Fruita Colorado

Ahhh... spring in the Rockies... one minute it's sunny and 60F and the next it's snowing so hard that you can't see. I'm getting a bit tired of the snow and there is a huge 'up slope' spring storm that it bearing down on Colorado. An upslope typically dumps snow on the front range but it doesn't impact the middle and western part of the state.

So on Friday with the weather guessers predicting anywhere from 10 - 36 inches of snow for the Front Range on Friday and Saturday I decided to bail out and head west to Fruita for a dry weekend of mountain biking. The best laid plans... by the time I could leave on Friday, the snow was so heavy that I70 was closed. So early Saturday AM with a driving rain snow mix I headed north on 25, west on I80, South on 13 to Rifle and west on 70 again... I had escaped the grips of the snow and showed up in Fruita in time to ride Marys Loop, Steves, Handcuffs, Lions Loop and Mack Ridge.

On Sunday AM, I head over to the Book Cliffs Area just north of Fruita. I'd never been here before but this is a treat! I was slow starting due to my back being tight and sore from shoveling some snow on Friday AM and from being in the truck so long etc. Anyhow, I mixed a 4 hour bottle of fuel and headed out... I warmed up on Prime Cut to Chutes and Ladders. Back up Prime Cut to Front Side. I am on a mission to do the Edge Loop and nothing is going to stop me.

The Edge Loop is about 30 miles long, it's remote and apparently not often ridden... perfect! I never saw a single sole during this whole ride :). No mountain bike ride would be complete without some great twisted story to tell...

So at about Mile 22 I've climbed and decended a good amount of pretty precipitous terrain (OK some of it is wicked steep) and I'm now at the infamous 30' 'waterfall'. Which is thankfully dry.

I've done a bit of climbing and this kind of thing doesn't bother me but it has my undivided attention. I've got to get me and the bike down this cliff face in one piece. There is no way around it and no turning back. This would be an easy task with 2 people but since no one likes to play my game... I'm left to my own devices.

There are a couple of fixed lines that have been placed down this narrow rock chute that are critical to doing this little decent safely. So I rig up my bike with my camelback straps so that I can wear it on my back.

No, it is no fun taking your own picture and it's not a very good one but you get the idea of the bike/camelback rig.

My biggest concern about the decent was getting the bike wedged in the top part of the chute and it causing me to fall or to damage the bike. Anyhow, I'm now down safely and I continue to head down the narrow canyon. After a bit I am back on single track climbing out of several ravines... this is really cool!

I arrive back at the truck and I've consumed all of my fuel and nearly drained my camelback dry. I've been out exactly 4 hours and I'm happy that the fuel and water are working out so well... I do a lot of tweaking on these critical aspects to make sure that I'm getting the calories and hydration that I need. I'm having to use a camelback this year due to the Carbon Yeti having only a single bottle cage... it takes some getting used to, hence the need to practice with it.

I quickly refuel for 2 more hours, more water and head back out to hit the classic storied trails of Kessel Run, Joes Ridge & Western Zippety. I finish up on Zippety Do Da. My friend Mike told me that this was going to be a real treat so I saved it till last. He was right! This is a gem! It's marked for experts only and has a reputation for breaking collar bones due to how steep it is and after riding it I can see why!

So the BDA (Battle Damage Assessment) at the end of the weekend, I'd driven a ton of hours, ridden 8 hrs of single track & checked out both mountain bikes. I've covered about 80 miles. The bikes are running fine and my body is responding to the training load. My back however is killing me, I'll get into see Dr Joel at Well Within Chiropractic in Castle Rock when I get home... he will get me straightened out again.

Life is on the bike this weekend is lonely but life is good!

More Hill Work

Today's bike session was more work on Jackson Creek Road. I was able to get 3600' of vertical which equates to about 2 and 1/2 laps before I ran out of day light. I was very happy that I felt much better and stronger than 2 days ago. I was able to keep the intensity, speed and heart rate up. The purpose of this workout is to build power so I'm using larger gears and lower pedal cadence... I can feel it in the legs tonight.

I love this time of year because the training gains are always obvious and quick to realize. I'm eating a lot and am happy that I am able to do so with out worrying too much about counting calories. I concentrate on consuming high quality protein, carbohydrates and veggies. I also supplement which is very important for recovery and to allow hard training the next day.

I'm still heavier than I want to be, my scale tells me that I'm running roughly 7% body fat, in another 6 weeks I should (or want to) be down to about 5%... I'll get there, it just takes hard work and focus on not eating junk or consuming more good food than I really need.

Road Bike Intervals 1 min on 2 min recovery

Well, I got to experience a new level of pain and suffering yesterday. I was introduced to the 1 minute full out sprint followed by a 2 minute recovery and repeat 10 times. This workout is supposed to and should help the body improve its ability to work at very high intensity levels and recover more quickly between. The translation over to the mountain bike would be a tough technical uphill section that requires a lot of effort to get through or a passing situation in a race.

