Friday January 29th, 2010 | | Gerry Pflug
Today's post comes from Salsa Team rider Gerry Pflug. -Kid
Since I have been racing for 30 years (yeah, I know that probably makes me a pretty old dude), I thought it would be cool to write about my first ever bicycle race. The only problem is I can’t actually remember exactly what happened in the race itself, or how I actually finished. What I can tell you is that I was an 11-year-old kid at a beginner BMX race, on a cheap Murray bike with a paper plate used to display my race number on the front of my handlebars. And that the song Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne was blasting over the PA system at a dirt racetrack outside of Pittsburgh, PA called North Park. I am not sure exactly what it was about my first race that was so appealing, but something about it hooked me and I have not missed a season of racing since then.
Racing seemed like a natural progression for me as a kid. I have basically been attached to my bike from the point in time where I first took off my training wheels and learned to ride it. I used to build jumps and make trails all through the woods near my house, even before I started racing BMX. In addition to my BMX bike, I actually owned a 'ten speed' bike also and would do longer road rides (up to 20 miles or so) just because I thought it was fun. Once I started BMX racing, my affection for bike riding only grew stronger and soon racing bikes kind of defined who I was.
So, I raced BMX bikes for four years, but soon found that my newly purchased road bike I used for training was getting more riding attention than my BMX bike. Since I was spending so much time on my new ten-speed (as in two front chainrings and five rear cogs) Peugeot road bike, I decided that I should try a road bike race for the fun of it. I eventually found a junior citizens race in Sewickley, PA to do, which consisted of one 18-mile loop. Me and about 20 other junior riders lined up at the starting line that day. I was wearing red Lycra shorts, a t-shirt and a leather strapped Cinelli helmet called a hairnet. At this time in cycling, Lycra was quickly replacing the old wool style of riding shorts and it was also hard to find a pro that even wore a helmet during a race.
At that race, like I had learned from BMX racing, I took off from the gun and got the hole shot. I figured that this was good BMX strategy, so why not do the same at road racing. My early and easily achieved lead in the race was definitely a shock to me. I couldn't understand why nobody else wanted to be at the front of the pack. The fighting for the lead position that I had become so accustomed to doing in four years of BMX racing was definitely not going on in this race. I didn't care, though, and stayed at the front, setting my own pace. Eventually, the pack approached a large hill on the course and one rider shot around me to take the lead. He was actually attacking the group, but I had no idea about this race tactic back then. What I did know is that I wanted to be in first place, so I went even harder to be in the front again. The other rider then got directly behind me and followed my rear wheel very closely. He said something to me like, 'We are clear from the group.' I had no idea what he was saying or what it meant. I just knew that I was winning and so I kept going hard at the front, like it was a BMX race.
A few times during the race, the other rider with me would drop off my pace, but would soon catch back up to me again because I was not too sure where I was going. The funny thing is that I actually had to stop and wait for him a few times so that I would stay on course. Once the other rider was back with me and I was sure that we were going in the right direction, I would go directly to the lead position again and ride hard, while he rode directly behind me. Little did I know at the time that he was actually drafting off of me and saving his energy for the final sprint in to town. With less than a mile to the finish, the other racer came around me with a super fast acceleration. I did not know that the finish was approaching and said to myself that there is no way he can keep up that fast pace very long before I catch him again. Well, I soon learned that his high speed did not have to last long because I saw the finish line directly ahead of us. Needless to say, I ended up in second, but I was happy because we probably finished at least 5 minutes in front of the remaining junior riders. After the race, the race winner (Keith Dickerson) and I started talking about our race together. Keith gave me a good schooling about the bad racing tactics I used that day and gave me a lot of information about road racing in general, too. We became good friends after that race and did a lot of training and racing together as junior roadies.
