Summer Racing in Europe

Maintaining the bodies and bikes requires constant dedication. Some pro racers rely on massage therapists and some need mechanics but for Mary and I the daily maintenance is just a part of our lifestyle.  

It's been an unusual summer so far for Mary and I, as much about racing bikes as the last 15 + years but in many ways all together different.  Another season of total immersion to be sure, but one in which we have taken the initiative to diversify from our familiar focus of UCI Cross Country racing to the full monty of what off road cycling has developed into over the past years. Refreshing, exciting, scary, big, empowering, all come to mind. 

We have of course stayed true to our roots making sure to sustain the core of fitness, endurance and dedication to the bike that is so much of a part of success in any type of cycling but have taken the opportunity step outside our comfort zone and expand our skills in an effort to compete across a wider variety of off road endeavors and to make sure to stay up to date on the latest excitement.  

Mary is racing the World Cups from the back row this season due to sitting out with a broken ankle last season. Here  in Albstadt, Germany she had a  solid performances despite being caught up in the pack.

Racing the Enduro in Willingen, Germany on my Intense Cycles "Carbine 29".    Kenda Tires Nevegal 2.2 never let me down but also never felt as good as when they were mounted on the (then) prototype Stan's NoTubes  enduro specific "BRAVO" wheels.  

For Mary it has been a journey of committing to the higher speeds and technical possibilities that are now a part of the daily offerings with our dual suspension bikes and modern equipment. The upper levels of this was the formerly less accepted challenge of launching some air.  With plenty of  chances to air it out and shave seconds in modern day World Cup Cross Country and even more so in the downhill oriented sport of Enduro, Mary is now fully embracing the challenge with confidence and success.

Mary was happy to boost the big launches successfully and move her way up to finish 25th at the World Cup in Lenzerheide, last week!!

While boosting air is far from my strong suit, the time I spend practicing my AIR pales in comparison to the endurance training necessary for me to compete in the variety of cycling Marathon races including the Marathon World Championships that we took part in a few weeks ago. Clearly it would have been beneficial to take part in a couple more "marathons events" in the weeks prior but they all directly conflicted with the Enduro racing that has been more of a focus for me so far this season.    It's not always the easiest thing to spread our energy out in so many directions but with the variety of amazing events taking place across europe this summer it's actually harder NOT to participate at this point! 

Here we are at Marathon World Championships 2015 - the elite women raced a 60 km /3400 hm track and the elite men raced 87 km and 4700 hm!  yes, endurance training is NOT to be underestimated!

Fitting right in with our diverse schedule will be a mid season return to Stage Racing.  Mary and I are really excited to be entering into our fist ever Trans Alp in the Pro Mixed category!  It is really unfortunate that this race conflicts directly with our USA National XC Championships, as this is always a seasonal highlight, but the opportunity to take part in this epic event arose and we are ready to embrace the challenge!  

Mary racing to a solid  5th place on  one of the more exceptional and technically demanding tracks this season. The Maja Trophy MTB race UCI HC in Jelenia Gora, Poland.  I was stoked to log a 12th place finish and get some solid UCI points (after feeding Mary here).

Me racing over the rock garden in Poland.  

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The Weekend in Poland was a busy one. After saturdays XC we barely had time to eat before preparing for sundays very muddy marathon.  It was a 4 hour race and took as much time to clean up as it did to take part ... but well worth the effort to experience even a bit of the riding in the Karpacz Mountains of Poland !

The past four weeks have brought us to some really special places including events in Willingen, Germany (Enduro and marathon), Jelenia Gora, Poland (XC and Marathon),  Selva Val Gardena, Italy (World Championship Marathon) and to Lenzerheide, Switzerland, where we raced the UCI World Cup this past weekend.  We are currently enjoying our first weekend off from racing in a month that gave us the chance to stay high up in the mountains of Switzerland in an effort to get acquainted to the thin air of the Alps.  Here we are doing our best to strike that delicate balance of pushing our fitness while tapering for what will be a tremendous effort over the next week.

We are stoked to be running the type of equipment that allows us to compete with the best on race day... then be able to clip off the number plate, lube the chain and head out for some legitimate alpine trail riding on the same bike!  Mary riding her Intense Cycles Spider Comp 29 above Lenzerheide, Switzerland. 

Mary and I feel incredibly lucky to continue on with our racing careers in a way that fulfills our desires to push our limits and compete while not being held to a strict season of UCI points chasing. Although we are still quite interested in battling at the upper levels of XC, because there are few challenges we know of that are more demanding and bring deeper satisfaction when things come together.  These days however we are really feeling passionate about diversifying, pushing our boundaries and exploring new paths. 

It's amazing to see the level of the up and coming athletes out there in all segments of cycling (and all sports for that matter).  It seems clear that those in the early stages of  involvement are able to take what has already been established by those who blazed the trails and arrive more quickly to the upper levels.  Although perhaps we can more appreciate the resolve and stamina of those "trail blazers" who have shaped their lives with the dedication to being the best they can be at the sports that are their passions and are in it to win it for the long haul.

Top step of the podium for Mary at the Willingen Bike Festival  (53km) marathon!

We are just entering into our third month in Europe and are looking to be here for the remainder of the season (another 3 months).  Pretty happy that there hasn't been more than a twinge of home sickness or yearning for being somewhere we are not, likely because we have finally come to terms with the fact that as long as we are together, home really is where the rig is parked. 

Try and keep things simple, opportunities come from all angles and dreams are more apt to become realities when there is less clutter in the way. 

Great rides and adventures!

Mike and Mary

We always Keep the RV kitchen stocked with good foods! It takes a lot of work (THANKS MARY!) but eating healthy is a major part of our foundation for living well.   

Happy to have a quiet corner in the campground to build up my Hard Eddy.

Taking the small back roads and the time to stop for a quick stretch can balance and renew like nothing else.  Faluela Pass, Switzerland

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