2006 Sponsors

The contracts have been signed for 2006! Thanks to the following sponsors that will be supporting me in the coming year. Please check them out when you have a chance!!

Gravity Dropper Seatposts: I started using these seatposts last year and noticed a remarkable improvement in my confidence, technical riding, climbing, and descending. They're not just for downhillers!

Dean Titanium Bicycles: I'll be riding Dean's new 2006 Ti 29er Softail (the Duke). I should be placing my order next week. This bike will be perfect for the endurance races!

PowerBar: I have been chosen as part of PowerBar Team Elite! This is great news because I use and love the PowerBar Endurance Sports Drink, Recovery Sports Drink, PowerBar Gels, and especially the whole grain PowerBar Harvest Bars (my favorite flavors are the Double Choc Chip and Toffee Choc Chip...mmmmmm...)

Recover-Ease: I should be getting my product soon and I can't wait to see how it helps me with my performance. The American College of Sports Medicine Study (2004) claims that Recover-Ease led to:

• 52% reduction in Fatigue
• 51% reduction in Muscle Soreness
• 38% increase in Energy
• 24% boost in Mental Function
• 20% boost in Immune Function
• 16% increase in Overall Mood
• 5-day faster return to normal training


Defeet: I use the base layers, shoe covers, socks, arm/knee warmers, and gloves. They are comfortable and affordable!

Rudy Project: I'll be wearing their sunglasses on the road and trail. Very sweet looking eyewear!

BURN Energy Drink: This stuff tastes way better than any other energy drink out there, and it actually has good stuff for you that's useful when you're riding and racing:

B-Vitamins
B-Vitamins are crucial for the proper energy metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and amino acids.

Antioxidants A, C and E
Antioxidants help your body keep its immune system strong. Source BURN provides high levels of all three key antioxidants A, C and E. Combined with the other ingredients above, and the fact that it has NO high fructose corn syrup, BURN is the healthiest energy drink on the market, too.

Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a complex carb, providing sustained energy. BURN's also got the right sugars for quick energy, especially for sports. In fact, it has a better carbohydrate profile for sports than P**wrAde (keep in mind, BURN is not a sports drink, rather a perfect pre-race/pre-game/pre-workout boost or for halftime. You should replenish with water and electrolytes during exercise to maximize your performance and keep safely hydrated).

Caffeine
Keeps you alert, awake and improves performance of all aspects. Caffeine has been proven to: burn fat as fuel, extend your time to fatigue; strengthen muscular contractions, giving you more explosive power.

Guarana
Guarana has been used in native Brazilian cultures to boost energy and combat fatigue.

Siberian Ginseng
Ginseng is a tonic herb. It helps keep you healthy under stress.

Korean Red Ginseng
Studies have shown it to improve mood and reduce perceived stress

Taurine
Important in helping to maintain proper electrolyte utilization. More than that, it is also helpful for the brain, heart and eyes. An overload of physical or emotional stress can deplete Taurine levels.

Nitrous-M (Arginine)
Infused into BURN2, Nitrous-M Arginine is a potent form of the amino acid Arginine.

Endurlac(TM) Glucuronolactone
Glucuronolactone is a naturally occuring human metabolite that, when combined with caffeine and taurine, has been proven to increase alertness, accelerate reaction time and increase endurance. It is also believed to help detoxify the body.

Bad Lasses: A new Atlanta-based clothing company that was started by 2 mtb chicks- Kari Linder and Kate Cook. Their stuff is really cool!

Collette Adams: The BEST Massage Therapist in Atlanta. She treats elite athletes of all kinds! Visit her at Sports Massage & Integrated Therapies..you will be amazed.

Gene Hamilton: I took his clinic last year and it helped me to improve every aspect of my mountain biking. If you are looking for a clinic to improve your skills, this is the one.

Christmastime

We decided to stay in Atlanta this Christmas, avoiding all the holiday travelers and shoppers. It turned out to be an excellent weekend of riding (15 hours!), friends, and relaxation. Here are some pics to prove it :)

Eddie & Javaun on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning with Porter

Christmas morning with Jackson

Eddie opening presents

More craziness!

First of all, my new Kona Unit 2-9er is close to completion....I cannot wait! The frames were waiting at my front door when we got back from NC this past weekend!! Just a few more parts to get and then Eddie, John Karnes, Clifford, and I will build them up!! I'll post pictures when it's done.

Second, it's true...Eddie and I got engaged last weekend up in NC! We spent the weekend at Fontana Village, it was very quiet and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Saturday we rode at Tsali and that's when he asked me...it's just now starting to sink in! Sunday was a couple hour ride at Fontana. It doesn't look like many people ride up that way during the winter.

Well, It's Official

I'm leaving (sort of) the world of software and going back to school! My plan is to get my Masters in Sports Nutrition, but for the short term I need to take some extra Undergrad credits and will be doing so starting in January 2006. I will be working at my current job part time, so I'll be pretty busy. Unfortunately, this means scaling back my racing (at least for the first half of the year). I plan to try out some road racing with my new team Sorella Cycling. I'll do some shorter off-road stuff too, and then phase back into the longer off-road enduro stuff as the year goes on. So while things will be stressful and I have to give up some things for a while, I know I'll be happier in the long run!!