As a light packer, I can stuff the bare essentials in a backpack, sling it over my shoulder, and get by for most any trip under two weeks. When it comes to long distance cycling, this light packing skill is essential, as I learned on my week-long journey up the Natchez Trace a little over a year ago. After the trip I detailed out what I took with me in my Cycle Touring Gear List. On that trip I took a one-wheeled trailer. Lately though I’ve been testing the DTR Large Panniers by Detours, and I’ve been very impressed.

Detours’ headquarters is located in the heart of Seattle, a fantastic cycling town. But, besides their Seattle roots, Detours has a lot more going for them – namely, respect. Getting high praise across the bike blogosphere and within the hard-to-penetrate cycling culture is street cred enough to get them on anyone’s shopping list, but I wanted to try a set of Detours bags myself and see what the hype is about. Here is the lowdown on what I’ve found so far…

• The D2R Large Panniers have ample room for this light packer. The set has 2,125 cubic inches of space  – enough for bike tools, spares, hand pump, rain gear, a change of clothes, and a small toiletry set. If you’re crafty enough you could even fit your small camping gear items and snacks in with no trouble.
• The Large Panniers are probably overkill for a commuter – but for those who want a little more “trunk space” these may be just the ticket.
• The weather resistance of these panniers has sold me. I like the facts that the lid has an inner coating on the nylon and that the bottoms of the bags are rubberized for durability and splash resistance. The rain covers included with mine are a nice bright yellow with a reflective strip and handle moderate rain with no problem.
• Side pockets provide extra room for quick access items and are adequate. I would love to see a side zipper pockets, but know those would add weight.
• A front zipper pocket provides a bit more security and is hidden with a flap. This pocket is also great for those who like to compartmentalize when they pack.
• Reflective strips are a nice safety touch.
• The stitching is nicely done. I’ve abused the bags a little and haven’t noticed any wear or tear. The clip and hanging mechanisms seem durable.

Bottom Line: Durable and sturdy panniers at an affordable price ($95 at Detours.us). Detours also makes a variety of other bag sizes for a plethora of riding styles.  If you buy from Detour, remember you’re supporting a US-based cycling company. Check them out to find out more.

Ty Stevens

In the words of Todd Branham, Swank 65 race director ”it’s the most laid back, serious MTB race in the Southeast”. Well, I guess so, if you consider 40 miles of gnarly downhills, fast twisty single track, long steep climbs and sheer rock drops, all within the backdrop of epically scenic Pisgah National Forest, a fun way to spend a day. I sure did.

Todd founded Blue Ridge Adventures in 1998 as a bicycle guide and race promotion company. His company now comprises of 3 premiere and highly respected mountain bike races in Western North Carolina. As well, his company represents the Carolina Youth Mountain Bike League, or CYMBL, a series of low cost races for kids held throughout the Summer. Each event is coupled with an educational clinic to teach kids about nutrition, trail etiquette, bike maintenance, and stretching.

Swank 65, considered by its participants to be a truly authentic mountain bike race experience, has been bringing riders to tears and to Western North Carolina for 13 years. This race dishes up some of the best and most iconic riding Pisgah has to offer. Riders can expect mixed terrain single track sections, multiple creek crossings, lengthy fire road climbs and unpredictable downhills – some technical, some sudden with rock gardens and ledges, some flowy and FAST. It’s not uncommon to expect a good deal of hike and bike at certain times through the race. And you will get dirty.

“The key to being successful at Swank is the ability to flow” says Todd, “the course is designed to flow, if you’re not flowing, you’re not having a good day out there”.

Whether you are flowing or not, it’s you against the elements in effort to pedal your way through and earn a spot amidst the Pisgah mountain biking gods and godesses, so to speak. In the end, the reward; cold brew, fresh off the grill burgers, some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Western North Carolina.. and of course, serious bragging rights. I’d consider Swank, or any of Blue Ridge Adventure’s hair raising mountain bike races, a right of passage of sorts.
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When thinking of world class cycling races, European locales such as Spain, France, and Italy come to mind. The last spot one might imagine as a candidate for a pro cycling battle royale is a subtropical  island in the south Pacific known for manufacturing. Nonetheless, that’s just where I traveled to race and mingle with some very well known cycling teams recently.

