How many times have I heard this from a cyclist who has been treated by their urologist for a non-existent infection?  It burns when you pee, you feel like you have to go a lot – must be an infection, right?   Sometimes a doc tell a girl it’s a urinary tract infection, or a guy that it’s a urinary tract infection and/or a prostate infection that just won’t go away despite negative cultures or no culture at all! OR maybe it’s a cyclist with pelvic floor dysfunction.

According to Stanford University urologist Dr. Thomas Stamey, only about 5% of all patients with prostatitis actual have a bacterial prostatitis, which can be cured by antibiotics. In other words, 95% of men with prostatitis do not actually have any identifiable bacterial infection!  I often find the same thing when it comes to urinary tract infections in both my male and female patients.

So you may be asking yourself, “If this is true then why did I feel a little better after I took the antibiotic if it wasn’t an infection?  I know I’m not crazy!”  No, you’re not – there’s a reason it may have helped aside from killing bacteria.  One class of antibiotics (fluoroquinolones for your smarty art cyclists) in a round about way acts on pain receptors and can dull the pain, making it feel like the “infection” is getting better.

So you get checked out by your doctor and nothing is showing up on your cultures.  The antibiotics aren’t helping the pain anymore, so it’s probably not an infection… now what do you do?  Your doc may not be up on the latest trends in treating urinary discomfort, but thankfully you’re active on velocurean.com so you know that you need an examination by a pelvic physical therapist to see if the muscles and nerves inside your pelvis may be contributing to your symptoms.

As I mentioned in part 1 of this series, it may mean tapering back on the cycling for the time being, getting a new saddle or bike fit and doing a little homework on your pelvic floor.  A trained therapist can mobilize the connective tissue that comes in contact with the saddle, work out spasms in the muscles, teach you how to regain control of the muscles and mobilize any nerves that might be tugging inside and aggravating the problem.  It’s really not necessary to feel like there’s a sparkler in your pants.

If you or someone you love is suffering, get the word out.  Learn more at www.pelvicpainrehab.com, or contact the author, Liz Miracle McBride, PT of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Written by – Liz McBride

Illustration by – Sean Hartter

-Martin Osborn

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 small bunch of fresh broccoli, chopped with florets whole
• 2 fresh garlic cloves, sliced (no jarred, too acidic)
• 2 tablespoons of extra Virgin Olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoons of anchovy paste (homemade or tube)
• 1 bunch of whole-wheat fettuccine or other long/flat/wide pasta of choice (freshly cooked al dente, reserve 1 cup pasta water)
• Kosher Salt
• Red chili flakes
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 cup of Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1. For 5-7 minutes, warm garlic in olive oil on low heat to infuse garlic flavor (I like to use a large sauté pan to help in tossing ingredients).
2. Raise to medium heat, then add broccoli all at once. Toss with oil until just tender (5 minutes). Keep it moving so as not to burn garlic.
3. Add anchovy paste and toss to coat broccoli florets.
4. Add about 1/2 cup of pasta water to deglaze and create texture. Toss in cooked pasta, to coat, for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add red pepper flakes to desired heat and salt to taste.
6. Transfer to serving dish or serve right out of pan, topped with Parmigiano and parsley.

Serves 4 (or 2 starving riders)

Written by – Martin Osborn

Photos by – Sherry Heck

We’re not talking about the hip bones here, but maybe the sit bones.  Or better yet, what lies between them.   Sure, both guys and gals, may have a little saddle discomfort and maybe even numbness when they head out for the first ride of the season.  You gotta build up a tolerance, right?  Wrong, numbness or discomfort should not last longer than the ride and certainly not if it starts to manifest in unexpected ways.

Perhaps it starts as a little soreness just inside the sit bones or in the perineum, that muscle that sits right on the saddle, stretching from sit bone to sit bone.  Some feel it deeper inside and swear it’s their prostate or bladder.  For some it can feel sharp or electrical in nature, making it almost impossible to sit.  Maybe their bladder becomes the size of a walnut, feeling like they have to go pee every 30 minutes, but hardly anything comes out!  Sensitivity in the clitoris, urethrae or at the tip of the penis can occur, causing them to think that perhaps they have a bladder or prostate infection.

These symptoms are not normal and may not go away, but only get worse if left untreated.  A good bike fit, proper shorts and a slow ramp up in your cycling routine can help deter this from happening.  However, changing your saddle or avoiding cycling all together is unlikely to fix the problem.  Besides, who wants to stay off their bike, especially when you just got that sweet new component you’ve been waiting all winter to try out.

