This is something to consider and its for a great cause. It starts in Huntington (the place I put the hurt on Old Man Sellers last time we rode) and ends in San Diego.

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Land Rover Miramar Bike MS Bay to Bay Tour
October 11 & 12, 2008
30, 100 & 150-Mile Route Options
More info at: www.biketofinishms.com

Formerly called the MS 150 or MS Bike Tour, the Bike MS event is a charity bike tour benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that offers three different route options:

- NEW IN 2008! a one-day 30-mile route starting and finishing in Carlsbad,
- or a two-day 100- or 150-mile route starting in Irvine, Ca. (Orange County) and finishing in San Diego, Ca. with an overnight stay and festival in Carlsbad.

Registration is limited and has sold out the last four years! You can bike to finish MS by registering today!

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Put it on your calendar and get involved!

Andy B
outsideallday.com

In this month’s issue of Outside Magazine there’s a great article on my favorite non-profit Project Rwanda. The article is about a trip the author took with Tom Ritchey in the fall of 07′ to Rwanda and highlights my good buddy Doug Grant (co-founder of 50 Mile Ride). The article revolves around the Wooden Bike Classic that Tom hosts. The magazine is worth picking up for this article alone.

Web extras on the article can be found at the link below. Check out the photo gallery.
http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200809/rwanda-cycling-video-photos.html

Another great article on their website called “The World’s Toughest Bike Race Is Not in France”. I read it in the July issue and loved it, great read. Click here to check it out.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Rich Smith from Fluid Recovery is driving the SAG Wagon for Team Ride Clean during the Tour of Utah. They are helping the team in all areas of the race. Rich just emailed me the race report from day two written by the team director of Ride Clean.

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Stage 2, with over 10,000 ft. of climbing, at the Tour of Utah took its toll on RIDECLEAN.

Although the team was active early in the race (click here to read the VeloNews.com article) some paid heavily for their efforts which resulted in Jon Chodroff, DNF’ing.

Next to slip away, at the base of the climb, was an eight-rider group, which split on the steep early slopes. Leading the way up the climb were Garmin’s Caldwell and Peter Stetina, joined by BMC’s Scott Nydam. Following behind were Ted King (Bissell), Jonathan Chodroff (RideClean), Chris Jones (Team Type 1), Mike Creed (Rock Racing) and points leader Brad White (Successful Living), who spent stage 1 off the front with Donald and Sheldon Deeny (Fan Sports Network composite team).

Drew Miller, one of the nation’s top climbers over nearly two decades with wins at the Tour of Gila on three occasions, had a rough day, ultimately taking a wrong turn riding behind the race and missing the time cut.

Both Ryan Trebon and U-23 rider Kiel Reijnen finished in the top 35, with Kiel staying within striking range (currently in 3rd place) of the best young rider – trailing Garmin Chipotle’s Peter Stetina by 1:19 in that competition, respectively. The other three RIDECLEAN members of Jake Rubelt, Brian Forbes and Kyle Colavito, although losing time, are weathering what has been called “America’s Toughest Stage Race” well.

So the team is down to 5 with a 60 minute Salt Lake City evening criterium in store for tomorrow which will hopefully offer some respite before Saturday’s queen stage of climbing galore.

Stay tuned for further updates and thank you for your continued support!
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Good for Fluid for supporting cycling like this.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Ok, so I have to admit, I freakin love Rock Racing. They bring a fresh edge to cycling that is needed if we want to see the sport we love expanded to new audiences. I would hope to see them in the 2010 Tour de France. I’m callin it now. TripleCrankset.com has landed an exclusive interview with team owner Michael Ball.

CRANKSET Exclusive: An Interview With Michael Ball
By Triplerankset.com
August 13, 2008

Whether you would like to admit it or not, Rock Racing has turned the very traditional sport of cycling on its proverbial ear. From their overwhelming presence at races replete with Cadillac Escalades, buses, trailers and a 35 foot rig, to their multiple designed, multi-colored kits, Rock Racing has brought style and sex appeal to the generally reserved sport of cycling. At the epicenter of it all is Michael Ball, CEO and Creative Director of Rock & Republic. The outspoken leader of Rock Racing has brought panache and a no holds bar mentality that has often ruffled the feathers of the cycling community as he tries to shape the sport in his image.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

I’m not cool but I like cool things.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Our peeps over at AmateurEndurance.com are cooking up some super fun content. Race reports, course previews, nutrition and just awesome.

Spend some time over there and tell them OAD.com said hello,

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Amazon.com just delivered my new book:

I’ll start it after I finish:

Then finally moving to:

I’ll pass this last book onto Old Man Sellers once I’m done with it. He needs it more than I do.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Rich from Fluid Recovery Products sent me over an article that he recently wrote for AmateurEndurance.com. It’s a solid piece on proper recovery.

