And perhaps the most important.

When asked if she had any advice for other folks who are interested in bike racing, here’s what she said:

Life is too short, so why not?!

Most local bike shops sponsor or coordinate group rides. They can be weekend or mid-week. Some shops might have resources for 101 racing clinics and local races.

I suggest getting in touch with a group and just have fun! See where it brings you.

Always remember to have FUN, because when you do, you actually go faster! This is a FACT.

Stay tuned for more updates from Brianna as she works towards her pro career!

The post Yakima’s Brianna Walle | Advice for Aspiring Roadies appeared first on Road Trips.

Cyclist Brianna Walle, introduced here, has the skinny. Check it out.

What is your typical training schedule?
The road racing season runs February through August. At the peak of my training, I’m commuting to work 3-4 days a week and going for a long ride on the weekends. If I’m racing on the weekend, I reduce my miles in preparation for the event. The average miles range from 100-300 miles/week depending on the week and the event I’m training for.

Training in the wet, cold winter months in Oregon must be rough. How do you do it?
Great question! It can be really daunting to train in the cold and wet months. The secret? Take more friends! I usually ride with a group of friends once every two weeks for about 60-100 miles during this time of year.

We’re fully equipped with rain gear and good food and to keep it fun, and we often bring a bag with speakers and an iPod to blast our favorite tunes as we ride along.

Don’t worry, we take turns carrying the bag.

How do you train in the off-season?
September really is my “rest month.” That means two full weeks to totally chill out and hang out with friends I haven’t seen in MONTHS. There are parties, dancing, and other non-biking activities. In between I’m still commuting to work 3-4 days a week.

Once October hits, I’m out trail running, racing some cyclocross and mountain biking in southern Oregon. I’ll also throw in some weight training.

Come November, I begin three months of training for the next season!

The post Yakima’s Brianna Walle | You Gotta Train appeared first on Road Trips.

Racing for local team Ironclad Cycling for the past 3 seasons, she worked her way to Cat 1 level. That’s the category for elite cyclists with national caliber experience.

Most recently, she placed 1st overall as Best Amateur Cyclist at the Nature Valley Grand Prix (she’s in the green jersey above) as part of the Nature Valley Pro Chase Composite Team.

Told you she was badass.

We took a few moments to ask her a few questions about how she discovered the sport and what makes this lady tick.

When and how did you discover bike racing?
Three years ago after much encouragement from my co-workers here at Yakima. They could sense that I had a competitive nature about me, especially since I come from a racing background in other sports.

What was your first race?
A beginner,women’s race at PIR (Portland International Raceway). After a quick 101 racing clinic, I jumped right for the win.  It was then and there that I fell in love with racing.

Which sports did you participate in the past?
In high school and college, I ran cross-country, Alpine ski raced and played soccer. Prior to discovering bike racing, I ran half and full marathons and identified as a runner. That’s where I really got the racing bug.

Keep your eyes peeled for our next Brianna Walle post: You Gotta Train

The post Yakima’s Brianna Walle | From Rep to Racer appeared first on Road Trips.

Thinking of joining the fun, but aren’t sure which photo to enter? Just click on the image below to launch this week’s gallery of winners for inspiration.

The post Week One Photo Contest Winners | Gallery appeared first on Road Trips.

England has gurning, Spain has the Day of the Geese, and Portland… Well, Portland has the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby.

Have you ever seen the movie Little Rascals? It’s a lot like that, only it has adults. In costumes.

Really though, it’s one of the coolest events you’ll ever see, and it’s been crowding the streets of of Mount Tabor near Portland, Oregon since 1997.

Team Yakima made a splash this year with their modified big-wheel, along with 41 other teams competing for prizes for speed, engineering, art and crowd pleasure. It’s fun, it’s crazy, and with over 5,000 people in attendance, it’s a party you won’t soon forget.

Check out the vid.

The post Take More Crazy Racers | Video appeared first on Road Trips.

They try to figure out what YAKIMA can do to help you get outdoors more and take more friends with you when you do.

We call them the Road Warriors.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to speak with someone on the YAKIMA team in person, maybe ask a question, maybe show off your DIY rack modification on your muscle car, or even if you just want to share a story about your recent road trip, look for our booth at these upcoming events:

August 1-5 — Downieville Classic, a mountain bike race in Downieville, California.

August 7-12 — Tour of Utah, an awesome pro cycling race around Salt Lake City.

August 10-12 — Pelatonia, an organized ride to raise cancer research funds in Dayton, Ohio.

August 20-26 — U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge, a pro stage race across Colorado.

August 24-25 — Hood To Coast, a running relay race from Mt. Hood, Oregon, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Look for the YAKIMA team running in this one, too!

Sept. 14-17 — Gauley Fest, the biggest whitewater party of the year, in Summersville, West Virginia.

If you have trouble finding us at any of these events, just give us a shout on Twitter — @yakimaracks.

The post Meet The Yakima Road Warriors appeared first on Road Trips.