Will Lance Armstrong Show at the Leadville 100?

July 30th, 2008

2007 Leadville 100 MTB Start

Update: Lance finished 2nd in the 2008 Leadville 100. See videos of Lance and Dave Wiens at the Leadville 100.

In January Lance Armstrong did the Miles of Discomfort mountain bike race. He dropped out from cramps 43 miles into the 52 mile race. The word was that he was training for the the Leadville 100.

In March Biking Bis reported that Chris Carmichael, Lance’s long time coach, said Lance was planning to do the Leadville 100. Since then I haven’t been able to find anything about Lance doing the Leadville 100 until today.

Today Ken Chlouber announced that Lance has entered the Leadville 100. Early last year, it appeared there would be a battle between Lance and Floyd Landis. Soon after Landis announced he’d be racing, Lance said he had a scheduling conflict. In July Lance rode part of the course and it seemed he would be racing. In the end Lance didn’t show but Landis did race and finished 2nd to Dave Wiens.

Ricky at the Leadville 100Ricky, one of the very few that have finished every Leadville 100 MTB race, has posted on the Leadville 100 Yahoo group that Ken had also told him about Lance racing. Lance told Ken he wasn’t in that good of shape but thought he could still finish in the top 10. Of course he’ll have to actually show up.

I doubt we’ll see a race between Lance and Landis this year. Although Landis was going to be racing the National Ultra-Endurance Series this year, he hasn’t done any of them since CAS ruled against him in his 2006 Tour de France doping case.

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How Mountain Biking is Like Going to the Eye Doctor

July 9th, 2008

I’ve worn glasses or contacts since I was in 4th grade. Without them I can’t even make out objects half-way across the room. I’ve had my eyes test many times by the eye doctor. Sometimes mountain biking is like going to the eye doctor.

When you go to the eye doctor, they ask you if you can see better with #1 or #2 as they flip lenses back and forth. There are times when mountain biking also offers choices. Below are 2 choices I had on one of my rides in the San Juan mountains which was on the Lost Trail Creek Trail. Which of the 2 ways looks like a better way to cross the creek, #1 or #2?

#1 has plenty of logs bobbing in the snow run-off. #2 has logs well above the water with a rope to hang on to but one of the logs has already cracked.

Lost Trail Creek Trail

Lost Trail Creek Trail

Below are 2 choices that I’ll have in another month at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Go through the bushes and over a slippery plank or blast through the water.

Bottom of Powerline in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race

Bottom of Powerline in the Leadville 100 mountain bike race

Other times you have the choice of going for it or turning back. Some of my friends say I have poor judgment and don’t know when to turn back. Below is another picture from the Lost Trail Creek Trail. I tried finding a better place to cross but couldn’t find one. The water was mid-thigh and swift but I made it Ok.

Lost Trail Creek Trail

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Hundreds of Mountain Bikers Want What I Got Today

February 5th, 2008

2007 Leadville 100 MTB Start

The beginning of February each year is when hundreds of mountain bikers what impatiently for a little piece of paper to come in the mail. That piece of paper means they have a lot of training to do in the next 6 months.

That little piece of paper means they made the Leadville 100 mountain bike lottery. I really didn’t expect my card for another couple days. A few others on the Colorado Front Range reported on the Yahoo Leadville 100 MTB group that they had also gotten their cards.

I’m still working on the Leadville 100 MTB FAQ. I’m working on how to train. The problem that I’m having is that I doubt people that are looking for training information will know what LT and VO2 Max intervals are without some explanation. I’m just trying to make it understandable to people that haven’t been racing for 15+ years.

Update: I guess the days of the cards slowly spreading acroos the country to notify lucky particpants is over. The preliminary Leadville 100 MTB entrant list was posted this evening.

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Leadville 100 MTB FAQ: How Does the Lottery Work?

January 24th, 2008

Leadville 100 MTB Legend Ricky

This post is part of the Leadville 100 MTB FAQ.

Last updated 1/31/10

Because of the popularity of the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, many more entries are received than the field limit. I wouldn’t be surprised if they receive over 10,000 entries for 2010.

It seems each year they slightly increase the limit and in 2009 they let in 1400 entrants. For a while it was in the 800 range. To get into the lottery, entries must be submitted online by 5 PM on January 31st.

In spite of what you might expect, the lottery isn’t totally straight forward. Some people are given preference in the lottery. Those that volunteered for any of the races put on by the Leadville 100 in the past year, doing both the 100 mile run and bike, doing Leadman or Leadwoman, finished 5 or more times, Leadville locals, big name pros, etc. get preference.

The best way to make sure you get in is to volunteer. I’ve only heard of 1 or 2 people that volunteered the year before and didn’t get picked in the lottery. My guess is they somehow didn’t end up on the volunteer list. I always write at the bottom of the entry form where I volunteered the year before. Of course for people that don’t live close, volunteering isn’t an easy option.

Another method people used in the past to help make the lottery was to enter as a group. Groups with up to 6 people could register together. Everyone in the group would either get in or not get in. If you could find someone that had preferential treatment for the lottery, it would increase your chance of getting in. In 2010 the race quit allowing group entries.

