Bike Love at the Sea Otter Classic, 2012 with Cog Wild

Attending the Sea Otter Classic for the first time was an adventure that is highly recommended.  Having just had a knee surgery to repair a couple of meniscus tears in late February, I was excited to go on my first mountain bike ride post knee surgery successfully, although it was a short one.  Cog Wild was gracious enough to include Alpenglow Vacation Rentals in their annual camping/biking/marketing trip this year, which proved to be a great success.

Camping at the Laguna Seca Racetrack in Northern California was more like what our group affectionately referred to as "glamping".  What is glamping you ask?  Hot shower trailer, running water with several flushing toilets complete with a mirror in close proximity and regular trash pick up, sans campfires to my surprise! So many good people camping on "king of the hill" knoll, complete with a long favored tree which was a premium spot, complete with views of California rolling hills everywhere as far as the eye could see and the Monterey Bay.  For several years, Cog Wild has reclaimed their spot annually on an envied knoll and with neighbors such as Webcyclery of Bend, Oregon, Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles with their custom bus, equipped with white leather sofas, WiFi, flat screen television, sound and light system and a host of other amenities, the atmosphere of celebration and anticipation was in the air.

L to R: Woody Starr, Lev Stryker, Russ Risdon & Sara Connelly of Cog Wild & Coveted Banner

The most interesting part of this whole trip was the cultic-like following that our own beloved Cog Wild has at this event.  With many new and old visitors to our booth arriving all day, everyday and even sometimes more than once: one couple that has shown their Cog love and dedication annually by showing up to the event daily, donning their favorite Cog Wild shirts of their choice to say hello, give big smiles and great conversation.  Past patrons reveled in dropping by to share and reminisce about the "time when we visited Bend and went on this cool ride with you guys!" was a constant theme of the weekend.  One morning, we showed up to the booth find that one of Cog's oldest banners had been stolen.  I couldn't tell whether they were more bummed about the stolen "artifact" or chagrin and smirk at the thought that of the whole weekend, this was the ONLY theft that occurred at the entire event.  We had all hoped to someday either see it show up as recycled hand bags someday or hanging proudly on some bro-brah's wall in their man cave.

And The Winners ARE:

2nd From Left, Angela Mart of Webcyclery, Bend Oregon

 Bend came with its own local bragging rights when Webcyclery's Angela Mart took the second place podium finish in Category II Women's 40-49 Cross Country Mountain Bike Race completed with a painful elbow injury resulting in 5 stitches.  Way to go Angela!

Also, a blind beer tasting event occurred at the party hosted by mtbr.com between Bend's Boneyard Beer's RPM IPA and Russian River's Pliney The Elder.  Of course, the smooth tasting Boneyard Beer was the victor in this long awaited taste challenge!

With the event being filled to the hilt with bike racers competing in almost every aspect of bike racing events and categories, and every type of bike item to be shown, bragged about and sold to bike lovers everywhere, this is an event not to be missed.

Departing the event with a smile on my face, great memories and anticipating my future mountain bike rides pumping the pedals on the trails back at home in my new socks with a new appreciation for "Bike Love"!

Loving Life Playing & Working In Bend Oregon,

Victoria J. Smith
Alpenglow Vacation Rentals
Bend, Oregon
1.877.437.5957 or
541.385.7100

Smith Rock Spring Thing

As a climber, Smith Rock State Park has been home to me (Vanessa) for little over a year now.  In the last 2 or 3 years of my climbing interest, I have met an abundant amount of people that will forever be in my heart.  Everyone knows everyone in this community, everyone has the same struggles no matter what experience level they are at and comes together when they are needed.

Beautiful Smith Rock State Park

Needless to say, the 20th Annual Smith Rock Spring Thing went off with a hit!  With a $4,000 grant from the American Alpine Coalition, the volunteers and the Smith Rock Group organization were able to put up new stairs to make access easier to the climbing areas.  180+ volunteers helped out this weekend and finished a ton of projects.  All of these projects help keep Smith Rock a beautiful destination for climbers, hikers, and mountain bikers alike.  It was great to see how many people wanted to help!

Grant Ortman and Ethan Holt lifting a heavy rock to help a wall settle in.

The Volunteer party afterwards was a ton of fun as well!  There was yoga, slacklining, tons of food, prizes and great company.  I can honestly say that I am looking forward to next year and to see all the projects that will come of it.

Myself discussing with Walker (BEA climbing team kid) the importance of community service.

Both Victoria and I are very excited to be apart of an awesome community!

Come participate in local events during your stay here!

Vanessa Burdick for:

Alpenglow Vacation Rentals

Bend, Oregon

541.385.7100

http://www.AlpenglowVacationRentals.com
(photos taken by Victoria J. Smith)