ARTICLES/BLOGS/MEDIA
ARTICLES
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BLOGS
How To Make Coffee While Traveling
September 1, 2017 BY JERRY DUFOUR
Most likely if you ask a cyclist what his or her favorite beverage is, they will respond immediately with coffee. Why do coffee and riding bicycles get along so well? Maybe it's because it gives you a reason to stop for 20-40 minutes at a cafe with your mates and rest before the whole group drops you, or maybe because we are always so tired from riding, it could even be the comforting warmth it brings you when you have been out in freezing temperatures pedaling away all day.
ProXCT #1 Fontana Race Day
(Luke, Steffen, Carson)
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AeroPress Coffee Maker
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The endless travel, much like coffee, is something most every cyclist and more specifically racer enjoy. Staying in hotels and foreign places almost every day is part of riding and racing and is what makes cycling so unique and fun. When it comes to getting a consistently good cup of coffee while traveling, things can become a bit complicated and sometimes frustrating. Most hotels will have "coffee", or a coffee maker, but when you are looking to perform at a high level on race day, that can sometimes mean keeping the same routine that you are used to, and a good familiar cup of coffee may be exactly how you need to start your day and your routine.
How Coffee/Caffeine Can Affect Your Performance While Cycling:https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/the-benefits-of-caffeine-for-endurance-athletes/
Here is a list of products I use and how I try to keep my coffee routine down throughout my travels and racing to perform at my best when it matters most.
How Coffee/Caffeine Can Affect Your Performance While Cycling:https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/the-benefits-of-caffeine-for-endurance-athletes/
Here is a list of products I use and how I try to keep my coffee routine down throughout my travels and racing to perform at my best when it matters most.
AeroPress (Inverted Method)
Grinder
- Hunt Brother Coffee Grinder works great and fits perfectly into the Aeropress when packing up.
Domestique Coffee Beans
- "Green coffee from around the world precisely roasted utilizing our fluid-bed roaster to highlight flavor notes unique to each region."
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How to Boil Water in Hotel Room
- Most hotel rooms have a coffee maker in them. You can use it for boiling water purposes.....
- Most hotel rooms have a coffee maker in them. You can use it for boiling water purposes.....
When Camping
- Jet Boil
- GuEnergyLabs Coffee Cup
- GuEnergyLabs Coffee Cup
WHY USE A DROPPER POST AND WHEN TO USE IT?
August 29, 2017 BY JERRY DUFOUR
Intro
We have started to see dropper posts more and more over the past couple of years in Cross Country Mountain Biking, especially on the World Cup level. Big names of the sport run dropper posts almost every race now such as Julien Absalon, along with most of the BMC Team, Dan McConnell, and American National Champion Chris Blevins. Even though most professionals are using dropper posts during XCO races now, that doesn't mean they are a necessity to go faster over a 15-20 minute up and down XCO lap. For now they are more of a preference and decided based off a riders strengths and weaknesses, as well as the different types of courses.
When to use it
Many people use a dropper post only for certain races that they feel is necessary to perform better. This decision is based mostly off of the type of course after a pre ride or knowing it from previous years. Experience on what a course will feel like during a race pace effort when your body is at its limits on the climbs and descents will be what most pros will use to decide when or when not to use a dropper. There are some general guidelines to deciding if a dropper post is worth it for you and your riding style.
A dropper post helps with your center of gravity as well as not having a seat post at your backside when things get steep which is more likely to send you over the bars. Steep sections where your seat is at your chest without a dropper, drops or gaps, and anything where you are needing to lean behind your seat to stay "balanced" is where I would throw on the dropper post. Many of the proper skills and techniques used during these situations can only be applied properly when your seat is at a lower, more center and balanced position. This should also help when trying to recover on a technical descent after a challenging steep uphill and less likely to crash when your body is fatigued. In short, a dropper post helps most riders when the terrain is technical and steep, otherwise flatter and smooth terrain suites a lighter high post just fine.
We have started to see dropper posts more and more over the past couple of years in Cross Country Mountain Biking, especially on the World Cup level. Big names of the sport run dropper posts almost every race now such as Julien Absalon, along with most of the BMC Team, Dan McConnell, and American National Champion Chris Blevins. Even though most professionals are using dropper posts during XCO races now, that doesn't mean they are a necessity to go faster over a 15-20 minute up and down XCO lap. For now they are more of a preference and decided based off a riders strengths and weaknesses, as well as the different types of courses.