You may be thinking, man I’ve heard rumors of erectile dysfunction, but I’ve never heard of anything like this associated with cycling!  Most people are too nervous to bring it up with their doctor, much less a cycling buddy.  Then to make matters worse, if they do bring it up with a doctor they may hear that everything checks out fine and it’s either all in their head, or there’ s a mysterious infection they can’t find, but will treat anyway.

The good news is that the words “pelvic pain” and “cyclists syndrome” are not mysterious to your pelvic physical therapist.  You may not find one of these therapists in the same clinic you went to when you had that IT band problem.  The work they do is a little more, shall we say, intimate.   They have expertise in the function of your pelvic floor muscles and can train you to regain the proper motor control you need to get back in the saddle again.  This typically means an internal examination, yes – that is exactly what you think it is and if you’re confused please contact me and I’ll explain in more depth.  A good pelvic physical therapist will also assess the mobility of the connective tissue around the sit bones and the entire pelvis to make sure nothing is stuck and that the proper blood flow is getting in.

So remember, no pain no gain may end up meaning pelvic pain.  If you or someone you love is suffering, get the word out.  Learn more at www.pelvicpainrehab.com, or contact the author, Liz Miracle McBride PT of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Written by – Liz McBride

“Cartoon” by – Sean Hartter

That was the experience of many on Saturday July 10, 2010 as they happened upon the San Rafael Twilight Criterium presented by Ryan Dawkins of Project Sport. Only in the sport of cycling can we (the spectator) be so up close and personal with the athletes before during and after they compete. At the races they line up along the course on the sidewalks or in parking lots, individually or as a team warming up on trainers or rollers while visualizing the win out on the track. During the race one could actually reach out and touch them (not recommended at high speeds though!), hear them breathing, see them sweat, listen to them communicating and feel the breeze as they blast by. After, we can go out on the course and congratulate, shake hands and talk to them. Then, unlike any other sport, the athletes compete at different levels in different time slots and when done they hang out, grab a bite to eat and drink at one of the vendors tents or at a local pub/café and watch the other races.

During the week, we see them out on the open road putting in hours and miles training, doing intervals, crushing the hills and sometimes just spinning in preparation for the races over the weekend. We as cyclists can be right out there with them and tag along for as long as we can. They are not hidden away in some facility closed off to the public. Though they get little, and often no pay at this level it is a true passion and amazing talent that only few possess and they deserve to be paid more. Yes there is always the potential to be spotted by a National team and possibly go from there to a Pro Tour team and make a career out of racing bicycles. But the reality is that most of these individuals fit all of their training and racing into and around their normal work schedule. They race on Saturday and Sunday, then back to the “office” on Monday…

One of the amazing things about the San Rafael Twilight Criterium was the positive energy that surrounded the downtown area. For eight hours there was this vibrant and healthy pulse flowing through the air and the people that united everyone regardless of anything but proximity to the race. People ate at restaurants and cafes, went into the shops and boutiques and got a chance to experience what San Rafael has to offer that they may not have if it was not for the race. We have the utmost respect and gratitude for cities and towns that shut down a few blocks for a few hours to showcase this amazing sport. Though there are a good number of “crits” throughout the season, most are in the middle of nowhere for reasons I can only assume but am not qualified to make comments on. From what I witnessed in San Rafael, the community (except for traffic patterns) and restaurants are only affected in positive ways. Cyclists are hungry people and love to find new places to eat. We love our towns and cycling community. If all of the Criterium races were put on and run like Project Sport ran this one, which was, “…a wonderful community event but National caliber production” according to Nicola Cranmer (Founder/Manager Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12 Professional Women’s Cycling Team), then I believe that other cities and towns would understand, recognize and welcome the potential of the races and have nothing but respect and admiration for the Velocurean Lifestyle.

While many, or most, cycling based websites, magazines, photographers etc. are out there with the focused intent to capture and report on the races and athletes, Velocurean is there to encapsulate, embrace, experience and write about the whole culture and lifestyle that is so dependent, addicted even, to the symbiotic nature of food and cycling. San Rafael painted a stunning portrait of this synergy. As pleased as we were to capture Dolce Vita’s Zach Starnes leading the Elite 4 peloton for many laps and nearly win the race (he came in 4^th), we were also enticed by the uniquely delicious roma-tomato, marinated artichoke, rosemary olive oil, fresh parsley, mozzarella and parmesan cheese pizza and smooth, robust Equator Estates organic coffee at Arizmendi Café to start out the day. Likewise, we looked forward to seeing whether or not Fusion Sport rider Nick Hanni could pull of a double win as he was victorious in the Masters 35+ race and was also slated to compete in the Elite 3 category, we were lured into the Broken Drum Brewery by the hordes of cycling fans sipping on handcrafted beers in the outdoor seating area. This was the perfect option on a day like this, the I.P.A. (their “most popular beer. Very malty and extremely happy”) and Whamber (“a smooth and malty amber wheat beer that warms you quickly”) were simply delightful, level, refreshing and did not drink like a pair of 7.2% beers.

