Palm Springs Training Camp Report - By Sandra

My shadow chases me on the way out of Box Canyon.


Jean Ann and I arrived back home in Coquitlam today with a 30-degree drop in temperature. Yup, it was a balmy 0 degrees when we landed at YVR and a light dusting of fresh snow reminded us that it's still February. The distinct tan lines on our limbs, as well as the exponential increase of freckles across the bridge of my nose assured us that Palm Springs had not been a dream.

Our training camp in Palm Springs was a great mid-winter motivator. It got us out of the rainy doldrums of Vancouver and onto some different roads with lots of fresh faces. It's always fun to train with new people and the hours and miles ticked by very quickly, even on those 5+ hour days in the saddle. Jean Ann, Catharine and I were lucky enough to tack on a few extra days after the official Cycling BC camp had finished (unfortunately our team mate Bianca left with the rest of 'em), and benefitted from a few more warm rides and relaxing post-ride poolside recovery sessions at the Guloiens' house (thank you)! In total, we did 10 days of riding in a row, 35 hours on the bike, and 1112 km's. We got a good dose of amazing Mexican food, were chased by dogs, stared at by latino cowboys, climbed some pretty long and scenic ascents, rode by grapefruit, lemon and orange trees, sampled a plethora of locally grown dates, and were inspired by all of our great training buddies.

Riding bikes is hard work, but we're glad to do it! Despite the cold and snow, it's nice to be back home. Although I'm definitely looking forward to returning to California for our season-opening mountain bike race - the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, April 17-19!

- Sandra :)

My heart rate and wattage profile on the "chased by dogs ride". Can you tell when we had the encounter?
The Team
Tired and happy

New Women’s Elite Mountain Bike Team Launched in B.C.

February 24, 2009 (Coquitlam, B.C.) - The Local Ride Women’s Elite Mountain Bike Team, based in B.C.’s Greater Vancouver Area, are making their debut this season, featuring a roster stacked with talent and poised to contest high-exposure Olympic discipline cross country mountain biking competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

“It’s fantastic to support these three incredibly talented women as they take on the world’s elite this season,” said Barry Lyster, Local Ride Racing Team Manager and owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, the team’s title sponsor. “They are such great role models in the community and I find huge value in sponsoring Canada’s future champions.”

For 2009 Local Ride Racing is expanding to include Canadian National Team mountain bike racers Sandra Walter, 28, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Bianca Adolf, 18. They will team up to compete at Canadian and U.S. Cup Series events, as well as selected World Cups, Canada Summer Games, and world-famous provincial events, such as the Test of Metal and BC Bike Race.

“B.C. has some of the best cycling terrain in the world and these three ladies have the good fortune of being able to train here everyday,” said Lyster. “Their success will definitely help draw attention to the huge cycling and tourism potential we have here.”

Between them, Adolf, McKirdy, and Walter have 20 years of racing experience, 15 years on the National Team, seven World Championships performances, four Canada Cup titles, four National titles, and three Canada Summer Games medals.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based X.O-Felt team, Walter is excited to be back on home turf. Her career highlights include second in the four-day 2008 La Ruta de los Conquistadores, fourth overall in the 2007 and 2008 Swisspower Cup Series, the 2003 Canada Cup Series title, and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to mix it up at the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, U.S. Series races, and the BC Bike Race.

McKirdy will continue to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two rewarding cyclocross seasons on the squad, during which she took multiple BC Cup wins. In 2008, she captured the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series title, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she aims to improve on her World Cup results, and vie for the podium in the Canada Cup and U.S. Series.

After only two seasons of racing and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing sixth at the Junior World Championships, Adolf is proud to join Local Ride Racing for her debut in the elite category. She will focus primarily on Canada Cups and winning a medal at the Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some U.S. Series and other international events as well.

The Local Ride Elite Women’s XC MTB Team are racing on custom Canadian frames, hand built by Xprezo Cycles, in Bromont, Quebec. Haywood Securities and Fab-All Manufacturing are the team’s presenting sponsors. The racers are outfitted with MET helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eyewear, and Gore Ride-On cables. Other sponsors include Sugoi Clothing, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Nature’s Sunshine Supplements.

All of the teams under the Local Ride Racing umbrella (men’s road, women’s road, associate, junior, and mountain bike) will kick off their season with an exciting launch party on April 3, at the Shark Club in Vancouver, B.C., featuring Fully Loaded performing live. Tickets will be available March 1. Stay tuned to the team’s blog and localride.ca for details.

About the Local Ride Elite Women’s MTB XC Team

The Local Ride Elite Women’s MTB XC Team is composed of three talented women, who compete in the Olympic cross country mountain bike discipline: Bianca Adolf, 18, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Sandra Walter, 28. The riders are based on the mountain biking destination of Burke Mountain in Coquitlam, B.C., giving the riders the advantage of being able to train together on some of the best cycling terrain in the world. The team is managed by Barry Lyster, owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The goal of Local Ride Elite Women’s Mountain Bike Team beyond winning races, is development. All three racers are at different stages in their careers, with varying levels of experience. The more senior members recognize the importance of mentorship in helping younger athletes develop into champions.

Roster
- Bianca Adolf
- Jean Ann McKirdy
- Sandra Walter

Sponsors
- Local Ride Bike Shop
- Xprezo Bicycles
- Haywood Securities
- Fab-All Manufacturing
- Kicking Horse Coffee
- Nature’s Sunshine Supplements
- SRAM/Avid/Truvativ/Rock Shox
- MET Helmets
- Tifosi Eyewear
- Gore Ride-On Cables
- Time
- Cycles Lambert
- Sugoi Clothing

Day 5 Sun Fun!

