19 kayaks, 8 stand up paddleboards 22 bikes (road and mountain) a Gibbon slack line rack, minimalist and trail running shoes, Kelty camp furniture, plus an assortment of camping gear provided by each local store on the route means there’s quite literally something for everyone to try at tour stops from Maryland to Maine.

Just like last year, the tour will be lead by Tim Peck, manager of our Marlborough, Massachusetts store and Ashley Reven, floor supervisor at our Northborough, Massachusetts store. Both are avid climbers, paddlers, runners, and campers and are fully prepared to answer any questions you have about any product in the trailer.

If you want to make Ashley or Tim crack up instantly, just quote a line from the movie Top Gun and stand back.

Whether you’re looking to give a new sport a try before investing in all the gear, or you want to know how our latest gear performs in the field, the Outdoor Demo Tour truly is the ultimate Try Before You Buy experience. You’ll find the complete Outdoor Demo Tour schedule at ems.com along with regular updates from the road here on the blog. It’s going to be an awesome summer and we all hope you can be a part of it–even if you can’t make it to one of the events–keep an eye peeled for the truck and trailer below, snap a photo of it and post it on our Facebook page and I’ll send you something cool from our SWAG bin. Could be a jacket, could be a water bottle, could be a sticker – but it WILL make your day a little brighter. See you out there!

If you live in the northeast, keep your eyes peeled for this truck and trailer on a highway near you.

Beth Marchand riding past Powder Mill Pond on her way to work this morning!

This morning there was a collection of us, comparing our Strava ride profiles and sharing in the joy of riding our bikes to work.

Karen Doris's Strava Profile from her ride in this morning.

The best part of riding your bike to work, isn’t just in knowing that you helped to conserve fuel, or that you burned off the calories from the previous nights beer intake, nope the best part is how alive you feel while at work.  Moods have been high today around the office as many of us are still feeling the endorphins that are traveling through our blood streams; I have to say that our productivity level is higher too!  Fun, happy people at work = a lot of good work getting done.

Owen Travers is "Totally Stoked" after his ride to work today!

If you’re an avid cyclist, you’ve probably at this point either have ridden or at least considered riding your bike into work.  For those of you who ride bikes, but much more casually, the thought of riding your bike to work might intimidate you.  This is completely understandable.  There are a lot of things to consider, traffic, getting a flat tire, showering at work, having to carry extra clothes, etc., but believe me the sacrifices are well worth the gain.  You will never have a better day at work, or find a better way to decompress from work then riding your bike.  The good news is there are a ton of great organizations and bicycle retailers like us that are ready and willing to help you make the step to being a bike commuter.  Plus, there is no better time to start than with the rest of the Nation as we all celebrate Bike to Work Day!

Karen Doris and Jim Darroch at the Dublin General Store early this morning

Tomorrow, May 18^th, 2012, is National Bike to Work Day, a proper finish to National Bike Week.  Many cities across the country host big Bike to Work Day events and activities and in many cases the Mayor joins in the fun.  A few years ago I had the pleasure of riding my bike with Former Mayor John F. Street in Philadelphia with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.  A very cool experience!

Yup, I was there too!

Check out the following list of bike organizations across New England and the East Coast for some great Bike to Work Day events.  Plus check out the National Bike Challenge presented by Kimberly Clark and the League of American Bicyclists and start logging your miles for a chance to win great prizes while commuting by bike.
Boston: Boston Bikes’ Bike Week and Bike Fridays

Hartford: Bike Walk Connecticut’s Bike To Work

NYC: Transportation Alternatives’ Bike to Work Day   -or-     Bike New York:  Bike Commuting 101

Philadelphia: Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s Bike to Work Day

Portland, ME: Portland Maine Bicycle Commuting: Celebrate Bike to Work Day

Christine talking to students

The day was January 2, 2007. I was so excited to had finally become a year round rider. Who would have thought all you needed was the proper gear? So what if I had to wear 3 layers of tops and bottoms? So what if you could barely see my face? Every part of my body was covered, I looked like the Michelin Man but I could now ride year round! On this day the temperature was in the 30s. I was dressed for it, my helmet fit especially snug due to my ear warmers. I was planning on an all day ride, aiming for the Rhode Island beaches, but I didn’t even make it a mile from my house. I was going down my first hill when, before I knew what happened, I was slammed into the pavement. Every ounce of air was knocked out of me. My first thought, “Am I paralyzed?” No, I could move my feet. Then I realized I had pieces of my teeth in my mouth that I was spitting out. “Am I dying?” I don’t remember much but I do remember knowing I was not doing well. A blanket was put over me, I heard sirens. After being carefully placed on a stretcher and put in the ambulance I was off to the hospital. With my husband by my side the doctors gave me the news: broken back, broken right collar bone, both wrists broken, left thumb and index finger all broken. I also had multiple bruises, scrapes, scratches, and the chipped teeth. But I was alive. My helmet had saved my life! While multiple parts of my body were broken, my head was ok. My helmet had absorbed the force of the impact. It did its job and took the fractures and breaks.

