Cycling is a very enjoyable but demanding sport. I am extremely short and small so I have a 13 inch frame and it still doesn’t quite fit me. I have to keep my seat completely lowered so that I don’t fall over when we stop:) After an all day trail ride, this arrangement (and the fact that I am too cheap to buy a custom bike) causes my body to shift and become unbalanced. In other words, I need some serious deep stretching to cope.
Yoga for Cyclists DVD and book is exactly what the doctor ordered especially if I’m trying to avoid injury. The book is lightweight enough to put in my camelback and use during breaks and the DVD has a warm-up/cool-down session and a training session for when I can’t make it to the trail or road.
The two sessions featured on the DVD are designed to cultivate strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance and of course these are all things cyclists need to enjoy their sport. I am always on the hunt to strengthen my wrists and keep the numbness out of my seat.
Here are some of the muscles and benefits focused on during the two sessions:
leg strength; hips; butt; abdominals and lower back; arms; chest expansions; shoulders and wrist strength; forearms; increasing lung capacity; increasing circulation to the pelvic area
The poses are designed to give us something to work toward so there is a nice challenge and they work to strengthen muscles so when we do crash, we can take the impact better and recover faster.
As with all of Andria Baldovin’s specialized yoga programs, there is a wonderful meditation sequence and breathing exercise. Most of all however, I really liked that there was a strong connection drawn, before each session, between what muscles the poses work and how those muscles relate to biking.
This is a question we should all be asking ourselves as we prepare for the upcoming warm weather and all the outdoor fun we’re going to be having. Fist Aid Kits are perhaps the most important piece of gear you’ll take with you into the wilderness.
So what do you need inside? This really all depends on which outdoor activities you’ll be partaking in. Different activities will have different sets of hazards. If you are fishing, you may need to bring along first-aid for cuts or pricks from those hooks. If you are camping you may want to be sure you have everything you need to treat burns since you’ll most likely have a fire and be cooking. Backpacking and hiking often see twisted ankles. And so on…
If you already have a First Aid Kit, now may be the time to pull it out and restock. You can replace bandages alcohol pads and ointments you depleted last year. You will also need to check the expiration dates on any medications.
Here are some excellent First Aid Kits, ranging from basic needs (lightweight) to more advanced kits.
I got the opportunity to interview Don Mann the other day. He’s the brainchild of the Primal Quest Adventure Race series. Don is arguably the biggest organizer in the sport of Adventure Racing. Don has staged more multi-day, multi-sport races than any other individual in the world.
He not only commands the PQ, but has pioneered a PQ Sprint Series of 4-6 hour races that are fast and furious.
Here’s what Don had to say…
Wade: How the heck did you find yourself in this job?
Don: Back in 1995 I was on Team Odyssey. I booked our travel and did alot of logistical planning for our team for the races around the world. At the time it cost $16,000 per team to do it. I thought it would be easier and less expensive to do a race series in the U.S.
Then I planned the Beast of the East and people loved it. Then 7 years ago I went to Hawaii to do some team building with Bill Watkins. And now we have Primal Quest because of Bill and his wife’s support. (Bill discussed the race with Don and then Dan Barger was CEO/Race Directory for 3 PQs.)
Wade: Regarding the Primal Quest Sprint Series; it is billed as “The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition”!! What aspects of the races make them “the most challenging?”
Don: The sprint series will be 4-6 hours races. The winner should finish in around 4 hours. It will include trail running, technical mountain biking, and non-technical paddling. There will also be ropes obstacles; a cargo net, rope bridge, and low crawl. We will also have “log pt” which is running and working together while carrying a telephone pole.
Wade: The big PQ race this year starts June 21stin Montana. What were some of the other locations considered, and why was Montana chosen?
Don: Colorado, Idaho, and Montana were three locations we considered. We had friends in Colorado and Idaho who planned beautiful courses. But when we got to Montana and saw the course we knew. Conrad Anker and Jay Smith are out there working on the mountaineering part of the course right now.
Wade: What kind of loot can the winners of Primal Quest Montana expect to take home?
