Both of these videos have been highlighted this week on bikerumor.com: Brandon Semenuk’s incredible "One-Shot" Segment for unReal and Vittorio Brumotti at the Tinkoff Saxo training camp in Livigno Italy.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
From Kellen: At The End of the Pavement
This is a picture that we love to take. Just as an aside, I cropped this photo and adjusted the exposure a little with an app called Afterlight. The app was recommended by Consumer Reports and only cost something like two dollars. It is not Photoshop, but it is a pretty versatile editing tool at a nominal price.
The VN Article on Cycling and Your Heart
Photo copyright Brad Kaminski/Velo/velonews.com
This article originally appeared in the print edition of Velo August 2015.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
From Stephanie: Volunteers Needed for River Rock Youth Triathlon Friday August 7th
The River Rock Youth Triathlon is scheduled for next Friday afternoon (4pm) and the following morning is the RUSH Triathlon If you are not participating in the events and if you are free and so inclined, would you please consider helping as a volunteer for either or both races? Assignments range from manning the swim, bike, or run portions, or helping with check-in, race packet distribution, or aid stations. Swimming volunteers (to assist the kids in the water on Friday afternoon) are strongly encouraged to wear wetsuits.
Please contact our new race director:
or his assistant Whitney at
More race info can be found at rexburgraces.org
Monday, July 27, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
How a Virginia physicist can predict the Tour de France’s outcome from 4,000 miles away - The Washington Post
Eric Goff pictured with his student (left) Chad Hobson, who helped with this year's predictions. (copyright John McCormick, Lynchburg College/Washington Post)
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Phil Gaimon: Hardest Climb in the World is a 500-Way Tie
I am on record on more than one occasion saying that Phil Gaimon is a seriously smart and funny guy. He is one of the best writers in cycling. The following (copyright Velo) appears in the print edition of the Velo (VeloNews) August 2015.
"Fans and media love asking some form of "How hard is that climb?" They want you to say that the climb in their neighborhood or race is the hardest, steepest, and longest you have ever done. I have news for you: plenty of climbs are hard, but the big ones are all about the same. Sure, they might each have their own personality, but the worst city planners try not to pave roads that are steeper than 14 percent. So start there, add in a few steeper pitches, bad pavement, maybe some weather, and that's the hardest climb in the world. I've raced a lot of climbs like that. "Hardest climb in the world" is a 500-way tie."
"What makes a climb hard in a race is who you're racing against, and what the race situation is. Alpe d'Huez is impossible if you're the guy trying to hang with Contador, but it's cake in the grupetto."
Watching the Alpe d'Huez Stage at 7 p.m.Tonight
Everyone is welcome to stop by for all or part of this. The Tour finally got interesting yesterday with attacks by Nibali and Quintana. Hopefully, there will be a few fireworks today.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Pre-Announcement of Bike BBQ
I think we are very close to finalizing the date of Friday, August 14th at 6 p.m. for the annual Bike BBQ. A formal announcement will be forthcoming. I realize that date presents a scheduling conflict for people participating in the Grand Teton Relay, but essentially every date we have looked at in the month of August contains potential conflicts.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
From Kellen: A Sunday Afternoon Spin on the Archer Bench
The picture was taken at the top of Squires’ Dugway.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
From Tim V: Riding the Climbs of the Giro
Tim is a Utah cyclist and a veteran of nine cycling trips to Italy. He contacted me for some beta on the Fish Creek after reading about it on the blog. In return, he was kind enough to share these images from his most recent trip to Italy. If you are ever lucky enough to make that trip and need help to set up your itinerary, Tim is your guy to call.
Best Wishes to James and Greg for a Quick Recovery
As you probably know if you follow our Facebook page, these guys had a pretty bad accident this morning. The Hoback ride that James was organizing for Saturday has been cancelled. We are tentatively planning a century ride Saturday starting at 7 a.m. from Sticks and Stones. If you are interested, please let me or Jeff know so we can keep you informed of any last minute changes to the plan.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
From Joe: HS MTB Team Practice
We have a location for our first practice!
I have procured permission to use the parking lot of the LDS church at the top of Millhollow Road in Rexburg. Address below if you are unfamiliar with it's location.
I have procured permission to use the parking lot of the LDS church at the top of Millhollow Road in Rexburg. Address below if you are unfamiliar with it's location.
