tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49222839290324656712024-03-12T21:46:58.746-07:00Racer DiariesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-70504415554672283082013-12-08T15:02:00.001-08:002013-12-08T15:02:12.282-08:00I Moved! I hope you'll come visit at my new address, <a href="http://krisgross.blogspot.com/">http://krisgross.blogspot.com/</a>. <div>
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If you follow this blog, please update your links and bookmarks. </div>
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And thanks for reading!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11191788890691453876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-18088942505905100912013-12-08T10:19:00.000-08:002013-12-08T13:19:44.306-08:00Race Report: Racers and Chasers Winter XC Series #1Balboa Park is home to <a href="http://ninjamountainbikeskills.com/" target="_blank">Ninja Mountain Bike Skills</a> clinics and the famous <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Mountain-Bike-Workout/" target="_blank">Tuesday Night Workouts</a> led by <a href="http://richardlachina.me/" target="_blank">USAC Coach Richard La China</a>, so it's no wonder the newly minted <a href="http://teamninjaelite.com/" target="_blank">TEAM NINJA</a> was out in such good force.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qWnMWRzqgG7HgtF5etIUcGyK0YhlNX0dlTtLKwMlcM5p1d9aHyUzg0HisB4_Kr47lUynfSHR2duEnuolp0OcL6EbSttUe0R6rqeQWWAVZ2cL28jy_5IMTZy6QBkAag_Q0FCilnkH_Hg/s1600/1472785_557555227664899_391172333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qWnMWRzqgG7HgtF5etIUcGyK0YhlNX0dlTtLKwMlcM5p1d9aHyUzg0HisB4_Kr47lUynfSHR2duEnuolp0OcL6EbSttUe0R6rqeQWWAVZ2cL28jy_5IMTZy6QBkAag_Q0FCilnkH_Hg/s200/1472785_557555227664899_391172333_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard La China Photo</td></tr>
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And check out our home base pop-up tent! Thanks to all the Ninjas who came to cheer each other on and show off those black and pink jerseys. It was really exciting to see all those great results. Special congrats to Aaron Hauck who <a href="http://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=16342" target="_blank">won his category AND the overall fastest time</a>.<br />
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And speaking of results, I didn't have a bad day out there considering this event is a bit of an anomaly in the training schedule. Nothing like throwing in a race at the last minute to shake up base miles. As you can see from the photo, the weather was a bit unpredictable today so maybe that kept the ladies away but overall, I was a little disappointed in the female turn out, weather or not. Bea Dormoy and I had the expert category all to ourselves, and we were lonely.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhj-0tA_aWMU6AlwKx4KrTr5u7_Ht3L3WqVL7REfx7hdALt1O3u6cA4prly-ihlzl2JF4MjzelPWR73kV_nDbj4-yReXX9p2LJBTRQES3fDdraQDGzTdv79zDfVjzHUz0HSKonUnTmwo/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhj-0tA_aWMU6AlwKx4KrTr5u7_Ht3L3WqVL7REfx7hdALt1O3u6cA4prly-ihlzl2JF4MjzelPWR73kV_nDbj4-yReXX9p2LJBTRQES3fDdraQDGzTdv79zDfVjzHUz0HSKonUnTmwo/s200/IMG_1871.JPG" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bea leads it out. Gerhard Gross photo.</td></tr>
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The start was kind of funny -- I didn't realize we were starting with the men but in hindsight that probably should have been obvious. So I was off the back from the beginning, but quickly made up some ground and hopped into a pretty blue train of dudes in the expert category.<br />
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The lesson today: If you find yourself in a moving train, stay in the train. Don't try to do your part to push the pace, like I did, and then get blown out the back, like I did. Oh well, c'est la vie. They dropped me on a climb and as I watched my HR soar into zone "6" I was happy to them go.<br />
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I spent the rest of the race mostly alone, except for fellow Ninjas hollering from the sidelines. Had every kind of weather, including a good soaking for my final lap. Also finally discovered what everyone down here is talking about when they say "Pershings" -- the name of a lovely long climb out of each of the five laps on the menu today.<br />
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Gerhard and my teammates were waiting at the end in great spirits despite being cold and wet -- such a nice way to end the race. And I got to <a href="http://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=16345#.UqPIONsUJEo.facebook" target="_blank">stand on the box</a> with Bea so that was also a plus. Thanks <a href="http://www.racersandchasers.com/Balboa_Park_1-29.html" target="_blank">Racers and Chasers</a> for a fun event to benefit high school mountain bikers. Thanks Gerhard and all the Ninjas for making racing that much more fun.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw3-YGNUWUrrcWJS9hfn3X-LABC0M8Vvsd5HV6dbCHJYoAnspi4o4vq3xQSBRiHN0Ngm6lstfequbikPxLKGKivQ3ejh8b803M7QsH5MR96mK-bO2oQ6ouZbe57uKdXP__wekL0IsISI/s1600/IMG_4146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw3-YGNUWUrrcWJS9hfn3X-LABC0M8Vvsd5HV6dbCHJYoAnspi4o4vq3xQSBRiHN0Ngm6lstfequbikPxLKGKivQ3ejh8b803M7QsH5MR96mK-bO2oQ6ouZbe57uKdXP__wekL0IsISI/s400/IMG_4146.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire women's field in Expert class! Bea Dormoy and Me. RLC Photo. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS9MOFXyhXg1YcM20IvtxDDoK4_Xr0dIwt819XrH_YppOKMcv3wWIdd7ECkmLsK00F-laldCtxkvKiYPKhLiAKTUs9wHNnMjqcqKrwOLrMgmdx-RyCHE2gj0PoUDHsbLEntFm1fp6vZk/s1600/1002032_10152108099028832_1326792564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS9MOFXyhXg1YcM20IvtxDDoK4_Xr0dIwt819XrH_YppOKMcv3wWIdd7ECkmLsK00F-laldCtxkvKiYPKhLiAKTUs9wHNnMjqcqKrwOLrMgmdx-RyCHE2gj0PoUDHsbLEntFm1fp6vZk/s400/1002032_10152108099028832_1326792564_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Ninja's Ryan Brown and Aaron Hauck. Noel Tabor Photo. </td></tr>
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(And thanks in advance to whoever finds my Road ID Bracelet, which I think I dropped at the start area, or maybe by the podium.)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-57874345817528089482013-12-04T15:44:00.001-08:002013-12-04T16:06:35.890-08:00HIGH SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKING HAS ARRIVED IN OCEANSIDE<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>An Interview With Head Coach Steve Stuart<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L5UIrsUignAUVCUtph2DJVkGT3Bf-LNCeI2PeFW-nPLCRpRVdR8gGyboLB1Bafemy7HTyUnIkc8xn60f9QRmYlZtrgCz-bEIoF3ZZ3nprNa6o10y8Ijs1qTYCEEEXAnKc3bBXS-KXMU/s1600/los-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1L5UIrsUignAUVCUtph2DJVkGT3Bf-LNCeI2PeFW-nPLCRpRVdR8gGyboLB1Bafemy7HTyUnIkc8xn60f9QRmYlZtrgCz-bEIoF3ZZ3nprNa6o10y8Ijs1qTYCEEEXAnKc3bBXS-KXMU/s320/los-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow Pie Classic, 2013 - Photo by Phil Beckman, PB Creative</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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By Kristen Gross <o:p></o:p></div>
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“High school athletics, in my opinion, is probably the most
fun a kid’s ever going to have in sports,” said Steve Stuart, who has taught at
El Camino High School in Oceanside the past 25 years, and now coaches its
newest team: mountain biking. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A former physics teacher, Steve is now an educator in the
physical education department. Knowing his history of coaching in the water <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span>
swimming and water polo <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span> I asked Steve what drew him to the “dirt side.” He answered
passionately on the benefits of mountain biking both for the athletes and their
coaches. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I wanted to do something with the kids that gets them
outside, and keeps them active for a lifetime. This is still a relatively new
sport, it’s a lot of fun, and one that I can participate in when I’m coaching,”
he said with the hint of a smile. “Someone has to go out and ride with the
kids.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Steve’s own mountain biking experience goes back to the<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">’ </span>80s, almost to the sport’s birth.
In college, he worked at a trade show where one of the first off-road bikes was
on display: the “Mountain Goat.” “In 1981, I was a part-time <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">event attendant at Long Beach Convention
Center while going to Cal State Long Beach. One evening I was on the cleanup
crew at the Long Beach Bike show. I walked into the exhibit hall and for the
first time at my job there, I didn't get a lot of work done. I remember staring
at the Mountain Goat bicycle and thinking ‘Wow! What can you do with that?
Would that be fun or what?’ Of course it was 11 p.m. at night and nobody
was there to answer my questions except the security guard.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Today’s bikes have come a long way, but for many kids they
are still just shiny objects of desire, rather than attainment. The cost of
even a used mountain bike is a barrier to access for students. That’s why
Steve’s primary focus for the growing team is to track down support in the form
of loaner bikes. “We want to introduce the sport to as many kids as we can,”
said Steve. “If they come out for a season, and they love it, they’ll find a
way to save up for a bike of their own – but until then, we could use a little
help.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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So far, the team’s roster includes a young woman ready to
race, and a Chinese exchange student looking to experience all he can while
he’s here. There are some BMX racers interested and even some members of the
wrestling team are thinking about committing later in the season, once their
bouts are wrapped up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Though the team has already started training together, the
official race season starts in February and goes through the end of April, or
the second week of May if a racer qualifies for the State Championships to be
held in NorCal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The El Camino High School team is part of the SoCal High
School Mountain Bike League. Every school competing is set up as a “club” but
the league has hopes to become as ubiquitous as traditional sports like
football, baseball and basketball have been. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The League, governed by the National Interscholastic Cycling
Association (NICA), is working to encourage participation, especially for
female riders. Points are awarded to every rider who finishes the race so no
matter where an athlete places, they’re contributing to their team’s point
total. The girls’ points are weighted even more heavily. “Basically the point
system is set up to encourage lots of riders, not just the best riders. And it’s
also set up to encourage girls. It’s very difficult for a team to be a top
contender unless you have girls racing,” said Steve. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most teams do two to four workouts together a week. Parents
are also tremendously involved, helping to make sure bikes and riders get to
school for practices, home again, then of course weekend rides. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But races are the biggest commitment for parents and
volunteers. They help out with set up, tear down and course marking. They
volunteer in the pit, to direct traffic or supervise the athletes. Events run
five or six weekends, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, sometimes in a county
park. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One could interpret it as pretty challenging stuff, but
Steve easily lays out the benefits: it’s a chance to help out, give some kids a
meaningful experience, ride some new terrain with the athletes, make new
friends and spend the weekend camping, enjoying the outdoors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“High school mountain biking is truly family oriented which
is something I really like,” explains Steve. “My son played volleyball so as
parents, we’d go up to Anaheim and hang out in a gym I-don’t-know-how many
times a year. We got to know the other parents pretty well, and we got along
really well <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">— </span>but with mountain biking it’s even more. They’ll have a blow
up screen to show movies, bonfires and a festive, fun atmosphere <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span>
the stuff memories are made of. We’re outside, camping, having a really fun
time.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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The team is supported by eight volunteer coaches <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span>
some are teachers at the school, some are experienced mountain bike coaches and
all are excited to give back to the sport they love by helping to introduce it
to the next generation of riders. Mountain biking teaches friendship,
leadership, believing in yourself and surprising yourself. It comes with
obvious health benefits, respect for the outdoors <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span> and a deeper sense of
connection to it <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span> and of course, a lot of fun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I coached swimming and I was very competitive,” said Steve.
“At the same time, as I get older, I realize, you know what? There’s one
winner. And there are a whole lot of people who work just as hard, who don’t
win. So you’d better enjoy the sport you’re in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The team is looking for help and is always open to donations
of used bicycles, or the time of volunteers. The priority is to lower the
barriers of access and to spread the word that El Camino High School has got a
new mountain bike team with room for lots of members to get involved. For the
kids, the mountain bike can be a tool for independence and discovery. And when
they’re adults, it will be there to remind them of how it feels to be a
kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Being out there, cruising through the trees and the bushes is very therapeutic,” said Steve. Before we finished our chat, I asked him
what mountain biking has taught him for life:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Learn to roll with it,” he laughed. “Any kid that comes out, who’s
willing to put in the time, we’re going to find a way to get them on the team,”
he continues. “We don’t want to deny any kid the experience, and lifelong
enjoyment of mountain biking.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-2752444965149320982013-11-04T18:59:00.001-08:002013-11-04T19:02:16.539-08:00RACE TRACKS: Maybe You're Right<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="338" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i0zkP5F81Ds" width="450"></iframe><br />
<br />
If you've known me awhile, you may have been a reader of an <a href="http://kristenlake.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">old blog</a> I kept from my days as a 20-something ex-pat living in Maastricht, NL. There I met three ladies who made the time away fly by. They called us "the team" wherever we went and we were inseparable. Still in touch thanks to the wonders of Facebook and Twitter it's been amazing to watch where we've all ended up since those last summer days in Europe. <br />
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In particular, for this post, I want to shout out to Cam who I remember always had her guitar nearby, a tune on her tongue and wistfully talked about forgetting about all this psychology major stuff and chasing her dream to be a singer-songwriter. We of course supported this idea (you would too if you'd been there, sipping Moroccan mint tea with us, listening to her learn the guitar in exponential leaps and bounds while crooning away with her choir-girl talents).<br />
<br />
Cam and I had a little reunion when she was in L.A. not too long ago. I went up to see her and the band she's playing with. She's based in Nashville now and there's an album in the works. This entry in the "Race Track" category has Miley Cyrus's voice and name all over it, but look again at the liner notes and guess whose name you'll see with a big beautiful writers' credit: Camaron Ochs.<br />
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I think that's a name you should learn!<br />
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Connect with Cam and check out her bandcamp below:<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/camcountry" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/camaronochs" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/camaronochs" target="_blank">YouTube</a><br />
<a href="http://onesheet.com/CamaronOchs/splash/" target="_blank">OneSheet </a><br />
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(PS - I bought the Miley Cyrus album -- something I wouldn't normally think to do -- to support Cam and now I can't stop listening to it. Love the whole thing. Not even sorry.)<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2579451273/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=9a64ff/notracklist=true/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 570px; width: 450px;"><a href="http://popcountrydemos.bandcamp.com/album/camaron-ochs">Camaron Ochs by Camaron Ochs</a></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-82681639601756879142013-11-01T11:16:00.001-07:002013-11-02T07:44:30.152-07:00Model for a Day Took a trip to the future with <a href="http://www.canari.com/" target="_blank">Canari Cyclewear</a> this week, helping them showcase the Fall 2014 collection for their catalog. So keep your eyes peeled for my mug wearing a variety of very nice tights, knickers, jackets and long-sleeved jerseys.<br />
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Thanks to Erik and Corbett at Canari for the call, and for being so nice about it when I fell off my bike in your photo-worthy threads not once, but twice. </div>
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Hopefully that's the only hitch and everything else about the shoot was as productive as planned. Looking forward to the results! Here are some shots from behind the scenes: </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91UkhcOKuGP70t-eEdUHZT4ejVldGwhodvkUVVZq015RX81bA8r9JQmmEWwH2JBqLNJ2gRnb5CeS6WhaSwaNvAYZLn5BDFUI2O1kawbjpSgxdJfOEcsHZWwQllxMCTGVwlnuQfnopUHs/s1600/IMG_3754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91UkhcOKuGP70t-eEdUHZT4ejVldGwhodvkUVVZq015RX81bA8r9JQmmEWwH2JBqLNJ2gRnb5CeS6WhaSwaNvAYZLn5BDFUI2O1kawbjpSgxdJfOEcsHZWwQllxMCTGVwlnuQfnopUHs/s400/IMG_3754.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Think Pink! Jersey and Knickers available Fall 2014. Helmet courtesy of <a href="http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/" target="_blank">Rudy Project</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNheO9PSxDWKKanLR5JRXxAXLCMz3-rJlgb341r24Z2C7y5Vy86yab_ep8r3WfxUrcR66_yCws1G3ooIui6CTUXs3srYSf5-Afcxibw3sPfO-_YFTYoav4HKgABZMQx9Gx7acFCPAdC4/s1600/IMG_3751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNheO9PSxDWKKanLR5JRXxAXLCMz3-rJlgb341r24Z2C7y5Vy86yab_ep8r3WfxUrcR66_yCws1G3ooIui6CTUXs3srYSf5-Afcxibw3sPfO-_YFTYoav4HKgABZMQx9Gx7acFCPAdC4/s400/IMG_3751.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Got the party shoes on my girl for her big day (courtesy of <a href="http://www.reynoldscycling.com/" target="_blank">Reynolds Cycling</a>). And of course, thanks to <a href="http://www.focus-bikes.com/" target="_blank">Focus Bikes</a> for my red and black beauty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gPrbtPRPZlUqom1-6kGXcdwM_zXseBLcqGzDl87iXCVBwcgSIfIlgqaqkqJdpUV_Yh_J8-izcKWB_md7q61ej8BeBtbXy-NSHqIQim_ZXXxthg3csJDT0HDUA4i8t4FHSIPTKtN0I2Q/s1600/1382323_610916285616244_175883209_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gPrbtPRPZlUqom1-6kGXcdwM_zXseBLcqGzDl87iXCVBwcgSIfIlgqaqkqJdpUV_Yh_J8-izcKWB_md7q61ej8BeBtbXy-NSHqIQim_ZXXxthg3csJDT0HDUA4i8t4FHSIPTKtN0I2Q/s400/1382323_610916285616244_175883209_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">"What's that in metres?"<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-77822934836564537422013-10-30T10:44:00.000-07:002013-11-01T10:52:50.792-07:00Does Your Bike Fit? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUyGhmls65Az-lBCQwqHmTGOX-8OeYEKI5_TGg_GIbt_ftrstzK79REOZvCQP-cby_MCWnVyEAVjtOshu8SQvmVtmXKKK8196-1Sfw2jRc2RiHr6rmCUUjSPl2Mw8KwfQdygCruE5dtc/s1600/IMG_3746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUyGhmls65Az-lBCQwqHmTGOX-8OeYEKI5_TGg_GIbt_ftrstzK79REOZvCQP-cby_MCWnVyEAVjtOshu8SQvmVtmXKKK8196-1Sfw2jRc2RiHr6rmCUUjSPl2Mw8KwfQdygCruE5dtc/s400/IMG_3746.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lasers and Focus with Aaron Hauck of Inner Strength Fitt Lab </td></tr>
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<br />
I mean<i> really</i> fit.<br />
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Because let me tell you, there's a lot more to it than a couple measurements and turns of the allen keys.<br />
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I haven't had a fit in a few years, and with a nagging pain in my left knee I thought it would be best to call in the pros. After listening to Aaron passionately discuss saddle heights and pedal mechanics at the weekly Fiesta Island workouts, I picked up the phone.<br />
<br />
We set up an appointment and down the rabbit hole I went. Here's what you need to know if a fit is in your future:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Aaron suggested wearing a good cycling kit. Do this. Here's why: </li>
<ul>
<li>Before you even get on the bike, Aaron spends about an hour with you testing your strength, flexibility and skeletal structure -- best to be comfortable while you're doing one-legged squats and hip bridges</li>
<li>Your seat height is about to get dialled -- even a couple millimetres difference from your favorite chamois to the one you wore out and should have thrown away ten rides ago can make a difference. </li>
<li>You're going to be riding. I don't mean spinning, I mean he'll say, let's see you at "RPE 6."</li>
<li>This is pretty much the worst time to forget your cycling shoes. </li>
</ul>
<li>If you have two bikes, bring both. </li>
<ul>
<li>Although I'm a mtb racer and lover, I do spend a lot of time on my road bike -- having them both set up at the same time just makes sense. </li>
<li>But if you can only bring one, make it your road bike. We sit in one position a lot more frequently on our road bikes so better make it a good one. </li>
<li>If you bring two bikes, bring both sets of shoes! </li>
</ul>
<li>LASERS!! </li>
<ul>
<li>In case you're worried about how *exact* Aaron is, you should know he uses lasers and he's not satisfied until your knee is tracking with laser-accuracy. </li>
</ul>
<li>New Stuff</li>
<ul>
<li>If you have new pedals, or a new bar or stem, get it on the bike before you come to the fit -- you won't want to be messing with things afterwards </li>
<li>Similarly, be prepared to take down a list in case you need to pick up a new stem or pedals or handlebar. E.g. did you know that pedals have a widely varying range of spindle lengths?! It's the number-one suspect for my knee problem! </li>
</ul>
<li>There's more to fit than fit ....</li>
<ul>
<li>I had no idea but this whole time, I was pedalling in a way that wasted a bunch of power</li>
<li>Aaron showed me how to maximize my strengths and get 100% out of every pedal stroke</li>
<li>We practiced on the trainer, and we practiced on the road too .... which brings me to:</li>
</ul>
<li>Bring your helmet! </li>
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<li>I didn't bring one since I naively thought I'd be sitting on a trainer all afternoon. Hopefully this post will help you not make the same mistake. </li>
</ul>
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So in sum, going to an appointment for your bike fit is a fun-filled afternoon of medium sweating, moving around, riding indoors and out. Be prepared. For example, I was all of a sudden wishing I'd waited to do my intervals AFTER the appointment because even the small amount of soreness I was carrying was distracting when Aaron asked me how things were feeling. I wanted to be able to better isolate what was a problem, and what just needed a little stretching. </div>
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In the days since, I've been working on that proper pedalling and body position Aaron taught me. Things are settling in, I'm starting to feel pretty darn good, and Aaron has already texted me twice to check in with how things are going. You see, I also learned a proper fit is not a one time thing. It takes a little tweaking and refining to get truly dialled in. I have really appreciated Aaron's attentiveness, dedication and his clearly-demonstrated love of what he does and how he helps his clients. </div>
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You can find out more about Aaron and Inner Strength Fitt Lab Training Systems <a href="http://teamninjaelite.com/inner-strength-fitt-lab-training-systems/" target="_blank">here</a>. I highly recommend it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7-EzZFMD-bHqLGpCYUzWG7fe2EAOOgN_GFJXy5RWTztmWAoCK1A_zrU2ch61ImIO7bjgtw22JK99zJlnwn2vC30r007Il_AD8G1zqocfSLjOnk-EuvWk1RTrWPeebRsaMO_z6Y9XycA/s1600/2013-10-01-08.21.51-am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7-EzZFMD-bHqLGpCYUzWG7fe2EAOOgN_GFJXy5RWTztmWAoCK1A_zrU2ch61ImIO7bjgtw22JK99zJlnwn2vC30r007Il_AD8G1zqocfSLjOnk-EuvWk1RTrWPeebRsaMO_z6Y9XycA/s400/2013-10-01-08.21.51-am.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-1347881368316208602013-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:002013-11-01T10:00:33.347-07:00RACE REPORT: Inaugural Ninja Night Race <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_WTt-vnKkfTir5yKGNQco8QkR1xR4GE62TPgI2gLC77jBAR4sZoeBVaszbkW6mTCz2QlSP9PERyS1NYYfepgrH34CZ7UeE4WlzeuqULudbQyBJ96wQ7gsr833wq_Bf0yOj9fMrUHGos/s1600/IMG_3296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_WTt-vnKkfTir5yKGNQco8QkR1xR4GE62TPgI2gLC77jBAR4sZoeBVaszbkW6mTCz2QlSP9PERyS1NYYfepgrH34CZ7UeE4WlzeuqULudbQyBJ96wQ7gsr833wq_Bf0yOj9fMrUHGos/s320/IMG_3296.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-race portraits by <a href="http://www.matthewhulet.com/ninja-night-race.html" target="_blank">Matthew Hulet</a> </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPkqQU-HPRGT_cYOcD726vpllSuo_8ybjlJfTFpPoln9JKmX6LH38Wzbq3tkvzQ50uOUeU3kv8swbh_DUmE8elf21Mi3qApCiqPOBL2On3-0L9p9AQD0xz-wNpuPVvnNUsxDp8lQZ7dE/s1600/white_outline_ninja.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPkqQU-HPRGT_cYOcD726vpllSuo_8ybjlJfTFpPoln9JKmX6LH38Wzbq3tkvzQ50uOUeU3kv8swbh_DUmE8elf21Mi3qApCiqPOBL2On3-0L9p9AQD0xz-wNpuPVvnNUsxDp8lQZ7dE/s200/white_outline_ninja.png" width="183" /></a></div>
October 24, 2013 will go down in history as the night of the very first USAC Sanctioned Night Race. Kudos to the organizers and thanks to the <a href="http://ninjanightrace.com/sponsors/" target="_blank">sponsors</a>, it was an awesome time.<br />
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I was doing my best to contribute to the set up in some way all afternoon (though apparently my pop-up tent skills need work ...) so I didn't really get a chance to pre-ride the course. With 40 minutes til "go" I hopped on my trusty steed and quickly went over to the second half of the loop where I heard there would be baby heads and water crossings. </div>
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I quickly found myself alone on the trail, in the dark, with a pack of coyotes for company. Oh yeah, important to remember: I'm Scared Of The Dark. And the toothy things in it. </div>
