MTB•OCD

Day 13 IMBA ride

2009-05-14T23:45:00.003-06:00

great ride tonight... IMBA group ride w/ all of the regional directors from out-of-town. picture rock to wild turkey and back down. good stuff. ended up at oskar blues for some chow and live music. tracer was feelin' the flow, though sounded a bit "loose"– definitely needs some TLC ASAP.

realizing my HR monitor isn't so accurate (perhaps a case of "you get what you pay for"), so not sure i'll be using it much after all for training; at least now i have a sense of perceived exertion and can go by that...

tomorrow is the anthony sloan memorial ride up at alderfer/3 sis.

time 2:00 • distance 17.95 • average 9.0

Day 12 COMBA BoD ride

2009-05-12T23:17:00.002-06:00

it was decided by the BoD that we'd postpone our meeting and ride instead in honor of anthony, though only 3 of us were able to do so... which meant i was chasing über-fit freaks AJ and nate up grubstake on up apex. supposed to be a zone 1 "recovery ride"–per my FC50 training– so much for that plan!

still good to get out on the bike.

aHR 136
mHR 166

time 1:38 • distance 12.35 • average 7.5
(now playing: charlie rose)

Day 11 needed to get out

2009-05-09T18:44:00.003-06:00

supposed to go out for 3:00 today; looks like i fell short of my HR goal (at least :30 in Zone 3). this whole "training" thing is harder than i thought (not in terms of effort, but in terms of sustained periods at a target heart rate over X time).

oh well... it ain't for the TdF, and i'm sure i'm getting some benefit still.

golden out to westminster and back via a circuitous route. felt good to be on the bike, as this was the first ride since learning of anthony's death and the late night last night at casa de MTB w/ his friends. Ride On, Mr. Sloan.

> :06
= :27
< 2:11

time 2:45 • distance 38 • average 13.7
(now playing: U2 again)

Day 10 Zone 3 @ GM

2009-05-07T22:47:00.002-06:00

my first interval / HR monitor ride...

supposed to do three 12' Zone 4 efforts w/ 3' recovery in between (after warm up). that is harder to hit than i thought (on a mountain bike / trail). i guess if you had a road bike and a sustained climb it would be easier, but trying to maintain a HR while going up / across / down GM didn't work as well as expected. averages closer to Zone 3.

1 - 17.10 @ 159
2 - 12.55 @ 146
3 - 2:58 @ 120
4 - 12 @ 143
5 - 3:41 @ 116
6 - 12:31 @ 139
7 - 36:36 @ 140

> :22
= :19
< :55

aHR 143
mHR 182

time 1:36 • distance 14.3 • average 8.8
(now playing: U2)

Day 9 marshall mesa

2009-05-06T21:59:00.000-06:00

needed to switch days on the plan, so just ended up at marshall mesa for an easy ride. nice evening.

time :31 • distance 4.89 • average 9

Day 8 boulder creek

2009-05-05T20:39:00.000-06:00

a recovery day after the LT test. spinning on the boulder creek path.

aHR 116
mHR 141

time :46 • distance 10.6 • average 13.8

Day 7 – LT threshold test

2009-05-03T20:35:00.005-06:00

according to my Team IMBA training peaks plan, i need to get a baseline for my lactate threshold. you're supposed to go out pretty hard on a flat and monitor heart rate for :30 (:10 then :20). i thought that the van bibber trail would be a good option, but lo & behold the overhead power lines were wreaking havoc on my HR monitor, so i ended up just on the roads which wasn't ideal for sustained efforts.

anyhoo, not sure how accurate this is, but i'm going w/ it for now:

lap 1 - (warm up) :10 @ 175
lap 2 - :20 @163*
lap 3 - (warm down) :19 @102

aHR 132
mHR 181
*LTHR 163

time :55 • distance 14.3 • average 15.5
(now playing: U2)

Day 6 Vuja De

2009-04-30T23:59:00.002-06:00

finally got out to join the notorious TITS gang for a thursday night night-ride... back to buff creek again.

nobody told me they were all (mostly) superfit singlespeedsters. ;-)

good ride, quick pace... kinda yo-yo style for me: at the back for the climbs; at the front for the descents. definitely a different ride being on some of the same trails from sunday– only this time on the ti lite instead of the tracer. both have merits. new descent (for me) down buck gulch(?)—over 2 miles down some flowy trail—esp. fun in the dark i might add!

fitness is still my Achilles Heel. need to download the training regimen for the Firecracker 50.

time 2:37 • distance 22.8 • average 8.7
(now playing: pink floyd)

Day 5 Buff Creekness

2009-04-26T23:06:00.004-06:00

a little jaunt w/ fellow COMBA director Hanrahan and legal counsel Rontal... wow i should get down to BC more often. good good stuff. started in the sun, ended in the snow. super fun chasing joe thru the flow. hopefully his little handlebar vidcam caught some of the action.

felt good to be back on my own bike– long live the t*racer.

time 2:16 • distance 18.7 • average 8.1
(now playing: rainfall outside)

Day 4.5 rip 9'er

2009-04-25T23:21:00.004-06:00

took a demo bike (thanks adam)—niner rip 9—out in the mist on a cool day for some MW/RR/DR action. great ride, while it lasted... though i was assured the bike was running tubes (ahem), when i flatted on top of DR and pulled half the tire away from the rim: no tube. and my little crank bros pump was not gonna reseal the bead. pulled the valve stem and tried running a tube (thought this was an option??) but tire was flat in about 10 feet. second guessed that maybe the tube was bad (i repair/recycle), and a couple of guys stopped to help and offered another tube. not 5 minutes later flat again. arrrgh.

had to walk it out, down the hogback, back to lower red rocks... i was pleasantly surprised that, in addition to the two guys who helped me on trail, someone stopped to ask if i needed a tube, and then a bit later, an older couple (cyclists w/ rack) pulled over and insisted they give me a ride back to the jeep ("there are whackos out there who might try to hit you on purpose").

good ride while it lasted. hope to get the tire fixed in the morning and off to buff creek tomorrow to give this bike a better workout.

Day 4 BMX fun

2009-04-22T23:59:00.003-06:00

still waiting on a training plan, so just trying to get out when i can...

taylor called and asked if i wanted to meet him out at the arvada BMX track, so i decided to ride there. tail wind made quick work, and had a good time– both riding and watching. from a 5 year old boy (awesome!) to a pro rider on sweet yeti, it only reinforced the desire to get a bike park built in golden. ;-)

i could see myself on one of those bikes and one of those tracks. good stuff.

time 1:18 • distance 16 • average 12.2
(now playing: late-night TV ...blah)

Day 3 recon

2009-04-20T22:27:00.005-06:00

scopin' out some locations in g-town for a bike park before we meet w/ parks & rec this week to make a presentation...

ironically, i found some dirt jumps hidden in the trees of location 2. ;-)

ended up @ GCB to raise a glass for icegeek, after a little tumble out in moab left him in a sling.

time 1:45 • distance 13.22 • average 7.4
(now playing: silence)

Day 2 (taxes e-filed this morning)

2009-04-15T23:53:00.000-06:00

unbelievably we're supposed to get 1'-3' of snow starting tomorrow night, so couldn't let this day go by.

got me some white ranch action, but something a little different: up belcher —> whippletree —> longhorn —> shorthorn —> longhorn —> maverick —> belcher.

controlled burn meant that sawmill —> mustang was closed.

beautiful evening. the smell of smoke evoked camping/riding trips to come.

bright sun. dark clouds moving in as i left.

time 1:45 • distance 13.2 • average 7.4
(now playing: the earps (youtube))

Day 1

2009-04-11T23:10:00.006-06:00

Firecracker 50 here i come...

looking for some kind of training program (12 weeks), so until then, guess i'll just ride my bike. easy spin today– fairmount-ish (procrastinating = taxes).

snow in the forecast again (grrr).

time 1:00 • distance 11.65 • average 11.5
(now playing: spinal tap)

slips of paper

2009-03-30T22:47:00.002-06:00

hooray for warmer-than-normal temps in the spring...

