Guest Posts

Bo Bikes Bama

Posted on May 13, 2015 - 7:05 pm by keith_ritter

What is it about natural disasters that bring out the best in people?

When central Alabama was hit in 2011 by a series of tornadoes, “the best in people” was about the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. These towns, from tiny Cordova, which looked like a set from The Walking Dead when the tornadoes ripped through like a zombie attack, to Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama and site of the most casualties, faced one of the lowest moments in their histories.

But sometimes, it’s disasters like this that cause true rebirth.

Bo Jackson is Alabama’s Jens Voigt. Many Alabamans don’t know Jens, of course. But if you describe Jensie’s toughness, grit and happy-go-lucky attitude, they’d think you’re talking about Bo Jackson. He is known as the most famous two-sport athlete in the world, and the most famous export of Alabama, an All-Star in both baseball and football, and winner of the Heisman Trophy at Auburn. He never quits. And that’s why he’s here. Because when Bo heard that this area, including his hometown of Bessemer, was severely damaged, his first reaction was to call his friends at Trek Bikes and reach for a bike.

John Burke, CEO of Trek, says it best. “Bo is one of the greatest sports legends of the last 100 years, and an even better person. What could I say when he called? This is an incredible opportunity to do good for a lot of people. The next thing I know, we’re driving 18 hours down to Alabama to join him and help out the victims of the tornadoes.”

Bo Jackson at Bo Bikes Bama

Cycling has a way of making your senses come alive. Discovering the world on a bike is exciting. It’s visceral. You get closer to the road, the people and the curves of the earth than you can in a car, bus or a thousand on-line virtual tours. You smell the smells. Feel the air. Drink in the history.

Normally, bicycle tours are reserved for the fragrant olive groves of Tuscany and the epic views of the Alps. But it works just as well when you’re trying to get a sense of the rubble of a place that’s been battered. It’s the same ride. The same discovery. And in both cases, you learn to love the people you ride with and the destinations you visit.

Bo wanted to do something big for his home. He wanted to raise $1,000,000 in disaster relief. And he wanted to do it in a way that would draw out the communities together, as one people, getting to know the countryside together and rediscovering what makes Alabama great. There’s no better way to do that then on a bicycle.

Trek Travel saw his vision and got behind the mission. They sent Rebecca Falls, trip designer and tour expert, down to help. That was the beginning of Bo Bikes Bama, a five-day journey across central Alabama on bicycle. It was also the beginning of Bo Jackson’s third athletic career.

Bo is telling his own legs to “Shut up.” If you ask him, he “doesn’t know why” he chose a cycling tour as his fundraising method, but if you ride along with him, you learn quickly. And mostly? It’s because he’s not good at it.

He lumbers up the hills. ESPN’s Greatest Athlete of All Time is no match for the slow rollers of the Deep South. But he’s there. Chugging along. The big, hulking NFL engine that could. Like in all of cycling, there’s a romance in his struggle. He’s there not as the famous pro with all his pro friends making an appearance for charity like it was some golf tournament. In Bo Bikes Bama, he’s a man of the people. Struggling right along side friends, neighbors and countrymen. Riding through their hometowns on bikes with the victims’ names etched on his top tube, and taking the same rests at the summit of every climb.

He’s no pro cyclist. But in a state known more for its love of the SEC than the TDF, he’s Alabama’s hero on two wheels.

This is what Trek Travel is all about. You wouldn’t count Cordova, Alabama among the likes of Andalucia, Spain, or the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. But Trek Travel is here, riding bikes, exploring the undiscovered reaches of a place that wasn’t built for bikes. Rebecca Falls should know. She’s from Tuscaloosa, and she’s completely impressed at what bikes have done for her home.

“How cool is it to get road bikes into communities that don’t traditionally connect with bicycling?” She asks. “As one of the most well-known and well-loved Alabamians, Bo Jackson is an incredible advocate for cycling in our home state.”

Bo Jackson understands this, almost implicitly. It might be why he chose cycling unconsciously. He knew that bikes are the great equalizer. They bring people together, and closer to the world around them. They’ve made him an athlete once again. And they’re going to change this place.

Sometimes, discovering the world on a bike isn’t all wine-tasting and epic selfies. Sometimes, it takes a natural disaster to show you a side of a place that you never saw before.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL BO BIKES BAMA»

Agua Tibia Surf School

Posted on May 7, 2015 - 6:35 pm by keith_ritter

Meet Adrian and Drew, owners of Agua Tibia surf school in Costa Rica. Sense their passion for the sport as you follow along on their journey of adventure, discovery and the search for big waves.

Tell us your story. What inspired you to start surfing?

