#10000milesin2018: Month 7 Update

Total Number of Strava Group Members: Our group has grown from 251 members in January to now 388 members in July.

Here’s how some of our group members are doing as of the end of June:

John O’Neill in Allentown, Pennsylvania - 7,743 miles

Bart De Lepeleer in Guía de Isora, Canarias, Spain - 5,884 miles / 675,335 ft

Daniel Sattel in Golden, Colorado – 5,050 miles / 605,702 ft

Meister Bruno in St. Augustine, Florida – 5,300 miles

Challenges: None, really. This is the best time of the year for riding! 

Highlights:  I only drove my car 5 days this month.  This was a new record for me and it was amazing to live life by bike during July! This month also included a really big week over the 4th of July holiday, with monster rides from my front door to places all over the front range (Like Lyons, Ward, Georgetown, to name a few!).  

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION: What advice do you have for someone considering riding 10,000 miles next year? What kind of preparation is needed? What kind of training can be done in advance?

I don't know that training is necessary so much as scheduling preparation (and prioritization).  Trips, errands, meetings, board meetings, extra-curricular events, shopping, socializing, and so on- all must be planned with riding there and back in mind.  The more a person can work the bike into their day-to-day schedule and life, the less pressure there is to fit in really big weekend rides.  I personally prefer to sprinkle the miles out during the week than to have to cram them in on the weekends.  This challenge has expanded my already-commute-focused lifestyle even more! 

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Total Miles to Date: Target:

5831 miles…

My mileage: 5630

#10000milesin2018: Month One update!

By Maureen & Megan 

JANUARY RECAP:

Total Miles to Date: 884

Total Number of Strava Group Members: 251 members -from all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, England, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, USA. 

I am SO excited to see this many people jump in on the challenge! 

Challenges?: I've had a raging head cold since Christmas eve.  It's made it nearly impossible to ride hard on the trainer, or to ride outside in the cold, because that just makes it worse.  I confirmed I don't have the flu, and have just been dealing with the stuffy nose and cough with hot tea and cough drops.  We also got some snow in Colorado which made riding outside nearly impossible (nearly - fat bikes make it possible!) .  

Highlights?: I have been fortunate this month to spend some time in warm, sunny AZ and also CA, where it was easier to log bigger miles.  I've also been really thankful for Zwift for indoor trainer rides, it keeps it fun and engaging! 

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION: How has your daily schedule/routine changed to meet this goal? 

Every day I wake up knowing that somehow, I need to average 27 miles/day.  If I miss a day, I know I'll need to make those miles up.  I went to see family for a weekend in Omaha, where the weather outside was atrocious (and I also didn't have a bike) and so I committed myself to riding miles on the hotel exercise bike each morning.  Sometimes I wait until the evening and do a two hour trainer ride. A few times this month, those rides weren't starting until 9 or 930pm at night because the day was just too jam-packed.  And it was totally ok.  Making it happen is what it takes.  Sometimes I use the commute to work for some miles and then add on.  I was also looking forward to the Trek Travel bike camp I'm on this week (in Solvang) to add some miles -which will hopefully bring up my averages and give me a headstart for February.  

There is no question that every day, I know 1.5-2 hours need to be spent riding.  This has given me a reason to schedule my evenings much lighter, and to minimize my after-hour commitments and social engagements, so that I have time to get those miles in. It's been really nice, actually, to have that daily focus.  I am encouraged to get better/more sleep, to stretch and to take better care of myself knowing I'll be on the bike almost every day.  Overall I am feeling really invigorated and motivated by this goal! 

Here are some photos from my rides in January: 

Hope Sport home build experience - in photos

It is difficult to describe in words, the impact this trip had on us, and on the family we served.  Suffice it to say, this changed us all and for the better.  It was truly a remarkable experience. 

Please join me next December 27-30, 2018.  Visit Hope Sports for more info. 

(Photo credit: Hope Sports photographer Tiffany Lambert).

10,000 miles in 2018

The goal of riding 10,000 miles in one calendar year is one that I've had on my mind for many years, but frankly -lacked the courage to tackle.  It represents a couple thousand more miles than my biggest year, to-date.  With multisport/Ironman training as the focus the past 3 years, I couldn't fit in this kind of riding, along with the running and swimming time demands.

