Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Miracle Bid for National Qualification
The qualification cycle for the USA Nationals began in Aug. 1st. The team has begun to motivate for a qualification bid to attend nationals this year.
Qualification Criteria:
Top-10 finish at a National event
Top-15 finish in a regional/state championship series.
USA Nationals Schedule:
2009 USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour presented by Sho-Air International:
March 29: U.S. Cup – Fontana, Calif.
April 19: Sea Otter Classic – Monterey, Calif.
May 31: Bump N’ Grind – Birmingham, Ala.
June 13: Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek International Classic – Colorado Springs, Colo.
August 8: U.S. Cup – Mount Snow, West Dover, Vt.
August 15: Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain, Windham, N.Y.
September 26: USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour Finals, Las Vegas, Nev.
Qualification Criteria:
Top-10 finish at a National event
Top-15 finish in a regional/state championship series.
USA Nationals Schedule:
2009 USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour presented by Sho-Air International:
March 29: U.S. Cup – Fontana, Calif.
April 19: Sea Otter Classic – Monterey, Calif.
May 31: Bump N’ Grind – Birmingham, Ala.
June 13: Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek International Classic – Colorado Springs, Colo.
August 8: U.S. Cup – Mount Snow, West Dover, Vt.
August 15: Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain, Windham, N.Y.
September 26: USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour Finals, Las Vegas, Nev.
Friday, December 12, 2008
When Bikes Attack
No matter how sweet and innocent they look, bikes are all too capable of exerting fierce vengeance on us. The following are a few separate incidences of retaliation. Just the Nomad and I getting to know one another... Dusty please save any comments on elbow pads until the Q & A section.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Healthy Heart
Obviously, care for the human heart is implied for any living person, but especially so for athletes. But, what does a healthy heart mean? What makes up an unhealthy heart? And how can an unhealthy heart masquerade as a healthy one leaving someone in serious risk. Being one of the most fascinating systems in the human body, I thought I would take a moment to explain it in the context of the endurance athlete.What is a healthy heart?
Hearts are monitored with regard to physical stature and mechanics. Clearly for a heart to be effective, it must beat (beware, link contains surgical footage), but a beating heart alone does not imply a healthy system. For the heart to beat, a highly sophisticated electrical and mechanical system must operate in perfect rhythm. When assessing the health of this system, rate and rhythm are taken into account. Rate, basically are measured in beats per minute. However, rate does not imply rhythm, and a heart beating a 68 bpm may have a dangerously erratic rhythm. Healthy hearts operate under what is known as sinus rhythm which gets its name from the electrical "pacemaker" of the heart, the sinoatrial node. Under the proper operation of this node, the heart clips along at a regular and predictable rate, only varying slightly by pressure exerted on the heart by the lungs during inhalation.
Road Map of the Heart:
The heart consists of four chambers: two atrium, and two ventricles. The atrium and ventricles are pair respectively as "right" and "left". Between these pairs are a sophisticated one way valve allowing blood only to travel from atrium --> ventricle and not in reverse. That is the basic make up of the structure of the heart itself, but leading into and out of each chamber are curtain vessels. The most important of these is the Aorta (leading out of the left ventricle to the body) and the Pulmonary Artery (leading out of the right ventricle to the lungs). Also coming into the right atrium are the superior and inferior Vena Cava. There are other smaller vessels, but for simplicity these are the major players.
If you followed one blood cell as it travels up the veins in, say, the leg it would travel up through the Inferior Vena Cava to the right atrium, then down to the right ventricle where it is pumped up the Pulmonary Artery to the lungs where the blood is oxygenated. From there it travels into the left atrium through the Pulmonary Vein and then enters the left ventricle where it is pumped out through the Aorta and out to the systemic body.
What is "Lub-Dub":
Everyone knows the lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub they hear in their chest. But what are those sounds? In medicine Lub is known as the 1st heart sound (S1) and Dub is the second (S2). There are four total hearts sounds (S3, S4) but the 3rd and 4th are pathological and usually indicated disease, meaning you won't hear them in a healthy heart. But what ARE the sounds? Lub is the sound of the tricuspid and mitral valves between the atrium and ventricles basically slamming shut. This is due to the ventricle contracting and the pressure pushing the valves closed so blood doesn't travel backwards to the atrium. Dub is the sound of the aortic and pulmonic valves closing in response to back-pressure from the body. When the ventricles finish contracting, they are pushing against a wall of pressure in the body (blood pressure). When the contraction is done the pressure wants to push blood back in the heart as it re-expands. The aortic and pulmonic valves flare open and allow this not to happen. What is more interesting is the Aorta in this case. Most think of it as a inanimate vessel, but it actually has a contractive function that is timed with the heart to squeeze blood away from the center to the periphery.
Fun Fact: If you put your ear to someone's chest, or listen to your own with a stethoscope you can physically "split" your 2nd heart sound. You do this by taking a deep breath. This causes the aortic valve and pulmonic valve to close at slightly different times giving a sound like "lub-da-dub". This is caused by both increases structural pressure on the heart from the lungs and an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary system causing the pulmonic valve to become more reactive.
Myocardium:
Myocardium (myo: muscle, cardium: heart) is one of only three muscle types found in the entire body. It's make-up and function are so specific that it sets it apart from the other two entirely. It most closely resembles skeletal muscle in make up, but is equipped with function and energy to operated constantly, something skeletal muscle is not set up to do. This high level of function has a high energetic demand from the body system. Enormous amounts if oxygen are needed to preserve that function and oxygen supply IS blood supply. Oxygen is delivered through the coronary arteries to the myocardium.
Electricity:
The electrical system responsible for conducting the heart may be the most fascinating part of the system simply because it is required to be so reliable. Impulses from the central nervous system reach the heart at the sinoatrial node (SA). From there an impulse is transmitted through the atrium stimulating their contraction. Impuses from the SA node travel to another node between the atrium and ventricles called the Atrioventricular node (AV). This node then signals the contraction of the ventricles. The fascinating part of this system is that it is designed to operated on a delay so the atrium contract slightly before the ventricles. This keeps the system pumping "forward".Cardiac Output:
Cardiac Output (CO) is the overall measure of the pump function of the heart. The equation CO=Heart Rate (HR) x Stroke Volume (SV) best explains the overall potential of the heart. This is helpful in understanding why certain people have differing heart rates, and output potentials. The phenomenon known as "Athlete's heart" is basically a non-pathologically oversized heart ( pathologically over sized hearts, or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy will be discussed in part 2 of this post ). Basically the heart in an athlete has developed so well, that it has an enormous stroke volume (SR). If you plug a high figure into the above equation, then to get the same overall cardiac output you require a much smaller number out of the heart rate (HR), thus the reason why athletes have such remarkably low heart rates! Some marathon runners regularly have HR in the mid 30's. That means their hearts is about twice as effective at pumping blood as the average person. On the flip side, people with failing hearts and low SV in turn must have very high heart rates to equal the required CO.
Cardiac Output changes as the demand from exercise increases. Since the SV changes very little when exercising, the HR must increase to meet the new CO requirements of the body.
Max HR:
This is the figure that determines your max heart rate before the heart is no longer able to feed itself properly to function and begins to be damaged. Originally the number was determined by the calculation of 220-age for males and 226-age for females, with the stipulation that this varied from person to person quite a bit. However, it's been found that this is not a reliable predictor, so other equations came out to try to make more accurate the prediction possibilities. Truth be told the only way to truly determine your Max HR is to undergo a cardiac stress test. Since few actually go this route, this can be a little dangerous because Max HR is often the baseline for determining exercise programs. My opinion is be conservative on this number, especially for beginners.
Optimal HR:
Optimal HR is even more dependent on the specific person that Max HR. This depends on how fit a person is, and what they desire to get out of working out the heart. There are basic % breakdowns of Max HR (as calculated by 220-age) that determine which phase the heart is in, and which benefit it will gain from operating in this range. Basically the most important mark is around 80% of Max HR, which is the point at which the heart is no longer operating aerobically and goes into anaerobic function (meaning the system no longer able to meet the oxygen demand of the heart) There are specific reasons to work within that range of anaerobic function, but this should be highly regulated because it is easy to begin damaging the heart at this point. Generally, for fat burning exercise operating within 70-80% of Max HR is optimal, and for general health and endurance operating under 65% is best. Again these numbers vary significantly!
Understanding your own heart's potential is crucial in creating an exercise program designed to enhance performance.
The next post will be on the unhealthy heart, disease and understanding causes and avoidance of heart disease.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Coming out of our shells
Dusty taking time off Dual Slalom lap timesWell, I think I am really realizing the benefit of an "off season". I know the team, myself included, struggled with the idea of letting go of racing in August when it seemed we were just starting to hit stride. But, now a few month into resting from that scene, I've renewed my drive to ride and train. It is important to allow the body and mind time to rest during the year, especially for the amateur racer, and restore its strength.
Zach and I perfectly timed racing the pump section of the 4x course!
The boys practicing. Me toward the end of the Dual Slalom on the red course, Zach a turn back on blue, Dusty three turns backLast weekend we all went out, excepting a few members of the team, and cut our teeth on the course at Sand Hill. 4x, dual slalom, rhythm and pump sections, jumps. It felt like a little miniature boot camp to shake off the cobwebs, loosen up and cheer on our friends. I think we all left feeling energized and better riders for it.