Adrian: After school I would do my homework then swim in the river with friends. That’s all we did outside of school – homework and swim. Then one year after moving to Samara Beach in 1999 I tried surfing for the first time. The feeling of riding a board in the water was even more fun than just swimming in it. As the time passes and I am able to see many beautiful places in the world and get to know more great people, their culture and the beauty of each place, it brings me back to swimming in that river as a boy and catching my first wave.

Drew: I had been a skateboarder since I was 10 years old, and had my first surf experience when I was 20. It wasn’t that great, as a matter of fact I almost drowned two times. I went to the beach with a surfer friend of mine and he gave me his short board to learn on. The waves were over 6 feet that day (that means overhead surf). Of course he didn’t explain anything to me but I was eager to try so I paddled out and somehow made it there. I tried to catch some waves but it didn’t work. It was very intimidating to see that big, dark hole I was supposed to drop into. At this point I was exhausted, I couldn’t find my friend and it was getting dark so I decided to paddle in. A strong rip current pulled me. Knowing nothing of how to handle it at the time, I lost my board when a big wave crashed on me. I grew up swimming in rivers, so I am a decent swimmer. I swam to a surfer guy and asked for help. He told me to get on his board and we took a wave into shore.

The funny thing is that I did the same thing again. This was my second try. Same beach, same friend, same board, same waves, same current. This time was more intense. I couldn’t find someone to ask for help. Then all of a sudden an Argentinian lifeguard on shore saw my board drifting in without me. He picked it up and paddled out to get me. He saved me. I never got his name or saw him again, but he saved my life.

As you can imagine after these two experiences I decided that surfing was not for me. I was comfortable on the concrete with my wheels. Two years later I was doing social work in Nicaragua and my surfer friend calls me about this job at a hotel reception desk in Playa Guiones. When I got his call I had just started my trip and I was going to be out of the country for a month. I did a phone interview and they gave me the time to come back and take the job. That was my first time in Nosara.

At that time it was basically impossible to skate around Nosara. I remember there was one mini half pipe where I would go. Everyone was into surfing here and I had my surfing experience already. I didn’t get into the water until six months after I moved here. Since I couldn’t skate I started to get interested in surfing again. But now I had a bad experience so before I went for it I asked a couple of the new surfer friends. They just said go for it, on a bigger board. And I thought that was enough to go for it again. I borrowed a bigger board (7’3”) and started to paddle out. Nobody told me I could do white water so I went straight out to the green waves. It took me about three months to be able to get out there and then I finally made it. I was out there on a big day. The moment I look around trying to find a familiar face I could only see three of the best surfers in town out there with me. And then I thought to myself, “What am I doing here?” Now I knew a little more about safety and I just focused on not losing my board. I waited for an hour to find a smaller wave to catch. It didn’t happen. I started to paddle for what I thought was a good one and the wave just kept building under my board. All I could think was, “If I don’t make it, I die.” I made it. I stood up, went down the line and all the way into shore. I will never forget that wave. After that I did some downhill long boarding but having the power of the ocean pushing at that speed was and still is the best feeling there is. That first wave did it. That was my inspiration to surf.

What inspired you to open your own surf school?

Adrian: After discovering that surfing was the main reason why I was going to stay here in Nosara I decided to start focusing more on improving my English, my surfing skills, and also trying to get a deeper connection with the ocean and its constant change. In 2010 I got a job at my friend’s surf school and I began as the guy who would clean the boards and put them inside. Soon I was at the front desk making reservations for the surf lessons and three months later I found myself teaching my first lesson. Teaching others reminded me of the first time I caught a wave. At that point I knew I wanted to own my own surf school. I knew I wanted to bring smiles and happiness to people, and maybe even change their way of seeing life after learning how to surf.

Drew: After working for the hotel for a year, they let me go. I had been surfing for six months and made a lot of new friends. Two of my new friends had a surf school and they hired me to be their receptionist. One day we had so many students they needed me to help them teach. So there I was, a six-month-old surfer teaching beginners. I started to notice that everything I was teaching also helped me improve my own surfing and at the same time I enjoyed teaching so much. I met Adrian there and we worked together for over two seasons. We were basically managing our friends surf school as they were getting a bit detached from it. We started talking about opening our own place and that’s how we started to sketch what Agua Tibia is now.

Tell us about the best wave you’ve ever caught.

Adrian: How could I forget that moment. It was at Playa Pavones in southern Costa Rica and I was on a fabulous trip with my friends. We got there two days before the swell hit and it was kind of small but we knew it was going to get better as the day went on. Once we were in the water it was even better than we thought. We woke really early on Thursday morning at 4:50AM, I made coffee and breakfast and after a good meal we headed to the water. As soon as we saw the first wave breaking we knew that the long drive (10 hours) was so worth it. I have to mention that this wave only breaks to the left because it’s a point break and also is the second longest wave of the world. Truly, this wave has been my best wave ever because it was super long, big and clean. It was what we call a perfect wave, so I will never forget this experience. We got to surf two of the longest and best waves of Costa Rica and I had the longest wave of my surf lifetime so far.

