Anna Kelso

Case in Point

2011-03-17T16:02:00.005-04:00

Just last weekend was the first race in the US CUP Triple Crown series at Bonelli Park in California. The pro men’s race had a field of roughly 83, which is really not all that different from years past. On the other hand, the women’s pro field was less than half what it was six years ago, with only 18 women in the XC race and only 10 in the short track. Does anybody else see this as a problem?! On the up side, Lea Davison had a break through weekend, taking first in short track and second in the XC race. Yay Lea! It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were all racing collegiately. Speaking of collegiate racing, it looks like I’ll be heading back to grad school in the spring of 2012. I think collegiate racing is the only thing that could entice me out of retirement.

Retired

2011-03-01T06:47:00.012-05:00

This is the first winter in nine years that I haven’t trained for the road or mountain bike season ahead. Although I finally reached my long time goal of moving up to pro (on the mtb), I have decided to put racing away for a while (I did, however, purchase a license just in case). It was a difficult decision, and I know it will be especially hard once racing season begins, but I think it’s time to switch gears (no pun intended). Over the past nine years of racing I have made some incredible friends, and pushed myself to limits I never thought possible. And now I think it’s time to redirect my energy in slightly more selfless ways. Now that I’m not trying to cram sixteen to eighteen hours of training into a week while at the same time working a full time job fifty miles away, I have found that I have far more time and energy to pour into my friends, family and community. This is not to say that racing is an exclusively selfish endeavor, I just think it's time for me to move on.

It's also looking like xc mtb racing has decided to move on, at least the East Coast mountain biking I knew when I first transferred from road to dirt in 2004. My second mtb race ever was at the 2004 NORBA Nationals in Snowshoe, WV. This was NORBA at its height. Kabush’s sideburns were in peak form, Alison Dunlap had not yet retired, and Dara Marks-Marino was my favorite underdog. My initial intentions for traveling to Snowshoe were to follow-up on a crush I had on a certain semi-pro. The crush never went anywhere, but my love affair with racing in the dirt had just begun. Although my chain broke on the first lap, I felt strong and was eager for another shot at the podium. And that’s how I ended up traveling to Mt. Snow the following weekend. I know, a little over kill for a sport racer, but I’m glad I managed to experience NORBA at its peak. Looking at the 2011 calendar, it seems that the only Pro XCT race to hit the East Coast this year will be the Hoo-Ha.

But the void left by the glory days of NORBA (and 24hr racing for that matter) has been filled by the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) series …slightly ironic when you consider that the NUE is the bread and butter of my husband’s racing career. The hundred miler scene is pretty healthy these days, and continues to grow with each additional season. This year the NUE has grown from 8 to 11 races, many of which sell out early in the year.

So, I’m still not exactly sure what this blog post is about. Is it about my own personal decision to stop racing and reinvest in forgotten pockets of my life, or is it about the evolution of mountain bike racing on the East Coast. I’m not quite sure. Maybe it's about Pareto efficiency. Pareto efficiency is that point of minimal efficiency, where supply and demand sort of meet, but have yet to arrive at that sweet spot where a socially desirable distribution of resources has been found and the overall well-being of society has not yet been satisfied. We're all just doing the best we can, trying to make the best decisions we can with what little information we have. Someday we will finally reach equilibrium. And this blog post is already too long

A Month in Review

2010-07-02T23:05:00.014-04:00

Alright, I’ve got some races to catch up on, so I’m afraid it’s going to have to be the Reader’s Digest version. First there was the Stoopid Fifty. I’ve always had intentions of doing this race, but it never seemed to agree with my schedule. This year I finally got my chance. As we lined up a light mist slowly built into steady rainfall for the first fifteen or twenty minutes of the race. Heading up Bear Meadows Road, I started making my way to the front in an effort to avoid the bottle neck as hundreds of riders made a sharp left up the Tussey Extension. I was especially excited to race on my former home trails. So many good memories of grad school days! At Aid Station #1 I was feeling surprisingly strong as well as chit chatty (the latter not really being that surprising). While jib jabbing with old friends I managed to ride off with only one water bottle ….what was I thinking?! By the time I made it to Aid Station #2 I was slowly starting to come apart. After rehydrating and shoving fistfuls of Swedish fish in my mouth, I headed off for the last leg of the race. Finishing behind Janelle, I rolled in at 5th place.

Next came the Hoo Ha. After a long, hectic week at work, I decided to focus my efforts on the XC race rather than trying to tack on the short track and Super D. Arriving in Harrisonburg on Saturday night, my friends and I were treated to a hearty burrito dinner prepared by the infamous Nick Waite. We sat on his lazy front porch, sipping boxed wine as an evening storm rolled in. The following day well ALL lined up at the starting line to race one of the most historic races in the mid-Atlantic. I think it might actually be the longest running mtb race on the East Coast, but I would have to crosscheck that statement before passing it along as fact. Nick was telling me that mtb races used to always include a pond jump as one of the events. Why did that ever die?! We need to bring pond jumping back to the mid-Atlantic.

The mass start proved to be a bit confusing and frustrating, especially for the amateur women who never really know who exactly they are racing or how many ladies are actually in their field. Dry conditions made for great handling over roots and rocks on the climb; however, I felt like I was going to slide out at any moment on the descent. With my hydration blunder still fresh in my mind from the weekend before, I took full advantage of all the neutral feeds, using the cool water to keep my core body temperature down. Unfortunately, two of the fastest girls in our field suffered major damage to their rear derailleurs, opening up an opportunity for me to have a better finish than I originally thought possible. Lindsay Honaker continued to race even after having worked on her bike for over 40 minutes only to race the final lap on her make-shift single speed. What an animal. Sorting through the tangled web of erroneous race results was a test of both patience and manners, but at the end of the day I got to climb to the top of the podium. Yay!

Oh, and in other news, I went home to Miami for my grandmother’s 93rd birthday back in June. She is so freaking cute it breaks my heart.

Albuquerque

2010-05-27T13:34:00.013-04:00

I am now heading back to DC after spending the last few days in Albuquerque for the National Tribal Environmental Council conference. I think the main thing I learned from the entire experience is that I have a lot to learn about tribal environmental issues. It was truly a humbling, sobering experience and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend.

I also found a little time to squeeze in a couple mountain bike rides with a bike I rented from Fat Tire Cycles. Renting a bike seems to be the way to go now that the airlines are really ramping up the cargo fee. On the first day Nina Baum and her friend Adam were kind enough to show me some of their local trails. I was really impressed with the trails around Otero Canyon. Great climbing, technical rocky stuff here and there, fun descents, and endless miles of single track can be found in the Cibola National Forest. Between the altitude and the slightly heavier bike, each climb was a slow, lung burning experience. I also found cornering to feel a little awkward on 29” wheels as my center of gravity seemed a little difficult to locate at times. I was pretty impressed with how easy it is to get over big stuff on a 29er. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my camera on the ride! Thanks again Nina and Adam for letting me tag along!

For my second ride I headed to the foothills where I happened upon a local who was kind enough to let me follow him around. These trails were super fast on hard packed dirt with very little climbing. It’s a popular area with lots of intersecting trails, making for a few close calls with cyclists and trail runners. One group of cyclists confused me with Krista Park! It must be my impressive quads. Speaking of quads, when I got back to the car a woman sheepishly approached me, and asked if cycling makes your thighs get big. She was hoping to fit into her skinny jeans and wanted to know if I thought cycling was a good way to tone things up. Although all bodies are different, I conceded that my thighs tend to get bigger the more I ride and squeezing my badunkadunk into tight jeans does pose a problem. That’s the ugly truth. Although, I suppose I could have advised her to spin in an easy gear with a high cadence.

So, now I’m heading back to DC, where I will then catch a flight to Miami for a quick visit with the family. Poor Jeff is starting to get restless back at home.

BTWD Report

2010-05-27T13:31:00.002-04:00

Bike to Work Day was a huge success, both in DC and in Frederick. I think this is the first time is hasn’t rained in three years. Jeff was kind enough to join me in leading convoy #25 from Poolesville to DC. In addition to Jeff, we had two other members on our convoy, one of which had never been on a ride before! It was his first ride ever! What a perfect way to spend Bike to Work Day!

Greenversations

2010-05-21T16:11:00.007-04:00

Bike to Work Day post on EPA's Greenversations

BTWD Convoy #25

2010-05-18T14:01:00.005-04:00

Join me on BTWD! I'll be leading a convoy from the Poole's General Store on River Road, leaving at 6:30am on Friday, May 21st and ending at Freedom Plaza. You can find more information on all of WABA's convoys HERE or you can find a que sheet for Convoy #25 HERE. Hope to see you there! (click map to enlarge)

Chasing Legends

2010-05-17T16:51:00.004-04:00

According to reports, the big debut of Chasing Legends at the Tour of California was a huge success, eliciting a standing ovation from the crowd!!! See Jason's interview on the Sacramento news!!! This is a huge success for Gripped Films!!! I can't stop using "!!!!!"

French Creek

2010-05-15T09:08:00.010-04:00

Over the past couple years, the Mid-Atlantic Super Series (MASS) has really become a hot-bed of competition for the ladies. The generous payout draws some of the strongest ladies from both the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. Whenever a race promoter uses low turn-out as an excuse for small payout, you can point to the MASS as a good example of what happens when female racers area taken seriously.

At any rate, the race went fairly well considering the competition. The elite Cat1/pro field was stacked with some pretty fast ladies and I was surprised to find myself pulling to the front up the first climb. I eventually faded back, but did my best to hold a consistent pace to the finish. At the end of the day I finished in 7th place, not a fantastic result, but not horrible either considering the competition. The humble MASS "podium" looks more like a bunch of kids at summer camp. Payout went as deep as 9th, so I had some cash to cover entry and a post race meal at a cozy diner near the PA/MD border.

Cat1/Pro Female Winner: Kristin Gavin (what a beast!)

Cat1/Pro Male Winner: Jeff Schalk (yay!)

Oh, and not to get sappy, but Jeff and I met for the first time at French Creek three years ago. Funny how things work out.

FBC Survey

2010-05-06T12:55:00.005-04:00

In an effort to gather some baseline information on the current status of cycling in Frederick, the Frederick Bicycle Coalition has put together a brief survey. Please take a few minutes to help us better understand our community and what influences our travel and recreational behavior!

LINK TO SURVEY HERE!!!!

