Nationals and Beyond

Thanks Motofish for the awesome picture! 

If you read my last blog post, whew, what a crazy whirlwind of a season, right?

Before I get going and don't find a good spot to place this, I want to say how impressed I am with the whole production of Nationals.  The course was really top notch, I loved the elevation challenges (even if I hated it at times), the grounds beautiful, and I really did feel like I was at an event, not just a bike race.  So, thank you to USA Cycling and everyone else involved in this amazing production, you did it, and it was an incredible weekend in Asheville.

I flew out to Asheville, NC on Wednesday before the big race on Sunday.  This gave me time to prep mentally for the race and get a little time on course before the big day on Sunday.  Saturday I checked out the course, and got some openers in.  I opted to ride the course in the later afternoon while the rain was falling, that way I could get a feel for the course in the slippery conditions, since the weather was calling for rain all night.  Saturday night I did my usual night before the race - prep, and tried to hit the pillow early.  I really struggled with sleep this night, I always blame it on the moon, but I tossed and turned all night.  I did my usual pre-race morning prep, ate the usual breakfast, packed my bags and headed to the course.  

Myself, and a handful of other Elite Women jumped on course around 12, trying to see course conditions not so close to our race time (since our official training time was at 130pm, 1 hour prior to the start of our race).  The course was pretty slick at this time, so it gave me a good idea of what the conditions could be like when we raced.  I still wanted to ride at 130 to see if anything changed, and when that time came around, boy had the course changed.  The slick dried out, and the course was getting pretty fast, soggy in sections, big mud puddles by the pits from the previous pressure washings, but that was it in terms of mud.  I would say the muddiest and slickest sections included the run ups (filling all our shoes with mud and grass) and the puddles near the pits.  

I knew I wanted to have a good start, but sometimes I need to tell myself to calm down and not take the hole shot!!!  Perhaps I'm really good at blowing my wad in the first 30 seconds.  I was a little concerned with the small camel hump, not sure it was going to cause a crash or not, so I opted to avoid that situation all together.  After the first lap I had an idea my race was going to get ugly.  I was really struggling to turn the pedals around on the climbs, I was having trouble accelerating out of the corners, and I was having issues getting into my pedals (which I imagine most if not all of us did) and then got dropped in the group I was riding in.  Got caught by the next couple of riders, and after that lap (with 2 to go) my legs went into spaz mode.  Both quads started to seriously cramp, the run ups became walk ups and if I was having trouble finding my pedals in the previous laps, well good luck trying to get into the pedals now.  

I'm not sure what went wrong.  My body failed me at the time I needed it most, I was (and still am) so incredibly crushed by my race.  After being home for a couple of days and reflecting back at my race, I can see that not only did I physically break down, but I mentally failed myself.  Yes, my quads cramped, and sometimes its nearly impossible to push through such pain, but I let it get to me, and I let it get to me from the very beginning.  Looking back at that race and seeing where I fell off the pace, I wonder if I mentally gave up then, knowing exactly with my placement I wasn't going to make the Worlds Team.  I went into this season with a goal (well lots) and I feel so discouraged and let down that I couldn't accomplish that one goal.   

Since last year, I knew I wanted to make the Worlds Team in 2016, I thought about it all Spring, all Summer, and all into the CX season.  I made 2 trips to Belgium to show my commitment to that goal.  Sure, my racing over there wasn't spectacular and I'm not afraid to say it, but it doesn't mean I can't be disappointed.  When I came home from Belgium after Christmas I did what everyone told me to do, rest as much as possible, and prep for Nationals.  Going into Nationals this year I was mentally ready, I didn't feel mentally fatigued, burnt out or anything.  I really felt prepared, to have such a race happen like it did, is defeating.  

I came home from Nationals ready to rest hard and eat lots and plan a vacation to Hawaii, when I received an email asking if I was taking my start spot at Hoogerheide.  That's when the wheels turned, and I realized I hadn't completely checked out from racing yet, the thought of racing one more World Cup got me REALLY excited, and with that, I go fight for one last race this year.  Sure it's a long way to travel to 1 race when (unlike everyone else there) I won't be racing Worlds, but I'm excited for one last hurrah and I know that whatever I do, I'm doing it for me.  I'm not racing to try and make the Worlds team, I'm not racing to impress anyone, I'm racing because I want to.  I'm racing this last race for me, and I couldn't be more ready.  

That's a Wrap!

All my blog posts start the same, so there's no denying I'm not the best blogger these days.  I used to blog all the time, write race reports, etc.  Now I just don't feel I can write the same race report over and over again.  I started quite a few blog posts, and never posted them, so then I deleted it, started over to update where I was in the season, never posted it, and well now...it's over.  

So I'm here to write a season recap, and lets start with the first weekend in Rochester, NY.  

I actually have chosen to forget this weekend.  This was the weekend where I asked myself why I race this sport, and then I questioned my entire season.  In case you missed it...it was about 95 degrees and 400% humidity (or so it felt), basically New York tried to roast my insides.  

After Rochester I flew home to be at home for a weekend before heading to Vegas to for...THE WORLD CUP!  The first ever World Cup outside of Europe.  That event was probably the most special event I have raced in my entire CX career.  I feel SO privileged to have raced it, and because of that I think I put the biggest dig in a CX race I have ever done!  I came away so close to the top ten, but finished lucky number 13.  Straight from Vegas I drove to Reno with Mical Dyck and we raced in Teal Stetson Lee's even, "Cross Reno".  Probably one of the hardest CX races I have ever done.  It was hot, it was at altitude, and it was CHALLENGING!  I flew home on an early flight straight to SEA-Tac where I raced a local race after Chris picked me up from the airport.  

Photo: Motofish

After that, I flew to the East Coast for my biggest trip yet!  I raced Gloucester, and it was dry and dusty, and my mental attitude was low and high.  It's never REALLY my favorite race of the year.  After that, we went to Providence, one of my favorite courses.  Unfortunately the course changed quite a bit, and I didn't like it as much as years past.  This was the weekend where I realized the season wasn't going to be as delicious and golden as I wanted, and I knew I needed a new attitude to make it through to the end.  Truthfully, between you (the internet world) and I, I wanted to call it quits because fun wasn't being had.  I added more smiles for miles and after that my season made a turn around!  

Photo: Dave McElwaine

From the East Coast I flew to Madison, WI for the Trek CXC Cup, a twisty and dusty course, but always a fun one.  I had a solid day of racing for the C1, and was extremely satisfied.  Day 2 left me with a punctured tire after hitting a very sharp rock on one of the downhills.  Having some hip issues I opted out of running to the pits, and called it quits for the day since I knew Europe was the next weekend.  

Photo: Jeff Corocan

From Madison, Wisconsin I flew to Belgium to race the Valkenburg World Cup.  I came out to this race to experience a new race course, go to Belgium at a different time of year and test my ability to sleep.  My trip over went flawlessly.  Stayed with the most lovely of friends and had a great trip over.  The race was unfortunate because I flatted and didn't realize it until literally right after the pit exit.  Fear of ruining my rim, I ran all the way back to the pits, and that was a LONG run, and a very sad day for me.  I was pretty upset with the flat, I wanted a really good result, but alas fate got the best of me.  I had a very positive attitude coming out of this race.  Valkenburg brought back my love of the sport.  Racing a new course to me, something challenging and awesome, and having a fantastic trip to Europe really helped with my smiles. 

Photo: Bart Raeymaekers

I had 2 weeks at home (finally) after being on the road for 26 days.  It was a great chance to re-group and spend time with Chris and Nugget (my adorable kitty).  

