1 August 2020. A day of training on the Colorado Trail, Molas Pass to Durango at Junction Creek, 75 miles of blissful single-track.
Since December 2014, I've been a member of Northern Colorado Grassroots Riders (NCGR), a grassroots recreational and racing mountain bike team based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. Member benefits include discounts and other perks from Primal Wear, Alpine Dental Health, Social, Akinz, Nick's Italian, Colorado Landscapes, Wright Environmental Services, ReZults Personal Fitness, Hines Inc., and Long Building Technologies Inc. Prior to February 2021 and for many years, the team also enjoyed a generous, grassroots discount from Niner Bikes.
Beyond the generous businesses that support NCGR, I've received discounts, donations, and advice from a growing list of mostly grassroots, community-minded businesses in Colorado and Utah. Most recently (August 2020), Bedrock Bags, a Durango-based company that expertly handcrafts their suite of bike touring bags, and Carborocket, a Salt Lake City-based company that redefined endurance fuel, both substantially reduced my costs when buying their products which I rely on every day I'm on the bike, which is pretty-much every day.
The very best physical therapy and sports medicine clinic on the Front Range, Integrative Physiotherapy, has supported me with therapies and advice since even before I started racing, when I was still getting banged-up on a soccer pitch.
A gifted massage therapist and former professional athlete, Aggie Holer (LMT) from Beyond Horizon Massage Therapy was my primary massage outlet until I recently moved to Durango but I still visit her for body work whenever I visit Fort Collins.
A studio that exemplifies the very best in yoga diversity, instruction, and community, Yoga Pod Fort Collins never hesitated, when I was a Fort Collins resident, to lesson my financial burden so that I could get the most out of their diverse studio and instructors. In Tucson, Arizona, location of my ongoing 2020-2021 winter training camp, Roots Hot Yoga Tucson has become my community and my refuge when I'm not training on the roads and trails around Tucson (see latest training camp info here). And soon I'll flip back to Durango for the summer where I'll resume my habit of attending several classes a week at The Sweaty Buddha, a wonderful studio where practice and people flourish among exceptional instructors and their thoughtful instruction.
I'm also indebted to two exceptional Fort Collins bike shops, Road34 and Brave New Wheel for advice and wrenching expertise that they've provided over the years as well as many discounts.
Elsewhere in Colorado, I've confidently relied on the expertise at Subculture Cyclery in Salida whenever training or racing in the Arkansas Valley. Shortly after moving to Durango from Fort Collins in December 2019, I began a relationship with 2nd Avenue Sports and so far they've been all around exceptional including some 10% and deeper discounts thrown in.
Most recently, during my ongoing (15 Nov 2020 to 31 March 2021) training camp in Tucson, Arizona, I've been very impressed by the management and mechanics at Tucson Endurance Performance Center on Grant Avenue. For a full list of bike shops from around the World that have demonstrated excellence in their craft during my visits including customer service click this link.
Beyond the generous businesses that support NCGR, I've received discounts, donations, and advice from a growing list of mostly grassroots, community-minded businesses in Colorado and Utah. Most recently (August 2020), Bedrock Bags, a Durango-based company that expertly handcrafts their suite of bike touring bags, and Carborocket, a Salt Lake City-based company that redefined endurance fuel, both substantially reduced my costs when buying their products which I rely on every day I'm on the bike, which is pretty-much every day.
The very best physical therapy and sports medicine clinic on the Front Range, Integrative Physiotherapy, has supported me with therapies and advice since even before I started racing, when I was still getting banged-up on a soccer pitch.
A gifted massage therapist and former professional athlete, Aggie Holer (LMT) from Beyond Horizon Massage Therapy was my primary massage outlet until I recently moved to Durango but I still visit her for body work whenever I visit Fort Collins.
A studio that exemplifies the very best in yoga diversity, instruction, and community, Yoga Pod Fort Collins never hesitated, when I was a Fort Collins resident, to lesson my financial burden so that I could get the most out of their diverse studio and instructors. In Tucson, Arizona, location of my ongoing 2020-2021 winter training camp, Roots Hot Yoga Tucson has become my community and my refuge when I'm not training on the roads and trails around Tucson (see latest training camp info here). And soon I'll flip back to Durango for the summer where I'll resume my habit of attending several classes a week at The Sweaty Buddha, a wonderful studio where practice and people flourish among exceptional instructors and their thoughtful instruction.
I'm also indebted to two exceptional Fort Collins bike shops, Road34 and Brave New Wheel for advice and wrenching expertise that they've provided over the years as well as many discounts.
