2022 Enduro Racing!

As the days are getting shorter and outrageous Summer temperatures are dropping (very slowly), October is upon us.  This usually means the race season is coming to an end, and one of my favorite ways to close another chapter between the tape, is among the trees of Ashland, Oregon.  But first let's rewind to the start of the California Enduro Series, deep within the high speed and rugged terrain of Georgetown OHV.  Until this point, I had hardly any intentions of racing throughout the Summer.  A mix of XC races in early Winter/Spring served purpose for my constant desire to race, but I needed to get back to full send mode.  I hadn't followed a series, or one discipline of racing in recent years, so I did not want to get caught up in anything too seriously.  The CES events were some of my first tastes of lining up against the clock, as well as the cycling community which has helped build me over the years.  It's a blast being out there and I figured it would be fun to compete "just for fun."  However; trying to be competitive in the Pro field has had its ups and downs over the years...so wasn't too sure what to expect.  But hey, I can ride a bike pretty decent, so why not give it a shot! 

This venue was a hit in my opinion, reigning in the true spirit of enduro. A big day on the rigs was on tap, without any bike lifts, and the perfect mix of physical yet rowdy stages.  I have a twisted joy in riding smaller travel bikes more so than most probably would, and the 130mm Specialized Stumpjumper is always one of my favorites. The SJ Evo would be a perfect bike for most of these events, but I like to bring out the inner XC legs when I can.  A few stages were a little sketchy but I was having a blast and not even worried about the results.  After 5 stages and 4ish hours on the bike, the results nailed me down in 7th place for Pro Men.  I was stoked!  That excitement came back which I felt started to disappear in recent years, so heck, let's get out to the next one.

Round two was hosted at Mammoth Bar OHV in Auburn.  I've spent much more time around these trails in recent months, so this felt like one of those hometown races.  Being familiar with the trails you're racing is always a benefit, but also came with added pressure from myself to leave it all out there.  For one of the smaller venues of the season, the hills of gold country were filled with NorCal's finest racers.  Looking at the podium photo and landing myself in 5th, each of the 4 guys ahead are of a speedy and talented crew.  Evan Geankoplis, Marco Osborne, Jake Keller, and Duncan Nason have tackled the world stage for years (although Jake's first year racing overseas, he helped bring home the Stars and Stripes for Trophy of Nations recently, becoming a World Champ for '22)!  I finally felt I was figuring out more of the raw speed needed to place well this year, and gaining the confidence to know I should be in the mix. 

So here we are, two races down and what should have been the end to my short enduro season.  Summer was in full swing, and I knew with a handful of work duties and travel, it wouldn't be easy to commit to racing as I would like to.  If I can't prepare how I know I should, I'd rather not go out and half ass it, as I've done too many times before.  But this felt different, I was enjoying being at events more again and finally proving to myself that I can be competitive...so why pull in the reigns?  Let's give it a shot! Next on the radar was a classic of the series, known as China Peak.  In the southern end of the Sierras, among many gorgeous lakes, this smaller ski resort has been a staple of demanding tracks since the beginning.

  Combine altitude, toasty temps, a mix of flat/physical trails with also the infamous stage 5 near death sentence, and you got a rowdy weekend on tap. I've had a few highs here in the past, decent stage results but never putting together a strong overall since the Expert days.  Going off the past two rounds, I felt strong coming into the day but quickly found myself falling off the back of what I knew I am capable of. Sometimes it clicks, and sometimes you're left wondering how you can feel so disconnected from a bike you ride almost everyday.  14th on the day was not the valuable points I was after, but got me fired up to get back on track.  

With a month until the next round, I put together a game plan as best I could for how I would tackle training and working on skills that would be important for the next rounds.  The blown out CA bike parks have not always been my strong suit, I seem to favor the more natural, long days of OG enduro events...but this was the perfect time to focus on getting more of that downhill speed.  

The final weekend of July was in the heat of California's atrocious heat wave...pun intended. 100-110 degree days for the next couple weeks was just about the worse thing ever for outdoor activities.  There were many things I could think of that sounded fun besides doing intervals on the road bike after work, or pounding out park laps, or 6am gym...but racing is where the fun all ties together.  Mount Shasta was so HOT. What looked like an easier weekend on paper due to the short stages and lift only transfers, proved to be harder than I expected.  After being in Oregon for a trip Monday thru Thursday before practice starting Friday, I was smoked.  My OCD came in handy the week prior, making sure I had everything organized and prepped for the week, which logistically always adds to some mental fatigue making sure it all works out.  Starting day 1 of racing Saturday, my legs were feeling the 18hrs of driving and 4 days of riding prior, but my goal was to get in the zone and focus purely on giving it all I had.  Immediately, I was down in the dirt, if you could even call this dirt.  Every single section of the mountain was the deepest sand, silt, whatever you want to call it.  Just making it out of the corners with any speed and feet on the pedals was a success.  3 crashes later down the first stage and I was pretty flustered on figuring this place out.  Sitting close to last, consistency would be key.  The next 5 stages across the weekend I found somewhat of a groove, enough to grab a few 5ths and 6ths to climb back up to 9th overall.  In the moment, this was damage control but I needed to get back on that podium. 

