Season’s End

It always seems that around this time of year we are contemplating the end of the mtb season. We talk about the cooler weather, the shorter days which lead to the inevitable night ride. For us, we talk about how unfair it is that Nine Mile closes so early, but, somehow, we move past that and just ride! We set our sites on Standing Rocks, Levis, Underdown, Crystal Lake and any other trails that let us prolong our season. We lament because we just like to ride. This can be a problem for the owners of a resource site that supposedly posts Wisconsin singletrack info on a regular basis. NOT! We are, admittedly, having a hard time keeping up with the energetic trail builders who are always changing and sculpting the landscape, creating trails for us to hammer on. There is too much information to crunch and redistribute and still ride our bikes.

This is the rub, ride bikes or collect data. Hmmmmm. Not sure where Fat Tire Guides is going, but if we don’t make it back for next season, I’d like to say, it was a good season for the crew. We put a lot of miles riding everywhere from Emma Carlin, Nicolet Roche to Copper Harbor, MI and even Fruita this year. Yes, there are trails beyond Pleaseantville (ya have to see the movie). However, I think it’s apparent that Wisconsin is a destination. It may not have the vistas that Fruita or Sedona has, but it has its own personality and unique landscape that can indulge any riding ability.

Our recommendation, next year, take a trip and visit the trail systems of Wisconsin. Some will make ya giggle, some will kick your ass, nevertheless, ride something beyond the norm and experience a new trail somewhere else. After your ride, have a beer and plan your next trip.

The season isn’t completely over, so get out and ride and enjoy the colors before ya pull out the skis.

Always keep pedaling>>Gary

Got Water?

Proper Hydration: It’s Importance in Biking Performance.

Jennifer Neitzel, PT, MS, OCS, LAT, CSCS, CPI

Drinking fluids is essential for top biking performance.  If you do not take in enough fluids, you reduce your ability to provide adequate circulation to the muscles.  This not only hurts your performance, but can also endanger your health.

PREVENTION:
On a daily basis, drink fluids throughout the day.  As a generalized rule, one can easily determine if they have had enough fluids by monitoring the amount and color of their urine (unless one is taking certain vitamins, eating certain foods (beets) or taking other medications which can change the color).  You should urinate frequently throughout the day and it should be a clear, lemonade color and in significant quantity.  You do not have to drink only water for fluids (although it is the healthiest), juice, lemonade, sports drinks, and caffeine-free soft drinks will all suffice.  Beverages with alcohol and caffeine cause a dehydrating effect and should be avoided or minimized.  Sports drinks have not been proven to offer an advantage for enhancing performance over water and natural fruits as recovery foods.

PRIOR TO HARD BIKING:
Drink extra water, juice or other fluids during the morning before your race or hard day of biking.  Drink 16-24 oz (1 large water bottle = approximately 28 oz) of fluids up to 2 hours prior to the start of the race or hard ride.  Five to ten minutes before the start of biking, drink another 8-16 oz of water (approximately ¼- ½ a large water bottle).

DURING HARD BIKING:
Try to drink 8 oz of fluids every 20 minutes.  Even when it is cold out, it is important to be properly hydrated.

AFTER BIKING:
Drink to quench you thirst and even more thereafter.  The best method for proper re-hydration is to weigh yourself before and after intense biking and drink 20-24 oz of water for every 1 pound lost (approximately 1 large water bottle). It is important to remember to drink before you get thirsty. By the time your brain signals that you are thirsty, you will have lost 1% of your body weight.  By 2% dehydration, you may have reduced your work capacity (athletic performance) by 10-15%. Water is not only important in biking performance, but is important for maintaining  healthy joints, prevention of low back pain, prevention of migraines, and reducing fatigue.

Blasphamy!?

Not sure if this is appropriate. Wondering if it may be a bit premature? I could be getting ahead of myself. But, can we think about, dare I say talk about riding yet? Yeah.

There had been a unwritten rule amongst the people I ride with to not talk about mountain biking until the weather breaks and the calendar is approaching May 1. Listen, not talking about it is the fastest, most efficient way to get to day one of the riding season. Out of site out of mind. Unfortunately the weather is sooo nice, there are new winter builds that are ready to see dirt and rock for the first time and I got an itch I need to scratch.

