Laura Ogden and Liv/Giant present: The 3F's: Fit, Form, Function

Ladies, come Join EPIC Racing Cycling Team Pro Enduro Racer Laura Ogden for some basics and to see what Liv/giant USA has to offer. There will be more events centered around riding and skills development too.  Join our Facebook event!

Laura also has more events throughout the spring and summer -- if you want to learn more about bike maintenance or try out a group ride check these out!

2014 Echo Red 2 Red- Chilly! MARCH 1st, 2014- Lee Bauck and me (Leslie Copper) watched the weather all week waiting and hoping for 60 degrees and sun! When we arrived on Friday for the pre-ride it was 50 degrees and felt a little warm.  Would it last? The forecast was for a cold front to move in and drop the temperature in to the 20's for race day. The pre-ride was uneventful with the exception of seeing about 6 people on the sides of the trail with flat tires- one person reported this was her 3rd flat in less than 2 miles. The goat heads were really bad this year. I pulled 3 goat heads out of my tires at the end of the day and let the Stan's goo in the tires do it's job! Plugged the holes right up. We added some extra Stan's that night!  Race day brought the predicted cold temperature of 28 degrees with threats of snow and about 1/2 of the riders stayed home- wimps! The trick was staying warm while waiting for the race to start. Once racing it was actually not too bad.  Lee started his first CAT 1 race- 32 miles with a time of 2:41. He placed 19th out of 31 riders.  The old ladies wimped out and only 3 of the 6 registered riders showed up.  Leslie placed second with a time of 2:31 for 26.5 miles.  Lee at the start of Echo Red 2 Red Lee at finish of race! Might be Leslie in turquoise in middle of picture???? 2nd place cowbell and a beer for Leslie!

BuDu XC Race #3 Port Gamble Trails

Epic Racing ventured out to the Kitsap Peninsula for the latest BuDu series round at the Port Gamble Trails.  Rainy weather made for some extremely muddy conditions which challenged all of the racers but nevertheless provided for a good time and extra stories after the race.  Sandra Barlow provided a St. Paddy's day themed Irish Stew and to-die-for chocolate cupcakes that were the hit of the entire race!

 (photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Cat 3 racers started off the day with Shannon Sutherland racing on a feather light single speed anniversary gift from her hubby! Here she is powering through the speed-sucking mud at the finish.  The course ended in a field that provided a long muddy section that destroyed your momentum just before the finish.  Dan Wheeler, Jon Nelson, and Justin Hamilton also braved the mud for Epic Racing in Cat 3 as well.

Janna Houchens was excited to podium with 3rd place in Cat 3 19-34, contributing to a family podium sweep as her husband Matt also placed in Cat 2.

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Haden Mills also proudly finished 2nd in Cat 3 13-18!  Great job Haden!

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

The Cat 1 classes started next, with Chip Richardson, Jason Konieczka, Thomas Farmer, and Doug DeMars all competing in their various divisions.  Chip Richardson capitalized on the fact that the experts made two passes through the event venue by requesting bratwurst and cupcake hand ups at each lap.

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Last up were the Cat 2 riders with Anthony Barlow, Matt Houchens, Matt Levin, Dave Pringle, Scott Wipperman, Marc Garoutte, and Amy Josefczyk getting a little break from the rain but not the mud as the course was pretty well churned up by that time.

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Anthony Barlow provided some St. Patrick's Day spirit and hoped for the luck of the Irish on his laps.

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

 Mark Garoutte here looks pretty clean on his lap through the venue.  He currently sits at fifth place in the Cat 2 single speed category standings.

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Matt Houchens here is celebrating 3rd in Cat 2 Clydesdales and the second half of his family podium sweep -- great job Houchens!  Congrats also to Matt Levin who finished 11th after upgrading from Cat 3 to a very competitive Cat2 50+ category.

(photo by Janna Houchens)

Here's a list of our finishers for the day. Congrats to our 4 podium finishers, and let me know in the comments if I missed anyone!

• Cat 1
• Thomas Farmer 4th 34 & Under
• Jason Konieczka 5th 35-49
• Chip Richardson 10th 35-49
• Cat 2
• Amy Josefczyk 3rd 40-49
• Anthony Barlow 7th 40-49
• Dave Pringle 8th 40-49
• Matt Levin 11th 50+
• Matt Houchens 3rd Clydesdales
• Marc Garoutte 8th SS
• Cat 3
• Shannon Southerland 4th 50+
• Janna Houchens 3rd 19-34
• Justin Hamilton 9th 12&under
• Haden Mills 2nd 13-18
• Dan Wheeler 6th 19-34
• Jon Nelson 6th 50+

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)

Thanks to all of our sponsors for a great day of racing, including Chainbrew, Wildwater River Guides, Wolf Tooth Components, Center Cycle, Pearson Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Schwalbe Tires, Bicycle Center, Crank Brothers, CrapPhotos, Fanatik Bike Company, Lezyne, Mazama, and Boundary Bay Brewing Company.

A final shot out to Afford-A-Vet Animal Clinic who provides our cozy tent!

(photo by Full Suspension Studios)