2011 Tailwind USAC MTB schedule

OK, the time has come to start hatching a plan for 2011. Every year at this time I drive myself crazy with this arduous process. I toss around the idea of trying "something new" and create an ambitious schedule that has me racing every possible event in the country and in the end I'm usually satisfied with whatever I was able to pull off. I cite this mid-winter affliction as a common case of pre-season over ambitious-nous. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there going through the same thing. AMIRITE?


Word on the street is that Robert Linden (of Tailwinds Enterprise) has passed the torch to a unnamed successor. Tailwind is a primary promoter for mountain bike and cyclocross racing here in Michigan. Regardless, it appears as if the schedule is similar to previous years and now includes a relay race. Should be interesting...

Tailwind Enterprises LINKY:

Today's ride...

...was much better than yesterday's trainer ride. Apples and oranges.

Bored:


Not so bored:

More Jens Voigt factoids...

Gawd, I never tire of Jens Voigt and his unassuming tenacity. This site will give you a new Jens FACT each time you refresh the page.

http://www.jensvoigtfacts.com/

My first video...

...is really boring. No fancy kick-ass soundtrack or editing. I'm just happy it works. I have a long way to go.

This video used the bar mount under the handlebar. The angle was kinda flat.

Mr. Midpack

2005 Chequamegon 40

I stumbled upon this result while perusing the Chequamegon 40 website. It was my 2nd year of racing and I recall breaking a rear derailleur cable at the 30 mile mark and finishing out the race with my chain on the smallest cog. What a great event! I had forgotten how detailed the results were and I also realized my status in the pack hasn't changed a whole lot over the years. Still somewhere in the middle...

Folgers coffee can.....

...wind shields!



Seriously, the winter wind can be cold therefore I found myself speechless when I stumbled across this image. Brilliant! Given some time the simple ingenuity of this design will soon find it's way into the market and future models will include carbon fiber lock on's in a rainbow of colors. My suggestion would be to pack the cans with chemical hand warmers.

2010 no mas...

2010 is a done deal. My last ride of 2010 was rather odd. The weather was in the mid forties so I took the CX bike off the trainer and headed out to Dexter, MI. The ride out was great but at the 27 mile mark I felt the first raindrop and realized I was screwed. I turned around and it was a long cold ride back home through the downpour and standing water. I made it back safely with enough time to clean up and head in to work. I killed my mileage goal this year and it is now time to reset the odometer. Overall, it was a great year. I will spare you from all of the details and simply wish you all a fantastic New Year in 2011.

2010 is coming to a close...

...and there is still plenty of riding to do.

Cold Weather Riding article

This is the latest installment from the Dirt Rag Magazine crew. Great article with some very sound advise regarding preparation and the mental aspect of getting out. Read, ride, repeat.

Dirt Rag Home:


Cold Weather Riding: It's All In Your Head
Submitted by Andy on Fri, 11/21/2008 - 05:50


When the temperature drops and daylight wanes, many riders confine themselves to an indoor trainer or hang up their bikes altogether for the winter months. True, winter riding presents unique challenges, but it also reaps great rewards. Aside from the physical benefits of riding all year long, winter riding opens up a world of opportunities for adventure, fun, and natural beauty. Over the next several weeks, the Dirt Rag staff will share some valuable tips, tricks and experiences to keep you riding this winter.

In this first installment in our series on winter riding, we begin with a single step outside. The mental decision to brave the elements is often times harder than choosing the appropriate gear for your ride. When you're warm and cozy inside your bed/house/car, the prospect of getting all geared up and facing physical discomfort in the form of cold, ice, snow, and/or rain doesn't seem like it would be all that much fun. Indeed, often times the first 15 minutes of a winter ride are uncomfortable, but after a good warm-up the fun begins.

I know this fact well, but on some foul weather mornings I still find myself rationalizing about why I'd rather drive to work or skip the trail ride and stay at home and drink coffee. The reason? Inertia or resistance to change your state of comfort. On one hand, you're warm and dry. On the other, you choose to exchange those luxuries to be cold and wet. When I think about it, I know I will be happier if I ride no matter what the weather. But the mental and physical preparation for the ride often times seems insurmountable. Obviously they're not, and what it comes down to is that you just have to push on through and get on your bike. Below are a few tips that make it a little easier for me to get moving during the winter months.


