Train on what you race
Last weekend saw the second round of the British National Points Series take place in the grounds of Drumlanrig castle in Southern Scotland… More »
Last weekend saw the second round of the British National Points Series take place in the grounds of Drumlanrig castle in Southern Scotland… More »
As lame as it may sound I have been a little too busy to write a post lately. I won’t make any excuses since the only thing any one will believe is that I’ve been riding my bike–and I’m not sure that can really be considered an excuse. More »
So the mountain bike season has been off to a VERY slow start here in Missouri/Kansas so I haven’t had a whole lot to say about it…but hopefully it will pick up some steam and not be deterred by the weather from here on out. This weekend Heartland Sports Promotions will be hosting Roubidoux Roundup at Corby Park in St. Joseph, MO. From what it says on the website, it will be a fun and fast course with lots of tight, twisting singletrack…so if you’re in the area, come on out! How bout you Savery? More »
Racing is all about that one great ride. That one time when everything just comes together perfect. Sure, you’ve got the consistent riders, like Georgia Gould, making it all look easy, but I’m not that consistent. I travel to races all year hoping for that perfect ride. In anticipation for emancipation. It’s irrational, of course, the amount of talk, plotting, broken parts, and burnt gas that racing demands would astound any who seeks to quantify. Why not just ride for fun? Fun? It’s not about fun. It’s about the thrill of the perfect ride that is only greater with the more that’s invested. Riding the trails today, I felt alright, I couldn’t help but daydream about the summer races. Which ones it gonna be?
Last week near my home I was riding the trails that I usually do and I finally found a new one very technical. After a long and very steep climbing, the trail was going down with lots of rocks, roots and stiff turns were you have to put all your focus. At one time I wasn’t sure if I can pass a very very technical part. I decided to stop and look at it at first… Finally, I returned to my bike and I decided to try it with this in my mind ‘’I can do it, I am not scare, I can do it’’. So I succeeded on first time!! What a good feeling!! I think It was all about confidence. Naturally, I think the 29 wheels helped me to pass over some roots and rocks. Now I am doing it really relax. I am always enjoying that kind of challenge.
This week will be our fisrt big race of the season. First round of the Canada Cup in Bromont, Quebec. First race for me because 2 weeks ago I didn’t take the start of a regional race because I was sick. My fitness is good and my strategy is very simple : put myself at my limit with good consistence and good focus. Will see and ajust training after.
Last night kicked off the Farmall Spring XC series, just outside Rochester, NY. RVE Bike is kind enough to host the Spring and Summer series right at their own property.
The course, while only 2 miles in length or so; offers up some great power climbs and the racing is only intense. 7 laps for the Expert/Pro categories and the 7 climbs per lap add up quickly and don’t ever really allow for any recovery. Last night was no exception…
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After procrastinating for weeks I finally got my new InForm RL saddle installed on the Ferrous. Instantly comfortable! I’ve been riding the ultralight Race X Lite Pro for a season or so and by appearances I didn’t think the difference between the two would be so extreme. Bontrager did there homework on this one and hit a home run. All the models are available in 3 different widths and the sizing tool is super easy to use. There’s a good assortment of riders using them in the area and they all love them. If the research and technology isn’t enough to convince you then maybe the 90 day unconditional comfort gaurantee will be. Buy it, ride it, love it. Your butt will thank you.

There comes a time in everyone’s life that involves bikes but our feelings are pretty much all the same when you first learn how to ride–that feeling of freedom to go where you want. When the training wheels come off, the freedom begins. Later in life when riding cars or passerby’s might scream at you not wanting to share the road, other bike riders might wave, and if you are on dirt solo you may just think. Regardless of age you are in a cycling cult like it or not when you find yourself on a bike, you have been bitten. It doesn’t matter what you ride or where you ride, it is just the fact that you go ride. If you race and get others involved in one world two wheels campaign, all the better. More »
If there was a band that most defined my high school days, it was the Mats. Loud, rambunctious, with a certain ambivalence toward polish… When I finally made the Varsity hockey team, the 1st thing I did was change the warm-up music. Out went the AC/DC (no offense to any current fans, but one can only listen to Hell’s Bells so many times). If you’ve never heard the song “We’re Coming Out” give it a try before your next ride - It was the intro to every Northfield High School hockey game I played in… Tough to not get amped from that one. Oh, and my recommendation for late night road trips - THE last of the hard core troubadours…
