Entries for Topic: Salsa 24
Thursday September 9th, 2010
| | Tim Ek
I think it was a few months back when I started communicating with those close to Salsa Cycles about my involvement in the Salsa Two-Four. Initially, I was to be part of a four man team that seemed destined to leave a mark on the race. However, real life got in the way and my teammates began to withdraw one by one. Real life has a way of reminding us that racing a bicycle through the woods is one of the extra perks that comes with this merry go round ride we've all got a ticket for. Finally, a decision was made, I'd ride the solo 8-hour version of the race. After all, I'm a 12-hour solo racer by trade, this should be right up my alley, right? As my thoughts began to wander about this new development, I dreamed of a high finish and even considered myself to be a contender in this fight.
Rule #1 in endurance racing, Stay Humble!
Rule #2, never look a course directly in the eye. You see, sometimes it's not the other racers that you should be afraid of, it's the course!
Excited to race this event in the Salsa colors, I began to take things seriously and I felt the pressure mounting in my mind. I could hear Kid's words resounding over and over, "No pressure". I've been competitive since birth, mostly with myself. Hell, as a grade schooler I would keep a scratch paper taped to the inside of our cupboard in the kitchen with month's worth of times written on them next to dates. These were the minutes it took me to run the 4 miles to the end of a nearby dirt road and back. I can remember sprinting to my driveway day after day trying to beat yesterday's time. So it goes...
I thought long and hard about racing at Afton Alps again. I used to race the Minnesota Series race here, several years back and got smoked every time. Finally, I told a good friend (Dave Schuneman, who placed well in this year's Salsa Two-Four 24-hour singlespeed category) that I'd never ride my bike at Afton again. I held true to that promise until the Salsa Two-Four this year. I rationalized that I'm a much different rider now and that I could handle whatever Afton had in store for me. I looked her straight in the eye.
Friday night was fun with a Salsa sponsored rider clinic hosted by Daniel Musto (Salsa teammate) and myself. This clinic was light and enjoyable, with a short ride around the course and a little Q & A session afterward. Throughout the 'ride around' I couldn't help but think, "Man, there's a lot of climbing going on here".
Race day was met with warm temps...really warm in fact. No biggie, I'm only in the 8-hour race and hell, I rode in Kansas, that's HEAT. The race went off with the LeMans start and I found myself about a dozen riders back, but it was impossible to tell who was racing in which category as we all started together. Excited, I rode hard early. I was on top of the bike and really pressing her for more, out of the saddle on most climbs. Soon I felt those matches burning quickly and I was running low. I needed to ratchet back now! So, experience guided me and I pulled back the reigns allowing myself to settle in and 'recover'.
Remember how I looked the course in the eye? There would be no opportunity to recover. Afton wouldn't allow it. The 'Alps' seemed angry with me as if I had offended her in some way. Her climbs got steeper and somehow longer. She went on to summon more heat. I began to suffer.
Then, without warning my right hamstring quivered briefly as if it was going to cramp. One cramp leads to a lot more cramps. It's as simple as that. I recall vocally calling out, "Oh no!" I knew they would come. They would come for a visit and then hang around like Aunt Edna who just won't leave. Soon I was pulling off the trail with inoperable legs. The 'lock ups' were popping off in both calves, both hamstrings, and my right groin. They were the sincere kind of cramps that give you your money's worth. I'm talking about deep, tightly wound balls of tissue that refused to let go, sometimes for minutes. I was in trouble. I poured fluids in, but as any experienced endurance athlete knows, when you've hit this state, it's too late, the window is closed. Returning from this abyss will most likely not happen.
Lap five brought me to the pits in a very negative head space. I reported to Amy and Scott (Danielle's husband and pit crew) that it wasn't looking good for me, I was in a bad way. They fed me information on my standings and I learned that I was currently running 3rd in my race. They bolstered me with comments like, "Every one's hurting out there" and "It's hot for everyone" and "I just saw 'so and so' come through and he looked terrible". 'Kid' Riemer brought me back around with, "Eki...No pressure. Seriously there's no pressure". But, there was pressure and it was coming from me. I had to get back on 'Big Mama'. I mounted up and left for lap 6, I had three hours to go. I'd been in this cave before, and I'd find my way out.
Now I want to tell you that I was rebounding strong on lap 6 and things were really coming around for me, but that's just not true. I was moving slowly through the course apologizing to Afton through every switchback. Thing is she's not big on forgiveness.