Then there was the kids’ race… what an amazing turnout for this field that represents the future of men’s and women’s cycling that only the Bay Area could produce. The group was diverse in age, gender and ethnicity but they all had the passion and intensity of the cyclist and it was displayed right from the gun, as there was a crash in corner 1. The field pressed on to the sound of constant cheers and cowbells… the competition was fierce and the parents were proud of their little athletes as they completed multiple laps in this race unlike any other I have seen. These kids really turned up the heat in downtown San Rafael and put the pressure on the Pro women to follow. As for Velocurean, we headed into Tuttimelon for some deliciously cold and refreshing frozen yogurt to cool down after that face melting intensity in the warm California sun.

As most of you know our primary focus in the world of competitive cycling is the women’s pro peloton. For the last couple of years we have been developing unique ways to build awareness and gain respect from and for these amazing athletes. This race did not let us down. In fact I can only describe it one way – fast, fast, fast, right from the mini canon blast. Seriously, there was a little canon about the size of a beer bottle at the start. The field was stacked with talent from the likes of Hanan Alves-Hyde, Elis Bradshaw, Susannah Breen, Kat Carroll, Megan Gaurnier, Laurel Green, Devon Haskell, Mary Maroon, Yukie Nakamura, Martina Patella, Jennifer Reither and Cheryl Shwe, just to name a few. It started immediately with a break containing 5 or 6 riders for quite a few laps. The pace maintained and the pack eventually captured them. Then, Kat Carroll of Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12 attacked and gained a 20 second lead, which held for the next 25 laps despite multiple attacks and attempts to reel her in. The most successful one came from Megan Guarnier of TIBCO, which brought the gap down to about 10 seconds in the final 3 laps. Then, when the final bell rang for the last lap and it was obvious that Kat Carroll had it all sewn up, Hanan Alves-Hyde, also on Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12 attacked the rest of the field followed by Mary Maroon of Touchstone Climbing and Fitness and the fight for second and third was on. Mary took Hanan in the final straight away giving “PB&J” a 1^st and 3^rd outing and making Mary Maroon a peanut butter and Maroon sandwich, which was a delicious treat for us.

All of this action and running around to get the photos made us pretty hungry. So it was back to the Broken Drum for more beers and some burgers. Kevin got the Hickory Style Cheeseburger with chipotle BBQ sauce, bacon and sharp cheddar and I got the Black and Blue with Danish blue cheese, which were pretty good and left us satisfied while we looked though the photos we just capture during the race. Fans and athletes from the previous races were also enjoying food and beers and though the window we watched the Pro men take the course at extremely high speeds. All the while, replays of previous years Tour de France played on the TV. It was pretty Velocurean…

We headed out into the streets to watch the last laps of the men’s race, the “Twilight” headliners. The corners were lit very nicely as well as the main straightaway but the straightaway between corners 2 and 3 was dark and added a mysterious and exciting emergence from corner 3 into a very fast downhill through corner 4. Though the pace was extremely high and the competition was fierce and exciting with long stretched out lines 2 by 2 through tight corners I cant help but hope one day there will be a twilight criterium that features the women racing at night. The crowds grew steadily throughout the day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves both as racers and spectators. It was a top-notch production in a top-notch Marin city. Ryan Dawkins, we appreciate what you do at Project Sport and are forever grateful to the city of San Rafael for respecting the sport of cycling and hosting such an event.

Ride Hard and Prosper! Live Velocurean!

Written by – Joshua Seaman

Photos by  – Kevin M. Eisele

(For a more detailed race report please take a look at CycleTo.com or PodiumInSight.com)

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1548 2 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1384 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1384#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:10:29 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1384 On a rainy Sunday afternoon in April, we found ourselves in the flat of Fusion Sport Cycling Club rider, Heidi Witherell who proudly raced to multiple top ten finishes in the Tour of the Gila, won the Norcal/Nevada District Time Trial in 2002 with a torn rotator cuff and ultimately started medical school at age 32 and is now an Anesthesiologist. With the sounds of Edith Piaf playing in the background, she sat down to tell us about her Velocurean lifestyle. She made a Vietnamese inspired seared halibut over rice noodles, with ingredients she brought back from a recent trip to Paris. This dish was paired with “Star Lane” Sauvignon Blanc.