To westerners, Taiwan could be easily lumped into that group of  “Made in …” countries we see on all our clothing labels and stamped on the bottom of most everything we buy at the almighty Wal Mart. But, as I’ve discovered, Taiwan is working on their image and making a convincing case as a contender for serious road racing. Dramatic emerald-colored mountains dropping swiftly to the sea, deep gorges draped in smooth marble, and sweeping valley vistas create a phenomenal backdrop for a one day classic race. Continue Reading

In the Lucinda Williams ballad Crescent City, she beautifully belts out a Cajun French phrase, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” or “let the good times roll.” The folks in the Crescent City (a.k.a. New Orleans) certainly know how to have a good time, there’s no argument there. And let’s face it, people like “us” can’t help but embark on an active vacation. So, why not roll through the good times in the saddle of a bike the next time you visit the ancient and ever-changing urban masterpiece that is New Orleans.

When to Go

New Orleans is renowned for steamy summers. The humidity, in combination with the heat, is miserable to say the least. Summer is certainly a plausible time to pedal New Orleans but Fall through Spring is blessed with more tolerable temps. Obviously Fat Tuesday is New Orleans’ biggest tourist draw. The French Quarter fills with drunken travelers hoping to catch Continue Reading

With the weekend just a few hours away for us here in the states, we decided to post this short clip of Brook MacDonald taking a leisurely ride in NEw Zealand. Who else has a ride like this planned this weekend?

Thanks to the Outer Edge for the heads up!

The Queenstown Bike Festival will focus on two major events during Easter with the annual New World Tour de Wakatipu attracting big numbers of elite and recreational riders and the inaugural Corona Dirtmasters Downhill in Ben Lomond forest featuring world class riders in action.

Around 620 people have registered for the Tour de Wakatipu on Saturday (April 23) which takes riders from Arrowtown to Chard Farm winery on the Kawarau River.
The event begins at Millbrook Resort with cyclists riding down the avenue to the western end of the resort to the Wakatipu Trails Trust track, which leads to Speargrass Flat Road and on to Slopehill Road. The competitors then move on to Lower Shotover Road to access a scenic single track alongside the Shotover River before crossing the restored Lower Shotover Bridge.

From the bridge the course follows a gravel road and 4WD track to the Shotover delta, before joining the Kawarau River track and crossing the Kawarau River bridge. A one kilometre highway section accesses the private Kawarau River road on Coneburn Station leading to the finish line at Chard Farm.

Director Geoff Hunt says the private track offers people a once-in-a year chance to ride the exclusive access through Coneburn Station. The scenery is brilliant through here and we are very fortunate that the landowner Steve Laing is prepared to open it up. We are also grateful to landowner Mike Mee for allowing us access through his private property.”

The recreational ride covers 36km while elite and sports riders include an 8km loop of the Lake Hayes track to cover 45km. The event caters for all riders in age group categories including a junior division.

High profile Queenstown rider Mark Williams has won both previous Tour de Wakatipu events and will defend his title again this year.
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Inaugural Desert RATS Classic 100K Endurance Mountain Bike Race

When: May 14th, 2011

Where: Fruita, Colorado

Gemini Adventures, in conjunction with Journeyman Adventure Enterprises, would like to introduce a new, early season endurance mountain bike race. The inaugural Desert RATS Classic 100K Endurance Mountain Bike Race, scheduled for May 14, 2011, is an out and back adventure on the famed Kokopelli Trail in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.

