Super D Week 2!

Nice work last week girls and boys!

Results here.

See you this Wednesday for the FINAL SUPER D!

Blake (3rd) Ben (1st) and Rober (2nd)

Jen B (2nd); LC (1st); Cheyenne (3rd)

Jen B. and her quest for the Butte 50 finish line

MT Alphas Jamie Terry, Sarah Castle, Heidi Gaskill, Julie Kubik and Jen Bardsley  are racing "THE most difficult 100 mile mountain bike race in the country" this Saturday at the Butte 100.  This race is some of these girls top tier event and MT Alpha is so stoked that they'll be flying our colors!  Good luck ladies!  Remember: Pai Mei... KILL!

Jen B and Training for the Butte 50 Mountain Bike Race

The Butte 50!!!!!
So this is my first ever big big big bike race.
I have been racing mountain bike since 1993, but I have never trained for such a bad ass event. Sure I have ridden 50 miles before on my bike and done races that are intense, but the Butte 50 is another breed. What makes it different is the elevation gain and loss within those 50 miles. It is literally like racing up and over 6 mountain peaks. The course consists 11,459ft of elevation GAIN in a single day. The single track consists of serious technical loose granite and dense wooded single track along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The 50 mile race is sometimes referred as the "South Loop" because the 100-mile Race begin on mile 53 north loop before heading south on the the south loop. It is all very beautiful, however I wont be viewing the sweeping views of the Highland mountains, I will instead have my head down and keeping my breathing consistent. My goal is to not blow up. Although my husband won this race a few years ago, I just want to finish strong, ride my best ride and have fun.

The last section of the race after the notorious Basin Creek Climb is going to be my "happy place" because I know that when I make it to that point with some reserved energy, then I can rock the last 20 miles of the race. I used to live and Butte, and my fave ride of all time in Montana is the Beaver Ponds which is the last section of the race. It is a cherry ride with flowy roller-coaster single track with enormous granite boulders that erupted about 60 to 70 million years ago. (The Boulder Batholith)

       On top of the world - Jen on a training ride at 7651 feet (2332.02 meters) above Sea Level.  Near Sheep Mountain outside of Missoula Montana in the Rattlesnake Wildrness .

Jen's Training!


Starting in May

• 2 weekly rides with Women's Team MT Alpha on Tuesday and Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/MtAlphaCycling
• Start 3 hour rides on weekend

In June (my husband was in Finland for a month, so I had to be self motivated)

• 2 weekly rides with MT Alpha http://www.mtalphacycling.com/
• Race weekly series on Wednesday nights at Marshall Mountain Missoula XC on facebook
• Race Homestake Pass mountain bike race
• Weekend 4 hour rides

In July

• 2 weekly rides with MT Alpha
• Weekend 5 -6 hour rides with John. Examples for one long ride - Start from Missoula, ride up Overlook, down Ravine trail up to Snowbowl and up Beargrass highway then back down to Missoula - YUCK!
• Do the Wednesday night Super D downhill series
• Last week ride Sheep Mountain twice (26mile loop with 7mile uphill to peak).

*Also! I did not ride at all in the spring since I was consumed with finishing my BFA at UM. 

Bears - it should be noted that I encountered 8 bears this season while riding - all were "good bears and either just looked at me, kept eating huckleberries or ran away.
 I only had one Mama Bear stand up and woof at me up near Snowbowl, Mt. She had two cubs and would not budge. Luckily a worker at Snowbowl was chopping wood and heard me making a racket banging metal on old snowmobiles in an effort make the bear leave........He rescued me and put my bike in his pickup so I could get by her and back down the Mountain. She barely moved an inch off the road when we drove past.

Fast Boy! My riding partner John Bardsley

Training ride with John - mile 14 in Rattlesnake Wilderness

My women's team - MT ALPHA - Photo by Tom Robertson   http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/

John and Jen *pre-riding Butte 50 course (beverpond area) - Cherry ride!

Jen racing XC series at Marshall Mnt

TRAINING?????
Super D downhill Series - the 3 lone women downhill racers.
Jen, Lindsy Cambell and Cheyanne Rogers

Super D Week 1

Thanks for coming out!  We had so much fun!

If you remember your plate number you can check the results now.  If not, I'll have names up tonight!

Remember to bring these back to use next week! Thank you for these Zillastate- Voted Best Real Estate Service in the Northwest by MT Alpha

NEXT WEEK RACE: START AT 6 PM!

These three goof balls (Dillion, Doug and Ben) took 1, 2 and 3 in the men's race!  They KILLED IT this week.  Word on the street says Robert Sayler from Big Sky Bikes will be there next week... Watch out boys.

Lindsy Campbell and Jen Bardsley (MT Alpha Cycling) took 1 and 2 in the women's race. Nice work ladies!!

We got some very practical prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Check it-

Beer, food, light.  (p.s. Draught Works beer, might just be the best recovery drink available. Check out their new brewery!)

