Epic Racing around the World

By Blake Harlan

January 24th… and the off season activities are coming to end. I don’t think I’ve even finished all of last season’s laundry yet!

Monavie/Cannondale’s Boulder crew has started to pick up the winter training regimen which, thanks to an unsual snow pack, has consisted of activities such as yoga, running, weights, core workouts and of course riding bikes…for about an hour at time.

Bryan and I officially kicked off first dry roads of the month with a 100 mile ride to Carter Lake - choosing the warmest and flattest routes, of course. Not to say we took it easy - is a 100 miles ever not a challenge?

But…the hard work was appropirate. Though it seems very early, the first race of the season is only weeks away. Feb 16th will mark my first race of 2008. The race is the, Mas o Menos Desert Challenge in Terlingua, TX. It’s been awhile since I last raced in the Republic of Texas, my home turf, but it should be a great time.

I plan on riding the Scalpel decked out with the new Reynolds Topo C carbon clincher wheels and I couldn’t be any more excited. While the racing form might not be there, racing 100K at sea level should be a nice change of pace from Boulder’s frigid temps and gale force winds.

The 2008 racing calendar is coming together nicely for us here in the People’s Republic of Boulder. Top notch mountain bike events are on the radar, including the Medalla Light UCI race in Puerto Rico in 8 weeks time. The whole gang will be going out to that one, including us, and just in time for spring break! There’s nothing like racing in the tropical jungle followed by laying out on the beach immediately afterward.

But..before then, I have to crawl down the stairs with sore legs and windburned face for another bike ride. Time to make the donuts!