Miracle Racing

Special Thanks: Family Cycling Center

2010-03-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

I want to post a extra special thanks to my sponsor Family Cycling Center for their support of my recent 24-hour solo in Tucson, AZ.

Swing by the shop on 41st Ave. in Capitola. The staff and selection are the best in Santa Cruz!

Read an article published in the Adventure Sports Journal:

http://adventuresportsjournal.com/content/?p=1250

Le Petite Finale

2009-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Pulling into the parking lot of Pacific Union College on a warm August morning usually marks the end of my season. The Howell Mt. Challenge in Angwin, CA this past weekend is significant to me because it marks the final race in a steady stream of events that usually begins sometime around January. To me this race always marked the time when the bikes can be hung up for a while, the body rested, and for once rides can just be rides. More than that Howell Mt. serves as a synopsis of my entire season laid out ever so simply for me to see. How well did I ride this year? What kinds of finishes did I turn in, and what were my strengths and weaknesses? These all usually show up at Howell. This year was no different.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the first race of the season en route to 2nd place.

I knew I was tired that morning. I could feel it walking up the stairs to the registration booths. My legs ached even at that mild exertion. A little twinge of pain from a lingering back injury. And above all a resounding bad mood that seemed to follow me through the season, stemming from a mixture of poor performance and incomplete preparation. Begrudgingly, I put my riding gear on and prepared myself.

Off the starting line we climbed up the road toward that first singletrack. My slow start placed me back in the messy bottleneck, the dust sucking flurry of blurred riders. A mile into the race I finally could see the course in front of me, but I could also see where I was. Mid pack, stuck behind a group of slow riders, legs burning, lungs burning, my mind darting between aggravation to negative thoughts. This was how my whole season was, and Howell Mt. once again began it's summary. But I was riding fast. Or I should say, I was riding much faster than I thought I would considering I had not barely ridden since Downieville in July, and considering I had barely stretched or paid a moments attention to my diet. But amazingly I was pulling ahead and passing people.

The lesson begins with this starting line, "Jesse, are you paying attention? You have now seen how far you can get on luck and skill alone, but now I will show you where that ends." This was right at the point that I hit the first steep climb, stood out of the saddle and put all my strength into that one single gear I carried with me and found that the product of my effort was far less that I had hoped. I began to fade. Hitting the tops of climbs I realized just how relatively out of shape I was and I struggled to recover enough to keep my arms from being wobbly and my vision blurred and shaky. I could feel people approaching behind me, and paid little regard to those fading away ahead of me, which any racer knows is the WRONG perspective to have. Always focus on who is ahead of you. Instead, my ears became trained on the sound of breath or chain rattle behind me to determine if who was following me was a single speed rider or another class and thus how hard I would have to work to fight them off.

Soon a singlespeed rider did come up behind me to pass showing the black and green colors of the MR jersey. Zach was riding singlespeed that day too and was having a great season improving times and results in almost every event he entered. I hung with Zach for a while, negotiating the fast flowing section midway through the lap. I normal follow riders with a healthy bit of caution since I am always prepared for them to blow it. However, following Zach, which I have done for years, was easy because I know that Zach doesn't often crash so I put my wheel right on his and paced him. Where I lost Zach was at the start of the climb out to the airport. I had to stop because there was too much air in my rear tire and I wasn't getting any traction on the climb. Once I stopped, it was nearly impossible to start again. Though I did ride the last part of the lap, once I hit the airport I was done mentally and physically. I tried to talk myself into another lap, but at last the whole system said "no". I could hear the lesson again. "Are you paying attention?" This began my slow ride back; a DNF and the end of my day. The end of my season.

Suffering mid-pack, mid-season.

Zach went on to finish 2nd in the singlespeed category, and I realized that I had been running his pace and was in line to finish somewhere around there had I been ready. I was proud of him finishing as strong as he did. It made me smile. Dusty brought home a 2nd place as well and I would wager to say that that race acted as a synopsis of their own seasons as well.

At last, fighting off sickness and exhaustion...

Clearly the summary of the 2009 season is bleak at best, and I realize the shortcomings of my preparedness and the reasons for that. At Downieville and Howell Mt. I vowed to train hard enough to be in the top 5 at the start, or to not race at all. It's just too much suffering to be back there inhaling dust and getting cut off by passing riders when you know you aren't going to do well in the first place. I am proud of some races. My 3rd place finish at the Sea Otter after a hard fought battle on the Dual Slalom course was by far the highlight. My first XC race of the season in Ft. Ord was a 2nd place and that was a highlight as well. But for a whole season of hard work, sickness, poor finishes and no finishes at all I find 2 good results hardly comparable to the rest, which can only serve to spur me onward toward a different approach and a new season. I will always look forward to that!

Podium Sweep at Nationals!

2009-07-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Sol Vista hosted the 2009 USA Cycling National Championships. Miracle racing created quite a presence there with 3 strong riders, Dusty Gillingham, Zach Smith and Stacy Schroeder, and a host of family and friends dawning apprently new MR shirts!

The process leading to this event was arduous, hard fought and much anticipated. For Dusty preparations began last season as gradually his time on the bike increased and his race times decreased. Despite an ever illusive podium, he continued to turn in strong finishes at local and major events. Worth mentioning in that is a top 10 finish in both Super-D and XC at this years Sea Otter, a top 5 finish at this years' Downieville Classic, and 4th place at Nationals!

For Zach, this process seemed to happen almost over night. All of a sudden Zach began showing up at races with an even more chiseled physique, new bikes and turning in strong fast race times. At the Sea Otter this year, Zach shed significant time off his time last year to finish 13th in a huge field of riders. Notable finishes include a Top 10 finish in the Dual Slalom category at this years' Sea Otter Classic, 2nd place in the Dual Slalom in Santa Ynez, CA, 11th place at this years' Downieville Classic, and 4th place and 6th place at Nationals!

Stacy came into Nationals after a fighting through an injury from May of this year. Rest and re-training propelled her into strong position to take 5th place in the Cat 2 Women's division at Nationals. Other finishes include two top 5 finishes in Duo and 5-man 24 hour races, and a 1st place finish in a CCCX XC race at Ft. Ord.

Congratulations to the three of you for capping of this season with outstanding finishes at one of the country's biggest events!

The Price to Play: A ride alone in Tahoe.

2009-06-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

Finally my first epic in Tahoe. At long last the warm weather cleared the high country of most of the snow cover near my end of the lake. Leaving from my door, and I love to accentuate this point, FROM my door I'm immediately on the Tahoe Rim Trail heading straight up. My intentions at that point weren't far past a small saddle just a mile or so out. Waking in Vallejo this morning, enjoying a cup of coffee I hit the road to Tahoe. Knowing quite well that I was going from sea level to my house at 7500' and planning to ride only up from there, I planned to just ride a while up and get my legs moving. But as so often happens, when I get out into the pines and wind, the chipmunks and storm clouds...I don't want to leave.

Most of the trail up is fantastically sculpted. Intermittently you are forced to burst into action to heave your body and bike over granite steps. Some of them cleanable, some very much not. Before I knew it I was at my destined saddle and had no intention of stopping there. I knew Star Lake was about 8 miles out and up from there, and I contemplated heading out there despite not knowing the terrain, trail, or whether it was actually clear. This ride was not an epic in distance, but a trudge of a ride especially coming from the thick honey air in the valley.

Putting an eye on the sky, the clouds looked a few hours off from storming so I continued on. The storms lately have been particularly violent with lightning strikes, hail and torrents of rain. I intended not to be caught in one of those. Along the trail I went, noticing the animals, trees, rocks, the tiny snow bushes that were popping up. I saw Jefferey pine cones and remembered to a backpacking trip with my Dad years ago where he taught me to recognize the difference between Jefferey pine and Ponderosa pine. He told me that "gentle" Jefferies didn't poke your hands when you cradle them in your hand like "prickly" Ponderosa do.

A turn halfway up that is both as sharp and menacing as it looks. A missed turn here would be the end. Below is the stellar view of the Carson valley, NV.

In so many words, the trip up to Star Lake is 9 miles of climbing interspersed with moments of intensely steep climbing and hike-a-bike. Don't let it fool you, though. You can tell you are pre-paying for this fun because the trip down will be all downhill. (I won't lie, there's a bitch of a climb midway down...) The other delightful aspect of this trail is that there are a few serious do-or-die sections, where a bobble to one side would send you careening down some absurdly steep mountain-sides. I did crash one, in a nice gentle area but not for mistake, but because I was looking off at a view.

An area not to make a mistake

Tahoe is such an amazing riding destination. The mixture of granite sand, pine duff, summer rains and high mountain views is so alluring. Not to mention the quality of riding. I had been staring out windows for over a month waiting for signs that snow was clear enough to allow me on trails. The summer does, however, provide riders with an added challenge in recognizing weather. Back in Santa Cruz I would ride, no matter what. For years I went out on the soggiest days, and loved it basically because there's so little risk! Here if you get caught in a storm, you start wondering if you've seen all the things you wanted to in your life, for it's flashing before your eyes. If it isn't a warm summer start pounding lightning or hail, you get caught in one of those freak cold storms that happen to dump a foot of snow. Basically, mountain weather knowledge, survival skills and common sense are imperative here.

A giant Juniper alongside trail

The California/Nevada border.

My first view of Lake Tahoe high up near Freel Peak.

Star lake turned out to be far more beautiful and quiet than I expected! But I spent little time there knowing that before long lightning would be striking this high barren ridges. I must have been around 9000' or more. Lightning was not the only thing I would have to worry about because the elevation was starting to get to me. I mis-judged the exertion required on the initial trip back, and before long I was very tired and fearing the sections of cliff-lined trail that lie ahead as I was starting to wilt a little. Turns out I made it through okay with regard to the cliffs, but fared far worse once I finally made it home... I was still amazed that as soon as I dropped off the trail onto Quaking Aspen Ln. I had all of 30 to walk to my house. But the fun was yet to begin as I developed a nice sized headache and some persistant nausea. I laid down with needles in my arm and allowed the nausea to fade. Two needles shook off my nausea in about 30 seconds. After than I dropped an aspirin under my tongue to avoid needing to throw it up, and within minutes the headache faded. As I sit here now the skies have opened up into madness. Hail is berating my car and the world around as lightning is striking overhead sending large cracks through the house, powerful and near enough to jump the electricity in the house. To this day I cannot help flinching at the sound of intense thunder, reminding me how meagerly insignificant we humans actually are. The skies are dark and menacing. Dry and warm, no longer sick I enjoy the rest that comes from a good long ride.

PS: My previous opinion of SRAM components remains. My cassette came loose...again, the derailer rattled, the shifters felt loose and grinding. I'm scraping the whole lame system as soon as I can. Aluminum-spline freewheel hubs are garbage too.

Star Lake

Top 5 Sweep!

2009-03-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

There was something quite noticeable during the last XC race at Ft. Ord. If it wasn't the blur of green and white whipping past you, it was probably the bold letters "MR" perched proudly amongst the top 5 and atop the podium. After a beautiful day of racing amidst green grass and lots of friends, our team placed at the highest overall placing I can remember. The results are as follows. Way to go everyone:

Stacy Schroeder: 1st place, Sport Women's
Dusty Gillingham: 3rd place, Sport Men's
Jesse Smith: 2nd place, Sport Single Speed
Zach Smith: 5th place, Sport Single Speed
Covey Potter: 2nd place, Beginning MenPhotos credits and thanks to Rick Rasmussen!

Power of the Pelvis

2009-03-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

I remember saying "oh shit!" in midair. I could see my front wheel heading straight for the opposing face of the jump landing as I threw my weight back to brace against the impact. The fork bottomed worse than I've ever felt. Being that, during 20 years of riding I've landed two wheels in this position far more times than I care to mention, I knew to throw my weight back hard, but the impact flung my pelvis forward into the seat. Painful as it sounds, it saved me an even more painful trip over the bars. For some perspective on the force it took to mangle this seat, two grown men were unable to bend this thing back... Remember, you can gobble up 6.5 inches of travel faster than you can say "bend resisitant cromoly rails"

(By the way, for all concerned parties, my pelvis fared far better than the seat. Hence the title)

2008 Downieville Classic: Reflections on a Great Failure

2009-01-18T21:31:00.001-08:00

Zach helping dial in my headset the morning of the downhill

Last year was not the finest showing a competitive cyclist could have. But of all the mishaps and poor performances of my last season, the one that stands out as the grand failure, where things didn't just not work, they failed horribly, was the Downieville Classic.

Brief overview: Someone in the world has a photo of me leading the field of Sport All Mountain riders up the initial road climb just after the start. I did so for about 400 yards feeling very strong! It was around mile 2 that all of this changed and all the little things that ever haunted my racing, be it stomach aches, exercises/dust induced wheezing, headaches, or garden variety leg bonk, began to take hold. But what made it all the more intolerable was that each of those ailments I just mentioned worsened as the miles ticked away. By the time I reached the summit of that initial climb, just 6 miles into a 30 mile race, I was wasted. I threw up shortly after having a pep talk with Joe Pessano (probably the best man I could imagine for the random pep talk). Mistake #2 (mistake #1 being the one where I thought it was appropriate to lead the field up the first 400 yards of a 30 mile race) was misinterpreting the joyous feeling you get shortly after vomiting as recovery. The effort I put forth in the minutes after first throwing up only solidified the state of dehydration and exhaustion I had already subjected my body to, and after that point there was no feeling of recovery after throwing up. It was only constant and persistent. This about caps off the race for me, which I consider to have ended at the end of the Sunrise Trail. After that, it was just a matter of how I was going to make it into town on my own two feet. I did, ever so slowly and by the help of my guardian-angel, Zach just ahead of the sweep crew some 2 hours after the last of my class had finished.

There were a great many mistakes that I have ruminated over for the past six months since that event took place. So many things I would have changed, done differently, or just been able to see in the moment. But, of all the things that could have been learned in a day like that one, one thing that stands out the most is that the effort you put forth toward a goal or an event can actually turn around and bite you. Effort generated is potential energy and will release in any direction. What separates amateurs like myself from seasoned professionals is the knowledge and skill to release that generated effort properly.

Lesson #1: Dehydration kills

I have traced everything that went wrong that day in no more than two degrees of separation to dehydration. Every symptom I felt that day is explained by dehydration. The history and order of occurrence of each of my activities lead to dehydration. So the most important lesson I learned on a first hand basis is that dehydration will ruin everything, and it is so very easy to slip into that zone while racing.

Lesson #2: You are as fast as you are, and no more.

Blasting off the gun and attempting to lead a pack of very strong riders up a very very demanding climb, in heat and smoky air and at eleveation was not something I was prepared to do. But I let excitement and nerves get the better of me and I lined up right at the very starting line in front of everyone. Not that this enthusiasm wasn't good, but what was wrong was I didn't know my pace, and when I didn't know that pace, I wasn't going to adhere to it. Like Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up someplace else." Know your pace, know your pace, know your pace! My goal for the next year in Downieville is to know that pace, and stick to it no matter what is going on, even if I'm last out of the gate. I knew my pace on the downhill 17 miles, and I had all eyes focused on that. I knew I could be fast in that section, and I still do, but I never even got there because i blew up well beforehand.

Lesson #3: Listen to the signs, and take time to fix them.

Your body has a graduated system for alerting you to something wrong. It's a lot like a kid trying to get his mother's attention. "mom, mom, Mom, Mooom, MOM!, MOM!!" If you don't listen to the first signs, eventually your body will scream at you, and it screams in the form of pain. Listen early, and fix it! If you are blown up, hosed, cooked, wasted, sore, achy, crampy, or just plain unhappy. Stop, breathe, fix it. Stretch, drink water, lie down. Seriously, who considers lying down in a race? But this is Downieville. It's not a race, it's a marathon. You need to survive as much as you need to win, and you need to survive to win! If I start to hear the early signs of anything this year, I am stopping and fixing it! I'll make up time on the downhill!

Lesson #4: Failure is good!

Downieville changed everything for me. It humbled me as a rider and a human. It made me not the guy lost in the pack, or the guy on the top of the podium, it made me the guy leaning against his bike throwing up on the side of the course (sorry I had to be wearing your logo on that one Stace...). I'm sure a lot of people actually still remember me for that! But, what I realized was that I had just hit bottom. There was no further down to go! In fact (and I hate to think of this) if I had DNFed do to injury, or had to been lifted out of there. In competition there's some degree of dignity to that, and in a way your saved face for it! But for me, truly, I hit bottom. What I realized after having been down there, is that ain't so bad! And once you realize that rock bottom ain't so bad (dignity/pride wise) you aren't afraid of it anymore. I never thought I was afraid of it before, but now I realize I was terrified of it! I was terrified of looking like "that guy", the racer who lost it all, or couldn't handle it. But the truth is, we're all going to blow our shit one of these days. I'm just happy I did it because i now don't have to worry about being there again! I can only work upward from that.