Wawayanda

2010-05-04T21:03:00.009-04:00

Last weekend Jeff and I headed up to New Jersey for the first race of the H2H Campmor series at Wawayanda State Park. Neither of us had ever raced there before and we were both surprised to find the course was reminiscent of something you mind find in Michaux. Although there wasn't much climbing on the 9 mile lap it included some impressive rock gardens and technical singltrack. It was a hot day and the autobottle was fully loaded. I got a great start, but then began to fade half way through the first lap. The heat made my head want to explode, and I began to consider pulling out if I continued to feel like ass. Somewhere in the begining of the second lap I saw Melissa Kern on the horizon. Wow! I was shocked to find myself within reach of the great Melissa Kern. We went back and forth for a while. She'd pass on the climbs and I'd make up ground on the descents. I was leading going into the last lap, let her pass me on the climb and really didn't put up much of a fight. It had already been a long race and I just didn't think I had much energy to get scrappy. Damn! If only I had known she was only 1 minute ahead! Surely I could have put my head down and suffered enough to make up 59 seconds. Well, I guess it's the good news/bad news. Excited that I'm finishing within reach of some super strong ladies, disappointed in myself for not following through with a good fight. So, I took 4th, Melissa 3rd, followed by the two pro women in our field (1st and 2nd).

Other Race Notes:

- Jeff won!

- We saw three bear cubs while pre-riding the day before!!!

- The autobottle was again the best self-feeding design at the race!

Greenbrier

2010-05-01T11:01:00.005-04:00

In addition to catching a healthy amount of the sweet air, I also snagged my first win of the season at Greenbrier last week and maintained my title as Maryland State Champ ...well, for the Cat1 females aged 30-39. I was super anxious about getting a good start in an effort to get the hole shot into the first technical section. I was shocked to find myself leading up the first hill and made a sizeable gap on the field by the time I reached the bottom of the first rocky, technical section. It wasn't long before the talented Lindsay Bayer passed me on the climb and I looked nervously over my should as Julie seemed to be gaining on me. Thank God for technical descents, as this was where I was finally able to put some good distance between Julie and I, securing second place overall and first place in my age category. Yay!!!!

English Ivy

2010-04-30T09:30:00.003-04:00

This month's invasive exotic species is the deplorable English ivy (Hedera helix). Native to most of Europe where natural controls keep this unwieldy vine in check, it has become a particular problem in the United States and Australia. Much like kudzu, English ivy will slowly take over a forest and eventually wrestle entire trees to the ground under its oppressive weight. On Earth Day '10, English forces joined the Friends of Rock Creek Park in an effort to halt the advancement of the English ivy take over. It is a slow tedious process, but I guess Rome wasn't built in a day. And all of this leaves me with an ethical dilemma. What should I do with the English ivy my grandmother gave me for my 30th birthday?

Baker's Dozen

2010-04-29T22:20:00.006-04:00

What better way to get to know your new team than to race with them for 13 hours and then hang out around a bonfire with lots of good beer? Emily, Jessica and I came together as the Gripped Racing Chicks in the 3-person coed class. Although we knew the winning teams would most likely be comprised of a mmf combo, we didn't let that get us down. We fought the good fight and laid it on the line each and every lap. Jeff even joined me on a lap, sitting on my wheel and offering words of encouragement along the way (I think that ended up being my fastest lap). The course is fast and smooth, with only a few rock features here and there just to keep things interesting. Although we didn't take home the win (that went to Wes Schempf and Co.), it does look like we were the first all female team. Can't wait for next year, I hear there may be a 3-person category just for the ladies! Oh, and I forgot to give props to Amanda Watson for coming out with her drums! Hope you're killin' it down at Speed Week Amanda!

Tsali

2010-04-29T17:17:00.016-04:00

Things have been quite hectic lately, which has left me precious little time for the blogging. Right now I have a back log of three race reports, roughly five or six deep thoughts, two invasive exotic species of the month, some FBC news, and a few other miscellaneous items. For right now I'll do a brief race report from Tsali. (click photo to enlarge)

On our way down south, Jeff and I managed to talk past our exit forcing us to drive through the heart of Gattlinburgh, which is kind of the Epcot of Tennessee (Tennessee's Disney World equivalent being Dollywood). Although it's a big drive, I always welcome an opportunity to race on Appalachian soil and squeeze in a quick visit with the family.

Neither Jeff nor I had a fantastic race. Although Tsali is fairly untechnical, there are very few places to pass on the course as much of it is narrow, side-hill singletrack. I had a pretty bad starting position, which is really no one's fault but my own. Also, because the course wasn't too technical, it didn't really play to my strengths very well. I need to stop scrubbing so much speed on the berms.

Jeff had an amazing start with a four man break on the first lap, but then had a number of mechanicals including a massive gash in his side-wall, causing him to ride the last lap on a flat. He is a bigger person than I am. I would have made my way for the car after mechanical #2. (click photo to enlarge)

The biggest success of the entire weekend was Jeff's Autobottle (c). Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of the Autobottle in action, but suffice it to say that the Autobottle is the latest in self-feeding technology.

Frederick Bicycle Coalition!

2010-04-02T11:08:00.008-04:00

The Frederick Bicycle Coalition is up and running!!! Soon our website will be ready to accept member applications and donations. We are also hosting a fundraiser at AgorDolce on April 2oth. Click image to enlarge:

Happy Valley

2010-04-02T09:59:00.009-04:00

Last weekend's trip to State College reminded me of why I love riding my bike in the woods so much. Accompanied by Jeff and my former housemate Jordan, we spent the weekend barrelling up and down all of my favorite trails in Rothrock. Going in through Shingletown, the trail snakes along Roaring Run and you are enveloped in a dense canopy of hemlocks. Even IMBA took note of these ancient hemlocks in the IMBA Epic ride description:

Pausing for some water and a bite to eat four hours into the legendary R3 ride, I'm mesmerized by the ancient hemlock forest. The steady rain has drenched everything and heightened the trees' pungent aroma. The country's oldest stand of hemlocks, protected here in the 90,000-acre Rothrock State Forest, are a defining highlight of the Roth Rock Ride.

After a long day in the woods, Jeff and I gorged ourselves on ice cream at the Penn State Creamery and then headed to Elk Creek in Milheim. It was so good to see so many old friends, it really is Happy Valley.

Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot of room in my jersey pockets for a camera now that I only have one bottle cage (the only down side of full suspension) so I will have to dig into my archives of State College photos and rely on my illustrative talents.

In other news, my old truck has found a new home on the Kreitz
Show Cattle farm.

Racing

2010-03-22T09:52:00.009-04:00

The more I think about the season ahead, the more I think I might be more
interested in starting a vegetable garden and learning to play the fiddle. What is it that makes people continue to show up at the starting line year after year? I think I'm getting soft and have lost interest in spending time in the hurt locker. I'll probably feel differently once the season gets going, but I'd still like to learn to play the fiddle.

A Frederick Renaissance

2010-03-07T09:38:00.018-05:00

Although the trails remain unrideable, there is evidence that spring is on the way. Yesterday, Jeff, Amanda, Joos and I went for a road ride with over 5,000 feet of climbing in roughly 50 miles. Early on in the ride we stopped at the Jefferson Pastry Shoppe, located next to Hemp's Meets on Jefferson Pike. Between climbs, we stopped to take photos of a few familiar landmarks and wolf down various forms of gummy sustenance. While nothing will ever compare to State College, the road riding in Frederick and Washington County provides some of the best climbing in the state, on narrow rural roads with very little traffic. Park Hall Rd, Zittlestown Rd, and Gapland Rd are among some of my favorite roads in the area.

In other news, I have been reading more and more about the long term transportation planning going on both in the city and the county of Frederick. Planners at both the city and county level envision a future of multi-modal transportation and sustainable land-use that creates a livable community for its citizens rather than a concrete web of roads that force people off their bikes and into their cars.

"For tomorrow's Frederick County, the transportation technology with the greatest potential to improve the quality of life for citizens may not be the wheel, train, or turbine - it may indeed be the shoe."
(Providing Transportation Choices December 2009)

Further reading:
City of Frederick Shared Use Path Plan
Providing Transportation Choices
Fort Dietrick Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Access Study

Miscellany

2010-02-28T11:29:00.012-05:00

The last week or so has left little time for blogging, so I'll do my best to outline the highlights. Last weekend, Julie, Mel, and I enjoyed ladies' night in Frederick. Oh, and I found a box of abandon cupcakes on the side of the road! Saturday night, Jeff and I headed to Great Falls for the MORE annual meeting. Congratulations to Joe on his new position! (Chris and Jeff at the MORE party)

Thursday night I swung by Conte's to pick up my new Cannondale Scalpel!!! I have finally decided to let go of the hardtail and embrace full suspension technology. Oh, and the Scalpel is an impressive 2lbs. lighter than my Kona (or Fauxna as Jeff likes to call it ....we have reason to believe it might be a Chinese knock-off)

Because the watershed refuses to thaw, this weekend's rides were all on the road. Right now I'm trying to scrape up the motivation to head out for an afternoon of hill repeats on Gambrill Park Rd. Last night Jeff and I met up with Gripped Racing for a team dinner at Dogfish Head. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so the logo will have to suffice. Looking forward to a season of racing with my new team!

Clemson Recap

2010-02-13T08:19:00.018-05:00

Overall, Jeff and I both got in some good training in during our week down south. I got in a few good rides around Clemson in the beginning of the week before heading to 3 Gap in Dahlonega, GA. Climbing up Neel Gap, I was reminded of my collegiate cycling days as well as my tender high school years when I spent long hours doing trail work on the Appalachian Trail. That was back when I thought mountain biking was nothing more than a vicious assault on our vulnderable top soil.

Arriving in Athens later that night, I met up with my good friend Maria. Unfortunately, I was unable to fully enjoy her company as I was soon struck by a nasty case of food poisoning. Turns out, Jeff also spent the evening crouched next to the toilet bowl in Clemson, which leads me to believe that Super Taco is to blame for our illness. Friday's snow storm also put a damper on the riding conditions, so the remainder of our time in Clemson was spent nibbling on crackers and sipping watered down Gatorade. [photo: Jeff & Jeremiah (left), snow ride (ride)]

It was kind of disappointing to drive 9 hours south only to get hit with a nasty case of food poisoning and a fresh blanket of snow. Although, on the positive side, we did get in some quality training earlier in the week and, thanks to Super Taco, I'm down to race weight and it's not even March!

Day Three

2010-02-10T19:33:00.012-05:00

Today's ride took me on a tour of some of the steepest pitches in the area starting with Glassy Mountain (6% grade), then onto Holly Springs School Road (6% grade), and finished things up with with Upper Spring Road (7% grade). Not knowing the area, I was very pleased with the route I gleaned from MapMyRide. Again, Super Taco served as the perfect recovery meal. ("Road Ends" is country for "Steep-ass Road Ahead".

Tomorrow I'm heading for Dahlonega, Georgia to ride 3 Gap, which lands solidly on my podium of favorite rides. In addition to the breathtaking views and quad burning climbs, 3 Gap is also a relic of my college days. Located less than an hour from Athens, 3 Gap is something of a tradition for the UGA Cycling Team. Long hours of shared suffering seems to be the stuff that life long friendships are made of.

Exodus

2010-02-08T21:06:00.015-05:00

Against our better judgment, Jeff and I decided to brave the roads and head south for a week of training in Clemson, South Carolina. Lucky for me, Snowmageddon happened to fall during my week between jobs as well as during my biggest training week of the year. Really, this was an honest coincidence. After a hectic few hours on I-95, watching SUVs swerve across lanes of ice and snow while talking on their cell phones, the snow eventually dwindled to nothing and we finally arrived in Clemson just after midnight.

