Rx Bars

Have you tried an RxBar yet? If not, it is time. They’ve redesigned their packaging and made the bars slightly smaller. This means slightly lower calories which works out for me since I eat the entire bar every time I open one! They were caught in a backorder with this new design, but they are back at it strong. I eat them on my longer training rides and always have a stash with me when I travel. What I love most about these are the simplicity of the ingredients: 4 egg whites, 1 date, 1 fig, 8 almonds.

As a side note, the RxBar t-shirt happens to be my all time favorite, softer than any other tee I’ve owned!


New Project!

Yes my friends, you are seeing these photos correctly…they are my new Jamis road bikes. I’m so grateful to Jamis for supporting me in all of my dreams and pursuits. For the last part of the summer I will be focusing on my road and TT bikes. Master’s National Championships are in Ogden, UT the first week of September. I will be racing the TT and the road race. I’ve raced the local Salt Lake City TT a couple of times and to say I had fun would put it mildly. In many ways is similar to mountain bike racing and of course many ways it differs. I love all things two wheeled, so I’m stoked on this new chapter of racing.
I returned from my 3 week race trip on the east coast on a Tuesday  a few weeks ago, to these two new bikes. On Wednesday afternoon I had them fit by Tim of Mountain Velo. He’s the master fitter. This is my 4th season having him fit me and somewhere around my 8th session with him. He was one the one that planted the TT seed in my head. On my first fit session with him in 2010 he told me I should try TTs. At the time I hadn’t developed enough as a racer to see what he meant. But it’s become more clear that this could be a fun discipline for me. So he just might be the one to thank!




Star Struck

Have you watched the World Cup Downhill course previews with Claudio? They are Gopro/Redbull footage with a microphone inside his full face. INTENSE and hilarious! I started watching them last year and now I’m hooked! Here is his course preview from Windham, Leolang, Val di Sole and Carins. Just google Claudio Down Hill Course Preview and you can get all of them. I'm telling you, you'll be entertained and get your blood pumping!

Next, have you watched the Red Bull Rampage? If you haven’t stop reading and click HERE NOW! Last fall I was pondering many things, reading a great book and watching the Red Bull Rampage. That’s when it all fell into place for me. The book asked the question, “What would you do if you had 7 days left to live”? I have a list with a few things that would surprise you but I decided at the end of day 7 I would ride the Rampage course. I’d put it all out there, open up the brakes, ride that gap. I probably wouldn’t make the gap, and that is how I want to die.  My friend posted this Hunter S. Thompson quote on Instagram the other day "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thouroghly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a ride!"
----  I want to ride that course, I want to know what it feels like to go off stuff that big. I want to get MASSIVE, UNREASONABLE amounts of air. I suppose I was meant to be a downhiller but got into too late, I have the reasonable part of my brain too enact. I’m also a mother to a beautiful child that I wouldn’t trade for anything (not even that gap jump!). So I probably won’t ever ride that course. But a girl can dream right?


Now you have the background…these are those guys. I had dinner with them (and the rest of the Gstaad-Scott team) Sunday night. Before I realized who they were it was just a regular fun conversation about racing DH and XC and world cups. Then Brendan started talking about racing a 3/4 road crit in the UK and how he was cutting the inside corners and hopping curbs (on a road bike). Then at some point he asked me to open youtube on my phone…this is the link he brought up; Brendan Fairclough launching over a canyon gap.  I about fell off my chair. This kid that doesn’t look far out of his teenage years was one of those riders. And I was talking to him. Then I was told who Claudio was. I was officially star struck. They are just regular people that are crazy talented on the bike. 
So my weekend was made. All the other minor disappointments from the weekend melted away, that is what being start stuck does to you!

Brendan, Erica, Claudio

Jamis Dealer Visit


I had a chance to visit a couple of Jamis dealers in the Hartford, Connecticut area after racing the World Cup.  Bloomfield Bicyles has been a Jamis dealer for years now.  Mike has owned the shop for 55 years. He shared some really interesting history about the bike industry as well as racing.  People always tell me about the “good old days” of NORBA.  Apparently, I missed the heyday of XC racing. I can’t tell the difference because I still think XC is awesome!  However, there there used to be a lot more money in it.  We also stopped at the Bicycle Cellar where I got to ride a Jamis cruiser! So now I’m trying to decide if I should race the cruiser bike or the kid's bike next?!

