Changing of the Seasons

I told myself when I started my 2011 training that I would not complain about the winter riding.  I was going to accept that I have chosen to live in the Upper Peninsula and train to be an elite athlete in possibly the worst place to do so, in the early months, in the country.  Well, I'm going to stick to that and not complain but I can say, "I can't wait for a change of seasons," without it sounding like complaining.  I have not missed a day of riding in the month of March and the days I scheduled to ride in February I rode everyone of them.  I have endured some nasty winter days but I have also enjoyed some beautiful ones.  I have also vowed not to ride the rollers more than an hour at a time 2 days a week.  This rule has pushed me outdoors even on the nastiest of days to earn my hours in the saddle.  The last thing I told myself through this first block of base, I'm not going to countdown to my California trip.  That rule I broke this week.  I'm 8 days from leaving for California and I can't help but count down each hour until that time comes.  It could be that the weather is calling for 8 inches of snow (probably going to miss us, thank God.) with a high of 29 degrees all week.  Or it could be that last nights ride felt like I was riding through snow made of peanut butter.  It could also be that I have to fit a huge week in before I leave and the weather decided to be the worst we have had in the month of March.  Oh well, as I said I can't complain and I won't.  I'm just going to saddle up and ride my bike.  What bike?  The weather will determine if it's the Pugsley or the MTB.  For now I'm dreaming of my overnight transformation of the Changing of the Seasons happening the night of March 31st.  

Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision Gives Back

As the director and a rider of Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision it has always been a goal of mine to use the team to spread the word of cycling.  To pass on the benefits to our cities, our community, and most importantly our youth.  Cycling is a life long sport, a way of transportation, a health tool, and best of all it's fun.  It can be done by all ages, all types, and all abilities.  The more we educate our communities and youth the better chance they have at accepting cycling and accepting us on their roads.  That is why I have decided to start with the Big Brothers Big Sisters bike give away.  To give a child a chance to accept the sport and enjoy a beautiful bike they may not other wise have the chance too.

Myself, Tyler Gauthier, in combination with Culvers Racing presented by Meyer Family Vision will be giving away a Trek MT 200 purchased from Quick Stop Bike Shop at the inaugural Bell Bike Race.  This is a Bell Hospital fund raiser involving spinning bikes.  It is a perfect platform for the give away.  Below is both the Bell Bike Race flyer and the rules to the Big Brothers Big Sisters give away.

Please help spread the word of cycling.

 

March

With the first Pro XCT happening this past weekend it is a real sign that the 2011 MTB season has kicked off.  Most Pro's and Elite's are wrapping up base training and starting to add in some sort of intensity. Others are in the midst of base and entering the early season as a stepping stone to the latter part of the season.  Either way the racing season is upon us no matter what fitness level you have chosen to have because it moves on with or without us.

I, myself, have chosen to be in the midst of base.  The Pro/Elite circuit starts in March and ends in September but our weather challenged geographic has our season starting in May and ending in November (Iceman.)  This is why I have chosen to be in the beginning of my fitness.  It is early in my career and I am still learning what my body is capable of.  How long it can and wants to go and how many times through out the year it can perform.  With my most important races happening in July and August I'm playing it more conservative and getting a later start than our West coast friends.

In a few weeks I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to California for 3 weeks of training.  Without this opportunity even the late start I've chosen becomes difficult especially with the March we have had this year.  Although blessed with good days we have had our fair share of slush, snow, rain, cold, and wind.  Many may recall that March in 2010 was amazing.  I road outdoors on good roads 10 or more times.  This year we have been lucky to have a 1 or 2 days that would present even a descent day to be on the road.  Luckily I have my Pugsley, aforementioned in an early blog, that has given me a great tool to be outdoors logging hours.

Reading results from Bonelli Pro XCT gets me excited and even though I'm early in the training phase, after reading how most racers felt during the first real effort of the season I'm completely satisfied at where I am at.  I will be racing in just about 30 days (Sea Otter Classic) and I will soon feel that first race effort and be able to put in perspective on the choices I have made.  I may love where I am at but I may not, but at least if I'm not satisfied it will be in 80 degree California heat.

