Trip Report: Northstar/Mr. Toads

I think I'll take this opportunity to offer my opinion on a bike while I'm reporting on one of the finest trails I have ever ridden. The weekends agenda included a Sunday trip on the slopes of Northstar and a Monday trip down Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, arguably the best trail I've ever ridden. The bike of choice for the weekend was a 2008 Specialized Enduro SL. Alloy frame, Avid Juicy Ultimate 7 brakes, SRAM build. I was a little worried on the first lift up at Northstar that the Enduro would act like nothing more than a long travel XC bike. I was prepared for a very fast twitch unstable feeling. Much to my surprise the machine handled jumping remarkably well, and remained quite stable on bumpy straits.Northstar was, to be generous, chewed up! The braking bumps leading up to jumps were brain jarring, caused by lesser experienced riders doing a last minute brake jam right before the jump. I'm not sure if Northstar is strapped for cash, or they are just lazy but they seem to be falling behind on maintaining the more popular trails like LiveWire or Gypsy. They are adding new jumps, so I know someone is up there working. Perhaps a constant grating down of the braking bumps will keep us riders happier.

Monday was a trip down Mr. Toads. The climbing to reach the trailhead is about 3 miles of HIGH quality technical uphills. Any rider worth their salt would consider it high priority challenge to ride a trail like this cleanly. Once at the top the views are enough to remind anyone that amidst all life is a beautiful thing. Decending beings right away, and will not let up. Initially the terrain is technical. A few of the steeper sections came at me pretty fast, as I was chasing Zach and didn't notice. So I hit a few of them much faster than I would have liked. Riding terrain like that versus regular single track is like the difference between pleasure reading and studying Harrison's text of Internal Medicine. You have to focus on every damned word on trails like this. The enduro handled this terrain quite well. My only gripe was that the rear suspension was not as plush as I would have like. Even at it's softest, it was still to springy.

Another major problem with the bike is the propiatary triple clamp/stem system. Being that they tout this bike as an "do it all" it's amazing that you are limited by two key points. One, you cannot replace stem lengths or change the angle of stems. Basically you are stuck with a fixed connection point. Two, the turning radius at slow speeds is severely compromised by the fact that the fork sliders hit agains the frame. I found tight turns at slow speeds actually kind of difficult.

Eventually the terrain mellows out and leads into amazing FAST sweeping sand turns. Amazingly fun riding. I'm very glad we all decided to not rest stop after a certain point because connecting the whole last section in one go was amazing!

I'm giving the Enduro an A- It's overall versatility is truly amazing. With the adjustment options for the rear shock on the frame and the adjustment on the front fork you can readily switch between a stiff XC machine and a slacked downhill worth machine! After this weekend I would seriously consider buying one. I would swith the fork out with a TALAS 36 for the same adjustment and travel ability, but decreased turning radius. I would love to switch the shock out with one of the Fox models.

Miracle Racing Film

Trailer for the end of season film for Miracle Racing. Sorry for the poor quality, but the video size needed to be small to upload. For more quality and the full length video come to the get-together!

Dude, are you alright? Part 2

In response to two recent occasions in which friends made full use of their helmets, I thought I'd elaborate on the nature of head injuries. This is a continuation of Dude, are you alright? Luckily, as serious as brain injuries are, the response to them is easy in a backcountry setting. The only variant is how fast you need to get someone to medical help. Of course it is only easy because you only have a few options to choose from, but actually dealing with a head trauma is a different story. I'm lucky to say I never have myself!

Head Bonk:
A head bonk without concussion will cause any number of non-alarming symptoms from headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and mental cloudiness. Pupils will remain responsive to light. Remember to ride slow as you will be fuzzy for a few minutes.
Concussion:
This is a brain rattle severe enough to piss off the lining of the brain. The brain itself cannot sense pain, but those fragile linings do in a big way! The signs of a concussion include the above symptoms in addition to nausea, disorientation and dilated pupils. I usually check anyone's pupils in a crash. Under direct flashlight, or direct sunlight normal pupils should constrict to about 1-3mm in diameter. Dilated pupils in a head injury will stay dilated to a size greater than 4mm. The degree of a concussion needs to be assessed by a doctor as there are some risks associated.

Subdural Hematoma:
This is the next up in severe head injuries, and involves a slow bleed in the outer lining of the brain. This blood pools into a ball ("hemat" = blood, "oma"=tumor/mass) and progressively puts pressure on the brain. This is a medical emergency, and can be assessed by the follwing symptoms. People with these injuries will become very disoriented, irritable, nauseous and clumsy in their walking and talking. If severe enough, the eyes in addition to pupillary dilation can become deviated.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage:
In most cases you REALLY have to knock your head hard to get one of these. But consider this! A person had a recent surgery, or something requiring them to be on blood thinners (Heparin, warfarin/coumadin or high dose aspirin, ibuprofen.) Now their blood clotting mechanism is compromised, and they don't require much impact to cause intracranial bleeding. So don't think this can't happen out on the trails!! This is characterized by a headache that is almost intollerable. Blood is a major irritant in the body when outside of the vessels, so when it contacts the linings of the brain it causes excruciating pain. I don't even think you need to know much more since if you see someone like this, you'll know it ain't good. But, they will be very disoriented, clumsy or numb in their extremities and nauseous, and may even vomit repeatedly. Check for pupils being reactive to light equally on both sides. If not, problem confirmed. Diagram of unequal pupils

Remember this with regard to head injuries: It may very well be bad enough to happen. So if your riding partner shows any of the signs of something serious, time for you to take it serious!

Now let's have a little chat about helmets!! I'll save you all the specifics save for just 3.
1. They NEED to cover your forehead. Otherwise, a helmet is more or less useless.

2. They are single impact only. Meaning one good bonk warrents replacing that helmet!

3. Bike helmets are not DOT approved. Deptartment of Transportation (DOT) approval recognizes a helmet as strong enough to handle highway and concrete impacts. Since a lot of riders now ride at near highway speeds on hear concrete hardness ground this is a consideration. This also includes full face downhill helmets unless there is a DOT or SNELL approaval in the inside.

Ride safe!

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

We live in a world of options. Salad with cranberries or goat cheese? Coffee or vanilla non-fat flat latte? We usually have a choice on just about everything we desire. But how many times have you stared down a menu trying to decide between a florentine omelette, ollalieberry pancakes or an organic Mediterranean scramble. Choices can be amazing. Choices can be maddening! I believe we have surrounded ourselves with so many options we are now going bananas trying to decide between them all. However if you just closed your eyes and ordered any one of those breakfasts at random, or just asked for a basic two-egg breakfast, chances are you would sit, eat, enjoy and leave satisfied.

The presence of choice constantly creates the possibility for derailing your focus. All too often we allow ourselves to be derailed and to pursue another option prematurely or before realizing what we have left behind. How many relationships have been torn apart by the allure of another, only to have the guilty party realize they were chasing after an illusion?

There is a lure about the simple life. I remember one morning driving into Superior, AZ after driving all night for a climbing competition and stopping at a diner with Zach for breakfast. After sitting down I opened the menu to read the following:

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

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

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...

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!!