Happy New Year!

No post since the last weeks of November, but I have some lame…I mean good excuses.  Finished my Senior Thesis the first two weeks of December.

Then we got ready for and did Christmas with 5 different families including our nuclear one, all while sponsor hunting and getting ready for…

New Baby!

On Monday December 26th 2011 we welcomed our 4th child and 2nd son into the world!

Micah Joseph Guerra

New Vlog!

To start off the New Year I have begun a Vlog on YouTube along with some live streaming of my training.  It is all a little rough right now as it was a spur of the moment decision, but I plan on getting all the bells and whistles to make it crisp, clean, and entertaining.  It should be updated close to daily and can be found on the upper left panel of my blog (reading on remote sites click this link) or here at my YouTube channel.  SUBSCCRIBE AND SHARE!

Here is the New Years Eve ride from my webcam on Facebook that inspired the whole idea…

New Coach!

With big goals for 2012 and BEYOND, I have decided to take on a coach.  It was a year in making the decision.  After combing through and searching for the best possible ways to get faster on the bike I found that my new coach Danny Kaukola with FueltheBurn.com was the best fit for what I am trying to accomplish.  You can find his website now linked on my blogs right panel and he will probably be doing some guest appearances via Skype on my Vlog and even here on the blog.

New Training!

With a new coach, new vlog, and new season fast approaching the training is in full-swing already.  The plan is changing quite a bit with Danny’s help in modifying the areas I was lacking on my own.  Looking forward to a big year, with big results.  Lots of returning sponsors and new sponsors to back it all up.  Stay tuned for race schedule, sponsor announcements, and product reveals! HERE WE GO 2012! 

Thanks for reading and watching,

Nathan

Race Day:

Had a nice breakfast with the best of the mid-west all pictured here from left to right, Matter, Schouten, House and myself on his wheel.  Sweet potatoes were a secret weapon for both Matter and I.  Included in the line-up below is a World Champion, a World’s Podium finisher, and multiple National Champions/top ten in the Nation…Mid-West had our work cut out for us.

Here is a video of the Pro men’s start.

Lead group a few miles into the 2011 Iceman.

Not bad company though, with a world champ in group.  With about 10k to go Troy Wells came back to our group as well.  I was a bit frustrated as the legs were good and was out of contention due to positioning. Although one of the highlights of the day was yelling “C’MON SWISS” to a World Champ as I encouraged him to get on my wheel after a bad line through a sand pit!   We were smiling.

I waited for the climbs to start toward the end of the race and as soon as we hit “The Wall”, which kicks off a series of climbs till the end of the race, I attacked hard at the front.  Matt Shriver and Christian Tanguy were able to follow and we had a gap.  Shriver came around to pull and threw an elbow for me to pull through soon after but I was timid.  This was a bad move on my part, Wells, Fluckiger, and Isaac Neff came back to us. 

It was at this point that I saw the lead group just around the corner, I couldn’t believe it!  We were reeling them back in and I told Shriver we gotta go!  Not sure if the group understood me in the midst of the heart pounding, but I pushed it up the climbs hard and Shriver/Wells pulled along the flats.  

Coming into the venue area I was set to win the sprint for the chase group with Wells, Matthias Fluckiger, Christian Tanguy, and Matt Shriver.  It was not to be though, Wells bobbled on a downhill dropping his chain right in front of my bike.  Brought to a full stop I watched while everyone else glided away, a gap had opened I HAD to close.  Brought it back just as the attacks started and that was game over…was fighting for 8th but rode in solo settling for 11th.

Solo ride to the finish

There are Great, Good, and Sub-Par results, this was edging into the last category. The field was tough, so in hindsight I am happy.

Last year I was physically and tactically unprepared, this year just tactically, next year I will put them both together and hopefully be fighting it out in the front.  Full Results Quite the field!

So now that it is the Off-Season we get to watch all the CX crazies suffer.  Been following Cyclingdirt for U.S. racing, screaming at my computer screen for Matter and Schouten representing the Mid-West.  Also, been following the Superprestige and World Cups.

Controversy on this one this past week with Sven Nys and Pauwels. 

Question of the day:

What do you think, should Nys have been relegated?

Answer in the comments section below or found here.

Stay tuned for plenty of 2012 announcements and training preparations.