It would be hard for me to talk about doing my first races without mentioning my first mountain bike race. After working my way up in road racing to a Category Two racer and riding my mountain bike recreationaly for a couple years, I decided to give mountain bike racing a try in 1989 at a small ski resort outside Columbus, OH. The first thing I remember about this race was selecting my race category. At the registration tent, I was asked in which class I wanted to race and was given the choice between Beginner, Sport or Expert. I told the registration person I wasn't sure what class to do, but provided her with some information about my road and BMX racing experience. She recommended that I do the Pro/Expert race because of my past racing experience. Since I was only doing MTB racing for off-season road training and didn't have any agenda with winning the race, I agreed with her recommendation.
I lined up with about 40 other Pro/Expert racers on my newly purchased fully rigid Cannondale with a Suntour drivetrain, toe clips, and running shoes. Not really knowing what to expect from a MTB race and coming off a successful five years of road racing, I decided to use a road racing type of start. I started slowly and figured I would see how the race went before getting too aggressive on my bike. Of course, now I know that the start of a MTB race is more like BMX race start because it is usually best to get an early lead before things bottleneck in the singletrack. A this race, however, I took my time going into the singletrack, which put me pretty far back at the beginning of the race. I soon learned how much extra work I had to do to gain positions back, but I slowly made my way through a lot of riders in front of me. Also, since the course was a multi-lap style race, I became more comfortable with going faster on each lap, learning where I could make up time and recover from my efforts.
At the beginning of the last lap, I was told that I was in second place and not far behind the first place rider. Up until this point, I really did not know where I was in the race because I had entered the singletrack behind so many other riders. But, hearing now that I was in second kindled a flame in my legs and I started to push myself harder to catch the leader. I eventually saw the lead rider up the trail in front of me and I devised a tactic in my head to attack him on a climb about midway through the course, since attacking on climbs had always worked well in road racing for me. By the time we approached the climb, I had caught the leader and was ready to go. I attacked hard and got clear from him pretty quickly. Luckily, things went well for the last half lap and I maintained my lead until the finish. I couldn’t believe that I had actually won my first ever MTB race, especially since it was in the Pro/Expert class. I have no clue why this win didn't entice me to change completely over from road to MTB racing right then and there. I should have taken it as a good sign, but instead I continued to concentrate more on road racing until the mid 1990s.
I think it is cool hearing the first race experiences of other racers, so add one here, or share one with me at one of the many races I will be doing this year. I never grow tired of hearing good race stories...or 'bad' ones for that matter, too.
Happy Trails, Gerry
Labels: Gerry Pflug, Salsa Team
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Monday January 25th, 2010 | | Gnat
Introducing Vaya, our new road adventure bike. How do you say Vaya? Say Veye-Ahhh.... What does it mean? Go! What's does road adventure mean? Well, that is where you come in.
The Vaya is go anywhere do anything steel road bike. Go for a long road ride. Go on a asphalt road tour. Ride that limestone rails to trails route you've always wanted to do. Heck, do it all and throw in a gravel road or two in between. The Vaya will get you there. Make your road own adventure.
This bike came about for many reasons. The biggest reason is that we repeatedly saw dealers and consumers taking our disc specific La Cruz cross bike and making it into an all around road warrior. We heard this feedback and improved this function by tweaking the tubing, improving the geometry, and improving the rack & fender mounting. We did a bunch of other stuff too.
One of the other reasons we brought out the Vaya is that Tim, our Product Manager wanted a dedicated tour bike in our line up. Tim's not happy if he can't carry A LOT of stuff on his rides. Some might say what about the Fargo, can't that carry A LOT of stuff. While true, the Fargo is our off road adventure bike capable of single track and off road adventure. Lot's of adventurous souls, Tim included, wanted a more road focused product so we gave it to them. If this fits your persona, the Vaya just may be your perfect bike.
The Vaya will be available as a frameset ($540 MSRP) and as a complete bike ($1550 MSRP). Frameset includes frame, fork and Lip Lock seat clamp. Complete bikes feature a mostly Tiagra 9speed STI group, a wide ratio cassette with a 34-50 crankset. All good stuff.