The race wasn't all failure. I managed to finish, which meant that I was able to compete in the downhill the following day. I managed a 6th overall fastest time in my class (which didn't do squat to my overall finish results due to the previous days results). In the end the ability to turn in a good run that second day boosted my moral significantly. I chose to race that race in the same sweaty, dirty, vomit covered jersey that I did the day before.

Unloading the bike for the weigh-in the morning after the Cross-Country.

This year should be different. I feel far more "mature" in my racing. I will train hard for that race, but I will train in a relaxed and disciplined manner, only pushing as hard as my body will allow for the time that I am in. I've said it before, but I can't say it enough. Zach saved my ass out there that day. I would have been in trouble if I didn't think he was there making sure I'd get out. I couldn't be thankful enough to him for it. Once I made it down, the whole team was there rallied up to meet me, and that made me feel amazing... The IV fluids did wonders for my mood too. =)

Number plate and IV bruise.

Finest Moments on Two Wheels: by Dusty Gillingham

2009-01-18T20:15:00.000-08:00

Written by Dusty Gillingham in response to: Finest Moments on Two Wheels

Mine would probably have to be when I decided to ride my old haro down to the barber shop to get a hair cut. I just got out of my complex and remembered I forgot my wallet so I turned around and headed back into the complex. To turn into my complex you take a hard right followed by a speed bump. I hit the speed bump going pretty fast and it sent the bike into the air sideways. With my excellent riding skills at the time I decided to do nothing about the situation but hold on. When I landed with both wheels at an angle the bike slide right out from under me and I landed extremely hard right on my hip. I rolled a couple of times till i came to a stop. The place where my body decided to stop was right at the feet of an old lady that was getting groceries out of her car. She tried to ask me if i was okay but I was in to much pain to respond to her. I just laid there moaning and groaning. Then a young man came running over to me to see if I was okay I played it off like I was and went back to my condo (I skipped the hair cut). I had a huge black bruise on my hip and it hurt so bad to walk for the next week.

The Training Chronicles

2009-01-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

December 15th 2008:

Taking the step up from the weekend warrior to the dedicated racer has brought with it a number of significant changes in my daily life. Of coures, the sheer amount of time per week that must be devoted to training simply skyrockets, but there is a change on so may different levels from appetite and mood, to the declining figures in your bank account and simply what you see and experience everyday. The changes are worth mentioning because for me they have been almost entirely positive!

Four days out of the week I flop out of bed at dawn for a ride. I am in the early phase of the training regiment I set out that is designed to develop a base level of endurance centered around mellow rides gently increasing in distance but not in intensity. The hope of this is avoid serious taxation of the cardiovascular system so as to stimulate gradual development of blood supplies to muscles and tissues as well as overall muscular endurance.

My favorite thing about my morning rides is that by choice or by chance I have taken a very unassuming appearance. I ride an early 80's steel touring road bike converted to a single speed and I wear very basic clothes on top of the comforts that make riding pleasant (ie spandex, chamoix pads, wind stopper jerseys, etc.). A ragged windshirt from my rock climbing days still sporting sliced nylon on the sleeves from ski edges, ragged cargo shorts and a baseball cap make me appear to the average person as...well...an average person. I like this because in Santa Cruz, this is standard street attire so generally people barely give me even a second glance, which is exactly how I like it when I've just dragged myself out of bed on a winter morning for a ride.

It's Cold!: January 5th 2009:

The holidays are done, and what do I have to show for myself as a cyclist in "training"? A bike gathering dust, that's what. But the holidays were meant to be a resting time, so I happily set the bike aside for family and rest time.

Now, though, with the holidays over, all I'm left with is my out of shape body and this damned cold weather!! It's in the high 30's at night (yes I realize that others have it far worse, but we in Santa Cruz fall to pieces in that temperature). Waking up to ride, or lift weights is PAINFUL!

The more time riding on the road I spend, the more I realize that people just DO NOT see bicyclists... During a random ride in late December, I was just about run off the road by someone drifting into the bike lane. The car came inches away from me, and there wasn't much I could do to defend myself. I hoped I would come across that driver down the way at a stop sign so I could tell them to watch what the F they are doing.

Training amidst stress: January 14th, 2009

The last month, and well, the last four years have been devoted to passing the CA state board exams. Definitely in the last month, studying has been all I have done...all day long. Getting out on two wheels is the only escape I have, though my adherence to any training schedule is sporadic at best. A friend of mine recorded herself reciting information from the multitude of text books we are required to know for the exam, and with the help of my ipod I import that information into my ears the entire ride. After two hours of listening it starts to feel normal to hear Zoe constantly talking to me, telling me points to use for prolapse of organs or jaundice. After enough time I start to talk back to her. Especially strange are the downhills, where I cannot devote all my attention to the information in an effort to avoid being wrapped around a tree, the wind picks up and I only get her voice in dotted increments like a broken drive-thru speaker. That's when it gets really strange... I can actually hear her voice saying, "Jess, are you even listening?"

I find I like uphills way more than downhills during these times. Somehow the pain of just cranking non-stop uphill feels better than the joy of going downhill. I'll have to analyze that one at another time, but, it does wonderful things for the satisfaction of getting a good workout. My rides lately consist of a trip up the tracks, then a long steep connector to the entry trails of UCSC. This allows me non-stop single track all the way to Empire Grade. A perfect time and place to study on the bike. A trip down on of the favorite trails, and a climb back out, maybe another run, or just pull wheelies toward home. Today, literally at my wits end with the material I was listening to, I switched to some lively hip hop, put the bike in full suspension settings and went about having some fun! Jamming in and out of corners, manuals, stair cases. It all capped of with the UCSC bike trail, and as I crested the second rise (the one any former UCSC student knows about) pulled a wheelie with the view of the entire Monterey Bay at sunset in front of me.

Finest Moments on Two Wheels: by Zach Smith

2009-01-11T09:53:00.001-08:00

Mine finest moment would be either, the time I was crossing Camden avenue on
my old trek (not the one I threw...the one I liked and got stolen) and I
stood up and cranked with all my might and as i was midway through the
intersection the chain skipped and I fell flat on the top tube and then fell
on the ground in front of a gallery of cars and a pedestrian in the
crosswalk. I stood up and said "stupid fucking bike" under my breath and got
up and rode off...or it was the time I was cranking down Camden and my chain
fell off and I ate shit on the sidewalk and the cars passing by honked and
yelled. Or it was the time I jumped a speed bump at full speed, tried to
whip it, landed kind of sideways (oh, it had just rained) and whipped out on
the greasy balcktop in the parking lot of my apartment complex- in front of
several onlookers. I had to turn around and go back to my apartment to
change my clothes cause I was on my way somewhere and I was now all wet.I
drove my truck to my meeting...

Finest Moments on Two Wheels: by Stacy Schroeder

2009-01-09T13:34:00.000-08:00

Written by Stacy Schroeder in response to: Finest Moments on Two Wheels

Alright, I got one. Let's think back to that epic day of riding at Northstar, shall we?

What a fantastic bluebird day that was, with a great group of people and a whole lot of stoke going around. I was particularly excited to be riding Northstar, as I had only heard stories of such fun trails. I had been riding a bike for about 6 months, and had a laundry list of skills I wanted to work on. Needless to say, I was bubbling with excitement to have the opportunity to do run after run on a groomed, built up trail like LiveWire with its tabletops galore, doubles, step-ups, and huge fast birms.

The first trip down the trail was fairly comical in itself. I still hadn't grasped the concept of how to approach faces of the jumps, especially when they had a little "kicker" on them. So I'd be happily and naively blazing down the trail, get swept up in what seemed to be a low-consequence ramp leading to a tabletop, but then just as I'd reach the lip to conservatively "roll" over it, I'd find my bike suddenly detached from the ground, my center of gravity waaaay too far back, with waaay more speed than I knew what to do with, and I'd clumsily re-connect with the earth with an awkward thud and keep on rolling. And, for the most part, I kept it rubber side down.

After awhile I started to get the hang of it, thanks to some pointed advice and helpful hints from Jesse. I began to relax. I started to actually feel the bike underneath me and was able to move with it and tell it what to do, as opposed to me being a victim of speed and gravity, just trying to survive.

