Video: The Best of the Tour de France - Stages 15 - 21

Return to the roads of France one final time with GoPro, which brought us some amazing footage from this year's Tour de France thanks to bike mounted cameras. The result was images from within the peloton like nothing we've ever seen before. If you want to know just what it is like to ride in the greatest cycling event in the world, just have a look at this video. You'll come away with even more respect for these amazing athletes.

Tour de France 2015: Chris Froome Claims Second Tour Victory

The 2015 Tour de France came to an end yesterday on the streets of Paris, where the peloton arrived after three weeks of racing, covering more than 3000 km in the process. During that time, there were a lot of ups and downs for the riders, with plenty of high drama and incredible feats of strength and endurance. At times, it seemed that this was a race that was going to go exactly by the numbers, with little in the way of excitement. But the final days in the Alps proved that to be completely wrong, and gave us a new contender for future editions of Le Tour.

Heading into the weekend, Chris Froome continued to hold on to the Yellow Jersey worn by the race leader, and for the most part it seemed like he'd ride into Paris with little resistance. The Tour had moved into the Alps, and once again the British rider was showing his strength in the mountains. But on the final two days, two riders rose up to challenge the Froome, and in turn showed that he was a bit more vulnerable than we suspected.

On Friday of last week, 2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali went on the attack and showed that his legs still had plenty of strength in them. He ended up winning the stage and gaining back precious time on his rivals, although it didn't help to get him on to the podium in Paris. Still, it gave fans an idea of where Froome stood, and showed that he could be dropped on a major climb by a determined rider. That was something that Nairo Quintana took to heart on Saturday, attacking on Alp d'Huez – the most storied mountain stage in the sport. Quintana wasn't able to overcome the 2+ minute difference between him and Froome, but he did make it interesting, while managing to put the Sky rider in a world of hurt on the final climb.


In the end however, Froome proved once again to be too much for the peloton, and on Sunday's ceremonial ride into Paris, he claimed his second win in the Tour in three years. It was a strong performance once again by the Brit, although it also showed that he wasn't unassailable. The young man has quite a career ahead of him on the Tour, but his rivals will be emboldened by the fact that he showed vulnerability in the final days, proving that some will be able to ride with him given the chance.

For his part, Quintana showed that he has a bright future ahead of him as well. At the age of 24, he rode away with the White Jersey for the Tour's best young rider, finishing second overall. Probably most importantly, the Colombian rider seemed to gain confidence as well, and I would expect him to give no quarter next year when he and Froome meet again.

Peter Sagan managed to claim the Green Jersey that is awarded to the race's best sprinter, despite the fact that he didn't win a single stage for the second year in a row. This is the fourth consecutive year that Sagan has won this competition, although I suspect he'd like to get a few stage wins too. The big German sprinter Andre Greipel was clearly the fastest man in the peloton this year, but Sagan was easily the most consistent over the three weeks of racing.

In another display of just how good Chris Froome is as a rider, he also managed to win the Polka Dot Jersey given to the winner of King of the Mountains competition. That means he was the best climber in the race this year in addition to leading the General Classification for most of the past three weeks as well. No rider has managed to claim both the Yellow and Polka Dot Jerseys in the same year since the great Eddy Merckx did it back in 1970. So while Froome may have shown some signs of vulnerability, he still managed to put on a show for the ages.

The Tour is always one of my favorite events each year, and I'm always sad to see it end. Unfortunately for me, my schedule this year didn't allow me to see as much of it as I would have liked, nor cover it as completely as I typically do. Still, it was fun to watch where I could, and catch up with race reports on the days that I could not view the stage in its entirety, if at all. Now, on the Monday after the final stage of the 2015 Tour, I am already going through withdrawal and starting the countdown to 2016. The make-up of that race will be very different, and it will be a fascinating one to watch for sure.

Video: The Best of the Tour de France - Stages 8 - 14

With GoPro cameras attached to their bikes, the riders on this year's Tour de France are providing us with some unprecedented footage from out on the road. Last week we got a great look at some of the best shots from Stages 1-7, and now we have a new video that does the same from Stages 8-14. Take a look at what it is like to ride in the peloton with some of the most amazing clips from Le Tour ever.

Tour de France 2015: Van Garderen Exits Race, Froome Tightens Grip on Maillot Jaune

With the second rest day now behind us, and the Alps taking center stage, the Tour de France continues to race towards the finish line in Paris. And while it is beginning to look like a win by Chris Froome is once again a forgone conclusion, nothing is settled until the peloton rides down the Champs-Elysées on Sunday. And if you don't believe that, ask Tejay Van Garderen. 

