Local Races. A Message from Tate

Hey Dave there are a few great local races coming up next week all within a few miles from rexburg. We should get as many people out to support this race if we want then to support us for the cube. 

 

http://targheehillclimb.athlete360.com/

 

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/midsummer

 

Please spread the word to the rest of the guys. I'm planning on doing the hill climb for sure and if someone is willing to carpool with me to park city I'd be game to go to that too.

Cheers,
Tate Litchfield 

2013 Tour of Utah Tour Tracker. A Very Cool Smart Phone App

 

2013 Tour of Utah Tour Tracker powered by Adobe

http://appshopper.com/sports/tour-of-utah-adobe-tour-tracker-2011

Most of you have probably had the experience that I have of being pretty disappointed by stupid smart phone apps.  If you are interested in following the Tour of Utah, you will not be disappointed by this one. I used it last year and downloaded the 2013 version this year.  It has detailed course information with maps, profiles, and start times.  (If anyone is planning to be in Salt Lake City on Friday August 9th, don't miss the Circuit Race around the Capital at 5:30 p.m.)  And as if you need one more thing to keep you from working, you can watch every stage live online or on your phone.   

From Slate.com: Why BMW Drivers Are Jerks to Cyclists

 

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/a_fine_whine/2013/07/bmw_drivers_and_cyclists_the_war_between_the_luxury_cars_and_bicycles.html

Crusher in the Tushar: Jeff's Top Ten Lists

Almost immediately after finishing the race my brain began negotiating the pros and cons of such an infernal affair.  Why in the world would I want to do such a thing?  Here follows my top ten reasons (in Late Night Style):

Reasons I Hated the Crusher

• 10  - Leg Cramps, everywhere, like all the muscles in my legs wanted to vie for the position of "most likely to sabotage Jeff's race"
• 9    - The "20 miles to go sign".  AKA "abandon all hope, ye who enter here" sign before the Col d' Crush.
• 8    - Headwind from Junction to Circleville.  Wind belongs in Idaho.  On training rides.  Not in races.  Period.
• 7    - Looking at the pro time postings.  Guess I'm just that slow.
• 6    - The "1 mile to go sign".  It was most certainly placed 5 miles out.
• 5    - Plastic bags that don't open on rough gravel roads.  Only alternative - bite through plastic bag, eat contents and spit out plastic.  Oh, and keep riding.  And don't cramp.
• 4    - The hot, dusty, and strangely steep section from the end of the road north of Circleville back to UT153 (I imagined Scotty yelling something about the core overheating)
• 3    - Caught behind a vehicle convoy on final descent.  Dude, you threw off my groove.
• 2    - 12% grade 500 meters to the finish.  Seriously?  Hire a decent road grader.
• 1    - The "Col d' Crush".  I'd psyched myself to take on this bad boy like a nerdy school kid convincing himself that he too could run through a brick wall just like Harry Potter.  Reality hurts.  Badly.

Reasons I Loved the Crusher

• 10  - Beaver Utah - surprisingly nice little town with Super Nice People (aka race supporters)
• 9    - The kid who handed up the Coke to me at Feed Station 5.  He was so excited to do the hand-up it made me feel like Mean Joe Green
• 8    - Great scenery on the first ascent.  The scent of pine lulled me along like a lamb to the...
• 7    - Great support.  Dawn in the Team Car and all the local volunteers along the way - high five!
• 6    - The Gilly Suit Guy cash hand-up.  "Get paid to play" he said!
• 5    - My TRP disc brakes.  They saved my life on the descent of the Col d' Crush.  Literally.
• 4    - Every last stretch of level or negative grade.  Thank you Nature for creating downhills that for a moment make me feel fast.
• 3    -  My Kelson RAD Bike (you'd think the thing was built for this race...)
• 2    - Great friends to ride with.  It wouldn't have happened without them.
• 1    - Finishing, finishing, and yup you guessed it finishing the C*R*U*S*H*I*N*G thing!

All in all this happened to be a superbly run race, and made the pain and suffering less memorable than it otherwise would have been.  And like childbirth, I'm sure as time goes on, I'll begin to consider doing it again!

A Report From the Crusher

     The third annual Crusher in the Tushar is now history.  Rexburg and Kelson were represented by Tate, Jeff, Brian, Ryan, Tim, and me.  We finished in that order.  Brian’s new RAD bikes performed admirably.  Tate struggled with some mechanical issues including a broken seat rail, but still finished eighth in his class.  All in all, it was a fairly successful day for the local guys, but I think it is pretty safe to say that we were all guilty of underestimating the brutal difficulty of the event.  You climb 4000 feet, mostly on good gravel roads through a pine forest.  That brings you to a ridge overlooking the Piute Valley and a descent unlike anything I have ever seen anywhere.  You drop 4000+ feet through an endless series of high-speed washboard switchbacks, make a loop in the valley, ride back up the switchbacks, veer right and continue climbing to the Eagle Point Ski Resort.  In all, there is 10,400 feet of climbing and 6000 feet of descending.  The ride is epic in every way, the scenery spectacular, and the pain off the scale.

