UltraRob's Adventures

Peak Region Cyclist July Issue

2009-07-09T07:33:00.007-06:00

The July issue of the Peak Region Cyclist is on the stands around town. Check it out for several of my photos from the Pro XCT mountain bike races. There are articles also worth checking out. You can also check out the online version.

No, the great photo on the cover isn't mine. It's from the Pros at About the Shot.

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CamelBak Mule NV Hydration Pack 100 oz

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CAMELBAK MULE 100 OZ HYDRATION PACK

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Climb Faster Than Tom Danielson? Win $1,000!

2009-07-08T18:01:00.003-06:00

The 1st annualCarmichael Training Systems Cheyenne Cañon Time Trial is this Saturday, July 11th. The climb is only 3.1 miles but climbs 1,250 feet. One section in the middle is particularly steep.

When I started racing 20 years ago, we had a spring time trial training series. It ended with a time trial up Cheyenne Cañon. If I remember right, I did it in the 17-18 minute range which I thought was pretty good.

Tom Danielson has ridden it in 13 minutes, 34 seconds. There's a $1000.00 prime for breaking his time. I'll be surprised if it gets broken but you never know who will show up.

The race isn't just for fast road racers. There are also citizen and mountain bike categories. Tomorrow is the last day to register and registtration is online only.

For the kids there is Kids Fun Ride at Cheyenne Canon put on by Kids on Bikes. Registration for kids will be Saturday morning near the Starsmore Discovery Center. There will be 2 starts. The first for younger children or those with little or no riding experience is at 8:00 AM and the 2nd for more experienced kids at 8:20 AM.

Awards and more will be at The Endurance Sports Club at Carmichael Training Systems new location on 21st and HWY 24. Free food and drinks including beer from Bristol. The Tour De France will be on TV.

LOOK USA 566 Ultegra Road Bike

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Pinarello FP3 Ultegra Road Bike

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Pinarello FP3 Ultegra Road Bike Womens

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Will Lance and Leipheimer Crush Leadville 100 Record?

2009-06-28T13:33:00.003-06:00

In an interview on VeloNews, Lance Armstrong says he is bringing Levi Leipheimer to the Leadville 100 in August. He says the Tour de France and his other races are just a build up to Leadville. He says "seriously" and then he gives a big smile. This years race is August 15th.

He thinks with a strong group of racers they can bring the record down close to 6 hours. Dave Wiens set the record last year at 6:45 with Lance at 6:47. In 2007 Wiens set the old record of 6:58 with Floyd Landis pushing him. My personal record is 8:18.

Dave Wiens has won the last 6 years. He's a Colorado native and is a huge favorite of the racers and fans. I'm sure he'll come in top form and I hope he makes it win #7.

I'm sure I'll just get glimpse of the top riders on their way down as I start my crawl up the Columbine Climb. I'll be going to my 6th Leadville finish.

Related Links: Leadville 100 FAQ | Preliminary 2009 Leadville 100 Entrants | 2008 Wiens and Lance Leadville 100 Videos | 2007 Leadville 100 Photos

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Intense Spider 29 XTR 2009 Bike

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Intense Cycles Spider FRO Frame

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Wyss Wins RAAM, Robic Drops Out!

2009-06-25T22:27:00.006-06:00

Wyss has won the 2009 solo RAAM. He raced 3021 miles in a time of 8 days 5 hours 45 minutes. His average speed of 15.28 mph wasn't much slower than the record of 15.4 mph. Pete Penseyres set the speed record in 1986 and no one has been able to break it.

In a very disappointing end to the extremely close battle between Wyss and Robic the last couple days, Robic dropped out of RAAM with 54 miles to go. Here's what's posted on Robic's blog

Jure was the fastest cyclist on this years RAAM. On the last time check TS51, he came few minutes before Dani Wyss. Because of the penalties, issued controversially, because of the rules not aplied always in the same manner and because of not issuing penalties to others, Jure and his crew decided not to finish the race as 2nd, but step out of it on TS51.

Today it was written the history of RAAM. Jure and Dani staged the toughest fight ever and on the end the fastest didn't won.

Robic's 2 penalties on the road seemed legitimate. My RAAM update yesterday has more details on the penalty Robic received yesterday. The only thing I've found about the one at the start was that someone saw him urinate at the side of the stage and thought he might have gotten a penalty for it. I don't know for sure.

