I was reading an article on the Chicago Huffington Post website regarding a push to begin a city-wide bicycle registration and license process. While the initial argument suggests the legislation would improve erratic cyclists from breaking the law, I have to disagree.
History shows us that making "law" does not prevent those from breaking it. Take a look at state speed limits for instance. If I saw every car on I-70 driving in unison at the state mandated 75mph speed limit from Eagle to Avon, I would believe in the power of creating laws to counter reckless behavior on the road. Same goes for turn signals when changing lanes. On most mornings, I-70 looks more like a Sunday afternoon on a Nascar Speedway.
Cyclists, as vehicle defined users of the road, are already responsible for adhering to the rules of the road that cars must follow. Stop signs, red lights, speed limits, right of way and signaling to make a turn to name a few. Interestingly enough, when a driver sees a car blow through a red light, the common thought is: "Oh man, a cops going to get them..." End of instance. However, if a cyclist runs a red light, we become a demon on the road who doesn't deserve to grace our presence on the angelic mix of gravel and concrete.
Last week, Canadian artist Mathieu Lefevre was killed in NYC when a flat bed truck made a right hand turn into his path. Details of the incident are still under "investigation", mostly by the citizens of New York, as the NYPD jumped to the conclusion that Lefevre rolled through a red light illegally and in doing so, was the cause of his own death. The family of Lefevre planned on rallying at the NYPD precinct where they have been unable to obtain any cooperation in the "investigation".
Strangely enough, if Lefevre had in fact rolled a red light, the big question was raised of: "Wouldn't that have meant the driver of the truck also rolled that light fighting to make that right hand turn?" Ahh, the risks people take to avoid a "No Turn on Red" delay. Initial ruling of the accident by the NYPD showed that the driver, who didn't even stop, was not at fault of the accident as he claimed to not even be aware that he had hit someone. To add injury to insult, when pressed by the public over the incident, the NYPD setup shop at the same street corner, ticketing some dozen or so cyclists for traffic infractions over running through the intersection illegally. If two vehicles ran into each other, chances are one driver will be receiving a traffic infraction for the incident. Sadly, in this case, one user lost his life and the driver receives a "Get out of jail free" card? Expect to see this case evolve in the coming weeks.
Back to the main point of the story. Everyone breaks the law when it comes to using our public highway infrastructure. EVERYONE - drivers, cyclists, commercial drivers, buses, taxis, and yes even Hybrid owners. Prove me wrong otherwise... Creating a license and registration system for the pure intention of cracking down on rogue cyclists is a complete waste of money.
What it should be centered around is improving infrastructure, promoting bicycle use as a transportation method, and awareness. I would be more than willing to pay $10+ a year to directly fund a program creating more bike lanes, bike paths, and the investment into designing more programs like Denver, CO's ever expanding B-Cycle program. Think about it, your investment could save your life or the lives of others.
The toughest part of implementing this type of legislation would be how to enforce it, who to include, etc. Some thoughts were a small license plate hanging from the bike. X that one off the list. Ask a rider with a $10,000 road bike if he/she wants to ride with a miniature aluminum plate jingling off the saddle. A simple numeric ID sticker on the back of the seat tube would suffice. Now do we charge at the initial purchase of a bicycle? Probably wouldn't be a bad idea. This way, registration information can include the purchaser and the product ID for future theft reduction as well as streamline warranty processes. Another tough decision would be to include a percentage of proceeds from "B-Cycle" type organizations to also contribute to the program.
Hopefully moving forward we can find some way to introduce plans improving the safety of drivers and cyclists alike. The key is not to jump into careless, emotion driven programs in an effort to "hold the other user accountable". I truly believe that we can make this work, and that as our population increases past the 7 billion mark, bicycles and other environmentally friendly forms of transportation will become increasing popular especially in crowded urban areas. More so, we need to prevent the further loss of life because enough if enough.
