Hi Kathy,

I saw that there was a ton of mud at the USGPCX race in New Jersey this weekend. How do you go about riding that stuff? Or do you? What do you do to get through it?

Yes, there was a ton of mud this weekend at the race!! Strategy for getting through the mud played a big part in the race so having and developing one before the race was imperative.

There are two options for getting through the mud: Ride it or run it. Based on the course lay out and what your strengths and weaknesses were you need to decide what you are going to do remembering that the course would likely change lap after lap. So what you decide to do on one lap may change on the next!

Once you decide whether you are going to ride it or run it, you then need to figure out how you are going to execute that.

If running is your choice method, you need to figure out if it is faster to suitcase the bike or to shoulder it. You also need to figure out where to get off your bike with out loosing too much momentum so you can make clean and quick transition from riding to running. You donʼt want to get off the bike after youʼve come to a stop!! If you can get off the bike before you come to a complete stop you will keep your momentum which is ideal.

If you decide you are going to try and ride the mud there are few things you can do to get through it depending on the length of the mud pit and how much power you have left in those legs of yours. As you are approaching the mud pit section here are some helpful tips for getting through it on your bike:

1. Get up to maximum speed before you hit the mud

2. Pick a good line thatʼs already exists in the mud

3. Go into it hard

4. Keep your head up

5. Look ahead to where you want to go

6. Lean back

7. Maintain and hold your momentum as long as you can!!!

Good luck out there!

Kathy Sherwin
Velo Bella - Kona Elite Cyclocross Team

American Mountain Classic Confirms for 2009

Race Director Tom Speigel has confirmed to MTBracenews.com that the American Mountain Classic (AMC) stage race will return to Brian Head, Utah, in 2009. The race, which consists of an opening prologue followed by three stages in and around the Brian Head area, will be held August 20-23rd.

The American Mountain classic ran it's inaugural race in 2008 and was contested by many top professional riders including race winners Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) and 24-Hour National Champion Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth). Last year's race will be best remembered for the epic battles between Bishop and Subaru/Gary Fisher racer Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. With Bishop finally taking the GC win by just 4 seconds after 4 consecutive sprint finishes between the two.




Other top-level pros who attended the race included Lea Davison (Trek/VW), Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Amanda Carey (Kenda/Titus/Hayes), Ryan Trebon (Kona), Manuel Prado (Sho-Air), Tinker Juarez, and National Collegiate Champion Ben Sonntag (3D Racing). Following the 2008 event, almost all riders who participated were ecstatic about the stage race format, excellent race organization, and unbelievable high-mountain racing terrain offered at the AMC.

As a racing locale Brian Head, Utah, offers a virtually endless variety of outstanding mountain biking that will challenge the very best mountain bikers. At this point Spiegel does not plan to make any changes to the race format in 2009.
The four day, 170 mile stage race includes a day one six-mile prologue on Brian Head's town trail. Stage two, also known as "The Rim", is a 55 mile trek on the Virgin River Rim trail which features 30 miles of singletrack. Stage three "The Peak" sees riders climb above 11,000 feet twice during the 55 mile stage. Finally, stage four "Dark Hollow" challenges racers with two laps on the challenging NMBS course which features a trip down the Bunker Creek and daunting Dark Hollow descents each lap finishing with a total of 54 miles for the day.

MTBracenews.com will have full coverage of the American Mountain Classic, August 20-23 with race reports, results, and photos.

Hi Kathy-

I just bought a heart rate monitor and have never used one before. Do you have one and do you use it at all during your races or other times?


Answer: I do have a heart rate monitor. I started using one when I first got into training and racing; and I continue to use one on a daily basis.

I use it in my races as well, but I do not use it to gauge my effort. I use it to track time so that I can determine when I need to feed on the bike. I have both the time and the heart rate displayed on my monitor during a race because it doesnʼt bother me to see my pulse. That said, you do have to be careful when using a monitor during your race because there can be disadvantages to seeing your heart rate! For instance if you look down in the middle of your race and see your pulse, and you feel like it should be lower than it is, it can really mess with your head. When I see my heart rate during my races I am not affected at all by the number, so I donʼt mind when itʼs displayed in addition to the time during my race, which is why I do that now. But it wasnʼt always like that for me! Things only changed when I got comfortable with myself as an athlete along with my abilities.

Something to keep in mind if you donʼt want to see the heart rate is to simply cover that part up with a heavy tape so that you can ONLY see the time (if that is what you are after).

See you out there!

Kathy Sherwin
Velo Bella - Kona Elite Cyclocross Team

Mountain Bike Racers Can Expect Big Changes in 2009

Written by: Shannon Boffeli
In mid 2008 it was clear the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) would cease to exist. With the dissolution of the NMBS the U.S. mountain bike community approached Scott Tedro for salvation. After all Tedro is president of Sho-Air a multi-million dollar company, he created a successful professional MTB race team, and bank rolled the American Mountain Classic stage race, with his proven success who better to navigate the turbulent waters of U.S. mountain bike racing.

Tedro has launched an ambitious campaign to create a sound and marketable race series that will be the pride of the U.S. mountain biking community. The new series will be called the U.S. Manufacturer’s Cup (USMC) in recognition of the bike manufacturers who have pledged their support for the series. While Tedro is grateful for the monetary backing from companies like Trek/Gary Fisher, Specialized, Cambria, Fox and Hayes Bicycle Group he admits being frustrated that more support isn’t coming his way.

Tedro explains “Everyone wants this series to happen but companies don’t necessarily want to put money behind it. [Some U.S. bike manufacturers] spend up to $3.5 million on racing in Europe and I can only get them to spend $10,000 for U.S. racing. I understand they have been burned in the past but they need to understand if they don’t come forward with their support now the series just isn’t going to be successful.”

Despite Tedro’s monetary shortfalls he reports that if everyone honors their pledged commitments at this point he will have enough to put the series on for 2009. “If we can’t get more support from U.S. manufacturers some of our plans will need to be cut but we should be able to follow through with the series.”

Although he will be incorporating many of the same race courses from the now defunct NMBS he is hoping to create a new reputation for the U.S. Manufacturer’s Cup. Part of establishing a new rep for the series includes bringing in host of Speedvision’s “Superbike” television show Jason Britton as head of the series and emcee. In fact, Britton has committed to filming an episode of “Superbike” at the series opener in Fontana, California. Another indication that Tedro will be shaking things up came when he made it clear that NMBS promoters Jeff Frost and Tom Spiegel would only be involved in promoting the races owned by their respective companies or where they are hired as private contractors, these races include the NOVA National, Sea Otter Classic, and Wyndham Mountain.

While dates are not yet available the U.S. Manufacturer’s Cup will include races in:

Fontana, California
Fountain Hills, Arizona
Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California
Santa Ynes, California
Angel Fire, New Mexico
Mount Snow, Vermont
Wyndham Mountain, New York
Conyers, Georgia

Tedro put a great deal of impetus behind adding another race on the East Coast wanting to give more racing opportunities to athletes in that region. He chose Conyers, Georgia, a challenging race course with a storied mountain bike history as the location of the first Olympic mountain bike race in 1996 and host of multiple World Cups in the years to follow, as the third East Coast venue. Ideally Tedro would like to get the series up to a total of nine races and right now is in negotiations with promoters of the Cactus Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada to be that ninth and final addition to the series.

In addition to his efforts to improve racing for professionals, Tedro has focused a great deal of his energy on improving the racing experience for amateurs in the series. As he puts it, he wants to make the series more friendly and rewarding for amateur racers and give them more value for their dollar. Tedro plans to provide more swag for amateur racers including a t-shirt, water bottle, and energy products at registration as well as taking an active part in combating sand-bagging. Tedro said “Sand-baggers are killing the morale of up and coming racers.”

Finally, he plans to give awards for series winners in all categories from Pro to Beginner.

As further illustration of the urgency and potential behind Tedro’s series he has been given a commitment from World Cup officials that they will bring at least one World Cup race to the United States in 2010 if the series has a successful opening year. So it’s clear, now is the time for the mountain bike community to get excited about the U.S. Manufacturer’s Cup and do what they can to support Tedro in his efforts to improve mountain bike racing in the United States.

Stay tuned to MTBracenews.com for updates on the U.S. Manufacturer’s Cup including a full series schedule.

Iceman Cometh, Traverse City, Michigan

Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) and Amanda Carey (Kenda/Titus/Hayes) take 2008 Iceman title while last year's winner Brian Matter (Gear Grinder) hangs on for second.

