Better Days Ahead

Today is one of those days, that sitting in your favorite local coffee shop, couldn't be a better idea for the day. The weather here in Eagle has been not the greatest riding weather over the past few days and this morning we sit at a chilly 36 degrees with a steady fall of mini snowballs. You know, those kind that are not quite in the form of hail but a bit heavy for flakes.

Yeti's Grind is not your average coffee shop. Run by owners Nate and Tara Picklo of Eagle, the bustling vibe as you walk through the door begins the experience. Inspired by a local coffee shop at Nate and Tara's alma mater, Baylor University, they wanted to create a hip and trendy place to get a good cup of Joe in Eagle which the town was lacking at the time. So Nate left his job in construction and Tara left her job in teaching to make this dream a reality. The term "Yeti" came from a nickname that Nate had adopted on a trip to Alaska due to his lack of shaving over the course of the trip. Throughout the shop you will find all sorts of Yeti themed trinkets. Their menu is well-balanced and they have several offerings if a dose of caffeine is not your thing, as well as a wide selection of gluten-free options. Past the liquid menu, they offer bagels with a smorgasbord of toppings and spreads, burritos, breggos, scones, and dessert breads.

Yeti's Grind opened its doors just over 3 years ago and has quickly become a staple in the small quirky town of Eagle. On any given morning you will find everyone from soccer moms to contractors, cyclists to small business owners grabbing their favorite brew before the days adventures. See, what I like about this specific establishment and what sets them apart from places like "MoreBucks", is that it feels welcoming to anyone. I don't need to be a hipster to fit in, or own an iPad to use the free WI-FI access. It's a place to unwind, forget about the days tribulations, and enjoy some great coffee with friends.

To add to the success, Yeti's Grind opened its second location in the Solaris building right in the heart of Vail Village. Longtime locals may not consider this area the "heart" of the village but it is quickly becoming the center of action with its marketplace offerings, bowling alley, movie theater, etc. So whether you are in Vail or Eagle, stop in and say hi. Enjoy a cup of the finest coffee the Vail Valley has to offer, roasted locally by Travis Colbert, owner of City on a Hill Coffee based out of Leadville, CO.

So what does a local coffee shop have to do with cycling you ask? From a local cycling team to the jerseys hanging in the shop, Yeti's supports cycling and has instrumental in re-enlivening my interest in our sport. It is just another example of the progress we can make in a community when we combine our interests toward a common goal.

Alright, back to the weather. Thursday morning, Danielle and I are hittin' the road to the first race of the season in Prescott, Arizona. The Whiskey Off-Road with options of 50, 25, and 15 mile lengths is a 3 day-long mountain bike festival in the center of famous "Whiskey Row" in downtown Prescott. The forecast right now is mostly sunny and mid-70's for the whole weekend which will be a very nice change to this cold, snowy Spring in the high-country. I'll be sure to bring the nice weather back to the Vail Valley since we have a variety of events starting up in May.

Tomorrow starts the Vail Recreation District Short Track MTB Series kicking off the season at the Eagle County Fairgrounds. Original short track founder and announcer Larry Grossman will make his way "up the hill" to help design what we all know will be a suffer-fest course for all racers. Registration is only $10 per race with free beer afterward. See you all there!


Also coming up in May will start the Vail Rec MTB Bike Series with the first race in Eagle Ranch on Wednesday, May 25th. If you around Eagle for Memorial Day weekend I highly suggest bringing your bike and take part in Hammer Mash. Sure to be a fun filled event with clinics, group rides, vendors, etc.  Keep and eye out for Eagle's Party for the Planet (usually in conjunction with a whole lot of bike demos from our local valley bike shops, rides, beer, etc.). It should be around May 14th. 


Thank you to everyone near and far who is getting these events together. This is the direction we need to go in and gain the support of everyone to make Eagle the next mountain bike destination. As the title says, I definitely see better days ahead. See you all when I get back from Arizona!


TMP

The Race Whip - 2011 Yeti ASR-C Race

To say that I have tried a variety of bikes since I moved out to Colorado would be an understatement. Over the past 4 years I have owned a Trek 6500 hardtail, a Specialized Stuntjumper FSR, a Gary Fisher Pro Carbon, a Rocky Mountain Element 70, a Turner Flux and 5 Spot, finally moving onto a 2009 Yeti ASR Alloy. You win some, you lose some when rotating through a bunch of bikes like this but luckily since the Rocky Mountain, it was just a frame swap each time.

