AdventureCORPS: We're Out There: Death Valley, Mt. Laguna, Mt. Tam, and Beyond

Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic: Last Call for Entries!

2010-04-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

AdventureCORPS announces San Diego County's Newest, Toughest, Most Epic, and Most Traffic-Free Century Cycling Event. Basketball legend Bill Walton to serve as Chairman of Good Times.

Click here for all the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic information and the Link to Registration.

LA JOLLA, CA - AdventureCORPS, Inc., an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle, and media, is pleased to announce the inaugural Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic on Saturday, April 17, 2010, featuring 101 miles with over 10,000 feet of climbing and three different ascents of San Diego County's Mount Laguna and breath-taking views of the Anza-Borrego Desert far below. With a start/finish line just 44 miles east of downtown San Diego, the route for this timed cycling event features just three stop signs and NO traffic lights.
This incredible event features three loops that all begin and end in or near Pine Valley, CA. Each of the three loops ascends Mount Laguna on a different route: via Sunrise Hwy from the north, via the fabled and car-free Kitchen Creek from the south-east, and via the little-known and truly epic Pine Creek drainage from the west. (known as Noble Canyon to mountain bikers, but our paved route features grades as steep as 20 percent). All three loops descend Mount Laguna south-bound on Sunrise Highway. The total distance for all three loops is 103 miles with over 10,000 feet of elevation gain. A one loop, 45 mile option, and two loop, 77 mile option, are also offered.
Registration is limited to 300, and the event is nearing capacity. Entry includes six well-stocked checkpoints featuring Hammer Nutrition, roving SAG support, finish line pizza and the opportunity to compete in the Cycling Club Challenge (for the 101 mile route): The top three (male and female) riders' combined times from each cycling club determine the Club Champions. The three riders must be Co-Ed (2 males / 1 female or 1 male / 2 females), but they do NOT have to ride together. Finishing times will be tallied at the finish to determine the Club Champions. Each of the three winning club riders will win $200 in "AdventureCORPS Bucks" redeemable for event entries or gear, as well a year of bragging rights. Cycling Club affiliation must be stated while registering for the event.
Basketball legend, television sportscaster, cycling author, and life-long cyclist Bill Walton, a San Diego native and resident, will participate in the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic and will serve as the Chairman of Good Times, Social Affairs, Customer Relations and All Things Fun. He had this to say about the event: "Now, Chris Kostman has designed a tough, challenging 100 miler that incorporates three ever-more-difficult ascents to the Promised Land, including the car-less Kitchen Creek fantasy. And I can’t wait. With unbelievable diversity of every aspect of life, this day will surely stand out as a monument to all we could ever hope for in any one 24 hour period. Terrific scenery, unparalleled beauty, endless vistas, great roads, a clean and safe environment, crystal clear and fresh air, extensive support, and all our best friends getting together for a day of celebration, camaraderie, exercise, spiritual fulfillment, Mount Laguna and the sprawling San Diego backcountry. If there is anything else out there please let me know - quickly. Chris Kostman has put it all together here and we couldn’t be happier or luckier." (Bill's full statement is below.)

Above: Bill Walton with 11-year-old Moriah Swan at a recent MLBC Training Ride.
Both will ride the event on April 17!

An Official Pre-Ride of the route was held on November 14, 2009 with positive feedback from all 16 participants, including:

"The Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic is Southern California riding at its finest, and toughest: one hundred miles of mountain back roads and not a single stop light to break the rhythm of the fantastic scenery, from mountain pine, to desert cactus and chaparral. It's a challenge for the legs and lungs, but the scenery and space are all payback." - Dustin Sharp, Rough Riders

"The pre-ride at Mt. Laguna was brutally awesome. The route was simple, no numerous turns to get confused. Just a few glances at the rout sheet and you're on your way. The three loops made it stress-free and a sense of security that everybody is close by. The views are amazing, especially on the first loop. The last loop made this ride very memorable due to its difficulty. You have to dig deep just to go over the next steep section on Pine Creek Rd. Whoo!!! This ride has all the elements of an 'epic' ride: greatness and adventure. Thank you." - Francis Ignacio, Adobo Velo

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Mt. Laguna route. Leave it to you to come up with those killer routes that tap into the dark crevices of our brains that make us want to return to repeat the moments of agony, namely that monster hill at the end. I'm definitely coming back in April, so put my name on the list. Riding atop the mountains on what appears to be paved fire roads was really enjoyable. The three downhills were fun and came at the precise right times during the ride. Now, the two most difficult centuries I have ever done are connected to YOU, Hell's Gate and Mt. Laguna. What's next? The scenery was fantastic and the traffic, or lack of, was welcomed. The motorists seemed to be accommodating to cyclists. Kudos to your sag support, once again top notch cycling nourishment was provided, along with the hot meal at the end." - John Marino, the godfather of ultracycling and creator of the Race Across America.
Click here for all the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic information and the Link to Registration.

Click here for a preview video slideshow of the route.

Click here for the report, results, images, and feedback from the November 14 Official Pre-Ride of the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic.

MOUNT LAGUNA BICYCLE CLASSIC HIGHLIGHTS:
• April 17, 2010
• Held on Eastern San Diego County's Mount Laguna: Minimal traffic, no traffic lights, and just three stop signs.
• The toughest - and only TIMED - century in San Diego County.
• Cycling Club Challenge: The top three (M&F) riders' combined times from each club determine the Club Champions. Each of the three winning club riders wins $200 in "AdventureCORPS Bucks" redeemable for event entries or gear.
• Distances offered: 3 loops / 101 miles; 2 loops / 77 miles; 1 loop / 45 miles (only 3-loop finishers are timed and ranked).
• Six well-stocked checkpoints featuring Hammer Nutrition plus finish line pizza.

STATEMENT FROM BILL WALTON:

AdventureCORPS, Mount Laguna, April 17, 2010:

For all the world to be aware, please let it be known that Bill Walton has been named the Chairman of Good Times, Social Affairs, Customer Relations and All Things Fun for the upcoming inaugural AdventureCORPS Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic on Saturday, April 17, 2010 starting at 7am PST in Pine Valley, California, USA.

Walton has been a lifelong cycling enthusiast and participant who had his life changed and saved since connecting with AdventureCORPS and Chris Kostman more than four years ago.

Since that transcendent moment, Walton has discovered that Kostman and AdventureCORPS are the keys to lifelong health, happiness, fitness and eternal salvation.

When finally reached for comment, the ever-busy Walton pulled over to the side of the road during a training ride on his bike and quickly pointed out that he was working diligently in preparation for the upcoming AdventureCORPS events in early 2010 like the Death Valley Century on March 6 and the Death Valley Hell’s Gate Hundred on April 3.

Finally able to recover and regroup enough to attempt to put a coherent thought together -then after wiping the sunscreen from his eyes - Walton had this to say about the AdventureCORPS Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic on April 17:

“Chris Kostman and AdventureCORPS have given me the life that I have today. I live to ride and ride to live. After my spinal fusion surgery of nearly a year ago, I am back on the saddle again and ready to go. Chris’ events are always the best. The organization, management, support and over all good times are unsurpassed. He knows how to challenge us all and we always realize that we have to be on top of our own game to match the level of his preparation and imagination.

“And when I saw that he has come up with a new dream ride focused on Mount Laguna, I knew that once again Chris has found a new limit to what we think of as heaven on earth. This ride promises to be better than perfect on all fronts, all centered on the sacred ground that is Mount Laguna. This focal point has always held a fascinating spot in our consciousness. I grew up in San Diego - it has always been home - and Mount Laguna was forever the holy destination of choice for having a terrific time.