But now as I look ahead to 2018 ... the time feels right and I've publicly stated my goal:

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The plan will be to ride 6 days / week with one day completely off for rest and sanity.  All told, I'll need to average 27 miles/day, or 833 miles/month, to reach the goal. Commuting will play an even bigger role here, as will indoor/trainer rides during the cold months!

If you're interested, I would love for you to join me.  Please find the Strava group HERE.  (34 people have already jumped in) .... the fun kicks off on January 1, 2018.  Let's do this. 

Cheryl's Story: Conquering fears and inspiring others!

We first met Cheryl in 2012. She was hit by a car while riding her bike, and she hired our firm to represent her.  Following the close of her case, she joined our cycling team, and began racing road races and criteriums.  Unfortunately, she suffered a bad crash last season during a race, and her injuries prompted surgery and a lengthy recovery.

Cheryl is the consummate ambassador, teammate, friend, and source of inspiration.  She reminds us that we can let setbacks keep us down, or we can fight back and turn them into sources of motivation and fuel for our fire- in whatever endeavor we pursue.  Please - enjoy her story!

*With huge thanks to Cheryl, Justin Balog, and the Dirty Kanza! (Click on the image below to enjoy the video!).

Cheryl was hit by a car and injured. Then she healed, tackled bike races, and was injured again. Dirty Kanza provided her the perfect come-back story and goal- watch this, and be inspired.

The Bike of Belgium

A guest post, by Justin Balog: 

I arrived in Ghent Belgium with my bike packed in its travel case, and grabbed a taxi at the train station. While making small talk with the driver, I learned that the local government recently voted to keep the interior of the town free of cars, making the historic cobbled streets of Ghent only accessible to pedestrians and bikes.  

It is a town where commuting is a necessary way of life. After chatting with locals and talking to them about their bikes, I found it is not only necessary, but commuting is the preferred way of life.

Most Belgians have had their commuter bikes for years. Heck, Eddy (72) who I met over a beer, said he's been riding the same bike for 43 years.

Needless to say, then, I spent much of my time wandering the ancient streets of this historic city, documenting these fabled machines. 

Podcast: FattyCast and The Cyclist-Lawyer

Enjoyed very much speaking with Elden Nelson, otherwise known as Fat Cyclist, about bikes, crashes, laws and more.  Click the story link above to give it a listen! 

 

Also - the podcast references a blog post I wrote a few years back about insurance needs for cyclists... You can access that article here: http://303cycling.com/what-cyclists-should-know-about-insurance

Guest Blog: The Sacred Charge of the Commute

We've been following along with our friend Kris and he's been posting more and more amazing stories and photos of his commuting adventures - he recently shared that he commuted 2 straight weeks and doesn't show signs of stopping... So I asked him to share some of his insight and inspiration with us: 

Guest Blog: The Sacred Charge of the Commute by Kris Simons

The alarm goes off at 4:00 AM and I hit the snooze button for 5 minutes. I groggily drag myself out of bed and trip over my dog in the process. He rustles but goes back to sleep. He is off the clock and could care less as long as the bowl of food is full when it’s time for him to wake up. It’s dark in Denver except for the streetlights and glow of the fire exit sign at the elementary school adjacent to my house. I don’t hassle with making coffee but a few frozen Ego waffles and pumpkin bread in the belly and I am on my way to getting dressed to ride my bicycle to work. This has been my routine for close to seventy days this year. (With the exception of the pumpkin bread)  The route is roughly a 26 mile roundtrip commute mostly on a mix of roads and bike path. Some months, I commute every day, other times once every other week. I have pedaled every month of the year though, at times in snow, through bugs, fog, rain, broken glass, and over fallen trees.

Under the cover of darkness, I begin my 13 mile trek to work as my lamp illuminates the road ahead. Sometimes the app which tracks my journey says its 11 miles, sometimes 14. Either way, the morning ride has become something sacred amidst the restlessness and curiosity of what the day will bring. I started commuting by bike three years ago as a personal challenge, just to see if I could do it. Biking was no longer the necessity of the broke college student I once was years ago. Now, my bike actually shifted well and I had some nicer equipment to make the journey more enjoyable. The route mostly sticks to the bike path with minimal exposure to groggy people driving cars amidst checking text messages and Facebook updates this time of the morning. Sitting up higher on my bike and looking down, I often see the glow of the blue screen and try to be extra cautious. It’s amazing how addicted we have become to technology. I struggle with it myself. The bike doesn’t let me surf Facebook for the one thousandth kitten meme or rant from a person mad about god knows what. My hands stay planted on the bars, affording time to pedal and watch the world go by. When I used to ride the streets of Pittsburgh ten years ago on a 7 speed Huffy, I felt this gave me a chance to listen to the heartbeat of the city and surroundings. The responsibilities and bike may have changed, but the sacred commute makes me keep this thought present and listen to the beat, not rants or kittens.