His crew claimed that Wyss ran a stop sign and didn't get a penalty. Of course when Mike Trevino was close to Robic in 2004, they accused him of cheating. Trevino actually stopped but finally was convinced to continue but never was close to Robic again.

Whether or not the penalties were fair, I think it's poor sportsmanship to just quit. Still no official word from RAAM so there may be more to the story.

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Spinergy Xyclone Race Wheelset

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Close 2009 Solo RAAM Race

2009-06-24T12:37:00.009-06:00

Photo from Dani Wyss' blog

Update: Wyss Wins, Robic Quits!

The last couple years, Jure Robic has dominated the Race Across America. Robic has won 4 out of the last 5 years.

Robic didn't win in 2006. That year Dani Wyss won. Robic was taken off the course by ambulance in Pagosa, CO with respiratory problems.

2006 was the year I raced and I remember RAAM legend, Danny Chew, telling me all I had to do to be one of the few to beat Robic was to finish. I ended up dropping out at the Mississippi due to a leg injury though.

This year Robic and Wyss are locked in battle. It was long been said that the race doesn't really start until the Mississippi. In the race from the Mississippi to the finish, Robic started with about an hour lead over Wyss.

Now 2500 miles into the race, Wyss has closed the gap and Robic and Wyss are trading the lead on the road. In reality Wyss has the lead. Robic has 1 hour of time penalties and Wyss has none.

Robic's latest time penalty was from taking the wrong route to time station 40. There was difference between the GPS file and the route book. RAAM rules state that the route book is the official route and GPS is only provided to assist crews.

If a racer goes off course, they must go back to where they went off course and continue riding the course. They can be shuttled back to that point by vehicle. Apparently it was quite a ways back to where Robic went off course and his crew chose to take a 30 minute penalty instead.

Robic wasn't the only one to have route issues yesterday. Earlier in the day, Wyss rode 9 miles off course before being taken back to the course. His crew estimated he lost 45 minutes from the route mistake.

With 500 miles left to race, both riders and their crews will have to manage their sleep breaks very carefully. Sleep too much and they could lose the race. Not sleep enough and they could crack and lose the race.

It seems that Wyss has been riding faster the last couple days but also taking longer sleep breaks. Maybe he's more rested. Robic though is known for not needint much sleep.

Dani Wyss' blog (Google translation) has interesting graphs comparing the average speeds between time stations 24 and 40.

Robic Avg Speed

Wyss Avg Speed

The solo women's race is also close. Janet Christiansen and Daniela Figueiredo Genovesi are about 30 minutes apart a few miles past the Mississippi. The have a little over 900 miles left to race.

In the women's race, Christiansen has no penalties and Genovesi has 30 minutes so that extends Christiansen's lead. It does seem though that Genovesi has been riding better the last day so it'll be interesting to see how the race plays out.

Update: Wyss Wins, Robic Quits!

Related Links: RAAM FAQ | Robic's blog | Wyss' blog | Janet Christiansen's twitter

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Pinarello Kui Road Bike Kids

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Pinarello FP3 Ultegra Road Bike

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4th Sand Creek Series Race is June 24

2009-06-23T19:24:00.004-06:00

Race #4 of the 2009 CTS Sand Creek Series is tomorrow evening, June 24th. 1st race is at 4:45 PM and 2nd race is at 6 PM. Great training race and also great for watching. Check Sand Creek Sports site for all the details.

Check the race schedule for the dates of the next 3 races.

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Ergon BA3 Backpack Mens

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Ergon BA1 Backpack Womens

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Livestrong Tattoo

2009-06-22T12:03:00.006-06:00

What do you get when a bike shop owner also owns a tattoo shop? You get a Livestrong tattoo on the back of his calf.

Eddie of Rabbit Bike in Hill City, South Dakota said he broke too many Livestrong bracelets. Plus he said he intended it to be for life. He certainly is showing his commitment to the Livestrong cause.

Yakima LiveStrong EndCaps

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LIVESTRONG T Shirt Girls

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Livestrong T Shirt Womens

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2009 Race Across America

2009-06-17T10:32:00.004-06:00

Solo Men start the Race Across America (RAAM) at noon PDT today. Solo women and men over 60 started yesterday. Relay teams will start on Saturday.