Stacy and Dusty loving the pump course!Personally, the time on course there provided me an invaluable opportunity to learn. Repeated runs over short sections of technical terrain allow your mind to work through the details you might not otherwise see on longer courses. In piano lessons, my teacher requires me to break up pieces of music and work them one or two bars at a time, even a few notes at a time, over and over until those feel like second nature. Then the rest of the piece flows into and out of that section. The same was the case with sections of the track there, where we teamed up and ran numerous laps working through bike pump, speed, jumping, etc. From there, that work will flow into our season of riding in a big. way. Over three runs Dusty improved his DS time by 2 seconds each run! That's a major increase in time on a DS course!
I am thankful in this season of thankfulness for the team that has gathered around Zach, Dusty and my original enthusiasm for riding. They reflect back to me my love of this sport, which has been with me my entire life.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Ode to Leon
As the month of November approaches, and we (I) make room in the house for a new addition. (Thank you Stacy) I can't help but look back and remember my old pal Leon, the bike that hangs by it's seat from my ceiling. The bike that has carried me for two years now. This bike saw all kinds of races and rides. He carried me to victories and saw me through failures.
I think it is important to lend respect to our bikes. Any rider would quickly disagree if you told them their bike was nothing more than a metal and rubber contraption. We know these things inside and out. We know when grips are worn, wheels are bent, levers are out of place... Leon started as a budget franken-bike project. A new 2006 Chameleon frame pieced together with what parts I had on hand, and what parts I could afford. Slowly, though he started to transform as I transformed as a rider. Leon was my cross country race bike, my downhill race bike, my dual slalom race bike, my endurance race bike. Sure he didn't necessarily excel at all of these arenas, but he and I did our best. At Downieville this past year, I leaned against this bike like a drunk banker leans against a toilet on a Friday night. 
I had just vomited for the ump-teenth time, and remember looking really closely at the logo sticker between bouts of sickness, which by then had been scrapped and tattered, and remembering what I had been through with this bike. For all the failure of my own body that day, Leon never faltered once on some of the harshest terrain. Leon was the quick and stout dual slalom race bike when I slapped a chain guide on him, and shouldered battery packs for midnight shifts during a 24 hour race. Recently, I think he reached his fullest potential, a sturdy and fast single speed.
With much anticipation and unbridled excitement I await the middle of this month when I can bring home that new ride. But even with all that excitement I will always take that Chameleon out, because in its simple form it is exactly what cycling should be. The bikes you leave behind for the newest model are the reason you can have the newest model. So, to the team, I say we all walk out into the garage, flip on the lights and pay thanks to the bikes we own, and thanks for the fact that we own them at all. Keep their chains and cables oiled, and their headsets tight because you never know when you might want to reminisce.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Surf City Psychocross: The new frontier
Never discount the fact that the spirit of cycling can be found in ANY form of racing. For years I held cyclocross at face value as a contrived sport, silly or perhaps down right lame. But, as happens all to often, I had my expectation altered in the best way at todays Surf City "Psycho"cross at Soquel High School in Santa Cruz. The following are my brief observations on the sport. Props to Jeff for his strong finish on a race he felt "ill prepared for". I shutter to think of a race you ARE prepared for!
1. These riders are ATHLETES. But what's more is that they are highly skilled at navigating the subtle challenges these courses have to offer. To anyone who has ever ridden a road bike you know how squirly they are. Cross bikes are not much more than road bicycles. Off camber turns, hills, loose dirt, these are all hazards to the cross bike and rider!
2. This is racing at its finest!! Fast paced non-stop action. Guys and girls battling for each position at every moment. Just the way I like it!
3. The Cyclocross scene ROCKS! The riders and spectators that show up at these racers are the exact vision of cycling that I hold in my mind. At one point a rider crested a brief hill after a solid impact that tore the tire off the front wheel. After I helped him get the bead back on the rim, a spectator ran up and asked, "you want another wheel?" At that point he immediately said yes, and replaced the wheel and kept going. Awesome. The "run ups" are the almost mandatory run sections of the course, though the few, the proud do actually ride up them. (beyond impressive) This section of course draws the finest of the crowd, whose singular goal is to heckle, roust, cheer and yell at riders. The slow pace of the run up allows for a sort of "dialogue" in which responses to heckles can be made, and further rebuttals can be made! The crowd consisted of beer drinking costume laden folks firing nerf darts at riders, screaming and laughing. At the end of a run-up on one of the last laps, the leader happily accepted a beer, not water, a beer from a spectator, took a swig and carried on.
4. Cross bikes are beautiful precision. They look like pizza cutters riding on loose dirt, and they make a wonderful hum when they zip over gravel. The lack of suspension and thin tires make the 100% efficient. The gearing remains mostly similar to road gearing, meaning all the hills must be tackled on hard ratios.
I'm looking forward to more time out at the course, and adding these events to the list that makes up our vast season! Enjoy this video from he day!
1. These riders are ATHLETES. But what's more is that they are highly skilled at navigating the subtle challenges these courses have to offer. To anyone who has ever ridden a road bike you know how squirly they are. Cross bikes are not much more than road bicycles. Off camber turns, hills, loose dirt, these are all hazards to the cross bike and rider!
2. This is racing at its finest!! Fast paced non-stop action. Guys and girls battling for each position at every moment. Just the way I like it!
3. The Cyclocross scene ROCKS! The riders and spectators that show up at these racers are the exact vision of cycling that I hold in my mind. At one point a rider crested a brief hill after a solid impact that tore the tire off the front wheel. After I helped him get the bead back on the rim, a spectator ran up and asked, "you want another wheel?" At that point he immediately said yes, and replaced the wheel and kept going. Awesome. The "run ups" are the almost mandatory run sections of the course, though the few, the proud do actually ride up them. (beyond impressive) This section of course draws the finest of the crowd, whose singular goal is to heckle, roust, cheer and yell at riders. The slow pace of the run up allows for a sort of "dialogue" in which responses to heckles can be made, and further rebuttals can be made! The crowd consisted of beer drinking costume laden folks firing nerf darts at riders, screaming and laughing. At the end of a run-up on one of the last laps, the leader happily accepted a beer, not water, a beer from a spectator, took a swig and carried on.
4. Cross bikes are beautiful precision. They look like pizza cutters riding on loose dirt, and they make a wonderful hum when they zip over gravel. The lack of suspension and thin tires make the 100% efficient. The gearing remains mostly similar to road gearing, meaning all the hills must be tackled on hard ratios.
I'm looking forward to more time out at the course, and adding these events to the list that makes up our vast season! Enjoy this video from he day!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
24 Hours of Old Pueblo: The new mission is set.
The gauntlet has been thrown down. The CyclePathic Tendencies are active again! Stacy and myself will be attending the 24 hours of old pueblo in Tuscon, AZ. The event dates are February 14-15th. Stace and I will be entering in the 2-"man" co-ed division! 
Clearly this changes the face of our endurance racing scene temporarily. Instead of a luxurious 3,4 or 5 hours on the bike, we will be shouldered with an even 12. Instead of cushy 3 or 4 hour breaks between laps we will likely have 60-90 minutes to repair bikes, change clothes, charge lights, cook/eat or (god forbit) sleep. Being that at all times one of us will be on course, the other will be left to their own devices, and I imagine the early morning hours will be particularly cold, lonely and tiring with no one to talk to, wake you up or cook food for you (though I've heard rumor of a blistering foos-ball competition in the wee hours of the night!). However, we agreed the mark of any true character building experience includes significant time with yourself in the face of adversity. I think this is where you generate you inner passion from, and an connection with the more basic form of yourself. So, for this event we are shedding the "fun" and replacing with a challenge. We will be without our beloved teammates (unless anyone else wants to rally together another team!) to cheer and encourage. Instead we will handle all mechanicals alone, cook our own food, wake our own selves up for our laps in the search of that better side of each of us!This event offers a whole new challenge simple because it is desert riding. It will be February and the valley the event is held in is rumored to get very cold, occasionally snow. Of course the course will be ripe with rocks and very sharp cactus. I intend to do some research as to whether rattlesnakes are dormant during that period of the year... =)
All are welcome to join and form another team of 2, 4, 5, 6 or whatever. We will be out there with the big white dome, the 2x4 bike rack and a lantern burning all hours for CyclePathic Tendencies!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
New project, new therapy
The newest installment from the garage of Franken-bike/Miracle-it-went-back-together labs has began to take form. It's no mystery that I've become enthralled with simple one-speed bikes lately. Anyone who knows me has seen the crazy-eyed look I get around a noisy drive train. But this latest one was an appeasement of my desire for simplicity and a further exploration into working on bikes. Thanks to Zach donating his old steel Fuji touring bike, I was able to dive in up to my elbows in old, frankly archaic technology. Amazingly, though there is a simple beauty to these old parts.
Sifting through the wreckage.
After deciding this wouldn't be a fixed gear project, I bought a freewheel from the local fixie masters at Bicycle Shop Santa Cruz. This shop is a gem I never even knew about! Fixies are amazing in their simplicity, but in practice they can be death machines! If nothing else they are a little unpleasant to ride. The fixed gear makes perfect sense in a track racing environment, but on city streets it's just impractical. I kinda think they are a fad, myself... But, who am I! Personally I enjoy coasting, so a freewheel it was! This of course means I'll have to include at least a front break, but likely both, thus meaning I have to clutter up the simple frame lines with cables and what not... Oh well, brakes are a luxury.
As it stands a few things need to be tweeked to get it right. The bars and brakes remain as the next hurdle. I'm debating leaving the traditional bar on there, or doing the "flip and clip" style. Amazing to see where the mind goes when it needs a "vacation". Apparently for me losing myself in bicycle parts is as good as therapy!
PS: Special thanks to the late Sheldon Brown! His website continues to be a god-sent.
Sifting through the wreckage.Side note: this entire project was born from my almost defiant need to avoid studying. With boards looming ahead in about 4 months I battle between being highly motivated and desperately inactive. In the latter times I often resort to throwing a bike up on the rack and tinkering. But rarely does it get beyond an oiled chain, or a disc brake adjustment.
That all changed when I looked up at the old Fuji, in all its fender and gear rack glory, and decided to tinker. Back in the day, a company called SunTour was one of the more common manufacturers of bicycle mechanics. Known now as SunRace, they crafted some of the more hefty and classic hubs and cassettes of their day. Compared to today's technology it seems at the very least old fashioned, but again, there is a something amazing in the simplicity.
Once the bike was stripped, and the rear wheel came off, I knew this would be the crux of the project. Not only was I dealing with a thread-on cassette that had probably been in place for years, and with spokes also likely to be left without adjustment for some time, but the old thread-on hubs don't allow you to just space out the cassette to add just one cog when making a single speed. With modern hubs this is barely even an issue, but with these it's a journey into the inner workings of bicycles. I was going to have to re-space the hub, and re-dish the wheel.
That all changed when I looked up at the old Fuji, in all its fender and gear rack glory, and decided to tinker. Back in the day, a company called SunTour was one of the more common manufacturers of bicycle mechanics. Known now as SunRace, they crafted some of the more hefty and classic hubs and cassettes of their day. Compared to today's technology it seems at the very least old fashioned, but again, there is a something amazing in the simplicity.
Once the bike was stripped, and the rear wheel came off, I knew this would be the crux of the project. Not only was I dealing with a thread-on cassette that had probably been in place for years, and with spokes also likely to be left without adjustment for some time, but the old thread-on hubs don't allow you to just space out the cassette to add just one cog when making a single speed. With modern hubs this is barely even an issue, but with these it's a journey into the inner workings of bicycles. I was going to have to re-space the hub, and re-dish the wheel.
The lab
Hubs had always given me trouble. I can't remember ever getting one to tighten properly. Not only that, I had never laced a wheel. I left a dab of tri flow on every spoke nipple and went to bed to sleep on it. The next day I had off, and I rolled up my sleeves and went for it. A crescent wrench and a ball-peen hammer made relatively quick work of the cassette. I worked out the measurements to re-space the hub to the right so the single cog would fall in line with the front chainring. This however takes the rim with it, leaving it rubbing up against the frame. Next was the methodical process of redishing the hub. 1/2 turn by 1/2 turn I loosened the drive side, then tightened the non-drive side until amazingly the wheel traveled easily 10mm back to center in the frame. Truly the wheel continues to amaze humans like me. But, to my amazement, it had worked! A few tweeks here and there and the wheel was true! No broken spokes, or bottomed out spokes. None of the spokes traveled up into the tube space. It was a thing of beauty!After deciding this wouldn't be a fixed gear project, I bought a freewheel from the local fixie masters at Bicycle Shop Santa Cruz. This shop is a gem I never even knew about! Fixies are amazing in their simplicity, but in practice they can be death machines! If nothing else they are a little unpleasant to ride. The fixed gear makes perfect sense in a track racing environment, but on city streets it's just impractical. I kinda think they are a fad, myself... But, who am I! Personally I enjoy coasting, so a freewheel it was! This of course means I'll have to include at least a front break, but likely both, thus meaning I have to clutter up the simple frame lines with cables and what not... Oh well, brakes are a luxury.
As it stands a few things need to be tweeked to get it right. The bars and brakes remain as the next hurdle. I'm debating leaving the traditional bar on there, or doing the "flip and clip" style. Amazing to see where the mind goes when it needs a "vacation". Apparently for me losing myself in bicycle parts is as good as therapy!
PS: Special thanks to the late Sheldon Brown! His website continues to be a god-sent.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Trip Report: Northstar/Mr. Toads
I think I'll take this opportunity to offer my opinion on a bike while I'm reporting on one of the finest trails I have ever ridden. The weekends agenda included a Sunday trip on the slopes of Northstar and a Monday trip down Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, arguably the best trail I've ever ridden. The bike of choice for the weekend was a 2008 Specialized Enduro SL. Alloy frame, Avid Juicy Ultimate 7 brakes, SRAM build. I was a little worried on the first lift up at Northstar that the Enduro would act like nothing more than a long travel XC bike. I was prepared for a very fast twitch unstable feeling. Much to my surprise the machine handled jumping remarkably well, and remained quite stable on bumpy straits.
Northstar was, to be generous, chewed up! The braking bumps leading up to jumps were brain jarring, caused by lesser experienced riders doing a last minute brake jam right before the jump. I'm not sure if Northstar is strapped for cash, or they are just lazy but they seem to be falling behind on maintaining the more popular trails like LiveWire or Gypsy. They are adding new jumps, so I know someone is up there working. Perhaps a constant grating down of the braking bumps will keep us riders happier.Monday was a trip down Mr. Toads. The climbing to reach the trailhead is about 3 miles of HIGH quality technical uphills. Any rider worth their salt would consider it high priority challenge to ride a trail like this cleanly. Once at the top the views are enough to remind anyone that amidst all life is a beautiful thing. Decending beings right away, and will not let up. Initially the terrain is technical. A few of the steeper sections came at me pretty fast, as I was chasing Zach and didn't notice. So I hit a few of them much faster than I would have liked. Riding terrain like that versus regular single track is like the difference between pleasure reading and studying Harrison's text of Internal Medicine. You have to focus on every damned word on trails like this. The enduro handled this terrain quite well. My only gripe was that the rear suspension was not as plush as I would have like. Even at it's softest, it was still to springy.
Another major problem with the bike is the propiatary triple clamp/stem system. Being that they tout this bike as an "do it all" it's amazing that you are limited by two key points. One, you cannot replace stem lengths or change the angle of stems. Basically you are stuck with a fixed connection point. Two, the turning radius at slow speeds is severely compromised by the fact that the fork sliders hit agains the frame. I found tight turns at slow speeds actually kind of difficult.
Eventually the terrain mellows out and leads into amazing FAST sweeping sand turns. Amazingly fun riding. I'm very glad we all decided to not rest stop after a certain point because connecting the whole last section in one go was amazing!
I'm giving the Enduro an A- It's overall versatility is truly amazing. With the adjustment options for the rear shock on the frame and the adjustment on the front fork you can readily switch between a stiff XC machine and a slacked downhill worth machine! After this weekend I would seriously consider buying one. I would swith the fork out with a TALAS 36 for the same adjustment and travel ability, but decreased turning radius. I would love to switch the shock out with one of the Fox models.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Miracle Racing Film
Trailer for the end of season film for Miracle Racing. Sorry for the poor quality, but the video size needed to be small to upload. For more quality and the full length video come to the get-together!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Dude, are you alright? Part 2
In response to two recent occasions in which friends made full use of their helmets, I thought I'd elaborate on the nature of head injuries. This is a continuation of Dude, are you alright? Luckily, as serious as brain injuries are, the response to them is easy in a backcountry setting. The only variant is how fast you need to get someone to medical help. Of course it is only easy because you only have a few options to choose from, but actually dealing with a head trauma is a different story. I'm lucky to say I never have myself!
Head Bonk:
A head bonk without concussion will cause any number of non-alarming symptoms from headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and mental cloudiness. Pupils will remain responsive to light. Remember to ride slow as you will be fuzzy for a few minutes.
Concussion:
This is a brain rattle severe enough to piss off the lining of the brain. The brain itself cannot sense pain, but those fragile linings do in a big way! The signs of a concussion include the above symptoms in addition to nausea, disorientation and dilated pupils. I usually check anyone's pupils in a crash. Under direct flashlight, or direct sunlight normal pupils should constrict to about 1-3mm in diameter. Dilated pupils in a head injury will stay dilated to a size greater than 4mm. The degree of a concussion needs to be assessed by a doctor as there are some risks associated.
Subdural Hematoma:
This is the next up in severe head injuries, and involves a slow bleed in the outer lining of the brain. This blood pools into a ball ("hemat" = blood, "oma"=tumor/mass) and progressively puts pressure on the brain. This is a medical emergency, and can be assessed by the follwing symptoms. People with these injuries will become very disoriented, irritable, nauseous and clumsy in their walking and talking. If severe enough, the eyes in addition to pupillary dilation can become deviated.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage:
In most cases you REALLY have to knock your head hard to get one of these. But consider this! A person had a recent surgery, or something requiring them to be on blood thinners (Heparin, warfarin/coumadin or high dose aspirin, ibuprofen.) Now their blood clotting mechanism is compromised, and they don't require much impact to cause intracranial bleeding. So don't think this can't happen out on the trails!! This is characterized by a headache that is almost intollerable. Blood is a major irritant in the body when outside of the vessels, so when it contacts the linings of the brain it causes excruciating pain. I don't even think you need to know much more since if you see someone like this, you'll know it ain't good. But, they will be very disoriented, clumsy or numb in their extremities and nauseous, and may even vomit repeatedly. Check for pupils being reactive to light equally on both sides. If not, problem confirmed. Diagram of unequal pupils
Remember this with regard to head injuries: It may very well be bad enough to happen. So if your riding partner shows any of the signs of something serious, time for you to take it serious!
