Introducing: Team Slow

Last year a bunch of bikey-types got together, headed up by Rob Anderson and Ed Groth, and decided that we'd make our own durn racing team.

Or rather, team of people who would ride bikes in races.

Support each other, have fun, ride bikes - fast.

No sponsors, no team kit, possibly no spandex at all. Training kept to rides on the weekend, which may include Larch Mountain or Logie Trail or some ridiculous rando anywhere in the NW, or just riding across Portland to explore or run errands. A nutrition regime that involved beer, burgers (veggie or otherwise) and generally not doing food-math.



So - Rob was trained up as an OBRA official, per team requirements. Rob and Ed trained for distance-rides as they are wont to do, Rob/Ben/I led groups of shifty-types and patient roadies up hills in a series of climbing rides, and everyone did their usual ride-to-live routine.

(Setback: Earlier this year, Rob wrecked en route to a hill ride ... and broke his wrist fairly badly. But he made it out to short track to cheer and race, and up to Tabor to cheer on Ed racing fixed.)


Recently, Rob contacted the OBRA officials to get our results properly listed ALL as a team, since we've been showing up at race series throughout the year -- and doing pretty darn well.  


Candi's (valid) response was that since we never paid our team entry fee, we aren't a valid team (instead, we're Unofficial Collective Slow?) - so we'll be pulled from the team competition and she's not going to collate our results. 


Fair 'nough.


Barring an official team listing, here we are - a bunch of bike commuters, largely non-car-owning, we ride year-round, we ride for fun and for function. We're not the fastest, perhaps - but we're not the slowest, even if we don't identify as Actual Racers.  


We'll see you at the next race, folks ... at the BTA tent, huddled around Rob's PT cruiser, or milling around with all those fast-pants fancy-spandex-kids. 


GO SLOW!


Rob Axel Anderson 

Rob being the anti-slow... before the pothole ate him @ PIR


(credit Richard Rosko)

Kristin Bott

K.Bott fights the mud at PIR


 (photo credit Richard Rosko)

Erinne Goodell

This Erinne stops for no mud (PIR)


(photo credit Richard Rosko)

Ed Groth

Ed TCB in the Men's C's (PIR)

(photo credit  Richard Rosko)

Tomas Quinones 

Tomas getting fierce at PIR 


(photo credit Steven Fitzgerald)

Ben Salzberg 

Ben finishing strong and muddy, early in the morning (Men's Beginners @ PIR)

(photo credit  Richard Rosko)

Halley Weaver

Halley Weaver rips it up in Hood River


(photo credit: Rob Anderson)

(n.b. - Tomas is keeping a Slow photo gallery here and a team Slow blog here)