14.19
1:18
10.7

20.99
2:01
10.2

4.98 (mattews/winters)
:55
5.3

4.8
:55
5.1

7.9
1:16
6.1

11.14 (arvada rez)
:55
12

5.08 (white ranch)
:51
5.7

6.84 (chimney gulch)
1:08
6.0

7.28 (sluice / apex)
1:05
6.5

3.82
:32
7.1

9.61 (GM night ride)
1:13
7.8

17.53 (rez loop to NTM southside)
1:54
9.1

spin the res

2009-01-18T15:44:00.003-07:00

weather too nice to ignore... coming down w/ some chest cold though (see what i get for volunteering at the pre-school?!) so no dirt action today (conditions aren't ideal anyway).

easy spin up and around the arvada reservoir bike path. several "senior" cyclists out, which i love to see. god willing, i hope to spinning as an octogenarian. ;-)

(now playing: ac/dc)

d@mn the wind!

2009-01-11T22:35:00.004-07:00

sun was out, the still a chill in the air. met greg at the zorro parking lot, and rode south to BCLP. good conditions and a decent pace. dodging in to the trees, i see that lakewood has built two new bridges over the swampy/mudfest that plagued us at TKMBD last fall (though what kid doesn't like to get dirty?). up and over the back side of the dam then round to the north to hit up GM. sure enough, as we start up bear creek ave, the wind kicks in. we enter GM from the east, and head around the southern perimeter back west toward the TH lot at zorro. now it is just ridiculous, as in blow-you-off-the-trail gusts... to the point where you had to pedal to go downhill.

we finished just in time, as the temp dropped dramatically (i stopped to put on the fleece headband for the ears just before the final ascent). brrr. back at the jeep i noticed i lost my pump and spare tube from the waistpack. D'OH!

gotta love CO. start a ride in january a bit sweaty, and finish up chilled to the bone. good stuff.

distance 16.01 • time 1:32 • average 10.4
(now playing: alice in chains)

first dirt of '09!

2009-01-08T21:28:00.003-07:00

after a casual cruise on the bike path the other day w/ the family (so much fun watching my 8-yo daughter ride her 24" mtn bike), i ventured up to matthews/winters to get some time on the dirt while the weather was cooperative (turns out michelle was out there, too, though we didn't run into each other).

took out the ti lite '96'er—now running the ergon grips—and had a great time (short but sweet). bike climbs like a goat, though i need to put the QR seat collar back on that frame, as i'd like the option to drop the saddle when necessary– like coming down the backside of morrison slide (almost the first OTB of the year). ;-)

distance 4.98 • time :55 • average 5.3
(now playing: dixie chicks)

COMBA 2009

2008-12-21T22:36:00.013-07:00

NEW VISION • NEW MEMBERS • NEW TRAILS

Founded in 1991 as Trail Conservation Services, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association has my respect and appreciation for the strides made and the countless volunteer hours dedicated over the years. Having served on the Board of Directors for the last three years, I believe it is now time to begin a new chapter for COMBA– redefining the organization as a more progressive, pro-MTB organization, by proactively working towards the interests of mountain bikers along the Colorado Front Range.

We have it good here, especially within the Jefferson County Open Space trail system and the variety of trails provided for our recreation. However, our “sport” is changing and growing– along with the local population. Bicycle technology is advancing rapidly, allowing even average riders to ride more technical trails, at faster speeds, than just a few years ago. Though our user-base may be skewing a bit older as the sport matures and long-time riders age, more and more people—young and old—are recognizing the joy in riding offroad. Local trails are becoming crowded, and user conflict may be up (or at least reported more often), as more folks from all user groups enjoy a limited number of trails.

As President of COMBA, I would strive to actively engage the MTB community to get more personally involved– to give voice to those of us who seek out a fulfilling, natural experience on a magnificent, two-wheeled, mechanical contraption… and to ensure that our children and their children have the same opportunity.

NEW VISION

As first order of business, I would prompt the new Board of Directors to dissolve the existing committee structure, which, in my opinion hasn’t worked well for our organization. Rather, I’d like to see us be more agile and dynamic, utilizing a project-based approach; this would allow us to more effectively allocate resources depending on the current task-at-hand, shifting focus and personnel as needed. The goal is to empower “Project Leaders” but also hold them accountable for dutiful progress. Likewise, another goal is to engage our volunteers in a more community-oriented atmosphere– where everybody knows everyone and knows what others are working on. Gone will be the days when formal committees met separately, and one person’s perception of COMBA might be an infrequent meeting of 3 or 4 people working on one issue. I propose that the BoD will meet every month, immediately followed by a 2 hour “work session” whereby all of membership is invited/encouraged to attend and get involved on current projects. Providing a sense of communal purpose and social interaction will, I believe, only help volunteers feel more committed to the organization and be more willing to recruit others to join/help the cause. Power in numbers, after all– both for internal efficiency and external influence.

Communication. COMBA has consistently failed here over the years. In my experience it is by far the complaint most often cited by members, current or former. While engaging membership at monthly meetings will go a long way to address this, we will need a sharp, dedicated focus to keeping our members (and the community at large) informed, via a consistent PR update schedule of what we are doing and how we are spending our time & money. I would dedicate one person’s whole attention to this matter, making them responsible for overseeing email communication and website updates, as well as press releases and other appropriate ways to “spread the gospel” about the hard work COMBA plans to undertake. Kyle Henley, a former journalist now working in Public Relations, has offered to fulfill this role, both as a Project Leader and ideally a member of the Board of Directors, and he has my confidence. Additionally, Hillary Seminick has offered to help produce a quarterly newsletter and assist with getting the word out.

Returning to Community– a shared sense of purpose can help to solidify a group of strangers. But there should be more to it than meetings or trail crews. All work and no play, yadda yadda yadda… after all, at the end of the day we’re all in this to ride bikes, right? The social component of mountain biking has been missing from the organization, and I’d like to rectify that. Whether it be group rides, events, or happy hour drinks debating the pros & cons of gears, “the family that plays together, stays together”. Michelle Beckman has graciously offered to look after Social Outreach, so that we don’t take ourselves too seriously and lose focus as to why we’re doing this.

Industry. Besides being lucky enough to get to attend Interbike, these folks have some valuable insight that needs to be exploited, er, tapped. So we’re not California (thankfully), but we’ve got our own thriving scene– including some great local bike shops—both independent and chain—and of course, more than a handful of manufacturers, both large and small. These folks are in the trenches, and in the case of shops especially, are face-to-face with mountain bikers on a daily basis. They should have representation, and to that end, I’m looking to Adam Williams, of Golden Bike Shop, and Joe Hanrahan, of Bicycle Village, to help us interact more closely with all local Front Range shops. Likewise, Anthony Sloan has been summarily “volunteered” by Yeti, to provide his insight and expertise both as a committed rider as well as an industry veteran and representative.