See you guys next week! 6 o'clock!

Photos: Jen Bardsley

SUPER D SUPER D SUPER D

TOMORROW!!!

Race starts at 5:30 at the top! Course opens for pre-riding at 4 pm.  HERE for more information.

PRIZES!-
Series winner:
    Men: $100 credit at Le Petite Outre 
    Women: $100 credit at Betty's Divine
Weekly winners:
   Dolce dinners; Black Diamond gear; hugs.

See you tomorrow night!

Jess Culver- Hammer Nutrition Missoula XC

Registration form. Check.

Payment made. Check.

Found my bike in the garage. Check.

Psyched to race in the Hammer Nutrition Missoula XC Tomorrow. Double Check.

Looks like I’m all set to take on my first ever mountain bike race.

When most people start a new sport they start small, maybe borrow a bike, go for a few rides and see if the sport is worth the time and financial investment. Not me. I dove head first into mountain biking.

When I first joined MT Alpha, I had never been on a mountain bike, never ridden trail and definitely never raced. After some searching and the help of Dave from Hellgate Cyclery, I am the proud owner of a Kona Kula 29’er.

Until I moved to Missoula, I was never much of a biker. More of a climber and a runner, but now two months into my mountain biking endeavor, I am hooked. As a mountain guide by profession, I am used to walking really slowly up big mountains. But the steady climb on a singletrack trail to get to the top and rip back down, around corners and splash trough streams is a rush, and I just cant get enough.

As far as the race tomorrow goes, I can’t wait! I’m excited to put on my new MT Alpha kit (Thank you BECHTOLD LAW FIRM), tune up my bike and ride such as awesome course up at Marshall Mountain. A race like this, with pro’s from all over the country, bike enthusiasts and to be a part of such a huge piece of Missoula culture is exhilarating. The energy from the crowd, friends and other racers there to watch and cheer, along with the sense of accomplishment of my first ever mountain bike race is what I am most excited about. I’m not going into this race with the assumption that I will win (although that would be cool), I’m going into the race with the assumption that it will be fun, challenging and to say I did it.  You will see me racing with a smile on my face and an even bigger one at the finish line. 

-Jess "you never forget your first" Culver

Heidi's top 10 notables from the last week of riding

Alright folks, I was informed I needed to write an intro to this post......does it really need an intro? I biked a few times this week. Here were the highlights:

Author of post: Heidi. Photo courtesy of Myke Hermsmeyer

1. On Saturday I road with my sister in Sun Valley. Although I had biked the Greenhorn trails before, I managed to get us lost in an attempt to explore a trail which had been covered in snow on my last visit. We ended up on a random dirt road and decided downhill was our best option. Eight miles of dirt road dumped us into Ketchum and we were forced to battle a headwind along the bike path back to Hailey. Sun Valley, for all the extravagant luxuries you contain, trail maps at trail heads would be very beneficial.
2. On Sunday, back in Missoula, I reunited with my boyfriend Toby. He had been hanging out on a vast expanse of ice for the previous 5 weeks. By reunited I mean, we shared a rad bike ride with friends on the Snowbowl Overlook trail in the Rattlesnake.
3. On Monday, I panted behind Olympian Sam Schultz on one of his "easy days."
4. On Tuesday, I worked on my strength training by moving 12 tons of dirt for Wild Rockies Landscaping (one of our sponsors). We moved about 30 tons in all, but I think Doug's other employee Tim moved 18 of it... Our job site was the home of another of our sponsors, Tom Robertson. Tom made us each a delicious iced Americano so we didn't slack in our work.
5. Tuesday evening is Alpha ride. We shredded the Drop Out and Ewok trails in the Rattlesnake. I experienced an Owen-ism: complete euphoria from the thrill of descending as fast and recklessly down a trail as possible. I came up with this term in reference to my roommate/The Cycling House owner/Alpha sponsor...thanks Owen!

Sarah, you're so rad.  Photo courtesy of Myke Hermsmeyer 

6. Wednesday consisted of Kettlehouse Beer League races. I raced two laps, afraid that yesterday's strength training had destroyed me. Luckily I felt 100% better than I thought I would. Sarah, fellow Alpha, rocked it in two laps in her first ever mountain bike race (tough course to start out on, no?). Nordic guru Kellie, also slayed two laps. Tough Alpha Jamie, kicked butt in the three lap race, even after riding a pre-race lap!! Hellgate Cyclery/Kent Bro lady riders Ingrid and Elie killed it in the three lap race, Ingrid coming out with another W. 

Jamie (with Hellgate Cyclery/Kent Brother rider Elie in the background). These girls descend  really fast!  Photo courtesy of Myke Hermsmeyer 

7. Post race 4th of July grilling and fireworks at fellow biker Adam Jensen's house in the company of Whitefish buddy Phil Grove (who got second in the Men's 3 lap race...fast man).
8. Reading Jeanne's Alpha blog post. Need I say more?
9. Lazily pedaling around downtown Missoula on Thursday eating ice cream, followed by dinner.
10. Cool, early morning ride on Friday followed by a bike clean, lounging in the sun, and getting excited for pedaling up Sheep Mountain on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Race, Race, Alpha Pace

MT Alpha Jeanne Bloom has this race report from last weeks beer league.  Just in time to get you pumped to race today! 