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I pedalled back to the start/finish area at a rate a little higher than "warm up," which by now had a very festive vibe about it. The Tamale guys had arrived and <a href="http://www.zcbikes.com/" target="_blank">Zumwalt's</a> was providing an awesome neutral support service. They pumped up my tires and threw in a derailleur adjust while they were at it! Thanks guys! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-HFBMrNaLqcrtGEbNyTgxrlkOHCrhBdor6GtcDE3glhEpXa0Y_CYGLheLiY4wXp3yiQQxhf49qnxCZfWxJh_SOdj8nMvsUQMgkBzG-kKh_hHpV_z6a0GaHROCjBo-XPbLhavgrG5P5E/s1600/IMG_3197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-HFBMrNaLqcrtGEbNyTgxrlkOHCrhBdor6GtcDE3glhEpXa0Y_CYGLheLiY4wXp3yiQQxhf49qnxCZfWxJh_SOdj8nMvsUQMgkBzG-kKh_hHpV_z6a0GaHROCjBo-XPbLhavgrG5P5E/s320/IMG_3197.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chatting on the start line</td></tr>
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It's been awhile since I felt in any way racy, but with a pile of base miles under my belt I'm finally starting to feel at least <i>fit</i> again so I was stoked to be on a line. Coach Richard, Ninja Boss, said "Go" and I WENT. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbVLGeVOu3OMRdQ6H2Ci_vK73fsRbt1UyGpyskTATAMCPM0tZSW7D4yFMlhjKVs0OpzkzC0WYFR_gfHb86MHJHXmzgFnFlvrVO7hk5m1gM5Jzsle_d02o0F7Lot1sdLKROP3r6bXHwng/s1600/1393039_10152296907114115_306592036_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbVLGeVOu3OMRdQ6H2Ci_vK73fsRbt1UyGpyskTATAMCPM0tZSW7D4yFMlhjKVs0OpzkzC0WYFR_gfHb86MHJHXmzgFnFlvrVO7hk5m1gM5Jzsle_d02o0F7Lot1sdLKROP3r6bXHwng/s320/1393039_10152296907114115_306592036_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... disappearing into the night off the start</td></tr>
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Had a really fun start, and took the hole shot too. My first time through the single track wasn't pretty but it seemed to be effective as I held the lead until the second half of the first lap. That's when Lisa Hauck went by me. I hopped on her wheel, happy to hide behind her on the open section of the course. She started pulling away and I thought, that's okay, I'll get her ...</div>
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Which is a great reminder. In racing, NEVER wait. </div>
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So, Lisa had a great race. She just kept pulling away ... away .... away ... and she was gone. Just a tiny red blinky, teasing me in the distance. (At least I think that was her ....)</div>
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For the second lap I just aimed to keep it steady and clean and even managed to stay on the course. By now, the categories were mixing up so I was riding in a constant state of readiness in case the light coming up behind me belonged to another female. With only a few minutes of racing left to go, I was feeling pretty comfortable in second. That's when Amy Comalli got around me. </div>
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Awesome ride for her, but I sure felt that. </div>
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I couldn't let her just have it, so I pushed with whatever I had left after an hour of dust clogging my lungs and my heart setting new records. Turns out it really was hers, but I was delighted to watch her headlight make more than one pass over her shoulder on the lookout for me. </div>
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<div>
So I rolled through as the third fastest female of the evening feeling pretty pumped. At the awards, I got a surprise -- I actually WON my category so I got to stand on the top box anyway. Hurray for age groups! Which by the way, if you noticed the podium at the event, each box had the Japanese character for 1, 2 and 3 lit up with lime green cellophane. Pretty jazzy. Results are <a href="http://ninjanightrace.com/ninja-night-race-results-october-24-2013/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-479j-9NYEzbWL_HVuFax9sJ3H66ER5p_t4FEmH2wK2C0ZAqZywtpOk4XMAzBkkeK8fJAYIF0qapE8t7-WSZsGaGX8FdmU8XUgAXi55sTmMfg4laSZSa0tZcf6pwuS69ydaZcPC86ZA/s1600/1380047_603181536406034_797760219_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-479j-9NYEzbWL_HVuFax9sJ3H66ER5p_t4FEmH2wK2C0ZAqZywtpOk4XMAzBkkeK8fJAYIF0qapE8t7-WSZsGaGX8FdmU8XUgAXi55sTmMfg4laSZSa0tZcf6pwuS69ydaZcPC86ZA/s320/1380047_603181536406034_797760219_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise! I win, kinda</td></tr>
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I won a cool Ninja cup for my efforts, and enjoyed a delicious tamale which was included with each riders' entry fee. I even won a raffle prize -- a giant bag of HEED which I can't have thanks to wheat allergies, so I got the added joy of giving it away to someone else. </div>
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All in all a super fun night. Can't wait for the next one! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLMCdtmGvHjWv2w4YMyMuchvdvA42e21QbA_nDjG_X0HpZ28ppmn3bYk8UnELPWaYfIG6ns2-smbNbiWlsMF3B_4OOInALMRjVR395ClwhzEqMIYv_Hv7072cNOWrcim8cA8mPRcbxuw/s1600/1390617_603181129739408_1546702338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLMCdtmGvHjWv2w4YMyMuchvdvA42e21QbA_nDjG_X0HpZ28ppmn3bYk8UnELPWaYfIG6ns2-smbNbiWlsMF3B_4OOInALMRjVR395ClwhzEqMIYv_Hv7072cNOWrcim8cA8mPRcbxuw/s320/1390617_603181129739408_1546702338_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Ninjas, standing around. Check out more event photography by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.603180616406126.1073741874.162679427122916&type=1" target="_blank">Pink Shorts</a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-42599914893362013102013-10-16T15:03:00.000-07:002013-10-16T15:08:59.303-07:00Bike Touring with Synaptic Cycles and some friendly Electricians<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6gJuP_iR-ohgqdrqMYnlDfBtDCNycxp3P3FSGTylmDcFBsiCXKndzfBZfv7Baz3R16sJyPVX_qRKyx4Fnw8-yJSFMo0uS05X1W4H4l8S8AJukez5FqDatYe4JPnuXLgMidOkRbYXzYE/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6gJuP_iR-ohgqdrqMYnlDfBtDCNycxp3P3FSGTylmDcFBsiCXKndzfBZfv7Baz3R16sJyPVX_qRKyx4Fnw8-yJSFMo0uS05X1W4H4l8S8AJukez5FqDatYe4JPnuXLgMidOkRbYXzYE/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice guys on nice bikes. Rest stop in Rancho Santa Fe. Ryan Brown photo. </td></tr>
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Monday, I had the pleasure to meet some of my first <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/30-moments-that-could-only-ever-happen-in-texas?bffb" target="_blank">Texans</a>, and their friends from Ohio and Kansas. All eight were in town for a conference to do with wiring/electrical work at the local luxury resort, <a href="http://www.lacosta.com/" target="_blank">La Costa</a>. Every year the conference goes someplace new, and so every year, this merry peleton rents bikes, hires a guide and tours the local roads and thoroughfares. (It sure beats golf, am I right?!)<br />
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This year, those lucky roads were in SoCal, and the lucky guide was me. I was ably assisted by fellow mountain biker Ryan Brown, but we donned our roadie disguises and headed off to meet my old friend Joe (you may remember him from such blog posts as<a href="http://krislake.blogspot.com/2012/07/carlsbad-to-san-clemente-in-flirtees.html" target="_blank"> this one</a>) of <a href="http://synapticcycles.com/" target="_blank">Synaptic Cycles</a>. He was providing the fleet, which included high-end rides by <a href="http://volagi.com/bikes" target="_blank">Volagi</a>, <a href="http://www.focus-bikes.com/index.php?id=19&no_cache=1&R=1&L=0" target="_blank">Focus</a> and <a href="http://calfeedesign.com/" target="_blank">Calfee</a>.<br />
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We headed out towards San Elijo Hills where my electrically-minded crew were quick to point out the lovely copper we have strewn about the hills in the area. My understanding from San Elijo Hills resident, Nick, is that the area was originally based on the mining of copper -- however that quickly ran its course. From there, we continued inland via<a href="http://olivenhain.com/elfin-forest-recreational-reserve" target="_blank"> Elfin Forest</a> Road before stopping for water at famed <a href="http://www.swamis.org/" target="_blank">Swami's</a> rest stop, "The Church of God" -- featuring a potable water faucet in its parking lot.<br />
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We rolled into Rancho Santa Fe via the breathtaking Del Dios Hwy, taking in the views of Lake Hodges and marvelling at the increasingly green and lush gardens as we got closer to RSF. One of the most wealthy zip codes in America, they can afford to have water pumped in for such pursuits as golfing, gardening and pretend-orchards (I say pretend because I think most of them exist to bring down the property taxes, rather than out of enthusiasm for lemons and oranges ... they're farmers, dontchaknow).<br />
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We rolled out of RSF with <a href="http://www.pizzaport.com/" target="_blank">Pizza Port</a> in our sights at its original Solana Beach location. It's known for its delicious pizza pies and even better known for its delicious contributions to the hopping (see what I did there?) <a href="http://www.sandiegobrewersguild.org/" target="_blank">craft beer scene in San Diego</a>.<br />
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Luckily, by this time, the climbs were all finished and we enjoyed a nice little tailwind along the coast, all the way back through Cardiff, downtown Encinitas, Leucadia and then back up alongside the <a href="http://www.batiquitosfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Batiquitos Lagoon</a> to the La Costa resort.<br />
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This loop is one of my favourites, so I was really happy to share it with such a fun group of visitors. Word has it that later that night, they became award winners with their conference, so I trust that all in all, it was a good day for <a href="http://www.encorewire.com/" target="_blank">Encore Wire</a> and friends. <br />
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If you're from out of town and would like to head out on a road ride without the irritation of packing up your bike, <a href="http://synapticcycles.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">give Synaptic Cycles a call</a> and Joe will get you set up. Tell him I sent you :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-11934332384779101562013-10-15T16:58:00.000-07:002013-10-15T16:59:07.451-07:00Arizona: A to Z<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrlWyCG8nH_UXW9iwvYeRiPxKfNa9eiu8CZvm2ZrHvEcJBAuueHt4BixeaCroV60qHQtPkrjp6ddvHgwLWplpX9uDiuEb7rsvvQIVkT2P3aRgvVRNUotPpWt7iBfDUtbx9pCDwyDSxVY/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrlWyCG8nH_UXW9iwvYeRiPxKfNa9eiu8CZvm2ZrHvEcJBAuueHt4BixeaCroV60qHQtPkrjp6ddvHgwLWplpX9uDiuEb7rsvvQIVkT2P3aRgvVRNUotPpWt7iBfDUtbx9pCDwyDSxVY/s400/IMG_3714.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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The cacti in Arizona made me feel like I was living in a cartoon. I *loved* it. Roadrunners ripping around, and yup, wiley coyotes singing us to sleep every night. I flew to Phoenix on Friday to catch up with Coach Richard et al. We slipped through the darkness outside the city limits to a quiet little campsite at <a href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/" target="_blank">McDowell Mountain Park</a>, home to <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/" target="_blank">San Diego Mountain Bike Skills </a>for the weekend.<br />
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With bikes all prepped and ready to go, it was off to bed and up with the sunrise to meet our first batch of new Ninjas. My cell phone had spotty reception at best, so rather than lie in bed playing Angry Birds, I poked my head out the camper door to get a look at what the darkness kept secret the night before. The sun was just starting to peek out from behind the mountains and the flatland between me and it was in full magic-hour glory. Cactus sentries stood guard over the neighbouring campsites. Looking west, another range of rocky mountains were lit with that same amazing light. I took a seat quietly at the picnic table and just breathed deeply with nothing in my hands except the cool concrete of the table top, while it seemed like nothing and no one was stirring for miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC_G0uY3cLy7e7IKkz1fOPmEztmTbhpIvkZASbGMIpXi4IB1qZMlDtWLboW-g4-V5MiZVkwbDA50Kuc5cLZYyW1RqSktVQEXchHj3zjgZ5B5kbe__y1aBYLBrEEvxdF5xC25GAX1a_tg/s1600/IMG_3694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC_G0uY3cLy7e7IKkz1fOPmEztmTbhpIvkZASbGMIpXi4IB1qZMlDtWLboW-g4-V5MiZVkwbDA50Kuc5cLZYyW1RqSktVQEXchHj3zjgZ5B5kbe__y1aBYLBrEEvxdF5xC25GAX1a_tg/s400/IMG_3694.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home for Crank Cycling and SDMBS in AZ</td></tr>
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Once the sun crept out from behind the hills, it was go time. We made breakfast, had a good dose of coffee, got kitted up and then it was off to meet our first group -- an awesome gaggle of girls ready to take their skills to the next level, or convert their roadie leanings to "the dirt side."After a lickety-split lunch break, we had a slightly more basics class and got them all turning and burning in the afternoon sun. I *love* watching how much our riders progress in only a few hours. For a couple of the ladies, I saw an improvement with every try. Once everyone went home for the evening, Coach Burke and I headed over to the "<a href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/Biking.aspx" target="_blank">Competitive Track</a>" to check on things before our intermediate, full-day clinic the following day. I tell ya, if you live anywhere near this park, you are a lucky duck. So many great skill-building features packed into a wicked-fun three-mile loop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CsJfC5FVDcLLdTOxXZL0i7zslR_BASVFIRATwOUtA9jtY54KiE1hmGfDGNydcCf0AbaV81u2HlMh3vTTbkv_2BwdjqEh1hAi9OyG7qBJpi5J_571LuDMCQQ8yPP6hKfakWs-U2hfEKE/s1600/IMG_3711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CsJfC5FVDcLLdTOxXZL0i7zslR_BASVFIRATwOUtA9jtY54KiE1hmGfDGNydcCf0AbaV81u2HlMh3vTTbkv_2BwdjqEh1hAi9OyG7qBJpi5J_571LuDMCQQ8yPP6hKfakWs-U2hfEKE/s400/IMG_3711.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head Coach Sean Burke of <a href="http://www.crankcycling.com/" target="_blank">Crank Cycling</a> spinning a sunset lap </td></tr>
