Science Meets Mountain Bikers In Training

Plum-bobs are overrated.............






I had the opportunity to be one of the first COMotion Sports racers to be analyzed using the awesome Retul http://www.retul.com/ 3D fitting systems.


The session began with the normal cycling questions then a comprehensive evaluation of body symmetry and flexibility. Because the problem may not be the BIKE!!
The software technology comes from the medical navigation arena and basically uses IR sensors to track moving points along a given plane. That data is processed into a 3 dimensional connect-the-dots structure that accurately follows and measures key fulcrum points of the rider. Sensors are place on the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists. The stick figure on the PC monitor shadowing your movement is very cool to watch.


Our own Todd Carver administered the analysis and came up with some very down to earth recommendation and observations.Employing some of the traditional methods of recording bike geometry both before and after adjustments, Todd dialed in the perfect saddle height and set back then went on to suggest "aggressive" arch supports for my Sidis.

The session lasted more than 2 hours with the bulk of time focused on the Road Project. This is the bike that I will spend more than 1,000 miles on this spring doing weekend 4-6 hour rides to building endurance strength.
Of special interest to me was the observation of how my right knee and ankle tracked on the pedal.
Since learning of the demise of my tibialis anterior (TA) tendon and subsequent loss of TA muscle mass, physical therapy and orthodics have become an every day part of overcoming this barrier without surgery.
Good news comes from Biomechanics guru Todd, in that the TA system plays a small part in the cycling world. To see what goes on in the foot/ankle area while cycling click here http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/bodygeometry/main.html?x=y follow the links to shoes and you. Then beat the hell out of the back button to come here.

I should be able to continue training and racing with the proper therapy and coaching.
Todd is busy setting up Retul fitters around the globe but if you want scientific data relating to how you spin the cranks and want to prevent long term cycling injuries, you got to make an appointment with the man.
The Retul personal fitting report offers 15 different measurements and angular references. Knowing these references will allow you to set up all the bikes you use from demo/rental nightmares, spin class Revmasters to brand new 2008 Carbon Yeti mountain bikes. Plum-bob salesmen will soon be a thing of the past.. Contact Todd at todd@retul.com .

Winding Down and Reving Up--Winter months

With the bulk of racing behind us I'll be looking forward to family holiday stuff the next few weeks. Plenty of cycling stuff coming up over winter including:

1. Training CX bike fit with Todd Carver's new 3D system http://www.retul.com/
   
2. Awaiting January delivery of the 2008 Full Carbon Yeti ASR http://www.yeticycles.com/Bikes/BikesASRCarbon.cfm -build planning


3. Opening of the brand new Mountainside Fitness http://mountainsidefitness.com/ center 1/2 mile from the house-IMAX spin classes ??


4. Course of heavy physical therapy to avoid surgery of important parts



5. Building and planning for the 2008 COMotion team-6th MSC Championship and activities expansion.

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY..AND KEEP ON CYCLING !!!

Boulder Cup -Psyco Cross

For the 3rd weekend in a row, the scene has been cyclo cross racing in the Boulder area. This weekend was for the big boys al'a pro with big names at both the Saturday Reservoir race and the Sunday Boulder Cup.

Family stuff kept me away from the Saturday romp but Sunday me and the wieners spectated the elite groups under another stellar Colorado fall day. The COMotion trailer stayed home this round.

The UCI sanctioned event seemed a little more organized and well attended. Race results will eventually be available at http://www.dbcevents.com/Results.html





Screaming at Iles again and again...

Hot dog winner of the Elite men's division was Ryan Trebon.











Iles broadsliding in the sand-wich pit..good block!!!
Katie Compton taking the estrogen class.

Dual Purpose Bike Weekend

The weekend was split between Saturday's annual Veloswap meet and Sunday's Cyclocross race at the Boulder Reservoir.Lines were 6 blocks long at 9:00 am at one of the nation's largest gathering of cycle re-cycling fanatics. Over 15,000 riders of all types crowded the Denver stockyards to find their next road bike or dump the beat-to-death downhill rig. Four hours in to it, I had spent $67 and had a bag full of stuff I hoped would fit or come in handy later. Nuts, pins, tools and nothing of any real value. With that out of my system, we readied the COMo trailer for another fun cyclocross race.

The popularity of the sport is evident when you see signs like this one and massive 75+ riders starting lines.

Week by week, the Yeti ARC-CX bike sightings grow in numbers.

This Colorado Bike Law racer adorned what was most likely representative of the "goathead" stickers that plagued riders who ventured off the course main lines.

Early morning junior racers were treated to hot cocoa and cookies to replenish their sugar stores. Word of the cookies started lines forming until they were all but gone...quicker than the beer went in the afternoon.
One of my personal heros of the sport, Stephen Oliver has the perfect l-o-n-g-b-o-d-y geometry required for the running ,jumping and riding of this all-to-the-wall sport. Stephen finished in the top 10 to the delight of his wonderfully supportive daughter who always cheers dad on.

Word was that the best line was IN the water instead of the traditional pack line being taken 12" to the right. Or maybe it was just the free wheel and "arse" washing that resulted from the spray????Stephen Iles again proved to be one of COMotion's most dedicated post-MTB season riders finishing well a head of rival Rocky Mountain Racers boys and a respectable top 10.

CX season provides an excellent opportunity to scout MTB racers for the 6th MSC Series title. Who looks good here in the 40+ woman's category? Dev Peterson or Karin Barclay?
Brian and John put on a hell of a series. Find additional info at http://www.boulderracing.com/ . We all live on the same small planet. Beginning with this series, COMotion Sports team will always provide an opportunity to recycle cans and bottles (and kegs?) yes...wherever we go.

Cyclocross Comes To My Hometown.....Thank you City of Broomfield

A week after the 24 Hours of Moab (736 mile RT) the venue and disclipline changed to my backyard and Cyclocross.
Part of the Boulder Racing Series, http://www.boulderracing.com/ the high-tech home of Sun Microsystems and other Dot-com industries became a cycling haven for racers invading Interlocken's East Park and the golf course like scenery south of the Denver-Boulder Highway 36 Turnpike.

In an effort to diversify our race team participation, we hauled the trailer and set up to support COMotion CX racers Stephen Iles, Todd Carver, Gary Peterson and Seth Ramsbottom.

8 o'clock had the pit poised with percolated coffee, sugar infested sweet rolls and hydration for any tempted souls. Drop-in mechanicals ranged from ..dude---can I borrow your pump (frigg'n valve stem peeked out barely 10mm from the Ksyrium rims) to "what the hell is this wrong with my cantilevers?" Iles even preformed a derailleur hanger-apendectomy on a recently crashed no-name bike.

Rider's complained that they were being run through sewer on the mud- fest crossing but trust me...it's just pure ole hydrogen-sulfide produced from the entirely natural break down and composting of organic matter. Still smells like cau-cau. Use a little Fabreeze or actually wash 'em before the race next weekend at the Boulder Res.

COMotion's Pro racer Steve Iles astonished the crowd with his slingshot start and lead in the 1 hour grand finale contest. A crash later sent Stephen to the ice chest for an ice pack to calm a swelling knee instead of the podium. Next week brother........

24 HOURS OF MOAB AS I SAW IT

COMotion teammate Kris Lathrop is leading in the Le Manns style start and was first to mount the bike on lap 1 at the 12:00 noon Saturday start.

I didn't realize, until I drug out the old 24 HoM long sleeve, that it has been 5 years since I raced the Grandaddy of 24 hour races. It must have made an impression because it seems like yesterday. The honorary "poacher's" lap we took on the course Friday was very, very familiar.

No racing for me this year but all the same, there was a ton of work to be done in my support role for at least 4 teams camped in the "Butler Circle". COMotion racers included Chris Butler, Matt Juth, Bonnie Sandoval, Kris Lathrop and Kalan Beisel. Loose sand slowed the previous years average lap time by over 7 minutes.
I really have no idea how anyone placed, or how many teams were entered or any other worthwhile stats.

