Bike MS Coastal Challenge, October 11-12

Our partner, Cynergy Cycles, will be sending a team to this October's two-day Bike MS Coastal Challenge from Santa Monica, California to Santa Barbara, just over 150 miles up the coast. Beginning at the Santa Monica Civic Center, the Coastal Challenge arrives via 30, 65, or 100-mile routes at Oxnard's San Buenventura State Beach before Sunday's 35 or 50 mile cruise to the finish at Santa Barbara City College. Donations raised as entry fees for the Coastal Challenge fuel the National MS Society's efforts to support clinical research and patient services for those affected by multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which can be as far-reaching as blindness or paralysis. After a $70 registration fee, riders will raise at least $350 in donations. In return, Bike MS provides full route mechanical, food, and luggage transport support. The Cynergy Cycles Coastal Challenge team adds in-store benefits to those who ride as part of the shop team, including discounts on apparel, mechanical service, full bikes, and a rebate program. To date, donations by individuals have topped $11,000 and two teams have raised over $34,000 for the National MS Society.

Phase IV is discounting all our training and nutrition services for Bike MS riders to be sure you are well trained and prepared for this epic adventure.

Sign up for Bike MS through Cynergy Cycles here.

La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, November 6-8

Upping the ante in multi-day cycling events, Costa Rica's three-day La Ruta de Los Conquistadores takes riders across a beautiful, torturous route across five mountain ranges en route between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the island. Based on the original route that the Spanish military took in gradually conquering the island 500 years prior, La Ruta - a far more peaceful affair - takes riders across singletrack, fire roads, steep pitches and wrenching descents through rainforests and atop inactive volcanoes. La Ruta bills itself a grueling event, "a test of everything you've got," according to race organizers.

Phase IV is sponsoring teams who want to the this challenge with discounted registration and disocunted Phase IV services to be sure you are well trained and prepared for this epic adventure.

Learn more about La Ruta, or contact Phase IV to learn more about preparing and racing with us.

Preparing for events such as these, which are as much explorations into one's own psyche as they are challenges of fitness, is in itself a battle of discipline, passion, and persistence. To highlight its specialization in preparing athletes and laypersons for such challenging, rewarding, beautiful events, Phase IV will be sending a team to La Ruta, helping its riders with registration fees and preparation.

While your goals this year may not include taking on such rides - the Coastal Challenge, however, makes for a great baptism into the world of multi-day challenges - preparing for the physical challenges will enhance all aspects of your cycling and general fitness. Next Wednesday's (September 17th) complementary lecture, The Science of Going Big, at Cynergy Cycles delves into the science of preparing for more challenging events such as the Coastal Challenge and La Ruta. Phase IV founder and multi-day event veteran Robert Forster, PT, will bring the research to your doorstep, teaching you how to apply scientific principles in nutrition, heart rate training, strength training, recovery, and volume and load progression to improve the quality of your training for events of any magnitude.

Watch for the coming email announcement for The Science of Going Big, and RSVP to make changes in your training now that will pay off for years.

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