“Now, Chris Kostman has designed a tough, challenging 100 miler that incorporates three ever-more-difficult ascents to the Promised Land, including the car-less Kitchen Creek fantasy. And I can’t wait. With unbelievable diversity of every aspect of life, this day will surely stand out as a monument to all we could ever hope for in any one 24 hour period. Terrific scenery, unparalleled beauty, endless vistas, great roads, a clean and safe environment, crystal clear and fresh air, extensive support, and all our best friends getting together for a day of celebration, camaraderie, exercise, spiritual fulfillment, Mount Laguna and the sprawling San Diego backcountry. If there is anything else out there please let me know - quickly. Chris Kostman has put it all together here and we couldn’t be happier or luckier.

“I have been waiting for a miracle, and now that wait is over. Chris Kostman has done it again. I can only shudder to think where we would be without him.

“Chris has once again given us a reason to believe in a better tomorrow. There is new purpose and meaning in life itself.

“I plan on getting there early, helping Chris to get the show on the road; then, rolling out myself to enjoy one of the greatest experiences of my life. So please, bring your bike, your spirit, a willingness to smile, laugh and dream, and the unique soul that all participants in AdventureCORPS events either already have or are soon to acquire. Chris and I will take care of the rest.

“AdventureCORPS… Chris Kostman… three majestic, dynamic, explosive and exhilarating climbs to the top of THE MOUNTAIN… Mount Laguna... the San Diego back-country… sunshine daydreams … your bike… your newest best friends… and so much more… Is there anything else that anyone could ask for????

“April 17, 2010… 7am PST wheels down… come ready to ride… you have been notified … we will do our job… the rest is up to you.

“Miss this epic event at your own peril.

“Roll on forever, and enjoy the ride.”

And off he went - in search of yet another perfect day - the one that he knows he’s sure to find on April 17 on Mount Laguna.

ABOUT BILL WALTON:
Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952), is a retired American basketball player and current television sportscaster. The “Big Red-Head”, as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s and winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards and went on to have a prominent career in the NBA. Walton was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 10, 1993 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame that same year. He is the father of current Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton. - Quoted from Bill's bio on Wikipedia

Click here for Bill's Personal "Long Strange Trip" Website.

Click here for Bill's AdventureCORPS Fan #1 Webpage:

OFFICIAL CHARITY
The Official Charity of AdventureCORPS is the Challenged Athletes Foundation. One of the goals of all AdventureCORPS events is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this wonderful organization.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation was created on the belief that people of all abilities should have the opportunity to pursue a life full of physical activity and of sports. Be they recreational or in pursuit of a gold medal at the Paralympic Games, people with a physical disability are limited only by their access to funding. Since 1994, CAF has raised more than $24 million—allowing the Foundation to satisfy thousands of funding requests from challenged athletes in all 50 states and across the globe.

Eighty-nine cents of every dollar raised by CAF provides funding and programs that get challenged athletes into the game. Whether it’s a $2,000 handcycle, helping underwrite a $15,000 running prosthetic or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar injury, CAF’s mission is clear: give those with the desire to live active, competitive lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love.

Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic participants may participate in CAF's "Race For a Reason" program: Ride the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic on behalf of CAF, raise funds for this wonderful organization, and even earn cool incentive prizes in recognition of your efforts!

ABOUT ADVENTURECORPS (home of the Rough Riders):
La Jolla, CA-based AdventureCORPS, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle, and media. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS’ world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508, muiti-day cycling lifestyle adventures known as CORPScamps, the annual Rough Riders Rally in Marin County, plus several 100- and 200-mile cycling events in Death Valley, and on and around San Diego County's Mt. Laguna. AdventureCORPS also hosts and develops several adventure-related websites and blogs and provides a variety of adventure-related services. Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, this group effort is dedicated to exploring the inner and outer universes, seeking adventure, energy, and insight both in daily life and "out there."

Click here for all the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic information and the Link to Registration.

Carpooling and Ride-Sharing to and from Mount Laguna; Hotel Room Sharing, too!

2009-11-02T09:51:00.001-08:00

We encourage carpooling to and from all our events. With riders coming to Mount Laguna from across California and beyond, there must be somebody who lives near you, or along the route you'll be driving, or perhaps someone who just needs a ride to and from the airport in San Diego or LA if they are flying to the event. Share the ride! Save gas! Save money! Save the earth!

Please use this section of the blog to connect with other riders - you can save money, save gas, help to protect the environment, and - hopefully - meet some cool people, too!

(Note: We are provide a service here, allowing people to meet and share rides. We can't and don't guarantee anything about the people you'll meet, so be careful and use your best judgement. Review the Personal Safety Tips that Craigslist uses on their Rideshare page here.)

Click the "Comments" button below and leave your request for a ride, or offer to share your trip! Most importantly, list a method for contacting you. (If you don't, we will reject your post and it will not be published.)

AdventureCORPS Cycling Event Banner Ads: Please Help Spread the Word!

2009-11-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

Here are four different sizes of banner ads about our cycling events for our friends and fans to post to their websites and blogs. Feel free to put them to good use and please link to www.adventurecorps.com. Thank you!

Above: 200 wide by 247 tall

Above: 160 wide by 200 tall

Above: 164 wide by 110 tall

Above: 300 wide by 120 tall

Postcard from our AdventureCORPS Ambassador in Italy

2009-07-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Chris,

I attach some picture of the "AdventureCORPS Italy Ambassador" during the last bike ride. Last monday me and Giovanna, my girlfriend, have gone in the south Garda lake area for a ride on the the cycling path Peschiera-Mantova, along the Mincio river. As you can see we don't like only cycling training but also visiting old villages and...tasting italian tortellini with a good glass of wine. And, as you can see, the AdventurCORPS bike shirt fit me perfect!

All the best
Riccardo Oliari

Hell's Gate Hundred: An Exciting, New AdventureCORPS Event!

2009-04-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

HELL'S GATE HUNDRED: MORE THAN JUST A BIKE EVENT!

It's a new, spectacular century ride (and more!) in Death Valley!

It's also a celebration of Death Valley National Park on the 25th Anniversary of AdventureCORPS!

When: April 18, 2009

We are pleased to announce Hell's Gate Hundred, a new AdventureCORPS century ride and weekend-long outdoor adventure in Death Valley on Saturday, April 18, 2009 (and then April 3, 2010).

The Hell's Gate Hundred route will visit locations and sights that are not visited in any other one-day cycling event in Death Valley National Park, including Artist Drive, Hell's Gate, Daylight Pass, and the ghost town of Rhyolite. We also plan to encourage all participants to attend a Ranger Program at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center on Saturday evening, then hike Golden Canyon the following morning (unguided; not under our auspices). The ride will be similar in format to our Spring and Fall Century and Double Century bike rides, except with no 200-mile option and a new, different, unique route. The route is approximately 106 miles with about 7,000 feet of elevation gain.

Here's a preview slideshow of the route, with photos from CORPScamp Death Valley in February, 2008 and from our personal trip there in December, 2008.

"Experienced travelers know that the best way to experience the park is to get out of the vehicle and go for a hike." We would argue that getting off the bike is also crucial! That's why we designed the Hell's Gate Hundred route to include locations and sights that are not visited in any other one-day cycling event in Death Valley National Park. That's also why we are hosting outdoor yoga classes on Friday and Saturday and it's also why we are STRONGLY encouraging EVERYONE to visit the Visitor's Center / Museum / Bookstore in Furnace Creek, the Borax Museum on the Furnace Creek Ranch, to attend the Ranger Program on Saturday evening, AND to enjoy a hike in Golden Canyon on Sunday morning! This beautiful, wonderful, one-of-a-kind National Park belongs to all of us. Please maximize your time in Death Valley to have a broad and rewarding experience that includes fantastic cycling AND much more!