In the dark, I pedal through the drying leaves of fall which litter the path as an occasional reflection of light is bounced off the eyes of a house cat in the grass. For an hour, I pedal and weave with the turns and twists of the path. I ride technical singletrack and race bikes as a hobby, yet this commute never bores me as it is just a time to pedal, wake up, and think. It’s my metaphorical chance to plug the battery in and recharge as the rest of the day will draw down those power reserves. Deadlines to meet, boxes to check, and things to do are all on the horizon with the rising sun. But right now, I can’t do any of those things, except think about them against the methodical pedal strokes in the darkness.

I arrive at work, park my bike, change, and make coffee ahead of everyone. I arrive refreshed and ready for the day. The early arrival always feels like a head start in a race. As other people arrive in the process of waking up from the drive in, I am already sharp, alert, and charging forward. It’s a good feeling.

As the work day wanes, so does my inner battery. Hours spent on a computer, in meetings, and troubleshooting have left me drained. Though the work has been stimulating, I feel like a hollow, tired shell. More things lie ahead on the home front. I change, jet out of the office, and am soon beginning my trek home. It’s slightly downhill most of the way so I ramp up the speed with my tired legs and coast, occasionally pedaling. There is some singletrack scattered along the way that I make sure to hit. Each twist and turn is recharging me. Charging time doubles on the singletrack sections. I leave the path and hit the road, riding the last two miles to home. People are beginning to get off work and head home. I pass by the traffic jams and smile as my commute time by bike is almost as long as it would take me to drive home anymore. The infrastructure in Denver isn’t keeping up with the population growth. Yet, people forget that with a little work, the bike paths and routes through Denver are years ahead of most cities and almost as fast for my daily needs. The commute is a chance to utilize a resource that so many people write off. Meanwhile my truck sits parked at home, not a part of the idling traffic that seems to have become so pervasive here with the identity of Colorado. Need to go to work? Sit in traffic. Need to go run errands? Traffic. Want to go skiing on a weekend? Good luck even getting there in the Colorado traffic.

I arrive home refreshed, slightly tired, yet ready for more of what the world can dish out, thanks to the commute. Maybe in the end, that’s why I do it. It’s a time to collect my thoughts, think, and be ready to be present when needed. Life may tax the inner reserves of my introverted self, but the bike path counteracts those motions. Out on my commute, the battery is at 75% and rising, and the road is wide open. Perhaps that’s the sacred charge of the commute.

Interbike Recap

I have not been to Interbike since 2011- when I was there in a somewhat-official-capacity as a rider for the new Primal/MapMyRide women's pro team.  While that was a fun experience, I distincly recall telling myself I didn't want to return for awhile -all the standing, cement, lack of sunshine, and cigarette smoke, really detracted from the event for me.  It was fun to network, but it was an uncomfortable way of doing it.  (Seriously -why do we bring such a healthy industry together in such an unhealthy place?!).

Fast forward 4 years and I found myself back at Interbike (click here if you don't know what it is).  This year I was there to re-connect with friends in the industry and to share some bike advocacy ideas I have with some folks and of course, to meet new people and spread the bike law gospel!  I was only there 2 days/2 nights, but it was a packed trip which included 2 highlight events for me: Hearing Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper announce his plan to spend $100 million on biking in Colorado LIVE at the industry breakfast, and watching Cross Vegas (this year -it was also a World Cup!).  

Here is my trip recap in photos: 

In case you missed it, #SOCKGATE was a thing at IB this year.  Luckily I found an amazing sock store where I bought my own fancy socks (perfect for cooler CX races this fall!).  Can't go wrong with unicorns and rainbows:

Joined my good friend Jay Thomas, one of the original teams/directors who got me into cycling, for an industry dinner at the Four Seasons -which was capped off by GIANT pieces of carrot cake (my favorite).  We rationalized by saying we needed to eat our vegetables... 