Drew: One day I was long boarding and I was around 50ft further out than the rest of the line up and I saw this massive wave building 100ft further out than where I was. So I found myself thinking, “Should I paddle out to it and go through or should I paddle in to the rest of the line up to skip it?” Two seconds later I decided to paddle out to it and try to pass it. I got to it and I was perfectly positioned. I went for it. So scary. So much adrenaline. So much fun. That’s a wave I will always remember. Makes me smile just to think of it.

What excites you most about Costa Rica?

Adrian: I love our culture. The people are so welcoming, warm and open. When you walk down the street you always hear everyone saying “Pura Vida” which means “Pure Life” in English. It really is a pure lifestyle here in the jungle, close to nature. We are conservative with our water, conscious of where our trash is going, always keeping compost in our yard, eating healthy, helping the animals and spending as much time as we can outdoors.

Drew: Our people. The Pura Vida. You know one is truly Tico when you feel at home. Of course there are all kinds of people here but real Costa Ricans are welcoming and warm, honest, respectful, loving, caring and always willing to help. I see all this slowly dying in the new generations but we live like that here. We fight to conserve it. Pura Vida.

Surf with Adrian and Drew in Costa Rica!

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Industry Insider: Tim Vanderjeugd

Posted on May 6, 2015 - 9:52 pm by keith_ritter

As the public relations and media manager for Trek Factory Racing, Tim Vanderjeugd is essentially the eyes and ears of the team at races. He is the director of communications, the team’s spokesperson, and first line of contact for media. Traveling over 180 days a year, learn more about Tim’s life on the road with professional cyclists.

Tell us your story.
I’m a former sport and travel journalist and photographer, and joined the world of professional cycling as press officer in 2011 with Leopard Trek. I’m from cycling-crazed Belgium and live only a couple of pedal strokes away from the steep Kemmelberg that fans of cycling will definitely know.

How long have you been riding bikes? What is it that called you to cycling?
I have been riding bikes since I was a little boy. Very early on kids learn how to ride bikes in my country and I was six years old went I started riding to school every day on my own. I was doing track and field all my adolescent life so riding mountain bikes and race bikes was not a major part of my life until I got my Masters in literature and linguistics. I picked up mountain biking and then very quickly also bought my first race bike.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle?
My best day on a bike would be somewhere ‘out there’. I have amazing memories from my bike holidays in Corsica, Iceland and Senegal. When you travel with all your luggage on your bike, the suffering is immense but so incredibly rewarding. I can’t wait to take on another adventure. I’d like to go back to Argentina, but this time by bike! Or to New Zealand. Or to the Pacific Coast in the US. Or so many more destinations!

What inspired you to become a journalist?
The stories. I believe everyone has a great story. It’s just a matter of asking the right questions. I love my job as a press officer too. It’s different, but in a way I make sure that the riders’ stories get told, through the media but more and more directly to the fans. This season we have started our #BehindTheStripes stories where photographer Emily Maye and myself visit the riders in their homes, to show their lives to the fans in a context outside of racing. We get to see what they have to leave behind when they travel because often we overlook the costs their families must bear. Everyone at TFR, riders and staff, took a different road to get where we stand now. This variety of stories is what makes TFR such a beautiful family.

What is the vision behind Trek Factory Racing and how is it being received?
Well, we live in an amazing time where we can reach fans in the fastest and easiest ways imaginable. The fans love our communication, they send us very positive feedback. We will keep on trying to surprise them and bring the stories of TFR to their doorstep, because what would cycling be without its fans?

You speak seven languages. What excites you about learning a new language?
Speaking a language is a privilege. It’s wealth that can’t be taken from you. Being able to speak a language with someone is unlocking a door to a whole new world. Besides this cultural approach, I am very interested in language specific things like grammar and phonetics and this helps me to learn a new language. I’m taking on Portuguese now.

You spend over 180 days on the road each year. What is your favorite destination and why?
That would probably be Italy. It’s just the most beautiful place in the world: the cities, the countryside, the food, the fans of cycling. There are many things that the country could improve on, but there’s even more things that make me fall in love with it every time I go there.

Tell us about your best adventure from the road.
Life on the road is a constant adventure. A lot of it is efficiently solving problems, because there’s not a day when there’s not a little something that needs mending. That’s the part I like most about my job. A great example is when we were doing the home visit to Julian Arredondo on the weekend of the National Championships in Colombia. It was the most ‘exotic’ time on the road, I think. I ended up being Julian’s mechanic for the day. Our driver had never been in a race before. It was one of those days without a script.