Yesterday, the American rider was sitting in third place in the General Classification at the start of Stage 17. But a short time after the start of the day's activities, he was forced to abandon the Tour altogether, citing illness. It was clear early on that Tejay wasn't up to the task of chasing Froome, or the other Tour front runners. He tried valiantly to stay with the leaders, but lost power on the first climb, and quickly exited, driving away in a team car in tears. 

The young American wasn't the only one to see their chances of glory slip away. Alberto Contador was part of a crash on trick descent near the end of the race, and ended up ceding two additional minutes to Froome. That puts him out of striking distance, barring some unforeseen miracle of course. 

But the stage also brought the Alps at long last, which could have been the undoing for the race leader. Instead, he looked as strong and poised as ever, as he calmly fended off all challengers. Heading into todays stage, he still holds the Yellow Jersey, with a 3 minute and 10 second advantage over Nairo Quintana and a 4+ minute lead on third place rider Alejandro Valverde. For Froome to lose the race now would require an epic collapse on his part, and at this point he doesn't seem to be showing any signs of weakness. 

Froome also continues to own the Polka Dot Jersey in the King of the Mountains competition. If he continues to gain points on major climbs, he could end up not only winning the race overall, but heading home with a second jersey as well. That hasn't been done by another rider in quite some time. 

Over the past couple of days, Peter Sagan has consolidated his hold on the Green Jersey that goes to the race's top sprinter. He now holds a commanding lead over Andre Greipel, and seems assured of his fourth straight win in this category. 

Finally, Quintana is still riding in the White Jersey of the best young rider. He now has an almost 10 minute lead over the next closest rider, and isn't likely to surrender his lead heading into Paris. 

Of course, the Alps have been known to throw a few kinks into the race in the past, and until the peloton has passed safely through the mountains, just about anything can happen. The race will ultimately be decided on Saturday, when the riders take on the legendary Alp d'Huez. A mountaintop finish on Le Tour's most historic climb will prove once and for all if Chris Froome is indeed the champion that we all think that he is. 

Tour de France 2015: Things Get Testy Out on the Road

We have now entered the final week of the 2015 Tour de France, and at this point it looks like it will be nearly impossible for anyone to catch Chris Froome. But there is a lot of riding to go just yet, and the mighty Alps still lie ahead. So, while Froome and his Sky team look unbeatable at the moment, there is a lot of riding yet to come, and anything can happen before the peloton arrives in Paris next Sunday.

Over the past couple of days we've started to hear a number of disturbing reports from Tour officials about how things have gotten somewhat testy between the riders on Team Sky, and some of the spectators along the road. This past weekend it was revealed that not only was Ritchie Porte punched in the ribs by on the first stage in the Pyrenees last week, but both he and Luke Rowe were spat on as well.

If that wasn't bad enough, team leader Froome had a cup of urine thrown in his face while the offender in question proclaimed him a "Doper" in French. That incident occurred on Saturday on the ride between Rodez to Mende, and resulted in increased security around the Team Sky bus following the stage.

The success of Froome and Team Sky has led some members of the media – particularly in France – to question whether or not the cyclists are achieving their wins by fair means. There has been no indication that any members of the team are actually doping, but their dominance of the race has caused some to question just how they can be so much better than the rest of the peloton. Whether or not there is any use of performance enhancing substances on Team Sky remains to be seen, but based on what we know right now, they are winning the race based on good team tactics, exceptional cycling talent, and a unified presence out on the road.


As we head into the second rest day tomorrow, the riders are preparing to enter the Alps later in the week. It is on those massive slopes – including a mountain top finish on the legendary Alp d'Huez on Saturday – that the 2015 edition of this race will be deiced. But heading into those final days, Froome has a 3 minute and 10 second advantage over second place rider Nairo Quintana, and an additional 22 second lead over third place rider Tejay Van Garderen.

Since he is the race leader, Froome is wearing the Yellow Jersey, although he is also leading the King of the Mountains competition which gives him the Polka Dot Jersey as well. That particular shirt is actually on load to Joachim Rodriguez, who wears it each day out on the road.

Peter Sagan continues to dominate the competition for the Green Jersey, despite the fact that he has yet to win a stage in this year's Tour. At the moment, Sagan has a large point lead over second place sprinter André Greipel, and it is now starting to look like he will ride into Paris in Green for the fourth year in a row.

Finally, the White Jersey remains on the shoulders of Quintana. This jersey is given to the best young rider (under the age of 25) in the Tour, and the next closest cyclist is nearly 8 minutes back. It would take a massive collapse on the part of the Colombian rider to not finish in second place in the General Classification, and ride onto the Champs Elysees in White.

