In our hometown of Bend, OR, our friends at the Bend Endurance Academy put on a bicycle film festival to raise money for their youth Nordic ski and Cycling programs. Kirt and I have both submitted movies, but this year we just didn't have the time to get something done. Kirt is however featured in this adorable movie by our friend Lev at Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours that shows Kirt's love for getting kids on bikes. Kids of ALL ages...

   Little Camelbak users and Clif Z Bar eaters. Starting 'em young... Ignite the passion and make it fun fun fun!

   Lindsey gets Blitzed at the Blitz to the Barrel!

So we have this local race in Bend that is gaining momentum overnight. We race from a snowpark below mt. bachelor all the way down singletrack to 10 Barrel Brewery in town. I'm proud to have been a part of it since it's inception 3 years ago. With World Cup women like Katie Compton, Joanna Petterson and Kelli Emmett on the start line, not to mention Oregon super studs Tina Brubaker, Serena Gordon and Alice Pennington, to name a few, my odds weren't looking so great... Nerves always run through my veins, but as my friend Erika says: "let the butterflies pull your chariot and give you a smooth ride." So that I did. I sprinted my heart out at the start and managed to get to the singletrack right behind the world cup big dawgs. I held my own for a bit, but began losing steam on the flat pedaling sections, where I usually feel great. Blah. My friend, and local "big lungs", Heidi Faller and I pulled each other up the road and finished together in 6th, but she outchugged me in the mandatory beer chug... As you can see here, she is in shock at my dry heaving, spitting and inability to chug the beer. She is almost done with hers...

...and then she schooled me in the arm wrestling. I wonder if this contributed to my shoulder injury? Huh?

NEXT UP: Lindsey heads to Sun Valley, ID for a stop with the Gold Rusch Tour at the US National Championships! Lindsey and Rebecca Rusch will ride with and host media women all weekend! YAY!!

GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!

Round 2 of the Oregon Enduro Series!! Set in the hills of beautiful Ashland, Oregon, this location has been one our favorites for about 5 or 6 years now. It was muddy and slick the first day after tons of rain, so Kirt was conservative but said he had so much fun.

Above: Kirt gets muddy on day one

Day two, the trails were perfect and he said he's really starting to enjoy this style of racing...

Above: Kirt sprints out the gate on day 2, just as the sun popped out!

I, Lindsey, had to sit this one out. My shoulder is angry after 2 solid months of demonstrating front wheel lifts 1,000,000 times, then racing and arm wrestling... It needs some time to rest. Bummin'.

On another note, when we attend these fun races, we are proud to be able to lend a helping hand to racers in need. Our AllRide pit area is always open for racers to use tools, get their bikes looked at by mechanics, or just hang out and chill with us between events.

  Above: A Specialized rider pumps up his tires with our sweet Lezyne floor pump!