The helmet

I was bed ridden for 3 months and out of work for 6. It was never a question of if I would get back on my bike but when. During this time I was taught many lessons. There was a new found hope in the kindness of strangers, community, and the well being of others. There was food left every day at my door, fundraising events, cards and banners for my girl’s classrooms, housecleaners, daycare, movies, and flowers. There was also pain, recovery, back brace, casts, sadness, depression, tears, and darkness. But it was the 6 year old boy that brought in to school his piggy bank and dumped it out on his teacher’s desk saying, “give this to the girl with the broken back.” The blanket hand sewn from a local church and the never before met neighbor who seemed to be right out of a Disney movie complete with her bright bonnet and wicker basket holding homemade soup, bread, and cookies. After months of intense physical therapy I had my first ride again. It was an emotional day making a ride with my two girls to their school. I never thought a 5 mile ride could be so hard. Slowly my confidence and strength were growing and I made my big “comeback” in Austin, Texas at the 100 mile Livestrong Challenge. Here I met Lance Armstrong, starting the ride one row behind him on a borrowed custom built pink and purple road bike. I crossed the finish line with tears running down my face. I had come so far.

My bike is so much more to me than a bike, it is a symbol of life. It is part of me. I bike when I am happy, I bike when I am sad. I bike because I can and I ALWAYS wear my helmet. Life is so unpredictable, you have no idea what lies ahead. It was a four inch long stick that got caught in my wheel that fateful January day. There was no one to blame, but a Giro helmet that I will forever be thankful for.

The stick that caused the crash

By far the spin class powered by “Kiwi Sweat.”  Tough to beat 45 minutes of adrenaline pumping music while overlooking the East River with the Statue of Liberty in the distance during sunset. (Kate, Marketing)

Riding a tandem bike w/ Wes! (Kylene, Outerwear)

After the 10th mile, I started to really relax and enjoy the moment – and there were so many moments that could be called highlights. One stands out in all my senses: as we crossed the finish line, I felt a rush of accomplishment – I had finished! Then, just a few feet from the finish line, I saw my friends and colleagues, under the branded blue and white tents. I stood mesmerized. It hit me “this is who we are.” Doing things that matter, sharing the experience, making friends for life… I’ve never been so proud. (Colleen, Sr. Director of People)

Every day of the Expo was a favorite for me – Each day was different but my big highlights were both Fastest Mechanic competitions, the Tire/Tube – Maintenance – Touring Clinics we did, and the Retul Demos. (Brian, NYC Bike Manager)

While I loved the whole experience of Bike Expo New York and the times that we had there, the moment that will forever stick with me was watching Colleen Clark, Eastern Mountain Sports’ Senior Director of People riding her bike through Central Park.  What makes it even more memorable is the fact that she had not ridden a bike in over twenty years and yet she signed up for, bought a bike for, and tackled the 5 Boro Bike Tour; all while singing and weaving back and forth! (Ben, Marketing)

Favorite moment was having to hoist a 70′s era tandem into the stand to fix a rear flat. With nutted wheels and the fun part….Drum brakes! Maybe a moment only a tech will appreciate but the fact that someone rode that bike 40 mi in one sitting was very impressive. (Josh, Warwick RI bike tech )

I feel so lucky to have been involved with this event!  The event went from: “This is going to be cool” to “This is incredibly cool” to “That was the coolest thing ever”!  It is impossible for me to pick a ‘favorite moment’ simply because the whole thing, the people, the city, the ride, the weather… everything just came together. (Owen, Visual)

I’d have to say meeting everyone and sharing my passion with 32,000 people just like me. Seeing their smiles and sharing some great stories. Dancing with Ben Hall and meeting all of our vendors. (Mike, PA Bike Market Manager)

Proof that riding bikes makes you feel good again. (Jim, Marketing)

This was going to be a "how to whistle through a raisin box" video, but we decided to be nice to Jim.