Nathan

Peak2Peak Oct. 14th-15th

After the Sheboygan race Cole House and I were talking about what to do till Iceman.  I said “rest and train, nothing else going on”.  He was nice enough to invite me to a race across the Lake in Lower Michigan called Peak2Peak.  Awesome race venue, classic Michigan venue environment with tons of energy and hype around the race.  Course left a bit to be desired, but with a few additions of single-track and trails on the amazing ski hill they have it has potential to be an epic event!  Not to mention the resort is one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed, simply amazing!

Cole’s new MTB sponsor SixOneSix put us up for the weekend, for which I am so very grateful.  Awesome laid back people, all about supporting the Mountain Bike scene.  Check them out at Iceman if your heading over this November, 5th.  They should have some good venue space setup.

3 lap race on a 10 mile Course which lent to a small group of 6-7 riding roadie style through fairly wide, flat, winding single track for 3/4 of the lap and then THE HILL…I think it was the longest continual hill climb I have done all year.

Here is Mike Anderson leading us up the climb at the end of lap 1, followed by Cole House, Myself, Jordan Wakeley, Christian Tanguy, Alex Vanias, and Derek Graham.  It was obvious this was where the race would be decided.  Cole and I had a plan, we wanted to go 1-2…and when your driver/host is the competition who gets to win the sprint? 

I never really have had the chance to work as a team on Mountain Bikes.  Of course on the road, but never had the chance to really play out anything on the Mountain Bike.  we controlled the race well and attacked from 1st or second wheel when we wanted…tons of fun. 

Going into the last climb Cole followed my wheel and I just punched it hard right at the bottom, immediately we had a 10 second gap.  We held off a strong chasing Christian Tanguy to the line.  Coming down the back side of the hill I was nice enough to hold back a bit on the Jedi Knight skills and Cole pulled off the Win in another sprint finish. Cole almost gave me the Win on accident, as I sprinted I was also yelling “go left”, Cole was in a full on sprint into the lap area instead of the finish shoot.  Laughed about that quite a few times during the 8 hour drive home that night…well worth it though since Michigan knows how to give out semi-decent prize pools!

Next up is a go at the BIG MONEY in a little over a week.  Training is coming along very well with some of the best numbers on the power meter I have ever seen.  All year I train in limbo of focus.  With so many races going on and different goals, I tend to want to be strong in everything and never really build my intensity well over a 3-4 week period for a very specific event.  With Iceman being so far removed from any of my major racing focuses I have been able to just build very specifically for this race. 

I also feel as though my  knowledge of how  to train and coach has really matured over  this year.  I am really starting to nail down how my body peaks and exactly what it responds best too in training.  No pressure or anything…, but I am very excited to see how this comes together next week Saturday.  Hopefully I will be able to keep the podiums coming and I will be more than happy with that amongst this crowd! Search the Pro field with no name inserted.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What are your top ten Iceman predictions? 

Answer honestly, no offense taken at all if I am not in there!

For those reading through a remote feed you can answer in comments sections found here.

All is new, nothing is mundane it is only in You,

Nathan

As fall slides into winter and the days getting shorter and shorter, finding the time to get out for a ride gets more and more difficult. Add to the mix that I am super busy at work and that window gets smaller and smaller. Yeah having lights is great but when you are getting back from work at 7-8 pm, night rides remain hard to accomplish.

My leg is mending well but unfortunately one of the side affects of the break was that my knee is really weak. I figured the best thing that could be done was to head on over to Dunbar Cycles and pick me up a road bike.

After the minutes of silence (I actually think that there were tears) Robby V told me that there was one waiting for me and all I had to do was head over and grab it.

At Spanish Banks, catching some rays?!??!! (I made sure to wash off the salt water so no worries)

Without the pedals she was 18 lbs… so if it really matters she is probably close to 20 now.

I have been out on here 4 times this week alone. It is super fun to be able to walk out your door, ride for an hour and end up in Horseshoe Bay.

Hopefully this helps with the strength in the knee.

The All Mountain bike comes early next year.

Dan

John Mac & the guys at United Cycle kindly invited us out to Edmonton for their annual Bike Expo last weekend. Tippie & I decided to kill two birds with one stone & visit some Race Face dealers whilst we were out there…


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 Well it’s been a supremely busy summer at Casa Chaos (otherwise known as the Tippie/Fenton household). Brett was busy announcing a bunch of MTB events, such as some BC Cup races, the Redbull 5000 down, doing daily webisodes for Crankworx, doing over 50 (!) interviews at the World Championships at Mt. St. Anne. Not to mention other events such as Rocky Mountain days at Mt. Washington etc etc. The best on a professional and personal level was his induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame during Interbike this year, along with his fellow Fro-riders, Wade Simmons and Richie Schley. It was a funny, emotional, and very proud moment for us.

