Standing on the podium at gravel nationals a year ago as of yesterday, I could have never imagined how much my relationship with biking and racing would change.

After the disappointment of moving from first place to fourth place after a big crash at mile 90 of 140 at nationals, I was determined to get back into training after a brief break off the bike to heal.

Two races and training blocks later, I stopped wanting to ride and hated the fact that I didn’t want to do something that I once loved so much. I felt like I was losing a part of myself. Out of fear, I forced myself to ride in hopes that the love would come back. Little did I know that what I really needed to do was let go.

Although I stopped training, I decided to still do the races I was signed up for, but with a far different mindset. I let go of all expectations and went in with only the goal of staying upright and having fun. Whether it was due to the power of taking myself less seriously or simply just luck, the races I took on with the new mindset went far better than the previous ones despite having far less fitness.

My season ended after completing BRW San Diego, marking a total of nine long races. Afterward, for the first time since I started cycling, I took a break and made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t start riding again until I truly wanted to. After a month and a half off the bike, I finally did.

While the cycles of burnout that led to this were in no way ideal, I’m grateful for the newfound excitement I have towards riding and everything I learned about myself in the process. In this next chapter of my cycling journey, I’m excited to prioritize fun times over fast times while hopefully uplifting people along the way.

To any of you facing burnout, I hope you’ll take a deep breath, be gentle with yourself, and open your mind to the idea of letting go. While it can be scary and overwhelming, you’ll be led back to whatever it is you’re letting go of when you’re ready if it’s meant to be.

The post From Burnout to Balance appeared first on SLO Cyclist | An Online Road Bicycling Magazine.

The weekend of October 26th is jam-packed with two incredible and nontraditional cycling events: The Bovine Classic in Atascadero (very close to SLO!!) and Phil’s Cookie Fondo in Malibu. From beginners to seasoned riders, these events are guaranteed fun for all skill levels.

What are they? While they are two very different events, they both have a few common themes: a welcoming and fun aura, multiple courses for different skill levels, delicious food, and an atmosphere where fun times are more important than fast times.

How do they work? Described as “A seriously unserious gravel hoedown in California’s “other” wine country,” the Bovine Classic is a local mixed surface adventure ride. While there are results and prizes, this is not your typical race. The courses range from 38 to 93 miles, and only a small portion of the routes are timed and count towards the results. What does this mean? Well, even if you are the first person to cross the finish line, the results from your timed segments are what count. So enjoy the ride, make some new friends, take in the gorgeous scenery, stop at each station, and eat DELICIOUS snacks (last year there was pastries from local bakeries, fancy prosciutto, and many other outstanding goodies on top of traditional bike snacks), and hammer some short segments if you feel like it. If not, that’s ok too.

Phil’s Cookie Fondo is the “Sweetest Gran Fondo of All and the Best Day You’ll Ever Have on a Bike!” Take in the gorgeous Malibu scenery, eat cookies, meet great people (including Phil), and constantly have a smile on your face. As if cookies and Malibu aren’t incentive enough, the event is raising money for the Los Angeles Chapter of Sierra Club which is actively working to protect the Santa Monica mountains. There will also be a post-ride meal made by local celebrity chefs. If you are unfamiliar with Phil Gaimon, he’s a cookie lover, former world tour rider, and author of three incredible books that I couldn’t put down. Phil, if a miracle happens and you’re reading this for some reason, pretty please write some more books.

As a broke college student, I haven’t personally done this race, but I’m so excited to do it this year with the registration discount for college students and junior rides. Thank you to the anonymous sponsor who donated 100 free entries for riders currently enrolled in college or under 19. Young riders, there are still spots available as of today!

If you can’t decide between the two, flip a coin and know that either will be incredible. If you’re crazy like me and plan on doing both events, best of luck!!

The post A Weekend You Don’t Want To Miss appeared first on SLO Cyclist | An Online Road Bicycling Magazine.

As someone who has done their fair share of annoyingly long rides, I often get asked “What’s the key to being on your bike for so long?” While I don’t have all of the answers, here are some key tips that I swear by. Whether you’re getting ready for your first 20+ mile ride or gearing up for your first century, I highly recommend trying the strategies listed below.

Click Here for the Spark Notes Version

Tip #1. EAT

Fueling is crucial, especially on rides over an hour or two. Forget the complex formulas; keep it simple: have a carb-rich snack every 45-60 minutes. If you struggle with solid food, try liquid calories from drink mixes. The best snacks are the ones you enjoy and want to eat.

Tip #2: Ride at a Comfortable Pace

Unless you’re a pro or just a plain masochist, don’t try to go full speed on long rides. Instead, ride in the magical Zone Two, the sweet spot for aerobic and endurance gains. If you can chat while riding, you’re probably in the right zone. Heavy breathing? You’re going too hard.

