Industry Insider

Industry Insider: Katie Compton

Posted on June 10, 2015 - 2:54 pm by keith_ritter

Meet Katie Compton, known to her fans as KFC. Trust us, the “F” isn’t for Francis. Compton earned her middle initial the hard way, powering through nine grueling seasons of cold, muddy Cyclocross mayhem. Turns out powering through is sound strategy: Compton was the first American to win the Cyclocross World Cup overall title. F’n cool.

Tell us your story in 140 characters or less:
Wife, dog lover (especially Rottweilers), bike racer, lover of the outdoors, wine enthusiast and foodie with some food allergies. A delicate body but strong will.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle:
That’s a hard one to answer, I’ve had a lot of really good and fun days. I want to choose a specific race where I felt great and had great legs but those, unfortunately, don’t happen as much as one would like. The one that stands out the most for me is winning the 3k tandem pursuit at Paralympics in Athens in 2004 (I was a pilot for a blind athlete). I had great legs that day and just felt fast. My tandem partner and I had a perfect race to win and it was just a great day. Other than that, winning a Cyclocross World Cup in Roubaix, France after a bad start. I had great legs and only passed people the whole time. Winning on the Roubaix velodrome is also very special.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?
It’s probably Japan. We were there for a short trip but the country is beautiful, the people are so nice and polite, and the food is amazing. I loved everything about that trip. It snowed and was cold while we were there, and I was really happy to find hot tea in vending machines as well as heated toilet seats in every bathroom, even in highway rest areas. I also had the best Unagi I’ve ever eaten in Tokyo.

If you were a trip designer at Trek Travel, where would you design our next bike trip?
I’d create a trip in New Zealand, probably riding through their wine country. I love their wines and both of the islands are beautiful. The food is also really good no matter where you go. It would also be fun to take a few days, rent a boat and sail around the northern coast of the north island. I think that’s the best way to see the coast.

What is your favorite hotel and why?
A high-end hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The service was above and beyond and the room and bathroom were amazing. The hotel offered so many amenities to enjoy, along with the view of the city. The breakfast was also one of the best I’ve experienced.

Learn more about professional cyclocross racer Katie Comptopn

What is your favorite unnecessary travel item?
I bring my aeropress coffee maker and coffee beans. A good cup of coffee is the best way to start a day of travel and you never know if the hotel’s coffee is drinkable.

What is one thing you never fly without?
My Westone earbud headphones. They cancel the noise and have the best sound quality. They also pack small and don’t take up much room in my carry on.

What is your favorite type of post-ride beverage?
I love a nice bottle of wine, usually I choose New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs in the summer and California Red Zinfandels in the winter. If I didn’t have to worry about my weight then I would add White Russians to my list of go-to drinks. I love those, but I can’t stop drinking them.

What and where was the best meal you’ve ever enjoyed?
It’s a tie between two. The first is Unagi in a very small and hard to find restaurant in Tokyo. The eel is fresh everyday and the place closes when the cook runs out of it. They only sell Unagi and the only choice you make is how many pieces you want. The second is a breakfast at a hotel in Prague, Czech Republic. They had an amazing buffet of fresh food all professionally prepared and it was the best breakfast I’ve ever had. My husband and I actually stayed long enough to eat two breakfasts that morning.

What is your personal motto or mantra?
Never quit. Do what makes you happy and what makes you feel good.

Who inspires you the most?
I don’t really have any one person who inspires me, I get the most energy from anyone who struggles to accomplish something difficult or challenging, and anyone who has true grit to work hard for something they want.

Gran Fondo NJ

Posted on May 21, 2015 - 8:18 am by keith_ritter

Trek Travel sat down with Bill Ruddick, executive director of Gran Fondo NJ, to learn more about the inspiration for this incredible event. From riding across Canada to a fat bike ride across a frozen lake at the end of February, the Gran Fondo is crafted from once-in-a-lifetime cycling experiences. Bill knows first hand how tough a ride can be, but more importantly, how to make it fun.

For those who are unaware, what is a Gran Fondo?
A Gran Fondo is a mass-participation endurance cycling event, with a timing component, and a festival at the end. Gran Fondo routes are typically very challenging (lots of climbing). Some Gran Fondos time start-to-finish, others time only the toughest hill climbs. At Gran Fondo NJ we offer timing only on the toughest climbs of the routes – this allows our riders to enjoy the scenery of the routes and the amazing offerings at our rest stops without feeling they are being penalized.

