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 -- Eki, who wrote this post, and another of our sponsored rider's, Danielle Musto (who wrote yesterday's post), 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've always been hesitant to write about my training as I fear it would only be interesting to me. So, one can imagine that I was a bit excited to find that someone out there actually may be interested in the topic. I think the concept of training is a very individual thing and what works for some may not work for others. I'll simply comment on what has worked for me.
The main component to my training is finding the balance between the mundane and the fun. If it loses it's fun factor than the risk of losing it all looms. The way I attempt to keep it interesting is by placing an element of adventure into the thick of my training months, which are over the winter. This adventure comes in the form of extremely long road rides in the cold temps of northern Minnesota. My training partners and I call these 'DBD' rides, which simply stands for 'Death Before Dishonor'. In other words, these rides are pushed to the point of wondering if you're going to make it or not. You know that, 'Don't quit, whatever you do, DON'T QUIT' kind of ride.
More specifically, my training is based on hours per week, not miles. The winter months are all about 'saddle time'. I don't worry about speed, just getting consistent hours per week. I try to set a rhythm to these hours with some weeks being heavy, while others are lighter. Snowmobile trails that are frozen solid make up my after work rides, while tar roads in the country on my cross bike meet the DBD requirements. If it gets crazy cold I will reluctantly climb aboard my road bike and trainer and pedal away some hours in the basement. All of these hours are complimented by daily commutes to work and home again. I haven't driven a car to work in over 7 years.
This of course is coupled with a healthy diet and typically some weight loss over the winter (ironically). I guess the weight loss makes sense considering the length of some of the winter rides, sometimes in the neighborhood of 13 hours in the saddle at once.
This regime has worked well for me over the last few years as I gear up toward the early season Trans Iowa. However, I sometimes find that my competition is finding their stride in midsummer while I wonder if I'm growing a bit weary from such a demanding winter and early season racing (i.e. Trans Iowa, Ragnorak, Dirty Kaza 200, WEMS 12-hour solos).
I believe in keeping it simple. I know that there are much more complicated ways to train, but I'm not that complicated of a guy. So, I often just break it down to riding the bike a lot and vary the way I do it. Oh, and make sure it's always FUN!
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
Monday August 23rd, 2010
| 0 Comments | 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.
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
Since 1990, Nebraska's Psycowpath mountain bike series has given off-road cyclists the opportunity to experience some of the best riding in the state during its races. I started racing the same year, and aside from the years I spent living in Colorado in the late-90s, the races in the series have been a mainstay of my mountain bike season ever since.
The recent Tranquility race weekend signaled the start of the second half of the 2010 Psycowpath series. It was a three race weekend, but it wasn't a stage race. Each race was scored as an individual event, giving racers three opportunities to score series points. The first event of the weekend was a time trial on the steep, forested bluffs of the Missouri River, at the Lewis & Clark Monument. Then, racers moved to Tranquility Park in Omaha for a short track cross country race on Saturday afternoon. Sunday's event was the cross country and three hour marathon event.
I mentioned the fact that racers had three opportunities to score series points... Well, that didn't really apply to marathon series competitors. We only had one opportunity to score marathon series point, which was in Sunday's marathon race. For Saturday's time trial, I had to run in the Cat 1 Open class. Not a bad thing, but an interesting twist nonetheless...
Unfortunately, my performance in Saturday's Lewis & Clark time trial was defined by my arrival time to the race. After getting lost on my way to the venue (it had been five years since I'd ridden there -- my bad) and thinking I was going to completely miss my start time, I made it to the venue literally 12 minutes prior to my start. Fortunately, all of the driving time while being lost gave me plenty of time to get into my team gear, so when I popped out of the car, I had my helmet on, ready to ride. All I had to do was throw on a number plate and go...
MG...ready to suffer?
...but without a proper warmup, going hard was a brutal awakening. That said, the trails at Lewis & Clark Monument were absolutely primo and my El Mariachi Ti was handling so good that I couldn't resist laying it all on the line. I couldn't believe that, for all the calamity getting there, I was actually riding pretty well on the trail. It was about at that point of revelry that I could hear myself being caught from behind by my minute man, Ryan Feagan. I could tell he was on a rocket ride and if he kept it up, he very well might end up on the top step of the podium.
Little did I know, Minnesota pro, Jesse Reints had thrown down a blazing fast time earlier in the day that would beat Ryan's time by ten seconds, but out on the course, when it was just Ryan and I, and I knew he was putting it all out there, I had to holler for my brother. Once I let him around me, I absolutely buried myself so I could keep cheering "Go Feagan!" and "You can do it!" for as long as I could. You see, Ryan and his wife Roxy are the promoters of the Psycowpath series, so it was very cool to be able to witness this awesome performance from Ryan.
The effort was good enough to help pull me up and around my minute man, and into a fifth place finish in Cat 1 for the day. I guess the way I look at it, any day I can finish 'in the money' is a good day, so I was happy with my ride. And the course was so much fun, I went out for another lap after all the other racers had gone. All alone on the trail, riding at a 'normal' pace, I was able to take the time to enjoy the challenges and the beauty of the Lewis & Clark trail. It was one of those 'this is as good as it gets' moments.
I had to skip the STXC race Saturday night due to my 20th high school reunion... an event I simply couldn't miss.