I was quite pleased that I could hang in there on these. 3o minute warm up ride then the 30 minute ride - recover intervals then 30 minute cool down. Today, my legs feel OK but I can definitely tell that I was working hard yesterday.

I ended up with a work out cough and I could taste the blood but I'm happy to say that overall the body is hanging in there and responding to the training load.

Jackson Creek Road

Well today was the first day that I've hit my 'favorite' dirt road. Jackson Creek Road is a dirt road that essentially goes straight up into the foothills... it is a relentless climb of 1400' vertical to the gate that blocks access to the national forest. There is no road or trail that I know of that is close to the house, can be ridden when it's wet and is sustained and steep... this fits the bill.

I turned around at the gate today because there was snow on the road past it and I know this route so well that I know that it would be futile to try to go farther. Also, I forgot my bike fenders and with the road being so wet I would have ended up a muddy mess with little additional training to show for it. I only have a few weeks to train on this road because the traffic becomes so heavy once Rampart Range Road is opened up that it is dangerous for me to ride it not to mention the choking dust that is kicked up by all the cars, trucks & jeeps.

I rode the Yeti 575 today because it is heavy on the way up and fun on the way down. More weight going up helps build that leg strength that I'll need for long sustained climbs during races but I'll be doing those race climbs on the light weight Carbon Yeti which should translate to faster speeds and better overall endurance.

I only had time to make 2 laps on JCR before it got dark but the 1.5 hours was worth it. I've got a good base line for my climbing strength now and I'll be able to work on building power in my legs. This training hill is not fun, in fact it is really hard to do and to stay focused. I just keep thinking that all this hard work will pay off when the gun goes off at the (now) first race - The 18 Hours of Fruita.

Sunday Training Ride

Well after yesterday's cancelled Dawn Til' Dusk Race in Gallup NM and our subsequent drive back home... I was dying to get a ride in... no matter the penalty...

So I headed out on the Cyclocross bike at about noon... I stepped into 38F, Fog, Rain and about a 20mph wind... this was going to be a real training day on the roadbike... because as you know ' If it ain't rainin', then it ain't training '.

A bunch of cars passed me while I was out... I could feel them stare at me as they went by... probably muttering something about me obviously being crazy.

I managed to stay on the bike for over an hour and a half but my hands go so cold that I couldn't feel them and I couldn't work the brakes so I had to cut it short. I really felt good and wanted so badly to continue for several more hours but thought better of it... I don't want to get sick or run down. It was a struggle to get my gloves and gear off in the garage but I felt better after a hot shower and some warm food.

I'll lift and do some ab work this afternoon. I will also stretch... I'm still tight from the long hours in the truck on Friday and Saturday.

I can't really complain about the rain because we need it so badly, it's been really dry here for about 4 months so this is very much welcome.

Monday is supposed to be sunny and 59F and I should get to take advantage of it!

Dawn Til' Dusk - 2009 - Canceled due to Rain, Snow & MUD

Those of us who choose to entertain ourselves with hours of training and long races expect bad weather from time to time... I could tell some stories... Anyhow, Chad, his sister Beth and I headed down to Gallup, NM on Friday April 10th for the 12 hour Dawn Til' Dusk mountain bike race. It was a great trip down, good conversation, good music and good company... It takes about 8 hours drive to get there from my place in Castle Rock.


We arrived in Gallup at about 430PM on Friday afternoon, got checked in and headed over the race course which is about 15 minutes away. Chad and I were both signed up to do the 12 hour solo race. The race directors quarantine solo riders in our own special holding area which is close to the course so that it makes it easier for us to get into and out of our pit areas quickly.


We set up our canopy tent to stake out our spot which will now become our official 'Pit' area and then we head off to partially ride the course before it gets dark. This is the first time that we have ridden this course so we are anxious to see what it holds in store for us. We ride out about 3 miles out then catch the other side of the trail and return down a different set of switch backs back to the Pits. The course is very nice, the first bit of it has a couple of tricky switch backs and one ledge which is easy to ride if your mind doesn't get in the way (it has a nasty fall to the right down about 10' if you screw up). The top part is clay, 'slick rock' and packed sand... very nicely done trail.



After securing our race packets back at 'El Rancho' we head off in search of food... Pasta and chicken is what I want and we find it at a local itialian place... good food and poor service...



This is the biggest salad that we have ever seen! Go Beth!




I should interject that Beth has volunteered to come down and crew for Chad and I... what a sacrifice that she has made giving up a vacation day driving about 17 hours round trip with us etc... We are grateful for her company and for her help during the race. Thanks Beth! We enjoyed having you along and hope that next time will bring sunshine and warm temps!

Saturday 0500 comes early... none of us has slept particularly well, we are nervous as usual before a race especially the first one of the season. The other thing that is nagging us is the sound of a steady rain drumming on the flat roof out side our windows.


