The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday June 4-6.

Professional and amateur criterium races: Friday night in the Blue Dome, Saturday in the Brady District, Sunday in Riverview.

There are also 50K, 100K, & 100 mile tour routes on Saturday & Sunday as well as an eight mile "townie" ride on Sunday afternoon.

The races are always fun to watch, especially in the Blue Dome on Friday night.  Pro level riders can reach 40+ MPH on their sprints.  This has become a major event for Tulsa and keeps growing every year.  It's reputed as having the second highest payout on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) this year with $115,000 in posted prizes & awards.

http://www.tulsatough.com/site/sections/14

...and according to the organizers, somewhere between 4 and 5 million dollars pumped into the local economy by people who spend their money and leave.  It's gravy.

I'll be in Ochelata as a volunteer mechanic.  I love that place 'cause it's not much more than a wide spot in the road.  It reminds me of home.

Tulsa Tough's Friday night in the Blue Dome is one of my favorite nights in Tulsa all year.  Last night was especially fun.  I talked to several people that were downtown to attend Drillers & Shock games and stopped in to see what Tulsa Tough was all about. 

The coolest part of the evening was about 3/4 of the way thru the Pro I race the ONEOK Field fireworks started going off.  We were standing in front of Joe Momma's and it was awesome to watch the riders zoom by while the fireworks lit up the sky.  Awesome night downtown!

Last night was a great night for downtown.  The Shock won its game, the Drillers (went to my first ever in my life, real baseball game last night  8) and you know what, I liked it  ;D ) won too.  And it was great to see the crowds out for the Tulsa Tough as well.   

And some people say downtown revitalization is a waste...pshaw.

Even got a pretty good view of the cycling from the front area of Joe Momma's.

I volunteered as a mechanic again this year.  I was in Ochelata on the 100 mile route.  It was hot.  We handed out water, Gatorade, fruit, electrolyte tablets, and ibuprofen.  Here's the web album of my photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/e.j.wagner.jr/TULSATOUGH# (http://picasaweb.google.com/e.j.wagner.jr/TULSATOUGH#)

I did the 50k today. What a grueling course, especially for someone who's never done it before! WOW! I'm just glad I made it, especially after missing the marks on the road and taking a 10km detour.

All in all, I bike 63 km in 2:52:00.

I've attended each day, and I've got to say, this is one of Tulsa's best events. As with most things in Tulsa, I wish it had been publicized better.

Now I'm gonna go to the Party on the Hill and have a hot dog!

js, here's a heads-up.  In the fall, the Tough organization will have another "Ronde van Oakenberg" cyclocross race.  Last year's event was a lot of fun, and the plan is to make it another 3 day bicycling festival - this time organized around a cyclocross racing series.  These races are both on and off road, and usually include difficult sections that require a rider to dismount and run with his bike.  The courses are short, so a spectator can see the whole thing.  A really good course may include a water crossing and (hopefully) some mud or deep sand.  I heard of one that had a long flight of stairs for racers to climb!

This year the Tough will be donating to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, if I remember right.  The idea is to bankroll enough money to make the event self-sustaining, and use it as a means to support local charities.  That's clearly a laudable goal.  But it also fills the hotels and restaurants, and it give St Francis Hospital another venue to promote a healthier lifestyle and attract staff to the coolest place to live in Oklahoma.

I agree, this is a great event for Tulsa and I like to see it grow each year.  Tulsa has always had an active cycling community and it seems like it is really growing too. 

DSJ- major congrats on completing the 50, er 63K  ;)  They call it "Tulsa Tough" for a reason.  Now that you've done that, you should start coming out and riding with us on Weds. nights at 23rd & Jackson.  The primary routes go out near Sand Springs and are roughly 20-22 miles (if you head back down into DT Sand Springs from Old North) to 32 miles if you go past Shell Creek Lake to 177th West and back in Wikeawah up 97 and back in Avery Drive.  There are other groups who take off in different directions from there using the trail system.

