Ride the Rivet

Routine Leg Works

2009-09-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

Time and effort directed in this endeavor. Please check it out. Thanks.

http://routinelegworks.com

Bayou Salido

2009-06-29T13:42:00.001-07:00

Thank you "Hammer", otherwise known as Velo Soiree, that was great
ride. One of the best of the year. Real quick on why Mike is referred
to as the "Hammer". A hammer never wears out, no matter how many nails
you pound, it never wears out. That is how Mike rides, he just keeps
pounding those nails.
So yes a perfect route for those interested in gravel at elevation
with some of the best views the Rockies have to offer. Maybe something
in the fall? We can only hope so, maybe in the form of a gentleman's
race? If it does come together, I highly recommend it. Thanks to the
Beck family for hosting.
We finished at this place. An all time favorite of mine and it did not
disappoint. Hope you had a great weekend.

Soma Double Cross

2009-06-26T07:53:00.001-07:00

Very excited to ride from Breck to Salida on Saturday in the first
annual Bayou Salado. There will be two on the inagural. Same two that
started the Father's Day ride three years ago. 100 miles of gravel at
10,000 feet sounds like a piece of heaven to me. We hope to cross with
some GDR riders on the BIG trail. I hope we make to Amica's in Salida
for pizza and beer. That place is one of my favorites and is
motivation enough for me to keep the pedals turning. Enjoy your weekend.

I hope she is ready for Bayou Salado

2009-06-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

A Perfect Father's Day- Thank you.

2009-06-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all that chose to come spend a couple of hours hanging out for Father's Day with us. I hope each of you had as much fun as I did. The day way perfect, the ride was very enjoyable, and feast and company were greatly appreciated. Check out Mr. Becks photo history at http://velosoiree.blogspot.com/.

KJ gets gredit for the B&W here. Thanks KJ.

Father's Day Ride #3

2009-06-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Please join the 3rd Annual Father's Day Ride. The ride will leave the
homstead at7:45AM. We will ride through BCLP, up Mt. Falcon and down
through Lair of the Bear to a feast sponsored by our better halves.
You may have questions, I do not have an answers. Plan on 3 plus with
water at the top. Bring a quarter.

So please join us, for a MTB ride that is about good people who love
to ride their bikes. Some riders will be fast, some will be faster, I
only promise to be at the back, dreaming of the fine food awaiting us.
Sent from Chad

A DK story and some thank you's! Long.

2009-06-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

So this is my account of a gravel grinder in Kansas known as the Dirty Kanza. This race was 205 miles long and traveled through the beautiful rolling hills in this part of the state. We started in Emporia at 6:00AM. The strategy was simple: eat, drink and constantly keep moving, never letting doubt creep into the mind. The first stretch was 61 miles to CP(checkpoint) 1. In a neutral start, I was able to hang with the lead group for about the first 17 miles. This was a huge help as we battled a stiff head wind ranging from 10-20 miles per hour. The most memorable part of this section was the 4 mile climb up to the tower. I hooked up with a very nice gentleman who was on single speed. We worked together for a while and I learned that this was his third attempt and his goal was to simply finish. At this point, I really worked hard to stay focused on getting to CP1. I made it into CP1 with the company of a professor from Iowa, he was finisher at Trans Iowa and experienced rider. We were in about 35th place at this point. We loaded up and started towards checkpoint 2, and the halfway point in the race. We hooked up with a couple of other riders, and we worked together for a while. People hung on as long as they could and then got shed off. This were I met Greg. He would prove to be a great companion for the next 100 plus miles. We rolled into checkpoint 2 together were we took a break and got into our drop bags and got ourselves ready for the second half. It was at this point when I started to learn about the difficulty of this years event. The heat, the wind, and the course were all adding up to be described by the promoter’s as “the hardest ever”.
Leaving checkpoint two in good spirits Greg and I pressed on to this 38 mile section. Although a shorter distance, this section proved to be very difficult. On the way we rode a bit with Joel (co-promoter). It was great to ride with such a nice individual. The heat, rolling hills and lil’ Egypt Road were tough. That coupled with a small navigational error which added a hill and significant time en route to the next point. Finally, we reached a paved section, Greg and I were both out of water and still had six miles to CP#3. We found a house and chose to get some water. We knocked, but no one answered. They had a pump about 10 yards from the house we were able to get some much needed water. Had we not done that, I am sure by the time I got to CP#3 I would have been burnt toast. Making it to the final checkpoint was a bit anticlimactic. Sure we had made it this far, but had we lost our minds along the way?
We got restocked and were screwing around a bit in a hazy fog of fatigue. For the last several hours poor Greg had listened to me babble on about my buddy rolling on the one speed. And then, in a moment were I wondered what my name was, the mission was delivered. Could it be? Was it possible? Yes, Yes, Yes, Mike Beck, “the hammer” rolled in to CP#3. Staff announced that he was 1st place single speed. And then it was done. The mission was set. The three of us would not be detoured from delivering the 1st single speeder to finish line.
I am not sure how Greg or Mike felt about it, but for or me it is beyond words. Simply said, three men would set out to finish their goal.
As we left CP#3, with 65 miles back Emporia, the sun was beginning to set and the air began cool. The reds and oranges that accompany a sunset began to cast their colors onto the rolling hills. Soon shadows began to loom and darkness began to settle on the gravel. The last leg of the race we talked a fair amount but I cannot remember what we spoke about. We were simply united in the mission to keep moving forward. The day had changed. I started with simple goals of just trying to make it to the next CP. Now, somewhere in the darkness of Kansas, the goal changed to simply seeing the next ten feet in front of me were lights provided some guidance. With about 35 miles to go, we could finally see some lights from Emporia. Nobody knew how fast we were going or exactly how many miles we had left only that were on a mission. After 42 different types of gravel, an encounter with a skunk, and too many shot blocks to be counted our tires hit real asphalt. I thought it was too good to be true and that this had to be yet another cruel joke. Then Mike rolled up behind me and said “6 more blocks”. It was then that first tear welled up in my eyes, Mike was going to get first place and Greg and I were going to be able to share in the moment of a true champion crossing the line. Some of you who are reading this may know Mike, some may not, but he has the heart of a true champion. When you think about what he accomplished on his bike on that day. Consider this, Mike road the third leg of the race solo. This section was the hottest at 95 degrees, had the most technical difficulty, and had the most vertical gain. Mike had “shown himself brave” on this particular day (reference to an article by Graeme Fife, Glory through Suffering on the Rapha website, http://www.rapha.cc/glory-through-suffering ). Some of you may know, some of you may hope to find out, but after 19 hours and 26 minutes of moving forward three men would finish their goal, their respective mission and finally set their bikes down for the last time.
This is my history of my adventure known as Dirty Kanza 2009. Thanks for taking a moment to read. Congrats to all those that toed the line, and especially those that finished. I feel truly lucky to be one of them. Out there, a million things could happen, I just happened to be lucky enough to have good breaks and great men to ride with. I hope that you feel the same. Enjoy your ride.