Sunday's three hour marathon race was brutal. If you ask me what defined the day, it was the heat. At the finish when I got back to my car, the thermometer said 105 degrees. Unfortunately, similar to other times this season, I was not stellar in the heat.
I went into the race feeling confident that I could pull off a victory, but at the end of the day was left standing on the second step of the podium after being soundly beaten by a better prepared competitor. His name is Dale Pinkelman and he was even riding a Salsa -- a 2008 El Santo to be exact.
After taking the lead on the first lap, I had eaked out about a 45 second lead through the first two laps. Then, on the third lap of six we completed that day, Dale came back to me as I began to falter on the course's longest climb, a wide-open, switchback-filled beast that featured an absolutely sweltering with-the-wind section. He made his pass here, and almost immediately had a comfortable gap. I meanwhile, was in trouble. I'd gone out harder than I'd intended to go, and now was paying the price for my earlier effort in the heat. It was going to be a long next three laps. I had plenty of time out there to appreciate how well my bike was working though -- at least it was dialed! I couldn't believe how fast it was letting me flow through the serpentine singletrack on the back side of the course.
In the end, I was able to salvage my runner-up position, despite my challenges with the heat. I have to give a lot of credit to my equipment for helping me get to the line safely, because I was a wreck! I can't remember another bicycle race I was more glad to finish, and as soon as I did, I made a bee line for my Subaru and its ice cold air conditioning. Oh yeah, that's the stuff! In fact, I fell asleep so fast in the A/C that I almost missed the awards ceremony! Fortunately I got back out there just in the nick of time.
Next up is Gravel Worlds on Saturday, Aug. 21, right here in Lincoln, Nebraska. Are you gonna' be joining us? I sure hope so.
------------------ UPCOMING EVENT: TONIGHT AT NORTH CENTRAL CYCLERY, DEKALB, ILLINOIS ---------------------
Tonight, Wednesday, August 18th Salsa will present a preview of some never-before-seen products at an event hosted by North Central Cyclery in Dekalb, IL. Salsa sales manager, David Gabrys will be present with the Mukluk, El Mariachi Ti, La Cruz Ti, the new steel El Mariachi and the background behind our Adventure By Bike direction. He will also be sharing some cool stuff that can only be seen by attendees of the event, so it will be worth your while to make the visit and see what’s happening for 2011.
The event begins at 7pm and will be followed by a campfire (and hopefully S'mores). There will be beer too! RSVP at rideaway@northcentralcyclery.com. North Central Cyclery, 534 E. Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb, IL (815) 758-2403.
Wednesday July 21st, 2010
| 0 Comments | Gerry Pflug
Last year I raced the Breckenridge 100 NUE Series Race and was completely conquered by the course. I also had a mechanical problem on top of the first long climb that made an attempt at winning the race impossible for me. But, even with the mechanical issue and the difficult course, I was very happy to pull off a second place finish last year. Feeling that I could only improve on how I did in 2009, I decided to give the Breckenridge 100 another try this year.
There is no doubt that Breckenridge is a super hard 100-mile MTB course. The overall high altitude of the race, which is held at between the elevation of 9500 and 12000 feet, combined with well over 12000 feet of total vertical climbing on three different and distinct loops is a brutal combination to overcome. Of course, doing the race on a singlespeed bike only makes the fight against all the climbing and the high elevation even more difficult to complete.
To make the race a little more bearable than last year, I decided to use an easier gear and also thought that knowing the course layout from my previous attempt would help me improve my finishing time. But, even with these two advantages over my 2009 race, I knew that I would still need to contend with attempting to breathe at the high Breckenridge elevation with a much lower oxygen amount than I am used to breathing at my home in Pennsylvania. Knowing where I was on the course and my better gear selection certainly did make the race less difficult than my 2009 attempt, but my inability to collect enough oxygen with each breath was enough to keep me in a world of hurt for the majority of the race.
At most of the NUE Series Races, the race begins with groups of riders forming in packs of equal ability and working together. This is a good thing, as it seems to make the miles and time tick away a little quicker. At Breckenridge, however, things immediately split up during the first long, one-plus-hour climb up and over Wheeler Pass, which starts off the race. From that point on, riders come and go, but there is little opportunity to develop any long lasting working relationships on the trails. The race becomes a long solo journey, with an occasional hello to another rider here and there. Fortunately, there is plenty of natural beauty around the surrounding mountains of Breckenridge to enjoy and help pass the time during the race.
I put in my best battle against Breck this year, but she did not make the competition an easy one. I thought my preparations for my journey this year would make things easier for me than my 11 hour and 6 minute trip of last year. I was wrong. Yes, my time was faster. Almost an hour faster than my 2009 effort, as a matter of fact, but Breckenridge still put me at a level of hurt that no other course has done. The hard effort I put out was good enough for a third place finish in the singlespeed class, but the beating the course gave me did not make me feel like a podium finisher.
Yes, I am happy about surviving and finishing the race. It was certainly a hard task to do on a course that completely defeated many race starters by placing a DNF next to their names. So, I guess that I should not feel completely conquered by you, Breckenridge. But, I will never again let myself feel like my pre-race preparations are enough to help me claim victory over you, for you will always be one of the hardest races on my list and should never be underestimated. Breckenridge, you have my total respect for kicking my butt not once, but twice; and, all the while doing it with a complete look of magnificence.