Here's the main HGH event page.

Come be part of the first ever Hell's Gate Hundred! Come celebrate our favorite National Park, Death Valley! Come join us for the 25th anniversary of AdventureCORPS!

Above: a preview of the route map
Above: Artist Drive
Above: Artist Palette (CP#1)
Above: The view from Hell's Gate (CP#2/#4)
Above: Rhyolite (CP#3)
Above: Rhyolite (CP#3)

Bill Walton: AdventureCORPS Fan Number One!

2009-04-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

Bill Walton: AdventureCORPS Fan Number One!

Bill Walton with his mentor, the legendary John Wooden

Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952), is a retired American basketball player and current television sportscaster. The “Big Red-Head”, as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s and winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards and went on to have a prominent career in the NBA. Walton was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 10, 1993 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame that same year. He is the father of current Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton. - Quoted from Bill's bio on Wikipedia

Less known is Bill's passion for bicycling, which dates to his college days at UCLA where he used a bicycle for transporation, in part because it allowed him to get around the campus without getting stopped so many times by fans, and beause he found cycling to be excellent cross-training for basketball. (See his book's Introduction at the bottom of this page.)

Bill first rode with us at the 2005 Fall Death Valley Century. He's been back for the 2006 and 2007 editions since then and we've become friends along the way. His enthusiasm for cycling, and for life itself, is invigorating. Not surprisingly, his wife Lori is also wonderful and one-of-a-kind. She and the wives of three of Bill's riding buddies provided outstanding support along the course in 2007. Since then, the "AdventureCORPS Event Staff" magnetic sign they used has been a permanent fixture on Bill's car in San Diego.

Here's what Bill had to say about his first ride with us, which you can also hear by clicking here:

"Hello, my name is Bill Walton and I'm just calling to thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible Death Valley adventure ride we just did up there last Saturday. I've never had more fun and it was my first time ever to Death Valley. You guys are remarkably professional. It was just such an exhilarating experience for me and I want to thank you for turning me onto one of the greatest spots on earth AND one of the truly fantastic events that I have ever had the privilege of being a participant in. You guys are unbelievable. You have so much to be proud of and I can't wait to start searching your website, adventurecorps.com, for more events in more fantastic, phenomenal places. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It could not have been better. We all had the time of our lives. You guys have a lot to be proud of. Way to go. Congratulations and one more time, thank you, thank you, thank you. We love adventurecorps.com. We love Death Valley. All right, you guys are the greatest. Bye now Thank you so much."

And to that we reply, "Thank You, Bill! It's a pleasure to know you and to have you enjoy our rides!"

Links:

• Audio file: Bill's feedback about the 2005 Fall Death Valley Century

• “My bike is my wheelchair, my gym and my church, all in one,” says Bill Walton in a June 5, 2008 article from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

• Bill Walton's Personal Website

• Bill Walton's bio on Wikipedia.com

• Bill Walton's Total Book of Bicycling (1984), available used on Amazon.com (Read the Introduction to the book at the bottom of this page.)

• The Bill Walton page on adventurecorps.com

Above: Bill with friends at the 2005 start line

Above: On the road with friends in 2006

Above: En route to Scotty's Castle in 2006

Above: With Jack Lindquist of Team Swarm! at Scotty's Castle in 2006
Above: En route to Scotty's Castle in 2007

Above: Lovely wife Lori (L) with Marty Metcalf, Leah Inniss, and Peggy Mazzella providing outstanding ride support in Death Valley in 2007

Here is the Introduction from Bill's book:

I wasn't surprised when U.S. riders swept half the cycling events at the Los Angeles Olympics and took more medals than anyone else. I had trained with members of the 1980 team in San Diego, and it wasn't easy keeping up with them. Anyone could see the sport here was taking off and I was glad of it, being a lifelong cyclist and enthusiastic member of the so-called "bike boom" of the seventies. Bicycles have been part of my life for a long time.

I was six years old when I rode a bicycle for the first time, and I still remember that experience clearly. The bike belonged to my older brother Bruce, and I'd been watching him ride long enough that I had the idea. As I recall, I just got on, Bruce gave me a push, and I rode it away. I'd been doing it in my imagination for some time, and it came naturally.

We lived on a hill, so I rode down the hill, and then I learned something else about bicycles when I rode back up. It really made an impression on me because it was a whole new way of moving, completely different from walking or running. It was a lot of fun - faster and more exciting, the kind of thing you tend to remember. It gave me a feeling of independence I really liked.

After that I was into bikes. As soon as my folks would allow it, I was riding all over San Diego, back and forth to the beach, everywhere. After a while I couldn’t find bikes to fit, but I always owned one. I rode to get where I wanted to go, but it always felt good. These were one-speed bikes I was riding, your basic bicycle, nothing expensive, and it wasn’t until years later, when I was at UCLA, that I started riding nice ten-speeds. I really appreciated the way this kind of bike responded, and expanded your range. Cycling became my alternate sport, though I didn’t think of it that way. It was a pure pleasure activity, and a healthy and productive one, I might add. Also it was to some extent an escape from the pressures of life. I could work things out on a ride.

My first derailleur bike was a green Bertin, which I bought because it was the tallest bike I could find - about a 25 1/2� frame, I think. It came from Hans Ort’s Westwood bike shop, and they fixed me up with an extra-long seatpost which let me stretch out my lefts for the first time in years. It also gave me a pretty radical position on the bike, since the handlebars were about five inches below the seat. After buying the Bertin, I took to dropping in at Hans’ shop when I had free time, and it was there that I found out about more serious cycling. I went out on rides with the guys who were racing, and through this I learned to respect the sport and the people involved in it. On the bike I was no start, just one of the group.

In college I got in the habit of riding quite frequently, especially in summer. Usually 40-60 mile rides, long enough to loosen up and unwind. I would do that probably four days a week during the summer. A couple of hundred miles a week, probably. I never consciously rode for fitness, but I know now that those rides were very beneficial in a variety of ways. I’m sure they gave me stamina and leg strength without putting stress on my knees and feet, and it never felt like work. It was the kind of activity that settled me down. I’ve always had to respect what a good ride can do for my mood. Going out on a bike is my idea of an excellent way to enjoy a sunny day. Being outside, getting into the movement and joy of the bike - it’s very satisfying to me, that feeling of freedom.

I took advantage of something else about the bicycle then, too: the privacy. There were a lot of basketball fans at UCLA and it could be difficult to cope with this at times. Between playing basketball and attending classes, I needed to get away, so I rode around campus rather walking. On the bike I was a lot less vulnerable, you might say; I was moving too fast for conversation. The bike gave me time by myself to digest the experiences I was having, and this was really important to me.

I finally hammered that poor Bertin to the point where I needed something new, and was lucky enough to meet a British professional rider named Norman Hill. He runs the Vancouver velodrome now, but at the time he was associated with the Falcon team. He arranged for me to get a road and a track bike. These Falcons were a necessity, actually; my size and weight were wrong for any stock bike. The were made of stronger tubing and had less flex; and I could feel the difference, especially when hammering a big gear or climbing hills off the saddle. My first ride with the track bike was a completely new experience, and I found I was still learning a lot about bicycles. These bikes were still a little on the small side, though; manufacturers aren’t geared up for out-size frames, basically. I measure out to a 29 1/2” frame, which creates all sorts of problems for the builder.