When to use it
Many people use a dropper post only for certain races that they feel is necessary to perform better. This decision is based mostly off of the type of course after a pre ride or knowing it from previous years. Experience on what a course will feel like during a race pace effort when your body is at its limits on the climbs and descents will be what most pros will use to decide when or when not to use a dropper. There are some general guidelines to deciding if a dropper post is worth it for you and your riding style.
A dropper post helps with your center of gravity as well as not having a seat post at your backside when things get steep which is more likely to send you over the bars. Steep sections where your seat is at your chest without a dropper, drops or gaps, and anything where you are needing to lean behind your seat to stay "balanced" is where I would throw on the dropper post. Many of the proper skills and techniques used during these situations can only be applied properly when your seat is at a lower, more center and balanced position. This should also help when trying to recover on a technical descent after a challenging steep uphill and less likely to crash when your body is fatigued. In short, a dropper post helps most riders when the terrain is technical and steep, otherwise flatter and smooth terrain suites a lighter high post just fine.
MSA World Cup 2017
Pros
- Lower Center of Gravity
The advantages for some people may not outweigh the cons, but for most they usually do. When riding technical terrain on a bike almost all the skills needed is based off of balance, therefore a lower center of gravity and a more balanced position is exactly what you will get when your post is lowered and more center.
- More Fun/Confident
Many riders like having a dropper post because they say it's more fun as they can do much more knowing there is less of a chance they will be sent over the bars from a high seat post. This is usually from riders that are at a high skill level when manuals, table tops, and other advanced techniques are already acquired.
- Better for Bike Packing….
This may seem a bit silly, but when you are traveling every week by plane to a different state or country this can become very convenient. When packing your bike for your next adventure instead of taking the seat post out of the frame, wrapping it with protective foam and finding a place for it to stay protected and not move around while not scratching your bike completely, you can simply drop the post and its all secure and safer.
Cons
- Weight
In XC Mountain Bike Racing weight is often times a huge factor in bike set up and performance. Considering the dropper post does add weight there are still a lot of riders who choose a standard seat post with a lighter weight. A dropper post, depending on the brand and model, can add anywhere from one to two pounds to your bike.
- More Things to Think About
When you are going at a maximal effort challenging both your mind and body, sometimes adding another piece to that equation can be what makes you not want a dropper post as you do have to think about when to use it and when not to use it. After a while of using the dropper it can become like second nature, but for some too much.
Conclusion
Having a dropper post is not a necessity in XCO MTB Racing, but based off of the courses you are racing, your strengths and weaknesses on the bike, and what you want to get out of your riding/racing, it can be a great investment.
- Lower Center of Gravity
The advantages for some people may not outweigh the cons, but for most they usually do. When riding technical terrain on a bike almost all the skills needed is based off of balance, therefore a lower center of gravity and a more balanced position is exactly what you will get when your post is lowered and more center.
- More Fun/Confident
Many riders like having a dropper post because they say it's more fun as they can do much more knowing there is less of a chance they will be sent over the bars from a high seat post. This is usually from riders that are at a high skill level when manuals, table tops, and other advanced techniques are already acquired.
- Better for Bike Packing….
This may seem a bit silly, but when you are traveling every week by plane to a different state or country this can become very convenient. When packing your bike for your next adventure instead of taking the seat post out of the frame, wrapping it with protective foam and finding a place for it to stay protected and not move around while not scratching your bike completely, you can simply drop the post and its all secure and safer.
Cons
- Weight
In XC Mountain Bike Racing weight is often times a huge factor in bike set up and performance. Considering the dropper post does add weight there are still a lot of riders who choose a standard seat post with a lighter weight. A dropper post, depending on the brand and model, can add anywhere from one to two pounds to your bike.
- More Things to Think About
When you are going at a maximal effort challenging both your mind and body, sometimes adding another piece to that equation can be what makes you not want a dropper post as you do have to think about when to use it and when not to use it. After a while of using the dropper it can become like second nature, but for some too much.
Conclusion
Having a dropper post is not a necessity in XCO MTB Racing, but based off of the courses you are racing, your strengths and weaknesses on the bike, and what you want to get out of your riding/racing, it can be a great investment.
44 ATHLETES NAMED TO TEAM USA FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLDS NEXT MONTH
Colorado Springs, Colo. (August 14, 2017) – USA Cycling announced today the 44 athletes that will represent the United States at the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, September 5-10 in Cairns, Australia.