What are the five must-do’s while traveling in Belgium?
Visit Ghent to experience the perfect blend between the old city vibes and a very energetic urban energy. Take a day trip to Ieper and its surroundings to learn about the First World War and the atrocities mankind is capable of. Explore the Ardennes by mountain bike. Ride your bike around Oudenaarde and learn what it is to ride on cobbles. And finish up in Antwerp for some great shopping, live music and dining. If you feel adventurous, do the same things in Brussels. It’s a little more hidden in alleys and supposedly shady neighborhoods, but it’s worth it!

What does your perfect day look like?
It would include coffee in the morning and red wine at night. Bikes would be in it, though there’s no need to ride five hours. A good debate/discussion with friends about life or love – possibly with the before mentioned red wine at hand. There would need to be live music and lots of great food. All of this could be anywhere in the world, but preferably somewhere spectacular and memorable. Oh, and there should be an éclair in it too! I love éclairs!

The Roubaix Showers

Posted on April 10, 2015 - 6:07 pm by keith_ritter

Following a massive week of riding the routes of the Spring Classics, two rockstar Trek Travel guides had a surprise prepared for their guests. After riding the Paris-Roubaix course, Jason and Amy arranged for their group to have a Roubaix Velodrome finish with a very special visit to the historic shower stalls where champions have rinsed off their victories for a hundred years.

“This water usually runs hot for one day a year. In 2015, it was two” said Jason. But what exactly makes these cement showers so special? For the answer, we turned to experts at The Inner Ring:

Paris-Roubaix must be the only race where the washing facilities make up part of the legend. The showers inside the velodrome are as much a part of the ritual as is the photo of the winner lifting the cobbled trophy in the air. Indeed can you name another sport where the showers or locker room is treated with the same reverence?

If you weren’t into cycling and from outside France, you’d probably never have heard of Roubaix. But maybe an artist would know of the town as it has an art gallery made from a converted swimming pool.

But if the town has lavished money on the old swimming baths to make a modern public space, the velodrome in Roubaix is neglected, a less than lavish water feature. The track is crumbling and as I wrote the other day a new track is being built. The showers, part of the same 1930s building, are no different. These are hard blocks of cement.

With the mud and dust from the finishes, the communal showers resemble a cow shed with milking stalls. The plumbing looks like it was installed by Heath Robinson or Rube Goldberg. You wonder if the water is even warm.

Why are these showers so important? It’s hard to pin one reason. Obviously the riders need a good wash, this race throws up dirt like no other. But riders these days have team buses with onboard showers. No, for me there are three more factors.

First up, to reach the showers is itself an achievement, it means you have finished the hardest one day race of the year. Only 74 riders merited a shower last year.

Next the showers are a place of legend. Iconic images have been taken and each cubicle bears a brass plaque of the past winner. This is more than a washroom, it is a part-museum, part Elysium.

Also this is a race where I find a lot of luck is involved. Those who lost out find a moment of calm to replay the race, to reflect on what happened, what they could have done differently. Above all what would have happened if they hadn’t punctured, if they’d taken the other side of the cobbled road. Few other races have such a coulda, woulda, shoulda aspect and the shower is the moment for a rider to lament when the race slipped, sometimes literally, away from them.

I’ll leave the last words, translated, to an anonymous Swiss journalist:

“The showers are the only strategic place to get hold of a Paris-Roubaix rider. They all go there. And they dream of the place like a dog dreams of a bone. With time the communal showers have become a legend, as much as the cobbles. They are the wall of tears, the place where riders grimace, lament, compare injuries, describe their crashes… it’s the place where they wash dust, wounds and fatigue.”

This article originally appeared on Inrng.com on April 8, 2011.

The Easiest Way To Conquer Roubaix

Posted on April 9, 2015 - 2:40 pm by keith_ritter

They call it the ‘Hell of the North’. The 27 pavé sectors of Paris Roubaix cause riders more pain in one day than many experience in a lifetime of sport. Cobblestones seize riders’ wheels. Dust and mud fogs their vision. And rain is all but guaranteed to cause more destruction.

When our friends, Taz and Guy, set out before the race to shoot footage for their project, the route lived up to its reputation. The obstacles that prevent many from starting and even the strongest from finishing proved tough to overcome on this quiet Tuesday afternoon.

…And they were traveling by car.

“There we were, in our vintage French voiture, working hard on top secret #ProjectRoubaix on Mons-en-Pévèle Sector, when we managed to ground the car in a foot of sludge….disaster (how that happened is a whole other story). Having tried everything we only managed to bury the car deeper to the point where the base of the car was then in mud. Miles from anywhere meaningful and on a farm track with no traffic and no phone signal, Guy set off walking to find the nearest help.

In a slightly surreal moment, the Trek Travel train appeared from around the corner. The first van flew through shielding its string of riders (looking good I might add) and the rear van allowed me to flag them down. I explained our plight to the wonderful Amy who took it all in her stride, fastened us up to the van and towed us out! Amy didn’t know us and had no reason to help but she chose to put herself out for complete strangers. The consideration she showed helped save our beloved car and a super important shooting day for our project.