TMP
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
2012 Tour de France Route Unveiled
Yesterday, the 2012 Tour de France route was unveiled in Paris by race director Christian Prudhomme. Beginning on June 30th with a 6.1km prolouge, the course looks to be a game changer for podium riders on the past few Tours.
A handful of top riders were in attendance for the release including Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, and Mark Cavendish to name a few. One of the most notable changes to the course includes the elimination of the Team Time Trial stage. However, they had added a second Individual Time Trial which will now increase the Tour's race against the clock importance, to right around 100km. For the Schleck brothers, this course will put on the pressure for them to close the gap on a category that has been their Achilles Heel in the past.
The mountain stages were also reduced, although the four that remain are now steeper and more technical than in years past. Pure climbing may not be the only cards a rider must have in their hand, as technical descents could favor the more experienced, technical rider.
Given this route, I believe this will be the year the Schleck's do not hit the podium. Several riders are very solid time trialists including Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador, Christian VandeVelde, and of course the Tour's defending champion, Cadel Evans. With that being said, this is my prediction for next year's Tour:
1. Alberto Contador
2. Cadel Evans
3. Christian VandeVelde
4. Levi Leipheimer
5. Luis Leon Sanchez
Fresh of a World Championship win and a new contract with British based Team SKY, I think Mark Cavendish will find little trouble defending his Green Jersey from 2011 in the sprint points classification, further proving why he truly the "Fastest Man on Two Wheels". The biggest question will probably be the design of Cav's World Championship kit for the Tour. As a strong opponent to white shorts, he tried to wear his traditional black shorts only to be advised that the rule book requires the matching white shorts with the rainbow jersey. My guess is that he'll improvise with a new approach to the rainbow look as shown here:
Either way, we'll be able to catch all the action again in "Stunning HD" as Paul Sherwen would put it on NBC Sports here in the U.S. starting June 30th - July 22nd!
TMP
A New Direction
I'm coming up on a year since I started this blog. A year to immerse myself into the cycling culture, progress as a racer, meet new friends, and above all - find out where this project is headed...
I've come to realize that very few people can truly become engaged in my personal attempts at becoming a pro racer. Friends will read, family will support, but there is a greater good that I can achieve through my thoughts on a web page. While racing will still be a focus on this page, I invite you to join me on promoting my new campaign: The Power of Two Wheels. Through this vision, I intend to promote the positive influence a set of bicycle wheels can have on our community, nation, and the world. Because unlike any other activity in the world, cycling affects our health, provides entertainment, becomes our transportation, and infects our lifestyle. The products we buy, the friends we make, and the directions our life may go all become directly influenced by the path we choose to ride.
I hope that this page will promote awareness that bicycles are here to stay, and will continue to become an ever increasing facet in our daily lives whether you are a cyclist or not. Despite the growing hatred and disrespect towards cyclists from other users of our Earth, to me this only shows that we are doing our job well in making our voices heard. As Frederick Douglass once said; "Without a struggle, there can be no progress".
So please, help me spread the word of our passion. If cycling is not your passion, try it. Get on a bike and enjoy the world. In the end, at minimum you did good for your body, mind, and the Earth.
TMP
I've come to realize that very few people can truly become engaged in my personal attempts at becoming a pro racer. Friends will read, family will support, but there is a greater good that I can achieve through my thoughts on a web page. While racing will still be a focus on this page, I invite you to join me on promoting my new campaign: The Power of Two Wheels. Through this vision, I intend to promote the positive influence a set of bicycle wheels can have on our community, nation, and the world. Because unlike any other activity in the world, cycling affects our health, provides entertainment, becomes our transportation, and infects our lifestyle. The products we buy, the friends we make, and the directions our life may go all become directly influenced by the path we choose to ride.
I hope that this page will promote awareness that bicycles are here to stay, and will continue to become an ever increasing facet in our daily lives whether you are a cyclist or not. Despite the growing hatred and disrespect towards cyclists from other users of our Earth, to me this only shows that we are doing our job well in making our voices heard. As Frederick Douglass once said; "Without a struggle, there can be no progress".
So please, help me spread the word of our passion. If cycling is not your passion, try it. Get on a bike and enjoy the world. In the end, at minimum you did good for your body, mind, and the Earth.
TMP
Friday, October 14, 2011
The Power of Two Wheels and it's Followers
Over the past year or so, I have become more and more engaged within the cycling community. Not just at the local level here in Eagle, or even the county for that matter. The Cycling Movement, has become an instrumental part of my life as well as my wife's. It is more than just an activity in which I participate. Cycling has become a definition, a culture, and most importantly an escape from the trials and tribulations of the world in my life. For my wife, it has become just that... but even more importantly, cycling has become a tool for success in managing an all to common disease spreading rapidly throughout our world.
But like any passion, also comes the opposition, criticism, and resistance. All too frequently in recent months we have seen an increasing number of public instances where cyclists have been scrutinized and beaten down in an attempt to reduce our influence on the world. For me, it started with the public address via Tony Kornheiser's radio show in which he asked drivers to give cyclists a little "bump" on the road. He attempted to joke with the world, that living some Grand Theft Auto fantasy would be appropriate to convey to the general public. Sadly, we all know the reality in this world and abstract way our minds comprehend ideas and thoughts. There were people who actually believed in what he said and supported his sermon to the fuel induced society.
A few months later I was made aware of a commercial created by a casino in the Town of Blackhawk. If you do not know already, the gambling driven town just off I-70 in the foothills had actually passed a law "banning" the use of bicycles in their town limits. Extreme, a little but we could get over it. Social media stormed the town bashing their ideals and governing body, in an attempt to get the communities that support the town to boycott their business. Soon after, it seemed as though the town reacted by crafting a television commercial to get back at the cycling community. Pointless and irrelevant to their product and cycling, it was clear they just wanted to prove that they too could play this game. See for yourself here:
During the Tour de France this year, Mr_MichaelSmith, a football show commentator publicly humiliated the events of a horrific crash during stage 9, when Johnny Hoogerland was sent flying viciously into a barb-wired fence at 30 miles and hour after being hit by a media vehicle that swerved to avoid a tree on the side of the road. In need of 33 stitches to repair the numerous lacerations to his body, Johnny showed the pure courage, determination, and spirit of cycling, finishing the stage on his own power. The finish became an iconic part of the Tour, as he finally broke down in tears on the podium during his acceptance of the "Most Aggressive Rider" jersey for the day.
Just a few days ago, General Motors released the following ad, directed toward college students:
For a company with a dwindling marketing budget, dominated by low sales numbers that have been going to their competitors including Ford, Honda, and Toyota, I found it interesting that they would try to tap into another market. Cycling. The concept of "Stop Pedaling, Start Driving" clearly didn't make sense to the masses of cyclists and college students who ride a bike to commute purely out of the desire to live healthier lives and reduce our carbon footprint. Once again, cycling is a culture, a way of life. If a college kid wants a car, they will buy a piece of crap for $700 to get them through their education. This ad lasted all of about 8 hours on the market until GM removed it from their rotation.
Imagine the money spent producing this advertisement. A group of high-paid account executives sat around a round table, and through our government bailout funds, collectively decided that attacking a new market was the best direction for their business. It's like Apple creating an ad that asks people to "stop watching TV, listen to an iPod". Both similar in industry and markets, but two totally different means of entertainment. Only 24 hours later, the "smart executives" at Giant Bicycles were able to convert hundreds of thousands of failed advertising dollars from GM into an attractive, bold statement that cost them about 10 minutes of time and the Adobe Creative Suite software.
But like any passion, also comes the opposition, criticism, and resistance. All too frequently in recent months we have seen an increasing number of public instances where cyclists have been scrutinized and beaten down in an attempt to reduce our influence on the world. For me, it started with the public address via Tony Kornheiser's radio show in which he asked drivers to give cyclists a little "bump" on the road. He attempted to joke with the world, that living some Grand Theft Auto fantasy would be appropriate to convey to the general public. Sadly, we all know the reality in this world and abstract way our minds comprehend ideas and thoughts. There were people who actually believed in what he said and supported his sermon to the fuel induced society.