655 S. Millhollow Road REXBURG, IDAHO 83440
At 7pm on Thursday, July 16th, we will be using the parking lot and the surrounding grass hill to go over several important mountain biking skills and techniques. As I mentioned in the last email we invite all student-athletes whether they be already registered or even considering registering, their parents, any volunteers and potential volunteers to attend this skills clinic. Donations for participation are definitely not necessary but are welcome as 100% of donations will be returned directly to the student-athletes to help pay for racing related fees and expenses.
Instruction will be provided by myself and Bart Miller. Bart is a licensed Head Coach with NICA and has valuable experience as a two-time racer in the Leadville 100 and is signed up for that race for the 3rd time this year. His son Cobe will likely also join us. Cobe is an experienced cyclist as well and raced in the UT league as a student-athlete last season and intends to do so again this year. Both Bart and Cobe will be able to provide great insight into cross-country mountain bike racing and be able to provide personal experience on how NICA and the High School Mountain Bike Racing scene works.
Look forward to seeing everyone there!
Instruction will be provided by myself and Bart Miller. Bart is a licensed Head Coach with NICA and has valuable experience as a two-time racer in the Leadville 100 and is signed up for that race for the 3rd time this year. His son Cobe will likely also join us. Cobe is an experienced cyclist as well and raced in the UT league as a student-athlete last season and intends to do so again this year. Both Bart and Cobe will be able to provide great insight into cross-country mountain bike racing and be able to provide personal experience on how NICA and the High School Mountain Bike Racing scene works.
Look forward to seeing everyone there!
Joe Hill
Sled Shed Board Shop
Sticks n Stones Biking and Climbing
208.339.1120
208.356.7116
www.ssbikesnboards.com
Sled Shed Board Shop
Sticks n Stones Biking and Climbing
208.339.1120
208.356.7116
www.ssbikesnboards.com
Monday, July 13, 2015
From Tate: Grinduro. 10-10-15 Quincy, CA
Tate is planning on the Grinduro. If you are interested as well, please get in touch with him. A NEW KIND OF BIKE RACE In short, Grinduro is just what the name suggests: Gravel Road Race + Mountain Bike-Style Enduro = one long loop of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time, but four timed segments (each roughly five-to-seven minutes).
From Tim: Pierre's Hole MTB Race
2015 Pierre's Hole 50/100 MTB Race
Saturday, August 15, 2015
http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-resort/news-events/1863/2015PierresHole50100MTBRace.php
Tim is pretty interested in doing the 50 mile race and reports today that only a handful of slots are still available. It is always best to show up for a race with a couple of teammates. Given the registration cap, the time to act is now.
From Jeff Townsend: Pantani, The Accidental Death of a Cyclist, Available on Netflix
This is another tip I got from Jeff and a movie I am very excited to watch…as soon as the Tour is over. Like countless others, I watched the rise and heartbreaking fall of Marco Pantani and it is a compelling story. Tragedy often is. I have not seen the movie, but I know that it has been reviewed very favorably and Jeff T. recommends it.
Crusher 2015 Post-Race Report
When I first started hearing about the Crusher a few years ago, I thought: Seventy miles on gravel with some climbing, how hard can that be? I believed that the Crusher was over-hyped and the difficulty exaggerated. Then we went and rode it. Several of us took bikes that were significantly over-geared and we were all underprepared psychologically. Afterwards, we had nightmares about the Col d’ Crush. I posted a photo a few days ago that does a decent job of capturing the scale of the Col d’ Crush, but the only way to really appreciate its size is to experience it first-hand.
I added some extra pictures to this post. They include Jeff at the finish and Tate and Weston at the start since they were not there when we took the big group photo which Jeff posted last night. (That photo is L to R: Joe, Shae, Dan, Kellen, Ryan, Jeff, me, Zac, Tim). Thanks to everyone who trained so hard together and supported each other so well. In addition we were fortunate to have help at the race with logistics and transportation from Dawn, Stephanie, Tammie, and Judy Meikle (who along with Burdette is the most devoted supporter of cycling events that I have ever known).
Conditions yesterday were outstanding. The roads were fairly smooth by Crusher standards and temperatures were cool, particularly at the higher elevations such as the finish. A couple of people commented to me that this is the first time at the Crusher when they wished it could actually have been warmer. For the most part, we all had a pretty good day. Several of the Upper Valley guys rode sub-six hour times with Kellen coming in as the first of our local finishers with an eye-popping time of 5:34.