The rest day tomorrow gives everyone a chance to catch their breath before the real race begins. The rest of the week should be filled with lots of excitement as the competition unfolds on the slopes of the Alps. It should be interesting to see if anyone can challenge Froome. It will take a herculean effort to unseat him at this point, but there are a few riders who may be up to the challenge.

Video: GoPro Cameras Capture the Best of the Tour de France

Ever wonder what it is like to ride in the peloton of the Tour de France? Than check out this video from GoPro that captures video from the race unlike any you've ever seen. This year, many of the riders have GoPro cams on their bikes, and the footage that has been shown so far has been dramatic to say the least. This is a view of the race that we haven't seen before, and it is pretty amazing.

Man Completes Virtual Bike Ride Up Everest

So here's an odd, but interesting story. On Sunday, cyclist Frank Garcia became the first person to complete a bike ride to the summit of Mt. Everest, although he did so without ever stepping foot in Nepal. Garcia completed his monumental task onboard a stationary bike that had been programmed using Zwift to recreate similar slopes and distances he would encounter had he been on the mountain – minus the incredibly low levels of oxygen of course. The ride was than verified by an organization called Hells 500, which has created a new activity called "Everesting."

It took Garcia 17 hours and 18 minutes to complete his virtual ride to the summit, as he faced an average grade of the slope of 7% along the way. He burned approximately 18,000 calories en route as well, which should give you an idea of just how difficult this undertaking was, even if it didn't take place on the real mountain.

Everesting is apparently a relatively new phenomenon amongst cyclists who are picking a mountain road to ride anywhere in the world, and continually doing it over and over again until they rack up 8848 meters (29,029 ft), the exact height of Everest. The rules say that they are allowed to take breaks along the way, but they can't sleep. Several people have successfully done it already, including a man by the name of George Mallory (I can't make this stuff up!) who completed his attempt by cycling Mt. Donna Buang in Australia. Garcia's version of Everesting is the first to do so in the virtual realm.

Obviously this is nothing like climbing the real Everest, but it is still a pretty tough feat to accomplish. Gaining 29,000 feet of vertical in a single go is always going to be a challenge, no matter when and where it is done. According to the Everesting Hall of Fame however, it has been done on a number of occasions already.

This is pretty crazy stuff, and interesting to think about. I guess no matter how many people summit the real Everest, it will always remain the standard by which endurance activities are measured.

Everesting Mt Donna Buang from Simon Atkinson on Vimeo.

Tour de France Update: Froome Tough To Beat in Yellow

My very busy schedule over the past couple of weeks has made it more difficult than usual to keep up with what is happening with the Tour de France this year. While I have tried to watch as many stages as I can, there just hasn't been enough time in the day to follow it as closely as I would like. That said, I have continued to stay abreast of the proceedings, and while I haven't been writing detailed daily summaries as I have in past years, I've still been keeping a close eye on the race.

At the moment, the riders are in the Pyrenees where they are taking on the first major climbs of the year. Yesterday's tough stage helped set the tone for what is likely to come, as Chris Froome, along with his Sky team, continue to look impressive. Froome was the odds on favorite to win the 2015 Tour heading into the three-week long race, and at the moment it is starting to look like no one will truly challenge him. After yesterday, the Kenyan-born rider from the U.K. only tightened his grip on the Yellow Jersey.

Froome's closest rivals are American Tejay Van Garderen who sits 2 minutes and 52 seconds back, and Nairo Quintana Rojas who is holding down third place at the moment at 3 minutes, 9 seconds off the pace. Last year's Tour winner Vincenzo Nibali is more than 4 minutes back, while Alberto Contador – this year's other major contender – is holding down the sixth position over all and currently looks like he isn't riding anywhere close to Froome's level.

With his crushing riding in the first stage of the Pyrenees yesterday, Froome also took control of the Polka Dot Jersey that is awarded to the best climber in the race. He racked up quite a few points on his way to the stage win, and then went for more today on the ride up the Tourmalet. It is possible that he thinks he could pull off the rare double by taking home both the Yellow Jersey and the Polka Dot in the same year. Since he is currently holding both of those shirts, the Polka Dots were on loan to his teammate Ritchie Porte, who is second in the King of the Mountains classification at the moment.


The battle for the Green Jersey that goes to the top sprinter in the Tour de France has been an interesting one so far. Early on, Andre Greipel was cleaning up points in the category with stage wins and major points from intermediate checkpoints. But than as the race shifted locations, it was Peter Sagan who started to take charge. Now, the two men have been exchanging the jersey back and fourth between them, with just 7 points currently separating the two. Sagan has the jersey headed into tomorrows race, but whether or not he can hold on to it, and wear it on the ride into Paris, remains to be seen.

