Hi Mel. Great job at Keystone.

I attended the bike clinic on Saturday and met you afterward. I asked you a
question concerning the Hypoxico tent you use. I had some follow up questions
but I did not want to take away time from others who were waiting to ask
questions.

You said you felt like the Hypoxico system helped you for races at lower
altitudes but not so much at high elevations. Have you noticed any benefits at
elevation at all?

The scientific research I have read argues both sides. I would like to know
your opinion. I am considering using the system but I don't want to spend the
money if there are no real benefits. I train at an elevation of 3500 feet and
races like Keystone kick my butt. I have very little time to acclimitize but I
would really like to see my times improve. In your opinion, would the system
benfit me at altitude in any way?

By the way, your comments regarding Dual suspension vs. Hardtails were right on
the mark. I am a hardtail rider and a weight freak when it comes to the bike.

See you in Tahoe.

Good luck with the rest of your season.

The thing about Keystone is just how high an altitude it is. Starting at 9600feet, when you consider that the effects of altitude are exponential per 1000 feet, that is a long way from 3500 feet. I know girls who live at 7000 feet who struggle at that altitude, so you are not alone.

My experience over the last few years is that part of the difficulty of racing up high is just how crappy you feel. Given that 90% of a great performance is mental, that is what you have to get over. Therefore, no substitute for training with altitude.

Having said that, I have a mask set up that I use with my hypoxic generator, and that helps when I am planning to race at altitude. By breathing hypoxic air you have the same feeling as your effort increases of a shortness of breath that you would if you were training at altitude.

The problem is, Xterra is mountainbiking and trail running. There is a lot of benefit to seeing the course. However, when you go up to altitude, your body will adapt, and a tent is not enough to prevent further adaptation when you arrive. The night before competition is not enough time to ride the course, so you would have to commit to 10 days to be sure that your body is finished with adaptation. The benefit of a tent in this case is that exposing your body to altitude will help to speed up the adaptation time.

At the end of it all, you should race better at altitude, and at sea level. Hope that helps! On the hardtail note, I am supposed to be riding a sweet new carbon mountainbike called the Alba by Tahoe.

Happy trails!

Just further to my last post, at www.fordcycling.com, Dara Marks discusses racing in Brian Head, Utah, which is a similar altitude to Keystone. She is from Flagstaff, AZ, which is above 7000 feet, and she said she struggled with the altitude.

[quote:70c560cf0c="melanie"]Just further to my last post, at www.fordcycling.com, Dara Marks discusses racing in Brian Head, Utah, which is a similar altitude to Keystone. She is from Flagstaff, AZ, which is above 7000 feet, and she said she struggled with the altitude.[/quote:70c560cf0c]

Dara is cool! My boyfriend and her are good friends. Actually all of the women on the Ford team I met last year are cool. They helped us with our beginner clinic we did here in Texas at the NORBA Nationals in Waco (2004). Video:
http://www.pedalmasher.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=0&func=fileinfo&parent=folder&filecatid=103

Sorry, last post was from me....I forgot to log in again :oops: