Just announced on Twitter by MFG Cyclocross, promoters of the bicycle race that was expected to bring 1,000 racers and spectators to West Seattle’s Lincoln Park till the Parks Department revoked permission (as first reported here yesterday): MFG says the race is now rescheduled for Lakewood Park in White Center, still happening Saturday. (It’s not on the MFG website yet but it IS reported on the King County Parks news site.)
Woohoo! Man, I can’t wait to destroy all of the vegetation and deny all non-cyclists access to the park for the day!
Glad they got another place. Much Better lighting for photography. I will be there
Jim
I invite all of you that have been following this to come on out and watch. Bring a cowbell and your outside voice! Heck, dress up! Races go on rain or shine (rain is WAY more fun).
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You WON’T be dissapointed-
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Brian
Well sweet! Glad KC Parks could accommodate them. Revenue and use for a park that’s on their list of parks to be closed due to budget cuts!
B, works out for us since we have a White Center website too
http://whitecenternow.com
will be there to get some pix … others who take far better pix than us (like Jim!) also hopefully will share or send links to their galleries – TR
Lakewood rocks and so do the people who use it! Glad they found a spot. I like bikes and disc golf!
The news is up on the MFG website. Thanks King County! Thanks Low Pressure Promotions and Zac & Terry. You guys are some hardworkin’ guys. West Seattle, ya’ll should come out for the fun. It’ll be hoot and a great way to kick off Halloween.
Awesome! I hope to see the action Saturday…and I’m sincerely sorry for the very few West Seattle’ites that made the rest of us look so snooty and un-inviting (Lincoln Park situation)
Heck, might have to put the knobbies on the cross bike and join the fun. That’s close enough to ride to from my house as a good warm-up. Of course, i’ll make a point to ride through all the vegetation I can on the way there. As is now out in the open, that’s what we cross riders do for fun on the weekends!
Marc in highland park
FANTASTIC! I am so exited to watch this. I’ve been keeping track of the Portland Cyclocrossers so this is like seeing my favorite sport for the first time…I’m worrying I may actually want to start racing though…
I’m glad to see the majority of the bikers understand the situation, but some still just don’t get it. I’m glad they found a spot. Yes…parks are for everyone to use, but not to tear apart. I walked the park after the 2003 race. It really was a mess….sorry for saying that. And yes it will grow back, in the summer, but until that time the winter rains make a real mess.
It would be like me taking my car and doing donuts on a front yard. You know it won’t come back until the summer and until that time it’ll look horrible.
And yes I use to ride my old Kona Jack the Snake bike in minor races, but I remember they were on graveled trails.
Again…I’m glad it worked out and I will be there to see if I recognize any of the people I rode with or raced against.
Our biking friends are not creating new support by ranting here…only confirming they don’t care. A plan to repair the park after their event would have garnered support from a pro-sports person who live a block from the park. Lack of concern, acknowledgment of local concerns affirms peoples fears and desire to kick you out! Be smart…build support!
I live nearby that park and I SWEAR they JUST had one of those bike races there last month. It was an awesome surprise to watch them all over the park. P.S. LOVE the frisbee golf target comment.
John – it’s JAKE the Snake. what team did you ride on? license number? Category? would love to check your results…
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Can’t compare 2003 to 2009… different promoter different group of people.
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KM – nope, no bike race at Lincoln Park. probably just a bunch of folk riding around.
WSResident – WS Residents like you are not making any friends either. The ranting has gone both ways.
Glad the guys at MFG found another venue. I was looking forward to Lincoln park but something is better than nothing. I’ve been very active in the local race scene for the last 8 years or so and I know that it’s very difficult to find venues to have races, ‘cross, road or mountain. To find a park/area that has the perfect mix of terrain, space and parking is difficult and I know that when the ‘cross community finds one these days they do whatever they can to hold on to it. And yes, that includes having a plan to clean up after themselves. I’ve personally been involved in the clean up and can say that, while you know that an event has happened in the area, you can tell that effort has been made to fix any damage that occurs. Organizers have even been known to change the course between groups so that the same corner doesn’t get eaten up too bad. The point here is that this is a group of people that cares about the races and the areas the races are held.
I have been monitoring the boards on this one for the last couple of days and I’m really disappointed in some of the comments that people that say the support the racers have left. When will people learn that when someone takes your toy away, you don’t insult them. You ask them why and ask them how you can get it back or possibly find a way to share it. And why do people have to be so snarky on public boards and hide behind the anonymous nature of the boards. Here’s a rule: Never post on a board something you wouldn’t say to someone’s face.
Anyway, enough ranting on my part. Glad the guys found a place to have the race and just bummed I’m not going to be able to make it. I’d love to jump out of last place in the MFG series.
Jeremy as in McKinley… race number/license/placings/team available upon request.
I agree its been both ways…but the program is attempting to garner support so they have ALL the reasons to raise the level of the dialogue to their benefit…sort of the “burden of proof” or rather good stewardship for the communicty asset they wish to use. :-)
I hope to come see this event at WC…got my curiosity but not my favor based on comments registered here.
Jeremy.. stop racing in the Masters and step up to the big boys.
Just sayin-
@seattleCX Ha! And get crushed harder! Thanks, I suffer in Masters enough. Remember… dead last in the MFG standings. Proud of it.
I too am glad it worked out.
For me though, it’s not an argument of how messed up Lincoln Park was in ’03 or some native vegi’s getting knocked over. these are the things that should have been considered long before the permit was issued for this event.
I wrote the man who signed and revoked the permit. I also wrote to the Mayor and the council member who is associated with the Parks and recreation. I simply asked how a permit can be revoked if it was properly issued. What is the point of going thru the permit process if it doesn’t hold up? Not to mention that it was days prior to the event. As of yet, I have not even been afforded the courtesy of a reply. Of course this is over and the event went else where and we’ll all go about our merry ways but how do we prevent this type of discrimination for occurring again. And yes I do find this to be, among many issues, one of discrimination. Especially since there seems to be some talk about a permenant ban of this event from this venue.
In the Seattle Times I read that part of the explanation was that the park was not equipped to handle an event of this magnitude. I guess Myrtle Edwards was designed with the 40k people in mind when it comes to Hempfest each and every year.
At any rate, I do consider myself a cross cyclist(even if I only did 2 races this year). I also consider myself a reasonably responsible citizen who would take the time give due consideration to this issue. But after reading the letter from the UW professor I can see that it is not an issue of giving a bit so we can all enjoy our parks to some extent. It is about having it my way now. For any reasonable person can see that the damage caused by the ’03 race was temporary and there is no trace at present.
About the comments: yes there was some rather rude remarks on both sides. And yes, I believe that if you have something to say-SIGN YOUR REAL NAME TO IT!-don’t hide behind anonymity. But I think there was an overwhelming majority of those who blogged that supported the cross community. It is after all, a once a year event.
If anything I have written here is factually incorrect, please let me know in a civilized manner.
and now we shall dance!
Sorry, comment time is over.
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