Heidi offered us a fresh cup of French press coffee, which we accepted of course. She used “Sulawesi-Kalosi” beans from Peet’s Coffee, which happens to be the primary bean she keeps in the house. She did mention her other preference – “Weaver’s Coffee and Tea” which is a company out of Emeryville CA started in 2007 by Peet’s Coffee Master Roaster – John Weaver. We look forward to sampling it in the near future. We exclaimed that the brew was surprisingly strong. She just laughed and interjected, “I like my coffee really strong.” Naturally, we dove right into the topic of her coffee routine related to riding. Heidi is all about drinking it before and after a ride but rarely during one. She “…hates stopping because then you just cramp up once you get started again.” In fact, just the other day, she and her friend cranked out her favorite local ride – The Pescadero Loop – which is a 65-mile ride with about 6000’ of climbing that they completed in 3h55m… Yes, that is pretty hard-core. She does make an exception to the no-stop rule from time to time on this particular loop to stop at San Gregorio General Store because “They have really good date nut bars.” Hey, I guess everybody has something to brake for, right? Heidi considers this to be her favorite ride for a few key reasons. “It’s perfect training for people who want to climb plus there are plenty of opportunities to punch it on the flats. There are close to no cars (she saw six on her last ride) and very few wasted miles. Now that’s my kind of ride! Plus, the climbs are a lot like the European climbs. Meaning, that they are very steady with lots of switchbacks and not a lot of ups and downs. The roads are a little rough, kind of like Europe in some places… it’s beautiful.”

Heidi’s recovery routine starts within fifteen minutes of finishing a ride. Her drink of choice is a mix of Musashi pure Amino Acids mixed with Cranberry – Razz Clif Shot. Then it’s home for a shower, cup of coffee and a nice nap as she cuddles up on the bed in her front room in the sun. Later she savors a meal with steak or chicken, keeping it pure and simple. For her pre-ride breakfast she is a firm believer in a “good, long lasting energy source such as steel cut oats with nuts, grains and fruits.” On the bike she pops Honey Stingers Pomegranate blocks and Probar Superfood Slams. She showed us this little gem of an energy gel – Chocolate #9, which is simply Belgian chocolate and blue agave. It absorbs slower and has a lower glycemic index. Which sounds perfect and delicious to us.  Velocurean is now a fan.

Her cycling career is rich with history and amazing experiences that continue to create everlasting memories. While attending Stanford University she raced for Palo Alto Bicycles (now Team Tibco) alongside her good friend Christine Thorburn. Heidi Witherell competed in many races but her two most memorable were The Tour Of the Gila in New Mexico, “Because it has gnarly climbs and descents and the time trial has hills in it.” She laughed a bit… she loves to climb. Her favorite local race was The Cats Hill Criterium in which she placed 2^nd in 2002 just behind Karen Brems who was an ex-world champion Time Trialist and “a really good sprinter.” “I railed the last corner and jumped everyone but Karen somehow made her way to my wheel and got me in the finishing straightaway. But finishing 2^nd to a World Champion… that’s not bad.” She smiled.

While training with her team in Italy she rode many of the same passes through the Dolomites that are featured in the Giro d’Italia such as the San Pellegrino which has a strong influence in the Giro being her favorite Grand Tour race. So watching the race is very nostalgic for her though she has not actually seen it live. Heidi is going to Spain to watch the Vuelta a Espana in September, with her friend Dana who owns the company “bestofbothgolfandski.com” who is organizing the trip.

Heidi “retired” from Palo Alto Bicycle Women’s Team to become an Anesthesiologist at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco with a specialty in Pediatric Anesthesia. She now rides with the Fusion Cycling Club. She realized that she wanted to be a doctor while she was volunteering at the Stanford Children’s Hospital. “I knew the first day I was there that I wanted to work there. I just got a sense of this is what I was supposed to do with my life.” She chose pediatric anesthesia as a specialty because she, “love(s) the environment in the O.R… When I did my anesthesia rotation, it was a no-brainer. Pediatrics was a different flavor, more intense with a slightly higher risk. And I love working with children, of all ages.”