Tip #3: Ride a Bike that Fits Well

Comfort is crucial. Joint pain or discomfort on long rides usually means your bike fit is off. A proper bike fit helps you ride more efficiently and comfortably. Professional fits can be pricey but are worth it to ride pain-free. However!! Remember that you know your body best, so if a certain measurement/ fit feels right for you, go with it even if the bike fitter says otherwise.

For those of you opting for the longer version (proud of you), let’s dive in.

Tip #1. EAT

People tend not to realize how important fueling is on the bike, especially on rides over an hour or two. While the internet can go into immense detail and offer formulas to calculate exactly how much you should be eating, I like to keep it simple and go by this simple rule for training rides: Have a carbohydrate-rich snack every 45min-60min. Rule of thumb: it’s far easier to eat too little during a ride than too much, so if you want a snack sooner than 45-60 min, have one!

What should you eat on the bike? Well, there are so many options!! There are a ton of options designed specifically for exercise such as GU gels, Honey Stinger waffles, Bonk Breakers energy bars, and more. These are great for races and when you want the most optimal cycling nutrition. However, they are more expensive than non cycling-specific alternatives. If you’re a broke college student like me or not wanting to spend as much money for training ride fuel, there are plenty of more budget friendly alternatives that do the trick. Some of my go-to favorites are fruit snacks, gummy bears, cookies, or GoGo Squeeze apple sauce pouches.

Some people struggle to get down calories during rides (I’m this way in races, it sucks), so if you fall in that boat, liquid calories from drink mixes are a great way to get the fuel you need during long rides. They also offer important electrolytes and other good stuff, so drink mix is really just good all around even if you have no problem getting down nutrition during rides. Fluid is a local company with great hydration options. Their cinnamon-vanilla recovery mix is also TO DIE FOR. Personally, my go-to race hydration mix is GU Roctane Summit Tea drink mix. It is high in calories, packed with good stuff, and has a very mellow and yummy flavor that my sensitive stomach and get down.

Tip #2: Ride at a comfortable pace

Unless you’re a pro rider, attempting a multi-hour ride at top speed most likely won’t go well. The key to riding for a long time is riding at a sustainable pace. There’s this magical thing called Zone Two, which is the optimal zone (a specific range of heart rate or power outputs that correspond to different levels of exercise intensity) for aerobic and endurance gains. If you’re riding in zone two, you should be able to maintain a conversation. If you’re breathing heavily, there’s a 99.9% chance that you are riding too hard. Zone two is the key for enjoyable and beneficial long rides.

Additional Zone Two Info

For the number geeks: If you train off heart rate data, zone one two means riding between 60 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. For example, if I had a max heart rate of 200 bpm, zone two for me would mean riding between 120 and 140 bpm. If you train off power meter data, you probably already know what zone two means, but here’s a link just in case. Ps. if you’re reading this and have no clue what I’m talking about, don’t sweat it… pls. Often times, the best way to enjoy things is to keep it simple.

Tip #3. Ride a bike that fits well.

Comfort is key, and joint pain/discomfort on long rides is most likely due to an improper bike fit. In addition tp helping you ride more efficiently, a properly fitted bike will help make your body comfortable and mind happy. Bike fits do cost a bit of money, but they are crucial to anyone having discomfort on the bike (discomfort meaning pain in your back, knees, arms, neck, etc). Finding a good and affordable place to get a bike fit can be tricky, but we’re in luck because Humberto at Art’s Cyclery gives great and affordable bike fits.

Rule of thumb #3: Bike fitters are incredibly knowledgeable, however, you will always be the most knowledgeable about your body and how it feels. If a certain measurement or fit feels right for you, go with it even if the bike fit says otherwise.

These tips have helped me conquer many long rides, and I hope they work for you too. Happy cycling!

The post Key Tips for Riding Further on the Bike appeared first on SLO Cyclist | An Online Road Bicycling Magazine.

Have you been missing the most honest, practical, entertaining, and occasionally funny cycling content in San Luis Obispo? Well, good news! It’s back.

Why should you listen to me?? Well… quite honestly I can’t give any great reasons, but I’ve learned a lot throughout multiple years of riding/racing and have experienced how great (and occasionally not great) the cycling community can be. From important lessons I’ve learned on and off the bike to gear reviews and things I wish I knew when I first started riding, I can promise to share my honest, raw, and unfiltered thoughts on whatever you’d like to hear about.

The post We’re Back! Official 2024 Debut appeared first on SLO Cyclist | An Online Road Bicycling Magazine.