On Saturday, August 29, I joined more than 1,800 other women and a few men dressed in drag to ride Venus de Miles through Longmont and Niwot. We were launched to pumping music, treated to a scenic route and surrounded by camaraderie. The three-year-old event, which was Colorado's first, women-only ride, tripled its inaugural turnout. It wasn't hard to see why.

The Venus de Miles ride raises money for Boulder-based Greenhouse Scholars. As it was explained to us before we hit the roads, only about 11 percent of disadvantaged college entrants graduate. Our society places a great deal of emphasis on graduating students from high school and getting them into college, but then most of them are left to their own devices. Greenhouse Scholars nurtures Colorado residents throughout their higher education years, helping them get scholarships, internships and jobs with the hope they will become community leaders rather than college dropouts.

Coming from Texas, I have participated in many organized rides, large and small. Needless to say, those events didn't feature organic foods, coconut water, compost bins and banjo-playing bands at rest stops. Don't get me wrong - I love a good peanut butter sandwich when riding, but the granola with yogurt and chocolate soy milk were unique twists. The post-ride German sausage I have come to love was replaced by grilled chicken, mixed-greens salad and honey-wheat roll, leaving me feeling like I didn't destroy my workout with lunch.

I was also impressed by the turnout due to the steep entrance fee of $79-$115, depending on what date a person registered to ride. Even though the money went toward a great cause (the ride expected to raise $100,000 for Greenhouse Scholars), these are tough economic times. Trying to budget several hundred dollars per season for rides and races can quickly become a challenge. Despite the high entrance fee, there was no shortage of young and old, experienced and beginner, wings and feather boas and colorful striped socks.

The schedule has been released for the Colorado Cross Cup series. There will be 14 races in the series and 3 of them will be in January of next year. Some of the races I am not familiar with but they may be an old venue with a different name (i.e. Aspen Lodge Cyclocross, Rosalie Race to Educate). Will all these races have all the categories that the ACA normally runs (i.e. 35+/4s, SingleSpeed etc.)?

Here is the current list from the ACA calendar:

• Oct 10th Cross the River
• Oct 17th Aspen Lodge Cross
• Oct 23rd Blue Sky Cup
• Oct 24th Boulder CX Series #3
• Oct 30th NACT - Colorado Cross
• Oct 31st Victory Circle Graphics Boulder Cup
• Nov 13th USGP
• Nov 14th USGP
• Nov 20th Rosalie Race to Educate
• Nov 21st Cyclo X
• Dec 4th and 5th 2010 Colorado CX Championships
• Jan 8th 2011 Pikes Peak SuperCross
• Jan 22nd 2011 Cyclo X
• Jan 29th 2011 Boulder CX Series

Photo credit: dennis Coughlin

Boulder native rider, Nico Toutenhoofd wins this nation's famous, 38th annual Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb in the White Mountains of New Hampshire today! Nico is no stranger to hill climbs in Colorado having taken his fair share of podium finishes in many climbs through the years. Here is a great write up in WMUR New Hampshire. For those who are unfamiliar with this race, it's course can make Lookout Mountain in Golden seem flat and Flagstaff in Boulder an appetizer, with it's on average 12% grade nearing 22% at the finish.

Velonews did a great write up as well

In this 7.6-mile all-uphill grind to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast, Toutenhoofd rode the first two miles hidden behind more than two dozen other cyclists, then moved steadily to the front, dropping a struggling group of younger riders who were less familiar with the ultra-steep course. After occasional glances back to make sure his lead was secure, he pumped his fist as he broke the tape at the 6288-foot summit in 57 minutes 26 seconds.

His closest rival was another veteran, former U.S. National Mountain Bike Champion Tinker Juarez, of Whittier, Calif. Juarez, 49, who was encountering the Auto Road for the first time, showed that he still has the strength that took him to the Olympics in 1996. Trying to keep Toutenhoofd in sight, he pedaled side by side with Timothy Ahearn, 35, of Woodstock, Conn., then pulled away after the five-mile point to take second in 58:08 – a new record for men aged 45-49 in this race -- with Ahearn a delighted third in 58:22.

