SSWC 2018 BendOR! Part 2, the fun stuff

They know how to throw a party in Bend.  Well certainly a bike party.

On arrival to Bend's downtown square, The Crow's Feet Commons, we are showered with race schwag:
Posters
Drink coupons
Metal number plates
Beer cozies
Socks
Neck gators

and what I assumed was a tube of some sort of natural lip balm...

not lip balm

There were multiple group rides during the day and some sort of adult festivity every night.

Race Day!
Second dose of antibiotics downed, breakfast consumed, time to "race"

This is serious business

As we roll out, and get away from the cacophony of the start, I hear my rear brake rubbing.  Oh well.  Someone points it out to me, but there's not much I can do about it now.

After a long but festive roll out of town, we hit the dirt, then we hit a sand pit loaded with rocks, then we begin to climb.

First aid station has whiskey, bacon, beer, and water.

More climbing.

Climbing to a final hike a bike crescendo 

Followed by a little descent...

click the link, it's worth it

Even opting for the short course had some wickid cool features

Did I mention the dust?

One of the highlights of the trip was getting to ride with Chuck

and of course Christine

Next time we're going longer