After oh, say, the 8th run I started opening up a bit more. I'd charge up those ramps with more and more confidence and speed, I'd take the "pop" at the top, and I was even happy to get little more air each time. As I blasted up this one long steep face, I felt a surge of excitement and I just went with it – I put everything I had into that approach, knowing that the other side was a small tabletop and a very cushy, long, gradual landing on the other side. If I could just clear the little landing pad on the top, my bike would simply ease onto the downward sloping landing and I'd keep on rolling!

Well, in my excitement, I must have forgotten all the lessons on technique that I'd been learning that day. I gunned it, cleared the top, and completely lost control mid-air. I was pitched forward helplessly, flying face first through the air, still attached to my bike. The front tire promptly hit the landing, sending me over the bars, at which time I proceeded to accelerate in a spread-eagle, face-first, high-speed belly-flop down the 20 foot slope.

When I realized what the heck I just pulled off, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Oh, if only any of my teammates had seen me, I would NEVER hear the end of this one!

So, I brushed myself off, got back on the bike, and happily rolled down to meet up with the rest of the gang, who immediately demanded stories to explain my filthy face and body :)

Ever since, Dusty has affectionately taken to calling me "Ms. Rose"

Finest Moments on Two Wheels: by David Belden

2009-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Written by David Belden in response to: Finest Moments on Two Wheels.

Mine would have to be a few weeks ago. I was flying down the sawpit trail with good buddies on a wet day, and had been carefully picking lines & jumps as not to end up slipping on a wet log or stick. We were almost all the down the trail, (after the post rock-garden climb) as we got to a fantastic 3 foot jump/drop. It's wooden log/plank that turns slightly up, and the trail falls away below it. The end of the ramp is up on a few horizontal logs, and the approach and the log/plank itself are dead straight. Did I mention it was wet day? I approached the jump at 15 or 20mph (makes for a softer landing when dropping 3 feet) and half way up the jump my front wheel slipped off the ramp and piled straight into the 2 logs holding up the ramp. My bike stopped dead in it's tracks and I heard a loud SNAP! As I hurled through the air I had visions of my lovely carbon bike in 2 pieces... then I hit the ground shoulder/camelback first and rolled quite a few times before popping up onto my feet, and oddly enough my bike apparently took a similar trajectory and was a few feet away from me. Wow was I ever glad the ground was soft! I came out mostly unscathed other than a sore shoulder. As for the loud snap that I was certain was thousands of dollars of carbon going the way of the trash can... well it was just my stem twisting on my steerer tube (not carbon!) so a few turns of an allen key later, I was on my way, only to crash once again on a small wet log/downed branch about 200 yards later. Awesome.

I actually don't think the wet trail was responsible for the crash. I think it was the fact that my armor was in the back of my car at the trailhead, not on my body. :)

Finest Moments on Two Wheels

2009-01-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

We love bikes. But clearly bikes are a precarious position to be in. We take for granted that in fact we are balancing on this thin machine that would, if we slowed down, basically tip over. Sometimes even if we speed up, it tips over. Undoubtedly, whether it be through the learning process, the complacency of experience or just plain not paying attention, we have experienced some less-than-stellar moments on two wheels. I'm hoping each of us on the team can share a moment or two. I'll start.
Cast your mind. It's springtime in 1996, I'm a junior in high school and working at a local sewing shop doing quality control on backpacks and children's clothing. The bike? A Bridgestone MB-4 with Tange Struts forks and bar ends. After school on this day, I swung by Costco to pick up a roll of photos I had developed. After getting the pictures in my bag, I jumped on the bike and was riding through the parking lot en route to work. Gazing down I notice that my quick release lever is not all the way locked. This is where it gets fun. Rather that halt my 10mph speed and put the lever in by hand, I decide it would be better to save time and kick it in with my heel. My aim was off, and I kicked my heel right into my spokes, and right over the handle bars I went. I landed straight armed, then into a crumbled mess in front of people everywhere loading their cars up. After picking up my dignity, I rode all the way to work, then worked a 5 hour shift ignoring the pain in my right elbow, then rode home at which point the pain was unbearable. Turns out I fractured my ulna.

The second not-so-stellar moment that comes to mind took place in the same year, I believe, 1996 and we can file this one under the category of "just not paying attention". In this instance I was riding on the same bike toward my Mom's office at CSU Chico via downtown. Turning left onto 2nd St. I slowed to hop up on the curb in front of the infamous Schlotsky's Deli, where Zach once worked and stole lots of bread. The standard downtown curb measures about 8" and on that day my 8"-0-meter was a bit off, and at a trajectory of about 45 degrees I lifted the front wheel about 6". To this day I believe that somewhere in the arch that the wheel traveled it did hit 8", but at the point when it was to clear the curb it was about 6". Need less to say, once again, a pile of mess and scattered dignity on the ground. This time, though I was in front of a window full of people enjoying their lunch. This time too, when I lifted my hand up I noticed that somewhere in the mix I managed to peel the skin on my ring finger from my fingernail all the way up to my second knuckle. It created this sort of bubble of blood, which I'm sure pleased the onlookers, which I chose to flick all over the sidewalk in front of them. Nice Jess. I rode the rest of the way to my Mom's office with my hand in the air flicking blood all over the Chico city streets.

Anything sent to me will be posted as a seperate post!

Seasons Greetings from Miracle Racing!

2008-12-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

Miracle Bid for National Qualification

2008-12-15T10:46:00.000-08:00

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.

When Bikes Attack

2008-12-12T23:25:00.000-08:00

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.

The Healthy Heart

2008-11-29T14:50:00.001-08:00

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.

Coming out of our shells

2008-11-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

Dusty taking time off Dual Slalom lap times

Well, 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 back

Last 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.

Ode to Leon

2008-11-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

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.

Surf City Psychocross: The new frontier

2008-10-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2008 Season Film

2008-10-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

24 Hours of Old Pueblo: The new mission is set.

2008-09-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

Happy 33rd Birthday, Zach!!

New project, new therapy

2008-09-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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.

Trip Report: Northstar/Mr. Toads

2008-09-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

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.

Miracle Racing Film

2008-09-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

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!

Dude, are you alright? Part 2

2008-08-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

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!

The case for one speed: Why derail a good thing?

2008-08-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

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:

Breakfast: $5.95
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. =)

Management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction without medication

2008-08-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

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!

Jesse's Top 20 as Howell Mountain Approaches

2008-08-05T23:31:00.001-07:00

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!!

Bear with me...

2008-07-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Amazing all the intention I had surrounding this season, and how quickly that was muffled by the work I have at school. For the first time in my 4 years at Five Branches, I'm realizing the responsibility and demand of having a full patient load. Years ago when I was working I remember thinking how long the weeks were, then I started grad school and thought, "wow, this is so much harder!" Now, amazingly I look back at a simple class load and again think, "wow, this is way harder still." But, I'm not sure you all actually know what I do there, or why I seem to never show up to rides anymore. Dusty has an idea, and Maia surly can relate. I see about 21 patients per week (5-6/day), and they have varied so much in the recent weeks in ways I never imagined. Finally this past week confirmed my role as a primary care provider, which means for a lot of people that I may be the only medical attention they see...ever, and which for me requires an amazing amount of attention. Two days ago I saw a 2 month old baby, and all at once felt as scared and inexperienced as I did the first day I started there 4 years ago. The day before that my first patient, an elderly woman, admitted that the night before she had felt short of breath and some pain in her chest. I took her blood pressure only to find her just 10mmHg from hypertensive crisis. I sent her to the emergency room immediately and after working through the paperwork and other patients for hours I slumped down and sighed, finally able to reflect on the day. I am lucky if I get to eat dinner by 9pm, and even more lucky if I can finish the homework for my 2 other classes. 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 Ride: Jesse and Stacy's Adventure.

2008-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

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!

Just me and Ol' Yeller

2008-06-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

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.

Hunting for the 24

2008-05-29T23:04:00.001-07:00

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

Santa Cruz Fire Contained!

2008-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Santa Cruz Fire Update

2008-05-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

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

Paradise Lost?

2008-05-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

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

Paradise Lost...

