RACE TRACKS: Maybe You're Right

If you've known me awhile, you may have been a reader of an old blog I kept from my days as a 20-something ex-pat living in Maastricht, NL. There I met three ladies who made the time away fly by. They called us "the team" wherever we went and we were inseparable. Still in touch thanks to the wonders of Facebook and Twitter it's been amazing to watch where we've all ended up since those last summer days in Europe.

In particular, for this post, I want to shout out to Cam who I remember always had her guitar nearby, a tune on her tongue and wistfully talked about forgetting about all this psychology major stuff and chasing her dream to be a singer-songwriter. We of course supported this idea (you would too if you'd been there, sipping Moroccan mint tea with us, listening to her learn the guitar in exponential leaps and bounds while crooning away with her choir-girl talents).

Cam and I had a little reunion when she was in L.A. not too long ago. I went up to see her and the band she's playing with. She's based in Nashville now and there's an album in the works. This entry in the "Race Track" category has Miley Cyrus's voice and name all over it, but look again at the liner notes and guess whose name you'll see with a big beautiful writers' credit: Camaron Ochs.

I think that's a name you should learn!

Connect with Cam and check out her bandcamp below:
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
OneSheet 

(PS - I bought the Miley Cyrus album -- something I wouldn't normally think to do -- to support Cam and now I can't stop listening to it. Love the whole thing. Not even sorry.)

"Race Tracks" :: Winter Beats

Gerhard has been the sharer of many great tracks in the past thanks to his connection to an industry that needs good musics for all kinds of videos and web edits.

To honour BASE MILES season, I'm posting this one, his latest contribution to my iPod, called "Winter Beats" as a nod to the change in periodization I know many of us two-wheelers are now experiencing. Or are about to experience once you get all the CX out of your systems.

You can catch it in the new TransWorld Snowboard movie "Nation" available on iTunes (tremendous trainer viewing!) or keep an eye on twsnow.com for full parts as they trot them out this fall.

In the mean time, check out I Break Horses' "Winter Beats" in its official music video form, OR ... scroll down for the most ridiculously overdone hipster surf edit I have ever seen (featuring 10 Russian models, a man-made wave in Dubai and apropos of nothing, a Lambourghini (because of course)).



GLOBE'S ELECTRIC BLUE HEAVEN from GLOBE on Vimeo.

Race Track: Santigold - Disparate Youth

Put this in your playlist. Santigold's new album, Master of My Make Believe is out NOW! Another reason May is a merry month. Stoked.

Fire in your new shoes!

Haven't posted a Race Track in a while, but today this one is fitting. Finally test drove my new shoes: Giro's Sica (and yes, they were on fire -- their maiden voyage was a 29 minute time trial this morning, ugh).

Overall I'm super pleased with them. I'm always a bit daunted by cleat positioning (which is why it's taken me so long to try them out) but I think I actually got it right on the first try. Perfect amount of space in the toe box, complemented with the perfect amount of support on the sides and under my arches. That's extra good news at the moment because for some reason, my arches have been giving me trouble lately in both cycling and running shoes. They're noticeably light, and carbon soles were the cherry on top -- I didn't really know if it would make that much difference, but yep, that's firmness you can feel.

Sweet Pete's is now carrying Giro shoes (which I believe are a fairly new addition to the cycling-shoe market) so check out a pair for yourself if you're looking. They are priced remarkably fair (unlike Sidi's *ahem*) so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Looking forward to getting these puppies dirty!

iPod

Some great training tracks out there lately -- added these to high rotation from what's new and some from what's old:

1.) Hello - Martin Solveig Ft. Dragonette

2.) Stereo Love - Edward Maya and Mia Martina

3.) We Speak No Americano - Yolanda Be Cool and Dcup

4.) Teenage Dream - Katy Perry (Kascade club remix)

5.) Bulletproof - La Roux

6.) Fire In Your New Shoes - Kaskade Ft. Dragonette

7.) Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine

8.) With Every Heartbeat - Kleerup Ft. Robyn

9.) Broke My Eyes - Donkeyboy

10.) Stuttering - Fefe Dobson

Race Tracks

"I'm going in for the kill. I'm doing it for a thrill."

This Race Track is brought to you by one of those delicious MSN conversations you sometimes have with an old friend who decides to bless you with a "hey, check out *insert artist here*"

I downloaded La Roux's whole discography and almost never hit skip on her.

So here's "In for the Kill" by La Roux.

La Roux - In For The Kill from Ekim on Vimeo.

Race Tracks

This little ditty came up on ye ol' ipod the other day and it brought back such fond memories of spin class and sweat pouring down my face as I fought through yet another interval, that I have decided to make it the next Race Track.

Thanks Kanye and thank you Daffyd!

Race Tracks

This race track is brought to you by last week's Montreal Road Trip. G brought Passion Pit on board the minivan adventure and I've been hooked ever since.

This Boston band first blew up after the lead singer wrote a handful of songs for his then-girlfriend for Valentine's day. The tracks got popular all over his college campus and things grew from there. They added on some more tunes and came out with their first full-length album, "Manners" this past May.

It's super fun, energetic feel-good music that reminds me of other favourites like the Go! Team (a future "Race Track")

That's why Passion Pit will be loaded up into the Ipod for the trip west for the Test of Metal -- my next race. Stay tuned!

Race Tracks

I first heard Alice in Videoland's song "Lay me down" on Yeti Cycles' video from the 2008 WC at Mont Ste Anne. It's sassy, poppy goodness, and the Yeti riders — Leov, Blenkinsop and Gwin — make it look rad. If I was Alice and Videoland, I'd make it my official music video.

I made the trip east to watch that race, and do some shredding myself. It was a muddy (but still awesome) three days of riding. The sun came out for race day, and we cheered on the riders from the side of the course, beers in hand.

That week was my first time downhilling. Today I registered with the OCA for my first DH race this weekend at Kelso.

And that's why "Lay Me Down" is the latest Race Track. My ode to Downhill!

Wish me luck!

PS - the trail photo in this blog's header is a primo MSA DH run.


Me, riding DH at MSA, 2008

Race Tracks

Gwen takes us on a trip following the White Rabbit to Wonderland, asking "what are you waiting for?"

Applied to the race course, this song's lyrics have extra meaning. Sometimes, I admit to getting a little muddled (thoughts drifting to Wonderland, if you will) but channeling Gwen gets me back on track. "Life is short, you're capable!"

It's a good pick considering the imminent Easter long-weekend too, since it's got bunnies and the unmistakeably fresh air-of-Spring.

I love this video, love this song, and secretly have a girl-crush on Gwen Stefani.

Enjoy!

Race Tracks

The robins hopping around on my front yard tell me Spring is here and that means that the time to pack up the trainer is just around the corner. Oh, how that makes me happy!


During the trainer season, I owe a lot of mornings to "The Collective" and Seasons. That movie makes it worth getting out of bed. Perfect length for a spin before work and somehow I never get sick of it. I especially love the part with Peaty racing MSA to "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine. Perfect pick, and definitely a Race Track.



And for fun, here's the Seasons trailer. Pick it up at your LBS.

Race Tracks

First Race Track -- and my personal fav -- Galvanize, by the Chemical Brothers. Second verse is clearly about mountain biking.

Dont hold back...
If you think about it too much, you may stumble, trip up, fall on your face...
Dont hold back...
You think it's time you get up, crunch time, like a sit up, come on keep pace...
Dont hold back...
Put apprehension on the back burner, let it sit, dont even get it lit...

Galvanize is also featured in this sick vid showing time lapse of a dude "painting" on his computer. Read the article.


Get stoked!