At this point, I was sitting about 6th for season points.  My goal was to get into that coveted top 5, something I've wanted to do since my last full season back in 2018, but finally I knew it was possible.  Round five, Northstar Resort in Truckee, with enough gnarly terrain to put both bike and body to the test.  Putting together a solid weekend here requires a bit more than just speed and fitness, maybe a little luck too.  Every part of a bike can get destroyed among these trails, keeping your wheels and tires together is a win in itself.  Time to break out the 170mm Enduro, alloy wheels, and DH casing rubber.  After spending a few full days on the mountain recently, the trails weren't as foreign at race pace as they have been in prior years.  A mix of all the classic trails the mountain has to offer made for some exciting tracks, and closer times than I expected.  Each stage was a personal best for me, comparing past times and race runs, which I was happy with no matter the result.  Finally, I was pushing it how I knew I was capable of and it felt good...those moments where you're fatigued but feel that sense of speed and control is hard to beat.  Coming into the final stages, I was sitting 6th, and all I wanted was to step on that podium.  Final track on tap was one of the best, and longest.  

Dropping in off the top of Vista onto Flameout, led into Karpiel, before finishing on lower Sticks N Stones at the base of the mountain. This would deprive the legs of all power as well as the mental state to nail your lines on Karp/Sticks to carry momentum and not let the rocks eat you up.  Off the start, things were rolling, I knew I had the legs for the few flat sprints, and felt confident in my speed.  However; half way down, it felt as if I was about to blow it.  I smacked my pedal/crank arm on a massive rock which is always terrifying.  Managed to keep it on two wheels, but immediately felt something wrong...I could barely clip in and when I could, it felt like I was pedaling sideways.  Was my crank broken? Pedal broken?  Is my foot going to blow off the bike?  With a hefty fire road sprint ahead, I was bummed I wouldn't be able to smash it how I planned to.  But the bike seemed to be working, so let's at least try.  Full sprint, head down, left leg putting down the power while the right was just trying to stay on top of a broken pedal.  Crossing the line, I figured I had just lost out on a podium I knew I had...but somehow that final effort was good enough to jump up to 4th! I was pumped, this was my best result of the year, especially knowing I had more to give on that last run.  We're finally figuring this racing thing out again.

Closing in on this story brings us back to October.  Fall colors, wet dirt, cool weather, all it should be when heading up to Ashland, OR this time of year.  But it's still Summer across the west coast and let's not kid ourselves, why change up the season of dry dirt just yet?  This race has always been a favorite of mine.  It represents the true spirit of enduro with big climbs, long stages, and speeds on trails that can cause some heavy consequences.  No matter the results, the trails of Ashland make for a rad day on the bike, combined with miles anybody can feel good about completing.  Being the final race of the year, the stoke is high, something that always brings me back for more.  The cycling community is one of the best out there, the number of people that show up to these events, giving it their all, it something that can motivate us all.  For myself, this place is always stacked. I had my first pro podium here back in '18, and ever since then have been excited whenever I can get back on these trails.  We had a small yet solid crew for Specialized with Cody Kelley and Tanner Kietzman.  I love being able to learn and listen while able to follow Cody for laps as well as the good times and tech help from Tanner.  

Before race day, I was sitting in 3rd overall.  We would finish off the year today, and that #3 spot is where I hoped to be.  With Evan leading and Todd Renwick in 2nd, it would be an accomplishment to get up there.  Another five stages brought us back to the finish in Lithia Park about 4 hours later. Yet again, going into the final stage I was sitting in 6th place, just a few short seconds off the box.  It's funny how each podium spot I've had this year has come down to the last stage, but maybe I do better under pressure?  As the dust settled, and lactic acid calmed within the legs, my name would get called up to the 5th place spot on the day.  This podium is probably one I'm most proud of, along with Auburn, both of these were the top guys that I've been trying to get in touch with for a long time, and I feel I've begun to put those pieces of the puzzle together.  

The final podium of the evening was for the series overall, and standing on it for the first time in the Pro category felt pretty dang good.  After not knowing what I would be up to this year in terms of racing, I'm stoked to have finished it off like this.  There's a spark I haven't had in a few years since taking some time off from following any exact racing goals, and that spark is getting lit again.  I'm not sure yet, but I feel like 2023 could be the perfect time to try and keep this ball rolling.  One of my favorite quotes is by Frank Ocean, "work hard in silence, let success make the noise." It might be time to give this racing thing one more shot...