A few months later I was made aware of a commercial created by a casino in the Town of Blackhawk. If you do not know already, the gambling driven town just off I-70 in the foothills had actually passed a law "banning" the use of bicycles in their town limits. Extreme, a little but we could get over it. Social media stormed the town bashing their ideals and governing body, in an attempt to get the communities that support the town to boycott their business. Soon after, it seemed as though the town reacted by crafting a television commercial to get back at the cycling community. Pointless and irrelevant to their product and cycling, it was clear they just wanted to prove that they too could play this game. See for yourself here:
During the Tour de France this year, Mr_MichaelSmith, a football show commentator publicly humiliated the events of a horrific crash during stage 9, when Johnny Hoogerland was sent flying viciously into a barb-wired fence at 30 miles and hour after being hit by a media vehicle that swerved to avoid a tree on the side of the road. In need of 33 stitches to repair the numerous lacerations to his body, Johnny showed the pure courage, determination, and spirit of cycling, finishing the stage on his own power. The finish became an iconic part of the Tour, as he finally broke down in tears on the podium during his acceptance of the "Most Aggressive Rider" jersey for the day.
 |
| Johnny Hoogerland overcome by emotion and pain while accepting the Most Aggressive Rider jersey for Stage 9 of the Tour de France |
Just a few days ago, General Motors released the following ad, directed toward college students:
For a company with a dwindling marketing budget, dominated by low sales numbers that have been going to their competitors including Ford, Honda, and Toyota, I found it interesting that they would try to tap into another market. Cycling. The concept of "Stop Pedaling, Start Driving" clearly didn't make sense to the masses of cyclists and college students who ride a bike to commute purely out of the desire to live healthier lives and reduce our carbon footprint. Once again, cycling is a culture, a way of life. If a college kid wants a car, they will buy a piece of crap for $700 to get them through their education. This ad lasted all of about 8 hours on the market until GM removed it from their rotation.
Imagine the money spent producing this advertisement. A group of high-paid account executives sat around a round table, and through our government bailout funds, collectively decided that attacking a new market was the best direction for their business. It's like Apple creating an ad that asks people to "stop watching TV, listen to an iPod". Both similar in industry and markets, but two totally different means of entertainment. Only 24 hours later, the "smart executives" at Giant Bicycles were able to convert hundreds of thousands of failed advertising dollars from GM into an attractive, bold statement that cost them about 10 minutes of time and the Adobe Creative Suite software.
In all of these events this year, there is one common theme in the outcome. The Cycling Community is strong, resilient, and will not be pushed around without a fight. In each case, the cyclists came out in masses, fighting back through social media, blogs, and the support of celebrity leaders in the movement. Tony Kornheiser's remarks were retracted a day later with an instant interview with Lance Armstrong giving him a lesson in being a public entity. Soon after Mr Michael Smith's remarks regarding feelings that he found the crash of Johnny Hoogerland "hilarious", cyclists attacked in full force via Twitter putting a temporary stop to his account for 3 weeks. A big accomplishment considering he managed an account with just under 100,00 followers at the time. Finally, through social media outlets, GM was forced to withdraw their new advertising campaign with a public apology via Twitter with the following statement:
"@lancearmstrong Wanted to let you know we have been listening to the community and decided to pull the ad from our rotation. Sorry 4 any offense. "
With an account of just 30,000 followers, GM was smart to reach out to Lance's some 3 million followers with their apology which he later retweeted to get the message out.
The passion we have as cyclists is truly imbedded in our heart and is a force to be reckoned with. As drivers, we drive out of necessity and as sports fans, we cheer for entertainment value. But as cyclists, we come together from all different sides whether it be road, mountain, BMX, or transportation for a common goal: To make a difference in our world. And I am proud to be apart of the movement.