NEW MEMBERS

An organization is only as strong as its membership. Considering that our claimed “territory” (which—despite our name—I see as encompassing Buffalo Creek to Coal Creek Canyon) includes trails that arguably attract the most riders along the Front Range, it is inconceivable that our membership numbers are so consistently low. However, people need valid reasons to join and to part with their time and/or money, and we’ve never done a satisfactory job (in my opinion) of conveying to the cyclists of Denver and surrounding suburbs “why” they should join COMBA. After all, it is easy to take for granted the great trails and easy access we have, living or riding where we do. Subsequently, it is also easy to become apathetic to the situation at hand, unlike say, Boulder, where the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance has had huge successes in the last few years, fighting for access and working hard for new trail.

As population increases more trail users (from all disciplines) will flock to JCOS and other local trails… increasing the opportunity for conflict. I believe that in addition to education, providing new trails to alleviate congestion is a sensible approach. “New trail” also has the added benefit of motivating our constituency to join our ranks, as some will see it as a better use of their time, than say, maintaining a section of trail along Green Mountain. Don’t get me wrong, that maintenance/stewardship work is also important, but should not be our primary focus, in my opinion. JCOS has made it clear that they have a workforce of 200+ youth from which to put shovel-to-dirt, and though we may not all agree with their methods, that program seems to work for them. That said, I hope to increase our support for the successful “Mini-crew Trail Day” program– an independent initiative under the direction of Reven Swanson, made possible by her unique partnership with Jeffco and other local advocacy orgs. This program is an ideal and appropriate conduit between COMBA and JCOS, allowing us to concurrently focus on trail opportunities elsewhere without ignoring our “backyard”.

So my goal is to increase our membership to at least 200 members by the end of 2009, and hopefully that benchmark can be achieved early in the year so we can draw upon those people (YOU!) to help us accomplish the tasks at hand. Nate Wyant has thankfully offered to help with this endeavor, and it will keep him busy.

NEW TRAILS

As outlined above, I believe the pursuit of new trail construction will be key to our success. I’ve identified the following projects as the most reasonable attempts to that end:

Area 28, Idaho Springs

Continue to pursue this new trail system, which was jumpstarted by COMBA earlier this year, but is currently stalled while the City looks at easement issues. The goal here is a directional, “downhill” trail (phase 1), followed by a multiuse (AM/XC) trail system in future phases. There are some politics at play, but I’m cautiously optimistic that this project will come to fruition. I’d like to see this initiative headed up by David Rontal, who has thus far worked closely with Jason Bertolacci and I on this.

Municipal Bike Park

Earlier this year the President of Yeti and I met with City of Lakewood officials to at least start some dialogue about the possibility of a bike park in/around either Bear Creek Lake Park or Green Mountain (both Lakewood properties). While those two locations have essentially been ruled out, there may be other areas worth looking into. That said, I think I’ve found an ideal location within the jurisdiction of the City of Golden, where we could also pursue JCOS funds for assistance. Taylor Shull, after a briefing from Chris & I, had a meeting with the Mayor of Golden to try to get a feel for his position on mountain biking; the discussion was generally positive, though vague (a bike park wasn’t raised). Furthermore, IMBA has rolled out a like-minded program called “Gateway Trails” which could offer some valuable assistance for an undertaking such as this. I’d like to see Joe Hanrahan, an accomplished semi-Pro DH’er, work with Taylor to take the lead on this.

Buff Creek

The Front Range Mountain Bike Patrol has a long history of working with the USFS out at Buffalo Creek. That relationship has certainly proven worthwhile and reciprocal, as the Ranger(s) for the area recently approached them about building some advanced “freeride”-type trails within the park (yes, you read that right). Keith Clark and Stu Miller (co-founders FRMBP) have since been seeking the best organization to run with this opportunity; I have let Keith know that, should I get appointed President, I’d fully support this project moving forward under COMBA's leadership. Jason, Keith, and others have already scoped out the area for possible trail routes (rocks, drops, ledges, etc.). I’d like Jason Bertolacci to continue to take the lead on this, with Keith & Stu supporting and liaising with the Forest Service. We’ll be sure to keep you apprised of this exciting venture (and we’ll be looking for help).

The following two trail projects don’t have quite the priority of the aforementioned, but have some definite benefits to be worthy of our attention:

Staunton State Park

This is a new park, currently not open to the public, outside of Pine Junction along US285. It isn’t clear yet whether the new administrator(s) there support an IMBA-proposed trail plan, or if, in fact, they may even be anti-MTB. We need to keep our finger on the pulse of this, as it could have some political underpinnings and could serve to set precedent (for or against) for bike trails in other State Parks.
http://www.stauntonpark.com/

Trestle / Ruby Hill Bike Park

Winter Park (Intrawest) is working with the City of Denver to build an urban stunt park likely located at 6th & Federal. I’d like to see if/how COMBA could contribute to this project, as we have resources to share and it meshes nicely with our (proposed) new focus.
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/

Finally, a long-term goal of mine—having started riding here in 1986—is an “inter-county connector” trail between Jeffco and Boulder– potentially allowing one to ride from White Ranch to either the new Dowdy/Marshall area, or even, ideally, Walker Ranch. This idea isn’t as farfetched as it may seem, as I’ve seen vague references to it in County documents (though of extreme low-priority status). There are issues related to the Railroad and the Denver Water Department, which own some of the land betwixt the two counties, but with the acquisition of the Coal Creek Canyon Open Space acreage, I’m hopeful. For that matter, a case could be made for a similar connector between Jeffco and Clear Creek, up the corridor towards Idaho Springs (Area 28, anyone?). Again, long term, back burner status.

So there you have it: my vision for 2009. It represents a significant change from the status quo, and of course the incoming Board of Directors would decide and act on these initiatives as a group. My role as President would be as a facilitator to make sure progress is being made, so as not to waste anybody’s time and talent. I intend to delegate and hold folks accountable; conversely, I’ll also look to empower people, too, so as not to get bogged down in “group think” and endless meetings. As Chief Evangelist I would make fundraising a major part of my mission (more on that later). Progress. New Trail. Relevance. I believe COMBA is at a tipping point– it could dissipate into the New Year quietly, or it could emerge as a powerhouse of energy and focus for Front Range mountain bikers. I hope you’ll help me re-invent this organization and leave it stronger than when we found it. *** JOIN COMBA NOW ***

I support the following individuals currently running for seats on the 2009 BoD: Michelle Beckman; Jason Bertolacci; Joe Hanrahan; Kyle Henley; Adam Williams; Nate Wyant.

