Jun 30th, 2009 by Di
While I was downstate for the Midwest Mountain Bike Summit, I spent some time at my parents’ house. I also spent some time playing with their camera. Nature photography is my favorite. I love flowers and I love clouds. I also have fun putting an interesting spin on my subjects. Here are some of the photos I took, that week.
Jun 29th, 2009 by Di
I received a great honor when I was given the opportunity to write as the National Mountain Biking Examiner for Examiner.com. I am excited to showcase my work for this organization. I hope you enjoy these articles. If there is anything you would like to read about, I am always open to suggestions. 
I will continue to write my personal experiences, here. This blog continues to be an excellent outlet for my frustrations, a realistic reminder of how much I really do accomplish, and a fun place to showcase my art. It is therapeutic for me. I also value the opportunity to share my experiences with you.
There will be times when my online column and my blog will compliment each other. It will be very interesting to see where this leads.
I happen to know that some of you are good writers, yourselves, and the Examiner is looking for more examiners. There is currently an opening for a Detroit Mountain Biking Examiner. If you apply, I’d appreciate it if you would use my referral number: 13912.
Jun 24th, 2009 by Di
Two responses to my Keweenaw Chain Drive post were somewhat hateful and seemed to take it quite personally. It seems like some of you have taken that post the wrong way. One person remarked that it was a tirade-type post. That wasn’t the case at all. I clearly expressed how the Chain Drive did not parallel my personal preference, which I clearly described. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Don’t take it personally if I am not happy with the changes to a race. I am entitled to that opinion.
One person remarked that there wasn’t more climbing because the elevation change remained the same. Elevation change and distance traveled are not the same thing. The elevation gain from the start to finish is probably about 400 feet. However, steep descents and not-so-steep climbs will easily put you at much more distance climbing. This is something that all of the Keweenaw races have in common. They all have more climbing than descending, where distance traveled is concerned, and two of them start and finish at the same elevation.
I have never “bagged my community.” Even though I have expressed my unhappiness with this particular race course, I never made a negative remark about how the race was run or how the trails are. The people who run races in the Keweenaw do an excellent job. The trails are also incredible. I have always maintained that Churning Rapids is a great trail system, and I have praised the new singletrack that was built in time for the race. I have also always boasted of the incredible cycling community in my area.
Am I going to stop doing the Keweenaw Chain Drive? Probably not. That doesn’t mean I have to approve of the race course. The world will go on.
Jun 22nd, 2009 by Di
The Keweenaw Chain Drive took a rather brutal turn, this year. There were some sections of trail that were excluded and replaced with brand new singletrack. The singletrack was masterfully built and offers some different views and some interesting riding opportunities.
My race started off well for the 16-mile competition. I began climbing, as is always the case, and kept climbing. There was an occasional downhill, but it was usually short and quick. The climbs, on the other hand, lasted forever. At one point, towards the end of the race, I thought to myself, “Okay, this isn’t fun, anymore.” The Keweenaw Chain Drive transformed from one of my favorite and most highly recommended races to a not-so-favorite personal hell. There was simply too much climbing, and I spoke with several riders of varying abilities who agreed.
To really understand my frustration, you must first understand what it is about mountain bike racing that I prefer. Unlike road racing, which is predominantly an aerobic competition where constant uphills make more sense, mountain bike racing encompasses so much more. Sure, you have your brutal climbs, and nothing less should be expected, but fast descents are equally as important in a race. Not everyone can descend well. In fact, many people can’t descend well.
The perfect mountain bike race has a pretty equal mix of smooth and technical, up and down. The Keweenaw Chain Drive was just about the perfect race. Now, while it still has a phenomenal mix of smooth and technical, it smote the downhill element and shifted favor towards those who aren’t necessarily well-rounded riders. In other words, I prefer a race that focuses more on varying skills rather than one ability, such as climbing.
To be fair, I will freely admit that I am not a strong climber. Even if I were a strong climber, I still wouldn’t enjoy it. What makes mountain biking fun for me is riding on the edge of control, something that is very rarely done by anyone riding uphill. I like the adrenaline rush I get from traveling at high speeds through the woods. THAT is fun. This year’s Chain Drive course took a lot of that fun away from me, this year.
Jun 18th, 2009 by Di
Mountain biking is a unique sport in that many of its talented participants are carrying a little extra weight. Michigan is a great example. There are many mountain biking communities throughout the state. These communities consist of a diverse crowd including anyone from super-skinny elite riders to new, novice riders carrying 100 extra pounds. Many of these novice riders have taken up mountain biking because it is a fun, family-friendly activity that anyone can do.