The White Jersey for the best young rider on the Tour is currently on the shoulders of Quintana, who has a more than 3 minute advantage over his closest rival in the category. While the Colombian rider would be happy to head back home in White, he still has designs on the Yellow Jersey as well, and will probably try to close the time gap that has opened between him and Froome.

Tomorrow is another very tough mountain stage. It is a 195 km (121.2 mile) ride from Lannemezan to summit of Plateau de Beille, which features a Category 2 climb, and two Cat. 1s before the mountain top finish that is rated as "Beyond Category." It is believed that there could be attacks on Froome's Yellow Jersey on that final climb, as Nairo Quintana looks to improve his position and put the lead back into striking distance before the riders temporarily leave the mountains behind.

The stage should definitely give us an indication of whether or not anyone can challenge Froome, or if he is destined to win his second Tour de France in three years.

Video: Freestyle Riding on a Road Bike

Want to see an impressive display of bike handling? Then check out the video below. It shows rider Vittorio Brumotti pulling off an increasing impressive array of stunts on a road bike, including riding rails along side a highway and rolling through a construction site filled with obstacles to pull stunts off of. Many of these stunts would be tough to complete on a bike designed for them. The fact that Brumotti can do them on a road bike is mind-blowing.

Tour de France 2015: Greipel Continues to Dominate Sprints

Today was a typical early stage of the Tour de France. It featured plenty of riding, less than favorable weather conditions, several nasty crashes, and a sprint finish that provided a level of excitement in the final few kilometers. It also did nothing to impact the General Classification standings, although the sprinters got to strut their stuff once again.

The 189.5 km (117.7 mile) stage ran from Arras Communauté Urbaine to Amiens Métropole was most meant to be flat and fast. But poor weather that included rain and high winds, kept speeds slower than expected and helped to cause the peloton to split, while also bringing about several nasty crashes.

The real fireworks didn't begin until the riders lined up for a sprint finish. The top sprinters in the world made their way to the front of the pack to put themselves in position for a win, with the speed and intensity of the race rising dramatically in the final few kilometers. As the tempo increased to heart-pounding levels, riders like Andre Greipel, Mark Cavendish, and Peter Sagan went head to head for the stage victory. In the end, it was Greipel who made it to the line first, easily out pacing his rivals. Sagan and Cavendish finished second and third respectively.

It could be another controversial day in the media for Cavendish, as somehow he managed to lose the wheel of his lead out man Mark Renshaw in the stretch run. This didn't put Cav in the best of positions to go for the win, even though he tried his best to make up for the slip. Whether or not he'll find a way to throw his teammate under the bus again remains to be seen, but in the early days of the race, the relationship between the two riders has to be strained a bit.

At the end of the day, Greipel managed to add to his points total and hold on to the Green Jersey once again. Sagan also stays in white as the best young rider in the tour as well. The Polka Dot Jersey that goes to the King of the Mountains remains squarely on the shoulders of Joachim Rodriguez, although a few Category 4 climbs tomorrow may change that.

In terms of the GC, Tony Martin remains in Yellow and had no difficulty defending his top spot on the leaderboard today. There were no real chances for anyone to take the maillot jaune away from him, and he's likely to continue holding on to it for a few more days. The real contenders for the win – including Chris Froome and Alberto Contador – are lurking not far back, and are simply waiting for the first stages in the Pyrenees to make their move. That will happen this weekend.

Tomorrow, the riders will take to the French roads once again as they tackle a 191.5 km (119 mile) stage that runs from Abbeville to Le Havre. This is once again a route that favors the sprinters, although a few climbs will add a bit of interest along the way. Look for the familiar names of Greipel, Sagan, and Cavendish to be fighting it out once again, although this will be a stage where a breakaway could conceivably survive. Now that would bring some interest to the early proceedings.

The 2015 Tour de France is Underway!

One of my favorite annual events got underway this past weekend when the 2015 Tour de France began with an individual time trial in the town of Utrecht, Holland. As is typical with Le Tour, the opening days have been filled with carnage and controversy that have already left its mark on the peloton.

As mentioned, Day 1 was an individual time trial that was most notable for the fact that it was won by Rohan Dennis of BMC. He managed to complete the entire 13.8 km (8.5 mile) course in under 15 minutes, which put him in the Yellow Jersey just ahead of Tony Martin and TT specialist Fabian Cancellara.

Heading into Day 2, the riders were anxious to head out onto the first real stage of the race. It was a 166 km (103 mile) route from Utrecht to Zélande that featured a sprint finish that was won by Andre Greipel. It was this stage that brewed the first level of controversy as Greipel, Peter Sagan, and Cancellara all beat sprinter Mark Cavendish to the line. As they approached, it appeared as if Cavendish stopped pedaling, indicating that he had given up going for the win, which allowed Cancellara to earn a high enough spot to get bonus time that would put him into the Yellow Jersey.