Those 2 weeks went up quickly and it was time to pack it up and head to the midwest for the Pan Am's and Louisville weekends.  Chris had the chance to come with me to Cincinnati, so that was very special.  Saturday I had an unfortunate twist of luck and went sailing down the camel in a wonderful fashion.  Then my legs got tired and lost power.  Unfortunate result for a C1.  The following day was another favorite course of mine, the Continental Championships!  This course is so much fun!!!  I had such a blast, my legs felt the previous days efforts, but I couldn't walk away sad finishing 7th on the day.  

Photo: Yet Another Bike Photo Facebook Page

The next weekend in Louisville is another course favorite of mine.  Last year we raced under the lights, one of my all time favorite ways to race, this year we raced more at dusk, a very terrible time to race when the daylight is shifting from being able to see, to not being able to see.  I believe we call it twilight?  I still had a blast and finished 5th.  I was super stoked with a 5th place finish.  The next day during pre-ride a Junior boy pulled a U-turn in front of me and I pulled my hamstring.  I opted to sit out the race and let the hammy rest for the next couple weekends of racing.  

Friends make the world go 'round

After 10 days in the midwest I went home rested my hammy on the couch and raced a local UCI race in Tacoma!  I love being able to race in front of the home town crowd, the cheers and heckles from the Hodala crowd is like nothing you will experience anywhere else.  

Photo: Woodinville Bike

The weekend after that I traveled South to CXLA - Long Beach Edition.  Racing in LA is always really hard for me.  It's a mental struggle every single time.  I struggle in the heat and the dusty dry conditions.  And as expected, the weekend was a rough one on Saturday, but I turned it around on Sunday and I'm happy to say I had  solid day on the bike.  

Photo: PB Creative 

Home for 10 days before heading out to Iowa City for JINGLE CROSS!  My favorite race of the year!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this race SO much!  I love the course, I love the scene, and John Meehan does the absolute  BEST job at promoting this event.  He gets the entire community wrapped up in Jingle Cross and I love it.  This race is usually always my best race of the year.  Not sure if it's the course, or what it is, but I always do best at Jingle Cross.  This year we were graced with not 1 but 3 FULL days of mud, and it was awesome. 

Photo: Mauro Heck

On the hunt for better C2 points, I came home from Jingle and went to Dallas, TX for the Resolution Cup where the rains fell and the mud is clay.  I had a great showing on Day 1, taking my first (and only) UCI win of the season.  Day 2 was a little bit more of a struggle and my legs felt the previous day, finishing in 3rd.  

I arrived home Sunday night from Texas, and quickly unpacked to pack up again to head to Belgium the following Wednesday (2 days later).  Per Murphy's Law I got sick on Tuesday, travelled all day Wednesday to arrive in Belgium on Thursday feeling yucky pants and not being able to breathe.  Trying to make the best out of a not so great situation, I convinced myself it would be okay, and I wasn't THAT sick!  Namur wasn't the prettiest of pretty races for myself, but I finished and I'm proud of that, because the past years well...they where even uglier!  Hoping Zolder would be better with more time to relax and recover, my legs did feel better, but my result wasn't all that much better.  Not really sure what happened there. 

Photo: Tom Prenen

This climb...every time ouch

Leaving it all out there in Zolder

Photo: Luc Van Der Meiren

Came home the day after Zolder, celebrated Christmas with Chris and relaxed and rested before Nationals.  I felt I did everything right when I got home.  Didn't work much, slept in, relaxed, didn't ride too much.  The Wednesday after that (10 days later) I packed up the bags again to head to Asheville, NC for NATIONALS!!!!

Nationals gets a post of it's own.  :-P 

The Love of Bike Racing

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The good old days.....

By now I'm pretty sure everyone knows how I got into Cyclocross.  I've mentioned it a few times here and there (ok everywhere).  You all know that I fell in love with Cyclocross INSTANTLY, it was like I had this personal connection with the sport, it came to me naturally.  When I wasn't racing, I was thinking about racing, all I wanted to do was race Cyclocross, all I wanted to do was get better, go faster, and have fun.  I smiled through every turn and every pedal stroke.  When the season was over all I thought about was, when can I race again, when will it start again?  I rode so I could be better, I bought a mountain bike so I could be a better cyclocross racer.  My life, even at the grassroots level, was all cyclocross, live and breathe, train for cyclocross.  All I wanted was cyclocross all the time.  