Of all the solutions we had fantasised about, Trek Travel coming to the rescue was not even on the radar….but then you’re always full of surprises!

Forever grateful
Taz and Guy”

Guest Experience: California Wine Country

Posted on April 7, 2015 - 3:53 pm by keith_ritter

At Trek Travel we are here to craft an extraordinary experience. That’s why we do things a little differently. We think your expectations are simply a place to begin and it is our job to give you everything you could have ever imagined and so much more.

Born from the world-renowned Trek Bikes, we are bike-lovers, fellow travelers, hospitality maestros, but most importantly we understand what a cycling vacation of a lifetime means to you. But don’t just take our word for it. Steve M. recently traveled with us to the California Wine Country and we think his review speaks for itself.

Hi Kari:

Today was the last day of our wine country tour with Trek Travel so I wanted to drop you a quick line about our experience.

Firstly, it’s fair to say that my wife and I are pretty picky when it comes to vacations. You could call us fussy I guess but I’m afraid our experience is that there’s always something which just isn’t up to scratch and/or wasn’t as described in the brochure. Our expectations are high and they are rarely met.

So I take a great deal of pleasure in writing this note – this vacation was quite simply perfect in every regard. Every single aspect of this trip was just excellent.

It started off with you yourself. The vacation experience begins at first contact and you could not have been more helpful or more accommodating during the booking process. You talked us through everything, gave us detailed (and as we now know, accurate) descriptions of every factor of the trip and answered every question. Nicely done!

The trip itself – sensational. Firstly, our guides – Dan, Jake and Beth – could not have been more professional, knowledgeable or better company. The bikes were top notch and superbly prepared. The SAG vehicle followed us everywhere and snacks aplenty were always there when needed. The accommodations were well chosen – both the Mount View in Calistoga and the H2 in Healdsburg are first class, comfortable and chic hotels with super helpful staff who were very bike-friendly.

The itinerary was extremely well thought out. Our vacation was classified as “recreational” but a couple of us wanted something more challenging. No problem – Dan and Jake were happy to arrange. Every day included enjoyable coffee, lunch and/or wine tasting stops. The welcome dinner on the first night and the farewell dinner and cocktails on the last evening were truly excellent.

By the way, special thanks to our guides for taking special care of my wife, Carri. She unfortunately hurt her back just before the trip so could only participate in the easiest of the rides. No problem – she rode along in the SAG truck and they stopped to let her out whenever she wanted to ride. If she rode and fell behind, one guide would always hang back to keep her company. At all times, they made sure she always felt fully part of the group – not marginalized in anyway.

Finally, we had an exceptional group of other guests on our trip. All extremely nice people and we have made many new friends who I know we will see again. Obviously Trek Travel can’t really be held responsible for the “quality” of your guests! But it’s clear that Trek attracts a very nice demographic that would definitely be a factor in us booking with you again.

Last but not least – Dan and Jake were both snapping photos throughout the trip and presented us with an excellent photo montage at the end which will be a wonderful souvenir of our trip.

All in all, you guys are a class act. Superbly well done all round. Bravo!

We will certainly be booking with you again – hopefully soon!

Thank you!
SM

A Great Fit Matters

Posted on April 6, 2015 - 3:45 pm by keith_ritter

You never really understand what a great fit feels like until you’ve had a bad one. Our guides have been trained to adjust every bike to individual comfort and preferences to ensure an excellent fit.

We believe that vacations of a lifetime shouldn’t include back pain, sore wrists, neck strain or general discomfort. That’s why, unlike other bicycling vacations, every Trek Travel adventure includes a bike fit customized to you, guided by the expertise of our sports medicine physician, Dr. Mark Timmerman.

Simply stop in to your local Trek dealer before your trip to get measured, and we’ll have your bike adjusted with the right stem length, saddle height, reach, drop and more, all ready for your first ride upon arrival. A few final tweaks and your bike will feel like home. That is, if home were the best vacation you’ve ever had.

A close friend and member of the Trek Travel family, we interviewed Dr. Timmerman to learn more about the lifelong athlete turned Sports Medicine physician.

Briefly, tell us your story.

I grew up in a northern Minnesota mining town – father in construction, mother a social worker. I graduated with a Geology degree from Carleton College, and then had an opportunity to teach secondary school math and science for three years. I was also a head wrestling and assistant football coach, having done both of those sports while in college. While I enjoyed teaching and coaching a great deal, I eventually returned to my lifelong dream of becoming a physician, and attended Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota. I attended a Family Medicine Residency in Madison, Wisconsin, and then a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. After practicing Family Medicine and Sports Medicine in Madison for 15 years, Peggy and I moved in to the country after becoming empty nesters. I now practice in a small clinic in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and we live on a 200-acre wooded farm.