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Last weekend some of us here at Race Face stepped up and got dirty during a trail day for the well used Pangor Trail on the world famous North Shore Seymour Mountain. The North Shore Mountain Bike Association works tirelessly to maintain, support and protect the priceless trail network here on the shore. Race Face is proud to not only sponsor events like this but to also get out and work side by side with fellow riders. I encourage all riders to support their local bike associations and to attend events like trail days. Trails do not maintain themselves, they need our help…

The one and only Digger getting it done!!

So 2010 has been a busy year with organizing a race, coaching and now into the race season.


April saw the second year of me organizing the West Coast Super D, sponsored by John Henry Bikes. The weather was great and just over 100 participants came out to enjoy the loamy singletrack of Belcarra BC. I changed up the course a bit this year to remove the nasty climb from last year’s course and add more singletrack. It seemed to work with everyone coming away with smiles and a tails for the bench racing that followed. This years men’s winning time was 9:08 put down by Chris Johnston and Katherine Short was the fastest woman with a time of 11:10.


April also saw me help coach the 12th year of Power Training with fellow coaches Ray Lachance and Rod Dagneau. Our club West Coast Racing holds fitness training programs year round and Power Training is the outdoor mountain bike component of our club programs. For 10 weeks we helped participants prepare for the coming season with a series of hill climbs and interval repeats. Some participants want to prepare for the big event of the season others just come to help there fitness to enjoy the upcoming summer rides. AS usual we ended the last week with a gathering at the local restaurant for some food and bevies.


April also saw the first BC Cup downhill of the year for me. The Kamloops bike park has always had a nice track to start the season and this year there were quite a few changes in store for us. More jumps, berms and technical sections than ever before. First BC Cup saw me take a second place and a good start to the season.


My next race on the BC Cup downhill circuit was the North Shore Smackdown. Well this course was in my backyard so I was eager to give it a go again in 2010. Last year saw a bit of less than desirable result so I was looking to improve on my 2009 placing. The weather held out and the course was in great shape with just a little water in one section. Neds is always a fun trail to ride but racing it on even better, just you the clock and your buddies. Well mission accomplished the Smackdown ended with me at the top of the podium.


Two weeks later and BC Cup action was Arduum. Well this course is like nothing else in Canada and not really my favourite on the circuit but hey it’s racing and everyone rides the same course. The course is relentlessly tough from top to bottom with technical roots, rocks jumps and drops. After going over the bars countless times on Saturday practise I decided to change my tactics a bit for Sunday and tone down the urge to go for it and turn up the smooth. Sunday saw me riding sections with more flow and confidence and when the results were posted I placed first for my category.


Now with 3 events down I am tied for second place in the BC Cup. I guess this means the pressure is on for the next event, Bear Mountain. Stay tuned.

Photo: Dan Barham

Hot on the heels of the Seymour Smackdown, Arduum takes place on the 19th and 20th of June, 2010.

Deep in the woods of the District of Mission, in the Mission Rod and Gun Clubs backyard, lies the trail. Steep and technical are words normally used to describe the trail as it falls down the side of Red Mounatin.

Here is the information that you are going to need to race!

REGISTRATION HERE!

There will be no day of registration and registration will close Thursday June 17, 2010 at exactly 11:59 pm. So be sure to get your name on the list!

Friday June 18th, 2010

Course will be open for hiking only.

Saturday June 19th, 2010

8:00am through 12:00pm – Registration

9:00am through 4:00pm – Shuttles running for practice runs

4:00pm through 5:00pm – Pro-Only Runs (no sessioning) and Freelap Challenge

5:00pm through 7:00 pm – BBQ by the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association

7:00 pm through 9:00pm – Dunbar Cycles 16″ BMX Race

Sunday June 20th, 2010

8:00am through 11:00am – Shuttles running for practice runs

11:00am through 12:00pm – Course closed and washroom break for the marshals.

12:00pm through 4:00pm – RACE TIME!

5:00 Awards and Swag Toss!

Arduum Race Location and getting there:

Directions to the bottom of the Race Course click here!

Parking Notifications:

There is limited parking at the base of the course and at the Mill Pond. There is to be no parking along the entrance road to the Mission Rod and Gun Club, or at the Mission Rod and Gun Club itself.

We have given the Club permission to tow any vehicle that is parked there. Please abide by these rules, no one should have to go and get their vehicle out of the impound lot after racing.