So we have now found ourselves in the kitchen with Heidi Witherell. She is preparing a Pan Seared Halibut in Asian Herb and Vegetable Broth for us as we talk to her about being Velocurean. Heidi started of by chopping up the crisp, vibrant vegetables and we were impressed by her knife skills, learned from a chef ex-boyfriend. She wielded her blades with confidence and breezed through the vegetables with her two favorite utensils, her Henckels and ceramic knife to which she says “it makes me happy…” She also has the eye of a photographer, which is another one of her passions. She had an array of beautiful bowls and ingredient dishes; she chose only fresh and vibrantly colored veggies. In the background we noticed a few striking images of Heidi’s next to the stove. They were mostly travel and landscape pictures, which is her niche. In fact, she is entering a beautiful image of the Golden Gate Bridge into the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) photography contest this year alongside another image that she is submitting to Conde Naste. Heidi is definitely a woman who loves to create, experience, capture and relive many fond and wonderful memories in all aspects of her life. Even many of the herbs and spices she used in this dish she bought in either Paris or India and with each bite we were wisped away on one of her many travels.

The first things you notice about this dish are its simple architecture, vibrant colors, and elegance. This is immediately followed by the wafting scents of far off places such as ginger, cumin, tarragon and red pepper. With our salivary glands in a rage and in eager anticipation, we flaked off our first bite of fish. The spices are delicately infused into the fish without losing its halibut flavor – it is merely accentuated. Our next bite consisted of rice noodles and vegetables in a spoon brimming with broth. We loved how the soft rice noodles were masterfully juxtaposed to the crisp veggies, and the shitake mushroom added a beautiful earthiness and depth that rounded out the flavors. We finally brought the whole gang together and what we found made us smile, even happy, because what we discovered was a harmonious blending of flavors that balanced everything, and with simplicity, harmony and balance you have a truly Asian inspired dish.

“Is that pretty damn good?” Heidi asked with confidence after our first bites. Oh yeah… she had every reason to be confident. This is a delicious dish and it paired nicely with the “Star Lane” Sauvignon Blanc from the Solvang area, which she thought would “hold up to the spice better” than her favorite white wine; “Newton” unfiltered Chardonnay from Napa Valley. She has a Newton ’04, ‘05 and ’06 in her cellar and claims “it’s stellar” but is “too soft to hold up to the Vietnamese and ginger.”

As she reminisced about a few of her culinary and cycling travels to France, Spain and Morocco (just to recall a few) she mentioned that she hopes to live in either France (Heidi speaks fluent French) or Spain to work, which would be the perfect opportunity to live Velocurean and “Eat. Drink. Ride.” Then she made such a simple but wonderful statement, “The best thing about cooking with friends… is that you get to eat with them.” which is so true. The other incredible experience to have with friends… riding out on the open road. We look forward to getting together with Heidi after the boys from Bespoke Cycles build up her new machine; a Guerciotti team replica, and pound out a few miles.

After riding some California hills we just might find ourselves sharing a few bottles of her “favorite wine period,” “Sea Smoke” Pinot Noir. Or maybe we will find ourselves at the Toronado Pub in the lower Height being served a few Belgian triple ales (her preferred beer) by the bartender, a friend of Heidi’s who also runs a breast cancer awareness group. Whatever the future holds for Heidi, one thing is for sure, it will be embraced, enjoyed and remembered for the rest of her life and the experience will be shared with her friends over amazing rides, delicious food and drink, and beautiful photographs. Cheers to Heidi Witherell for being Velocurean’s first “In the Kitchen.” As Heidi said, “That’s a wrap right, so let’s dig in!”

Ride Hard and Prosper! Live Velocurean!

- Joshua Seaman

- Photos by Sherry Heck

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1384 5 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1518 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1518#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:36:41 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1518 Tahoe City:
Celebrate the 4th of July on the north shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe; this scenic destination has one of the most impressive fire works shows on the west coast. On a clear night with relatively little wind the reflection of the fireworks on the lake are breathtaking. Find all the information for planning your trip at www.gotahoenorth.com.

Walter Hansel 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley – $16:
For the summer heat, wine lovers need an alternative to heavy Chardonnays, which is where a nice cold, crisp Sauvignon Blanc comes in. Walter Hansel is a small producer in the Russian River Valley down the road from Kistler, where he turns out some of California’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. His sleeper though is his tangy sauvignon blanc, which is full of aromas of fresh pineapple, passion fruit, pink grapefruit, cream and liquid mineral with excellent balance and acidity. Drink chilled. Pick up a few bottles before you head up to the Lake or anytime right here on Brix26.com.