Sadly, it almost goes without saying that with a group this big, a few things are not going to turn out that great. There are too many variables in any bicycle race, especially one as long and wild as the Crusher, to have any hope of controlling them all. Dan destroyed a tire. Tate got blindsided by an out-of-control rider and crashed out. Rather than going for medical attention, he remained at the DNA Corner (about two thirds of the way up the Col) and gave us all a push on our way back up.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
C*R*U*5*H Pics
Thanks to Dawn for providing photo coverage of our Rexburg contingent of the Crusher. I'll let Dave and others supply a retrospective but here are a few shots of the memorable day.
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| Pre-Race Rexburg Contigent |
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| Shea, Joe, Daniel and Tate |
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| Joe, Ryan and Kellen at suffering's end |
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| Post-race Feed Line |
Friday, July 10, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
Clean Spirit Available on Netflix
I just spoke with a friend, Jeff Townsend, who recommends this film very highly. It is available on Netflix. I am looking forward to watching it, but it will be a while since my DVR is overflowing with daily live Tour coverage. If other people are able to watch the movie, I will be interested to get your feedback.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
TCI Kit Order Deadline - Friday July, 10 at 9 AM
We've had great success so far in having folks place orders for the TCI-Kelson-Sticks 'n' Stones Kits.
In order to get the kits back to you all in a timely fashion we'll need to close out the ordering process soon. So I'm setting the deadline date for Friday July, 10 at 9 AM. You can still order them here: http://www.dnacycling.biz/tci/team-gear.html
After the process is wrapped up it will likely take another 8 weeks or so to have the gear sewn up in Italy and delivered back to us here in the USA.
If you've not done so already, please finalize your orders. We did update the site with the women's shorts option as well as the ability to choose a women's specific chamois for the bibs.
If you've placed an order previously for bibs and didn't specify gender we'll likely make a best guess based on the order name about whether or not you wanted the men or women's chamois, but if there's any doubt we'll contact you.
I still have a fit kit and am happy to have people over to try out jerseys, bibs or jackets. Contact me via the comments and we'll arrange a time.
Thanks to all!
Jeff
In order to get the kits back to you all in a timely fashion we'll need to close out the ordering process soon. So I'm setting the deadline date for Friday July, 10 at 9 AM. You can still order them here: http://www.dnacycling.biz/tci/team-gear.html
After the process is wrapped up it will likely take another 8 weeks or so to have the gear sewn up in Italy and delivered back to us here in the USA.
If you've not done so already, please finalize your orders. We did update the site with the women's shorts option as well as the ability to choose a women's specific chamois for the bibs.
If you've placed an order previously for bibs and didn't specify gender we'll likely make a best guess based on the order name about whether or not you wanted the men or women's chamois, but if there's any doubt we'll contact you.
I still have a fit kit and am happy to have people over to try out jerseys, bibs or jackets. Contact me via the comments and we'll arrange a time.
Thanks to all!
Jeff
Cycling West's Crusher Preview with Burke Swindlehurst
Friday, July 3, 2015
Capital Reef Classic July 17th and 18th
I feel bad that the Capital Reef Classic has kind of been overshadowed by all of the interest in the Crusher. This three stage (TT, circuit, road race) event takes place on the Friday and Saturday following the Crusher on some of the best cycling roads in Utah. The altitude is fairly high and the temperatures are usually mild. The race organization is made up of a great bunch of local people. If you are unable to participate, please support them by helping to spread the word about their event. I found this image from an early CRC.
Fish Creek Ride
Thanks to everyone who turned out for a great Fish Creek ride today. Conditions were ideal with mild temperatures and minimal wind. As promised, Cameron’s family met us at the top with cold drinks and food including some homemade cookies. Cameron did Fish Creek the hard way today, starting and ending in Rexburg. You can do the math, but I come up with something around 130 miles with some significant climbing.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Update: The Fish Creek is On for Tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Deadline for Ordering the TCI Kit
If you are interested in ordering the TCI kit, please get your orders in this week. It is my understanding that Jeff will be imposing a firm deadline of Tuesday, July 7th for the ordering process. Jeff has a fit kit available if you want to try some of this stuff on.
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