Now let's have a little chat about helmets!! I'll save you all the specifics save for just 3.
1. They NEED to cover your forehead. Otherwise, a helmet is more or less useless.
2. They are single impact only. Meaning one good bonk warrents replacing that helmet!
3. Bike helmets are not DOT approved. Deptartment of Transportation (DOT) approval recognizes a helmet as strong enough to handle highway and concrete impacts. Since a lot of riders now ride at near highway speeds on hear concrete hardness ground this is a consideration. This also includes full face downhill helmets unless there is a DOT or SNELL approaval in the inside.
Ride safe!
Head Bonk:
A head bonk without concussion will cause any number of non-alarming symptoms from headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and mental cloudiness. Pupils will remain responsive to light. Remember to ride slow as you will be fuzzy for a few minutes.
Concussion:This is a brain rattle severe enough to piss off the lining of the brain. The brain itself cannot sense pain, but those fragile linings do in a big way! The signs of a concussion include the above symptoms in addition to nausea, disorientation and dilated pupils. I usually check anyone's pupils in a crash. Under direct flashlight, or direct sunlight normal pupils should constrict to about 1-3mm in diameter. Dilated pupils in a head injury will stay dilated to a size greater than 4mm. The degree of a concussion needs to be assessed by a doctor as there are some risks associated.
Subdural Hematoma:
This is the next up in severe head injuries, and involves a slow bleed in the outer lining of the brain. This blood pools into a ball ("hemat" = blood, "oma"=tumor/mass) and progressively puts pressure on the brain. This is a medical emergency, and can be assessed by the follwing symptoms. People with these injuries will become very disoriented, irritable, nauseous and clumsy in their walking and talking. If severe enough, the eyes in addition to pupillary dilation can become deviated.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage:
In most cases you REALLY have to knock your head hard to get one of these. But consider this! A person had a recent surgery, or something requiring them to be on blood thinners (Heparin, warfarin/coumadin or high dose aspirin, ibuprofen.) Now their blood clotting mechanism is compromised, and they don't require much impact to cause intracranial bleeding. So don't think this can't happen out on the trails!! This is characterized by a headache that is almost intollerable. Blood is a major irritant in the body when outside of the vessels, so when it contacts the linings of the brain it causes excruciating pain. I don't even think you need to know much more since if you see someone like this, you'll know it ain't good. But, they will be very disoriented, clumsy or numb in their extremities and nauseous, and may even vomit repeatedly. Check for pupils being reactive to light equally on both sides. If not, problem confirmed. Diagram of unequal pupils
Remember this with regard to head injuries: It may very well be bad enough to happen. So if your riding partner shows any of the signs of something serious, time for you to take it serious!
Now let's have a little chat about helmets!! I'll save you all the specifics save for just 3.
1. They NEED to cover your forehead. Otherwise, a helmet is more or less useless.
2. They are single impact only. Meaning one good bonk warrents replacing that helmet!
3. Bike helmets are not DOT approved. Deptartment of Transportation (DOT) approval recognizes a helmet as strong enough to handle highway and concrete impacts. Since a lot of riders now ride at near highway speeds on hear concrete hardness ground this is a consideration. This also includes full face downhill helmets unless there is a DOT or SNELL approaval in the inside.
Ride safe!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The case for one speed: Why derail a good thing?
We live in a world of options. Salad with cranberries or goat cheese? Coffee or vanilla non-fat flat latte? We usually have a choice on just about everything we desire. But how many times have you stared down a menu trying to decide between a florentine omelette, ollalieberry pancakes or an organic Mediterranean scramble. Choices can be amazing. Choices can be maddening! I believe we have surrounded ourselves with so many options we are now going bananas trying to decide between them all. However if you just closed your eyes and ordered any one of those breakfasts at random, or just asked for a basic two-egg breakfast, chances are you would sit, eat, enjoy and leave satisfied.
The presence of choice constantly creates the possibility for derailing your focus. All too often we allow ourselves to be derailed and to pursue another option prematurely or before realizing what we have left behind. How many relationships have been torn apart by the allure of another, only to have the guilty party realize they were chasing after an illusion?
There is a lure about the simple life. I remember one morning driving into Superior, AZ after driving all night for a climbing competition and stopping at a diner with Zach for breakfast. After sitting down I opened the menu to read the following:
The presence of choice constantly creates the possibility for derailing your focus. All too often we allow ourselves to be derailed and to pursue another option prematurely or before realizing what we have left behind. How many relationships have been torn apart by the allure of another, only to have the guilty party realize they were chasing after an illusion?
There is a lure about the simple life. I remember one morning driving into Superior, AZ after driving all night for a climbing competition and stopping at a diner with Zach for breakfast. After sitting down I opened the menu to read the following:
Breakfast: $5.95
Lunch: $6.95
Dinner $9.95
Lunch: $6.95
Dinner $9.95
I remember thinking, "Wow, this is easy!" No hesitation, I ordered breakfast and had my hunger satiated. Onwards and sideways!
Yes, I can tie this easily into bicycles. The word derail should lend a hint as to how I might get there. The amazing devise that allowed for the evolution of mountain bikes to multi-geared machines, also allowed for the use of quick release wheels that sat in convenient vertically oriented drop-outs. This stationary position of the wheel eventually allowed for the ease of transitioning bicycles to the use of disc brakes. Derailleurs also served to constantly tension the chain so as a chain stretches there isn't any need to loosen the wheel and adjust the tension. As technology got more advanced and chains got narrower bikes began to carry many gears! Now-a-days there are about 27 gears at a rider's disposal. Amazing, right? But what shadow does this technology cast? Well, a few for sure! Weight is of course and issue. More cogs, longer chains and cables and shifter mechanisms all contribute to a heavier ride, though most riders are willing to tote the extra grams for the ability to shift gears. Complication is a dark side of geared bikes, and has lead to its own pathology set. "Chain suck", rattles, poor adjustment are just a few on top of the general idea that more parts equals more parts to break.
However, what happens when you finally ordered that Mediterranean scramble? Perhaps it comes and you spend breakfast wondering what the florentine omelette might have tasted like. You've lost focus on breakfast. What happens in a race when you constantly have a thumb on the shifter contemplating a better gear? Perhaps you've lost focus on your race. The amazing technology that clanks and clatters along behind you in every ride could be a force derailing your whole riding experience. I know that personally I've paid a lot of attention to the noise coming from the derailleurs on my bikes. To me a rattle gives me the sense that my bike isn't quite as together as it should be.
As for me, at this point in time. I've decided to sit down and order the two-egg breakfast. Perhaps it is just because I just can't afford the ollalieberry pancakes, or maybe I'm curious if I can just sit and really enjoy those two eggs. My bike now has one short chain, and two cogs (10 less than it used to!). In a box in my yard is hundreds of grams of equipment that apparently I never really needed. I can say for sure, in the middle of this meal I have really come to appreciate what eggs taste like, and how well they go with a piece of toast. Not once have my thumbs gone for a gear when I come to a hill. Sure, it is a lot of work getting up the steeper hills, a lot of work. But, that's just riding, right? Plus the pleasure of a silent ride downhill is doubly worth that effort, and the knowledge that I won't go out of adjustment, have a stick come up and snap off the derailleur of have the chain come popping off the rings makes me relax and enjoy the ride ahead. I think once people are stripped of all the options they could have they find the ones they do have are plenty, and sometimes the preferred! Maybe everyone will soon begin to live more simple fulfilling...rides. =)
Yes, I can tie this easily into bicycles. The word derail should lend a hint as to how I might get there. The amazing devise that allowed for the evolution of mountain bikes to multi-geared machines, also allowed for the use of quick release wheels that sat in convenient vertically oriented drop-outs. This stationary position of the wheel eventually allowed for the ease of transitioning bicycles to the use of disc brakes. Derailleurs also served to constantly tension the chain so as a chain stretches there isn't any need to loosen the wheel and adjust the tension. As technology got more advanced and chains got narrower bikes began to carry many gears! Now-a-days there are about 27 gears at a rider's disposal. Amazing, right? But what shadow does this technology cast? Well, a few for sure! Weight is of course and issue. More cogs, longer chains and cables and shifter mechanisms all contribute to a heavier ride, though most riders are willing to tote the extra grams for the ability to shift gears. Complication is a dark side of geared bikes, and has lead to its own pathology set. "Chain suck", rattles, poor adjustment are just a few on top of the general idea that more parts equals more parts to break.
However, what happens when you finally ordered that Mediterranean scramble? Perhaps it comes and you spend breakfast wondering what the florentine omelette might have tasted like. You've lost focus on breakfast. What happens in a race when you constantly have a thumb on the shifter contemplating a better gear? Perhaps you've lost focus on your race. The amazing technology that clanks and clatters along behind you in every ride could be a force derailing your whole riding experience. I know that personally I've paid a lot of attention to the noise coming from the derailleurs on my bikes. To me a rattle gives me the sense that my bike isn't quite as together as it should be.