I might still be riding those Falcons except for a coincidence that brought me in contact with the 1980 Olympic track team, which moved to San Diego for quite some period of time to be near our velodrome. Harvey Nitz, Eric Heiden Mark Gorski, Brent Emery, John Beckmann, Dave Grylls - I can’t remember all the names - they were at a hotel near my house, and I’d go out with them, riding my Falcons. I learned a lot chasing them down the road, and missed them when they left. At that time, Eddy Borysewicz, the National coach, did me an important favor, by measuring me and arranging for Ted Kirkbride, who also built the American Masi bicycles, to build me a pair of bikes that really fit. Ted sent to England for special heavy tubing normally used on tandem bicycles, then built me both a road and a track bike, and they were just fine. It way my first experience with what it’s like to be on a bicycle that really fits and has good rigidity, and I can vouch for the advantages of this. These aren’t neighborhood bikes though, and I also have a stock Nishiki with butterfly handlebars that I knock around on.

Over the years I’ve thought about what is so different and unique about riding a bicycle. It’s not easy to define; I have to compare it to other things I really like, such as rock music and basketball. A bicycle gives me a special combination of rhythm and speed that is continuously exciting, and it’s different all the time. There’s a freshness to it.

I rely on my bikes for this, and often wished to communicate these feelings, but I never did anything about it until Bjarne Rostaing spoke to me about the possibility of doing a book several years ago. Not a specialist’s book, but an introduction to the bicycle with basic useful information about all aspects of the bicycle and how to enjoy it, rather than just purely mechanical things. It passed from my mind until half a year later, when Bjarne wrote me about the idea. I spoke to some cycling people we knew in common, and I got a positive impression. This is the book we came up with and I think it covers the territory. I could definitely have used a copy back when I was learning things the hard way.

The Ride of Your Life Virtual Book Visits the AdventureCORPS Blog! Feb 17, 2009

2009-02-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

The Ride of Your Life Virtual Book Visits the AdventureCORPS Blog!

A few weeks ago, author and road cyclist David Rowe released a new book called “The Ride of Your Life.” His goal in writing the book, he says, is to help others achieve great things on the bicycle and in life.

With his son Evan, David created Ready to Ride® in 2005 with the same objective. For more than three years now, he’s been helping cyclists who, like himself, do not have a background in road racing, excel at long distance riding events through his blog posts and eBooks, which are available through RoadBikeRider.com

Aside from his avocation for road cycling, David's professional life has centered on a career in magazine publishing and Internet marketing. He has held executive roles in product development and marketing for leading companies in the magazine and Internet industries. For the past nine years, he has been an active participant in the emerging online health and wellness industries as a vice president with WebMD.

David holds a Masters in Business Administration from Portland State University and is a frequent guest lecturer in the Graduate School on topics ranging from Internet marketing to consumer engagement.

We are pleased to welcome David to the AdventureCORPS blog!

Chris Kostman: What was your motivation for writing The Ride of Your Life?

David Rowe: I have been a writer for most of my professional life. I started my career as a newspaper reporter, then progressed to magazine writing and editing. I written scripts for radio, TV, but I’ve never taken on a book-length project, never really thought I had that much to say about any single topic. That changed for me, when I got into ultradistance cycling.

When I made the leap from centuries to brevets, I set my first year goal to ride the Cascade 1200 in Washington. Training for that doubled and tripled my weekly riding time. That surprised me, and just about everyone else involved in my life, who felt they, too, were impacted by the changes. But everyone was supportive; it was part of my 50th birthday plan to drive a serious stake the ground of life.

The problem was, once I completed that ride, brevet riding had gotten deep under my skin, especially the rides of 300K or more. I didn’t want to back-off, but I also knew that I couldn’t go on ignoring important aspects of life that I had put on hold in order to complete the training and the events that year.

I had used something called “The Insight System for Planning” for many years to set goals at work, and to keep work and personal life in balance. I experimented by applying those concepts to endurance cycling, to see if I could integrate it with my career and family goals. It worked in surprising ways, too. I found that the lessons I learned training for long rides, and handling the physical pain and suffering that is so often a part of long distance cycling, helped me to put other challenging aspects of my life into perspective. And, I found that the time I spent alone on the bike helped me to cherish my family and my profession even more.

At the same time, I noticed that others I rode with were pouring far more of their lives into cycling than I did. Some of them have families, young children. Most are married. Most have great jobs. Most were living the kinds of lives that most of the population of this country only sees on TV or in the movies … so much wealth. And yet, these guys were putting it all at risk, over investing, in my opinion.

I thought, maybe, what I’d learned could help others, just as it has helped me. So I sat down to write the book. I thought I’d be done in six months. It took me three years.

Chris: Do you think there are common traits among those who participate in ultra-endurance sports?

David: I think people who participate in endurance cycling have a lot in common. You have to love living in the aerobic zone; that’s an addiction that was vetted long ago. But more important, I believe that people who get involved in ultraendurance cycling love the challenge, and they love the fact that “it’s out there.” Completing an event like a 1200K brevet or an ultra like the Furnace Creek makes you different from the rest of the crowd, and I think everyone who rides these events will have to admit that’s an aspect of participation that they appreciate.

Chris: What motivates you to ride brevets, as opposed to ultracycling events?

David: It’s due in part to the way I came into ultracycling and what was available to me. The popularity of randonneuring in the Pacific Northwest is remarkable. It’s comparable to the popularity of double-centuries in California.

Washington and Oregon have led the nation with respect to total kilometers logged by Randonnerus USA. Between March and September, you could find at least two official brevets each month, often more. The terrain here – the Cascade Range, in particular – lends itself to this form of cycling. Brevets require minimal support, so the clubs can sponsor two or three brevet series, so long as enough riders take their turn volunteering to provide support. The result is that we ride through some of the most out-of-this-world landscapes on the planet, without all the hassle of preparing for an ultra.

I’ve always loved mountaineering, navigating, and wrenching my own bike. Randonneuring brings those all together in one sport. And it’s not officially competitive, or at least that’s what randos say out loud to others. But out there on the road, there are mini-competitions going on throughout the day, especially at the front, where you find the fast guys are often the same guys who show well at the ultra events, like Race Across Oregon, or Furnace Creek.

Chris: I know you’ve written on your Blog that one of the goals on your list is to complete Race Across Oregon (an event which is definitely not a brevet). When are you going to check that one off?

David: I’ve told George Thomas and Terri Gooch that I’ll be riding RAO this year. It wasn’t an easy decision for me. The Davis Bike club is hosting the Goldrush Randonnee in the same time frame, and it’s held just once every four years, so that was a factor to be considered. The cost of RAO would be higher than what I’m used to, due to the need for a follow-van and a support crew.

RAO is competitive. I haven’t raced bicycles; riding has always been a past time for me, though it’s been an increasingly challenging one. I have competed in sports throughout my life, but never on the bike. So that, too, was a hurdle.

I worked through the decision and I’ve been training for RAO since November 2008. Most of that has been a focus on re-habbing chronic knee pain, and strengthening a weak Achilles tendon.

Justin Peschka, who coaches for CTS, has designed my training program and we’ve been working on increasing my rolling speed. It’s been very, very fruitful. He worked with me during the 2008 season, and with his help, I completed the Rocky Mountain 1200 in less than 74 hours. His experience as a rider at Furnace Creek (and crewing RAAM) has given me the confidence to commit to RAO. He’ll be captain of my crew at RAO.