Today's ride was a welcome reprieve from the snowpocalypse we left behind. Clear skies, near perfect trail conditions, and temperatures somewhere in the 50s. While in Clemson we're staying in a home located directly across from the Isaqueena Trail System in the Clemson Experimental Forest. With over 50 miles of trail on 17,640 acres of land, there is more than enough singletrack for a solid day of riding. Heading out with Jeff and Jeremiah, Ian and I soon settled into our own pace. Ian is a Clemson local and was kind enough to show me around the forest. Super taco made for the perfect post-ride meal.

Looking forward to a full week of warm snowless rides before returning to my government job.

One More Car

2010-02-06T11:15:00.014-05:00

Last week's week's One Less Car Symposium in Annapolis got off to a delayed start on account of Tuesday night's snow fall. Chanda and I arrived in time to catch the tail end of the morning sessions and then started looking for lunch. As luck would have it, we happened upon one of Maryland's most celebrated restaurants, Chick and Ruth's Delly, which was recently featured on Man v. Food. We were immediately greeted by the owner, Ted Levitt, who kept us entertained with countless magic tricks and zany antics until our sandwiches arrived. The deli was opened by Ted's parents in 1965, who's compassion for people continues to be evident in the strong culture of camaraderie.

Chanda and I returned to the conference where we learned more about all the exciting efforts in Maryland to increase the state's bicycle mode share. From there we headed to Automotive Direct USA, where I bought a 2000 Subaru Legacy. Soak in the irony. That's right, I bought a car after attending the One Less Car Symposium. It's as horrible as it sounds. But in my defense, I've been driving the same Toyota Tacoma since I as nineteen, and after 240,000 miles I have decided to finally let it go. From the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of Miami, my truck has been a loyal mode of transportation for the last eleven years. Thank you, Tacoma, for eleven years of countless adventures and many happy memories. You will forever live in my heart.

Groundhog Day

2010-02-03T22:19:00.012-05:00

Due to the fresh layer of snow, I opted to ride the road into work yesterday. Leaving from Dickerson, Joos kept me company until the turn onto River Road. I stopped to take a photo of the anti-share the road sign that always cracks me up. Does this mark the spot where cars are no longer expected to pass with care, and may instead run cyclists off the road with impunity?

After work I joined Amanda at Nellie's for a few rounds of Drag Queen Bingo. I really had my sights on the badminton set, but lady luck refused to look my way.

Realign

2010-02-01T22:19:00.015-05:00

Sometimes life is a lot like tiling a bathroom. Every now and then you have to stop and make sure you're lined up with your desired destination. But life is kind of messy, and what started out as neat rows of tile, some how becomes something of a mosaic. Needless to say, I've been doing some realigning, and making decisions that I think parallel my long term goals ...which isn't always easy to figure out. (photo: Sunday's snow ride)

In addition to my professional life, I've also been reassessing my plans for the 2010 mtb season. At first I was under the impression that, the Kenda Cup Series would be around again this year, but instead it's just a bunch of qualifier races that aren't really a part of a any kind of series. Then there's the US Pro XC Tour and the Triple Crown series, both of which take place primarily on the west side of the Mississippi.

2010 USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour

March 27: US Cup Fontana - Fontana, California

April 18: Sea Otter Classic - Monterey, California

May 29: Mellow Johnny’s Classic - Dripping Springs, Texas

June 26: Subaru Cup - Mt. Morris, Wisconsin

July 10: Carmichael Training Systems International Classic - Colorado Springs, Colorado

This year, I think I have decided to reduce the carbon footprint of my racing season and primarily follow the Mid-Atlantic Super Series. In years past the women's fields have been quite small, but perhaps things will be different this season. I can't help but wonder if usacycling is at at all concerned with the future of the sport, particularly for the women.

Morning Commute

2010-01-29T13:01:00.010-05:00

Joos joined me the other day on my morning commute into DC. I arrived at work stinky and muddy, which isn't a bad way to start the day. Just to clear up any confusion, that really isn't Todd Wells in the photo.

Base 2

2010-01-19T23:58:00.020-05:00

So last week marked the end of Base 2 according to the training schedule I have formulated for the 2010 season. It was a bit of a struggle to squeeze in the 18 hours I had planned as much of the week was spent at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference (which, by the way, was really very interesting). To add insult to injury, Sunday's weather was pretty much horrible. So, I decided to fold MLK day into the training week in a desperate effort to get my hours in. Trying to squeeze in training time during the work week is never easy, and it is especially hard when trying to log in long hours of base miles. With Jeff's counseling, I think I might try to revamp my training schedule by putting more emphasis on quality instead of quantity. (photo: the gridlocksmith showed up at the TRB reception)

Oh, and I finally did my first power test, only to find out that my powertap is miscalibrated for the third time in less than a year. But I guess there are worse problems to have, such as living in a country devastated by a 7.0 earthquake. It's good to keep things in perspective. Also, I forgot to pack a sports bra for the Kelley Acres CT class on Sunday and had to get creative with what I could find on her supply shelf. Turns out duct tape and rubber bands will do the trick when you're in a pinch. The photos are a bit unflattering, so

I don't think I'll be posting them. In other Kelley Acres news, Joos now holds the TT record. I think it was Black Sabbath's "Crazy Train" that really helped him turn the screws.

Joe's 40th birthday celebration was on Saturday. It was a warm, jovial gathering of the usual crowd. Jeff especially liked the bean dip and everyone was startled by the cream cheese swimming in a green gelatinous substance. Happy Birthday Joe!

As for updates on the LeCanne tragedy, TransitMiami has posted that there will be a memorial ride held on Sunday morning at 9am. I will actually be in town visiting my family and plan to attend.

Death on the Rickenbacker

2010-01-18T17:03:00.012-05:00

A Miami cyclist was killed this morning by musician Carlos Bertonatti along the Rickenbacker Causeway. Bertonatti, who was driving under the influence, sped away, dragging the cyclist's bike underneath his car. It took 22 minutes before an ambulance arrived, and by then it was too late. Bertonatti is now being charged with vehicular homicide. (photo from the Miami Bike Scene Blog)

As some of you may remember from my holiday ride reports, the Rickenbacker Causeway is really the only place to ride in Miami (aside from the Everglades). Miami is a car dominated city, with little respect or concern for pedestrians and cyclists. In fact, according to the Dangerous by Design report, Miami is the 3rd most dangerous city in the US for pedestrians. And so it is especially disturbing that this man was killed while riding in a bike lane on one of the only stretches of road that is remotely safe for cyclists. Perhaps if speed limits were more diligently enforced, Bertonatti would have been stopped before the fatal crash. The Miami cycling community pulls together as they grieve the loss of a fellow cyclist.

Full report here:
Miami New Times
Miami Bike Scene
A cyclist's account of the accident

Catching Up

2010-01-13T22:46:00.016-05:00

This week has been pretty hectic, which means I haven't had much time to spend keeping up on the developments of the whole facebook fiasco. Last I heard, facebook decided that the group did not violate their terms of use policy and therefore will not be removed. I'm not sure that I agree with this, but I really haven't the time or energy to look into any further at this point.

Last weekend was a bit of a blur. Joos and I went for a long ride in Gambrill on Saturday morning. Sections were still a little icy, but overall the trail conditions were pretty good. We headed home down the lawnmower trail ...which apparently is in hunting territory judging by the trail of blood in the snow. If only Louis Garneau made flak jackets. (photo: Joos really needs new gloves)

Saturday night was Hillary's Squatter's Party, in honor of the squatters she displaced when she moved in. Yay for Hillary's new house! Due to the questionable structural integrity of the house, much of it was off limits. Confined to the kitchen and the backyard, we gathered for warmth and good cheer. Congratulations, Hillary, on your new home!!!! Sorry about your floor!

Response to FB Hate Group

2010-01-08T08:34:00.006-05:00

Outcry against the Facebook hate group is gaining momentum. Just yesterday, efforts to end the hate group culminated in the response, "Help Remove this Hate Group Against Cyclists!" (many thanks to Sarah for the heads up on this). I'm not sure how long it takes Facebook to respond to such issues, but hopefully it won't be much longer before the group is wiped from facebook existence.

Tensions between drivers and cyclists need to be diffused and hate groups only help to add fuel to a fire that is already out of control. Christopher Thomspon, the enraged LA doctor who injured two cyclists with his vehicle last summer (pictured above), is scheduled to be sentenced this morning, Friday, January 8th. Guilty of six felonies, prosecuters are asking for eight years in prison (VeloNews).

Also during the summer of 2009, Charles Alexander, a retired Asheville firefighter shot at a cyclist, narrowly missing his head by less than an inch. He was sentenced to a measly 120 days in prison for attempted murder (Streetsblog).

We must diffuse this anger and aggression before another cyclist is injured or killed by an irate driver and ending the facebook hate group is a good place to start. (photo taken from Help Remove this Facebook Group Against Cyclists!)

Disturbing Facebook Group

2010-01-06T15:35:00.011-05:00

I was recently made aware of a Facebook group that is so troubling, it makes me nauseous. The group is called "There's a Perfectly Good Path Right Next to the Road You Stupid Cyclist" and is unified in their hatred of cyclists. Not only do they complain about petty inconveniences caused by cyclists, but also applaud and encourage aggressive driving as a means to scare and intimidate cyclists off the road. One fan's comment to the photo on the right reads as follows: "i would love to do this to cyclists!" This group is wrong on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin. And I suspect that anyone who chooses to associate with such a group must be so mentally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt, that any attempt to convince them of their egregious behavior would only fall on deaf ears. Many of the group's fans look to be rather young ...so maybe there is still time to help these young people realize that driving should not be the only transportation option ....and that they have been forced into their cars because the roads have become too dangerous in suburban America ....and that they are more susceptible to morbid obesity by living a car dependent lifestyle ...and that threatening someone with your car is assault ...and that a cyclist should not have to pay for a minor inconvenience with their life.

If this group disturbs you as much as it does me, you can file a report by clicking on the link at the bottom left hand corner of the page.

Hmmm ....I just happened to notice that one of the fans on this page was wearing a Dirt Rag jersey . He seems to be a fairly well known cyclist in Pittsburgh. I don't understand the logic behind this man's association with such a group. Maybe he's a double agent?

Section 402

2010-01-04T17:10:00.003-05:00

Insert League Plug Here>>> Given that transportation represents 33% of all carbon emissions in the US, you would think that the government would be interested in making carbon neutral transportation, such as bike commuting, a safer option. Unfortunately, this is not the case and bike safety programs receive only a small fraction of federal funds. In 2008 only 2.67% of the State and Community Highway Safety Grant funds (Section 402) went towards bike and pedestrian safety, while cyclists and pedestrians represented 14% of all traffic fatalities in the same year. In order to harness federal funds for bike safety, bike advocates must become more assertive in pursuing grants such as Section 402. More information on Section 402 and other federal funding programs can be found on the League website.