As for me, at this point in time. I've decided to sit down and order the two-egg breakfast. Perhaps it is just because I just can't afford the ollalieberry pancakes, or maybe I'm curious if I can just sit and really enjoy those two eggs. My bike now has one short chain, and two cogs (10 less than it used to!). In a box in my yard is hundreds of grams of equipment that apparently I never really needed. I can say for sure, in the middle of this meal I have really come to appreciate what eggs taste like, and how well they go with a piece of toast. Not once have my thumbs gone for a gear when I come to a hill. Sure, it is a lot of work getting up the steeper hills, a lot of work. But, that's just riding, right? Plus the pleasure of a silent ride downhill is doubly worth that effort, and the knowledge that I won't go out of adjustment, have a stick come up and snap off the derailleur of have the chain come popping off the rings makes me relax and enjoy the ride ahead. I think once people are stripped of all the options they could have they find the ones they do have are plenty, and sometimes the preferred! Maybe everyone will soon begin to live more simple fulfilling...rides. =)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction without medication
Cycling is amongst the most provocative athletic activities to people suffering from asthma. However, people who do not actually have asthma may experience asthma like symptoms during exercise. This can be a disastrous thing to have to deal with during competition. The question is how to manage the disorder to keep the symptoms from coming back.
Bronchoconstriction in asthma is simply one inflammatory process involved with a number of triggers. Bronchoconstriction in exercise, according to some may not have the same level of inflammation as true asthma, but has similar triggers involved as well as a number of other factors specific to exercise. Truth is, though exercised induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may not be the exact process as an asthmatic bronchoconstriction, it responds to the same medications used in asthma attacks and presents almost identically. This shows it's similarity in physiology. Short acting beta-2 agonists, such as Albuterol act similar to epinepherine to dilate airways. Though this gives a clue to the physiology, it masks the opportunity to remedy the situation systemically and thus eliminating it all together. Most people who do not have asthma do not have the same level of reactivity in their airways, meaning they don't have asthmatic symptoms outside of the exercise arena. This population, and even asthmatics can have that reactivity drastically reduced by changing diet, eliminating allergens and use of alternative therapies.
How to fix it:
1. Get in shape!
The more in shape you are, the less stress put on your lungs to perform. Intense stress on those airway can cause small scale edema leading to narrowing airways.
2. Reduce your body's propensity toward inflammation:
There are a number of ways to go about this. Supplements and diet are key. Dietically speaking, avoiding a diet that steers towards high glycemic index is important. This keeps your glucose/insulin regulation normal. Sugar is a damaging substance to have in the blood in high concentrations for too long. Decrease the amount of omega-6 fatty acids in your diet. Main sources of these are safflower, sunflower and corn oil. These are pro-inflammatory. Fish oils are amazing reducers of inflammation. There are basically no side effects at moderately high doses. Remember to buy high quality oils containing the omega-3 fatty acids Eiconopentanoic Acid and Dicosohexanoic Acid (EPA/DHA). Here is an article on them.
3. Know they allergies and allergens
This is the pandora's box of the situation. Allergies are tough. A lot of times we know what they are, but we know very little about what to do about it. The main allergies I am thinking of are the airborn varieties: mold, dust, etc. Food allergies are important considerations as well, and these often include milk, eggs, gluten and peanuts. Avoidance of these around race day will be at least a step towards eliminating bronchoconstriction.
Interesting side note. Many of the allergies responsible for triggering airway narrowing are IgE mediated. In the 1950-60's a researcher discovered that this immunoglobulin blocks beta-2 receptors. When these receptors are blocked, the agonists that normally agonize them and stimulate airway dilation cannot do their work. Know they allergies and allergens.
Ride on!
Bronchoconstriction in asthma is simply one inflammatory process involved with a number of triggers. Bronchoconstriction in exercise, according to some may not have the same level of inflammation as true asthma, but has similar triggers involved as well as a number of other factors specific to exercise. Truth is, though exercised induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may not be the exact process as an asthmatic bronchoconstriction, it responds to the same medications used in asthma attacks and presents almost identically. This shows it's similarity in physiology. Short acting beta-2 agonists, such as Albuterol act similar to epinepherine to dilate airways. Though this gives a clue to the physiology, it masks the opportunity to remedy the situation systemically and thus eliminating it all together. Most people who do not have asthma do not have the same level of reactivity in their airways, meaning they don't have asthmatic symptoms outside of the exercise arena. This population, and even asthmatics can have that reactivity drastically reduced by changing diet, eliminating allergens and use of alternative therapies.
How to fix it:
1. Get in shape!
The more in shape you are, the less stress put on your lungs to perform. Intense stress on those airway can cause small scale edema leading to narrowing airways.
2. Reduce your body's propensity toward inflammation:
There are a number of ways to go about this. Supplements and diet are key. Dietically speaking, avoiding a diet that steers towards high glycemic index is important. This keeps your glucose/insulin regulation normal. Sugar is a damaging substance to have in the blood in high concentrations for too long. Decrease the amount of omega-6 fatty acids in your diet. Main sources of these are safflower, sunflower and corn oil. These are pro-inflammatory. Fish oils are amazing reducers of inflammation. There are basically no side effects at moderately high doses. Remember to buy high quality oils containing the omega-3 fatty acids Eiconopentanoic Acid and Dicosohexanoic Acid (EPA/DHA). Here is an article on them.
3. Know they allergies and allergens
This is the pandora's box of the situation. Allergies are tough. A lot of times we know what they are, but we know very little about what to do about it. The main allergies I am thinking of are the airborn varieties: mold, dust, etc. Food allergies are important considerations as well, and these often include milk, eggs, gluten and peanuts. Avoidance of these around race day will be at least a step towards eliminating bronchoconstriction.
Interesting side note. Many of the allergies responsible for triggering airway narrowing are IgE mediated. In the 1950-60's a researcher discovered that this immunoglobulin blocks beta-2 receptors. When these receptors are blocked, the agonists that normally agonize them and stimulate airway dilation cannot do their work. Know they allergies and allergens.
Ride on!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Jesse's Top 20 as Howell Mountain Approaches
Well, it's will a pretty heavy sign that I watch the end of this season approaching. The Howell Mountain Challenge marks the end of summer racing for the Miracle crew. Sure the autumn is dotted with occasional events here and there, but the momentum will not be the same until the turn of 2009. Personally I like a fairly visible line of demarcation surrounding our season. It is sacred time and requires an obvious beginning and end to be truly celebrated. So, for me, Howell Mt. marks that date.
For the remainder of the year one question remains for all of us. How to stay in training without the motivation of a constant line-up of races. Last year I slipped happily into the lap of lassitude after finishing rather strong at the Howell race. For me it was the first move up to the sport class and I finished one spot away from the podium. I pulled up to the line wearing the same old windstopper shirt I had ridden in for years prior, gear dirty and used up. This year I will pull up to that line with a whole different look in my eyes, because as I look back many of the bigger events were marked with defeat for me. Not to say there weren't successes. Making finals at the Sea Otter Dual Slalom was the season highlight for me. But for the Sea Otter XC, the Downieville XC and a number of local races I remember only suffering, battling with sickness from poor nutrition and outright exhaustion. I'm sad to say I am able to look back at so many poor memories from the season, but like most people respond to many a learning experience, I doubt I would trade it off all to readily. Finding my limits has been one harsh lesson, and one clearly best served cold. It is one thing to glimpse what your limits are and it is another to surpass them and have to look back. From that I will know how to move forward with racing, and with racing as an adjunct to my profession. So, without further or due, I share some of my fondest moments, the ones that made me laugh, smile, hurt, groan and generally love racing bikes.
1. Favorite moment:
The post Yosemite swim in the Merced river.
2. Funniest Moment:
I couldn't quite tell you the exact time, but in my slumber I remember the chill damp morning air outside my tent pierced by the wailing cry... "COOOVVEEEEYYYY!!!!!!!"
3. Scariest Moment:
Slumping down on the trailside 10 miles from Downieville unable to walk more than a couple hundred feet and vomiting for the 10th time, now beginning to worry whether or not I'd actually make it back to town.
4. Weirdest moment:
Did we get a count on exactly how many pinch flats that was on one tube at Northstar, Zach?
5. Best moment of spontaneity:
Dusty and Jesse's evening shuttle session on the SX-Trail!
6. Most awesome moment:
This moment happened when I first hit top speed on my 11pm shift at the 24 hours of Adrenalin. This was my first ride under headlamp, and the fog made the whole course seem like some weird dreamland.
7. Least awesome moment:
Frantically stopping on the fast fire road section of the Downieville Downhill, mere miles from the finish to repair a chain that had fallen off and wrapped three time solid around my cranks... Not cool.
8. Best moment behind the wrenches:
Transforming Ol' Yeller into a single speed out of old used parts and hardware store materials!
9. When I laughed the hardest:
Not exactly a "race moment" but I don't think I laughed as hard all year as I did when Zach met Coco in the early morning hours in Yosemite.
10. Favorite Race Day:
Day 2 of Downieville stands as the most vivid day of racing I have ever had. I have never raced such a demanding course and had to maintain such intense focus.
11. Favorite Race Course:
Sea Otter XC. There's really no way around it, the course is amazing. Beach and all!
12. Favorite Post Race Meal:
Stacy and Jesse's delirious mission for Round Table Pizza, running red lights and getting lost in Monterey after the finish of the 24-hours.
13. Most inspirational moment:
Watching Dusty prepare to take his 5th and final lap for the CyclePathic Tendencies team at 24 hours of Adrenalin. He stood arms crossed and eyes fixed on the far end of the course for a glimpse of Covey unwilling to speak to anyone. By far the most determination I've seen all year.
14. Least Inspirational Moment:
The moment I rounded a corner 2 miles into the Downieville XC ascent, totally winded, only to look up at the switchbacks climbing literally thousands of feet straight up the mountainside ahead of me. I'll never forget that sight, that horrid sight.