Chris: That's awesome. Justin has actually won Furnace Creek 508 twice in the solo division! So, looking back on the events you have ridden in the past five years are so, which would you say was the ride of your life?

David: Without question, the Cascade 1200K in 2006 was the ride of my life at that point. I was turning 50 years old, and I held up the completion of that ride as a sort of personal yardstick in many ways. Physical fitness, mental toughness, mechanical aptitude, that ride had it all going on for me.

I wrote a 13,000-word, six-part blog post about that ride. It was everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. Looking back on it, knowing that I almost quit, just 110 miles from the finish, is a reminder of the work I needed to do on myself, which could only be done on a ride like that, on an event like that. When I decided that I was going to finish, I had a massive time deficit, and I rode the fastest century of my life to finish just 60 seconds under the time cut-off. Even right now, I cannot possibly put into words how grateful I am to everyone who helped me that day.

Having said that, I have to say that each year, my goal rides become just as important to me as that one was then, because of the process I go through to pick them. In 2007, it was the Portland-to-Glacier 1000K. In 2008, it was the SIR 3 Passes 600K, and the Rocky Mountain 1200K in BC. Each one of those rides was epic, and I’ll never forget them.

I hope that in reading my book, others will find the rides of their lives, too, and when they do, they will finish them, and find meaning in them that transcends the ride.

Chris: Thanks, David, for your comments, and thanks for stopping by AdventureCORPS. I am sure our athletes will benefit from your thoughts, and your book.

If you’d like to learn more about David’s book, The Ride of Your Life, be sure to check it out at RoadBikeRider.com.

You can drop by David’s blog, too, and keep this conversation going. Visit him at http://www.readytoride.biz.

Meeting Dennis Chrisopher, AKA "Dave Stoller" of "Breaking Away"

2009-01-30T23:25:00.000-08:00

Caption: The Thrill of a Lifetime: Meeting Dennis Christopher, AKA "Dave Stoller," the star of "Breaking Away"

Location: Competitor Magazine Film Festival, which screened "Breaking Away" as the final feature, on the 30th anniversary of the film's original release in 1979!(January 30, 2009)

Note: I started cycling in 1982 and watched this film on videotape - while eating a whole box of Macaroni and Cheese (and often a pizza, too) - the night before every century, double century, and bike race I entered for several years. To meet "Dave Stoller" after all these years was truly magical. He was extremely personable, signed a photo from the film for me, and seemed genuinely pleased when I told him how much the film affected me and how often I watched it "back in the day" - as well as how much I still appreciate the film on other levels now that I am a bit older. He's a class act and, yes, he says he still has the Masi!

Carpooling and Ride-Sharing to and from Death Valley; Hotel Room Sharing, Too

2009-01-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

We encourage carpooling to and from our Spring and Fall Death Valley Century and Double Century events, as well as to and from all our other events, such as the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508. For Spring and Fall Death Valley, with some 300 riders coming from 20 or more states (and a few foreign countries), there must be somebody who lives near you, or along the route you'll be driving, or perhaps someone just needs a ride to and from the airport in Vegas or LA if they are flying to the event. Share the ride! Save gas! Save money! Save the earth!

Please use this section of the blog to connect with other riders - you can save money, save gas, help to protect the environment, and - hopefully - meet some cool people, too! (You can also use this page to find potential roommates for CORPScamp Death Valley, the Spring Century & Double Century, Hell's Gate Hundred, or the Fall Century & Double Century.)

(Note: We are provide a service here, allowing people to meet and share rides. We can't and don't guarantee anything about the people you'll meet, so be careful and use your best judgement. Review the Personal Safety Tips that Craigslist uses on their Rideshare page here.)

Click the "Comments" button below and leave your request for a ride, or offer to share your trip!

Most importantly, list a method for contacting you. (If you don't, we will reject your post and it will not be published.)

Furnace Creek 508: Looking to Join a Support Crew?

2009-01-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

Are you looking to support a solo cyclist or relay team during the toughest 48 hours in sport, Furnace Creek 508? Great! Not only would you be helping somebody complete the race, but you would learn a lot in the in process and also acquire another important component for any future FC 508 application (if it's your goal to compete some day). You can post your availability to do so by making a "comment" below. Please state your name, location, age, cycling background, and any other relevant information about why you'd be a great support crew member for a 508 cyclist or team. Most importantly, list a method for contacting you. (If you don't, we will reject your post and it will not be published.)

Badwater: Looking to Join a Support Crew?

2009-01-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Are you looking to support a runner during the world's toughest foot race, the Badwater Ultramarathon? Great! Not only would you be helping somebody complete the race, but you would learn a lot in the in process and also acquire another important component for any future Badwater application (if it's your goal to compete some day). You can post your availability to do so by making a "comment" below. Please state your name, location, age, running background, and any other relevant information about why you'd be a great support crew member for a Badwater runner. Most importantly, list a method for contacting you. (If you don't, we will reject your post and it will not be published.)

Barbara Warren: 1943-2008

2008-08-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

Above: Barbara and Angelika at the start of the 2001 Race Across America, which they completed as a two-woman relay team. Below: Barbara with her also lovely daughter, at the RAAM start line. Photos by Chris Kostman.

"When you're stuck sitting in a comfort zone, small problems become magnified. Get out of your comfort zone, touch the edge, and you come back with an appreciation for life." - Barbara Warren, 1943-2008
______________________________

ENDURANCE SPORTS LOSE ONE OF LEGENDARY TWINS

Article by Don Norcross, from the San Diego Union-Tribune, August 28, 2008:

Three days after a bike accident left her paralyzed from the neck down, Barbara Warren, one of San Diego's elite age-group triathletes, died Tuesday night in a Santa Barbara hospital.

She was 65.

Warren was competing in the Santa Barbara Triathlon on Saturday when she crashed. Race director Joe Coito said participants told him Warren crashed on a downhill road about halfway into the 34-mile bike portion of the event.

By Tuesday, doctors told family members that Warren's paralysis would be permanent. She was breathing with the aid of a ventilator. According to family members, Warren was conscious and communicated by nodding her head and blinking her eyes.

Warren's twin sister, Angelika Drake, said Warren decided she wanted to be taken off the ventilator and die.

"I talked to her and she nodded over and over and over again. She wanted to leave," Drake said. "No athlete would like to have a life with only their eyes talking."

Tom Warren, Barbara's husband, said he repeatedly asked Barbara what action she wanted to take, as did Barbara's two adult daughters and her doctors.

"She was asked in different ways, different contexts and she was so adamant about it," Tom said. "She had her mind made up."

Barbara Warren raced at the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii 13 times. She won her age group in 2003 and finished in the top five eight times.

Her athletic realm stretched far beyond the Big Island and triathlon's most famous race. In 2001, Warren and Drake set a two-person age-group record in the Race Across America. Alternating riding bikes, the twins covered 2,983 miles in nine days, 13 hours.

Warren competed in the Marathon des Sables, a seven-day race across the Sahara Desert, and raced a triple Ironman in France, requiring 50 hours to finish a 7.2-mile swim, 336-mile bike and 78.6-mile run.

About pushing herself in endurance events, Warren once said, "When you're stuck sitting in a comfort zone, small problems become magnified. Get out of your comfort zone, touch the edge, and you come back with an appreciation for life."

San Diegan Kim Rouse, a longtime runner who took up triathlon six years ago, said more than anything Barbara Warren was a role model.

"When she was doing all these endurance events it was so amazing to me," Rouse said.

Warren led a fascinating life long before she began running, biking and swimming.

