It’s out of the sun’s intense rays and into the dark (and sometimes dank) caverns of the Sands Convention Center for the next phase of the Interbike adventure.
We walked the halls and took a lot of photos of interesting stuff, we met old friends we haven’t seen since – well, last year’s show, and we did a little Interbike TV show taping (look for that to appear here soon). But it was two experiences after business hours were over that left the biggest impression on this reporter, at least right now, at this late hour.
First, at 6pm, when they started turning the lights off on our annual wine & cheese party at our booth, we headed downstairs to the induction ceremony for the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Our own Philip Keyes, Access Editor, was being inducted this year. Earlier in the day he was all keyed up (sorry, blame that one on Amanda) and it was great to see him being honored. It happens to be the twentieth anniversary of NEMBA, the advocacy group he heads, and his co-advocates thought that nominating Philip would be a fitting tribute. Yes, indeed it was.
Among the other inductees was John Finley Scott, the personable Ph.D. who was cobbling together mountain bikes twenty years before anyone else. Billy Savage, the filmmaker behind the awesome movie Klunkerz, had made a short tribute film about Mr. Scott that was shown to close the ceremonies, and it was a fascinating and poignant introduction to the man (as his HOF induction comes posthumously).
Next it was time to make a quick change out of dress-up clothes and back into everyday superhero riding-around garb for the trip to the CrossVegas races on our mini-test bikes (no, they’re not all folders with 12″-16″ wheels, it’s the test that’s small). There was no way we were missing this, and it lived up to expectations – this race was one of the best sporting events I’ve ever attended (and I was there for Superbowl XL). The way the course was laid out, it looked like a snake in a bowl, winding back and forth and across and around the shallow valley that contained it. At any moment we could see at least six different stretches of the race laid out one after the other, from our perch right up against the tape all the way back to where the riders were black specks against the fluorescent-lit grass. In the middle of it all, the pit area was a seething mass of beer-fueled fans yelling for their favorites to run up the mid-course stairs faster.
As we rode up, Richard Fries was calling the final race, the Men’s Elite. I’d heard a rumor in the women’s bathroom back at the show that some guy named Lance was going to show up. Chalked it up to clever marketing (of which there was plenty in the bathrooms), but lo and behold, one of the names being called was Armstrong’s. Not near the front though. Kona tallcrosser Ryan “Treefarm” Trebon made it 2-for-2 on CrossVegas with his win, Giant’s Adam Craig was right up in there (which was kind of amazing as we didn’t hear his name much at all, he came out of nowhere), and the venerable Thomas Frishknecht of Scott-Swisspower, in his official retirement race, came in fifth. Sorry, I didn’t catch the other two names in the top five.
It was a grand spectacle though, big and exciting enough to draw in a couple walking their dogs down the street. Robert from TwoFish gave them an explanation of the race, complete with helpful motorcycle noises to indicate the riders’ efforts in motoring up the short hills, and by the end, half of the couple was yelling along with the rest of us.
This is just my version of one small part of the immense whirlwind that is Interbike. Go over to our Galleries to see lots and lots of photos, check out the Blog postings, and come back for our Interbike TV talk show videos (the show so huge it only airs three times per year).
USA Cycling recently posted the following announcement on www.usacycling.org:
Colorado Springs, Colo. (September 12, 2008)—USA Cycling announced today the development and implementation of a new mountain bike category system set to take effect for the 2009 season. The modification to the existing structure comes after significant analysis and dialogue by the national governing body and the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Board of Trustees.
In pursuit of its mission to provide a high-quality racing experience for members across all ages, skill levels and genders, USA Cycling will apply these new categories beginning December 1, 2008 in order to strengthen professional fields and add depth to amateur categories at the grass roots level.
The new categories, which closely resemble those used in other disciplines of competitive cycling, have been created to offer USA Cycling mountain bike members a more competitive racing environment. The previous license categories will be replaced with a new system which include Category 1, 2, 3 and Pro designations.
The previous structure, which consisted of five categories – Beginner, Sport, Expert, Semi-Pro and Pro – has been condensed to include four categories. Like the categories they’re replacing, Categories 1, 2 and 3 will also feature age groups classes.
“This change has been discussed, studied and considered in some form for the last two years,” explained Lisa Nye-Salladin, President of the NORBA Board of Trustees and mountain bike race promoter for the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association. “Ultimately, the NORBA Board of Trustees spearheaded this evolution in order to make racing more competitive and create a clear distinction between amateur and professional athletes. The names of the categories were also revised to better reflect the new levels of racing. The terms ‘Beginner’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Expert’ carry little relevance outside of the mountain bike community, which makes it difficult for sponsors and the public to relate. The simplicity of using numbered categories brings with it a universal understanding.”