We are loaded and out the door by 0530 headed over to the pit area. Things are looking pretty bleak... fog, rain, snow and cold. We arrive at the pit area at about 0545 where we are greeted with a sea of mud.








The race director came by at about 0600 and told us that the race would be delayed from 0700 until 0900 due to the bad weather and absolutely deplorable trail conditions.


We are all hopeful that the present weather system will pass quickly and that the course will dry out to allow the a 0900 start. We have access to Sirus - Satellite based Travel Link radar in the truck which now becomes our sole focus for the next 2 hours. The red triangle is where we are and the weather is tracking to the north east... nice...




At the pre-race meeting at 0845 we are told that the conditions are terrible and the sections of the course are not only unrideable but also unwalkable... nice...



So an additional 2 hour delay is put into place and we are delayed until 1100 at which time they will decide to either hold the race starting at 1200 or cancel it.




From our unique position to see the weather on radar as well as to be able to cross correlate what we are seeing outside the truck we are starting to believe that there is no way that they can hold the race without 1) destroying the trail and 2) risking someone getting badly hurt or worse.








Chad starts to play with the video function on the camera to document the drama.



There was a clearing of about 30 minutes where the sun came out briefly and the weather gave us a break for a while then it socked in again... at about 1000 the weather had rolled back in and the race was cancelled... then it was a mad dash to get out before some little car got stuck in the quagmire.



You can tell from the video and comments that we are absolutely bored to death and trying have fun and make the best of a bad situation... The backhoe is going in to extract a bunch of cars that wouldn't make it out without assistance. Sometimes these things happen... we are terribly disapointed that we can't race and we feel bad for the race promoters and staff, they can't control the weather... so we start the long drive home.



We hope to try it again next year! Hopefully with better weather!

New (Replacement) Carbon Yeti

Well true to their reputation Yeti took care of my broken frame, no cost to me and I was back in business after exactly 7 days. Now that is service! The shop (Bike Source) in Highlands Ranch was tremendous, thanks Steve & Damon, you ROCK! The other really cool thing is that my replacement frame is now stealth black which is way cool.





Yes this is my kitchen... hey I can cook AND look at the new bike.



Training is going pretty well but I'm concerned how well prepared I am for the first race... April 11 in Gallup, NM. Dawn Till Dusk (12 hour solo). I have to remember that this is the first race of the season and that it is meant to be a 'shake down' for me and the new bike... a measuring stick if you will to see where I am and where I need to be as the season progresses.


I escaped the impending snow storm April 4-5 by driving to Sante Fe, NM... long haul and I had no idea what was in store for me there or even where I was going but I knew that there wouldn't be any snow and that I could either road or mountain bike in the high desert so it was all good. I was concerned that I would miss out on two critical training days if I stayed in Colorado so south bound I25 was calling me!


The local bike shop in Sante Fe hooked me up with the trail gouge and a map and I spent 2 days getting the crap kicked out of me... these are technical and steep trails and I'm not too adept at technical up hill so it was a real work out for me.




So the race season is about to start and I've got an official 'Team'... PowerQuip of course is the main sponsor and PowerQuip couldn't do it without our principals and our customers... thanks to everyone for their well wishes and for your support!


My other sponsor is so critical that without them I'm am certain that I could never even think of competing in these events. I am very happy with is the work that Well Within Chiropractic (Dr. Joel Kinch) www.maximizedlivingdrkinch.com/ has done with me to eliminate my neck and back pain. Without Dr. Joel and his super staff of professionals I couldn't hope to train at this level. They have helped me beyond description and I'll be a patient for life so that I can get the most from this beat up body.



My next post will be after the Dawn Til' Dusk Race on Saturday... 0700 - 1900 (12hrs solo). My friend Chad and I are headed down together on Friday AM.

Catching Up

Catching up... I think that I do more 'catching up' than most 'normal' people do. Anyway, it's been a while since I took the time to tap out a few words and alot has transpired in my tiny corner of the world.

Lets see... I've been riding a bunch both road and mountain, I'm feeling pretty good and getting some good solid training hours in. We have had a very, very dry winter and early spring on the front range so the trails have been rideable even in the foothills. Last weekend I got a great 4 hour ride over at Indian Creek, there were still patches of ice on the trail in spots and some places were wet but over all it was bone dry.

On Sunday I got in a long ride in Buffalo Creek which I had ridden only a small part of several years ago. There is a bunch of terrain to explore over there and I can't wait to go back.

During Sunday's ride the frame broke on my new carbon Yeti. The bike had a grand total of 138 miles on it so I'm sure that Yeti will cover it. It was very strange to keep riding the bike once I discovered the crack and realized just how bad it was but it held together and got me out without having to walk the last 10 miles so I'm grateful for that.

