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!!

Rolled out of town with Kelly, Greg & Bill from Epic Endurance.  Wasn’t looking for a hard day by any means, just a chance to enjoy the weather and have some fun.  Bill broke a spoke rolling north on 36 and ended his day… The rest of us trudged onwards towards Estes Park.

Below is the ride in pictures…

Rolling up Big Thompson Canyon, Massive Canyon walls surround for most of the trip

Busting out of the Canyon and Heading to Glenn Haven then to those white peaks

Glen Haven General Store, time for some world class cinnamon rolls

Mother f@ck$ng, son of b*t(h, this was the sole reason for riding up here

Ah well, the views into Estes Park made up for it

Food and Fuel while enjoying the sunshine in Estes Park

Greg and Kelly Climbing out of Estes

Not sure what mountain this is, but looks like a photo from the 1800′s

Looking back on Estes Park

All in all it was a grand day for a trip to the park.  117 miles of riding and we even caught back up with Bill as he rolled up South St. Vrain Canyon on his mountain bike to catch us.

Sunday ended up being crazy windy, and I managed a short quick trip over to the famous Morgul-Bismarck course for a trip up the wall.  Never fell over or had to carry my bike to secure the final spot in the race, I probably didn’t even impress Marcus with my climbing.  It was crazy damn windy though and decided to bail on the ride after I stretched my legs.

This weekend is looking great again, another perfect one and thus some more time on the road bike is in the forecast, but all likely to be a lil bit short in the end compared to the last few weeks.  But nonetheless will still be some good fun.

Then…. Drumroll… Coming home from 3-29 to 4-2.  Plans are to hook up with the GBC crew on Friday am for some Hartman Ranch shredding and then get MEGA on saturday down in Naples with the MtnJet and a few others.  Will be nice to bring some high altitude lungs to sea level and maybe take some of those Strava KOM’s from a few of the locals . The main focus of the trip will be to see my sister and her big ol preggo belly and Peyton and Reagan; but since it was unplanned I’ve got lots of leeway to have some fun on my bike.  It just better not rain or snow!!

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

Rossetti Vertigo

Now, I realize, it’s not quite all that in the road cycling world, I mean look at it, where’s the carbon deep dish wheels?!  But it’s new to me and it’s been about 3 years since I’ve had a new road bike.  My road bikes tend to stick around on average about 3 years and are more workhorses than anything for me.  It would take me a while to list all the mountain bikes I’ve had but only a few lines to list the road bikes.

The bike isn’t anything special, open-mold Taiwanese frame, but it does have an integrated seat post.  Built up with SRAM Rival and currently some crappy shimano wheels (hopefully to be replaced with NoTubes soon).  I’ve also got a Quarq on it’s way, so for first time in a while I’m without power for a bit.  But with the low end gruppo, it comes in about 16.8 lbs  I’ll drop some weight swapping to the Quarq & also lose about a pound swapping wheels.

Not that the parts, name brand, etc are the big deal.  The fact is it just makes me excited to ride my bike again and get out there and train.  Now, this might be common place, but after riding a 7 model years old trek 5200; this thing just jumps when I pedal.  It actually feels like it goes forward and 1 out of every 3 pedal strokes aren’t wasted just pushing through the drivetrain.  So it makes me excited to climb hills, go on group rides, go for long MEGA* rides (*trademark/copyright of HeyoBH).

In fact got out this weekend with my Epic Teammates for the Gateway ride.  It was pretty much a regular NRC race this past weekend on the front group.  All the famous colors of teams and riders you see at the front of the big races were on the front of the group ride.  With the warmer weather it brought out loads of riders to test themselves against them up the infamous Carter Lake climb.

Regrouping at the top

It was good fun hard race to the top and I straggled in not too far behind, at least better than I have been.  So fitness is slowly climbing.  Aftereward turned around with Chris, Sam & Bryan and headed out on our own.  Our small group fought the wind to Lefthhand Canyon, then fought our fatigue and selves up to the top of Jamestown.

Bryan, Sam & Chris

I was dispatched about mile 7 of 9 and just couldn’t hold the pace any longer uphill.  By the time we rode up Lee Hill, I considered walking as it seemed a bit faster.  But all together it was a good ride with teamies.  The bad news is I found out why I was struggling and came down with a full blown cold.  Thought I had salvaged myself and fought it off, but ah well.  Nothing to do now but pop pills and try to recover in time to do it all over again this weekend.

Hopefully can get out today before the 80 mph gusts come and keep logging some new miles on the Newness!

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.