I have had the pleasure of meeting many riders who have taken up the sport as a supplement to a heart-healthy lifestyle adopted after experiencing a heart attack. Some riders mountain bike to take control of diabetes. Most of these riders are a part of a much larger group that simply wants to lose weight. The sense of community they find with their fellow mountain bikers motivates them to show up to the trailhead on a regular basis.
It isn’t rare to find an overweight, fast mountain biker on a Michigan trail. I am one of those riders. We often go for two-hour rides and aggressively attack various trail features like steep ascents and rocky descents. Sometimes, we push the envelope in an effort to increase our training in preparation for a race and to encourage further weight loss. For example, I recently did a five-hour, 27.4 mile ride. It hurt. It was hard. I completely tore my body down. I also properly refueled. I wasn’t surprised to find that I weighed four pounds heavier the next morning. This occurrence is common after a hard workout, and often throws many weight-loss hopefuls into a state of panic.
A hard mountain bike ride puts the muscles into a desperate state of repair. This is when the body is most receptive to carbohydrates and other substances that are necessary for muscle repair. Eating the appropriate protein/carbohydrate/fat ratio within a certain period of time can maximize the amount of glycogen stored in the muscles and liver.
Glycogen is a stored form of energy that is easily accessible by the body. It is easily broken down into glucose, a sugar that is used by the body’s cells for energy. After a workout, the body converts ingested carbohydrates into glycogen, which is stored in the muscles and the liver. When no more glycogen can be stored, the excess energy is stored as fat.
More glycogen can be stored after a hard workout. Each molecule of glycogen bonds to four molecules of water, so more water is also being stored. This accounts for a weight gain of as much as five pounds the following morning. This weight gain is temporary.
What do you do if you experience this post-workout weight gain? Don’t panic. The day after a workout, you may feel a little sore and tired. Rest, eat healthy meals and even do a recovery ride. If the trail is full of anaerobic features such as steep climbs, you may wish to take the road bike out for a gentle spin. If you decide not to ride, take a 20-30 minute walk just to keep the muscles loose. The next day, hit the trail with your mountain bike. You’ll find that you are more energetic and stronger. It will be well worth the temporary weight gain.
Jun 17th, 2009 by Di
A motivated group of mountain bikers from the Northeast Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association recently built approximately nine miles of trail at the Mid Michigan Community College in Harrison, just north of Clare. I had the pleasure of experiencing this trail, last Tuesday, when I drove back to the Upper Peninsula.
The best part about this trail is that it is located in an easily accessible location. It is located on a road that runs parallel to US-127, which can be accessed by ramps north and south of the trail. There is absolutely no backtracking for someone just passing through.
In an odd sort of way, I am quite fortunate that I am quite familiar with how a new trail feels – fortunate because that means there is no shortage of new trails in my area. A new trail is difficult to ride, with plenty of rolling resistance, as the ground is usually soft. It can feel like you’re riding with a flat rear tire. In wet conditions, it can be easy to spin out on the climbs. The newly cut trail at the Mid Michigan Community College was no exception.
Thunderstorms had ravished the area the day before (nice dramatic effect, Di!). I knew there was a possibility that mud puddles would abound. Fortunately for me, that wasn’t a reality. In over nine miles of trail, there was one mud puddle on a preexisting two-track road. It was small. I rode through it, and that was the end of my puddle experience.
This trail possessed a quality that I feel is extremely important to hold riders’ interest: the terrain and scenery changed throughout the trail. One section of woods would look different from another. The trail would traverse along an open field, along a tiny ridge, on smooth ground, over roots, over rocks, up steep hills, down small hills, and it even opened up for a nice, fast straightaway. It was aerobically challenging.
This trail is currently going through the riding-in process. It will get packed and hardened and will become a fast trail. I would love to see many rock gardens scattered throughout. This trail has so many possibilities. Who knows what its builders have in store for it!
Jun 16th, 2009 by Di
I showed up to the Monday night 32-mile Chain Drive pre-ride. I thought I would attempt this ride for the second time, ever. The interesting thing about the Chain Drive, and all of the other Keweenaw races, is that, while elevation evens out, total climbing mileage is significantly greater than descending mileage. Imagine me, a slow climber, attempting a 32-mile course.
I am happy to say that no one completed the whole course, last night. We were all smart and shortcutted to the hosts’ home for food and beverages. My riding partner and I, however, did not return until 9 p.m. We rode for four hours. Ouch.
When I returned home, I took a warm shower followed by some yoga. I knew that stretching was absolutely necessary after my 27.37 mile ride of hellish upward lack of momentum. I should probably admit that there are some wicked downhills on that course, but they are significantly overshadowed by the climbing.
I took today off to get some freelance work and house work done before returning to the hospital for three days of 12-hour shifts. Yesterday was the last day that I would ride until Saturday’s Chain Drive. I’ve been eating healthy meals with plenty of protein. I even took a couple of short walks to keep the legs loose.