TMP
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The End of Another Season
Well, as I sit here, indoors, because it is currently snowing outside, I figured today would be a good time to jump back into the blog.
July 9th - Last blog post. It's been quite awhile since I last wrote here but it's time to get back to business. Looking back on the season, I have truly found a new love for a different type of discipline in racing that suits my natural talents and abilities. For 2011, I had decided to venture into a more endurance distance race format, even though previously my longest race to date was about 32 miles. I had no clue how a season of long races would affect me...
My urge to just get out and ride for hours on end was just what I needed. Last year, I stacked my race season full of 1-2 hour races with some short track ones thrown in for good measure. At the end of the season, I had felt as though I was more concerned with keeping up with faster riders, comparing my times to theirs, and failed to see my own progress. Moving up to the Cat 1 field in the Fall was definitely the right move. As it allowed me to get a taste of where I needed to be, how much I needed to train, and which segments of a race I had to improve upon for the upcoming season. It also allowed me to tap into some longer races in preparation for a season of long courses.
Through the help of Curt Nash and Jake Wells at Dogma Athletica, I was able to develop a much more consistent and stronger fitness level than the previous year leading into my first few races of the season. This was evident during my first race of the season in Prescott, AZ. 50 miles and a lot of climbing for April; just 17 days after throwing the skis into the storage closet for the summer.
The Whiskey Off-Road in Prescott, AZ. A great race, event, and venue which I will head back to again next year. Moving forward through the season I jumped in last minute for the Front Range 60 Half Marathon and then finished May off with the Gunnison Growler. 64 miles of the smoothest, yet still technically demanding singletrack around. Gunnison was really a turning point for me when I started to realize that this longer race format was a solid choice. For me, racing for 7 hours felt no different than a 1 hour race from a fatigue level.
You see, in a long distance format, I find it easier to take in all aspects of the event. I'm not just out there to hold onto the wheel of the guy in front of me for an hour or so. I have time to take in the whole journey, enjoy the course, and finish satisfied because I conquered the course. Yes, others will be faster that day, as others will be slower. But the best part is that when it's all said and done, you walk away completing something amazing. While podium results are great, disappointment from defeat I found was elevated in shorter distance races, working in a counter-productive manner towards my goal.
Another aspect of endurance racing I enjoy is how much more various factors play essential roles in finishing strong including Nutrition, Comfort, and Product Performance. Here are some of our sponsors that continually provide us with the keys to obtaining successful results:
Nutrition - Infinit Nutrition made replenishment during a race simple. You can build your own formula, choose from pre-built formulas, or take a survey to help guide you into creating the perfect blend of essential energy ingredients to get the job done. Their product eliminates the need for bars, gels, chews, or anything else that in essence, just becomes too much to coordinate while racing your bike. Even taste buds are factored into the formula because you can choose between 3 different flavors as well as the intensity of the flavor in your mix. It tastes great cold as well as warm, so you don't have to worry about getting fresh bottles to ease your stomach. Infinit also makes a great pre-race and post-race product called Mud. It is a coffee based drink that can be mixed with water or milk and provides you with a great mix of carbs and protein to get you rolling or refueled. Team Garmin-Cervelo uses them and take a look at their Tour de France results this season... one of the best in the teams history. Fellow teammate of mine Josh Tostado just won his 3rd consecutive 24 Hour Solo National Championship on Infinit. The results speak for themselves.
