{"items":["5f7b8324f7290c0017387a90","5f7b8324f7290c0017387a91","5f7b8324f7290c0017387a92"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"max","cubeRatio":1.7777777777777777,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":5,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"rotatingScatter":"","chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":0,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":true,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":["SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","SHOW_BELOW"],"galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":26,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":65,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"jsonStyleParams":"","gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":1000,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(192,192,192,0)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"MANUAL","targetItemSize":1000,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|max|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":26,"externalInfoWidth":0.65},"container":{"width":300,"galleryWidth":305,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
Fat but Fit

Fat biking, a relatively new side of our beloved sport of cycling, should definitely not be overlooked.
Fat bike season is in full swing, and I have been enjoying every freezing experience. From racing to everyday training, it has been a major focal point for me these past couple of months. I have succeeded in one event, and unfortunately, failed in another. Outcomes aside, this is one form of cycling that I am absolutely in love with, and encourage everyone to give it a try!
I am thankful to say that I have already learned a lot from this short racing season. My first race of 2017, The Lone Cone Fat Bike Challenge, taught me a lesson in patience and stamina. Here is the truth about fat biking: the work that you put in is directly proportional to the conditions of the snow pack. A nice, groomed, hard-packed trail can feel as solid as the hero dirt that all mountain bikers crave. Alternatively, a trail covered by soft, deep snow can metamorphose into a complete suffer-fest leaving any cyclist wishing that they had opted for an indoor trainer ride instead.
My first race ended up as a suffer-fest. My estimated finish time was at least two hours less than my actual finish time, but fortunately for me, every other racer had the same experience. I managed to be the first female to finish this difficult race, but even more exciting, I was third overall.

My second race of the new year, Fat Bike Worlds, taught me a lesson that I will never forget. I arrived at the start line, in my opinion, more prepared physically than I have ever been. For the first time in my short career, I actually have a great coach (Jim Capra at Tyler Hamilton Training), who has helped me to train smarter leading to many fitness gains. I had a lot of confidence in my abilities at the start of the race, but honestly made a very unprofessional rookie mistake. Before all my races, I have a mechanic look at all the equipment on my bike. I made sure to have my bike checked over before Fat Bike Worlds, but I was not willing to go the extra mile. You see, the components on my fat bike were old and of lower quality. I can't expect to pull up to a start line with other professional racers who are riding top of the line equipment and think to always succeed.
The start of Fat Bike Worlds went well for me. I was in the front pack feeling strong and positive. I knew who the former champion was, and watching her like a hawk I stayed on her wheel. The course consisted of five, six mile laps, and I knew that as time went on, I could eventually work my way up in the pack. Then, it happened; my chain broke. Without shifting, it just broke while I was pedaling up a steep hill. Thankfully, with the help of an awesome friend (Cullen Barker, who was also racing), I got the chain back on and set off at a blistering pace. Determined to work my way back to the front, I strove to ride smart but strong. My only consolation was that the chain broke on the first lap hopefully giving me time and a shot at a spot on the podium. I finished my first lap and felt a thrill as I hurried past other racers. The screaming spectators made me feel even stronger and proud to be working so hard.
On my second lap, the chain broke again. I realized the gravity of my situation as time ticked away and other racers passed me. I attempted to get another quick link on, but to no avail. I knew it was over, but it took me a few minutes to realize that I would have to DNF (Did Not Finish). I have learned that sometimes this is just a part of racing; an uncontrollable truth that hurts every time and never seems to get any easier. What can I do to try and avoid this in the future? I will make sure that I have all my gear dialed. I will make sure that I am extremely fastidious about maintenance and replacing old, overused components. I have learned a difficult, but needed lesson, and now that it is over, I am thankful.
I spent the remainder of the race cheering on my friends and fellow riders. It was great fun, and I do not regret being there.
This was definitely not my last race. There will be more competition in my future, and who knows, maybe I can even win a few.
