I finished the 2009 Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race in 11 hours and 24 minutes, and I have to say I am rather proud of that. This 100-mile MTB race is aptly nicknamed “Race Across the Sky” for starting above 10,000’ and topping out well over 12,000’. It took everything I had to finish under the cutoff and earn my Silver Buckle.

My 2009 Leadville 100 Silver Buckle wants a little brother. I’ll do my best to deliver.

This year, I want to go faster. I’ve thought long and hard about what I want to accomplish this year, and since I’m one of those “you gotta say it to create it” kind of guys, here it is…

I will finish the 2010 Leadville 100 an hour faster than last year.

Yes, finding 60 minutes on the Leadville course will be difficult. And, just saying so doesn’t make it happen, but I do have a secret plan. And since my plan is secret I’ll share it with you here. Just don’t tell anyone else, especially Lance – ok?

A Year’s Training

After winning the race lottery last year, I hired a coach to help me train. We had just enough time to work together for me to fully understand the benefit of coaching. This year I have a whole additional season of training under my belt and I have data to prove that I’m faster and stronger this year.

I’m confident that training with CTS helped me earn my Silver Buckle last year.

Data is a big part of my training regimen and all indicators are up. My long-term endurance power is higher and much longer. My short burst power is also higher and I’m able to recover and go again faster and more often than last year.

I’ve also raced a few key endurance events this year that point to success. I finished the 86-mile, 12,000’ Julian Death March this year when last year I bailed at mile 62. I also finished this years’ Triple Bypass an hour faster than last year.

After crunching all these numbers, I am confident that my training this year will take 23 minutes off my Leadville time.

Pacing and Experience

Hey, I’ve “been there and done that.” Experience is a huge advantage and even though I was able to preview the course last year, nothing could prepare me for racing over 11 hours in the Rocky Mountains. And previewing the course again this year was a great opportunity to refine my ideas and approach to racing Leadville.

One of the biggest breakthroughs that came from my preview trip last month was about how to properly pace the two hardest climbs, Columbine and Powerline. Instead of trying to hammer these climbs (and then explode), I’m going to set a reasonable pace to stay moving and feeling good. I’ll spin over the top quietly instead of trying to “stamp my authority” on these vicious climbs.

The infamous Powerline.

Between my experience on course and new approach to pacing and nutrition, I’m sure I can steal back 19 minutes over last years’ time.

My Racing Machine

Last year I raced a 2007 Santa Cruz Blur LT which is a very sturdy and capable all-mountain bike. With an aluminum frame and up to 160mm of travel, it was a solid and totally inappropriate racing platform for Leadville. My Santa Cruz was for sale within hours of finishing Leadville.

Searching for a new bike to race Leadville, I looked no further than the winner’s bike. Sure, I considered a lot options, but in the end, the Trek Top Fuel won out for being super light and rigid with a gruppo made for XC racing. I love the fact that it’s a 10-speed double instead of a 9-speed triple. And being an easy 6 pounds lighter than my Santa Cruz, it is super responsive and climbs like a goat.

My Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL doing what it does best – looking good.

Many say that a full-travel bike is not the way to go at Leadville, but I really appreciate the ability to climb smoothly while sitting and being able to hammer the bumps without hovering over the saddle wasting my legs. I firmly believe that modern suspension systems have effectively minimized power loss from the “bounce” and more than make up for it with better traction, handling and more comfortable ride.

I’m confident that my new racing machine will save me 12 minutes this year.

Friends and Family

I had a fantastic support crew last year headed by my longtime friend DMoz. Having a dedicated crew chief at the start and Twin Lakes gave me the support, confidence and encouragement I needed to finish the race last year. I also traveled to Leadville with my dear friends Bazza and Daphne who roamed the race course shooting some really great photos of me and the event. It made all the difference in the world to have such great friends supporting me in the days before and during the race.

The great news this year is that they are coming back with me to Leadville to help me race again. And as a bonus, my wife and kids will be there as well. It’s going to be a huge boost to have my family with me, both in motivation to do well and excitement to share this beautiful race. I’m looking forward to seeing my family at the finish line – and how cool would it be to pull off what Wiens did last year – cross the finish line with my kids? Outstanding!

Dave Wiens finishing the 2009 Leadville 100 with his boys. Photo courtesy DavidWiens.com & Kurt Hoy/singletrack.com.

How much faster will I go having the best support crew in the world and my family by my side? I’m convinced exactly 6 minutes faster.

My Secret Plan

So that’s the secret plan I’ve been developing all year long. I’ve shaved exactly 60 minutes off my Leadville time. All that’s left to do now is race. See you in Leadville, look out for #126!

I spent all last week with my family in Mammoth Lakes snowboarding, hanging out and generally having one heck of a good time. I managed to get 7 consecutive days on my brand new snowboard which began to feel like I was in a stage race.