What is the history behind Gran Fondo NJ?
Gran Fondo NJ is the brainchild of Marty Epstein, its founder and the owner of Marty’s Reliable Cycle. We started the event in 2011 with an initial focus of showcasing the amazing cycling in northern New Jersey, providing our riders with the best one-day experience they will have on a bike, and putting on a sustainably responsible event. The event is also used by some of our riders, as well as our five beneficiaries, as a charity ride to raise funds for their favorite causes. The event has raised over $600,000 for charities since its inception and last year it was the first cycling event in the world to earn a Gold Level of accreditation from the Council for Responsible Sport.

What makes this event particularly unique?
We think Gran Fondo NJ offers a unique blend of a challenging bike ride, a personal competition with our timed hill climbs and fun. You know this is different from any other cycling experience when you pull in to the first rest stop and are greeted by Cheerleaders, Seeing Eye puppies and cannolis. To the surprise of many, we have amazingly beautiful cycling routes just 40 miles from NYC.

Tell us your story. How long have you been riding bikes?
I have been riding bikes since I was a kid delivering the morning newspaper in Montreal. I rode my bike to school and college, and have built up a number of bikes from scrap parts. Once my kids got older, I started riding and raising money in charity events. My first week-long event was a ride across Alaska in August of 2000 (yes we had two days of snow), and it just took off from there.

What was your inspiration to ride across Canada in 2010?
I was inspired to ride across Canada to re-live a family road trip in the summer of 1966 – my mum and dad packed up 4 kids and camping gear in a station wagon and drove from Montreal to Vancouver and back. It also met my criteria for adventure – “If you are going to do something, it might as well be memorable!”

Tell us about your most adventurous day on a bike.
My most adventurous day on a bike was on the ride across Canada – it was a supported ride, but basically a daily game of “Survivor” played out over 10 weeks. Each day we had to ride to the next campsite where the truck with all our gear was waiting. On one day, a 100-mile ride between Ottawa and Montreal, I broke a rear drive-side spoke 20 miles in to the ride. Luckily I found a bike shop back in Ottawa that had the spoke I needed, but to get it fixed I had to abandon the group I was with, take a taxi back to the shop, get the wheel fixed and start off all over again alone. I ended up re-starting the ride at around noon, and rode the 100 miles as an individual time trial. I managed to complete it in just over 6 hours (including two ferry rides and sight seeing) and to the surprise of the other riders on the tour made it into camp just before dinner.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?
There is something very captivating about Paris in the summertime – from the amazing sights, the wine and food, to the light at the end of a summer day. Also fun to plan it to coincide with the final day of the Tour de France when the city is taken over by the excitement of the peloton racing up and down the Champs Elysees.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?
That’s an easy one – it would have to be the Provence luxury vacation. I would like to test my mettle once again on Mont Ventoux, and ride through les Gorges de la Nesque – I had the opportunity to drive through les Gorges in 2004 and ever since then felt it would be an amazing cycling experience.

Industry Insider: Cindy Daniels

Posted on May 18, 2015 - 10:00 am by keith_ritter

Winner of a 2014 James Beard Award for restaurant design, SHED is a market, café, and community gathering space in Healdsburg, California designed to bring us closer to the way we grow, prepare, and share our food. We caught up with owner Cindy Daniels to learn more about the home she has created and join in her mission to nurture the connection between good farming, good cooking, and good eating.

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

Over the years we’ve been fortunate to be part of a growing community of sustainable farmers, wine producers, and environmentalists in Northern California, and wanted to create a place that embodied the best the region has to offer. We found inspiration in the words of Wendell Berry: “An agrarian mind begins with the love of the fields and ramifies in good farming, good cooking, and good eating.” These words became our mantra. We called ourselves SHED, because we would be tied to our foodshed, with most of our food flowing from local farms and ranches. We would be active conservators of our watershed, and stewards of the land. Our market/café/gathering place would be, in effect, an abundant toolshed offering enduring, quality tools for the kitchen, garden and farm. And symbolically, our shed would be an enclosure that shelters ideas, sustenance and community.

What about Healdsburg, California made you decide to locate there?

In 1994 we discovered a 15-acre hay field and moved from San Francisco to Healdsburg with our two small children to realize our dream of having a farm. Located in Dry Creek Valley, a fertile watershed with the climate and geography that suggested the opportunity for a diversified farm, HomeFarm is now a rich patchwork of intermixed fields and orchards where we grow an array of vegetables, herbs, flowers, olives, grapes, chickens, bees, fruits and nuts.

You describe SHED as a modern Grange. To those who are not familiar, can you discuss what this means?

