Oh My God! A Mountain Ride In Ohio!

If you add 10,000' ft of elevation to Ohio, you get Utah!









I managed to find a mountain bike ride in Ohio! O.k., it's more of a hill bike ride...but it was "mountainesque." It was a twenty five mile loop, all singletrack, that never ONCE crossed the same section twice. Located in the Mohican State Park off rte. 3 and rte 97, it was a heavily wooded area with covered bridges and streams aplenty. Non-technical and very flowy, it was a rollercoaster of short and steep "stinger" climbs, followed by fast and smooth low-grade descents. The occasional switchback and log pile thrown in for good measure, it had only one or two discernable rocky sections that were short and...not that rocky.



This is also the site of the Mohican 100 mtb race, and the course is well marked up until about mile post eight. this is the short-loop cut off, and at least as of Wednesay at 8a.m., didn't appear to have anyone past that short loop in days if not weeks. The trail beyond the covered bridge was all but unrecognizeable in many parts, with vegeatation (read that as poison ivy) closing all but the last inch of the trail off. Looking like a whale shark on a bike, I managed to clear a twenty foot-wide-swath for the remainder of the ride. Only two miles were off-limits, thanks to the gas company doing work on the line. Those were probably the two best miles of trail, right?





After it was all over, I was tired and happy to find a ride that was physically challenging and had a switchback or two! Switchbacks mean elevation change, and in C-Bus we only have about 230' top to bottom. Thank GOD the upper part of the state has a small 1,000' bump or two to roll up and down on. I will miss Alum Creek (not really), but will likely never ride there again unless someone really begs. I will be hitting the road mileage and cutting out my Bucket-a-Day fried chicken habit to better attack that loop. I would like to cut that lap down from 3.5 hrs to 3, and loosing twenty lbs. may just give me that gap. Colonel, I'll miss you and your crunchy fried yard-bird, and buttery biscuits.....


mmmmmmm...biscuits....

Chuck-T Heads To Tahoe

Chuck-T is heading up to Northstar today to bust his TOMAC PRIMER DH RIG in the Cal State DH race this weekend. Wish him luck and hopefully he'll bring him the bacon...safely of course....and with some grits and a fried egg...mmmm grits...

Mary Mac Goes To Beijing!

Mary Mac and Michael Broderick of Seven Cycles (team homies) sent an e-mail out this week to let us know that SHE MADE THE FINAL CUT FOR SELECTION TO THE U.S. OLYMPIC MTB TEAM for CHINA! Congrats to one of my favorite people in the cycling punyverse. I love these guys, and it could NOT have happened to a nicer person..again!~ For those who don't know, this will be Mary's second Olmpic bid.
Good on ya' Mary, go get 'em!










Hello!

It has been an intense past few months... if you have been reading online
(www.usacycling.org, www.cyclingnews.com or www.velonews.com) you may have a
clue what Mike and I have been up to-- though even if you have it is at best a
glimpse of our effort, travels and lives. We can only apologize for the lack of
communication and chalk it up to a direct result of how busy we remain while in
the thick of it.

Mike and I have continued to organize and run all aspects of our team program
through our busiest season to date. From a fantastic winter of productive
training in Chile to Pan American Championships in Venezuela, to 10 weeks and
10,000+ kilometers of driving throughout Europe for a challenging stint of
racing world cups and living out of the motor home. Mike and I have made it
back to our home turf on Marthas Vineyard safe, sound and elated to announce I
have been officially named to the US Olympic Team!!!

It is a huge honor to be selected to represent the USA and more specifically all
of my family, friends and sponsors at the Games. I will be joining other US
mountain bikers-- Todd Wells, Adam Craig and Georgia Gould as we set out for
Beijing, China in mid August.

A very intense selection procedure that began in 2007 with the fielding of an
olympic "long team" a talent pool consisting of 6 men and 5 women from which
the eventual 2 men and 2 women olympic athletes would be chosen. Both mike and
I made the initial selection for this "long team" and this opportunity
established our season goals firmly around attempting to make it all the way to
the final team selection. The 2008 criteria required me (or mike) to be one
of the top two americans in overall world cup ranking after the 5 opening
rounds of the highly contested uci cross country world cups. This selection
criteria pushed our team program to its limits as we found the competition at
an all time high with many other countries choosing similar selection processes
that included the world cups. Though we struggled at times I am happy and
immeasurably proud to have accomplished this goal of while overcoming such
adversity with our humble team program. Though Mike was not able to make one of
the two coveted mens positions he shares a deep satisfaction for our
accomplishment as he truly played a huge role in enabling me to rise up and
realize this achievement for our team.

