Road Riding Makes Me Think Of Lance

I went out for a road ride today to just change things up and I got to thinking about the announcement of the Lance making a comeback and heading to the Tour.  I couldn't help but to think of my own attempts of a comeback and how awful that went.

Back in 93 I was State Champion in the California State Series and Amateur Cup Champion all in the same year.  This was the height of my cycling career... college took front row after.  But after years of being out of the game, I was still riding and actually getting very fast.  Everyone pushed me to go out and race again, saying I would own the Expert Class field.  They couldn't be more wrong.

The first race held at Castaic I came in next to last.  I completely blew, but I had a huge smile across my face from the race, something I rarely encountered in the midst of my better days.  My second race I crashed and smashed my face.  I was done.  Racing was in my past, officially.

Which brings me back to Lance.  Dude, take note, don't do it.  Instead pull a comeback in Mountain Biking.  It would be great to go out a hero in road cycling and then if you fall on your face in mountain biking, you have a list of excuses like, it's more technical, the downhilling is rough, whatever.  But to go back into what you  already mastered can lead to huge risks with very little gain.

Think about it.  Let's say Lance wins again.  So what?  All any of us would think is 

1.  The sport got soft and 

2.  No big surprise, he did it many times before.  

It's not like it's Ullrich making a comeback and winning the tour... that would be awesome if Fat Boy came back and kicked ass. No this is someone we are expecting to win.

Now let's say Lance gets his ass handed to him.  Now he goes down like all other greats to tried to make a comeback.  And everyone will say, should've staying in retirement.

BUT, if you make a comeback in a sport close to yours, now it's open season.  And mountain biking is an old dude's haven.  Look at Ned.  He kicked more ass as he got older.  Plus, it would do mountain biking wonders to have an A list athlete in the mix.  Maybe it would give mountain bikes in the stores the exact boost they need in this economy.

That's my two cents.  Agree?  Disagree?  Shout back and let me know.

Big Sycamore Ride on Sunday

So last Sunday I decided to do a big 3.5 ride into Sycamore.  After blasting over the Dos Vientos hills, I dropped in down the Black Bitch and rolled over to Hell Hill.

For those of you that don't know, Hell Hill is a direct route to the top of where Backbone and Overlook meet.  It is steep , grueling and now recently plowed.  Back in my prime, I could climb this hill without stopping.  Now, not so much.  It took me two stops - it's the heat and I'm sticking to that excuse!

At least after torturing your legs on this climb, you are rewarded with one of the best single track descents I have ever been on.  I also was extra fortunate to not run into any climbers, which seems like it would be equally challenging but insane to me considering how fast some people come down that hill.  When you throw in how many inexperienced riders I encounter out there, that makes for a crazy combo!

And speaking of other riders, what has happened to friendliness?  What the hell is wrong with saying hi when you pass a fellow rider, hiker or jogger?  It seems more common than not now I meet some uptight individuals on the trails who for the life of them can't mutter two letters.

Regardless, try a nod or small wave... we are all sharing the trail, enjoying nature and getting exercise - let's remain friendly because lord knows hikers and horseback riders would love nothing more than extra ammo to kick us off the dirt!

Cycling Accessory Review

One thing I love when I am riding, especially when it is a trail I have done countless times, is to rock out to some tunes.  That said, like most everyone, my MP3 of choice is an ipod, especially a little shuffle for riding.  However, the headphones that come with the shuffle are not very deep in sound quality.

I recently purchased these little ear buds and I have to say the sound difference is amazing.  They handle deep bass while the clarity is very crisp, making the songs I normally listen to over my little player breathe a new life.

Now one word of caution, because these are in-the-ear buds, you get a great amount of noise cancellation, great for listening to your music, not so great for listening for cars, other riders or people on foot.  I find these wonderful for taking to the trails because I don't have to think about sharing the road with giant beasts that could send me flying if they get too close.  Translation, I don't have to have my guard up.

Other than that, I would really recommend these little ear buds.  They are comfortable, come with three fitting sizes and weigh nearly nothing, so you really don't feel them on.

Short and Sweet - By Andy

Far too quick to be really considered a ride, yesterday I hit the dirt and shot up a nearby single track I usually descend only to turn back and head down once I got to the top.

The entire ride only took a half an hour, but was a great stress reliever considering how many hours I have been working lately.