“I really wanted to win,” said Toutenhoofd, who placed second here on his first attempt, in 2008 and then was fourth last year. “Of course how well you place depends on who else shows up, but this year I was better rested. Also, this time I rode with a power-meter.” The new Mt. Washington champion explained that the meter on his bike makes it easier for him to keep his physical effort steady. “My goal was to get from the bottom to the top as fast as possible and ignore everyone else.”

Recently 303Cycling caught up with Jon Tarkington, Exective Director of the ACA, and asked him a few questions about the upcoming cyclocross season and the changes to Best Cyclocross Racer (BCR) and Best Cyclocross Team (BCT). Colorado Cross Cup Rules

[303Cycling] Why the changes to BCR / BCT and the name change to Colorado Cross Cup?
[Jon Tarkington] The ACA board has been looking for ways to encourage quality race promotion for some time. The season-long point competitions are a great way to achieve this by having promoters apply for a designation and get approval from the ACA. However, it's difficult to get the point across that the designation is worth it when it's the same look and feel of previous years' programs. So this year they decided it was time to rebrand the cyclocross points competition as the Colorado Cross Cup, focus on quality event promotion and attempt to move the season into January. Also, while acronyms are great, they are confusing to those outside of the sport and somewhat difficult to market to potential sponsors.

[303Cycling] I saw that with the new Colorado Cross Cup that no races in September will be part of the series. How will call ups be handled for the races in September?
[Jon Tarkington] Promoters can use whatever method they wish for call-ups during the pre-season. I'm sure many will use the previous year's BCR standings, some may use order of registration or perhaps the previous day's or weekend's race results. I'm guessing some may just go old-school and put a line on the course and let everyone line up behind it at will.

Results

List of All Entrants

Photos and Videos

• 303Photo (Over 1100+ pictures sorted by bib Number)
• Peter Wayne
• SingleTrack.com
• Rob O'Dea

303Cycling busted out the down coats and winter hats to head up to Leadville for the chilly start of the 2010 Race Across the Sky. With 1,568 signed up for the challenge, the charge up 6th Avenue was a sight to see. The film crew helicopters overhead and Levi Leiphemier and Jermey Horgan-Kobelski (JHK) leading the racers out, it made it all the more exciting.

While weather was not going to be a factor this year, the talk in the crowd was all about the altitude. Crews for racers from the Springs to Connecticut were concerned about how long before the mountain conditions would affect their riders. At least one member of the 303Cycling crew felt the 5,000 ft difference on the way to coffee and our next stop "The Powerline"!

This section of the race is equally famous for it's decent an hour into the race as it is for it's ascent hours later and the final significant climb. It was not only amazing to see the likes of JHK, who lead the decent, Todd Wells, Leipheimer, Dave Weins, and Jeremiah Bishop, but to see the crowd that lined the course. There were cheers and cowbells for these racers for at least the last mile and a half of this section. It was a great place for photos with nearly every racer excited and/or relieved about making it down!

Unfortunately one racer went down before The Powerline and as noted in the past, some parts of this course can be remote. We heard later in the crowd that four racers sacrificed their possibility of finishing in the 12 hour cut off to wait for the helicopter that finally lifted out the injured racer.

The next spot we caught the race was at Pipeline. This section follows the steepest climb of the course and is completely on the road. We didn't want to miss seeing a Tour de France podium finisher, even on an MTB, in his element. Leipheimer and JHK were working together to increase their lead over Wells and were on target to beat Lance Armstrong's 2009 course record.

From Velonews.com

Lance Armstrong withdraws from 2010 Leadville

By Ben Delaney • Updated: Aug 10th 2010 12:22 AM EDT

Defending champion Lance Armstrong will not start the Leadville Traill 100 this year. Armstrong decided Monday to pull out of the high-altitude mountain bike race. His manager Mark Higgins told VeloNews that Armstrong was still feeling the effects of the Tour de France, during which he crashed a few times.

“He is still suffering from a nagging injury to his hip from the Tour de France,” Higgins said. “His girls will also be in Aspen with him this weekend so he will be staying at home.”

Armstrong won last year’s event in a record time of 6:28:50. Six-time race winner Dave Wiens finished second. A stacked field is still expected for the Leadville 100 this year.