Elsewhere in Colorado, I've confidently relied on the expertise at Subculture Cyclery in Salida whenever training or racing in the Arkansas Valley. Shortly after moving to Durango from Fort Collins in December 2019, I began a relationship with 2nd Avenue Sports and so far they've been all around exceptional including some 10% and deeper discounts thrown in.
Most recently, during my ongoing (15 Nov 2020 to 31 March 2021) training camp in Tucson, Arizona, I've been very impressed by the management and mechanics at Tucson Endurance Performance Center on Grant Avenue. For a full list of bike shops from around the World that have demonstrated excellence in their craft during my visits including customer service click this link.
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Bedrock BagsDurango, Colorado
bedrockbags.com Hand-crafted, top-quality bicycle gear using creative, problem-solving designs that perform extremely well. Applying our decades of riding and sewing experience, the result is the finest bike gear available. Made in Durango, Colorado. |
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CarborocketSalt Lake City, Utah
carborocket.com Carborocket's line of ultra premium, all-natural nutrition products have been developed and tested by athletes for athletes and are guaranteed to transform the way you train and race. This grassroots, Utah-based company has worked hard so that your nutrition choices will never keep you off the podium. |
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Brave New Wheel105 East Myrtle Street
Fort Collins, Colorado bravenewwheel.com "Brave has been a part of Fort Collins bicycle culture since 1983. It has changed hands a couple times since, and has always been a place for cyclists of all varieties and disciplines to find honest advice, expertise, and genuine stoke on riding bicycles in Northern Colorado. We focus on service and repair, custom builds, wheel building, suspension work and basically anything you need to make your ride better. Also beer. We got that too." - Co-owner, Mike Woodard |
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Road341213 West Elizabeth Street
Fort Collins, Colorado road34.com A full-service bike shop staffed by professional mechanics that will revitalize the rad in your rip as you sip locally crafted beer and refuel from the menu at the adjacent Road34 Bar. |
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Subculture Cyclery129 North G St.
Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-5329 subculturecyclery.com An approachable, rider-based bike shop, located in the beautiful Arkansas Valley below the epic summits of the Collegiate Peaks. Salida already has a reputation for exceptional trails and each year that system continues to grow. Go get some and be sure to visit Subculture Cyclery for rentals, service, parts, clothing, and more. |
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Roots Hot Yoga Tucson4951 E. Grant Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85712 (MAP) (520) 428-1177 sumitsyogatucson.com At Roots Hot Yoga Tucson, we’ve created our own therapeutic practice that’s inspired by beautiful and healing teachings. We blended the best aspects of Bikram, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga for a transformational and empowering experience. In addition to our practice, we are committed to providing an inclusive studio for all bodies and all levels. Before you even step foot on the mat, you’ll notice our new look, pristine, and calming studio space. Our mission is to offer you a healing space for you to stretch both your body and your mind. |
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The Sweaty Buddha100 Jenkins Ranch Road, Unit 1
Durango, CO 81301 970.403.8885 thesweatybuddha.com The Sweaty Buddha is a home for both new and seasoned practitioners alike. We offer a welcoming, friendly space to create community around a playful yet challenging yoga practice. At The Sweaty Buddha you will be guided by nurturing, experienced, and mindful teachers that will challenge you in a safe and respectful manner. Hot yoga offers endless therapeutic benefits to our physical, spiritual and mental health. |
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Yoga Pod Fort Collins3300 South College Avenue #160
Fort Collins, Colorado yogapod.com "Our goal is to foster an inclusive community focused on practicing yoga and building relationships. Classes provide a challenge to anyone, all levels. No matter how busy your schedule, there is a class for you, as early as 5:30 am and as late as 8:30 pm. We encourage prospective members to take advantage of our 4 weeks of unlimited yoga for just 40 dollars!" - Yoga Pod Fort Collins |
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Integrative Physiotherapy2020 South College Avenue Unit C
Fort Collins, Colorado fortcollinspt.com A physical therapy and sports medicine clinic providing a unique approach to specialized spine therapy, alleviation of chronic pain, strength and flexibility training, sports injury rehabilitation and pain management. As a patient at Integrative Physiotherapy you'll move to a better you! Click here to read some of my Integrative Physiotherapy story. |
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Beyond Horizons Massage Therapy1330 Oakridge Drive #20
Fort Collins, CO 80525 beyondhorizonsMT Aggie Holer is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and former professional athlete that brings decades of experience to her practice including a wide spectrum of massage modalities, such as lymphatic, therapeutic, and relaxation. Following my 2019 Le Tour de Europe, Aggie's massage therapy techniques, including aromatherapy, were an important component of my recovery. |