1. If you know you're riding in the morning, get up a little earlier than usual so that you can fully wake up and get your body physically and mentally prepared.

2. Before a ride, I try and warm up a little inside before leaving the house. Not so much that I break a sweat. Something as simple as climbing up and down the steps a few times or doing a few push-ups or sit-ups to increase my heart rate is all that it takes.

3. Get enough sleep the night before a ride. This is sound advice all year long, but it's especially important in the low-motivation months of winter.

4. The more you ride during the winter, the easier it is to get motivated to ride. Again, this is true all year long, but more pronounced in winter.

5. Get your bike and gear ready to go the night before you ride. Riding in the winter takes a little more preparation, so it's best not to leave it until the last minute. That only gives you an excuse not to ride.

Once you get outside, your comfort level on the bike is critical so that you actually stay on your bike and enjoy the ride. The right gear can make that happen. Tune in next week to learn a little about foul-weather footwear. It's always good to keep the piggies happy.

* Andy's blog

Oh Willow

Look what I found....

....under the Christmas tree.



It's a hands free video camera. I have never considered owning a video camera although I have always wanted to share the thrill of the ride to my non-cycling friends and family. I am totally stoked to try this out on some of my favorite trails, events and rides. Hell, I'm ready to bust it out on my Senior walk around the Mall. Cutting edge never got any sweeter.

Contour HD website:



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Criterium Detroit City - July 9, 2011

This looks like it could be a pretty sweet venue for a crit. There is no website for additional information at this time.

Check out the Facebook page here: CriteriumDetroitCity

2010 Mileage...

Today's ride took my annual mileage over the 65K mark. WOOT! My mileage goal this year was 5500 and I am pleased with the results. This is an accomplishment for me and it leads me toward a great deal of introspection regarding the year and what I was trying to accomplish.
For me it was all about spending time riding versus NOT riding at all. I work evenings and feel it necessary to get outside in the AM and ride instead of the dreadful alternative of plopping down on the couch to watch Oprah. I fell into a routine that took me back to my days as a ski bum. Work nights and play in the day. During the week I would ride from my front door for 2-3 hours before work on a vast network of paved and dirt roads north of Ann Arbor, MI. I would choose the cross bike, mountain bike or road bike based on the current road conditions. I would also try to watch the extended forecast and map out rest days around the crappy weather. I looked forward to a few rainy mornings where it was possible to get "other" necessities of life accomplished. During the weekend I would either race or ride as much singletrack as possible.
This is the program that worked for me. It may not work for others but it is the routine that I enjoyed. Riding is riding.
Rant on. Some folks (thank you MMBA Forum) think that if these miles are not specifically "trail miles" then they should be weighted less. As if trail miles rule supreme and anything less is unworthy. This logic is shot down by folks like Robert Herriman and SIMONSTER who rack up countless miles over the season and still kick ass in the Elite level races. These "trails only" haters are the same folks who drive to Island Lake every day to do countless laps on one of the easiest trails in Michigan. I equate that logic to an Expert skier skiing green runs all day. It may be fun every now and then but...
I won't get into the endless road versus mountain debates here. Hell, I'm not even going to get started on the recumbent miles debate!
Rant off.
Some may feel that quality miles are more important than quantity miles. True, it all boils down to what makes you a better rider and keeps you coming back for more. For me, it was about getting out, exploring and staying fit. I'm happy to report that it was a stellar year for me.

Happy Holidays!

Dirt road dynamics

Today I went down hard for the first time all year. I was at the end of a long ride and I was riding a frozen, iced over dirt road. I lost contact with the crown of the road and slid out toward the ditch. Typically, the roads around here are in good shape and seldom present a hazard. I've had plenty of time in the saddle to analyze my crash and the current state of the road conditions in my neck of the woods.

Dirt roads are build to drain surface water and usually include a raised crown running down the center. See diagram below.

Dirt road cross section (click image to enlarge):


Ford Road (note the crown):


My nemesis, the road grader:


Aarghh!!


So what does all this mean? In the summer the crown is usually the hardest and fastest surface to be found on a dirt road. If you drop down towards the edge you run the risk of plowing through loose gravel and random potholes lurking to eat up your wheel.
In the winter, riding the crown is fine (as long as it is wide) but when it is contoured or elevated with frozen snow or ice, it can be a challenge. If the crown is too narrow, you can run the risk of sliding off and down toward the edge of the road. The icy conditions tend to accentuate the slope. I tend to keep looking ahead and assessing the best line to take. High or low? I watch for brown sections of exposed road that may provide better traction. I also consider that yesterday's thaw may result in today's slick conditions. Check the air pressure in your tires and go low to maximize the best possible grip. Also, when riding on smooth ice make subtle movements by shifting your weight on the saddle to steer and apply smooth even pressure on the pedals whenever possible. Stay centered and be ready to put a foot down if necessary. Yeah, yeah, I know that studs would work fine but I don't have any and I like to think that this balancing act is helping my core and bike handling skills.

That is all. Now get out and ride!

Today's ride...

...was flippin' fabulous! What a difference a day makes and an additional 10 degrees of warmth. I took out the SS and rode the rolling ice covered dirt roads North of the Huron River. Conditions were generally firm with good traction. It was still pretty slow going. I am thinking that 20 degrees is my new temperate threshold for outdoor rides.

Cyclocross racer using cell phone during race

BikePortland.org posted this story and photo. I dig these finish line shots! Check out the comments at the bottom of the article.


Taken by official finish line camera during cycloross race.
(Photo: OBRA)

The photo above was snapped by an official Oregon Bicycle Racing Association finish line camera during a cyclocross race over the weekend. Yes, the guy looks to be texting or checking emails during his race! (Or, as a commenter below pointed out, it also might be a GPS device).

OBRA official Candi Murray shared the photo on the OBRA email list last night and added, "Tell me he was not making a call."

Today's ride...

...was difficult. Call me a whiner or a wimp but I had to bag today's outdoor ride at the ten mile mark. Easily, my shortest ride of the year. I'm having difficulty keeping warm. I am currently on anticoagulants (Coumadin) and I have discovered I am running a cooler body temperature than ever before. Regardless, unless it "warms" up a tad I may have to hang it up for a while.



I came across this article from the INR testing website:

Does Coumadin® make you chilly?

Wednesday, November 1, 2006
PTINR.com Staff
Some patients complain they feel colder when taking warfarin – is there a connection or is this an urban legend?

There’s a chill in the air. Some blame taking Coumadin® is the cause. Officially, the package insert for Coumadin lists under its adverse reactions: cold intolerance and feelings of cold or chills.

It is important to note other adverse reactions included: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, headache, and changes in patient’s taste are also listed in the potential side effects. Like feelings of being cold – there is very little if any evidence to suggest that Coumadin would be responsible for any of the above side effects.

Coumadin or its generic equivalent warfarin interferes with the body’s ability to form clots. There is nothing in the activity of warfarin (Coumadin ®) to suggest feelings of being cold however, because patients experienced these feelings in clinical studies – they are included as “side effects”.

No one discounts patient accounts, however, associating a medication with those feelings lack a scientific basis. The list of reactions experienced by patients “infrequently”, including feelings of being cold are similar sensations in the normal aging process. The ability to cool and heat the body becomes more difficult as we age. Holding warfarin responsible for feelings of being cold may not be warfarin’s fault but related to another condition. Patients should share their side effects with their healthcare professional regardless of how benign it seems.


I guess I need to find something some cross-training alternatives. Sigh...

Riding in Basque Country.

Uh...Spain looks really, really, really nice right now.

BasqueMTB - The Coastal Video from BasqueMTB on Vimeo.

IKEA gives out bikes to 12, 400 employees

While Walmart was busy chipping away at employees' perks, the swingin' Swedes at Ikea were busy handing out early Christmas presents to staffers in the form of free bikes.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“This is our way of saying ‘thanks Ikea co-workers for being strongly committed to working together,’” Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president, said in a release announcing the giveaway. “We hope this bike will be taken in the spirit of the season while supporting a healthy lifestyle and everyday sustainable transport.”

It was no surprise Ikea, spokeswoman Mona Liss said the bikes arrived last week in a flat box and needed to be assembled. Some assembly required.

The silver bikes have a yellow, white and blue stripe, and are all-terrain and unisex.

They don't have the Ikea logo, however, because "we don't want people to think we manufacture bicycles."

I support this idea. I cannot see any real reason to knock it. Hopefully these bicycles will actually be used or given to those who NEED a bike for transportation. It would be interesting to follow up and see where these bikes end up in a year. Hopefully, not in a junk heap.