With Mike of Bloomfield Bicycles
Jamis youth bike



Jamis Citizen 2

Windham World Cup

Racing a World Cup in the USA was a great experience this past weekend!
One of the highlights of the entire weekend was having some of the Jamis Bicycle HQ crew out at the race. The Team Jamis manager, Sal, was there. He is the guy behind the scenes taking care of the details for getting and maintaining my equipment and helping manage my race schedule among many other things. He understands mountain bike racing and all the finer points that go into what I do all year long to get to a World Cup. As the mountain bike product manager, he also happens to be the super smart guy designs my race machines! I love the bikes he designs for me to race! 
Tony is the video porduction and social media guy that creates all the amazing Jamis videos (check out the Jamis youtube channel). He has won multiple prestigious awards with what he creates. He should too, because he can make me look like a rock star! Once he gets that cam into slow motion and I come around a corner, it looks like I’m the World Champion! He came out to film me racing the World Cup and he’ll be making a trip to Salt Lake City in a few weeks to do some more filming as well. These are the nicest guys you could ask for and I’m so grateful to be part of the Jamis Family with them!
So onto the race…
The first 3 World Cups I went to were in other countries, so figuring out registration and all the other little details was a challenge since everything was in French, Czech then German. Having everything in Engish made the entire weekend so much smoother. Additionally, Windham was on the ProXCT last year, so I already knew the area and the course. Those points combined made it much less nerve wracking. The weather had been dry for the majority of the week prior to our race, so it was very manageable for someone used to racing in the west! The rock gardens and “mini wall” that were extremely slippery last year were just fun sections that I looked forward to. 

I was ready to race, had the course dialed and was super psyched to finish the season with a bang! In a moment of bad luck, I had a minor mechanical that slowed my first lap,  I stopped a few times to handle it. I was determined to not DNF so I rode it to the top feed zone and got some technical assistance. By then I was off the back, but I chased as hard as I could. I was able to make up some time and finished the next 3 laps cleanly and passed a handful of girls as well. I finished in 48th which is my best World Cup finish so far, so I’ll take it. I was pulled with one lap to go, the UCI official who also happens to be my friend told me I was 45 seconds from making the last lap. I easily wasted that much time on lap 1. Shoot! I know I had the power and ability to place much better, but that’s how it ended up. Just more to work for next year!
I rode my Jamis Dakar XCR with Stan's NoTubes Valors. That was the perfect combination for the course and the conditions we saw there. 
Sal, Erica, Tony with the Jamis Dakar XCR behind us

Stan's NoTubes


Richie and Mike from Stan’s NoTubes were top notch support for me all weekend. They made sure my bike was running properly each day. They are so great about giving me pep talks and talking about the course and always a good chat about tire pressure for the Valors.  I prepped out of their tent and even got VIP parking right next to it (parking is always an interesting prospect at these big races.) Additionally, we shared meals a couple of the evenings. I learned even more about the engineering of Valors from Mike, the head engineer as well as more about tire pressure (he’s the guy that came up with THIS FORMULA). Richie gave me some great racing advice as well as some questions to ponder about my career. They make the best wheels (undoubtedly) and give the best race support but I can’t say enough about what great people they are. I’m honored to call these guys my friends and have them with me at so many races.
Mike, Erica, Richie

Larry Longo


The face behind the voice! Larry announces most of our National races so I’ve heard his voice lap after lap while racing, but have never met him. He is the best announcer there is, he’s been announcing since the early 1980s. He does his homework, literally. He had spent 4 hours on Sunday morning updating National and World titles and medal counts. Racer’s names are pronounced correctly, regardless of nationality and he has something positive to say about everyone as they come through. Beyond all of that he’s a blast to talk to! He made me a bet about a race in September, so if you see me wink at him September 5th, you’ll know why!

