AVAM Adventures

13/09/2016

The perfect storm of racing came together for AVAM Adventures this weekend... a Rallycross and an Enduro within 30 minutes of one another! Vaughn and Amy both attacked and with long days and long nights of fixing and prepping and cyphering logistics they took on their respective races... Both found that the theme of the weekend was -- 'Off Course'. Vaughn gave up the win at the rallycross after sliding off course in the second to last run of the day claiming 2nd for the day in RWD Mod against 4 other racers. Amy's enduro proved much more interesting as nearly an inch of rain and high winds engulfed Killington Resort Sunday morning just before her race. Dropping in on the 2nd stage of the enduro Amy was on a burner run when she slid across and off a wet wooden bridge, jamming her bike between a tree and smashing her hip, elbow and ankle pretty hard. She continued, and ended up crashing one more time on a set of wet roots, and when trying to scan her chip out on the final stage the gate fell over bringing her with it in a tangled mess of bike, metal gate, timing chip, and racer... Never giving up proved worth while though as she still managed to claim 3rd place of the 13 pro women at the Eastern States Cup Enduro Finals! Now for some hard earned recuperation!!

Thanks to everyone that helps support the Adventure!

07/08/2016

Vermont Overland Trophy 2016 -- 4 days, unrelenting, unforgiving, LONG, grueling, Epic, Awesome... many more words could be used... it is an experience like no other and is truly paradise. One of those events where if you get the chance you go for it, no excuses -- and no holds barred... Overjoyed to have made it to the finish-line of another one...and with only minor damage! Enjoy the highlight reel:

Vaughn Micciche and Amy Alton finish their 3rd Vermont Overland Trophy event. These are the highlights from the scored sections!

03/07/2016

Amy had a burner run today at Killington Resort's Downhill race taking 2nd place in the women's Pro field despite a root catching out her rear wheel and sending her into a tree & mud pit. She cleaned up nice though for the awesome podium shenanigans. This was the first race of the weekend, tomorrow is the 5 stage Eastern States Cup Enduro, she's hoping for another BOX Showdown win for the weekend (total time between the Downhill and Enduro Events)!! Go Amy!

Juliana Bicycles Cane Creek Cycling Components Allsport Dynamics Maxxis Tires

08/05/2016

Success! This was the crew at Saturday's intermediate skills clinic in Pine Hill Park - Rutland , Vermont. The crew had a great time practicing the fundamental skills in the morning and applying them on the trails in the afternoon. Seeing the smiles and watching the break-throughs was supremely rewarding! We can't wait to see you at the next one!!

21/04/2016

Vaughn and his Rally Cross car made the Susquehanna Region SCCA newsletter! This was during last Saturday's Rally Cross school in Harrisburg, PA... the obstacle was just a circle of cones and the move was to drive around it 6 times as fast as you could... Fun times in a rear-wheel-drive Porsche!

14/01/2016

New for 2016...ski racing!! AVAM just competed in our 1st ski race...EVER...as part of the weekly Innkeepers league at Okemo Mountain! What fun!! Here's Amy making a high speed hockey stop following the 2nd and final run on yesterday's race course. It was interesting not being able to pre-run the course and learning important details along the route...like make sure the red gates are on your right...etc, etc. Results left room for much improvement as she certainly lost several seconds throwing her hands up in delight and shouting with glee well before crossing the finish line.

11/12/2015

Happy Friday from atop Okemo Mountain ... featuring Vaughn's new trusty steed for the winter.

02/12/2015

And so the next chapter begins -- The last six weeks have been filled with whirlwind adventures leading up to our move to the Green Mountain State. Finishing up the rover trailer, installing a new engine in Goldy, winterizing Jalan Jalan, organizing, packing, building storage racks for sails and saddles, saying new hellos and old goodbyes, healing from collarbone surgery, finding-killing-and-butchering 2 deer for our freezer, driving 2 round trips, hauling a 7k lb flatbed on the new engine, proving the new rover trailer on a 400 mile trip, un-packing, ... finding jobs... the list could go on and also includes 7 states! Now time to rest, nest and get ready for an awesome winter in Vermont!

01/10/2015

Adventure #594: Returning to our roots by growing some, sort of. Upon our return from France earlier this year, we yearned for rich fresh produce. So in the midst of training and racing and building an adventure-rig, we planted AVAM's first garden at Lonesome Pine Farms and it has since filled us with happiness ... and nutrients. Although not certified, the small but mighty garden grew in virgin soil and sure produced some organic goodness. With such a bounty, Vaughn was overcome with excitement and learned a new trade as AVAM's Master-Canner ... making and canning tomato sauce, salsa, stewed tomatoes. Oh yes, and many many a grape tomato was dried, others frozen, for future healthy consumption.

28/09/2015

AVAM's recent adventures were a whirlwind of the Green Mountain state and beyond including riding and racing bikes, boating, hanging with cool cats and a solid biking community, re-entering the world of trials comps, drinking some outstanding micro-brews, exploring a ski mountain town for our upcoming winter. These are some highlight pics. AVAM is still patiently awaiting the arrival of the motor for the adventure-rig.