Racing brought so much joy to my life, the weekends with amazing people, even the drive from Bellingham to Seattle warmed my heart.  Driving in the pouring rain, knowing I was going to sit outside all day and watch races and get to race my bike in the mud, the grass, and with my friends.  Even the late night drive home from Seattle brings back warm and fuzzy feelings.  Chris and I playing the guessing game of how long the border wait was for the Canadians.  There was something really special about racing back then.  Something that no amount of prize money, no amount of articles written about you, no amount of Facebook friends, or Instagram followers can give you.  

I went into this season wanting to be the best, wanting to be better than I've ever been.  I believe in myself that I can be, that I can and will do better than last year, but in the past 2 weeks while on the East Coast racing, I've forgotten why I race.  I didn't start racing because I wanted to win.  Winning is something special, and no matter what, it always feels good, but I started racing to be a part of something, to find a hobby, to have fun, and to smile.  The fact that I'm now racing at the top of the sport Nationally is something that I didn't ever dream of when I started racing.  It just happened, and I feel so lucky to be where I am today.  I'm so lucky my sponsors and fans believe in me, they cheer for me near and far, it brings tears to my eyes to know someone cares THAT much about me.  

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Gloucester

I struggled big time the first day of Gloucester, but Gloucester always does that to me.  I believe mental attitude is a large part of racing and can really make or brake a race.  How bad can you suffer?  How much can you tell yourself YES, as a matter of fact, you CAN go harder.  A positive mental attitude can take you a long way, and I've witnessed it multiple times in my racing career (with myself).  I raced the first day at Gloucester, but my brain wasn't sending the right connections to my legs to work hard.  My brain was saying "this is hard, I don't want your legs to hurt that bad, lets stay here".  I didn't push when I needed to push, I didn't smile when I should have, and I didn't have fun.  I walked away from the race disappointed in myself, not because of my result, but because I didn't race like I should have.  I improved my attitude and outlook on Sunday and felt much better about my racing and my result.  

I've found I've been too caught up in worrying about results, how am I going to be better than last year, did I train enough, and where am I going to finish, too focused on results and pleasing people, that I haven't smiled, I haven't had fun.  I haven't been me.  I've received multiple texts from friends "remember to have fun, and remember why you do it".  My favorite text was "you don't get paid enough to worry about it".  My job is obviously to be the best I can be, but to represent my sponsors, because they support me because of me and who I am.  I smile because I love smiling, it's the best, I have a positive attitude and outlook and I go with the flow.  That's who I am.  I talk to those that will talk to me, I race hard because I love racing, I love riding my bike.  

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Providence day 1, Run Up and Dave McElwaine telling me to go faster.

The second day of Providence brought me SO MUCH JOY.  That day left me elated, results don't show it, but I raced so hard, with so much heart and I had SO MUCH FUN.  I took the hole shot this day, knowing I wanted a good start, by the 2nd turn I was passed and was comfortably sitting  2nd wheel.  I sat in the main group for 2.5 laps, until my chain dropped when I took a curb a little too rough.  I was pretty bummed when it happened, I pulled over on the course, jumped off my bike, and watched as the group rode away from me.  It's funny when you're racing you don't focus on whats going on behind you, ever.  So I never know how far back people are, or if theres a gap.  When I jumped off my bike to put the chain back on it took a bit before I even saw another racer, and then it was racer after racer after racer, and I watched as all these ladies passed me.  I tried my best to not get into my head when this happened, to not be disappointed, and just go with the flow.  In a way I'm happy my chain dropped, because it allowed me to relax, to have fun, and to remember why cyclocross is so awesome.  While I didn't achieve the result I wanted, I achieved everything I wanted that day.  I fought hard to chase back as many spots as I could.  I smiled every time I rode past the beer garden and over the fly overs were people were SCREAMING my name.  I dug where I knew I needed to dig, and sat in where I knew I should sit in.  I remembered why racing my bike is fun, I remembered why I race my bike, and when I finished, I finished with a smile and a sense of accomplishment.  