2008-05-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

It goes to show, not everything that sparkles is gold. The great old singlespeed project that was supposed to eliminated all of the annoyances of gear bikes, from chainslap to skipping gears, from extra weight and added complication, is not all it was cracked up to be. After setting off toward class this week, I decided to detour and take a main thoroughfare up toward mid-Santa Cruz. I knew that at the end of a small street was access to Arana Gulch, and a few hundred yards of singletrack dropping me into the harbor and delivering me front door to class. In my mind it was perfect. Firstly, any time you ride singletrack right up to your class, place of work, etc., it's a good day! Secondly, I had it in mind that the quiet simplicity of listening only to the sound of my tires thumping the ground as I enjoyed this brief ride would simply make my insides shine. Finally I would be on a bike, no matter how old or used that would allow me to ride silently down a trail, without the usual "clack clack clack clack..." Not so, I'm afraid for as soon as the wheels hit the dirt I discovered that the very chain tensioner necessary to convert my vertically dropout equipped frame in fact jumps up and down just like a manic derailleur and in doing so slacks the chain just enough to allow it to work its devil music on my frame. My annoyance by this was quickly overridden by the maddening skipping that came from me trying to crank up a steep hill for alas that same tensioner pulls the chain off the sprocket just enough to let it skip as if it were stripped... Evidently more work need be done to establish peace and quiet in Jesse's world...

Dude, are you alright?

2008-04-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

Cast your mind. Heading down your favorite local ride you come across a rider down. Maybe he's alone, maybe she's with a big group. Maybe he's lying unresponsive, maybe she's grabbing her angle in agony. What is your roll? Surely you can't pass by. Of course you are not obligated to this person, but ethics alone compel. It's the right thing to do. But what next? If you are going to be one of the folks to give help, what do you do? The following are some of the common injuries and conditions you may come across on the trails, and a few tip-a-roos to help assess what needs to happen next. This won't be any hypertechnical lengthy post, but I've seen more than a few times people miss some very basic and crucial steps in helping someone. It's also not any kind of complete list, just common cycling related issues. I'm very hopeful people will comment on this post and aid in my own learning process!

From basic to more complex and serious:
Sprained ankles:
Signs: "I fell down, my ankle hurts"
I think the main consideration for these injuries is how you will get the person back to front country. In the case of a severe sprain, you may need to help a person walk out of the trail. Just consider weather, temperature and transportation to avoid getting stuck out in a midnight freezing epic. If you have tape or an ace-bandage wrap it tight and get going!

Knees:
Knee injuries are various and wacky, and it's unlikely you'll be looking into any specifics of the injury. I think just treating it as the above is appropriate with the addition of a splint either on hand or jury-rigged from a stick to keep it stable against lateral movement.

Fractures:
Simple:
Simple fractures should be stabilized and dealt with right away. Similar time considerations apply with regard to getting out. With these it is best to avoid trying to manipulate the fracture in any way. Leave that to the emergency room. Again splinting to protect against movement is wise.
Compound:
This means bones sticking out of the skin. Don't try and reduce them out on trail! Just wrap them up if you can with a shirt to cover the exit point of the bone and head out. One exception to this rule is a femoral fracture (thigh bone). A complete or compound fracture of the femur holds significant risk of damage to the femoral artery. If this is damaged, someone can bleed to death in minutes. Wilderness medicine suggest holding traction on the leg until it can be dealt with. This pulls the femur back in line and away from vessels. There are some creative and fascinating ways to rig a traction until in the back country taught by the folks at the Wilderness Medicine Institute. Their courses are invaluable!

Dislocated Shoulders:
Signs: you'll know this one because it looks ridiculously odd and the rider will be clutching that arm with very limited movement.
Reducing a dislocated shoulder is actually remarkably simple and is something you can do on trail, so long as you don't force a stubborn case. Get to it early enough and the muscles may still be relaxed enough to reduce it with ease. Typically the rider's arm will be obviously deformed, and held close to the body with the arm bent at a 90 degree angle. This is convenient because at this point all you need to do is hold the elbow against the rider's body and at the same time take their hand and rotate their arm out away from the body slowly. Somewhere halfway through the external rotation the shoulder should reduce. You'll feel it "thunk" back in followed by the "OUCH!" from the rider. Don't go and use the shoulder after that. Sling it with a t-shirt and go home! Here's a video from the Navy on reducing shoulders. A separated shoulder will have a similarly deformed look to it, but the deformity will be higher atop the shoulder. These are best left to the emergency room because they involve varying degrees of ligament tears.

The Spinal:
This is serious stuff, and can be particularly complicated in the rider's desire to not appear hurt. If you see someone take a bad fall onto their head or back the first thing you have to do whether they are conscious or not is stabilize their spine. A spinal injury that hasn't yet damaged the spinal cord can easily do so if you try to move the rider. I think it is really important to take charge on this if you saw the fall happen. Remind the rider of dinners out of a straw for the rest of their life if they try to move.

Conscious Rider:
If you come across someone either lying down or sitting up but you didn't see the fall, it's never a bad idea to rule out spinal injuries. The way to stabilize a spine is basic: get behind the person, press your palms on the side of the rider's head like your covering their ears, stabilize your arms against there body and hold the heat absolutely still with their eyes level and facing forward. NEVER try to remove the rider's helmet!

Unconscious rider:
Basic first aid teaches the ABC's: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. One of the doctors i learned from just calls them the AAA's: Airway, Airway, Airway. If you don't have an airway, then breathing and circulation are pointless. Many people are deathly afraid to touch someone in this kind of injury, but if you have a rider down and unconscious he or she may die right before your very eyes for lack of a simple airway. If you think the neck is clear, you can LIGHTLY tilt the rider's head back to open the air way. If you feel the neck is compromised, stick two fingers behind their jaw right under the ear and thrust their lower jaw out. This will also open an airway without moving the neck. When the rider begins to come to, they may make some weird snoring sounds. This is just the brain fighting against a limp soft palette and tongue to get air. Again, NEVER try to remove the helmet.
This situation calls for no playing around. Bust out cell phones, send someone to get to one and get either an ambulance or a helicopter in. There is far to much risk trying to even move these riders let alone get them out. If CPR is necessary, the new protocols for those who know how to do it are 30 compressions for every two breaths. Some even say no breaths at all, just chest compressions. Also remember to properly do chest compressions you are likely to break at least one if not many ribs. This is the right way to do them, so don't be swayed by the cracking sounds you hear. Ribs crack outward so there is no risk to the lungs.

Shock:
There are all kinds of shock. The one's you'd likely see on trail would be from injury or blood loss (god forbid). Treating someone for shock involves lying them down, elevating their legs slightly and keeping them warm.

Seizures:
Probably pretty rare, but just remember not to try and stop the seizure. Just keep their heads from hitting anything and keep your fingers away from their mouths unless you want it bitten off!

Chest Pain:
I don't just come right out and say heart attack because chest pain can be a symptom of a few common situations on trail. That being said, the most serious by a LONG SHOT is the heart attack. I've come across people having chest pain while riding, and was so thankful I knew how to recognize it! Listed below are some common things that would cause or be mistaken for chest pain on the trails.
Hyperventilation:
Signs: Shortness of breath, tingling around the mouth. Get the person to stop riding, and breath into the classic paper bag. Your body is freaking out because it has too much O2!
Acid Reflux:
Signs: Burning pain right under the sternum (breast bone). One thing that makes this kind of pain worse is lying down, so you can do that to rule out heart attacks. Carrying a few tums around is great because you can set someone's mind at ease by giving them one as their "chest pain" will dissipate almost immediately.
Heart Attacks:
Signs: Chest pain, Shortness of breath, excessive sweating, nausea.
I would always be very worried if I saw these symptoms. Age is never a determining factor, and if someone is having these symptoms they don't need to be old, or overweight to consider a heart attack. The nature of this chest pain is very deep, centralized and crushing as if someone were standing on their chest. It is worse with exertion, and not worse with breathing or pushing on the chest. The pain often radiates to the left arm or the jaw. It's no surprise that this person needs to get to a hospital in a jiffy! Unofficially, I always carry a vile of Aspirin with my on rides. In fact I carry one everywhere for this reason. Heart Attacks are caused by a blood clot in the coronary artery. Aspirin is a blood thinner and prohibits clotting. If I come across someone with these symptoms (and I have!) I "suggest" they chew up two Aspirin and swallow them, then put on under the tongue to dissolve. It's no cure by any means, but has been proven to decrease mortality in heart attack cases. After which it's time to call the ambulance! Again, CPR protocols are 30 compressions for every 2 breaths.

Also remember, unless you try and do something stupid like perform surgery with a tire iron, you're protected under the Good Samaritan Law when attempting to help someone. If they are refusing help obviously don't force it on them, but don't be afraid to step in and help! Go out and take CPR, First-Aid courses!

Wilderness Medicine Institute: http://www.nols.edu/wmi/

Again, comments are much appreciated!

When to listen. When to slow.