24/08/2015

This week’s adventure: finding the best ways to get to know yourself. Testing your mettle in competition gets you there quickly. The “who you really are" when things don’t go quite as planned. We found ourselves in Slatyfork, West Virginia this past weekend for a wonderfully sunny WV Enduro Series finals. Merely riding your bike through the wild and wonderful terrain of WV tests your resolve, but racing takes that to the next level. Especially, racing enduros (mountain bike racing with multiple timed stages) challenges your fitness, bike setup, mental fortitude, fear control, and much more.

After flatting due to a torn rim strip and cracking a carbon rear wheel it on the sweetest downhill of the day (stage 3), Amy used the transition to stage 4 to reflect. So many unhelpful thoughts can enter one’s head but its finding and holding onto the positive ones that are crucial to your happiness and life success. Remember to not let yourself get down just because things didn’t go the way you’d hoped. Its the getting up, brushing yourself off, clearing your head, and starting fresh...to move again…with the best foot forward. With the help of the best adventure partner and bike mechanic (i.e., Vaughn), Amy was able to slay it, winning the 4th and final stage, with a clear head, a huge smile, and lots of cowgirl hooting....and happy to step up onto the Pro/Ex podium in 3rd.

Vaughn reveled in a great day of clean riding and racing, ending up 8th in a stacked Pro/ex field.

Best of all, AVAM thoroughly enjoyed the WV biking community. It is a powerfully supportive and fun…and unbelievably fit…group of folks that were a blast to spend so much time with over the past several days. Thanks for all the hospitality and good times!

WV Enduro Series Juliana Bicycles Cane Creek Cycling Components Allsport Dynamics Maxxis Tires Industry Nine Sombrio

10/08/2015

It's Official -- Vaughn is kickin' it on the Dynaplug Racing Team!! Check out his rider page and check out Dynaplug's kits for Bikes and Trucks!

How is it that I'm stumped on the first question?! ha -- I grew up on a farm in southern PA, so really that's always home but lately I've been living and racing with my wife out of a truck built for overlanding and an old 1970's erra sail boat.

15/07/2015

A year spent thinking about racing, riding, and adventuring out west following the next crack at a national championship, months spent training, many pounds lost, scars gained, adventure rig built, qualifying races conquered, ... deadlines defined -- pushed -- pushed further... In the end it's all part of the adventure and what makes life so amazing, but, we're still a little disappointed to report that the sun has set on our big trip westward, for now. A bit of a 'lemony-snicket's-series-of-unfortunate-events', along with maybe a bit too much optimism led to the demise of our original plan. Now we're dreaming up the picture to paint on the newly found blank canvas while waiting for delivery of a new crate motor in this West Virginian paradise...

30/06/2015

AVAM Adventure #567 (or whatever #): DIO (Do-It-Ourselves) Adventuremobile complete overhaul and rig creation for long-term/long-distance travel that's entirely off-roading capable, bike racing equipped, and generally freaking awesome and fun. (with the original intent to get us to the 2015 Mountain Bike Nationals (in July) on the West coast). We started work 3 weeks ago (June 9) and its about ready to roll….

Unfortunately, no abridged version is available for our latest tale…hopefully some of these pics will suffice. Its difficult enough to explain the general concept let alone the sequence of details and level of work that have brought another AVAM idea (read: Vaughn’s DaVinci-esque epiphanies) to life. Its more of a complex tapestry of creative juices, mechanical ingenuity, logistical magic, olympic-level teamwork, goal-oriented and bigger picture reasoning, long hours, innovative trouble-shooting, a rigid deadline...and patience...and risk-taking…and much much more.

The notion of a new adventuremobile rig arose during our time in France this past Winter. Vaughn decided we should obtain another Land Rover with the intent to convert it into a trailer — an over-landing proficient tag-along would afford us lockable storage for the bikes and additional capacity for supplies. Here’s an AVAM truth: once an idea is voiced, it typically comes to fruition…. So a $1500 craigslist LandRover purchase (aka Goldie) was made April 8, 2015. First amendment to the original concept occurred several days later courtesy of Goldie’s nice condition coupled with some under-the-hood challenges from the current adventuremobile (aka the Roves). The decision was made that Goldie would become the hauler and the Roves be converted into the trailer ( ). But there was bike racing and work on Jalan (our sailboat) before we could really tear into these rigs....

And so began (on June 9) the fun and work (sort of one in the same for us (we decided)) which included the following and then some, and then some more….
[ read the list below very very fast to experience how we feel ;)]
-- designing and constructing a whole new air-intake with DIY snorkel and relocating the power-steering fluid reservoir on Goldie to allow for installation of additional battery under the hood -- swapping a front off-road suspension -- totally gutting (e.g. seats, dash, steering column, etc) the Roves -- hacking off the Roves front end -- disconnecting the Roves engine and transmission and hoisting and hauling with a farm tractor -- installing rugged off-roading bumpers and rock-sliders -- designing and installing load bars and securing the roof-top tent on Goldie -- smashing rear windows and installing potable water-tanks (another Vaughn brain-child circa 2014) -- hauling the front-less Roves to our go-to fabrication guy for plasma welding frame conversion into a front hitch with tongue-extension option -- removing and installing new turn signals and reverse lights in new location on Roves the trailer -- extensive wiring and soldering for lights, brakes for the trailer -- mounting the off-road air compressor and differential locker actuator, plumbing in trailer brakes -- taping and painting Goldie for function (hood) and fashion (sides) -- and perhaps our favorite part: removing, reupholstering, and replacing Goldie’s headliner with sassy tiger print…BOOM!