Born in Austria, she moved to Florence, Italy, in her late teens to study art. She became a model, appearing in Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, according to Drake. She moved to Mexico and acted in films.

"She was mostly a villain," Drake said.

The sisters opened boutiques, plus modeling and ballet schools in Mexico. In San Diego, Warren studied to become a psychologist.

"She did as much as she could all the time," said Tom Warren, winner of the second Ironman Triathlon World Championship. "There were no shortcuts."

Olympic triathlon silver medalist and Ironman Hawaii champion Michellie Jones of Carlsbad remembers Warren for her kindness. Like Warren, Jones is a twin.

"She always asked about my sister," Jones said. "She understood the bond."

Warren passed away with her daughters, Ingrid, 33, and Katrin, 27, standing beside her, touching her head. Drake lay beside her sister when she died.

"My heart and my soul are gone," Drake said. "She was everything in my life."

Services are pending.

Read this article online at the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Read the LA Times coverage.

Read about Barbara and Angelika at Competitor.com (you can post comments, too).

Visit The Twin Team website.

Note: Barbara and her sister Angelika competed on a 4x women's team in the 1995 Furnace Creek 508. They both completed the Badwater Ultramarathon in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1999. I happily crossed paths with them around the globe, at some of my favorite events and places, over the last 20 years. The Twins have been, without fail, a double shot of beauty, energy, elegance, sportwomanship, integrity, grace under pressure, and friendship - every single time I encountered them.

We send our deepest condolences to all of Barbara and Angelika's family.

2008 Major Taylor Statue Unveiling in Worcester, MA

2008-05-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

The Major Taylor Association was formed by residents of Worcester, MA who became intrigued with the story of Marshall "Major" Taylor, the 1899 world champion bicycle racer from Worcester who overcame racial prejudice to become the first internationally acclaimed African-American sports star. One of the MTA's main goals was to erect a statue in honor of Taylor.

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and three-time Olympic medalist Edwin Moses were among the featured speakers at the public unveiling of the Major Taylor Statue on Wednesday, May 21, at the Worcester, MA Public Library.

LeMond, who won a world championship in cycling 90 years after Major Taylor did, and Moses, who dominated the 400-meter hurdles in track and field for a decade, were each named "Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year" at the height of their athletic careers in the 1980s. The statue of the "Worcester Whirlwind" created by sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez is Worcester's first monument to an African-American.

That evening, the Clark University History Department and Higgins School of Humanities presented a panel discussion on "Race, Sports, and Major Taylor's Legacy." Boston Globe columnist Derrick Z. Jackson was moderator for the scholars, historians and authors exploring diversity in sports and society, then and now.

I was extremely pleased and honored to attend the ceremony and all the festivities surrounding the unveiling of the Major Taylor Statue in Worcester, MA. Every moment of this experience was meaningful and inspiring and the memories will last a lifetime. I hope the video, the audio files, and this slideshow help to commemorate a wonderful and historic occasion. (I also took the opportunity to visit the site of Henry David Thoreau's cabin in the woods at nearby Walden Pond.) Full story, slideshow, video, and audio files.

2008 Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour

2008-05-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Imagine a two-day cycling event which doesn’t allow Lycra, requires no training (but lots of good attitude) and features riders in 1930s era “street” clothing who stop at every single scenic overlook, roadside historical marker, and café they encounter, while riding old British 3-speed bikes. This is the Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour and it’s the coolest, most fun, most enjoyable, and perhaps the most thought-provoking bicycle event I’ve ever attended - and now I have attended three years in a row! Report, video, and three slideshows.

2007 Hammer Camp: A Skeptical Cyclist in Tucson

2007-10-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

You don’t have to call me a skeptic; I’ve been a member of the Skeptics Society since it was founded by fellow Race Across America competitor Michael Shermer in 1992. Not only that, but I bagged out of the last two week-long cycling camps I attended because they were so poorly organized and populated with people who had zilch to talk about besides, well, cycling. In on case I left after less than 24 hours and in the other I survived 48 hours before I escaped to another hotel and my own itinerary.

So what the heck was I doing on my way to Tucson, en route to the December cycling camp hosted by the cycling food gurus at Hammer Nutrition and based at “The Cycling House?” I guess I was wishing for “third time’s a charm” and not “three strikes, you’re out.” (Not to mention a leg up on the impending holiday food fests.)

Fingers crossed, I exited I-10 in Tucson after a 400-mile cruise from my base camp. Full story.

2007 Ironman Revisited: My Day in the Sun

2007-08-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

Aloha! I recently retuned from the Ironman Revisited Triathlon on behalf of Challenged Athletes Foundation. Held Sunday, August 12, it was a remake of the original Ironman on the original route in the original format. Even the legendary Dave Scott, the six-time Ironman champ who first won the race on this very route in 1980, was there. But Ironman Revisited is much more than a race or an exploration of triathlon’s origins, it’s a fundraiser for Challenged Athletes Foundation. I am absolutely thrilled that we raised $27,365 for the cause this year! I also completed the course solo with the help of a tremendous support crew. Full story, slideshow, and video.

2007 Michael Secrest's 24 Hour World Indoor Track Cycling Record

2007-06-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

Michael "Bulldog" Secrest, one of the greatest superheroes of ultracycling, broke the 24-Hour Indoor World Cycling Record Friday-Saturday, June 15-16, 2007. This was his second successful attempt at this record in well under a year. Beginning at 835am on Friday, Secrest circled the amazing indoor velodrome at the ADT Event Center in Carson, CA for 24 hours, covering 535.86 miles (exact distance to be certified soon). Secrest actually broke this same world record in October, 2006 at this same velodrome, when he bettered the 530.41 mile mark set by Rod Evans in Australia in 1994 with a distance of 534.75 miles. He finished that effort knowing he could go further, hence his return to the LA Velodrome. Full story, slideshow, and videos.

2007 Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour

2007-05-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine a two-day cycling event which has no entry fee, doesn’t allow Lycra, requires no training (but lots of good attitude) and features riders in 1930s era “street” clothing who stop at every single scenic overlook, roadside historical marker, and café they encounter, while riding old British 3-speed bikes that are commonly seen offered for a few bucks in garage sales. This is the Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour and it’s the coolest, most fun, most enjoyable, and perhaps the most thought-provoking bicycle event I’ve ever attended. Report and three captioned slideshows.

2006 Fifty Mile Ride to Support Project Rwanda

2006-10-30T23:16:00.000-08:00

Exceeding expectations is always a good thing and Trabuco Canyon, in the dirt-covered backcountry of Orange County, CA was the place to be for that and more on December 30, 2006. Commercial printer and long-time mountain bike enthusiast Doug Grant wanted to do more than just ride and celebrate the conclusion of the first half-century of his life with his Fifty Mile Ride. His goal was to support Project Rwanda, an organization founded by cycling innovator and manufacturer Tom Ritchey, who, coincidentally, was also celebrating his 50th birthday in late December. Project Rwanda’s goal is to provide durable bikes to coffee farmers as part of a micro-enterprise venture that will make a hugely positive impact on the lives of the local family coffee growers in Rwanda. It was a great day of mountain biking for a great cause! Slideshow.

2006 Michael Secrest's 24 Hour World Indoor Track Cycling Record

2006-10-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend Michael "Bulldog" Secrest, one of the greatest superheroes of ultracycling, broke the 24-Hour Indoor World Cycling Record Sunday-Monday, October 21-22, 2006. Beginning at 910am on Sunday, Secrest circled the amazing indoor velodrome at the ADT Event Center in Carson, CA for 24 hours, covering 534.7 miles (exact distance to be certified soon). This bettered the 530.41 mile mark set by Rod Evans in Australia in 1994. Full story and slideshow.