So, with the Breckenridge 100 complete, I have now finished four of the eight 2010 NUE Series races this season. Currently I am leading the series in the SS class, but a lot can still happen since only a racer’s best four of the eight races count for the overall. My plan is to do all eight of the NUE Races, with the next race being one of my favorites of the series, the Wilderness 101 in Coburn, PA on July 31st. A week later I will travel out to Bend, OR for my first attempt at the new NUE Series Race, the High Cascade 100. The last two races of the series, the Fool’s Gold 100 in Georgia and the Shenandoah 100 in Virginia, are also two races that I really enjoy doing. If you’re doing one of these races, I will see you there. If not, you should really consider getting your name on the starting list before it is too late.
Today's post comes to us by way of the United Kingdom. Phil Buick is the racer/manager of the UK Salsa Factory Race Team. The team consists of four riders this season and though busy getting dirty at various 24-hour events, a couple of them slowed down for a few moments to record their thoughts on their new race steed: the Ala Carte Ti. -Kid
First from Phil:
I was very fond of my Moto Rapido. I still am. It rode very well, looked great and didn’t beat you up too much. It was a proper hardtail racer.
So a Ti frame based on the Ala Carte to replace it… hmm. Well, I’d never really subscribed to the Ti philosophy, certainly not as a material I’d hankered after other than for lightweight bits of kit. For a frame material it’s just another type of metal tube at the end of the day, isn’t it? I don’t think I am a sceptic, but I had heard the tales of the magical properties of Ti frames and thought “but we all love our bikes, we like exotic brand names and exotic materials, what’s not to like?” We certainly wouldn’t want to say they were average, okay, or not quite up to the hype. I was (I think you are getting the picture) prepared not to be wowed.
The team were waiting for delivery of four bikes, three for ‘the Buicks’, mine plus my daughters’ Anna and Imogen, and one for George Budd. George had been in France competing in the XC version of Le Tour and was very excited to come back and get his new bike. Pictures immediately popped up on Facebook, and while camera phones are not the best for capturing the best bike pics, it did look okay and George’s enthusiasm was beginning to rub off a bit too. A new bike is always exciting.
Excitement levels were up when it came to collection time ... out of the box … class - not a loud ‘WOW’ - but oooh that is nice, class.
Anyway next day was race day up and down the side of a precipitous mud mountain and I wasn’t about to do that on a bike straight out of the box. That evening however the necessary parts were fettled ready for a ride the next day at a nearby Welsh trail centre, Cwmcarn.
And I thought this could be the beginning of something…
Anyway this is what I wrote to the guys at Ison Distribution (Salsa's UK distributor and team sponsor. as an immediate impression and a thanks:
Pat et al,
Back in the office after the Bank Hol weekend and a trip to S. Wales for BMBS #3. Highlight of Fri was picking up the new bikes, v. nice and thanks’ to all for the hospitality. Most of the rest of the day was spent in traffic and road works, not so good. Sat was wet and horrible as was the course, grovel up, slip sideways along and slide down + run a lot. Imogen podiumed with a 3rd., I slipped from 4th to 8th somehow with a few drivetrain issues and a bit of an off. Did however have time to get the new bikes together enough to ride on the Sun at Cwm-Carn. Where the sun came out and the bike was fab. Difficult to put a finger on it but it felt light, lively and responsive without being harsh. A friend, who was riding with me on his Giant carbon hardtail racer, summed it up saying the Ti bike seemed to be in a calm and quiet bubble of its own compared with his more noisy and animated progress … mmmm nice. Im wasn’t quite up for riding hers after dinging the Moto Rapido on Sat but did do a few laps of the car park environs, it’s ‘lush’ apparently. Anna is back from Uni this weekend so we will finish building hers up then, she’s very excited, plus she’ll be back in training after her forced lay off.
So all’s good, bikes are lovely and were much admired, hopefully we’ll all get together when Paul gets back. Thanks’ to Lloyd, Andy, Maz too.
I’m in Ely on Fri so if the wheels are in I’ll collect but no rush, meanwhile we’ll look forward to Mountain Mayhem on the new bikes.
Cheers,
Phil ..
Mayhem (24 Hr.) has now happened. The course was a brute, baked hard and rutted with 1,300 ft. of climbing per lap. The team did 28 laps, 7 laps each, like clockwork. I did the final lap, hopped off the bike, slapped my teammates on the back a bit and went for a shower. My legs caned a bit but otherwise, no aches, no pains, no cramp, no lost fillings, no detached retinas………. The bike? It just did it, like another limb, no drama, no worries.
I think this is the beginning of something, something special perhaps. Anything to do with the frame material I wonder…..Phil Buick
And now from Phil's daughter and teammate, Anna:
On seeing pictures of my younger sister Imogen’s brand spanking new Ala Carte Ti on Facebook, I let out a squeal of excitement and ran out of my room, down the corridor of my university halls and into my friend’s room just so that I could tell someone, anyone, how awesome it looked! I know looks aren’t everything but if these bikes were going to be as good to ride as they were to look at I was in for quite a treat. I travelled home for the weekend to find out.
I wasn’t disappointed. Despite having just come out of the end of a 6-week enforced lay-off and thus trying to ease myself gently back into the saddle, I could not help but push on the pedals. The bike just wanted to go faster. It was egging me on!