We're Home!

2010-01-03T15:45:00.008-05:00

The two day drive back to Maryland was a gradual reintroduction to the bitter reality of winter. Along the way, we stopped off at the infamous, South of the Border, for a quick bathroom break. I still feel kinda bad that I used their facilities without actually being a customer.

Upon our return home, I hopped on the rollers while Jeff got to work making chocolate chip cookies. Lorena was right, guys really love to use the mixer (thanks again Lo!). Waking up to a windchill factor in the single digits, I decided to head to Kelley Acres Speed Shop for a computrainer class. As usual, Chris gave us our money's worth. Thanks for a good workout!

Sasha

2010-01-02T21:40:00.005-05:00

I forgot to mention that Sasha remains a part of the guest room decor at my Dad's house. It wasn't until this year that I realized she's missing an arm. Either way, she still creeps me out.

Heading Home

2010-01-01T11:18:00.019-05:00

We are now on our way back to Maryland. It was a good visit home. I got lots of good time in with my family and Jeff and I have nursed our jersey tans back to life. I'll tell the rest of the story with pictures.

Here's the ride we did every day:

Jimbo's Shrimp Shack has been condemned and Virginia Key loses a piece of Miami history:

Cyclists now have their own lane going through the toll booth on the Rickenbacker Causeway! Free of charge!

Sounds like there are plans for single track on Virginia Key:

Jeff and my dad played with his new remote control helicopter. So far, my dad is the better pilot.

Looking forward to stopping at Love's on the way home.

Nader

2009-12-29T11:04:00.011-05:00

I forgot to mention that I saw Nader at Hudson News in Union Station just before Christmas. That makes the third time this year. It seems a little depressing to me that such a distinguished man should be reduced to holding book signings at what is essentially a convenience store. Nestled between the candy rack and the peanut display, Ralph signs books as tired bureaucrats hurry to purchase a soda and a magazine for the train ride home. I know he gets a bad wrap, but it seems strange to see a former presidential candidate reduced to such conditions. Maybe next year he'll get upgraded to Dalton Books.

Miami Christmas

2009-12-28T23:54:00.020-05:00

Jeff and I have been enjoying the holidays in my hometown of Miami. In addition to getting in some good family time, it is also nice to have a brief reprieve from the snow and freezing rain. Getting dressed for a cold ride really is a big time commitment. Working up the nerve to put on a cold heart rate monitor, the chilling surprise of ice-cold chamois cream, running around the house to find that missing glove; that's about 30 minutes of prep time right there.

Unlike last year, we have decided not to log in the big miles over the holidays. During the 2008 holiday season one of our big rides was out to Key Largo, which might sound like a good idea, but actually amounts to miles and miles of shoulderless, monotonous roads with limited ocean views. This year we have finally accepted the reality of the lack of bike friendliness in south Florida and have resigned to the one decent road ride in Miami ...out to Key Biscayne. This is also a fairly hectic ride, with very little shoulder available until you finally reach the Rickenbacker Causeway. What a dirty trick, that such a warm place to live should be so intimidating for bikes and pedestrians. (photo: notice the lack of shoulder)

Aside from riding, we have enjoyed doing some tourist stuff. Last night we enjoyed a night on South Beach. Rosa was especially excited to take us to Opa, a Greek restaurant where management regularly encourages customers to dance on the tables. By the end of the evening, even Rosa found herself taking advantage of this rare opportunity to live it up on the table tops. I found Miami Beach to be much more bicycle friendly than I ever remember; however, I was a bit disturbed by the frequency of cyclists riding against traffic while in the bike lane. No really ...it really bothered me ...I'm still irritated just thinking about it.

So, Jeff and I will again head out for a ride to Key Biscayne tomorrow. I'm working on my jersey tan while we're here.

USA Cycling Annual Report

2009-12-22T17:33:00.005-05:00

Is it narcissistic to link to yourself? I'm not sure. Either way, here's a link to my recent post on the League Blog.

Kelley Acres in the News!

2009-12-22T12:17:00.004-05:00

Kelley Acres Speed Shop in the Frederick Post!

(Me & Joos at Kelley Acres)

Wicks Poetic

2009-12-21T12:48:00.011-05:00

In my opinion, Barry Wicks is the best creative writer in the men's pro field.

Cross Nats Reflections posted on VeloNews

Snow Ride!

2009-12-19T15:12:00.019-05:00

Originally I had hoped to get in eight hours of ride time this weekend, but now that our free cable has been disconnected and the snow has reached over twenty inches, I really can't bring myself to log in big hours on the rollers. With a brief hiatus from winter training, I was able to enjoy a leisure Saturday morning snow ride. Mr. & Mrs. Outlaw rallied the troops and together we plowed our way around the streets of Frederick. Post ride libations were had at Brewer's Alley. It was a good day.

Frederick Bicycle Coalition

2009-12-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's official! The Frederick Bicycle Coalition is up and running. Now all we need is a logo and some members! Maybe it's time to brush the dust off the 1999 Frederick County Bikeways and Trail Plan. Those lanes aren't gonna paint themselves. Some other exciting items on our agenda include a pump track proposal as well as ambitions to become Maryland's first BFC (Bicycle Friendly Community). More details to follow...

Climate Summit

2009-12-17T10:31:00.005-05:00

Now that I'm also blogging at work, I might as well get my money's worth. Here's a link to a piece on the Climate Summit in Copenhagen: From Climate Summit to US Climate Bill. (photo by J. Peel)

Eatough's Retirement

2009-12-14T20:49:00.021-05:00

Last Saturday Jeff and I headed over to Ellicot City for Chris Eatough's surprise retirement party. The gathering was not only a celebration of his racing accomplishments, but also of his character and model sportsmanship throughout his career. Leaving his mark on the mountain bike world, Chris continues his passion for cycling as BikeArlington's program specialist.

More Here>>> "Chris Eatough wraps up s toried career"

CoreHaus Grand Opening

2009-12-11T08:26:00.004-05:00

James and Sheba announce the GRAND OPENING of the CoreHaus in Petworth on Saturday from 4pm - 8pm. According the the Thrillist their shop specializes in "raw, burly, and unfinished home décor, either found as-is or crafted from discarded objects, all in furtherance of a refined aggro aesthetic he calls industrial vulgar. " I have always admired the rugged elegance of their home decor (especially the giant gear) and look forward to browsing the CoreHaus inventory of industrial vulgarities.

When: Saturday, December 12th
Where: 825 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC.
Time: 4pm -8pm

Food & Refreshments provided
Learn more about James and the Corehaus at the Thrillist.

Gripped Films

2009-12-10T10:29:00.009-05:00

A Ride with George Hincapie will be showing this evening (7:30pm) at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse! Proceeds will go towards the making of Gripped Films upcoming movie, Chasing Legends, scheduled to come out in the spring. Show your support for DC's local talent! More details HERE

Brookings Cycling Symposium

2009-12-09T08:31:00.017-05:00

Last night my colleagues and I attended a symposium at the Newseum entitled, "Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around". The event gathered some of the most active, passionate, and forward thinking bike advocates in the country including Tim Blumenthal from Bikes Belong, Portland's Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller, and even our very own Chris Eatough from BikeArlington. (photo courtesy of League staff)

The symposium opened with David Byrne of the Talking Heads, who recently published his book, Bicycle Diaries. David began with a photo of Columbia, MD where his elderly parents now live and are stranded due to the autocentric design of the community. He then went on to highlight some of his favorite books including Twenty Minutes in Manhattan, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, and hmmmm ...damn it, I can't remember the third book. At any rate, he continued with a photo diary of his travels around the world on bike, identifying those places that have successfully created streets with people and community in mind.

Following David, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (an icon in the world of bike policy) opened with what he proclaimes to be the universal question of bike advocates ...and it goes something like this: "How many people are currently stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike at the gym?". A perverse notion, indeed. He then went on to talk about the new bill he recently introduced to congress that would create $2 billion dollars in federal funds for investments in active transportation. Blumenauer described the cyclist as an indicator species of a healthy community. The hobby ecologist in me loves eco-metaphors.

Jannette Sadik-Kahn, commissioner of the New York city Department of Transportation, closed things up with the announcement the launching of "Cities for Cycling", a new coalition of cities pushing for rapid improvements in bikeway design. Recognizing the lack of federal attention to the issue, the coalition aims to assist transportation planners as they create innovative bikeways by providing them with technical guidance on best practices that have been observed in some of America's most bicycle friendly cities.

Sadly, I forgot my camera at the office and missed a photo op. with David Byrne. Hopefully my quick sketch will suffice. I drew it from memory, so it might not be very accurate.

The Season Ahead

2009-12-06T20:03:00.020-05:00

For the upcoming season I have finally decided to simplify my life. Now that I am thirty, I think I am ready to listen to that still, small voice that says to me "Anna, for f#@! sake, stop spreading yourself so thin". So, in honor of my inner wise woman (and the prodding of friends and family) I have finally decided to focus entirely on mountain biking for the 2010 season. As hard as it will be for me to let go of the road scene, I really believe this is the best decision for my mental and physical health.

As one of the newest team members on Gripped Racing, I attended the team's first meeting of the season at Conte's on Thursday night. I've actually never been to any of the Conte's shops, and was very impressed with their overall shop morale and enthusiasm for the team. Team manager, Jason Berry, really has done a great job of putting together a well run team.

Preparing for the season ahead, the 2010 Kenda Cup race schedule has been posted. Although the current organization is a bit confusing, it looks like the 2010 schedule has some good races. I'm especially looking forward to Tsali and Windham.

In other news, good times were had at James and Mel's ugly Christmas sweater party last night. The cherry bomb launching was a real crowd pleaser. Not to brag, but I was among the few to catch the cherry. I think it's a sign of a promising racing season in 2010.

Cherry Bomb Slingshot

BFF

2009-12-04T09:36:00.005-05:00

The Bicycle Film Fest kicks off at Asylum (Fri. 9pm) with the infamous goldsprints. Screenings are on Saturday at United States Navy Memorial Theater - 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW. This is the first year the BFF has made it to DC! Very exciting! Should be better than the Bike Porn Film Festival a couple years ago.

Thanksgiving in the Pisgahs

2009-11-27T10:13:00.019-05:00

Thursday morning Jeff and I loaded up the truck and headed down south for Thanksgiving with my family in the North Carolina mountains. Along the way, we stopped off at Love's, one of my favorite road side rest stops (exit 84 off I-81). They carry a pretty diverse inventory with everything from Native American dolls and dream catchers to Christian t-shirts, jumbo stuffed animals, and side view mirrors. Jeff was especially taken with their Krispy Kreme display and polished off a bag of doughnuts before we hit the Tennessee border. Arriving in Hendersonville around 4pm we were warmly welcomed by my mom and step-Dad.