Let’s talk about it. I want to feel the warm sun beating down on me while I twist through the winding trails at Standing Rock, I want to feel my quads burn as I climb, let’s see, Goat Dance at Levis and I want wrap my brain around navigating my way through the rock garden on trail #1 at Nine Mile. Heaven.

I know were being teased. The weather is amazing, the snow is melting away showing patches of optimistic grass, but, to my dismay, the snow will most likely be back. I’ll have to bury my thoughts of riding newly raked single track deep into the resources of my skull. We’ll have our time in the sun and it will be glorious. Snowshoe anyone?

Mountain Biking in Mountains–Cool Concept!!

No deep snow or fast waters (Keith) on this peak, Just a great 24 mile, point to point trail. Did I mention 13 miles was climbing.

No More Epic Rides

Anyone following the my last build and the comments surrounding it should know, I’m loving the big wheels and all that comes with it. I’m loving it so much, I have abandoned my workhorse 2008 Specialized Epic, stripped it down and placed it on the auction block. I added gears on the Haro, got a sweet Stans wheelset with smooth-as-silk XTR hubs and am now as happy as a clam (for now). Check out the lastest modifications

Abusing Beer & Biking

Why are writers always talking about the sport of mountain biking with the consumption of beer together?  I’m almost certain that beer and biking cannot be abused, OK, maybe the beer part of it. I’m talking the about the endless articles regurgitating the topic over and over–birds feeding their young sort of thing. The blatant abuse and just over use of the topic.

Why don’t they write about the merits of sipping a few glasses of a good hardy Cabernet after a gnarly ride over your favorite rock garden. A spritzer would be very refreshing after navigating 12 miles of tight and technical single track. After endoing into the hard-packed ground, a fuzzy navel would be the ticket for sure. *$#%@ that! Beer is only way to go. Cold, refreshing, hoppy goodness…. that is a killer after-the-ride reward. The icy cold beverage brings riders together after their ride for the mandatory bullshit sessions, It takes away a few of your aches and pains that you’ve taken (endured) from your adventure and most importantly, it makes one happy.

OK, it makes sense, writers are not abusing beer and the relationship to mountain biking, they are praising it. It may be a worn out subject, but the fact is, summer, beer, and mountain biking are an inseparable pack that will always ‘be’. So put away your fancy robust wines and your fruit mixers and have a beer. It does a mind and body good.

Converted

After a recent ride, I was commenting to my friend Chad (29er rider) on my new acquisition, a Haro Mary steel single speed 29′er. While telling him about the amazingly big wheel adventure, he yelled out while laughing it up, “We’ve got another convert.” I sounded a little weird for a moment like I joined a fanatical religious cult or was turned to the dark side. OK, the weirdness passed. I think Chad might have been reveling in the idea that he’s right. Chad has been preaching the advantages of 29er’s to anybody who will listen for about 3 years now. It’s not like we were ignoring him, Chad’s a great guy and contributes a lot of valuable information on a variety of subjects, but big wheels. I always thought they were for extra large people. Not me. I don’t have the build. A 30″ inseam, barely reaching 5’8″, I thought I would look like tiny clown riding a giant circus bike.

It’s true, I do look freakishly small on my bike–it’s the wheels, but I don’t care, the frame fits me perfectly. With a few modifications- stems, bars, fork and brakes, the bike is tight. It corners great, it’s speedy and rolls over large rocks in a single…well you know. I’ve ridden it 3 times and can’t wait to ride again.

There is a bigger concern here. I have two Mountain bikes now (the Mary and my Epic) and if I were to choose between the two, right now, The Mary would win. Why? Because it’s new? The flexible steel frame? The one gear? The pure fun of it all? Maybe I have been brainwashed, my will is bent and have committed my life (at least this month) to serve the 29′er. I don’t have a firm answer.What I do know, it will be a big ol’ single speed spring, maybe summer and joyous merriment will be had.