Regards,

Terry Breheny
December 21, 2008

scraps of paper

2008-11-30T14:28:00.006-07:00

cleaning up my desk, i figured i may as well record these rides since i bothered to write them down at the time (w/ intentions to 'blog/post pix later)…

incomplete, and in no order whatsoever (mileage/time):

10.69 / 1:10 • NTM
15.97 / 1:34 • mesas
18.17 / 2:00 • rattlesnake/eldo
12.87 / 1:19 • GM
30.23 / 4:24 • kenosha to breck
4.17 / :34 • MW
14.31 / 2:01 • DR/MW
10.58 / 1:11
9.4 / 1:10 • CC
21.14 / 3:20 • molas/engineer (durango)
8.54 / 1:09 • apex-ish
7.6 / :49
4.8 / :55 • (family)
28.94 / 3:26 • buffalo creek to waterton canyon (CT)
17.82 / 1:28

(now playing: led zeppelin )

for the record

2008-11-18T23:51:00.003-07:00

wow, my procrastination in posting my rides to this here 'blog really got the best of me...

know this: i really have been riding all this time, and i've got pix and little scraps of paper w/ mileage notes to prove it. however, it seems kinda, well, tedious, to go back now and update this page. it is worth noting though that i was able to get two "classic" rides in this summer that i've been meaning to do for a while: kenosha pass to breckenridge; "durango", a la RMH08.

finally, let it be known to all that on this glorious indian-summer day (mid-november & 78˚?!), that—after my failed attempt last year—i slew the infamous "wall of shame" at deer creek. hoorah!

family fun on the recpath: breck to frisco

2008-06-27T18:27:00.004-06:00

now that my 4-year-old son can ride a bike (sans training wheels), we've sold the bike trailer. spending a few days up in breck w/ extended family, we packed up all 4 bikes on the jeep for our first official out-of-town family bike ride. grandma joined us, as we left breck headed to frisco. luckily the free bus shuttle stops every now & again, so bailing is an option. i didn't expect my son to make the whole trip, but was damned impressed that he went as far as he did (over 6 miles)! he & i caught the bus back to town, and the girls went on to frisco.

i'd say he definitely earned his post-ride ice cream cone!

distance 6.84 • time 1:13 • average 5.5
(now playing: alice in chains)

photo op

2008-06-08T22:41:00.005-06:00

david rontal & i met smedley up in georgetown so that a photog from the clear creek courant could get some action shots to accompany the (front page) story about Area 28. (bummer: online version of story already down– glad i grabbed a hardcopy).

afterwards, david & i rode silver creek... fun trail; i'll be back.

self-portrait

distance 15.63 • time 2:21 • average 6.6
(now playing: elysian fields)

worst. ride. ever.

2008-05-30T19:01:00.003-06:00

this was one of "those days"…

you know the rides that can either turn out to be spectacular or horrific, 'cuz you know going in you probably shouldn't be riding (so either you're surprised, or proven right). i had a horrible night of sleep (more like rest) last night (a trend lately, for some reason), and then a measily lunch at my daughter's school picnic. worse yet, we met first at Golden City Brewery pre-ride, which meant a pitcher of IPA was at hand.

then it was off w/ some of the fit/fast folks right up chimney gulch. "kill me now" was the mantra of the day. i really wanted to quit the entire time up, but icegeek wouldn't let me until i insisted near the top, after dropping the chain twice. (turns out it wasn't a problem w/ the limiting screw, but rather a bent cage). par for the course.

thankfully a new day lies ahead and a chance to redeem myself.

distance 7.64 • time 1:17 • average 5.8
(now playing: tool)

a little adjustment is all it takes

2008-05-29T18:52:00.004-06:00

decided to move my saddle back about 3/4 of an inch on the tracer this afternoon, and it was a noticeable change. so off to matthew/winters park for a quick spin. ankle is finally feeling a bit better too, though i'm still a bit paranoid about "unexpected dismounts". rode really well, and having more weight over the rear of the bike seemed to help me be extra sticky tonight, as i was able to climb even the technical/rocky sections around the switchbacks.

speaking of the details though, apparently my limit screw on the RD wasn't quite on spec, as coming down the backside i managed to put the derailleur into the spokes AND break the hanger. thank god for spares.

distance 5.09 • time :45 • average 6.5
(now playing: smashing pumpkins (smiling politely))

maaaaaggggnnnooooooollllliiiiiiiaaaaaaa-hhhh

2008-05-24T21:45:00.002-06:00

here's the thing about riding on the front range– nearly every trail starts w/ a lungbuster of a climb, which can sometimes take the wind out of your sails before you even get started. not so today, as greg and i headed up north for some fun in/around the west mag, dots, hobbit/habit, ???, area after dropping off his klein at a shop in boulder first. thankfully i was feeling pretty good today, so didn't have much of a problem keeping up.

ebert says: two thumbs up.

distance 15.03 • time 2:04 • average 7.2
(now playing: soundgarden)

backyard goodness

2008-05-23T18:41:00.002-06:00

sometimes a spin up/around NTM is just what the doctor ordered. i typically ride this trail on the hardtail, so it was kinda fun being back on the tracer again.

distance 11.37 • time 1:28 • average 7.7
(now playing: nirvana)

COMBA BoD ride

2008-05-22T23:36:00.003-06:00

well it was about time... three years on the COMBA board of directors, and we finally got out for a group ride before meeting over pizza and beer.

didn't realize we have some racerboyz among us. ;-)

i need to spend more time out that way on the Colorado Trail; good stuff. not to mention the first ride back on the tracer since destroying my rear derailleur (and ankle) in moab back in april.

distance 17.77 • time 1:43 • average 10.2
(now playing: silverchair)

mystery ride

2008-05-20T23:39:00.001-06:00

gotta love it when you procrastinate the 'blog entry enough that you forget where you rode... oops. i know it was on the ti lite, and based on the average speed i was definitely on the road. oh well. i went for a ride this day– somewhere.

distance 10.56 • time :56 • average 11.1

head east, young man

2008-05-19T20:41:00.003-06:00

not a bunch of time for a ride today, as jill had a meeting this evening, so decided to once again take it easy and just spin on the road for a bit. took my chances– no helmet, no tools, no spare tube, just got on the bike and pedaled around fairmount & arvada just to the east. amazing how the average speed gets a bump when you're in the big ring almost the entire time (as short as it may be).

wish i had more mileage under the belt, but the incident in moab kinda put the kebosh on that plan. what was it, two years ago last week that paul & i were spinning through the kokopelli trail (3 days, ~150 miles). oh well. this weekend is the annual redstone death march. i'll try to hit up at least one of the two days for this sufferfest; problem is, that crüe is typically hard-core and bloody fast.

distance 10.83 • time :49 • average 13.1
(now playing: AC/DC)

comin' round the mountain

2008-05-18T20:34:00.004-06:00

trying to take it easy on the ankle, as i think i probably pushed too hard, too soon. so decided to circumnavigate north table mountain—clockwise—w/ a slight detour to white ranch from golden (to avoid hwy 93). other than a stupid flat tire (on the road), it was a nice spin.

distance 12.37 • time 1:02 • average 11.8
(now playing: TOOL)

bon voyage beer for bill

2008-05-16T20:53:00.003-06:00

hillary called a "meeting of the minds" at GCB to have a pint w/ bill before he leaves for austin. so i decided to throw the bike on the jeep and just pedal around golden for a bit beforehand. ended up west of the bike path (under the highway) and was surprised to see a new bridge spanning clear creek. right now, basically a bridge to nowhere, as access on the south side is blocked. a running passerby told me of a singletrack sighting, though she had never ridden it. i checked it out– definitely not bike-friendly (at least ascending), and my ankle prohibited me from hiking much beyond a few hundred yards. looks to be a (new) hiking trail straight up the north side of lookout mountain.

beer frau athalliah

distance 6.69 • time :44 • average 8.8
(now playing: U2)

what a difference a few hours makes

2008-05-12T20:18:00.002-06:00

nearly 80˚ yesterday, and the forecast calls for snow tonight/tomorrow.

schedule today only allowed for two mini-rides: a pre-lunch jaunt around the 'hood, in shorts and a t-shirt (no cyclometer); followed by a short, late-afternoon ride through east golden and up south table mountain, wearing long pants and a wind breaker. kept a close eye on the ominous dark clouds encircling lookout mountain, carefully watching for bolts from the hand of Zeus (lightning doesn't strike titanium, right?!). ;-)

got back to the jeep just as the rain started.

distance 6.18+ • time :49+ • average ~7.4
(now playing: the stanley brothers)

look, i'm an astronaut!