Comfort - At first, I was skeptical as to how much of a difference a new set of grips could actually make in a race. For me, my grip choice always revolved around which ones offered the stickiest compound so I could attempt to "gain" time on descents. In the grand scheme of things, races are won on the climbs and the flats. I got a set of GX2 Carbon grips from Ergon International this year and this was the first time I was able to see pure results from a grip. It only takes a few rides to find the ideal hand position for descending but the big difference is the other 90% of the ride where the typical numbing of the hands and sore wrists come into play. The GX2 grip (will be the GS2 grip in 2012) allowed me to switch up between 3 distinct hand positions during a ride. For steep climbing, the bar end gave me more leverage on the pedals while applying just enough forward weight to keep the front wheel on the ground. For the flats and gradual climbs, resting my hands at about a 45 degree angle to the sides of the grip while using a couple fingers wrapped around the bar end, relaxed the nerves and blood flow through the hand. Numbing went away and the wrists were always comfortable. A standard grip forces you to maintain a twisted forearm which in the demands of mountain biking, applies a lot of intense pressure on the elbow and wrist joints that are now in a non-natural position. Most of the time, our hands are at our sides almost parallel with our hips. Try walking for a mile with the palm of your hands facing directly forwards or backwards. Uncomfortable, yes? Ergon grips alleviate that incorrect hand posture, including the intense angles at which your wrists are forced to rest against your handlebars. Finally, the grips still offer a traditional style hand position for those times when staying upright matter more than comfort.
Ergon now has a full line of gloves that are designed to work seamlessly with their grip models and a much anticipated release of new Ergonomic saddles for the Spring of 2012! I definitely look forward to trying those out.
Product Performance - When you throw down almost 2,000 miles on the dirt in a season, it's expected that you'll have to swap some tires, get a new chain, replace a few spokes, etc. The last thing you want to do is replace larger more expensive components. This was my first year running a Stan's No Tubes wheelset. I opted for their new Crest rim featuring a wider profile to allow for users to run larger volume tires and benefit from increased tire profile/tread contact. All of this equates to greater efficiency and traction. Coming from years of relying on Easton hubs, the Stan's house brand hubs had a lot to live up to. Despite the common notion of "the lighter you get, the weaker the structure", my Stan's wheel set has lived up to the hype. Besides changing one tire due to tread wear, I have run the same tire all season for 8 months through sand, mud, rock gardens, and streams without ever getting a flat. Even with a small dent in the Crest rim for half the season, the flawless design in their BST technology with Stan's tire sealant has kept me rolling through anything that comes in my way. Last year, a fast flat change on a thru-axle rear hub cost me 6+ minutes. 6 minutes could sometimes contain half the field you're racing in which could make or break your race. The other great aspect of the rim design and sealant is it allows the rider to choose a tougher line because you don't have to worry about pinch flats and sidewall scrapes. Yes, if you literally slice your sidewall open, you're going to get a flat. Stan's can't fix that and neither can you except by replacing the tire. Although the price of their house brand hubs are very economical (not a bad thing), their performance and maintenance are as good as the high end brands. Upon disassembly of my freewheel, I was pleasantly surprised to see very little contaminants within the freewheel mechanism. The seals work well and their 3 pawl system allows for very consistent and reliable engagement under any circumstances. All around these wheels have kept me rolling all season long. Even after a few broken spokes, the rims are still true.
All three of these product sponsors helped improve my season so much and I can't thank you guys enough! Through the support of Bach Builders and our sponsors, the remainder of the season led myself and fellow teammate Eric Rubottom to a 4th place finish in the 12 Hours of Snowmass Mens Duo category. The course was 8 miles in length but provided a daunting 1800 feet of climbing per lap which by the 6th lap had my legs screaming. We sat around 5th all day long just a few minutes behind 4th, but when the 3rd place team fell back to 4th they sat up and did not go out on their 11th lap. We did not find this out until after the finish of the race, but something had told me to go out and finish my 6th lap even though we didn't see any chance of improving placement. This scenario brings me back to the beginning and proves what I love about endurance racing. Upon starting my 6th lap, I was only racing the course itself as well as myself for the pure satisfaction of conquering my goals. Had I been racing only to follow the wheel ahead of me, I probably wouldn't have gone out for lap time that seemed unattainable.
With maybe a few smaller races to finish off the remaining sunny days this season, I look forward to riding with Bach Builders again next season. Let the training begin!