The Yeti ASR was the first bike that truly fit my preferred body geometry and riding style. Yeti's traditionally have a slightly longer top tube length while still dropping their head tube and seat tube angles to give it some very confident descending capabilities. I used the ASR all last season and it was fantastic. I rode my best season to date and the bike held up through everything I threw at it. However, the carbon rear triangle was a bit flexy even at my lightweight. The thin seat stays could easily be flexed back and forth by simply applying some pressure to the wheels with your arm. It was time again for something new...

I went down to see Mike at Venture Sports in Avon to see what options we had. Yeti Cycles had just released a 2010 completely redesigned ASR Carbon earlier in the year, that featured massive tubing all-around. the rear triangle this time was a giant one-piece mold that stiffened the whole frame up. They also added a 15QR front axle mated to a 12x142mm rear thru-axle to create one of the stiffest 4 inch travel XC rig's you could find. I knew that I had to have it. Luckily for me, by late August Yeti was already shipping their 2011 models with the new Shimano XT 10 speed group and 2011 Fox Shox.

Over the course of the winter I have invested a few more dollars into the bike to get it "race" ready, as if it wasn't right out of the box. Through some of our various sponsors with Bach Builders I swapped out the wheelset, tires, and added some sweet new Ergon grips. The bike now weighs in at 22.9lbs with pedals and the ride is incredible. I have never ridden a bike that fits me so well and handles with such finesse whether you are climbing a loose and rocky 20% grade or descending some fast and technical singletrack.

Thank you to Mike at Venture Sports and Yeti Cycles for their continued support through the grassroots racing program! Stop by and see Mike if you want to get on a Yeti...

Frame: 2010 Yeti ASR-C full carbon with integrated seatmast, Chris King headset, press-in BB

Suspension: 2011 Fox FIT F100 RLC 15QR Fork, Fox RP23 rear shock with Boost Valve

Drivetrain: 2011 Shimano XT Dyna-sys 10 speed group (Crank 24-32-42, cassette 11-36)

Cockpit: 2011 Easton EC70 handlebars, EA90 stem, Ergon GX2 Carbon team series grips, WTB Silverado Saddle, Crank Brothers Eggbeater TI pedals

Stoppers: 2010 Shimano XTR disc brakes, Formula R1 rotors

Rollers: Stan's NoTubes Crest rims, DT Swiss 1.5/2.0 spokes, Stan's ZTR Hubs (15QR front, 12x142mm rear), Specialized S-Works FAST TRAK LK 2bliss tires 2.0

If you haven't tried a set of Ergon grips yet, you need to get out and see what you are missing. Ergon International makes a wide variety of grips, backpacks, cleat tools, and soon to be released gloves that are all designed with one thing in mind - COMFORT. I tried a set of grips last year and was skeptical at first. While the climbs were fine, I didn't feel as confident on the descents with such a large grip beneath my hands. While the Ergon grips do take some getting used to, you'll find that they have a variety of shapes and sizes in their grips. The GX2 grips pictured above are one of the smallest and now that I have these, I have seen a dramatic improvement in hand comfort on my rides. The added carbon barend also gives the rider a variety of hand positions on the bike so you never end up with too much pressure on one section of your hand. I can honestly say now that I can't imagine going back to regular grips again. The soon to be released gloves will also be matched to specific grip sets, designed specifically to maximize the ergonomic comfort on the bike. You can purchase any of their products at your local bike shops, outdoor stores or here: ERGON ONLINE

Thanks again to Ergon International for your support! 

Bach Builders MTB Race team is an official Ergon Factory Rider Team

First race is coming up quick on April 30th in Prescott, AZ. The Whiskey Off-Road, 50 miles of fast, fun singletrack in the desert! Race report to follow...

And you thought Watts and HR were important numbers...

Imagine yourself 3 hours into a 6 hour race. At this point your legs are fatigued, breathing is about 10 minutes behind you trying to catch up. You have been training for this race for several months now but something is still not right...

Scroll through the stats on your bike computer and see that your average wattage is right on par for an ultra-endurance race. Even your heart rate has not crossed the Zone 4 line. You reach into your jersey pocket to take in some food, gels, chews... whatever you can get your hands on. Still, your body seems to be shutting down on you. Caloric intake gets you no where, easing off the pace and focusing on breathing doesn't help either. All you crave is water. As you continue, a different type of sweat develops from your pores. At this point, vision becomes blurred and dark. It is too late to adjust and continue.