2008-05-09T23:50:00.003-06:00

i blame taylor.

scrounging for beer money since he's hurt and can't ride, he twisted my arm to join the likes of anthony, dave, and mr. sasquatch for a rally-run up to the top of apex, only to pick us up at the bottom and drop yet again at the top of chimney, this time w/ hillary in place of matt.

once again, mr. sloan hooked me up w/ a ride from the YETI toybox– this time a carbon 575. all i can say is that i've severely underestimated the impact that technology (read: travel, braking) can have on speed. the head angle and fork rake make small work of anything that finds its way under the front tire. certainly allows one to be faster, if not sloppier. now i don't feel quite so bad, wondering why i'm always struggling to keep up (on the downhill), as i'm usually on the "smallest" bike w/ the tracer. is a bigger bike in my future? time will tell.

post-ride partay started at GCB, though it was commencement day for the school of mines (madness), so we ended up at casa de MTB for some (more) beer and anthony's pizza (no relation).

now i'm officially part of the problem as well as the solution– death to shuttlers! long live shuttlers!

distance DOWN ONLY
(now playing: peter gabriel)

family ride (boulder)

2008-05-03T19:57:00.004-06:00

after throwing the flat pedals on the ti lite, the family took a little trip up north for a casual ride along the boulder creek path (w/ my 7 year-old daughter's friend in tow). 4 bikes hanging off the jeep w/ the trailer inside. i shoulda bought stock in child carrier/trailers a few years ago… i still like the design of ours the best (over the burley, trek, and others).

so glad my daughter enjoys riding so much. only had one incident (or potential accident), whereby mr. roadie-in-training almost took out the little friend coming down under the overpass, even after i waved him down and told him kids were coming. i mean, c'mon, if you wanna ride that fast (he was screaming), be a man and hit the pavement like the rest of the leg-shavers!

mr. cool chillin' in style

distance 5.54 • time :50 • average 6.8
(now playing: U2)

my premier premiere

2008-04-30T23:05:00.005-06:00

tonight was the BMA-sponsored premiere of SEASONS, the new film by the collective. more importantly (to me), it was the premiere of my short, Fixie Dave, which preceded the feature. It was fun to see it on the big screen, and feedback was positive. I was even invited up on stage to say a few words.

since i had to go to boulder anyway (wink), jasonb & anthonys and i met up for a little time in the saddle before the big show. sir anthony was kind enough to pull a new carbon ASR demo bike from the back of the YETI truck for me, for which i was mighty appreciative. some light pedaling around south boulder on a warm afternoon, followed by some falafel king and a fat tire at the theater. works for me.

photo by anthony sloan

distance ?? • time "just long enough"
(now playing: saliva)

late afternoon @ matthews/winters

2008-04-27T21:27:00.006-06:00

didn't think i'd get out today, but chris called from boulder and wanted to bring sophie down for a play date and suggested we go for a ride. works for me (see how easy that is?).

ankle was actually bothering me more than it has lately, but figured it would be good to get out and spin and get some blood flowin' down there. chris brought a friend, mike, and after a bit of discussion we ended up at MW. lately i've been doing the RR —> MW —> DR loop which doesn't include the upper part of matthews/winters. wow, forgot how technical parts of that trail are, w/ the jaggedy rocks and all and the tight/steep switchbacks. i was a bit hesitant, as the last thing i want to do is jack the ankle up more w/ an unplanned dismount in the rocks, but in the end it was a nice ride on a nice sunny afternoon w/ a couple of guys who don't really ride; 'tis good to help "spread the stoke".

afterwards i decided to take apart the tracer in the front lawn while the kids played outside. bike needs some attention, what w/ all of the washing it gets as well as the abuse from the last trip to moab. no time to finish tonight, but i'll get 'er all lubed up and adjusted properly, and while i'm at it probably revert back to a 32t ring instead of a 36t. also need to buy a single spoke. ;-)

distance 5.25 • time :50 • average 6.2
(now playing: audioslave)

spin backwards lunch ride

2008-04-24T21:13:00.004-06:00

a nice day to get out and spin for a short bit. nothing too exciting, so to mix it up a little i decided to ride counterclockwise around the reservoir (what i thought was called arvada, but per mapquest it is actually named blunn; who knew?).

short & sweet, under an hour.

distance 9.92 • time :50 • average 11.6
(now playing: rage against the machine)

buffalo creekness

2008-04-19T21:01:00.003-06:00

jason called out for a day at buff creek, which sounded just about right for my ankle. forecast was good, and after a late start (jb wasn't quite seeing straight and still sweating all the alcohol from his system from the night before) we met AJ, nick, er, nicholas, and his buddy joe, followed shortly thereafter by dave & hillary (note to hillary: south 285 to pine junction).

anyway, 'twas a fun day, but wow i got worked; i'd like to think it was from all the time off the bike since the latest injury, but holy cow AJ and joe put the hammer down. much to my surprise (though shouldn't have been), nickle "clydesdale freeride boy" didn't seem to be breaking a sweat keeping up on his hefty hardtail.

in any event, the best part was the post-ride BBQ back at the vehicles (note to self: next time park at the bottom of the hill). brats, chicken, and some reasonably cold beer. felt like a long day in the saddle, but i'm sure i'll be back for more. P.S. ed even joined us for a bite/drink after his ride. :-)

distance 22.8 • time 2:55 • average 7.8
(now playing: smashing pumpkins)

NTM in the sun (Uncle Sam)

2008-04-15T17:44:00.003-06:00

needed a distraction from ye' ol 1040 forms (nothing like procrastinating). figured NTM would be mellow enough for the ankle, i.e. no unplanned dismounts. ;-)

distance 9 • time 1:15 • average 7.1
(now playing: corrine west)

first ride back

2008-04-14T15:39:00.000-06:00

just a spin on the road, w/ ankle brace. two weeks off the bike kinda sucks. luckily the weather this last week hasn't been conducive to riding.

distance 12.79 • time 1:08 • average 11.2
(now playing: soundgarden)

Moab AND bust, pt.2

2008-03-31T20:00:00.006-06:00

not sure what i was thinking, but i tried to get out and ride sovereign on day 2 (thanks to ankle brace from ssportsman). however, the mighty Dirt Gods had a different idea…

let's end this on a different note, shall we?

(now playing: beastie boys)

Moab AND bust

2008-03-30T18:30:00.010-06:00

well, you win some and you lose some…

first day out (at the top of amassa back no less) i decided to see how far i could roll my ankle under the weight of my body/bike, after stumbling down a ledge(X) i was trying to get up. nothing like getting hurt screwing around while waiting for someone else to fix a flat tire.

hey, it was moab though, so how bad could it have been?

photo by nickle

photo by davec113

X marks the spot! photo by ssportsman

photo by davec113

photo by nickle

distance 19.82 • time 3:19 • average 5.9
(now playing: limp bizkit)

Moab or bust

2008-03-27T16:25:00.001-06:00

short & sweet, er, steep

2008-03-25T21:10:00.009-06:00

got a last-minute invite from jason to join him and some team evergreen peeps on a ride up mt. falcon. i hesitated, assuming it would be too snowy, but decided i was up for something different. as it turned out, i was right about the snow– once near the top of that brutal climb, we had to turn around. i constantly tell myself that i need to warm-up before jumping right in on an ascent like that, but i barely made it there on time to meet, so no such luck. yeah, i suffered…

jason's SS steed

distance 4.91 • time :55 • average 5.2
(now playing: saliva)

stairmaster

2008-03-24T22:33:00.005-06:00

joined kirk on the saddle of dakota ridge for a warm springtime loop of RR/MW/DR. kirk is the only person i've actually seen make it up all the steps, and i'll be d*mn'd if he didn't do it again today… though i'm sure the hot blonde in the spandex shorts and the devil horns ("matches my tail") provided added incentive. much to our surprise, she said he inspired her, and after a few attempts she made it up herself on her orange 575 (D'OH!). i'm almost certain she is the same woman i saw running wind sprints up the initial climb of DR a while back. the girl is fit.

kirk getting it done

distance 11.08 • time 1:26 • average 7.6
(now playing: sheryl crow)

where do gravesite flowers go to die?