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Making use of this resource on this particular weekend was the <a href="http://www.arizonamtb.org/" target="_blank">Arizona High School League</a>. 150 racers ready to rip, representing 40 teams from across the state. They had a great set-up and from all the eavesdropping I did, it sounded like they had a great time. Once they'd finished with the course on Sunday afternoon, we brought some more Ninjas over to get their shred on, too. We covered skills like ratcheting, switchbacks, pumping, technical climbs, gnarly drops and finding our flow before sending them smiling out into the world while we broke camp and made for the drive back to San Diego.<br />
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Big thank you to Sean and Elaine for sharing their tremendous road-trip set-up with us. I am totally sold on campers these days -- those things are like magic. Thank you also to Sean and Crank Cycling for the amazing coaching support, and to Elaine for keeping us on track, taking photos and saving the day more than once. Big thank you to Coach Richard for having me aboard with San Diego Mountain Bike Skills, for his tireless efforts to spread the joy of mountain biking and for teaching me how to teach others.<br />
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I also want to thank all the Ninjas that came out to ride with us!! I loved meeting you, hearing your stories and watching you nail it. Keep practicing, and if you're riding in Arizona, holy smokes, keep hydrated.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgEUXKlbTn2mjPvzFQwsBmfUV5eTJR7VOrLvTI0WcdxxAA5kEie46T-UNoBtUz_lJGfoASeJEGrVex40aB3MmO__NjnpxoNo60rmgqnsLYtz2jloMSjFjK71TGao7dUbUcca8Li4Cj7Q/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgEUXKlbTn2mjPvzFQwsBmfUV5eTJR7VOrLvTI0WcdxxAA5kEie46T-UNoBtUz_lJGfoASeJEGrVex40aB3MmO__NjnpxoNo60rmgqnsLYtz2jloMSjFjK71TGao7dUbUcca8Li4Cj7Q/s400/IMG_3696.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep breaths at dawn in AZ</td></tr>
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Finally, I want to thank my husband Gerhard and my in-laws for holding down the fort while I was away. Thanks for your patience and support this weekend, and always.<br />
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It was Canadian Thanksgiving yesterday, so those are just a few of the things I was thankful for this weekend. Could write a whole book to cover my gratitude lately. Happy Thanksgiving!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-3449766699039093272013-10-11T11:19:00.002-07:002013-10-11T12:00:12.734-07:00Have you heard about prAna? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQStJiiA9vWjMhXGCNqOCrxKT6-q8pxzypsuR-UZWuOKPOHJeZVXiN0YYEr_lYIg9DaXCoxuXOZdySY9Xm051qbL7qfUvp4-Z_48nY64fv3YJvxCLAKioykJqRAvl2j4uvPFZDt5HdeXk/s1600/BOONE_SPEED-1209271644-Edit_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQStJiiA9vWjMhXGCNqOCrxKT6-q8pxzypsuR-UZWuOKPOHJeZVXiN0YYEr_lYIg9DaXCoxuXOZdySY9Xm051qbL7qfUvp4-Z_48nY64fv3YJvxCLAKioykJqRAvl2j4uvPFZDt5HdeXk/s400/BOONE_SPEED-1209271644-Edit_web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">prAna ambassador Chris Sharma, solo psicobloc (climbing over deep water) in Spain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hadn't. At least not until I arrived at their back door, here in Carlsbad, California. But the more I learned about <a href="http://www.prana.com/" target="_blank">prAna</a>, the more they impressed me. Knowing what I know now about how our clothes are made (and who makes them), it's hard for me to reach for anything other than the few pieces I've collected since arriving from this socially minded, environmentally sustainable brand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They use organic cotton and recycled materials. They keep track of things like waste water and the health and safety of their workers around the world. Don't take my word for it -- prAna was actually ranked in the top 5 by <a href="http://www.free2work.org/" target="_blank">Free2Work</a>. Free2Work is a group raising awareness about how
today’s top brands relate to labor issues. They evaluated 325 apparel brands
and awarded prAna an A ranking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not to mention everything looks and feels great. If I'm not in the cyclists' uniform of spandex, I'm in prAna. Here's a little something I wrote about the brand for the <a href="http://www.yogitimes.com/article/prAna-apparel-company-Fair-Trade-certified-sustainable-business/" target="_blank">YogiTimes</a>: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.prana.com/" rel="no-follow" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">PrAna</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"> is North America’s first apparel company to be Fair Trade Certified thanks to its dedication to sustainable business with conscience. An oasis in the active lifestyle marketplace, prAna takes away the guesswork for its customers allowing them to confidently choose yoga, climbing and athletic styles that look great and go easy on the earth.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Started in 1993 by Beaver Theodosakis and his wife Pam, prAna began as a response by its founders to the excess of the ’80s — a time of fast cars, big hair, and taking it all for granted. Then came the ‘90s, which brought economic recession and a pack of lessons. After a time of personal reflection that included his first yoga experience, Theodosakis set to work to build a company that gave serious thought to the size of its footprint. He was concerned about how much waste it might produce, and made the decision to use organic cotton, natural fibers as well as recycled materials to deliver high-quality, technical, stylish apparel.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Theodosakis and his wife began sewing pieces in their garage. They labeled them with tags they made from recycled newspapers, showed them on old racks they found rusting and forgotten, and shipped them in leftover orange boxes they collected from the grocery store.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Today, still based in Carlsbad, California prAna has grown to 110 employees. They have built the company on the original reuse-and-recycle ethos, though on a much larger scale. Now instead of recycling neighbors’ newspapers, they are recycling fibers. For example, the popular Quinn dress is made from recycled polyester, and stands up to tough, low-chemical, sustainability standards recognized across the textile industry. Men’s Sutra pants are made with recycled materials as well, along with the natural, environmentally friendly fiber, hemp. Once turned on to organic cotton ten years ago, they never looked back, and most recently prAna is working on further reducing its impact by using non-toxic chemicals in its dyes.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Team members at prAna are youthful and full of passion and that’s reflected in each season’s lines through imaginative prints and attention to the tiniest of details After business hours, they’re living prAna’s mantra, “Born from Experience,” while they’re out there climbing, surfing, running, hiking and doing yoga. They also take part in their community, helping at local events, and volunteering with prAna’s many non-profit partners. Theodosakis himself is on the board of two groups — the Access Fund, which helps keep climbing areas open, and the Outdoor Foundation which helps get more kids active in the outdoors. PrAna is involved with other non-profit groups as well, including the Conservation Alliance, Keep a Breast Foundation, and Outdoor Outreach.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Mindfulness is at the core of everything prAna does. That’s why every day, something special happens at 3:30 p.m. A gong sounds, beginning a 60 second “pattern interrupt.” The idea is to break the chain of running to a phone call, from an email to a meeting. For one minute, prAna team members take a step back, and look inside. Some choose to meditate, some think about connecting to something bigger than what’s happening in the office, and some just take a moment to daydream.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Since prAna was started to give form and function to the connections its founders felt in their lives — to the outdoors, to themselves, and to each other — staying connected is part of how the team stays grounded. Everyone in the company owns a piece of the process — every decision, every product. As the product line evolves and its impact grows, those connections continue to guide them.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">PrAna doesn’t have all the answers, but its team will always be asking questions. Along with other brands that have made sustainability a priority, they’re working to address the issues they have in common. By sharing supply-chain sources, information and facing challenges together, they’re helping to raise the tide for all boats. Their commitment to ideals about community, sustainability and clothing with conscience continues to inspire others to think in the same way. For prAna, that’s what it’s all about.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://prana%20is%20north%20america%E2%80%99s%20first%20apparel%20company%20to%20be%20fair%20trade%20certified%20thanks%20to%20its%20dedication%20to%20sustainable%20business%20with%20conscience.%20an%20oasis%20in%20the%20active%20lifestyle%20marketplace%2C%20prana%20takes%20away%20the%20guesswork%20for%20its%20customers%20allowing%20them%20to%20confidently%20choose%20yoga%2C%20climbing%20and%20athletic%20styles%20that%20look%20great%20and%20go%20easy%20on%20the%20earth.%20%20started%20in%201993%20by%20beaver%20theodosakis%20and%20his%20wife%20pam%2C%20prana%20began%20as%20a%20response%20by%20its%20founders%20to%20the%20excess%20of%20the%20%E2%80%9980s%20%E2%80%94%20a%20time%20of%20fast%20cars%2C%20big%20hair%2C%20and%20taking%20it%20all%20for%20granted.%20then%20came%20the%20%E2%80%9890s%2C%20which%20brought%20economic%20recession%20and%20a%20pack%20of%20lessons.%20after%20a%20time%20of%20personal%20reflection%20that%20included%20his%20first%20yoga%20experience%2C%20theodosakis%20set%20to%20work%20to%20build%20a%20company%20that%20gave%20serious%20thought%20to%20the%20size%20of%20its%20footprint.%20he%20was%20concerned%20about%20how%20much%20waste%20it%20might%20produce%2C%20and%20made%20the%20decision%20to%20use%20organic%20cotton%2C%20natural%20fibers%20as%20well%20as%20recycled%20materials%20to%20deliver%20high-quality%2C%20technical%2C%20stylish%20apparel.%20%20theodosakis%20and%20his%20wife%20began%20sewing%20pieces%20in%20their%20garage.%20they%20labeled%20them%20with%20tags%20they%20made%20from%20recycled%20newspapers%2C%20showed%20them%20on%20old%20racks%20they%20found%20rusting%20and%20forgotten%2C%20and%20shipped%20them%20in%20leftover%20orange%20boxes%20they%20collected%20from%20the%20grocery%20store./" target="_blank">{See original post}</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-18457763186707891912013-10-06T11:31:00.000-07:002013-10-11T11:32:44.023-07:00#TKMBD - Bike Skills Rodeo!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfb4ED9rlRY-zcft5jLxbU1Q1D6YRKn2KF_KwZzEgiTCEdymV31f3Y3-Lyk8c0iCTFibe8_9rwtK-5KYvsLPEigSjCTehDb7mWWgKHeiZcG1p2FtDc2KNoHF1ERxr96ok62WJ2kK1YSg/s1600/San_Diego_Mountain_Skills_IMBA_Bike_Rodeo_Ride_Like_A_Ninja_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfb4ED9rlRY-zcft5jLxbU1Q1D6YRKn2KF_KwZzEgiTCEdymV31f3Y3-Lyk8c0iCTFibe8_9rwtK-5KYvsLPEigSjCTehDb7mWWgKHeiZcG1p2FtDc2KNoHF1ERxr96ok62WJ2kK1YSg/s400/San_Diego_Mountain_Skills_IMBA_Bike_Rodeo_Ride_Like_A_Ninja_25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerhard Gross photo</td></tr>
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<br />
When I first saw IMBA's posts about the October 5 Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day I knew right away I wanted to do something about it. Kids on bikes are just the best, so I recruited Coach Richard from <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/" target="_blank">San Diego Mountain Bike Skills</a> and voila! We had a rodeo.<br />
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Our event had about six different skills for the kids to practice, including "Feedzone Simulation," "Granny Gear Racing," "Skinnies Riding," "Paper Boy Toss," and a couple stations to test their handling around cones and hula hoops. With a great sunny afternoon in Balboa park our excitement was only rivalled by the kids'.<br />
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We had tremendous support from the <a href="http://www.sdmba.com/" target="_blank">San Diego chapter</a> (SDMBA) of the <a href="http://www.imba.com/" target="_blank">International Mountain Biking Association</a> with number plates and Clif Z-Bars to hand out to our little riders. They also helped us get the word out, not to mention all the amazing trail/rider advocacy they do every day. Big thank you to them! Proud to be a member.<br />
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Best of all, we had a super crop of young riders -- 15!! -- and some really enthusiastic parents who helped make the event run smoothly. My favourite part of the afternoon was watching little Abby, who started the event on her strider bike, graduate to her "big girl bike" WITHOUT training wheels. What a big day!<br />
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Thanks to all our sponsors, and most importantly thanks to the kids, moms and dads for coming out to the event. We had a TON of fun, and we can't wait for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, 2014.<br />
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Read more about our event <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/2013/10/06/take-a-kid-mountain-biking-day-is-a-huge-success/" target="_blank">here</a> and check out some great photos, shot by my wonderful husband Gerhard, <a href="http://teamninjaelite.com/albums/take-a-kid-mountain-biking-day-bike-skills-rodeo/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-25872971042884930802013-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:002013-09-27T09:47:16.043-07:00"Race Tracks" :: Winter BeatsGerhard has been the sharer of many great tracks in the past thanks to his connection to an industry that needs good musics for all kinds of videos and web edits.<br />