What was it that called you specifically to sports medicine?

I have been a lifelong athlete myself, and have dealt with a significant number of my own sports injuries. Also, my experience with teaching and coaching adolescents helped to further spark my interest in caring for athletes.

How long have you been cycling and what inspires you to ride?

I have always enjoyed long distance events – and in fact my first long ride was at the age of 10, when I did a solo ride of 8 miles on my Schwinn American to my elderly baby sitter’s house – after which she fed me chocolate chip cookies and drove me back home! But I never really started biking until I started training for my first triathlon, and I purchased a Trek 5200 carbon road bike. I couldn’t believe the difference a great bike could make in riding enjoyment – and I had a professional bike fit which also made a huge difference. I have loved riding ever since.

How did you become involved with Trek and what has been the most rewarding experience?

Many years ago, when I was a Sports Medicine Physician in Madison, I helped Dick Burke and some other Trek employees with their sports injuries. Now I travel to Waterloo once a month to run a sports medicine clinic at their integrative medical center. When the Trek Fit Program was being developed, John Burke asked me if I would help by educating dealers about anatomy, biomechanics and injury prevention. I have really enjoyed being a part of the Trek Team. The most rewarding experience has been the thrill of riding with Trek employees and friends in L’Etape du Tour, a citizen’s bike race which tackles one of the toughest stages of the Tour du France each year.

What are the lesser known, but still important, medical benefits of biking regularly?

The great thing about biking is that it is so good for your knees. While it is well known that biking is easier on the knee than running, it is less known that biking strengthens the best muscles to support your knees. While running sports generally develop or over-develop your lateral or outside quadriceps (and this sometimes causes kneecap pain), biking helps develop the medial or inner quad muscle, which stabilizes the kneecap. I often therefore prescribe biking as cross training for any athlete that develops kneecap pain.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

My first Wisconsin Ironman race. I was on my 5200 with snap-on aerobars. My only goal was to finish before they closed the race, and I had a terrific day. I struggled a bit later on the run, but I remember smiling almost the entire ride.

What is your favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?

Well, I have been fortunate to travel to a lot of great places, and my Trek Travel trips have all been spectacular, but I have to admit that my FAVORITE place is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. We go wilderness canoe camping there every year, and I have most years since I was 16 years old. Being truly in the wilderness and completely unplugged for a week each year is a very rejuvenating experience.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

It is always my next Trek Travel trip! In this case, we are headed to Croatia in May for our next Trek Travel adventure as a family, and I can’t wait. After that, Belgium is high on our list due to art for Peggy and beer for me! And, because we love Italy so much, there will likely be another Italy Trek Travel trip in the near future as well.

Meet Our Team: Mark Thomsen

Posted on April 3, 2015 - 6:48 pm by keith_ritter

Like many on the Trek Travel team, Mark has traveled the world to pursue his passions. He chased the snow to Jackson Hole and dipped his toes in Lake Tahoe. He stood at the top of Europe’s distinguished climbs and walked the terraced hillsides of Vietnam. Ultimately he put down roots in the city he knew as a child and trusted his keen eye and eloquent tongue to serve him well in a marketing career. He’s a family man with a thirst for adventure, and this is his story.

Tell us your story in 140 characters or less.

Born in Kenosha, WI. Badger grad, ski bum, marketer, love Lake Tahoe, found my wife in Jackson Hole, had a baby, passionate about all things bike.

How long have you been riding bikes?

As long as I can remember. My first memory is of my dad taking the training wheels off and letting me go, in a restaurant parking lot, to crash on my own. I did the standard newspaper delivery route on bikes, had a “BMX gang” called the Freestyle Frogs, and then found mountain bikes. I was the kid through high school who rode mountain bikes when everyone else was driving cars. Embarrassingly, I even took my high school photograph posed next to my bike. Riding bikes has always given me a great escape. It’s a true passion, a place where I find joy every time I hop on the pedals.

How did you end up at Trek Travel?

After college I was a ski bum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and my roommate at the time received a Trek Travel catalog. Little did I know, Trek Travel had just started one year prior. I thought it looked like a fun job and decided to apply. That was almost 10 years ago. Since that day I’ve worn a lot of different hats, from guiding to trip designer to logistics guide to now Marketing Manager.

What is the most rewarding part about your job?

Showing people the world by bike. It’s part of our mission statement, but I fully believe seeing a new place on a bicycle is incredible. The bicycle gives you momentum to travel around, and you have the wind in your face and all of your senses are experiencing something new. Being the marketing guy, I am fortunate that it is my job to share this experience of places with other people. And then there is the whole part of being partners with the best bike company in the world.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

Classic Climbs of the Dolomites. In all my years guiding I never made it to Italy. And while my wife surely would love if I said Tuscany, there is something about the mountains of the Dolomites that I find stunning. Sheer cliffs, steep climbs, and great food all combine to create the perfect experience.

