It’s time for us to thin the herd a bit. I got this Kelly Knobby X about 10 years ago in Vail. It’s actually in really good shape and runs great–I only raced on it for one season. It’s a little heavy but with a classic, smooth-riding steel frame, it’ll never go out of style. Perfect for someone looking to get into ‘Cross, or swap out the rear wheel, make it a fixie, put on your skinny jeans and you’ve got a hipster head-turning machine. I think it’s a 56″ frame–should fit someone 5’6″-5’10”. Asking $400. Let me know if you have questions.
Gear
I spend a lot of time in bike shorts. As any committed cyclist will tell you, a good chamois (and lots of Chamois Butt’r) is critical to keeping your bum happy in the saddle. For races I wear my Honey Stinger kit but when I’m out training or just riding for fun, I prefer not to look so…Euro-spandex-y. I’ve tried dozens of women’s baggy mountain bike shorts over the years, but it seems most manufacturers take the “shrink it and pink it” approach–not really designing women’s shorts, but just taking a men’s silhouette and making it smaller. Most are too baggy, fit poorly and have a sub-par chamois..not to mention the typically terrible women’s colors.
Then, I met Ashley Rankin, the founder and owner of Shredly.
I was at an Outside in Aspen reception over the weekend and we bumped into one another. I recognized her because my friend Lyndsay wrote a recent story about Shredly. Anyway, Ashley is terrific. Even over the blaring music at the reception, it was clear Ashley is incredibly friendly, modest and sharp as a tack. She asked if I would like to try some Shredly shorts and a jersey. Uh, yes please. She offered to deliver them to me at my house the very next morning. Wow.
So, on Sunday morning I rode up in Aspen wearing the Mama shorts and the Monte Carlo jersey. I was really impressed with both. The shorts come in women’s sizes (0-12) and they were clearly designed by a woman for women. They have a contoured waistband that’s reminiscent of yoga pants, so the shorts are low-ride, without showing my crack to the world while I’m on the saddle. The fabric is soft and stretchy. The fit is flattering, the pattern is cute. After my ride I took out the chamois and wore the shorts the rest of the day. The jersey is simple, but fits great and has a nice wicking fabric.
I’m psyched, these are the best women’s riding clothes I’ve tried. It’s an added bonus that Shredly is based right here in the Roaring Fork Valley. Check em out here.
On an unrelated note, I’m racing the Bailey Hundo this Saturday. Ian was originally slated to race, but he had to bail for a work function. So, I took his spot and I need some help with fundraising. If you have a couple dollars or more to spare, please donate to my page. I’ve got a big goose egg next to my name right now. It’s for a great cause – youth mountain biking. Donate here. Thanks for reading!
Chris Miller put together this terrific video from the North American Ski Mountaineering Championships in Crested Butte a few weekends ago. The video includes some awesome footage from Guide’s Ridge, reminding me just how scary it was. I’m easy to pick out in the video with my hot pink POC goggles and look of terror on my face…
Team Crested Butte, with Brian Smith, Jon Brown and Jari Kirkland will be competing again at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail this weekend. Smithy and Jon are doing the Ultimate Mountain Challenge, battling out with Luke Nelson and Marshall Thomson among others. Rumor has it that even Mike Kloser is coming out of “retirement” to race. It’s going to be epic!
Last May I spent a few days in New York City talking to Outside TV about the role of athletes in product development. The Polartec segment starts at 2’45” in the video below. Also included is Peter Whittaker for Eddie Bauer First Ascent and Jeff Lenosky for Teva.
Also, psyched to be a part of the 2012 Sportiva ski mountaineering team:
(Boulder, Colo.) –La Sportiva North America introduces its ski mountaineering team for 2011-2012.
On the women’s side, the team includes last year’s Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup (COSMIC) series winner Sari Anderson, 2011 national ski mountaineering champion Janelle Smiley and IFMGA guide Olivia Race. The men’s team features some of the top skimo racers in the country including Adrian Ballanger, Keith Garvey, Jared Inouye, Chris Kroger, Luke Nelson, John Race, and Jason McGowin.
“I’m excited and honored to be a part of the La Sportiva ski mountaineering team,” states Sari Anderson .“My set up of Stratos boots, RSR skis and bindings is incredibly light and performed without fail last season.” Read more here.
And for next season:
(Boulder, Colo.) –La Sportiva North America, makers of the world’s finest mountain products, announces today that it will debut a full line of technical ski mountaineering apparel at the 2012 OR Winter Market, SIA Snowshow, and ISPO Munich tradeshows.
“The culture of ski mountaineering is thriving in Europe and shows signs of significant growth in North America,” states Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “Our team of designers in the Dolomites used feedback from some of the world’s best ski mountaineers to design apparel that is fast, light and highly efficient. For randonee racing, backcountry touring, and alpine climbing, the La Sportiva apparel line sets a new bar for performance and innovation.” Read more here.
It’s that time of year when we all think about what we are thankful for. Too bad more of us don’t do this more often but at least we do it sometime.
Of course I’m thankful for the usual things like my amazing husband, my kids, our extended family, etc. But this year I’m also thankful for La Sportiva sponsoring me for the skimo season again and the gear that is on its way to my house. I had a hard time not feeling like a kid on Christmas while reading the email showing my RSR skis and binding and Hi5 skis had shipped. My Stratos boots from last season are perfectly broken in and ready for some ski days very soon.
First however, we are headed to Moab for a little more mountain biking and trail running before more snow flies. We just can’t seem to get enough of the desert even with Ian picking up his Surly Pugsley snow bike this afternoon and my skis on the way.
Happy Thanksgiving!