15. The race figure you love:
Joe Pessano. Thanks for all the constant encouragement!
16. The race figure you love to hate:
Two riders take the cake on this one, and I'm not going to name names. All I'll say is one of them makes quite a scene on the podium at his local races, and the other owns a Marin and a loud voice!
17. The season winning "DOH!":
This goes without competition to Stacy's heartfelt and no less thorough cleaning of Leon before the Napa Dirt Classic. You think you got tough-to-beat grease? Watch what this girl can do with some grease remover and a brush. She'll have your bike running like a never-oiled machine!
18. Best Buy:
Zach's Yeti 575
19. Worst Buy:
Possibly Stacy's pink bar ends, or the handle of gin for 24 Hours.
20. Best WTF moment:
Zach stays up all night drinking wine, gets few hours of sleep, wakes up and eats two cans of cold canned soup, and a couple red bull and beats me at the Napa Dirt Classic on a singlespeed... WTF?
Thank you all for a great season! Let's enjoy the autumn rides, the attempts to stay in shape and be ready for top spots next season!!
For the remainder of the year one question remains for all of us. How to stay in training without the motivation of a constant line-up of races. Last year I slipped happily into the lap of lassitude after finishing rather strong at the Howell race. For me it was the first move up to the sport class and I finished one spot away from the podium. I pulled up to the line wearing the same old windstopper shirt I had ridden in for years prior, gear dirty and used up. This year I will pull up to that line with a whole different look in my eyes, because as I look back many of the bigger events were marked with defeat for me. Not to say there weren't successes. Making finals at the Sea Otter Dual Slalom was the season highlight for me. But for the Sea Otter XC, the Downieville XC and a number of local races I remember only suffering, battling with sickness from poor nutrition and outright exhaustion. I'm sad to say I am able to look back at so many poor memories from the season, but like most people respond to many a learning experience, I doubt I would trade it off all to readily. Finding my limits has been one harsh lesson, and one clearly best served cold. It is one thing to glimpse what your limits are and it is another to surpass them and have to look back. From that I will know how to move forward with racing, and with racing as an adjunct to my profession. So, without further or due, I share some of my fondest moments, the ones that made me laugh, smile, hurt, groan and generally love racing bikes.
1. Favorite moment:
The post Yosemite swim in the Merced river.
2. Funniest Moment:
I couldn't quite tell you the exact time, but in my slumber I remember the chill damp morning air outside my tent pierced by the wailing cry... "COOOVVEEEEYYYY!!!!!!!"
3. Scariest Moment:
Slumping down on the trailside 10 miles from Downieville unable to walk more than a couple hundred feet and vomiting for the 10th time, now beginning to worry whether or not I'd actually make it back to town.
4. Weirdest moment:
Did we get a count on exactly how many pinch flats that was on one tube at Northstar, Zach?
5. Best moment of spontaneity:
Dusty and Jesse's evening shuttle session on the SX-Trail!
6. Most awesome moment:
This moment happened when I first hit top speed on my 11pm shift at the 24 hours of Adrenalin. This was my first ride under headlamp, and the fog made the whole course seem like some weird dreamland.
7. Least awesome moment:
Frantically stopping on the fast fire road section of the Downieville Downhill, mere miles from the finish to repair a chain that had fallen off and wrapped three time solid around my cranks... Not cool.
8. Best moment behind the wrenches:
Transforming Ol' Yeller into a single speed out of old used parts and hardware store materials!
9. When I laughed the hardest:
Not exactly a "race moment" but I don't think I laughed as hard all year as I did when Zach met Coco in the early morning hours in Yosemite.
10. Favorite Race Day:
Day 2 of Downieville stands as the most vivid day of racing I have ever had. I have never raced such a demanding course and had to maintain such intense focus.
11. Favorite Race Course:
Sea Otter XC. There's really no way around it, the course is amazing. Beach and all!
12. Favorite Post Race Meal:
Stacy and Jesse's delirious mission for Round Table Pizza, running red lights and getting lost in Monterey after the finish of the 24-hours.
13. Most inspirational moment:
Watching Dusty prepare to take his 5th and final lap for the CyclePathic Tendencies team at 24 hours of Adrenalin. He stood arms crossed and eyes fixed on the far end of the course for a glimpse of Covey unwilling to speak to anyone. By far the most determination I've seen all year.
14. Least Inspirational Moment:
The moment I rounded a corner 2 miles into the Downieville XC ascent, totally winded, only to look up at the switchbacks climbing literally thousands of feet straight up the mountainside ahead of me. I'll never forget that sight, that horrid sight.
15. The race figure you love:
Joe Pessano. Thanks for all the constant encouragement!
16. The race figure you love to hate:
Two riders take the cake on this one, and I'm not going to name names. All I'll say is one of them makes quite a scene on the podium at his local races, and the other owns a Marin and a loud voice!
17. The season winning "DOH!":
This goes without competition to Stacy's heartfelt and no less thorough cleaning of Leon before the Napa Dirt Classic. You think you got tough-to-beat grease? Watch what this girl can do with some grease remover and a brush. She'll have your bike running like a never-oiled machine!
18. Best Buy:
Zach's Yeti 575
19. Worst Buy:
Possibly Stacy's pink bar ends, or the handle of gin for 24 Hours.
20. Best WTF moment:
Zach stays up all night drinking wine, gets few hours of sleep, wakes up and eats two cans of cold canned soup, and a couple red bull and beats me at the Napa Dirt Classic on a singlespeed... WTF?
Thank you all for a great season! Let's enjoy the autumn rides, the attempts to stay in shape and be ready for top spots next season!!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Bear with me...
Another string of messages came through today, another ride I had to miss. I knew which of you went, and I can imagine how fun the ride was. But, as I woke up tired this morning, as I have all summer, I got to thinking about riding and the team and realized how far removed I am right now. I thought I would write about it.
Between patients, and during lunch breaks I dream of riding. I run through the LiveWire in my head and visualize virtual pivot point suspension, single speed hubs and carbon fiber frames. I scheme plans for races I would only hope to attend with each and every member of Miracle Racing, just to find myself around a campfire or at a trailhead with my best of friends, ready as always to enjoy every moment as fully as the last. When I get home I see a fleeting glimpse of energy to go ride, but rarely have the daylight to follow through. Downieville marked, for me, what happens when you try to push too much and too hard. I started getting hints about this as far back as the Sea Otter, but failed to listen. Luckily I got through that day without seriously hurting myself. I'm not sure if I actually thanked Zach well enough for what he did for me out there. Without him, well, It might not have been good. I have a very fuzzy image in my head of the team as I greeted you all after I finally crossed the line. You were all seated on a curb, and your faces were covered in dirt. I felt amazing comfort in seeing you all then. Thank you.
For the next six months, I'm afraid this trend must continue. My commitment to my patients grows as they become my regular patients, and I will soon be in the throws of studying for board exams. I have 5 national board exams before the years is out and the big California boards in mid February. That will be the capstone of all the work I have done thus far. My last day of classes will be on December 19th, and my graduation likely the next day. At that point you will watch me emerge, and I will join you all on the trails more regularly again. Thanks for bearing with me! I can't wait to hit the trails at Northstar this weekend!!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Saturday Ride: Jesse and Stacy's Adventure.
6:45am: Lu Lu's. Slapping my camelbak down on the counter and pulling money out of a plastic bag the barista slides the jet black americano across the counter. Stacy pulls up and after a few sideways glances we cruise coffee in hand to the Santa Cruz metro station.
7:15am: Running to the bus, we grab the last two bike racks and plop into the seats for the ride to Aptos. The guy behind us seems nervous and stares out the front of the bus while making a throat clearing noise. Across the isle a Mexican woman scribes a crusifix in front of her as the bus departs with her right hand, in her left is a plastic bag with two cans: a Tecate and a Natural Ice. To my left two young girls obviously departing an all night party sleep leaning against each other. I love public transit Dropped off near the train tracks in the morning fog we strap on the helmets and depart.
8:00am: I'm standing up and cranking up the fire road of Nisene Marks State Park, roughly 3 miles in to the ride. Ol' Yeller and his one aged gear are in top shape (relatively) and my legs feel outstanding. Unfortunately single speeds are an antisocial ride machine. I simply HAVE to crank ahead and maintain speed or I am stuck. Stacy pulls up shortly at the pull out I've chosen for a stretch.
9:10am: 9.2 miles of constant sandy uphill has me stopped at Sand Point Lookout. I chat with a few guys as they get ready to descend and they ask what I'm riding. I tell them "Braille. We're headed for the Demo." The long haired blonde guy sporting a Mark Weir mustache eyes my one rear cog and flimsy tensioner and says as he lets 10 lbs. of pressure out of his tires, "Oh man, on that?" Yes my friend... on this. If you could only cast a glance at my yard, Leon in parts and then my bank account, you'd have a clear idea why. Stacy pulls up not long behind smiling huge and stoked! Stacy never seems to lose her positive swing on anything! She's just as happy about this ride as she was 9.2 miles before. The fog obstructs what would be a clear view down to the ocean, but adds a cool temperate feel to the ride. The ride up from Aptos to Sand Point seemed at this point, well, kinda easy. Ok, at least it went by faster than I thought...