Tell us about your best travel adventure.

Probably the first time I traveled with my then-girlfriend, now-wife for the first time to Vietnam. We found out we were really good travel partners and that helped seal the deal!

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

Every day I ride my bike is a good day. I can’t say I have only one “best” day as there have been many. Climbing Mount Ventoux right before the Tour de France riders came through, getting lost along the coast of Spain only to find a small café for a cup of coffee, mountain biking the 401 trail in Crested Butte surrounded by wildflowers, or just riding the bike path here in Madison with my wife…I love them all. They are all equal, just different to me.

What does a perfect day look like to you?

Leisurely morning drinking a couple cappuccinos while reading the news, playing with my daughter, going for a mountain bike ride (preferably in the mountains), drinking a couple beers at a local brew pub after, and hanging out with my wife for dinner once the baby is asleep.

What is your favorite travel destination and what excites you most about it?

Right now I’m leaning towards Central and South America, having recently traveled to Peru and Nicaragua. I have been impressed by the people, the food and the history of both these destinations and I’m looking forward to exploring more countries south of the equator soon.

Favorites:

Bike You Own: Remedy 9. This bike allows me to explore anywhere I want to go.
Post-Ride Beverage: West Coast IPA. Not overly hoppy, but very drinkable. Think Lagunitas.
Restaurant: Teton Thai because of all the great memories.
Hotel: Amangani in Jackson Hole. Best hotel I’ve ever stayed in.
Sport Other Than Cycling: Skiing. No brainer.

Lessons From Owning a Bike Shop

Posted on April 2, 2015 - 2:59 pm by keith_ritter

The incredible network of Trek retailers across the United States and abroad are local hubs of the worldwide cycling network. As business owners and bike riders, there is a lot we can learn from them.

They are experts, eager to share their skills and advice. They are cyclists, enthusiastic about welcoming you into the sport and the community. And together with them, we can be more successful in our mission to encourage a passion for cycling.

In this post, we have gathered up some important tips learned from owning a bicycle shop. Steven Levine, Owner and Founder of Cycling Spoken Here, discloses his Top 10 lessons from owning a bike shop.

“I was asked to write a blog about the top ten lessons I have learned from owning a bicycle shop. While contemplating the task, it occurred that this would likely be a better platform for a book instead of a blog. At Cycling Spoken Here we believe in People, Process, and Product! Those will always be the Top 3. Thank you Marcus Lemonis!

After much contemplation, I compiled a list. While some may seem cliche, I find the results are not very good when we stray from any of these.

1. People: There are some amazing people in your business. Develop and train them, and help them dream big about your vision for the company and their place in it!

2. Process: Continue to improve. Once you think you have it dialed in, reexamine from the customers perspective.

3. Product: The best product you can ever have is your brand!

4. Solution Sales: Turing buyers into users! Use rides, grassroots initiatives and great experiences. If your customers are engaged, they will come visit you.

5. Reinvent: This is a tough one. When you have a system that works, time, evolution and change is happening all around you. What worked in the past may not work today.

6. Relationship Matter to Your Customers: Sales people create the relationship, service people maintain the relationship. Don’t ever let your customers forget you are thinking about them.

7. Community: Create a budget and give back. If the cycling pool grows, so do you.

8. Find a Mentor(s): After 19 years in the bike business I am finally utilizing this awesome tool. There are some smart people in this world that want to help you! Here is the best part: it’s usually for free!

9. Live and Die by Your Core Values: Never make an knee jerk or emotional decision.

10. Quality Drives Value: Look at your retail store, not just the showroom. The back room, bathroom, dumpster, parking lot and dress code for employees all matter. Would you rather buy a Ferrari from a gravel parking lot and a sales person in torn jeans, or from a well dressed customer service representative in a fabulous showroom with complimentary drinks?

I have been in the bicycle business for 25 years, and I’ve independently owned and operated Cycling Spoken Here since 1996. When I started in the bike business Greg Lemond was a hero, the mountain bike was a beach cruiser with fat tires, and the bike business was not far from its roots of being a bike sold from a lawnmower shop. Today, more then ever, owning a bicycle shop means shaping the way bike shops are viewed.

Below is a picture of me and my kids on a Trek Travel trip to Zion National Park. My kids still talk about that experience and want to do a bike trip again soon. My son has a passion for ice hockey and my daughter has a passion for field hockey. Our Zion experience has turned them both into lifelong cyclists.”

Industry Insider: Tim Blumenthal

Posted on March 31, 2015 - 2:34 pm by keith_ritter

VeloNews. Bicycling Magazine. IMBA. PeopleForBikes. Have you ever wondered what these organizations–some of the biggest in cycling–have in common? The answer is Tim Blumenthal. Read about his incredible journey and learn more about the man working tirelessly to make bicycling better for us all.