2008-03-19T20:54:00.004-06:00

nice day for a spin (on the road/paths, while the trails dry out).

distance 25.0 • time 1:56 • average 12.8
(now playing: rage against the machine)

dirty bismark

2008-03-13T22:17:00.007-06:00

decided very last minute to join a group ride up in south boulder, posted up on MTBR, before our COMBA board meeting tonight. rode some new trail (some of it i didn't know existed, even though i've driven by it on multiple occasions). a bit windy at times, but a quick pace (think a couple of these guys were either in training or qualifying for the olympics or somethin'… yeesh, whatever happened to an early season fun ride?). anyway, good excuse to get out.

distance 16.0 • time 1:31 • average 10.4
(now playing: smashing pumpkins)

belcher in march

2008-03-11T15:05:00.005-06:00

another sunny/warm day tucked between cold fronts. after lunch spin to white ranch and up belcher. a bit more mud on the way up than i'd like to see, but belcher is dry (gotta love that direct southern exposure– 'cept on a july/august afternoon when the sun is beating you down).

looking north, turn 180˚ look south

distance 9.61 • time 1:15 • average 7.6
(now playing: prodigy)

golden flats

2008-03-10T23:03:00.003-06:00

another nice day. had a volunteer meeting down at mitchell elementary, so brought the bike to spin around g-town afterwards. good pedals were still on the tracer, so decided to keep it mellow and throw some flat campus pedals on the ti lite. low mileage, low key, putzin' around downtown…

ended up on the mines campus and eventually at one of their geology trails and spotted this, palm frond fossil/imprint:

distance 6.5 • time :57 • average 6.7
(now playing: velvet revolver)

sunshine & dirt

2008-03-01T23:12:00.017-07:00

seems kinda wrong to me, but march is actually the snowiest month in CO… which is why when you get a 70˚ day (weekend no less) after a short warming spell, you gotta hit the dirt.

felt good/odd to be on the tracer again and riding something other than pavement. after a crazy string of emails w/ the local crew (ice, hil, jason, taylor, anthony, michelle, ed & jen, kirk) trying to organize a ride, i went out on my own to try out ye olde matthews/winters (red rocks) and dakota ridge loop. whaddya know, i wasn't the only one w/ this bright idea; likely the most crowded i've ever seen a JCOS trail, and most definitely the most dogs i've ever seen (at least 40% or more). but hey, i'm riding my bike in the sun, in shorts, w/ only a few hundred yards of muddy conditions on the northerly faces of MW. bonus, i cleared the tight right turn between the two boulders which seems to swallow my front wheel more often than not lately (or shall i say, last season anyway). EDIT: just realized that spot is shown in my little photo montage above– 3rd row 2nd column (after a spill last year). tight right, split the rocks, drop down, back up, on your way…

dakota ridge was interesting as always. perhaps the most sloppy technique i've ever mustered up there (hey, it's early). and wouldn't you know, along the ridge i ran into these punks:

MORSE & SEMINICK, attorneys at law

…at least they brought beer. ;-)

btw, it is supposed to snow tomorrow w/ a high in the 30's.

distance 7.17 • time 1:08 • average 6.2
(now playing: foreigner, yes foreigner)

day before leap day

2008-02-28T22:40:00.003-07:00

distance 14.14 • time 1:26 • average 9.8

casual spin thru arvada-ish

2008-02-25T23:36:00.002-07:00

weather was cooperative, w/ storms forecast for later in the week so went out for another path/road journey. nothing too exciting to report, though i did use CO2 for the first time to fix a flat. i could get use to that, as i hate using my little mini-pump and working like a chump for 10 minutes to get 30 psi. though i wonder if there is a "best practice", as the dispenser got super cold at the end and it kinda seemed like the flow stopped before it was empty. i don't recall if it was a 12oz or 16oz bottle, but the tire was definitely soft still… so either it stopped working early, or i need a bigger bottle.

i will get on my soapbox and scorn the parents out there who let their (young) children go out on the bike w/o a helmet. i especially cringed as i passed a mom w/ her daughter on one of those trail-a-bike attachments, sans helmet, looking like she could be catapulted off the bike at any moment (and mom didn't inspire much confidence as an avid cyclist, also without ye ol' brain bucket).

rant off. good night moon.

distance 20.49 • time 1:51 • average 10.9
(now playing: coldplay)

BCLP

2008-02-22T22:32:00.002-07:00

nice day to spin around the park. a bit too damp still for dirt action, so it was a bike-path day. (of course i'm writing this a week later so don't recall much beyond that). any day on the bike is a good one, right?

distance 10.56 • time 1:05 • average 9.6
(now playing: elysian fields)

is this what a townie is for?

2008-02-19T23:09:00.001-07:00

one of those days where you gotta ride, even if just for a bit. my daughter had her official induction into brownies, so i threw the bike on the jeep and decided to spin thru golden and just putz around the paths afterwards just to get out. ended up at GCB to have a pint w/ hillary, jen, and then later ed & dave. it quickly got dark, and me w/o lights, so i called my wife to have her and the kidlings meet me nearby for some mexican food (and a ride home). ;-)

distance 9.42 • time 1:05 • average 8.6
(now playing: big head todd & the monsters)

super bowl sunday

2008-02-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

so i had planned to spend the day cleaning the house. greg called and asked if i wanted to go out. i hemmed & hawed and said i'd call back. snow on ground, temps still a bit chilly, day planned out, no lunch yet… i was gonna bail. my wife looked at me and said "just go, greg likes the company", so like a flipped switch i was suddenly in bike mode. ;-)

i sometimes hesitate to ride w/ greg, because our riding styles are so different. my ideal ride would be an all day epic in the high country, at a leisurely pace, stopping to take pictures and have a bite to eat. greg would rather get out, race pace, for a solid 2 hours, stopping only for a flat tire, if necessary. he trains, i ride. as a result, he is inherently much faster than i am. i've come to terms w/ that, but sometimes (especially early season) it can be problematic if i'm trying to keep up and end up blowing up early. luckily that wasn't the case today on green mountain. in fact, i heard strange words from greg's mouth as i was leading up a climb, "you're making me work today". still, it wasn't long before his competitive spirit dictated he pass me, but it didn't bother me because i was feeling good and strong, not struggling as has often been the case in the past. maybe i'm getting a bit more fit after all.

oh yeah, there was a football game on TV when we got back. lesson of the day (on the trail and the field): don't underestimate the underdog.

distance 8.93 • time 1:05 • average 8.2
(now playing: godsmack)

what is that thing?