Out of the saddle the frame felt very light and responsive, as though I was carrying little more than my bodyweight up the hills. It wasn’t harsh though - it felt grounded and smooth and didn’t bounce me around.
Of course, what you hang off the frame affects the riding experience too. The gears are sublime, the DT Swiss forks respond according to whatever you throw them at and the Genetic saddle and seatpost are lightweight yet forgiving.
Having only ridden the Ala Carte on the smooth and fast trails of Thetford Forest it was good to have the opportunity to ride at Dalby, Yorkshire. Here the trails were rocky and technical, traversing and undulating across the hillsides. Following my last outing in Dalby Forest at the UCI World Cup earlier in the year, where I ultimately ended my race with a fairly spectacular crash, I was a little nervous about the technical sections. However, the Ala Carte Ti instilled confidence – despite the relentless sections of rocky trail it didn’t skip around or feel flighty, and it took off from logs and lips and landed without ever feeling erratic or out of control.
For me, the best thing about my Ala Carte is the strange but perfect way is seems to change weight! When climbing and accelerating it feels light and responsive, yet in the corners and over the top of small inclines it seems to carry such momentum. You can really throw the bike into the corners and let it rail you round, and in the tighter twists and turns if you whip the bike left and right it deals with the obstacles and allows you to carry on virtually in a straight line and without loosing speed.
All in all, the Ala Carte Ti inspires and rewards speed. It’s beautiful to ride and beautiful to look at. I love it. -Anna Buick
Eki's epic conclusing to the 2010 Dirty Kanza continues below...but first...
Tomorrow night! June 15th at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, Salsa proudly presents Ride The Divide! Online ticket sales stop at 7pm today (June 14th). To purchase advance tickets click the logo below. It is the only way to know fo' sho' that you're getting in. Proceeds benefit One Gear, One Cause
-----
I moved up the sidewalk among spectators and the family members of other riders to a gas station. I laughed to myself inside as I heard comments like, "You look strong", "Nice job, you're looking good". I appreciated it, but I knew there was no way for them to know how I felt inside. Pulling into the store I saw a bike and a rider sitting next to it. "Was that a Salsa kit? Yes, it's Joe!" "What up dawg?" I said as I feigned an attempt at humor. "Hey buddy", was his reply. Of course my first question was, "How long you been here?" "Two minutes, my engine just ain't runnin'", he said. "I feel you", I replied, again feigning humor.
Twenty minutes later we were mounting up and had decided to push on together for as long as we could. We joked about how this reminded us of Trans Iowa 5, riding together again. Looking at a forty mile leg in front of us to the next checkpoint, then a sixty after that, we knew we still had a long day ahead. I couldn't help but think about how Joel, co-director, mentioned to me at the checkpoint that there was a portion of this upcoming leg where we would "cook". "How could he know how hot it would be out there?" I thought. Plus, what the hell, we were already super hot. Joel had also warned me about a section known as "Little Egypt". This was to be a very difficult, technical section which was prone to damaging cattle rancher's trucks, not to mention delicate 'cross bikes. "Whatever", I thought, "I got all kinds of problems right now anyway".
Joe and I pushed through the miles riding steady and holding an urgent pace. We felt good about how things were developing and although it wasn't mentioned, I think we felt good about being together. Eventually we started noticing one huge roller after the next, all extremely exposed. We were riding in high plains terrain with breathtaking, expansive views. This was open range country and it was not uncommon for us to be riding through areas that contained no fences. Many times we rolled through herds of cows. We'd call out like cowboys, "HEP, HEP!" in order to get them to move out of our way. It was a world foreign to me, but I liked it. At one point I pedaled past a black cow standing by the road and noticed how he just looked at me with sad eyes. I remember thinking, "I'm sorry you're so hot buddy. So am I".
Still together Joe and I entered the "cooker". We slowed, then slowed some more. I felt like I had been complaining a little too often so I vowed to keep my mouth shut as I know what it's like to hear someone talk about their hardships. You just don't want to hear it! Everyone's got their cross to bear at this point. Side by side we moved up a small incline and I looked directly at Joe's face in an attempt to assess his condition. He had his head cocked to the side, a grimace on his face that resembled pain or some type of dementia. My assessment told me he was hurting, so was I! My head was spinning as I tried to cope with the heat. At times I felt like I was losing his wheel, but it wasn't true, we were in this together.
I started feeling like my body temp was in a dangerous place as I couldn't stop thinking about finding a way to cool down. Pressure built inside my head and my vision blurred. Shaking my head from side to side changed nothing and on top of this I was still riding my bike. Controlling the machine became a problem as I swerved around on the road behind Joe. I was circling the drain as they say and it was picking up speed. I was approaching the 'event horizon' or the point of no return. I had to stop and it needed to be soon. All I could think about was water. I resolved to look for a cattle pond, I'd pull over and go lay down in it's tepid liquid. This was an emergency, I had to cool down soon! I toiled in this state for over an hour until I could stand it no longer. I succumbed and called out, "Joe, I have to stop at the next spot of shade. I've got to try to cool my head down. I'm sorry."