The week post Providence brought a lot of frustrations and emotions for me.  I began to question what I'm doing, and why I'm doing it.  I went through some serious stages of denial, acceptance, and tears, ready to give up, throw in the towel.  I turned a new circle when I realized what I wanted to race for and why I want to race.  I thought back to the beginnings of my cyclocross adventures, to my first couple of races, to the joy racing brought me, and I realized I need to find that joy, and the satisfaction of racing will come.  I don't need to be out there racing and thinking about what place I'm racing for, I need to be out there to RACE my bike, to focus on each turn, each acceleration, and enjoying every moment.  I'm racing to be a better person and a better racer, I'm racing for the challenges it brings on and off the course.  I want to bring joy to the races, I want rainbows, and hearts, and unicorns at the races.  I want smiles and hugs and positive attitudes, and that is what I want to bring to the races, that is why I love to race my bike.  

These ladies...they make me smile.

Vegas, the showdown

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....

Forget that, I'm sharing all about Vegas!

If you've been following me for a couple years now, you might know that Vegas, for the past couple of years has been my kryptonite.  My first year racing Vegas (my first really big UCI race) I had a last row call up in a field of 50-ish riders and finished in lucky number 13, my first ever UCI point!  My second year of Vegas, I finished 11th, so close to the top ten, but just not quite there!  The rest of the year I went on to finish in the top ten in every other domestic UCI race I entered.  Last year, I was having a good race and was feeling really awesome, until at the bottom of the far fly over my bars slipped down, and I had to pit, losing the group I was in, and falling outside the top ten.  Bummer.  This year it was a World Cup, and my sights of a top ten finish, well the goal was there, but I just wasn't sure it was possible.  

I had an okay call up, technically I was in row 3, not too bad, but when you're in a race with Euros, it's more like row 2.5  We're very orderly here in the US, at World Cup events it's a "shove your wheel where there is space" kind of gig.  We started, and it seems everyone went quite fast in front of me, and I, I was passed by a swarm of people.  A bad start off the line left me fighting for spots in the start loop.  Everywhere I wanted to go, so did someone else, and I ended up falling even further back.  By the end of the start loop I found myself near the back, wondering what just happened.  Turns out...that wasn't so bad, because by the first big turn everyone was coming to a dead stop, and I was able to find some good gaps where people weren't, and passed 10-15 people.  From there, same thing in the next couple of turns, by mid course I think I found myself mid pack, and apparently on the tail end of the chase group (even though I felt like I was constantly chasing)....it's funny how when you're racing you perceive something so different than what viewers see.  

Thanks Dave for the pictures!

Two laps in I realized how bad it was hurting and how if I kept up this pace I was going to blow up like balloon, so instead I dangled off the back and watched as girls fell off the back of the group nearly every half lap.  Each time someone fell off, I would catch them, work with them, and then attack when I felt like I could, and then catch the next person.  If you followed the race, you know I gradually worked my way up to 13th place.  The last lap was one of the hardest laps I've done, my right leg was fighting cramps and I knew the gals behind me where closing in quickly.  I kept yelling at my left leg, WORK HARDER, so my right quad wouldn't cramp.  I stayed as focused as I could and put every effort I had in to the very last few turns to cross the line in 13th.  The last lap I kept telling myself how badly I wanted 13th place, how I didn't want to be caught (obviously I was hoping to catch up to 12th place), but 13th was somewhat symbolic to me.  My first big UCI race I finished 13th in Vegas, and the first Wold Cup in US soil I finished 13th.  It's like my lucky number now.  