     Levi Leipheimer won the pro event with a course record of four hours and six minutes.  If you ever wondered why he gets paid to race a bicycle and you don’t, that’s pretty much the whole story right there.  At the finish, Ryan spoke to Bryson Perry, two-time winner of the Leadville Trail 100.  Bryson told Ryan that he considers the Crusher to be much harder than Leadville.  The more rational part of my mind is reminding me that the Crusher was a pretty terrible experience in a lot of ways and that one time is enough for a lifetime.  Another part of my brain is thinking about gearing my bike lower and planning for next year.

 

 

VeloNews Commentary: Is Chris Froome just too good to be true?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/commentary-is-chris-froome-just-too-good-to-be-true_295224

 

Two teenage boys are being hailed as heroes after they chased a car carrying a kidnapped girl -- on their bicycles

Anyone who has been checking the blog realizes that it has been a very long since I have posted anything.  Here is the explanation:  During the month of July every minute of my spare time seems to be committed to two things; riding and watching the Tour.  I have included the link below only because it is a modestly interesting story involving bicycles.  I will post a report of the Crusher very shortly.  I am just waiting to get a couple of pictures.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/justice/pennsylvania-teen-heroes/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

Allan Butler Criterium Saturday June 29

This is the biggest cycling event in Southeastern Idaho.  You do not want to miss the Men’s 1-2-3 Race.

TEAM BILL’S BIKE, EAGLE ROCK CYCLING, and the

IDAHO FALLS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Proudly present the 7th Annual

Allan Butler Memorial Criterium

JUNE 29, 2013

Held under USA Cycling permit 2013-1440 Chief Referee: Holly Blanco Classes	Start	Length
Open Juniors	4:00 pm	20 mins
Cat 5 Men / Women 4	4:30 pm	30 mins
35+ Cat 4/5 Men / 55+	5:10 pm	30 mins
35+ Cat 1/2/3 Men	5:40 pm	40 mins
Women 1-2-3	6:30 pm	30 mins
Cat 3/4 Men	7:10 pm	40 mins
Cat 1-2-3 Men	8:00 pm	60 mins

 

Bike Trails and Pathways Committee. A Message from Joe Hill

This is a great opportunity to do something positive for the community.

 

Here is some info about todays Bike Trails and Pathways meeting.

 

The committee meets every third Thursday of the month at city hall at 5:15 p.m. in one of the conference rooms on the south side of the building.  More or less the MO of the committee is to further the progress of established bike trails and paths and raise community awareness of these trails.  This is accomplished through applying for grant funding, coordination, and project planning.  Any of the city's equipment resources are at our disposal.  Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings and community input is welcomed warmly.  Joseph West is the current committee chairman and I serve as committee secretary.

 

Some current projects we are working on include: development of bicycle path along Poleline Road, connection of trails starting by water park and going behind Rexburg Development Center to Madison Junior High and Millhollow Road, connecting that same trail to Sugar City pathway, development of Bicycle Skills Park (this is in early stages, we have been in contact with FatCats for the use of their land behind their facility, and have also looked at Hidden Valley and Eagle Park as potential locations).  The skills park would have a pump track, jump lines of varying size and difficulty, dirt pathway, obstacle course to teach mountain bike skills, etc.

 

The meetings are never longer than 45 minutes.  The more people we can get involved the more we are able to do.  Thanks for helping spread the word!

Joe Hill
Sled Shed Board Shop
Sticks n Stones Mountaineering
208.356.7116
www.ssbikesnboards.com

From VeloNews.com New report presents data-driven doubts on performances, past and present

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/06/news/new-report-presents-data-driven-doubts-on-performances-past-and-present_290708

 

Tate reports that there are some open registrations for The Crusher in the Tushar

This is a great opportunity.  If you are interested, please follow the link.

http://www.tusharcrusher.com/entries-available-for-transfer

 

New Kelson Team Kit Available

Brian is offering this great-looking new Kelson team kit in both men’s and women’s sizes.  Jerseys and bib shorts are available separately.  We would like to submit the order one week from today, so we asking you to place your individual orders by Monday June 10^th.  There is a fit kit available if you want to try sizes.  It is currently at Sticks and Stones.  I will probably have it at my house Saturday and Sunday.  Thanks to Tim Meikle for setting up the link for ordering.  https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=oydnVl-wFfhUk*zvi4ohlQ

 

Message from Joe Hill. A Ride to Support the Huntsman Cancer Center

Some of you will remember this from last year.  A group of cyclists riding in support of the Huntsman Cancer Center will be riding from Driggs to Rexburg on Saturday June 22^nd.  (This is the same day as the Lemhi Valley Century).  They have invited local cyclists to join them, departing Driggs at noon.  If you would like to carpool over, a group will be leaving Rexburg from the dental office of James Allen at 11:00.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Joe at Sticks and Stones for additional details.

Bear Lake Monster Cross Century. June 29th

Bear Lake Monster Cross Century is a dirt road cycling event for racers, recreational riders and everyone in between covering some of the rural and rugged roads surrounding the Bear Lake Valley in Idaho and Utah. In 2013, Bear Lake Monster Cross will be held on June 29.

http://bearlakemonsterride.com/monster-cross/

 

 

An Outstanding Ride plus a T-Shirt and Barbeque for 45 Bucks. Get Your Lemhi Valley Application in This Week.

 

Please note:  There is no online registration.  You need to complete the form and mail it in.  Event date is Saturday, June 22th.

http://lemhivalleycenturyride.weebly.com/