"My gweat fwiend Biggus is going all the way to Wome to wace!"

The United States owes a lot of its cycling culture to Italy – from cycling vocabulary to some of its most sought-after brands.

But American mountain bike culture has returned the favor: Twenty-four-hour racing has made its way to Rome. My Italian language skills are non-existent, so I’ll just say this – the official 24 Ore di Roma Twitter account followed me and grabbed my interest. It was the first I’d heard about 24-hour mountain bike races in Italy.

Is this Italy’s first? I have no idea. But it appears the 24 Ore di Roma course actually does go through Rome and follows the format laid down by the original 24 Hours of Canaan – and replicated by … well, just about everyone with a 24-hour race.

As an American mountain bike enthusiast with a taste for long races, I feel a twinge of pride: A format once only the purview of mentally mutated mountain bike perverts has made it to one of the world’s iconic cities – in a country where bikes are beloved.

It makes me wonder how many 24-hour races are going on worldwide. But that’s fodder for a future post.

If you are a mountain biker of means, book your ticket and hotel. Pack your bike. The fun starts Sept. 14-16.

And if you do go, bring your goofiest 24-hour race loungewear, costumes and attitude. Show them how a citizen of the country that birthed 24-hour mountain bike races rolls at 3 a.m.

If anyone who reads this can set me straight about the 24 Ore di Roma and its history, I’d love to hear about it.

Comments

• February 6, 2012, Girl From Arizona writes: I don't know much about 24h Roma, but 24h Finale in the northern Liguria region has been going on for more than 10 years and is one of the best international mtb races. It's a huge party on the mesa overlooking in the Ligurean Sea where the race stages and the whole town is comes out for the night. This year they are introducing the World Endurance Solo championships a week before the traditional 24h race. The races are in May, and if you time it right you can also catch a leg of the Giro d'Italia in nearby Savona. http://www.wembo.com.au/italy/about/about-the-race
• February 6, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Well, that sounds like a ton of fun to me! Have you gotten into the mountain bike thing, or do you stick with rock climbing?
• February 7, 2012, Girl From Arizona writes: I used to mountain bike in Oregon. Love riding in the forest, hate riding in the desert. I stick to climbing in Finale. It's equally famous for the thousands of limestone sport routes in the rocks that line the valleys feeding into the sea. The mtb is all bad-ass downhill. It looks freakin' awesome, but I'm not near skilled enough to try it.

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If Airborne chooses me for the Flight Crew, my next race photo will show me on a much more colorful ride.

A few days ago, Airborne Bicycles started taking applications for this year’s Flight Crew. It’s not a race team – more of a group of brand ambassadors. They fly the Airborne brand (or ride, but I like the metaphor) and where its livery (again with the flight metaphor) to promote Airborne.

So why would I want to promote Airborne Bicycles? The number-one reason is they make moderately priced bikes for real people. I have nothing against expensive bikes and the people who ride them – just watch me drool at first sight of a Form Cycles Prevail. But more than such finely wrought beauty, I also love value. That’s the Airborne Bicycles universe – all the bike you need, none of the extra digits in the price that you don’t.

Why would Airborne want me out there on one of its bikes, in its jersey? ‘Cause I am plugged in and switched on when it comes to Arizona mountain biking. ‘Cause I’ll always stop to help another rider, a hiker, an equestrian. I am not faster-than-thou, but I have enough skill and speed to have a lot of fun. I am a mountain bike missionary with a voice and an audience.

Airborne Bicycles knows this from my application and from a past encounter with me. I hope that’s what it takes to put me astride one of its crazy Goblin 29ers!

So if you’re so inclined, Tweet to Airborne or post on its Facebook wall. Tell them Wandering Justin (@wandering_j on Twitter) is the right guy for the Flight Crew. You can even use the hashtag #JustinForFlightCrew. And pass it on!

Comments

• January 25, 2012, Carolyn @healthkitten.com writes: Done and done!
• January 25, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Woo-hoo! Resistance is futile, Airborne Bicycles!

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"Why didn't anyone tell me butt is so big?" (photo by Lorne Trezise FrozenMotionPhotos)

I never expected anyone to snap a photo of me on my mountain bike quite like this. Nobody told me that the white stripe on my (I thought) uber-cool Italian jersey made it look like I’m rolling in a filled-up pair of Huggies. Well, now I have to decide whether to wear that thing again!