If you've somehow been intrigued enough to make it this far through my thoughts, I appreciate you reading and look forward to seeing ya out on the trails!

Thank you to those who support the journey:

    

Specialized Bicycles

Crankbrothers

Hammer Nutrition

100%

Dialed Health

Praxis Works

Maxima Oils

ODI Grips

Krawl Clothing

2019: The Season of Adventure

As cliche as it sounds, time does seem to fly right past us.  Sitting down taking a look at this page again, I realized it's been too long since I made a moment to check in on what I've been up to lately.  The first week of December is upon us which means another race season has concluded, leaving a copious amount of amazing memories in the back of my mind.  As always, there were countless ups and downs, but overall, it's safe to say that this year saw as much growth personally as it did on the bike.  It always sounds easy to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, but acting upon this can take a bit of effort.  Nonetheless, I'm pretty stoked on the opportunities I chased which led to countless new experiences, friendships, and meeting personal goals.

This year's off season was much different, and for the better.  I've always ridden lots and hit the gym here and there...but never followed a structured program.  After getting in touch with Derek Teel at Dialed Health in the later part of 2018, I finally got on a legit program.  After the first few months, it started to show, both in physical appearance and fitness on the bike.  Plus the overall feeling of being healthier and increased motivation compared to past years.  I have nothing but good things to say about Derek's programs, it's worth checking out! (www.dialedhealth.com)

Winter time cross country racing once again became a helpful tool to test my increased fitness and seat time on the bike.  The local series down in Monterey, CA may not be the biggest, but it always sees a good amount of strong racers early in the year and makes for a painful, yet fun day.  Chasing the front runners in the Pro class usually would be nearly impossible for me in the past with XC, but I found myself pushing a much stronger pace than before with higher power and endurance, even landing a couple of podiums for the first time! Although it could have been due to the shaved legs finally...hahaha.

The first big race of the year always hits with the Sea Otter Classic, where my main focus was the Enduro and chasing my goal of a top 10 in the heavy field of world class athletes.  Up until now, I had been feeling the best ever and couldn't have been more excited for the Enduro season to begin.  I just finished building a new Specialized Stumpjumper 29, and with a new rig and speedy tires, I was ready to rip.  After the dust settled and my lungs were recovered, I found my name sitting in 10th place which gave me a personal best and times right in the mix with the big dogs.  As it seems to be in this sport, right when you're off to a strong start, it can end just as quickly.   The following weekend I was out getting some routine laps in when a slight mistake on a slippery feature left me breaking my arm right below the elbow.  What seemed to be a clean and simple break, would take much longer to heal than I had expected.

Although no where near 100%, Summer was upon us and I had already committed to chasing my dream to travel among Europe for the first time while attending the Enduro World Series rounds in Val Di Fassa, Italy and Les Orres, France alongside the Specialized Racing Team.  I left SJC with my bike, a couple bags, and a few nerves, beginning the solo 12 hour trip to Munich, Germany.  This was my first time across the pond, which quickly became the trip of a lifetime.  Once landing and my brain going wild with the +9 hour time change, I met the Team and off we went into the Italian Alps.

Driving across Germany, into Austria and finally across the Northern boarder of Italy was full of the most beautiful countryside.  It's hard to describe as it's such a different vibe than the high speed pace and crowded landscape here at home.  Miles of lush green nature, rivers, the highest mountains you can imagine, and the occasional historic castle in the distance was a wonderful change of pace.  Round 4 of the EWS was first up and what the shock to the system it was.  High alpine riding with the longest descents I've raced, unfamiliar tight and technical terrain, all while being my first race back since injury, was an immediate leap into the truly famous racing which Europe is known for.  Honestly, I was just happy to finish the long few days on the bike after being in quite an amount of pain.  Besides the amazing riding, my favorite times were the ones with fellow riders from all over the world.  Sight seeing, fancy dinners with the team and friends, checking out local night life, and the never ending scenery was something I'll cherish forever.

Next up was an 8 hour drive down to Southern France.  Once again high up in the Alps, we were greeted with an action packed week of practice, racing, and good times with the crew.  Mornings were kicked off in our house for the week at the top of the small village of Les Orres.  Bike prep and good meals were routine before heading out for daily shredding.  Afternoons and evening chilling at the pool, tasting French plates, and playing Uno with the boys was a routine I quickly enjoyed.  Everyday felt like the weekend! Results wise, I improved a bit with my arm feeling slightly better and getting more familiar with the Euro terrain.  In the end, I'm content and felt like I took endless learning experiences back home. I can not thank the Specialized family enough for their hospitality and support for this nearly 3 week trip, and I'm looking forward to getting back over there again!