There it was, a small shadow on the side of the road. I pulled over to it, ripped my helmet off, dropped the Camelback and quickly sat on the ground. The trees were spinning around me, my whole world was coming apart. I'd never been in this kind of trouble before. What was happening to me? Twenty seconds passed and Joe called out, "It's too hot to stop, I'm pushing on." Afraid of being alone I put my helmet back on and said, "I'll come with you." Not sure how I would do it, I mounted up and wavered down the road at a measly four or five miles per hour with my partner doing the same in front of me. In a hypnotic state I pushed on behind him, confused and scared by what was happening to me. I analyzed my options. If I were able to get cell phone service, which I doubted was possible it would take them hours to get to me and I'd most likely just die in the dirt waiting. My only option was to keep moving forward and we knew a town was about nine miles ahead. Suddenly and without warning Joe grabbed his brakes and muttered something about his shifter being broken. I rolled past to a spot of shade about the size of a throw rug. I immediately shed my kit and pulled the straps of my bibs off my shoulders. Positioning my camel back as a pillow, I went prone in the gravel with no regard for the rocks sticking to my skin or the grit that was finding it's way into my being. To me, this was life or death. Things went quiet around me. I was falling asleep and fading fast. I wondered if this is what people go through when they are freezing to death. A voice in my head said, "Just let go, it will be o.k., just let go. No! Don't go to sleep, don't sleep!" "Joe? Are you still working on your bike?" It was so quiet. "No, I'm laying down too", was his reply.
"We should turn back, there was a little village about a quarter mile back. Maybe we could find a hose there" Joe quietly stated. We rose from the gravel and rolled back to a home that appeared to have an amateur gardener for an owner. We'd knock on this door and ultimately be saved. One of Kansas' best opened the door. A man in his late 60's living a quiet life with his dogs appeared in front of us and offered his garden hose while inquiring about our condition and our ambition. Desperately I ripped off my jersey as did Joe and we proceeded to take turns cooling our bodies with the hose. The force of life surged into me like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. We drank from the water and continued to spray ourselves off while our host looked on perplexed by not only where we'd come from, but by where we were going. Soon other riders approached and one by one they came for the hose. We helped each other cool down. One in particular stands out; James was really hurting and told me that he too laid down in the dirt. I hosed his back and his head while his life force returned to him. I noted how his eyes seemed to bulge and his speech was unclear at times. Later he would brush a horsefly off my back in an effort to return the favor that I'd done with him in spraying him down.
With some deft skills Joe turned his machine into a two-geared rig. He no longer would possess the ability to access the gears on the back of his bike, but still had his front two rings. He'd get home on these gears. I made a promise to myself that I'd help him get there. We'd make our way to the next town, there we'd reload for the final thirty miles to the finish.
Eskridge, Kansas I think is what it was called. This small town was our last chance at contact with the outside world so to speak. Here is where we'd pull it all together and ultimately go for the finish. A small convenience store turned into what would become a forward fire base of sorts. Bedraggled and beaten men began to pull into the small building with far away looks in their eyes. Joe and I consumed cold Mountain Dew and refilled our hydration systems. I tried to get some calories on board, but my stomach protested with every swallow. I fought through it as I knew it was crucial that I give my body the fuel it so desperately needed. Soon enough we were among about six of what used to be our competitors and now were just fellow riders, all in this mess together. Some looked worse than others. James from back at the garden hose sat next to me. His skin glistened with sweat and his pupils looked dilated. He said little, but it seemed that he had much to say. Finally, he asked me if I thought it would be a good idea if he made himself throw up. "No!", I told him. Joe responded in kind stating that his body needed all the nutrients it could possibly get at this point. Meanwhile, a rider fell sound asleep at the table across from me. He was quickly awakened and encouraged to eat and drink something. His head bobbled as he clearly didn't comprehend what was being said to him. The scene became surreal as it continued to unfold. I decided to leave due to the atmosphere of broken souls all around me. I told Joe we needed to roll, he commented that he wanted just a few more minutes. I paid the kind lady at the counter and went outside in search of some shade. A few moments passed when Joe asked me if I still had my map, our way home. "Yeah, why?" "Because, that guy in there threw up all over mine." He went on to report that James did the same. "We have to get out of here! This place is no good for us, let's go!", I told my partner. Clearly, he knew I was right as he geared up.
Two miles down the road we pulled over to get Joe's machine into a gear built for more speed as it seemed the terrain was more forgiving. A solo rider passed us and was looking strong. "Tim, you can go after him if you want, I know how it is" Joe told me. "I'm sticking with you, we're coming in together." He said, "Thanks, it means a lot to me to have you with me, we're a good match." At least that's how I remember the exchange. It doesn't matter, we were a good match and sometimes bonds form out there that the pursuit of competition can't break. This is where we were at. We talked about the beauty of Kansas and the things we saw this day. I pointed out the sunset to Joe and remarked about how difficult it would be to explain to people back home. He plainly stated, "That's why we ride our bikes for 13 hours, to see stuff like that". I knew what he meant.
We put the closing miles behind us as the darkness closed in. The road was smooth and so were we. I knew it had to be discussed so I brought it up about three miles from the finish. "How do you want to do this? You want to come in together or do you want to fight it out?". "You're going in first", was the reply. "Are you sure?", I asked. Joe commented about my sportsmanship out on the road. He was clear about how he felt. I recall thinking about his willingness to stay true to the bond that forms between competitors when the chips really are down. We joked about sprinting for the line anyway, but Joe was adamant that I come in before him. I called on him to give it his best, because I wanted a shot at him fair and square. I joked with him that I was confident I could take him in a sprint regardless of any agreements. We laughed and agreed to "line it up" when the time was right and when we could see the finish.