10:00am: Intersection of Aptos Creek Trail and Ridge Trail, 12.2 miles into the ride. Stacy swings by as I'm stretching out on a tractor left behind from the recent fire. "Ok, we had to earn those last 3.5 miles." Stacy replies, "No KIDDING!" The climb, which has yet to relent once immediately went steep after Sand Point. My calves already sore from the work out two days before were screaming. Not the scream of a fresh muscle being stressed, but of a tired muscle giving that stinging stale ache that begs, "What are you DOING to me?" The 3.5 miles to the top of the Ridge Trail were brutal, broken only by two brief downhill relief sections. I feel strong, but a fair bit less interested in climbing anymore.
10:15am: Stacy leads us down Ridge at an impressive clip. I enjoyed watching her navigate that trail with skill that she has learned in such a short period of time! Ridge soon leads to Braille and after negotiating the dips and drops of that awesome trail, we are spit out onto Hihn's Mill Rd. Realization sets in. We're roughly 15 miles into the day, just under 13 of which were straight f-ing uphill. From where we sit I estimate we're roughly 33 miles from my house, and NOT as the crow flies! If a crow ever flew the route we had to take to get home, I'd slap its silly face.
10:45am: I always hated that climb out of the demo. Least of all after climbing up from Santa Cruz, made worse still without the luxury of a granny gear. 18.2 miles into the ride, I chill with Stace in the only slim patch of shade in that god-forsaken parking lot, where on a normal day rides begin and end and where today I would NOT be loading up my bike for the drive home. No, we needed to saddle up and climb back to the top of Ridge. Halfway up, in the now shinning sun I can see the damage of the summit fire and just how close it came to our riding paradise. Halfway up I begin to feel my right knee ache every time it raises up the upstroke. Halfway up Stacy exclaims, "I'm hosed..." After a brief discussion on the medial collateral ligament and a brilliant insight on the knee when pedaling by Stace we're off again. This time were offering less excited encouragement..."We're almost there..." "Not much longer..."
11:15am: Top of Ridge Trail, 25 miles into the ride. "Ouch" says the legs. I'm guessing that at this point our total elevation gain has to be in around 3000', but i really have no idea... I feel daunted by the 12.2 miles left to Aptos, and the 10 miles left to get to my house. A nice loud POP! relieves the pressure in my knee, and the ache in the MCL abates. We relent to the trail almost in resignation. Our legs are TIRED, dusty and shaky. Luckily we have a LOT of downhill left, but that goes fast and was ever so relaxing! It reminded me of being a kid when Zach and I would take the old mountain bikes up Centerville Rd. to the rim of the canyon I grew up in, then turn around at a look out on that dusty gravel road and ride MILES back down. Fast gravel downhill turns are scary but aways remind me of that.
Sometime in the afternoon: Aptos. I've lost track of time, and Stace seems to as well despite the time keeping machine strapped to her handlebars. The ride is done, but the getting home has yet to happen. It seems twice as daunting as the initial ride up did earlier that morning. These 10 miles not only include hills, wind, etc., but cars... We wait forever to get going, and I exclaim, "You realize we're subconsciously waiting for a bus or a friend to happen by..." With a chuckle we head off... The ride through town was agony. As we turned through a stop sign to climb out of Capitola Village a Mexican dude on a bike too small for him pulls up next to me and grins a huge grin as he says, "Wanna Race?" I must have looked an easy target at that point... I won... barely. A brief swing by Family and we are able to dribble tri-flow on our ridiculously dry dusty chains. This adds a relief from the noise and drag, but does nothing to take away the remaining 7 miles...or whatever...who cares...
Some other time in the afternoon: Seabright Brewery. We got some odd looks as we plopped down at our outside table. We must have looked haggered, but all we could think of was food. We toast to an amazing ride and devour our food. Once we gather ourselves, we complete the remaining miles home. After parting ways and noting the total milage: 48 miles. We proudly hug and head to respective homes to crash. I have since fallen asleep three times in 30 minutes. The Demo rules, and there is no better way to appreciate it than getting yourself up there on your own power! Downieville, here I come!!
Good luck to Dusty and any of the other Miracle racers competing in the Central Coast Cross-Country tomorrow!
7:15am: Running to the bus, we grab the last two bike racks and plop into the seats for the ride to Aptos. The guy behind us seems nervous and stares out the front of the bus while making a throat clearing noise. Across the isle a Mexican woman scribes a crusifix in front of her as the bus departs with her right hand, in her left is a plastic bag with two cans: a Tecate and a Natural Ice. To my left two young girls obviously departing an all night party sleep leaning against each other. I love public transit Dropped off near the train tracks in the morning fog we strap on the helmets and depart.
8:00am: I'm standing up and cranking up the fire road of Nisene Marks State Park, roughly 3 miles in to the ride. Ol' Yeller and his one aged gear are in top shape (relatively) and my legs feel outstanding. Unfortunately single speeds are an antisocial ride machine. I simply HAVE to crank ahead and maintain speed or I am stuck. Stacy pulls up shortly at the pull out I've chosen for a stretch.
9:10am: 9.2 miles of constant sandy uphill has me stopped at Sand Point Lookout. I chat with a few guys as they get ready to descend and they ask what I'm riding. I tell them "Braille. We're headed for the Demo." The long haired blonde guy sporting a Mark Weir mustache eyes my one rear cog and flimsy tensioner and says as he lets 10 lbs. of pressure out of his tires, "Oh man, on that?" Yes my friend... on this. If you could only cast a glance at my yard, Leon in parts and then my bank account, you'd have a clear idea why. Stacy pulls up not long behind smiling huge and stoked! Stacy never seems to lose her positive swing on anything! She's just as happy about this ride as she was 9.2 miles before. The fog obstructs what would be a clear view down to the ocean, but adds a cool temperate feel to the ride. The ride up from Aptos to Sand Point seemed at this point, well, kinda easy. Ok, at least it went by faster than I thought...
10:00am: Intersection of Aptos Creek Trail and Ridge Trail, 12.2 miles into the ride. Stacy swings by as I'm stretching out on a tractor left behind from the recent fire. "Ok, we had to earn those last 3.5 miles." Stacy replies, "No KIDDING!" The climb, which has yet to relent once immediately went steep after Sand Point. My calves already sore from the work out two days before were screaming. Not the scream of a fresh muscle being stressed, but of a tired muscle giving that stinging stale ache that begs, "What are you DOING to me?" The 3.5 miles to the top of the Ridge Trail were brutal, broken only by two brief downhill relief sections. I feel strong, but a fair bit less interested in climbing anymore.
10:15am: Stacy leads us down Ridge at an impressive clip. I enjoyed watching her navigate that trail with skill that she has learned in such a short period of time! Ridge soon leads to Braille and after negotiating the dips and drops of that awesome trail, we are spit out onto Hihn's Mill Rd. Realization sets in. We're roughly 15 miles into the day, just under 13 of which were straight f-ing uphill. From where we sit I estimate we're roughly 33 miles from my house, and NOT as the crow flies! If a crow ever flew the route we had to take to get home, I'd slap its silly face.
10:45am: I always hated that climb out of the demo. Least of all after climbing up from Santa Cruz, made worse still without the luxury of a granny gear. 18.2 miles into the ride, I chill with Stace in the only slim patch of shade in that god-forsaken parking lot, where on a normal day rides begin and end and where today I would NOT be loading up my bike for the drive home. No, we needed to saddle up and climb back to the top of Ridge. Halfway up, in the now shinning sun I can see the damage of the summit fire and just how close it came to our riding paradise. Halfway up I begin to feel my right knee ache every time it raises up the upstroke. Halfway up Stacy exclaims, "I'm hosed..." After a brief discussion on the medial collateral ligament and a brilliant insight on the knee when pedaling by Stace we're off again. This time were offering less excited encouragement..."We're almost there..." "Not much longer..."
11:15am: Top of Ridge Trail, 25 miles into the ride. "Ouch" says the legs. I'm guessing that at this point our total elevation gain has to be in around 3000', but i really have no idea... I feel daunted by the 12.2 miles left to Aptos, and the 10 miles left to get to my house. A nice loud POP! relieves the pressure in my knee, and the ache in the MCL abates. We relent to the trail almost in resignation. Our legs are TIRED, dusty and shaky. Luckily we have a LOT of downhill left, but that goes fast and was ever so relaxing! It reminded me of being a kid when Zach and I would take the old mountain bikes up Centerville Rd. to the rim of the canyon I grew up in, then turn around at a look out on that dusty gravel road and ride MILES back down. Fast gravel downhill turns are scary but aways remind me of that.
Sometime in the afternoon: Aptos. I've lost track of time, and Stace seems to as well despite the time keeping machine strapped to her handlebars. The ride is done, but the getting home has yet to happen. It seems twice as daunting as the initial ride up did earlier that morning. These 10 miles not only include hills, wind, etc., but cars... We wait forever to get going, and I exclaim, "You realize we're subconsciously waiting for a bus or a friend to happen by..." With a chuckle we head off... The ride through town was agony. As we turned through a stop sign to climb out of Capitola Village a Mexican dude on a bike too small for him pulls up next to me and grins a huge grin as he says, "Wanna Race?" I must have looked an easy target at that point... I won... barely. A brief swing by Family and we are able to dribble tri-flow on our ridiculously dry dusty chains. This adds a relief from the noise and drag, but does nothing to take away the remaining 7 miles...or whatever...who cares...
Some other time in the afternoon: Seabright Brewery. We got some odd looks as we plopped down at our outside table. We must have looked haggered, but all we could think of was food. We toast to an amazing ride and devour our food. Once we gather ourselves, we complete the remaining miles home. After parting ways and noting the total milage: 48 miles. We proudly hug and head to respective homes to crash. I have since fallen asleep three times in 30 minutes. The Demo rules, and there is no better way to appreciate it than getting yourself up there on your own power! Downieville, here I come!!