Oh, well. I suppose it’s less jarring than taking my laps in a Borat-style slingshot thong.

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My 24-hour teammate, Harry Travis, finishes his lap strong.

Alright, the Maya calendar says the world ends this year. Well, I won’t let that happen without this shout-out to some people who made 2011 even more awesome for me. In order of how fast I thought of them …

Arizona mountain bikers have their own superman. He doesn’t ride a $20,000 carbon-fiber mountain bike. He can’t pedal Tinker Juarez into the ground. But he can lead the way in building world-class trails. He can wrangle volunteers to execute grand visions from pump tracks to – eventually – Arizona’s first flow trail. Meet Rand Hubbell, the relentlessly optimistic supervisor of McDowell Mountain Regional Park north of Fountain Hills. He realizes we’re good people to have around. Watch for Rand at mountain bike events, even outside the park. This adds up to make him one of my Favorite People of 2011. Heck, I might even give him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his support of the Arizona mountain bike community.

David shows us the joy of okonomiyaki.

Like-minded bloggers should stick together. In the case of Nichole from Architecture Travel Writer, we do. We both think more people need to get on a plane and experience the world. And if they feel like reading about it, so much the better. I get all sorts of enjoyment out of her ex-pat tales that take her from Peru to China. Over the past few months, we’ve also offered each other critiques and tips ranging from SEO to adverbs. That’s the way to build your blog-buddy circle – not just being a name in the ether asking for a link exchange.

I have no idea what his name is. But the guy at Red Kimchi is responsible for helping us pick Korea as a destination … which also led us to Japan. Seriously, South Korea had never occurred us. What was his sales pitch? Hiking, saunas, bi bim bap and karaoke. He read us perfectly. Well, aside from the karaoke. We didn’t even tell him we were going. We just walked into the Red Kimchi and sang out “annyeonghaseyooooo!”.

And I couldn’t have a reunion 19 years in the making with a high school buddy and not tip my hat to him. David Zee Frenchman chose the wise path – retaining his sense of humor, refusing to bow to the stuffiness that afflicts many as they get older. Ready with a jest, an observation, an interesting tidbit. He’s also inspired me to take up Japanese. I’ve gotta work on that …

Closer to home, I have to give props to Brandee Leepak-Schaffner. As part-owner of Global Bikes and a Mountain Bike Association of Arizona board member, she’s plugged into Arizona mountain biking. And she’s hooked me up with fine story tips to fuel my Mountain Bike Examiner page. I have a feeling she’s just the person to get more women involved in mountain biking and off-road racing. So far, Brandee has done a lot to make MBAA and Arizona mountain biking more visible than ever.

Could Captain Dave be at the stick?

I’ll also have to say a few kind words about Harry Travis, my partner in two consecutive 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo races. He saw how awful a racer I am, and was still willing to pair up with me again in 2011. A fine rider, an even better person. Harry is a fine purveyor of old-school, low-stress, have-fun mountain biking. And check this out – he’s yet another person I’ve met via the Interwebz by almost blind chance. Cool, eh?

If the airline industry was smart, it would trumpet Captain Dave’s words at full volume. His Flight Level 390 blog shows how much he loves flying an Airbus, how much he cares about the people in the seats and how professional his colleagues really are. Alas, the Captain puts a bit of effort into concealing his identity. Yeah, smart, observant people can figure it out. But he doesn’t it do it to big-note the airlines – he just wants to share is genuine love of “Life on the Line.” Do check out his latest post to see how much attention goes into every detail.

Comments

• January 20, 2012, Nichole L. Reber writes: I see you so like the Inbound Writer stuff. Good on ya! Thanks for the shout out, pal. For sure your blogging assistance and our links as writers and travelers enlightened by 2011. Observing the vast differences between planes has proven another reason I love to fly/travel. Your love of flying and flight is admirable and inspiring. Now, after a beautiful cuppa joe, let's get onto our architecture blog!

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An unidentified Cat 3 woman (#514) on the course at the McDowell Meltdown.

I hadn’t lined up for a mountain bike race since May; the summer heat, a trip to Asia, moving to a new house … all conspired to keep me off the course, and off the mountain bike altogether at times.

But I can’t resist McDowell Mountain Regional Park in Fountain Hills, Ariz. There is absolutely nothing that mountain bikers can’t love about its 60-plus miles of trails. Of course, the McDowell Meltdown (the first race in the 2012 Mountain Bike Association of Arizona series) only consists of the loops in the Competitive Track. Still great!