After a long delay and a bunch of procrastination I put the Yeti 575 back together. I had some parts issues etc but it is done now. It is essentially a new bike now... new pivot bearings, new headset, new cables & housings, rebuilt fork and shock by PUSH, new set of chain rings... rode it yesterday for an hour... freaking SWEET. Feels better than new but it is a TANK (~30#) by compairson to the Carbon Yeti which weighs 22.5#.

Speaking of the Carbon Yeti, it handles incredibly well. I can't believe how much faster and more confident I feel on it. I'll have to keep riding it to get fully settled in on it but I can say without hesitation that it is absoultely with out a doubt the finest race rig that a rider could hope for.

I'll primairly use the 575 to train on and it will make me work harder on the climbs so that the Carbon bike will be a treat during races.

So my plan is to keep riding the road bike(s) to continue building endurance, with a mix of riding the 575 and (hopefully) my new (new) Carbon Yeti. I'll try to get some good solid hill work in with the 575 since it weighs about 30# as it is currently configured...

So for hill work on the mountain bike it's Jackson Creek Road here I come... this is a dirt road that, in good conditions, will allow about an 8 mile uphill that boasts ~2,100' of verticle. The downside to JCR is that it gets a bunch of traffic once they open Rampart Range Road so I won't have much time to use this great hill for training. The other downside to this road is the pure repetitive nature of the work out. It also requires that I use fenders on the bike because sections of it are always wet this time of year. However, doing this route 4 times in a row is a respectable workout and serves its purpose.

Torries Peak via Kelso Ridge

Well I committed to myself on the flight to Salt Lake City that I would go with Chad and try a winter assent of Torries Peak via Kelso Ridge and so this little adventure began by meeting at 0530 in the Wolly Mammoth parking lot just west of Denver.

After a slow start (0700) from the parking lot off of the Bakerville exit which is just down the hill from the Eisenhower Tunnel we ski up the road.

We are on our back country skis with skins on the bottom of them. For those who may not know, skins are used to allow a ski to slide easily forward and up but when loaded with your weight it ‘sticks’ to the surface of the snow. This method of back country travel gives you access to areas that are otherwise quite difficult to get into and out of easily. The ski evenly bears the weight of the skier as he ascends. Unlike snowshoes, upon reaching the turnaround point the skier, after removing the skins from the skis, has a real advantage of a speedy exit rather than a slow slog out.

Both methods of travel have their advantages and their place but neither is perfect on all terrain. The skis that we are on today use a special binding that attaches to our plastic ‘double boots’, again a trade-off… While being really great for keeping your feet warm, providing excellent foot & ankle support as well as a solid anchor for crampons they are poor ski boots at best. I explain all of this because it is difficult enough for me to ski the most forgiving skis and great fitting ski boots but then to add the sloppy fitting double boots and stiff, straight & hard to turn back country skis makes it an ‘adventure’ for me every time on the way down. By contrast, Chad could use anything remotely resembling a ski and beat me down the hill all while making it look easy.

The sun just hitting Kelso Ridge, we are a long ways off still well below tree line.

Safe back country travel at any time of year requires some level of knowledge and skill. Winter travel is particularly tricky because the special gear required as well as the obvious challenges of snow, ice, wind and cold. As we make our way up the snow covered road we are constantly adjusting our clothing levels to match the current conditions. This is a ‘skill’ or at least a knowledge that requires a lot of practice to do naturally without it taking lots of time and effort. We are constantly zipping, un-zipping, removing, adding or adjusting layers of clothes to match the rate of heat generated against the rate that the environment removes it from our bodies. Further adding to this unchoreographed dance is the requirement to shed heat at a rate that is great enough to be comfortable but not too warm that we begin to sweat. Sweat is one of the outdoorsman’s greatest enemies because if you get wet, you can, at best, be uncomfortable and at worst create an environment ripe for hypothermia.

Today’s clothing and gear is so advanced from what is was 30 years ago… or even 10 years ago. Growing up, we wore cotton ‘long johns’ which were great until you started to sweat or got wet from melting snow, rain etc then they were pretty close to useless because cotton holds moisture which as explained above can cause problems. I’m always in awe of the early explorers & mountaineers who didn’t have the advantages of this modern gear which we all enjoy and take for granted today.

The ski up the road (or ‘skin’ as we call it) is easy, we quickly loose the sound of the I70 traffic and are surrounded by tall evergreens. At first there isn’t much to look at but after a few hours we are seeing a rocky ridge, lesser mountains and much better views behind us. The problem or advantage to the time on the skis on the way up is that it gives you time to think. We aren’t in any particular hurry today, Chad has been sick for a few days and is still trying to shake the evil spirits that have had a grip on him. We don’t stop much and only just long enough to make clothing adjustments and get moving again.

Staying hydrated in this high altitude winter environment is a constant battle. I’d guess the humidity levels to be somewhere around 10-20% so at every breath you are loosing water, we are also loosing water through sweat. Oddly enough it is not easy to do so we pay particular attention to keeping ahead of dehydration and a hunger.