All I know is that if you set up a trailer with canopies, break out maintenance stands a 5mm hex wrench and chain brush they come out of the woodwork.

Cris Taylor and I took turns calming down wild-eyed races who all had the same story. "MY BIKE IS SHIFTING LIKE SH*@T!!

The Moab red powder AKA sand was working its way into every derailleur,cable and oily spot on the bikes.

I took a break between about midnight and 4 am but for most of the rest of the weekend stayed busy trying to keep riders riding instead of pushing the 14 mile course.

Two real heros of the weekend were the Honda and Coleman generators that allowed the wrenching to go on all night, re-charging of the critical lighting systems and providing watts to keep the yellow Topeak canopies glowing until dawn.

Mucho thanks to Mrs. and Mr. Joanna Butler for the beds, food and brewskis throughout the weekend. You guys rock.....

Dawn Sunday morning was coffee, smelly desert campfire smoke (no such thing as hickory and oak out here) and total BS stories about why we did not win and what we're gonna do about it next year. And we will......

Piece By Peace The ARC X Comes Together

"A BIKE IS JUST SOMETHING TO HOLD TWO WHEELS TOGETHER"
European Empella Frogglegs Cantilever Brakeset

OK... so much for stolen website product photos.

The real thing has arrived and and is under construction. No hurries, no worries, I am still on the Clydesdale training program eating what ever the hell I want until the new program sets in November 1. Fast-twitch muscles must be under there somewhere....

Basement office is occupied nightly working on the fun stuff.

Naked frame SN 8C0146M --Word is that the limited edition CX frame is sold out.

Excuse me, ahhh who's bike is this?

As if my head's not swollen enough.

Who the hell is T.D.W.I.???

As of October 2, Dura Ace'd 10 speed shifters, derailleurs, bottom bracket, cassette and cables. Froggleg canti's & Ritchey cranks,wheelset and road connectors.

Take your time cutting the Easton carbon steerer. Add a couple of Reynolds spacers. Measure twice--cut once. Done. Usual list of "problems" Canti's need extra washer on front, crank has a wobble, wheels need 48 or 60 mm stems & wider than standard road tubes. Too bad, last inventory counted 16 new road tubes on hand.

Finished October 7, still some fine tuning remains but she rides smooooth....The bike will be featured as the December 2007 Yeti Of The Month on the international website http://www.yetifan.com/.

One of 2 Yeti ARC CX bikes at work at the 9/29 Boulder Series race. Please don't dent the cones again Mr. Ramsbottom.

MSC SEASON ENDS FOR SPORT 50+ GROUP

After 7 venues, 12 races and over 3,000 miles traveled, the final podium for the series ended about the way I had expected.
Ed Ford, Golden 1st, Lou Supino, Boulder 2nd, Tom Kimmell, Colorado Springs 3rd and Dave Strouse, Broomfield 4th. Just missing the payoff was Larry Grossman of Eagle with 5th.

This group really got to be pretty good friends over the course of the year. With less than accurate point reporting on the MSC website, the 5 of us stayed in contact most of the year trying to keep it straight....I think we got it right on the last day in Keystone...The "official " rankings from MSC will forever be wrong. We toasted each other with champagne at the end so I guess competitors can be compadres too.. See you guys on the trail. Anyone doing the 24 Hours of Moab?

COMotion Sports Team Does the Job

In some ways it seems like a long time ago we began this task of repeating a 5th MSC title championship.

Then again, it happened all too fast and suddenly it's over. Makes no sense but think about the venues.

Nathrop..tried to kill Oliver and a way too big 5th wheel for Ben and me, Angel Fire....sharing condo with new friends, Crested Butte....sharing condo with old friends, Snowmass....thinking my next triple bypass would not be with Team Evergreen over Squaw, Loveland and Vail Pass, Telluride...4 days of family, puppies and mud, Eldora...bootleg watering station for team mates, weeping stitches, beer boiled brats and a thanks to our founder, Keystone....longest frik'n climb and wild ass descent in recent memory.

Thanks to all the teammates and sponsors who helped make this year a great one to remember.