Here’s what’s on my mind about the McDowell Meltdown.

Racer Krista Gibson responds to cheers from her friends.

1. The organizers are exceptionally dedicated and nice. Running these races is a labor of love. Need proof? Brandee from Global Bikes posted on Facebook at 3:30 a.m. about how eager she was to get out there and put on a race (she’s also an MBAA board member). Another example: I signed up the day of the race, which didn’t entitle me to an event t-shirt. But one of the MBAA guys scrounged up some leftover t-shirts from the previous year for us johnny-come-lately schlubs. He didn’t have to. We didn’t expect him to. A really nice “late or not, thanks for being here” gesture.

How Did You Do?
If you want to find your race results, check these links:
Cross Country
Marathon

2. Sign up online. You’ll save stress on yourself, plus a few bucks. And you’ll save some stress for the folks from La Roue d’Or – they have a lot on their hands with managing the registrations.

3. The Arizona mountain bike race scene has changed. My Adventure Bicycle Company boys had no presence. Back in the day, it would’ve been them, Rage Cycles and Landis as the standard bearers. These days, it’s Global, DNA Cycles (the McDowell Meltdown title sponsor), Sunday Cycles and a few others … and Landis is still around. I didn’t see any familiar faces out there. But I met new people, and hope to run into them again at the next mountain bike race.

Racer Aimee Nay and friend relive the mountain bike race action.

4. The first-timer class is a really nice idea. Unfortunately, the women’s field continues to be small. In the late 90s, there were definitely more new mountain bike racers of both genders. I remember Beginner Class (now Cat 3) men’s 19-24 groups with more than 70 riders.

5. Speaking of the people in each field and the various categories … I still see sandbagging (the fine art of riding a category – or two! – below your ability to get better race results) as a problem. The front of the Cat 3 pack is where it’s at its worst. Three quick thoughts: A. Abolish a championship title for Cat 3 racers – it’s a dis-incentive to move up to the proper category. B. No racers attached to teams should be in Cat 3. If you’re so plugged into the mountain bike scene that you roll with a team, you are too experienced for Cat 3. C. If you finish in the top 10 percent, you go up. I’d apply this to Cat 2, also. Getting people in the right categories will get more new riders to mountain bike races. Your race results should never take a backseat to integrity.

Overall? The McDowell Meltdown is one of my favorites, and I’m glad I went. MBAA puts on a fine mountain bike race, and you should give one of its events a try.