Briefly, tell us your story.

This is my 36th year of fulltime involvement in bicycling. I spent 15 years as a journalist–a writer and editor for Bicycling Magazine, VeloNews, and a racing magazine called Winning. I became the first fulltime employee–the first executive director–of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) in 1993. In 2004, I became the president of Bikes Belong, the industry’s advocacy organization that was renamed PeopleForBikes two years ago. Along the way, I’ve squeezed in 7 Summer Olympic Games as a writer and advisor–six for NBC and one for ABC. Whether it’s road racing, road riding, mountain biking, track riding, government relations, tourism or commuting: I feel like I’ve been able to experience it all.

What is it that called you to bicycling? How long have you been riding bikes?

Like just about every American kid in the late 1950s, I started when I was three. I pedaled to elementary school and high school and everywhere around our neighborhood. I delivered afternoon newspapers via bike. The call to bicycling as a career was simply an accident. I ran into the editor in chief of the one and only national cycling publication at a running race. He had read my columns in the local Vermont newspaper and offered me a (better) job. I knew nothing about bike racing, but took it. That was a lucky move.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

After all these years and thousands of rides, picking one is simply impossible. But how ’bout this: my second date with my wife-to-be was a ride around Hamilton, New York, on Peugeot 10-speeds. We had fun. That was 40 years ago this summer and we still ride together.

What triggered your transition from journalism to advocacy?

Bicycling Magazine is owned by Rodale Press. When I started there, the company also owned Backpacker Magazine. At the time, tension between hikers (traditional) and mountain bikers (new) was high and many trails were abruptly closed to bike riders. I worked with Backpacker editors to improve the situation and found myself on the board of directors of a new organization, IMBA. Five years later, IMBA offered me the chance to move to Colorado to accept a great job. One of the key connections between journalism and advocacy is clear communications and strong messaging. I think my journalism days have helped IMBA and PeopleForBikes tell our story, concisely and powerfully.

What has been your most rewarding experience?

I like mentoring younger staffers. I’ve probably worked closely with 50 of them. Secondly, I’ve enjoyed all the time I’ve spent in Washington, DC. Despite its reputation, working with Congress, and several Administrations, and a variety of federal agencies has been educational and a privilege.

What has been your inspiration to promote bike advocacy?

When people ride bikes, great things happen. Bicycling is so simple and so universal, and it’s a solution to so many of the problems we face. I feel so lucky to represent bicycling and to work to make it better.

What is the vision behind People for Bikes and how is it being received?

PeopleForBikes focuses on two things: places to bike, and people to support those places. We want everyone to be able to ride close to home and work on pavement and dirt that is safe and appealing. Too many people don’t have these opportunities now. That’s why our grassroots PeopleForBikes political army is so important. More than one million Americans have signed on. As this element of our organization continues to grow, we’ll become more powerful and more effective in making bike riding better for everyone. It’s a simple concept, and it will work.

What does your perfect day look like?

I don’t have a perfect day concept. But much of it would be spent outside and would involve some type of bike riding, a good meal, a glass of wine with friends, and definitely, a sunset.

Tell us about your best adventure while traveling.

My life has been one non-stop adventure. Could probably write a book. Here’s one. I was on a Trek Travel trip in Normandy, France, riding lightly traveled roads with an amazing group of people and visiting the D-Day battlefields of World War II. Right in the middle of the trip, I got called to Chicago to represent the bike industry at a fundraiser for then presidential candidate Barack Obama. I rushed to Paris, but arrived way too late to make my flight. I thought I was done, until I told the check-in agents why I needed to get to Chicago. “Why didn’t you say so?” they exclaimed, as they rushed me through security and into a business class seat. Eight hours later, I was in Men’s Wearhouse in Chicago buying a suit, a shirt, a tie, and appropriate shoes. The meeting went well. I’ve got even better stories involving President Bush and bicycling.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

It would probably be Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. We learned about it from Trek Travel and went there one summer. Amazing islands: beautiful water. Really cool. I’d love to go back and ride more.

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Tell us your story in 140 characters or less.

How long have you been riding bikes?

How did you end up at Trek Travel?

What is the most rewarding part about your job?

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

Tell us about your best travel adventure.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

What does a perfect day look like to you?

What is your favorite travel destination and what excites you most about it?

Favorites:

Briefly, tell us your story.

What is it that called you to bicycling? How long have you been riding bikes?

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

What triggered your transition from journalism to advocacy?

What has been your most rewarding experience?

What has been your inspiration to promote bike advocacy?

What is the vision behind People for Bikes and how is it being received?

What does your perfect day look like?

Tell us about your best adventure while traveling.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

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