Bart Miller's Cycling Strong Website

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Thanksgiving ride yesterday.  I visited with Bart about his Cycling Strong website.  He has put a lot of work into developing content, including things like how-to videos and gear reviews.  If you have not had a chance to take a look the website, the link is here.

http://cyclingstrong.com/

 

 

 

Tate's Report from the Boise Race

I am going to preface this post with an editorial comment.  When I write about my own experience in a race or event, my goal is to share some information that may be helpful to other people who are considering doing the event in the future and to comment from the perspective of a regular guy on a bike.  In contrast, Tate's race reports tell the story from a substantially different perspective, that of a very talented rider slugging it out against top tier competitors.  I love to read them.    Dave

 

This last Saturday I went to Boise to race the last few races of the SICX race series. Unfortunately when woke up on Saturday morning I was feeling extremely sick, despite my stomach flu the desire to race made me throw caution and my health out the window. After the long 3.5 hour drive I arrived at Lucky Peak State Park just outside Boise. The course was extremely technical and compact there was only one section of pavement and it was about 0.2 miles long which was just long enough to open a gap or put the hurt on some of the other racers. Other than that it was a very European course with several switchbacks on an off camber decent (which proved to be too much for almost everyone in my race). 

 

When the race started there was a lot for bumping and shoving for the hole shot, (one kid tried to take my line and ended up getting wrapped up in my handlebars which unfortunately for him lead to him getting run over by the peloton) because most of us knew that if you weren't at the front of the race by the time we hit the off camber section your race was over. I came out of the first corner in 3rd place and waited until the off camber section to make my move. The grass was slick and if you weren't feeling confident you were going to crash hard. On the first decent 5 guys from my race slid out which gave me a little bit of a gap. Realizing this I kept the pressure on and continued to pound it. On the first lap I decided to ride the long sandpit instead of dismounting and running half of it. This was a great choice because I was the only one to do so. By the end of the first lap I had a small gap of about 15 seconds, but a chase group of 3 strong riders were getting organized to chase me down. My wife Allsion was running the pit for me and giving me my time gap on the chasers each time I passed her. Fortunately I was able to ride smart and not make any major mistakes. After riding the sandpit a few times I realized that it actually faster to run it than it was to ride it due to how much energy was required to ride it. With 2 laps to go my stomach flu caught up to me and my adrenaline started to wear off. Right before the last lap I had to get off my bike and throw-up, it was at that moment that I seriously considered throwing in the towel. But then I realized that all I had to do was suffer for about 8 more minutes and it would all be over. As I remounted I cursed myself for even considering dropping out of a race with this much of a lead. In the end I was able to suffer through my last lap and come home with another victory that I doubt I'll ever forget.

 

 Overall it was a fun race, not my favorite course but a good time regardless. The race was well supported and I even ran into a few guys from Victor. After I finished racing I decided that I had better not race the following day because I only got sicker overnight.

 

What I learned:

1. Cyclocross is a contact sport, and one must always be on the offensive side of the blow otherwise you will find yourself in the dirt.
2. Although you can ride a section, it doesn't mean that it's the fastest way to get through it i.e. the 200 ft section of sand.

3. Pavement is for drop no matter what

4. Tire pressure is critical to speed, and surviving a Euro off camber decent.

5. There ain't no shame in needing to stop and puke during a race haha

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Morning Road Ride

You will all be a lot happier at the big Thanksgiving dinner with your relatives if you can get out and spin for a couple of hours before.  Nine a.m.  Sticks and Stones.  Dress Warm. 

Utah State Cyclocross Champions

Yeah, that’s champions, plural.  Today’s UTCX race at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden was designated as the Utah State Cyclocross Championship.  A big congratulations to both Carson and Kelton who won their respective age groups today and earned a state championship in the process.  Both boys prevailed in very competitive races, riding with a great deal of poise and confidence.  Tim had another great UTCX finish as well.  I mostly got my ass kicked, but it was still a fun day.

Tate's Stellar Season Continues

Tate won the Boise cross race again today in spite of being a little under the weather.  We hope to publish additional details soon.