Sandra and Jan: Sandra connects with a German friend.


Sandra connects with a Luna friend.

The Local Ride Racing Women's Mtb team, chilling together mid ride: Sandra, Bianca, Jean Ann.

Living the Good Life

The best way to start the day, mmmm mmmm, panckake goodness at Chateau Guloien.

The LR bottles ready to go.

Leah, Jean Ann and Catherine pre ride smiles on day 3 of the Palm Springs Training Camp.

Leah and the Joshua Tree, in the Park. Beautiful day 4!

And the secret to a happy ride....eat and drink.

Joshua Tree National Park

Sunshine in Palm Springs

Members of LRR's women's road and mountain bike team have been enjoying some sunshine and warm weather riding in Palm Springs CA, as a part of Cycling BC's Warm Weather Training Camp.

Local photographer and artist J. Farmer, captured the top two shots. Above, from left to right is Jean Ann McKirdy, Nels Guloien, Catherine Pendrel, Leah Guloien and Sandra Walter.

Above LRR's Chelsea Bilsbarrow and Laura Brown at the front of the women's group ride. All smiles under blue skies. Photo by J. Farmer.

At the top of "the Tram", a rather long and steep climb at the end of the day. Sandra poses in the upper parking lot. Rowwwrrr!!!

Gota love the Local Ride woollies :) Photo by Sandra Walter.

Local Ride Racing Launches Elite Women's Mountain Bike Team

Local Ride Racing is expanding their current local road, cyclocross and mountain bike team in 2009 to include an elite women's mountain bike team. Sandra Walter, Jean Ann McKirdy and Bianca Adolf will be teaming up to take on the National and US Cup series mountain bike races, as well as selected World Cup's, Canada Summer Games, and of course some of the local races in BC such as the Test of Metal.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based Felt X.O team, Sandra Walter has returned to Canada. Her career highlights include 4th in the Swiss Cup Series in 2007 and 2008, Canada Cup Series winner in 2003 and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to be mixing it up at events such as the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, US Cups and at the BC Bike Race.

Jean Ann McKirdy will be continuing to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two successful cyclocross seasons on the team, in which she took multiple wins in the BC Cup Cross Series. In 2008 she won the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she hopes to improve on her World Cup results, and will be racing for the podium in the Canada Cup and US Cup Series.

After only two seasons of racing, and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing 6th at the Junior World Championships, Bianca Adolf will be joining Local Ride Racing for her first year racing elite. Her focus will primarily be Canada Cups and Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some North American and International events as well!

Sponsoring the team this year is Xprezo Cycles, out of Bromont QC, who will be supplying custom built frames for the team. Haywood Securities and Fab-all manufacturing are also on board as sponsors. The team will be running Met helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eye wear, Gore Ride-On cables, Sugoi clothing and Sram parts.

Local Ride Racing's Elite Women's mountain bike team is looking forward to an exciting and successful race season in 2009.

Cycling BC Team Report - Bianca Adolf to Race for Local Ride Racing's Elite Women's Team

The Lund Report
The winter months are usually pretty quiet for Team BC Mountain Bike racers....but there has been a fair bit going on this year! News of riders signing with new teams often dominates the news in the winter and it was no different this year. Team BC’s top MTB riders from 2008 have secured teams for 2009. Junior Men’s XC Champion Evan Guthrie recently signed with the Rocky Mountain Factory Team. He’ll be joining long time Rocky riders and Olympians Alison Sydor, Andreas Hestler and Marie-Helene Premont as he too looks forward to representing Canada on the world stage.

Junior Woman’s XC Champion Bianca Adolf is riding in 2009 for the newly formed Local Ride women’s pro team. She’ll join long time pros Sandra Walter and Jean-Ann McKirdy, she looks forward to racing with the Pro women this year as she leaves the junior category for bigger and better things!

Team BC’s Tyler Alison, the 2008 Canada Cup XC Overall Champion was awarded the Premier’s Athletic Excellence Award. These awards recognize the top male and female athletes participating in the BC Athlete Assistance Program for the period of November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008. The Premier’s Athletic Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center.

These riders and the rest of Team BC have been training hard through the winter months. Many of he riders live in places where riding on the roads and trails can be difficult in the winter months, but they’ve kept busy riding the indoor trainer, riding on the Burnaby Velodrome, XC skiing, running and of course hitting the gym to work on their strength.

Many of our top Team BC riders are also very gifted athletes and can also be found competing at XC running, soccer, hockey, skiing and indoor climbing competitions in the winter. Many are also planning on attending our second annual Palm Springs endurance training camp, a chance to ride hours upon hours, building their base fitness from February 12-23. Expect a full report and some exciting pictures to follow shortly!

So there many not be a lot of big news this month, but the riders and coaches have all been busy training and planning for what is shaping up to be another great year for Team BC! -Steve Lund

First month of 2009 and it looks like things are off to a pretty good start. Spent 10 days over at the indoor, which was really good. Got to race a pro-am and a BC Cup, but mostly just lots or practice and training. Unfortunately I’ve had a bit of a pulled muscle in my low back, so the weight training has had to take a bit of a back seat for the first half of this month. But I made sure not to over work it and things are feeling all good now, so it’s back to the gym.