The views are getting better, we can now see Torries and Greys peaks in the distance as we ski above tree line. There are a few other hikers on the trail today, probably about a dozen. They are all headed up the standard route to the summit(s). We finally ditch our skis when the snow runs out into the rocks and make our divergence away from the trail over to the prominent, unmistakeable Kelso’s ridge.

Chad making one of seemingly hundreds of adjustments necessary throughout the day.

The wind has been tearing at us ever since we cleared the tree line, it’s cold, uncomfortable and dangerous to exposed skin. So long as we keep moving our gear keeps us protected from the elements and from frostbite. I don’t know what the temperature is but I can tell that it is above 0F and I’ll guess that it was probably around 15F to 20F at this point but the wind is blowing pretty steadily we guess it at about 30-40 mph.

There is a small, old mining shack that is just at the base of Kelso’s ridge that makes a reasonable wind break and a good place for a quick lunch. We don’t say much about the weather but we are both thinking that the wind is way too strong for us to be up on this rocky, icy and very exposed rocky ridge line. Our proposed route follows the long ridge to the summit. Exposure as it relates to climbing vernacular has several meanings, it can mean that you are physically suffering from the elements either hot or cold or that you are on a steep, scary slope that if you fall could mean disaster. The Kelso Ridge route is known for both kinds of exposure as it resembles a knife edge and for its exposure to the elements, particularly the wind.
We get headed up from the mining shack to the ridge immediately above and strangely find it to be nearly devoid of wind. We are quite frankly stunned that the wind is non-existent. We snap a few quick photos and get started on the route.

As we make our way up with Chad in the lead we banter back and forth a bit at first before becoming nearly silent. The interesting thing about climbing and exposure is that is completely focuses your attention on the task at hand… all you can do is think about preventing your body from plummeting down the hill. I don’t care how bad a day or week you have had, a good climb with some real tricky spots and plenty of thin air between you and terra firma below will provide you with a mental escape from it all.

The other thing that I should mention is that we neglected (on purpose) to bring harnesses and a line (rope). It is truly amazing what you can climb when you don’t fear falling because you know that the line would arrest a potential fall. With no line to rely on (or use as a mental crutch) our rate, and mine in particular, of assent is slowed considerably as we gingerly pick our way ever higher.

Thats me, very focused on self preservation & not making the nightly news.

This is a challenging ridge in double boots and mittens, I like to think of the whole experience as climbing with roller blades and boxing gloves… not much in the way of feel or feedback from the rock, ice and snow. There are 3 or 4 sections that give us both real pause as we continue our way up. The views are absolutely spectacular, there is nothing to obstruct our vision of the mountains in every direction.

As we make our way up the ridge, I feel a sense of calm and focus. I had a slight tension headache in the morning which nagged me up to the point that we started the route. I know that the stresses of life have been long forgotten and are replaced by more pressing requirements of self preservation.

We are making poor time as we ascend, I am moving slowly, deliberately and cautiously up, Chad on the other hand seems to be in ‘the zone’ and is smoothly navigating his way up. We do a time check at somewhere around 1300hrs, we are at about 12K feet we both know that we need to make a decision within the next hour to proceed ahead or to turn back.

After several more harrowing little pitches we finally have the turnaround discussion at about 1430hrs. Chad thinks that we are about ½ way up the ridge to the summit, at least 2 or more hours away at a good pace. There is apparently a tricky little section of extremely exposed rock that must be scaled up ahead and I’m having concerns about my mental ability to get through it. Further, if something happened we could be in real trouble if we got stuck on this unprotected ridge after dark.

We speculate that under the best circumstances it would be 1800hrs before we summit and walk down the trail to where our skis are and over an hour to ski back to the truck from there (in the dark of course and with no head lamps). We also contemplate down climbing the sections that we just came up, neither of us likes that idea. After some debate, we decide that it is best to ‘bail out’ down the route we came up. We think that there is a possibility that if things get really bad that we can bail off of the ridge to the rocky slopes to the west to avoid the technical sections.

I know that Chad is disappointed that we aren’t going to make the push for the summit and so am I. I am the weak link today and I feel bad that I’m holding him back, I’m not climbing comfortably or easily.

After some time of down climbing we begin to get a bit more comfortable with this most difficult task and start to make better progress. Finally back at the skis, we peel the skins off and head down the trail towards the truck. We arrive at the truck right before dark, glad that we made the decision to down climb vs pushing to the summit.

A bad day climbing beats 100 good days some where else... we feel fortunate to have had both a good day and to have been climbing. Mission accomplished, I know that I feel rejuvinated and replentished... the roses still smell sweet.