2008-01-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

sun was out and bike was clean (thanks greg) so i decided to just get out for a short ride and clear my head. no garb, helmet, gloves, or pack– just shoes and a water bottle (even forgot to bring the essentials: tube, levers, air). made my way through the path in the 'hood over towards fairmount, but cut north by the ball fields. messed around trying to keep a line up/over/down the parking blocks, avoiding the rebar sticking up in most. decided to head over to that overhang structure that i've been meaning to check out since it went up on the hill (visible from highway 93 by 64th ave). still not sure what it is used for, but it is a bunker for some kind of system buried below in the hill. weather station? power terminal for the ball fields? whatever it is, there is a concrete bench out front which made for some relaxing gazing skyward, sun on my face, appreciating the pattern of the geometric layout of the red steel against a blue sky.

a good reminder from days of youth that sometimes bikes are just a means to get away and explore someplace new, then take you back home.

distance 5 • time :37 • average 8.0

pseudo-singlespeeding

2008-01-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

too muddy to hit the trails, so decided to just get out for a bit and spin 'round the paths. ended up pedaling around the reservoir (arvada?) and back to fairmount. kept it clean until i jumped up from easley to fairmount across from tony grampsas park. the TH was deceptively dry, then round the first corner i was in thick, deep, muck. no turning back, but i did get off and walk (on trail, like a good boy) until back on the granite path. wow that stuff was sticky. nothing like rim brakes caked in grime. i bounced as much goo off the bike as i could, then took off toward home– didn't get more than 10 yards when i could hear/feel the chain skipping. jumped off and flipped the bike to discover that a pebble had lodged itself between the upper jockey wheel and the derailleur cage; that thing wasn't gonna spin for no-one no-how. i broke several small sticks trying to dislodge it, to no avail. even grabbing both ends of the chain and trying to force it out by attempting to spin it was no good. finally i figured i could use the tip of a tire lever to work it free and i was back on the bike again, spinning home while getting pelted by flying mud.

oh yeah, forgot to mention that i decided to stay in 32/18 pretty much the whole way today just to get a feel for that whole SS thing. not so fun on a road ride, as i was spinning out fairly easily obviously, and then had to stand to get up and around the reservoir. still undecided if i really want to build up a monocog or not…

distance 14.87 • time 1:20 • average 11
(now playing: robert plant & alison krauss)

you read it here first

2008-01-23T11:44:00.001-07:00

babybikebuggy

pueblo redux

2008-01-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

well despite high hopes, the second time wasn't the charm for me... hoping to re-live the inaugural ride down at the south shore, the conditions weren't quite the same. not as warm, and snow & ice in the shade and in the canyon/gully. unfortunately, it wasn't long after wheels on the ground that we came down "freeride" and the ladder obstacle (the bigger one). i had stopped to help athalliah fix a broken chain, and by the time i got to the ladder it had been slicked up a bit. near the bottom, where you must cut left to avoid a rock slab, i must've dabbed the brakes, cuz next thing i knew the bike went out from under me on the ice and i faceplanted directly in said rock. thank my lucky stars (and my watchful guardian angel) that the loud "crraaaaackk" i heard was my helmet, and not my teeth and/or nose as i had first suspected. unlike the crash at elbert, where i distinctly remember seeing the ground rise up (or rather, my head fall down) in slow-mo, this wreck happened so fast i was caught completely off guard. i was a bit disoriented for a moment (thanks JSD303 for the assistance) but was able to score some vitamin I shortly thereafter to mitigate the swelling.

luckily my visor and helmet took the brunt (now on my 3rd bell delerium), but i was left w/a reminder on my chin of how serious this could have been. that, and now my right wrist/hand is all jacked up (to match the left). ;-)

mostly just bruised the ego, as there were some very strong riders out this day, and i had hoped to muster the mettle to attempt "steep & tech" among them. needless to say, a granite faceplant does wonders on the confidence, so i pretty much flailed about tentatively the rest of the day. guess that calls for another trip down south, eh?

distance 9.85 • time 1:21 • average 7.2
(now playing: hole)

gotta get out

2008-01-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

was supposed to head down to the springs w/ athalliah & icegeek to meet up w/ some folks from MTBR for a little palmer park action, but in the end it wasn't to be. poor sleep (and lack thereof), delayed meeting time, long drive, work-to-be-done, etc.

so instead i took a little spin around golden. it was a bright sunny afternoon, but you can't let that fool you this time of year– there was a chill in the air. i was quite tempted to make a run up white ranch, but i knew better. that said, i actually did start up the west side of NTM, but it was clear (as mud) after a few feet that the trail was in no condition yet for tread. so instead i circumnavigated the mesa, via town and bike path, for a nice jaunt on a nice day (on a nice bike). :-)

distance 16.36 • time 1:29 • average 10.9
(now playing: cowboy junkies)

Wheat Ridge Cyclery Pro Night

2008-01-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

WRC always throws down a good gathering... they can draw the crowds and the pros. Bob Roll, who co-hosted the event, was cracking me up (that dude is funny). While mostly aimed at the lycra crowd (after all, the owner was once a player on the tour circuit apparently), it was nice to see Tom Ritchey, Ned Overend, and Allison Dunlap featured too. I capitalized on the situation and had them all sign a COMBA water bottle to giveaway at our annual meeting next week. I'm nice like that... (okay, so I kept the Ritchey bottle for myself). ;-)

I really wanted to bid on the Project Rwanda ("using the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope") coffee bike– how cool would that be, especially 20 years from now?! But alas, it was not meant to be (my wallet overruled my head).

Nice catching up and sharing a drink w/ Jason, Anthony, Dave, Hillary, Michelle, and her husband AJ.

who'da thunk it?

2008-01-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

pueblo. pueblo? pueblo!

january 5th, leaving icy streets behind, 2 hours (give or take) south and a little oasis (or "little fruita", as tagged by some). felt good to be on the tracer again, riding dry dirt. basically a trail system built around some mini canyons (ravines? gullys?). ride the ridge, drop in, climb out; ride some more, drop in, climb out. some fun techy stuff, including a ladder here & there, some drops, and sections of loose shale. kinda cool plowing through that stuff and having it sound like broken glass all around you. the area reminded me quite a bit of the independence (jeep) trails down in penrose.

still can't believe i was wearing shorts and short-sleeves today. sweetness. ;-)

distance 9.20 • time 1:20 • average 6.8
(now playing: TOOL)

thinking ahead... 2008

2007-12-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

i'm tired of shoveling snow.

sent an email tonight to my bros-in-law to see if i can generate some interest in a little WHITE RIM adventure next season. one day or two? we'll keep that open for now. ;-)

it's not even january and i'm already jonesin' for the spring. eh bien. c'est la vie... 'tis colorado after all.

(now playing: alice in chains)

whiskey & gummy bears

2007-12-22T23:20:00.000-07:00

black hearts cyclocross rally; thumbs up from a rigid mtn bike participant.

due to accumulated snow, the course was re-routed such that we basically rode from green mtn trailhead down to bear creek lake park. there we rode some of mt. carbon loop, then on to red rocks cyclery for the last check-in, and back up the path along C470 to rooney road. i had a really fun time– so much so that i'm reconsidering my recent thoughts about swapping out the rigid fork. decisions decisions.

anyway, back to today. even though temps were only in the 20's, it wasn't bad at all *except* for the stretch along 470; on the way down i thought my fingertips were gonna freeze solid, and on the way back we had massive head winds/gusts which resulted in freezing snow being sandblasted against your face. thankfully some kind souls brought flasks of whiskey which really did help warm up the body if not the mind. yep it was that cold... in fact, i had to piss on my front derailleur at one point to thaw it out so i could use it. ;-)

best of all, i won a pretty cool commuter light set by planet bike. the event had four checkpoints where playing cards were drawn at random. after all was said and done, jamie (the organizer) talleyed up the score, based on some formula to make it fair & random. i got first place. more importantly, i felt really strong today, especially considering i haven't been on the bike lately. choice of cold-weather attire seemed to work pretty well too, except for my cheapo performance winter gloves. need something warmer (even w/ liners). all in all a fun day. riding in snow is hard work.

distance 15.26 • time 1:49 • average 8.3
(now playing: soundgarden)

snow. cold. more snow.