Good luck to Dusty and any of the other Miracle racers competing in the Central Coast Cross-Country tomorrow!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Just me and Ol' Yeller
Oddly the height of my training comes just past the halfway point in the season, but clearly it makes sense as the course work and testing has ended temporarily and I find myself with far more spare time that I had just weeks ago. Slipping back into a relaxed rhythm is not necesarily easy and not the least bit automatic. I found in the first few days I was just as busy as I had been during finals, but I appeared to be busying myself with the task of relaxing. Almost defiantly I just sat on the couch and-- almost rushed to sit on the couch-- and just do nothing. Luckily thought, once the pace of relaxing and recharging set in, effort toward training soon followed.
Leon
Leon, the Chameleon is up on the rack for an undisclosed period of time for some long overdue replacements and repairs. By the time the Downieville Classic comes around in exactly one month I anticipate that Leon will shinning and ready. This begs the question, will Jesse be ready? By luck I managed to eeek into the lottery for the highly coveted All-Mountain division, which includes a 30-mile point to point cross-country race on Saturday, and a 17 mile downhill race Sunday. If that weren't enough, I assure you the devil is surely in the details here. The race saturday begins with an 8 mile climb, averaging slightly above 10% grades at elevation and with a gain of 3000-4000'! The second half of the course descends the grueling Downieville Downhill, chalk full of rocks, hills, cliffs and speed. This will of course be the same course I must race Sunday. The trick of this event will be that riders are unable to change any aspect of their bikes, causing them to choose a machine that will be suitable at best for each event--a gruely XC and one of the most exhausting and challenging downhills. Leon is undergoing the proper preparation. Is Jesse?
Well, beginning here is the story of Jesse and Ol' Yeller, the old, reliable and steadfast bicycle. Not long ago, I took the old machine, a 1998 Specialized M2 Stumpjumper built on a 2000 M2 frame and removed the entire drive train, shifters, derailleurs, etc. I spaced out the XTR hub and put on a tensioner. With the help of 5 lock rings I cranked tight the bolts holding the 10 year old 32 tooth chainwheel onto the 10 year old stock specialized cranks and alas now call it a single speed. Side note: I'm not real big on this new "single speed movement". People talk about these bikes and the people who ride them as this odd subset of riders. Really, until the mid to late 80's there were no such things as gears, derailleurs, etc. ALL off road bikes were single speed, and we didn't call them single speeds we just called them "bikes". What you find when you return to riding with just one gear and a freewheel is that it feels just like riding bikes used to feel like: quiet, simple, efficient. It comes equipped with gear that was top of the line 10 years ago including XTR V-brakes, XTR Hubs, answer allumilite bars and a Rock Shox SID 100. Having this bike around has changed the way I look at my every day rides, and suddelny when I no longer have the luxury of a granny gear, I now ENJOY long uphills. I even look forward to them.
So, this new inspiration from an old worn out machine, jury-rigged together as a mix of both top of the line bicycle components and hardware purchased for cents at the local hardware store, has me up and training hard and often. I divide my time between long uphills, and steep short sprints. I like to get equal parts sitting in the saddle and standing up cranking. I have visions in my mind's eye of Sierra trails, rocks and cedars that keep me focused, and a constant flow of affirmations keeping that focus ahead of me, rather than behind. Thanks to Stacy guiding my strength training I wake up two or three times a week with screaming sore muscles. The featured muscle this morning: the gastrocnemius, otherwise know as, my calves.
July 11th is the beginning of the event. Until then, rest assured you'll be able to find me and my old yellow machine somewhere up in the hills around Santa Cruz making the most of my time off.
LeonWell, beginning here is the story of Jesse and Ol' Yeller, the old, reliable and steadfast bicycle. Not long ago, I took the old machine, a 1998 Specialized M2 Stumpjumper built on a 2000 M2 frame and removed the entire drive train, shifters, derailleurs, etc. I spaced out the XTR hub and put on a tensioner. With the help of 5 lock rings I cranked tight the bolts holding the 10 year old 32 tooth chainwheel onto the 10 year old stock specialized cranks and alas now call it a single speed. Side note: I'm not real big on this new "single speed movement". People talk about these bikes and the people who ride them as this odd subset of riders. Really, until the mid to late 80's there were no such things as gears, derailleurs, etc. ALL off road bikes were single speed, and we didn't call them single speeds we just called them "bikes". What you find when you return to riding with just one gear and a freewheel is that it feels just like riding bikes used to feel like: quiet, simple, efficient. It comes equipped with gear that was top of the line 10 years ago including XTR V-brakes, XTR Hubs, answer allumilite bars and a Rock Shox SID 100. Having this bike around has changed the way I look at my every day rides, and suddelny when I no longer have the luxury of a granny gear, I now ENJOY long uphills. I even look forward to them.
So, this new inspiration from an old worn out machine, jury-rigged together as a mix of both top of the line bicycle components and hardware purchased for cents at the local hardware store, has me up and training hard and often. I divide my time between long uphills, and steep short sprints. I like to get equal parts sitting in the saddle and standing up cranking. I have visions in my mind's eye of Sierra trails, rocks and cedars that keep me focused, and a constant flow of affirmations keeping that focus ahead of me, rather than behind. Thanks to Stacy guiding my strength training I wake up two or three times a week with screaming sore muscles. The featured muscle this morning: the gastrocnemius, otherwise know as, my calves.
July 11th is the beginning of the event. Until then, rest assured you'll be able to find me and my old yellow machine somewhere up in the hills around Santa Cruz making the most of my time off.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Hunting for the 24
I have been searching all day for more and more 24-hour events. After all my searching I've concluded there are not enough of these events. If you asked me before this last event at Laguna Seca, I would have labeled myself a downhill/gravity/whatever inclined rider. The endurance aspect of riding kept me healthy, kept me on two wheels, but ultimately filled the space between events when I was able to point the wheels downhill and fly. The downhill and fly part are the same, but 24 hour racing has opened up a whole new element to riding! The problem with most events is that basically they are over in a matter of a couple hours, which always left me with a little hangover since you spend so much energy to get pumped up, and basically are sent home immediately after. Secondly, we show up at these events with friends, and ultimately are forced to compete with one another. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE competing with my friends!! The fact that Dusty beat me at this years Sea Otter XC makes me want to wake up in the early AM hours and crank out laps all the more!! But, I hadn't yet realized what it would be like to combine each of these people's riding skills and abilities into one! The 24 hour event required that of us, and we all so found that we were driven to push as hard as we could every single lap, and that that effort in the end benefited the whole team. That feeling alone created a tribe for 24 hours, and we have been living on that high for weeks afterwards! Personally, I'm ready for the next fix! 
I'm so proud to say that when it comes to these events, we have a TEAM. Zach, Dusty, Covey, Stacy, Davies and I with the help of Cyndie our awesome volunteer and hopefully a future rider! I just can't wait for the next event and for recruiting new riders like Dave, Novarro and Hutch and branching out into new catagories! 
There are events to come, and in the meantime lets get out and play, train, race local events. I'm going to list a few below as considerations. Most of the non-CA events require some travel, but a few are doable! Until next time, I look forward to seeing the CyclePathic Tendencies lining up once again!!24 hours of Chamberlin
Granny Gear 24 hours of Moab
Montezuma's Revenge
24 hours of Adrenaline: Canmore, Alberta World Championships
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Santa Cruz Fire Contained!
Finally after six days of fighting the fire, it has been contained. According to the Fire Map the demo is untouched! The fire burned a good portion of Eureka Canyon Rd. and got as close as the intersection of Buzzard's Canyon and Highland! Luckily people are being sent home and schools are opening today or tomorrow.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Santa Cruz Fire Update
Wow, well, much to my amazement after reviewing the fire map today, it seems the fire took a look at the demo and turned the other way. According to the map it hasn't advanced past Eureka Canyon Rd. in the direction of the demo. This is of course exciting news to a slim number of people in this case, and for the rest this fire may present devastation. I didn't mean to exclude that from my past post, but it should go without saying that I hope for the least number of homes destroyed and the utmost safety for the residents up there. I have a friend up in that area whose house and family I'm worried for. Adelia, hope the two cats and two dogs are ok!
As for the demo forest, we may be in luck for the fire would have (and still could) not only destroyed the wood structures but would (and still could) destroy the canopy and root struction that prevents erosion. Keep the fingers crossed. The fire is 50% contained and I hope residents will be returning home tomorrow!
Fire map
As for the demo forest, we may be in luck for the fire would have (and still could) not only destroyed the wood structures but would (and still could) destroy the canopy and root struction that prevents erosion. Keep the fingers crossed. The fire is 50% contained and I hope residents will be returning home tomorrow!
Fire map
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Paradise Lost?
Ironically I had posted the previous post shortly before I got the update on the fire burning in the Santa Cruz mountains, and had to double take on my choice of titles... When I checked on the fire map, I noticed the fire's edge had reached the intersection of Buzzards Lagoon and Eureka Canyon Rd.! I realized since the fire is far from contained that we're at risk of losing "the demo" as we now know it. Of course we love the landscape, but a great many of those trails are highlighted by well made wood stunts, jumps, logrides, etc. This is not to mention the beautiful trees up there. As devotees of that wonderful riding area, I hope everyone crosses their fingers that the fire is contained soon! View Fire Map
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