We recognized many of our long time customers at the Expo and at the 5Boro and a lot of them stopped to say hi… that was really rewarding to experience.  (Brian, NYC Bike Manager)

Every cyclist had a smile on their face as they rode by us (Dave, Warrington PA bike tech)

Staten Island Repair Station – I loved seeing all of our Bike Tech crew in the thick of repair pandemonium. It was impressive and inspiring.  (Brian, NYC Bike Manager)

Riding the Staten Island Ferry at 6am with hundreds of other riders anticipating the day…(Dave, Climbing School) Click here to read Dave’s 5 Boro Bike Tour blog.

Amanda, taking a nap in the tent [post-festival]. (Mary, NY Metro District Manager)

As for me? There are a ton of highlights… working with EMS’ers I rarely get to see because they live so far away, seeing our great vendors and partners, talking to so many happy cyclists, hearing one of our NYC staffers call me “super fast”… But I have to say one of my highlights was our daily bike commute between the expo and the hotel – cycling on the NYC streets is not that scary!

We’re looking forward to next year already!

Saturday, Jacey and I had a girls day. First, we hiked Temple Mountain with Kylene and Fritz-the-dog.

Followed up by ice cream at Ava Marie’s.

And finally a casual afternoon on the “town green”.

And Jacey’s first face paint – believe it or not, she held still!

Sunday was a family day. It started with Mike and Jacey cooking up a good breakfast.

We then hit the water for a fun day of paddling at Everett Lake. Ok, to be truthful, this picture is the only time Jacey sat still. The rest of the time, Mike paddled while Jacey fidgeted. She was happy on my lap, but our toddler wanted to toddle.

And we ended the day with even more ice cream… (I am my mother’s daughter…) All in all, a great weekend was had!

Tuckerman’s Ravine is hallowed ground for the snowboarders and skiers of the northeast.  Sitting on the back side of Mount Washington, it offers some of the steepest and most challenging natural terrain in the northern neck of New England.  It’s the place our great great grandfather’s held straight shot 3 mile races on wooden skis! The snow is wind blown off the peak of Mount Washington, dumping an average of 50 feet of beautiful white stuff annually into the bowl, and it’s steep enough that one lost edge and you’ll slide, or cartwheel, nearly 1,000 feet down until it levels out.   It’s a perfect mix of challenge, adventure, fun and danger, and that’s exactly what beckons riders to hike the 4,430 feet to ride a natural bowl, hours and miles from any lift or parking lot.

One of the large dangers of Tuckerman’s in April are the bottomless crevasses that form under the snow, born from rocky cracks and chasms, and hidden by the hot and cold weather changes that cover them in a fragile layer of ice and snow.  Some of the crevasses at Tuckerman’s have been known to be hundreds of feet deep, often carved by years of melting snow and water running down from Washington.  I can’t think of a worse consequence than falling down one of those, but then again, why do people hike Everest when you could freeze to death?  Those outdoorsy people just DO things that not everyone understands; not always the smartest things, but they love telling stories of survival at the bar. Or something like that.  Don’t be deceived by the lure; almost once a year for the past ten years someone has died while hiking or riding at Tuckerman’s.  In April of this year a man fell into the waterfall crevasse while skiing and efforts to find him were abandoned after Rangers determined the rescue too dangerous, due to the amount of frigid water and falling ice in the hole. Rescuers were lowered 50 feet by rope into the hole with no sign or sound from the missing skier.  He was presumed dead, and his body will be recovered in the summer.

It was a freakishly warm 65 degree day, and after driving 3 hours north from Boston, Mark, his brother Andrew and I, headed up the trail around 10am. When we reached the base of the bowl, others were already shirtless and grilling while watching as each brave soul that dropped in attempted to ski the steep face of the bowl­.  After hiking to above the Lip and and getting in two runs, Mark, a Tuckerman’s veteran, had mentioned he was going to charge the smaller cliff drop in the Center Bowl.  Conditions were standard sketchy for Tuck’s but we took a test run down to below the cliff to spot the take off and the landing. The plan was simple; avoid the two water holes, ride toward the powder covered cliff, go straight off and land 15 ft below, riding down to the sound of cheering from the audience of other riders and skiers, basking in the glory.

After hiking the wall for the fourth time that day, we scouted where Mark would drop, and I headed down the center while his brother waited up top.  Mark shouted out that he was going for it and as he cut a corner behind a rock he suddenly disappeared under a white wave of snow.  With the amazing conditions that day you could kick up a nice rooster tail with each carve but the baffling part was that Mark never flew off the target take-off.  Andrew shouted down and I shouted up.  Neither one of us understood what had just happened.  Mark was just gone!

When Mark was speed checking for the cliff he lost his edge, and instead of flying full speed off the cliff, he slid to the side on his chest down the 50 degree slope into one of the open waterfall holes!  Andrew and I carefully worked our way across the slope, knowing that any false step could send us sliding hundreds of feet into the bowl, or straight through to one of the watery crevasses under the snow cover.  Four minutes of absolute fear choked me as my stomach felt like it was in throat.  Mark’s only brother and I were yelling into a hole being pummeled with more frigid water than a fire hydrant and we were getting no response. <strong>NOTHING. SILENCE.</strong>  What was I to assume? After four minutes of silence you assume bad things! But suddenly, we heard him!  Mark was yelling that he was OK!  Due to the icy water landing on him and his helmet, he couldn’t hear us or even look up.   By chance he had slid into the hole board-first and landed 30 feet down, bridging a rock gap with his board that kept him from falling any farther.

Yelling for help from the top lip of the bowl is like screaming down a ridiculously steep and slippery football field, trying to explain what happened. People below looked like ants!  It had taken us half an hour just to get up there in the first place, and now the sun was setting, leaving us in the cold shadows of Mount Washington while Mark is trapped INSIDE an ice cold waterfall! Luckily, an ice climbing instructor had finished his lessons and was passing his afternoon watching skiers attack the lip.  After a half hour of others hiking up with climbing rope, we were able to lay a shovel across the lip of the hole and send down a bowline loop for Mark to put under his arms. Careful to stay away from the water’s edge, so as not to collapse any snow into the hole, six of us heaved slowly. An hour after going in, a soaked and shivering Mark tumbled out.  After quickly changing him into a dry shirt, jacket, hat and gloves, we lowered him down the slope as far as the climbing rope would allow; getting him back into the sun light and warmth, where medics had just arrived.

Amazingly, I can say that Mark still works down the hall from me, and every year we still head up to Tuckerman’s to ride.  It’s just one of those places where you know the risk , some of us first or second hand, and you still keep coming back for the fun.  It’s a GIVEN that putting yourself in harm’s way, like cliffs and waterfalls, isn’t a GOOD idea, but even with that understood, skiers, riders, climbers and hikers are still gonna go to places where nature has the upper hand.  It’s the Indiana Jones in us all, and although most of us won’t get the gold, it’s the adventure that we’re really after. The best thing we can do is just to prepare for all the things that could go wrong while we’re out there chasing it.

Relaxing at Bluff Point State Park

I’ve had my VIVOBAREFOOT Breatho Trail shoes for a few weeks during which I’ve had some great runs on the road and at my local state park. They did great on the sand and the rocks at the state park, but I didn’t feel like I had truly tested the shoes out yet to offer up a thorough review. So, I decided to give them the ultimate test–Tough Mudder Poconos. It was time to see if the Breatho Trail could keep my feet happy for 12.5 miles over multiple obstacles and through various terrain. Before I give you a breakdown of how my Breatho Trail shoes performed, let me give you a little background on how these shoes came to be.

Just a little mud

Back in 2003, VIVOBAREFOOT came out with the first minimalist shoes with a patented, ultra thin puncture resistant sole that provided your brain with great sensory feedback along with maximum protection. Nearly a decade later, the Breatho Trail Shoe features that same puncture resistant sole with multi-directional lugs for maximum surface contact in the toughest terrains. The shoe gives you the same feeling of a barefoot shoe with the protection of a more constructed sneaker. I stepped where ever I pleased, on whatever I pleased and had no issues. With some of my other barefoot shoes I have a difficult time running on very rocky trails due to the pounding of the rocks on the outsole. There were plenty of rocky miles on the Tough Mudder Pocono and I was very happy to be protected on a course with crazy surprises around every turn.

Warning!

I especially liked the multidirectional lugs on the Breatho outsole. When others went slip sliding in the mud I stayed on my own two feet. When a rock or root tried to trip me I stumbled but did not fall. This was extremely important because I was doing this Tough Mudder 8 weeks after shoulder surgery. Falling on my right shoulder would have been a very bad thing to do.

Showing how to stay dry

Keeping with the barefoot theme, the Breatho comes with a zero-drop profile and a nice wide toe box for those piggys to splay out. The Pocono Manor course had us on single track off road trails, cross country ski trails, fairway roughs, and golf cart paths. No matter what the surface was I could feel my feet, ankles, and knees getting a good workout. I was able to maintain a good upright running position and made a lot less noise with each step then many of the others surrounding me.