Full Results Below

1 Amanda Carey Victor ID Kenda 1:45:45
2 Susan Stephens Harrow ON Brodie Bikes 1:47:45
3 Heather Irmiger Boulder CO Gary Fisher - Subaru 1:47:46
4 Lulibelle Webb Dimondale MI Hagerty 1:50:51
5 Erin Vicary White Lake MI Bell's Beer / Quirin 1:51:41
6 Susan Schubel Saginaw MI 1:51:54
7 Amanda Sproat Columbus OH Gary Fisher 29er Cre 1:52:35
8 Nicole Borem Warsaw IN Drt Racing 1:52:42
9 Danielle Musto Grand Rapids MI Kenda 1:52:43
10 Karey Collins Oxford MI Team Giant - Michiga 1:55:17
11 Shari Versluis Grand Rapids MI Founders Racing 1:56:55
12 Marne Smiley Ann Arbor MI Scott Bikes 1:58:09
13 Susan Vigland Traverse City MI Hagerty Cycling 1:58:40
14 Jennifer Tilley Boulder CO Velo Bella 2:02:03
15 Tara Tasma Grand Rapids MI 2:02:14
16 Kiersta Tucker Owensboro KY River City Cannondal 2:03:56
17 Cristina Frentiu Elyria OH Gary Fisher / Rays M 2:07:39
18 Gabriela Baranova Zion IL Zoot, Teva, Profile 2:08:26
19 Kelly Paterson Troy MI Wolverine Sports Clu 2:09:27
20 Sarah Lukas Eagle River WI Gear Gridder/hyundai 2:10:58
21 Jamie Galambos Sylvania OH Team Awesome 2:17:13
22 Kelly Emich Boulder CO Co-Motion 2:19:36
23 Sarah Manning Brighton MI City Bike Shop 2:28:55

1 Jeremiah Bishop 35 Harrisonburg VA Trek/volkswagen 1:28:31
2 Brian Matter 61 Sheboygan WI Gear Grinder 1:28:38
3 Mike Anderson 32 Alpena MI Bell's Beer 1:28:44
4 Colin Cares 42 Colorado Sprin CO Kenda 1:28:50
5 Andy Schultz 78 Durango CO Kenda - Titus - Haye 1:28:53
6 Marko Lalonde 58 Madison WI Gary Fisher 29er Cre 1:29:01
7 Michael Simonson 80 Oxford MI Trek/volkswagen 1:29:26
8 John Doyle 45 Mattawan MI Priority Health 1:30:58
9 Jason Lummis 60 Pinckney MI Bells Brewery/ Quiri 1:31:05
10 Chris Peariso 67 Amherst WI Adventure 212 /titus 1:31:06
11 Jacob Rytlewski 74 Avon IN Rite Aid 1:31:09
12 Stu Alp 31 Windsor ON Norco Evolution 1:31:11
13 Sam Schultz 79 Missoula MT Gary Fisher - Subaru 1:31:12
14 Carey Grumelot 50 Anchorage AK Speedway Cycles - An 1:31:12
15 Travis Brown 38 Durango CO Trek Bicycles 1:31:13
16 Mike Phillips 68 Milwaukee WI Adventure 212 1:32:56
17 Travis Woodruff 95 Tucson AZ Gear Grinder/bmc 1:33:09
18 Derek Graham 97 Grand Rapids MI Bissell 1:33:12
19 Joseph Brzuchanski 39 Highland MI Bell's Beer / Quirin 1:33:16
20 Steve Twining 90 Clinton OH Trek/ohio Valley 1:33:53
21 Sven Baumann 34 1 Bell's Beer/quiring 1:33:54
22 Vince Roberge 73 Redford MI South Lyon Cycle 1:34:01
23 Randy Laprairie 98 Warren MI Lees-Mcrae College 1:34:37
24 Thomas Burke 40 Kentwood MI West Mi Coast Riders 1:35:04
25 Scott Stewart 83 Oxford MI 1:35:25
26 Mark Parmelee 66 Waterford MI Cycletherapy 1:36:05
27 Zach McBride 62 Comstock MI Priority Health 1:36:09
28 Graham Howard 30 Grand Rapids MI Bissell Pro Cycling 1:36:18
29 Ben Ortt 65 Fresno OH 1:36:19
30 Travis Saeler 75 Bulter PA Gary Fisher 29er Cre 1:36:19
31 Tim Finkel 47 Royal Oak MI Wolverine Sports Clu 1:36:21
32 Christopher Bogedin 36 Rochester MI Ac&f / Wsc 1:36:22
33 Tony Torrance 88 Boulder CO Pearl Izumi 1:36:37
34 Andy Messer 63 Columbus IN Drt Racing 1:36:41
35 Jody Proctor 69 Boulder CO Excel Sports Boulder 1:36:42
36 Peter Ehmann 46 Bloomfield Hil MI Team Giant - Michiga 1:37:01
37 Dallas Fowler 48 Green Bay WI 1:37:15
38 Nate Versluis 92 Grand Rapids MI Founders Racing 1:37:44
39 Ben Richardson 72 Danville MI Humana / Cyclers Caf 1:38:24
40 Dave Hall 51 Lorain OH 1:38:47
41 Eric Muehl 64 Linden MI Cyclefit Multisport/ 1:38:48
42 Dan Kotwicki 57 Ann Arbor MI Fisher Bikes 1:38:50
43 Michael Cody 44 Boulder CO Bikereg.Com 1:39:12
44 Dan Jansen 55 Grand Rapids MI Niner 1:39:31
45 Derek Prechtl 2780 Empire MI 1:40:31
46 Greg Christian 43 West Lafayette IN Trun/barker & Nestor 1:40:34
47 Eric Tompkin 86 Redford MI Tree Fort 1:40:39
48 Joe Slonecki 81 Comstock Park MI Founders Ale/ Alger 1:42:35
49 Steven Howard 96 Grand Rapids MI Priority Health 1:42:46
50 Chris Uberti 91 Northville MI Turin 1:42:55
51 Aaron Swanson 2357 Ashland WI 1:44:48
52 Jeff Jacobi 54 Grand Rapids MI Founderale/velocity 1:45:06
53 Chad Wells 93 Durango CO Gary Fisher Bicycles 1:45:13
54 Paul Trout 89 Portland OR 1:45:36
55 Thomas Kachelmeyer 56 Royal Oak MI Team Giant - Michiga 1:45:39
56 Brad Wilhelm 94 Elyria OH Gary Fisher / Rays M 1:48:47
57 James Huang 176 Boulder CO Cyclingnews.Com 1:51:00
58 Steve Bartzen 33 Muskegon MI Founders Ales Racing 1:54:34