“I have high hopes of earning medals in cross-country, downhill and 4X at Worlds this year,” said USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike Program Director, Marc Gullickson. “We have an exceptionally strong team with a number of obvious contenders and the depth of our young riders is outstanding.”
Reigning cross-country national champion Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) will headline Team USA in the elite men’s cross-country race. The 2016 Olympian will be joined by number-two in the 2017 Pro XCT rankings, Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale-3Rox Racing) and by national championship bronze medalist Payson McElveen (Durango, Colo./Team RideBiker). In the elite women’s cross-country, a pair of 2016 Olympians will kit up in the red, white and blue. Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Clif Pro Team), who earned silver at Worlds last year, and Chloe Woodruff (Prescott Ariz./ Stan’s-Pivot Pro Team) will be joined by Americans Erin Huck (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-3Rox Racing), Rose Grant (Columbia Falls, Mont./Stan’s-Pivot Pro Team) and Alexis Skarda(Grand Junction, CO/Stan’s-Kenda) at the start line.
Well-known strongwoman Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Specialized Factory Racing) will lead Team USA’s U23 women’s contingent in Australia. With three World Cup wins under her belt so far in 2017, she’ll be one to watch on course. The gold and silver medalists from this year’s national championships - Haley Batten (Park City, Utah/Clif Pro Team) and Hannah Finchamp (Kennewick, Wash./Clif Pro Team) – will also put their wheels to the line for the USA in the U23 women’s event. On the men’s side, reigning U23 national champ and two-time Pro XCT event winner this year, Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo./Axeon Hagens Berman) will race for the USA. He’ll join forces with teammates Luke Vrouwenvelder (Chapel Hill, N.C./Bear Development Team), Sandy Floren(Berkeley, Calif./Bear Development Team), Jerry Dufour (Birmingham, Ala./Bear Development Team), and Cole Paton (Cashmere, Wash./Giant Co-Factory Off-Road Team).
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To stay up-to-date on Team USA’s performances in Cairns, follow @UCIMTBAustralia and #mtbworldscairns on Twitter.
Learn more on the event website or view the schedule here. 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Cairns, Australia – September 5-10, 2017 Team USA Roster Elite Men XCO Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) Payson McElveen (Durango, Colo./Team RideBiker) Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale-3Rox Racing) Elite Women XCO Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Clif Pro Team) Rose Grant (Columbia Falls, Mont./Stan’s-Pivot Pro Team) Erin Huck (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-3Rox Racing) Alexis Skarda (Grand Junction, CO/Stan’s-Kenda) Chloe Woodruff (Prescott Ariz./ Stan’s-Pivot Pro Team) U23 Men XCO Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo./Axeon Hagens Berman) Jerry Dufour (Birmingham, Ala./Bear Development Team) Sandy Floren (Berkeley, Calif./Bear Development Team) Cole Paton (Cashmere, Wash./Giant Co-Factory Off-Road Team) Luke Vrouwenvelder (Chapel Hill, N.C./Bear Development Team) U23 Women XCO Haley Batten (Park City, Utah/Clif Pro Team) Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Specialized Factory Racing) Hannah Finchamp (Kennewick, Wash./Clif Pro Team) Junior Men XCO Gaelen Kilburn (Burlington, VT/Hot Tubes) Connor Patten (Park City, Utah/Summit-Competitive Cyclist MTB Team) Caleb Swartz (Madison, WI/Linear Sport-Trek) Kevin Vermaerke (Rancho Santo Margarita, Calif./Whole Athlete p/b DNA) Calder Wood (Anacortes, Wash./Rad Racing NW) Junior Women XCO Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif./ Bear Development Team) Katja Freeburn (Durango, Colo./ Bear Development Team) Gwendalyn Gibson (Ramona, Calif./NORCO) Ezra Smith (Breckenridge, Colo./ Competitive Cyclist MTB Team) Source usacycling.org: https://www.usacycling.org/44-athletes-named-to-team-usa-for-mountain-bike-worlds-next-month.htm |
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CX Hairs Podcast - Episode 82
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Check out the latest In The Crosshairs - CXHairs.com podcast featuring the U23 Bear Development Team (group 1 and 2) In group 2 starting 33:00 minutes in we talk about growth in Alabama MTB - NICA Race Photos,Coach Drew Edsall / Mtbfitness, racing at the World Cup Level, and much more!