TMP
P.S. - We're going to try and get this blog rolling on a more consistent basis again so please, feel free to come with me on this journey! Thanks
July 9th - Last blog post. It's been quite awhile since I last wrote here but it's time to get back to business. Looking back on the season, I have truly found a new love for a different type of discipline in racing that suits my natural talents and abilities. For 2011, I had decided to venture into a more endurance distance race format, even though previously my longest race to date was about 32 miles. I had no clue how a season of long races would affect me...
My urge to just get out and ride for hours on end was just what I needed. Last year, I stacked my race season full of 1-2 hour races with some short track ones thrown in for good measure. At the end of the season, I had felt as though I was more concerned with keeping up with faster riders, comparing my times to theirs, and failed to see my own progress. Moving up to the Cat 1 field in the Fall was definitely the right move. As it allowed me to get a taste of where I needed to be, how much I needed to train, and which segments of a race I had to improve upon for the upcoming season. It also allowed me to tap into some longer races in preparation for a season of long courses.
Through the help of Curt Nash and Jake Wells at Dogma Athletica, I was able to develop a much more consistent and stronger fitness level than the previous year leading into my first few races of the season. This was evident during my first race of the season in Prescott, AZ. 50 miles and a lot of climbing for April; just 17 days after throwing the skis into the storage closet for the summer.
The Whiskey Off-Road in Prescott, AZ. A great race, event, and venue which I will head back to again next year. Moving forward through the season I jumped in last minute for the Front Range 60 Half Marathon and then finished May off with the Gunnison Growler. 64 miles of the smoothest, yet still technically demanding singletrack around. Gunnison was really a turning point for me when I started to realize that this longer race format was a solid choice. For me, racing for 7 hours felt no different than a 1 hour race from a fatigue level.
You see, in a long distance format, I find it easier to take in all aspects of the event. I'm not just out there to hold onto the wheel of the guy in front of me for an hour or so. I have time to take in the whole journey, enjoy the course, and finish satisfied because I conquered the course. Yes, others will be faster that day, as others will be slower. But the best part is that when it's all said and done, you walk away completing something amazing. While podium results are great, disappointment from defeat I found was elevated in shorter distance races, working in a counter-productive manner towards my goal.
Another aspect of endurance racing I enjoy is how much more various factors play essential roles in finishing strong including Nutrition, Comfort, and Product Performance. Here are some of our sponsors that continually provide us with the keys to obtaining successful results:
Nutrition - Infinit Nutrition made replenishment during a race simple. You can build your own formula, choose from pre-built formulas, or take a survey to help guide you into creating the perfect blend of essential energy ingredients to get the job done. Their product eliminates the need for bars, gels, chews, or anything else that in essence, just becomes too much to coordinate while racing your bike. Even taste buds are factored into the formula because you can choose between 3 different flavors as well as the intensity of the flavor in your mix. It tastes great cold as well as warm, so you don't have to worry about getting fresh bottles to ease your stomach. Infinit also makes a great pre-race and post-race product called Mud. It is a coffee based drink that can be mixed with water or milk and provides you with a great mix of carbs and protein to get you rolling or refueled. Team Garmin-Cervelo uses them and take a look at their Tour de France results this season... one of the best in the teams history. Fellow teammate of mine Josh Tostado just won his 3rd consecutive 24 Hour Solo National Championship on Infinit. The results speak for themselves.