The Ski Season is Upon Us

The Rendezvous Trail System in West Yellowstone is skiable now.  Don’t forget to take a look at our sister site, the Rexburg Ski Blog.

http://rexburgski.blogspot.com/

 

Giro d'Italia 2014 - Official Promo

Thanks to Tate for this video.

 

Inside American Classic's Wheel Factory cyclingnews.com

Photo Copyright cyclingnews.com/bikeradar.com

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/inside-american-classics-wheel-factory

 

The New Kelson Skinsuit

This is a great looking skinsuit. Get used to seeing it on the podium. Thanks to Heather for the photo. In some related news, after a long series of delays, the regular kit (bibs and jersey) is very close to delivery as well.

 

This is a Pretty Famous Picture

You have probably seen this on the Kelson page and elsewhere. Dawn poached it from Heather’s Facebook. This is where new bikes come from.

 

UTCX Halloween Cross 2012 at Wheeler Farm

I have been watching a few UTCX videos this morning.  You can Google up a number of UTCX videos on YouTube, mostly helmet-cam and mostly pretty rough.  There are also a number of better quality UTCX videos on Vimeo.  I decided to embed this one because I love Johnny Cash.

     Tim did the UTCX race in Kaysville yesterday in very difficult conditions (snow, mud, and wind) and reports that it was the most fun he has had at a race this year.

 

 

UTCX - Halloween 'Cross from Grizzly Adam on Vimeo.

Blue Goose IF CX Results

Reposted from the Blue Goose FB page here

Twin Falls Race Series. Thanks to Weston for This Info

Hey Dave, here’s something for the blog.

http://cycletherapy-rx.com/about/south-central-idaho-cyclocross-pg106.htm

 

This looks to be the closest race series in the area for anyone who hasn’t fully satisfied their Cyclocross itch. The race schedule is as follows:

• Race 1 - Oct 12, Frontier Park, TF
• Race 2 - Nov 2, TF County Fairgrounds, Filer
• Race 3 - Nov 16, Rock Creek Park, TF
• Race 4 - Dev 7, Valley School, Hazelton
• Race 5 - Dec 21, Thompson Park, TF
• Race 6 - Jan 11, Rock Creek Park, TF

§  All kids races are free & adults are $10 per race

§  All race times are as follows:

Kids	10:30 am
Adult 30 minute	11:00 am
Adult 1 hour	12:00 am

 

One of the guys from Twin Falls was at BlueGoose last weekend and said this should be a fun series. With races going into January we could get some exciting races in the snow!

 

Sincerely,
Weston Dunn 

"It never gets easier, you just go faster."

                                   ~Greg LeMond

 

Blue Goose Cyclocross - Idaho Falls

The inaugural Blue Goose Cyclocross is now history, but for one sunny afternoon in early November, Freeman Park in Idaho Falls made a nearly perfect venue for European style cyclocross.

The course itself circumnavigated the periphery of the park in a counter-clockwise fashion.  Owing to the park’s location along a bluff on the east bank of the Snake River, this led to plenty of off-camber left hand turns.  The course itself was defined by the usual perimeter tape and spray painted ground, but in many sections a path had been cleared through the blanket of Cottonwood leaves helping direct the racers through the course, and adding a degree of late fall “authenticity” to the event.  

A pretty good turnout

The start was a run-up past the south pavilion and from there turned quickly around trees and across the access road down to the river and then along the banks through a couple of short sand-pit sections.  The trail then snaked its way up along a creek bed before swinging high and then down again into a gully and across the creek bed (or alternately along a bridge) before turning north at the east edge of the park. 

Jeff - last lap!

Markings coming out of the gully were a bit confusing and once with my head down and hammering away I followed the white spray-painted trail off course, directly east, and had to make a looping course correction back to the next major obstacle – the BIG sand pit.

This pit was long, wide and deep enough that afterward I’m still trying to figure out what it’s used for when not intimidating cyclocross racers. (Tate reports it’s a sand volleyball court.) Fortunately, there was a straight run-up through the grass that let you pick up the speed before plowing through.  By the end I felt like I was carrying a shovel load of sand on my front wheel.