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The (Leadville 100) Check is in the Mail

January 23rd, 2008

2006 Leadville 100 MTB Start Line

Yesterday I put my Leadville 100 MTB entry in the mail. Now I have a couple weeks to wait to find out if I make the lottery. I expect to since I volunteered last year but there’s always the chance that I won’t get in.

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Leadville 100 MTB FAQ: How do I Enter?

January 21st, 2008

Stream at Bottom of Powerline
This post is part of the Leadville 100 MTB FAQ.

Update 12/21/09: Information on 2010 Leadville 100 entry

Anyone can enter the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike race. Because it’s so popular, entries are picked in a lottery. Entry forms must be submitted by January 31st to be entered into the lottery. Entry confirmations are e-mailed about a week later and unsuccessful entries are returned.

The entry forms have been posted online the middle of December. Starting with 2010, entry is online only.

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Leadville 100 MTB FAQ

January 20th, 2008

2007 Leadville 100 MTB Start

About this time every year, people start asking a lot of the same questions on the Yahoo Leadville 100 MTB group. Last year these questions were the motivation for a great article about preparing for your first ultra. Although it covers most of the common questions about Leadville, it may not be the best format for finding the answer to a specific question.

Nearly all the questions have many answers. It’s key to experiment during training to find what works for you and then stick to that on race day. My answers are based on racing the Leadville 100 6 times, crewing twice and just watching one year.

Here’s the outline for the questions I’ll be answering. I’ll add links here as I write the posts. Feel free to suggest more questions. Also feel free to add your comments on the answers.

  • How do I enter?
  • How does the entry lottery work?
  • How to train?
  • What to eat during rides?
  • What Equipment?
    • Best Bike?
    • Which tires?
    • Disc brakes or V-brakes?
  • What’s the course like?
  • How about the altitude?
  • Where to stay?
  • Race day questions
    • How do I get my best finish time?
    • When should I get to the start line?
    • What do I do with drop bags?
    • What to wear?
    • What should I carry with me?
    • How about the congestion on St. Kevins?
    • What are the aid stations like?
    • Will I finish?
    • Music or No Music?

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Entry Deadline for Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race

January 13th, 2008

Dave Wiens and Floyd Landis at Leadville 100 MTB Start

The deadline for entries to this year’s Leadville 100 mountain bike race is only a couple weeks away. They must be received by January 31st. The mail to Leadville isn’t very fast so I wouldn’t push it if you plan on entering. After watching other people suffer the last 3 years instead of racing it myself, I’m considering doing it again this year. If I do I don’t think I’ll be in shape to improve my best time of 8:18 but maybe I can break 9 hours and get another big buckle.

This year there hasn’t been the buzz that there was last year with the talk of a Floyd Landis and Lance Armstrong showdown. Landis lost his doping appeal and there haven’t been much about Armstrong doing it. Chris Carmichael did list one of Lance’s goals for 2008 as Complete an ultra-endurance cycling event. Of course some ultra cyclists took that to mean something like the Furnace Creek 508.

If you haven’t made up your mind and want to find out more about the race or if you’ve already mailed your entry form in and are waiting anxiously to find out if you make the lottery, here are some links. There’s nothing that will give you a feel for what it’s like being in the old gym with nearly a 1,000 other mountain bikers listening to Ken give his “You’re Better Than You Think You Are” speech.

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Landis Racing Shenandoah Mountain 100 Tomorrow

September 1st, 2007


Floyd Landis is racing the Shenandoah Mountain 100 tomorrow. In a post on MTBR, someone, who has done both Leadville and Shenandoah, says Shenandoah is harder.

The Leadville 100 is jeep road and doesn’t really have anything technical so it wouldn’t be hard to have a tougher course. The other Colorado 100 milers all have tougher courses than Leadville. The Durango 100 is still looking for its first finisher under 9 hours compared to Dave Wiens breaking 7 this year at Leadville. In 2003, the first year the Durango 100 was held was the year I did 8:18 at Leadville. Durango was the next weekend so my legs weren’t fully recovered. I did a 10:55 which was still good enough for 4th place. There were 66 starters and 15 finishers.

Even though the 24 Hours of Adrenlin Solo “Worlds” is also this weekend at Laguna Seca Raceway, a lot of the big name endurance mountain bike racers will be at Shenandoah. Chris Eatough and other big names versus Landis should be interesting. Bloggers Danielle and Harlan will be there.

In other Landis news, the arbitration ruling on his positive test from last year’s Tour de France is expected later this month.

Related Links: Shenandoah Mountain 100 Results

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Leadville 100 MTB Pictures from Bottom of Powerline Inbound and at the Finish

August 26th, 2007

Floyd Landis Finishes the Leadville 100 MTB

I now have uploaded the Leadville 100 pictures for Powerline inbound and the finish. You can see the pictures from earlier in the race by going to 2007 Leadville 100 mountain bike picture page.

Related Links: Dave Wiens and Floyd Landis | 2007 Leadville 100 MTB Entrant List | 2006 Leadville 100 Mountain Bike pictures | Views from the Top of Columbine Climb | Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race Lottery

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