Weekday training has been packed full of the usual; intervals, suffering, fatigue, chasing strava KOM’s.  But the weekend is a good chance to get out and explore via bike, bust my ass still and have a ton of fun doing so.

I decided I wanted a good long uphill ride, and no better place to go than to Nederland.  I figured I would check out Tin Shed Sports and see how skilled The Powers was at making some coffee.  The plan was to roll up 4 mile Canyon to Switzerland trail and then stop for coffee/lunch and then Shred the DOTs on the way back down.  Below is the story in pictures

Rolling the gentle grade of 4 mile/Wall Street

Wall Street-While this was used back in the gold mining days, I’ve been watching too much Game of Thrones and only could see knights and warriors fighting and scaling the walls  

The Switzerland Trail, a long gentle railroad grade climb with great view  

Getting higher and looking across to the Switz on the East Side 

I was feeling great climbing, had a super fun rhythm and just pushing myself at Sweet Spot, I smiled and was psyched when I turned the bend and there was so much more to climb and keep going  

I made it up to Ned, but the temps up high were really cold!  I was having a bit too much fun riding and enjoying the views and had pushed myself pretty hard and skimped on the food intake.  So I gingerly rolled into Tin Shed for some soup and sandwich (It was delicious!) to accompany my expertly made Mocha.  I was pretty frigid and it took me some time to warm up and fuel up.  In fact, so much time that I didn’t realize how long I had been there and had to back out of most of my ride on the single wide trails…..

I did pop in for a short bit and they were magnificent.  

It was rain-snowing and the dirt was just the best kind you could imagine, so much moisture in the soil, but hard packed.  The tires felt like they had velcro on them the whole time.  If it wasn’t Mother’s Day, I would have spent the whole day up there!  The rest of the ride, I dropped straight down Magnolia and back home.  

 It was a great ride, had loads of fun.  And now onward to the race season with Battle of the Bear 1/2 & Curt Gowdy XC this weekend!

From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached

We managed a great day on the bike and just ducked the oncoming snow storms. Perfect trail conditions (except for all the trees that were down). Loads of smiles all day long…

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!

Saturday was spend with Scott Upton and John G.  Rolled a bunch of dirt roads that I had never been up before.  Logan Mill was a great climb and really want to go back and do that one again for sure.  Got high above Boulder and dropped down the snowy Switzerland trail.  Managed to meet up with a huge group of riders at the bottom of the climb.  Alders was there along with a bunch of other friends.  Unfortunately I flatted right away and Scott and I had to chase all the way up the climb.  Regrouped and dropped into gold hill and then back down into Boulder.  Where I subsequently flatted again.  Guess I need to go NoTubes all the time!  Pics below:

Chasing Scott up the steep on Logan Mill

First taste of Colorado Singletrack this year

Snow on the Switzerland

Great view from up high on the Switzerland Trail

Hey, look who we ran into, pfffft flat tire, time to chase

Rolling with a few leaving Gold hill

Sunday Keller, put out the call for a group ride on the Heil/Hall Double.  Great go to route for sure and we had some good company.  Unfortunately rolled up about 2 minutes late and the group was gone.  Gave chase on the road, and luckily they were only at the stoplight where Allen Lim was selling his famous rice cakes on the side of the road!  Caught up with everyone and rolled out.  My legs were definitely feeling saturdays efforts but was able to work through it.  Was just awesome to hit up some killer singletrack and shred.  Heil/Hall is a super fun route and even more fun to do with a great group of people.  Rolling back over Picture rock, I had to swing into town and get water, but the group decided to keep rolling .  Meant I had to go into town, get water and then re-bridge.  Funny enough I was just riding solid tempo, caught the group and managed to set a 2nd best time up PR without really going all that hard, but still was hard enough.  Then we dropped down and laid the wood to each other over Olde Stage.  All together was just great to get 2 days in a row of dirt!!

The crew, wondering if anyone knows where to go…

Hall Ranch Rock Garden

Keller leading the charge at Hall

Dig this photo with Longs Peak in the Background

All together stoked to hit some dirt this past weekend.  Temps are staying great here and it’s bone dry (need some rain for sure!), but will be heading home this weekend to visit the family.  Bringing the road bike, to hit some Naples Hills!!