The following day we headed for the Pisgahs. Normally we ride up Black Mountain over by Davidson River, but I decided to try and mix things up and visit the trails around North Mills River. Because we weren't exactly looking for an epic ride, I decided we should try to piece smaller trails together rather than heading up Laurel Mountain where I have spent much time extremely lost due to a slew of bandit trails. So, it didn’t turn out to be the best ride I’ve ever planned. A number of deep stream crossings forced us to backtrack a good bit, and I was particularly disappointed by some significant erosion problems.

Saturday was kind of a bust due to matching husband and wife chest colds.

Sunday we made our way to our favorite loop in the Pisgahs: Black Mountain Trail, to Buckwheat Knob, and finally to Bennett Gap. It was a crystal clear, slightly chilly, Sunday morning and not a hunter was in sight. Altogether, this 17 mile loop provides 3,300 feet of climbing with an average grade of 9% (data courtesy of Jeff). This has to be my all time favorite loop in the Pisgahs, with breath taking mountain views, technical rocky descents, endless climbs, and pristine mountain streams.

Dirty and tired we made a quick change in the parking lot, climbed aboard Jeff’s trusty Tacoma, and headed north to Maryland. Stopping again at Love's, I was disappointed with my selection of generic gummy bears. There really is no substitute for Haribo.

Michaux

2009-11-22T08:19:00.014-05:00

Yesterday Jeff and I met up with Roger and the Sornson's for a nice long ride in Michaux. Every time I ride in Michaux I have absolutely no idea where I am. Yesterday's ride covered whatever area the summer race takes place in. Wherever we were, I am always impressed by the miles and miles of uninterrupted single track.

After a good four hour ride, we piled back into Lee's truck and headed for the Sornson estate. There we enjoyed a hearty dinner if venison chili and libations. Even with a sink overflowing with dishes, a hamper overflowing with clothes, and walls in desperate need of painting, I'm glad we found the time to spend a day in the woods with good friends and beautiful trails. Thanks again to Lee & Cheryl for hosting the day's events!

And as a side story, I find it interesting that, although the Michaux State Forest was named after a french botanist, Andre Michaux, the Michaux family name is also linked to the invention of the bicycle. It seems that the forest's name sake sealed it's destiny as a sanctuary for East Coast mountainbiking. (Read more below)

Pierre and Ernest Michaux:
Many historians credit Pierre and Ernest Michaux as being the true inventors of the modern bicycle. This father and son duo operated a company that made carriages in Paris when they first assembled a two-wheeled vélocipède around 1867. This bike was was propelled like a tricycle, with its cranks and pedals connected to the front wheel. (about.com)

Andre Michaux:
The Michaux State Forest is located in Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties. It is named in honor of Andre Michaux, a French botanist, dispatched by the King and Queen of France in 1785 to gather plants for the Royal Gardens. He and his son Francois Andre Michaux are noted for discovering and identifying a host of flowers, shrubs and trees. (pennsylvania dcnr)

Amongst Brown Waves

2009-11-20T18:05:00.013-05:00

Last night Jeff and I ventured over to Capitol Hill to see Margaux's one woman plan, "Black & Kinky Amongst Brown Waves." The performance seamlessly pieced together a collection of poems from her experiences while living in India. She will also be performing on Saturday and Sunday night at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.

League Blog

2009-11-20T14:19:00.006-05:00

Just finished a report on the Highway Safety Improvement Program and how it can be used for bike/ped infrastructure. A Reader's Digest version of the report can be found on the League of American Bicyclists recently revived blog. If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention! (photo by gwadzilla)

Weekend in Richmond

2009-11-16T19:25:00.022-05:00

This past weekend I attended a conference down in Richmond put on by our sister organization, The Alliance for Bike and Walking. Being the loving husband that he is, Jeff agreed to come along for the ride and base his weekend training out of the Quality Inn. I also snuck off to get in some of my own riding, as sitting in a conference all day tends to make me cranky. On Saturday I headed towards the west side of town and eventually met up with the Conte’s ride. It was a gray dreary morning and I was most grateful for their company.

Sunday Jeff and I rode along bike route #1, which parallels the James River and eventually spits you out on a pretty busy road with a glass sprinkled bike lane that eventually dwindles into nothing. I will say that the riding along River Road afforded us beautiful views of the James River.

Unfortunately, the trail conditions were too muddy for mountain biking, but I was super impressed to see a decent network of trails easily accessible by bike from town. Judging by their signage, it looks like they’ve got some pretty gnarly trails. Looks like stick man is about to eat some shit (enlarge photo above for full effect)

So, it wasn’t exactly a fun weekend getaway, but we made the best of it. Oh, and the gods were smiling on Jeff as the Coke machine rewarded him with four for the price of one. His eyes sparkled with the magic of Christmas morning.

Bike Safety PSA

2009-11-13T09:04:00.003-05:00

With the Bike Rules PSA Film Festival coming up in New York on November 17th, I am reminded of my favorite bike safey flick.

Why don't they make films like this anymore?

Joe Foley Photography

2009-11-12T07:49:00.008-05:00

Joe recently sent us a link to all the photos from our wedding. Many thanks to Joe and Maili for capturing our wedding so beautiuflly!

I think this one is my favorite:

DFL

2009-11-09T19:50:00.011-05:00

Last weekend's alley cat course ended up being a bit more challenging than I had expected. Originally I thought the course would focus around the downtown area; however, James was not shy about testing our navigational skills in the surrounding neighborhoods. Something of an epic adventure, the entire race took about 2 – 3 hours. The race also drew a rather impressive crowd, attracting people from faraway places such as Baltimore and DC.

The Race Report:
No matter what the scale of competition, once a finish line is involved in the equation, Jeff is completely committed to laying the hammer down. As his teammate, I was surprised to find him taking intersections with the kind of reckless abandon more common of my behavior. Ultimately our speed meant nothing, as the race was decided by bonus points rather than by the clock. In fact our commitment to speed landed us DFL. For our efforts we were rewarded with an opened bottle of whiskey and a fried chicken tender. Yay team SchalKelso!

The track stand competition was a bit more exciting. Being one of the last two standing, I went on to the tie breaker. I was ready to bust out my no-hands track stand that I have honed and perfected over the years, but I choked under the pressure and completely lost my composure. I continue to replay the moment over in my head, wondering why I cracked at such a crucial moment! So, I had to be satisfied with second place. I will say, I don't think the other guy was from Frederick …so technically I think I'm the Frederick track stand champ.

Although I'm still recovering from the outcome of last week's mayoral election, Saturday night helped to reaffirm my faith in the vibrant cycling community that continues to thrive despite its conservative, car dependant surroundings. Thanks again for a great race!

Oh, and congrats to Alex and Mike!

Frederick Alley Cat

2009-11-06T12:02:00.009-05:00

For those of you who thought Frederick didn't have a messenger scene.... you were right. But we won't let that get in the way of having an alley cat race this Saturday starting at the bell tower in Baker Park! I hear there should be some pretty good prizes! I've got my sights set on being Frederick's first track stand champ. More info here.

Trail Work Day!

2009-11-04T22:54:00.016-05:00

As the Chinese proverb goes, "many hands make light work". Last Sunday, 52 people showed up to participate in the official ribbon cutting of the new re-route on the blue trail and the closing of the trail it replaced. In just three short hours we successfully erased any evidence of the old trail and were ready to enjoy beer and BBQ. Thanks to Dave, Joe, Frank, Darius ....and all the people I'm forgetting to mention for being the glue that holds the watershed together!

We Got Married!!!

2009-11-02T21:09:00.018-05:00

Life hasn’t left much time for blogging lately, but now that we have settled into our new house and the wedding has come and gone I finally have time to sit and reflect on all the events of the summer. Among these, I’d like to take a moment to blog about our wedding day. (photo by JoeFoleyPhotography)

I’m not even really sure where to start. There are so many different directions you can take a wedding summary. I could reflect philosophically on the meaning of weddings. What does it mean to have a traditional versus a non-traditional wedding? I could give an overview of the details of the day. Or, I could reflect on the big life lessons that the whole experience taught us. Maybe I’ll try to do a little of everything. (photo by Dave Carbonell)

With so many of our friends and family contributing their various talents to the celebration, our wedding was something of a barn-raising. Becky made the bowl that held our rings. Christian, Mellissa, and Kate played the ceremony music. Joe Foley was our photographer. My step-father, Ted, took care of last minute decorations. My childhood pastor performed the ceremony. Joe Jefferson was the DJ. Jeff created center pieces made of old bike parts (thanks Roger!) and wood from the watershed. I made jam with blueberries I picked in Thurmont. Our rings were melted down from family heirlooms. Maggie laced up my dress with the skill and precision of a world class surgeon. And Hillary created a welcome home mural on the front of our house with shaving cream. Everyone came together to show their support of our union. (photo by David Carbonell)

After the ceremony, Jeff and I walked from the chapel to the reception down Market Street and along Caroll Creek. Frederick’s annual street festival had just come to an end and families filled the sidewalks. Cars honked as they passed to congratulate us on our recent nuptials. The creek was busy with paddle boaters and music from the roof top concert played in the background. The harvest m oon hung low in the sky, and Jeff and I walked hand in hand through some of our favorite places in Frederick. I am so grateful that we had this quiet time to be together before the reception as it gave us a chance to truly appreciate the newness of our marriage. (photo by JoeFoleyPhotograph y)

Weddings can sometimes become a bastardized version of what they were originally intended to be. (photo by JoeFoleyPhotography) While there is certainly nothing wrong with ornate flower arrangements, intricate wedding cakes, and satin bridal gowns, these things are only accessories. I think Jeff and I did a pretty good job of keeping things in perspective. Looking around the room at our reception, each table represented a group of people who, at different phases in our lives, had a hand in molding us into the people we are today. It was through these people that we learned the skills necessary to be a loyal friend and loving partner. I truly believe that a relationship will not survive if it is not based in a healthy community of friends and family. Again, thank you to everyone who was there. And for those of you who were unable to make it (Lorena et al.), please know that you were in our hearts. (photo by Joe Whitehair)

_____________________________________________________
Psycho-babble:
In the weeks following the wedding I spent a little too much time reflecting on all the things I wish I could have done differently. I honestly thought I was too smart to fall victim to this, but I eventually found myself obsessing over the fact that I didn’t have a chance to talk to everyone, or that I forgot to give a formal thank you to all our friends and family, or that I never once reapplied my lipstick. I think this is a fairly common post-wedding issue, especially for women. Now that I have a little more perspective, I wonder if toiling over regrets isn’t more about trying to hang onto the wedding day. Kind of like the post holiday blues, it’s a little sad when the day is over. Looking back and obsessing over things you wish you had done differently might be a subconscious way of staying emotionally attached to the day. Or maybe I just think too much. Now that a month has passed from our wedding day, I am able to let go of these trivial regrets and focus more on the beautiful memories that we will reflect on for the rest of our lives.

