Nate Morse in the freezing rain at the Wrentham Cross.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Valmont Bike Park Groundbreaking & Cross Race
Yesterday was a monumental day for Boulder, and all those cycling advocates and local 'cross legends who have worked tirelessly for years to make the Valmont Bike Park a reality. The City of Boulder, Parks & Rec Department, and Valmont Bike Park organization held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the park, slated to open as early as next year. It will be an impressive, world-class bike facility, with a permanent cyclo-cross course, BMX park, singletrack trails, and more.
Boulder Daily Camera story here.
Chris Grealish put on an ACA 'cross race and over 400 riders got to test out a sample course. Chris continued his support of more sustainable cycling by working with Eco-Cycle to make the race a Zero Waste event.
The CLIF BAR team volunteered to set up the Zero Waste stations and make sure the waste produced by the event got sorted into the proper bins - recycling, compost (food waste, compostable cups, and napkins), and trash.
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In the racing action, Zane Godby led off the day for CLIF BAR with a solid 3rd place finish in the Cat. 3 category, after leading much of the race. Danny Hiller finished 3rd in the Junior 17-18 race, in his first cross action of the season.
.In the Elite men's race, TEAM CLIF BAR's Brady Kappius, and the Devo Team's Eckmann brothers showed they are on top form heading into next weekend's US Gran Prix races in Louisville, KY. Fittingly, the race was won by Boulder MTB star Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. Yannick Eckmann made a strong showing in the lead group from the start, and was quickly joined by Kappius. The two rode in the front group all day, with Yannick dropping back in the last lap due to a flat tire. Kappius cruised in for third. Robin Eckmann had his best Elite race of the season to date, finishing in 11th.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Help 350.org get the message out about climate change action!
This December, world leaders are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark
to draft a new global climate treaty -- one that has the
potential to turn the tide on global warming and get our planet
back on a brighter path. The problem is, most world leaders and
their negotiators aren't getting it. They're not planning to do
enough to to avert the climate crisis. But we can change that --
with one number, and one day. Sound implausible? Take a minute
to hear us out.
The number is 350, and it's now the most important number on the
planet. 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the
safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, measured
in parts per million. Since we're at 390 ppm now, it's a tough
number, and getting back to it will require remarkable efforts.
The good news is that people all around the world are mobilizing
around 350 in a unique and beautiful movement to solve the
climate crisis.
On Oct. 24th, the International Day of Climate Action, people
from over 150 nations will come together in creative climate
actions to take a stand for 350 and a safe climate future. There
will be 1000s of creative on-the-ground actions everywhere from
the slopes of Mt. Everest to the underwater reefs of the Maldive
Islands to the streets of our biggest cities. All designed to
drive the 350 message into the human imagination -- and help our
leaders realize we need a real solution that pays attention to
the science.
With 10 days to go until Oct. 24th, we need to take action now
to make this day truly count.
How can you get involved?????
Search out an event to take part in on Oct. 24!
View Actions at 350.org
to draft a new global climate treaty -- one that has the
potential to turn the tide on global warming and get our planet
back on a brighter path. The problem is, most world leaders and
their negotiators aren't getting it. They're not planning to do
enough to to avert the climate crisis. But we can change that --
with one number, and one day. Sound implausible? Take a minute
to hear us out.
The number is 350, and it's now the most important number on the
planet. 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the
safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, measured
in parts per million. Since we're at 390 ppm now, it's a tough
number, and getting back to it will require remarkable efforts.
The good news is that people all around the world are mobilizing
around 350 in a unique and beautiful movement to solve the
climate crisis.
On Oct. 24th, the International Day of Climate Action, people
from over 150 nations will come together in creative climate
actions to take a stand for 350 and a safe climate future. There
will be 1000s of creative on-the-ground actions everywhere from
the slopes of Mt. Everest to the underwater reefs of the Maldive
Islands to the streets of our biggest cities. All designed to
drive the 350 message into the human imagination -- and help our
leaders realize we need a real solution that pays attention to
the science.
With 10 days to go until Oct. 24th, we need to take action now
to make this day truly count.
How can you get involved?????
Search out an event to take part in on Oct. 24!
View Actions at 350.org
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Video From Providence Cross
Video from Providence Verge race. Curtis and Jesse Keough are off the front and I am a little behind. Great weekend of racing!
http://www.cyclocrossvideos.com/cx/2009_cx/2009_Providence_cx_day_2_Juniors_15-18_barriers.html
I couldn't find another way to get the video in the blog, so you have to copy and paste into the box.
Monday, October 12, 2009
A COLD one!!
Well this past Saturday was the second race in the Boulder CX series. I was looking forward to this race because it was the first race of the season that we had some cross like conditions. It was a little different from the hot, dry dusty races that we have had all season so far.
The field was a big and strong with a lot of talent showing up. I knew the start would be critical with the first set of barriers not too far after the start along with a sand pit we passed threw twice in a matter of seconds. Though I didn't get a good start I was still sitting in the top 20 after the sand pit, which meant I had a lot of work to do. This course had a lot of tight corners, and since it snowed the previous day it made some of them pretty slick.
Though I never did come close to the front group I still had a good race to practice my technique in these conditions, considering this was the first time this year I got a chance. As the race went on my cornering skills got a lot better. Though my result didn't show the improvement I still had a fun race.
Now Kevin and I are heading off to Truckee, CA in the morning for Collegiate MTB nationals this week. So this means we wont be doing a cross race for a couple weeks. Though I cant wait till we get back because then its full on cross season.