Below is a link to the route that we did with great photos, we did not reach the 'knife edge' or white pillar of rock. The photos were taken during the summer but you get a great perspective of what it looks like.

http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=torr4&peak=Torreys%20Peak

Beautiful White, Grey & Black - Thoughts from an airplane

Well, during December 2008 I was on 12 flights in about 3 weeks and by the time February 2nd arrives I will have been on an additional 8 flights... So, 20 flights in less than 2 months, that's just not right! Anyway, I'm not asking for sympathy, I know where I can find it, in the dictionary... it's between... Oops can't write that, this is a 'G' rated blog.

My latest sortie got changed from Bismarck, ND to Salt Lake City, UT... One of the guys that was in Bismarck this week told me that it was only -20F ambient and that I would have been disapointed with the weather since it was -56F last year with the wind chill but, I digress...

I have flown commercially so much in my 19 year career that I find it a real drag. To me it's like being on a Greyhound bus, it is a way to get from point to point. The upside to flying is that I can work, read or sleep... I mostly work but sometimes catch up on the latest mountain bike magazine or the occassional book. I always try to get an isle seat and avoid the dreaded middle and rarely find myself on the window.

Tuesdays flight to Salt Lake on Frontier Airlines was something different, the flight departed into a piercing blue sky, CAVU (Clear And Visually Unrestricted ) weather. We took off heading directly west... the flight was only about 30% full, I had an exit row to myself. With no MTN bike mag to read and not being able to use the computer until after take off I found myself in the window seat gazing out at the countryside which quickly slipped beneath us as we climbed to ~32,000'.

The flight path from DEN to SLC takes us just south of Longs Peak... I can see the City of Boulder, Fort Collins, Devils Back Bone and other prominent landmarks. I am now truly captivated by the topography, I'm staring down at Longs Peak, recalling a wildly cold night that my friend Sean and I spent in the Boulder Field at about 12,000' before doing the final winter assent of the Dove route in double boots, crampons & mittens... I recall an early Christmas day morning with my friend Chad when we attempted to climb Longs and the wind was blowing so hard that we couldn't stand up above tree line... that was cold too.

Further west I see Grand Lake which is close to where I usually ski and to the north Walden and the huge expanse of cold flat ground to the west of Walden all the way to Rabbit Ears Pass. Next I see Steamboat Springs, Hayden Station & Craig Station with their cooling tower plumes giving away their locations like light houses on a clear night.

A bit further west I spot the Colorado River where it heads down into the Flat Tops where Chad and I hunt elk... I think how funny it is that I can spot these things and am able to orientate myself so easily even with everything covered in ice and snow. I feel strangely and strongly attached to Colorado and the west not just for the tremendous views and rugged unforgiving landscape but also because of the people and characters that it attracts. I think how lucky I am to be here, to have a real sense of belonging and a sense of direction and purpose for my life.

My mind wanders, I remember that I am supposed to tell Chad if I can join him on a climb up Greys and Torries on Saturday this week. I also get a flood of memories of Denali, Aconcagua in the Andes, motorcycles rides, skiing, ice climbing and just hanging out in various cool places around the state and in the west. I feel the mental draggons of work & life trying to claw their way back into my thoughts I am able to stave them off and force myself to continue enjoying the scenery.

I finally realize just how much I'm enjoying the views from this flight and how the flight is a metaphoric parallel to my life. I've been on a laser straight trajectory of work, a bit of play here and there and for the past 10 years almost no time where I allowed myself to just soak in the sights and sounds on a regular basis. Sure, I've stopped to smell the roses but those quick stops have not been long enough to replenish the heart and soul, I am realizing that there is a void inside that needs to be refilled.

I think that it is interesting to know as humans our most acute sense is smell, I think that mine is sight. I realize that as I study the terrain below that the bitter cold and pristine white snow & ice that blankets the ground prompts me to think about the things that bring me warmth... my friends, family and business associates.... It seems that what was supposed to be another 'typical flight' has been a catalyst... the decision to climb Greys & Torries this weekend has been made for me.

BreckEpic, Mountain Bike Stage Race

It was very late late a few nights ago and after much soul searching and contemplation that I finally talked myself into signing up for the BreckEpic Mountain Bike Stage Race. I submitted my deposit to hold a spot on the start line of the first ever mountain bike stage race to be held in the Good Old USA. The race is scheduled for July 5 - 10, that's right 6 days of back-to-back races out of the ski town of Breckenridge Colorado.


The race promoter promises a mostly single track event which will be truly amazing to put together even in Breck which boasts great trails and picturesque, percipitous terrain. I suspect that this race will attract the best of the best so I'm not sure what I was thinking when I signed up for this 'soul crusher'.


Anyhow, for those unfamilar with stage racing, as I am, these are the basics of the game; Ride each stage (one per day) and get a time for each one, add the 6 times for the week and that's where you place relative to your competition. The interesting thing about stage races seems to be that you can have good days and bad and still have an overall good (or bad) race. I have no idea how my body will respond to this kind of abuse but I am now destined find out.