It has been an amazing opportunity for mike and I to share this journey as we
both continue to push our limits towards some ideal of our potential that itself
seems to keep changing and expanding. I am filled with gratitude and Thanks
to each of you for your continued support. I could not have made my way so
well on this technical trail with out YOU.

The next few weeks bring some exciting racing opportunities that will serve me
well to be on my top form for the big race in Beijing. National Championships
are next Saturday , July 19 at Mount Snow, VT. This is a personal favorite
course for both Mike and I. It is riddled with steep climbs and rooty, rocky,
intensely demanding terrain. I aim to defend my national title in both the
cross country and the short track. Mike is looking for a top finish on par with
the bronze he rocked last year.

We will then head north to Quebec for 2 more world cup races in Mont Ste Anne
(Jul 27) and Bromont (Aug 3). These are important races in their own right
though for reasons of wanting to arrive with my best form in Beijing they will
be mixed in with lots of specific training. It will be interesting to see how
these go but you can bet I will be giving it my best on race day!

Directly after the canadian world cups I will fly out to my hometown in
Fairfax, CA for 5 days of training and olympic processing before the entire US
Mountain Bike squad (mechanic/coach Mike included) fly to an island off of South
Korea for the usa cycling xc mtb olympic training camp. Here we will acclimate
to the time change and climate for a week before a quick and surely exciting
5 days in Beijing I will race on Aug 22 and the men Aug 23. Both Mike and I
are looking forward to the adventures and travel that await.

Breathing it all in with gratitude,
Mary and Mike

Team KENDA/Seven Cycles

The Brooklyn Run!

The trip was great! Check Lyd's fan site for photos and the write up. I was amazed at how smelly that place was, how much garbage was everywhere...and how eye-gougingly unattractive the general population was, even in Manhattan. I have been there a few times an have yet to see anyone I would trade for even the local girls at the coffee house. The gene pool must be really shallow in those "borroughs," and I am thankful to be back in a place where animals can live, and people don't look like Michelangelo's "grotesque" sketches..

On Notice!

I'm watching you guys....and your bedrooms don't look so bad through my night-vision goggles!












So I understand that some of the folks under the expert and careful guidance of Roger are maybe coasting a bit on their attendance? I know Abel was out for several months on injured reserve..he gets a pass. How about the rest? Is there anyone ho hasn't done enough to get an overall besides Oscar, who wins the overall California State Fatherhood Series? Bev is also gonna get a pass, she has earned it. Anyone else that I am missing? THANK YOU to those at the team's core who have carried us all for so many years, you know who you are..and it's appreciated.

A Letter From Roger

Yo Randy,

We missed you at Rim Nordic, I told them you caught the herpes and that you were putting up a great battle.. but it might have progressed too far along for recovery....and that you wanted spend your last days on earth roller skating down at the beach in pink dolphin shorts!!!! Dammit man we need you back!!!! I know you got stuff you have to get a handle on before you come back... :)

The stage race was good, it was Vanessa and me, and we were joined by James Cross and Christie Pleiss. The weather was good, about 70 degrees and after Saturday's hill climb and short course race it poured for about 2 hrs, making the course perfect for Sunday's xc race. Vanessa got 1st place in all three categories ( her times were close to the pro girl above her) and the TOMAC did great. James did good but had a technical problems with his rear brake and Christie was just recovering from some time off and was just feeling her legs out...

Vegas Bob said he was thinking about coming out, but never heard or saw him on Sunday...Brant had to work and chase girls and Bert and Ryan never do that series??? Mathew is visting family back east...

Anyway 2 weeks is the State Race at Rim Nordic, who's coming??? Do we need the cabin????

Hey Chris who's racing this year??? I got about 5 people on the team this year that have been racing their butts off for you and Backbone ,and I swear I gave out gear and swag to about 12 people?? Where are they??? Next year we need to have some rule about "will race for gear and swag"??? There are plenty of people out there that go to races who could use some pedals, jersey's, supplements, tires, computers etc...

p.s. I know I am grumpy about it... but attendance is down at the races and on the team, I know gas is expensive, but the local Cal State races arent that far??

much love,

Roger

Bert takes Alpe d'Huez On Tomac Carbide!