Check it out here: http://www.cxhairs.com/…/episode-82-bear-development-team-…/ |
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2017 BOSTON REBELLION - UCI HC PRO
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RESULTS
XC: 8TH PLACE STXC: 7TH PLACE |
RACE HIGHLIGHTS - BOSTON
A Ride in Santa Cruz, CA
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2016 MSA CANADA WORLD CUP
2016 Mont Sainte-Anne Race Report
It was Thursday morning and we were heading to Canada from New Hampshire in a Prius crammed with two bikes, three people, and our luggage filling any space in-between. We arrived in Mont Sainte-Anne around lunch time, and set out for our first course reconnaissance. The course was like no other I have raced all year in the U.S., with massive rocky technical features scattered throughout the short 15 minute track. After a couple near crashes and plenty of time checking out the different lines, I was confident enough on the course to sleep well that night.
After two more days of training, eating, sleeping, and soaking it all in, it was race morning and the alarm sounded at a brisk 6:00am. Soon after breakfast, warm up, and my pre race rituals, I was sitting third row of my first World Cup and waiting for the gun to go off. The race has started and I was sitting around the front pack throughout the start loop and could tell the legs were average. As we approached the steepest climb on the course we were forced to get off the bikes and run up due to the congestion. As we came around for the first lap I was sitting around 35th place and first American, but was soon accompanied by another American, Luke V, who pulled away from me on a climb on the second lap.
It was Thursday morning and we were heading to Canada from New Hampshire in a Prius crammed with two bikes, three people, and our luggage filling any space in-between. We arrived in Mont Sainte-Anne around lunch time, and set out for our first course reconnaissance. The course was like no other I have raced all year in the U.S., with massive rocky technical features scattered throughout the short 15 minute track. After a couple near crashes and plenty of time checking out the different lines, I was confident enough on the course to sleep well that night.
After two more days of training, eating, sleeping, and soaking it all in, it was race morning and the alarm sounded at a brisk 6:00am. Soon after breakfast, warm up, and my pre race rituals, I was sitting third row of my first World Cup and waiting for the gun to go off. The race has started and I was sitting around the front pack throughout the start loop and could tell the legs were average. As we approached the steepest climb on the course we were forced to get off the bikes and run up due to the congestion. As we came around for the first lap I was sitting around 35th place and first American, but was soon accompanied by another American, Luke V, who pulled away from me on a climb on the second lap.
The legs weren’t turning over quite as good as the first lap as riders started to pass me, but around lap three they started to turn over and felt a lot better. For the last couple of laps I passed riders as I moved up in places one by one feeling comfortable on the descents and strong on the climbs. Crossing the line in 31st position at the end of the day was a solid ride, but knew I could have done better with stronger feelings in the earlier parts of the race. Was a great experience and happy to have finished the race without any crashes or flats out there. Hope to go back next year in better shape and a more experienced head for a shot at a good result. Massive thanks to the Bear Development Team and USA Cycling for giving us the opportunity, had a great time racing out there.
2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
2016 National Championships Race Report
National Championships this year was one of my best races to date with a bit of drama, suffering, and fun to make for a interesting race. The training was done, the bike dialed, the mind ready to suffer and it was race day.
The gun goes off and the fight is on. Making sure to learn from last year I conserved at the start knowing that the road climb after the start was where I needed to gas it and find a good position. I was sitting in 6th place funneling into the single track climb, and was content to stay there for now. As we came to the next fire road climb about five minutes after the start I saw some of the riders in front of me were struggling to keep up with the leaders, so I decided to pass and bridge up to the lead group of four. As we made our way to the steepest climb on the course the riders started to separate, and as we crested the climb there were three of us with a small gap back to the rest of the pack. Cypress Gorry led Luke Vrouwenvelder and I along the single track across the ridge of the course that sat around 9,000ft above sea level and our gap grew.
National Championships this year was one of my best races to date with a bit of drama, suffering, and fun to make for a interesting race. The training was done, the bike dialed, the mind ready to suffer and it was race day.
The gun goes off and the fight is on. Making sure to learn from last year I conserved at the start knowing that the road climb after the start was where I needed to gas it and find a good position. I was sitting in 6th place funneling into the single track climb, and was content to stay there for now. As we came to the next fire road climb about five minutes after the start I saw some of the riders in front of me were struggling to keep up with the leaders, so I decided to pass and bridge up to the lead group of four. As we made our way to the steepest climb on the course the riders started to separate, and as we crested the climb there were three of us with a small gap back to the rest of the pack. Cypress Gorry led Luke Vrouwenvelder and I along the single track across the ridge of the course that sat around 9,000ft above sea level and our gap grew.