It was when I dropped down a little chute about to cross a ski run when I heard what sounded like an M80 going off under my saddle and felt that sick feeling of sealant shooting all over my legs. My rear tire was down instantly. I ran the bike up to a shady spot and had a nice quick repair with no hassles. I heard the tubeless-ready tire's bead snap back into the rim with the shot of CO2. I was good to go! One huge pull off the water bottle and a gel later I was mounted and riding smooth again.
Then, about 20 minutes later...'Boom!' Flat #2. The tube I had thrown in the tire was exposed through a dime-sized hole (that I never saw) in the tire. Out of air and tubes I was forced to walk back to the pits thinking my day was most likely over. However upon my return 'Kid' learned of my misfortune and quickly offered up his wheel. Ultimately, it was not to be as his wheel fought 'Big Mama' every step of the way. I was out, I laid down my cards with 'no pressure', literally.
My 5 completed laps was good enough for a 9th place finish. I guess everyone really was hurting.
Thanks Salsa for sponsoring such a great event and special thanks to 'Kid' for all of his kind words and support. Man that guy can work a PA. He put a smile on my face every time I rolled through.
Now it's on to The 12 Hours of Pitch Black Singletrack: the shining star of the WEMS series.
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This post filed under the topic(s): Tim Ek , Salsa 24
Friday September 3rd, 2010
| | Kid Riemer
I didn't get to shoot too many photos at the Salsa Two-Four as I was too busy being MC and torturing folks with stories of the old days in Minnesota mountain bike racing, bad jokes, and other verbal nonsense that made its way past my lips. But I did take some and there are a few in the bunch that I actually like.
Last Friday it was all starting to go down. Festivities began with the Jolly Roger nightime DH race.
Men's race winner Thor Shellum who also happens to design products for sister-brand Surly...
Now say 'Fire' in a Beavis & Butthead type fasion...
Just about ready...
...and wham! Full-blow fire dancing action while the band Right From Rona kicked off the live music!
Eventually you have to actually start the 24-hour race though. Even the LeMans style start at the Salsa Two-Four is tough. Uphill, around a lift post, and back downhill to your bike.
Some folks are fast...
...but others are flashier!
...look real close...those underoos do say 'Flash' on them...
...others just ape around...sorry, that was bad...
Real racing got going though. And with it, some real suffering. One of our Salsa sponsored riders, Tim Ek, was entered in 8-hour Solo class. Tim had a rough day in the saddle. He was sitting in 3rd at this point, but was starting to cramp, and he put it, 'was in a real negative place'. I like this photo a lot. Look close, and you can see there's a battle going on inside his head.
But Eki got back on his horse and headed out still in the hunt...
...only to flat 20 minutes into the next lap...and then slashed his tire a few minutes after repairing it. One of those days for our boy Eki. Sorry Tim.
We did have a free Kid's race...
That's 9-year-old Powerful Paul being chased by 'almost 4-years-old' Owen...
More free live music on Saturday night from Right From Rona, 4 On The Floor, High Hopes, and Eric Swan. This is High Hopes.
Daytime, nightime, all the time is the right time to wear a bicycle helmet...
I happened to be standing 20 feet from him when he crashed on the downhill into the finish area. Gnarly. He checked out fine with the medics though. Helmet...your work is done here!
These last photos are of our other Salsa sponsored rider at the event, Danielle Musto, and her husband Scott. Scott was Danielle's pit crew at the event and I watched from the announcer stand throughout the event and was impressed by how dialed their pits were. Sometimes 15 seconds or less. Almost always under 2 minutes.
This series of photos was taken at about 3am, long after the heat of the day was done, and into the chilly hours of the night. I think they express the loneliness of 24-hour solo racing. Even with a pit crew, it is still that solo rider that has to go out and face their demons.
Danielle went on to win Solo Women's class and take 2nd Overall in Solo.
And that's it folks. Perhaps you'll join us next year for the 2011 Salsa Two-Four.
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This post filed under the topic(s): Danielle Musto , Tim Ek , Kid , Salsa 24
Friday August 27th, 2010
| | Kid Riemer
Salsa Two-Four weekend is here...and all Minnesota's mountain bikers are beneficiaries of the event...
Salsa is the title sponsor of the Salsa Two-Four, but MORC (Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists) puts on the event. Sure, we help out with some of the work but really it is on them to put it all together.