On the western slope of Colorado, the famous Kokopelli Trail winds its way through sagebrush, ledgy slickrock, winding single track, sandy washes, fast jeep trails and crosses the state line toward Moab, Utah. This trail is the site of the first Annual Desert R.A.T.S. Classic. The 100 kilometer endurance mountain bike race is a challenging out and back test of stamina. Held in May, it’s a great early season test of fitness and a great reason to keep training over the winter and early spring. The course is equally well suited for geared bikes and single speeds and covers a wide variety of terrain including challenging technical terrain, grueling climbs, fast flats and tricky descents.

For more information, please visit: http://geminiadventures.com/new/?page_id=619

THE OCEAN CYCLING WORLD OF YVON LE CAER
http://yvonlecaer.com/

“Although this episode of my life belongs to yesteryear,
I believe that the effort and achievement are still relevant today.”
- Yvon Le Caer -

SUMMARY OF THIS WEBSITE CONTENTS
Peter Eland Publisher of VELO VISION MAGAZINE said it best [June 2009]:

“A slice of human powered history has recently emerged via a website set-up by
ocean-pedalling pioneer Yvon Le Caer who, in the 1980s, completed a remarkable
serie of voyages on his self-built pedalcraft.

A former successful racing cyclist, he had switched his efforts to pedal boats
and major crossings, as he said “not only to face new athhletic and technical challenges,
but also to realize an old dream of mine and, by the same token, validate cycling on water.” 

His first major crosssing, in 1981, took him from Cat Cay in the Bahamas to Dania Beach
on the East coast of Florida, a 62-mile or 100 km journey.
Then, in 1985, he became the first cyclist to “pedal” the English Channel
from Cherbourg in Normandy, France, to Poole on the Dorset coast of England;
a 92-mile or 148 km journey riding AquaCycle, a pedal craft of his own design.

His athletic career was cut short in 1986 by a hit-and-run driver,
but the new website offers a moving and impressive chronicle of the sea cycling
exploits of his youth, with press clippings, photos and documents
pioneering rides on human-powered boats long before the idea had
gained the acceptance and awareness (such as it is) that the concept has today.

It’s well worth a read, and even a trip to the public library if you don’t have the internet at home.”

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It is that time of year and we are all dusting off the bike after winter storage and prepping for the season ahead. Here is a good start to get the adrenaline cranking and get you psyched for some serious riding! Okay, most of us will never attempt what we see on the video below but it is great to watch!

Trans-Sylvania Epic: Roars into Year 2 p/b NoTubes; Launches Team, Revamps Epic Team Option

The Trans-Sylvania Epic Stage Race presented by NoTubes, called “Summer camp for mountain bikers!! Too much fun!!” by first year participants is roaring into its second edition this May. World class athletes and mountain bike loving enthusiasts alike are signing up to rub shoulders at Camp TSE for a week of racing that is as much adventure vacation as it is competition. No other race puts the pros and Joes together like TSE and the end result is an incredible week of riding and socializing. Said NoTubes Rich O’Neil, “From day one Stan’s NoTubes put racing and the experience of great mountain biking at the forefront. The Trans-Sylvania Epic and Team TSE obviously share these loves making TSE a perfect partner for us. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to PA for a taste of our great east coast riding!”

State College, PA and the surrounding Alleghenies again play host to this week long singletrack experience from May 29-June 4 on one of North America’s best trail systems. Featuring a great mix of flow and technical features over seven days, experienced off-road stage racers call it one of the best overall experiences anywhere. Inaugural women’s race champion, Bicycling’s “Fit Chick” Selene Yeager of TeamCF said, “You never get that feeling of dread as you do at other stage races when you get up in the morning. The mix of stages at TSE keeps it interesting and exciting all week because you never know what’s coming, but you know it won’t be the same thing as yesterday and it will be fun!” Stage race stalwart and blogoshere legend Rich Dillen added this, “The accommodations at the Boy Scout Camp were a definite first for me at a stage race. Not having to pack my gear every morning into a semi-large duffel and move to a new site every night was a bonus. I left my crap all over the place and didn’t have to pack it back up till the day I left town. I brought all the comforts of home with me; a box fan, an air compressor, two bikes, my Mark Weir poster… everything. Did I mention the kitchen complete with a fridge in which one could put cold beer if one chose to? Choice.”
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Life Time Fitness, AEG Bring New Qualifier Series to Internationally-Renowned Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Event