Tony in good form

The backside of the course moving west followed the tarmac trail allowing for some much needed rest, before dropping off again into some off camber S-turns. Then the course turned south again along the river before driving tightly uphill through the leaves and then down and up steeply once more to meet the three course barriers. 

Everyone had some trouble with these beasts as they were near the top of the hill and required that you keep pedaling right up to the brink.  Other than Tate who looked like he floated over these things, the rest of us had to renegotiate our attack strategy every lap.  Not only was the hill steep and the barriers closely spaced, but they were tall.  Tony’s assessment was that they came up to his chin.

Zach tearing it up

The good news was that after the barriers, it was a long downhill and then a couple of turns into the finish straightaway.  In the end we did seven laps, each about 1.4 miles, nearly 7 minutes per lap.  And like most CX races it was all out, all the time.

I wasn’t around for the earlier races, but the combined expert and master’s race was surprisingly deep for a first event.  One could wish for as good a turnout up at the Cube in the coming years.  It looked like the organizers were as surprised as anyone else at the popularity, and things can only get better as far as support goes in the future. 

Tate leaving everyone in his dust

Team Kelson had a good showing with Tate taking the overall first-place honors.  He went home with a very nice set of tubular tires.  Tony took third in a talented master’s field.  Zach and I did our best to stay ahead of the guys on mountain bikes and finished somewhere near the top end – but still out of sight of Tate’s finish.  Weston and Tate's friend Dave (his first cx race on a borrowed bike) also represented well from Rexburg.  Brian also deserves a shout-out for coming down to coach and cheer us all on.  In many ways he responsible for making all of us that much faster.  (I told him afterwards my Kelson is faster than I am).

All in all a great day, worthy venue and respectable effort by the race organizers putting together a well attended event.  Building on the long tradition of the Victor Velo group and the resurrected Cube, the Blue Goose rounds out a trifecta of southeast Idaho cyclocross that we’ll all look forward to racing in the future.

Stella loves cyclocross

Is It O.K. to Kill Cyclists?

 Copyright The New York Times

An sobering opinion piece in today's New York Times discusses the trivial or nonexistent penalties that drivers face in car-bicycle accidents.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/opinion/sunday/is-it-ok-to-kill-cyclists.html?_r=0&hp=&adxnnl=1&rref=opinion&adxnnlx=1384035322-s7FbfZFyRMkt5ysPP1pP7g

The VeloNews Review of Wheelmen

 

 

I suspect that when it comes to Lance Armstrong, many people feel a lot like I do.  I can barely stand to read another word about Lance. Regardless of his crimes, maybe it is time to just leave him in peace.  But in many ways, his story is more compelling now than ever and we hang onto every new revelation and sordid detail. It is a multi-car pileup from which we cannot turn away. I will leave it up to you to choose whether to read the latest retelling of this great American tragedy, but I would highly recommend reading Steve Maxwell's review of the book which appears in VeloNews.com.  It provides a fine overview of the book and accounting of the situation.

 http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/11/analysis/book-review-wheelmen-details-armstrongs-rise-and-then-collapse_308916

 

Dismount Like a Pro

Here is a very nice little how-to video to watch prior to the Blue Goose Cyclocross Race in Idaho Falls Saturday.  I am looking the window right now at some pretty nasty weather, but it should improve by Saturday. If anyone is interested in a little souvenir of the 2013 Cube, I have a few of the promotional posters left. If you would like one let me know.

Don't Forget the IF Cyclocross This Saturday

This will be the final cross race in our immediate area and I think it will be a good one.  We had a lot of good support from the Idaho Falls guys and Bill’s Bike Shop for the Cube. Hopefully, we can reciprocate.  Unfortunately, I will be working.  You can find additional information at their Facebook page (link below).  Here is one bit of advice for the organizers if it is not too late.  Combine the experienced and masters’ classes (start together, score separately).  I think it is unlikely that a first-year event will draw big enough numbers to necessitate the split.  But, I would love to be proven wrong. The success of all local cyclocross helps us all.