We followed a series of small poles stuck in the ground by the side of the road with "blinkies" on them. They'd lead us to the line. Passing a man on a Harley Davidson sitting at a corner we were informed that we were a mile out and he remarked that we "looked good", I laughed. As we approached the downtown area an Emporia police cruiser flipped on his flashing lights and seemingly offered us an escort through the streets. "No way", Joe stated. "He's going to lead us in!", was my response. The cruiser pulled off just in time for us to see the block party going on in front of us and the finish banner. I could hear the band playing a Tom Petty song when we squared off. "Let's do it!" We rose from our saddles and pushed our machines one more time. Side by side we rocked our bikes back and forth checking each other's position compared to our own as we closed on the line. What seemed like three hundred spectators cheered as we battled for the finish. I crossed a half bike length ahead, but I knew that we crossed together. We took 5th and 6th position overall, finishing somewhere around 15 hours.
We adapted, we remained flexible, we survived...we rose from the gravel.
A special thanks to Jim Cummins and his crew for putting on such an amazing event. Joe, Ryan and Pete, I'd travel with you guys anywhere. Thanks for making it so fun. -Eki
-----
One last reminder! Tomorrow night! June 15th at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, Salsa proudly presents Ride The Divide! Online ticket sales stop at 7pm today (June 14th). To purchase advance tickets click the logo below. It is the only way to know fo' sho' that you're getting in. Proceeds benefit One Gear, One Cause
I believe it was this past fall when I decided I would participate in the Dirty Kanza 200 or as it is known in short hand, the DK. This would be an opportunity and an experience I didn't want to miss. I'd be traveling to Emporia, KA with the Salsa crew and Salsa was the title sponsor of the event. This seemed to be the perfect formula for me. I was in!
Last Thursday I jumped in the car after work and headed down to Minneapolis to hook up with fellow Salsa rider, excellent competitor, and friend, Joe Meiser. Joe was kind enough to allow me to crash at his house before we hooked up with the rest of the guys the following day. The next morning saw Joe and I spinning easy to a local diner to meet two of the remaining four teammates that would make up the "Dirty Six". Sadly, we were minus one Sean Mailen who bowed out with a nagging knee injury. Ryan Horkey and Pete Koski were already at the diner when we rolled in. I'd come to spend a great deal of time with these top notch guys in the coming days. Emporia is nine hours south of Minneapolis and you get to know a little about everyone in the car on a drive like that. I liked what I saw. Our remaining two teammates, Jason Boucher and Matt Gersib, would join us at our final destination.
The nine to ten hour drive went by faster than I expected as we tried to keep up with Joe's antics and musical choices. We pulled into the pre-race meeting point at the local Best Western. Jim Cummins, director of the event, had arranged for us to be hosted by a local rider and participant of the DK. Randy, the home owner, and Dustin, who I believe was renting, would play a pivotal role in the experience. Their hospitality and generosity were unmatched. Once registration was completed we relaxed and socialized with some familiar faces as well as joined our final two teammates. Soon after arrival I was taken by the number of people who started to pack the room. "There were a lot of people here, this is a big deal!", I thought. As usual the anxiety began to build, but I pushed it down. After all, this was a 200-mile race, no Trans Iowa distance. I had nothing to worry about. An important lesson was learned here; never underestimate any of these gravel races. The "Dirty Six" were introduced to the room by Jim Cummins as it was clear he was appreciative of Salsa's involvement and support of this event. The meeting adjourned and we were released to make our final gear tweaks and adjustments.
My kit was set and my plan was simple. I'd ride through checkpoint one in the break, stop at checkpoint two (100 miles) for a refill and push for the finish with the leaders. My goals were clear, a top ten finish in this stacked field would be something I'd like to take home and a finishing time of under 14 hours would be something I could certainly hang my hat on. Finishing under 13 hours would really put a smile on my face. It's amazing, how things can change. "Adapt, flexibility, survive", were words that I didn't realize I would begin to live by.
The start was calm and similar to most gravel race starts. We were rolled out by a police car and set loose to our own devices as well as the gravel after about a mile or so. Immediately, Joe jumped to the front and brought the pace up. I cursed him as I clamored through the front of the field to gain his wheel. "Really, do we have to do this now?", I thought as my heart rate rose. It was a race after all, so if we can punch out some of the field now and get to the business at hand we might as well. I took a few turns on the front of the field and felt I was driving hard. I was careful not to stay up front too long and kept my eye on all Salsa jerseys as I knew it was imperative I stay near Joe and Ryan. If Joe and Ryan were involved in a split that left me hanging behind I knew it would be difficult to join them again. However, if we stayed together I knew we'd protect each other if we could.
As the miles clicked by and the nerves settled I was impressed by Joe's ability to always find a hole in order to make his way to the front. Ryan's riding style was smooth and controlled with hidden horsepower that he taps when he needs it. These are a couple of talented riders I was with. It felt good to be among this group. Soon the legend of the DK began to rear it's head and riders were pulling off with flats. I noticed the first to go was teammate Matt Gersib, who rang his front wheel hard off an unsuspecting rock. Scenarios such as this would play out from time to time and whittle the group down one by one. I was confident in my tire choice and knew I needed to focus on being attentive to the surges that seemed to be lead by Corey 'Cornbread' Godfrey and last year's winner Matt 'Machine'.