To those unfamiliar with the Grange movement, there’s a rich history that goes back to the late 1800’s when farms formed collectives to create healthier, more resilient communities and built grange halls to provide a place to share ideas and socialize. SHED engages the Grange’s history as both a rural meeting place and farmers’ exchange but is firmly rooted in contemporary Healdsburg. We are a gathering place that celebrates our region’s farmers and makers while tapping into a global community of chefs, producers, and visitors. Our dinners and programs, crafted to revive the Grange traditions of fellowship, conviviality, and exchange, feed a cultural appetite for ideas and interests ranging beyond the realm of food and farming, including art, culture, civic engagement, and community.

What does ‘farm-to-table’ means to you and why is it important to SHED?

Our vision was to create a place where the beauty and aliveness of the complete food cycle—the growing, preparing, and eating —would become visible, revealing and reinforcing the path from farm to table, and back to farm. Our café brings together all of the elements we believe in: responsible farming, ingredient-driven cooking, and flavorful food. That’s what farm-to-table means to us at SHED. Located in the heart of our space, the café features an open kitchen, wood-burning oven, and house-made products. Our menus change daily, inspired by what’s in season, and reflect our commitment to local farmers and producers.

Can you talk a little bit about your intentions behind SHED’s unique design?

Our desire to celebrate local farms, food, and community shaped the building’s architecture and informed the construction. The utilitarian pre-engineered metal building is a familiar type of barn found throughout California’s agricultural landscape. Inspired by open-air markets, the space is very light and airy, with 8 large garage-style doors that open to the outdoor decks and to the street, inviting people in and letting the activity spill out. We worked with environmentally minded manufacturers and local artisans to create a resource-efficient building that uses recycled metal siding, shredded denim for insulation, reclaimed wood for most of the furnishings, and solar power for almost half our energy. We even have a rain garden along the side of our building to filter all of the water falling on the roof and site before it flows into the adjoining creek.

What can you tell us about the community at SHED?

Our growing community includes farmers, ranchers, fishermen, artisan producers, wine/cider/beer makers, backyard gardeners, chefs, home cooks, food crafters, musicians, dancers, thought leaders, environmentalist activists, civic leaders, authors, children of all ages, and most importantly, teachers and enthusiastic learners. Fundamental to our mission of promoting good farming, good cooking and good eating is the educational program at SHED. We have a diverse array of classes and workshops with wonderful instructors teaching skills such as butchery, composting, pruning, beekeeping, basketmaking, beer and cidermaking, cheesemaking, and many others. In addition, we schedule all kinds of demos, book signings, wine tastings, etc to activate our cafe, bar, and market areas downstairs. We also like to stage fun social events such as pie contests, annual cider pressings, pumpkin carving contests and other seasonal and celebratory events.

Upstairs, in what we call our Modern Grange, a large flexible meeting space supported by a commercial kitchen, we’ve had lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, and film screenings as well as seed exchanges, farmer meet-ups, producer dinners, and live music. Pulling together society’s threads to help create a community-wide tapestry of support, we’ve also hosted many local groups doing social good: our farmers market, our farmers guild, our riverkeeper, our public schools, and our land trust among many. As a community resource SHED also welcomes private conferences, meetings, and celebrations.

These threads are just a few of the ways we’ve worked to become a community resource, a cultural hub, and a vibrant place for people to gather, collaborate, and grow.

Your fermentation bar is truly one-of-a-kind. Can you tell our readers a little bit about it and the beverages you create?

Thank you for appreciating what we’ve created at our fermentation bar! We built the Ferm Bar (and have nurtured it) as a way to share our love of fermented beverages — such as our house-made kombucha and kefir water, shrubs (vinegar-based fruit drinks) and shims (low-alcohol cocktails). We also offer wine, beer, hard cider, and honey mead, all fermented drinks sourced from local producers. Gillian Helquist, our Fermentation Crafter, says “Fermentation is an endless discovery; an ancient way to preserve the season’s offerings and feed people.”

To guests who are going to visit SHED, what type of experience should they expect?

A visit to SHED should feel like a fun and friendly tour of what’s happening in food and farming in our region — stop first at the Story Table — where we like to weave together seasonal themes and topics. Wander and discover —that’s what makes SHED a fun experience. Stop at the ferm bar for a shrub and a nibble, or take a seat at our community table and say hello to someone new sitting next to you. We hope you’ll consider us a vibrant place to eat, connect, share, learn, and grow.