I did notice one thing yesterday, the weather is getting cooler, which means no more cut off jerseys.  I do know Agoura Cycles is having a sale on Rock Racing gear, buy a kit (jersey and bib) and get either arm warmers or gloves free.  Maybe I should head over there, though Rock gear on the dirt is a dangerous combo considering their clothing is up there in price, but damn it looks cool!

Ha, I have a better idea.  I should get a kit and then sport it on my old school steel road bike.  I think my outfit would be more money than my entire frame!

Killer Training Program - Bring Your Kid - By Andy

Here's the very best way to make your legs burn like hell.  Take one single speed, one bike along trailer and one 30lb kid.

This was last Friday's ride that left my legs sore the next day.  The ride

 however was awesome.  My daughter and I blasted out to the Doe Vientos loop to do some circuit riding.  This rolling single track / fire road is great for getting the family out to enjoy the riding I love so much.

For my ride, I have my old ex race bike converted into a single speed as a last ditch attempt to keep the relic on the trails.  Needless to say, this style of riding brings a whole new meaning to anticipating the route.

For my daughter's rig, she has a Giant half-wheeler which has gears, though her six year old hands can't switch those twisty shifters.  I tell you it's a shame the way bike companies put on cheap parts on kids bikes when they would really benefit to smoother shifting and braking parts.  I myself would pay more for better parts if it meant my kid could learn easier and not get so discouraged... but I digress...

So we made our way out to the trailhead laughing it up and taking in the sights and sounds you can only appreciate when you are away from your car.  It's as though life moves a little slower and you can stop and smell the flowers, or at least get a whiff as you ride by.

When we hit the hills, our last attempt at this a few months back we were forced to walk due to lack of power in my legs and the sheer stupidity on my part of how incredibly heavy the ride would be when it starts heading up.  But this time we were prepared and determined.

Hill 1 - blasted it!  Hard work, but doable.  Next came rolling single track, great fun when you have to factor your bike has become a stretch limo.  Then came Hill 2, the nasty one, even on my geared carbon.

Last time we hit this trail, we walked it.  This time, my daughter says to me, "We need to kill this hill. "  (Talk about my kinda girl)  So after taking a 3 minute break before ascending the climb, we take off.

First let me say, I have immense respect for single speeders, this alone is hard, but then throw on the bike-a-long, kid and a hill, well you get the picture.  So when we made it about half way up this hill, me breathing so hard I swear air was coming out my eyes, my daughter chatting away, and my legs screaming mercy, I thought we were in for another failed attempt.  But then something changed, I actually felt help in the rear!  My daughter was pedaling hard enough to actually make a difference.  And when we crested the top, even though I was seriously seeing stars, I was completely proud of her.

Over the course of the rest of ride, everything else felt easy, we rolled the fire road and eventually made it back to the city streets to head home by dusk.

So today I needed to rest my legs after the successful event.  However, I have already been asked today when we are going out again to kill that hill... That's my girl!

Introductions... - By Andy

Where I grew up, in the foothills of Chatsworth, we had a hill behind our house with a fireroad up it we named "Puke Hill." Reason being, it was a short hell of a climb and back in the day of the Diamond Back Apex and old Rockhoppers, this hill felt like a nightmare on the thighs.

But the hill lead to other great trails including Devil's Canyon a wild, rocky route through enough poison oak and rock gardens to frighten even the hardest of riders.

And so started my love for cycling and more importantly mountain bike riding. I would challenge Puke Hill nearly every day with my Apex then my Yeti, my Curtlo, my few 3Ds and most recently my Scott. Puke Hill started as a challenge, became training grounds for racing and now has turned into memory lane for the riding I have done over half my life. And while over the years my bikes have lightened their weight and increased their suspension, this hill has still remained an injection of pain to my legs. Now granted, maybe it is the extra 20lbs of beer and age I carry around my body (mainly midsection) that has slowed up the pace... at least I would like to think so, but the love has always remained the same.

Whether you ride a road bike, a cruiser, a bmx or a mountain bike - we all share the same love for two wheels and momentum supported my our own internal engine.

With that, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Andrew Reifert and I will be writing this blog as often as I can to talk mainly about mountain biking, product reviews, gripes, announcements and general crap related to the sport we all know in love.

I look forward to your comments and eyeballs visiting my words... happy trails!