Other World Cup Races

 I tried to catch Shane Leslie’s DH run, but missed it. Instead I got this kid, who was also hucking the big jumps. Same jersey but once I zoomed in, I realized wrong bike, Shane rides for specialized. He didn’t have his best run, but he’ll be back. He is Junior National Champ after all!
Not Shane, but same jersey!
 Spectating the men’s elite race is another highlight of my race weekends. I’m done racing, so the pressure is off. I can just heckle and cheer and walk around the course. They seem to be going about twice as fast as we are. Watching men’s World Cup’s live is a whole other game though. Nino and Julian battle it out at the front, sometimes the fluckilnigers are up there and Kabush is usually around top 10. Sometimes they’ll even do a wheelie or a tail whip for the crowd. Fontana and Fuhmic are always good for taking the bigger line, bigger drop and always a turn bar or whip! I think it’s a requirement when wearing baggies!
Nino!

Julian

Geoff
The other race I watched was "Ride The Plank". A silly "race" the night before the World Cup events begin. It was hilarios and looked freeezing!
Ride the Plank!




New York


After being home for a little over a week I hopped back on a plane to cross the country again! I wound my through the backroads to land at the quirky little place I stayed last year for the Windham race and settled in. It’s possibly the most peaceful place I stay all year. There’s rarely noise from humans and always noise from crickets or frogs or other creatures that live in the greenery. Each day returning to talk to Nancy, the Inn keeper is always a treat as well. 
Bike building in the more gorgeous place!


The refrigerator for guest use!


Add caption



View from my room



One of the other guests doing bow target practice on the lawn

Julbo OR Show 2014

Julbo was in town for the OR show, so I swung by to say hi to Nick and Andrew. They had a social media campaign going, “My Vision of Adventure”. Mine was: 
Steep Singletrack Climbs
Ripping, Whooping Descents
Bikes are My Journey to Smiles and Joy


Sometimes I pinch my self when I see that I'm in a photo shoot with Lynn Hill, a hero of mine since my late teens!


Along with Andrew always comes the Untapped Maple (the Ted King project). I’m excited to be one of the contributors to the kickstarted campaign, take a look and join in with me!

Proudly showing my Untapped Maple Syrup, thanks Andrew!

Pro XCT # 7, Catamount Classic, Williston, Vermont

The last stop on the ProXCT was in Vermont at the Catamount Family Center.  This is a great course because it has plenty of variety. Grassy sections (power suck!), twisty singlet rack and 4 sections of man made obstacles.  My favorite sections was a double drop. You had to have speed to clear landing. On the third of 5 laps I got the most air I've ever gotten and a rush of euphoria surged through my body! When I landed I let out a loud whoop! I had a great time riding the rock garden as well and that's where Dave McElwaine got a great shot of me (it showed up in Cycling News as well!).
Getting air like that demands a full suspension bike and my Jamis Dakar XCR was more than up to the job, landing everything smoothly! My Stan's NoTubes Valors helped me maintain my power through the grassy climbs and cornered like a rock star! 
Lucky for me I'd made a visit to the Julbo Headquarters and had a fresh pair of the Ultra's (they'll be released next month) in florescent green. They have the Zebra light lenses that transition exactly as you need them to. When racing on the East Coast, transition lenses are key, and particularly on this course. There are open sections of grass with full sun then the trail goes deep into the thick woods where you need as much light as possible. These glasses were perfect, not to mention comfortable and groovy looking!
It must be mentioned that one thing that takes tons of abuse is my Borah Teamwear kit. I wear a kit every single day. They get crashed in (not that often:), sweaty, dirty, straight up disgusting then washed frequently. The result: perfect. They look and feel brand new still. They don't hold smell, they perform amazingly. This is my second season in Borah Teamwear and I have nothing but positive reviews of every single piece they make. After meeting the folks that run the company in Wisconsin, I'm even more of a dedicated fan. 
The Gaerne Shoes Carbon G.Kobra shoes were super comfortable and have held up through every weather and course condition I've thrown at them!
Thanks to ESI grips, POC Helmets, Backcountry Research, RxBar, Elete Electrolytes, LW Coaching, Elevated Legs, Inside Ride for their support as well, they all come together to make it happen for me!



