Check out the Road to Recovery race:

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The Elite class put on a great show of BMX racing especially in the Elite Women’s Class. One female rider who really rocked was Stephanie Barragan of California. Even with a few crashes around her and the hot weather it didn’t stop her from taking home 2 first place wins both on Saturday and on Sunday.

Barragan currently leads the Elite Women’s class in points with Madison Pitts of Florida trailing in second. These two women and many more will compete for the Grand National title which is held annually in Louisville Kentucky. If you missed this exciting event over the weekend but still want to watch the races, please visit www.go211.com 

July 17, 2008

Kay Ryan , an award-winning poet and self-described “modern hermit,” was named the next U.S. poet laureate today. The Library of Congress announced that the lifelong Californian, whose compressed, metaphysical poetry has been compared to Emily Dickinson’s , will become the 16th U.S. poet laureate, starting in the autumn.

How she became a poet, however, is closely tied to her love of cycling. In her twenties, she and a friend left California on a 4,000-mile cross-country bicycle trip, which would give her time to think about whether to devote herself to poetry as a vocation.

As the friends pedaled through Colorado, the repetitive, rhythmic exercise gave Ryan a sense of oneness with her surroundings. In that moment of heightened awareness, Ryan, realized  she liked writing better than anything else.

Since then, Ryan has fashioned a life conducive to poetry, one in which the essential elements of that bike trip - repetition, expansiveness, and large intellectual leaps - shape both her daily routine and her voice as a writer.

And since that ephiphany on the seat of her bike, Ryan has been the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as numerous prestigious literary awards. Not bad for a woman who was once considered too independent to be accepted by her college’s poetry club.  Ride on Kay….

June 5, 2008

I finally found the energy to sit at my computer and write a race report of my experience this past weekend at the 2008 US Open at Diablo Freeride Park. I went into this summer like a little child with a big, outlandish dream that I wholeheartedly believed would happen. If it wasn’t for my recent encounter with the unexpected it would’ve happened. My initial plan was to live with some friends in Vernon, New Jersey where we would train at Diablo and then travel together to the races. Living in Houston most of my life I have never had the opportunity nor the resources to train consistently and focus on bike racing. This was my chance and I had the full confidence that I would be racing at pro speed by the end of summer.

At the beginning of the year I broke my wrist riding bikes and was out the entire season. Towards the end of my injury I made some [minor] adjustments to my bike and rode with my cast on. This was the same year that I discovered gravity racing and my focus shifted from cross country to downhill riding which I instantly fell in love with. The US open would be my first downhill and dual slalom race without a broken wrist. After I recovered I began riding the slalom course at my school and rode Diablo the week before and felt great. Perhaps I was too confident and should have taken my first race easy and with more patience.

Someone once told me that until something drastic happens to you, you will never change. This past week has been the toughest, most painful, and drastic event that I have experienced. I have learned a lot in just a few days about myself and my outlook on life. I believe everything happens for a reason and sometimes the best things in life happen when they aren’t planned. My perfectly planned and much anticipated summer has completely changed. However, I have a new summer awaiting me that I know will teach me something unexpected.

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There are more bicycles on the road than there were a year ago, more than even a couple of months ago. Soaring gasoline prices have convinced some people that it is time to minimize the number of miles driving a car and maximize travel on foot or on a bicycle.

Before you hop on the seat, review the rules and hazards of the road for cyclists.

Some Mistakes Bikers Make:
• Riding against the flow of traffic
• Failing to use signals when changing lanes or turning
• Riding too close to parked cars (stay at least 3 feet away)
• Not wearing a helmet
• Failing to obey stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings.

Some Mistakes Motorists Make:
• Following bicyclists too closely.
• Failing to reduce speed when encountering cyclists
• Tooting the horn when approaching cyclists
• Passing too close to cyclists
• Failing to look for cyclists when opening a car door.