One of the most synonymous names with the sport of mountain biking and Industry representative on the NORBA Board of Trustees, Gary Fisher, was also a major proponent of the change. He references the need for a more competitive environment domestically in order to improve the United States’ level of success in the pro ranks globally.
“We want bigger pro fields in the National Calendar events so our racers can better prepare for international competition like World Cups and World Championships,” said Fisher. “Our pro fields are tiny compared to our European counterparts. We have the numbers in terms of ridership, but we’ve been referring to them as Semi-Pros.”
Olympian and four-time USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross Country Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, who also sits on the USA Cycling Board of Directors as the NORBA athlete representative, also sees the change as a positive step forward in the evolution of off-road racing in the U.S.
“Throughout the last several years, we’ve been discussing ways to improve the quality of races in the U.S. and increase competition,” said Horgan-Kobelski. “This change will result in deeper pro fields, but will also produce an extremely competitive atmosphere among amateurs. The Category 1 designation itself becomes a more prestigious field with talent indicative of up-and-coming pros. The change also simplifies things for race organizers who can now offer fewer categories, while at the same time improving their event.”
Another benefit of the consolidation is that it presents a better opportunity for the development of professional athletes, according to Marc Gullickson, USA Cycling’s National Mountain Bike Development Director.
“The Semi-Pro category was originally created as a place for U23 athletes to compete before making the jump to the professional level,” explained Gullickson, “but now, the elimination of that category will help accelerate the progression of athletes who should theoretically be competing against stiffer competition on a more consistent basis. From a development standpoint, the Semi-Pro category became an unnecessary middle ground that made it difficult to assess talent.”
The change raises several topics that all USA Cycling mountain bike members should familiarize themselves with – most notably the conversion process. The switch will be simple and automatic. Members currently categorized as Experts will automatically become a Category 1; Sport members will automatically be converted to a Category 2; and Beginners will automatically become a Category 3.
Members currently categorized as Semi-Pro may choose either Category 1 or Pro designation for the 2009 racing season. When renewing their license, Semi-Pro members will be offered an automatic upgrade to Pro throughout the 2009 licensing period which runs from December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009. To take advantage of this upgrade, Semi-Pro members must purchase an annual license during this time as this automatic upgrade will only be offered during the 2009 season. Therefore, if a current Semi-Pro member does not purchase a 2009 racing license, he will automatically default to Category 1 status beginning on December 1, 2009 for the 2010 racing season. At that point, regular upgrade procedures will apply.
The new categories will be converted on December 1, 2008, the first day of 2009 license sales. If members wish to upgrade or downgrade at that time, they may do so online through their My USA Cycling account.
In order to provide its members with a comprehensive overview of additional subjects affected by the new categorization system, USA Cycling has developed an online FAQ page. Here members can find additional information that pertains to qualification for the 2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, definitions of the new mountain bike categories, an outline of the conversion process and rules regarding the combination of categories at events.
Additionally, USA Cycling has developed a document that explains the Pro upgrade requirements and transition for Semi-Pro’s in Endurance, Gravity and Ultra-Endurance disciplines. That document can be viewed by clicking here.
For more information regarding the new categorization system, USA Cycling members should contact USA Cycling Mountain Bike Events and Program Director, Kelli Lusk at klusk@usacycling.org or 719-866-4668 or drop by the USA Cycling booth at Interbike, Sept. 24-26.
According to a statement posted on September 9th on his livestrong.org website, Lance Armstrong has decided to come out of retirement:
I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. Millions more will suffer in isolation, victims not only of the disease but of social stigma. After the passage of Proposition 15 in Texas, a $3 billion investment in the fight against cancer which is helping to make this disease part of the national dialogue in America, it’s now time to address cancer on a global level.
The excitement is already building as Armstrong gets ready to take a shot at winning his 8th Tour de France. Armstrong will reveal the details of his revived cycling program and the international Livestrong strategy on September 24th in New York City at the Clinton Global Initiative.
Thanks to photographer Glenn Acker for sharing a ton of cool pictures from the 2008 edition of the Subaru 24-Hour Champion Challenge (a.k.a. the 24-hour race at 7 Springs, PA).
Glenn was positioned at the top of “the big climb” and his photos capture the effort (and joy) on the riders’ faces. For your viewing pleasure, we’ve posted his pictures in this Dirt Rag Gallery.
Click here to visit photographer Glenn Acker’s website. For for inquiries or prints, e-mail Glenn.
Since the last installment in this series I suffered a bit of a setback with a knee injury, Race Report 5. After Nationals I finally got in to see my orthopedic, the fabulous Doctor Palumbo. After explaining what’s been going on with it, he took a look at it and immediately noticed that one of my calf muscles’ had atrophied. By one centimeter, which is a lot when you’ve got skinny legs like mine. Then he jams a finger into the back of my knee, “does it hurt there?” Uh, yeah! So, he figures that I tore where one of my calf muscles attaches to the back of the knee, probably while trying to sprint to a finish on a singlespeed, so I guess the pedal boat is off the hook.
It seems to be healing well, just doing some physical therapy with the crew at Orthopedic Associates in Allentown, and no racing for now. Oddly, riding the singlespeed seems to be easier on it then any of my other bikes. So I’ve been taking the opportunity to just get out and do some fun, lower intensity rides. The ironic thing about racing is that it means I don’t usually get to enjoy riding the trails around my home, in Jim Thorpe PA, much in the summer, in the last 2 months I’ve really enjoyed getting back to them.
Since both my wife and I race, her at the international level, we don’t get a chance to take many non-racing vacations. She is still training full time, but I was free, so what the hell, vacation time! I kicked around a few ideas, road touring in Northern PA, motorcycle touring in the Adirondacks, Kingdom Trails. In the end I decided to do some of each of the outdoors stuff I like. I loaded up the biodiesel wagon with a road bike, mountain bike, flat water kayak, backpacking gear, camping gear, mosquito spray, a couple boxes of food and a cooler. The loose plan was to head up to the Adirondacks, from the southwest corner, and make my way roughly towards Kingdom Trails in Vermont. I had some NY MTB maps, a GPS, and no reservations.
I headed out early on a Saturday morning, kissing my wife and dogs goodbye, ok the dogs just got a pat on the head, and warning of a lack of cell phone coverage. If she didn’t hear from me I was more likely still alive then not. I drove up through Northern PA and into New York State via some secondary roads. A perfect summer day’s drive through beautiful, hilly, farm country, although it certainly would have been better on a motorcycle. By early afternoon I was in Old Forge NY inside the loose boundaries of the Adirondacks, which covers 6 Million acres, yes 6 million. I stopped in at Adirondack River Outfitters for some extra Primus fuel, maps and trail info. I had gotten some info on mountain bikes trails in Old Forge off of www.bikekinetix.com and wanted a local opinion. The owner hooked me up with a map and a disclaimer, yes it was about the worst map I ever saw, and it proved to be worse than useless on the trail, downright misleading. The one off of BikeKinetix was much better. Surprisingly for a park the size of the Adirondacks, there is almost zero legal singletrack, the Old Forge Trails are all snowmobile trails and gravel logging roads. Well, I was happy to just be somewhere new, so I headed down to the trailhead across from a tourist railroad and got ready for some BikePacking. BikePacking seems to be gaining momentum lately and I wanted to give it a try. The idea is to pack light so that it’s more like a regular ride then a fully loaded touring expedition. The extreme version is events like the Great Divide Race and the Colorado Trail Race, self supported epics. I was going for the 1-2 day version, mostly because on the East Coast it’s hard to string together more trail then that. I basically went with my ultra-light backpacking setup, just with a different pack. I strapped my solo tent with an inflatable sleeping pad wrapped around it to the handlebars, and put the rest of my gear in an old Camelback backpack. Clothes, sleeping bag, coffee and cook stuff, food, and water. I admit to slipping a beer in there too, I only wish I had some in cans.
The trail started with a steep uphill, and on the singlespeed with the added weight I was questioning my decision. After it leveled off a bit and I got used to the pack it was not so bad, I had done a trial run at home and knew it took a little getting used to. I ended up riding about 4 hours and while the terrain was not too exciting the scenery was great and there was not another person to be seen. Eventually I cut a sidewall of a tire while doing some trailbreaking and decided to make camp rather than fix it then; Stan’s sealant makes quite a mess. In the Adirondacks, like many other public lands, there is a pretty wide open regulation regarding backcountry camping. Pretty much as long as you are 150 feet from a trail or waterway you can camp there. It free, and if you aren’t into having a set schedule, like me, then it’s a really flexible way to travel. I found a small clearing between a trail and a stream and setup camp for the night, making a quick dinner, hanging my food bag away from bears, and getting to bed. In the morning I awoke to the sound of loon’s cries and made a nice cup of coffee and ate some granola. Then I fixed my flat and packed up camp, making sure to leave no trace of where I had slept. Once packed up I got riding through the still dewy trails and enjoyed a morning on my bike in the woods.
Over the next 9 days I ended up following this routine for 5 nights, 2 were spent kayaking, and one backpacking. All were backcountry camping, some in great old WPA/CCC lean-tos.
Old Forge, Santanoni, Stoney Pond, Upper Lake Saranac, Middle Lake Saranac, and Burke Mt./ Kingdom Trails. I really came to enjoy finishing my day with a ride into the woods and making camp for the night, then having a relaxing morning in camp before starting the day with another ride. Next time I’ll cover the Kingdom Trails part of my trip.
After one lap of the course, on which I consumed two beers and a shot, I decided to bail on the next two laps in favor of continuing the party. I decided to film some of the festivities, and have put it all together here in this video. Enjoy!