I did the 100K yesterday with my GF.  She had done the 50K the last two years and wasn't sure if she was up to 100K.  She did the full 100 miler at the Hotter 'N' Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls last fall so I knew she had it in her.  Next year, I'll either attempt "The Deuce" with one of my teammates, or race in Brady on Saturday and do the century on Sunday.

I could've sworn there was a thread about this year but anyway...

Here's the courses for this weekend.  (June 10th, 11th, and 12th 2011)

(http://www.tulsatough.com/wp-content/uploads/race_bdc_preview.png)(http://www.tulsatough.com/wp-content/uploads/race_bvc_preview.png)(http://www.tulsatough.com/wp-content/uploads/race_rc_preview.png)

Blue Dome Criterium                                                           Brady  Criterium                                         Riverview Criterium

Such a great event for Tulsa.

http://www.tulsatough.com/races/ (http://www.tulsatough.com/races/)

Several of us will be meeting up in the Blue Dome on Friday night if anyone wants to do an impromptu TNF get together or happy hour during/before the races.  Great opportunity to get your hair blown back.

Hmmmm....if I successfully plead for a kitchen pass, I may be in the Blue Dome area to take photos Friday night.  She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed may want to go to the horse event at the fairground on Saturday, so it could be my penance.

Are you working either of the century routes this year?

Nope.  It's just as well.  I can't guarantee that my leg won't go wobbly on a given day.  For that matter, they didn't ask and I didn't volunteer.

Well darn, I was hoping to toss a water bottle at you as I went past ;)

This is my first attempt at back to back 100 milers.  Not worried about finishing either day, but don't think I can maintain a 20 MPH average both days.  I'm about 1 to 2 MPH short right now, unless I can get in with a smart group that doesn't burn everything up the first 50 miles.  There's about 5000 feet of climbing Saturday and I'm more focused on peaking in time for the Leadville Trail 100 in August.  So, probably no Deuce jersey this year, maybe next unless I decide to drop endurance events next year and focus on crits.

The front group always seems fast and disciplined.  I think that in Ochelata last year, they came by at well over 25.  I warned the kids handing up water bottles about the dangers of dropping one in the pack. 

I managed to average above 20mph in two local TTs many years ago.  One was the old Port Road 10 mile course, and the other was the Racin' on the River 10K.  I could do better than that these days, but you'd have to drop me out of an airplane.

I did sub 5 hour hundred milers last year at Altus and Hotter 'N' Hell in Wichita Falls last year.  Big difference in those: Altus is flat for literally about 95 out of the 100 miles, but that also means pedaling the whole time.  I was the second finisher there.  HHH is not terribly difficult to pull off a sub 5 as it's relatively flat and with 13,000 plus cyclists you can hit a rest stop and still find a paceline when you get back on the road.  I was averaging just over 23 at Hell's gate last year (Mile 58) and made it non-stop to the mile 83 rest stop.  I was getting a hip issue and wouldn't have finished if I didn't get off the bike for a few minutes.  Still managed to finish the HHH in 4:42.

I've trained this spring with a couple of the guys who won Deuce jerseys last year and they keep popping me about 2 hours into a ride.  I climb pretty well, I simply cannot seem to maintain 24-25 MPH on flat roads for sustained periods which is about what it takes to hang with them.  I've been using a power meter to train with this year and it's been a really good learning tool.

Aging out is hell! :o :(

What's worse is a couple of those guys I'm referring to are older than I am....

Does Flickinger enter these types of events ? I see him riding around out here in B.A. every now and then.
He talks about it a lot on the news and I was wondering if he is very good at it.

I would imagine he's riding this weekend.  I've never ridden with him so I can't vouch for how good a rider he is.  Jason Shackleford is another rider.  I do believe he's more into triathlons.

See you there, either at Fassler or Arnies

Former city councilor Eric Gomez has ridden in the past.  I know neighborhood haters like him aren't supposed to do cool things like that but he does.   ::)

I'll be racing Saturday and Sunday. First year racing so I'll be racing the category 5 (under 35) group. Should be fun. I like racing.