Recovery Nutrition 101
By Rich Smith, Fluid Recovery Products
June 30, 2008

Every now and then major scientific discoveries are made in the realm of athletic health and performance. Recovery nutrition is without a doubt one of the most recent and unbelievable advancements in sports science, but it is often neglected and misunderstood.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

William Fotheringham of the Guardian in Beijing wrote the following article. It’s a great writeup.

Spain’s incredible sporting summer took another surprising step when Samuel Sanchez added the Olympic road race gold medal to the country’s trophy cabinet, already overflowing after Carlos Sastre’s Tour de France victory, Alberto Contador’s win in the Giro d’Italia, Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and the European title for their football players.

A solid rather than spectacular talent, Sanchez has played second fiddle to Alejandro Valverde in recent years, and the national champion was expected to be Spain’s leader here. However, Valverde did not figure in the decisive attack on the final lap, and instead it was the 30-year-old from the Asturian town of Oviedo who crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Great Wall ahead of five men who came together only in the final metres.

Sanchez had the pedigree of a man just waiting for a truly major win: seventh overall in this year’s Tour de France, a raft of stage wins in the Vuelta a Espana, and a significant one-day victory in the Championship of Zurich in 2006. His impressive win cannot, however, overcome the suspicions that have surrounded Spanish cycling in recent years. Sanchez has not been linked to any scandals, but like the rest of his country’s road race team he had been tested eight times since his arrival here, although the IOC president Jacques Rogge said last Thursday that there were no particular suspicions about the Spanish.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Matt Smart
OutsideAllDay

Click here to see the entire album.

I ended up volunteering for the USA Cycling Road National Championships today in Irvine. I spent from 6 am – 12pm on the corner of Portola and Culver directing traffic and sweating. What an incredible event, each time the riders roared by my pulse jumped! It’s the most intense 10 seconds you can image as the peloton speeds past at 35 mph.

Click here for results.

The entire thing was first class and the riding was at the highest caliber. Another shout out to Jet Cycling and Rock N Road Cyclery for the quality of event they produced.

After Carter’s nap we headed to the Ladera Ranch Grand Prix. Super fun to hang with Old Man Sellers from Motor Tabs and Richard Julian Smith from Fluid Recovery Products. Carter ran in the field most of the time and I spent the afernoon chasing him while Julie, Alison and Alex kicked back in the shade sipping on chilled Fluid. Story of my life.

In other cycling news, David Sheek spotted Floyd Landis at the Food Park ride on Saturday. He offered him an Outside All Day Cycling contract and Floyd said he would think about it. I think we have a shot and getting him on board.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

It was raining cats and dogs in Beijing!

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Lot’s of riding planned for this weekend. Tomorrow Matt Smart and I are meeting at 7am to push 2 MTB laps through Irvine Park. Matt is training for the Scott Tinley Adventure event hosted by Tri California. I haven’t had much luck with my mountain bike this week considering I almost died when my brake pad exploded on Wednesday and that I tried to ride today with a shredded side wall on my front tire. Solid. 2 good road ride though.

On Sunday, Dave, the Haunster and I will hit up Huntington Beach early and head down the 101 for a few hours. I’ll probably pull the whole time and Haun will sprint the last 200 yards claiming victory for the day, typical.

After that we are off to cover the USA Cycling Road National Championships hosted by Jet Cycling. Covering the race all day with editorial and photos for the site.

Now onto the sites I’ve been losing time on lately:

Cycling –
http://www.velonews.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sportId=1300
http://www.cyclingnutz.com

Xterra –
http://www.conradstoltz.com
http://www.jameswalshracing.com

Generally awesome -
http://www.amateurendurance.com
http://www.motortabs.blogspot.com

Happy training this weekend.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Running down the strand in Hermosa tonight with the Nike Training Run Crew my wife and I were passed by a gang of bikers complete with mohawks and skate shorts. Crazy thing was they were on elite road bikes – not strand cruisers. One had a sweet Lemond. As they left you could hear them laughing and carrying on. I looked over at my wife and said, “bet they are here for nationals.” We were a quarter of the way through the run and my mind quickly refocused on my breathing. The group pace was ratcheting up and my mind blocked out all competing thoughts. Finished at the Mermaid restaurant with three guys nearly reeling me in with a 39:30. Being close to my fifth hour of training this week I was pleased with my 5 mile time and wondering about tomorrow’s 27 mile road ride. Just as I caught my breath the gang reappeared. I meagerly yelled to them, “you here for nationals?” A bit surprised one of them turned saying “YES”. And they were gone. You can’t hide your shaved legs under skate shorts guys. Go see them in OC this week. They are going to rock.

matt smart
el segundo, ca
outsideallday

August 5, 2008: Several members of the U.S. cycling team arrived at the airport in Beijing, for the Summer Olympics, wearing black respiratory masks. Approximately six of the team members were photographed wearing the masks. The masks suggest that the athletes were concerned over the reports of heavy air pollution in Beijing. Greg Sellers from Motor Tabs wears a mask like this every time we ride, I thought it was normal.

Click here to read more.

HT to Chris Davis for the story.

Andy B
outsideallday.com