Rocky Reifenstuhl is an ultra distance cyclist who has competed in events such as the Iditarod Trail 350 mile bike race, the Fairbanks Cycle Club Six Stage Mountain Bike Race, and the Fireweed 400 mile bicycle Race. 2008 will be his 21st year competing in the Iditarod Trail bike race, and this year he's not stopping at 350 miles; he's going on to complete all 1,100 miles of the famed Ititarod trail on his new disc-brake-compatible PowerTap hub. The 2008 race will begin in February, so we asked Rocky to send us some thoughts on his preparation and training. He did that - and had to ride 70 miles to the nearest internet access to send us the report.

Yikes! I'm going to race my bicycle to Nome [Alaska], 1,100 miles, starting February 25, 2008. I guess it was my idea, but still, after 21 years of racing my bike on the Iditarod National Historic Trail, here in Alaska, this will be my first trip past the 350 mile finish line in McGrath. Few go the entire 1,100 miles to Nome, and with good reason: it's a long damn way. And, oh yeah, it is definitely cold. And dark. But, I've pointed out before that during each day racing on the trail, I learn more about myself and my life than in a year of 'normal' life.

This year I'll be racing on the trail with my training and racing partner, the PowerTap. After a full year of riding with the Powertap, having it constantly badgering me for being such a slacker, I'm going to see if it is tough enough for up to three weeks of sub-zero temperatures, howling gales, snow, and numerous crashes.

Training for the last 13 months, and thousands of miles with the Powertap have convinced me of the incredible importance of immediate biofeedback. I raced my first National Championship event some 25 years ago, and shortly afterwards the revolutionary heart rate monitor became the premiere training tool. But now, the Powertap instantaneously tells me exactly what my wattage is at every moment. Whereas the heart monitor used to tell me what my body's delayed reaction was to my power demands.

Anyway, the short story is: my 500 to 600 hours of training is both more productive and enjoyable since I began using my Powertap. Living in Fairbanks, I have been happy with just how well the Powertap works in our harsh winters. I have been commuting to work with it for the second winter now, with temperatures to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Like all LED screens, it goes blank at these temperatures (kind of like my brain), but the CPU continues recording all the power data for later retrieval.

Still, at a moderate -15 to -20 F, the LED works fine. Also, like me, the batteries get tired, slow and weak in the severe cold. Traveling over the holidays, to the Lower 48, I was pleased to find it unnecessary use my headlamp to see the CPU display! And we're past the winter solstice! That means we'll soon be gaining 5 to 7 minutes each day of sunlight. It's like being reborn every year. (That's not, 'born again', by the way).

So, much of my training for this annual pilgrimage is nearly done. And for me, the benefit of using PowerTap technology is substantial. But, really, it's more than just 'how many watts here', or 'how many watts there'. For me, it's about two things: seeing just how much I can eek out of this body of mine, and how much fun can I have on my bike. The PowerTap has given me both of these. And after riding and racing for more than 25 years, I'm always looking for more fun!

I'll be reporting after the finish of my 1,100 mile race to Nome in mid March. Stay tuned, and feel free to send your warm thoughts my way. I'll get some pictures of the Northern Lights. Now there is some serious wattage. I'm hoping to get a supercharged CPU so that I can record my entire 1,100 mile race. The power level won't be high, but 18 to 20 hours per day will amount to lots of watts.

Notable races for 2008 (and 2007 results):
Iditarod Trail 350 mile bike race, February (tie 2nd place) www.alaskaultrasport.com
Fairbanks Cycle Club, Six Stage Mountain Bike Race, June (1st) www.fairbankscycleclub.org
Top of the World Road Stage Race, June, five stages (6th) (www.fairbankscycleclub.org
Kluane International Bicycle Relay Race (150 miles: Haines Junction, Yukon Territory to Haines, Alaska - 2nd Solo)
Fireweed 400 mile bicycle Race, July (1st Solo) www.fireweed400.com
Equinox Trail Marathon, September (40-something overall) www.runningclubnorth.org
Hot Chocolate & GU Snowshoe Race www.runningclubnorth.org