Camping:

Unoffically there is a nice grass lot near the Mill Pond. In the past people have tended to group there. Please clean up after yourself and remember that there is a road close by so lock your items up.

Shuttles:

Shuttles this year will be 4 Mini Buses and 4 Cube Vans. They will leave from the parking lot at the Mission Rod and Gun Club. 15-20 riders will be able to fit in each bus and with the smaller vehicles they will be easier to navigate on the road. We all know how smooth that road is! These are the only vehicles that are allowed anywhere near the parking lot. Any unauthorized vehicles will be shot! (Am I really kidding?)

Registration:

Registration will take place at the Pinkbike Trailer at the base of the race course. Make sure you are super nice to the lovely ladies there, or they may just cancel your registration. You will be getting a Racer Package with vaulable information, we suggest that you read it.

Food:

There will be a BBQ provided at a small cost to participants from 5pm-7pm on Saturday June 19th, 2010. All proceeds from the event will go toward the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association.

So the deal is this: $3 a burger with a pop/water for FVMBA members and $5 for non members. There will be memberships being sold at the same time for $20. With membership purchase the burger is included. There will be two BBQ’s rolling so bring your hunger!

SRAM/Freelap Challenge:

The last hour of practice Saturday the “FreeLap Challenge” is returning. We should have some watches onsite for sale at a discounted rate and we are also selling the watches and the wands through the webpage. Be sure to grab one and test your speed the night before the race.

We have partnered with SRAM and through the websites will be posting the fastest time from the FreeLap Challenge on Saturday night. It is your turn to then send your best guess as to what the fastest time on race day will be. Send your answers to dan@nsmb.com. The first person to guess the right time wins a stellar prize from RockShox!

Cycle Component Network SPEED TRAP!

There is a relatively straight section of trail coming into the new hip jump at the lower 1/4 of the course. There you will find the CCN SPEED TRAP! That is right, an honest to goodness Police certified radar gun complete with digital display. You will be able to see first hand just how fast, or slow you were going. Don’t worry though, Rocky Mountain Fro-Rider Brett Tippie will be in the “living room” to heckle you if you didn’t get to see it.

DUNBAR Cycles 16″ BMX

Back again for 2010 is the Dunbar Cycles 16″ BMX Challenge. A new track will be constructed to challenge even the best. Try your luck from 7pm – 9pm Saturday June 19th, 2010. Helmets are mandatory for this even. Knee/shin pads are recommended.

These events would not happen with the support of these fine people:

Dunbar Cycles,  Pinkbike.com, Raceface.com, Transition Bikes, Scion, Sombrio, SRAM, Helly Hansen, Freelap, Redbull, Nsmb.com, The Bryson Racing Clan and Central City Brewing

“Still building…

Most of my blog entries have been about building this far, I’m still riding lots though, last week I spent some time with Freeride Ent. (www.freeride-entertainment.com) shooting for Easton Components, and this week I was hard at work with some legends of the sport, Kurt Sorge and Garret Beuhler, along with Rick Schneider, our Excavator operator, and dirt jump surgeon, and built one of the sickest spots on earth. We all sat down and decided we needed a place here in Nelson that has some huge jumps so we could practice the ancient art of “Sending It” without leaving our home town. Nelson is know for it’s abundance of huge trails but the Massive Booter factor hasn’t kept up to speed.

Garret and his Dad came through and donated the land and we all pitched in, got together and gave’r hard for a few days to punch this marvel of mountain bike manufacturing. The craftsmanship is amazing! Rick is hands down the most skilled Excavator operator I have ever seen when it comes to Dirt jumps. Even though we had a small machine, I don’t think it slowed us down at all. the only pain in the ass was getting the 1960- something- school bus operational and running to drive it into place without it tipping over from the massive weight on the roof which is now a dirt dish. Yes it almost happened, Sorge has never seen my eyes so white as I has an instant to either jump out or hang on tight.

Here it is, such a sick zone, hope it all works the way we want it!

Here is a break down:

the big center line – is 30ft step down, to a 35ft double, to a 40ft double, DJ lip style
Left line – 25ft hipper to a 35ft table, 20ft step up to bus, then straight stepdown or hip step down option, last to a trick hipper
right line – 25′ hip double to 4 20ft huge lipped trick jumps.

Top 3 options…

Rick lining it up…

Hoping that the roof won’t collapse…

Planting and watering the Jump Garden…

I don’t think Rick blinked once the whole time.

This gives a good perspective of the size of the gaps.