This year, Amanda from MORC has truly been kicking some organization butt. She's turned the Salsa Two-Four into the biggest, baddest, and probably loudest edition it has ever been. To put it simply there is simply more going on. More racing, more music, more art, more events...more.
It ain't easy being cheesy, but it's even harder to put on a kick butt event. Props to Amanda for all her hard work.
The Salsa Two-Four is a fundraiser for MORC. That's where the proceeds go. If you pay to do one of the races, the 'profits' after all the expenses are paid (and there are considerable expenses) go to MORC. If you eat a FREE burger, the money you put in the tip jar hopefully pays for the burger and results in a little extra ching making its way into the MORC coffers. If you come to listen to FREE live music on the Salsa Two-Four stage and choose to donate a few bucks into the hat that is coming around, those dollars will go to MORC.
This is Minnesota's mountain bike festival. If you are a Minnesota mountain biker and you are in the area, you should come out and spend some time here. You'll have fun AND you will help MORC develop and maintain even more great singletrack.
That's my plea to get a bunch of the local folks to stop out this year. But I also want to thank all the other sponsors that have signed on for this year's event...and there are a lot of them!
Thanks to (in no particular order!): Hammer Nutrition, Ergon, Light & Motion, Dirty Dog, Twin Six, Rack Attack, Pedros, CrankBrothers, Penn Cycle & Fitness, Resource Revival, Afton Alps, Jagwire, Timbuk2, Tifosi, Premium Waters, Spoke9, Thomson, Chamois Butt'r, Angry Catfish, Freewheel Bike, Shockspital, DWitt, Midwest Mountaineering, Sherpani, Fresh Start, Pro Bar, Equal Exchange, Adam Turman, WTB, The Four Firkins, Erik's Bikes, and Behind Bars.
These fine sponsors are helping make Minnesota mountain bike trails better through their support of this event. Please show them your support in return!
Thanks to the bands that have agreed to play for FREE at the Salsa Two-Four. That's right folks this is FREE, LIVE MUSIC ON AN OUTDOOR STAGE!
Friday, August 27 @ 8:30 PM & Saturday, August 28 @ 10:45 PM
Right from Rona - Rock/Pop/Indie: http://www.rightfromrona.com/index.html
Saturday, August 28 @ 9:45 PM
High Hopes - Hard Core Punk: http://www.highhopestc.com/
Saturday, August 28 @ 8:30 PM
Four on the Floor - Southern Rock: http://www.myspace.com/the4onthefloor
Saturday, August 28 @ 12:00 PM & Sunday, August 29 @ Midnight
Eric Swan - Acoustic Guitar: This is Eric Swan's fourth appearance at the Salsa 2-4
Saturday, August 28 @ 7:00 PM
Dad's Night-Time Friends - Covers
Thanks to the artists that are coming out to display and sell their bike-related art!
Lauren Strom - LaurenStrom - Bike T-Shirts
http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurenstrom
Brianna Auel - Broken Heart Social Club
http://www.etsy.com/people/BrokenHeartSocial
Erica Herker
http://www.etsy.com/shop_policy.php?user_id=10176758
Allison Johnson - Pot-Pour-Ri Jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop/potpourri4
George - What Knot Shop - Braided Rope Bracelets
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatKnotShop
Holly Magner - Grove Craft - Bike Hats/Caps
http://grovecraft.com/
Anjee Mai - Claymation Creations - Figures
http://anjeemai.com/index.html
Emily Floyd - Jewelry
http://emilyfloyd.com/
William Dohman - WKD Studios - Photography, Prints, Wooden Toys & Recycled Signs
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamDohman
Thanks to Danielle Musto and Tim Ek for putting on a FREE Endurance Racing Clinic TONIGHT!
6pm on the bike portion, 7pm off-the-bike Q&A session...
And thanks to MORC for the hard work they put into not just this event, but toward building and maintaining many of our Minnesota mountain bike trails. The dirt you help provide is much appreciated!
And that is it...show up and show your support...play a fun bike game or two and possibly win a prize. We hope to see you at the Salsa Two-Four!