My favorite part of Vegas was staying in an awesome host house off the strip.  It's such a different vibe in Vegas when you can stay somewhere away from the Strip.  I also planned the trip with Mical Dyck, so it was really fun to have a traveling buddy for the duration of the trip (of course Chris came too but only for parts of it), and she was a lovely travel partner, and of course Chris did his job of building bikes and acting as head Chef for Mical and I, it was quite wonderful, thank you!  

The day after the race Mical and I rode around the neighborhoods by our host house and then we went and toured Interbike, which is always more exhausting than you think it will be, do you think they spray sleepy gas into the hotels there so you will buy coffee or water?  Even though the Trade Show can be exhausting it's always a great place to catch up with sponsors and see other industry friends.  I love getting the chance to chat with my sponsors in person, thank them, and hang out at their booths for awhile.  My favorite part was heading over to the KASK booth and seeing my Infinity helmet they made for me last year on display on their "Wall of Fame" for all their Pro Athletes helmets.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.  They've also dedicated that pink as "my pink", also pretty awesome.  

Friday Mical and I packed the car and took the incredibly scenic (thats a joke) drive to Reno to race CrossReno, put on by Teal Stetson Lee.  I wanted to go to this race originally since the Montreal WC was canceled, I figured why not, WD40 bike was supporting it, there was a decent prize purse, Nationals are going to be in Reno in 2018, and I thought, heck why not.  As the trip started to get closer and the season finally kicked me in the face, I was regretting my decision, the weekend after Vegas is always really exhausting, and being at home sounded really awesome, but I had made the plans and I was sticking with it.  I'm glad I did, I was able to experience Reno, race one of the hardest CX races I've ever done, and hanging out with the super fun WD40 gang (and my friends at the races, which is always awesome).  

Thanks Jeff Namba for the awesome shot of Reno!

Have you heard? Cross is here.

Welcome to the 2015/2016 Cyclocross season, it has arrived!

I've been kind of purposely not blogging.  I haven't figured out a good topic, no, how about a GREAT topic.  Cyclocross is always a GREAT topic, so lets talk CX.  

This summer was a crazy blur of work, training, and putting together my sponsors and program for the year.  I was extremely late to the "get your sponsor" game, due to topics I don't need to discuss on the World Wide Web, but I am extremely excited to be working with the same sponsors from last year, plus a couple of new ones.  I love having a one on one relationship with my sponsors, I love talking directly to them and thanking them for everything they do.  I love that I trust my sponsors and their product, that when I'm making a sales pitch to someone, I truly and honestly believe they should use x, y, z of my sponsors.  

But Courtenay, who ARE your sponsors?  Lets review, plus one comment on why I LOVE each product:

Rock Lobster (aka Paul Sadoff):  hands down, my favorite bike (next to my Transition Scout) to ride.  Why I love Paul's bikes, they fit me.  #1, I'm 5'3 (maybe 5'3.5), I'm short, stock bikes, they aren't made for short people, and they come with a lot of toe overlap with the front wheel (in my experience) or a top tube that is just too long for me.  Plus, my bike is hand made in the USA, Santa Cruz, CA to be exact.  I love repping my Rock Lobster frames across the Nation and Globe. In a sea of carbon, my aluminum handmade bike, gets the job done, and it gets the job done FAST.  Plus, Paul's bikes are beautiful and sometimes when I'm racing people sing "Rock Lobster" to me.  

American Classic Wheels:  Why I love these wheels?  Aside from the company being wonderful and incredibly good people, their light and durable wheels, that spin up really fast.  They handle anything form rough to smooth terrain and take it like a champ!

Lizard Skins:  Bar tape, crusher!  I LOVE this bar tape, why?  For starts I use the DSP 2.5 mm bar tape, it has lots of cushion when going over any bumpy terrain, but my absolutely favorite part about this bar tape, when it rains, it's grippy and it's self cleaning!  The bar tape ACTUALLY gets cleaner in the rain.  Stop by your local bike shop and buy a roll to see how awesome it is for yourself.  If you live in Bellingham, Bikesport carries it.  