An hour into the race the pace remained high, uncomfortably high! Pulling up to Ryan's wheel we remarked about the pace and hoped it would come down. A quick headcount had me realizing that the break was now made up of nine strong riders turning out a feverish pace. Then it happened: Troy Kraus, a skilled rider and one to watch in these events, caught a rut and was on the 'floor'. Three or four riders piled up behind him. In a nano second I shifted to mountain biker mode and threw my Chili to the right and off the road in an effort to avoid the crash. I emerged from the carnage unscathed, but the leaders were riding away. I buried myself in order to latch on. High on a plateau with no cover, totally exposed I battled the wind trying to bridge back. I could see Ryan hanging on to the back end of the group ahead checking over his shoulder to see if I was going to make it. I tried to send him telepathic messages to sit up for me and help me get back, but I knew that was not going to happen. I was not his responsibility and he was doing what he could do to stay hooked on at that point. I had to get through this one by myself.
Soon enough I was caught by another unknown rider who was in the same boat as me. Completely gassed we looked into each other's eyes briefly and without a word spoken knew what needed to be done. We jumped into a fast moving rotation, drafting off of each other as efficiently as we could. The leaders were coming back to us, we were doing it! After about what seemed like twenty minutes we were hooked back on, but on the back end. The front runners knew people were suffering in this group and it was time to put them out of their misery. The pace was very high as they attempted to push us out of their little club. A glance to my GPS told me that at 35 miles I was officially "popped" off the back of the breakaway and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I watched Joe work with this lead group of about five as they moved through switchbacks above me and made their way toward a high point in the plains. I had a conscious thought of how cool they looked, single file, silhouetted against the blue sky.
The scope of what lie ahead of me began to take hold and I set my resolve to settle in and start turning out a consistent pace. I'd see some of those strong men soon. They'd come back to me as their bodies eventually would go through what mine was going through now. The time began to move as did the miles. I picked up riders here and there, but mostly I traveled alone.
Recovered from the early effort I noticed it being surprisingly hot for 9:30 a.m. My jersey was completely unzipped and I was going through fluids rapidly. Of course I'd reviewed the weather forecast before the race and saw that it was projected to be the hottest day of 2010 for Emporia and the surrounding area. Weather extremes seem to go hand and hand with gravel road racing, I'd deal with this one just like all the others.
Pushing through checkpoint one as planned I gained information from the volunteers on the leaders whereabouts as well as the distance to the next c.p. My Camelback felt lighter than it should at this point, but I had planned ahead with two tall water bottles in the cages of my bike, I'd go to them if need be. As I approached the noon hour it was getting hot! I knew this would be a tough time as the sun poured it's rays on to me. I told myself, "Just get through the next four hours or so and things should start to improve". The sun has to drop lower in the sky, therefore things will get better, right? The Inuit have something like a thousand words to describe snow and I felt like I needed a thousand to describe "HOT". I had no idea what heat was before this day.
Ninety miles into the race I pulled over in a patch of shade in order to dig out some electrolyte pills as the tell tale signs of dehydration were taking hold. My thinking was no longer organized, I was being plagued by negative thoughts, and I was slowing down considerably. I consumed three of the little white pills and decided I better keep the rest of the capsules handy, I'd be needing them again. Boy, would I ever!
There it was the checkpoint! I was halfway and I enjoyed the pleasant reception I was receiving as I pulled through the town. It seemed that everyone knew we'd be coming. People were on the street corners clapping for us, drivers of pickups were waving to me, kids were running to the sidewalks to get a look at the next rider coming in. It felt good. I put on a strong face at the checkpoint as I absorbed their complimentary words about my position and pace. The staff informed me of the leader's position, but secretly I didn't care, I was hurting. I needed calories and more hydration, preferably the cool kind. My first and most important question was "Where can I find some more water?".
-----
Salsa presents Ride The Divide at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. One showing! June 15th at 7pm. Buy tickets now to be sure you have a seat. Proceeds benefit One Gear, One Cause. Ride The Divide was named Best Adventure Film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival. We have a fun evening in store for you at the Riverview. Click the logo to purchase tickets.
As a friend of mine and fellow singlespeed racer, Ron Sanborn, said to me while we were waiting in line to clean our bikes after finishing the incredibly muddy NUE Series #2 race, the Mohican 100, in Loudonville, Ohio, “My mind was in a very dark place at many points during the race.” I could not have agreed more. While any ultra-endurance race will be a grueling test, this year's Mohican was nothing short of an epic adventure.
The Mohican 100 was intensely tough this year after the area received many days of saturating rain, which included heavy rain falling the day before the race and on the day of the race. Riding in wet, muddy conditions for 8-plus hours will make an already difficult race almost impossible at points.
