I’ve been to Fruita 2x over the last few weekends.  First time was with my Epic Pro teammates.  Got in some great riding, dodged some shoddy weather and I attempted to race.  I say attempted as I had an asthma attack about a few minutes due to the dust and efforts.  I backed it off and basically rode at zone 2 for the majority of the race.  But Chris took a solid 4th place finish at the race.

Check out that sweet stuff out there

Alders and Baddick Strava Hunting on I-70

Round 2 was back at Fruita, this time with the FasCat camp.  An Awesome gang and some super fun low-key skills riding.  Got to rip so much cool trail and ride lots of stuff that missed the 1st weekend.  Doyle and Hanggi even made it out for year 2.  Super fun to get to ride with them.  I wonder who gets to come next year?  Props to Hanggi, rode all 4 days he was here with a BROKEN THUMB and never complained.  Just got it done and railed the trails.

Western Rim

 Gorgeous but long day out there

Props to Lauren Andre, 16 years old and showing us how it gets done 

 Hanggi showing us how to climb properly in bike shoes

Strava hunting on the Horsethief Bench Trail

Round 3 was the Whiskey 50.  14 hours down there with Baddick, Blake Harlan and Tammy Sadle.  Long drive but worth every minute.  North America’s best pros were on hand to contest for the $30,000 on the line.  Rolled into town, pre rode, raced the crit, chilled saturday, then got to work Sunday.  MORE HERE on Epic Blog.  It was just a great weekend to be out and play pro bike racer against so many other great racers.  I’m really stoked with my result.  Everyone always feels they can do better when it’s over, and I’m sure I could have.  But in the end the result happens when you cross the line and not when you rethink about what you could have or should have done during the race.  41st against a stacked field for first real event of the season.  I set a goal time and smashed it and that makes me happy.  Props though to Baddick who took an awesome 13th place!

Rolling out with team Jamis for a pre-ride

Uh! Chris, there’s a snake coming for your snake?!

Whiskey Fat Tire Crit, that shit was hard

In search of trails for some fun on saturday 

 Found Yuki from Ergon out there and got to shred some super fun stuff

Finishing the Whiskey 50

All in all had a boatload of fun the past few weekends, gotta to see some old friends, make new friends and just have a blast riding the bike. Now it’s time to spend some time with the Family though!!

After having spent some time there and loving every minute of time with family and friends.  I realized I truly miss people and the special quality of brightness that each one brought into my life.  That part is hard to realize is now few and far between.  But I don’t really feel like Waterloo is truly my home any more.  It’s weird to say.  I spent the majority of my life there.  But, out here in Colorado now truly feels like the place where I belong.  Back East, felt like a visitor.  The places I recognized, even the street I grew up on seemed a bit foreign.  Hard to explain for sure and I still enjoyed being there for every minute.

Hilimire Hilton-13 Maple Lane

I did manage to rope some time in on the bikes…. Friday am before the Geneva Bicycle Center Crew had to turn wrenches, I was able to get out to the MPH for a ride.  It was awesome, to put it succinctly. first thing through their doors, Cadence dog immediately recognized me and was so excited that she barrel rolled into me and about took me out.  This caused Ryder dog to get thoroughly excited and start jumping and the new pup Tread (whom I’ve never met) wanted in also.  3 dogs, 1 happy camper and I was taken down to the ground in the excitement.  So naturally it was off to a good start.

They’ve been gardening a bit

It was great to get out in the woods, the tight twisty trails.  Feel the mud underneath the tires (What is mud?).  Slid around on the bike and just smile and have fun.  My skills were definitely a bit rusty and riding a borrowed bike had a different feel to it for sure.  Every second was enjoyment though, struggling up the steep climbs, sliding through off-camber corners, staring in awe as Mark hits a 15 foot booter.  All the enjoyable things of riding bikes with the GBC Crew have never disappeared.

Suzanne is always all smiles, wouldn’t you be if the trails were right outside your door

The C-Dog and Tread (on tread)

Afterwards I rolled out on the road bike for a short lil ride on my old stomping grounds.  A route nicknamed “the wheelman route”, after an old team I belonged to that had long trained on the roads even before I joined them.  It was great to go ride the quiet country roads.  I could remember sprinting against sold friends to imaginary finish lines, chasing down riders across the flow of the farm land and racing back to town every week with a small group.  It was good to be out there stretching the legs.

Quiet Country roads on the wheelman’s route

Sunday I was able to rope in a few GVCC riders and some of the athletes that I work with for a nice ride down in Naples.  It was cold en route and snowing and raining and wasn’t even sure if anyone would show.  I barely had clothes for the temp, but it was dry down there and a few brave souls showed up to tackle some hills.