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This post filed under the topic(s): Kid , Salsa 24
Monday August 23rd, 2010
| | Danielle Musto
NOTE -- We had a request by a reader to hear about some of the Training that some of the Salsa Crew and our sponsored riders partake in. They will be coming throughout the next couple weeks. --
ONE OTHER NOTE -- Danielle, who wrote this post, and another of our sponsored rider's, Tim Ek, will be conducting a FREE endurance racing clinic this Friday evening as the Salsa Two-Four gets underway here at Afton Alps in Hastings, Minnesota. There will be a riding portion, followed by a discussion/Q&A session.--
I do a variety of races throughout the summer, and my training varies depending on what's next on the schedule. I have an awesome coach (Lynda Wallenfels) who is an accomplished endurance racer, and she keeps me on track throughout the season.
Winter is a great time for me to work on building strength, so my coach has me doing intervals a few times a week. I usually do these on the trainer so that I don't have to worry about bad road conditions etc. The workouts are usually pretty short (under 2 hours) but so hard that I'm usually one minute away from falling off the trainer by the time that they are done. However, it's also really important to do some long rides outside each week. Michigan has a great cycling community and it's usually pretty easy to find people to ride outside with and we mostly ride at an endurance pace. Usually it's hard to ride actual snow covered trail in the winter, which is a shame. I feel like a Mukluk would enhance my winter training 100%!!!
Once winter breaks, I say good-bye to the trainer for good and do both intervals and long rides outside. There are a few hundred milers early in the season that I like to do, so I usually do a few longer races beforehand as training. For example, this season I did a four-hour marathon race in Arizona in February, then two 65-mile gravel road races in March and April. Training races are a great way to dial in race nutrition and pacing.
Summer is all about racing and recovering. This is when all of the hard training that I did over the winter and spring pays off. I still ride every day, but my training becomes very specific to what race is next. For instance, right now I have a 24-hour race coming up next weekend (the Salsa Two-Four). So this week I'm doing a few mountain bike rides in the dark to practice my night riding skills.
Another important aspect of training (especially during the race season) is recovering right. Too often it's really tempting to start training immediately after a race. But that can be detrimental to your fitness if your muscles aren't fully recovered from the heavy stress load you just put them under. During recovery days I try to get a little extra sleep, use the foam roller, and stretch!
Once fall hits most of my endurance races are done for the season. It's a good time to mix things up a bit, and I do as many cross races as possible just for fun. My training becomes a little less structured and my ride lengths depend on what I feel like doing. Once the snow starts falling my coach usually has me take a few weeks almost completely off and then it's time to start training for next year!
Although my training changes depending on the time of year, there is one constant that never changes. Having a strong core is very important, especially for endurance athletes. A good book to follow for core exercises is Core Performance: Endurance by Mark Verstegen. I hope this info helps! It works for me.
----THIS WEEKEND! SALSA TWO-FOUR, AUGUST 27TH - 29TH---
We've sponsored the Salsa Two-Four In Support Of MORC for the last 3 years. This year's event has really taken a step forward to becoming the bike, art, and music festival that we'd hoped it would eventually become. Massive props to Amanda from MORC for her work on this event. MORC runs it. Salsa sponsors it.
Here is some of what is going on: FREE endurance racing clinic, Friday Night DH Race, 24-Hour Racing, 8-Hour Racing, Bike Games With Salsa, Homemade Salsa Competition & Tasting, Artists Displaying & Selling Bike-Related Art, Live Music, Food, Bonfires, Camping...
And here is the kicker...aside from the racing, this is a FREE event! C'mon out and take part even if you aren't racing! For more info visit Salsa Two-Four
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This post filed under the topic(s): Danielle Musto , Salsa Team , Salsa 24
Friday May 8th, 2009
| | Kid Riemer
Greetings All Ye Gluttons Of Dirt,
Online registration for the Salsa Two-Four (both 24-hour and 8-hour races) is now open.
REGISTER FOR THE SALSA TWO-FOUR
We are sweetening the pot a bit. Enter before June 1, 2009 and you may win a special, very cool, schwag package that I will personally assemble.
Read that again...I am guaranteeing that this will be a very cool schwag package...but you've got to enter before June 1st to have a chance of winning it.
With that...enjoy Mother's Day weekend everyone.
-Kid
Labels: Salsa 24, Salsa Two-Four
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This post filed under the topic(s): Salsa 24
Thursday April 2nd, 2009
| | Kid Riemer
For those of you that are wondering just what the Salsa Two-Four course is like, we thought we'd give you a preview of what to expect. Enjoy.
Salsa Two-Four Reality Check
-Kid
Labels: Salsa 24, Salsa Two-Four
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This post filed under the topic(s): Salsa 24
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