Thank you to Peter Langenstein (founder of Brix26) for the recommendation and write up!

College Cyclery:
Though there are a few bicycle shops to choose from in Reno, we strongly recommend College Cyclery. It is close to all the Casino’s, easy to get to and staffed by a friendly, knowledgeable and pro-level team. In fact, they were chosen to staff the SRAM neutral service tent at the 2010 Tour de Nez. They have everything from water bottles (which is what we needed), gels, drinks etc. to a fine selection of apparel and bikes as well as minor and major mechanical work on all types of bicycles. Swing by for one stop shopping at College Cyclery in Reno.

The Hub Coffee Co.:
So, whether you find yourself waiting for a major mechanical fix at College Cyclery or you just want the “best coffee in Reno” (as stated by many who we spoke with – and we agree) stop on over to The Hub, which is just a couple blocks away. Masters level road bicycle racer – Mark Trujillo, owns it and definitely understands the needs of the cyclist when it comes to coffee, pastries and environment. So order up a cup or two of their coffees from either Ecco Caffé or Barefoot Coffee Works; then grab your bike and head out for Mt. Rose!

Mt. Rose Ride:
Well, what can we say but this… Reno = alt. 4400’ Mt. Rose = alt. 8260’, 50+ miles out and back consisting of a 13 mile climb at an average gradient of 4.7%, which means a nice steady cadence going up and an extremely consistent and fast descent! What do you get out of this ride? How about amazing views of the mountains and the Great Basin as well as a confidence inspiring sense of accomplishment when you look back at the majestic peak of Mt. Rose as you make your way back into Reno. It feels great and is sure to keep you smiling! Get out and ride hard!

West Street Wine Bar:
Head down to Reno’s “West Street Market,” slip into the West Street Wine Bar and reminisce about the ride over a glass of wine poured by owners Rick Martinez and Samantha Reveley. With “more than 50 wines by the glass, great beers and dining options” we guarantee that you will enjoy your time here in this trendy, energetic wine bar. One of the fun things about this place is the glass garage door, they keep it open during the warm summer nights and it is reminiscent of the street cafes in Europe. Then head out for a walk along the River Park or head to the casino and get the haps on the craps! Explore the new Reno and you will be impressed.

Brook Avenue Grill & Gelato:
Whether you are on your bike or just looking for some delicious breakfast in Kings Beach, stop by this little hidden gem. With an enticing menu, quality coffee, friendly and personal service and an aesthetic view of Lake Tahoe, Brook Avenue Grill will fill you up, caffeinate you and send you on your way satisfied. They also offer a Lunch and Dinner menu as well as Ciao Bella Gelato & Sorbetto, of San Francisco. So please stop by, leave happy and hit the mountains or the beach!

Velocurean spent a long weekend exploring Reno-Tahoe and was pleasantly surprised at the transformation that has occurred in Reno over the last five years. As always, Tahoe was beautiful, refreshing and full of majestic and breathtaking landscapes. Both are vibrant cycling communities on and off the road and both have wonderful culinary delights just waiting to be discovered. So go on and plan a trip to Reno-Tahoe and live a little!

Eat. Drink. Ride. Live Velocurean!

Written by – Joshua Seaman

Joshua Seaman (left), Kevin M. Eisele (right), Mt. Rose (background)

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1518 1 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1506 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1506#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:41:50 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1506 One of my favorite things about summer, aside from longer days for me to ride my bike, is the plentiful harvest of Bing cherries. I will find any way I can to eat them during their short season here. In fact, I have been known to down a two-pound bag of them after a long hot ride, so it was inevitable that I would eventually concoct my own cherry salsa recipe. Once I got the measurements just right, I made some halibut tacos and attempted to pair my cherry salsa with them, sad to say… not the best marriage. The strong flavor of the cherries just overpowered the fish, so I figured a nice meaty pork chop should do the trick, and it did. I keep it simple with just a little salt and pepper, sear it on both sides then finish it in the oven and let the salsa do all the talking! This delicious, beautiful and refreshing dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

INGREDIENTS:

PORK

• 2 pork chops (lollipop cut)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Gray salt (to taste)
• Fresh cracked pepper (to taste)

SALSA

• 2 cups Bing cherries, pitted and chopped
• 2 Serrano peppers, chopped and seeded
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Salt and pepper the chops and let stand until they are at room temperature.

In a medium sized bowl, add the last five ingredients and mix together, and refrigerate (don’t let the salsa sit for more then a few hours, the cherries will begin to soften).

