Quote of the week

"We don't stop exercising because we grow old.  We grow old becasue we stop exercising"
by Dr. Kenneth Cooper

Quote of the week

This is a quote from Johan Bruyneel, Lance Armstrong's Team Radio Schack's Director.

"Strength and weakness live together, inside each of us, and we are fools if we do not see both when we look at someone else". 

This quote is in reference to the 2001 Tour de France when Lance was faking his weakness during one of the first mountain stages.  Bluff when you are weak - and when you are strong.  Lance faked his suffering so that Jan Ulrich's team would drive the peloton through most of the stage and hills before finally reaching the final climb (the infamous Alpe d'Huez).  While Ulrich and his team began to fatigue, Lance bolted form the back of the lead group and straight past all the leaders, including Ulrich and the race leader who was nearly 7 minutes ahead up the mountain.  It is one if the most famous "bluff" moves in cycling and one that will not be able to be repeated again.  With the masterful mind of Bruyneel and the brute strength of Armstrong, it worked to perfection and launched Lance in to an even larger margin of over his nearest competitors. 

If you would like to read more about the mastermind behind the winningest Tour Director, read "We Might as Well Win" .

Images from Cross Nationals

Tim Johnson's sweet ride

J-Pow fightin' thru the mud

Trebon laughing at the hurdles

J-Pow hammering up the only steep section on the course

Compton on her way to yet "another" Victory

Compton riding strong through the mud puddle with Gould close behind (well 30 sec)

Gould doing everything she could to try and catch Katie Compton

Quote of the week

Another answer to the question "Why I ride".  All of the quotes I list in one way or another have been a similar experience for me, and I;m sure you too.

"Because it's hard.  When I think back on my most memorable rides, they are 80 and 100-mile singletrack forays into the backcountry.  They have monster climbs, explore new territory, and sometimes end with heavy, cold mountain rain.  But I survived.  I dug deep, and stayed on my bike and thrived".

This was a quote form Jenn Dice who lives in Colorado.

Quote of the week

This is a quote from Swiss mountain bike racer Thomas Frischnecht on why he rides a bike.

"I ride because that's how and whre I organize my complete life.  I solve my problems on my bike.  I live on my bike".

I can defiintely relate to this quote.  Every time I head out for a ride on my bike (road or mountain) I seem to cmoe up with new ideas or solutions to an earlier problem.  I can't explain why, but maybe it's due to the fact that my mind is most at ease while riding and it can focus much easier. 
Have you had a similar experience?

Qoute of the week

Here is one of my favorite Quotes.  It's a quote from Jens Voigt, a professional cyclist for the new Luxemburg professional cycling team that was established for his former teammates the Schleck Brothers.  He has ridden for Team CSC alongside Ivan Basso as well as Team Saxo-Bank helping Andy and Frank Schleck.  He is one of the few "true" workhorses in the pro peloton, and has split apart many pelotons during his career.  He has sacrificed himself numerous times and has helped put several riders on the podium at some of the world biggest cycling events...not to mention standing on the podium many times himself.

"If you try to win you might lose.  But if you don't try, you will lose".

Quote of the week

I would like to start posting a "Quote of the week".  I am going to begin but it would be great to hear some of YOUR favorite quotes.  the quotes do not necessarily have to be cycling-related...although it would be preferred.

So here is the first Quote.  This is actually a Quote from Doug Bradbury of Crested Butte, CO.  The Quote was posted in a recent Mountain Bike magazine on the topic of "Why I ride".

"Riding is life.  It's new every time, even if I ride the same trail forever: the way the light plays, texture of the trail, moisture, or not, in the dirt, temperature, the time of day, the time of year; how my legs feel, my reactions, speed, power, endurance, I never, know til I go!  It's such a great legal, free high.  It's the ultimate Tao, too; my mind reacts to the next rock, it doesn't think about it.  The biggest reason?  I'm smiling at the end of every ride".

Share your favorite Quote and I might post it.

Time to switch gears

We've been pretty fortunate here in Central Oregon with the weather during the fall.  I can only count the number of really bad days on 1 hand...and maybe just using 1 finger.  The colder temps mixed with sunny skies have made for some pretty epic riding days.  I haven't done a ride over 2 hours since September, but the time spent on the bike has been bliss.   However, all good things must come to an end.  And for Central Oregon, that looks to be this weekend.  While other states across the US have been getting their share of snow, our time has finally come. 
I will embrace this with open arms though.  Yes, it has been frickin' nice to be able to continue to ride on dirt with knobbies, but I am ready for a break from the bike.  It's time to refresh the mind and transition to my new favorite off-season conditioning sport...skate skiing.  I used to log many miles on the trainer/spin bike from December-February, but after learning how to skate ski I can't imagine doing that now. 
The next big bike ride I will be involved in will be Cross Nationals...as a spectator.  I tried to give 'cross a go this year but realized I don't have the mental focus to continue to ride my bike seriously beyond October.  More power to those who can.
Well enough chatter, it's time to get the skis waxed. 