Winter Savior

We have a lot of great things in the Upper Peninsula.  We have 4 full seasons, an awesome wilderness, perfect summers, white winters, and many other things that make the UP one of a kind.  Although along with it's advantages it does have it's disadvantages, until this year that is.

With the sport of cycling growing so popular and the talent pool getting deeper their is no time to slack anymore.  You cannot get away with casual riding in our short summer months.  Putting on fun miles for 6 months a year will make anyone a good rider/racer and has made a lot of good riders from the UP but when your competing at the highest level 6 months does not cut it, you'll get eaten up.  Forget getting eaten up you won't make it.  You need a year round plan., not necessarily a year round cycling plan as it's always good to take time off the bike in between seasons, but a year round training plan.  This year round plan does include an early start to your cycling.  Problem!!!!  We live int the Upper Peninsula and riding during the winter months is not possible.  You cannot be on the roads, they are snow covered and with anything over 15 mph you will suffer with frostbite (Ask Danny Hill.  Not fun.) from the wind chill.  You cannot ride the trails, they are covered in 8 feet of snow.  You cannot ride the snowmobile trails, even when groomed the 2.5 inch tires will cut through like a knife in warm butter.  You cannot ride the trainer, while you can but its so unhealthy to ride a trainer for hours on end in January.  Its like taking drugs,  you burn out.  You ever see a brain on drugs, yeah it's bad, well hours on a trainer in January has the same effect.

SOLUTION......SAVIOR!!!!

Surly Pugsley

This bike has hands down giving me the best start to a season I can ask for.  What is it you may ask?  First, get your head out of the gutter as this is the hottest thing to hit Marquette County in over 100 years.  (Get yours at Quick Stop Bike)  Second, it's called the Surly Pugsley.  A winter bike built in our neighboring state of Minnesota.  It's built with a wider fork, wider rear triangle, and a wider bottom bracket all to support the massive 4 inch wide tires/wheels.  The aforementioned  mentioned problems are all solved by this bike.  Wind chill effect, you're on trails where wind is not as much of a factor and with 4 inch tires anything over 15 mph is flying.  Fresh snow, ride through it.  Groomed trails, ride on top of them.  This bike handles the UP like it was made to ride on snow.......wait it was.  Thats the beauty of it, its like Chevy Silverado, raw snow power.  What about when the winter is done?...........nope we don't put it away.  We take it out and ride the beach like a magic carpet rides the air.

In past years I have spent hours a week on ski trails.  Gaining valuable fitness that transferred very well to the bike.  A good change a pace but when you love to bike it doesn't cut it.  I have spent the same amount of hours biking this year in December, January, and February as I have skied in the past.  If skiing hours have been good for my bike fitness Pugsley hours is going to be awesome for it.  Now that block 1 of base is under way the Pugsley will continue to provide all I ask of it.  It will build my base and better yet keep it fun.    

2011 Culver's Racing presented by Meyer Family Vision

The 2011 racing year is on its way and its time to announce all the good things that have happened to the team in the off season.  The biggest change, as you can see by the title, is adding a new sponsor.  Meyer Family Vision has come on board and will be our presenting sponsor. Meyer Family Vision is the leading eye care specialist in the Upper Peninsula and it's only fitting that they join the leading Mountain Bike team in the UP.  We are extremely excited to have them aboard and we look forward to great years with the Meyer Family.

Culvers Restaurants of Marquette and Escanaba will continue to support our team in a big way and once again be our headline.  Quick Stop Bike will be our official bike shop and mechanics and they should be yours too.  Quick Stop continues to make sure we are on the best equipment and running smooth every week.  I would also like to thank our other supporting sponsors. 

• St. Onge Insurance 
• I-Build Construction
• Palomaki Family Chiropractic
• A. Lindberg & Sons
• Straight A Photography

As previously mentioned in an earlier blog the teams eyes will be protected by WileyX Eyewear this year courtesy of Meyer Family Vision.  Look for our new style and our protective gear on the trails.

Our 2011 team will be: 

• Tyler Gauthier
• Tim Palomaki
• Danny Hill
• Glen Lerlie
• Ron Williams
• Kellie Stahl

As you can see from the last name on the list we have added a woman to the team.  We are extremely excited to add Kellie to the team and feel she will help show woman this is their sport too.  Look for Kellie in our local races this year.

