Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
… I’ll be sure to pack some GU for the run and mtb leg, as well as some of GU’s new Chomps, which are like gummy bears, but with lots of calories as we’ll need. …
Gear Junkie – Athlete Interview: Mike Kloser
GU Chomps utilize GU Energy Gel’s proven blend of carbohydrates, amino acids, antioxidants and electrolytes
in a chewable form. …
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.
source – Mind Over Mountain
My FARTS Adventure Racing teammate is an advocate of bikes with only one gear ratio.
That’s NUTS.
Or is it?
From an Adventure Racer, Mike:
A single speed will not only make you a stronger rider, it will improve your peddle stroke, improve your bike handling skills and teach you how to use momentum. Over all, your riding will improve in many ways. However, the most important thing is that it’s just plain fun.
Riding a single speed is more a frame of mind then a piece of equipment. I ride a Gary Fisher Rig with 29 inch wheels. I never use an odometer or heart rate monitor when I ride it. I call it pure riding – the effort is measured by feel not electronics. The direct power, from peddle to the rear tire is the difference.
Single speeds, especially with disk brakes are the only way to go in the winter. Geared bikes just get destroyed in the mud and wet. The single speed doesn’t have any of those problems and clean up is simple – just hose it down. Repairs also are simple.
When you first start on a single speed, it may take a while to determine the gear ratio that is best for you. This will depend on your fitness, skill level and the terrain. I started with a 32 X 18 but now normally ride a 33X16. When you first start, you may have trouble keeping up with your geared friends. Over time, you will find that they have trouble keeping up with you. The only place I feel at a disadvantage is on a downhill road section. Then I have to really work on drafting and high peddle cadence, another bonus. …
larger version – flickr – Baum Cycles
Love in a Tent comments on a New Zealand government plan to draw even more outdoor enthusiasts to that fantastic country.
… New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, held a “job summit” to try to find ways to save jobs during this global recession. He gathered together a bunch of business and labour leaders to see if a day of brainstorming could produce a miracle solution.
While many ideas were bounced around, one of the ones that seems to have really caught the PM’s attention is a proposal to build a cycleway the entire length of New Zealand. This would become a major tourist draw, and help to boost falling visitor numbers. It would also create jobs building the trail, which was estimated to cost around $50 million. (Sounds low to me.) …
Love in a Tent – Cycling to Save the NZ Economy?
Love in a Tent advises that New Zealand not neglect the Te Araroa tramping trail. That’s 3,000km of gorgeous Kiwi walking. Volunteers are hoping to officially open it in late 2010. (One reason I’m planning to tramp New Zealand in 2011.)
The Te Araroa Trust posted a response March 14th. An interesting point of view: The Pedal Corridor
Personally, I’m happy to do the best parts of both routes. Hiking. And biking.
It was just announced that World 24 hour Mountain Bike Champion Rebecca Rusch and Furnace 508 Champion Michael Emde will compete at Adventure Sports Week 2009.
“We’re thrilled to have stars the caliber of Rebecca and Michael racing with us,” said organizer Dave Adlard.
Rebecca, nicknamed “the Queen of Pain,” will be competing in multiple events, including the Mad Dash 8 hour mountain bike ride, the “It’s Only a Fleshwound” orienteering event, and the Crux and the Crucible Adventure race.
Michael Emde, the defending champion of the Furnace 508 bike race will also be riding in the Mad Dash. The Furnace 508 is widely acclaimed as the world’s toughest single day event, as the racers ride 508 miles through Death Valley in the summer, with over 30,000 feet of elevation.
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.
official website – Adventure Sports Week
The latest update on my Adventure Racing Team’s BIG event for 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.
The motto of this year’s event is “10 Days, 24 Races, 1 Big Party!” and the organizers and the surrounding communities are working hard to make that a reality. …
larger original – flickr
Local hospitality is only one of the things racers should expect at ASW 2009:
“We’re actually pretty pleased with how the many races are shaping up,” said event director Dave Adlard. “The
courses have all been set, and we’ve had marvelous response from celebrity and pro athletes including Ian Adamson, Mike Kloser, Rebecca Rusch, Robyn Benincasa and even Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes. I think between the festive atmosphere, great awards and gear and the amazing scenery, this is going to be one of the highlight events on the national racing calendar.”Adventure Sports Week was also recognized in the recent National Geographic “Adventure” Magazine as one of the
top racing events in the US.Online registration is now open at www.adventuresportsweek.com for all races.
I love the British TV show Top Gear.
Always terrifically entertaining. In this clip one of their drivers races a Renault Clio against a downhill mountain bike racer in an ancient cobblestone street village.
Hilarious.
(via The Adventure Channel)
They are going to get caught.
From Lance:
There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off. Reward being offered.
New website for our big Adventure Race in Idaho – AdventureSportsWeek.com
From June 5—14, 2009, Farragut State Park, located just north of beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, will host 24 different races and contests for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes of all ages and abilities!
With activities ranging from 4 & 8 hour mountain bike races to an orienteering meet, the official XTERRA Northwest Cup race, a Duathlon, 6 trail runs ranging in distance from 6k to 50 miles, five different adventure races (including one especially for kids!), a distance swim, a paddling event and many more, we’ve got something to satisfy the whole family!
Over 1000 athletes are expected to participate, and we want you to be a part of one of the USA’s largest outdoor festivals!
BestHike.com will be there.
official website – AdventureSportsWeek.com
Another odd idea.
… According to Topeak, the Bikamper ‘is a personal shelter that utilizes a 26″ mountain or 700c road front wheel in place of tent poles.’ The tent and the fly fold down into tiny 10.2″ x 5.5″ pack, weighing in at 3.59 lbs. …
Uncooped – campergirl – The Bikamper: A good idea?
besthike.com 