Photo Credit: Dave McElwaine of CyclingNews

With my son who cheered for me on every single lap


Julbo USA HQ visit

Williston, Vermont isn't that big of a town. When the ProXCT schedule was announced last year with a stop in Williston I instantly recognized the name. The Julbo USA headquarters are located there.  Julbo has been a long time sponsor for me and I've been a fan of their glasses for nearly 20 years (read the back story here). Last year we tried to connect a visit, but it didn't work out due to hectic schedules on both ends. So this year I was thrilled to make a visit happen. Andrew, who is doing the PR work (Press Forward) for Julbo was there so we could meet and make a video. (Julbo's FB and instagram pages, have been upgraded, take a look!).
They sent me home with some new glasses that I've been wearing ever since. I promptly raced in the latest version and color of the Ultra, which will be released next month. They also sent a pair of Lola's, the newest frames for children for my son (see photo below). Right now, for the next month, he is THE ONLY KID in North America with these frames. He was so stoked on them, that I got him to stand still AND smile for a photo! 
Watch for a release of some Heritage Frames (from the 1980's) in the next few weeks as well. 

Fun new colors on these "Heritage Frames"


Interviewing with Andrew

With Nick, the CEO


Rocking the new Lola shades

Jamis Bicycles HQ Visit

One of the best parts about flying across the country to race in the East is, I get to make a trip to the Jamis Bicycles Headquarters in New Jersey! Between races in Pennsylvania and Vermont we swung by Jamis to say to hi everyone. It's always great seeing all the great folks that make up the Jamis Family.  It's also exciting taking a look at the new bikes! The 2015 line up is HOT! I love the white frames for the the Team bikes. 

The 2015 Dakar XCR

2015 Dakota D29



My son, loving all the Jamis bikes!



Sal and my son in matching Jamis hats!

The Tingey's see NY

In 24 hours we:
Ate street food at the Urban Space
Looked out of the Empire State Building
(slept 10 hours since we'd come straight from racing stxc at nats)
Shopped FAO Swartz
Walked through Central Park
Explored the American Museum of Natural History
Rode the Subway
Looked around Time Square
Looked for Tina Fey at 30 Rock
Shopped at the Moma gift shop
Then my feet hurt for the next 9 days (I'm still limping, my fault for doing all of that in flip flops!)



2014 XC National Championships

My weekend at XC Nationals didn't turn out the way I'd planned. I was racing my best race of the season, in 6th place comfortably, when I had a mechanical that ultimately forced me to the sidelines. One thing that is hard to understand is how luck plays a role in this racing game I play. I had the perfect lead up to this race, my body and mind were in the game, I had the course dialed, DIALED! I was racing my very best. Sometimes the body is perfect, the mind is perfect and the bike is perfect and you put together a race you are proud of. This was not that weekend for me. So it's, onward and upward from here! Thanks for the pit and mechanical support I had from Stan's NoTubes all weekend, Richie is top notch! Massive thanks to Jamis Bicycles for supporting me and making my favorite bike in the whole wide world, I love my Dakar XCR!


(Taken during the pre-ride)


Start line

Start of the race

Rock Garden







Also of note is the fact that my little family was there!  I  can't thank them enough for coming all the way to Pennsylvania to support me for the entire week. I'm so grateful to have a husband that supports me in traveling all over the world, chasing my dream and a son that is willing to stand in the sun and draw race posters for cheering! (Translation of his poster; "Jamis, the Jamis logo, GO MOM").








Family time in PA!

We spent the week at Bear Creek Resort preparing for Nationals. In the meantime we enjoyed the pool, the fire flies and all of our bike racing friends!
Sunset at Bear Creek Resort


My boys at Bear Creek


Catching lightning bugs at Bear Creek
My boy holding down the fort at the No Tubes tent!

Awesome treats from Carey (Fresh Georgia Peaches and homemade paleo treats!)

Riding the course with John!

The first time John has ever ridden any national level course with me!




Cannonball at Bear Creek!

Teach them young