Here are the start times:
Noon 9-13 years (1 lap)
12:45 14-18 years (30 minutes)
1:30 Beginners (30 minutes)
2:15 Experienced (45 minutes)
3:15 Masters 45+ (45 minutes)

https://www.facebook.com/Bluegoosecross

 

 

Tate Wins in Caldwell

I think it’s fitting that Jeff has honored Tate today with a new banner photo on the blog. This is how cyclocross is done.  A lot of us really love cross, but I don’t think there is any question where the true talent lies. Winning and placing week after week in a variety of venues and against top tier competition is a monumental accomplishment.  Here is Tate’s race report:
   

Yesterday November 2, 2013 I had the opportunity to travel and race one of the Boise SICX races. I woke up early in the morning and left Rexburg at about 5:45 in the morning to be able to make it to Caldwell in time to race at 11:30. When I arrived at the course I was amazed at how many juniors and women they had show up to race. The racecourse was almost entirely on grass except for the start, which was on a 250 meter paved road. The most difficult part about the race was that it was on the side of a hill, which we had to go up and down 4 times per lap. The course had a lot of off camber tight turns, which is where I really noticed my new bikes braking abilities. I was able to go into corners hotter and faster than almost everyone else due to my bike’s superior braking ability. When the gun went off I had a flawless start, which allowed me to get the hole-shot. Once we reached the first corner I realized that I had been given a small gap. I did however hesitate for a few seconds because I didn’t know any of the racers or their skill level. However, this hesitation only lasted a few seconds until I decided to go for broke from the first minute of the race. Once I made my mind up to go I quickly realized that this course suited me very well, the corners were wide and the course profile was intense. I was the only racer of the day able to bunny hop the barriers which was a great time saver. In the end I was able to come home with a great victory on first race on my new Kelson Cyclocross bike. It was an extremely well organized event, unfortunately Boise isn’t exactly close to Rexburg but if you are ever in the area then I would highly recommend this race series to anyone. I know that I will defiantly be back at least one for time this year.  

 

Some Comments on Spooky Cross

Most of the things I can say about Spooky Cross are things that I have said before.  If you have never competed in a cyclocross race, you have missed an experience that defies an easy description.  Cyclocross is highly competitive and physically demanding but at the same time very accessible as participant sport.  In my opinion, only a handful of expert level cyclists have any business racing criteriums, but you can take the kids to a cross race. 

     Before you start to dismiss cyclocross as a little ride in the park for the kids and beginners, consider these numbers.  Jeff had his Garmin on yesterday at Spooky Cross.  For 45 minutes, his average heart rate was 169 and his maximum heart rate was 193.  I think of the cardiac stress tests that we do on the treadmill at the hospital.  They could not begin to touch this.  Cyclocross is full speed, full pain start to finish. 

     Conditions were good yesterday, a little bit muddy, but very rideable.  I am no big fan of mud, but it would not be a full value cross season without a little mud.  Kelton has about one more year before he can beat all of the adults.  Jeff had the top finish yesterday of the local riders.  When he passed me in about the third lap, I felt like it would give me a good opportunity to pace off of him, but that turned out to be pretty wishful thinking.

     I feel like we are at a point in time in which we have the opportunity to really promote cyclocross in Southeastern Idaho.  We are already looking forward to organizing the Cube next year.  Our hope is that along with an Idaho Falls race enhance the success of the Victor series.  I will be posting a reminder about the Idaho Falls race which is next Saturday.  I will be working, but I hope we can support their event.

 

    

Spooky Cross

I'll let Dave fill in the details, but here are some pictures from an excellent Spooky Cross up in Victor.

Costume Race (L to R, the Dread Pirate Roberts, Spiderman and Moose CX)

Kelton and Tony hammering out at the start

Brian, Jeff and Dave rolling out

Oliver bringing up the pack

Jeff and Dave

Brian and Kelton

Tony

Samuel