Heat heavy pan over high heat, add one tablespoon of olive oil, add pork chops and sear for about one minute on each side (this will caramelize the sugars and help retain the juices), transfer to oven and cook till the internal temp reads 145F°. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes, covered with loose foil. The meat will continue to cook and the juices will be retained.

Plate the chops and add the salsa.

Written by – Kevin M. Eisele

Photos by  - Sherry Heck

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1506 0 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1475 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1475#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:51:51 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1475 When it comes to road cycling shoes there are virtually hundreds of options. However, in reality there are literally less than 15 road shoes worth buying, and of these 15, not a single one comes out of Italy (apologies to Sidi fans, you will soon see the light). The guiding principle in picking a road shoe has been the same for years, if the shoe fits… To differentiate a quality road shoe from what is otherwise another carbon sole stuck to a faux leather upper with two straps and a ratchet, we need to change the guidelines for selection. Picking a shoe should start with the following question: does the shoe have an arch support that fits? If so, wear it. Enter the Specialized S-Works road shoe. This shoe, like the Lake CX401 or the Bont A1 has a key detail built right into the sole, ample arch support. While the Lake and the Bont use a moldable carbon sole custom-formed to meet the rider’s arch, the S-Works shoe simply provides a contoured sole designed to support one of its three insole options. These insoles are purchased as an aftermarket item and are differentiated by color to indicate their varying degrees of arch support. (It is recommended that you find a bicycle shop that has extensive experience in bicycle fitting to size you in these shoes as finding the proper support is critical in limiting knee damage and extending long-term pedaling comfort.)

So they have arch support, so what? Arch support in a shoe is critical for two reasons. The first is simple: comfort. Ever wonder why your foot goes numb? It rarely has anything to do with you, your pedals, your feet, or your tendency to over-tighten your shoe straps. Rather, numbness comes from your arch fatiguing inside of the shoe while pedaling. Imagine your arch collapsing 35,000 times over the course of a single ride. Imagine the ligaments and tendons associated with your arch loading and unloading with each collapse. All this work is enough to wear out even the strongest foot. The other, and probably more important reason to support the arch is to provide the rider with ample knee stability. Knee stability is compromised every time the arch collapses. If the arch collapses the knee will move laterally in-and-out with every pedal stroke. With every wobbly pedal stroke the internal tissue of the knee sustains unnecessary wear. This premature knee wear and loss of power can be directly attributed to an arch left unsupported. Support the arch, lose the numbness, save the knee, and add some power. The model is simple.

So are features like this restricted to a $350 shoe? Thankfully no. While the S-Works shoe is the top model from Specialized, you do get the same kind of support from their lower model shoes starting at $100. These models don’t feature a super-light carbon sole with a super -light upper and a nifty Boa lacing system, but they are equally effective from a comfort and foot correction standpoint. Ultimately, the S-Works shoe takes a swipe at every other player in the shoe game. Upon first handling the shoe, you’ll notice that it is lighter than probably any other road shoe you’ve ever handled. This can be attributed to the carbon sole and Micromatrix upper that features mesh paneling to provide ample airflow over the foot. Perhaps the most impressive feature that seems to be lost on other high-end shoes in the same category is the fact that every part of the shoe is replaceable. No kidding, replaceable heel pad, lacing, lacing ratchets, even replaceable threading for the cleat interface. All told, this shoe is as nice as they come. They are less expensive than any other top-end competitor offering arch support, they are the only shoes offering canted forefoot correction, they come in multiple widths, they are absurdly light, and they can be rebuilt bit by bit. From a price, feature and fit perspective there is nothing on the market that stacks up.

Written by – Alex Lugosch

Photos by – Sherry Heck

Products Provided by – Bike Nut

Specialized S-Works Road Shoe

Price: $350.00

Available: Specialized parts and accessory dealers and at Specialized.com.

Widths: Yes.

Colors: Black or White. (Womens available in white only)

Interface: 3 hole only.

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1475 3 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1454 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1454#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:22:17 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1454 As cyclists we are always looking for a new and flavorful source of energy, something fast, easy and nutritious and where we usually find it is in granola. Granola: that breakout from the 1970s, which became so synonymous with the health movement. Rolled oats and grains with some dried fruit baked to a golden brown in some sort of sugar syrup, lightweight and easy to carry around, it could be eaten as a snack while biking or as a cereal before school. This naturally caloric yet healthy cereal somehow lost its way and became saturated in high fructose corn syrup. That was until the turn of the century when micro-purveyors started churning out locally produced batches of organic granola.

I could tell this was a quality product from the moment I opened the package and was greeted with the aromas of cinnamon, chocolate and oats. It immediately blasted me back to a childlike giddiness of anticipation when I opened that new box of cereal… but this is not some mass-produced cereal from the industrial food mills we have all become accustomed to. No, this is a handcrafted, artisan granola produced in small batches in San Francisco by Julie Vu. As I poured the granola into my bowl I noticed how the rolled oats didn’t all stick together in large clumps. Instead they seemed individually coated in the liquid sweetener (organic maple syrup, organic honey and brown rice syrup), and there seemed to be enough of the cherries, chocolates and pistachios to last until the bottom of the bowl.

In one spoonful, my taste buds get hit with the buttery brown sugar crunch, followed by the tart cherry, mellowed by the bittersweet chocolate, all highlighted by a touch of salt from the crunchy nuts. I enjoyed this granola with milk more than with yogurt. The milk brought the flavors together, whereas the yogurt’s tanginess competed with this wonderful concoction.

The only drawback to this granola would be the cost; at around $11.00 per 10oz. bag it may be out of the price range of some connoisseurs… but then again, so is that oh-so-worth-it custom built Sycip bicycle.  Both are handcrafted in small batches right here in the San Francisco Bay Area and both are made with precision and attention to detail to satiate the needs and expectations of their customers. So go ahead and grab a bag of Sugajules granola and get your crunch on!

Eat, Drink, Ride!

- Kevin Eisele

- Photos by Sherry Heck

- Styled by Ana Gonzalez

(Also available from Sugajules – “The Whole Nine Yards” featured in the photo below.)

]]> http://www.velocurean.com/?feed=rss2&p=1454 8 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1405 http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1405#comments Sun, 30 May 2010 06:14:52 +0000 Velocurean http://www.velocurean.com/?p=1405 Valley of the Moon: We absolutely love Valley of the Moon Winery, from their delicious sparkling white Brut to the lusciously smooth Cuvée de la Luna. Their sleek, artistic logo and bottles are enchanting and the grounds of this Sonoma estate are simply beautiful. Go for a visit and pick up a bottle of the newly released 2007 Cuvée! You’ll love it!

Kinetic Koffee: Fold this little roaster in to your daily routine and ride faster, longer, stronger and harder. This is life-support hand crafted by cyclists (Charlie Jordan and Mark Ritz) for cyclists… or anyone else as long as they appreciate this organic nectar from Humboldt County. Try the “Karma Sumatra,” it will get you moving!

Peanut Butter and CO.: As a website dedicated to food and cycling, of course we had to check out PB&Co’s offerings. First stop, dark chocolate peanut butter of course. As lifetime Nutella fans we were surprised by how good this was.  The main reason – it’s simply not as sweet because it holds true to the essence of peanut butter and chocolate in this perfectly creamy blend. Eat this on some whole grain bread with sliced banana for that perfect “out-the-door boost.” (and Congratulations to the women’s team for an awesome year so far! Two highlights here = Shelley Evans won the Tour of New Zealand for team USA and Coryn Rivera won the Sacramento Crit at age 17! Ride Hard and Prosper! Live Velocurean!)

Sports Basement Group Ride: We hope that the sun is here to stay, so head to the Sports Basement Presidio for their 9am Sunday group ride. Great people, beautiful landscape, free bagels (at 8:30) and plenty of parking. All levels welcome! So why ride alone?

Hotsy Totsy Club: Keeping Albany tipsy since 1939, the Hotsy Totsy Club focuses on creating new cocktails using fresh ingredients and quality spirits in the casual setting of a neighborhood bar. Now serving authentic street tacos Thursday – Sunday nights! Ride hard so you can play hard! Follow the Hotsy Totsy on Facebook for daily updates and specials.

Batter Bakery: Every one loves a good cookie; our personal favorite is the chocolate chip from Batter Bakery. Founder Jen Musty has created the most delectable dough wrapped around layers of chocolate, with a hint of what we can only describe as “Mexican spice.” This is a cookie you cannot miss. So if you find yourself around California and Kearny stop by her Kiosk and grab the best damn cookie in the city.

The Tour de Nez: Velocurean is going to be there… You should be too! Pro Men’s and Women’s time-trial and circuit races, Handcycling races, kids racing, a seminar with Bob Mionske, festivals, music, parties, expos, demos, food and drink! Plus a group ride with the athletes! What more could you ask for? All this in the beautiful setting of the Village at Northstar in Lake Tahoe. See you there!

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