RAAM has been called the world's toughest sporting event. More people have summitted Mount Everest than have finished RAAM. In the movie Bicycle Dreams, Perry Stone says, "It's not a sporting event in a classic sense. It's more of sending a gladiator into a pit with a lion."

So what's so tough about this event? The competitors ride their bikes from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis. MD which is just over 3,000 miles. The time cut-off is 12 days. Some years the winner finishes in under 9 days. This is equivalent to riding the Tour de France 1.5 times in less than half the time.

For more about RAAM, read my Race Across America FAQ. Also go read my guest posts on Bike Crave and MissingSaddle.

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Profile T2 Clip On Aero Bars

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Syntace C3 Aero Bar

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Colorado Springs Pro XCT

2009-06-13T22:34:00.005-06:00

It's been a long day so this is going to be a very short post. I had fun watching great racing at the CTS Sand Creek International Classic Pro XCT races today at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

I talked to a few of the Pros after the races and they all liked the course. With all the racing, the rocks in the rock gardens were more exposed than in the past making them tougher to ride.

One section of trail was also taped off forcing the riders to go up a big rock. The top 10 Pro Men made it look easy but most of the others were getting off and running.

I took a lot of photos. I plan to post more but for now I have a few photos of each of the Pro races.

Pro XCT #4 Men

Max Plaxton
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
Todd Wells
Geoff Kabush

Pro XCT #4 Women

Catherine Pendrel
Katie Compton
Katerina Nash
Georgia Gould
Lea Davison

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Rock Shox Dart 3 Fork 09

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Rock Shox Domain 302 Fork Oe

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Colorado Springs Pro STXC Short Track Report

2009-06-12T21:59:00.009-06:00

Today was the first of 2 days of top level mountain bike racing in Colorado Springs. The Pro XCT Short Track was held on a course with a lot of tight singletrack and lap times under 3 minutes. Racers said it was tough to move up except on the short climb on a wide gravel path on the backside.

In the Pro Women's race, a group of 4 formed at the front with Heather Irminger, Katie Compton, Catherine Pendrel and Katerina Nash. With a couple laps to go, Irminger and Compton opened a small gap.

In the end hometown girl Compton couldn't get around Irminger coming out of the final corner and had to settle for 2nd. Catherine Pendrel rounded out the top 3.

In the Pro Men's race, it didn't take Todd Wells and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski long to open up a gap on the rest of the field. Wells pulled off the win with JHK coming in 2nd. Geoff Kabush finished out the podium.

The racing continues tomorrow at Cheyenne Mountain State Park with the cross-country race. I wrote some about the cross-country course a few days ago.

Starting tomorrow (Saturday) at 6PM, Peak Region Cyclist is hosting a party at McCabe's Tavern downtown. Racers 1st drink is free with race number. There will be food and drink specials for everyone. Band starts at 9 PM.

I have posted more photos of the short track and cross country races.

Pro Women Colorado Springs Pro XCT Short Track

Heather Irminger
Katie Compton
Catherine Pendrel
Katerina Nash

Pro Men Colorado Springs Pro XCT Short Track

Todd Wells
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
Geoff Kabush
Adam Craig

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Avid Juicy 5 Disc Brake 2008

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National Get Outdoors Day

2009-06-12T07:03:00.001-06:00

This Saturday, June 13th, is National Get Outdoors Day. It is a new annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. Participating partners will offer opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities.

There are activities at 62 locations across the country. There are lots of cool things to do. For example the Denver location has rock climbing walls, junior ranger camp, ropes obstacle Course and much more.

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Asolo Echo Hiking Boots For Men

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Asolo TPS 520 GV Hiking Boots Womens

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Bike to Work Tips

2009-06-09T06:33:00.005-06:00

Warm weather is here and it's a great time to start commuting by bike. National Bike to Work Day was last month. The official Colorado Bike to Work Day isn't until June 24th to allow for nicer weather. In Colorado Springs, Bike to Work Day is this Wednesday, June 10th.

Although Bike to Work events can be fun, you can start riding to work anytime. A bike ride is a great way to start the day and can improve your health. With a little planning, bike commuting can be easy.

Here are some tips to make bike commuting enjoyable.

