Corner Canyon (Ghost)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
In Gangsta Black
Yes, it does feel good to be a Gangster.
The 2011 Adobe kits are in. Hard to go wrong with black & white, unless, of course, it's 90 degrees outside. But the way this Spring is going, I won't need to worry about that.
The 2011 Adobe kits are in. Hard to go wrong with black & white, unless, of course, it's 90 degrees outside. But the way this Spring is going, I won't need to worry about that.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
RAWROD & Lambert Park
Friday was the RAWROD TT (Fast Friday). I got up at 3:50am, picked up Mark and met Miles, Brandon, Jesse, Ben B. in Spanish Fork and made the drive down to Moab in the MadDog van, the ultimate cycling bus. (Thanks Jesse). Six bikes up top (that's a lot of money in bikes)
Once in Moab, we met up with Kenny and his crew. I think we had about 30 riders.
At 8:42, we were rolling. 8 hours later (7:27 for Dan Z.) I finished the 100 mile ride. Completely shelled. It hurt exta bad this year.
I went with a 32x17 gear. Great for the flats but not in the sand and not great for the climbs. Especially the climb out of the Rim.
I still can't believe Chucky did the entire ride on one water bottle (and I don't think he had any food). Amazing.
Post ride, back at camp, I ate 3 brats. So, so good. (Thanks Elden and Kenny for the brats and bread).
Got home at 1:45am, asleep by 2am. Up at 8am for the Lambert Park race. What a transition. My legs were sore for the 100 mile effort the day before and the Lambert race was a 50 min circuit race which meant it was going to be all out, full gas from the gun. And the race organizers managed to throw in a nasty climb right at the start. Lap 1 and 2 hurt but by lap 3 I started feeling good again.
B. Tolbert took the win, Dan Z. was a close 2nd and I hung on for 3rd place.
Once in Moab, we met up with Kenny and his crew. I think we had about 30 riders.
At 8:42, we were rolling. 8 hours later (7:27 for Dan Z.) I finished the 100 mile ride. Completely shelled. It hurt exta bad this year.
I went with a 32x17 gear. Great for the flats but not in the sand and not great for the climbs. Especially the climb out of the Rim.
I still can't believe Chucky did the entire ride on one water bottle (and I don't think he had any food). Amazing.
Post ride, back at camp, I ate 3 brats. So, so good. (Thanks Elden and Kenny for the brats and bread).
Got home at 1:45am, asleep by 2am. Up at 8am for the Lambert Park race. What a transition. My legs were sore for the 100 mile effort the day before and the Lambert race was a 50 min circuit race which meant it was going to be all out, full gas from the gun. And the race organizers managed to throw in a nasty climb right at the start. Lap 1 and 2 hurt but by lap 3 I started feeling good again.
B. Tolbert took the win, Dan Z. was a close 2nd and I hung on for 3rd place.
Conrats to the guys running the the new Utah State Championship Series. They pulled off a really cool event. It's nice to have guys who race put on a race. They get it. I look forward to supporting them at the other races this year.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
It's A Camelbak Ride
I avoid wearing a Camelbak at all costs but every now and then, a ride requires it. The RAWROD TT or "Fast Friday" is one of those rides. Chasing 30 of some of my fastest friends around the White Rim is just what I need. It's been a long winter.
Last year I carried chicken strips wrapped in foil over 100 miles through the desert and never stopped to eat them. I lived off CarboRocket, water, GU, chomps and a power bar and finished on fumes.
I can still taste that chicken and Diet Coke as I sat on the tailgate of my truck post ride. One of the best meals I've ever had. (but still not as good as the Brats at camp later that night)
I hope to see you down there and swap stories over a brat around the fire.
I can still taste that chicken and Diet Coke as I sat on the tailgate of my truck post ride. One of the best meals I've ever had. (but still not as good as the Brats at camp later that night)
I hope to see you down there and swap stories over a brat around the fire.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
MTB Short Track
I've raced MTB endurance events, 24 hour events, cross country, cyclo-cross, road, but never MTB short track. If it's anything like CX, I know I am going to get worked but I'm pretty excited to try it. Details here.
Let me start the anti trash talking now by stating that on Friday, I will be doing the Fast Friday version of RAWROD, driving home late Friday night, getting up Saturday morning and racing. I can't wait to hurt myself two days in a row with two completely different events.
