Thanks Land Shark and Louis Garneau for your support in my cycling

I am very fortunate to have the support of LandShark and Louis Garneau helping me out with equipment and clothing. LandShark is a company in Oregon, owned by John Slawta. He builds custom carbon framed bikes. They are a work of art. Check out his gallery at

www.landsharkbicycles.com

I met John at the Ashland Hill Climb in 2008. After the race he met up with me and we got to know each other. During our conversation he said he would build me a bike. All I had to do was to come up with how I wanted my bike to look. That was not an easy task. After going round and round with ideas, I settled on using photos of my childhood and cycling experiences with the bike being blue with rainbow colors.

When I picked up my new bike it came with final touch of my name across the front tube in gold.

This year Louis Garneau is sponsoring me with some of their top of the line cycling clothing. The fit is very comfortable and I really like the chamois. The best chamois yet and that is important to cyclists. Check out LG at www.louisgarneau.com

Shast Sports Consignement Store

Check out this new store from my hometown set up and ran by my brother Travis Hutchinson.

New to Shasta Cycling in Shasta Sport's Consignment Store. Taking your local consignment store to the web! Please come view what is available at www.shastacycling.com

If you live in the Mount Shasta area, we will help you sell your sports equipment or other items.

Service includes pricing, cleaning (if needed), and shipment of your product.

For information and pricing contact Shasta Cycling at shatacycling@att.net

We look forward to hearing from you!

What's Up with the Weahter

I came back from Arizona on Valentine's Day with a sunburn only to meet the snow of Mount Shasta once again. This weekend I will be racing down in Merced. On Saturday will be the famous Snelling Road Race, know to some as the Smelling Road Race (there was a misprint  on the t-shirts one year). On Sunday will be the Original Merced Criterium. I hear the weather is suppose to be cold down there too.

Until then I will be riding my trainer indoors watching movies. 2 to 3 hour rides require lots of movies. Any suggestions?

Valley of the Sun Stage Race, Arizona

I left the snow of Mount Shasta for the warmth and sunshine of Arizona. I was off to Phoenix to race in the Valley of the Sun Stage Race that would take place from 02-11-11 to 02-13-11.

VOS is a three day stage race on flat terrain that includes a 14 mile time trial , a 57 mile road race, and end with a criterium in downtown Phoenix. I went out and gave it my all in the time trial, consequently a little too much at the start. I placed 4th and learned a great deal about my body to take with me to my next race.

Molly Van Houwelling of Metronmint came in first was in position to win the VOS for the second year in a row.

With my 4th place finish I knew I had the opportunity to maintain a 4th place finish overall in the GC and that is what I set out to do. The road race was up next. The road race was fast and very aggressive from the start with breakaways throughout the race but was all was unsuccessful in the end resulting in a bunch sprint at the end.At the end of the race, I learned my carbon wheel was cracked and so I would be on my training wheels for the criterium.

Emily Kachorek of Primal, Anna Sanders of TriSports, and Alisha Welsh of Peanut Butter came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectfully. Primal brought a full team and met their goal for the day. Molly remained 1st in the GC.

I was in 4th place for the GC going into the Criterium. Bonus points being given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the criterium set the stage for some jostling in the overall GC of the race. That I chose not to concern myself with, but rather race a smart, keep myself in good position and finish with no loss of time. When the race was over I knew I had secured my 4th place in the GC.

Nicole Wangsgard and Tiffany Pezzulo of Primal came in 1st and 2nd, and Jane Despas of Yahoo Cycling finished in 3rd.

To my surprise I learned I place 3rd in the Women's !/2 GC and 1st in the Espoire GC.

Cheers to a New Year

Welcome to a new year with fresh starts and fresh beginnings. With New Years right around the corner we all know that we can expect more snow, more rain and more cold, and a whole new years worth of trainer rides and movies. However you can always find something worth watching if you’re willing to give it a try. This years the theme is scary and suspenseful movies. Needless to say, I now have to sleep with at least one eye open.

Keep the rubber side down.

Top Trainer Rides Movies of the Week

The weather has not been cooperative and the hours on the trainer are adding up. Riding a trainer for 90 minutes is a task that is very doable. Pick out a movie and you are on your way. A ride like today of 3 hours takes a certain mindset and dedication to your training schedule.

Top movie picks of the week are,

* Transporter
* Transporter 2
* Transporter 3
* Get Him to the Greek
* Easy A

The weather forecast for the next 5 days is snow and rain. Next up is Killers.

Women’s Team Pursuit Development Camp

November 10-16 USA Cycling hosted a capable group of young ladies for a Women’s Team Pursuit Development Camp. A dozen young ladies worked to home their skills on the track and specifically in the team pursuit. The ladies worked with USA Cycling coaches and staff to improve both technique and power using a number of technological tools and some old school hard work. The women’s team pursuit is one of five women’s track racing events that will be a part of the Olympic slate for 2012 and beyond. --USA Cycling

~Thank you USA Cycling for providing me with this experience.