Grey and Dreary skies, but always enjoyable terrain

We departed and rolled south to town.  Up and over a few fun, but brutally steep climbs.  Was able to tackle some old favorites while I was there.  I threw in some efforts agains the fellas and definitely was humbled on a few climbs, but the thick air felt great to climb in.  The 20% constant grades, not so much.  I never blew up or smashed myself but there was some suffering had for sure.  While it was dry to start with, it was not upon our return.  The rain came, then the snow came and then both at the same time.  I was so cold riding back, I literally couldn’t feel anything below my elbows.  We were all pretty much in survival mode when we got back to the cars.  Our small group was shattered rolling along 64 as it was literally everyman for themselves just to get back to warmth of our vehicles.  I definitely don’t miss rain and cold and crappy rides like that!

Removed from the area, I still had to provide directions!

The rest of the weekend was mostly spent hanging around Peyton and Reagan as much as I possibly could.  Peyton is growing up so fast.  He’s definitely inspirational.  A fighter in every sense of the word with all that he’s been through.  Leaving him was actually the saddest part of departing.  I do wish I could be there every day with him to help him fight and give him strength.  But I know he has his own and it’s far greater than the strength of most anybody.  For the things that have been taken him, he has made up for with courage.

Peyton showing me how he gets around

Peyton and Reagan playing in the kitchen

Home wasn’t a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go

I’ll be back ‘home’ in August for more and already looking forward to it.  Plus my sister’s baby ‘Oliver’ will be born.  Can’t wait to get back!

Was suppose to be 4man, but changed to duo due to fears of a weather repeat if last years monsoons. Casey & I manned up & got ready to rip.

Raced my ass off & won the first lap. Gave everything I had and won the 2 up sprint. Will do a full power/lap review later.

After that settled in. Rain & fog & night came. Took a break & so did everyone else. Got up early ripped out some laps. Had a huge lead and were able to stop by 9:30 when the next round of rain came.

It’s mountain bike season! Sprague Brook this weekend!

Trails were in great shape and I ripped around the course. It seems the ‘backwards’ course is plenty fast. In fact I spent most of my 3 laps ripping up the fire roads and singletrack in the big ring. Other than a few steep grunt climbs (and a new switchback trail that reroutes a steep climb) it’s just wicked fun to blast it there.

Last year Dirty Bruce baited me with a shiny trophy for the fastest lap. Naturally I wanted it, but mostly cause it was shiny, so I ripped out a 39 minute lap. Then some extra suffering and I averaged about 43:30 for the rest of the laps. Well Saturday I turned 44,42,41 min laps without really pushing myself too hard (also included some stops to give some directions). I didn’t push it on the climbs & conditions were pretty similar. I just ripped and felt great.

I’m looking forward to this weekends event. I feel great and is 10 laps possible??? You never know . It’s the final tune up before I head off to Virginia for the Shenandoah 100!!

Hope to see you this weekend!

Felt good on the ride, odd as this was my 6th day in a row of riding. Glad to be taking today of and resting hard.

Debating racing the Highland Forest Classic this weekend. Probably not going to go, I’m tired of breaking things on my mt. bike and I could use a good weekend of training.

Shenandoah 100 is the only thing on my mind right now

Saturday looks to be a nice day. It’s raining (as it always does) means a long road ride in the hills of Naples most likely, will add some dirt roads to keep things interesting…

5 weeks to get in some heavy training and bring my form up in time for a solo effort at the race. Currently form is a little on the low side but that’s purposeful so I can do the work necesarry.

I did pick up a new road bike! Trek 5200, 06 closeout that the Geneva bicycle center hooked me up with. Haven’t swung a leg over it yet, but will be putting some heavy time on her over these next few weeks. I’ll get some pics up when I return.

Currently en route to NYC to visit my sister and do a little xc race in central park. Should be fun and crazy, shredding singletrack with skyscrapers. A long ways from colorado.

Got out this am and did some openers on the mtb. Took lizzy along for the ride and she was super happy to run along as usual. Feel good and ready for the race tomorrow, so we’ll see how it goes.

While Glenwood isn’t exactly the mecca of mountain biking. It serves a great purpose. There’s about 3 miles total there, but there are dozens of trails and loads of space to work on your tech skills. It’s pretty much the trails where I ‘learned’ to ride my mountain bike. Lots of super tight corners, steep ups, logs, roots, off cambers, etc., everything you need for some great skills work

With the tighter trails it’s a little easier to stay together as a group, but makes for some super fun and fast riding. Ripping trail when you inches away from the person in front of you and having to adapt to the terrain and correct on the fly is the quickest way to learn skills. We’ve termed this ‘world cupping’. Add to the fact that we usually get in some night riding, and know you have no idea what’s coming up, you’re forced to learn or slide down the ladder to the end of the group.