O.K., so he didn't REALLY take one of the most famous tour stages in history on his mountain bike...but he probably could! That's probably the first and only time Joel has ever seen a TOMAC jersey on the Tour de France podium! Maybe road bikes next year, eh guys? This was a shot from '05 when Bert and Dawn went to France and chased the tour. Bert rode the Alp stage and actually came in a small number of minutes (3?) behind the peloton! Not bad for an old bastard with the gout, right?

What It's Gonna' Take.

Anyone involved in mountain bike racing in North America knows how bad the situation is for the NMBS series, it's certainly no secret. Long gone are the days of the industry team rigs pulling up and disgorging a circus of hot chicks, new bikes, schwag by the ton and well-marketed pro riders. Today's NMBS series looks more like a beached whale in it's final minutes before death. The only people in attendance are the riders, and their numbers seem to be sadly shrinking. There are no spectators that aren't immediately related to the riders, and since the racers get everything for free, they spend no money at the vendors. No money for vendors equals no vendors. No vendors equals no sponsors, and thusly no riders. It is sad to see the bike industry NOT support the racing in North America, but it is certainly understandable why they don't. When something new does come along, it's usually a $200 per-person stage race in a place so remote that the total cost for the rider almost equals their annual income. The only NMBS race that still has a remnant of success is the Fontucky race. There are reasons why this stop in the series, and it's Cal State Races do better than the rest. I am going to attempt to propose a few things for the coming years for ALL OF US to work on, not just USA Cycling alone. Please feel free to add what you will to continue the dialogue..





Remote cameras w/ big screen (Olympics did this in Athens, to keep the spectators up to date, an so do some East Coast DH races!)**talk to Collective guys about help w/this?* This would help get passers by to actually get involved in the action that nobody ever sees after the gun goes off.

Incentives for 2 racers in each class to run helmet cams that are linked to screens in the pit areas so that a VERY personal look at racing can be had by everyone waiting in the expo area. T.V. networks can help with this (*see below).

$20 beginner men's races/free women beginner races. You gotta' get people involved, or it's over. Mountain States Cup does this already!

More control over moving up riders who NEED TO MOVE UP. Do I need to say his name? I will...don't tempt me. I have a whole 'nother results page sitting right here FULL of firsts, and I am prepared to use it! If this means hiring more staff (how Linda B. at USA Cycling does her job so well for what it pays is a miracle) than so be it.

Bring back SUMO class (300lbs). Drop the 200lb clydesdale class(sandbaggers), because nobody in that weight class has more than 10% body fat that I have ever seen. At 6'5", 200 lbs is a lean-ass racer.

*Free TV coverage for 2 yrs via usa cycling for any network agreeing to a 5 year contract to cover NMBS races. Seriously, if something as new as "Ultimate Fighting" can get TV coverage, so can mountain biking. It's more family friendly, and the variety of races can span a better scope of sponsors.

Pit areas for teams free (Seriously, so many reasons why). When a large team has so many riders paying fees, dues, licenses, etc. etc. it's INSANE TO CHARGE THEM for a frikkin' pit area at the NMBS races.

Create a draw for non-cyclists by;
holding events in higher population density areas (Southridge is a great example).

getting high-rate bands to play during the day to draw non-riders.

fun-zones that have a foam-pit (Ray's Indoor sponsored?) that guys can do for $

bmx half-pipe show from industry team

INDUSTRY SUPPORT..this is a hard one. If people show up and have something to purchase, industry folks will go. They have to GO to get people to show up and buy things. It's the whole "chicken and the egg" thing, but if the bike industry doesn't support it's self first, no one else will.



More riders getting elevated "brand awareness" (wheaties boxes, commercial viability, leno, letterman, etc.)HIRE MANAGEMENT FIRM to market riders!!

BEER GARDENS/FOOD COURTS
FREE F*****G T-SHIRTS for racers.


So there it is. Anyone else? I will be making some calls on the NMBS behalf, and see what we can do to help the situation. I know I like to bitch a TON, but I also have a propensity to change things as well. Help me, won't you?









For the record, guys like Jim Wannamakebabies at KENDA show up to support every frikkin race they can get to, and support every rider they can find. If you have ever needed anything at an mtb race as either a vendor or rider, Jim is ALWAYS there to sacrifice his body to help the cause.

Big Apple, Big Dorks

I found that magazine with Bert's first ad in it, and it always make me smile.