New system provides additional entry opportunities for legendary race on August 13, 2011

Lottery entry into 2011 Leadville Trail 100 MTB closes January 31, 2011

Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: LTM), The Healthy Way of Life Company, in partnership with AEG, owner and operator of the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race, is pleased to announce a broad partnership to grow and develop the most important mountain bike race in North America, the Leadville Trail 100.

“We’re excited to add a qualifier system to the epic Leadville Trail 100 MTB event”

AEG will create a national series of qualifying races, each of which will provide qualifiers with guaranteed entry into the perennially sold-out Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race. The series of races provides avid cyclists with opportunities outside of the traditional Leadville Trail 100 MTB lottery system to gain entry into the legendary event. In 2011, the Leadville Qualifying Series will consist of three races and will expand to eight races by 2013.

The three 2011 qualifying events will be held in June and July in California, Colorado and the Northeast. In 2012 and 2013 additional races will be added in Texas, the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and one more in California.

Each qualifying event will provide 100 race entries into the Leadville Trail 100 MTB Race with half of the entries awarded to athletes based on age-group and elite-field performance and the other half selected from the pool of finishers who beat a qualifying time standard.

“We’re excited to add a qualifier system to the epic Leadville Trail 100 MTB event,” said Ken Cooper, vice president, Life Time Fitness Endurance. “Many mountain bikers dream of participating in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. For some, that dream now can begin at a Leadville Qualifier.”

AEG and Life Time will partner on sponsorship sales and activation for the Leadville Trail 100. Life Time will also have a presence at the Amgen Tour of California as it produces a group ride for age-groupers in conjunction with the kickoff of the Tour in Lake Tahoe on May 14 and participates in the Amateur Time Trial on May 20.

”We are delighted to help Life Time Fitness continue to grow the Leadville Trail 100. The Leadville Trail 100 is a legendary race and we are thrilled to be playing a role in its next phase of growth,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “Getting a Leadville belt buckle is a life-list achievement for many riders and we look forward to helping serious cyclists achieve this goal.”

Who say that you have to take to the trails for an epic mountain bike ride! Thanks to our friends at Outer Edge Magazine for the heads up on this video.

Speed and Style

A new and exciting competition is being added to an already crazy weekend at Sea Otter. Jeff Lenosky, legendary freeriding course designer, calls it “a combination of a head-to-head race and a freestyle jump contest.”  Two riders race head-to-head on identical pump tracks.  The fastest racer wins the “Speed” points.  The riders also battle for a time advantage by trying to “out trick” the other on two jumps.  This is the “Style”.  The SRAM Speed & Style promises to be a crowd pleaser.

Mountain Bike Ride Zone

The College Cyclery Team is revamping the hugely popular SRAM Ride Zone.  The new course will be designed by freerider and premier trail builder Randy Spangler.  It will include elements of the dual stunt competition, a cross country loop with challenging sections, switchbacks, and pump tracks.  The Ride Zone is set up for riders of all levels.  It’s a terrific place to demo bikes and equipment.  And even better, it’s free of charge.

Big Air Bag

Straight from the epicenter of the freeriding world of mountain biking comes the Camp of Champions Mountain Bike Camp Big Air Bag.  With top pros as your coach, learn to make those jumps like a pro.   You’ll go home feeling like champion and counting the days until you can attend the Mountain Bike Camp in Whistler.  Ken Achenbach, founder and camp director of the Camp of Champions,  says “The Big Air Bag is the next progression in mountain biking. It takes the learning curve and turns it into an arrow pointed UP. It’s going to be amazing seeing everyone lose their minds at Sea Otter when they get to “Hit the Bag”.