Sizing - We are introducing a new sizing scheme with this bike. The top tube size is the frame size. We've got 8 sizes ranging from 50 to 60. The two smallest sizes use 26" wheels making fit and stand over even better for folks that sizes. So....If you have a bike that you currently fit and like, simply take the effective TT length and compare to our sizing info. It's a good starting point to discuss with your dealer. Pretty slick and easy.
One might ask why we don't have this info on our website if we are writing about it and showing it here on the blog? Good question. We are building a new website and will be launching it mid February. We'll follow up this post later this week with a bike spec and sizing chart. Look for that in a couple of days.
Now....Here is the other good news. These bikes and frames are completed and in transit. We expect to ship them to our Salsa dealers by the end of February! Initial order is limited. Our Salsa dealers have the info and are already taking orders.
Labels: VAYA
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Friday January 22nd, 2010 | | Danielle Musto
Today's post comes from Salsa sponsored rider Danielle Musto. -Kid
Preparing for the 2010 race season has kept me very busy during these Winter months. I've been talking to sponsors, working on my race calendar, and most importantly, training for the upcoming season.
Training during Wintertime while living in Michigan can be challenging. The sun rarely makes an appearance through the perpetually cloudy gray sky, and the weather varies between cold, colder and coldest. Throw in a few ice and snowstorms, and it gets hard to find the motivation needed to go outside. Ironically, my coach (Lynda Wallenfels) lives in the desert, but she is very creative at scheduling my workouts around the winter weather. I'm also lucky to have a lot of local biking buddies who are willing to ride in cold temps. It's much harder for me to bail when I actually have a 'ride date' with someone. When I do get out I end up wearing so many layers of cold weather riding gear that it's hard to move, but I like to think that it counts as extra strength training.
Even though I get outside when I can, there are still many days where I end up riding inside on the dreaded trainer. I can't believe that I'm saying this, but sometimes it's actually nice to be all toasty and warm while watching a movie. Usually I find myself daydreaming about all of the races and trips I have planned for summer.
And speaking of races, I finally have the main races in my 2010 schedule nailed down. This year choosing my 'A' races was even harder then usual, mostly because there's SO MANY cool events that I want to do. Trust me, if I had my way I would race every weekend, but that's physically and financially not possible.
This year, my biggest focus of the season will be the 24 Hour National Championships at Big Bear, West Virginia on June 12th and 13th. Since the race is early in the season, I have the opportunity to compete in a few races later in the summer that I've wanted to do for a long time, such as the Cascade Creampuff 100, Salsa 2-4, and the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. I'm very excited, as this is the first year where I can actually compete in the entire Triple Crown Series.
While Spring in Michigan is still many weeks away, a visit to Phoenix, Arizona is right around the corner! In a little over a week I am traveling west for a Winter training camp with a few friends. I absolutely can't wait. This will be my first time riding on one of my new race bikes. Right now my Dos Niner has been built up by Velo City Cycles, is in transit heading west, and I am counting down the days until I can ride it on singletrack.
Labels: Danielle Musto, Salsa Team
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Wednesday January 20th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
We are pleased to introduce our 3rd Salsa Team rider for 2010: Gerry Pflug. Folks taking part in the NUE series are probably quite familiar with Gerry, as he is the reigning NUE Singlespeed Champion.
This year Gerry will be ripping things up on a Selma, Podio, and something else that we're not going to talk about right now. Gerry will be contributing to the Salsa Amigos blog from time to time, and he also maintains his own blog at Pfun With Pflug.