We fielded 2 teams, a 4 person open and a 5 person mixed.  With some awesome support by The Gear Movement, Cannondale, NoTubes, Schwalbe, Lazer, Mix 1, Honey Stinger & CarboRocket we were by far the best set up team around.  Huge Thanks to our Support crew: Jim Fu, Nancy Feagans, James Keller for keeping us running and dialed all night long.

Camp Setup

We flew into town Thursday evening and arrived at the course Friday morning.  A few had come down earlier to set up and all we had to do was pre-ride the course and rip some laps and get things dialed in.  Was my first experience riding in the desert.  Things are not friendly in the desert by any means.  Everything has thorns, spikes, prickers.  It will eat you alive if you go off trail.

Don’t let them fool you, they aren’t friendly when a number plate is on the front of those bars

The affectionately titled “Bitches” Section

Sunshine and cactus, both are dangerous in February

Dangerous Deidre? Nah, she was just happy to rip trail and pull cholla out of my armpit

Race day came along and our 5 person team was dialed.  Brian Sells went out and burned a super fast first lap and I went out in second.  I was fortunate enough to borrow his 18lb 26″ Scalpel for the race.  So speed was on my side.  Though getting used to such small tires at high speeds took some adjusting to for sure.  I burned a first lap just over an hour 1:00:47 (few seconds faster than Brian) and our team was off.  Deidre pulled a super fast lap, then Bill & Kelly.  By the time things wheeled around for my turn it was time for a night lap.

Traffic on the course was horrendous, but managed to rip out a solid dusk lap and we were fighting for 2nd the entirety of the race.  Midnight lap came around and fatigue was setting in for everyone.  Though the course got slightly damp and was more fun to ride.  I had some lighting issues due to improper assembly and had to stop a few times to fix, but otherwise we were still ripping things open.

Felt pretty good, but definitely fatigued for my dawn lap and lap times were creeping upwards for us.  We were in a tough fight to hold second place.  Bill decided to forego his turn and send Brian out to not lose anymore time.  It was decided that I would ride again another lap and possibly ride 2 in a row if it came down to the wire.

Sam Ripping up his 1st lap

Cholla, it hurts

I was dialed to ride a super fast 5th lap on the course & I did.  I ripped it nearly as fast as my first lap, but lost a bit of time when I made contact with a cholla cactus.  I had to stop and find something to help me pull ti out of me.  It was embedded in my shoulder, arms, leg, etc.  I had not choice but to stop for a bit and work on puling it out.

I did manage to get back up to pace and rolling and when I realized I was turning a pretty good lap time, I pulled it back on the final climb to conserve some energy for the next lap.  After being awake all night, I knew it was useless to charge the climb and better to rythmn it and pull a good 2nd lap.  I finished at 1:05:00 and headed out for my 2nd lap.  It was tough to race an xc race at the end of 24 hours, but I was fueled up, pumped and motivated.  I did not want to get passed.  Once I realized I wasn’t going to get passed I settled in and held onto our 2nd place for the event.

Podium Party in February

The 4 person went on to spank Kona Factory on their home turf.  They lapped them, which was huge.  Congrats to them for an excellent race.

It was an awesome event.  Super pumped to get out on the dirt and ride my bike hard in February.  I still have loads of work to do for this upcoming season for sure.  But this was an awesome way to kick it off with some fun and good friends.  I’m super excited for the future and can’t wait for more.  Now, need to keep catching up on that sleep.

Last year I spent thanksgiving on the trails at Heil Ranch. Great day on the bike and some Clif bars to feast on. Thankfully this year, in had the family here and would at least get some turkey in my belly.

sunshine, sunshine

Still, was nice to be back out on the same trails and was a gorgeous morning for a ride. Leaving home it was 21 degrees, but when I hit the trails it was 45/50 and would warm up to 65/70 ish. As quick as I hit the trails I was stripping down to shorts and a jersey.

this years thanksgiving trail food was much tastier

Managed to tack off a few hours on the dirt and get back home in time to catch some football and enjoy the day with the family. Couldn’t be thankful for more.