Comments

• January 15, 2012, Tammy Smith writes: So much fun!! It was my first race and I had a great time. I am unfamiliar with the trail and had about 10 other reasons for coming in last in the first timer women's class, but I was still riding my bike on a beautiful day with alot of cool people. Good times. Anyways, there was a ton of people jumping out taking pics on the trail and I do not see any to guide the individual to view the result. Got any ideas?
• January 15, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Thanks for your visit and comment, Tammy - and for racing! I'm going to add a bit to my post about where people can see their results. Good call ... I was thinking too much of myself and my own experience and not enough about people who might drop in. Check in again, and I'll have that update posted.
• January 15, 2012, Tammy Smith writes: The results are up on the MBAA website http://www.hubeventproductions.com/results/Mcdowelltest.htm. I was looking for some pictures from the people taking shots on the trail. I couldn't find a link for the photography.
• January 15, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Gotcha! I saw the word "result" and went straight to the finish times. I heard that MBAA will post a link to the photos Monday at the earliest. By the way, I was about to start plumbing my Facebook and Twitter resources to find a first-time racer to interview for a Q & A session for my Phoenix Mountain Bike Examiner page. If I come up with a few semi-intelligent questions for you in the next few days, would you be willing to answer them?
• January 15, 2012, Tammy Smith writes: Only if they are semi-intelligent.
• January 15, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Right on! What I lack in intelligence, I make up for with fun-ness.
• January 17, 2012, Ryan Wayne writes: Hi Justin, A friend of mine came across your site when looking for pics of the 1st MBAA race. Very nice recap and well organized. I wanted to comment on point 5. I am likely one of those guys you're talking about as I raced Cat 3 for a team and did well. I chose to race Cat 3 because I have very little experience in the MBAA scene and I've only done a handful of races. My 1st race ever was an MBAA race in Flagstaff last summer followed by the Williams/McDowell race (where I got smoked!). I was hooked though and knew racing was for me. I met a few guys who were also passionate about the sport and joined their team. As I saw it, there were several factors in choosing a category; speed, competition, and experience. My speed improved over the last 6 or 7 months but I had no clue how I'd measure up to my competition, and my experience in the road and mountain scene can be counted in months (i.e. little experience). Since you can't go down in a category (i.e. Cat 2 down to Cat 3), I chose Cat 3 to see where I was at. I mention all of this to give a different perspective on sandbagging. When you actually are new to the race scene and can't move down in a category, how does one know where they're supposed to be until they try a novice category? I suppose the answer is a time trial, but it's difficult to see the MBAA doing a preseason TT, although I like the concept. Anyhow I'm getting long winded. I now know where I'm at so I'm moving up to Cat 2 for White Tanks (where I'll get smooooked!). :) It is sincerely my desire to test myself though and if I'm not in a category that will do that, I need to move. Plus, there are true rookies in Cat 3 and I want them to come out again and not be intimidated by guys who probably shouldn't be racing with them. This sport is too cool to be turned off by sandbaggers (or the appearance of sandbaggers). See you out there. Ryan
• January 17, 2012, WanderingJustin writes: Thanks for your comment, Ryan. I am certain there are guys in your boat who are trying to find the place they belong. But there are also others punching below their weight. I'm kind of glad to be 6'2, 205 so I can race Rock Crusher. Or I'd be getting mu butt handed to me in Cat 2. I'd actually prefer marathon, but I didn't have time to prep for that sort of endeavor. Maybe at White Tank or a later race up north. My results will not impress anyone, but it will be cool to do it. Have fun out there. If you see a black Santa Cruz Superlight with a long-haired, white-helmeted character on it, be sure to introduce yourself.
• January 17, 2012, Ryan Wayne writes: Sounds like a plan Justin. I do recognize the picture of the gentleman with the Goldendoodle. I briefly spoke to him because I have one as well (I call them Goldendummy's). Anyway, I'll look for you next weekend. RW

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Racers on the starting line of the inaugural Fire on the Rim race in 2011. (Photo by Brandee Schaffner-Lepak of Global Bikes)

I have some great new stories on Examiner.com thanks to a great tip from Brandee at Global Bikes (she’s also a Mountain Bike Association of Arizona board member and a photographer who provided the photos used for the stories). The two stories are all about the Pine-Strawberry area and how the communities have turned to mountain bikers as allies in fighting future wildfires.

More news about Pine-Strawberry will also be on the way soon: The Mountain Bike Association of Arizona is pitching in a nice donation to the Pine-Strawberry Fire Reduction Committee, Inc. along with a few other groups throughout the state. It’s clear that MBAA is serious about going beyond racing to make mountain bikers a more organized and effective user group.

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A spectacular view of Buttermere in the Lake District.

It shocks more than a few people that I have never been to the UK. Believe me, it’s on the list! Even though I can’t tell you anything first-hand about traveling in the UK, I fortunately have some people who can. Guest writer Amanda Andrews shows us the more rural and adventurous side of the UK in this post. Caving? Hiking? Biking? Yes!  Enjoy, and take a few ideas from Amanda. -Wandering Justin

I didn’t really know much about the English Lake District until recently. Now, it’s near the top of my must-visit list. It’s known for being one of the most picturesque areas of the country, with the quaint little towns and the stunning scenery of the famous lakes, but it’s also a haven for the adventurous. There’s an activity for every traveler.

Walking

The Lake District is time and again listed as one of the top UK destinations for hiking, or just walking as the locals call it. There’s no end to the trails and routes that you can take on a walking holiday in the area. There are trails here for every level of walker, so you can take a leisurely stroll across green fields and around the lakes. Eager for a more substantial challenge? Try The Cumbrian Way or The Coast to Coast walk, which is 191 miles long and takes you from the Irish Sea to the North Sea through three National Parks!

Biking

On two wheels is really the way to see the Lake District. The area again caters to all experience levels. Cumbria is a quiet, rural county so it’s great for travelling around on bike - you’re unlikely to be chased off the road by speeding cars, and travelling the country lanes by bike is a great way to see the real Cumbria. If you’re looking for something a little faster moving then check out one of the local bike shops and sign up for a mountain biking course, or just grab a map if you want to give it a go solo. With a combination of bridleways and man-made tracks criss-crossing the county there is something to suit everyone. From low valley trails to high mountain passes, this is the place to test your biking mettle in the UK.