Ducktown

2009-05-11T22:00:00.005-04:00

Ok, I’m a little behind with the race reports. I’ll start with May 3, 2009 …Ducktown Tennesse, the first race in the Kenda Cup East series. Jeff and I set off on Friday evening and stayed the night with my family in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The following morning we continued our journey onto Ducktown, Tennessee where the race was to be held. Funny side story about Ducktown, my step dad and his father both worked in the copper mines there. Growing up my step dad said you could taste the metal in the air. (photo gleaned from http://www.mtb-uscup.com/) The smelting process emitted sulfer dioxide which had a dramatic effect on the landscape, leaving Ducktown looking more like Arizona than the mountains of Tennessee. (was that a run-n sentence?) It was also here that I spent many weekends in high school and college backpacking through the Blue Ridge Mountains. But I digress…

The relentless rains stopped long enough to get us through the first two laps of the race. I was actually feeling pretty good and would catch the lead ladies at the end of each lap, having a slight lead going into the climb. On the last lap I had a small gap on Janel going into the climb, but I let the knowledge of her stellar climbing skills get the better of me. Even if I could have stayed with her on the climb, my mind didn’t believe it …and so it was. Well, I’ll have to work on my positive affirmations for Bump n’ Grind down in Alabama. In the end I finished in 4th place.
As for Jeff’s race, he was in the lead until he flatted which cost him the win. Jeff was fairly pleased with his 3rd place finish considering the circumstances.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the rain …it rained all weekend …it never stopped …one continuous stream of water from the heavens. After the race we all went down to the Ocoee River in effort to wash our mud caked bodies. There is something very wholesome and good about bathing in rivers.

Greenbrier 2009

2009-05-01T08:16:00.008-04:00

Ok folks, sorry for the delay on the race report. My professional life is now so fulfilling that I no longer feel the need to fill the void with blogging. Sometimes blogging is kind of like whistling in the dark. At any rate, this year’s Greenbrier Challenge had a slightly different feeling as there was not as big of a turn out in the pro field. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that Greenbrier conflicted with the Cohutta 100, which by the way, was won by our very own Jeff Schalk (details to follow the Greenbrier report).

Saturday morning I awoke with a sore throat and was not sure that I would be up for racing on Sunday. Lame as this may sound, I decided to ride the rollers in the apartment and spend the majority of the day getting some much needed rest. Sunday morning came and I was surprised to find that I was actually feeling like I might be able to race. I was especially curious to try out racing in my new age category!!! Woohoo! I’m now racing in the 30-40 category. This is a new chapter in my life. Quite honestly, I kind of wish they would get rid of the age category. Some how I find it devaluing.

So there were roughly eight women at the starting line. I believe it was was an even split between the two age groups (vets & seniors). I thought I had a fairly good start, but finally faded on the big climb. That’s were Janel passed me. She’s one fast lady. However, the big star of the day was Jessica Kutz , of State College. Jessica won the race after busting her rear derailleur, forcing her to single speed much of the last lap. I would also like to bring attention to the fact that she is a Freeze Thaw rider!!!! Yay Freeze Thaw!!! My State College pride will never be snuffed out by the sands of time. Jordyn and Justin have really built an empire.

In the end I finished up second place in my new age group. Janel had a good race, coming in second overall and first in our age group. I was especially pleased with my ability to keep it pinned for the entire course. Usually I have a hard time really holding my face to the fire the entire race …I think I made it hurt as much as I could. Oh, and because Janel is from Pennsylvania, I became Maryland State Champ by default. I'm finally starting to like the Maryland state flag ...I used to think it was a bit too busy.

Greenbrier results on CyclingNews >>>HERE

IN OTHER NEWS …Jeff won the Cohutta 100!!!!! Wooohooooo!!!! After spending much of the day in a two person break with Bishop, he was able to respond to Jeremiah’s attack on the final climb. Jeff’s counter attack was just enough to create a much needed gap between him and Bishop that eventually grew to 2.5 minutes. With a time of 6:23, Jeff set the course record and landed himself comfortably in first place. Sunday night we sat at the kitchen table and traded race reports …it was a long weekend apart. (photo taken from cyclingnews.com)

CyclingNews Report >>>HERE

Today we leave for the first race of the Kenda Cup in Ducktown, Tennessee!

Oh, and I forgot to bring my camera.

OPC

2009-04-20T22:56:00.007-04:00

Spending one’s weekend in an office park seems like a funny use of time when you consider that most of us spend roughly 40 hours/week behind a desk. And yet, here we all are, suited up and ready to race circles around some of the most generic office parks to grace our country. Office parks annoy me most because they are just one of the many atrocities in urban planning that render us entirely dependent on our cars …couple that with strip malls and subdivisions and you have yourself a pretty bleak landscape with very little in the way of pleasant roads to ride ….hence the endless parade of office park crits.

On a more positive note, I will say that I find it rather beautiful to reclaim this space for the purpose of a bike race. A place that is usually overflowing with cars and devoid of any kind of physical activity, becomes alive with the chatter of enthusiastic racers who pour their hearts out every weekend in hopes of coming just a little closer to reaching their goals. Like a dandelion growing through a crack in the sidewalk, we continue to try to find a way to live in an environment that has become quite unhealthy for human habitation. It is a testament to our spirit that we can bring cheer to even the most depressing of office parks.

Wow, that was so melodramatic. I need to stop listening to Morrisey.

Oh yeah, so I raced the Syn-Fit and Carl Dolan Crits this past weekend. It was good to hash things out on the bike …I’ll save the real race report for our New Team Blog!!!!

LAB

2009-03-26T06:34:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the first day at my new job! I can't think of a better place to work.

Season Opener

2009-03-25T22:59:00.005-04:00

Jeff and I rang in the beginning of another season at the WABA Gala on Saturday night at the German Embassy. It was a lovely evening of silent auction (I got out bid on the hair cut at Bang and the breakfast with Bluemenaur), delectable finger food and a copious supply of Gladiator wine. With the Rockburn race the following morning, we decided to make it an early night and headed home just as the dancing got started.

Sunday morning Jeff and I headed off to Rockburn for our first mtb race of the season. It was a pretty fast course with tight turns and short punchy hills. My original plan was to stay with Melanie ...turns out she's pretty fast right now. Hmmmm ...I wasn't too excited about the race results, but it's still fairly early in the season and I've got time to get in some more intensity before racing season really gets started ...hopefully last weekend is not indicative of what's to come.

Oh, and Jeff won! Yay!!!! Rather than try to give you a second hand account of his race, I'll just refer you to the above clip provided by cyclingdirt.com.

Click HERE for results.

New Job!

2009-03-18T13:58:00.009-04:00

Today was my farewell luncheon! Ending one chapter and opening another is always bitter sweet. I couldn't ask for a better group of folks to work with ...they sent me off with a little Mexican flair.

Set the Date!

2009-03-09T21:21:00.022-04:00

Friends and family, we invite you take part in our participatory approach to wedding planning. For those of you who might be able to attend, please help us select a date by clicking the link below:

Click Here to Vote

(Wedding to take place in Frederick, Maryland)

Here are some things you might want to consider when making your selection:

Sept 19, average high 75

This day in history (1984): Britain and China complete a proposed agreement to transfer Hong Kong to China by 1997

Sept 26, average high 70

This day in history (1960): Longest speech in United Nations history (4 hrs, 29 mins, by Fidel Castro)

Oct 17, average high 65, typ peak fall colors

This day in history (2006): United States population reaches 300 million people

Oct 24, peak fall colors

This day in history (1982): 12th New York City Women's Marathon won by Grete Waitz in 2:27:14

Oct 31, average high 60

This day in history (1992): Roman Catholic church reinstates Galileo Galilei after 359 years

Nov 7, Frederick 1st Saturday Event

This day in history (2007): Al Gore wins the popular vote but loses the electoral vote to George W. Bush

Nov 14, average high 55
This day in history (1993): 23rd New York City Women's Marathon won by Uta Pippig in 2:26:24

Office Art

2009-03-06T14:42:00.004-05:00

This has to be my favorite piece from our office art collection (currently hanging in the break room on the 4th floor). I especially love how it makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

The New Victory in Community

2009-03-06T11:51:00.013-05:00

Community Gardens: reinventing the Victory Garden. I was actually thinking about that a few weeks ago and was excited to see that the Economist also took note of this notion in their most recent issue (Feb 28 – March6). Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt during WWI, Victory Gardens were created in effort to reduce demands on public food supply and improve national food security. The cause for Community Gardens is slightly different. Today people are waking up to the atrocities of our agricultural system and are looking for healthier, more environmentally sustainable alternatives when it comes to food. Self sufficiency is also becoming more of a priority during these turbulent economic times. The revitalization of patriotism has brought a new energy to the American people who have been lost in a complacent slumber for so long. This is the perfect time to sow the seeds of hope in our communities.

Exciting developments:
The WHO Farm (or White House Organic Farm) is a grassroots movement aimed at convincing Barack Obama to preserve a corner of the White House lawn for an organic garden ….just as Eleanor Roosevelt did over 60 years before. click here>>> The WHO Farm

Also, don’t forget to stay updated on the progress of our very own community garden here in Frederick, Maryland!!!! click here>>> Frederick Gardeners

"Eating is an agricultural act" - Wendell Berry

Old News

2009-03-02T13:34:00.021-05:00

As many of you may have already heard, David Zabriskie's home was burglarized while he was off racing in the Tour of California (VeloNews ). Among the list of stolen items was his collection of seven Marvel Sideshow statues at a worth of $11,000.

I'm still trying to decide which is the bigger tragedy ...losing thousands of dollars worth of prized possessions ...or going public with your Marvel Sideshow obsession.

Zabriskie's Marvel Sideshow Roster Includes: Hellboy, Ash, Lara Croft, Ironman, Gears of War, The Punisher, and Alien.

Complete list of stolen items from VeloNews:

• Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
• Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
• Giro D Italia Race Medal (approx. 6" circumference)
• Olympic Seiko watch
• Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials "DZ" engraved ($4,000)
• Olympic Time Trial Bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
• Cervelo (black/red) bike frame - team issued ($5000)
• Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
• Bose Speaker/Receiver System ($15,000)
• Sony 52" flat screen TV ($4,000)
• Two Mac Books and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
• A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
• 7 Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)

A Visit Home

2009-03-02T11:00:00.012-05:00

With the racing season just around the corner, I decided to take full advantage of my rest week and spend some quality time with my family down in Miami. I was especially eager to see my grandparents as they are now in their mid 90s and I never want to feel like I didn’t fully appreciate these precious years.

My mother, grandmother and I enjoyed a lazy Friday morning sitting around the kitchen table, sipping coffee and catching up. With an afternoon to kill we decided to go to the mall …yeah, I know …the mall. In any other time and place I would normally boycott the mall for three primary reasons:

1) Its promotion of useless crap, that no body really needs and will eventually wind up in a landfill in the not too distant future, makes me sick.

2) Malls suck the life from “Main Street America”. Malls pull people away from the center of town and eventually lead to the demise of local business.