Over the years, the trails have slowly been formed and reshaped by the winter fall and new developments, but the enjoyment of the ride and especially the group ride never changes. I think I’ve ridden more miles on the Glenwood trails than anywhere else and I still enjoy coming back each time and the challenge the trail offer.

Farmall #2 is up tonight. I think my cold has finally released it’s nasty grip as I felt really good last night and I feel great today and ready to rip. It’s go time!

We hit up Shindagin Hollow for a few hours of play. The night prior we had played hard at the Hartman’s. Suzanne served up some great chili, then it was time for some pool and mod racing. The mod crit quickly grew into a who could do better donuts. With that, we preceded to open the garage door and try to do them out on the wet driveway.

Needless to say, there was some fun that we had. Wednesday down at Shindagin was a great day. Fall foliage was in full bloom and the trails were in perfect shape.

We managed a huge crew (Jer-Bear, Casey, Der-Kaiser, Hanggi, Fry Guy, Marky Mark, Suz and I) for a wednesday afternoon. Mark was kind enough to lend me his Hi-Fi 29er. I made sure to put it to work hitting some gap jumps, riding 6 ft high skinnies, north shore bridge drops (and subsequent crashes) and tearing up the trails. Could a dualie be in my future?

The past few days were spent at a Coaching Seminar in Ypsilanti, Mi. I learned how to go real fast, and learned boat loads of info. It’s going to come in real handy. Next week I have the Coaching Summit in Colorado Springs and plan on learning even more info. Believe me, if you want to be fast for next season, hit your goals, and have fun, there’s nothing better than a coach

Got there with plenty of time to play with my nephew Peyton, eat some gnocchi with homemade sauce by Grams and watch a movie. I managed to get a great night’s sleep in and then get the the race right on schedule. However, I didn’t really get a great warm-up in. Being as the race was new and recently scheduled it meant a small field (3 of us in the pro class), but it did mean we were all gonna get paid! That however didn’t mean I didn’t race my ass off.

The race started with a little prologue section with a climb, then onto the main course and up the access rd. Suffered a bit on the start and was struggling on the first lap, trying to get the legs together. I ended up losing sight of 1st place as he disappeared in the 1st section of singletrack. I surged hard, started to feel better and raced well over all. Race was a bit short at 1:40, but every one of my 4 laps was within 30 secs of each other, so I was at least nice and consistent. I did bag $250 for 2nd!! Everybody better hit this race course next year as it was one of the baddest and best ever!

Sunday (after a long drive home saturday) I headed down to Ellicottville for the Roots, Rocks and Ridges race. I think the last time I managed to do this one was about 5 years ago. There was good number of people and it was a great day for racing. Course started with a road prologue while we were lead over to Holimont and the start of the climbing. Didn’t mean it was truly neutral though as we were clicking off a good pace on the road. Knowing the climb was coming up, I got near the front and stayed there trying to shake the legs out from the prior days efforts. Hit the climb and when it turned to dirt a small group of us split the main field. I was sitting at the tail end of the group around 4th/5th and came off on the climb prior to entering the singletrack. I was busy closing the gap to the rider in front of me, when I felt my rear tire was real squishy. I jumped off to throw a co2 in and didn’t do much. I decided to tube it and it took me forever to get the valve stem out. Finally go the valve stem out, tube it and the co2 barely puts any air in, WTF!?! I spend forever hand pumping my mini pump (luckily does both), while getting passed by everyone. I got the tire up and ready to go and ended up behind a large smashed together group near the back. It was tight singletrack and I really wanted to get back to the front. Riders were dabbing and falling all over the place, I ended up having to use the “pro” lines to pass quite a few of the riders. After a few minutes being stuck behind them, I finally got free and clawed my way back up. I was surging and flying through the singletrack.

I was actually feeling really great overall. I managed to catch a bunch of riders. I did have to stop at one point and put some more air in my rear as it was still feeling soft. I shot up again and was catching more riders. Any chance I got, I was doing the Big Ring Challenge and hammering through the singletrack. I was creeping way up in position and just was catching 2 more riders when I realized I had a broken spoke. Took some time to get it out of the rotor and bend it around so it wouldn’t get caught on anything. I managed to catch and pass back one rider, but ran out of trail catching the other.

Total time according to the powertap lost by flats and spoke: ~8:30. Unofficially according to mom, I was about 9 minutes down on first! I finished in 10th place, which I thought was incredible considering how many riders initially passed me. It was a great course and good ride and was happy to end my season on a strong weekend of racing!

Now it’s time for ‘cross

Currently playing in iTunes: Revelry by Kings of Leon