As for Armstrong, Higgins says the Texan has no other races on the calendar as of now for 2010, but he will participate in two Livestrong events – a Philadelphia ride on August 22 and the Austin Challenge in October. And on September 26, Armstrong will do the fundraiser ride for Aspen’s Wapiyapi, a non-profit that offers free, weeklong camps to children with cancer and their families.

*** 8-15-2010 Update ***

County road chip seal projects begin Monday

Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Transportation Department will apply chip seal to three county roads beginning this Monday, Aug. 16.

2010 chip seal schedule:
• Nelson Road from U.S. 36 to 75th Street, Aug. 16-20
• Olde Stage Road from Lee Hill Drive to Lefthand Canyon, Aug. 23-24
• Cherryvale Road from Baseline Road to State Highway 170, Aug. 25-26

The chip seal projects will cause minor traffic delays. Schedules are subject to change due to weather and other factors. Visit www.BoulderCounty.org/Transportation for updates.

All three roads are part of popular cycling routes. “We are aware that chipping the roads makes for a less-than-pleasant cycling experience and have made some changes to our chipping product and process this year in an attempt to improve the rideability,” Transportation Director George Gerstle said. “However, there will still be impacts and cyclists should expect poor riding conditions on these roads for the next four weeks.”

PRESS RELEASE: Announcing the Colorado High School Mountain Bike Racing Series

Registration opens for Inaugural Race Series
Contact: Kate Rau - kate@coloradomtb.org - 720.272.9282

BOULDER, Colo.—In the first step outside California for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), an estimated one hundred high school mountain bikers from schools across Colorado are eagerly awaiting the inaugural opening event of the four-round 2010 Colorado High School Mountain Bike Racing Series, September 19.

The series, organized by the Colorado High School Cycling League and spanning six weeks, opens at Chalk Creek Ranch, Nathrop, near Buena Vista, Colorado, with a classic Colorado desert mesa course that includes many technical challenges and fast climbs.

Rider registration is now open and online at www.coloradomtb.org, and with schools from Boulder County, Carbondale, Chaffee County, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte, Parker, Durango, and Fort Collins expressing strong interest in the fledgling series, spirits are running high.

From Twitter

Probably related to the Colorado Stage Race?

Update, title sponsor exposed, Quiznos Pro Challenge cycling

Details on DailyCamera and another from DailyCamera
Details on Velonews

Video Credit: Adam Meek (Pearson eCollege Cycling Team)

Lance and Ritter make big announcement Wednesday at capitol Lance's tweet on event

There has been alot of speculation about a Colorado stage race. Lance Armstrong has met with Gov. Ritter. Well it looks like things are coming together.

Howdy, Coloradoans:

My name is Katherine, a.k.a. Mellow Velo, and I come in peace from San Antonio, Texas. Ten days ago, I settled in Golden with the Mr. and our five bicycles to realize a dream of living in a place that values outdoor play. You will be hearing from me - somewhat regularly - about the wide-eyed and wonderful experience of being a newcomer to this holy land of cycling. I plan to write about Golden cycling, adjusting to life above sea level, testing out local riding routes and trails, first-time bike commuting and probably a bit about how completely out of shape I am.

Speaking of being out of shape, I start at IMBA on Aug. 9 as the new Field Programs Coordinator overseeing the Trail Care Crews and National Mountain Bike Patrol (if you have experiences with either, I’d love to hear about them). I’ve never had a job that required physical training, but the office is staffed with seriously excellent MTB riders, and I fully expect to get my ass handed to me on the lunch rides.

I also write a column called “The Cat 5 Files” for She Pedals Magazine about my first years racing. I started with cyclocross last fall and fell in love. I raced a few criteriums this spring and did not exactly fall in love, so I’m sticking with long-distance road riding, cyclocross and mountain biking for now. I ride and represent for Team TOMS, a widespread national group that supports the shoe company’s philanthropic work. (IMBA probably won’t let me wear its jersey until I improve my MTB skills.)

I seek to entertain, inform and reap feedback. Please share thoughts, tips and your own personal experiences. And if you see me on the road in my Texas jersey or pedaling Chester, my bright-orange cyclocross/commuter bike with the curly mustache head-tube badge, please say hello!