2006 Race Across AMerica (RAAM)

2006-06-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

I had a really nice time in and around Oceanside, CA over the wekend of June 10-11, 2006 at the start line of the Race Across America. I'm very pleased and excited to report that there were A LOT of Furnace Creek 508 veterans competing in the 2006 Race Across America. I enjoyed the pre-race activity, then rode out with the peloton on race day. Slideshow.

2006 Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour

2006-05-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend of May 20-21, 2006 I had the most wonderful, amazing, and enjoyable time participating in this one-of-a-kind event held along the Mississippi, on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides. It was also extra nice that my brother and his wife rode as well. As it says on the 3SpeedTour.com website: "The Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour is based on cycle touring in pre-war England. It was a Gentlemanly time; few people owned a car and recreation based on automobiles was extremely limited. To get away for the weekend they would pack a few things, mount up and head to the country. Most every farmstead had refreshments or a room to rent, every little village had a family-run restaurant; just look for the “Cyclist Teas” or “CTC Recommended” sign. English cycle touring in the 1930s was punctuated with many stops for food, water, tea and sometimes a pint at the local brewpub. Scenic overlooks were an invitation to nap in the grass and were seldom missed. For weekend tourists, traveling light was the order of the day and most people simply carried a change of clothes and rain gear. Fast forward 80 years or so and it still makes sense. Report and Three Slideshows.

2006 Endurance Sports Awards

2006-02-04T23:13:00.000-08:00

The fourteenth annual Endurance Sports Awards, held February 4, 2006 at Sea World, was a very special evening organized to recognize a wide variety of endurance athletes while benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Official Charity of AdventureCORPS. We were pleased to share the AdventureCORPS table with some of the very best people we know: Mike Angelos, Lisa and David Bliss, Pam Foye-Needle and Scott Needle, Dan Dominy, and Lana Jane. Slideshow with captions.

2005 Tour of Cedar Grove

2005-08-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

On August 20-21, 2005 I joined a baker's dozen cycling friends for a wonderul, and epic, two-day bike tour through Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks. We camped the one night in Cedar Grove. It was an incredible ride through spectacular surroundings. I'm just amazed that I've never visited these two National Parks before! Slideshow.

2005 Ironman Revisited: A Team Effort for CAF!

2005-08-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

We finished! Team Magnum entered as a relay team in 2005, completing the course in 13:39. More importantlly, we raised $35,000 for CAF! We (swimmer Shoko, cyclist Chris, and runner Laurie) had a blast raising funds and then completing the course as a three-person tag team. It was another wonderful opportunity to support a special cause and to celebrate the international language of sportsmanship. Click here for the second of four slideshows from the 2005 race.

A RAAM Field Flush with 508ers, and an 18-year-old

2005-06-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed going down to the start of the Race Across America on June 19, 2005 and riding out with the racers to the "official start" at mile 13. I was particularly pleased to wish "good luck" to Ben Couturier, the 18-year-old Alaskan rider who is aiming to break my "youngest ever finisher" record set at age 20 in 1987. It was also nice to see so many Furnace Creek 508 alumni on the start line, including Marko Tweety Bird Baloh, Kevin Wolverine Walsh, Catharina Bumble Bee Berge, James Cutthroat Trout Trout, David Koala Kees, Chris Border Collie Hopkinson, and Fabio Bunny Biasiolo. I wish everyone in the race well. Slideshow.

2005 Hell Week Texas

2005-05-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

Hell Week is an eight-day cycling vacation held in varioius prime cycling destinations across the U.S. It's produced by Nick and Becky Gerlich, two great people and fellow solo RAAM finishers. The original Hell Week celebrated its 15th anniversary this year and we were there to join in the fun. Held in the Texas Hill Country and based in Fredericksburg, just one hour outside San Antonio, it's a week of spectacular cycling on very quiet roads. There's lots to do off the bike as well, so much that we would have enjoyed the week even without our bikes! (But we're sure glad we got in over 400 quality miles and met, or reconnected with, some really wonderful cycling folks!) Three captioned slideshows.

2005 Cirque du Cyclisme, Greensboro, North Carolina

2005-05-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

My hat is off to Dale Brown of Cycles de Oro for organizing and hosting this three day celebration of vintage and classical bicycles. I had an absolute blast at this wonderful event. The camaraderie was incredible, the rides fun, the bicycles beautiful, and so much more. Six slideshows!

2005 Endurance Sports Awards

2005-02-05T22:52:00.000-08:00

The thirteenth annual Endurance Sports Awards, held February 5, 2005 at Sea World, was a very special evening organized to recognize a wide variety of endurance athletes while benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Official Charity of AdventureCORPS. We took eight of our closest friends to this event. Slideshow.

2004 San Diego Triathlon Challenge, another awesome CAF Benefit Race

2004-10-31T22:52:00.000-08:00

After hosting our final event of the season in Death Valley, I drove overnight to San Diego in order to enjoy another wonderful triathlon experience on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Held October 31, this half-Ironman distance event was a wonderful day for an incredible cause. Slideshow.

2004 Ironman Revisited: Out There Again for CAF

2004-08-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

I finished! Splits: 1:32 swim, 6:41 bike, 5:54 marathon, plus transition times = 14:35 and 7th place of 16 solo entrants. Most importantly: We raised $11,196 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation! Thanks for your support, everyone! And thanks to my awesome crew: Jay, Shoko, and Laurie! Results and slideshows.

Skydiving over Monterey, CA, May 16, 2004

2004-05-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

The day after hosting the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in Monterey, ride volunteer and 508 veteran Brandon Bruce invited me to go skydiving. I'm so glad I seized the opportunity! Report and slideshow.

2004 Cirque du Cyclisme, Greensboro, North Carolina

2004-05-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

2004 Los Angeles Nike Run Hit Wonder 10k

2004-04-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun at this event in 2003, so I came back for more on April 24, 2004. (So did 20,000 other runners.) Bands along the route were A Flock of Seagulls, Tommy Tutone, General Public, Tone Loc, and Dramarama. The finish line perfomers were Devo and they put on an incredibly good show!!! (I can't overstate this. Devo were awesome!) Unlike the other runners, I actually stopped to listen to each of the performers for at least a few minutes, not to mention photograph and videotape them. Totally awesome! Slideshow and review.

2004 Endurance Sports Awards

2004-02-07T22:46:00.000-08:00

The twelfth annual Endurance Sports Awards was a very special evening organized to recognize a wide variety of endurance athletes while benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I took nine close friends to this event, held February 7, 2004 at Sea World, because I knew from my experience last year that it would be a lot of fun and because we are always happy to support C.A.F., the organization that is the Official Charity of AdventureCORPS. Highlights included Badwater champ Pam Reed's "Runner of the Year" award, the recognition of Steve Beaver Born's recent induction into the Ultracycling Hall of Fame, and a reunion of the 1984 US Olympic Cycling Team to recognize their coach, Eddy B. Slideshow.

Archaeological Institute of America: Gold Medal Presentation for Prof. David Stronach

2004-01-04T22:45:00.000-08:00

Chris had the good fortune to attend the recent AIA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. This included a session on Near Eastern Archaeology in honor of Davd Stronach, one of the all-time greats in his field and also Chris' Ph.D. advisor at the University of California at Berkeley. Prof. Stronach was also most deservedly awarded the AIA Gold Medal, the highest award they bestow, for his excellence in field work, research, publishing, and teaching. Photos.