My racing experience so far has been a single hard race of 50 - 100 miles or 24 hours solo followed by about a week of 'active' recovery and rest. I'll have to rethink my stage racing strategy so that I don't 'blow up' from too much exertion too soon and not be recovered for the next day.


I've got some good mentors who will be able to help me understand what I need to do and what I need to avoid.

Reprieve, Verification & Vindication

Well, we here on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains have gotten a reprieve from winter. It's mid January and it is 55F during the day which means that I can get in a ride on the road. This leads me to the verification that I am definately in the base building stage of training and am not anywhere close to where I will need to be in 3 months.

My road ride on Sunday on the cyclocross bike was fantastic but I had to stop and pull the toe caps off of my shoes and remove my arm warmers because I was over heated. The ride that I did would normally take about 1hr 45 min during the regular season took me right at 2 hrs to do. Granted I wasn't trying to break any records but I was 'getting after it'.

I really felt great which means leads me to the vindication that I am, in fact, building strength and endurance and that my body is finally adapting to the training stresses that I'm placing on it. Training inside is one thing but getting onto the bike outside where I can accurately compare times from one work out to another is key and not always do-able in the middle of January.

It looks like I've got about 11 weeks until the 12 hrs of Gallup NM... I've got a lot of long hours in the saddle if I'm going to survive that race.

Colorado, Oh! Winter in January

Yesterday I got out on my 575 mountain bike... I was on the road but outside and it's mid January in Colorado. It was about 50F, I wore below the knee bibs, jersey, arm warmers, gloves & a wind vest...that's it. Today, more of the same with the same kit. Everyone takes advantage of the weather when it's like this at this time of year. There were walkers, runners, motorcycles, kids playing & people hanging out in lawn chairs drinking beer! We should have a few more days of this before we are slammed back into the reality of winter but I'm sure going to enjoy it while it's here.

I'm going to have to spend some quality maintenance time with the 575. I need to change all the pivot bearings which is a yearly deal. Also I need to have the shock and fork services as well.

I pulled the Shimano XTR shifters and rear derailer off of the Carbon Yeti and sold them on Ebay. I'll replace those with Sram XO components... lighter and perform better... hey it's my blog and my opinion!

Windshield time, flights, hotels & not enough sleep

Well, this week has been a tough but good work week and a terrible training week... I flew to Columbus, OH on Sunday night, got to the hotel at ~ 0100 Monday, got up at 0600 to work out on an elliptical trainer that had to have 150,000 miles on it. Oh well at least I got a bit of cardio done. All day in meetings, then all evening on email. Tuesday started with 3 hrs of sleep an hour drive to the airport a 2hr 45min flt to Denver.

I met two guys at the airport and drove 2.5 hrs to Wheatland WY for 4 hrs of meetings. We headed out of town towards Laramie WY @ about 1600 ultimately headed for Steamboat Springs. I like this drive but could do without the wind. I enjoy showing my work colleagues the antelope, mule deer, elk & hawks along the way... they haven't seen these beautiful animals before or this part of the country so it's even more fun for me to show them the sights.

Arriving in SB at 1900, we grab a quick dinner and I'm off to bed by 2130 absolutely beat. I'm up at 0400 Wednesday, not to exercise but to get some very critical emails done before hitting the road at 0630. Meetings in Hayden and Craig, the 4 hour drive to Denver, quick dinner and drop the guys at the airport and then another 1 hour home... no exercise today or yesterday, they were 'rest days'.

More Indoor Trainer Work

This time of year is difficult, I want to be outside on the bike but there is Ice & Snow everywhere so it isn't possible to safely ride on the road. I bought a used cyclocross bike a few years ago to use on the trainer and on the road when there is gravel everywhere etc. I got a great deal on it with excellent components. For those who may not know a cyclocross bike is simply a road bike that is made to be used both on and off road. The frame is sturdier and is meant to take a beating and tires are wider and have nobs on them like a mountain bike tire & the gearing is a combination between a mountain bike and a road bike.

Cyclocross racing was developed in Europe by road racers who wanted to extend their season and do some more challenging and very different courses. These courses are typically short, the races are short at about 45 minutes but the difficulty is tremendous. The course will have both natural and man made obstacles on it which require the rider to dismount, carry & run with the bike. I haven't tried a cyclocross race yet but may in 2009, it looks fun!

Anyhow, I bought the cyclocross bike because I knew with an aluminum frame that I couldn't (or likely wouldn't) be able to break the frame while it was on the trainer. This peace of mind allows me to really hammer on the trainer without worrying about wrecking my nice carbon road bike... I learned from my friend that you can break carbon frames on trainers.

For the last few days, I've been on the trainer over an hour each day with one day off the bike. I'm also lifting, light weights, high reps and working on core strength as well. I'm trying to build a decent base fitness level before I start ramping up the time on the bike and/or the intensity.

On The Road - Typical Trainer Day

This morning started at 0430 in Wheatland Wyoming at the Super 8 Motel. I had worked all day and then driven the 3 hours to be here for an early AM breakfast meeting on Tuesday followed by a series of additional meetings the rest of the day.

These training days are really difficult because I have to load the bike, trainer & gear along with my work stuff into my truck, make the drive, unload, drag it all into the hotel, set everything up and get to bed, only to wake up a few short hours later.

I climb onto the trainer and start my workout at about 0445. Thankfuly, this morning I'm only on the bike for 1 hour and 10 minutes.... just enough time to clean up, pack up and get to my breakfast meeting.

I spend the day with the customer, had my meetings which I think went well and then head home at about 1700... 3 more hours in the truck and reverse the process of unloading etc at home. Sometimes these days make it really challenging to stay motivated.

I feel much better after I've ridden, even though this is a short workout.

First Ride of 2009

I can't believe that 2008 has already come and gone. It all seems like a blur now but it has been an exciting and eventful year for me.

Today I finally got to ride my new Carbon Yeti. I hadn't been able to ride it since I brought it home December 23rd. Today seemed like the only window to ride outside for a while so I jumped at the chance. The new bike weighs 22.8# with UST (tubeless) tires & all XTR components! This will be a serious upgrade from my original Yeti 575 which at race weight was ~27#.

It was about 25F when I left the house and snowing very lightly, I could tell that the snow would be flying in earnest in a few hours so my timing was good. With AC-DC's - Hells Bells playing on the Ipod in the background, it was a fitting maiden voyage for my new race rig.

My legs felt heavy from my first 4 days of telemark skiing this season but I was stoked to be on the bike. The similarities are many between the 2005 - 575 Yeti and the new 2008 Yeti ASR Carbon. They fit the same but that is where the similarities end. The Carbon rig handles far better than the 575, it turns tighter, is extreemly stiff laterally and compliant up and down. There is a steering geometry difference that seems to inspire my confidence on the downhills and turns... I'm hopeful of seeing if that pans out in the real world.

The trail close to the house is in great shape with a bit of ice & snow on it in the shady spots. Now with Joe Satriani in the background I was inspired to kick up my pace and see what the bike would do... I am nothing short of astounded with the ride and how light it is. I will have no excuses during my next race(s), it is now all about the engine and I've got a bunch of work to do!

Despite my wanting to go for much longer my hands are cold and I can tell that the snow will start at any time. I had met another rider on my way over, we didn't speak just nodded and grinned at each other, I'm sure that we had the same thoughts... what a great day for a ride!! We meet again on my way back and offer a similar acknowledgement, though my grin was now about the size of Texas.

One last burst of speed, a few undulating pseudo jumps I am able to log some flight time. The Eagles were belting out their classic 'Take it to the Limit' tune just as I entered the jump section... how cool was that?

At the end of the dirt trail and back onto the pavement the snow has now started to come down steadily and is sticking to the road which is now completely white. While I'm glad to be home to warm up my hands I hate to hang the bike up to wait for more favorable weather.

I'm convinced that I've made the right decision to buy this bike, it was a hugh financial commitment but should allow me to go to the next level in my racing pursuits!

Weekend Hike, Lost Creek Wilderness

Well, I'm new to blogging... I don't know what the purpose really is but thought that I'd try it to help me keep focused and motivated to train, race and basically excell at life and living.

I did a hike with my friend Ed into the Colorado Lost Creek Wilderness area on Saturday. We left Castle Rock at about 0700 and got started on the trailhead about 0900. The objective was to retrieve a lost camera that had been dropped over the side of a cliff a few weeks ago. I brought a 165' line, harness and a few caribiners.

The weather on the front range was overcast & misting when we left but as we hiked up toward the 'falic' rock (no you don't need any imagination to know which rock we are refering to) the overcast broke and we had clear blue skys and a very light breeze. I kept commenting that the aspens golden color was absolutely fantastic... again, we wish that we had a camera.

We reached the top of the rock at about 1100 after an easy hike up. Ed really knows this area well and having him along sure made the day enjoyable. I didn't have to think hard about navigating (there is no formal or marked trail) as Ed had been here many times before.

I set up my rapel station on a pine tree and rap'ed over the edge. The rock is steep but really doesn't warrant this kind of protection but a fall would ruin your day and potentially be life threatening... guess that I'm getting smarter in my 'old age'.

After a thorough search of the rocks, including crawling into a hole where the camera was suspected of falling I finally abandon the search when it started raining and sleeting... I sure was happy to have my rap gear when the rain started... what was originally a super sticky rock surface became slightly greasy. Though I didn't locate the camera, I now know where the camera isn't, that's important too!

The hike out was really something, the rain that was falling was slowly trickling into shallow groves on this massive rock dome, soon the water was cascading down these troughs several hundred feed to the canyon below... again we wished we had a camera.

We didn't find the camera but we sure had a great day which included nearly all of the weather that Colorado offers... sun, overcast, rain, sleet... just no snow.