KASK: My favorite helmet supplier.  Why I love their helmets?  They're the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn, and I've worn quite a few helmets.  The retention system is really amazing, you can adjust the back system to place it wherever on your head is the most comfortable and then tighten it from there.  The chin strap?  It's leather, only the best for this fine Italian company.  The helmets also come in a large variety of colors, which makes it a lot of fun when trying to find the right helmet to match your team kit!  I would say one of the best features about the KASK helmets, they don't dent my head like other helmets I have worn!  Big thumbs up from me!

WD40 Bike:  Only the best in bike cleaning products (and once again, people).  This is a small company run down in Southern California.  I know most of you know about WD40 Bike, because they spend their time cleaning your bikes at the biggest and most fun events on the UCI CX Calendar (plus other events around the US during the other times of the year).  They don't mess around with their water based products, follow instructions and your bikes will be sparkly clean and your chains lubed well!  My favorite part?  Smell their chain lube, it's something out of an Axe commercial.  

Borah Teamwear:  If you're looking for a new clothing company for your local team, may I suggest Borah Teamwear?  But Courtenay, you HAVE to say that.  Remember how I said I use product I trust and believe in?  This company has awed me in SO many ways.  A (once again) hand made product in the USA (Wisconsin to be exact) with the best customer service.  I can't even put into words how amazing of an experience I had producing my kit with Borah.  Their turn around was also incredibly fast, maybe 3 weeks, 4 at most.  The quality of their clothing is nothing but top notch, seriously.  I'm in love with their bib shorts, which I'm REALLY picky about, they fit well, are flattering, and their powerband actually stays down on my leg!  If you want to check out some of their clothing pieces, find me at a race and I would be glad to show it off.  Did I mention how much I love the way my kit turned out?  They nailed it!  

Fizik:  Bars, stems, seat posts, and saddles have never felt so good before.  I'm super excited to running with Fizik, and their saddles keep my backside happy.  

TRP:  Have you seen the new TRP thru axle forks?  Next time you see my bikes, look at the fork, holy smokes they are beautiful!  Not only is TRP supplying me with some top notch forks, but also I will be running the Sprye SLC for all my braking needs.  I'm digging the braking predictability with the disc breaks, so far, so good!

Bikesport:  Just your friendly local Bellingham bike shop which will provide me with some awesome overhaul and bike needs throughout the season.  Stop into Bikesport for any and all of your biking needs, they have a lovely collection of items and great customer service.  

Dave Pearson:  Just your not so average friend who has raced cross forever and wants me to do well, so he has adapted the task of tire gluer, product grabber, and the make sure you bike is built guy.  He's all around pretty awesome.  

Other supporters include (not in any particular order):

Clement cycling, Stages Cycling, Smith Optics, GE Capital, Alliant, United Healthcare, Zones, Xelleration, Digipen, Meltzer Group, The Moore Hotel, Kibble and Prentice, and Motofish.  

If you see me at the races please be sure to say hello!  I am a little bit of a gypsy bike racer, so my home base does change for every race, but don't be shy, find me, say hello!  If you have any product questions feel free to drop me a message on my contact me page, I love answering peoples questions, or even just a friendly hello works too!

Thank you for always supporting me, following a long, and cheering from the side.  

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The most magical place on earth

Panorama of the bay when the tide is in. 

I believe Walt Disney had it wrong when he called “The Magic Kingdom" the most magical place on earth.  Yes, that castle is quite beautiful, the images, the fireworks behind it at night when Disney puts on their show, the way the castle can look huge on camera, but yet in real person, it’s quite small.  That’s pretty magical.  It’s quite clear that Walt Disney never visited Vancouver Island, or better yet, The Comox Valley.  The main portion of the valley is comprised of Comox, Courtenay (my town), and Cumberland.  Each place holds an extremely special place in my heart.  My families beach house sits across the beach in the city limits of Comox (only on technicality, because the city is only one road, and not the ones above it), I was named after the town of Courtenay, and Cumberland has some of the most fun mountain biking with the most incredible views of the valley below, the Straight of Georgia, and the mountains of the Sunshine Coast. 