2008-04-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

It would be hard to say to someone's face that instinct is not at all important. But in reality it is amazing how often people ignore it. I knew today as I headed face first down at man made stunt at "the demo" that I was going to fall. By the time I was on my feet again, I gaze back at my bike twisted and right side down against this structure and feel a wave a anger and disappointment because in looking back I knew I would fall even moments before I tried the stunt, one I had done countless times in the past. The messages at that point weren't even subtle! Luckily I walked away with only two dings on my shin and knee from catching the bars on the way down. Once again I credit another dodged bullet to the years of martial arts that if nothing else taught me to roll and fall without thinking about it. I know this because i started down the ramp face first and hit the ground on my feet. Lucky, and mostly so because I really did dodge a bullet that other riders do not. I am fearful that a lot of the bad crashes that riders take come from not listening to the signs.

The day of riding started poorly. Fun, no doubt, but I felt all together foreign even on my own bike. I couldn't hold speeds I was used to, and felt wobbly and awkward with my hands on the bars. To me this scenario is always accompanied by a subtle, as I describe it, cloudy and disconnected sensation in my head. This is a sense that I'm working harder and hard to recognize early. The beauty of this is that you are no longer at risk of being injured by a fall! Early on Dusty took a fall himself, and was equally shaken up by it. I think I knew by that point that I myself wasn't on my game. Not even a little bit. I now have two wounds and a hematomato (hematoma) on my knee as evidence to the fact.

My point of all this is. When you feel off you game, as I did today, SLOW DOWN. Honestly if you can't enjoy some of the best trails in the world at the tortoise's pace as much as the hare's, your missing something fundamental about riding. I am particularly fond of the people I ride regularly with, and care for riders in general. Likewise I equally disinterested in ever coming across a spinal or a fractured femur on trail. I intend to follow this post with one on response to common on-trail injuries and conditions that you may see and quick ways to assess and respond to them appropriately to the best of my knowledge. Check back for that soon.

Sea Otter: Finals

2008-04-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

Just a few moments ago I took my scissors out and snipped off the bright orange Sea Otter wrist band, symbolizing the official end of the Sea Otter Classic. I thought about wearing it for the next week or so, but I know even my own imagination couldn't bring it back amidst the return to the stresses and mayhem of life in Santa Cruz ( yes, I hear you all laughing! Come walk a day in MY shoes! =) ) But sifting through the loads of photos and video, and unloading all the gear has had me remembering the event and the progression of the weekend's events. To me, this weekend represented a lot for our group of riders in terms of our involvement in the wacky world of bicycles, and the improvements we've seen event since last year!

My first run aginst the number 1 qualifier.

Zach during practice

Dual Slalom finals took place Sunday. Zach and I were the only ones still riding, but we were lucky to have my Dad, Dusty and Stacy there cheering us on! We were both tremendously proud to have qualified for the finals, thus whatever finish we turned in was going to be good enough for us! My first qualifier went well, and i won both races moving into the quarterfinals. Zach unfortuantely was eliminated in the first round, but elimination in the finals means a guarenteed top ten finish! Zach finished 9th. My second round was against the top qualifier of the day, and i found it remarkably hard to shake the thought that there was no way to beat this guy. His times from qualifying were significantly faster than mine...by almost 4 seconds! Now I take racing very seriously. This is how I have fun! I like to get butterflies, and to focus and go over the course in my mind. This day, though, this lead me over the top and there came a point when I had to just ride off in the distance and tool around to get that goofy feeling i usually have on a bike. Though I lost both races, the runs I put in were the fastest i put in the whole day, and I finished only .7 seconds behind him. It was a remarkable day, and I still wish I could snap my fingers and be back there.

The crew providing encouragement for my last race. Thank you!

Now I'm back in the "real world" and the Sea Otter is becoming a distant thought... I've decided that the Sea Otter now replaces Christmas for me as the one day of the year that I obsess over, wake up early for in the morning, then lament how quickly it passes. For now, the 24 hours of Adrenaline looms in the near future! Check back soon for more writing because I guarentee the apparent draining of my bank account indicates registration for a series of noteworthy events! Thanks!

Sea Otter Day 2 & 3: Pleasure and Pain...

2008-04-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

This will be a combined post basically because yesterday ended so late. To start off, the morning before qualification for Dual Slalom yesterday I was so incredibly nervous I could hardly put words together. I couldn't reconcile the situation in my head, and not having the ability to predict what might happen was wearing on me. To say it basically: I might either kick ass, or have my ass kicked bad. The first run was smooth as butter and I turned in the sixth fastest time of my class. The second run started out great but about five gates in I had one of the most comical "crashes" I've ever had. Going into a loose fast corner my rear wheel chopped up too much and before I knew it I was in a full slide, which I somehow managed to control and finally came to a stop atop the bike facing 180 degrees the wrong direction...uphill. Once I realized i could recover I did, and only lost 2 seconds! Out of my periphery I watched my running mate take an awful fall which resulted in a 20 minute delay to wheel him off in an ambulance. I hope he is ok. Suffice to say after stressing myself to death, I qualified with plenty of room to spare for the finals Sunday at 1pm!

Last night was a movie premier of a new film by a group called The Collective in downtown Monterey. We preceded that by taking our dirty and dilerious selves to a restaurant and throwing popcorn at each other. The film was called "Seasons" and was a downhill bike film shot on 16mm film. It was, to say the least, inspiring. The film quality and photography was rich and tasty. ( I always want to describe movies made like that as having some sort of thick rich and complex taste to them) We arrived home at 12:30am (mind you our Cross Country race started at 7am the next morning...that's a 5am wake up) when I proptly had to get in the garage and change my drive train on the bike... After realizing i lost my phone in Monterey, I set someone elses alarm and closed my eyes somewhere around 1:30am.

Cross country this morning was great. Waking up for it was another story all together. The Sea Otter course is fantastic. I felt strong the whole way until the infamous "hurl hill" at the end, when I ran entirely out of gas. It was a this point that Dusty passed me and pulled almost a minute gap on me. Very demoralizing! Way to go Dusty! Evidently if you train, your performance improves! I won't take you through a play by play on the 20 mile race, but suffice to say it was very fun and very hard... I've spent the entire day since trying to rectify some funky stomach issue that has had me in a bad mood ever since the end of the race. Coupled with that was the 50mph wind gusts blowing icy air and dust in your eyes. The Sea Otter today was basically miserable. =)

Tomorrow is the last day and the finals for Dual Slalom. We'll be making runs head to head in elimination style to see who is the fastest rider out there! Wish Zach and I luck in our respective classes! Better yet, since of course we don't need luck, wish us speed and tires that stay on the ground!! Once this weekend is over I'll be posting many links and imbedded photos for y'all's (yes that would be a double contraction) viewing pleasure. Thanks for reading!!

Day 1: Practice makes perf-wrecked

2008-04-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

Well, amidst all the excitement of the event, we got up early and lined up for practice on the newly built dual slalom course. I couldn't imagine my first few runs going any worse, and without much to compare to i felt like I was going tremendously slow. The course is very raw, very rough. Only a slim portion of the turns are groomed, the rest are bumpy and dusty and very hard to keep traction on. Gearing myself to aim for gates (imagine skiing dual slalom where the riders weave through gates) is a new thing for me. I've been trained all my life to aim to avoid trees, rocks, shrubs, hikers and animals. In racing a colorful flag was something that just passed in your periphery. In dual slalom they are your main focus, and they steer the entire course.

Zach and I had a few hours to begin to dial in the course. The way they are built is amazing and it seems they put an element into these short courses that challenges every aspect of riding imaginable.

Tomorrow we qualify at 2pm. I'm a little nervous. I aquired a chainstay from an old friend after getting lost in Seaside, CA. Imagine two econo lodges having nearly the same address on opposite ends of the same street. This device should give me confidence in pedaling through rough sections without the fear of the chain bouncing off.

The rest of the festival is amazing as usual. Bikes everywhere! I'll post more tomorrow after the qualifiers!

Sea Otter Classic!

2008-04-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Finally the Sea Otter is here! After many moons of waiting, we're finally getting bikes tuned up and getting psyched for this years event. I'm excited to say the whole team is participating in one form or another. We'll be competing in varying events from Thursday 4/17 until Sunday 4/20. The newest and most exciting event this year is the SRAM Dual Slalom which Zach and I will be competing in. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday:
8am: Open practice on the Dual Slalom course
Friday:
1pm: Super D. Zach and Dusty will be taking to the high speed course!
2pm: Dual Slalom Qualifying. Zach and I will strap on the full face helmets for some of the most exciting and high energy mountain bike racing there is!
3pm: Stacy, Maia and Cyndie flag off on the Cross-Country course.
Saturday:
7am: Zach, Dusty, Craig and I get the dawn patrol on the Cross-Country course.
Sunday:
1pm: Dual Slalom Finals! Wish us luck! I hope we're in the running!Check in regularly. I hope to post daily with photos and updates, but we'll see how readily that comes to be. Even better, come out to Laguna Seca Raceway and cheer us on! Hope to see folks out there.