Tappering?.....Pffft.
Let me start the anti trash talking now by stating that on Friday, I will be doing the Fast Friday version of RAWROD, driving home late Friday night, getting up Saturday morning and racing. I can't wait to hurt myself two days in a row with two completely different events.
Tappering?.....Pffft.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Protection
Riding solo at night in Corner Canyon always freaks me out. On Saturday, after being in a RV for 3 days, I needed to stretch the legs. I snuck out for my first night ride of the season. This time, I decided to pack some heat.
Yep, I rode with a knife in my back jersey just in case.
P.S. Before the rain on Sunday night, all of Canyon Hollow was rideable.
Yep, I rode with a knife in my back jersey just in case.
P.S. Before the rain on Sunday night, all of Canyon Hollow was rideable.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Vitamin B
I've been taking one of these a day. It says right on the bottle "Helps convert food into energy".
Anyone else notice a difference when loaded up on vitamin Bs?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Motivation
I'm thinking of cutting out this pic and taping it on my top tube as I train for 5 mile pass.
There has to be a way to beat this guy. I mean look at him. He is beatable, right?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
ICUP #2 Cholla
ICUP #2- Cholla was on Saturday. I had never raced this course so I figured I'd make the 3.5 hour drive and check it out. I wasn't able to leave Draper until 8:45pm on Friday so I booked a hotel in Cedar City and arrived 15 min before midnight. The race wasn't until 12:30 on Sat so I had plenty of time to sleep in, shower, eat and make the 40 mile drive to Hurricane for a pre-ride lap before the race.
Not a huge turn out. Only 6 in the SS class (which included Phast Dan and Brian Tolbert). The smaller races make me more nervous cuz there is a significant chance of coming in last.
From the gun, Brian T. and Phast Dan pressed on the gas. I was able to hang with them long enough to put a significant gap on the rest of the SS group. Within 3 min everyone else was out of sight. So there I was, hanging on by a very thin thread as Dan and Brian hurt each other. I was happy to watch them from a distance and didn't think I would have a chance to catch them. Once we hit the first wash section on lap 1, Dan was gone. He just pedaled away. I was on a 32x17, Dan on a 32x16, and Brian had a 29x16 (a smaller chain ring which made his gear slightly easier than mine.)
No significant climbs or downhills. It was a fast course which meant we were pedaling all the time. Gear selection would play a major role.
I knew I would be racing for 2nd place. Dan is just too fast. Brian and I traded spots a few times. He could hurt me on the climbs and I could gap him on the flats. We went back and forth until lap 2 when I decided to keep on his wheel for the climbs until we hit the flatter, wash sections, recover for a few min and then try and get a gap before the climb to the finish.
My strategy worked and I was able to pull out a 2nd place but it was not easy. I must have looked over my shoulder every 30 seconds during the last 15 min of the race. If Brian would have had the same gear, I'm pretty sure he would have dropped me.
Not a huge turn out. Only 6 in the SS class (which included Phast Dan and Brian Tolbert). The smaller races make me more nervous cuz there is a significant chance of coming in last.
From the gun, Brian T. and Phast Dan pressed on the gas. I was able to hang with them long enough to put a significant gap on the rest of the SS group. Within 3 min everyone else was out of sight. So there I was, hanging on by a very thin thread as Dan and Brian hurt each other. I was happy to watch them from a distance and didn't think I would have a chance to catch them. Once we hit the first wash section on lap 1, Dan was gone. He just pedaled away. I was on a 32x17, Dan on a 32x16, and Brian had a 29x16 (a smaller chain ring which made his gear slightly easier than mine.)
No significant climbs or downhills. It was a fast course which meant we were pedaling all the time. Gear selection would play a major role.
I knew I would be racing for 2nd place. Dan is just too fast. Brian and I traded spots a few times. He could hurt me on the climbs and I could gap him on the flats. We went back and forth until lap 2 when I decided to keep on his wheel for the climbs until we hit the flatter, wash sections, recover for a few min and then try and get a gap before the climb to the finish.
My strategy worked and I was able to pull out a 2nd place but it was not easy. I must have looked over my shoulder every 30 seconds during the last 15 min of the race. If Brian would have had the same gear, I'm pretty sure he would have dropped me.
Oh, and I got this sweet ribbon and a hoodie.
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