Climbing

The Lake District is considered the birth place of modern mountain climbing and has been the training ground for many with Everest aspirations. It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete novice or a fully fledged crag-rat: The adventures are endless. Don’t let their modest height fool you. Many of the climbs in the Lakes are incredibly technical. And it’s not a bad idea to head out with a guiding company at first just to get the lay of the land.

If you’d rather go down than up, try caving and canyoning. Both of these give you a completely different perspective of the landscape and allow you to explore areas of the world that most people have never seen. Just one warning: Claustrophobics need not apply.

By Water

Open water swimming, canoeing, gorge walking, kayaking, wind surfing-being that the area is famous because of its lakes it isn’t surprising that water activities abound! Lake Windermere is the venue for the Great North Swim, the UK’s biggest outdoor swimming event, and holds ½ mile, 1 mile, and 2 mile events and is currently open for entries. What an amazing way to spend part of a holiday in the UK, jumping in the water with some 10, 000 other swimmers from around the world! Don’t expect tropical water temperature here though, it’s the north of England and you won’t want to hit the water here without a wet suit.

Where to Stay

Now that your appetite has been sufficiently whet, you want to know where to stay on your trip. There is no shortage of accommodation in the Lake District and there will be something for you no matter what your budget. Camping and hostelling are probably your cheapest options, though the weather in the Lakes can be a bit unpredictable so camping might not be to everyone’s taste. A great option if you’re looking for an outdoor based trip is renting a self-catering holiday cottage in the Lake District and the cost may be less than you’d expect. Splitting the cost between a group of friends can really cut down the individual cost and if you’re looking for a really great deal then travelling in the off season can save masses. Web cottages are an online holiday cottage rental agent with independently owned cottages throughout the UK and Ireland and are a great option if you’re looking for Lake District cottages.

All of this makes the Lake District a must-see location on my next trip to the UK. The area is ideally located to stop at when you’re doing a trip around the little island of Britain, it’s just north of Liverpool and Wales and not too far from the Scottish border. If it’s as good as it sounds I think a holiday in the Lakes won’t soon be forgotten.

Amanda enjoys traveling and has traveled extensively both in the UK and abroad. Amanda writes regular travel articles for Web Cottages and its partners, including blogging about interesting travel news/stories when they crop up. Her experience traveling and excellent ability to research means her articles are both informative and enjoyable.

This post is featured by Web Cottages. 

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This fool is ready to ride again (and on his shiny Santa Cruz instead of this battered old Fisher).

I’ve just posted some new stuff on Examiner.com.

Check out my latest stories to get the dirt on this Sunday’s Third-Annual Sunday Cycles Bike and Gear Swap. You can also get some tips about four things you should think about replacing on your mountain bike as you start ramping up the mileage.

Speaking of which, I can’t wait to get back into the riding groove. Packing up to move and then spending a few weeks in Asia has really dented my mileage. And let’s not forgot the absolutely bestial summer heat!

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Wearing a loud jersey should also be on the list for more mountain bike cred. Overlooked it, though!

I am one smoove, cool mountain biker. To surpass me, you have to sacrifice a few things … like good hygiene, your home and any semblance of a decent automobile.

You want the details – you need the details. So read my post about attaining the pinnacle of mountain bike street cred. You can find it at the Trail’s Edge blog.

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Hey, Specialized! This guy right here wants you to pick Teresa for the Trail Crew!

My Canadian blogging buddy Teresa (aka Mountain Biking Girl) is trying to snag a spot on the north-of-the-border edition of the Specialized Trail Crew.

Specialized needs to pick Teresa. Here’s why:

1. She knows how to blog and use social media well.

2. She’s already devoted to the Specialized brand.

3. Teresa knows her stuff. The proof? See how she teamed up with me for an epic series of posts that wound up being used on big-time sites like USAToday.com and the Time Warner owned RR.com site.

4. She’s enthusiastic and will never fail to make Specialized look good.

So say we all.

Specialized, send this Mountain Biking Girl some swag, put her on a sweet ride and watch people love you more than ever.

UPDATE: If you are Twitterly inclined, feel free to help by tweeting:

Hey, @iamspecialized! You should pick @mtnbikinggirl for the Canadian Trail Crew. #mtbbikinggirl4trailcrew

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