“Silly Season” is upon the mtb world in a big way right now. What am I talking about? I am talking about the time of the year that all the teams and all the athletes start hunting for, negotiating, and securing contracts for next year’s MTB season. Switching teams, looking for better contracts, and/or trying to find the proper fit for athlete’s goals is the name of the game right now.

No doubt about it; it is tough out there, meaning that in the world of mountain bike racing there are not a lot of doors opening. Given the state of our country’s financial crisis, this is to be expected as marketing dollars are usually the first to be slashed. Most of the MTB world saw it coming but that it doesn’t make it any easier. That means you won’t find too many teams expanding their current sponsorship programs to support an athlete’s endeavors to crawl up on the podium in 09, but there are still opportunities out there!

It has always been equally tough for both men and women to get sponsorship, but this year is exceptionally challenging. The good news is that, surprisingly, sponsorship is still out there on many levels from grassroots to pro. In order to find sponsorship you always need to be actively looking, listening and reacting, so that nothing slips through the cracks. Here are some tips for finding the best sponsor for your next MTB season:


1.Determine your objectives, goals and needs:

· Will you be competing at a few single events or full time?

· Are you looking for a team sponsorship or individual sponsorship?

· Do you need product; and if so what exactly?

· Do you need money? If so set a budget.


2.Have a race resume including:

· Introduction

· Race results (past 2 years)

· Achievements and awards

· Tentative race schedule

· Media (photos, magazine and newspaper articles, video, etc.)


3.Make a contact list for all products and/or teams you are interested in endorsing to include:

· Web address

· Contact name (this may take some sleuthing)

· Physical address

· Phone number

· Email address


4.Make that first initial contact (via phone, email, website, snail mail)

· You will want to contact the marketing managers for your favorite companies.

· Team managers will be your best bet for teams.

· And don’t forget your local bike shops!


5. Follow up! Follow up! Follow up!


Good luck next year. See you out there!

Kathy Sherwin
Velo Bella – Kona Elite Cyclocross Team