 

Some people get married to strangers in Vegas.  Others strip and streak through campuses or towns.  Many of the star players in these scenarios can point to a scapegoat for their actions: alcohol.  I had no such excuse.  I signed up for my first mountain bike race stone cold sober.  I hadn’t intentionally committed to doing so, rather the universe conspired for me to ride the Marshall beer league race on June 27, 2012.

When I joined, the Alphas assured me the group was primarily to get more women out on their bikes and that I could volunteer instead of race.  Sounded good to me.  My forte is spirited enthusiasm; athleticism is low on my list of attributes.  So after we got our new rockin’ kits, Alpha leaders encouraged us to come to the Marshall beer races in our new kits and cheer even if we didn’t race.  Well, it did seem a little silly to go all the way up to Marshall in my kit and not race—I look good in spandex, but maybe not that good—besides my hubby was signed up for a few laps.  He convinced me to throw in my bike with his.

Arriving at Marshall, seeing everyone warming up and looking fit and intense with über sporty shades made my earlier cavalier-bravado shrivel.  I pulled out my bike, but my helmet was nowhere to be found.  “Oh thank goodness,” I thought, “My subconscious saved me.”  Out loud I said, “Shoot, where’s my helmet?  I was sure I put it in here.”  (I really did think I’d brought it).  But before I could restore my bike to the safety of the car, my husband found someone who had a spare helmet.  Drat. 

So, with no escape, I signed up—one loop.  My goals: 1. Live through the event without injury/trip to the ER.  2. Have fun.  3. Finish the race.  Reflecting on the race, I wasn’t scared about getting a bad time—my vanity, at this time, is unconnected to race times—my anxiety lie in the fear that I’d hold up people who were lapping me, but I was reassured that I could pull over and all would be well.  Ok. 

The inevitable came: race time.  Heat number one, 3 lappers, gunshot, gone.  Heat two, two lappers, boom, off.  Heat three.  I pulled my bike to the starting line and wished I was anywhere but there.  Maybe I could shoot the gun instead of race?  One Alpha was to my right.  “Yeah!” we high fived.  I looked over at the young fellow to my right.  He appeared collected, but he was by far the youngest of us starters; I wondered if he was jittery too.  When I get nervous, I talk a lot and somehow caricature voices come out.  A weird cool-dude-stoner voice issued from my gullet, “So,” I bobbed my head to the young man, “You going to the Olympics with Sam?  I think I saw your picture in the paper.”  He shook his head no.  “One minute to start,” yelled Jedzilla.  Oh God, “I didn’t update my will,” I shouted to no one in particular.  “Yeah Alphas,” shouted friends from the sidelines.   Boom!  The gun exploded.  Off we went.

The week before I’d “ridden” (aka walked much of) the course so I knew what pain lie ahead.  Why did I sign up for this again?  Who carries around an extra helmet?  We wheeled past the crowd.  I heard a few, “Go Jeanne,”s—ointment to a newbie’s soul.   Upward.  Panting.  No time for water. Pedal, pedal, pant, pant, walk, get back up on the bike, clip in, pedal, granny gear, granny gear, up a gear, down, up, pedal, no one behind, no one in front, remember your goals, keep pedaling.   Then puffing behind, someone near, gotta move, let them past, geez not very far into the course, already others catching up, get off trail, “Good job!” I yell.  Back to pedaling.  Can’t quite make that steep corner.  Pant, pedal, pedal, pant.  Can’t wait to get better at this dam* sport.  Pedal, whoa, steep, pedal, pedal.  Someone else behind me, wow, lots of people.  Pull off.  Cheer for passers.  Stranger puffs by, “Thanks Alpha.” Whoa, cool.  Back on bike.  Yeah, getting near the top.  No time to flip on the shocks.  Too busy braking.  Brake, brake, pedal, brake, turn, holy bleep that’s steep.  “Gonna take A line,” I shout.  (Yeah, right).  Down, down.  Someone behind.  Bleep, where can I pull off to let this speedy one pass?  “Don’t worry,” they reply.  Nice.  Down, down.  Oh my gosh, final descent.  Huzzah!  I may live.  Wait! Don’t get overly optimistic yet.  Down.  Bridge.  Pop up.  Look down, “Oh God,” Down I plummet, bum way back, I made it.  Time for local glory loop.  Yeah!  Living.  Living.  Pass poor punk with chain problem.  Yeah.  Finish line in sight.  Pump it, pump it.  Finish!  Yeah!  Alphas with congrats and beer for me. 

  Jeanne Boom Boom Bloom