We'll be on the road tonight, but if you guys need anything....call Jim, I am out. haha Lyd was AWESOME with Joe backing her up on stage last night, you guys should all come out on Sept. 18th for the solo show. Oh wait, airfare is 10,000 dollars a mile right now...maybe not.

















We had to pawn off our fish ("Petty" was the name Luka gave him, because he wanted to pet him) to Mary down the street. I hope she doesn't sell him while we are gone to McDonald's for a Filet O' Fish. I wonder how Betta fish tastes with tartar sauce?





This is Lyd's favorite picture. It was from the Camp-N-Ride last year at Sycamore. I could never live in NY knowing that a place like that exists somewhere else. By Sunday, I will certainly be ready to leave the Big Apple. I never have heard so much as a bird chirp in that city, and the smell is unreal. Makes C-Bus seem bearable!
The road trip will be a much needed break from the busy life we have forced on ourselves here, and it will be fun to reenact the road trip from Alburquerque to C-bus last year..only from C-Bus to NY....and w/out all my crap in the truck!

Whiting Ranch ReOpen!

Hey Chris.Just wanted to let you know that Whiting Ranch is finally completely reopening after last falls fire this saturday July 12Th.Supposedly there's going to be some local politicians and maybe even the Governator there.Finally someplace fun to ride after work instead of sitting in traffic on the 405.


****Thanks Rod! Hey, don't ride there with pork chops in your pocket, I hear the pumas get hungry in that park!******************

An Add Campaign I Can Appreciate

Pearl Izumi has a great website right now. You can play a short game or two that allows you to see a Happy Ass, or a Sad Ass. Check the Sad Ass...and let it run for a while. Reminds you of when that hot stripper broke up with you, doesn't it? And you thought you had that all wrapped around your finger, didn't you?
Then you went to breakfast one morning and she was already there.....with the bouncer from the club. They were making out....
It was the first time you ever had Jaegermeister for breakfast. That's EXACTLY what the SAD ASS sounds like! Check it out, and have a laugh..

Show Tonight, and New Website!

The new website is up at www.lydiabrownfield.com, so check it out! We still have some content to add (ok, a TON), but it will be done soon. Also, Lyd plays out at the Thirsty Ear tonight, so come out and have a beer. OH, and JOE MINERD will be playing with her...and maybe solo? Come support your peeps!

The Bontrager Regulator

This little gem will soon be available from Bontrager, and it may do you some good to go out and grab one. Unlike many "race day" inflator heads, this uber-light
system actually has a SCUBA style regulator head on top that allows you to turn the air on and off as needed! It's spectacular, and so far seems to work pretty damn well.






The air cannister (provided) comes with a sweet beer cozy-thingy that is reuseable for other cannisters. I think the head weighs something like 12 grams(?), so it will make even the late King James giddy as a school boy at the counter where he buys one. Construction quality seems to be first rate on initial inspection, but further long term testing by both Tookie and myself will determine it's overall reliability.












Thanks to Bob Meyers for the sweet hook-up and sneak peek at this soon-to-be-available little bit o' sweetness! HOLLA'!

Deer Valley Pix From WFVB

Roger is seen here pointing the way to the Port-O-Let for the poor bastard who tried the "chili-dog-and pork-rind breakfast burrito" from the Deer Valley, Utah concession stand. World Famous Vegas Bob sent in these pix from the race a couple of weeks ago. He and Roger drove all the way back to So Cal after Ryan's Sunday a.m. xc race. Thay had to pass some amazing countryside to get back to Cali, and probably sit in some ridiculous Vegas Sunday traffic, as well. Roger has been killing it as the XC team manager, and as the KENDA sales rep too. That ain't a bald head, that's a solar panel for a SEX MACHINE!





Bert is seen here on his pre-ride wearing his 2007 National Champ Team Kit that Ed from Voler hooked up for him. Note the Stars and Stripes on his sleeves and collar....that doesn't mean that his mom was Betsy Ross (who didn't actually make the forst flag anyway..but we'll get to that later), it means he was the fastest in the nation in 2006. Recollyze, bitches!











Ryan Blanchette is seen here doing his best Chris impersonatiion...y'know, SWEATING LIKE A FAT BASTARD. Big difference is, he actually raced his bike at elevation. I look like that after taking a crap. Damn the midwest and their tater-tots smothered in fried chicken gravy! Thanks to Vegas Bob for the great pix. I wish I had one of Vanessa's face when her cranks exploded during her race. I could use that photo strip paint from the walls of my house. What sucks is she may have actually been in the top 3 at the finish had that bike help up..