Comfort - At first, I was skeptical as to how much of a difference a new set of grips could actually make in a race. For me, my grip choice always revolved around which ones offered the stickiest compound so I could attempt to "gain" time on descents. In the grand scheme of things, races are won on the climbs and the flats. I got a set of GX2 Carbon grips from Ergon International this year and this was the first time I was able to see pure results from a grip. It only takes a few rides to find the ideal hand position for descending but the big difference is the other 90% of the ride where the typical numbing of the hands and sore wrists come into play. The GX2 grip (will be the GS2 grip in 2012) allowed me to switch up between 3 distinct hand positions during a ride. For steep climbing, the bar end gave me more leverage on the pedals while applying just enough forward weight to keep the front wheel on the ground. For the flats and gradual climbs, resting my hands at about a 45 degree angle to the sides of the grip while using a couple fingers wrapped around the bar end, relaxed the nerves and blood flow through the hand. Numbing went away and the wrists were always comfortable. A standard grip forces you to maintain a twisted forearm which in the demands of mountain biking, applies a lot of intense pressure on the elbow and wrist joints that are now in a non-natural position. Most of the time, our hands are at our sides almost parallel with our hips. Try walking for a mile with the palm of your hands facing directly forwards or backwards. Uncomfortable, yes? Ergon grips alleviate that incorrect hand posture, including the intense angles at which your wrists are forced to rest against your handlebars. Finally, the grips still offer a traditional style hand position for those times when staying upright matter more than comfort.
 |
| Flats and Gradual Climbs |
 |
| Steep Climbs |
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| Descending |
Product Performance - When you throw down almost 2,000 miles on the dirt in a season, it's expected that you'll have to swap some tires, get a new chain, replace a few spokes, etc. The last thing you want to do is replace larger more expensive components. This was my first year running a Stan's No Tubes wheelset. I opted for their new Crest rim featuring a wider profile to allow for users to run larger volume tires and benefit from increased tire profile/tread contact. All of this equates to greater efficiency and traction. Coming from years of relying on Easton hubs, the Stan's house brand hubs had a lot to live up to. Despite the common notion of "the lighter you get, the weaker the structure", my Stan's wheel set has lived up to the hype. Besides changing one tire due to tread wear, I have run the same tire all season for 8 months through sand, mud, rock gardens, and streams without ever getting a flat. Even with a small dent in the Crest rim for half the season, the flawless design in their BST technology with Stan's tire sealant has kept me rolling through anything that comes in my way. Last year, a fast flat change on a thru-axle rear hub cost me 6+ minutes. 6 minutes could sometimes contain half the field you're racing in which could make or break your race. The other great aspect of the rim design and sealant is it allows the rider to choose a tougher line because you don't have to worry about pinch flats and sidewall scrapes. Yes, if you literally slice your sidewall open, you're going to get a flat. Stan's can't fix that and neither can you except by replacing the tire. Although the price of their house brand hubs are very economical (not a bad thing), their performance and maintenance are as good as the high end brands. Upon disassembly of my freewheel, I was pleasantly surprised to see very little contaminants within the freewheel mechanism. The seals work well and their 3 pawl system allows for very consistent and reliable engagement under any circumstances. All around these wheels have kept me rolling all season long. Even after a few broken spokes, the rims are still true.
All three of these product sponsors helped improve my season so much and I can't thank you guys enough! Through the support of Bach Builders and our sponsors, the remainder of the season led myself and fellow teammate Eric Rubottom to a 4th place finish in the 12 Hours of Snowmass Mens Duo category. The course was 8 miles in length but provided a daunting 1800 feet of climbing per lap which by the 6th lap had my legs screaming. We sat around 5th all day long just a few minutes behind 4th, but when the 3rd place team fell back to 4th they sat up and did not go out on their 11th lap. We did not find this out until after the finish of the race, but something had told me to go out and finish my 6th lap even though we didn't see any chance of improving placement. This scenario brings me back to the beginning and proves what I love about endurance racing. Upon starting my 6th lap, I was only racing the course itself as well as myself for the pure satisfaction of conquering my goals. Had I been racing only to follow the wheel ahead of me, I probably wouldn't have gone out for lap time that seemed unattainable.
With maybe a few smaller races to finish off the remaining sunny days this season, I look forward to riding with Bach Builders again next season. Let the training begin!
TMP
P.S. - We're going to try and get this blog rolling on a more consistent basis again so please, feel free to come with me on this journey! Thanks
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