The field was a big and strong with a lot of talent showing up. I knew the start would be critical with the first set of barriers not too far after the start along with a sand pit we passed threw twice in a matter of seconds. Though I didn't get a good start I was still sitting in the top 20 after the sand pit, which meant I had a lot of work to do. This course had a lot of tight corners, and since it snowed the previous day it made some of them pretty slick.
Though I never did come close to the front group I still had a good race to practice my technique in these conditions, considering this was the first time this year I got a chance. As the race went on my cornering skills got a lot better. Though my result didn't show the improvement I still had a fun race.
Now Kevin and I are heading off to Truckee, CA in the morning for Collegiate MTB nationals this week. So this means we wont be doing a cross race for a couple weeks. Though I cant wait till we get back because then its full on cross season.
Providence Cyclocross Rounds 5 & 6 Verge Championship Series
Nate and I just finished up races 5 and 6 of the Verge New England 
Championship Series in Providence, Rhode Island. This was our first real weekend working together as teammates. 
Championship Series in Providence, Rhode Island. This was our first real weekend working together as teammates. Day one was the exact same course as the 2006 National Championships. From the gun, a lead group of four formed at the front, Jesse Keough, Josh Lehmann, Nate, and myself. About half way through the race, Josh Lehmann attacked. I wasn't able to stick with the acceleration, but Nate hung in there. In the end, Jesse won, Nate got second, Josh got third, and I finished fourth.
Day two was a very different course. It was more technical than day one, which meant lots of quick accelerations. From the start, again, a lead group formed. This time it was a group of three. The group was made up of Jesse Keough, Nate, and I. Half way through the first lap, Nate decided to bunny hop the barriers. Nate cleared the first one with ease, but hit the second one. Jesse attacked and I followed. Nate chased for the next two laps. Nate bunny- hopped the barriers for the rest of the race. The crowd liked that. With 4 laps to go, we started putting in small attacks trying to weaken Jesse. With 2 laps to go, I put in a huge attack, and was away for the next lap. Jesse and Nate caught me with one lap to go, and we remained together until the finish. It came down to a sprint. 1st-Jesse, 2nd-Nate, 3rd-me. Nate and I were feeling pretty proud standing on the podium representing Clif Bar.
Howes not 'crossing just yet...
he's busy in the KOM jersey at the Tour Down Under with Garmin/Slipstream...Alex Howes (Garmin/Slipstream) dons the Herald Sun polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains Championship leader after stage one.
Photo credit ©Shane Goss
USA Cycling MTB Camp
Report from Zane Godby:
On October 8-12 I was invited to the USA Cycling Talent ID mountain bike camp. It was down in Colorado Springs, so I thought it would be a really good experience, a fun time, and at the time I didn’t know it but it was actually pretty informational. I learned all about training, nutrition, USADA (USA Doping Agency), and we also did a field test to get our numbers (watts, watts per kilo, VAM-vertical ascended meter). I arrived there on Thursday, and we did a soft pedal that afternoon. The temperature wasn’t too bad but it was a little chilly. On Friday we did the field test, and it was around 20-25 degrees at 7:00 A.M. Everyone was all bundled up, and I was in all of my Pearl Izumi clothes looking good and feeling warm. It barley got above 30 degrees that day, so we did not go out and do a second ride that afternoon. On Saturday and Sunday it was foggy and sleeting, and there was black ice all over the place so we did not ride either day. I was bummed about that but both the roadies and the mountain bikes got to go to the gym and play some dodge ball. So we got to know all the different guys there. One of the kids was from Florida, and he didn’t own any pants, and it was pretty funny watching him in the cold. Then on Monday our last day we finally got to ride. We went to Palmer Lake. It is a ton of really fun and flowing but technical ripping singletrack. This camp was very fun and I feel very honored to have been part of it.
On October 8-12 I was invited to the USA Cycling Talent ID mountain bike camp. It was down in Colorado Springs, so I thought it would be a really good experience, a fun time, and at the time I didn’t know it but it was actually pretty informational. I learned all about training, nutrition, USADA (USA Doping Agency), and we also did a field test to get our numbers (watts, watts per kilo, VAM-vertical ascended meter). I arrived there on Thursday, and we did a soft pedal that afternoon. The temperature wasn’t too bad but it was a little chilly. On Friday we did the field test, and it was around 20-25 degrees at 7:00 A.M. Everyone was all bundled up, and I was in all of my Pearl Izumi clothes looking good and feeling warm. It barley got above 30 degrees that day, so we did not go out and do a second ride that afternoon. On Saturday and Sunday it was foggy and sleeting, and there was black ice all over the place so we did not ride either day. I was bummed about that but both the roadies and the mountain bikes got to go to the gym and play some dodge ball. So we got to know all the different guys there. One of the kids was from Florida, and he didn’t own any pants, and it was pretty funny watching him in the cold. Then on Monday our last day we finally got to ride. We went to Palmer Lake. It is a ton of really fun and flowing but technical ripping singletrack. This camp was very fun and I feel very honored to have been part of it.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Organic Farming Fights Climate Change
Organic Farming Could Sequester 40% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions!
Tell Congress: Organic Is the Answer to Climate Change!
Take Action Now!
Watch this new video from the Rodale Institute's Demand Organic campaign and learn how, if the world’s 3.5 billion tillable acres were transitioned to organic agriculture, organic farms could sequester 40% of yearly carbon emissions. Then, tell Congress: Organic Is the Answer to Climate Change!
Tell Congress: Organic Is the Answer to Climate Change!
Take Action Now!
Watch this new video from the Rodale Institute's Demand Organic campaign and learn how, if the world’s 3.5 billion tillable acres were transitioned to organic agriculture, organic farms could sequester 40% of yearly carbon emissions. Then, tell Congress: Organic Is the Answer to Climate Change!
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TEAM CLIF BAR is working to fight climate change