The schedule will be a full one for 2011.  You can expect all our local riders to be present at our local races and competing in each one.  Here are some of the races to look for this year.  

• Keweenaw Chain Drive
• Ore to Shore
• The Great Deer Chase
• Keweenaw Fat Tire
• Tour da Woods
• Superior Bike Fest

Tyler will be focusing more on a National level along with local.  Here is a tentative schedule:

•  Pro XCT - Sea Otter
• Wisconsin Off Road Series race #1 thru #12
• Pro XCT - Mt. Morris, WI
• Pro XCT - Colorado
• USA National Championships
• Pro XCT - Missoula
• Ore to Shore
• Iceman Cometh
• UP CX Series

Kit design has stayed the same with exception to a few sponsor movements.  We have also added flat lock white stitching to both the shorts and jersey (white stitching not pictured.)

Arrowhead Ultra(COLD) 135

The Arrowhead Ultra 135 starts in International Falls, Mn., better known as America's "Icebox"! Racers must make the 135 mile self supported trek from International Falls to Tower, Mn by biking, skiing or running. All participants are required to have mandatory gear such as a -20 degree rated sleeping bag, bivy sack or tent, fire starter, stove and fuel, 2L insulated water containers, and finish the race with 3000 calories of extra food.

Race morning arrived, -19 degrees, Kerry Ice Arena parking lot, the Start. The parking lot was an eerie sight, with thick clouds of vehicle exhaust rising through the frigid night air pierced by the blinking LED lights which adorned the fronts and backs of all race participants. I had butterflies the size of condors waiting for the starter's pistol to sound, I was definitely afraid of the unknown fueled by the stories I had heard the night before at the pre-race meeting. At precisely 7 a.m. the journey began.

I made a rookie mistake right from the start, not matching my tire pressure to the trail conditions! My tires were way too soft and people were blowing by me like I was standing still, I knew I needed to add air but I didn't want to give up any more places. Trying to keep pace I was working up a sweat, a major "no-no" at -19 degrees 2 miles into the race. I saw another racer pulled over to the side adding air, I decided to join him. Sufficiently aired up, I settled down and got into a groove en route to the first checkpoint, the Gateway General Store. Roughly 35 miles and 5 hours into the race I was feeling pretty good. I grabbed a quick ham sandwich and Gatorade and checked in and out. The start of the second leg was more of the same, a fairly hard fast track, I had visions of a sub 20 hour finish, but course conditions can change quickly! As snowmobile traffic increased the trail surface began to get softer and the hills became more frequent. I was still enjoying the cloudless blue sky and the sound of the fat tires as they rolled along the cold squeaky snow. Closing in on 11 hours on the bike, with temperatures plummeting, and darkness settling in, a sign read "2 miles to Melgeorge Resort", the second checkpoint, mile 70. Two miles on a Pugsley with a frozen hub and a frozen rider seemed like an eternity!

I entered checkpoint 2 which was a beautiful two story cabin with fireplace ablazing and racers sprawled out in various states of undress feasting on a variety of food. I was immediately offered a bowl of hot wild rice soup and grilled cheese sandwich and a seat next to the roaring fire. Race volunteers were collecting wet clothes from the racers and drying them in the clothes dryer. Mentally I was at a low point in the race, I had serious thoughts of calling it quits. I even asked one of the volunteers when the next ride back to Int'l Falls was, fortunately they said not until 10 a.m. the next morning. I thought "hell I can be done by then with a little luck." With warm dry clothes and a full belly it was on to checkpoint 3.

I had heard rumors that the third leg of the race was the toughest, those rumors were definitely TRUE! The hills were relentless, temps at -35 degrees, and I didn't see a soul. I was questioning my sanity for leaving checkpoint 2 but I was in "no-man's land" with no choice but to continue on. At 5:30 a.m. I was at my lowest point of the race, but on top of the highest point of the course with one bar on my cell phone, I called my wife Heidi. That friendly voice was the kick in the butt I needed to carry on. Nearing checkpoint 3 I was out of fluids when I caught up to a racer stopped along the side of the trail, he offered me his last half a cup of slushy chicken broth, it was awesome! The Crescent Moon bar was the final checkpoint before the flat 22 mile ride to the finish.