Don: $100,000 in cash. It costs $12,500 for a 4 person team. Newsweek called it “The Superbowl of Adventure Racing!”
Wade:For our Adventure Racing up-n-comers reading this, what would you say is the best advice you can give them on training for a race like Primal Quest Montana?
Don: If you’re an outdoor lover these are for you. Adventure Racing is a thinking persons sport. And, it is easier to train for an Adventure Race than other sports because there is less chance of burn out from the variety of training options you have. You can go to the gym, road ride, trail ride, paddle, or run depending the weather or how you feel that day. You can grab a bike, do some trails, then do them faster. It becomes so fun you don’t even realize you’re training any more. But, do it because it’s fun.
Good advice Don. Thanks so much for the interview!
Everyone be sure to check out EcoPrimalQuest.com for all the details on the Montana race as well as the sprint series.
Nope, it’s not a new species discovered in the Amazon. It’s an adventure race in South Carolina. And Outdoorzy will be a sponsor this year. We’re very excited to be part of this race and can’t wait to get down to Charleston.
The 60 mile race will be held on March 8th in the Francis Marion National Forest, and is put on by Kando Adventures. It will include kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, and orienteering across land, water, and swamp. The “swamp” aspect should add some interesting features for people not used to those conditions.
Come by the race if you’re in the area, it should be a fun weekend. The race will be a USARA national qualifier. Check out their site here.
Dwell times (how long you wait)
Viruses, bacteria — 15 min.
Giardia — 30 min.
Cryptosporidium — 4 hrs.
Weight
Pen — 3.5 oz./99 g
Kit — 8 oz./227 g
Price
Retails for $139.95
I’ve had this water filter in my possession for several months but haven’t had the opportunity to test it. I’ve finally gotten around to taking a good look at it and here’s my assessment. The Miox wins the prize for being ultralight as far as purifiers and pumps go. It is light, just 3.5 ounces. It jams down into your pack nicely. You literally won’t know it’s there. It also provide some of the best protection you can get. It kills all viruses, bacteria, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. The other great feature about the Miox is NO PUMPING! Now some of us love to pump water in a traditional filter pump. Oh yes, there’s nothing like spending 20 minutes hunkered by a stream until your knees seize up in that position and you can’t stand again. Then cleaning the filter when it gets clogged, and pumping some more. Okay, so we don’t love it… Well with the Miox you just put the salt in the cap along with some water, then press the button and zap it. After it’s been zapped you pour it back in your container and let it works its magic.
The downsides to the Miox are that it is dependent on batteries, and you have to wait for your water. From 15 minutes to 4 hours depending on what you’re trying to kill. And lastly, the price is quite high compared to your standard pumps.
My conclusion is that if you’re trying to kill some nasty stuff, hate pumping, trying to purify large amounts of water, or are buying for ultralight reasons, then this is your purifier.
This is a very short, very concise video on how to properly cross moving water on foot. It’s key to bring trekking poles if you know you’ll be crossing moving water on your trip. They can add stability and quite a bit of confidence if you are worried about being knocked down by the current. And remember that if something looks unsafe or out of your skill level, it probably is.
My cousin just moved to Billings, so maybe I’ll actually make it to PQ this year. Montana will provide a scenic backdrop and should also make for ideal adventure racing terrain. Can’t wait to see what they have in store this year.
This year’s 2007 Adventure Xstream Adventure Race Series DVD is available for purchase at Gravity Play. The DVD has over 1 hour of footage and features each stop on the AXS Race Series circuit as well as a slide show of team photos. It is available for $24.95 and will ship in December.
You can also check it out tomorrow at Noon on the Altitude Sport Network. (DirecTV - Channel 644, Dish Network - Channel 410, or check your cable listings)
Cycling is a very enjoyable but demanding sport. I am extremely short and small so I have a 13 inch frame and it still doesn’t quite fit me. I have to keep my seat completely lowered so that I don’t fall over when we stop:) After an all day trail ride, this arrangement (and the fact that I am too cheap to buy a custom bike) causes my body to shift and become unbalanced. In other words, I need some serious deep stretching to cope.
I got the opportunity to interview Don Mann the other day. He’s the brainchild of the 