Last weekend was the Napa Valley Dirt Classic. Congratulations to Dusty for turning in a very strong 6th place finish in the Sport 25-29 category. Cyndie took 3rd in the Beginner Women 19-25 and Stacy took 4th in the Beginner women 30-35. Zach finished 6th in his first ever single speed race! I however turned in a sad 8th amidst an unhappy body, poor preparation and mechanical trouble, but I'm forgetting that ever happened to be mentally ready for this weekend!! Denial, it seems, CAN actually be a river in Egypt!

CyclePathic Tendencies

2008-04-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

We at Team Miracle have just added a new event to the roster for this year, and I won't lie... It's a biggie! Thanks to Stacy's efforts we are signed up for the 24-hours of adrenaline at Laguna Seca on May 2nd. Starting at 12pm on Saturday May 2nd the first of our team members will set off on the course and we won't stop the relay for 24 hours! Each lap follows the Sea Otter course and should take about an hour and a half to complete. Depending on the schedule, a good percentage of our team will be riding said course in complete darkness (aided by headlights of course...) Back on "adrenaline island" we'll have two campsites set up where we'll be staging, planning, encouraging, fueling and generally having a great time. I've volunteered myself as team mechanic and with the aid of my trusty stand I'll be helping get everyone's bikes up to speed for their laps.

CyclePathic Tendencies is sponsored by Stacy's growing Athletic Training and Rehabilitation business, Core Therapy.

Training Delay

2008-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this post from Brooklyn, NY. After 8 midterms in Santa Cruz I jumped on a red-eye to NY, and proceeded to stay awake for a total of 42 hours before finally getting to sleep in a beautiful house in Princeton, NJ. The period of time between the red eye landing, and my head landing on the pillow was filling with a lot of amazing sights and time in NY, and honestly I didn't really want to sleep, but most of what I said to Bethany, my NY host, was received with a sideways stare as if she expected me to fall terminally asleep at any given moment. As if anyone could sleep in this city anyway. New Yorkers put up with a lot of noise, incovenience and commotion. On the flip side I have always been fascinated with cities what have basically grown so congested with people that they reach some level of functionality. Much to my amazement standing on the crowded subway, or weaving myself through thousands of people in the financial district of Manhattan I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm. New Yorkers do also fulfill a few stereotypes that we newbies to this city come in with. For instance, and I'll spare you the details of all of them, delivery drivers and cabbies in the city pull up to a line of traffic, one which they cannot see the source of, throw up their arms then lean on their horns for literally no less that 3 or 4 seconds. That doesn't sound like much, but the next time someone in front of you doesn't notice the light change to green, try leaning on your horn as you count out four seconds... You'll be disgusted with yourselves! (and if any of the folks in Santa Cruz try this you know they'll probably hold a lengthy city hall meeting about you and the possible implimentation of community based grassroots programs to train young kids on the humanitarian use of horns)

The seating chart in my life seems to have been built not to accomadate large crowds. There is just one front row seat, and it seems the many things I have going in life fight constantly for that one spot. Occationally the arrangement makes sense: school's comfortably up front followed by racing/riding and work is back in the third row trying to peer over their heads and despite the busy environment the arrangement feels right. But other things come in from time to time and steal seats causing everything to get messed up.

Last weekend was an XC race at Ft. Ord. I haven't had the chance to post a true race report yet, but I'll link to Stacy's photos. The race, in a brief synopsis went really well not in the sense of where I placed, but how I felt. As the laps wore on, my body seemed to feel stronger and stronger, and when I crossed the finish line I was barely winded! The ride was very encouraging. As I sit here now, though I see the Sea Otter approaching in about 10 days, and I feel drastically under-trained, under-prepared and just plain not ready! Between then and now is a few more days in NY, including a trip up to New Paltz...a town I've always wanted to see, and a climbing trip to Yosemite to climb the South Face of Washington Column in preparation for Half Dome this summer. If you're wonder which seat that mission has taken in the Jesse's life auditorium, it's standing in front of the front row jumping up and down, waving it's arms and throwing popcorn...

Downhill #2: No longer under the radar

2008-03-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well, this past Saturday was the second of the spring downhill series. Zach and I showed up sporting new team colors of our recent sponsorship, Family Cycling Center in Santa Cruz. Its nice to be supported by a shop, but it was a new experience for me. I felt all the more "visible" in the yellow jersey, and I think I had grown accustomed to cruising just under the radar of that scene. With visibility comes the potential for your times and finishing standings being tracked, and for a while I think being low profile allowed me to finish wherever and feel okay about it, as if I were only riding for myself. But, with advancement come the notice of others, and if I'm not comfortable with that, then I don't think I deserve to be up front! So armed with that thought, I dawned that yellow jersey (which I'll remind is the color of victory in the Tour de France!) alongside Zach and hit the trails!Practice was not smooth. The course was very dry and pebbly, and it seemed no matter how much air pressure i took out of the tires, they just wouldn't hook up. I was experimenting with a new pair of Kenda Nevegals (thanks Kenda!) and i just don't think that is at all their strong point. I'll remember to set those aside for the more loamy races. Two practice runs consisting of both wheels sliding every which way left me quite nervous for the first race. The sun was pretty strong that day, and i felt tired even from the two runs...not to mention the two hikes up to the start! I felt nervous as Zach took off on his run a minute before mine, and I watched him accelerate down the fireroad start. The first race went great, though I made more than a few mistakes. There was one turn that came off the first fast fireroad that, no matter how much effort, I couldn't manage to keep my wheels from sliding out. Though I never crashed, i did make a lot of dust and take portions of a second off my time. The rest of the course was about the same, dusty lines, and deceiving corners. I finished strong and took 3rd in the Expert Class and 2nd in the Hardtail Class. Very pleased!Zach took very strong runs aboard his two very different rides. It has to be hard to reprogram from a plush heavy full suspension to a light hardtail single speed, and I have to commend him on turning in such similar fast times! After all the times were counted, Zach finished in at 2nd in the Sport Class and 2nd in the Single Speed Class! All in all we hit the podium four times in the top 3!As for now, my downhill schedule will take a break in lieu of midterms, a trip to New York and a speed climb of Washington Column's South Face with Stacy. It will ramp up in a big way in early April with the Sea Otter coming up, and I'll be scrambling to get practice time in on Dual Slalom courses, as that is the event I'm putting the most effort into! There is an XC race next weekend, and I hope to see the whole crew out there. Dusty is in Moab right now, exploring the trails around slickrock. I'm hoping he comes back with good photos and stories to post here!

Thanks for reading! Here's the link for results.

Downhill Season Opener!

2008-03-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Downhill season kicked off yesterday with a bang! A large sized crowd was on hand for the opener of the Spring Downhill Series at Toro Park. The course was short and very fast with some great technical sections. The dirt was fairly dry and pebbly so picking tire pressures was the name of the game today, and

mixing that with some very high speed sections higher up on the

course it was a challenging and exciting course. Signing up in the morning cold, I watched the organizer write a big capitol "E" after my number, signifying "Expert" and my nerves started to run wild. I started to nit-pick my practice runs, brakes, the dirt, my helmet, food, everything!

Dusty running to a 6th place finish

Me making my first run as an Expert

Practices went fairly well, and I made my fair share of mistakes I had hoped to make early on. Zach was sporting his newly purchased single speed Santa Cruz Chameleon, and had entered the single speed class for the first time. As well his main Trek was outfitted with some shinny new improvements! One thing I love about downhill racing is illustrated by the following. Zach and I spent a significant period of time before our first run looking over a section near the end of the course that involved a rocky fast turn leading into a bump-up that, if you weren't in the right position, pitched you straight at a tree. A number of people had hit the tree that day one guy separating his shoulder, so it seemed like an good place to put some attention. After scoping all the lines possible, and considering all the technique variants we could use to cleanly make it through this section and not hit the tree, it was decided that we needed to just "make it happen". There wasn't any type of planning that was going to make this go any better, it just takes relying on your ability to improvise on the spot. Turns out the closer you came to hitting this tree, the faster you went through the turn. So testament to the sport, the name of the game is: you can't plan it and if you want it you gotta risk it. Worked out great I'd say!