After the stage, the media and cycling fans tore into Cavendish for not going hard all the way to the finish line. Had he finished stronger, his teammate Tony Martin would have earned the maillot jaune. For his part, Cav turned on his lead-out man Mark Renshaw, saying that he went for the sprint too early, leaving him hanging out to dry and without enough power to complete the final leg. The infighting has already put a dark cloud over the Etixx-Quick Step team in the early days of the race.


Day 3 was a defining one for the 2015 Tour. It was a 159.5 km (99.1 mile) slog across the Mur de Huy in Belgium that brought some tough climbing to the early days of this year's race. It was eventually won by Joaquin Rodriguez, but not before 2013 Tour winner Chris Froome grabbed the Yellow Jersey while out on the road.

The biggest news of the day was a massive crash that sent 20 riders to the ground and caused Tour organizers to suspend the race momentarily while the medical crew and cyclists worked to normalize the situation. When the dust cleared, several riders were forced to withdraw, including Cancellara who suffered a broken vertebrae in the fall.

Today, the race returned to France at last with a 223.5 km (138.8 mile) stage that took place between Seraing and Cambrai. The riders were forced to take on the infamous cobblestone roads of the north which always cause havoc on the peloton and their bikes. This was the case once again, with many cyclists having mechanical issues as they struggled to hang on with the lead group. On a day like today, most of the riders just try to survive, as the cobblestones have ended the Tour dreams of many of them in the past.

The hero of the day was Tony Martin however, who has languished in second place over the early stages of this year's Tour. As the peloton approached the finish line with just a few kilometers to go, Martin took charge of the race and sprinted out ahead of the other riders. The time trial champion was able to hold off a late attack and reach the finish line first, claiming the Yellow Jersey at long last. Although he has no designs on actually winning the race, Martin wanted so badly to claim the maillot jaune, even for a short time. He'll now take to the road tomorrow in yellow.

With this big win, Martin also holds the Green Jersey, while the White Jersey for the Tour's best young rider goes Sagan. There haven't been many climbing points up for grabs just yet, but the Polka Dot Jersey is currently on the shoulders of Thomas De Gendt.

Tomorrow, the peloton turns towards the Somme, a brutal scene of battle from World War I. The stage will be 189.5 km (117.7 miles) in length between Arras Communauté Urbaine and Amiens Métropole. It will be a sprinters stage once again, with the fastest men in the world lining up to take the win.

The Tour is just getting started. There is plenty of drama and competition yet to come.

The Annual Race Across America Bike Ride Begins Tomorrow

For many cyclists the RAAM (aka the Race Across America) is one of the best annual events to take place in the sport. The ride begins in Oceanside, California and proceeds 3000 miles (4828 km) across the United States before ending in Annapolis, Maryland. Typically it takes about a week to ten days for the solo and team riders to complete the journey. Challenges along the way include climbing over the Rocky Mountains, battling unpredictable weather, and dealing with endless miles of open road on your own.

Tomorrow, the RAAM solo start will take place in the morning, and teams will get underway from the same starting point on Saturday, staggering the different categories to allow single riders to have a bit of a head start. Tomorrow will also mark the start of RAW (Race Across the West), which is a shorter race that covers 860 miles between Oceanside and Durango, Colorado. That event serves as a qualifier for the much longer RAAM.

This year there are approximately 45 teams taking part in the event, as well as 41 individuals. They'll all be competing in their various categories, while also helping the RAAM organizers raise funds for charity. 

Amongst the teams is a four-woman squad from Australia called Team Veloroo who are riding in support of the Amy Gillette Foundation, which is dedicated to ending cycling deaths on the road. The 'Roos will also be a part of a documentary about their RAAM experience, as they push themselves to ride all the way across the U.S. as quickly as possible. You'll be able to follow their progress on Facebook as they launch their journey, and get a taste of what the ride is actually like. The video below also gives you an idea of how the four ladies have trained in preparation for this epic challenge.

Good luck to Team Veloroo and the rest of the riders setting out on the RAAM and RAW over the next few days. It will be an amazing experience for sure. 

Veloroos Training-Day from NothinButShorts International on Vimeo.

Bradley Wiggins Sets New Hour Record For Cycling

With the 2015 Tour de France now less than a month away, it is certainly time to start thinking about cycling once again. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably already know that Le Tour is one of my favorite events to follow each year. It is cycling's grandest stage, and a daily dose of inspiration for those of us who like to ride.

