My Area 106

Iceman Royalty

Heather (3rd wns), JHK (men's winner) and Sam Schultz (2nd).

Bob

Iceman 2009: it's On!

Riders coming through near halfway point.

Bob

Autograph Time

Sam, JHK, Heather at the Fisher table.

Iceman 2009

Time to pick up race packets; race tomarrow.

Bob

Heard about Raystown Lake?

I thought with this post I would share a recent email I received from Trek Ohio Valley Team rider "Mark Shellhamer" recently about his day trip to Raystown Lake in Pennsylvania.   These new trails have certainly been the buzz around the Pittsburgh area, and have heard members of CAMBA (Cleveland Area Mountain Biking Association) have been enjoying making the trek as well to Central PA.   If you get a chance, check out the site at: http://www.raystown.org/outdoor-fun/allegrippis-trails.html   Here's what Mark had to say about his 1 day trip to Raystown: "After reading letter after letter and articles about Raystown Lake in Dirtrag Mountain Bike MagazineI had to take a trip over and check it out. I left at 4:30am and got there by 8:30am. As you may have heard the place is super flowy, smooth, and really fast! I've never rode anything like it in PA. I would sum it as a cross between Mohican State Park and North Park (Pittsburgh). I have Bontrager Revolts on my Fuel EX for racing and had plenty of traction. There's no need for knobbies here! I had a blast ripping around on my EX and feel it's the biggest bike needed for Raystown. 5" of travel was more than enough for soaking up the jumps off the whoops. I have no pride and often climb in granny gear.......I only used it once all day! I rode 99% of the trails with minimal overlap/backtracking.    A couple of hours in I got used to riding at higher speeds. On the Hydro trail I found myself "dancing" with my bike on the trail. Side to side leaning/sinking  into the curves. I've never experienced that before! I bet a ridged single speed 29er would be a blast there as well. The place is that smooth. No skinnies, No log piles, and only 1 real rock garden. If you think your bored pick up the pace and that feeling will go away real fast.  If they ever hold an XC race there you better watch out for Roadies with mountain bikes. They will give us mountain bikers a real lung thrashing at this place! Would I go back? ........When are we leaving!"   Thanks for the report Mark.   Bob

Ride on a Train, a Night Bike Ride and topped off with a "Pint"

 

 

Wanna do something different this fall while getting a chance to ride your bike? Make plans for Akron, Ohio and to catch a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Remember to bring your bike.

I got a call last week from Pete DiGiacomo (Ernie's Bicycle and riding bud) that he and some of the other shop guys where heading up to Akron for a late afternoon 16 mile train ride trip followed by a night ride back to Akron. Oh, I said. Count me in.

I met up with the guys (Chris, Jason, Joe, Aaron & Pete) late Sunday afternoon at the store then made the trip up to Akron to board the train. Now, the train usually costs a rider $15, but if you are traveling with your bike you ride for only $2.00. Wow, what a bargain!!

Heck, we even got the chance to enjoy a fine adult beverage while enjoying our 16 mile train ride north through the Cuyahoga River Valley which follows much of the path of the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath.

Once we exited the train we were handed our bikes (which rode in the bike travel box car), then decided to grab some dinner at the local Winking Lizard (Peninsula, Ohio) before beginning our night 16 mile Trek. Upon entering the pub, Pete was wearing his helmet which had his night light mounted to it. One patron walked up to Pete all excited and asked if Pete was video taping his dining experience (we gotta good laugh at that one)? He was quite sincere and wanted to be part of the "video" (fact is, I think he had enjoyed one to many "pints" of his favorite adult beverage while watching his Pittsburgh Steelers lose to those Bengals). Nonetheless, we enjoyed some wings and drinks while the sun continued to go down.

Chris Eatough to Retire

This is a copy of a news release from Trek today...