2007-12-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

haven't been on the bike in a while. brrrrrr. grrrrr.

that may change tomorrow, as john (JSD303) forwarded me some info about the black hearts cyclocross rally. luckily it isn't limited to CX bikes. we got a bunch of snow this afternoon though, so i'm not sure if it is still happening (guess we'll find out in the morning). green mountain --> bear creek lake park --> red rocks --> dakota ridge --> back to green mountain. could be fun. i need to get out.

i've been going crazy lately trying to reconfigure (on paper) my bikes for a winter makeover– both current rigs and a potential new frame (!). i really enjoyed building up the ti lite last winter, so am looking forward to a new winter project or three. it's nice to have a fair amount of old parts (retro/classic as they may be) to swap around, though it usually necessitates buying something new. ;-)

problem is making each bike different enough to justify owning more than one (after all you can only ride one at a time, right?). right now i'm thinking: all mountain, cross country, 1x9, and {gasp} a singlespeed. we'll see. i change my mind and the component specs every other night.

(now playing: old school U2 )

Nice!

2007-12-13T23:55:00.000-07:00

spent much of the day w/ fixiedave (aka whiskeydave), shooting for the PBS project. got a few locations in, despite the snow and cold weather– red rocks, dakota ridge, and bear creek lake park; as well as some stuff in town– city park, and the distillery (exterior). had some fun w/ the merlin (thanks rw) and hopefully got some decent footage.

need more DR excitement? just add (n)ice…

i forgot to mention that the other day when i went down to stranahan's to get some footage of dave at work, he gave me a belated birthday gift– the "special" sauce from the cask sample. ;-)

110 proof / batch 15

(now playing: David Gilmour )

R O A D L I T E

2007-12-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

since it's too damn cold to ride, i was instead window shopping the web for what else, bike parts… stumbled across this (below) which caught me by surprise– 1) you don't see too many of them B) it was up in boulder (my backyard). my thoughts quickly went to rationalize why i would need a road bike (haven't ridden one since high school): my peers tell me that it is a great way to build speed and endurance that transfers over to the dirt; if nothing else, i'd want it because it was another creation by KB himself, and the man knows a thing or three about designing damn fine bicycles.

alas, it quickly e$calated beyond what i'd be willing to pay for it (as is often the case on ebay). in the end, it went to a virtual acquaintance of mine– mr. orange from the MTBR VRC forum (a bonty collector extraordinaire, and the former art director(?) at bontrager cycles back in the day). i can rest assured it will be well taken care of, and hopefully even see some pavement time. as for me, well i've already recovered from my momentary lapse in judgement… (a road bike?! p'shaw).

(though it is nice to look at, isn't it?)

(now playing: alice in chains)

heil Heil!

2007-12-06T20:59:00.003-07:00

got up to heil ranch this afternoon after a couple of quick meetings in boulder. i haven't ridden there in a very long time. two years ago when i was prep'ing for the kokopelli trip, my bro-in-law and i rode there quite a bit in the spring. i remember quite vividly, being early season, how i struggled up there gasping for breath early on since you basically climb up from the TH. it was a nice surprise tonight –even being "end of season"– that i was able to ride up w/o too much effort (middle ring the entire time, which says something since i normally drop to granny at the first sign of an incline). it was also the first time i got to ride the new trail, wild turkey, that BMA was instrumental in initiating up there– kudos to them, as it makes heil a more viable destination.

supposedly a big storm on the way in tomorrow, so this may have been the last dry dirt for a few days anyway…

found a little rock obstacle left by the trail fairies:

distance 10.40 • time 1:18 • average 7.8
(now playing: YES)

CMB, 12/5/2005 – "Son, Little Brother"

2007-12-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

unlike yesterday –where i had intended to ride, but didn't– today i had not planned to ride, but realized it would be good for the soul. a quick jaunt around north table mountain, and then a spin on out to the cemetery… hard to believe it's been two years.

my guardian angel's guardian angel:

distance 16.19 • time 1:39 • average 9.7
(now playing: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss)

i hate wind / i love helicopters

2007-12-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

no ride today… which is really a shame considering the record-setting temp (66˚), but i'd rather ride in pouring rain than these house-rattling gusts. we seem to get it worse, nestled here against the foothillls in golden. i've always had a gripe against the wind, as the hobbies of my youth (outdoor volleyball and frisbee) were also stymied by its bellows.

thankfully the day wasn't a total loss, as i finally got to meet jeff warner, pilot extraordinaire and fellow MTB'er (so yes, there is a tie-in for a bike-related blog). ever since i found out he flew for Flight For Life, we've been trying to find a time for me to come down and check out that big orange beast firsthand. see, i'm something of a helicopter aficionado. i won't bore you w/ the details, 'cept to say that when i was a boy the FFL seemed to land in our cul-de-sac more often than it should've (elderly neighbor w/ bad heart, RIP), and i was immediately enthralled. since those days i guess you could say i've been obsessed (see, another tie-in). when we lived in NYC i used to regularly stop by the westside heliport on my training rides from brooklyn to jersey. quite the thrill seeing these massive metal contraptions gracefully defy gravity when they lift-off or gently touch down. in fact, i'll share a secret– my life goal is to learn to fly one. it ain't cheap, so it won't be happening in the immediate future, but meeting jeff today and seeing this bird up close (w/o being a patient) has re-ignited the fire. guess it's time to make my first million (and i thought bikes were expen$ive). ;-)

(apologies in advance to hillary, should she break into a cold sweat upon seeing this:)

(now playing: coldplay)

UPS

2007-12-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

not a big order by any means, but still… don't you just love when new bike parts arrive on your doorstep? and yes, i often frequent the local vendors (current favorite shops are golden bike shop and westside cycling), but sometimes you just gotta click'n'buy when bike nashbar SPAMs you w/ their current sales flyer. contents of the box? new headset for the secret Winter Project Bike, some cables and "power straps" for the steel bonty, and some replacement bollé frames since mine are broken and probably pushin' 10 years old.

super windy tonight. hopefully not so gusty tomorrow– not sure what the destination will be, but gotta get out, especially when temps are climbing up for a short respite from the cold.

Happy Birthday to me

2007-11-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

so i had thought about spending my 40th birthday solo in the desert, contemplating life and whatnot, but instead i decided to go for a (frigid) ride and share a drink w/ like-minded friends... and then start a 'blog.

when i left the house at 3:40pm it was 27˚ outside. once at the meeting spot, 5 of us brave souls (below: kirk, hillary, bill, john) went for a nice spin around bear creek lake park. dusk was quickly fading and much of the northerly trail was covered in snow, but really fun nonetheless. bike of choice tonight was the rigid ti bonty 96'er.

afterwards we (minus bill) dropped in to the morrison inn, to be met by: ed, jenny, anthony, jason, and dave. beer, margaritas, shots, and some tasty mexican food ensued; good company & good food. thank you kindly for the birthday dinner folks.

(photo by ed)