With that, please introduce yourself to the class Gerry.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Well, I would describe myself as just being an average “Joe” for the most part. Like most middle age men, I am busy working full time and spending time with my wife and teenage daughter. In addition to life’s typical demands, I am also an avid competitive cyclist. I started racing early in life and 2010 will be my 30th consecutive year of racing. Now I split my racing season between road, MTB and cylocross; however, most people categorize me as a mountain bike racer. I enjoy all three styles of racing and it certainly keeps things interesting and busy for me all year. During the off season, I like to participate in outdoor winter sports along with riding my bike. I enjoy downhill skiing, XC skate skiing and taking backcounty treks on skis or snowshoes. Basically, I love the outdoors, staying active and keeping fit. I feel lucky every time I jump on my bike for a ride, or get to spend time outdoors. It is a struggle at times to fit riding into my busy schedule, but the struggle is almost always well worth the reward of the ride.
What do your fellow State Troopers think of your bike racing antics?
I have been a Trooper now for ten years and yes it is true that most think I am a bit nuts when it comes to the amount of racing and riding I do. But, I don’t think colleagues in my current occupation view me any differently than any other of my occupations has viewed me or how society in general views competitive cyclists. At pretty much every job I have had, people seem to have a hard time understanding why I spend so much time riding my bike. I can't say that I don't enjoy seeing the look of amazement on people when they discover I often commute by bike into work. To most people, a 20-mile ride is not something one does immediately before or after work. I guess over the years I have come to accept that most people view me as being a little eccentric when it comes to my bike riding. Even though most consider my bicycle riding to not be quite normal, I think they can appreciate my dedication and recognize the high level of fitness required to do what I do.
What made you decide to run singlespeed in the 2009 NUE series?
My decision to do the singlespeed class for the NUE Series was based on a couple of different things. First, I discovered during the winter of 2009 that I really enjoyed not having to do much maintenance on my bike after riding on horrible trails or roads. I could go out and ride it in the nastiest of conditions and it was pretty much good to go again the next day. This made me think that running a singlespeed in a 100-mile race might be a good option because there is much less that could possibly go wrong with it. Doing repairs during any race is never fun, but breakdowns during a 100-mile, single-loop race can be a killer. In addition to the mechanical simplicity of the singlespeed, I also like how smooth and quiet the drivetrain is. It is a pretty awesome feeling to just focus on doing pedal strokes and not having to worry about shifting as I almost float through the woods. But, I think the main reason I chose to race on a singlespeed last year was for a new challenge. Mixing things up a bit is always good for me and the extreme test of doing 100 miles with only one gear was a very exciting prospect.
Goals for 2010?
My main goal for 2010 is to repeat as the NUE Singlespeed Series Champion. I really enjoy how hard these 100-mile races are and how they test racers in so many ways. It would be difficult for me to not do the series again. I also plan to compete in many other MTB, road and cyclocross races. I am a true competitor and enjoy the thrill of racing. Racing is an addiction to me and I don’t think I will ever get my fill of doing it. I did about 50 races in 2009 and plan on doing just as many, if not more, in 2010.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing a 100-miler but feels a bit intimidated?
The first thing I would say is that it is absolutely natural to feel nervous about doing a 100-mile race. I was totally nervous about the first 100-mile MTB race I did and still get nervous about doing them. The biggest factor in doing well, or even just completing a 100-mile MTB race, is preparing for it. Of course, by preparation I mean training, but it is also important to learn what to pack for nutrition, bike repairs and riding comfort. I learn a little something from each 100-mile race I do and try to use what I have learned to better prepare for the next one. So, with that said, don’t let the anxiety of doing a 100-mile race hold you back. Do a little preparation and get out and do one. I am sure you will be hooked on them just like me.
Labels: Gerry Pflug, Salsa Team
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Monday January 18th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
Today's blog comes from Salsa Team rider Tim Ek. -Kid
The White Factor
Seven or eight years ago my training consisted of rides to work and some recreational trail rides. Well, as I continually got smoked at races and seemed to reside in the 'red zone' whenever I was faced with the slightest of climbs I decided the concept of training should be introduced. I began asking questions of other riders regarding their regimens and their answers blew my mind. How would I ever be able to log enough hours throughout the week to even come close to their fitness? One day I asked my local shop mechanic, 'Do these guys ride in the winter?', without hesitation, 'Yep' was the reply. So it began...
I decided riding throughout the winter could be a reality after I talked with what seemed to be a small contingent of riders in the Duluth area. The biggest challenge would of course be how to stay warm. To this day I'll find myself daydreaming on a long ride after I'd lost all feeling in my toes, 'Why do I really need toes? I could have them amputated saving some serious grams.' Sure cutting off all my toes would cause some balance issues, but they would no longer freeze, which at the time seems all that matters. The battle to keep the feet warm in the winter rages on as it did in the beginning. Lots of dollars later and even with the latest high tech footwear (which are probably designed somewhere in California where cold is considered to be 40 degrees Fahrenheit), the frozen toes still feel like they could drive a man to institutionalization. In fact, it was just last winter that I stood in the shower after a lengthy ride and consciously focused on not weeping as my digits hit the thawing zone.
Despite the sometimes horrifying conditions that come with winter riding one must train during these months in order to be prepared come May. Now, it should be noted that not all winter riding is a suffer fest. There are times when a few phones in Northern Minnesota begin to ring off the hooks as conditions in the woods reach ideal proportions. These conditions are typically followed by a warming spell (think 33-35 degrees), when the thermometer dips back to it's normal hover of 5 degrees. The snow mobile trails change into a sidewalk-like status and riding a singlespeed becomes a thing of beauty. Imagine a crisp morning with bright sunshine and a rolling ribbon of rock hard 36-inch wide trail in front of you for miles...bliss. It's these rides that cause one to quickly forget the pain that sometimes goes hand in hand with the winter training months.
'You're crazy!' I get this a lot and as I'm thinking of a terse response I usually just smile and nod as I hold my little secret that comes with riding the 'white factor' to myself and the select few who have experienced it for themselves.
So, get out there and feel it, you won't regret it, not for long anyway.
-Tim
Labels: Salsa Team, Tim Ek
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Friday January 15th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
We are pleased to welcome Tim Ek to the Salsa Team for 2010. Tim is a local Minnesota boy who has proven he can suffer in the saddle with the best of them. He'll be spending some quality time on a Big Mama and a Chili Con Crosso this year. And you'll be seeing him post to the blog periodically as well. In fact, you'll see his first blog post this coming Monday.
Tim, meet everyone. Everyone, meet Tim.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Duluth, Minnesota has been my home all my life. I live with my wife and two cats who think they are our kids. My wife is an avid runner and we try to live in a way where fitness and activity are a way of life. I've commuted to work by bike for over 7 years through all seasons as we feel one car is all we really need. I love travel and being outside in general. I've been to several different countries which includes 8 trips to Jamaica (I really like it there) and some pretty amazing places in the U.S. When I'm not on the bike, I'm snow boarding, hiking or enjoying a cold brew.
What do you do for a living?
I am a case manager at a day treatment school for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed youth. I've worked for the same agency for 17 years and really love what I do. Working with kids for all this time as allowed me to stay a kid myself and I get paid for it, I can't complain about that.
How did you first get into riding or racing bikes?
I used to be a runner until an injury forced me into cycling. I always enjoyed riding bikes, but never thought about competing in it. I entered my first race wearing running shoes and shorts, with a t-shirt for a jersey. I placed fairly well and my eyes were opened instantly to how much fun it was. I never stopped and it just kept growing and growing. I've been addicted to it ever since.
What got you interested in doing longer endurance rides?
I decided to enter a 12 hour mtn bike race just to see if I could do it. I ended up finishing 8th in a large field of riders. I was so excited by this that I immediately started thinking about the next one and what I would do differently. Also, over the years I've come to find that training for endurance events leads to adventures on a bike. Adventures on bikes are so much more fun than doing hill repeats and intervals. I'll take a 9 hour ride any day!
Goals for 2010?
I'd really love to win the Wisconsin Endurance Mountain Bike Series -12 Hour Solo. I was close in 2009 and now I can taste it. A top three finish in both the Trans Iowa and the Dirty Kanza 200 are a must as well. Of course a podium spot in the Salsa Two Four (solo) would sit pretty nicely.
Labels: Salsa Team, Tim Ek
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Tuesday January 12th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
New Year's Resolutions!?! Two weeks into 2010!?! Sure...why not. If anything we've put more pressure on ourselves to accomplish them. We've only got 50 weeks left of 2010 rather than 52.
David: Ride a wheelie more than 10 feet!
Bobby: For some stupid sadistic reason that I can't begin to fathom, I told E-Fred that I would participate in 5 races this season...so I guess that is mine. 5 MTB races in the 2010 season. Actually, I think it will be fun...it's just that the last time I raced I was 21 years old and 60 lbs lighter. The bright side is that I can race Clydesdale class now.
Jeff: My goal this year, if this old body holds out, is to achieve 'Super Randonneur' status and qualify for the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs by riding a brevet series of 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k.
Jason: I'm going to give singlespeeding a fair chance and an extended commitment.
Kid: Get some artistic creativity back into my life. And backpack more. And combine the two whenever possible.
Joe: No resolutions, just plans shaping up...I'll participate in these races: Ragnarok in April, Trans Iowa in April with a sub-24 hour finish time goal, Almanzo in May, and the Dirty Kanza in June.
Sean: Well this should be a good year of long rides and some hard races. I'll be doing a couple of gravel grinders, most importantly the Trans-Iowa. I'm looking forward to it, especially since Joe Meiser thinks I'm going to be his domestique. Little does he know that he'll be pulling a BOB trailer with all my stuff in it. I like to take a couple pounds of fruit and a blender to make smoothies. I find a nice banana, yogurt, and strawberry smoothie keeps me feeling refreshed and focused. I would also like to move up to Cat 2 on the road...uuhhh...we'll see.
There you have it folks. At least a bit of what some of the Crew will be up to in 2010. What about you? Made any resolutions yet this year?
-Kid
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Wednesday January 6th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
Salsa is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring Danielle Musto for the 2010 season. Danielle is a pro mountain biker from Grand Rapids, Michigan who specializes in endurance events.
Danielle will be racing on the Dos Niner and Mamasita this season at events across the country...and possibly around the world.
She'll be sharing some of her stories of training, racing, and just plain ol' living here on the Salsa Amigos blog.
She also has her own blog that you might enjoy checking out: Danielle Musto: Endurance Athlete & Coffee Enthusiast
With that...here is a little bit of info about Danielle.
Why bikes? I'm happiest when I'm on a bike. I love being able to ride my bike to places that most people don't see.
What do you most enjoy about ultra-endurance events? The challenges and the camaraderie.
Got a message for folks that haven’t yet tried an ultra-endurance event? Yes, go out and try one! They can be really intimidating at first, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you train for one. Crossing the finish line after an endurance race is the best feeling!
Goals for 2010? Podium finishes at all races, win the 24 Hour National Championships at Big Bear in June, and have a lot of fun!
About yourself? I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan with my husband Scott and greyhound Naomi. Scott took me for my first bike ride 6 years ago and I've been hooked ever since. I love racing and riding my bike. Last year I started leading group rides and clinics and will continue to do so in 2010. There is nothing better then seeing how excited people get when riding trail for the first time!
Welcome aboard Danielle. We're excited to have you riding Salsa this season and wish you the best of success in 2010.
-The Salsa Crew
Labels: Danielle Musto, Salsa Team
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Monday January 4th, 2010 | | Kid Riemer
What better way to move into 2010 than with some images folks emailed to us during 2009?
Enjoy the days ahead, the people you ride with, and the places you ride to. -Kid
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3 Comments | Gerry Pflug