3) Materialism is a product of Ego and Ego ties us tightly to our desires and attachment to our desires causes human suffering.

That being said, we are in Miami, the LA of the east. It is a sprawling mess of poorly planned concrete and asphalt. In addition, there are very few things that three generations of women can agree on doing together. (I even indulged in some over priced lipstick …but don’t worry, they didn’t test on any animals)

Friday night we went to the Women’s International Film Festival (WIFF) held at the beautiful Gusman Theater in downtown Miami. (According to my father, Maurice Gusman made his fortune in condoms) The festival opened with the The Brothers Bloom, a beautiful film about being the author of your own life. Although, I must admit I was a little disappointed to learn that it was actually directed by a man. What kind of message does that send?

Anyway …it was a good visit. I just wish my grandparents lived closer …or that Miami wasn’t such a horrible place to live for cyclists.

Michelle!!!!

2009-02-26T12:17:00.008-05:00

Michelle Obama paid a visit to the EPA today! Her message reemphasized the importance of addressing pressing environmental issues during her husband's administration. In addition, she identified climate change as a primary focus for the EPA, which received an enthusiastic response from the crowd. She then ordered us all to get back to work ....gotta go. (left photo: EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackon) (right photo: Michelle Obama)

Dumb Rules

2009-02-25T06:00:00.007-05:00

I am a true believer in following rules and guidelines …except, of course, when those rules and guidelines are dumb. The MARC Train bike policy happens to be one of those dumb rules I refuse to follow. According to MARC policy, only folding bikes are permitted on the train. (photo: bike ...what bike?) Upon further research into MARC policy, I learn that there are no rules restricting the size and/or weight of one's luggage. If their logic for the bike restriction is based on the possibility that everyone might wish to bring their bike on the train, this should also apply to large luggage. So …theoretically, I could climb aboard the Brunswick Line with my collection of beach balls and a case full of anvils without any problem, but trying to smuggle on a cross bike could get me in trouble? What kind of unjust world do we live in?! (photo credit: photobucket source)

The first few times I just tried to get by on charm and wit. This only lasted so long before I was finally turned away (trying to board the 5:15 am train I might add). Then I tried taking the wheels off and putting the whole bike in two garbage bags …I just barely got by, but was warned not to bring my bike on the train again. My last attempt; however, was very successful and I believe I have found a solution to my problem.

This is how you do it:

1) Get an old soft bike case off of ebay
2) Take out all the foam padding
3) Take the wheels off and put the entire bike in the bag
4) Get on the appropriate train
5) Call your grandmother
6) As the conductor approaches to give you a hard time, you say “Grandma, let me call you right back”. The conductor insists that you not hang up …and then he kindly asks what you have in the bag. You concede that it is in fact a bicycle. He smiles and nods, takes your ticket and moves on down the aisle. And you’re golden! (photo: my grandmother in her early 20s)

Everybody wins. You get your bike on the train. Your grandmother gets a surprise phone call (be sure to actually call her back). The conductor feels like he’s been a good Samaritan and that guy on ebay can finally unload his old ass bike case. Yay!

Refer to "My New Commute" for further information on this bike/train commuter combo.

Pop-tarts & Nascar

2009-02-24T16:24:00.015-05:00

Why has it taken so long for these two things to come together? I think this might be more American than apple pie.

Training with Music

2009-02-22T18:46:00.023-05:00

“She had them apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club is lookin’ at her” …who wouldn’t be inspired to do hill repeats while pedaling to the tunes of T-Pain? Yesterday was my last big day of training before a rest week and I was feeling rather uninspired. My legs felt flat, I’m having a hard time getting my heart rate up, and I can’t stop thinking about eating food in my pajamas on the sofa while watching the Tour of California. It’s on days like these that I am reduced to the musical taste of a fourteen year old …perhaps it has something to do with the cerebral oxygen deprivation that results in this hypoxic state of pop culture craving.

“She hit the floor, next thing you know, shawty got low, low, low , low, low, low, low, low” …Oh yeah, I’m so ready to bust out the intervals. I think I would be mortified if anyone ever saw the songs that comprise my playlist entitled “long rides”. (photo: http://www.highsnobiety.com/)

Speaking of training with music, this reminds me of a conversation I had with the lesser known of the brothers Gwadz. (photo from DCMTB) Marc seems to think that training with music is a dissociative technique that is only a distraction from associating with the stress of training and pushing your limits (thereby weakening your workout). However, I really don’t think I would have been able to get through my hill repeats yesterday without the help of the Beastie Boys, The Rapture, Kanye West, and of course …T-Pain. Is it possible to use music when training as motivation rather than dissociation? It would be interested to conduct an experiment designed to quantify the benefits realized from intervals with music versus intervals without.

Frederick Gardeners

2009-02-20T07:02:00.005-05:00

So ....we're trying to get a community garden up and running here in Frederick, Maryland. I'm actually not such a good gardener ...but I did get the blog up! Let me know if you live in the area and would like to get involved! We are also still looking for a plot of land to use in the downtown Frederick area ...any body have any ideas?

Frederick, Maryland Community Gardeners

frederickgardeners.blogspot.com

Years of Refusal

2009-02-19T13:24:00.007-05:00

Morrisey's new album almost makes me wish I had something to be depressed about.

Morrisey - Years of Refusal

photo: album-base.blogspot.com

WABA Gala

2009-02-18T13:28:00.001-05:00

Surviving the TOC

2009-02-18T11:31:00.007-05:00

Phil Southerland, a fellow UGA Cycling alumnus and co-founder of Team Type 1 keeps us updated on his progress during the Tour of California. Go Dawgs! (photo credit: Phil's blot)

philsoutherland.blogspot.com

Funny story actually. Phil was my first coach. He charged me $30/month to tell me to go do group rides. Yeah ....I was young and naive and he was a bit of a punk back in the day. I think we've both grown up a good bit since then.

Rule Change!

2009-02-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

Today is your last chance to show support for rule change 36 CFR 4.30. Send in your personal letter of support and help open National Parks to mountain biking!

Letter template >>>> HERE!

SSPBE'09

2009-02-16T20:10:00.010-05:00

Riding from our home on Market Street, Jeff and I set off for the annual SSPBE on a beautiful Sunday morning. Not owning a single speed of my own, the Single Speed Outlaw himself was kind enough to let me borrow his Surly 1x1. (photo credit: Ikon O. Klasst) It wasn’t until half way up Hamburg Road that I realized this gear ratio was a little more than my girly quads could handle. Cutting my own switchbacks up the steepest sections, I finally arrived at the designated meeting location with only minutes to spare before the start. I was met by a jovial crowd of familiar faces …many of which I hadn’t seen since last year’s romp in the woods. (photo: Jeff & Jon)

After the first couple stages it became clear that Becky and I would be vying for the win. She’s a tough lady whom I respect and admire …but all is fair in love, war, and punk bike racing. Jeff was equally as focused on the win …and was not above taking out Posner and Gdowik in pursuit of the elusive punk bike points hidden among the trees. Unfortunately, the Sornsons weren’t there to defend their title …but victory is still sweet. As the SSPBE09 champions I feel as though we have truly become part of the eclectic tapestry of mid-Atlantic mountain biking. Thanks to everyone for a great day in the woods! (photo: SSPBE'09 Champions!) ...Tomi, let us know if you're still wanting a tie breaker.

Other photos gleaned from the Single Speed Outlaws:

Single Track 4 Lovers

2009-02-14T07:38:00.003-05:00

Recently a friend of mine expressed an interest in introducing his girlfriend to mountain biking. In effort to protect his relationship from any unnecessary strife he asked for my female perspective on the subject. No matter what your gender or sexual persuasion, introducing your significant other to mountain biking does have a tendency to create a little romantic friction; however, I believe it can be done if executed properly. (photo: random image search for "lovers") Furthermore, there is nothing more rewarding than sharing a common passion for single track with the one you love. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I have provided a list of helpful hints for successful romance both on and off the bike:

1)Stay together – I know this might get frustrating, but on your first ride in the woods it is ESSENTIAL that you stay together. Small frustrations are greatly magnified when a partner feels left behind or forgotten.

2)Positive feedback – Women love, love, love positive feedback. Make sure to let your lovely lady know when she has done something well (whether you mean it or not).

3)Keep it simple – For your first ride it is a good idea to choose a location that is not extraordinarily technical. For those of you in the DC area, Schaeffer Farms is a great place for first time mountain bikers of either gender.

4)Be realistic – Choose a distance that is appropriate for your lover’s fitness. You don’t want your lady to bonk ten miles from the car …unless you don’t have any plans for the evening.

5)Be a gentleman – Learning to mountain bike can be very intimidating and overwhelming, and it really goes a long way when someone is there to patiently provide support and guidance. This is a great opportunity for guys to resurrect the lost art of chivalry. Even a flaming feminist would gladly welcome a little chivalry given the right amount of distress.

Many of these tips come from my own personal experience ...a bit of a romantic train wreck really. In the end it was my love for the mountain bike that would stand the test of time. I suppose no college career is complete without a Gustav Klimt poster, late nights at Waffle House, and a good heart break. Hopefully these tips will help you and your lover find bliss on the trails and beyond.

Rainbows & Unicorns

2009-02-13T18:42:00.005-05:00

This one goes out to the Stormin' Mormon
...just keep clicking 'til you get your fill

(thanks javan!)

Jeff's First Time

2009-02-10T18:08:00.014-05:00

Since Jeff and I began dating I have made a concerted effort to let go of some of my dirty hippy ways. Among other things, he never seemed too impressed with my dumpster diving days in State College. (You'd be suprised by the number of grad students who have found sufficient sustenance in the back alleys of this small college town) My gleaning life was put on hold while living in DC as most dumpsters in the district are kept under lock and key. (photo: there were more loaves than our arms could carry) Aside from gathering the occasional curbside find, I was willing to change my roguish ways in effort to become a more suitable partner.

I'm not exactly sure what finally clicked, but it looks like Jeff might be warming up to the idea of dumpster exploration. Last night I took Jeff on his VERY FIRST DUMPSTER DIVING expedition. We arrived at the Panera dumpster shortly after closing and left with a rather sizable harvest. (photo: bag full of bagels) I’m actually trying to cut down on carbs …but who in their right mind can turn down such beautiful loaves of bread! Dismayed by the tremendous amount of waste, I believe Jeff is now a believer in the civic duty of gleaning what is so needlessly discarded by our glutinous society. Our next journey will be into the Weis dumpsters ...they don't have a compactor.

The Big Surprise

2009-02-10T17:39:00.012-05:00

In honor of Jeff’s birthday I put together something of a surprise birthday party for him at Brewer's Alley …turns out Jeff is not really a fan of being put on the spot, but that’s the beauty of a surprise birthday …you actually have no choice in the matter. In the end I think everyone had a good time …even Jeff (it may have been the chocolate cake that saved the day).

My only regret is that I didn’t take more pictures! I got so wrapped up in the moment that I didn’t even manage to scrape everyone together for a group photo. Now that moment in time is lost forever! Oh well, live and learn.

