   And so today I sit at the little pub in Oakridge contemplating how it is that this meeting place, this personal challenge for those who enter, can also be a challenge to all.  A shout out to the community around us to say “Be thoughtful in what you do. Take care of the Earth so that it can be a healthy home for all who inhabit it, and for those who will follow in our footsteps.”

I hope this race is a challenge to the mountain bike community.  Challenge yourself to ride your bike on a rainy night when you might otherwise drive.  Challenge yourself to talk about environmental issues with those in your community.  Challenge yourself to imagine the future, and to think of ways to make that future a bright and healthy one.

As we build this race I hope we can be an example of what can be accomplished through cooperation, and what can be saved through thoughtful conservation efforts.

Eugene