The next 2 rounds of the EWS were back in North America with Whistler, Canada and Northstar, California.  Being in a familiar time zone and trails was nice, but still difficult as ever.  Whistler is a mecca for mountain biking and I was pumped to be back for my second year at the week long festivity of Crankworx.  Rain made this one a bit tricky and a tad sketchy for most.  The stages were  raw and natural which left the trails getting pretty wild in the roots and rock.  A flat rear tire on the famous Top of The World stage was a bummer way to start the race, but I was happy to make it down 15 minutes of the most gnarly riding while drifting around with no air pressure...shoutout to Cushcore for being the only way I made it down without the tire falling off.  Day 2 was full survival mode and I think most would say that it would be impossible to get through without any crashes.  The deep woods and overnight rain made conditions quite insane, some spots felt like you were ripping sick moto ruts and others...well basically replicated sliding down ice.  After the set back on day 1, I was pleased to grab a top 90 in the Elite field.  Next up was the blown out dust of Northstar.  I've raced this mountain for a few years now, but in this one weekend, the deep silt/sand and rock multiplied by what seemed like 100.  After seeing the best riders in the world struggle and show nerves for race day, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I just wanted to focus on myself and ride like I know I could.  Pleased to say I was running between 50-60th until a crash on the final stage ruined the chance for that result which would have been a proud moment for an EWS.  I think I landed about 75th which was still a personal best against 100s of the World's best.

A few local races were on tap next but this post is already too long 😅 I learned what a valuable lesson and experience international travel is and am only hungry for more.  Time to see what
2020 has in store!  The beginning of the year, I felt like I was stronger than ever and mentally just as ready.  However; other events such as injury, personal hiccups that take your mind off track, and second guessing why you may be chasing a dream can try and get in the way.  Pushing past any tough times truly makes the good times that much better.  I've always felt that everything happens for a reason, and after this year, I am even a firmer believer in that.  So many events created the opportunity for new things and the ability to test my comfort zone.  New relationships, skills, hobbies, and jobs have all come about this year due to taking a small chance and building upon prior events, whether positive or negative.  Get out there and chase your goals for you!! Now it's off to bed, while looking forward to another day making future memories.

Cheers!
-Nicky D

Supported by:

• Specialized Bicycles
• Praxis Works
• Bell Helmets
• AMP Human
• Hammer Nutrition
• Dialed Health
• ODI Grips
• Renthal
• Crankbrothers
• Krawl Clothing
• Muc-Off
• 100%
• Power2Max

Summer Turn Up Begins

Here we go, waiting at the start gate, the dust of the previous racer slightly fading before the final five beeps of the clock break my dwindling silence of a mental tug of war between nerves and adrenaline.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!

Stage one of the Sea Otter Classic Enduro kicked off the race season for the first time since

an almost six month hiatus of gravity events.  For myself, the downtime of winter brought a needed period for building strength and seat time after last year's injuries.  After spending some rainy days researching and learning about proper training for enduro racing, my goal was to resolve some gaps in my confidence and issues in previous circumstances.  Without a personal coach to help lay out a fixed day to day schedule, there's always that unknown in the back of your mind of "what am I not doing enough of, am I doing too much, why am I sore and slow, I'd rather take a nap after work or school instead of making time for the gym." In the end, I feel I've been able to identify weaknesses and start out the year in a better place than previously.  Ride all you want but in my opinion nothing beats racing for the true test.  I decided to hit up the popular CCCX cross country series which kicked off in February to try my luck in XC again.  It had been over a year since competing in XC and after past experiences of being a last place kook in the expert class, I was excited to see if I could improve.  Doing the first six out of seven rounds saw my race pace and endurance much higher than the past and I was finally able to run with the front pack.  After grabbing a couple wins and the rest being various spots on the podium, I was looking forward to the upcoming Enduro season.  

While XC racing is very difficult in its own way of consistent hard efforts around a 5-6 mile course that you loop for 1.5-2 hrs, Enduro is a whole different element of physical and mental stress.  Taking off on race day isn't the normal race start with all riders lined up racing at the same time, but instead un-timed "transfer" stages where you traverse to the start of the timed "downhill" stages which is where the race runs take place.  Each race stage is timed from the top to bottom of a trail, consisting of mostly high speed, technical downhill as well as a few flat/short climbs where all out sprint power is key to keeping a fast pace.  Add up the total timed stages across 3-5+ different runs and the lowest overall time gets the win.  Sounds a bit confusing at first but this ever rising discipline is quite fun and exciting.  Plus, you need to be physically fit enough to last anywhere from 3-6 hours on the bike in a day.  