Bill getting it done

As we went along the course Bill, my trusty Tough Mudder companion and fellow Eastern Mountain Sports Waterford employee, and I found ourselves looking at other people’s shoes and noting what they were wearing. Many people put Duct Tape around their shoes. I can only guess help them stay on their feet during all the pounding. All I needed was a simple double knot to keep my Breathos in place. Those people with the Duct Tape had to sacrifice some traction which I was happy to not have to do. Yet still we found people losing their shoes in mud. It does help that the Breathos have a lightweight mesh upper. The company did this for ventilation and airflow, I liked it for water and mud drainage. Others out on the course were describing their shoes like bricks. The mud went in but had no way out and just kept weighing them down. I didn’t even have to stop to retie my laces.

Inside the Devil's Beard

The Breatho Trails are meant for trail running and they lived up to that billing. After 12.5 miles it was my feet that carried me through Electroshock Therapy and across the finish line. Bill and I got our third Tough Mudder headbands and heaps of satisfaction you can only get from pushing yourself hard. One thing I didn’t get were BLISTERS. Considering within the first 100 yards of the start line our feet were in muddy puddles, I feel that this was a big accomplishment and a true testament to the quality of the Breatho Trail Shoe. While hundreds of other Mudders donated or threw out their shoes at the end of the race, I held on tight to my Breatho Trails. They washed up great in the washing machine and are ready for my next run.

Finish line

Well- if you are a Cyclist- I Suggest you look it up (and start training) for next year.  I did it this past Saturday morning and it sure was a challenge. There were over 200 riders, old, young, novice to pro’s. And everyone finished! The race started at 9:30am, where we all began at the bottom of mile hill road. As the bell went off- I clipped right in, and found my groove. Huffing and puffing my way up Mile Hill I eventually passed a few people along the way. Once I entered the Mountain’s Main entrance I knew I had to give it my all with a slight recovery there, however my legs were tired, throat was dry and my HR.. well- it was high.

I’ve ridden up the mountain before, many, many times however not max effort. My official time was 24:13 with an average HR of 171 and average MPH of 9.1! The winning time overall was 15:00.. yikes. The whole ride I was wondering why I was riding in the race, why I would do this to myself?!?  Just like any other time trial, 5K, or max effort race. Then once the finish line was in sight it was all worth it! Right?

(Oh and the BBQ and prizes were worth it too!)

Check out my awesome King.. or Queen of the Mountain Hat I got

Today, Justin and I went for a leisurely ride to spin out the legs, however we always tend to go a little harder than we plan. All in all it was a great cycling filled weekend I couldn’t have asked for more!

Having been on the water for 35 years in all types of crafts, SUP is another water sport I just had to try. Besides, if it’s good enough for Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey and all the other A listers how could I possibly resist?

Look carefully at the photo of Mr. McCononaughey and you'll notice a striking resemblance to yours truly above.

When I stepped onto a board for the first time, the first thing that amazed me was the view. In all my years of kayaking, I never realized how much beautiful aquatic scenery I had being gliding over. With my new higher vantage point nothing was going to escape my view.

Sharing my new-found love of SUP with a group of Eastern Mountain Sports employees at a staff training event in New Hampshire.

The next thing to strike me about SUP was the pure simplicity of the sport. All I had to do was put on my life jacket, grab a paddle, step on the board, and I was on my way. I quickly realized that this was something I could get my whole family to do…provided I can get my youngest daughter of 2.5 to sit still long enough. My wife and I don’t call her hurricane Ellah because she’s stationary.

Even when my daughter sits still, she's moving so her first SUP experience may have to wait until next summer.

So that was it–I was hooked–not only simple, great views but the great workout as well. Maybe that’s how the A listers are in such good shape? Not long after my first time on an SUP board I found myself teaching the sport to others and yes everyone has those same feelings as I did the first time I tried it. One thing to remember is that SUP works an entirely different set of muscles than any other padding you’ve ever done. A couple of hours will see you tiring and if the wind picks up, be prepared to work hard to get back to where you started.

Eastern Mountain Sports Kayak School has lots of boards for you to try before you buy.

Naturally, when it comes to trying SUP for the first time, my advice is to take a lesson. It’s the most inexpensive way to find out if the sport is right for you and we do all the hauling of the board and gear! Once you learn the proper technique, there’s no telling how far you’ll go in this exhilarating and liberating sport. But don’t just listen to me, check out what some first-time and veteran EMS SUPer’s have to say: