Category: cycling

coming down to Idaho with me?

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, kayaking, sport - amateurLeave a comment

My big AR event is right around the corner – Adventure Sports Week . Contact me if you can come down with me.

May 24, 2009

For Immediate Release…

Danelle Ballangee is scheduled to compete in the “Crux and the Crucible” at Adventure Sports Week 2009!

Adventure Sports Week is a 10 day long festival of 24 outdoor races, contests, clinics and social events taking place at Farragut State Park, 30 miles north of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, June 5—14, 2009.

One of the racing world’s greatest stars and most inspirational stories is coming to compete at Adventure Sports Week in Coeur d’ Alene, June 12—14.

Danelle Ballangee is perhaps the World’s most decorated female Adventure Racer, having won Primal Quest, the Raid, the Adventure Racing World Championships, as well as dozens of other equally impressive competitions. She has also been named “US Athlete of the Year” an unprecedented six times in four different sports.

Despite her impressive resume, it was an unlikely slip that has Danelle—Nellie—to national prominence.

In December of 2006, while on a routine training run with her dog Taz, she slipped on some black ice and fell nearly 60 feet down the cliffs at Hurrah Pass, Utah, near Moab, breaking her pelvis completely in half, and leaving her bleeding internally and unable to walk. She managed to crawl over a quarter of a mile to a puddle where she could drink, and she spent over 50 hours in sub- freezing temperatures as her dog tried to keep her warm. On the third day, Taz left her, eventually making his way to the trailhead, where he was seen by the search and rescue team, who followed him back to Danelle.

After major surgery, where she received a titanium plate to hold her pelvis together, she was in a wheelchair for several months, and doctors speculated she would be unable to walk for as long as a year.

As a tribute to her strength and tenacity, Danelle competed in a solo 12 hour adven- ture race less than 6 months after her fall, finishing as top female.

Danelle will be competing at ASW representing Project Athena— http://www.projectathena.org – whose mission is to help women with breast cancer and other medical traumatic setbacks live their athletic and adventurous dreams by providing coaching, equipment, travel, entry fees and encouragement.

She will also be teaching part of the Adventure Racing Clinic, along with other super- stars such as Mike Kloser, captain of Team Nike, and AR World Champion.

danelle

source – Mind Over Mountain

National Bike to Work Day

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness1 Comment

Thursday, MAY 14th, 2009 is National Bike to Work Day.

I normally bike about an hour to work. But Tuesday and Thursday I ride the big, public limo.

Perhaps I need move to Freiburg, Germany:

… Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the French and Swiss borders. Vauban’s streets are completely “car-free” — except the main thoroughfare, where the tram to downtown Freiburg runs, and a few streets on one edge of the community. Car ownership is allowed, but there are only two places to park — large garages at the edge of the development, where a car-owner buys a space, for $40,000, along with a home.

As a result, 70 percent of Vauban’s families do not own cars, and 57 percent sold a car to move here. …

bikes-no-cars

read more – NY Times – In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars

Hemmingway on bicycles

On By Rick McIn cyclingLeave a comment

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.”

— Ernest Hemingway

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By artist Wil Freeborn.

via The Piton

my new CHEAP bike

On By Rick McIn cycling, product endorsements4 Comments

I already have a “good” bike. But want to dedicate it to Adventure Race training.

For commuting around Calgary I went shoppig for a “cheap” bike.

The only feature I really wanted was disk brakes. After much searching in places like Walmart, Canadian Tire and the like, I finally decided on this discount bike, the K2 Zed 2.0.

Disk brakes, 24 speeds, an aluminum frame.

k2-bike1

K2 Bikes – Mountain > Hardtail Mountain > Zed 2.0

CAD$219 (US$172) – SportChek

One year warranty. One time only full service within the first year. One year free minor servicing.

I only use combination locks, to save time. I bought a basic lock. Nothing more than a deterrent. My last commuter bike was stolen despite having a very strong lock.

Having a bike stolen definitely influenced me to buy a cheap bike this time. If it is stolen again, I’m not out all that much cash.

what are you doing in June?

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, kayaking, product endorsements2 Comments

I’ll be Adventure Racing and part of the organizing committee at Adventure Week 2009 in Idaho.

adventureweek2009


Our official website – AdventureWeek2009.com

Let me know if you want to join in the fun.

Peter and Joyce Long

On By Rick McIn cycling, photosLeave a comment

Peter posted Christmas greetings and a photo diary of their adventures over the past year.

Ho HO HO.

… We are still slowing down, with normal wear and tear on our 77 and 76 year old bodies, but fortunately, nothing serious. These are the highlights of our year.

peter-joyce

more photos

Adventure Week 2009 in Idaho

On By Rick McIn blogs, cycling, health & fitness, kayaking, travel2 Comments

Dave Adlard, master organizer of big events, is boldly planning June 5-14th in North Idaho one of the biggest Adventure Racing events anywhere.

Our Adventure Racing Team — the Fast Farts — are part of his support team.

I’m editor of the official website:

North Idaho will play host to “adventure week 2009,” a series of “outdoor” races and events at Farragut State Park near Coeur d’Alene. (Of the famed Ironman competition.)

introducing-adventure-week1

Click through if you know anyone who might be interested in coming down for the Adventure Week 2009.

I’m recommending to Dave that he include a surprise high speed kayak challenge, like this one …

U.S. Bicycle Route System planned

On By Rick McIn cyclingLeave a comment

Adventure Cycling Association is part of an initiative to develop a national bike route system called the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). …

details

This initiative is somewhat inspired by EuroVelo, the European cycle route network.

who stole my bike?

On By Rick McIn cycling5 Comments

I locked up my Kona Blast in front of the downtown public library this afternoon.

About 90min later, it was gone. The lock cut away.

That bike cost C$674 and served me well for 30 months.

I can’t complain. I got tremendous value out of the Kona, especially with the included 2-yr service package.

A bus driver told me that street is under video surveillance. I’ll follow-up with security at the library.

Needless to say, I have no household insurance. Happily I’ve had very few items stolen over the years. This is the most valuable item yet.