So back to Sea Otter!  The Enduro race took place on a Thursday with a great day of racing in store.  We had four stages taking place on the downhill track, two flowy single track trails, and the final one being on the short dual slalom course.  In the end brought no crashes or mechanicals which is always a plus.  My time landed me 13th in the world class field of Pros.  Being a mere three seconds off the top 10 made me pretty stoked on my riding.  Next up was the Downhill event on Sunday, 2+ minutes of making yourself explode over jumps, dry/loose corners, and flat power sprints.  With how short the track is, .001 seconds can be the difference of numerous positions.  I had my personal best time with a 2:09 compared to my 2:13 last year which resulted 30th in Pro.  Placing near the top 20 along the best of the best was my goal, but that small 1-2 seconds made a big difference.  A lot was learned and I felt ready for the California Enduro Series to start up next month in May.  

New Specialized Stumpjumper! My race bike for 2018. 

Personally I feel that your mental state of mind and keeping yourself motivated with positive outlooks each day is more important than physical fitness at times.  You can have everything it takes to be well prepared but if you have any doubts or distractions, you're not going to perform at your best.  The past few weeks had me down in the dumps a bit from some personal issues and letting those negative events overrule my day to day mindset.  Everything happens for a reason and after awhile it was time to take control and focus on what makes you excited to wake up each morning.  For me, the majority of that comes from biking and enjoying the outdoors.  After spending hundreds and hundreds of $$$ on upcoming entry fees, I needed to start kicking butt and not make a fool of myself come race day. 

Memorial day weekend began with the first CA Series round down the highway in beautiful Monterey.  Toro Park has a nice variety of super loose and rowdy terrain so you better bring your A-game if you want to stay on your bike.  There were 5 stages and I was really excited for 4 of them...the final one being on "Pipeline" was going against my confidence a bit with the less than ideal handlebar width trail along the cliff side and overhanging trees that would ruin any tall rider's day.  In the end, I wanted to be on the top five podium steps. That is my goal for this year and I know I have what it takes but racing isn't certain and you have to be damn near 100% all day to make that happen.  The majority of the day was looking like I could achieve this with my first 4 times being near that mix, but like I said, I knew stage 5 wouldn't be my strong suit and maybe that hurt me in the end.  Top to bottom was a clean and smooth run feeling close to the best I could, but catching up to a slower rider in front of me and the trail leaving no room to pass, I lost some valuable time.  Being about 15-20 seconds off pace of where I needed to be dropped me back to 11th overall for Pro.  Thinking back on the day, I was very bummed on the placing but there's always a learning experience.  My riding and bike handling feels at a personal best right now and I had strong times in the majority of racing.  Moving on to the upcoming events this summer, I need to push the limits just enough to get closer to the speeds of the top guys but knowing the limit to keep my usual smooth style.  June will be getting busy soon and I'm looking forward to the action!!


Catch ya next time,

-Nicky D

Supporters:

• Specialized Bicycles   
• Scotts Valley Cyclesport
• Praxis Works
• Hammer Nutrition
• Krawl Loco Clothing
• 100%
• Bell Helmets
• Muc-Off
• Stikrd
• ODI Grips
• All Mountain Style
• Mom & Dad

New year, New bikes, What's Next?

Welcome to a new year, another time for people to make new goals, aspire to greater life outcomes, diets, and adventures...usually ending in a luckluster attempt to impress friends over social media.  What about myself?  I realized I really like bikes, trying to go fast with fellow shredders and that's about it.  2018 is just a continuation of the stoke!  Riding is fun, but racing is the true addiction, with more and more events in the Enduro discipline popping up, my mission is to get out to the most possible before the ever diminishing checking account runs dry #BrokeCollegeKidRacing.  

So far the year has been off to a solid start, adding two fresh Specialized rigs to the bedroom which is looking more like a bike shop each day, but it just wouldn't be right to leave them freezing in the outside workshop, plus air pressures would change too much right?  Anyways, the new XC set up starts off with an Epic HT frame.  Jumping to conclusion early, this bike is cross country goals.  The Spec crew cut weight on an already light bike, got the head angle a tad slacker which better fits my downhill turnbars, and overall eliminates that awkward hardtail feeling for your average full-suspension guru. 

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Keeping to my intentions of becoming a speedy enduro racer, I had to get my hands on the updated Specialized Enduro for 2018, going with 29er wheel size for optimal acceleration.  A company that always pays attention to detail, implemented a few key changes making this an even more capable machine.  Longer reach,  the little "flip-chip" between the shock mounting and the yoke adjusts head angle and bottom bracket height, immediately closing the gap between Trail vs. DH bike.  To be honest, once setting it up in the low/slacker setting, I haven't touched it...a true downhill slayer that is ready to sprint up any climb as well.  Not to mention, the local Santa Cruz weather has provided some miraculous riding conditions which has added up more hours behind bars than expected lately.  