 

Press Release - Chris Eatough to Retire

09/21/2009

Endurance Mountain Bike Racing Legend Chris Eatough to Retire
“24 Hours of Moab” Last Professional Race 

Six-time 24-hour Solo World Champion and long-time Trek mountain biker Chris Eatough has announced that he will retire from professional cycling following the upcoming “24 Hours of Moab” (October 10-11). A professional mountain bike racer since 1998, Chris Eatough dominated 24-hour mountain bike racing for over half a decade, revolutionizing the sport by combining cross country race speed with meticulously choreographed pit stop strategies—a combination that resulted in nearly 24 hours of non-stop racing. Noted for his monastic dedication to seven-days-a-week, year-round training, all of Chris Eatough’s professional races and wins were aboard Trek bikes. 
 

“For the past 10 years, I have lived my dream as a professional mountain bike racer,” said Chris Eatough. “Now, it’s time for me to move on. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family while still staying involved with the sport I love through product teting for Trek and my coaching business. Championships are great, but even more special to me are the friendships I have gained through my time in the racing community.” 

The subject of the full-length motion picture 24 Solo, which told the gripping story of his bid for a seventh consecutive 24-hour Solo World Championship, Chris Eatough’s endurance racing accomplishments are unrivaled: five-time 24-hour Solo National Champion; 2007 “24 Hours of Moab” Champion; 2007 National Ultra Endurance Champion; 2007 “BC Bike Race” Champion; and ten victories in 100-mile mountain bike races. 

“Trek is extremely proud of Chris’s achievements over the years,” noted Michael Browne, Trek’s Mountain Bike Brand Manager. “He embraced a burgeoning discipline-quite possibly the most physically demanding the world has ever seen-and turned it into his specialty. While forging this discipline into its current high-profile form, he set the standard for performance and professionalism, won more titles than any other 24-hour racer, and even became the star in a feature-length film. His attention to detail, his discipline, and his pure will power demanded the world take notice.”
 
Chris Eatough is sponsored by Trek, Bontrager, JBL, Fox, Shimano, Oakley, and Infinit Nutrition as an Elite rider of the Trek Racing Cooperative.

 

You'll be missed Chris... Thanks for the ride.

Bob

Stimulus Dollars at Work?

Wow, fresh new limestone on the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath.

Real smooth...

Bob

Need a Little Assist?

While at Trek World 2009 (last summer) our Trek Pavement Product Manager "Chad Price" showed me a new product that was going to be featured in Europe, and also would be "beta" tested within the US with a few domestic retailers. Chad didn't explain much about the bike at first, he just wanted me to pedal the bike as he had it set up and wanted to get my impressions. WOW...

At that time, I knew this bike would grow wings.

Now, fast forward a year and this summer at Trek World the new series of electric assist Trek's (series named "Ride +) were shown to our Trek retailers and are now available to all. Trek is offering up "3" different models of electric assist bicycles, the 7200, 7.5FX, and the Valencia.

Why electric? First off, these bikes are still meant to be pedaled. These aren't scooters or mopeds (no throttle) but a full blown bicycle model with the an added assist boost when needed. The Trek web site lists the different possibilities, but I see great potential for the rider who wishes to use a bike more than their usual car, or someone that wants to ride with their partner/friends but might not have the endurance nor strength to maintain a faster speed to keep up. These bikes are just a plain "hoot" to ride.

Technologies include the Trek Syn Drive and Silent Drive Motor, which is a brushless silent motor that manages the assist level based on the pedaling force applied by the rider. A consule is mounted on your handlebar that allows the rider to "power on" the unit and then allows the rider to channel through the different operating assistance ranges, as well as keeping track of battery life, MPH, and miles ridden.

The assistance levels range from 0-4. In "0", the bike is functioning as a regular bike without any assistance at all (just the consule is operating as a cycling computer). Setting "1" equals about 25% assistance, 2 - 50%, 3 - 100% and level 4 represents 200% assistance (did I say make that mountain a molehill?). The technology also features "regenerative braking" which allows you to actual charge your battery while riding downhill, getting as much as 10% increased battery life.

Evening Ride, Towpath Style...

Thought I would share a few pics of this evenings towpath/urban bike ride. Ended up getting a flat (1st of the season believe it or not).

Bob