EXPERIENCE A FARM-T0-TABLE FEAST AT SHED ON TREK TRAVEL’S CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY VACATION»

Industry Insider: JoLe Farm to Table

Posted on May 12, 2015 - 3:39 pm by keith_ritter

JoLe is a Contemporary American Restaurant owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Matt and Sonjia Spector, chef and pastry chef, respectively. Learn more about their story, then taste their creations for yourself on our California Wine Country vacation.

What is the vision behind JoLe and how is it being received?
Our vision from the very beginning has been to provide a top-notch fine dining experience, in a more casual, fun atmosphere. We want people to enjoy good food and the people they are with.

Where does the name JoLe come from?
Out two sons: Joe (11) and Jacob Levi (8).

What does the term ‘farm-to-table’ mean to you?
Fresh, seasonal and always-changing. We print our menus in house, which means we can change them daily depending on what comes in that day. You will probably never see the same menu twice at JoLe.

Tell us about your background. What inspired you to open a restaurant?
Both Matt and myself worked in many venues before deciding to open one of our own. After four wonderful years at our first restaurant Matyson in Philadelphia, we were eager for our next challenge. Northern California was calling, so we sold the restaurant, packed up the kids, and headed west. We happily landed in the quaint wine and spa town of Calistoga, enjoying the bounty of ingredients that the area has to offer.

What is the most rewarding part about your job?
Locals that come in numerous times per week and new customers that make a point to tell us how special their experience has been.

What excites you most about Calistoga, California?
We settled in Calistoga because the restaurant space was the right situation for us, and we loved being in a small town with foot traffic. We also liked being associated with the Mount View Hotel. This part of the world holds a special place in our hearts, as we were married here in 2001.

What are the five must-do’s while traveling in the Napa Valley?
1. Drive the Silverado Trail from top to bottom
2. Schedule a tasting at Jericho Canyon Vineyards
3. Sit at the bar of a great restaurant and meet a local winemaker
4. Pick up something you didn’t think your needed at Blackbird in Calistoga
5. Meet Jeff and Sally Manfredi at Calistoga Pottery, where they have been making beautiful pottery for over 30 years.

What should our guests most look forward to at JoLe?
For a quick, casual fix they should check out our awesome bar menu. For a more in depth dining experience, order a tasting menu of four, five or six courses. James, our manager and wine director, will pair wines with every course. It’s a great way to taste a lot of different dishes and wines without breaking the bank.

Do you have an especially memorable story from your many years in the restaurant industry?
In January 2001, at our first restaurant in Philadelphia, my water broke while I was standing at the host station. I was 30 weeks pregnant with our first child, and thought I just wet my pants because I was laughing so hard. Little did I know, our son Joe was born the next day.

Famous Coconut Cream Pie
Makes 1 nine-inch pie

Macadamia Crust:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees

3 1/4 ounces macadamia nuts, lightly toasted and cooled
6 3/4 ounces all purpose flour
2 ounces sugar
4 ounces unsalted butter
1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp. heavy cream

Process the nuts in a food processor with a little of the sugar until almost a powder.
Mix flour, nuts, sugar, and butter with paddle in KitchenAid until crumbly.
Add yolks and cream and mix just until combined into a dough.
Press dough into a 9-inch pie pan and blind bake with pie weights until golden brown.

Coconut Filling:

2 1/2 cups canned coconut milk
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 1/3 cups unsweetened coconut shavings, toasted until golden brown
1/4 cup cornstarch
10 egg yolks
1 gelatin sheet, softened in cold water
1 ounce unsalted butter

In a heavy pot, warm coconut milk, milk, sugar, vanilla bean, and toasted coconut until very hot but not boiling.
Remove from heat and let steep 1 hour.
In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch and egg yolks until smooth. Set aside.
Temper milk mixture into egg mixture, combine completely, then strain through a chinois into a clean pot.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until bubbling and thick.
Remove the custard from the heat and immediately stir in the butter and softened gelatin until totally melted.
Immediately pour the custard into the cooled shell, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until set.
To serve, top pie with whipped cream and more toasted coconut.

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!

Learn More

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!

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.

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.

Industry Insider: Fabian Cancellara

Posted on March 11, 2015 - 8:35 pm by keith_ritter

You know him as the man who dominates cycling’s Spring Classics. What you don’t know is that his passions extend far beyond bike racing. We sat down with cycling’s most stylish man, Fabian Cancellara, to learn more about life off the bike.

Briefly, tell us your story.
My name is Fabian Cancellara and I am a professional bike rider with Trek Factory Racing. My preferred races are the spring classics, from Milan-Sanremo all the way to Paris-Roubaix. I have won seven Monuments of cycling and I’ve worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France for a total of 28 days, which is the most for someone who has not won the Tour.

What is the most rewarding part about your job?
I would say the opportunity to do something that I am passionate about. Without passion, I could not do this job. I have a talent to ride a bike and I love it. I get to travel a lot and I am part of a group of around 60 people. We all work for the same goals and that is very rewarding.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.
It’s hard to say. Winning a big race is of course amazing. There’s so much tension in the morning and during the race, and there’s so much energy and bliss afterwards. But maybe my favorite days on a bike are at home in Switzerland, when I can have breakfast with my family, bring the kids to school, then go out for a beautiful training ride in the Swiss mountains and enjoy the views. Then again be with my family, play with the kids, and see some friends.

What is your favorite hobby other than cycling and why?
I have a real interest in wine and I like to discuss it with people that know a lot about it so I can learn from them. I have a little collection at home that I’m proud of. It’s mostly Italian wine, to be honest. Of course, being a bike rider, I can’t enjoy it as much as I would like to, but the good news is that most wines only get better the longer I resist them. So after my career there’s plenty of time to catch up. I believe life is too short to drink bad wine, so when I do decide to have some wine, I want it to be good. In all things I prefer quality over quantity, and that includes my career.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?
I would be very interested in any of the wine oriented trips: California Wine Country, Bordeaux and Tuscany.

Where is your favorite place to travel and why?
The Maldives. It’s pure holiday. It’s so calm and relaxing. No bike, real holiday.

Who inspires you?
Many people inspire me, and all of them because they do something with passion.

What is your favorite post-ride beer?
I like the Belgian Trappists very much. I have some of those in my cellar as well. I like Westvleteren 12 the most, but I also enjoy a Westmalle Triple.

Industry Insider: Ken Sommer

Posted on February 22, 2015 - 8:41 pm by keith_ritter

Ken Sommer was a founding member of the LEOPARD-TREK cycling team and as marketing director he built the biggest team brand in professional cycling – on and offline. Ken holds a Masters Degree in International Business Marketing and Finance from Maastricht University. Currently Ken represents pro cyclists, including Trek Travel’s Ambassador of Awesome, Jens Voigt.

Tell us your story.

I started to be passionate about cycling when Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France. After that I spent 4 school summer holidays cleaning cars and carrying suitcases at the Tour de France. That’s when I fell in love with cycling. After my International Business studies I worked for a cycling team in Switzerland before I became one of the founding members of LEOPARD TREK. Now I run an agency focused on managing cyclists with my partner, Joao Correia. We work with some of the best young talents in the business such as Michael Valgren, Mads Pedersen, Adrien Costa and Tao Geoghegan Hart. We also represent established cyclists like Gerald Ciolek, Laurens Ten Dam, Ted King and of course fan-favorite, Jensie.

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

Seeing a young rider succeed. It’s probably like seeing one of your kids score a goal in a soccer match. It’s great to see how hungry and full of motivation these kids are.

What is your favorite part about working in the bike industry?

The community amongst fans, riders and everyone involved in cycling. It’s a down to earth business with so many great stories and people. I met some of my best friends working in the cycling industry.

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?

Lech in Austria. It’s my favorite place in Europe. Great for skiing but also great to ride your bike in the summer. It’s a great town to work out, or to just relax and watch the beautiful landscape.

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

It has to be the trip in California Wine Country. I think it’s the best place on earth to ride your bike. Plus amazing wine. If Jens Voigt joins that trip it would be the icing on the cake!

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

It was probably 2000 or so when I road the Mont Ventoux for the first time the same day the pros did it during the Tour de France. The weather was amazing and all fans were out on the course already. I suffered a lot, but it was a beautiful day.

Tell us about your craziest adventure.

The craziest was probably going great white shark diving with one of my best friends last year. I didn’t think I’d actually go into the water – but eventually did. It was freezing and these animals are pretty scary.

Favorite sport other than cycling and why?

As a German I definitely have to say soccer. I think it’s amazing how many people are touched by the sport everywhere in the world. A soccer world cup is followed by nearly everyone around the globe and brings so much joy to billions of people.

What does your perfect day look like?

Have a great espresso at my favorite café in Cologne, then ride my bike with Gerald Ciolek and Andreas Stauff on the Rhine River. Then watch a bike race on TV where one of my boys takes the win, followed by a nice dinner with my girlfriend.

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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?

Tell us your story.

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

What is your favorite part about working in the bike industry?

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?

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

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

Tell us about your craziest adventure.

Favorite sport other than cycling and why?

What does your perfect day look like?

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