The promoters of this event and the community of riders that participated are some of the most genuine people I have had the pleasure to ride with. The crews from Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas are great people. Thanks for sharing the gravel grinder passion in such a positive manner. Dave, Steve, Skip, Corey, Troy, and Joel are names I can up with now, but there are many more. To me, it is cycling at its fundamental core and I was honored to simply participate.
Wow. Two days later with my brain racing through this experience and this is the word I choose to capture this adventure. Wow, at all the support I got from wife, family and friends. I would like to go on record as having the greatest wife. Thank you Carey! Thank you Mike “the hammer” Beck, the 1st place singlespeeder at DK. The wisdom you shared through our long training rides was true difference maker for this adventure. Also huge thanks and deep appreciation to the skilled rider, Greg Bachman, whom I rode most of the event with. Greg your navigational skills and conversational company were awesome! Thank you.

The dog is ready to ride

2009-05-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Dirty Kanza

2009-04-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

My mind continues to invest in this event and I am excited about this
challenge. This process continues to vasilate from the attempt of
trying to control every variable to trying breathe deep and be in the
moment. Both carry their own value towards my development but also
contribute to my mental fatigue.

On a differant note, my beloved Vanilla has undergone a tansformation
in preparation of DK. Hope to add some pictures soon.

Finally, I have joined Twitter. If inclined check it out and make
contact. Twitter/simplecyclist

Sent from Chad

To save a few pennies...#1.

2009-03-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

I do use chamois cream for rides over two hours. I have always been
amazed by how much they charge for this product. After trying several
products, I have found one that works extremely well, Udderly Smooth.
I find it very comparable to Chamois Butt'r, at literally a third of
the price. I purchased three 12 oz. containers for the price of one
8 oz. tube from the shop. I have used it for over a year. It is non-
petroleum based products and will work well with your cycling shorts.
Needless to say, it has saved me a few pennies. Google it and you will
find it available on line.

Before

2009-03-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

After

2009-03-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Fwd: Have your cake and eat it too! LDL

2009-03-12T09:42:00.001-07:00

go@blogger.com" <go@blogger.com>

It is on for Friday night and we do
have options. O1-long route, to include the likes of IronWorks, Mead St. Station, Edgewater Inn and a top secret location in Denver. Not necessarily in that order.
O2-short route, to include Iron Works, Thirsty Bear and Baker's St. Pub. At any rate we have options.

Sent from Chad

LDL is in full affect

2009-03-06T13:53:00.001-08:00

Mark your calendars for Friday the 13th of March for the spring
classic Lakewood Denver Lakewood ride. All are welcome. Look for
confirmation, but I think we may start at the Iron Works in Lakewood
at 6pm. Dress is up to you, but I recommend at least a shirt unlike
our bare back cycling friend below. Spandex helmet and shoes, this may
be my outfit for sswc 09. Maybe not.

Pontiac Fiero Alive and Well.

2009-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

I just do not see this car very often especially in pink. It does hold
a special place in my heart. In the late 80's the girl that owned my
heart drove one of these cars. She never new, but everytime I see one
I go straight back to the high school years. Oh the glory.

The Laramie enduro is full.

Laramie Enduro

2009-02-16T09:15:00.001-08:00

I successfully registered for the Enduro this morning. They have a
limit of 400 riders. Each year it fills faster than the previous
year. Always a great a event although the camping spots were sold
out. That is a good way to roll as they let you camp at the start/
finish. I will try and get something worked out. Anybody else
interested?

Sent from Chad

So euro...so Cosco

2009-02-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

The kids are starting to get it...

2009-02-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding. For the last three Sundays, 4 total we have been taking
the kiddos snowboarding. This past trip we have started to see some
improvement. Quinn has become self sufficient and Lucy has been
starting to link turns. This is exciting for us. Pretty lame pic, but
in the background
Carey and Lucy are on the lift. Another nice day at Loveland. We have
been lucky.

Lovely Weekend

2009-01-19T06:53:00.001-08:00

Friday led off with a nice bike commute, as the temps have been mild
here and in the 60's. Saturday, Brian and I visited Loveland and
managed several runs from the Continental Divide, on a blue bird day
with minimal wind. Sunday I a was able to squeak a quick lap in at GM
before we took the kids up to get some turns. Day two with the kids
was a challenge. Some frustration from everyone on the slope but it
was such a beautiful day we were able to enjoy a picnic and the
mountains. Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Finding Focus

2009-01-15T06:48:00.000-08:00

With the arrival of the new year, I was excited about the upcoming cycling season. I had a nervous energy about wanting to participate in some challenging events but unsure what to choose. I would compare this feeling of being unsettled to a camera that is ready to take a photo but unable to find the focus. Then with some nerves I signed myself in for the 2009 Dirty Kanza, a 200 mile gravel grinder. As soon as I completed the registration process, the photo of my upcoming cycling season had come into focus. My excitement as gone to a new level and three simple goals have been established for this event. Goal 1: Finish. Goal 2: Enjoy this ride and people as much I can. Goal 3: Ride smart and strong. There are many goals to be achieved in the preparation but I hope these simple ones will help me push through my epic challenge of the 2009 cycling season.

I love bacon.

2009-01-08T07:13:00.001-08:00

And so does a lot of the cycling blogs I frequent. I would also like
to go on the record as loving pork sausage. I have deep routes in
Wisconsin. Nice to have a tasty treat after a comute into work.
these savory planks are left overs from the "breakfast for dinner"
last night, which is code for: kids, there's not much food in the
house and we will have to make good with what we have. Have a good day.

Picked you up some socks Velo Soiree

2009-01-06T17:36:00.000-08:00

Just Plain Old Fun

2009-01-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Loveland was better than expected Saturday. Throw a couple of good
friends in the mix, add some secret runs with fresh snow and a wife
that can bring it on the board, yes it was a fun day.
Rolled with the kids Sunday to the Loveland. Both had their first
experience on the lift. A good learning experience and a great great
family day.

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Fortunate to have three straight days riding at GM. Tonight a little
night ride. Rolled out the Mad Alchemy and enjoyed the fine sent up
the fire road. Good stuff. Hope is well in your new year.

Let it snow

2008-12-04T14:39:00.000-08:00

Cross season is complete for me this year. Attempted 10 races and
finished 9. All were raced on the Vanilla SS with enthusiam and
intensity. I am seriously considering a geared effort for 09' as the
fire remains stoked for cycling.
Loveland ski area continues to get hammered with snow. I am hopeful to
bust out the board this Saturday. Sunday I am taking the kiddos over
to the CX CO state championships to cheer on friends. Best of luck to
those racing.

Sent from Chad

Arm Wresting Match

2008-11-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

Heading into week 9 of my cross season, it appears that my bike and I
have been in arm wresting match stailmate. Today I figured out why, I
had lost my flow. Fighting my bike at every turn. Today i snuck away
for an afternoon ride. In an unusual fashion I rode with my Ipod. The
music helped locate flow. I look forward to racing Sunday with a
little more flow.

Kings of Leon@ the Fillmore

2008-10-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Breck CX memory

2008-10-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Vanilla=cyclocross love

2008-09-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

She's a beaut Clark

2008-08-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sweetness has been treating me very well on the last couple rides. The pic is after we ripped Centennial Cone a while back. That was the first ride with the Manitou fork. I really enjoyed the plush ride. Yesterday I rode over at Indian Creek, what an awesome network of trails, thanks Scott.

Well, the Moots is up for auction. That has been an awesome bike and tons of fun, just want to try something new. Hope the next person has a great experience with the Moots. I know I did.

I am super stoked that Crossniacs will be working with The Golden Bike Shop. Great guys over there in Taylor and Adam. They have helped me out more than once when I have been in a jam. The shop really has a personable vibe I appreciate. Thank you.

Hope to ride with you soon, wherever you might be.

Her name is sweetness...

2008-08-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

And I like her a lot. Hand made in Golden and fresh from craigslist.

Lover, not a hater

2008-08-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

A friend from the Golden Bike Shop sent me out on a medium Spot 29er this past weekend. Carey and I rolled some laps at BCLP on Saturday. Scott and I hit Lair of the Bear on Sunday. Simply said, the most fun I have had on bike in a long time. I am getting softer, as I really enjoyed having front suspension. One gear one mind. Awesome. I feel reconnected to the bike.

Cyclocross is beginning to consume my bike thoughts. Hope to have a good season. It is time to pick it up notch.

Knocked out the Laramie Enduro a couple weeks back. Everything went very well. Dropped some time from a few years back. Still can do better next year. A great event.

Keep the wheels a rollin'.

blue bird breck

2008-06-30T12:29:00.001-07:00

Went to Breck to ride on Sunday. It was perfect weather for a lap around the Firecracker 50 course. Scott and the Notorious joined in the climbing and tough downhills. Followed up the ride with pizza an pbr. The photo is on our way out of town. Hopefully, you can see the ten mile range in the background.

new ergon grip

2008-06-19T21:02:00.001-07:00

Digging the grips big time.

one mind

2008-06-19T19:47:00.001-07:00

From the movie The Last Samauri staring Tom Cruise, his character is learning the art of the Samauri and continues to struggle when a young teacher tells him "one mind", saying he is unfocused. I am trying to find "one mind" for the Laramie Enduro.

The prep continues to go well. A couple of us knocked out a longer Front Range mtb ride this last weekend. Good effort followed by an awesome father's day brunch. Bacon and PBR taste great after 5 plus hour of riding.

I dropped a pic of my LE ride. A couple of updates include a tubeless set up and some Ergon grips. Both preformed stellar.

Thanks Velo Soiree, the Notorious One and Scott. Looking forward to more epics.

Bike stoke at a all-time high

2008-04-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

This is a real lame picture considering the rides I have had the last couple of weekends. This last Sunday I got to roll out with two good friends and enjoy hours on the road in the high country. With all of us having two kids this ride was nothing short of festivus miracle. The ride was highlighted on the descent watching a moose for a couple of moments.

I have felt so inspired riding the last couple of weeks and recognize that as a true gift. To be honest, I cherish this inspiration and try to honor it with the phrase "harden the F*@k up", while I ride in the hills. I have been working hard to get a little stronger this year and that quote has had a good place in my head.

The Pacer has been a fantastic rig for my Foothill adventures. I look forward to many more. Hope your rides have rolling smoothly.

SC

Saturday Ride

2008-04-04T13:46:00.001-07:00

I am very excited about riding this weekend. The Pacer is ready to log some miles, I just hope my legs are ready to go. Looking for a long sustained ride with plenty of climbing. The weather forcast looks good, just need to prepare for a cold start and plan for the shedding of layers. Hope you get a chance to turn your crank this weekend.

Beautiful Day

2008-03-26T11:35:00.001-07:00

Quick shot from Clear Creek in Golden. The bike comuting is picking up and have been able to get several days in the last couple of weeks. Slowly but surely increasing the distance. I am planning on bringing out the single speed this Saturday for mellow run. Hope you are able to enjoy a moment the sun.

SC

Big bike weekend

2008-03-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

Wow. Big bike weekend at our house. My soon to be 4 year-old daughter Lucy is rolling on two wheels now. And she is fast and tough, putting multiple visits at the pain cave this weekend.

Also, Quinn got a new bike. A GF with gears, hand brakes, a front shock, and his favorite...a kick stand. He just can not figure out why I would not have one on my bike. I tried to explain that even though his cool factor goes up with a kick stand, mine goes down. He just thinks I am missing out. So a great weekend of riding with the kids and fun fixte run with the notorious one. Thanks.

Whole Ride

2008-03-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

Took Saturday off from the board. Carey and I got a bike ride in this morning. We rolled to Whole Foods to pick-up some supplies for dinner. Nice and relaxed on the fixed gear. My legs felt good aftet yesterday's commute. Lungs felt good. I have been trying run at least one time a week at work. This has seems to have helped my cardio. Make sure you say "hi" to kids riding their bikes. Tell them they are cool with a sweet ride. Have a great weekend.

SC

Monarch & Salida

2008-03-07T10:57:00.001-08:00

We had chance to get away for the weekend and chose Salida. Colorado is blessed with many awesome mountain towns, Salida is one our favorites. Nestled amongst 10 fourteen-ers and the Arkansas River, the historic downtown offers charm and hosts a very friendly crew of people. Good beers and good atmosphere were abound. Monarch ski resort also offerred a great taste of local flavor with many fun runs on the Arbor. Carey shot this pic in a moment of relaxation. just down this catwalk the view opens to show off the Rocky Mountains. Hope all is well in your world. Thanks Carey.

SC

Ouch

2008-02-25T08:42:00.001-08:00

Once again we visited Loveland on Saturday. This is a shot of Carey just below chair 2 with the Divide in the background sporting her new jacket looking quite cute. On the final run of the day, at full speed, I got t-boned by another boarder. I felt very lucky to get up after the collision. Have been sore the last couple of days.

Sunday rolled into work for a couple of hours and got some ride time in. Finished the day hanging with the kiddos skateboarding. Lucy seems to dig it. Have a great week.
SC

get your taste on

2008-02-21T08:19:00.001-08:00

Visited Pint's Pub last evening for Carey's b-day. She is so awesome, I am a very lucky man. Anyways, seemed like a great place to add to the LDL ride that will get reinstated this spring. They have a tremendous list for the Scotch lover in you, not to mention a fun list of small batch brews. Needless to say, Carey and I enjoyed our English night out. Thank you Carla for everything. Your homemade ice cream was to die for.

SC

Sweetness

2008-02-15T07:21:00.001-08:00

I really like this pup. An Old English Sheep dog, he spends all of his time having fun and being your best friend. Maybe he has life figured by keeping it simple. Like the sticker says...We need more wag and less bark.

FYI- our 3 legged terrier named Simon is doing awesome.

bike commute variation

2008-02-14T10:30:00.001-08:00

Wednesday was the best day of the new year for a bike commute. I got #4 in the books, finishing the evening ride in near 60 degree weather. Unfortunately, my route has been significantly altered to make way for a new exit along 470. Thus, I have had to take to the trails to get to Golden for work. That has been fun. However, in true Colorado style I awoke to snow this morning. I hope Loveland gets a good dumping as we are headed up with some friends on Saturday. I am totally stoked and will be planning my maneuvers as I ride inside today. Hope all is well in your world. Keep it simple.

Bluebird Day

2008-02-09T18:11:00.001-08:00

We had close to a perfect day. And for that I say thank you. Carey shot this pic at the end of the day. We had a blast and Carey pushed us into the park, hitting jumps and rails. Who would of thought. The terrain park is below a lift, so you get plenty of heckling. Awesome. As a 36 year -old trapped in a 22 year-old body, I check my ego at the door and go and have a blast. I push my limits and try to get better. All of this equates to a lot of fun. Again, I say thank you for a great day.

Cholula & Loveland

2008-02-08T09:16:00.001-08:00

I sure like Cholula. I put it on a lot of things, but especially eggs.

Things are shaping up nicely for a day of snowboarding tomorrow. We roll to Loveland and enjoy it immensely. I am getting close to double digit days, and the snow has been the best since we moved West. One of the value added benefits at Loveland is the Cholula packets. They probably have them other places, but I have not seen them. I like their portabililty. As one who brings food with them on most adventures including work they are appreciated. There you have it, a lot of love in todays post for both Loveland and Cholula.

commute #3

2008-02-04T08:33:00.001-08:00

Cold Sunday morning. Headed to the GCC to help out and cover a shift. Had some real cold toes by the time I arrived. Nothing a nice warm shower would not cure. A tailwind on the way home was appreciated. Great game sunday night. All in all, a good weekend.

skiing w/ the kids

2008-02-04T08:18:00.001-08:00

Busy Saturday. Helped a friend move in the morning and then went Loveland with kids. We as a family had some fun on the bunny hill. Quinn is really starting to be able to do a lot on this own, this is very exciting. Lucy and mom had some sweet runs. My wife is a superstar. Thank you Carey.

Slow Thursday

2008-01-31T14:37:00.001-08:00

Short indoor spin today working the base. I felt slow all week. Two days in commuting this year and maybe #3 tomorrow. Hope all is well in your world.
SC

A change of mindset...

2007-12-01T19:24:00.001-08:00

Hoping to meet one cycling goal this year, 10 cross' races. I am at 9 for the season with two weeks remaining. No sweat you might think. Enter snowboarding and the fall of snow on the rockies. My wife already has two days in the snow. Today on the first of December I got my first day in the white stuff, Carey got her third. She is really getting good and is very excited for this year, super cool for our family. My son had a great lesson today at Loveland witch culminated in his venture to the "big"side of the ski area and made it down on his own in near white out conditions. Needless to say, I was very proud of both my wife and my son today. Not to mention I had a ton fun. So what about cross' season? Will I meet my goal of ten races or will sirens' call to white mountains capture my attention. Tough choices in Colorado. I am greatful for my blessings.

Highlands Ranch (Denver) Race Report

2007-11-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

Rolled the Vanilla SS Saturday in the 35 4's. Going in I had two goals I wanted to accomplish in this race. First, commit to the start. Secondly, I wanted to attack all dismount areas. Mission accomplished. In the end, I felt good about my effort. I dug deep and kept closing. In this race, one gentlemen in particular had my attention. He happened to be the other singlespeed, rolling a classic Surly. He took it to me a couple of weeks ago, so when I passed him I felt good. He was not going to have that and stomped on by. I had him marked, but he had about 15 seconds on me. I hung in there til' the last lap and I made a move. He was pushing a larger gear than me and I sensed his legs were getting tired. I attacked hard on a small climb with a 180 turn at the top. As I passed he was kind enough to throw me a shoulder. I went down and lost several spots. That's racing, lesson learned. I try hard to be a nice guy out there, I will just have to make sure when I make a move I am more prepared. We chatted quick after the race and he apologized. Good race. Thanks to those who put on the race. ICCC held a great event.

Great Saturday Ride

2007-11-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday was beautiful. After a stressful week of vet bills and dog concerns I needed to log some time on the bike. Not a race. Not a training ride. Just the kind of ride where I am able to connect to my bike, my friends and the environment. Mission accomplished with my good friend Lars (pictured) at Indian Creek just outside of Sedalia. Lars hooked me up as a newbie to this trail with a damn fine ride of 2+ hours, perfect fall weather and a total connection. Thank you.

Speaking of great friends, my dog Simon got hit by car this last Monday. He got pretty dinged, including a collapsed lung and the current use of only three legs. This may change, but it may not. We sure are happy to have the little Jack Russel Terrier because it was touch and go for a while. Needless to say, we are looking hard at dog insurance, cause this stuff does get expensive. Not to mention the latest member of the family Oliver (pictured), the Old English Sheep dog. Yes, we do like a certain amount of chaos in our lives. This upcoming weekend is the third annual Chili Cook-off. I will race Saturday, enjoy friends Saturday night and try and keep it simple.

SC

Great weekend...

2007-10-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

Quinn's last soccer game was Saturday morning. Soccer has been alot fun and we have been so fortunate to have great coaches and a good group of parents. Next, Marky B rolled by and we got a fly-line wet. Wrapped up the evening with a Pork Chop and a Buckeye victory. Sunday rolled in, and I rolled out to Boulder res for the race. The race went real well with a field of 95 riders. As my old coach used to say...assholes and elbows. The results were not great, but it was my best race of the year. Definitely need to commit to my starts. Looking forward to a good weekend of riding, but there will be no racing for me this weekend. UCI races will be rolling in Boulder. Should be fun to watch and support friends. Finally caved and sold my vw camper van. Now I am sportin'the element. I do like.

SC

Getting Fired Up...

2007-10-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

For the race this Sunday at Boulder Res. I will be rolloing at 10:35 with 35+ crew. Starting to have develop some fun rivals, the kind that make you dig a little deeper during the week. This week was real good with two commuting days, a day of yoga and a day for spinning out the legs.

I was cleaning up the desk top and found this great picture of Carey on her summit of Mt. Massive near Leadville. It was awesome for her. There is something special about making it to the top and reaching your goal. She is the best.

Cross'-Fully Exposed

2007-10-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Each race I get fully exposed...my fitness, mental toughness and my willingness to suffer.

Fully exposed...with each layer coming off like a rotten onion, each lap the battle continues inside my head, can I continue to suffer? Can I catch that guys wheel? Who is that on my ass, can I get a gap?

Fully exposed...only two battles really exist, the one with myself, and the one with the guy ahead of me. Through in some run-ups, barriers, and mud and I have plenty of distractions. Each and every race I check my pride and ego, mount my Vanilla single speed steel rig and get fully exposed. So why, what is left? Some small form of cycling purity. I can not explain it, but through that process,that purity, I learn a little more about myself and the type of person really I am.

Mid-season of cross' and I have completed 6 races. My performance has been all over the board, so goes cross. I continue to try and keep it simple, with my season, my bike and myself.

2 Phrases I did not utter...

2007-07-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

in the Winter Park Race on Saturday, July 21. 1. Race Leader and 2. On your left. Anyways my first race this year and I had a blast. Why the hell did I wait so long to get in the mix? Life, kids, work all equal excuses. At any rate, I feel highly motivated and excited about racing with plenty of room for improvement. I am planning on doing the last two races at WP and hopefully the Dakota 5-O. These should be a nice springboard into beer drinking season, sorry I mean cyclocross. Hope all is well in your world.

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Great Wednesday night ride

2007-06-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

I am going to try again with this blog thing. Been trying to make some adjusrments in the computer equipment to make this an easier process. I have installed a wifi network and switched to the Apple computer. The Airport extreme has been addictive and little frustrating. Be back soon.

Please pass the "catch-up"

2007-03-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

I have been practicing for my favorite holiday. Got Guinness?

One item I have been totally impressed with has been my Bailey Works mesenger bag. A true messenger bag makes a big difference for commuting. I have not been able to locate a feature that goes unappreciated. The more I use it, the more I like it. The bag and I have about forty hours together riding, so I have had a little time to evaluate. www.baileyworks.com

After all these years, I own my first Surly, a Pacer. The Noto one helped me with the build and put the finishing touches on it. Thanks Noto. I only have a couple hours on the new frame, but I can already tell that I will climb better, and be much faster. OK, not really, but she is rock steady and that is something I really value.

Quick note: Rumblings of a possible Pork Chop reunion for the Dakota 50. Are you in? Grab your wheels and a thirty pack and head for the Hills...the Black Hills.
www.dakota5o.com

Finally made it to church...

2007-01-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

The Notorious and myself rolled it to Loveland Sunday morning and the runs off of chair 8 were a religious experience. I do not intend to be disrespectful to the church, but rather demonstrate the power of being in the mountains with some fine snow. Thanks to all those that contribute, and thanks to to the Notorious for a great day. Some fresh flakes always make for an interesting drive up 70, and although you cannot see his hands, I suspect he may be suffering from some white knuckles. The other two pics show the Nototious on a drop-in, and me and my Arbor mixing it up in the trees. Sorry the pics are in reverse order.

Have a goodie,

SC

Got my board on...

2007-01-16T19:10:00.000-08:00

Had a great and cold day at Keystone. Arrived and the tempature read minus 14 degrees. Brrrr. Anyways, we sucked it up and got some great runs in on the backside. Thanks for the tour T. Bluebird skies with the 10 mile range as the back drop added to a great day.

This is how depression hurts...

2007-01-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me, know that the Buckeyes loss to Florida has been very tough. It is amazing how fast one can deteriorate in a state of depression.

Having a little fun.

2006-08-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Augsut really has nothing of importance on my bike schedule. I have been trying to have fun riding. This includes trying increase my commuting efforts on the fixte. Other than that I have been able to get several fine evenings of fly-fishing in on Clear Creek. Serveral trout and cold water on my feet is great way to enjoy an evening. Another fun activity of late has been the long board skateboard. I can take the kids to park on their bikes and I am able to get a couple of hot laps around the park. This has been one of those things that I have really enjoyed, but all my friends look at me like I am insane. Oh well. A friend of mine who owns board shop let me borrow his board and said it would help keep my snow boarding skills sharp. A couple of weeks later he gave me the old shop board and I have been having a blast ever since. Thanks Vince at the BoardRoom. I can not help but look forward to another great season of hitting the slopes. Hope all is well in your world.

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Got er' done

2006-08-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

The Larmie Enduro was a true epic adveture, and I appreciated every moment. Especially, now that I have a couple of days to recover. From a race pespective I had a very good day. No mechanicals, the bike preformed flawlessly, the nutrition plan worked extrememly well. I was able to finsih in a respectable fashion. I did suffer and suffer a lot, but it was awesome.

From an organization point of view, this may have been the best race I have participated in. It really was cool from start to finsish. Race organizers, volunteers, and the racers were very nice, low key and down right comfortable. Nobody lost their cool and everybody respected each others efforts. I would like to say a huge thank you to the race organizer Rich, and all the tremendous volunteers. Everyone provided over the top support with a smile. Each time I pulled into an aid station someone would fill my camelback, bottles and nutrional needs and get me and all the racers back out on the trail. This was truly incredible.

I would also like to say special thank to MarkyBru for driving my ass up and back. Carey you are awesome.

The pain cave

2006-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted use that phrase, and finally thought that would be an ample way to describe the Firecracker 50. As for most, the first lap was great and I felt good. Then my eyes begain to look up at these long tunnels of darkness (climbs). This is the area where I need to improve the most. When there is a big climb, I can get it done but I am slow and it takes a lot of energy. More than half way through the second lap I got a flat. I think I ran over piece of barb wire, as my tire was sliced. It took some time, but got back up and running. Overall, I was disappointed in my time, but felt good that I finished.

I do have a chance for atonement at the Laramie Enduro. To be honest, I am quite nervous about this race. I have no idea what to expect. One side of my warped thought process says , it can't be as tough as FC50 because there is not as much climbing. However, when reality shows its face in my logic, it says, this race is simply 20 mile longer... better get your chubby butt ready. I think it is going to be hot and humid with no place to hide. Reading some race accounts there good reason to be nervous, and that in the long run is healthy.

Family matters...last week the crew headed out to Crested Butte to enjoy the some time outdoors together. Well, we got the together time, just not to much of the outdoors. It pretty much rained the whole time. CB was still awesome. Great vibe and real strong appreciation for the two-wheeled wonders. Definately a lottery town. If we won the lottery...

After couple days in "close quarters" we boogied over to Glenwood Springs to soak in the hot springs. It was real nice. After which we came across the restaurant called Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse, pictured above. The other two photos are from CB. Have a great week.

SC

What is your favorite flavor?

2006-06-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am such a whore. I have a love affair with three different bikes, not to mention my wife. Here is my beloved Vanilla in MTB single speed mode. This utilitarian frame serves many roles including MTB, fixed gear commuter/drinker, and my single speed crosser. The color I would describe as Espresso with kick.

For the last couple of months is has been in FG/commuter mode. That is until a group ride at Lair of the Bear required her services. Nothing like being 16 again, because I fell right in love with her agility on the trail...again. 16 never felt so right. The trail lent itself nicely to climbing and rolling singletrack with mountain vistas. Needless to say, I had a great ride. All this followed by 34oz. Fat Tire beers in Morrision. A serious question for the three of you who may read this...what beats a great ride and and great beer? I do not know the answer, but in my book, the list is short, real short.

Four days till FC 50. Yes, that race is Risky Business, "but some times you just have to say, what the F$ck". The Moots will be called into suffering service for the event.

Have a great and safe holiday weekend.

SC

The best part of Father's Day

2006-06-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

I had a most wonderful day. Thank you to the best wife and kids that I ever had.

I did end up racing at Winter Park for $35. It was a very good race and great work for the upcoming FC50.

This picture was taken in Winter Park after the race and after lunch. Congrats to Taugimba for fine single speed effort.

Have a great week.

SC

Morning commute brought to me by...

2006-06-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Beastie Boys. That’s right, the Beastie Boys road with me this morning on the commute in, via the ipod. All week I have wanted to get this post into the blog, but it has been very busy of late. Big thanks to Taugimba for a great weekend in Breckenridge. We got out on two stellar rides and took a couple of pictures. The riding was awesome as I got worked into the ground. It always amazes me how big a difference a couple thousand of feet can make with regard to available oxygen. Our first ride took us to the top of Boreas Pass. It took me thirty minutes to pull my lungs out from my throat - no air up there. On the way down we dropped into some singletrack from the FC 50. Day two took me on some new trails that were extremely fun and beautiful. I felt like a very luck person to be enjoying three of the things I value most in life- family, friends, and mountain biking. Awesome to say the least! Thank you everyone.

After a good couple of weekend rides I was tired and rested for a couple of days. Lately, I have been trying to get into the weight room once a week and work on maintaining some core strength which I did Wednesday. Thursday took me out to GM for some hill work on the jeep road. Friday = commute = 2+ hrs of riding. I was hoping to race at Winter Park Sunday, but there on-line system would not let me register and there is no way I am paying $45 the day of. I thought $35 was steep. I am cheap. The way I figure the Leadville 50 is only $65, maybe I can work that into my schedule. That would make for a fine July the FC 50, the Leadville SR 50, and the Laramie Enduro. I better get to work.

Hope you have a great weekend. I will try and keep it simple.

SC

A friend I have never met.

2006-06-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have been bike commuting for a couple of years. Last fall the bike commute usually took place on Fridays. Over the course of several weeks, each Friday morning I would wave to this retired gentleman who appeared to be out for a morning walk. It got to the point where I would look for him, and it was a great part of the bike ride to work. Soon, colder weather moved in and my commuting stopped. All spring I have been looking for him on his morning walk. I finally saw him today. Both of us waved. It was the best part of the ride to work. It felt like I saw an old friend that I have never met.

Speaking of old friends I have a photo of one in todays post. I just really like this bike. It probably is over 12 years old. A steel Ibis road bike. A real steady-eddy.

Nothing but Love...

2006-06-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

...for this bike. I truly appreciate this bike and its ability to cover some serious MTB terrain. This bike is a simple Moots YBB 29er with a WaltWorks fork. My favorite thing about this bike is the cockpit, I feel very comfortable, and in a position that allows for optimal use of power. The bike has preformed flawlessly for me, and most likely a lifetime ride. As I continue to focus my energy on the endurance genre of MTBing, I cannot imagine a more suitable ride.

Again, I have to give a major thumbs up to the Maxxis Ignitor tires. Maybe the best tire I have ridden for the Colorado conditions. Just ordered a second pair to have on hand.

The summer race schedule continues to fall into place. The first race will be the Breckenridge Firecracker 50. Next, will be the Laramie Enduro 111K. I sure would like to attempt a MTB century but have not been able to find one that works with my schedule. Also hope to knock-out a 24 hour event. I hope it comes together.

Good Day,

SC

Yes, a great weekend for riding.

2006-05-30T12:57:00.003-07:00

Weekend fullfilled. With the wife and kid's hanging out in Minnesota I was able to spend some quality time on the bike. Saturday allowed for 5 hour ride (actual ride time) that took us 37 miles around the 80403. This included White Ranch and a grand tour of Golden Gate State Park. I guess about 8000 feet of climbing, but I would not know. This was a great day in every way for me. We left my house close to 9:30 AM and returned to cold refreshing beverages around 4:30 PM. A full day of riding and adventure, fully enjoyed!

Sunday I was able to enjoy a good stretch on the legs, with a relatively flat 60 mile 4 hour ride. Perfect. Monday was also fun, an hour spin on the fixte followed up with some epic crit races in downtown Golden. Congrats to the B to the I to the L. Great race! This blurred pic is of the pro 1-2 race. Them boys can fly and make it look easy.

Mediocre week, hopefully a great weekend.

2006-05-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

The title relates to my biking for the week. I must fully admit my commuting absolutley sucked this week. With the family gone, I thought it would much easier to commute, but I was wrong. Mostly a hectic schedule at work contributed to my lackluster effort. I did however, try to make up for my effort with two MTB rides, both single speed, and day of hill work. The hill work came in the form of Lookout Mtn. I did a couple of up and downs and a lap around Coors. That equated to about a two hour ride.

The ride up Lookout Mtn. is always enjoyable, and Wednesday night the weather was perfect. From downtown Golden to the top is close to 7 miles on the road. What makes it so enjoyable is the massive amount of recreation that takes place during those seven miles. I crossed the Clear Creek bridge in Golden to view a plethora of kayakers surfing the white water. Proceed to the Pillars where most cyclists start and begin the ascent amongst several dozen riders. One the way up I notice 8 para-gliders in the sky, several climbers doing some top rope work, hikers, MTB'ers, trail runners and the remote control glider crowd all enjoying a Golden evening. Wow! This is really cool, everybody sharing the Mtn. and getting their recreation on. I like it a lot here!

SC

Awesome 29er tires.

2006-05-24T07:22:00.001-07:00

I have purchased these Maxxis Ignitor 29er tires, and have been riding them for about a month. They are the best tires that I have used in the 29er format, and meet the needs of Colorado riding. They hook up extremely well in climbing, in the corners, and descending. I think they are the perfect size in both width and air volume. Needless to say, I need to get a second pair to have them waiting in the wings, should a tire tragedy strike.

Summer of George II (Seinfeld reference)- The wife and kids are MN for the week of Memorial Day. I hope they have a blast, and I am so happy the kids get hang out with our family including the 15 cousins. We are very lucky to have such a great family. I miss you all. I am looking forward to some great days of riding.

Two wheeled weekend.

2006-05-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed another great weekend in Golden. Saturday allowed for a three plus hour MTB ride in the the Front Range. We shot up Chimney Gulch, and then enjoyed Apex via the Enchanted Forest and up and around Sluicebox. I finished with a grind up the jeep road at Green Mtn. Estimated distance was about 25 miles. Based on those #'s I sure was not breaking any speed records. However, the ride was mostly about climbing. My guesstimate would be well over 3000 ft. The only bummer was that I lost one of my favorite water bottles, that contained some important fuel for the body. I hope to keep adding to this effort with plethora of trails that are located in this area. I am very lucky.

In the picture, my good friend takes a moment to look out onto the snow capped mountains.

Sunday was swell, as well. Me and the kids cruised Golden on our bikes. Later in the evening we added Mom to the biking mix. We headed down for a great dinner and a little time at the park. Simply a wonderful family night on bikes.

Have a great day.

SC

Got Game?

2006-05-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Quinn, Bil and myself went to the Rockies game last night. My wife and daughter stayed home, so it was men only at Coors Field. What a great place to watch a game. The Rockies won, and offered a very enjoyable time. A home run, a throw from center field for a put-out at home plate, and many hits, made this game fun to watch. All this for a cost of $9. That is right $9 for the three of us to get into the park. That is tough to beat for your entertainment $. I look forward to our next Rockies outing, via the bike. Let's get a date set.

I would like to wish a good friend of mine a huge a"GET WELL".

How do you clean your chain?

2006-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Evidently, I use my pants leg to clean my chain. This does not speak well of my general maintenance skills, but I do work hard to take of my bike. Mandatory before every ride is checking the tire pressure. I hate flats more than anything else, and I do get my fair share. The least I can do is make sure I reduce my chances of a "pinch flat" by having the tires properly inflated. Next is the chain and drive train cleaning. This falls more along the lines of once a week for general riding conditions. Long weekend rides or races moves the drivetrain to the mandatory list. That leads me to two more pet peeves. 1. Being the person on a group ride whose bike is always making questionable noises (lack of bike TLC). 2. Paying for race and ending up with a DNF especially if it is something that I could have prevented, that just sucks. I actually like to see if I do finish last. Other than that, I just try to pay attention to the bike for any potential maintenance issues as they arise. That help me eliminate having to use my pants leg as a maintenance device. Have a nice day.

SC

A snap shot...

2006-05-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

that a makes a strong statement on the current status of life in America. Before I jump-in, I would like to first admit that I contribute to the problems. I am working to reduce my impacts as they pertain to gasoline consumption and support of corporations. Simply said, I try to spend as little of money in those areas as possible.

Back to the picture. I ride past this particular area about three times per week on my bicycle commute, and this sight always strikes me. This is about 7:30 AM. It generally makes me sad to see so many cars lined up at the drive through of a Starbucks coffee shop. People so committed to convenience, gasoline, and corporations. Yes, it does make me a little sad.

However, it sure was a great ride in the morning. Blues skis in the Foothills, and rolling into awesome visuals of the City of Denver. I do feel lucky on this Friday. That coupled with a planned visit to my favorite brewery in Golden this evening, have me giddy as a school boy.

Taugimba-Rocks!

2006-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give a good friend some major kudos for the effort extended for the Trans-Iowa event. You continue to inspire me, when I am on the bike in a strong head-wind or rain, I know that my suffering is nothing compared to what you must have endured. Great effort!

Weekend ride photos.

2006-05-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Had a real nice weekend here in Golden Co. During the previous week we had some ample rain which significantly hampered my commuting plans. I headed out bright and early on Saturday morning to sunshine and green grass. The green grass is a real treat. I snapped a couple of low-res shots from Hogsback/Dinosaur Ridge. To the west is the famous Red Rock's park and concert venue and to the east lies Green Mtn. Needless to say, this is a very popular cycling road.

...and a new bike!

2006-05-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

My lovely daughter turned two last Friday. I think she had a great day. Along with several other gifts, she got her first real bike. It is always a great day when you get a new bike. I look forward to many family tours in our future.

Giving a bike as a gift is awesome and I am honored to do so. My four year-old has been pedaling for two years. He is excited to see his little sister start turning over pedals. He is excited to help her learn, and for that I am grateful.

Good Day-

SC

Good to be back!

2006-04-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Seems like every time I find my rhythm in this blogging adventure I get detoured. Feels good to be back.

Here my "bestest buddy" rocks his new wheels. Our favorite thing to do together is go for a bike ride.

This next picture is of my awesome daughter, cruising in the trail behind on the same day. Our morning consisted of a bike trip the the coffee shop and then to the park. I love doing things together on our bikes!

Computer crash

2006-03-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

Just as I was getting my rythm, boom my hard drive fails. I hope to have some new pots and piture up soon. Thanks.

Geeky Commuter

2006-03-24T08:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am a geeky commuter. Nothing makes feel better that a bike commute to work, well almost nothing. It is great to get a ride completed, I save money, and I make a small contribution to the community by reducing pollution and traffic. I do listen to headphones while I commute, so feel free to bash. 80% of the commute is on greenbelt/ bike trail, the other 20% is on an established bike lane.

The second photo is from the commute looking onto the west side of Green Mtn. This is where I do a lot of mountain biking. I find the riding excellent. I can get a great workout and still have fun.

Have a great weekend.

Good to have the sun back.

2006-03-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

Here again is a picture from our townhouse looking towards Lookout Mtn.

It sure is nice to have the sun and blue skies back. For the past two days we have had cloudy skis. That is a long time in Colorado. However in Minnesota, where I resided for the previous ten years, you may go up to a week without seeing the sun.

The temps are warming up and I am excited to get rid of this snow. All week I have been banking a bike commute on Friday, a fun ride Saturday and off to snowboard on Sunday. I do enjoy living in Colorado. I am a lucky man. Have a great day!

A typical dad move.

2006-03-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry the picture is not great. This is what is left of the snow fort that Quinn and I attempted to build on Monday night. The fort construction went down like this: first, Quinn and I both work hard, next Quinn losses a little interest and only helps out when I ask. Finally, Quinn goes inside and leaves Dad all alone to finish the construction.

Every once in a while I have these flashbacks to my childhood. This particular flashback was of when my father got so involved in a project and my attention level continued to fall. I think this is something most dads can relate too. I did notice that during the couple of hours of my diligent snow fort work, my wife would peek outside with a smile. I think smile was hiding the laughter that was taking place inside.

Where is my motivation?

2006-03-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken late Monday, March 20 looking at Lookout Mtn. in Golden.

Last week I was totally excited to re-commit myself to the cycling efforts. For me, this mostly means allocating time on the weekends. Unfortunately, two thing happened that may dampen the increase in efforts. First, I had a great time snowboarding on Saturday and would love to use "my" time this weekend towards that recreational pursuit. And secondly, we got a bunch on snow. The snow works against me, it fuels the snowboarding desire and diminishes the cycling enthusiasm. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the week comes together.

If you are curious why the "my" is in quotes, I am thinking you may not have kids. Truth be told, there really is no such thing as "my" time. There are periods throughout the week that may belong to me, but they only come about through the team work of a great marriage. I am a very lucky man.

Great St. Patty's Day Weekend

2006-03-20T09:09:00.000-08:00

I love St. Patrick Day! Seriously, why not? There is no pressure, no gifts, no expectations. All I need to bring to this Holiday is a smile and some beer.

Friday started with a bike commute to work. The return trip home put me at the brewery. I love it when that happens.

To celebrate St. Patty's Day we started at the Golden City Brewery with a couple of friends and then home home for some Guinness and Irish stew. My wife is awesome and made a great batch. Thank you.

I took it pretty easy in regards to beer consumption. My wife and I went snowboarding on Saturday with "no kids". We left the kids with our good friends/ neighbors. The boarding was awesome. My wife took some good spills, but got up every time with a smile. Did I mention that I have an awesome wife?

Sunday was a total family day. We hung out at Casa Bonita. I wish my 4 year old son could write about this place. We would get a 3-page essay on why Casa Bonita is the greatest place ever. Needless to say we had a great time and some very marginal food.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Fruita Revisited

2005-11-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

What seems like forever ago, four brave souls headed to Fruita to find the underlying reason we all ride bicycles. The story is short but the rides were long.

Myself with my beer and Shonny! She is a Carhart girl and a Luna Chick!

This was the new 43er bike being previewed.

Lakewood-Denver-Lakewood

2005-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

The recap
Four riders set forth on the first ever L-D-L. We left the house packing PBR and a full Surly flask.

Edgewater Inn - Scooners of Coors Light and pizza! Hydrations and fortification.
Three Dogs Tavern in Highland Square - didn't make it there but stopped off at another pub (Meade St?) for a pint of Guiness.
Protos - Eleven Dollar pitchers of PBR, I believe that is some kind of crime.
Ironworks Brewery - Smoky! not smokin' with live music Lakewood style. A beer that bothered me like ragweed in the fall.

Twenty-five miles of pure fun. Look for a winter version coming soon.

Peace,
L-D-L mgmt

Snow arrived

2005-10-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

The snow arrived earlier in the week which forced me to don the running shoes and slog through it. The running wasn't all that bad, but my body is just not ready to commit to a full schedule of running and that winter regiment. I do have to say this winter will be easier to muddle through this year with the prospect of a good spring cycling season ahead. The last few months I have found that commitment to a routine of cycling that has been lacking since moving to CO.

Only a month or so before the weekends will be filled with skiing and snowshoeing. First I must finish out my cycling season with some solid 'cross races.

Time for lunges in preparation for deep powdered tele turns......

Trouble in paradise

2005-07-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

There are many perils in which one must face in everyday life. We as a society have built safeguards to protect us from ourselves and from others. We take calculated risks daily. I ride my bike and therefore understand the risks but also understand the rewards. I was able to take a long ride over the weekend to ponder my troubles. The ride started in a resort town high in the mountains, there are many who say that the rate in which towns grow is ruining the very reason for visiting. In this journey, I rode through one resort that having been infused with money over the past few years is expanding. I turned around in a very high dollar resort town thinking of the pioneers who years ago traversed the pass to find pristine land. As I looked at the growth and listen to the din of traffic shuttling people, I realized that my problem is only a minor one. When I got back to the mountain retreat, I grabbed a cup of coffee and came to the conclusion that I didn't need to leave home to beat the heat. I needed to go to a place that had a working coffee maker.

Credit , where credit is due

2005-07-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I started in on the importance of connecting breath to workload. I referenced an article in Mountain Flyer Magazine, however Steve Ilg and his book entitled Wholistic Fitness deserve the credit for introducing me to this school of thought. I was riding this weekend and that came to mind. I really appreciate the Wholistic Fitness concept, well at least about 95% of it. Check it out with a google search. His books were what I enjoyed the most. They were straight forward and not over the top.

The weekend allotted for two good rides. Saturday morning was a great fixed gear ride. I was able to turn the pedals over for about two hours and enjoyed a ride along the front range. The highlight of the ride was through Red Rocks, the world famous concert venue. I have ridden through here many time and the scenery is truly spectacular. However, this Saturday morning I took a different exit down to Morrison. Absolutely beautiful. I am always amazed at how much more you can see and participate in, when riding your bike.

Sunday I got a chance to do one of my favorite rides, a trip to the top of Lookout Mtn. Always enjoyable and always a good work out. From pillar to post, I believe it close to 5 miles, and gains over 1,000 feet. Needless to say, for a thick thug like myself it is always a challenge. My best time so far this year is 32:40. By no means great. Although I have been marking my time as measurement for improvement, I do try not to focus on it. The ride is really very enjoyable with a lot to offer and not just a great climb. I think that the fastest time up is around 22 minutes. I could be wrong, but that is the number I did hear.

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Connecting to my breath

2005-07-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

I am confident that most people have some appreciation of the importance of breathing especially as it pertains to cycling and working out. Breathing when cycling as become a focus of mine of late. From the article in Mountain Flyer, I have been trying to make a conscious effort towards connecting my breath with the workload that I am producing on my bike.

With that said, this morning on a trail ride I had two revelations. First, if I concentrate when breathing I can bring in about 10-15% more oxygen ( an estimation) into my lungs. During the climbing portion of the ride, when I am between 90-95% of my max heart rate, that extra oxygen really made huge difference both with in my ability to maintain overall power and my ability to recover. I know this may seem like obvious stuff and that most people may know and understand his important connection. However, this was a big step for me today for improving my efficiency in climbing hills on my bike.

So the connection has been drawn between concentrated breathing and improvement in efficiency. But as usual I continue to ponder, and as a result, I come to my second revelation. That posture on a bicycle can have a dramatic effect on your breathing. And that by improving my posture on my bike I was able to improve my breathing and therefore improve my efficiency on the bike. I found it truly amazing how much more freely the air was able to move through my lungs.

So today I found a couple of connections between breathing and cycling. Even though I may have found some ways of improving efficiency, simply connecting my breath to cycling and participating in the present moment proved the most rewarding.

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Trail Energy

2005-07-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those rides where it seems like people are very nice and good "hello" somehow, seems to provide you with a little extra energy? Or maybe it happens during a race. You are struggling and someone offers some kind words of encouragement and all of a sudden you are able to find a "little extra"? Well, I had one of those rides this morning. Nothing extra spectacular, but some good "hellos" and "have a good ride's" that simply made me feel more comfortable or relaxed or empowered by a sport that I love. I have never quite been able to put my finger on why this transfer of energy has a powerful effect and why it is uplifting.

I am fascinated by the transfer of energy through smiles, hellos, and kind words. After spending time thinking about this phenomena, my brain usually gets curious on the why some cyclists choose not to participate in this transfer of energy. Why they are so absorbed in their ride or workout they choose not to transfer positive energy through interaction. To be honest, I know it is those people who stomp my ass in a race. That is OK. But it is the people that can offer positive trail energy and still kick my ass that I truly admire in our sport.

Keep it Simple,

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Something to get excited about

2005-07-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

In my constant search for cycling related items that contribute to my enthusiasm for the sport, I believe that a new jewel is now available. It is called Mountain Flyer Magazine. They can be found at http://mountainflyer.com I love to read a good bike magazine. This strong publication has had an immediate impact on my cycling. I measure the quality of a publication with one simple litmus question, does the magazine provide new and creative insight into the sport that I love so much. To me, that is what the major publications lack, a little soul for the sport. Sure they can put together publication that offers eye candy but in the name of sales, marketing, and advertising they opted to keep articles to a certain word count and edit the content as not offend and potential advertising contributors. Their choice, I simply do not care and do not spend my money on those pubs.

Sorry for the digression, back to Mountain Flyer. SAHD first brought this magazine to my attention. I think it is worth your while to check it out. A couple of favorite articles from this issue include " Training with a Circus" for those who juggling work and families. Probably my favorite artice is "What if Budda Raced a Bike?". Sure it is a little deep, but that is what I like and speaks about finding your place within a racing atmosphere.

Keep it simple.

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Delay

2005-07-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

There has been quite a long delay in posts. A comforting thought is that no one really follows this website. However, I find it theraputic and will work to make consistant efforts towards this blog.

One of my highlighted cycling events has come and gone. The Breckenridge Firecracker 50 mile mountain bike race. For me this was a true challenge to finish and I did. I certainly did not break any records, but I got it knocked out and that felt good. For a long time now, I have wanted to really work at becoming long distance racer/participant. The 50-100 mile plus stuff. This is a real challenge especially with a family and two great children, plus working full-time. This 50 miler was my first real step in continuing to move in that direction. I have the bug and want to continue to feed it with another distance event.

Earlier I commented on my intent to finish. Right now that is where it starts and stops with me. Taking some pride in the accomplishment. Maybe someday it will be race for me, but for now finishing is the task at hand.

While preparing for the Firecracker SAHD and myself often road together bantering support back and forth. This one stuck for me.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Good Day,

Simple-Cyclist

Changing gears

2005-06-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

A midseason adjustment in priorities as I take some time off the bike to prepare for an epic adventure - running. It is not that I don't run on a regular basis, but that I will actually focus on running for the next two weeks. That should be enough time to prepare for the grand adventure of running 38 miles through the night. Phil and Paul say that your body changes after you compete in a grand tour and I would say the same is true when you push your body beyond its capabilities. I have had many drunken discussions with ultra runners and bikers who would concur. I liken it to the concept of a derailleur - if you can gear down to climb the hill and take the easy way out or you can push your body to conquer the hill.

"I'm not really fast, but I go for a long time" - Dean Karnazes

Another great morning commute...

2005-06-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

A morning ride to work in the Front Range from Golden into the heart Lakewood is a very nice ride. I was able to shave off 8 minutes of time from the Monday commute. I must admit, I was a bit of a sugar tit on Monday. I will attribute most that to the "Monday" but also a rather large messenger bag that was filled to the brim. A copule of things occured to me on the ride in:

1. Messenger bags, I love them and they are totally useful, but also serve as status symbol when riding. When riding with your messenger bag, I believe, the message is being sent, I have something to transport that requires this and I am choosing to use my bicycle to do it.

2. This morning I was curious on why I referred to my bike as being female in gender? This is what I came up with. It has to be female, she continues to foregive me being over-weight, out of shape, not particularly graceful, and generally a lack-luster cyclist. She never whines or complains and always lifts my spirits after a long ride. For the above stated reasons, it is only logical that my bicycles are of the female gender. I think that maybe aluminum bikes are male, but I do not know, I do not own one.

Quote for the day... coming from the Colorado Outward Bound School book-

A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
by William Shedd

My twist-
A bicycle in a garage is safe, but that is not what bicycles is built for.

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2005-06-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Sure...a little retro grouch. But she has so much love to give.

2005-06-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Damn, Sacha does fine work! He was a pleasure to work with. Thanks Sacha.