Advice For Cyclists from the Experts:
• Ride in a straight line; don’t swerve in the road or between parked cars.
• Wear brightly colored clothing. Be visible.
• The average /bike/ commuter travels at 10 mph; the more you ride, the faster you get. • Try out your bike-to-work route on a weekend, when traffic is light, to pin down the best route and get a feel for what the commute will be like.
• Worried about being sweaty when you arrive at work?  Ride at an easy pace to stay cool and dry.
• Ride home at a faster pace if you want a workout.
• Panniers, which look like saddlebags, are a good choice for carrying things to and from work.

More commuter tips

Horns & Bells
Adding a horn or bell to your bicycle is a great way to make a lot of noise and safely let other people know that you’re on the road. An old-skool bugle horn or a bell is always nice, but if you really want to let people know you’re coming through, check out the Delta Airzound Horn. At 115 decibels, it just might be the most obnoxious-sounding warning device around. And, it’s the perfect way to signal motorists or scare little ol’ men.

The Bell Bike Bell offers classic styling with a shiny, chrome-plated finish that looks great on any bike. A rubber shim allows for a custom fit and prevents scratching. If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish and not so annoying, try the Mirrycle Incredibells - easy to mount bells with a covered dome that rings loud and clear. The Candibell comes in five delicious candy colors: Pink, Blue, Green, Orange and Purple.  Listen

Locks
The one bike accessory you never want to be without (besides a helmet) is a lock. There’s nothing worse than having some punk rip off your bike cause you left it unlocked somewhere. A good lock can also be used to secure other sports equipment as well. Best to get a solid steel U-shaped one - they’re nearly impossible to cut through and can easily be mounted to the frame of your bike. Check out the  On Guard Bulldog U Lock for a popular choice.

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Favorite Athletes: Dominique Moceanu, Jackie Chan, Michael Schumacher
Favorite Pro Team: Fox Racing
Favorite Sports Drink: Monster Energy
Favorite Workout Music: Rock & Roll
Favorite Place to Shop: I like to shop at bike shops and art supply stores.
Hobbies and Interests: I love to paint, go trail running, rock climbing, jumping on my trampoline, exploring (anything outdoors), photoshop, animals.

Superstition: Life is full of magic.
Dream Job: Being a photographer for national geographic.
Favorite Books/TV Shows: My favorite book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I don’t watch a lot of tv but when I do I watch animal planet, the history channel, or HGTV, I also like the tv series Heroes.
Pet Peeves: People who pretend to be someone they are not.

Accomplishments: 2007 USAC 60 Mile MTB Marathon 1st Jr. Expert, 2007 MTB Nationals 7th, 2007 Collegiate MTB Nationals 12th, 2007 USAC Fat Tire Festival 1st Short Track and 2nd Cross Country.

Other Sports/Accomplishments: Ran cross country and track in high school for three years. Varsity district champion for pole vaulting and currently pole vaulting and running track in college. A gymnast for 9 years
and a black belt in martial arts.

Why I’m Pretty Tough: I grew up in a family with four brothers and three sisters!  Also growing up in gymnastics taught me a lot things about being ‘tough’ that made me who I am today.

Comments: I want to help spread the image and message of ‘girl power’ especially in the world of sports. My dad and brothers have always encouraged me to be bold and not to limit myself because of my gender. I also have two little sisters who I have passed down my passion and inspiration.

Riders qualify for final rankings and awards by racing a preset number of events that culminate at the NBL Grand National each year. The “Grands” are hosted in Louisville, Kentucky.

The next National race is the Spring National in Morristown, Tennessee on March 1^st and 2^nd.  After Tennessee, the NBL heads to sunny Florida for back to back weekend racing in West Palm Beach on March 14^th - 16^th and Orlando on March 21^st - 23rd.  Are you ready to start racing? For more information please visit www.nbl.org

Home: La Puente, California

Highlights: Racing since 2000, Michelle has been a Pro Downhill Racer for 7 years, and is the #1 Pro Woman’s D.H. Rider in California. Riding with the Steven K Sports race team, she is kicking butt racing Pro Super D.

Pretty Tough Tips