A Texan on a mountain bike – first Colorado ride

Lots of interest in the Estes Park Challenge and speculation around the race. Most readers did not think this event would happen and they were correct. We just got this from this from the ACA:

For immediate release
July 18, 2010

LYONS, Colorado — After nearly two years of planning by organizers — and countless hours of training by participants — Centurion Colorado presented by Cervélo propelled nearly 900 riders away from the startline in Lyons, and onto the scenic and sometimes grueling roads of Boulder County, Colorado on Sunday.

The inaugural event of Centurion Cycling’s three-race gran fondo-style series, Centurion Colorado included routes of 100, 50 and 25 miles, allowing racers, serious riders, casual enthusiasts and beginners to all take on this computer-chip timed new challenge.

Top results of the day in Colorado came from Boulder residents Jonathan Baker and Julie Emmerman, who won the men’s and women’s overall titles in the 100-mile affair that included two grueling climbs from the base of the Colorado’s Front Range foothills up to the aptly named Peak-to-Peak Highway. That meant nearly 9100 feet of climbing, a brutal test made tougher by temperatures that climbed into the mid-90s.

Baker stopped the clock in 4 hours, 28 minutes and 36 seconds. Emmerman was 55th overall, but first female, stopping the clock in 5:17:18. For their troubles each won a Centurion Cycling Pactimo winner’s jersey, a framed Centurion poster, and a pair of Mavic Wheels. It was well earned booty.

“Riding 100 miles in the heat on those climbs is tough,” said the 36-year-old Baker who works as a futures trader when he’s not on his bike. “But these are roads I’ve ridden countless times. It’s my backyard, so I know them like the back of my hand and I knew what to expect.”

Actually, Baker was caught slightly off guard early on when pro triathlete and Lyons resident Chris Legh took off alone, and at one point had a full six-minute lead. But Legh couldn’t make the move stick, and was reeled in during the second half of the race.

From Boulder Centurion Cycling

“I went away with a few other guys, but then all a sudden I was alone,” explained Legh. “I ended up doing about three hours by myself before I got caught. Then I exploded a little. I knew it was going to happen, but I still had an awesome time. It was a great event.”

Coach Brandon Dwight - Boulder Cycle Sport

It's Mid July - Do you know where your Cyclocross bike is?

Everyone who has ridden cyclocross knows that training should start in August. Here at 303Cycling we decided to get some tips from a professional coach, Frank Overton, for motivation and the best possible kick off for the training and racing season. Check out what we learned below as well as some details for FasCat Coaching's cyclocross camp in mid-august.

[303Cycling] What should a cyclocross racer be thinking to start the season?

[Frank - FasCat Coaching] Top 5 things you should do for your pre-season Cyclocross training:

1. Make sure you take a break from racing towards the end of road season, like a week or so. It's the 1 step backwards but 2 steps forward analogy. If you take it now you'll be fine in October and November during the meat of the cyclocross season. I see all too often athletes coming into the cyclocross season straight from a road or mountain bike season and while they may be fine for September and October - they are more likely to burn out in November. Breaks are important mentally and physically so you can have the "fire and desire" that cyclocross requires.

2. Ride as much as you can during July and August to build the biggest "base" possible. Not racing doesn't mean not riding. The bigger your aerobic engine is, the more powerful your anaerobic engine can be.

3. Before you incorporate any running into your training, go for 3 or 4 substantial hikes. My preference as a cyclocross coach is to have athletes hike during August and then towards the latter half of the month, perform dismount & remount drills with running. I continue this and more in September. Running is really a very small component of cyclocross. It's more about skills & technique combined with running. I like to have athletes work specifically on technique while running to get a better result.

Given enough time, I also like to work in some plyometrics training to go above and beyond hiking and running.

Erie Colorado just approved the constuction of a 250 meter velodrome at intersection of Bonnell Avenue and County Line Road. This outdoor facility will be open year round, built by Olympic standards and could be open as early as the spring of 2011! The group leading this effort is boneshaker LLC and partner Doug Emerson. If I have my names correct, Doug Emerson is also the owner of University Bikes and has been a long time supporter of track riding.

Artist drawing of the project