Thursday, December 30, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Racing 4X and downhill...


As a pro gravity racer, race weekends tend to get a little hectic.  At Mountain Bike National Championships in Sol Vista I felt like I was running from 4X practice to downhill practice, then to 4X qualifying, then more DH practice, and on and on.  Most of the days I barely had time to get a quick snack.  This summer I started using the Power Bar Gels to give myself an energy boost so I could keep riding strong.  It was great to have a product that delivered the electrolytes and basic sugars my body needed for intense activity.  As a medical student I now know exactly how the ingredients in Power Bar Gels work, and they do, but I won’t bore you with all that.  I also like the added caffeine.  Even though my 4X runs at nationals were less than a minute, and DH was under four minutes I needed to stay completely focused the entire time.  The little boost I got from the Power Bar Gels was just enough to help me concentrate on the races and finish 3rd in DH and 4th in 4X.  Plus they taste great. Thank you Power Bar! 
Racing 4X and downhill it’s important for me to be completely comfortable so that I can focus 100% on my race.  The products I wear from Pearl Izumi do just that.  The women’s Veer Glove fits so well that I don’t have to take them off for anything, I actually got quite the glove tan this summer I wore them so much.  And the leather palm gives the perfect amount of grip while remaining quite thin and flexible.  I also love the women’s Elite MTB II shoe.  All the straps let me get the shoe to fit to my foot perfectly.  They are incredibly sturdy, and comfortable enough to wear all day.  I’m also a big fan of Rudy Projects sunglasses.  I pretty much never go outside without a pair of sunglasses and Rudy Project has something that will fit every aspect of my day, from the sporty Noyz sunglasses I wear while out riding XC to my stylish Suby’s that I wear out on the town!
In racing it’s also important for me to be able to trust my equipment.  4X and downhill races can be won by tenths of a second, so I cannot afford equipment failures.  When I need extra power from my bike I have to have a derailleur that is going to shift precisely and quickly.  My new Sram XO derailleur does just that so that I don’t have to worry about missing out on a single pedal stroke.  Schwalbe’s Mudy Mary tires are great for wet conditions.  They hold up and grip in the mud and on slippery rocks so that I don’t have to worry about sliding out in a corner.  My new Crank Brothers 5050 flat pedals are great to ride with at the dirt jumps and pump track.  They have great grip, I never worry about slipping a pedal, and I love that the pins are so easy to change and you have the ability to basically custom place your pins, its awesome! 
I also have to add, aside from comfort and good equipment, I am a huge fan of energy drinks, and I must say that Go Fast has converted me from a die-hard Red Bull fan.  The Go Fast energy drinks are delicious; I especially like the GFTea.  And aside from getting an energy kick, it’s great that Go Fast also contains B-vitamins and other natural products for sustained energy.  
Tough Girl Cathy

Racing the Leadvile Trail 100...

After a successful track racing season last year that ended with three masters national championship titles, I decided I needed to push my limits in a different way and find a new challenge. Racing 100 miles of 14000 ft of vertical climbing proved to be just what I needed.  Leading up to the Leadville Trail 100, I put in more time in the saddle than I ever have and suffered through miles of climbing.  When race day came around in mid August, my Scott Scale 29 with SRAM XX was dialed in and ready to go.  I knew one of the big challenges of these endurance races was to stay properly fueled and hydrated. I cut up my favorite Powerbar Fruit Smoothie bars into bite size pieces and had various PowerGels (vanilla, double latte, and tangerine) stashed in my pockets.   Luckily the weather gods cooperated that day and we had perfect weather.  When the gun went off at 5:30am I began what I knew would be a long day full of mental and physical challenges.  I remember thinking about mile 70 that this race was definitely harder than birthing my two kids.  Thankfully I didn't have any mechanicals on the bike nor did I crash.  I rode various parts of the course with people from all over the country and the camaraderie proved to be a needed boost at times.  I finished well before the 12 hour cut off and got the coveted belt buckle, but it was the feeling of accomplishment that I will keep with me forever.  I could not have done this without the support of my family and friends and great sponsors like Powerbar, Scott, and Sram!

Tough Girl Kimmy