News Alert – Updated “My Ride” Page
Check out the specs on my awesome 2012 bike – weighing in at just 36 lbs.
Photo courtesy of Joe Ayala
Photo courtesy of Joe Ayala
Photo courtesy of Joe Ayala
SEA OTTER 2012!!!
Race Run Photo Courtesy of Pat Branch/pbmedia.us
Sea Otter 2012 was an awesome event, hands down.
It was great to be able to visit with my sponsors in person; X-Fusion, WTB and Gamut were all impressed with the bikes they helped me build. It’s taken a few years for me to be really certain about what components I feel are the best for me, and this year’s bike is truly epic. My Sea Otter build weighed in at 33.7 lbs – that will change to ca. 35-36 lbs for more gnarly dh races. Now that it’s completely fitted out, you can check out all the details on the “My Ride” page. I’m stoked, my sponsors are stoked – life is good! (more…)
Mission Accomplished! 1st Place – Keyesville Classic
Yours Truly on Top of the Podium
Last weekend, I headed down to Lake Isabella, east of Bakersfield, with the purpose of defending my title from last year at the Keyesville Classic. By the end of the weekend, it was Mission Accomplished and my title was intact until next year. The course was Snake Pit – the same course I raced in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, I won the Jr. Ex class, and in 2009, I did both the Trials and the DH, just before I headed down for Pan Am Championships in Chile. (more…)
A Visit from Canfield Brothers, Lance that is….
As if the holidays weren’t enough fun already, Christmas night brought a nice surprise, and it didn’t come in Santa’s sleigh – it came in Canfield Brothers’ Sprinter van! What is there to do when Lance Canfield and Michelle Good show up? RIDE OF COURSE!!! XC, DH, Moto. If it has wheels, we will ride it!
Connor Kuhns, me and Lance Canfield before setting out on 30 miles of the tightest, twistiest trails you'll ever find
We must have eaten too much Christmas dinner, because we still had too much energy. Next up – an 18 mile Super D trail near my house. Well, maybe we didn’t have that much energy, because we weren’t too quick and almost lost enough light to ride home…. (more…)
The French Connection
Where: The Epic Trails of Nevada County
When: A Beautiful Fall Day in October
Who: Me, Julien Geffriaud, Charles Guillemet, and Gregory Ollivier
It was my pleasure to act as local guide for this fine group of French shredders, who made their way up to the Sierra for the weekend from the Bay Area and Seattle. They made it clear – take no prisoners, and they meant business. (more…)
First Ride
Never thought I would be so happy to ride a beach cruiser on a flat paved trail!!!
Got cleared for take off yesterday at Dr. McGillicuddy’s office, but only flat, safe stuff. We had an appointment today with the President of the USA, but we cancelled it so I wouldn’t waste a minute before getting back on the saddle.
It felt tremendously good to be back on two wheels. The dead person in my knee is happy, and looking forward to what else I have planned for him.
As for the bike, I won it in 2005 at Northstar, when their raffles used to be awesome. This is the first time it’s ever actually been ridden, but it was exactly the right thing for today.
Geometry feels pretty good, maybe a shorter stem and wider bars would be a good decision – better cornering. Maybe some clips and a WTB seat that does not resemble a tractor seat 
Let the Physio Begin!
Well, I never thought the day would arrive when I would get the go ahead to get off the crutches and put some weight on my left leg. On Monday, August 29, I had my first appointment with Kevin Ivey of Ivey Physical Therapy, in Grass Valley.
Here I am doing leg lifts to activate my quad muscle, which hasn’t suffered too much. That really amazes me because the only thing I’ve exercised in the last 3 weeks is my armpit muscles! Crutches are evil! In fact, Kevin was impressed with what progress I was able to make in my first visit. Hopefully, this trend will continue.
I’ve got PT 3 times a week for the next 8 weeks, and now I can even get on my wind trainer – no resistance, but what the heck, it’s a bicycle! I’ll let you guys know when the pain really starts. I’ve been warned that it should happen sometime next week.
In the meantime, I’ve also been working on the muscle in between my ears. Right now, I’m in the middle of “Talent is Overrated”, by Geoff Colvin. Funny thing is that it reinforces a lot of what I have always done, deliberate training, but quantifies it in historical and scientific proof. Bottom line – there is no such thing as innate talent, just serious, hard work. It’s great to have fun, but if you’re passionate and committed about what you do, the training has a purpose and seems worthwhile.
Keep the rubber side down!
The Big Wait
Road map for ACL reconstruction
I emerged from surgery in an anesthetic haze, but back in one piece, with some kind dead person’s Achilles tendon screwed into place. Dr. McGillicuddy is an engineering wizard, and the map on my leg shows what a Master’s degree in Engineering can do for an M.D.
I’ve got 3 weeks of crutches with strict instructions for no weight bearing on my left foot. Then, physio begins and my proactive recovery can really start to take shape.
In the meantime, I was lucky to get introduced to Glen Albaugh, one of the world’s top Pro golf coaches/sports psychologist, and I’m using my recovery time to work on my mental game. Interesting, but Glen recommends some of the same books Gene Hamilton (BetterRide) has also suggested. Here’s the list: (more…)