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First off, the Epic is fast.  This thing screams speed the second you start rolling around on it, making me wish my leg power could keep up with the intentions of this bike.  Climbing sees you moving quite a bit faster than I remember on my last hardtail, which may have more to do with trying to avoid Slurpees, but I'd bet the bike is pulling the weight in this situation...no pun intended.  For the Enduro, I couldn't stop smiling with each passing lap.  From hucks, g-outs, berm smashing, and rocks, the thing reminds me of what a DH bike is like, but one that actually carries speed when you're crankin.  Like a proper trail bike, it can pedal with ease but you don't realize its true potential until you're pinning it down something super steep and rough.  After some all time group laps and a few KOM's, I think it's living up to its name.  

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What's next?  Well since the majority of race series leave you anxiously waiting until close to summer until bringing the action, I'm trying to find my cross country fitness in hopes of being as competitive as possible in the local CCCX XC events beginning in a few weeks.  Once that pain settles, it'll lead into the Sea Otter Classic, all California Enduro Series, Crankworx Whistler EWS, and hopefully a Big Mountain Enduro or two.  We'll see what's possible while trying to balance things out, that Bachelor's degree will come at some point also.  

For now, catch me on the trail or possibly the road commuting once gas money becomes extinct after race registrations open, but we'll always be sending it!

Also I am super excited about support from Bell Helmets for this season, the world renown company happens to be headquartered about 15 minutes away making for a perfect connection.  The newly released Sixer trail helmet has been a favorite with a design and comfort level that makes it feel practically weightless on your head.  Plus the new Super DH and Full 9 lids give that extra protection and confidence when railing off that next jump or cliff side.

Epic HT Build: 

S-Works Large frame, Gamut TR 760mm bars/60mm stem, ODI Elite grips, Rockshox SID 100mm fork, Roval Control SL 29 wheels, Fast Trak Grid 2.3 tires (front/rear), Shimano XT shifter, brakes, 160mm rotors (front/rear), XTR 11-40 cassette, XTR derailleur, XT pedals, Praxis Works LYFT crank/34t ring, press fit BB, Power saddle. 

Enduro 29 Build:

Large frame, Ohlins TTX coil/525 spring, FOX 36 160mm fork, Gamut TR 760mm bars/50mm stem, ODI Elite grips, SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes/200mm rotors (front/rear), Butcher Grid 2.3 tires (front/rear), Praxis Works AL32 wheels, Girder Carbon crank/32t ring, threaded BB, chainguide, Shimano XT pedals, XT shifter/derailleur, XT 11-46 cassette, Fox Transfer 150mm dropper post, Power saddle. 

Thanks for reading!

-Nicky D instagram/twitter: @nickyd358

2018 Sponsors:

Specialized Bicycles, Praxis Works, Bell Helmets, 100%, SV Cyclesport, ODI Grips, Krawl Loco Clothing, Muc-Off, Stikrd, All Mountain Style, Hammer Nutrition.  

Ashland Mtn Challenge and more..

October 7, 2017… pre race nerves are present this week leading up to the CA Enduro Series finale in Ashland, OR. But this time was a bit different, it’s been awhile since there’s been action so let’s get up to date. Time to rewind to mid summer, the week in week out grind getting stoked for round 5 at Snow Summit Resort in Big Bear, CA. Thursday practice, July 20th, feeling good after getting some more bike park laps at Northstar the week before and sneaking in a 7th in their DH race showing the little Stumpy can keep pushing the limits! Back to speed now, second lap and about 15 minutes of ride time… right hand corner leaning over at speed, clipped pedals on a sticking out tree root and next thing I knew, I was on the ground with a snapped collarbone.  I never knew how fun bikes were until I couldn’t touch one for over a month!  Was quite bummed having to miss the next 3 rounds but the down time allowed for some positive reflection.  This was my first injury since pursuing mountain biking the past 5 years, and you know what, I finally realized how addicting this sport is and not being able to ride showed me how much this passion has grown recently.  

Long walk down the mountain..#painful

Fast forward to the present, September was full of one goal, what can I do to be back at my previous level or possibly better.  Many road bike miles were ridden and soft gym work saw recovery going pretty quickly in my opinion, although there wasn’t much pain, the healing bone was pretty weak and had to follow its course of action which the doctor said would be beginning of October...but that didn’t sound too fun so I figured it was time to just send it as long I kept it on two wheels!

Ashland, Oregon, what else is there to say besides what may seem like a small town on the outside is actually filled with a diverse group of people and nestled beneath a beautiful mountain full of recreational possibilities.  The Wednesday before the race, I made the drive up from Santa Cruz and landed at my home for the next few days, the compound of local ripper Noah “Bear Bait” Catropa (who took 6th in the stacked Pro field!).  After meeting this dude a few years ago at this event, its made the perfect setup to follow him on his local trails and try to pick up some fast lines.  

