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

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!!

Then I got this picture from my brother of my nephew Peyton and niece Reagan.  It pretty much superseded anything I could have posted up on here.  Peyton loves his bike, its one of his few outlets for true mobility.  Sure he can get to the end of the driveway with his walker or get around his house.  But with his bike (and some help from mom or dad as he can’t pedal it) he can explore the neighborhood, go visit grandpa down the street, get outside and make the world 10x bigger.  He’s released from his temporary confinement.

Bikes + Outside= Happiness

Isn’t that after all what each of us are looking for when we saddle up? To be released from our everyday worries and confinement, to go wherever we choose.  To feel the wind in our hair and feel like we are kids again?  Even with all the racing and training and pushing myself to the max, in the end I just like riding my bike and being a kid for a few hours.

Get outside this week, go make your world bigger.  Take that road you never have…

Like the title implies, training has been going well.  That good feeling that you have from being exhausted from long rides, but can feel the efforts area working in your favor is starting to appear.  The longer harder rides aren’t as long and as hard anymore.  The little sprints still hurt but not as much.  The spring time hack at the top of the climbs is still there, but at least its not there too much when I’m heading down.

Friday afternoon spin on the dirt roads

The weekend was full of awesomeness. Got out Saturday with my Epic Pro teammmates again (except for Alders who was slaying it at Mellow Johnny’s PRO XCT) and hooked up with the CU team and just went big on the climbing.  Up and over everything we could squeeze in.  Haven’t climbed that much in forever, but it was good sensations to get those into the legs.

Rolling out to Carter Lake with the Epic Crew on Sunday

Sunday was a ‘Sam Morrison Zone 2′ ride out to Carter Lake.  Had a good size group to roll with and I surprisingly felt really really good.  The plan for the day was to go big and get some time in on the bike.

Great views of Carter

Did manage to get in a great ride with Carson, rolled up South St. Vrain Canyon to Raymond and back down.  The legs felt really really good with all the mileage in them and it was a nice day to finally crack 100 miles on the road.  Can’t believe I never broke that number 1x last season on the road!

Flipping around at Raymond

Today, as I type this is just gorgeous outside.  70+ and just had fun on the bike.  I got myself a new Quarq and loving it.  No more weight penalty and I finally have a solid road bike that I really really like to ride.  While the Cannondale Flash is here, it’s a few weeks out on the SRAM XX parts.  I miss the dirt, I miss the dirt, I miss the dirt.  But…. I’m really having fun on the road bike and hell, I think I may even sign up for Boulder Roubaix next month!!

Lee Hill-How many ProTour riders will hit the deck in the next switchbacks this summer?

Warm in the shade climbing up Bow Mountain

Snow maybe coming tomorrow after 70 today, but I plan on keeping my momentum up.

Enthusiasm is the energy and force that build literal momentum of the human soul and mind -Bryant H. McGill

I’ve downhilled a few times & classic skied tons, but never have I ever skate skied.  Met the crew at the gate for my first foray.  AP, MT, Tupa, Bob & Josh were there to ‘help’ me learn.  They showed me a few things and then just went really really fast and I was forced to bust my ass with everything I had to keep up.

This is what I felt like out there skiing

I could go fine on the flats, better than I though on the down and totally sucked going uphill.  And there was lots and lots of uphill.  I can’t remember the last time I went that hard.  Legs were burning, arms were burning, it was dark, 9000ft elevation and I simply fell over a few times going uphill as I was just going so hard trying to keep up.

I’m pretty certain this is what my technique looked like to everyone else

Needless to say it was both the most fun and hardest thing I’ve ever done exercise wise.  HUGE thanks to Powers for lending me the skate skis and boots.  I’m super hooked on the sport and I need to get up to Ned and get a good lesson from the Brit.

Well the snow came down in bunches Thursday/Friday night and made for a good fun day this past Saturday.  I elected for my first Winter Triathlon.

Rolled out to North Boulder Park for some am skate skiing

Then jumped on the trainer for 90 minutes of Sufferfest videos with Bill & Kelly

Then home for 90 minutes of Snowshoe time with Bridget & Lake

I was pretty crushed when I finished up all 3 workouts, but damn it was a ton of fun.

I didn’t get to bust out the skis on Sunday, but instead took Bridget and Lake and the pups for some more snowshoeing up in Nederland

This tells you how deep the snow is when Lizzy was swimming in it

It was a gorgeous day out there and far warmer than you can imagine

And of course the dogs had so much fun!

Training is rolling along nicely and I’ll work on bringing everyone up to speed quite a bit more on this blog and getting some more updates up much much quicker than I have been in the past few months.  New Bikes are coming and racing is less than 2 weeks away!!

Anyways the gist of this blog post was meant to be about my focus & motivation for 2012 & outline my goals.  Sometimes making things public can force you to never back down & push yourself to new levels.  As I posted earlier, going to be racing with Epic Pro cycling team p/b The Gear Movement.  New team, new teammates & some awesome new sponsors for 2012.  I’m excited to be back on Cannondale bikes, been a long time since I’ve ridden one, but I truly loved those bikes.  From my F2000SL (that I worked my ass off in college at Pizza Hut to pay for > Hell yes I rocked the blue Volvo logo’d frame & those crappy CODA discs, but got those swapped.  I think I only broke 2 of these frames!) to the Scalpel that took home off the demo truck, they were fast bikes.  2012, hoping to be on a Flash 29.

