NEWS

I've been working on this one for a while and wanted to make it as helpful as possible to people racing a 24 Hour Solo this year.  Full 12 week training schedule is there, plus tips on bike set up, clothing, pit crew, pacing, nutrition, mental toughness, etc. 

Available now on the Training Plans page.

Snow is still on the ground here in Maryland, but mountain bike race season is just around the corner.  My traditional season kickoff is the Cohutta 100 in Tennessee.  It's a beautiful 100 mile race with lots of climbing through the Cohutta mountains.  The start/finish location is at a family friendly whitewater center, which is much appreciated for a post race dip in the river!  Read more about the race here: http://www.newleafadventures.com/cohuttahome.html

This year the Cohutta 100 is April 24th, so now is the time to start preparations for this race.  I have written a 12 week training plan to help people prepare for this specific race.  It even includes a detailed course description and my tips on how to tackle each section of the course.  Check out the Cohutta plan on my Training Plans page. 

My first 12 Week Training Plans are now available for purchase right here on my website!

Purchase a plan instantly with the "add to cart" button.  Plan is instantly emailed to you, ready for training tomorrow or for the new year. 

The plans currently available are for 100 mile mountain bike races, and for mountain bike stage races.  Two of my favorite race formats!   I am working on more now, for 24 Hour races and for XC races.  They will be available in early January. 

I have incorporated all my knowledge and experience into the plans so that they provide optimal preparation.  They are designed to be easy to follow and understand, and useful for a wide variety of riders, from intermediate to expert.  Whether you are looking to beat your personal record, or just finish a challenging a race, the plan will help you make the best use of your training time, bring structure to your training, and inspire you to ride like a champion. 

Chris Eatough's 12 week training plans are almost ready, and will be available for purchase before Christmas.

They make a great Christmas present, and fit nicely into many mountain bikers new year resolutions, such as ride more, train smart, and kick butt in the 2010 mountain bike season.

The first two training plans available will be:

1. 100 mile mountain bike race

2. Multi day mountain bike stage race

Payment is through paypal, $100 per plan.

Receive the plan right away, and get a jump start on the 2010 race season!

Keep an eye on this space in the next week for final details...

Chris.

 

The 24 Hours of Moab is coming up on Oct 10th and 11th.

I'll be racing solo for one last time.

After 10 years of professional mountian bike racing, I am transitioning, but I plan on staying in the cycling world more then ever as a:

• bike transportation advocate (BikeArlington)
• product tester (Trek Bikes)
• mountian bike coach (Chris Eatough Coaching)

You can read more about my "retirement race" here:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/trek_life/news/article/1700/2009/09/21/chris_eatough_announces_retirement/

More options to be a part of Chris Eatough Coaching will be available in 2010.

I am currently working on 12 week training programs for each of the endurance mountain biking formats, including XC, 100 milers, 24 hour races, and mountain bike stage races.  These are a lower cost alternative for riders who want to train optimally for events such as BC Bike Race, the Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic, and Shenandoah 100.  They will include detailed daily training guidelines, written by me.  There will also be a supplement package available, including all my tips on race nutrition, core training, and daily recovery.

I am very excited about this opportunity to help people excel in their their favorite mountain bike events!

The plans will be available in January 2010.  Check back to find out more!

 

BC Bike Race is a 7 day mountain bike stage race throughout British Columbia, Canada, also known as mountain biking paradise.  Amazing singletrack of every variety.  Rocks, roots, berms, narrow bridges, and plenty of deep dark woods with rich green moss covering every bark and rock surface. 

2009 was the 3rd time I have completed this race, each with my Trek teammate, Jeff Schalk.  The race is run in a 2 person format, which means teammates ride together through good times and bad, and the daily finish time is taken at the time that the 2nd teammate crosses the finish line.  Jeff and I won the race in 2007, and we were 2nd in 2008, so we were hungry for more success this year, despite the fact that the competition has heated up considerably, particularly from the local BC contingent. 

The race course this year was without a doubt the best ever.  It treated our group of 400 racers to a singletrack smorgasbord, taking in all the BC hotspots, including North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Squarmish, and Whistler.  The front runners would hit the trails full speed every day, and the pace never let up.   My legs were feeling great, and the terrain was suited to me perfectly.  Unfortunately, Jeff was not feeling as good.  He had a few nasty crashes the first day, which left him with scrapes all over his face, stitches in his upper lip, and a tweaked lower back that did not allow him to put out his usually impressive power.  Jeff would really have to fight and struggle through the middle of the race, which kept us off the pace of the top teams.  He fought through bravely, however, and came back strong for the last 2 days, where we took 2nd and 3rd on the day, which landed us 4th overall for the race.  The 2 person team format can tough when things are not gelling, but we dealt with it the best we could, using mutual respect and understanding.  I've been in the situation before where I was the struggling teammate, so I can certainly empathize with Jeff. 

When all was said and done, it was a fantastic week.  The organizing crew does a great job of catering to the riders, and the racers get to blast through some of the world's best trails day after day.  It also didn't hurt that the weather was perfect everyday.  Nice timing, since apparently it rained all day in BC the day after we left!

 

I'm pleased to announce that I have a new drink sponsor, Infinit Nutrition.  I was introduced to their product last fall, and it has totally changed my race nutrition.  Their drink is fully customizable.  You choose the levels of carbohydrates, protein, electrolytes, caffeine and more!  Infinit will make up a batch of your chosen mix and send it to your door!  Or you can choose on of  the same mixes that I have developed for 100 mile mountain bike races and 24 Hour Solo races. 

I will also be part of a Webinar about race nutrition on March 29th.  Anyone can sign up.  Here is the press release from Infinit.

Be sure to use coupon code "Eatough" when you order any Infinit product and receive a discount.  Check it out here:

I'm always looking for new motivation, especially in the winter months when conditions outdoors can be tough, and sometimes I'm relegated to the indoor trainer. 

I recently found some inspiration in the stories, adventures and training of Dave Buchanan.  Dave is a unique and entertaining character from Great Britain, who is currently preparing to ride his mountain bike from coast to coast in Wales.  Dave has figured out a route that is 370km, almost all off road.  He is hoping to complete the ride non-stop, unsupported, and solo.  He's not sure exactly when he'll attempt this venture - it all depends on the fickle British weather. 

I'm proud to be Dave's mountain biking coach, and hope that he gets as much inspiration from me as I do from him.  Read more on Dave's blog: http://www.davebuchanan.co.uk/blog/

Tire pressure

One of the most important bike set up items is tire pressure.  In general, too much and performance is sacrificed since the wheels will bounce off any bump, and traction will be poor.  Too little and the tire may roll in a turn, or pinch and tear on a sharp edge. 

It's important to find a consistent gauge to measure tire pressure.   Always use that gauge to ensure consistency.  The ideal pressure will change depending on the tire, the conditions, and the rider weight. 

I find 30psi is a good starting point for me with most tires (I weigh 160lbs and run tubeless with sealant, which allows lower pressures than traditional tire and innertube setups).  Make small adjustments until you are as low as you can go without the tire rolling in hard turns, or pinching to the rim over sharp edge impacts.  I might go as low as 26psi for a wide, large volume tire, or 34psi for a narrower tire. 

Here is a racing tip:

The most common mistake in endurance racing is starting out too fast.  The excitement of the race, adrenalin, and the natural desire to compete often masks the pain of the effort early on.  When the adrenalin wears off, however, reality sets in, and so often racers pay for the extra effort in a big way. 

I suggest a starting pace that feels a little too easy.  Being conservative allows the body to ease into the race effort, leaving energy available for the middle and later stages of the race, which usually contribute more to a good finish time and placing.  Don't worry if other riders pedal ahead.  They are probably going too hard, and you will see many of them again later.  After the first 30 to 45 minutes, you can gradually increase your effort, and settle into a pace that will take you to the finish line.

I know from personal experience, that I have never finished an endurance mountain bike race thinking "I wish I had gone faster in the first 30 minutes", but many times I've said "oh boy, why did I go out so hard!"

 

This time of the year, I do lots of riding in cold weather.  Fluid intake is still important, so freezing water bottles are a big problem.  I have found several ways to avoid this.  The simplest is to carry my water bottle the back pocket of my cycling jersey, underneath my outermost layer of clothing.  Body heat and shelter keep the fluid from freezing.  I also use insulated water bottles and start out with warm sports drink in them.  It's much easier to keep hydrated when there is warm liquid in my bottles rather than ice cold slush!

In a thrilling race, maybe the closest ever in 24 hour solo racing, Chris Eatough attacked on the very last lap to win his 5th 24 Hour Solo National Championship in the woods of Nine Mile, Wisconsin.  The race was a true test of mountain bike skill, strategy, and endurance, with Josh Tostado of Colorado being the main protagonist.  Josh and Chris battled fiercely in the daytime heat, all through the night, and non-stop the next morning.  The two racers were never more than 11 minutes apart, and for the last 6 hours, shadowed each other, always within 30 seconds.  The tension continued all the way into the last lap, when Eatough attacked with 4 miles to go, and created a gap that held till the finish line.  Both riders completed 20 laps, over 200 miles, of the serpentine, singletrack course.

Chris was riding the brand new Trek Top Fuel SSL 9.9, and it proved to be the ideal weapon.   “It is perfect. We had no mechanicals. It is simply the best suspension bike I’ve ever ridden.”  Chris' pit crew was also a major factor in the victory, providing bike maintenance, nutrition, and motivation for the entire 24 hour period. 

The US National Championship is the only official title in U.S. 24 hour racing - mountain bikings longest discipline  The winner is rewarded with the coveted USA Cycling stars and stripes jersey.