Needless to say, I was pumped to be riding MTB again and feeling just as comfortable as before, but with not being cleared to even ride yet, I knew I needed to stay within my limits and not push it.  Saturday morning was race day, up bright and early at 5:30am to make it up the mountain for an 8:00 start. Although the day would consist of 5 stages and about 4hrs on the bike, the race would mostly be decided on your first run of the day...16+ minutes of seeing how you could balance sprinting and staying smooth across a wide range of terrain, plus starting off your run in sub 30 degree temps was a tough wake up call.  Once crossing the first finish line of the day, I knew I missed the thrills of racing!  The rest of the day was as best as it could be I thought, stayed off the ground which was my biggest goal and avoided sketchy moments, besides having to ride one stage with a flat front tire which dropped a lot of time, times were close enough in the mix to leave me hungry for being back at 100%.

13th overall for the year, pleased with all things considered

2017 provided quite the adventure, fueling the fire that this is what I want to do as long as possible and become a top rider.  After my first season racing Pro last year and struggling to make top 20, I was happy to see hard work paying off and running 7th before injury.

Life is full of pressure and time frames which society creates that you feel you should abide by; college, work, relationships, and all that “normal” stuff.  While balancing that “less cool” part of life out, I know that I want to pursue this passion and live up to the potential I’m capable of.  Still being fresh in this sport, there’s many goals I have.  But for now, it’s time to hammer down and put the work in, I’m ready for you 2018 and I’ll be on that podium.

Always a big thank you to those who support my efforts:

• Scotts Valley Cyclesport: best bike shop around, Duh!
• Specialized Bicycles: bikes built for speed, gear made for safety & style
• Praxis Works: components to withstand any terrain
• Gamut USA: cockpit set up to keep the Nicky D steez under control
• Stikrd: custom is the new standard right? decals to keep you factree 24/7
• Hammer Nutrition: fueling your body for every condition
• Smith Optics: protection for your eyes, style for your photos
• Krawl Clothing: gotta look good on the street
• Monster Army: unleashing your inner beast
• FOX: keeping your ride smooth no matter how far you send it
• ODI Grips: comfort for your hands makes throwing turn bars that much easier

Thanks for reading and catch ya soon!

Follow the journey// Instagram @nickyd358 Twitter @nickyd358 Facebook @ Nick DiNapoli

China Peak Enduro

This past weekend saw the California Enduro Series racers attack the technical terrain of China Peak Ski Resort.  This also was the first stop of the Golden Tour, featuring more difficult stages and increased prestige for the Pro category, which brought out 42 riders on the start list ready to battle!  High temps, loose/rocky terrain, and five very physically demanding race stages each starting at about 8,700 ft elevation made for an eventful day on the mountain..

I was antsy for the day to start, practice was a blast and this year saw a newly added fifth stage being a super steep, rocky trail straight down the slope that was a challenge just to make it down still connected to the bike.. I started off a bit slower than I was expecting, nothing major but definitely was struggling to push myself with the thin air and trying to make each pedal stroke count when it needed to most on the flat sections between the gnar.  As the day continued and the adrenaline rush increased, I was stoked to get on stages 4 and 5.  These were all about high speeds, rocks shooting out every direction, and deep momentum draining sand...It was too much fun pushing your limits on both of these and I was able to lay down clean runs and nail my goals of top 10 times.  Crossing that final finish line for the day without too big of mistakes felt like a solid accomplishment.  Times tallied up placed me in 12th, and with the stacked group of racers, I was stoked to be in the mix only 3 seconds off the top 10 overall!  This year is creating such an incredible learning experience and I finally feel like I'm understanding how to push myself to the level I know I can be at.  Currently running 7th in overall points while our team of Scotts Valley Cyclesport holds down the lead for Team standings!

