Partner Wanted for TransAlp Mtn Bike Race

Hi everyone,
I am looking for a partner for the transalp mountain bike race in Europe this summer. I was lucky enough to get a spot, and I have a very strong partner (Trygve Hutto who was born and raised in the valley and recently returned after medical school and residency), but unfortunately I have injured my knee and I cannnot make the race. It is an 8 day race, averaging 8,000 feet of vertical per day, 40 to 60 miles per day. It basically goes from town to town through the German and Italian Alps. There will be another team from Vail also going and together we were going to hire a driver to cart our stuff around and help out. It will truly be a once in a lifetime trip. Check out the website at http://www.bike-transalp.de/englisch/ The race is coming up soon, July 18, so I know this is last minute, but if anyone has the interest and means, please contact me at caseys@pol.net Thanks and have a great summer.

Casey Strahan

Ronan Murray's Dutch Hill Climbing!

Riding into a headwind a.k.a dutch hill climbing per Ronan!

I'm sure you all experienced the 30 MPH headwind today out on the roads. Tyler and I suffered on our lunch ride heading into the wind on the way to Eagle. We just about made it to the red bridge (formerly green bridge) and we pulled the plug when we were going only 4 MPH.

The picture below is what was left of Tyler after this ride!













Tips on riding into a headwind:

* Get into an aerodynamic position. If you are on a road bike, put your hands on the drops or on top of the bar near the stem. On a mountain bike, bring your arms in. Scoot back on the saddle and lower your head.
* Push a bigger gear (Ronan Murray Style). Spinning isn't very effective in a head wind. Drop your cadence a bit and focus on smooth power.
* Ride with another cyclist (more the merrier) and take turns pulling at the front. When you're behind another rider, you'll do about 20 percent less work.
* Smile. A head wind now means a tailwind on the way back.

What is a Lunch Ride?

Spring is here and the Tuesday and Thursday lunch ride from Edwards is up and rolling (weather permitting)! We are leaving from the front of the Inn at Riverwalk at 12 noon. Stuff your lunch in your pockets (if you have any) and join us for a 90 minute asphalt ride. Later in the season when more mountain bike trails open we will convert over to knobby tires and dirt!

PS - Clothes are optional

Red Bull Down Town Taxco ("tahs-coh") - Juan Carlos

Old video footage:

My friend from Trek Corporate, 2004 Mexican Natational Champion, competing in the streets, alleyways and some homes of Taxco. He is now semi-retired and in charge of testing new product that Trek and Gary Fischer are working on for 2010 and beyond.

Rabbit Valley Rally - April 19th, 2009

Well, the snow stopped flying long enough for some of us to go test our early season form or lack of it, at the first Mountain States Cup race in Rabbit Valley, Colorado just outside of Fruita.

I'm happy to say that we had a good presents at the race and also had some great results from the crew!

Andy Poole - 4th place - Cat 2, 40-49

Ronan Murray - 3rd place - Cat 1, 40-49

Chris Cook - 3rd place - Cat 1, 50+

Adam Plummer - 2nd place - Cat 1, 30-39

Julie Morrow - 3rd place - Cat 1, 30-39

Quintin Cook - 9th place - 14 & under

Paul Gorbold - 25th place - Pro

Macky Morris - 16th place - Cat 2, 30-39

Jeff Place - 18th place - Cat 2, 30-39

Tyler Eaton - DNF - Cat 1, 19-29

I love this recession

Just finished a nice mountain bike and then went for a great paddle. What in the world would I want Obama to fix?

My Spring Break Training Ride in LA County.

San Gabriel River Trail (SGRT) is a bike path in Los Angeles County, California that I had the pleasure of riding on many times during my vacation in Cali. Katie first took me on this trail the first day we arrived from Denver for an afternoon spin to the Ocean. Her dad recommended we ride this trail, but did warn us to watch out for shopping carts left in the tunnels by the homeless. He had heard of several accidents involving bikes and shopping carts!

In the picture, from left to right, you have the trail and river (cement), one of many railroad bridges with local art, one of a few homeless shelters, horseback riding trail that was adjacent to the bike path, my altitude on the trail at Seal Beach, and high security around buildngs located along the trail.

The South end of the SGRT is Seal Beach. From Seal Beach there are opportunities to ride North or South along the PCH - Pacific Coast Highway - much safer area for a cyclist alone.

The northern segment begins near Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, where riders can continue North into El Monte (via the Rio Hondo), North into Azusa (via the San Gabriel River Trail), or South to Long Beach (via the Rio Hondo bicycle path).

The trail is 38 miles long and the section that I started at, off Florence Avenue, was 17 miles to Seal Beach so 34 miles round trip. Normally I did some Dutch Hill Climbing on the way out to the beach into the nice headwind. With a tailwind return that made the end of the ride smooth sailing.

Happy Easter to All!

Easter Peep Microwave Disaster
Uploaded by gagfilms

Hope you all have a great weekend and Easter Sunday. Do not try this at home in your kitchen microwave!

Riding in Solvang, CA - Fig Mountain

Figueroa Mountain rises to nearly 5,500' feet above the north-eastern corner of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Stephen White turned us onto this ride that had been used by Lance Armstrong and his Discovery Team as a winter pre-season training ride. Starting from Solvang the team would climb over the mountain and then complete a 100 mile loop.

Katie and I planned to do just part of the ride ... the 5,500' mountain.

We started from Solvang after laying around all morning waiting for the marine layer to burn off so we could ride in the sun.

We went to the only bike shop in town - dr j's - www.drjbikeshop.com - and got some great directions, lube and air.

The loop started on Highway 246 heading south out of Solvang, then on Armour Ranch Road, Baseline, then onto Happy Canyon Road where this picture was taken of Katie riding through the valley of cattle and horse farms. Happy Canyon turned into Fiqueroa Mountain Road as it kicked up. The ride was tough since both of us have not done any real climbing this year on the road. The total ride was around 50 miles and took us 3.5 hours. The total vertical was around 5,000 feet for the complete ride. Most of the climb near the top I was out of the saddle standing which I normally HATE to do! Another strange stat was that I had to ride around two rattle snakes in the road on the way up.