Trail Building The "UC" Way

(Image provided by Rick M.)

I met up with the Utah County group today for some trail building. Kenny marked a route and about 15 of us showed up and rode it. I guess that's how it works in Utah County. I like it.

And now there is a new trail called "Kenny's Belt Route". It's a great section of single track that is single speed friendly (which is another way of saying, it's going to hurt a lot)

The best part.....It's a 3 minute ride from my office.

The Mark of The Beast

Finally, my cycling tan has come in.

My wife and kids run and hide with embarrassment when we go to the pool. But I think it's a good look.

Salt Cycling "Fly" Socks

Coming soon.....

Version 1 of the "Fly" socks. Perfect for race day or when you feel like putting the hurt on the group at the next group recovery ride.

And the manly colors have been tested and proven to significantly reduce violent encounters with country boys in diesel trucks.

6" (high cut), wool socks being made by SockGuy. Fly logo will be on the back of the sock.

Please....Call me Gorbachev

Rachelle and the kids got me a very cool helmet camera for Father's Day. Something every mountain biker should have.

I tried it out this morning. I only hope that I was able to capture the violent crash that left me with a nice gash on top of my shaved head.

Just call me Gorbachev.

Hopefully tonight when I get home, I will have some time to check the video and see if I captured the crash on film.

Stay tuned......

(Note: Drawing is not to scale)

Superhero Costume

I don't think I will ever be comfortable walking into work with my lycra kit on. I'm fine walking into gas stations, around the neighborhood, or pulling up at stop lights. I never really feel goofy because it just seems normal. But something about being seen at work in my kit is very uncomfortable. I don't like it. I try to avoid it.

This morning, I got in to the office around 8:30AM after meeting up with the group for Elden's B-day ride up AF Canyon. Here we are at the top. (Photo replaced with one from KK's site. He is much better at taking pics than me)


Back to the story....I got to work early enough that I knew I probably wouldn't see very many people. But as soon as I got to my cubical, the guy in the cube next to me looked at me for a few seconds and said "I like your super hero outfit" and then turned around and went back to whatever he was doing.

I looked down at myself (in my Racer's Team Kit) and realized that bike kits (whatever the colors) really do look a lot like a superhero outfits.

Did I just eat that?

What do you think?......Is the missing part of this tray of brownies the equivalent of 38 miles of ride time?

I sure hope so. I don't feel so good.

Deer Valley ICUP

I swithced up my pre-race meal and went with an egg, cheese, & bacon sandwich on a bagel (and of course a diet coke). I stuffed that down on the 35 min drive up to Deer Valley. Seth B. caught a ride up with me and I'm sure he was looking at my 44oz Diet Coke thinking I was a complete yahoo.

At the registration table, I saw Chad A. standing there. I could tell he was having doubts about racing due to the recent rain. I can't blame him. His bike cost more than my truck. After a few minutes, he lined up with me at the table and paid his entry fee.

We went out for a quick pre-ride of the course to check conditions. It was wet but the dirt wasn't sticky. I realized about 5 min into the pre-ride that I was going to be in trouble with my gearing. The 34x20 was too much for that initial climb up Little Stick. It didn't help my confidence that Brad was running the same gearing and was considering a switch.

I lined up with the single speeders. They had us starting with the 19-29 Expert group and just in front of the 40+ Experts. Which meant that Brad and other fast guys were starting right behind me. Single speeders did 2 laps and the Experts did 3. Usually at the start line, Ed will give the SS class the option of doing the 3rd lap. I was glad that conversation never happened as we lined up.

I didn't want to start off too fast with that steep climb. I knew I would probably blow up if I did, so I settled into 4th position, put my head down, and worked my way up the Little Stick climb. It was brutal. I was totally on the edge and was having bad thoughts. I didn't notice that I had passed one of the other single speeders on the initial climb which meant I was now in the 3rd spot.

Half way through lap one, I caught the wheel of another SS rider and was able to pass him on one of the downhill sections which meant I was now riding in 2nd spot.

Things didn't change much from there. If a rider made a pass, I'd glance down at the drive train to make sure he had gears. I wasn't about to let another SS rider come by. Once I made it up Little Stick for the 2nd time, I was feeling much better and settled into a good pace. The downhill sections were fast and tacky.

I held on for a 2nd place finish which is my best result so far this year.

I feel like my quads have ripped off the bone. Little Stick hurt me.