Sunday morning Jeff and I joined the Kelley Acres crew for an absolutely beautiful ride through the hills of western Maryland. Chicken gets the Good Samaritan award of the day after she let Christine use her arm warmers to stop her nose bleed. Thanks everybody for a great ride!

Fashion Plates

2009-02-06T07:09:00.004-05:00

I'm going to add this to my list of things that annoy me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fuel efficiency ...but owning a fuel efficient car doesn't mean you won't be held accountable for obnoxious fashion plates.

Groundhog Day

2009-02-02T12:37:00.015-05:00

This morning’s commute was rather labor intensive. I started out plodding through a hardened crust of snow, pockmarked with animal tracks and footprints (making for a bumpy ride). It wasn’t until around the twenty mile mark that ice sheets claimed the trail, making for a slow, tedious advance into our nation’s capital. I was hoping that there would be good news waiting for me when I got to work …unfortunately, it seems that we have roughly six more weeks of winter according to Punxsutawney Phil. (photo credit: popculturemadness)

Inaugural Gleaning

2009-01-29T10:57:00.032-05:00

Local DC artists Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn used boards, gleaned from the inauguration parade bleachers, as a canvas for their latest works covering this historic event. Although their work is quite different in style and composition, they share a common love for dark political humor and bright vivid colors. Rather than dropping cash on matching Obama t-shirts or the coveted limited edition presedential ceramic plate collection, why not commemorate Obama's inauguration through the magic of recycled art? ("Aretha" & "Obama" by Dana Ellyn)

Dana Ellyn's art >>>> HERE
Matt Sesow's art >>>> HERE

("Guest of Honor" by Matt Sesow)

Speaking of gleaning >>> "The Gleaners and I"

Long Day

2009-01-28T09:04:00.008-05:00

Dirt Rag

2009-01-26T07:49:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I confuse rags with new undershirts. Jeff's illustration helped to clarify things...

The Big Day!!!

2009-01-21T07:42:00.029-05:00

Jeff and I set off on the C&O just outside Frederick on Tuesday morning at roughly 7:30am. On any other day this would be my normal commute to work; however, today was special ….today, Jeff and I were making a pilgrimage to DC to take part in the most significant historic moment of our lives. We arrived in Georgetown around 10:30am, dropped our bags at the new CycleLife Gym, and headed for the national mall. Standing in the crowds we watched the jumbotron as Obama was sworn into office. It was truly a sacred moment. (photo: jumboTron on the lawn)

With a three hour ride home, we opted not to hang around too long. We grabbed a quick cup of coffee in Georgetown before we turned our bikes against the current and followed the Potomac back to Frederick. (photo credit: J. Schalk) Cold and tired, we arrived at the car just after 6pm. It was a monumental day that will forever be etched in our memories.

The day in pictures:

Faux Pro

2009-01-19T12:43:00.014-05:00

Guest blogger: Jeff Schalk

I’ve only recently learned to ride on the rollers. I was always afraid of learning to use them, not wanting to crash in my own living room and look like an idiot. But, Anna inspired me to give it a try. After living with her for several months and watching her use them on a frequent basis, I began to get a complex… she is a better cyclist than me in many ways. I eventually concluded that a full-time cyclist should be able to ride rollers, so I gave it a try and it wasn’t so bad. Now I feel a little less like a phony, though I still nearly kill myself every other time I try to dismount the damn things. So, I’m still an idiot.

This reminds me of the many other things that I took way too long to learn how to do as a cyclist. The most ridiculous of all was simply learning how to ride without my hands on the bars – it wasn’t until my third year as a Pro when this happened… pathetic. It never really seemed that important as a MTB’er, and I apparently never thought I’d win anything worthy of having my arms raised. Then, I somehow won the Shenandoah 100 two years ago. I set the course record and took down Floyd Landis in the process, and as I crossed the finish line, all I could think was: “I am a tool.” My first winning photo on cyclingnews.com (see photo): my left hand is firmly planted on the bar and the other is giving a sad little wave of embarrassment.

So, I worked on it all last winter just in case I happened to win anything in 2008. Every recovery ride was without hands, and I prepared to look more Pro. My next chance came when I won the Cohutta 100 the next Spring. I took my hands off the bars for the entire paved straightaway as I approached the line, but I had no idea what to do with my arms. As I finished, all I could think of was a scene from the movie Talladega Nights – during Ricky Bobby’s first TV interview, he awkwardly stares at the camera and fidgets and mutters: “I’m not sure what to do with my hands.” So, I still felt like an idiot.

But, I’m getting better at some of these things… with a little practice. If you pass by our place in Frederick, and look up at our second floor window and see me riding the rollers with my arms raised in victory… well, I look like a tool because I’m trying to avoid looking like a tool later on.

Almost Ready

2009-01-15T09:45:00.007-05:00

Just five more days!!!!

Bridging the Gap

2009-01-14T09:21:00.006-05:00

Representative Earl Blumenauer (D) received some much deserved praise in the Science section of yesterday's New York Times. A passionate bike advocate, Blumenauer has made great progress in the direction of creating more bike friendly communities in his home state of Oregon. As founder of the Cogressional Bike Caucus he has also helped to bridge the partisan gap and bring much needed attention to the rights of cyclists. With the twilight of the automotive age on the horizon, it is forward thinkers such as Blumenauer who will pave the way for a more sustainable future. (photo credit: New York Times)

Many of us have a long weekend coming up ...this might be a good opportunity to write Blumenauer a letter of thanks?

PORTLAND:

729 N.E. Oregon StreetSuite 115 Portland, OR 97232

WASHINGTON D.C.:

2267 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515

Suck It Up

2009-01-12T14:55:00.011-05:00

I suppose no cycling related blog would be complete without the obligatory post on training while sick. The web is teaming with sites that would have you believe that it is better to err on the side of precaution when it comes to the common cold and training. For years I have operated under the assumption that there are no gains to be had when riding while sick; however, new studies may suggest otherwise…

Lorena and I are currently working on a contradicting theory suggesting that training through the common cold might actually help you get better faster. Although our pool of knowledge is based solely on random websites and hearsay; this should not deter you from trusting in our sage advice. As it happens, I was feeling a bit under the weather last week which gave me a great opportunity to test this new theory.

Case Study:
Monday & Tuesday I took it easy on account of an emerging sore throat. Wednesday’s two hour ride in the freezing rain (Sorry Steve! You make the weather call next time!) only helped to further the progress of my illness. Aside from my three hour ride to work on Friday I took things pretty easy the remainder of the week. Sunday morning came and I was stilling battling a sore throat; however, I decided to head out for a long ride in effort to test our new theory. About halfway through the ride my sore throat turned into a productive cough and by the time I got home I was expelling a copious supply of mucus (sorry, this blog post is not for the faint of heart). This morning I awoke feeling almost completely healthy! Yay! I’m cured!

Literature Review:

Everyday Athlete (the more conservative voice)
Runner's World
EAS Coaching
Testosterone Muscle

These references, coupled with my own experience have led me to conclude that it is indeed ok (if not beneficial) to train through the common cold provided it only involves issues above the neck (i.e. sore throat & runny nose). This theory does NOT apply to physical maladies below the neck (i.e. bronchial infection), as these tend to be more serious. Finding that fine line between the two can be tricky. I’d also like to suggest Cycle-Dumb as another fantastic source for revolutionary training ideas. (photo: Tony Little, icon of revolutionary indoor training)

Disclaimer: Lorena & I accept no legal responsibility for serious illness that may result from faulty medical advice. A grain of salt should be taken with any advice gleaned from our respective blogs.

photo credits: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/, http://www.clarionledger.com, www.gormogons.com)

Feet Without Gender

2009-01-09T11:42:00.011-05:00

When it comes to footwear, the Euros really know what they’re doing. One size for both genders, that’s all you need. Why is it necessary that each gender should have its own sizing scale? I found this to be particularly frustrating when ordering my first pair of women’s specific Sidi – Dominators. Up until now I’ve always worn men’s Sidis in a Euro 41, which converts to a women’s 8.5. But for some reason Sidi has decided to make their own brand of Euro sizing ….one for each gender. (click photo to enlarge sizing chart)

When my new shoes arrived I had a difficult time cramming my boat feet into a women’s 7.5 ….WTF? Looking at their sizing chart one is led to believe that a Euro 41 will translate into a women’s 8.5. I still don’t have a good explanation for the disparity in sizing, but I thought I would forewarn other women who might be in the market for some gender specific shoes ….don’t get burned like I did!!!

Speaking of gender specifics, today is the birthday of Simone de Beauvior (according to this morning's Writer’s Almanac), author of The Second Sex . A famous French feminist in the 1940s, she made the distinction between sex and gender. According to de Beauvoir, "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”. I wonder how that translates to shoes.

Flying Dog

2009-01-08T14:30:00.010-05:00

Coincidentally, it looks like Flying Dog is making a neighborhood appearance this afternoon:

(seen from our living room window)

Wake-n-Bake

2009-01-06T14:27:00.008-05:00

Our last night in Athens was spent sampling the various brews of Terrapin Beer as part of my induction into the Wake-n-Bake team. As the team’s newest member, I felt a certain responsibility to acquaint myself with the Terrapin product. The specialty brew of the night was the Dos Cocos (or something like that). I’m usually not a fan of darker beers, but this one was quite nice …something you might like to sip slowly by the fire. Next we tried the SunRay Wheat Beer made with honey from Savannah Georgia as well as the India Style Brown Ale, each of which were quite tasty. We finished off the evening with the award winning Rye Pale Ale which coincidentally was our favorite of the four.

Light weights that we are, Jeff and I opted not to sample the remaining beers and instead made our way to the gift shop. Fairly cold and slightly buzzed, the his and hers Terrapin sweatshirts seemed like a logical decision.

Terrapin Brewery (inspired by the Grateful Dead album “Terrapin Station”) is based out of Athens, Georgia and released its first beer in 2002. Since then Terrapin has developed a well rounded collection of beers, won honors at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival, and continues to expand its range of distribution. Turns out they also have a satellite brewery (Flying Dog) in Frederick!

New Year;Old Friends

2009-01-06T08:20:00.012-05:00

I will forever have a soft spot in my heart for the quirky town of Athens, Georgia and the many friends I made while racing collegiately with the University of Georgia Cycling Team. It was the spring of 2002 that I lined up for my first bike race at the University of Florida ....little did I know that, seven years later, racing and riding would continue to be a major component of my life. Nothing can compare to the camaraderie of collegiate cycling. Over the course of my undergraduate career, we formed friendships that have weathered the test of time and distance. And so, it was a special occasion that all of us (well, some of us) gathered again to ring in the New Year in Athens. Some got married, some had babies, some moved to big cities and accomplished great things ....but at the core, we're still the same kids who love to ride bikes.

And if it weren't for Jake's unrelenting passion for taking photos most of these gatherings would go undocumented. Thanks again Jake!!!