Flash 29

Serious team & serious goals for 2012

• PRO XCT Racing!! Texas, Colorado Springs & Missoula (will miss Wisco though as I’ll be back home for my mother’s wedding)
• Nationals!! XCO Nationals in Idaho
• Winter Park Series as I can hit them
• Steamboat Stinger (need some redemption from last years finish)

My goals are for some good finishes at the front of the pack  (race how I know I can race).  Perhaps crack the top 10 for the big races or pull some podiums up high at Winter Park/Steamboat.  Big time, hugest goal, holy crap maybe?  Get into the World Cup at Windham.  That’s not as easy as one thinks.  Need some solid UCI points for the season & not too many races will I get to hit to chase down those points, but if you’re going to dream, better dream big.  I’ll have the bike, the support & the team to do it.  I just need to bring the training into the right spots.

Yes, it’s completely true.  I’m actually training this season with a purpose & goal (see above).  The last 2-3 years have seen me mostly focused on family (getting married, moving, etc), making other people fast, & plain old having fun.  I got fit, but never truly race fit.  Did some intervals sparingly, rode my bike tons but lapsed when it came to the true dedication.  What most people call ‘soft’, didn’t push myself beyond the normal comforts of general riding.  It showed in my race results & my power numbers & even my mentality (at least according to my wife).  I would do just enough to get by & it worked for me then. It no longer will.

Not so this season, I’ve been cracking the whip at the gym.  Late evening or early morning gym sessions, crushing the core work.  Going the extra bit to get myself fit.  Riding is slowly up-ticking as well as my overall strength & general fitness.  I’m leaps & bounds ahead of the past few seasons in January & truly ready to get it on.  I’m feeling strong & it’s a great time to be alive & training hard.

Rolling with Coach Carson

First racing of the season kicks off with the Team at 24 hours of Old Pueblo.  Racing as part of a 5 person mixed team & looking to mix it up a bit. Obviously won’t be anywhere near mid-season race form, but will be nice to get some intensity in, particularly with Mellow Johnny PRO XCT only 2 weeks after.  Good chance to really integrate myself with the team & hopefully give Sam & Chris a run for their money on lap times

Clear roads & Mild temps have made for good training

That’s it for now.  Temps are looking great to load up the miles for this weekend & hopefully the snow melts.  #getsome, set some goals & get yourself focused for this season.  I am!

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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It has been a good year out here and I’m more than happy to be here and having fun.  I’ve had an ok race season and I’m ready to prepare for next season and really step up my game for 2012.

Let’s play catchup for the last few weeks….

I went to Grand Junction with the CU Cycling Team.  Had a ton of fun and even got to do some extra riding afterwards in Fruita!  No complaints there as it was tons of fun!

Brian rolls through and takes an Oreo feed during the XC race

Post Race shred session on 18 mile rd

Weekly CU team practices at Valmont, Spandex & Baggies mixing it up

Mom, Grammy & Wheels (Dave) came to visit us in Colorado!!

This past week has been awesome, been filled with tons of fun stuff as my mom, her fiancé Wheels (Dave) & Grammy came to visit us in Colorado. It was awesome to have them here.

We started things off with some time on Pearl St doing some shopping and then took our travels up to Rocky Mountain National Park, tough first we kicked things off with Lake’s cross race at Xilinx

Lake shredding it at Xilinx CX

We spent the day taking a nice long drive up to Estes and enjoyed every bit of it.  Leaves were in bloom in a few spots, going up high was pretty sweet and even got to see some Elk in the meadow

Lake and Mom

Elk Meadow…. The Elk are off to the left, but I just like this picture

Lake made some friends

Wheels and our family on Trail Ridge, mom and grammy were too freaked out to get out of the car!

I just dig this view

Elk. Chilling.

The Church at the base of Longs Peak

We got had some great adventures, I even took them up to Gold Hill, but for some reason the camera didn’t work properly up there…  Family dinners, laughs and great times.  It was super nice to have them out here and having a great time and relaxing.  So nice to see my mom so happy after all the stuff she’s been through and it was even better to see Grammy out on vacation!

Riding has been mostly on the down low and will be till I return from the Collegiate Mountain Bike National Champs in Angel Fire, New Mexico.  Super excited to head out with the CU Cycling team, watch them kick some ass and support them.  After that, time to change the oil in the engine, swap some spark plugs and revv it up for 2012 Mountain Bike Season!

This past weekend the race was at Hartman Rocks in Gunnison, CO hosted by Western.  Good chance to really get in with the team, meet everybody and have some fun.  We chose to camp and found a pretty dang sweet camping spot.  Although it was behind the rocks and it got brutally cold at night.

Sunrise in Gunnison

Our team pretty much kicked some ass!  We won the Women’s B Short Track, then went 1,2,4,5 in the Women’s A Short Track.  Our Men went 1,2 in the Men’s A Short track.  The next day in XC we won the Men’s A in a sprint at the Line and in Women’s A went 2,3,5 and 2nd in Women’s B.  Gravity team rocked the house with a W in both DH and Air DH.  Super pumped for the team and looking forward to this coming weekend in Grand Junction

Women’s B Rider Ashlee Wilson shredding the field in the Short Track

The DH Crew

Women’s A Riders Abbey, Katie, Claire & Deidre ready to decimate the field

Abbey Mickey dropping the descent

The Men start the short track led by Kevin Kane

Kevin Kane working hard for Sam Morrison

Everyone was out cheering and doing the wave

Michael Larsen drops through the upper section of DH

Post race activities were load of fun.  2 nights of camping and camp fires.  There was no kumbaya singing, but we definitely had some fun and I’m looking forward to the upcoming races