Black Friday, wtf is that? A big group of us decided to brave the cooler temps and the (un)crowded trails around Golden. No need to pepper spray anyone to get what you were after. It was found in the pain and suffering up the long climb to kick off White Ranch.

up, up, up

It was nice to meet some of the Epic teammates & ride some trails that I’ve never been on before. Long climb up to the top & then some fun swoopy stuff. Kept it easy and never fired the pistons, knew I still had plenty more days of riding ahead.

great views from up top

All together was a super fun few hours on the bike. We rolled back to the parking lot and a few brave soldiers decided to keep rolling and hit up some more trail. I peeled it back and went home to put some more time in with the ol ball and chain.

After some time on the dirt, pulled out the road bike for some easy base miles. Wsnted to just keep on trucking & racking up the weekend hours both saturday and Sunday. Managed to spill over. On the road bike making u turn on the road. Could only laugh at myself for that one. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve crashed on the roadie. Included countless races where seemingly everyone played a game of “pockets full of rosy, ashes, ashes we all fall down” except me. I always found it funny that everyone would crash when someone breathed on them on the pavement…something to be said for all those days spent flying through the woods.

naturally went looking for dirt

Wrapped up a great weekend of riding & rolling forward with the training plan. Bit of snow out there, especially up high and looking to bust out the snowshoes & have some fun.

how I felt after the long weekend

That made for some fun riding on the trail Saturday at Hall Ranch. I had to get out for a ride, been dying for a few weeks to test out the new Quarq quatro. Trails were dry and it was fairly warm, so a little blowing of the leaves wasn’t going to keep me at home. Though it almost put me on the ground a few times. Never did have to resort to any walking, but definitely was blown off trail more than once.

Sunday, I rolled over to Picture Rock for some more time on the dirt. Just a quick climb up to the top, around the loop and down. I’m easing back into the training with some shorter and easier rides. Plenty of time to lay down the miles soon enough.

Lots of stuff already out there on How everyone finished (2nd Place Overall-Team Omnium!)

-FasCat Blog

-303 Cycling

-Singletrack.com

CU Cycling mountain bike team kicked some ass at Nationals and I’m super proud of every single persons effort.  Whether they podium’d or not they were an integral part of the support team.  Also, all of the support crew were incredible.  Cooking dinners, maintaining bikes, helping set up and tear down the pits.  We rocked the house and Ft. Loosing is scared next year that we are coming for them and going topple their reign at the top.

I’m super excited for the Seniors (Peter/Claire) that had incredible races & pumped for all the riders that will be coming back next season!

Far and away we rock on the bike as a team, but we MOST DEFINITELY have the most fun.  When Sam was lined up for the short track and the official were counting down, it was awesome to have the whole CU team standing there shouting GO CU!! And singing the team fight song!  No one else even came close in school spirit!  You’ve seen the race pictures, here’s some fun pictures from the weekend!

Pre-riding the XC course in the snow and mud

Joey is all mud, blood and smiles on course

Sam is a bit dirty after the XC Race

Joey takes a moment to concentrate before his run

Was Successful enough for a 4th National Title in DH

I’m sure Baddick doesn’t want me to post this, those Brits are so shy, but we had fun at the costume party

Hunter S. Thompson came along with team for some reporting

You pretty much had to be there to understand this one

Raddest, fastest team around!

There’s a bunch more pictures, but they are not fit for the interwebs!!

Looking forward to returning with the team for 2012 mountain bike season and unleashing it on the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Conference & nationals again!

Side note: Training for me personally for 2012 has begun, will get a report up this weekend as I hit the trails with the new Quarq quatro and bring everyone up to speed…

The team was a force to be reckoned with during the 2011 season and I bumped into the riders at nearly every race I attended.  So it was a natural fit to ride for them (can’t beat em’ join em’).  I know I’m ready to step up my game for the 2012 racing season.  And I know the riders on the team are stoked and ready to take on an awesome schedule of races for next year.

Full details of sponsors, etc are still in the works, but I know from last year the team is awesomely supported by a huge number of companies.  As soon as the details are available, you’ll hear tons about it.

I’m super stoked to be riding with the best team in Colorado and the best amateur and pro riders around.  2012 is going to be an Epic season for sure!

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