Cyclists roll through Sisters Stampede

There's nothing like the silver flash of steel spokes in a rainbow of spandex to brighten up a chilly Memorial Day weekend.

Spirits were sky high for the second annual Sisters Stampede Mountain Bike Race on Sunday, with another record entry from across the state for an event that is now firmly geared into Sisters' roster of signature events. Race founder Joel Palanuk hustled around the start/finish line moments before the race began, all smiles and few worries as the sea of riders mounted their bikes and gathered for the official racers meeting.

"We got really lucky with the weather," he said. "I haven't heard what the final numbers are but I think it's gonna be better than last year. I see a few new faces out there. My wife, Shawna is warming up in our garage right now and she'll be coming out to race with tunnel vision."

Palanuk gave amped racers some final instructions and stressed the importance of safe, courteous passing on the single track portions of the Peterson Ridge course for faster cycles. Jerseys of all colors representing cycling teams and bike companies dotted the landscape like spring wildflowers, emblazoned with names such as Team Dirt, Bend Endurance Academy, Stumptown Cycling Club and the vivid green of Sisters' own GreenRidge Physical Therapy/InFocus Eye Care team.

Cowboy Bill McKinney and his horse led the charge out of the start with a shot from his revolver, galloping ahead of the Pro and Cat 1 men racers, their legs churning as they jostled for position into the first turn and out across the wide meadow.

"Jessie did great," said McKinney. "This is one of my training horses, and so it's great exposure for her. She was a little slow at the start, but we had fun."

As riders in all categories took to the course, spectators roamed the field with pets and toddlers, awaiting the return of the first group on the horizon. People chugged sports drinks and watched parents escort their junior riders over a short obstacle course set up trackside in the Lazy Z meadow.

Paramedic Alex McClaren was back this year, entrusted with the announcing duties.

"They were going to cap the entry at 400 and we're pretty close to that. For a 10-year event this would be fantastic, let alone one in only its second year," he said in between shouts into the microphone as Cat 3 racers crashed across the finish line. "This is a classic, Northwest mountain bike course: safe, fast, technical and fun. It's been flawless, the course is laid out perfectly, people are growling at the finish and the competitive spirit is alive right here today."

Tony Bucci stood near the announcer's booth, checking his wristwatch.

"I have a 10-year-old grandson out there, Nicolas Campbell," he said. "He goes to school here in Bend. It's his first race and I drove up from Medford to see him compete. Riding a bike is such great exercise. If I was a little younger I'd be right out there with him."

Entering his first race in the men's Cat 3 class, Brandon Eisele of Salem rode a strong race and munched on a post-race banana, reflecting on his effort:

"It was great, I've never ridden here before. I didn't do so well because I knotted up my chain and that cost me about five minutes. But I only started riding in November and this is a beautiful area and I hope to come back and race again next year."

Backing up his winning performance from last year, World Cup rider and Bend cycling star Chris Sheppard repeated as Pro Men's champion, adding a second Sisters Stampede silver buckle to his trophy room, besting his previous time by nearly 10 minutes.

Serena Bishop-Gordon won the Pro Women's division, riding for Silverado Galleries in Bend with a fast time just under two hours.

In the Cat 3 15-18 class, Ian Mastenbrook of Milwaukie held off Zachary Perrin from Grants Pass by a mere half-second in a showdown sprint to the finish. Sisters' Shawna Palanuk finished second in Cat 1 Women's, just 47 seconds behind winner Peggy Boggs of Boise, Idaho.

"I want to thank all my great volunteers and our sponsors, Three Creeks Brewing Company and FivePine Lodge, for this excellent event in this beautiful field," Palanuk said. "And a huge thank you to the entire Sisters community. They're who really make this all happen."

For a complete list of winners and race photos, visit http://www.sistersstampede.com, or find them on Facebook.