This past weekend, 2012 Tour champ Bradley Wiggins, who has all-but given up road racing in favor of returning to the track, set a new UCI hour record. For those who don't know, the hour record is an attempt by a rider to go as far as possible in just 60 minutes. It is conducted on a track instead of the road, and the cyclist rides completely alone. The event has received quite a bit of attention in the past year or so, as last September Jens Voight set a new mark by traveling 51.11 km (31.7 miles) over the course of his ride. Since then the record was broken three more times, with Brit Alex Dowsett the current record holder at 52.937 km (32.89 miles) going into the weekend.

The 35-year old Wiggins, who is known for being a powerful cyclist both on and off the track, managed to smash that mark however, and by most accounts it didn't appear that he was even working all that hard to do so. At the end of the ride, Wiggo had managed to travel an astounding 54.526 km (33.88 miles), beating the old record by a kilometer and a half.

This is an impressive feat for a rider who has struggled with injuries since winning his Tour de France nearly three years ago. He was left off the Sky team altogether last year, and more recently he has expressed his interest in returning to track cycling, which is where he got his early start, and has continued to show his prowess.

After hearing that his record had been broken, Dowseet – who is a road cyclist himself – has already said he would like to try to regain the title. It is unclear as to when exactly he would do that, but it seems that there is a real arms race going on right now to push the hour record even higher. Wiggins has already indicated that this was his one go at the mark, and that he would not continue to try to extend the distance. Considering how impressively he handled the ride, it seems he could probably go further, but having shown what he can do, it seems Sir Bradley has other things he'd prefer to concentrate on.

Congratulations to Wiggins on this very impressive feat. Now who is going to step up to challenge the record next?

Video: Cyclist Conquers Pyrenees on a Fixie

Here's a video that the cyclists amongst us will be able to appreciate. It features rider Patrick Seabase as he rides an exhausting mountain stage from the 1910 Tour de France on a fixie bike. Yep, that's right. He rode all 192 miles (308 km) through the Pyrenees on a bike that doesn't have any brakes or gears. Just watching him struggle to go up the slopes is enough to make my legs tired, and going back down had to be a scary affair as well. To find out more about Seabase and hi amazing ride, check out this interview he did with Red Bull.

The State of Outdoor Participation in the U.S.

The Outdoor Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts, has released its annual report examining the level of participation in outdoor activities witin the U.S. That report has both some encouraging and disappointing findings in terms of how engaged people are with the outdoors, and what the outlook is amongst young people today.

During their research the Outdoor Foundation discovered that nearly half of all Americans claim to have taken part in some outdoor activity in the past year. That number is 48.4% to be specific. While that sounds like a reasonably high  number on the surface, the fact that respondents only needed to take part in a single activity over that 12-month span indicates to me that most people aren't engaging with the outdoors in a meaningful way on a regular basis.

A deeper look at the numbers tells a similar tale. According to a press release from the Foundation, these numbers are down .8% from 2013, which doesn't sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things. But, this is also the lowest level of outdoor participation since the organization began tracking the data back in 2006. In other words, fewer people are getting outside and taking part in these activities.

The report says that there are some bright spots however, particularly in waterspouts. Stand-up paddleboarding continues to grow substantially, up 38% in 2014 over the previous year. Snow sports are also doing well with telemarking, snowshoeing, freestyle skiing and cross-country skiing all showing significant gains.

Sadly however, both running and cycling saw a drop in numbers. As the report says, these are often "gateway" activities that lead people to engage with the outdoors more fully, but both saw fewer participating. Well, that is, less people were doing them outside. Research indicates that more people were running on treadmills and stationary bikes inside however. Poor weather and shifting climate conditions was blamed for this drop.

The complete report isn't due out until later this summer, and it should have more details about outdoor participation as a whole. But obviously it is disappointing to hear that fewer people are heading outside. I'm not sure what can help reverse this trend, but hopefully something will come along that can do that soon. I can't imagine not going for a daily run outside, hiking some trails. paddling a river, or camping under the stars. Finding ways for others to fall in love with those experiences is one of the goals of this blog, and so I am a bit disheartened to say the least.

Video: Cycling Filmmakers Want to Hear Your Story

This clever and entertain video outlines the plans of two cycling filmmakers who are about to hit the road in search of great stories to tell. In fact, if you have a great story to share, they want to hear from you. In exchange for crashing on your couch for a few days, they'll make a video about your story, and share it with the world.