And we’re so pleased to report that we are about ready to roll with our sexy new adventuremobile rig!!

19/06/2015

Some of the best adventures involve an element of risk. Sometimes they even leave scars that remind you of the journey. Find what makes you feel alive this weekend!

13/06/2015

Big congrats to Sombrio Ambassador Amy Alton for her win at the Eastern States Cup Enduro this past weekend, despite going down hard in Stage 1! Keep killing it out there Amy. We've got a new pair of shorts on the way for you!

Check out the Eastern States Cup Enduro recap on Pinkbike to catch Amy in action! http://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-and-race-report-vittoria-esc-enduro-2-at-blue-mountain-2015.html

08/06/2015

Yesterday was a monumental day in the life of Amy Alton. She claimed the Pro win at the Blue Mountain Bike Park Enduro presented by Eastern States Cup!! In a stacked field of seasoned downhill racers on 5 timed stages that favored a DH rider, Amy let loose a fury winning all five stages and taking the overall!

Thanks for the support from:
Juliana Bicycles Cane Creek Cycling Components Industry Nine Maxxis Tires Sombrio Urge Bike Products La Colombière du Château The HUB/C'ville Bikes Allsport Dynamics

05/06/2015

The weekend is almost here... Time to send it!

01/06/2015

We're happy to report that we'll be running Cane Creek Cycling Components Double Barrel shocks this season through their DBInfluencer program -- The wide range and ease of making adjustments has both our Enduro and DH rigs riding like never before. Check out their instagram feed below:

“The weekend is almost here. Get out there and turn some k***s and get some laps in! ”

15/05/2015

So there's this sweet magazine called Dirt Rag Magazine and if you open the latest edition to page 92....well, BAM...you catch a glimpse of Amy rippin' her Juliana Bicycles during our amazing adventure in France this winter. Huge thanks to La Colombière du Château for making that possible. Also, greatly appreciate the support from Cane Creek Cycling Components Industry Nine Maxxis Tires Urge Bike Products Sombrio

28/04/2015

A last minute whirlwind New England adventure left us loving our and overlanding community more and more -- The journey included a Vermont Overland Trophy-esque dance party Bat Mitzah in MA, a sweet Rover parts pick-up at Rovers North in VT, and quality time with our favorite boot-fitter at Totem Pole Ski Shop. Oh yes, and we fit in our first mountain bike XC race of the season Kenda Cup East in CT.

20/04/2015

Never a dull moment...since our return from France, or otherwise, really. The past several days involved moving a mast-less Jalan Jalan (our beloved liveaboard sailboat) from dry dock in Baltimore to her new home on the far side of the Chesapeake Bay. The adventure is book-ended with copious amounts of biking - started with 40+ miles to save us from city parking and will end (TBD) with over 100 mile bike ride back along the Eastern shore. In between, Vaughn fixed the engine's water pump impeller so the engine wouldn't overheat, we were boarded by the US Coast Guard for a "safety inspection" (in which the one said, I think this boat's older than me...yes, yes she is), anchored (aka gunk-holing) in the Magothy near the most spoiled horses on a luxurious farm, maxed out our motoring speed across the Bay w/ bikes at 7 knots, witnessed more osprey than you can imagine, and are currently enjoying our floating office on a mooring ball near Rock Hall, MD. Jalan's set to go back on the hard shortly for a serious facelift...refit...including new slick masts.

06/04/2015

This pretty much sums up THE International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Team Relay Championship of the Multi-Friggin-Verse ... Pay no attention to the raccoon commentating in the background.

01/04/2015

Jump if you're a rockstar !!! Now THAT, was a killer weekend of playing on bikes in the sun...and snow at . Amy dug coaching along side and . Thanks to all for such a fun event full of skillz work, positive vibes, and camaraderie...who doesn't love seeing a "cowgirl" master a rock garden?!?!

24/02/2015

Check out this sweet descent down a fun enduro track near the cabin in Puimoisson!

Maxxis Tires Royal Racing Urge Bike Products USA Dynaplug Racing

This is a helmet cam video of Vaughn Micciche from Avam Adventures doing a practice run on an enduro track in southern France.

19/02/2015

Amy's sweet new just made its debut on the Juliana Bicycles Instagram feed!

“Juliana rider Amy Alton, of , shows off her in St. Jurs, France. | ”

12/02/2015

With a decent amount of snow last week, we were able to experience another amazing gem in our backyard (1.5 hrs from the cabin)...Skiing/snowboarding in the French Alps was a blissful adventure on all accounts. The slopes of La Foux d'Allos/Pra Loup are already calling us back.