Plan Your Route

Your route can be the difference between a fun commute and a terrifying one. Check to see if you community has any resources on bike routes. Your local bike shop should also be able to help you pick a good route.

I've lived near a bike path that follows a creek for many years. I've been able to use it and connecting trails to avoid most streets to get to most of my jobs.

Be Safe

Follow the rules of the road. Don't count on motorists seeing you and be prepared to take evasive action. Wear a helmet. It can only take a minor crash to cause head injuries.

If you're riding when there isn't much light, use reflectors, headlight and taillight. You can also get reflective tape to but on your bike. I've put some on the back of the seat stays and on the crank arms.

Be Prepared for Repairs

Take a spare tube and pump or CO2 cartridges in case of a flat. Also carry a muti-tool in case you need to make minor repairs. The Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool is my favorite.

Choose Riding Clothes

When I've had a fairly short commute, I've worn regular pants and a cycling jersey to reduce time changing at work. When I've worked farther away, I've also worn cycling shorts. Some people prefer to wear casual cycling clothes.

Take a Change of Clothes

If you are riding very far, you'll need to take a change of clothes. Depending on what you need to wear for your job that may be easy or more difficult. It's easy to carry pants and a shirt. It's also easy enough to carry shoes or leave an extra pair at work.

Be Prepared for Weather Changes

Depending on where you live and the time of year you will need to have different clothes for weather changes. Rain gear, leg warmers, arm warmers and a jacket are things you may want to carry.

Carry Your Things

I've always used a regular backpack for bike commuting. Some people prefer a messenger bag or putting bags on their bike. Put things you don't want to get wet from rain or sweat in plastic bags or use a waterproof pack/bag.

Find a Secure Place for Bike

Find a secure place to keep your bike while at work. I've had jobs where I've been able to keep my bike in my cubicle at work. Other times I've been able to lock my bike in the loading dock area. If there's no good place for your bike, ask your employer to put in a bike rack.

Freshen Up

If you ride more than a couple miles to work, you'll probably need to freshen up when you get there. It's nice if you have a shower but it's not necessary. You can always go in a restroom and use a wash cloth and towel or something like Action Wipes to clean up. Using the handicap stall gives more room to clean up and change. Also carry some deodorant and use it.

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CTS Sand Creek International Classic

2009-06-06T09:42:00.019-06:00

Update: Pro XCT Race Report | Short Track Race Report

Next weekend will have the most competitive mountain bike racing Colorado Springs has seen. The CTS Sand Creek International Classic is being held at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. It is one of only 7 mountain bike races in the US this year with international ranking points. Most of the top mountain biking Pros are registered to race.

The race isn't just for the Pros. It's part of the Sand Creek Series and will have all of the categories. See the race flyer for start times and number of laps. Pre-entry online is encouraged and closes on Wednesday.

Although we have some better mountain biking trails, the Cheyenne Mountain SP course is nice. For a race of this level, there needs to be easy access and room for an expo area. For those reasons, Cheyenne Mountains SP was chosen.

Most of the 1st half of the course is climbing. There's a little up and down across the top before descending back to the start/finish. When I rode it, I got 5.02 miles and 1,070 feet of climbing. The official course GPS track has 4.9 miles and 960 feet.

The lower part of the course is open with plenty of places to pass. It'll be hard to pass on the first part of Cougar's Shadow but it's possible to pass just before it on the Blackmer Loop.

Originally the rocky, technical Medicine Wheel Trail was part of the course. It was taken out due to concerns about it being a bottle neck at the start of the race.

The lower trails have been covered with crushed limestone to reduce mud. When it's dry, it can be easy to slide on it. Some of the upper parts of Blackmer Loop and Cougar's Shadow don't have the limestone.

Most of the course is non-technical but there are some tricky rock sections on Cougar's Shadow. There's a rock garden at the junction of Zook Loop and Blackmer Loop. The course designer told me he thought it would be faster to run it but I was able to easily ride it without slowing much.

I've created a Google Map of the CTS Sand Creek International Classic course. If you click on the camera icons, you'll get photos of that part of the course.

The USA Cycling National Series Short Track Cross Country race is also Friday afternoon/evening. It will be held at Bear Creek Terrace on some of the same trails as the Wednesday evening Sand Creek races.

Related Links: Pro XCT Race Report | Short Track Race Report

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Mavic Crossmax SLR Wheel or Wheelset

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Mavic Crossmax SL Wheel or Wheelset

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Colorado Bike Month

2009-06-04T08:13:00.017-06:00

Diane Stolz 2008

Many states had Bike Weeks in May. The weather in Colorado can unpredictable in May. Instead Colorado waits until June but then does a Bike Month instead of a week.

Part of bike weeks is usually a Bike to Work Day. It isn't that hard to ride to work for most people. Even riding one day a week benefits your health and the environment.

The official Colorado Bike to Work day is Wednesday, June 24th. For some reason Colorado Springs is doing their Bike to Work Day early on Wednesday, June 10th.

There are a lot of useful clinics and fun activities in Colorado Springs all month long. Follow the links below to find more details.

Flat Repair & Basic Bike Maintenance (Clinic)

Thursday, June 04, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Ted's Bicycles

Cruiser Cruise of Historical North End

Saturday, June 06, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (MT)
Leftside Spin

Tube Repair for Women (Clinic)

Tuesday, June 09, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (MT)
CS West Bikes

Metro Rides Bike-To-Work Day Breakfast

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 from 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM (MT)
Pioneer's Museum (Downtown Colorado Springs)

Why Cycling-Specific Clothing (Clinic)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 5:30 PM (MT)
Colorado Cyclist

Hand-On for Women Cycling #2 (Clinic)

Thursday, June 11, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
REI

Bicycle Roundup - A Children's Safety Event

Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m.— 1 p.m
Goose Gossage Youth Sports Complex

Adaptive Cycling for all Abilities (Clinic)

Monday, June 15, 2009 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (MT)
Health South Rehab

Unicycling 101(Clinic)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
CS West Bike

Kids Bike Safety (Clinic)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Suburban Shred

Sports Nutrition (Clinic)

Thursday, June 18, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Ascent Cycling

The Heuberger Subaru Starlight Spectacular

Saturday, June 20, 2009, festivities start at 10 PM and ride starts at midnight
Garden of the Gods Vistor Center

Intro to Triathlon "Race Day"

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Bicycle Village

Bike Commuting (Clinic)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Performance Bicycles

Maintenance Basics (Clinic)

Thursday, June 25, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (MT)
Bicycle Experience

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Light Motion 48V 4 cell Stella NiMH Bike Light Battery

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Light Motion Solo Logic Bike Light Battery

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CTS Sand Creek Series Race #2

2009-06-02T22:28:00.004-06:00

Update:Because of all the rain the course was too muddy and would have gotten torn up. Race is now scheduled for Thursday, June 4th.

Tomorrow Wednesday June 3rd is the 2nd race of the CTS Sand Creek Mountain Bike Series. Since it's a short course with several laps it's great for spectators. Start times and race info for the Wednesday night races are here.

Also in just over a week, the tops Pros in the country will be racing here in Colorado Springs for the Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek International Classic and USA Cycling Pro Short Track Cross Country National Series race. Most of the top Pro mountain bikers have already pre-registered. I'll have a Google map and photos of the Cheyenne Mountain Start Park course posted soon.

Related Links: Sand Creek Series Schedule | 2009 Sand Creek Series #1 Photos

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Gary Fisher Ar Super Bike 09

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Zipline Trail Building

2009-05-31T22:32:00.002-06:00

There was really good turn out today to build the Zipline trail. Over 30 people worked different parts of the day with Medicine Wheel. Zipline will connect the Section 16 parking lot to the Bear Creek Main Trail. The map above shows the section of Zipline that is now built.

Here are a few more photos.

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Another Colorado Springs Trail

2009-05-29T21:47:00.005-06:00

I'm fortunate to live where there are plenty of trails for mountain biking, hiking, running and even cross-country skiing on the occasions we actually get enough snow. Now Medicine Wheel is building another trail.

The new trail is currently being called Zipline. It will be an important connector between Section 16/Red Rock Canyon/ and the Bear Creek Main Trail.

I frequently connect between those trails. Now it means riding about a mile on a narrow, paved section of Gold Camp Road. It will be much nicer to ride singletrack to make the connection.

This Sunday, May 31st, is a trail building day for Zipline. No previous trail building experience is needed and all tools are provided. I've worn blisters building trail so you may want to take a pair of gloves.

There are 3 different shifts starting at 10 AM, Noon or 4 PM. Please send an email to Jim at jim@medwheel.org so he knows you're coming. See the Medicine Wheel page for more details.

Related Link: If You Build It, They Will Come

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New Balance 909 Trail Running Shoe Mens

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New Balance 909 Trail Running Shoe Womens

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Bicycle Dreams Movie Review

2009-05-25T13:24:00.002-06:00

Bicycle Dreams is a new documentary about the 2005 Race Across America (RAAM). Bicycle Dreams won the Best Documentary Feature at the Fallbrook Film Festival.

RAAM has been called the world's toughest sporting event. The top racers ride their bike 3,000 miles from coast to coast in only 9 days. More people have stood on the summit of Mt. Everest than have finished RAAM. It's more than just an event. It's an extreme journey.

I first became fascinated with RAAM over 20 years ago. I found a book about it at the library when I was in high school. I continued to follow the race but for many years I didn't think I'd actually compete in it. In 2006 I did race in RAAM although I dropped out at the Mississippi River, 2,000 miles and 8 days into the race.

Because the racers are riding more than 20 hours a day and end up spread across several states, it is a difficult event to cover. Filmmaker Stephen Auerbach and his crew traveled inside the riders’ crew vehicles to get an inside look at the race. They used 18 cameras to capture the scenery and the highs and lows of the racers.

Auerbach doesn't cover the race much from how the racers are doing in the race standings but focuses on their own personal battles. Battles with things like sleep deprivation, hallucinations and physical ailments that come from pushing the body to the extreme.

One of the things that the film tries to answer is why someone would attempt to do an event like RAAM. In trying to find the answer, it looks at the history of some of the racers and how it motivates them.

The 2005 RAAM was the year that tragedy stuck and Bob Breedlove was hit head on and killed instantly. Bob was a 5 time RAAM finisher. Bicycle Dreams follows Patrick Autissier as he tries to deal with Bob's death on top of his race battle.

I have seen several RAAM videos over the years and Bicycle Dreams shows the emotions of the race the best. RAAM fans will love the film. Even non-cyclists will enjoy watching it and seeing how riders deal with pushing their limits.

Bicycle Dreams is now available on DVD from Bicycle Dreams website. I suggest you order your copy today.

For more about RAAM, check out my Race Across America FAQ. The 2009 race starts on June 17th.

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100 Miles of Nowhere Ride Report

2009-05-24T18:16:00.009-06:00

It was with some trepidation that I prepared for The Fat Cyclist's 100 Miles of Nowhere. The nowhere in the name literally meant a ride going nowhere on a bike trainer. About 8 years ago I rode my trainer for 5 hours and said I'd never do it again. A realistic century with my current lack of fitness would mean 6+ hours on the trainer.

Given that I had said I wouldn't ride that long on a trainer, you'd think I wouldn't have had any interest in riding the 100 Miles of Nowhere. The thing that got me though was it was for a good cause.

It was a fundraiser with most of the entry fee donated to Livestrong. Fatty's wife, Susan, has been battling cancer for a long time. Unfortunately most of us have also been touched by cancer. My brother-in-law lost his battle with cancer last year.

Since I was going to be on the trainer so long, I decided I'd do it on the CompuTrainer. It allows you to load courses and then it varies the resistance to simulate ups and downs. You can also use a pacer to keep from slacking off.

It was afternoon before I got started on the 100 Miles of Nowhere. It had been a while since I used the CompuTrainer and I failed to revive the old computer with the software.

During the first couple hours of my ride, there was quite a bit of rain. That kept it cool and also kept me from wanting to be outside. It also made it very humid for Colorado.

The time and miles ticked by faster than I thought they would. I did get a few strange looks from neighbors but no one came over. A cyclist rode by a couple hours apart and looked at me and gave a smile the 2nd time he went by.

I'd be lying if I said it was all easy. You don't generally shift around on the bike as much while on a trainer. I was certainly feeling it in the seat and my legs seemed to get tighter. My left shoulder is also sore today.

It ended up taking me 6 hours and 12 minutes plus some break time to ride 100 miles on the CompuTrainer. That's over an hour longer than I said I'd never do again. It was worth it though to raise money for the fight against cancer.

The entry fees raised over $20,000 and many of us are working to raise even more money. Please donate on my page for a virtual ride of the Seattle Livestrong Challenge. Even donating $5 will make a difference.

Giro Rodeo Livestrong Helmet 09

Price: $30.00

Giro Rift Livestrong Helmet 09

Price: $55.00

Giro Ionos Livestrong Helmet

Regular Price: $229.95
$172.46 on sale

100 Miles of Nowhere

2009-05-23T08:46:00.007-06:00

Click Here to Donate

A month ago I signed up for The Fat Cyclist's 100 Miles of Nowhere. Just like it says in the name, it's riding a bike 100 miles to no where. Amazingly 420 other people also signed up to do it.

Today is the official day for the 100 Miles of Nowhere. I'll be spending a good part of the day sitting on my bike trainer in the garage. Others around the country and world are doing the same thing in their garages, basements and other places.

Riding on a trainer for around 6 hours will be tough mentally and physically but it is nothing compared to what cancer patients endure. I'll be using twitter to update how I'm doing.

Since part of the entry was a donation to the Livestrong Foundation, over $20,000 was raised to fight cancer. In addition many of us have signed up for a Livestrong Challenge to raise even more money.

I just signed up to do the Seattle Livestrong Challenge virtually. Go to my Livestrong donation page to donate to the cause.

Other twitter users doing the 100 Miles of Nowhere

Tacx Trainer Tire Special Trainer Compnd

Price: $33.15

Tacx T1912 I Magic Virtual Reality Rear Wheel Trainer Tacx I Magic

Price: $692.99

Tacx Trainer Tire 700 x 23c Special Trainer Compund Tacx Trainer Tire 700 x 23c Special Trainer Compund

Regular Price: $40.00
$32.99 on sale

Colorado Springs Ride of Silence Report 2009

2009-05-21T20:53:00.004-06:00

Last evening was the annual Ride of Silence. It's a ride honor and remember those that have been injured or killed while cycling on the roadways. I've taken part in the Ride of Silence 2 out of the last 3 years.

Last weekend I checked to find the date of the ride this year. I found out that it was this week. I also found that one wasn't being organized in Colorado Springs this year. David Peal offered to help organize a ride. We got busy getting the word out and making plans.

We had about a dozen riders show up at Old Town Bike Shop for the ride which was many fewer than for last year's Ride of Silence. I was happy with that since we didn't plan in advance.

After reading the Ride of Silence poem, we had a moment of silence for this killed or injured. We then did a loop around downtown before heading over to where EJ and Jayson were killed. We had another moment of silent at the ghost bikes before heading back to Old Town.

Although the risks of riding on the road don't stop me from riding, they are something I think about. Especially when I was training for RAAM, I was riding thousands of miles on the road. The deaths of Bob Breedlove and EJ and Jayson have impacted me the most.

KKTV 11 News covered the ride. You can view the video and report online.

Bell Array Road Helmet

Regular Price: $85.95
$74.96 on sale

Bell Alchera Road Helmet

Regular Price: $84.99
$39.99 on sale

Bell Furio Road Bike Helmet 09

Regular Price: $64.99
$55.29 on sale

2009 Ride of Silence is May 20th

2009-05-18T06:33:00.004-06:00

The 2009 Ride of Silence is this Wednesday, May 20th at 7 PM. It's a ride in honor of those killed or injured while riding a bike. I believe we need to raise awareness of cycling safety issues.

The ride is slow paced with a maximum speed of 12 mph so anyone can take part. You can also ride any kind of bike.

I've participated in the local Ride of Silence 2 out of the last 3 years. There are 260 rides in the US and more internationally. There isn't one listed for Colorado Springs this year but I'm checking to see if anyone is organizing one.

Update: David Peal is helping me organizing a Ride of Silence for Colorado Springs this year. Meet at Old Town Bike Shop at 6:45 PM. The route will include going to the ghost bikes where EJ and Jayson were hit last year.

Related Links: 2008 Ride of Silence report | 2006 Ride of Silence report

Giro Pneumo Bike Helmet

Price: $99.97

Giro Pneumo Road Bike Helmet 08

Regular Price: $144.95
$79.99 on sale

Giro Pneumo Bike Helmet 2007

Regular Price: $144.95
$69.95 on sale

Technorati Tags: cycling | Ride of Silence | share the road

CTS Sand Creek Series #1 Photos

2009-05-11T06:33:00.001-06:00

It was cool and overcast for the 1st race of the 2009 CTS Sand Creek Series. Just before the start of the Pro/Expert race, it started drizzling. I wasn't able to stay so I don't know how long it lasted for them. There were about 100 racers combined between the 3 races.

I took a lot of photos. Here are a few of them and I'll try to get more posted in a few days.

Update 5/16/09: Sand Creek Series #1 photos have been uploaded.

Giro Pneumo Bike Helmet

Price: $99.97

2007 Giro Pneumo Road Helmet

Price: $144.99

Giro Pneumo Bike Helmet 2007

Regular Price: $144.95
$69.95 on sale

Technorati Tags: Colorado Springs | mountain biking

CTS Sand Creek Series Kicks Off This Sunday

2009-05-09T09:47:00.005-06:00

The 7 race CTS Sand Creek Series kicks off this Sunday at Bear Creek Park. The race course loop will be done in the clockwise direction for this race.

There will be 3 different race start times with the Experts/Pros going last. I've copied the start times and categories below. Check the official race flyer and the Sand Creek website for details.

I won't be racing this time since I'm having trouble getting fit. If it wasn't Mother's Day I might go ahead and race. I plan to stop by for a little while but can't stay the whole time.

In addition to racing, there will be mountain bikes to demo at Bear Creek. I have the complete Sand Creek Series schedule posted.

9:30 AM 60 Minutes plus 1 lap

19-29 Category 3 (Beginner) Men
30-39 “ “
40+ “ “
Cruiser/Clydesdales (200lbs+)
Junior 15-18 “ ”
19-29 Category 3 (Beginner) Women
30-39 “ “
40+ “ “
Junior 15-18 “ “
Junior 15-18 Category 2 (Sport) Women

11:15 AM 75 Minutes plus 1 lap

19-29 Category 2 (Sport) Men
30-39 “ “
40-49 “ “
Junior 15-18 “ “
50+ “ “
19-29 Category 2 (Sport) Women
30-39 “ “
40+ “ “
Junior 15-18 Category 1 (Expert) Women

1:00 PM 90 Minutes plus 1 lap

Pro & Category 1 (Expert) Men
19-29 “ “
30-39 “ “
Single-Speed
Junior 15-18 “ “
40-49 “ “
50+ “ “
19-29 Pro & Category 1 (Expert) Women
30-39 “ “
40+ “ “

Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire 29in

Regular Price: $43.95
$39.56 on sale

Continental Mountain King Mountain Bike Tire

Regular Price: $57.95
$52.16 on sale

WTB WeirWolf Mountain Bike Tire

Regular Price: $59.95
$53.96 on sale

Technorati Tags: Colorado Springs | mountain biking

Mountain Bike Demos this Weekend in Colorado Springs

2009-05-09T08:04:00.006-06:00

Today and tomorrow you can test out new mountain bikes in Colorado Springs. Intense, Kona, Rocky Mountain and Scott will be here with their demo bikes. With the demo bikes, you can generally do much more riding than even during a test ride at your local bike shop.

A couple weeks ago at the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, I demoed the Intense Spider 2. I rode a couple hours at the Grand Junction Lunch Loops. It was the last day and they were going to be packing up or I think they would have let me ride even longer. Intense has a demo schedule on their site so you can see if they'll be in your area.

Today the demo is at Palmer Park so there will be plenty of opportunity to ride on technical trails. Tomorrow will be at Bear Creek Park for the kick off to the CTS Sand Creek Series. Both days the demos are from 9 AM to 6 PM.

In addition to the mountain bike demos, there will be 2 mountain bike movies shown at Stargazers Theater on Parkside Drive. Both New World Disorder 9 and the new Red Bull Rampage "The Evolution" will be shown.

The demos and movie are brought to you by Ascent Cycling. You can read the announcement on their blog

Intense Spider Fro XTR 2009 Bike

Price: $6399.00

Intense Spider 29 XTR 2009 Bike

Price: $6149.00

Intense Cycles Spider FRO Frame

Price: $2410.00

Technorati Tags: Colorado Springs | mountain biking