Max and Tom are two filmmakers who live and work in Amsterdam. In June, they are going to strike out on their bikes looking for amazing stories from average, everyday people living in countries from all over the globe. At this point, they don't even know where their travels will take them, but they want to hear from us so they'll get some idea. The duo is accepting submissions on their website – FreeWheelStories.com – and will be plotting their course in the days ahead. So, if you have a great story to share, be sure to let Max and Tom know. Perhaps they'll pay you a visit, and help share your tale with their audience.

This is a unique and creative journey for sure. I can't wait to see some of the stories that they discover.

Freewheel Stories - The Cycling Filmmakers from Freewheel Stories on Vimeo.

Adventure Tech: Recon Jet Heads-Up Display For Outdoor Athletes

Here's a product I've had my eye on for some time, and it is now finally coming to market. Recon Instruments, a company that makes heads-up displays (HUD) for skiing and snowboarding googles,  has announced that their latest product – the Recon Jet – is now available. This wearable computer was built specifically with outdoor athletes in mind, and is designed to provide them with all kinds of information while they run, paddle, and ride.

The Jet is a lightweight set of sunglasses that includes a small HUD that sits at the lower right corner of the eye. The device pairs via Bluetooth with your smartphone to provide a data connection that can track performance, offers access to social sharing, and can capture both photos and video. The Jet also includes onboard GPS capabilities to track distance, speed, duration of workout, elevation gain and loss, and more. It'll even connect with other devices, such as a heart rate monitor, via ANT+ to display information as well. It will even display text messages and caller ID on it's small, but high resolution screen.

Recon has been developing the Jet since 2008, and a lot has changed in the technology world since then. But the designers have been forward thinking in their plans, and have created an SDK that will allow developers to create their own apps for the device. Additionally, the data collected and saved can be easily uploaded to other apps such as Strava and MyMapFitness. The company has even built its own Recon Engage web platform, and apps for iOS and Android as well.

Dust and water resistant, the Jet has been built to withstand daily use by outdoor athletes. It includes 8GB of storage onboard, and 1Ghz dual-core ARM Cortex-9 processor. In other words, it has plenty of power packed into its tiny frame. It's touch controls are reportedly operable in all kinds of weather, even if you're wearing gloves, and its integrated camera, speaker, and microphones will allow you to capture video, or answer phone calls, without having to reach for your phone.

Battery life is said to be about four hours of use, depending on what other devices are connected, and the entire package weighs in at about 85 grams (3 oz.) The Jet cannot be added to existing sunglasses, nor does Recon's frames support prescription lenses at this time.

Now for the bad news. Price? $699. That makes it cost prohibitive for most of us, even if it does offer some very cool functionality. As I mentioned above, I've been waiting for to learn more about this product for a long time, and it is great to see that it is finally here. But with such an exorbitant price tag, don't expect to see too many of these at your weekly running or cycling groups. It is also a bit reminiscent of Google Glass, a project that suffered from such a PR problem that it was sent back to the drawing board after those wearing it quickly became known as "glassholes."

The tech nerd in me would love to try these out, but since they don't support prescriptions, I'd only end up hurting myself. Still, the technology is promising if they can adapt it further, and bring the price. down. The video below will give you a further idea of how this works.

Cycling Through Cuba with Richard Bangs

We are living in a remarkable time. After more than 50 years of ice cold relations, the U.S. and Cuba are at long last thawing their relationship, and it is for the better. The trade embargo imposed on Cuba for decades has been a failed, outdated approach to foreign affairs for a very long time, but fortunately some semblance of sanity is returning, and the two nations are now on a path to normalizing – and formalizing – relations. 

It is in that environment that the travel industry has found a great deal of excitement this year. Cuba has long been off limits for American travelers, some of whom went to great lengths to go there anyway. But now, travel to the Caribbean country is a real option, and many are lining up to visit the place while it is still in its current, preserved state. 

Recently, my friend Richard Bangs led a group of travelers on a cycling journey through the island nation and shared his experience with readers at the Huffington Post. His journey took him through a series of historical sites, beautiful landscapes, and burgeoning urban settings. Cuba, it seems, is still caught in the past, but is joining the 21st century very rapidly. 

The island nation is tailor made for cycling it seems. Richard says that in the 1990's, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, bikes were the dominant form of transportation. Traffic has increased since then of course, but the roads are bike-friendly, and the terrain isn't particularly demanding. 

Richard's journey through Cuba is made all the more memorable as he is joined by his seven year old son Jasper. The young man rides a trail-a-bike behind his father for much of the trip, while having the rare opportunity to explore a country that is opening up to future possibilities for the first time in many decades. The father-son duo roll their bikes past farms, beautiful beaches, and buildings that were the height of luxury back in the 1950's. 

