I just read "The Mountain Biker's Training Bible" by Joe Friel. Joe Friel is a coach for endurance athletes like mountain bikers, triathletes, runners, and cyclists. This 307 page book explains a lot of aspects about training, recovery, nutrition, and racing. He specifically talks about steps on how to self-coach which helps a lot athletes like how to motivate themselves, how to ride different intensities of training, and understanding your test results. What I like the best from the book is learning how to plan your annual training plan and your weekly schedules. Weeks like race week, your peaking fitness, and recovery weeks. He also talks about your winter training like lifting weights, ride the indoor trainer, and doing winter activities. He talks about how women, veterans, juniors, novices, and new professionals should train. This book's got everything you need to know about mountain bike training. There were stuff I didn't know about and stuff I already knew about. But it sure helped me for my future training and racing. There's also the same kind of books by Joe Friel like "Triathlete's Training Bible", "Cyclists Training Bible", "Runner's Training Bible", etc. This book is a great step-by-step book on how to self coach on whatever endurance sport your on and to understand how your body works when you train.
The Klein Attitude I have now I think it will last one more year so I kind of went shopping. I called Mad Dog Cycles and asked they were still Klein dealers and they said they don't make them anymore. That is a real bummer. Klein cycles are real nice bikes. They are strong and I love the internal cables on them. I also love the gradient aluminum on them. I called the Alberquerque Bicycle Center in New Mexico and the guy said that he didn't know but thinks there will be some Klein bikes next year. I hope so, cross your fingers. So, if I can't get a Klein bike then I will get a Trek 8500(picture above). Trek and Klein was in the same company while Klein was there with Trek then they moved to Japan. Now it's just Trek, and Klein, I don't know where the heck they went. I will need to call Trek next Monday and ask if Klein is still in business in Japan. Anyways, the reason I chose Trek as a back up is because it uses the exact same parts the Klein bikes uses, Bontrager parts. I love the Bontrager wheels, you never have to true them at all. My last two Kleins had Bontrager wheels and I never had to true them once and they are still true. I love the Bontrager carbon seatpost and handlebars. I love the Fox RL 100 fork, the same one I have right now on my Klein but it's a newer model. This Trek bike has all XT components. This is a hardtail and I want a hardtail because I love the feel of it on the climbs and is very popular for XC racers. Because it is a hardtail, it is at a reasonable price at $2,859. The only thing I don't like on this bike is that there are no internal cables like what Klein has but I sure do love the white color on it. I don't know, but I could buy this bike at the end of the season next year at a lower cost or go ahead and get the 2010 model at the retail price.