After refueling on barley soup, a beef sandwich and about a half gallon of coke, it was time to get this over with. Shortly after leaving checkpoint 3 my left knee really began to hurt when I pedaled. I got off the bike and walked a few times, walking didn't hurt, but I couldn't push the bike 22 miles! I decided I would pedal 150 revolutions and walk 25 steps. I continued this until I was down to doing 100 revs to 50 steps. After 31 hours, I finally arrived at the sign to the Fortune Bay Casino, the race finish, adrenaline must have kicked in, because there was no pain to the finish line!

Its been a week since the race, I don't know if I would have did anything any different. Prior to the race I placed various nutritional products in the freezer to see which ones were the most edible while frozen. My nutrition on the bike was perfect and consisted of: Powerbar energy gel blasts, Powerbar electrolyte drink, Larabars, Clif Shot Bloks, and beef bouillon. Hycreek.com's baselayer products and balaclava kept warm and dry in the sub zero temps. My only real injury is frostbite to two toes that I was unaware that I had until after the race. The Arrowhead Ultra 135 is a well run and well organized event, but it definitely isn't for WIMPS!!!!

Winter Riding

A Pugsley, a Mukluk, a Fatback, a snow bike, a bike.....call it what you will but it doesn't change the death march we did on Sunday.  An ambitious bunch of us gathered at Al Quaal Sunday morning to start/continue a tradition that I hope sticks for a long time to come.  Glen, Tyler, Tim, Even, and I ventured out at 11:00 am from Al Quaal Sunday morning with a finishing point of Marquette.  We all had our layers on, our water bottled, and our food packed, especially Evan who came equipped to feed an army, so we thought.  I think we all planned for about a 4-5 hour ride which to most of us isn't a big deal.  Not a big deal when it's 60 degrees or above.  But when it's 12 degrees everything changes and minutes become hours.

The first half was awesome, we rode fast, we rode slow, we crashed, we ate, we drank, we chatted, best of all we were riding.  We all knew that the first of half of the Noque was hard but on a bike it became extremely difficult.  Even at our leisurely pace calories drained out of us like a dripping faucet.  Muscles was being eaten like a wolf feasting on a dead carcass. This was evident when we reached the highest peak of Granite Point and Tim's already pale face was blending in with the white snow.  He tapped into Evan's carry on refrigerator and tried to replenish.  I think this was the point we all thought, damn that could be us really soon if we don't continue to eat.  Problem was we were all running short on food.  By 510, 3 hours into the ride, we all entered calorie deficits and food conservation mode.  The little hope we had was, as Danny would say, "It's all down hill from here!"  We figured on bikes and down hill an 1 1/2 hour journey to the dome was in the bag.  What we didn't figure for was us completely running out of food, our core temperatures dropping 3 degrees, Evens leaking rear tire, and diminishing sunlight.  We were finally reaching civilization approaching the Forestville trail head and we were starting to smile.  The smiles turned into gut wrenching laughter when Tim's bid for an out was an all out speed daemon approach down the hill finished with a Superman dive face first into the waist high snow.  The view was priceless!

Out of water, out of food, and out of energy we had 5k to go but all that didn't matter as a single track trail through Tourist park revitalized us like a shot of caffeine into the bloodstream.  All was worth it as we played like kids in a McDonald's play pit.   Our 1 1/2 hour estimate turned into 2 hours but we made it.  We pulled up to Tyler's house at 5 hours and 7 minutes of ride time.  Total out in the wilderness time was 6 1/2 hours.    As bad as this may all sound we all cannot wait to do it again next year.

This day would not have been complete with out Vitamin G so we all ate our favorite recover food, Culvers.

Ride Time: 5:07
Miles: 31.8
Elevation Gain: 1,893
Elapsed Time: 6:26
Avg Speed: 6.5 mph
Calories: >4000

Side Note: Today Danny Hill is doing the Arrowhead 135.  That's 135 miles on the same bike we just did 31 miles on.  The consensus from all of us after that ride is.....................DANNY YOU'RE FRICKEN CRAZY!!!!!!!