As we started the descent to the finish on our first lap I could tell Luke couldn’t quite keep up with Cypress’s pace on the descent and we came across the start/finish straight with about a ten second deficit to Cypress. I passed Luke and bridged the gap to Cypress before we hit the feed zone starting our second lap. The climbing started again and all three of us were fresh and could stay on each others wheels. As we made our way around we came to the steepest climb on the course, that is around the halfway point and is about one and a half minutes long, and the pace started to increase. I held back what seemed to be one or two percent, knowing that we still had three and a half laps to go, and started to dangle off the back as Cypress and Luke surged forward a couple of seconds.
We started the ridge trail, that is fairly flat with a few rocks and roots to maneuver over, and I bridged the gap naturally to the duo. I knew at that point that my strengths were the single track across the ridge and the final descent to the finish and I could pace myself accordingly if needed. As we came down the final descent the gap grew again between Cypress and Luke as I rode in third. This time, Luke bridged the gap to Cypress coming across the start/finish straight, and as we came close to the feed zone I saw Gorry’s hand go up and knew he had a flat tire. As we passed Cypress with his mechanic swapping his rear wheel I grabbed a water bottle, GU, and stuck on Luke’s wheel up the climb. While we switchbacked up the climb we could see Cypress charging towards us only about 30 seconds back. By the time we got towards the top of the course we were all together again, and Cypress started to gap Luke who was ahead of me on the single track across the top. Luke and I started to come near the end of the single track onto a short fire road before the last descent and I could see Gorry about 15 seconds ahead dropping into the final single track descent of the lap. I put in a small attack around Luke and dropped into the single track ahead of him. I felt comfortable on the downhill and let go of the brakes in hopes of catching first place. Half way down at the first major rock garden I found myself quickly on Gorry’s wheel without the sound of Luke behind.
We started the ridge trail, that is fairly flat with a few rocks and roots to maneuver over, and I bridged the gap naturally to the duo. I knew at that point that my strengths were the single track across the ridge and the final descent to the finish and I could pace myself accordingly if needed. As we came down the final descent the gap grew again between Cypress and Luke as I rode in third. This time, Luke bridged the gap to Cypress coming across the start/finish straight, and as we came close to the feed zone I saw Gorry’s hand go up and knew he had a flat tire. As we passed Cypress with his mechanic swapping his rear wheel I grabbed a water bottle, GU, and stuck on Luke’s wheel up the climb. While we switchbacked up the climb we could see Cypress charging towards us only about 30 seconds back. By the time we got towards the top of the course we were all together again, and Cypress started to gap Luke who was ahead of me on the single track across the top. Luke and I started to come near the end of the single track onto a short fire road before the last descent and I could see Gorry about 15 seconds ahead dropping into the final single track descent of the lap. I put in a small attack around Luke and dropped into the single track ahead of him. I felt comfortable on the downhill and let go of the brakes in hopes of catching first place. Half way down at the first major rock garden I found myself quickly on Gorry’s wheel without the sound of Luke behind.
We finished the descent and came across the finish line wheel to wheel. We were starting our third lap and were making our way up the initial climb as Gorry started to pull away slowly but surely, but I knew that if I kept him in sight I could possibly bridge up again on the final descent. We were almost at the top of the course and I could see him about 15 seconds ahead, and as I hit a few bumps on a small descent, my chain fell off the chainring and hung off my pedal. I stopped, untangled my chain and put it back on, as I started to pedal again I couldn’t see Cypress any more and could hear third place coming up fast. My mind instantly changed from trying to bridge up to first to try and maintain second. I started to come to the end of the descent and my chain dropped again, but this time I could get it back on without getting off the bike. Coming across the start/ finish line for my last lap I was frustrated with the situation, but knew I had to stay positive and go full gas to keep my second position. It was the last lap and I pinned all the climbs as hard as I could, kept safe and smooth on the downhills to keep the chain from dropping and held the second place to the finish line to grab silver at my first U23 National Championships behind Cypress, with Sandy Floren taking bronze. I was happy with the race and relieved as I finished.
Couldn’t be more happy and grateful being on The Bear Development Team with all the love and support from friends, family, my coach Drew Edsall, and our sponsors that have backed us up from day one!
Couldn’t be more happy and grateful being on The Bear Development Team with all the love and support from friends, family, my coach Drew Edsall, and our sponsors that have backed us up from day one!