As someone who does a good deal of travel writing, I know that there is immense interest in visiting Cuba right now. Richard's article will give you taste of what it is like there, as the country goes through a transition period. Eventually, Cuba will begin to change, as economic forces from outside start to develop the country. For those who want to see it in its purest form, now is the time to go. While the future does indeed look much brighter for the Cuban people, much of its charm will eventually disappear, lost in the mists of the modern age.

London2London Via The World Update: Sarah Arrives in New York City, Atlantic Ocean Lies Ahead

It has once again been far too long since we checked in on Sarah Outen, the British adventurer who has been making her way around the planet completely under her own power. Since my last update on her progress, she has completed a six-month long cycling journey across Canada and the U.S. – much of it in winter – and is now preparing for the final stage of her journey, a crossing of the Atlantic by rowboat.

You may recall that Sarah launched her London2London via the World expedition four years ago by first paddling down the River Thames in London, and then across the English Channel to France. From there, she then proceeded to ride her bike across Europe and Asia, encountering many interesting people and adventures along the way. Eventually she arrived in Japan where she intended to cross the North Pacific by rowboat. That was back in the summer of 2012, and soon after she embarked on that ocean crossing she encountered a nasty storm that damaged her boat, and sent her back to shore. Undaunted, Sarah returned a year later and rowed from Japan to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Then, last year she kayaked through the islands to the Alaskan mainland, where she returned to her bike for a long ride across North America.

On March 15, Sarah rode her bike into New York City, essentially wrapping up the final cycling portion of her journey. She will eventually tack on another 400 miles (643 km) to the ride when she heads for Cape Cod in a few weeks, but for now she is enjoying some time in NYC, where she has been catching up with old friends, making new ones, and starting to prepare for the next stage of her grueling journey.


In May, Sarah will set out across the North Atlantic in her rowboat. The plan is to cross the ocean and row back up the Thames, passing under the London Bridge, which was her official starting point those many long months ago. If everything goes as planned, the Atlantic crossing should take roughly 4-5 months to complete, putting her back home in London sometime in the fall of this year.

While the journey has taken longer than Sarah had anticipated, it has been quite the experience and challenge. Circumnavigating the globe completely under her own power is an impressive accomplishment, and now just the Atlantic Ocean stands in the way of her achieving that goal. Outen is no stranger to ocean rowing however. In addition to having rowed across the North Pacific, back in 2009 she also rowed solo across the Indian Ocean as well. When she launches her Atlantic crossing in May, it'll feel like old times I'm sure, although this time she's heading home.

Over the next few weeks, Sarah will be dealing with logistical issues, resting, and getting her boat ready for launch. The weather needs to improve and stabilize before she begins rowing the Atlantic, but by mid-May or so she should be about ready to go. There are still thousands of miles of ocean ahead of her, but London is calling and the journey is nearing an end at long last.

USADA Could Reduce Lance Armstrong's Ban

Lance Armstrong might receive an opportunity to plead for a reduction of his lifetime ban from cycling. According to an article posted by the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, Brian Cookson, the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body over professional cycling, has been asked to help set-up a meeting between Armstrong and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). That meeting could give the former cyclist an opportunity to broker a deal that could see him return to competition, although there would be some serious stipulations that would come along with potentially lifting the ban.

The Telegraph says that Travis Tygart, the head of the USADA, is in favor of sitting down with Armstrong, but in order for the ban to be lifted Lance would need to do more than just come clean about his use of performance enhancing drugs – something he has already done on more than one occasion. In fact, Outside Online is reporting that Tygart wants Armstrong to cooperate in future investigations of the use of PED's, helping to shed light on new cases that could arise. The USADA would also like the former Tour de France winner to become an anti-doping ambassador who would speak out against the practice of using PED's.

The story here isn't that the USADA is open to discussing a reduction of Armstrong's lifetime ban, as Tygart and his team have always maintained that they would be willing to talk to Lance provided he was more forthcoming about the rampant use of performance enhancing substance in professional cycling. The new element that has been missing from this story prior to recent events is that it seems that Armstrong himself may be willing to cooperate more fully. Since Cookson has been asked to try to arrange a meeting, that would indicate that Lance may be ready to cooperate on a level that he hasn't in the past, possibly opening the door for his return to competition.

Let's face it. Lance isn't going to ride in the Tour de France ever again. Those days are long over. But, he is a talented athlete and he loves competition. He would like the opportunity to compete in marathons, road races, triathlons, and other events. But his lifetime ban from competition prevents him from competing even in local races. If that ban gets lifted, I suspect we'd see Armstrong taking part in competitions again very soon thereafter.

Getting that ban lifted is still some time off I'm sure. But it seems that the door has been cracked open for a possible return. We'll just have to see if Lance is willing to accept the USADA's stipulations.