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To honour BASE MILES season, I'm posting this one, his latest contribution to my iPod, called "Winter Beats" as a nod to the change in periodization I know many of us two-wheelers are now experiencing. Or are about to experience once you get all the CX out of your systems.<br />
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You can catch it in the new TransWorld Snowboard movie <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/nation-transworld-snowboarding/id698390466" target="_blank">"Nation" available on iTunes</a> (tremendous trainer viewing!) or keep an eye on <a href="http://twsnow.com/">twsnow.com</a> for full parts as they trot them out this fall.<br />
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In the mean time, check out I Break Horses' "Winter Beats" in its official music video form, OR ... scroll down for the most ridiculously overdone hipster surf edit I have ever seen (featuring 10 Russian models, a man-made wave in Dubai and apropos of nothing, a Lambourghini (because of course)).<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-Sg7YkPnEYw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/44253174" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/44253174">GLOBE'S ELECTRIC BLUE HEAVEN</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/globebrand">GLOBE</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-51300727578735393602013-09-26T11:27:00.000-07:002013-09-26T11:27:28.527-07:00Interbike Postmortem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We rolled into Vegas and I couldn't believe my eyes. So much insanity crammed into a completely inhospitable part of the desert. We took a stroll on the strip at 10pm and I felt like I was in a hot yoga studio. Air conditioning mixed with whatever oxygen+ gases they pump into the casinos to camoflauge the cigarette smoke. No discernible dress code. No rules. No curfew.<br />
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I rode a rollercoaster, had a taco in a pyramid, saw the fountains, the pirates, the brides and bachelorette parties, the show girls, the costumes, the homeless, the volcano, the cigarette girls; rode in a limo, walked my legs off and took the tram. Shopping malls full of dreams where the Prada salespeople first offer you a glass of champagne. I had a short drink and a very, very tall drink. On the street. A fine meal, and salads made of sad brown lettuce. In Vegas, there's something for everyone.<br />
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But during Interbike, "everyone" is a bunch of cyclists, all sorts. You can tell who they are and what discipline they prefer just by looking at them mingling with the rest of 'Merica.<br />
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<b>The Show</b><br />
I did not expect to be so hyped on the show. I was like a kid in a candy store. I can't even fathom how many millions of dollars were on display on the conference floor of the Mandalay. Bikes, accessories, apparel, trips, fitting, helmets, shoes ... and then the booths themselves. Just amazing. This is the first year that Interbike was opened to consumers (Friday only) and I think it would be worth tracking down one of those invitations.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elite CX Women (My fav Cdn mtb-er, Catharine Pendrel <br />in blue a couple back!)</td></tr>
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<b>CrossVegas </b><br />
I have never been to a cyclocross race. I have never really seen the appeal -- I mean, in Ontario, it's all about racing in the mud, snow and cold. It's a 40 minute all-out effort where you actually are expected to get OFF your bike. Does not compute.<br />
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But since everyone was off to CrossVegas, I was swept up in it as well and *now* I kind of get it. Even though we didn't have rain/snow/mud/cold to contend with. To my dismay, I found myself wishing I was out there ripping around so I guess I'm eating crow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUNvoudeXYvot7mupvczT56GcfhzsUSneL4sN6DuPONZ0iGgx4jed214nB1s86fHkUSwfGnhbQTxEdAOzSEz9c9n72Vv2CSC6PW0upm3f7yhiq8Equx81vItyT6GmHAxE37p1IwJOy-M/s1600/IMG_3548.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUNvoudeXYvot7mupvczT56GcfhzsUSneL4sN6DuPONZ0iGgx4jed214nB1s86fHkUSwfGnhbQTxEdAOzSEz9c9n72Vv2CSC6PW0upm3f7yhiq8Equx81vItyT6GmHAxE37p1IwJOy-M/s320/IMG_3548.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chris vs Kris Highroller Championship of the World</td></tr>
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<b><strike>National Crit Finals</strike> HighRoller Crit! </b><br />
The night after CrossVegas we had more pro-level racing right outside the conference centre. But I was distracted by fun on <a href="http://www.highrollerusa.com/" target="_blank">Highrollers</a> (BigWheels for adults!) and almost made the finals on these three wheelers. Congratulations to Coach Richard who did go on to the finals and came second to a BMX Olympian, no big deal. I have no idea what happened in the actual crit.<br />
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<b>Last Friday Night/Waking Up In Vegas </b><br />
<br />After all was said and done, and I'd managed to *not* show up to the Focus Bikes booth hungover on any of the show days, I was sucked into the ashtray/sewer/hole that is Las Vegas. But you know what they say about that ...<br />
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Here's some photos I snapped from the trip. Big thanks to Tim and everyone at <a href="http://www.focus-bikes.com/int/en/home.html" target="_blank">Focus Bikes</a> for having me along.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interbike coming together, one day before it all gets started. Taken from atop a union ladder in the Focus booth. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgSorocMwJ-7iMf-tRrbnr4MvjGoWlKnnBrBQXNTuZP-p8IA5B-soiEIer__2L9hZdZHFgx3X-M_T1nbAc7xj9SWMNy5Q7CyIE7bh6FoskbvDxcntr0gKoavtD_fvIrhtUt97CuidO5g/s1600/IMG_3528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgSorocMwJ-7iMf-tRrbnr4MvjGoWlKnnBrBQXNTuZP-p8IA5B-soiEIer__2L9hZdZHFgx3X-M_T1nbAc7xj9SWMNy5Q7CyIE7bh6FoskbvDxcntr0gKoavtD_fvIrhtUt97CuidO5g/s400/IMG_3528.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starbucks, comfy shoes, name tag -- ready to hit it! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team car for Jelly Belly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryder Hesjedal stopped by the Cervelo booth (Focus and Cervelo are sister companies) so I got a photo with my favourite Canadian hero -- he won the Giro the same weekend Gerhard proposed so it was pretty much the best weekend ever. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TvDsU9eLFvT3K4FEgsdJigopo0scuQUNx95aWTZIp6sG6rvYuo6wzf3jAfKWpnq4Tk66e3HEbCAsFFZZWUkiYtdYwLXVl5oeCKWch3qrT0izJg5Pu-crgU9Nv0INFGAMbK3k9gr_pdY/s1600/IMG_3521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TvDsU9eLFvT3K4FEgsdJigopo0scuQUNx95aWTZIp6sG6rvYuo6wzf3jAfKWpnq4Tk66e3HEbCAsFFZZWUkiYtdYwLXVl5oeCKWch3qrT0izJg5Pu-crgU9Nv0INFGAMbK3k9gr_pdY/s400/IMG_3521.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryder's Giro d'Italia trophy. Every winner gets their own. I touched it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nWFkEJ3OpCkKJErc3JavmGy1R0O73nVKFbz0kpjNRn8iTu98rwd5kRNb6bP5SJdi3X-uSZ-yNT6P8gU0NMnhq1IhZlf8vqj4Yv_zuLnBaLrWxS9HEh4ehMtk_zoSK7uATyWC2mxOlr0/s1600/IMG_3533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nWFkEJ3OpCkKJErc3JavmGy1R0O73nVKFbz0kpjNRn8iTu98rwd5kRNb6bP5SJdi3X-uSZ-yNT6P8gU0NMnhq1IhZlf8vqj4Yv_zuLnBaLrWxS9HEh4ehMtk_zoSK7uATyWC2mxOlr0/s400/IMG_3533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*THIS* guy and his 36 INCH mountain bike ... when does it stop?! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGnp_ERLCyOwzzoKRoWu2Kz8lA0dfkS1zcmKLd3uSbOGocxlKQheB0aSOFDb6y1kf4GJNYhdMLCEY-sozj2acCEOwtVDUANRXOkiP0glluli-Cx29d7XPYWKQfTS7JkayjTjeOXXZDVU/s1600/IMG_3540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGnp_ERLCyOwzzoKRoWu2Kz8lA0dfkS1zcmKLd3uSbOGocxlKQheB0aSOFDb6y1kf4GJNYhdMLCEY-sozj2acCEOwtVDUANRXOkiP0glluli-Cx29d7XPYWKQfTS7JkayjTjeOXXZDVU/s400/IMG_3540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Jelly Belly/Rapha Focus stopped by our booth and told everyone we had free beer. But really we just had jelly beans. Awesome to meet (from left) Jeremy Powers, Freddie Rodriguez, Nic Hamilton and Brad Huff.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI38lSuvVD77aRo5wbbMj8WY86_epjA-7WTA0TQFsAzSreQqpm2IwQBTx9rMbHEVmseZelTiEKSQskzJ33tcCZEJzaYURq1_1G00Ot4BjkM8udv0HlDkM_KFhdtEb43ZFjIY4yrxzScuM/s1600/IMG_3559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI38lSuvVD77aRo5wbbMj8WY86_epjA-7WTA0TQFsAzSreQqpm2IwQBTx9rMbHEVmseZelTiEKSQskzJ33tcCZEJzaYURq1_1G00Ot4BjkM8udv0HlDkM_KFhdtEb43ZFjIY4yrxzScuM/s400/IMG_3559.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Focus Izalco Max awarded "Best In Show" by Bike Radar .... droooool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAK3G3VkjtAsCfRd0rV6uoDDD13vCBQ6mDhYwU1cKRBney1mSK6LOf35dY94nI_N0AXFDnSp5pxUgCqHkmm8m_edl8IzZFbqffKPlBKkQoK7ux39Ml2egLssCDIovB3wpxRYV78ZKtw0/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAK3G3VkjtAsCfRd0rV6uoDDD13vCBQ6mDhYwU1cKRBney1mSK6LOf35dY94nI_N0AXFDnSp5pxUgCqHkmm8m_edl8IzZFbqffKPlBKkQoK7ux39Ml2egLssCDIovB3wpxRYV78ZKtw0/s400/IMG_3564.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "Best in Show" - A gorgeous offering from Electra I got to see when it was still in production. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieceyKx0xcj-MX4l4NelZNCWngn9l4pxsEGfjC-JN-qswcDlhui7FVuygjl5rXC8JvnhymmGm01kEhFU1ATP_Qs36HpOx9MLabc3goywpN8ZD1YeZG2XWArWb6-R6LTsvZH1Aq_huw5kE/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieceyKx0xcj-MX4l4NelZNCWngn9l4pxsEGfjC-JN-qswcDlhui7FVuygjl5rXC8JvnhymmGm01kEhFU1ATP_Qs36HpOx9MLabc3goywpN8ZD1YeZG2XWArWb6-R6LTsvZH1Aq_huw5kE/s400/IMG_3566.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In which I meet Nelson Vails and am informed he's kind of a big deal. That's another story ... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vmsBWge_vnddzTEw4qFKxKOdfuMrumwGOeORdNbYDtQnfRBMnf8d0pkJMD9E9VwDk_EBShDduDp02DjBtkNIqZ3trvShszy-4KCqZZw5oTuRCU8iMoukbaRuxrtUUZEjebmpviVRPMc/s1600/IMG_3504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vmsBWge_vnddzTEw4qFKxKOdfuMrumwGOeORdNbYDtQnfRBMnf8d0pkJMD9E9VwDk_EBShDduDp02DjBtkNIqZ3trvShszy-4KCqZZw5oTuRCU8iMoukbaRuxrtUUZEjebmpviVRPMc/s400/IMG_3504.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many jelly beans ... Stop the madness. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tMciuyslQOZyClQqUKsOiaUqWP7cv430Pu5OX3B0tb5vHQlvFQ0S4wUPLL_3xPWsYrQ4xozdecOC-YA4KVhpBJu-g06yFnc3NSFb7LMA0GnZuSKhCz3EY44yETgWdVpE5g5XD9fhv28/s1600/IMG_3510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tMciuyslQOZyClQqUKsOiaUqWP7cv430Pu5OX3B0tb5vHQlvFQ0S4wUPLL_3xPWsYrQ4xozdecOC-YA4KVhpBJu-g06yFnc3NSFb7LMA0GnZuSKhCz3EY44yETgWdVpE5g5XD9fhv28/s400/IMG_3510.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always cracks me up when people take photos with iPads. Nothing more to see here. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOClSxzOCjy2NuGkNx9JGuTMqUeSyKGEQe1VtR8VkGVj__2bH91UNIo65-VwLSMoHN7n6tb794q2AvxTf3eBo000t2Nb8jCJzLGptqJ7ISdRfPPpflWn5Atk6l-JdweZhpF4lwTh18j9M/s1600/IMG_3511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOClSxzOCjy2NuGkNx9JGuTMqUeSyKGEQe1VtR8VkGVj__2bH91UNIo65-VwLSMoHN7n6tb794q2AvxTf3eBo000t2Nb8jCJzLGptqJ7ISdRfPPpflWn5Atk6l-JdweZhpF4lwTh18j9M/s400/IMG_3511.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The welcome wagon at the Bellagio</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb1wg7T0ib_-z8MXBtJ0ZOnN0DajR3tm0KOf4JJakqRddmRw75euQ9ddQ7SUcOApL8hxca9ktbUfljCfNNSmTFlY4wagwR4ijVOwChvEhtbdf5Y265h3_OeKjdWuRXUTxQxizxXaG5JU/s1600/IMG_3512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb1wg7T0ib_-z8MXBtJ0ZOnN0DajR3tm0KOf4JJakqRddmRw75euQ9ddQ7SUcOApL8hxca9ktbUfljCfNNSmTFlY4wagwR4ijVOwChvEhtbdf5Y265h3_OeKjdWuRXUTxQxizxXaG5JU/s400/IMG_3512.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris in the desert. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZidxJyhz-7Ij7rrsLY-DKba-IJzXJ15uOgtSZpFRNDs6IRjCqymGcoDLBjbGZZfwgS2nvi_WkNgF0fQvLAZlB3qiYIv8Oy_Hr6YX62arsqzqSIZA0HVu1CpJdPuLUS8l2tbO6b100Meo/s1600/IMG_3513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZidxJyhz-7Ij7rrsLY-DKba-IJzXJ15uOgtSZpFRNDs6IRjCqymGcoDLBjbGZZfwgS2nvi_WkNgF0fQvLAZlB3qiYIv8Oy_Hr6YX62arsqzqSIZA0HVu1CpJdPuLUS8l2tbO6b100Meo/s400/IMG_3513.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumblebee</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV7y_4JdHxavV9WNIE_UR2eGHHG6NPC0pzN5S9XHO87QnZN2019nwWzP9SVrQUZ5kLo7yiC6yOi7JI1XcIs1bktr1w2NYw1Ho63AzhdoXeQdYERTEFXXDl_wEZ76VHBGDD2a9tGC5gtM/s1600/IMG_3514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV7y_4JdHxavV9WNIE_UR2eGHHG6NPC0pzN5S9XHO87QnZN2019nwWzP9SVrQUZ5kLo7yiC6yOi7JI1XcIs1bktr1w2NYw1Ho63AzhdoXeQdYERTEFXXDl_wEZ76VHBGDD2a9tGC5gtM/s400/IMG_3514.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the fountains at the Bellagio, trying to remember the plot of Ocean's 11</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJuR4BxyOFqfh2zryFKZ6m7yzmGYI__oU0EHjWPHUNhpZ7niFLn9v6NHeJOBpnunv3uQXjM3vFrlaEYfCRYecJwCL7hAbn5CPjs4uGKHoz4Ta3wswjyQbY8xXmwOflO8fG8ZZWEWWXBk/s1600/IMG_3567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJuR4BxyOFqfh2zryFKZ6m7yzmGYI__oU0EHjWPHUNhpZ7niFLn9v6NHeJOBpnunv3uQXjM3vFrlaEYfCRYecJwCL7hAbn5CPjs4uGKHoz4Ta3wswjyQbY8xXmwOflO8fG8ZZWEWWXBk/s400/IMG_3567.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of a million picture takers. oh, and a volcano. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfgUbW-ZUMH1I5ItabI7-EFv8EKIo_ao1StJc5fUoVU7-ruQRypeL9OakwuvOPrf6onDeFaubI3icrViU92OhMBfLAxkmbdU8mJcDwcYPWL1WPBYktDQrUdDp1tRF4DyyIUmwIZ-1YwQ/s1600/IMG_3573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfgUbW-ZUMH1I5ItabI7-EFv8EKIo_ao1StJc5fUoVU7-ruQRypeL9OakwuvOPrf6onDeFaubI3icrViU92OhMBfLAxkmbdU8mJcDwcYPWL1WPBYktDQrUdDp1tRF4DyyIUmwIZ-1YwQ/s400/IMG_3573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aftermath. </td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-80769114524234874342013-09-16T15:04:00.002-07:002013-09-16T15:05:12.695-07:00On the Eve of Interbike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F_TN1AyIxIqSRdZ-NattpDa07B2leMAHyU1JlEgMfNnB0Wc5QpZH5MGoVP91fzWAmSfwlufo0PG0msdPEzV0DTqmkLGaGXlOCTnFIdJ9UT6CB6wzFLjnn1NfhmLNA4pcTQjye8m4b6A/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F_TN1AyIxIqSRdZ-NattpDa07B2leMAHyU1JlEgMfNnB0Wc5QpZH5MGoVP91fzWAmSfwlufo0PG0msdPEzV0DTqmkLGaGXlOCTnFIdJ9UT6CB6wzFLjnn1NfhmLNA4pcTQjye8m4b6A/s400/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a lovely day when you're packing up your suitcase for your first trip to Vegas! I'm super excited to be helping out the gentlemen at the <a href="http://www.focus-bikes.com/" target="_blank">Focus Bikes</a> booth (number 6010 if you want to stop by) until Saturday at <a href="http://www.interbike.com/" target="_blank">Interbike</a>.<br />
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I've been impressed so far with how connected I feel already to the whole spectacle thanks to the numerous apps, emails, "show planner" and "connections" resources the show provides. It's also pretty amazing how many of my new friends here in SoCal are going to be there (or are there already for "Outerbike.")<br />
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For those that don't know, Interbike is North America's largest trade show for bike industry folks. Held every year in Las Vegas, it also features a big outdoor demo at Bootleg Canyon and of course <a href="http://www.crossvegas.com/25/index.php" target="_blank">Cross Vegas</a>, the famous cyclocross race (if you're into that sort of thing).<br />
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Stay tuned for my first impressions of Las Vegas through social media and I'll be sure to post a summary of the whole crazy time. Til then, I'm off to roll the dice. If you're in town, be sure to look me up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXwM3MPyy1o3OM4kvSPZY7n8hyphenhyphenaE4xcEx9w10R_IoMAUi4IWLHudMY9i8_NHufgJ9JQ6X0gmD4bcocx-f78v2ELPpZoY8yUKpu6ipdpUhWQWIKxkcymfHm2vjLCquGmtN-BiSF91pA1Y/s1600/bloghead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXwM3MPyy1o3OM4kvSPZY7n8hyphenhyphenaE4xcEx9w10R_IoMAUi4IWLHudMY9i8_NHufgJ9JQ6X0gmD4bcocx-f78v2ELPpZoY8yUKpu6ipdpUhWQWIKxkcymfHm2vjLCquGmtN-BiSF91pA1Y/s320/bloghead.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O_EfRmDVSy6tRiOwEp6dr-C0bBLrqDId_yHHmwWudl4B9yFJoqSTeKHo3GVb-m1ns5Y0IcDZlCvBQ7w-lWW9DhoYcFqlbLnKtLZsSjL4TJNu7-e3IaJ5lJaL9x4CMQYVmp79AvgoSbc/s1600/images+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O_EfRmDVSy6tRiOwEp6dr-C0bBLrqDId_yHHmwWudl4B9yFJoqSTeKHo3GVb-m1ns5Y0IcDZlCvBQ7w-lWW9DhoYcFqlbLnKtLZsSjL4TJNu7-e3IaJ5lJaL9x4CMQYVmp79AvgoSbc/s1600/images+(1).jpeg" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-12871574302406268442013-09-12T07:36:00.000-07:002013-09-12T07:36:51.183-07:00A Night with JPoV Photo <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN5lz6g6Vs5udWLBmpCWiylVjyOAmQRTmcI4WoAffxQWmExs2vz21wDgyahRXWMHBDdkmgrTqqYw-tYWb2vGBLWqQMMBgIhHG4lyir7WEB05GensCmzICFk-BurpQ4bRhmd0vO15sd9g/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtN5lz6g6Vs5udWLBmpCWiylVjyOAmQRTmcI4WoAffxQWmExs2vz21wDgyahRXWMHBDdkmgrTqqYw-tYWb2vGBLWqQMMBgIhHG4lyir7WEB05GensCmzICFk-BurpQ4bRhmd0vO15sd9g/s400/Image+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxJz4OTecDlVoMiig8wqgQ4G_aHlqjBR0FUoVDjunnKMtCIsuRqMsMhHqkz5ub0gy5ttXkM5IZhkm1SA9LcmgSXr344SXqw4RKbhJYB2s9__XWPFt_h3bKpkxWW9j-6qx-va5ETfBepE/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxJz4OTecDlVoMiig8wqgQ4G_aHlqjBR0FUoVDjunnKMtCIsuRqMsMhHqkz5ub0gy5ttXkM5IZhkm1SA9LcmgSXr344SXqw4RKbhJYB2s9__XWPFt_h3bKpkxWW9j-6qx-va5ETfBepE/s400/IMG_3375.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Photos of Photo Making with l-r, Richard La China, Kris Gross, Elise Heinold and Jake Orness</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0lLSqd6q5e1KQYYxUfX248w51J41631VXtrVVsrfxWSiZwD__HnrGYzlCWDY7Lyj3gzcYLFbrL7y7vtW81QbnHm64HxCALmKJ1o_n6oRkIez255LDjCNapjg1uzCuZILjF3knPMbelY/s1600/sdbikeskills_low_res_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0lLSqd6q5e1KQYYxUfX248w51J41631VXtrVVsrfxWSiZwD__HnrGYzlCWDY7Lyj3gzcYLFbrL7y7vtW81QbnHm64HxCALmKJ1o_n6oRkIez255LDjCNapjg1uzCuZILjF3knPMbelY/s200/sdbikeskills_low_res_logo.jpg" width="155" /></a>We just got these fancy new jerseys over at <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/" target="_blank">San Diego Mountain Bike Skills</a> so to celebrate, we hooked up with <a href="http://www.jpov.net/Portfolio/Featured" target="_blank">Jake's Point of View</a> photography. Pretty stoked on the results! So thank you Jake and Elise for the super fun shoot ("let's do that just one more time"), and thank you Richard for inviting me to tag along (in this and in all the things)!<br />
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As for the jerseys, that's just the start of some pretty exciting developments over at "Ride Like a Ninja" HQ. Tonight, we're throwing a little <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Mountain-Bike-Workout/events/138206502/" target="_blank">pizza party in San Diego at Lefty's</a> where you'll be hearing all about the new Ninja Race Team. From kits, to sponsors to camraderie, this new mtb team has got it going on. Can't wait to spill the beans! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK3LrPKPWavliw_IIwJiO7NYNZXafCOHrgboL8WTqsMAVSmozJLRGIvhh9KqW3PvT42wLjithrPDUaocVQ5DKTekPNPlLQnE1gGaqbssra67cdvcMHS5BT711StXj-9LnOrlmpaRCfx4/s1600/copy-ninja_night_race.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK3LrPKPWavliw_IIwJiO7NYNZXafCOHrgboL8WTqsMAVSmozJLRGIvhh9KqW3PvT42wLjithrPDUaocVQ5DKTekPNPlLQnE1gGaqbssra67cdvcMHS5BT711StXj-9LnOrlmpaRCfx4/s1600/copy-ninja_night_race.png" /></a>And what better place to get some laps than at this amazing new race!? First of its kind in the U.S., the <a href="http://ninjanightrace.com/" target="_blank">Ninja Night Race</a> is the only USAC-sanctioned after-dark event. First one is coming up October 24 at Lake Hodges so stay tuned! </div>
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If all this talk of ninjas has you wondering what it really means to be a NINJA WARRIOR, this helpful video featuring my favourite "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL45D00A9F6BE69F91" target="_blank">kid historians</a>" can get you started. It's full of great advice. And it's darn cute. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/u7aaYtBHwco" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-28636853446483371142013-09-09T17:54:00.000-07:002013-09-09T17:54:35.729-07:00RV There Yet?Home is where you park it!! And for ten days next summer, our home is this glorious abode on wheels.<br />
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I am so grateful to my parents who have really stepped up in their roles as "Chief Inspiration Officers" on the official moral-support crew for the <a href="http://www.bcbikerace.com/">BCBR</a>. There's even talk of making up team t-shirts.<br />
<br />
Let us know if you'd like to be on the moral-support crew, too. There'll be plenty of room around our campfires for "recovery drinks" as we RV our way around southwestern B.C. June 27-July 7.<br />
<br />
Excitement is building. Only 291 days to go.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-83448198961925605242013-09-05T12:33:00.001-07:002013-09-05T12:48:04.087-07:00Park City: Mountain Biking Oasis and IMBA Gold<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt5wUow1stM4e22YU9rcDAygc-KMhY0ydcaxZ1M0krW1aII_pQrn6rBFYtX-0w7kFjjeLmUcddiQI7sYfFz6KSYCtcZPRAKsrkH5ci-YG8teJNzSsJ_ZphUaUZ0DriYvaF71CtqBm888/s1600/FallXCRiding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt5wUow1stM4e22YU9rcDAygc-KMhY0ydcaxZ1M0krW1aII_pQrn6rBFYtX-0w7kFjjeLmUcddiQI7sYfFz6KSYCtcZPRAKsrkH5ci-YG8teJNzSsJ_ZphUaUZ0DriYvaF71CtqBm888/s400/FallXCRiding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park City: IMBA GOLD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Earlier this summer I was invited to participate in a media tour of Park City, Utah. Apparently they have some mountain biking? Apparently no one talks about it?<br />
<br />
That is until now at least. The riding there is next-level and honestly, I don't think I've <i>stopped</i> talking about it since I got back. Soulful singletrack in a town that just loves all things cycling. Add a touch of old-timey history, some free community events, a happenin' nightlife and of course Park Citizens themselves and you have an amazing recipe for a good time. To get started booking your adventure, I'd start with <a href="http://whitepinetouring.com/">White Pine Touring</a> and <a href="http://www.parkcitylodging.com/">Park City Lodging</a>. (Tell them I sent you!)<br />
<br />
Need more convincing? IMBA (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/IMBAonFB">the International Mountain Biking Association</a>) beat me to my observations and designated Park City its first and only gold-ranked <a href="http://www.imba.com/model-trails/ride-centers">ride centre</a> in the world. A little birdie told me that there is soon to be a Canadian ride centre added to the list so let's keep our eyes and ears peeled for that good news!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, hope you'll take a moment to check out my story on <a href="http://www.ridingfeelsgood.com/the-worlds-first-gold%C2%AD%E2%80%90level-imba-ride-centre-park-city-utah/">RidingFeelsGood.com</a> Thanks to everyone who has already "liked" and shared it -- much appreciated!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx28W_HOAW0MgJJfyxD9hC_E9cFGRAYXz1wwDGLuBQXRMebPJngGKWI827Ph9IVGBP5eGJHz-7gvmYGYgVOernnseu60cTKen8E-ArWDiNo8ii2dRzCyaE2Lk4d0Q_9gM0fuH8lk7zrQ/s1600/The+World%E2%80%99s+First+Gold-%E2%80%90Level+IMBA+Ride+Centre,+Park+City,+Utah+++RIDING+FEELS+GOOD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mountain Biking Park City Utah " border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx28W_HOAW0MgJJfyxD9hC_E9cFGRAYXz1wwDGLuBQXRMebPJngGKWI827Ph9IVGBP5eGJHz-7gvmYGYgVOernnseu60cTKen8E-ArWDiNo8ii2dRzCyaE2Lk4d0Q_9gM0fuH8lk7zrQ/s400/The+World%E2%80%99s+First+Gold-%E2%80%90Level+IMBA+Ride+Centre,+Park+City,+Utah+++RIDING+FEELS+GOOD.png" title="Park City IMBA Gold " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.ridingfeelsgood.com/the-worlds-first-gold%C2%AD%E2%80%90level-imba-ride-centre-park-city-utah/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-88310189147480244172013-08-28T10:01:00.000-07:002013-09-01T10:19:13.336-07:00Nature Ride and Mountain Lion Safety Hardly 24 hours had gone by since my first brush with rattlesnakes when I had my first brush with a mountain lion. Again I was reminded that trail safety in Southern California has a different curriculum than trail safety in Southern Ontario.<br />
<br />
I was headed to another favourite local spot of mine, Calavera, to hammer on some intervals and day dream of the green trails of the BCBR when I realized 1) It's Tuesday and 2) That means my buddy Nick is likely out on patrol. I texted him and sure enough, He and another rider, Brian, were just about to start their evening shred.<br />
<br />
I explained to them I had a specific workout to do but they were welcome to hop on my wheel. Without hesitation, I had two more along for my ride. We got through all the pieces -- so much easier when you have friends to suffer with -- and then decided to reward ourselves with another 30-40 minutes of singletrack before the sun went down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2EjIv7ZnTiMoDb3axlQYUvWstEMApcg2Wpubf4kAlGISqVIw77sJstt6zBhYFrxHCN1aBxCY0rPmIiV7CC5lct_zUTjwu2A5CENUD7X89qkANszs1efam7QtK3dhCdTLHZ9oCrydyy0/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2EjIv7ZnTiMoDb3axlQYUvWstEMApcg2Wpubf4kAlGISqVIw77sJstt6zBhYFrxHCN1aBxCY0rPmIiV7CC5lct_zUTjwu2A5CENUD7X89qkANszs1efam7QtK3dhCdTLHZ9oCrydyy0/s400/IMG_3344.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my "Ninja Position" in the Magic Hour light at Calavera </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Magic Hour on Calavera is beautiful. So many critters were out -- we spotted a barn owl on the hunt, a hawk, and I think I heard some coyotes barking as well. But on our way down to a green gully we like to visit, we started to see big paw prints in the dust. They were fresh, and they didn't look very canine. We stopped to investigate and pointed out the roundness of the impression (versus a dog's oval impression), the slits where the claws had been (usually no claw marks can be seen on a mountain lion print unless they are using them for traction and here, the slope was steep and the dirt was loose) and of course the size. They were as big as Brian's hand.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqse6RPPI652uuh0lUTwSEEVw_C1Hc7FbplQ7nsHyOHGhDL9fzDlbPrr6t0lonbmC4XqKjL-yZtCJj19G9VyjaFaChgRr_wsn2s73kjEn8OR6hPQUzG8QE9OJCEu7COu7QQeZSKDdk40/s1600/IMG_3346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqse6RPPI652uuh0lUTwSEEVw_C1Hc7FbplQ7nsHyOHGhDL9fzDlbPrr6t0lonbmC4XqKjL-yZtCJj19G9VyjaFaChgRr_wsn2s73kjEn8OR6hPQUzG8QE9OJCEu7COu7QQeZSKDdk40/s400/IMG_3346.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidence of pussyfooting </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We decided to just skip the gully, and walk the heck out of there. Most people will never see a mountain lion -- tag tracking information has shown that sometimes they're hiding in the bush right beside you and you never know because they're not usually interested in us. I don't know how close we were last night but I do know the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. But if you DO have an encounter, here's another set of "What To Do/What Not To Do" to add to the theme that seems to be going this week on the blog. For more information, check out the insanely informative <a href="http://www.mountainlion.org/" target="_blank">Mountain Lion Foundation homepage</a> where the following is adapted from.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Make
yourself appear as large as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Make yourself appear larger using your bike, and stand close to
other riders. Open your jacket. Raise your arms. Wave your raised arms slowly.
Lions only see in shades so you should also try to dress with contrasting
colours to your surroundings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Make
noise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yell, shout, bang a stick against your frame. Make any loud sound
that cannot be confused by the lion as the sound of prey. Speak slowly, firmly
and loudly to disrupt and discourage predatory behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act
like a predator yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Maintain eye contact. <u>Never</u> run/ride past or from a mountain lion –
their instinct to chase will kick in. Never bend over or crouch down.
Aggressively wave your raised arms, throw stones or branches, all without
turning away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Slowly
create distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Assess the situation. Consider whether you may be between the lion
and its kittens, or between the lion and its prey or cache. Back slowly to a
spot that gives the mountain lion a path to get away, never turning away from the
animal. Give a mountain lion the time and ability to move away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Protect
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If attacked, fight back. Protect your neck and throat. People have
utilized rocks, jackets, garden tools, tree branches, walking sticks, fanny
packs and even bare hands to turn away cougars.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic Hour Rush Hour </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-46753796331586312932013-08-26T20:45:00.000-07:002013-09-01T10:18:51.257-07:00Ladies of Leisure + My First Rattlesnake Encounter <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFDG8Ud-q2DMrvk8YWUjQSzXnnbrsG3u5s6vcx9WC9nm6_1ubXapVzDw-JpH8tAa0shx2bV3JGUovg1WrYkwWCezjAcyidTOKAeAz75VqVAsDhMk3eQdS02oikT-eVzyUioDNvcA6y-A/s1600/IMG_3336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFDG8Ud-q2DMrvk8YWUjQSzXnnbrsG3u5s6vcx9WC9nm6_1ubXapVzDw-JpH8tAa0shx2bV3JGUovg1WrYkwWCezjAcyidTOKAeAz75VqVAsDhMk3eQdS02oikT-eVzyUioDNvcA6y-A/s400/IMG_3336.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ladies of Leisure</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A ride opportunity came through Facebook the other day that I was only too happy to snap up! Some of the ladies from the <a href="http://cyclofemme.com/" target="_blank">CycloFemme</a> ride I crashed on back in May (a story for another post) were headed to Sabre Springs, just north east of San Diego. Gerhard let me take the Prius on a little field trip to explore yet more new-to-me trails.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP3YsNu2Oj52hwZ-Mixy_v3te_Ab-NnenRl_F3oOdb8cwz0ErlmEUbUI4vfRcsKuyT2NhoheUFl8J5eaosKUsnoVZTXbrPurt23IR9Uwc0jNPpj57IJBTOrAbM3-JXWQQ1JHqNaodPLw/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP3YsNu2Oj52hwZ-Mixy_v3te_Ab-NnenRl_F3oOdb8cwz0ErlmEUbUI4vfRcsKuyT2NhoheUFl8J5eaosKUsnoVZTXbrPurt23IR9Uwc0jNPpj57IJBTOrAbM3-JXWQQ1JHqNaodPLw/s320/IMG_3335.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MTB = ZEN</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is so great to get out riding with ladies! No offence to my dudes of course, but a gaggle of girls on bikes is a rare thing. Happily, these chatty, supportive gaggles seem to be forming more and more which is great. So Tami, Julie, Allison and I started our Monday on an exploratory mission. "I've never been down this one -- should we try it?" was the oft-repeated theme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On one such descent -- Strava called it "Helicopter" -- Julie stopped abruptly and let us know that we had a visitor: a rattlesnake! I haven't had a run-in with one of these fellows yet so part of me was curious, and part of me was wondering why the heck we didn't just turn around and walk back up the hill. Julie let us know he was hiding in the bushes, and we were okay to pass if we went wide. Which we did, and the ride continued and was awesome and then we had cake!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the whole thing made me realize, I have no idea what to do about snakes. So here's a little something on our reptilian trail features.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rattlesnakes of San Diego County</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0X6ltGxkPUwz9lnqE4Kv0QDXqWKsGVDFuqpEi60GWniilUxx8pq8EzQrQN5TNSzR7qAvpBKNFb7djXET3gPDWialk441MgahWwaLgdft9NAWG25h4CTMF25KzcuV4C8ItzkcfUmaNk4/s1600/407144.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0X6ltGxkPUwz9lnqE4Kv0QDXqWKsGVDFuqpEi60GWniilUxx8pq8EzQrQN5TNSzR7qAvpBKNFb7djXET3gPDWialk441MgahWwaLgdft9NAWG25h4CTMF25KzcuV4C8ItzkcfUmaNk4/s200/407144.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are four kinds of rattlesnakes in the San Diego area -- and they are actually the only poisonous snakes we have. They are <span style="background-color: white;">the </span><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/fieldguide/herps/crot-vir.html" style="background-color: white;"><b>Southern Pacific Rattlesnake</b></a><span style="background-color: white;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white;">Crotalus viridis</i><span style="background-color: white;">), the </span><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/fieldguide/herps/crot-mit.html" style="background-color: white;"><b>Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake</b></a><span style="background-color: white;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white;">C. mitchelli pyrrhus</i><span style="background-color: white;">), and the</span><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/fieldguide/herps/crot-exs.html" style="background-color: white;"><b>Red Diamond Rattlesnake</b></a><span style="background-color: white;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white;">C. ruber</i><span style="background-color: white;">). In the desert is the </span><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/fieldguide/herps/crot-cer.html" style="background-color: white;"><b>Colorado Desert Sidewinder</b></a><span style="background-color: white;"> (</span><i style="background-color: white;">C. cerastes</i><span style="background-color: white;">). Of course, the best offence is a a good defence so if you're walking around the trails, you should have a first aid kit and <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/407144/sawyer-extractor-pump-kit" target="_blank">snake bite kit</a> that includes water. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What to do if you get bit</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GO TO THE HOSPITAL. As mountain bikers, this can be a tricky one as we are often on some far flung trail. This is what helicopters are for. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the mean time, say, while you're waiting for the helicopter, do your best to identify the snake, making sure that it is in fact a rattlesnake. This is key. If the victim is administered the anti-venom for a snake <i>other</i> than the one that bit him/her, it could be fatal. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Move the victim out of the way of the snake, in case it comes in for seconds. Try to keep them as calm and still as possible and remove any clothing or jewelry that could become constrictive once swelling starts. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtypuy0Cug0ECgxeqEl_OmTZC8U7DpY58TlOMXHA0OZtF-H9fqcMyysKUv_ESoVslr2OETtPT7KBbx8bZMX6fm29kob_NHNqsZKGL73pDagcLtXurCWrr_KXQst_kDPqw_XZqf1QV_gzc/s1600/crot-rub_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtypuy0Cug0ECgxeqEl_OmTZC8U7DpY58TlOMXHA0OZtF-H9fqcMyysKUv_ESoVslr2OETtPT7KBbx8bZMX6fm29kob_NHNqsZKGL73pDagcLtXurCWrr_KXQst_kDPqw_XZqf1QV_gzc/s1600/crot-rub_300.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've got to wash the wound with water, and then immobilize the area with a sling. With your handy dandy snake bite kit, suction out the venom. If you haven't got a kit <u>skip this step</u> -- never use your mouth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, keep the wounded area lower than the heart, and if possible, carry your felled rider rather than have them walk or roll out. Whether via helicopter, car, ambulance, it's off to the nearest hospital for anti-venom lickety split. I've heard some say that depending on the snake, you may have as little as 30 minutes before you're in big trouble. But the good news is, a fatal rattlesnake bite is a rare occurrence. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What NOT to do if you get bit</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry, Hollywood -- heroics like ripping strips from the shirt off your back to tie a tourniquet, or sucking out the venom with your mouth are top of the DON'Ts list. Also, some say an ice pack will help slow the spread of the venom ... nope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also not a good idea to run around freaking out as that will increase your heart rate and help spread the venom through your system even faster. For the same reason, this is not the time for a stiff drink, a soft drink or even an aspirin. Oh, and paramedics/medical professionals would really appreciate it if you did <i>not</i> try to catch the snake or bring it with you to the hospital. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After learning about rattlers, I'm even more happy to report that the snake we saw today was safely avoided. I hope that's always the case, but in the mean time, I'm definitely going to pick up one of those snake kits to go with my mobile bandaids and antiseptic. Ride safe! </span><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/activities/77754274/embed/aec38e342babc18abe33da7caa4985bf80f8abf3" width="590"></iframe></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-75087474399554555622013-08-19T17:20:00.001-07:002013-09-01T10:18:15.290-07:00Ride Like a NinjaThis weekend was another great instalment with San Diego Mountain Bike Skills clinics where I've been helping out, coaching. While I'm enjoying a transitional period in my life, it seems I have finally got to the part where I get to give back to the sport that's given me so much. And I love every second of it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxOKka7yeWtg912eyAPy-hYiTUfYdngeFUp_KtPYQ1z58-HY4m-VdHJQ38jsw_PPMUl0Cd1fmIl5tyI-6DDoWsQAySCG0ddR1k2b0hJYzG8jZuxTpUjeW4XcN6aUuszUGMQLnr3VXvQ/s1600/hodges_1399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxOKka7yeWtg912eyAPy-hYiTUfYdngeFUp_KtPYQ1z58-HY4m-VdHJQ38jsw_PPMUl0Cd1fmIl5tyI-6DDoWsQAySCG0ddR1k2b0hJYzG8jZuxTpUjeW4XcN6aUuszUGMQLnr3VXvQ/s200/hodges_1399.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
Saturday morning was especially exciting because it was our first go at the new venue, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Hodges" target="_blank">Lake Hodges</a>. It's also the home of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/QuicknDirtyMTB" target="_blank">Quick 'n Dirty races</a>, so hopefully our fresh batch of "ninjas" will take their new-found confidence to this amazing local series. USAC Cycling Coach <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/richard_la_china/" target="_blank">Richard La China</a> (who is also an IMBA certified skills instructor -- one of the first in the U.S.) is our fearless leader. His courses are well organized and designed to help participants progress to their next level, no matter what level they arrived at.<br />
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We covered basic/intermediate skills like cornering (both high-speed and switchbacks), proper positioning, drops, technical descents and of course everyone's favourite, climbing. It's such an awesome feeling watching a rider who started the day saying "I can't do it," rip around a tight switchback, rail a corner, or take on a gnarly drop safely and successfully.<br />
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So amazing in fact, I decided on Sunday I would switch from assistant coach to participant for our advanced Flow and Efficiency clinic. Figured if I'm going to tackle those B.C. Bike Race singletracks, I'd better make sure I've got my "tool-box" packed to overflowing. And the sooner the better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSGCXqLwvEYcR9s3osBYufGRrJQy1KOuoDoLcgZiDK9q27_8w0tej2UGidgX0oE5g8p06dF3BDMvh5Iq6BTmuFZNnSPhX_NX44rwALqPIbLZqGs8OQMntbU65AhJ2WZalYE7ejqSbafI/s1600/Screen-Shot-2011-11-08-at-3.06.13-PM-629x520.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSGCXqLwvEYcR9s3osBYufGRrJQy1KOuoDoLcgZiDK9q27_8w0tej2UGidgX0oE5g8p06dF3BDMvh5Iq6BTmuFZNnSPhX_NX44rwALqPIbLZqGs8OQMntbU65AhJ2WZalYE7ejqSbafI/s200/Screen-Shot-2011-11-08-at-3.06.13-PM-629x520.png" width="200" /></a>As mountain bikers, we are notoriously susceptible to throwing out the homework and enjoying the ride (I know ... it's irresistible) rather than stopping to practice, practice and practice some more. We fail to lock down our most basic skills because it's "the easy stuff", or there's that [insert more interesting trail feature here] we want to level-up on. But everyone knows you can't build up your skills unless you've got a strong foundation. In racing especially, there are so many seconds -- minutes, even -- to be won not by riding more base miles, but by spending time riding around orange cones in tighter and tighter configurations at the soccer pitch near your house.<br />
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Let's compare beginning on a mountain bike to beginning on a snowboard. As Coach Richard explains, at your first snowboard lesson, you start with the very basics. How to strap in, how to stop, how to turn. You slowly move up to linking turns together. And so on. There are SO MANY skills in mountain biking but we gloss over them and spend our time working on fitness, hoping the rest just falls into place. <br />
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I don't know, maybe I'm just speaking for myself and my lackadaisical past. But if you find yourself nodding along, check out <a href="http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/" target="_blank">San Diego Mountain Bike Skills</a> and I promise, you'll be riding like a ninja in no time -- even if you already consider yourself to have a black belt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQLNwqV6la3vGtR16DHlrRlnYdyfK8wFYJs5WH1c-Cr8L5w8eiq2RTaEPkC_KN6s2ldvQcFW4DzlxvsuHuD05NS9scKj8JV3F4DWYLP0DeHfXy5EQ0dUXUhT-yGSCrDxS4T2oPz2D5I/s1600/mountain_bike_skills_san_diego_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQLNwqV6la3vGtR16DHlrRlnYdyfK8wFYJs5WH1c-Cr8L5w8eiq2RTaEPkC_KN6s2ldvQcFW4DzlxvsuHuD05NS9scKj8JV3F4DWYLP0DeHfXy5EQ0dUXUhT-yGSCrDxS4T2oPz2D5I/s400/mountain_bike_skills_san_diego_header.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-4280578543661642032013-08-16T16:22:00.000-07:002013-08-16T16:22:47.323-07:00I'm IN. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7o9lGJJK7HpVuE9lv_XR-96i2RMjubqRtgzUu10ICKJXlBiN_Y10QWx77b_iQNd2Plyr8uTcKZyqUJjXO5HPWTvCglr5-g4VE5yFFyTGEgJo9iR5U2ECgzhz1_QVHMaTSBc5Hz3uoCU/s1600/bcbr_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7o9lGJJK7HpVuE9lv_XR-96i2RMjubqRtgzUu10ICKJXlBiN_Y10QWx77b_iQNd2Plyr8uTcKZyqUJjXO5HPWTvCglr5-g4VE5yFFyTGEgJo9iR5U2ECgzhz1_QVHMaTSBc5Hz3uoCU/s1600/bcbr_logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I can't think of a better occasion to start up this blog again than to make this announcement. Ready? I am finally going to compete in the item that's been languishing at the top of my bucket list since they started running it: the </span><a href="http://www.bcbikerace.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">BC Bike Race</a><span style="text-align: left;">. </span></div>
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The event is a seven-day stage race, starting June 28, 2014. I'll be racing in the solo/open category on a course that's been called the most marvellous on earth, if you're one for the singletrack. Which I most certainly am. So friends, mark your calendars and shine up your cowbells. It's only ten months and 12 days away. </div>
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I'll keep this post short but close with the promise of more blogging as I prepare for what is sure to be the most challenging event of my cycling career. But in the meantime, I want to say <b>thank you to my husband, Gerhard,</b> who rather than balk at the crazy idea (what with the cost, the commitment, the up-in-the-airness of our lives), said "I think you'd better do it" almost before I'd got the words out of my mouth. Feeling pretty lucky these days. </div>
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Lots to catch up on, so stay tuned. And check out the video below to get a taste of the adventure that's waiting! </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R6qn3-cbR-Q" width="450"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-36396867022342457832012-07-17T02:00:00.000-07:002012-07-17T12:00:18.409-07:00Carlsbad to San Clemente in Flirtees!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpkIMgylWdIz_j_ePlrLMLhlZ8UC4X3b5GWELAMLS8UTfjCEuc5irTzjIiLJDdkjIZBIAxYyoLvo4HKrUlKLL8zbMPk9zH1VGPMbRPAjKTmRNVGmjtRNAPIbvcpjOBkZ5RWS3CFN50XI/s1600/Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpkIMgylWdIz_j_ePlrLMLhlZ8UC4X3b5GWELAMLS8UTfjCEuc5irTzjIiLJDdkjIZBIAxYyoLvo4HKrUlKLL8zbMPk9zH1VGPMbRPAjKTmRNVGmjtRNAPIbvcpjOBkZ5RWS3CFN50XI/s400/Me.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just got back from another glorious vacation in California. My f<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">iancé</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span>has the good sense to live there so I am down often, but this is the first time I've worked in a road ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mainly this is due to my hatred of flying with bikes. So I was super glad to find <a href="http://synapticcycles.com/" target="_blank">Synaptic Cycle</a>'s Joe Bartoe who rented me a wonderful carbon steed for less than I would have paid to bring my bike on the plane <i>one way</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bike was a<a href="http://volagi.com/bikes/liscio-ultegra" target="_blank"> "Liscio" by American company Volagi</a>, which is apparently the only one to include disc brakes as a standard feature on their road bikes. I was skeptical but won over in the end. I would almost say this bike was even better than having my own with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the other big wins of my experience with Synaptic:</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bike was fitted against measurements from my road bike emailed in advance so it arrived <i><u>ready to ride</u></i></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was <i><u>delivered and picked up</u></i> by the super affable Joe</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It came with <i><u>full Ultegra, and the saddle and pedals of my choice</u></i>. </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top marks for Synaptic Cycles, and I am sure I will be in touch again soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So with my borrowed bicycle, Gerhard and I set out for his first "real" bike ride (i.e. I made him stop to buy bottle cages and H2O receptacles at the local REI before we set off). We went from his place near La Costa Ave all the way to Pedro's in San Clemente where we gobbled down ten tacos and a lot of pop before turning back for a glorious tailwind push home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All told, <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197282675" target="_blank">we conquered about 115km together</a>, and it was wonderful!! Highlights of the ride included:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh803VgsqJP3rfrhm5ao2MzdYI5Lg6E8jmXrgyJ2esXetZZT32hwaP6rVePfHGzNMHJg-Xikrmw0Xxtl5VbP1iosYIaN_BO4iqLImcBuARdYADuzpQ1H_E-5x_JWgvvj1dkGWS6b37p5nU/s1600/tankxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh803VgsqJP3rfrhm5ao2MzdYI5Lg6E8jmXrgyJ2esXetZZT32hwaP6rVePfHGzNMHJg-Xikrmw0Xxtl5VbP1iosYIaN_BO4iqLImcBuARdYADuzpQ1H_E-5x_JWgvvj1dkGWS6b37p5nU/s200/tankxing.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh803VgsqJP3rfrhm5ao2MzdYI5Lg6E8jmXrgyJ2esXetZZT32hwaP6rVePfHGzNMHJg-Xikrmw0Xxtl5VbP1iosYIaN_BO4iqLImcBuARdYADuzpQ1H_E-5x_JWgvvj1dkGWS6b37p5nU/s1600/tankxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carlsbad Boulevard closed to cars for a triathalon course (which was nearly finished and didn't have any racers left on it) giving us a very large cycling lane for our personal use</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The old highway 101 now closed to cars through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, but is still open to bikes, making it the biggest rec path I have ever seen</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unusual road signs like "Tank Xing" as we rode through range after range *yikes* </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sweet sweet taste of tacos to shut down a full-body bonk</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very welcome tailwind all the way home</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chance to show off my new <a href="http://www.flirtees.ca/" target="_blank">Flirtees</a> Kit (Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/LittleMsEddy" target="_blank">Casey</a>!) [Find Flirtees on <a href="https://twitter.com/flirtees" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/flirtees" target="_blank">Facebook</a></u></span>]</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The part where we were finally finished. ;) </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I'm back in Toronto where it's hotter than Cairo, riding bikes seems less fun. In fact, anything but sitting motionless in my air-conditioned office seems less fun. Til the heat wave breaks, guess I'll continue California dreamin'.</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Gerhard Gross</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-58904588781765333452012-06-29T07:40:00.003-07:002012-06-29T07:40:50.163-07:00VOTE FOR CATHARINE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMYaRfegcA_saoxy5XzMpNaQaHS4sNF9hdbleCLlWKabPkUvxMS6sf7zKAjoKY38vEHyEDsFeDPlqq8E9BlMsvfk9a4x0AAg3gTmj_KxsZp0Rz1fzaHTKWldkiXy-3YFtEdGCaULeVoo/s1600/bracket-940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMYaRfegcA_saoxy5XzMpNaQaHS4sNF9hdbleCLlWKabPkUvxMS6sf7zKAjoKY38vEHyEDsFeDPlqq8E9BlMsvfk9a4x0AAg3gTmj_KxsZp0Rz1fzaHTKWldkiXy-3YFtEdGCaULeVoo/s320/bracket-940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Catharine Pendrel has made it through round after round and now it's down to two. Please vote for Catharine. No disrespect to Simon -- he's amazing too -- but let's have our world champion XC mountain bike racer get the nod!!!<br />
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GO CATHARINE GO!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/interactive/olympics/" style="background-color: white;">http://www.cbc.ca/sports/interactive/olympics/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-45912082852301434762012-06-06T08:36:00.000-07:002012-06-06T08:37:01.537-07:00REVIEW: Pearl Izumi Kit Goes From City to Singletrack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZwA5TvEV5e-WTsL6fx8xYrLiOHD89lzM5kBh-EDXzMaI2hBQUrzlynfBwgF-6Kzd3B-vq_E_3tg9xNTc1-Y1OYuPPXavltQvnzw4tbB4VrRDGsTEZupLzzVoQjrFwRpjrLvn30ZfQRA/s1600/blogger-image--2121012190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZwA5TvEV5e-WTsL6fx8xYrLiOHD89lzM5kBh-EDXzMaI2hBQUrzlynfBwgF-6Kzd3B-vq_E_3tg9xNTc1-Y1OYuPPXavltQvnzw4tbB4VrRDGsTEZupLzzVoQjrFwRpjrLvn30ZfQRA/s200/blogger-image--2121012190.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago, a <a href="http://krislake.blogspot.ca/2012/04/goodie-box.html" target="_blank">special delivery arrived at my front door</a> containing some items from <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/dealer/Canadian_Locator.html" target="_blank">Pearl Izumi</a>. A discerning shopper, I have been carefully evaluating it all ever since. So if you're thinking about updating your cycling wardrobe, I can say with authority that Pearl Izumi is a great place to look. Here's why:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wkTu_AUrdR4iTxW7dcv6b3Ub517HyMELWOuB_OKwpyZuAnfkn7JQWNVpyRNpXSNa6LVBGVbTA-sXLp1D4Qm0BYZAVFkQFU7mkXF62Vp5xZ6fgsXuerSY6t87dSC6VUzYUXQ5i18rUyM/s1600/picstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wkTu_AUrdR4iTxW7dcv6b3Ub517HyMELWOuB_OKwpyZuAnfkn7JQWNVpyRNpXSNa6LVBGVbTA-sXLp1D4Qm0BYZAVFkQFU7mkXF62Vp5xZ6fgsXuerSY6t87dSC6VUzYUXQ5i18rUyM/s320/picstitch.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>On the <a href="http://shop.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=106&product_id=1643603&outlet=" target="_blank">"Canyon" Shorts</a> (pictured in "Silt")</b><br />
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Pearl Izumi calls these their "Go anywhere, do anything" shorts and it's true — they're flexible as all get out. On the outside, they look like a nicely fit short that casually goes from commute to trail ride. On the inside, there is a removable chamois-short that makes them oh-so-comfy (it's the same "3D" chamois technology as the Symphony shorts reviewed below, so read on!). But the best part? When it's time for the chamois to hit the laundry pile, I can easily just throw on my Symphony shorts or another chamois-short and keep the outside layer going. This is important stuff because I wear them almost every day, now that there are mountain bike trails between me and the office. I feel a lot better about showing up in this kit rather than full-on spandex. The one thing I would change? A little zipper or velcro on one of the pockets. Then again, the fabric is so soft and silky and hangs so nicely, I'd worry that bulking up the pockets would interfere with a really nice athletic fit. So jury's out on that.<i><span style="color: magenta;"> (Photo: amazing limited edition graphics on LTD MTB Jersey and adjustable waistband on the Canyon Shorts)</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJFLrqc8cVBGAiKNOMRrAW_NRC3r1bdO-cEEx4PjSURjrxlqbS9ao0yNABQvoQnmqu5uHDkchkXWH2vQARD9fHhi3lLmj54J2UlsXBc-fqOWlLOR-8-RHiaZEbRMam3RlIaNC7dmhdQw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJFLrqc8cVBGAiKNOMRrAW_NRC3r1bdO-cEEx4PjSURjrxlqbS9ao0yNABQvoQnmqu5uHDkchkXWH2vQARD9fHhi3lLmj54J2UlsXBc-fqOWlLOR-8-RHiaZEbRMam3RlIaNC7dmhdQw/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>On the<a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/women/ride/apparel/mtb_jerseys.-productCode-11221212.html#3SJ" target="_blank"> LTD MTB Jersey</a> (pictured in "Peacock") </b><br />
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Besides featuring limited edition graphics, this jersey has a lot going for it. First of all, full-zip. Yes. All jerseys should be full zip IMHO. Next it's got a great lightweight feel to it, and the waist is free-moving enough that it doesn't get bunched up around your middle. It looks great fully-zipped, which is a must during gnat season and hey, it even matches <a href="http://ca.dakine.com/p/girls/packs/2012-winter/girls-heli-pro" target="_blank">my backpack</a>! <i><span style="color: magenta;">(Photo, clockwise from top: Super comfy "3D" technology on the Canyon Shorts chamois liner; Me outside my office, going from singletrack to city ... and back again ... showing off my LTD MTB Jersey and Canyon Shorts; handy snaps to keep the liner and outer-shell of the Canyon shorts moving in sync.)</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoWPgPpd0YxbekQKlnCpLJAJO3Yz9mH4_wmsMz0493APRW8q_znJqHRJrbWE2gCEp2rFjSF07Ed_Q_rjf8UZ5-JWTBrzWnN2xae06z9K_jJig6QixM1KIh5qNdQUqlF3EoVI0sIHe8G4/s1600/pro_shorts.image.+media+images+pearlizumi+products+Ride+Apparel+CYW+Road+Bottoms+Shorts+11211117_3NS_v1_m56577569830762798_dot_png.bm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoWPgPpd0YxbekQKlnCpLJAJO3Yz9mH4_wmsMz0493APRW8q_znJqHRJrbWE2gCEp2rFjSF07Ed_Q_rjf8UZ5-JWTBrzWnN2xae06z9K_jJig6QixM1KIh5qNdQUqlF3EoVI0sIHe8G4/s200/pro_shorts.image.+media+images+pearlizumi+products+Ride+Apparel+CYW+Road+Bottoms+Shorts+11211117_3NS_v1_m56577569830762798_dot_png.bm.png" width="200" /></a><b>On the <a href="http://shop.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=106&product_id=1642199&outlet=" target="_blank">"Symphony" Shorts</a> (in Black and Safety Orange)</b><br />
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The chamois and trim are bright orange, making them easy to spot in an overflowing cycling shorts drawer. Important, because if they're in the clean pile, they're the ones I'm reaching for. I've worn these shorts a lot in the month+ I've had them and the chamois is one of the best I've enjoyed, ever. It's as supple as they day I took them out of the box, and it wicks sweat away as promised so it's very comfortable to ride whether it's 30 minutes to work, or 3 hours out on the trails. The grips on the cuffs are great — I've had grips that actually cut into my leg (you know what i'm talking about) but these ones have nice round grippers (they remind me of the stoppers on cabinet doors to keep them from slamming) that I hardly notice at all while they keep my shorts firmly in place. Although not a functional feature in any way, I love that they're grey on the inside, while black on the outside ... attention to detail is always well-received, and a sign that Pearl Izumi is on it. Length is also good; not too short, not too long. There are a TON Of colourways available too which makes these fun to stock up on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT9PQll1aJMHlE5h8X7oP2yM4w5du33rZ1W-FqpKutydGnxTcQ-el459WElg3IIRQNhD-TmepHEtQFWUAVn2D_PKSglpnXAMC-YyczJ0M5Gr1t2gr5ofT01tcfkTR140crPG8s0mwQvk/s1600/0.image.+media+images+pearlizumi+products+Essentials+Baselayer+Womens+Tops+3909_021_v1_m56577569830761616_dot_png.bm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT9PQll1aJMHlE5h8X7oP2yM4w5du33rZ1W-FqpKutydGnxTcQ-el459WElg3IIRQNhD-TmepHEtQFWUAVn2D_PKSglpnXAMC-YyczJ0M5Gr1t2gr5ofT01tcfkTR140crPG8s0mwQvk/s200/0.image.+media+images+pearlizumi+products+Essentials+Baselayer+Womens+Tops+3909_021_v1_m56577569830761616_dot_png.bm.png" width="200" /></a><b>On the "<a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/women/ride/0.-productCode-3909.html" target="_blank">Transfer Lite Racer-Back Baselayer</a>" (in the picture above ... but you can't see it)</b><br />
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I also picked up a great racer back undershirt for these early season rides that has already come in handy more than once. Sometimes you need that "just enough" layer to keep you going and Pearl's is the most comfy I've tried. The neck even comes up high enough to keep those spring gnats out of your sports bra. And that's a huge plus. (gross. gnats.) And the tail is long enough you don't get mid-section bunching. Very sleek.<br />
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So ... if like me, you find yourself in a cycling wardrobe update year, I highly recommend the offerings from Pearl Izumi. <a href="http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/dealer/Canadian_Locator.html" target="_blank">You can get it at many fine Toronto retailers or enter your postal code to find a shop near you.</a><br />
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Happy Trails!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08222550707857721861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922283929032465671.post-76365025946041496952012-06-05T18:00:00.000-07:002012-06-06T08:37:37.224-07:00Top Cycling Blogs for 2012!Unfortunately, Racer Diaries didn't make the cut for the <a href="http://lovingthebike.com/uncategorized/2012-cycling-blog-top-dogs">2012 Cycling Blog Top Dogs</a> -- but I'm super stoked to see that the <a href="http://www.mtnbikinggirl.com/" target="_blank">top mountain biking blog</a> belongs to a woman! So three cheers for MTB and extra fist pumps for girls who ride.<br />
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