About the Sea Otter Classic

The 21st Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 14-17, 2011, at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, Calif. The four-day “Celebration of Cycling” is considered the world’s largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com or by calling (800)218-8411

By Kristen Dieffenbach

Get in at least some training miles with a pack that approximates your anticipated race pack weight. The additional weight may require a position change from your normal unweighted racing position. You also want to get used to how the pack impacts your bike handling skills. If you opt to ride with gear on a rear rack to get the weight off your body, be sure to train with this set up as well as again, the weight will influence how the bike handles.

Improving base fitness. Trail riding is great for handling skills but to really improve fitness, open fire road, dirt roads and paved roads provide better training for increasing endurance and stamina. Long steady rides and uptempo intervals that are done without interruption are key to improving your base fitness.

Climb, climb and then climb some more. On long steady climbs, experiment with shifting hand positions and saddle position so you can avoid pressure points and cramping concerns that can be related to long efforts in one position. Even shifting on the saddle for just a few moments and riding more with an emphasis on the pull part of the pedal strokes can give your quads a brief break mid climb.

Ride with finesse. Hammering hard and through everything is fun and may get the job done, but it is also very hard on gear and in racing broken gear can eat up costly time. Many flats and broken derailleur can be prevented by having a little finesse. Seek to ride over things and not through. Practice anticipating the shift and shifting gears under little to no load. You save time, frustration, and money in the long run.

Don’t underestimate your hydration and nutrition needs in training. It can be tempting to forgo the camelback or ride with empty pockets when it is ‘just a 2 hour ride’. Fluids should be a staple on any ride and nutrition should be a part of any ride over an hour. Not only will staying well fueled in training equal a better training ride, but it will also help train your body to process fuel while you riding (reducing the potential for in event GI distress ) and when coupled with good post ride nutrition it will improve your recovery for the next ride.
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**2011 SUMMER REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 2011**

The Teva Mountain Games are the country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music and they return to Vail, June 2-5, 2011.

Professional and amateur athletes from around the world converge upon the mountains and rivers of Vail to compete in eight sports and 24 disciplines for more than $100,000 in prize money. This year’s sporting events include kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling,World Cup Bouldering, amateur climbing, fly fishing, stand up paddling, trail running and ahalf  marathon.

Lifestyle components include the Mountain Click Photo Competition, the Outside Adventure Film School, Outdoor Reels Film Festival, Mountains of Music free concerts and the Teva Mountain Ball. The weekend is rounded out by the Gear Town and Green Light District expo areas and the interactive family zone, Adventure Village.

The Teva Mountain Games are a project of the Vail Valley Foundation.

Starting way back in 2001 as a realized vision of Clif Bar owner Gary Erickson’s mind, the five-woman mountain bike program has grown to include world class XTERRA, triathlon, and running athletes.

2010 was one of our best- check out these results:

• #1 UCI MTB World Cup Trade Team Overall
• UCI MTB World Cup Champion (Catherine Pendrel)
• XTERRA World Champion (Shonny Vanlandingham)
• Three individual World Cup wins (Catherine- MTB in Germany and New York, Katerina Nash- ‘Cross World Cup in France)
• Three MTB Championship National Titles (Georgia Gould- U.S., Katerina- Czech, Catherine- Canada)… ALL won on the same day
• US Pro XC Tour Series Overall (Georgia Gould)
• Danelle Kabush wins XTERRA Alberta, three months after delivering baby “Nico”
• Jane Kibii won two national elite road running events (8 Km Union Tribune, CA and 4 mile Trolley Run, KC)

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Expert mountain bikers will debut a challenging world class downhill track in the Ben Lomond forest above Queenstown, and raise the profile of mountain biking in the resort, in a new three day event to be staged at Easter 2011.

The Ben Lomond downhill is the brainchild of Southern Traverse guru Geoff Hunt who considers there is a strong demand for an event at this level in Queenstown.