November

November is here and so is the cold temperatures...well not quite yet.  It has been unseasonably warm in Bend that past few weeks, but I'm definitely not complaining as it has allowed me (and others) to continue to enjoy perfect trail conditions for rippin' it up on the singletrack.  This time of year in Bend, OR is always questionable whether or not the weather will be good or really bad.  We are supposed to be in an El Nino year, so I'm sure that the nice days will end soon. 

I have also begun to hit the weights now that we are in November and will be doing a completely different training regimen this off -season. I've used a certain protocol the past 3 years for my training program, but am looking forward to changing things up this year.  It's going to be pretty intense and focus more on power.  Let's hope come April this pays off.  I have some tentatively big races on the horizon for early 2011 and will use these to help get me into cycling condition for the reamainder of the season and able to peak for the priority races in August and September.  One of those priority races will be the Leadville 100, which open registration this Thursday.  It's not an easy race to get into, (I guess it's a lottery system) so we'll see if it happens or not.

2011 could be the pinnacle of my racing career.  I am still waiting to find out if I will have support from my Title Sponsor (ProAir/HFA) of the past two seasons.  In the meantime, I will do my part and make sure I am in the best possible condition when the snow melts.  Oh yeah, skate skiing is just around the corner!

Bend's Big Fat Tour

It's been 10 years since the last time I did this ride (it's not a race).  I was living in Seattle at the time and read about this ride online that was down in a town I had never heard of before (Bend).  I talked one of my friends to come down with me and check it out.  We drove down, spent the night in his Toyota 4-Runner, and woke up at 5am do get shuttled up to Mt Bachelor.  What the hell were we thinking.  We had no idea of what to expect other than what the description said on their website..."come ride Bend's Epic".  When I did the ride that year it was called Bend's Epic and it was only a 1-day 60 mile ride.  I did the ride again the following year with the same friend and my girlfriend at the time who was a strong rider.  I had a blast both years and thought that Bend, OR was a pretty cool town and thought maybe one day I would want to live there.

Flash forward 10 years and wouldn't you know it I live in Bend and was doing the same ride, only now it is called Bend's Big Fat Tour (BBFT) and you get to choose between  2 or 3 days of riding.  The "Epic" is the 3-day and the 2-day is called the "Recreational".  I chose to ride the Epic since two of the days' rides were on trails I have never ridden before, and the fact that I like to ride my bike as much as possible.  The BBFT is not just a ride around Mt Bachelor anymore either, the routes change each year and this year we went to the Ochoco National Forrest, Mt. Bachelor, and Scout Lake.  There were roughly 75 riders testing their abilities to do the 3 day epic ride.  People from all over came to Bend, OR to extend their mountain bike season a little longer.  

This year the event organizers decided to put a clue on each of the summits we climbed and offered up a prize to the person who's name was drawn from all that got the corret answer to the question.  Some of the clues required an extra bit of climbing just to get to.

Day 1
I would have to say riding in the Ochoco's was probably my favorite of the three days.  It was a 34 mile epic ride that would have us climbing almost 6,000ft.  The weather was perfect (high 50's) and scenery amazing.  During one section of singletrack climbing it felt like climbing up L' Alp d' Huez.  Between the steepness and numerous switchbacks it was the mountain bike version of the infamous French climb.  When there is a lot of climbing, that can only mean one thing...that there will also be lots of descending.  The final 8 miles or so were pure bliss; fast, smooth-flowing singletrack that popped out right by the parking lot.

views form a top Vista Butte on Day 2

Day 2
This route was similar to the one I did 10 years ago but the total distance this year was 70 miles (instead of 60) and we actually rode some freshly built trails.  Again the theme for the ride was "climbing".  I'm not sure of the total amount of feet climbed but it seemed like a ton (and all on singletrack :-).  The ride started around 7:30am and I finished about 1:40pm.  There were about 4-5 Aid Stations fully stocked with food and drinks and each were definitely appreciated.  The most tasty bit of food were the chocolate chip brownies, I'm not sure how many of those I ate.

A rider relaxing by Scout Lake before the start of Day 3

Day 3
The final day of the Epic had us riding out by Scout Lake.  This was another area of trails I have never ridden so I was anxiously looking forward to it.  The ride started at 11am and temps seeemed warmer than everyone thought.  Lots of vests, jackets, arm/knee warmers were getting taken off quickly after the initial climb.  I'm not sure how the first section of singletrack was discovered because I could hardly even see the trail.  It took some serious focus to keep track of the trail.  After several miles riding singletrack and a broken chain, we hit the fire road climb to the summit of Cache Mountain.  The climb was a gradual 5-6 miles and rocky at times.  Once we reached the top the views were amazing.  Crystal clear skies allowed riders to soak in some of Central Oregon's best views (The Sisters, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt Washington). 

The only thing left now was to descent 5 miles to the parking lot.  It was a pretty sweet way to end a great three days of riding.

Once again I had a blast riding the BBFT and would highly recommend this to anyone looking to check out the town of Bend and sample some of the best trails in Central Oregon with lots of support along the way.  Just be prepared, the weather in Bend this time of year can be unpredictable, so come prepared for the worst and hope for the best...as we experienced this year.