After seeing the technical terrain fight back against riders and equipment all weekend resulting in sliced tires, cracked rims, and everything in between, I want to give shoutout to those supporting me with top quality product that stood up to every ounce of abuse.  Wheels and China Peak don't mix as well as other places...Through the pits you could find racer's rushing to find replacements for broken wheels.  With the sharp rocks and high speeds over them, exploding carbon can become a reality when rider error happens.  Praxis Works based in Santa Cruz has been on the rise with producing components that have held up to all the abuse I can dish out.  The C32 carbon wheels took a beating all weekend, and with nothing set up differently other than a tad higher pressures in my Butcher Grid tires, I was yet again impressed at not having a single issue!  And there's something to be said about how versatile the Stumpjumper 29 from Specialized is.  29er's are fast, smooth, and the ideal choice for these California Enduro races. Once you find your preferred set up which I believe is important since it is lesser travel, the bike is capable of hucking any downhill obstacle while also making pedaling as efficient as possible.  With the long days of enduro racing and the fatigue on your body, I've been realizing how important fueling yourself with hydration and food is.  Having support from Hammer Nutrition this season has taught be a great amount thanks to their staff as well as knowledge on how to prepare best for your preferred sport.  With the heat of China Peak, my go-to in replenishing electrolytes was the Endurolyte capsules in the morning and then adding the equivalent Fizz tablets in water throughout the day.  The Perpetuem mix was also the perfect tool with the race day fitting the recommended 3hr+ time period where calories and protein begin to break down and need replacement, plus what's better than my favorite strawberry flavor?!  

Thanks for checking out a glimpse of my race adventures and catch ya on the trail!

-Nick DiNapoli
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Sponsors: Specialized Bicycles, SV Cyclesport, Praxis Works, Gamut USA, Krawl Clothing, Monster Army, FOX, Stikrd, Hammer Nutrition, Smith Optics, DNA Cycling.

Driftin sand, crash n' burn, to coastal forests

Picking up where I last left off leads us into the second round of the California Enduro Series in the hills of Salinas.  Toro Park has been home to the CCCX Cycling events for many years which has seen many current top Enduro and Downhill racers from Northern CA begin their careers at this venue.  What it may lack in overall technical features such as rocks or super steep sections, it highly makes up for in loose, high speed terrain and off camber sections that created some eventful crashes as over 400 racers tackled the four stages on Memorial Day weekend.  

Saturday morning brought the race day excitement after an hour drive from home and getting set up with the Scotts Valley Cyclesport crew, I was pretty stoked for this race as it's about finding the balance between how hard you can push while floating on the line between tucking the bike going down or just droppin a foot and drifting moto style.  I had my Stumpjumper 29 back on its Sea Otter set up with Specialized Purgatory/Fast Trak tires and tad higher pressures along with suspension to help with the high speeds and copious amounts of pedaling among each stage.  

After results were tallied and the day came to an end, I was pretty pumped to make it down each stage without any mistakes and fight the pain to power down on the pedals..this placed me in 6th overall among the Pro field.  With 3 weeks until the next round up north in Mendocino, I was planning on getting some big ride days in to prepare for what that race would consist of.

This is where my plans changed.. With Memorial Day and wanting to add to the weekend, I headed out to Hollister Hills for some Moto action.  To this day, I've ridden and raced dirtbikes wayyyyy longer than bicycles, and it's still going to take some years for them to equal out.  Hollister has been the local spot to ride since I was 5 years old and always made for nothing but good times, learning to find the line between speed and being smart to avoid wild crashes.  After a few hours of track and trail time on my KTM 250sx, I was ending the day on a main single track loop, having a blast and riding at a comfortable and pretty quick pace, but completely in my comfort zone.  Next thing I know, I'm waking up down a hillside with other riders and rangers around me without a clue of what happened.  I was knocked out with a pretty good concussion, but found out that I had been involved in a head-on collision by a group of riders coming at me around a blind corner on a one-way trail.  With no memory whatsoever of the incident and a very banged up face, I found myself in the hospital, but luckily all scans of my head came back safe and the worst would be a swollen face for a few days with broken bones near the sides of my nose.  After hearing about the accident and seeing the busted triple clamps and headset exploded on my bike, I realized how lucky I was to be walking out of the room...

After taking the rest of the week to rest and recover, I was getting nervous about if I would be able to race round 3 of CA Enduro in a little over a week.  As race weekend became present, I found myself behind the starting line of stage 1 ready to try my best to survive the 6 1/2 hour day covering 40 miles and 6 race stages.  The Mendocino forest right off the coastal ocean views of Highway 1 offered some of the most adrenaline rushed racing with traversing through very tight, wooded trails at mach speed.  I was fighting the nerves of not wanting to crash and hit my head again, keeping in mind the doctor thought I was still resting in bed.. but also having a total blast riding with everyone and the amazing trails.  Finishing the day, I found myself quite tired, super stoked on the riding, and happy I could complete the day after how crazy the past 2 weeks had been.  A 15th place finish was a bit off the pace but with how tight the times were among the 25 rider group, I was just glad to be in the mix.  

Now it's time for the technical bike park events starting with China Peak this weekend!

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Sponsors: 

Scotts Valley Cyclesport, Specialized Bicycles, Praxis Works, Gamut USA, Monster Army, Smith Optics, Krawl Loco Clothing, DNA Cycling, Hammer Nutrition, Stikrd, FOX.

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Instagram: @nickyd358

Twitter: @nickyd358