If you look closely, you can see a little place called "tree island".  Growing up we LOVED going to tree island.  

Why is this place so magical?  It might have something to do with the fact that I’ve practically grown up here in the summer time, and it might have something to do with how it truly is magical.  Growing up we were so lucky to have a beautiful place to roam, free of danger, and nothing to do but get sand in our pants.  When I’m at the beach I have a beautiful back drop of the mountainous Sunshine Coast.  I can watch the views of the Bald Eagles flying in the wind, perched on top of the trees looking for lunch.  They’re some of the most majestic and beautiful birds I have ever seen.  When I’m sick of swimming in salt water, and I want a little more of a thrill, I can hop in the car and find a swimming hole at one of the local rivers.  Want to swim in some rushing water and a place that will keep you guessing when walking down the river?  No problem.  Want a big rock to jump off of into a calm pool of water?  The valley has that covered too.  Want to float the river for an all day excursion?  Lets make it happen.  Did I mention the mountain biking?  It never gets old.  The first time I rode in Cumberland, it stole my heart for my most favorite place to ride, from the flowy, bridge filled trails, to the most amazing views of the scenes below.  My most favorite thing to do in the summer post a hot sweaty mountain bike ride, is head to the river to wash the sweat off and cool down.  Once you’ve cooled down from the cold river, we head back to the beach, sit in our floaty with our beverage of choice and let the tide bring us back to shore.  It truly doesn’t get any better than that.  Hawaii is paradise, but the Comox Valley is magical. 

Now pair all of this up with the friendly Canadians and you couldn’t ask for a more magical place on earth. 

Which brings me to this.  Chris and I have travelled to Cumberland to do a couple of races.  It started last year when we went up for the 12 hours of Cumberland, support a small local race, race some new trails, challenge ourselves on a team of two, and stay at the beach.  The friendly faces and personalities of the locals brought us back for more this year.  We came up in April for the Cumberland XC race, and boy did they show us what a XC race should be like, nearly 100% single track and nothing but smiles.  We followed up the XC race with the 2015 edition of 12 Hours of Cumberland this past weekend, and boy it did not disappoint! 

Chris and I once again teamed up for the event.  This year they changed the course up a bit, added a single track climb at the beginning before hitting the logging road to the main single track parts of the course.  Once off the logging road we got the chance to flow on some single track, which included lots and lots of pedaling before hitting the fast and rocky Crafty Butcher descent.  From there, we had more climbing before hitting a wide open descent to a very pedally flat’ish trail that requires ALMOST as much focus as Hush Hush on Chuckanut Mountain.  This trail was called “josh’s trail”.  I don’t know who Josh is, but I was cursing him right around lap 8 or 9.  The trail was super tight with trees all around you, and soft dirt because I think it was freshly cut this spring. 

Done and dusted.  That was hard!

The entire day went off without a hitch, for the most part.  I did happen to make a wrong turn on my first lap, went down the wrong trail, back up it, and then down it again when someone told me that was right way (it wasn’t).  Chris also did flat 3 times, but that’s not surprising to us at all, now is it?  Chris and I ended up finishing 24 laps, 12 each, with a total of 12,000 feet of climbing between the two of us, and nearly 180 kilometers.  We had time for one more, but neither of us had the energy or the legs to go out for one more lap.  Compared to last year, this course was far more physically demanding than it was last year.  The inclusion of more single track, the single track climb, and that darn Josh, adding his trail in, really increased the amount of physical and mental energy needed to get through a lap. 

Friends near and far, I urge you to take a trip to this magical place on Vancouver Island.  Visit the coastal town of Comox, the city of Courtenay, and the Village of Cumberland.  Bring your mountain bike, your road bike, your paddleboard, your swim suit.  Bring your free spirit, your best friend, you will not be disappointed. 

Dusty and exhausted!  

Winners in the Co-Ed 2 person category.  We love those Beardsley Mugs!!!