Zach's 2nd place run in the Single Speed class

Results at the end of the day were outstanding. We took a total of five metals from the day. Zach took 2nd in the Sport class (a class he's likely to win this season) and 2nd in the single speed class, beating the entire field of riders except for the one who designed the course! Dusty finished in at 6th in the Sport class, a screaming improvement from last season. Our buddy "coach" Craig was out today, and turned in a 3rd place finish in his category. As for me, my first race as an Expert landed me in 4th place. As well I took 2nd in the hardtail class. My Chameleon is a jack of all trades. It may not be flashy, but I built her from scratch and it fits me like a glove. Thanks Dad and Stacy for coming out to support! The cheering on the side of the course make such a huge impact. Congratulations to my Dad on his 3rd and 6th place finish the same day at the Hollister Vintage Motocross! As usual, feel free to leave comments when you read! Thanks!

Results:
http://cccx.org/dh/2008/race1/2008_CCCX_DH_Race1Results.shtml

Rough Start...

2008-03-03T11:45:00.001-08:00

The season hasn't gotten off to the best start for me so far. From getting sick and not being able to race a couple weeks ago to completely bonking out in the race Saturday, it's been a bit disheartening. It's hard not to project poor finishes out onto equipment and course condition, but to be honest "old yeller" was running great for a 10 year old bike, and the course couldn't have been better, with hard packed moist loam trails lined by green grass and oak trees. Perhaps the mixture of not being trained well enough and dehydration contributed to this past races poor finish, but whatever it was requires more attention to fix!

The life of a student isn't quite conducive to maintaining the training levels of a competitive cyclist. But as the days lengthen, the amount of time on the bike will increase and with that I hope to see lap times decrease. Speaking of the life of a student, my institution conveniently scheduled a mandatory 3-weekend course over two of the upcoming downhill races... So, my excitement has been dampened substantially...

For the rest of the guys, the season seems to be starting extremely well so far. Saturday, Dusty put in a very strong finish, beating his previous time for this course by 5 minutes, and inching to within 20 minutes of the leaders, who, mind you, are about to move up to the pro class!
Unfortunately Zach wasn't able to race Saturday, but the race prior he maintained a great pace and put in a strong finish! These guys are great to race with.

Welcome Stacy into the blog content, as she deserves the gold star for finishing 6th in her first EVER race, less than ten minutes behind the leader. Her nerves were quickly dispelled when she saw the results posted, confirming that she is a much better rider than she gave herself credit for! Congratulations Stace, we look forward to more races of trying to keep you from eventually beating all of us!!
Upcoming race is a Downhill at Toro Park on 3/9. As much as it pains me, and no matter how many times I double-check the calendar, it looks like I'll have to be passing it up for the sake of graduating in December. This seems like a harbinger of the kinds of sacrifices I may have to make in the years to come...

Results: http://www.cccx.org/mtb/2008/race3/2008_CCCX_MTB_Race3_Sport.shtml
More Photos: http://em.scottmosherphotography.com/g/xc311&gallery_page=&gallery_all=&view=1&photo_page=1#photo_s

A Cry for Summer...

2008-02-23T23:28:00.000-08:00

I can't help but long for summer watching Doppler radar images of rain soaked valleys and snow laden mountains. You never really long for dust, rocks and heat, but the truth is, like snow in winter, they are the only real true markers of summer! Spring and fall always have loads of overcast days in California, and the trails are often nicely moistened, just enough to make the redwood duff loam absolutely tacky, but there's always the question of "will it rain?" "when? and how much?" Summer however, at least in this state, is ALWAYS riding season. Dust? Yeah. Heat. Sure. Rain? No. It's riding time. For now, It's 25 minutes away from February 24th, and this true believe is longing for a dusty trail to ride...

Race Report 2/10/08

2008-02-12T22:20:00.000-08:00

Considering this was the first race of the season in a new class, Zach and I placed pretty well amongst the sport class. Unfortunately Dusty, Cyndie and Maia weren't able to make this race, so the Smith veterans lined up to sport team colors. Zach started off the race spirit by setting a land speed record from San Jose to Ft. Ord in exactly 1 hour, shocking even ME who literally grew up with his behind-the-wheel antics. It was hard to figure if we should stretch, or warm up, or sign up, or hydrate, or or...

Once the race flagged it all started making sense again. Pace, breathe, think positively and focus. At a point midway through lap 1 I was able to look back at Zach who followed 20 yards back after a hairpin turn and holler an encouragement, and soon we had settled into rhythm, working to memorize the turns and climbs of the course to best save energy. Honestly these courses are more like a graduation exam as compared to the SAT. They test how well you can study something first go round and apply on subsequent problems. Downhill racing feels more like an aptitude test, just free usage of the skills you have.

I had an interesting battle for the finish line with a guy I never did get to chat with afterwards. 1/4 mile before the finish was a short but grueling climb to a water tower followed by a bumpy downhill into the infield. I had save my energy for this last section. I was passed by two riders heading up, and dipping into the last little bits of energy I stood up and re-passed one of them, and immediately got on the other riders rear wheel and tailed him down the downhill into the infield. Once the course widened, I whipped out to the side to pass, but he was riding off the course on that side and I was inching off course, so i swung back behind and down shifted for the last hairpin 20 yards before the finish. I tucked in really tight inside and got on the pedals as soon as I could. Once I did, the rider I was chasing gave a look back to the inside at me and immediately slammed straight into a small oak shrub on the side of the course. It was tremendously strange watching the little shrub shake violently as this rider rode straight into it. I sprinted to an 11th place finish.

I watched Zach come into the infield soon after, hot on the tail of another rider. I watched his arms loosely gripping the bars as he sprinted in for a 15th place finish, thinking about how many years he spent behind a pair of handlebars. It was a great day. Next weekend the rest of the team will be on hand for race two!

Activation Energy

2008-01-11T12:09:00.001-08:00

Activation energy, in chemistry, is the energy required for a reaction to initiate. It is unique because there is a little bump of energy, if you look on a graph, that is a bit higher than the energy needed to propel the reaction (or to level the graph line). So for a reaction to run steadily it needs less energy than it needed to get it started. Preparing for race season is virtually identical, and I chose to overcome that bump today, in the rain, in the mud. I did just that with the help of my old bike, my patchwork of old parts that used to be my regular "do it all" bike. The simplicity of the aged parts made the ride unique to the past year spent focused on finish standings, points, the best and newest equipment, etc. Not to say that the year was anything short of amazing, but so often we forget about the basics, or the roots - the things that got you started, or first lit your fire. There are a lot of different things you could place this analogy on, but for cycling, a trip back to the beginning, it turns out, will often reinvent that feeling of what cycling was when you hadn't yet become desensitized to it. A lot of riders complain about older bikes for a lot of the reasons that make them amazing to ride. Lack of suspension does definitely make the ride bumpier, but when was the last time you decided to really feel those bumps. If you pay enough attention you can actually read the terrain without seeing very much and it ends up being fun! V-brakes and skinny tires are a challenge, no doubt, but the challenge is to see if YOU can change, not the bike, and once you do, your having FUN again! There's no wonder in my mind as to the resurgence of riders ditching gears and suspension for the bikes "of old", simply put, the make you feel like you did the first day of riding, and they make you FEEL riding.
My old bike isn't the "of old" that I'm thinking of, but for me it is just old enough to remind me of what I was like when I was riding 8 or 9 years ago when I bought this thing, and to be honest it was damn fun. I mean more fun that I've had on a bike in a while and it was just what i needed to propel me over that bump of energy and fuel the drive to initiate another season of riding and racing. I'm sure there will be all kinds of events and all kinds of new exciting equipment, but I hope this old one is still waiting in the wings for another day in the mud.

Welcome

2008-01-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hello! A new year and a new race season, and since I end up putting together so many group emails with photos, and I'm not sure how many people actually WANT those showing up in their inboxes, I figured I'd just put together a blog for our extensive fan base to visit.

As informal as a team can be, the five of us, Zach, Maia, Cyndie, Dusty and I make our way to the same races nearly every time they are held in the central coast. Last season was the first that most of us had raced seriously, and by the end we had compiled a nice list of finishes and often saw a few of us standing on the podium!

So, the new season starts very soon, and I'm excited to get riding again. Please feel free to check back anytime. I hope to post general riding-writing, race reports and trip reports fairly often through the year! Thanks!