He still rides.  I see and talk to him just about every Weds. Night on the big ride.

I like Eric and have always enjoyed our conversations.

Tulsa Tough is one of my favorite weekends in Tulsa.  We have an adult night in the Blue Dome and a family picnic with the kids on Sunday at the river.  This year our Friday sitter fell through so not sure if we are making it to the Blue Dome.  I guess I could go solo, but that never seems to be the smartest choice.

Wow rdj. All this time I thought I was the only one who's owner bought the short leash. Nice to know....lol

As you should.  FYI, he's too modest to mention it, but tulsacyclist swept a pair of races in Kansas last weekend.  Should be a great contender for a win or two at TT.

Does TNF favorite Paul Tay race in Tulsa Tough ?   :D

USAC rules prohibit racing in high heels I believe.  Tay isn't real visible during the weekend.  Men in spandex make him uncomfortable.  Men in dresses, not so much.

Oh the leash isn't short, I just know when to tug on it and when to not.

Haha, thanks Conan. We'll see how it goes. I expect it to be a pretty brutal race w/ some strong competition! I just don't want to come in last. =]

Hopefully I'll be back in time to cheer you on at Crybaby Hill.

Good on ya!  Have fun...and don't crash!

my wife and i are doing the townie ride.  we rode in it last year and had a good time.

Scored a sitter for tonight!  Excited my bride will be joining me tonight in the Blue Dome! 

You're doing the century both days? I race at 9:15AM on Sunday so you're gonna have to do some absolutely amazing work to make it back in time to cheer me on if you guys are rolling out at 7 or whatever! =]

Uh, that would be a "super Deuce" pace ;)

Are you going to go watch in the Blue Dome tonight?

The Cry Baby Hill celebration is a blast, the spectators there are a little on the rambunctios side. Note to a dis-pleased dad that was there: If your kids are sensitive to boys wearing cheerleader skirts, dancing gorrilas, people in sombreros and viking hats, dudes with boobs and girls kissing girls...don't take them where they might encouter these things. There are plenty of more sedate places to watch the race.

Crybaby Hill is most definitely PG-13 or R rated.  We had a blast up there yesterday. 

Last lap of the Pro 1 race two bikes went down in front of us.  I was helping one of the riders back to his feet and he said: "I think I tore my a$$hole".

Yikes

Saw that wreck, and I saw you step out to help. You're a good dude Conan.

Cry Baby Hill was awesome as always.

Unfortunately, I missed the girls kissing girls bit.. also unfortunate was that I saw the dude w/ boobs. #can'tunseethat

I had to bail right before the Pro race started. The crash wasn't caused by the 'spectators', right?

No, it happened right near the large wet spot in the road though.  And the chick with a d... yeah, not enough mental bleach for that one unfortunately, but I kept trying to drink that away.

Again too modest to mention his own achievements, tulsacyclist scored a 3rd & 5th this weekend against very tough competition.  Based on his results 1/2 way into the season he's already "catted up" (moved up a skill category) in his first year of racing.  He's a natural.

Kudos sir.


I worked on observation and beer drinking skills. 

Unfortunately, while currently proficient, I reached the top of my game many years ago and am slowly riding into the sunset.

Indeed, I shall pass on my badges of honor but only when they are pried from my cold dead hands.

So sayeth the prophesies.

I gotta ask. How many cyclists were dressed like they were racing at the Tour de France?  :P

You mean dressed like cyclists in a race?

Or dressed like their that while biking on a trail, or on the road, or their neighborhood, or anywhere. I am a huge Strikeforce fan, but I not put on my fighting shorts and striking gloves when I watch it or even when I train. Man you can really suck the air out of a room.

Why do you insult him for asking a simple question about your post?

I understand why you insult me, it's fun and I give it back. But this seemed like an generic ask of clarification.

My original point was a freakin joke (notice the tongue wag) and he decided to be a wiseass. That's his M.O.