2003 San Diego Triathlon Challenge, another awesome Challenged Athletes Foundation Benefit Race

2003-11-02T22:44:00.000-08:00

We recently enjoyed another wonderful triathlon experience on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Held November 2, this half-Ironman distance event was a wonderful day for an incredible cause. Slideshow. We raised $4,000 for CAF as part of our participation in this event. Thanks to all my contributors!

Chris competes in 2003 Ironman Revisited, Raising Funds for Challenged Athletes

2003-08-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

On August 17, 2003 Chris joined 26 other triathletes along the shores of Oahu to rediscover the sport of triathlon. The event was Ironman Revisited and it was a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. They swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and then ran a 26.2-mile marathon, non-stop in one day! But unlike that big race on Kona in October, they had no cheering crowds, no TV coverage, and no prize money. In fact, they were on the open roads with the traffic and relied on individual support crews to take care of them and keep them headed in the right direction. Results and slideshows.

Chris had the privilege of participating in this event last year, the first time it was held, and had what can only be described as "an amazing, incredible, life-changing experience." He came home as the highest fundraiser, with $12,590 raised, and set his sights on a much loftier goal for 2003: $15,000. And thanks to the outpouring of support he received, he raised $15,587.50 and was the highest fund-raiser again! Additionally, he placed third overall, six places higher than in 2002.

Off-Road Cycling and Hiking Adventures in and near Moab, Utah and Canyonlands National Park

2003-05-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

In May, 2003 I joined an epic trip organized by Dan Dominy, the adventure video cameraman extraordinaire who shoots the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 every year. He's also a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 fanatic who organizes an annual trip to the Moab, Utah and Canyonlands National Park area for fantastic off-road cycling, hiking, and exploration. This trip was, and still is, easily one of the best and most memorable trips I've ever undertaken. It was visually breath-taking every single day. The cycling was fantastic. The hiking was peaceful and otherworldly. The campsites were spectcular. The natural curiousities were everywhere and innumerable. The pictographs were beyond words. Slideshow.

"Lifting Up The World" - Sri Chinmoy Lifts Me Up!

2003-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 26, Chris was honored by being lifted up, literally, by the spiritual master and international man of peace, Sri Chinmoy. The "Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart" Program is a unique award offered by Sri Chinmoy to recognise individuals from all walks of life who have inspired and uplifted humanity. Sri Chinmoy lifts the recipients overhead either with one arm or both arms using a specially constructed platform in a symbolic gesture of oneness with their uplifting achievements.

"I am trying with my capacity to encourage and inspire people in various walks of life who have inspired others in sports, literature, science or politics, or in their own personal lives. I lift them up to show my appreciation for their achievements," he has said.

Since June 1988, Sri Chinmoy has honoured more than 4,000 individuals in this manner, including Heads of State, diplomats, spiritual and religious leaders of many faiths, distinguished achievers in the arts and in literature, Nobel laureates and world class athletes. You can read about this program by clicking here, read about Sri Chinmoy himself by clicking here, and see pictures of the actual ceremony by clicking here.

2003 Los Angeles Run Hit Wonder 10k

2003-02-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

I absolutely had to participate in this funny event, as it featured live performances of A Flock of Seagulls, C+C Music Factory, Gerardo, Animotion, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt, and Missing Persons. I carried a digital camera and a video camera for the whole event, to record it for posterity (and my next high school reunion!) Slideshow.

2003 Endurance Sports Awards

2003-02-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

The eleventh annual Endurance Sports Awards was a very special evening organized to recognize a wide variety of endurance athletes while benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I knew it would be a lot of fun and am always happy to support C.A.F., the organization that I recently named the Official Charity of AdventureCORPS. It was also neat to be there because one of the new award categories was "Ultramarathon Cycling Legend" and this year it would be awarded to Rob Kish, the seventeen time finisher of the Race Across America. As we all know, ultra-endurance sports rarely get this kind of mainstream attention. For the full report and slideshow, click here.

Chris is highest fundraiser at 2002 Ironman Revisited!

2002-08-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

On August 25, 2002 Chris joined 26 other triathletes along the shores of Oahu to rediscover the journey of triathlon. The event was Ironman Revisited and it was a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Chris and the other participants swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and then ran a 26.2 mile marathon, non-stop in one day!

Chris learned of this event from 2002 Badwater Ultramarathon finisher Chris Frost over Memorial Weekend during the Badwater Training Clinic. Right then and there, he knew he had to do this event and that he would also do it in the spirit of his all-time favorite TV show and philosophy fountain, Magnum, p.i., which was filmed on Oahu from 1980 to 1988.

On behalf of himself, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Chris thanks everyone for their generous contributions to his effort, totaling over $12,500, the most raised by any participant in this event! Chris Frost raised over $4,000 and was the third highest fundraiser, too! Altogether, over $60,000 was raised on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. To read Chris' Ironman training log and see slideshows from the event, click here.

Turkey Expedition, Kerkenes Archaeological Project, June–July 2002

2002-07-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

In the summer of 2002 I was invited by Prof. David Stronach to join the Kerkenes Archaeological Project in Turkey near Sorgun, Yozgat. Prof. Stronach is my Phd advisor from U.C. Berkeley and the co-director of the project. I took this opportunity to also visit many of the great historic and archaeological sites of Turkey, including Istanbul, Ankara, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Bodrum, Ephesus, Sardis, Gordion, and Hatusa. Report and six slideshows.

The Quest for Barry Bonds' Ball

2001-10-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Barry Bonds broke the home run record on Friday, October 5, 2001 at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco. It was during the first of three games against the Dodgers that he pushed the record to 72 runs. Well, I'm no mainstream sports fan, but I did watch a bit of the game and the news coverage. What struck me, frankly, was all of the people in boats just outside the park in McCovey Cove. This new ball park butts up against the Bay and some of the homers that go out of the park land in the water. Even before Barry Bonds' home run record performances, some locals had taken to hanging out in the Bay there, hoping to catch a ball. Needless to say, during the Friday night game, the cove was just packed with people on all types of boats, kayaks, canoes, rafts, flotation devices, and the like. It just looked so hysterical, a real cultural happening, that I just had to go check it out. Click here for the Full Story and Slideshow

2001 Race Across America (RAAM) Slideshows

2001-06-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a wonderful four days at the start line of the 2001 Race Across America in support of all the Furnace Creek 508 veterans who are competing and am happy to have created four slideshows from that experience.

Furnace Creek 508 and Race Across America T-Shirt Quilt

2001-04-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

Chris' Mom made him an incredible quilt that features 42 of his t-shirts from his lifelong involvement with the Furnace Creek 508 (since 1984) and the Race Across America (since 1982). It's an amazing effort representing an incredible personal history. As you can see, I've been involved with these races for a long, long time, in fact since their very beginnings! Each page has a short caption explaining the shirt and my involvement that year. I guess this is the beginning of "My History with RAAM" that I've been wanting to write for a long time. I hope you'll take the time to enjoy the whole show! Click here for the fully captioned slideshow.

Jeff Bell's Field Reports

1999-12-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Field Reports: Jeff Bell, Furnace Creek 508 veteran and long-time friend of adventureCORPS, just finished a world tour through Asia, Australia, the States, Europe, Nepal, India, and beyond. We have all 23 of his exclusive Field Reports here!

Field Reports: Chris Kostman in Hong Kong and Egypt

1998-07-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

Before there was blogging, there were Field Reports sent via email. In May 1998 Chris took "Spinning" to Hong Kong, then that Summer he worked with the Sadana Island Shipwreck Project in the Red Sea. His email reports from those trips are archived here.