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I'm a bit Colorado-proud here, but it was ao amazing to hear People for Bikes (based in Boulder!) speak and update us, and then introduce our Colorado Gov as the keynote speaker at the industry breakfast.  And to hear the good news - the Gov is promising $100 million for biking in CO!  I think every Coloradoan in the room (myself included) was beaming. 

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People for Bikes hosted the breakfast and as always, killed it with the clever graphics and design (and bacon).

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I met a great group of guys from Chain Reaction bicycles in Georgia. They are a large Cannondale dealer so I was in good company! 

This is the Cooker booth - the brand of the fatbike that I own (owned by the Cannondale corporate family).  I thought their design, setup and colors was one of the coolest, cleanest booths there. 

Brendan Lyons with Look Save a Life (I love their mantra: safety is everyone's responsiblity) with Lisa and Nick from PrimalWear.  Three amazing people all in one place.  Love that they are working together on Brendan's cycling apparel for his events this year.  Primal had an AMAZING booth setup there.

Lisa Hudson, friend and fellow Golden business owner of Feedback Sports, models their newest hottest product, the Omnium -a packable roller system that solves ALL of our bike race/travel warmup problems!  

Friend Katie Macarelli, Marketing Guru for Feedback Sports, racing Wheelers & Dealers 

I swear that looked like part of the old Boulder Velodrome... 

Blue Shark in the sand pit... because, why not? 

Katie F'n Compton warms up for the women's pro race on one of the new Omnium Trainers.

Watching the race on the big screen and live, from the VIP hill.  Truly an amazing experience watching the ladies tear up the FIRST CYCLOCROSS WORLD CUP ever on american soil!!! 

LUNA ladies put together amazing teamwork and took the win with Katarina Nash riding away solo and her teammate placing in the top 5.  Incredible. 

Kate Powlinson, friend/fellow racer/People for Bikes Goddess, shows off their awesome photo booth to a visitor:

I love these bikes dressed up like cars.  They are all setup to protect the rider from the elements, they make hauling a heavier load- like several bags of groceries much easier -and they have headlights, taillights and turn signals... so cool.

Got to see our friends from HandleBar Mustache too -their booth was rocking! 

To sum up: I realized just how many amazing companies and advocacy groups in cycling are Colorado-based... it felt in a way like we had all traveled to Vegas to see each other when we could have just hosted an event here in Colorado ;)  But all in all Interbike was how i remembered it to be, but with so much momentum growing for bike advocacy, I left refreshed and excited to see where Colorado biking -and biking nationwide -goes from here! 

First Dirty Kanza

Friends - there are gravel races, and then there are GRAVEL RACES. 

Last weekend I journeyed to Emporia, Kansas for the 10th annual Dirty Kanza - my first time there, I opted to do the 100 mile event before going straight into the 200 mile event. 

This proved a very wise decision ;) Kansas has had a lot of rain and the conditions were tough - muddy and wet.  This was not a dry, hot gravel race, it was a muddy humid mess.  Within the first 6 miles of the race, the other 1800 participants and I had to dismount and carry bikes through an extremely muddy section for the better part of an hour.  I was thankful to have a nice light Cannondale CX bike- as many with fat bikes, mountain bikes and tandem bikes, struggled under the weight of their equipment.

Add to this, the wind, the chill and humidity, gummed up equipment, muddy clothes and shoes, deep water crossings, livestock, barren terrain and often, miles and miles of riding alone, and you have yourself a true race and test of grit. 

I ultimately finished as the 3rd female overall in the 100 Half pint event, at just around 8 hours.  Given the 50% DNF rate, I was thrilled just to finish!

If you are looking for an event that takes you off the beaten path -away from cars and traffic and hustle-bustle, this is is! 

-Megan

5280 Locals' choice Rides!

One need not travel far in Colorado to find amazing and epic riding! 

Check out this month's edition of 5280 Magazine and read Megan's quote in the LOCALS' CHOICE section! 

We asked a few of Colorado’s boldest adventurers to tell us about their favorite close-to-home outdoor exploits.

Megan Hottman

Category 1 road racer

“I love taking visitors for rides up Golden Gate Canyon to CO 119 and then down Coal Creek Canyon—it’s a nice 60-mile-ish loop with plenty of climbing and amazing scenery. Of course, the other must-do is a ride up Lookout Mountain.”