“The track is still to be defined but there is huge potential in the forest and with the support of Skyline Queenstown who will provide access for the event I believe we have a great formula. The local mountain bike fraternity spends considerable time in this area riding the already formed tracks established by the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club and bikers are upbeat about the opportunity for a real adrenalin rush that the new event offers.”

The technically demanding course which will start at the top of Skyline Queenstown will be about 3km long finishing in Brecon Street where there will be a full on party atmosphere.

“There will be a lot of input into the development of the course from internationally renowned bikers and from local Queenstown experts and it certainly won’t be for the fainthearted,” says Hunt.

Qualifying rounds will be held on Friday April 22 and Saturday April 23. The final is scheduled for Easter Sunday April 24.

The final will be limited to the top 100 competitors and with good prize money on offer is expected to attract competitors from all over the country as well as local hotshots.

“Queenstown is recognised as a world class destination for mountain biking and its reputation will undoubtedly continue to grow just as Whistler in Canada has done,” says Hunt. “This new downhill event which will become an annual Easter fixture can only help reinforce Queenstown’s international mountain biking status.”

Skyline Queenstown’s Mountain Biking project Co-ordinator Brad Rowe says the company is excited to be linked with the Ben Lomond Downhill.

“It will be fantastic to see an event like this with top level riders racing through the Ben Lomond forest during Easter. Having already witnessed the likes of Justin Leov here in action this really is an exciting time to be a mountain biker in Queenstown.”

Have you reached an impasse in shopping for the adventurer on your list? Well, we have the solution that will have them thanking you well into the new year. Joshua Tree Cycling Salve is the perfect gift.

The 100% Organic Salve is ideal for treating those common ailments (saddle sores and chaffing) that come with spending countless hours in the saddle. It also works great on road rash and abrasions and helps skin heal fast!

“Hand crafted from a potent, freshly brewed, extract of 6 herbs with incredible skin healing properties. J Tree then adds a good dose of Eucalyptus oil to the “magic sauce” to help fight off chamois bacteria which prevents infection and heals saddle sores fast.”

And most importantly, it contains no skin softeners like some saddle creams so it keeps that tough skin tough.

The container size is perfect for stashing in the console of your car (for post ride application) or in your hydration pack for multi-day rides. I ride over 200 miles a week and have tried nearly every product on the market to help ease that time in the saddle (and recover afterwards) and have found the J-Tree Salve to be one of the best. MSRP: $15

It’s amazing how San Juan Howler, Central America’s newest mountain bike race, has morphed into a premier sports event showcasing Nicaragua’s natural beauty. Check mark December 11, 2010 for Howler series races—18K, 28K and 42K.

True, it’s the vision and dedication of race organizers Bodhin Adventure Services based in San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua’s Pacific coastline. However, it’s also thanks to race participants, sponsors and volunteers teaming up for an unforgettable mountain bike race. Not only are visitors delighted to visit this destination gem. More significantly, Howler benefits a cash-strapped economy such as Nicaragua’s when affluent adventure travelers from other countries seek their racing nirvana with this race. And, locals get to compete alongside their sports heroes.

How Participants Pedal-Power Howler
Take for instance Rod Dagneau and Tara Walsh from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. In 2009, Rod placed second in Howler’s elite division while Tara was the sole female competitor. Race organizer Larry Thraen notes, “Not only did Rod and Tara make a huge donation with their bikes—they also flew down a bike box stuffed with new helmets, gloves, glasses, jerseys, tires, reflectors and brake pads. Nearly everyone took home something from the race!”

Tara choked up. “It’s wonderful to see the impact by donating to the cause and how it can touch the community—especially after witnessing the huge surprise on Harvin’s face when he received one of two bikes we brought down. It nearly brought me to tears.”
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Enjoy this new short film clip ‘Way Back Home’ of street trials rider Danny MacAskill as it follows his journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye. We are always amazed at what he comes up with next!

We saw this video Monday on CNN about the Minnesota State Cyclocross Championship race that took place over the weekend amidst snowfall in the area.