Given that nearly all of them receive some sort of sponsorship, nearly all of them have their sponsor's logos on jerseys and shorts. Most of the sponsor's money gets eaten up in travel expenses.  It's not big money, Guido.  In fact, you could probably sponsor a team and get national recognition.  In fact, in the heyday of the United States Postal Service Team, the budget amounted to $12 million.  I'll bet that for $100K, they'd put your face and logo on the seat of their shorts.  

Spandex is like kryptonite to Paul Tay so it keeps him away from Tulsa Tough.  

Good question, one I used to ask myself.  I used to avoid organized riding because I figured they were a bunch of cliquish dorks who wanted to dress like Lance Armstrong.

Then I learned working out in cotton just plain sucks and spandex is the most comfortable thing to cycle in, as well as having a pad sewn in the saddle area which is important for comfort.  There's not much to the lightweight seats on road bikes, so that's a benefit.  

As far as a lot of the logos you see on the jerseys and shorts (kits), some riders are literally paid riders (Like Team Jelly Belly), amateurs who ride for local teams like SoundPony or Tom's have a really good bike shop discount and bonus program which can save a cyclist hundreds to thousands each year depending on how much they like to spend on bikes and equipment.  Event jerseys are a source of pride for people who have completed a ride like the Triple Bypass in Colorado or Hotter 'N' Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls.

Quite frankly there's just no better clothing for distance riding.  Looser clothing chafes and other materials let sweat stay on your body instead of evaporate to help cool your body.

Thank you for not freakin out. I cycle as well and own clothes like that. I think there is a safety element with neon look too. Keeps you from getting run over

I appreciate the back but I'm good.  It seems as though someone's got his sensitive girl clothing on and his VS thong wrenched up tight as a drum.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gfXupHOEhH0/TMlfiMCKCiI/AAAAAAAASfM/we1GpHR3tt0/s1600/Cat-Box.jpg)

That's freaking awesome

Is that the new "pawsitraction" shoe I've heard about?

With retractable traction enhancers.  You don't need to swap for regular paws in the spring.

Ahhh, yes, the "all season" style. Good choice.

I told my wife about this last night and her response was, "find the other 20+ blocks to view the races, geez."  As is our tradition we took our kids Sunday and enjoyed a picnic under the trees while watching the races.  We hung out for a bit and then walked the course with the kids, including Cry Baby Hill.  We know what goes on up there and we just move quickly if we see something over the top and if our kids ask questions we answer them honestly.  This year, my middle son wanted to know why a man was wearing shiny underwear and nothing else.  My wife told him, because it was hot and sometimes thats okay if you have permission.  We call that, breaking the bubble, more Tulsans should try it.  But, we live in a diverse neighborhood, our kids attend a diverse magnet school and we promote diversity in our home.

The pre-op transexual in a wet t-shirt might be a little harder to explain away.

But he was dressed like a cyclist in a race.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjzKYof8_hk[/youtube]

Look everyone.  He tried.

We moved thru pretty quickly.  We lingered on Lawton as the pelting passed then moved quickly thru crowd to Jackson, watched a pass there then kept moving on the sidewalk until we got back to Galveston.

Thank goodness for people like you and your wife. I know right? Too bad Cry baby hill is the only place you can see the race...and its already overrun with crazies (and me).

That's Havah from the hood. Her house is on the course at the east end of the hill. Obviously trying to make a statement that day, but to each their own.

Thanks for the congrats/kudos/etc, Conan and Townsend. It was a fun race. I was a bit disappointed w/ 5th on Sunday, but I was more cautious than normal going down the hill on the wet street. I think I could've done a bit better if I would've operated as normal (no fear), but no big deal. There's always next year..

What do you mean "fifth" place? You are an embarrassment to this forum.

(and for the Townsends out there, I'm kidding).

Good one G.  Nice job.

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not.   There are tons of other places to watch the races!  Frankly, the Galveston run is just as fun to watch as Crybaby Hill.

Where is the picture of the SPAM can?

Hoss?

For those with sodium issues:

(http://www.spam.com/ASSETS/C3D9C1532F844727B36FC422DB1B316F/spamLesssodium.png)

Thank you, including the sodium consideration.