I think for many riders the race was more against the course than it was against other riders. Sure, there were individual battles taking place between riders during the race, but I am pretty sure most riders would agree the race was more about surviving the nastiness being thrown at us by Mother Nature and hoping that the mud on the course would not cause a fatal bike mechanical than it was about beating the guy next to you. In conditions like these, the singlespeed is a viable weapon of choice. Overall, my Salsa Selma accepted the challenge quite well. I did have my issues at times, both physically and mechanically, but my trusty singlespeed helped guide me through the muck and the mire to a respectable 3rd place SS finish and to 13th place overall.
There were so many points in the race where I just wanted to quit because things were such a mess. I started questioning why I torture myself this way race after race, year after year. I couldn’t come up with a good answer, so I just kept riding, waiting for the pain to come to an end. Eventually, everything that hurt, including my mind, went numb and my only focus was on finishing the race, not allowing the course to beat me.
As I entered the last four miles of singletrack, which was more like a flowing stream of water at that point, I actually became euphoric about conquering the course. It didn’t matter what I was riding over or through during this time because I knew I had won my battle against nature and I was feeling good. The feeling of overcoming such a difficult test is a good one, especially since many did not finish the given challenge.
After the race, the darkness that entered my mind faded into the past as I was able to share stories of the race and hang with many friends that endured the same hardship. I am sure there are many people that would consider riding a bike in the mud for 8 hours and 53 minutes over a 100-mile course as being somewhat insane and at certain points during the race I would probably have agreed with them, but it is almost impossible to describe to anyone never experiencing such a thing just how rewarding it also feels to push yourself to the limit and finish something so hard. Congratulations to everyone else that suffered along with me at the Mohican 100 and was able to push through all the mess to finish the race. It is one challenge that I will never forget.
Happy Trails, Gerry
-----
Don't forget to purchase your advance tickets for Salsa's Minneapolis showing of Ride The Divide on June 15th at the Riverview Theater. Tickets available now by clicking the logo below.
Ride The Divide recently won Best Adventure Film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival and is an Official Selection for the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Enjoy the trailer below. Proceeds from the Minneapolis screening will benefit 1Gear1Cause.org
Monday February 15th, 2010
| 8 Comments | Kid Riemer
We're pleased to introduce Matt Gersib as a Salsa sponsored rider for 2010.
Matt hails from Lincoln, Nebraska and is pretty darn passionate about bicycles. He's also got some mad skills on the bike to match up with that passion. You'll get a chance to hear from him from time to time on our blog, but he also maintains his own: The Dirtblog
Matt had already put together an impressive collection of Salsa's before this sponsorship was put together so he'll have an impressive arsenal to choose from this season. With that, here's a bit more about Matt.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Matt.
I guess if I was going to define myself in three words, I'd say that 'I like dirt.' My beautiful wife Laura and I live in Lincoln, Nebraska with our two pets (a beautiful Shar Pei/Lab mutt named Amy and a big, red longhair cat named Lucky that I found on a ride in 2004). I guess you could say I have a 'normal job' too, if you call working as the public relations manager at an advertising agency 'normal.' 2010 will be my 20th consecutive season racing a mountain bike. When I started racing, I wasn't even 20 years old! And when we moved back from Boulder at the end of 2000, I was actually thinking about 'retiring' from racing at the tender age of 28. My wife still occasionally asks me how I'm doing on my retirement.
What keeps bringing you back to the start line?
I love adventure and long, hard bike rides and I'm fortunate to have a great group of friends who are similarly inclined. The rising popularity of gravel grinders has definitely helped keep my head in the game during the past four or five years. Since we don't have a ton of singletrack that stretches on for vast distances, our gravel roads are the hot ticket. That's why I'm so fired up for the new Salsa Vaya. That bike is perfect for the type of riding a lot of riders around here do day-in and day-out.
What do you have on tap for 2010?
Similar to the past couple of seasons, I'll split my time between endurance mountain bike and gravel grinder events, mostly based in the Midwest. Some key gravel events I'll be focusing on include TransIowa v.6 in late-April, the Dirty Kanza 200-mile gravel grinder in May, and the Gravel Worlds/Good Life Gravel Adventure here in Lincoln on August 21. I'll once again be going after the Enduro crown in Nebraska's Psycowpath series, and hopefully I'll be able to ascend to the top step of the podium this season. I'd also really like to try my hand at the Chequamegon 40 this year. I haven't ever toed the line at the 40, but love the riding up there.
Do you have any thoughts for a rider that wants to get out and try racing, perhaps for the first time?
It's funny you ask, because I was just talking about this last night to a friend who wants to get out and give racing a try, and my advice is very simple – just do it! Racing bicycles is a fun, unique, and yes, at times gut wrenchingly hard experience, but the satisfaction you get from a race well-ridden is one of the things in life that is truly priceless. I have experienced the highest highs as well as the lowest lows imaginable, both due to the events and circumstances at bicycle races. It's these experiences that make me who I am today - a stronger, more persistent, more compassionate and overall better person than I would have been without bicycles or bicycle racing. That's why I'm an advocate for bicycle racing. A little pain is good for the soul.
Friday January 29th, 2010
| 3 Comments | 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.
Friday January 22nd, 2010
| 3 Comments | 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.
Wednesday January 20th, 2010
| 3 Comments | 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.
Monday January 18th, 2010
| 2 Comments | 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.
Friday January 15th, 2010
| 2 Comments | 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.
Wednesday January 6th, 2010
| 4 Comments | 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.
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.
3 Comments
3 Comments | Permalink
.JPG)
