Rebecca Rusch

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    Tires

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Era FSR

Rebecca Rusch wasn’t thinking about world championships when she joined the Downers Grove North High School cross-country team. “I just wanted the free track suit,” recalls Rusch, who, 28 years later, finds herself among the ranks of the world’s elite endurance athletes. In July of 2009, Rusch won her third straight mountain biking 24-hour Solo World Championship.

Since donning those gray cotton sweats and Lycra shorts, Rusch has outfitted herself in the kit of numerous other disciplines: racking up ascents of big walls from Yosemite to Zion, paddling on the world-famous Offshore Canoe Club’s women’s outrigger team in the brutal Molokai crossing and winning adventure races around the world.

When not training in one of the five mountain ranges surrounding her hometown of Ketchum, Idaho, the 41-year-old known as the “Queen of Pain” can be found chasing adrenaline from Tibet to New Zealand to Kyrgyzstan, constantly adding titles to her impressive and extensive resume.

In addition to those three 24-hour solo mountain bike World Champion rainbow jerseys, Rusch is a three-time national champion in 24-hour team mountain biking. She’s Idaho’s Short Track state championship (twice), and its Cyclocross state title. An accomplished Nordic skier, she’s won the Masters Cross Country Skiing World Championship, in addition to taking the top prize at Raid Gauloises Adventure Racing World Championships. And although that’s just cross-section of her palmares, it’s easy to see why Rusch has been profiled by Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine and Adventure Sport Magazine.

Talking about age draws a laugh as she gestures at her surroundings. "People around here are all 10 years younger than they actually are. And I don’t mean they just look it; they are actually 10 years younger," she said. "Everyone’s out there constantly doing stuff, from biking to skiing to hiking. There’s a collective mentality that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it."

This mentality, along with what she calls "perfect terrain for training," provides a home base for the typically itinerant Rusch. She is part of the community; for more than two years she has been a stalwart volunteer emergency medical technician and firefighter for the Ketchum Fire Department, and a homeowner. On breaks from her race schedule, she works on her condominium, though the domestic idea continues to bemuse her; the last home she owned was a 1975 Ford Bronco.

Two weeks ago

July 6, 2010

Two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to get to attend the SRAM 2 x 10 product launch in Ashland OR. They organized a multi-day ride camp with full tech support, a bunch of media, shuttle service and the full line of SRAM 2 x 10 for everyone to sample. I've been riding 2 x 10 for about 8 months now, but it was the first time for many of the riders. The SRAM engineers and designers also broke things down and explained the technology behind the designs, the reasons why this stuff works so well and how it all goes together. I know it works like a dream from my own riding and racing experience, but it was really cool for me to understand why it works better. The camp took place in Ashland, OR and we were hosted by United Bicycle Institute for all our class room sessions and bike tunes. SRAM arranged multiple shuttles and rides every day and it was a big change for me to get driven up the hill, dropped off, then ride down.

I left the Era and the 29er hardtail at home and instead had a Safire and Enduro that I was playing around with all week. It was a totally different style of riding and really good skills session for me to ride with Rad Ross Schnell, Kirt and Lindsay Voreis, Greg Herbold and Nathan Riddle. I was definitely schooled, but loved watching and learning some downhill skills from them. The graduation from our 4 day riding camp was to race the Ashland Super D. It's a 13 mile descent with wicked fast single track, a few little jumps and lots of tight switchbacks. The riding was not as technical as a traditional downhill, but you could definitely scare yourself and the speed was only limited by your own fear. I rode the Safire for the race and it was the perfect choice for this course. I entered the women's pro division and ended up finishing a respectable 4th place in a strong field. I was a couple of minutes off Kelli Emmett's winning time. I was elated to get down in one piece, but as soon as I was finished with my run, I wanted to head back up for another one to try to go faster! Even though these Super D races are not my forte, I love taking part in them and pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone. Thanks SRAM for a really great experience!

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