Most of us train with the intention of racing within a set guideline of numbers pertaining to our power output, heart rate, calorie intake, etc. It is a pretty easy routine to get dialed in throughout the season. Luckily, with this routine our body will typically react consistently and rarely will you be caught off-guard by any abnormalities. There is a small group of racers (however an rapidly increasing number now) that have one very important number to focus on: Blood Glucose Level.

The above scenario is an all too frequent situation that a Diabetic racer must face (more specifically a Type 1 Diabetic). Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the U.S. Studies show that by 2050, 1 in 3 Americans will be diabetic if we continue to promote the "Super-Size Me" lifestyle the majority of Americans live by everyday. While these factors will most likely inflict a Type 2 disease upon most Americans, which is maintained by taking a pill to help the body utilize insulin created by the body to manage Glucose levels. The last thing we want is the future of Americans to be dependent on medications to survive. Type 2 Diabetes by definition is simply the body's inability to properly use insulin created by the pancreas to manage blood sugar levels. This type of disease is generally acquired from personal dietary habits (extreme high-sugar content intake) and genetic history. With an adjustment to dietary habits, Type 2 diabetes can be avoided and in many cases reversed through proper nutrition and exercise.

The less frequent yet more deadly version is Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas in the body completely shuts down and can no longer produce insulin. Those affected must inject themselves with insulin through syringes, pens, or monitors with catheters attached to the body. Most injections are as frequent as eating and drinking. The most important factor pertaining to the onset of Type 1 diabetes is that it is not genetic nor is it acquired from lifestyle habits. It can happen to virtually anyone, whether a finely tuned athlete or your average Joe, and at this point there is no cure.

My wife Danielle is a Type 1 Diabetic. She was diagnosed shortly after we were married in August of 2005. Although she lives a very healthy lifestyle and is able to manage her sugar levels well, it is always a concern for her when riding and racing. Diabetic shock or coma can occur at anytime. A Diabetic shock can occur even while sleeping as the body falls below a stable blood sugar level (usually below 50). The average person maintains a stable blood sugar level between 82-110mg/dl. A Diabetic Coma can occur when a blood sugar level reaches an extremely high level.

There are plenty of great organizations that help promote awareness for Diabetes around the U.S. One group that I especially admire is Team Type 1, a U.S based cycling team whose racers are comprised of those struggling with Type 1 Diabetes. From amateur to a pro-level cycling roster, they work together to prove that this disease will not win in its effort to deter them from achieving their goals. Daniel Schneider  a rider on the TT1 Elite mens cycling team wrote a short blog regarding his experience during last weekends Mead-Roubaix in Boulder, CO. Check it out by clicking on his name above. You can also check out Team Type 1 by clicking on their name above as well.

As for me, Type 2 diabetes is pretty dominant in my Native American family background. Luckily, through cycling and nutrition, I have been able to prevent the disease from affecting my life so far. But even without being formally diagnosed I have come close to experiencing some of the effects of the disease. On several occasions I have tested my blood sugar levels at times when energy levels had drastically decreased and the "shaky" feeling set in. This usually had my sugar levels down to about 58-64 mg/dl. I must say, it is a feeling unlike any type of "bonking" on the bike you will ever experience.

So next time you cruise by that aid station to stock up on some extra calories to get you through the finish, think about what it would be like to also stop and have to inject a shot of insulin just so your body could do something with those gels. Heart Rates fall back with rest and breathing, higher Watts will push you further and faster, but a BGL reading needs the most attention.

Thanks for reading and helping to spread the awareness of Diabetes.
TMP

Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association - an IMBA affiliate

Just a quick note here until further information and structure is available: Through a collective effort, Eagle County cyclists have created the Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association. This will be the Valley's first IMBA affiliated mountain bike advocacy group and through this partnership, we will be able to work directly with the International Mountain Bike Association based out of Boulder, CO. IMBA's presence in the land management negotiation process has been monumental in establishing sustainable trail access around the world. Now, the Vail Valley will be able to more effectively work with land managers and organizations to help work side by side with the Hidden Gems initiative in an effort to help keep access to bikes on our public lands.

More than just a legal resource, VVMBA will also host dedicated trail work days and open the possibility to build more sustainable trails in the Vail Valley. Please show your support and become a member today. You can sign up at Mountain Pedaler in Eagle, as well as Moontime Cyclery and The Kind Bikes in Edwards. The initial year long membership fee will be $20 for an individual and $30 for a family.

Happy Trails!
TMP