So why am I writing about snowboarding on my cycling blog? Well, squint your eyes a little and this’ll sound like just the sort of adventure I have on a bike – and how could I not share?!

Mammoth Mountain (from space!)

The wind blasted snow at me sideways at 50mph. I hunched down a little farther on the chairlift, bowing my head, trying to avoid the stinging snow. Even with all the layers and fleece, I was freezing. I unloaded the chairlift into a near whiteout. As I buckled my rear foot, I vowed this would be my last run – it was too cold, this was too crazy.

Only the faint outline of a tree line helped guide me back down the mountain. At first, my brain freaked out because I was snowboarding without much visual input. I told my brain to “feel the mountain through my toes” which seemed to help a little. I felt like Luke Skywalker, using “The Force” to see the mountain which made me laugh a little at myself.

Canyon Express – this is at the bottom of the mountain!

There were not many people on the mountain and most of the ones braving this blizzard were sticking to the narrow swath of groom down the center of the main runs. I was having none of that. I got my speed up as I paralleled a drop off to my left and when I figured I was in the right spot, I cut hard left, dropping down a steep embankment, dropping out of the clouds and leaving the groom behind.

There was three feet of fresh powder on top of 10 feet of packed base. I was in heaven. Suddenly everything got very smooth and very quiet. Turns were made more by thought than action. I was floating down a mogul run except the moguls gone under the powder. Stay right to carve the steepest sections. Nothing is too steep in a meter of powder. Jink hard right at the bottom into the trees and catch a little jump coming out the other side.

Halfway down.

By the time I get to the bottom it’s so good, I’m waving my arms to the music in my head and singing along. I’m no longer cold and my heart if full of nothing but joy and love.

One more run. I text my friends, “I can’t stop, it’s too good.”

The pace was controlled up to kilometer zero where the two riders began the race. Yellow Bike took an early lead. He quickly got the gap with only a little bit of wobbling and weaving. Orange Bike followed at a safe distance.

Authors note: This is really an account of me riding five miles around Miramar Lake with my 5-year-old son Aden on his little yellow bike that we just took the training wheels off of. Obviously, we both had a blast.

As is common in epic one-day races, nerves were running high in the peloton and riders were a bit twitchy. Tragedy struck early when Yellow Bike attempted to ride through a group of walkers rather than around. The race was temporarily neutralized as apologies were made. A ban on “running people over” was quickly instituted and accepted by the riders’ unions. The race director waved the red flag and the race was back on.

Yellow Bike, hamming it up around kilometer 3

The kilometers slowly unfurled beneath the riders’ wheels. Yellow bike kept the lead except when passing larger groups, when Orange Bike would run interference. Orange bike didn’t want a two-year suspension for violating the new ban on “running people over”.

Staying hydrated is very important on epic one-day races and when it was discovered that the peloton had departed without any water, the riders protested loudly. Unfortunately, the team car was far away, at the back of the caravan and no water could be had. Luckily, Orange Bike remembered an upcoming feed zone so the race continued.

By kilometer 6, weariness had crept into the legs of the riders. There was talk of “taking a rest” and “I wanna go back”, but the teams’ Director Sportif prodded the group on with a manly lecture on “sucking it up” over race radio.

Soon, the peloton was zooming across the Dam, headed back to town. The group became electric as the finish line neared. There was a lot of movement among the riders, each trying to find the right lead out train to take victory in the final sprint. Then the mad sprints were on and with the crowd roaring, Yellow Bike launched his bike across the finish line for the win.

Yellow Bike accepted the adulations of the crowd as he traded the traditional bottle of champagne for a simple Messy Sundae. Congrats on your first victory Yellow Bike!

Aden had his training wheels removed yesterday.  He’s pretty stoked, as is Dad.

Donald’s stories about riding with his son inspired me to ride with my seven year old daughter. She’s asked me several times to ride together, but I never made it happen because I was worried she was more enamored with the idea than the actual riding. But after seeing all the fun Donald had, I finally agreed to ride with Sofia.

Sofia has always loved her bike and she always seems to go all out. Crashing never seems to bother her much either, which I think is a good sign. She was jumping off curbs two days after we took her training wheels off.

So, on New Year’s Eve, we drove to Miramar Lake and pootled the five mile paved road around the reservoir. It was a bright, clear day and we had a blast together. She rode the trail easily and I believe we could have done a second lap, but decided to end on a success rather than risk it for the second lap.

Sometimes she’d pick some sign up ahead and say, “Beat you to the sign!” and take off. Wow, that apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I was on my mountain bike and we even practiced going off road a little on some side trails. I can’t wait for our next ride.

Next step – take the training wheels off my younger son’s bike.