A good day

Dubba chases Paco (photo courtesy of Boulder Cyclesport)

I rethought going skiing and went to the cross race at Bear Creek Park in Morrison. There's only two races left (one, after today = State Champs next weekend). And after yesterday's race in the snow and mud...i just had to go...it just HAD to be done. There aren't many chances to race cross, and to race cross in the snow. Speaking of...I thought it wasn't supposed to snow today, but it was even snowier than yesterday, and colder! The course was excellent: lots of singletrack but with more passing opportunities than yesterday's race. There was some sand, and lots of ice and snow. The conditions were pure winter Colorado -- 30 degrees and dumping snow with packed snow and ice on the roads and trails. The tire pressure had to be as low as possible, i think i was down to 25 at the most on the tubies. Ice ruts covered in a light dusting of new snow ...offcamber corners...you know how it is...your foot out around many corners, and the straightaways were just as sketch as anything out there. You'd just be riding along and suddenly you'd hit an icy section while pedaling a bit too hard and your back wheel would be 1 foot to your right or left in a millisecond. Clumps of ice and snow sticking to your cleats, barely able to get into your pedals after the dismounts...it was seriously epic. And it just kept snowing throughout the race, changing course dynamics each lap.

Alas, it was a good day.

I had my mojo with me today and just felt it. It started out with 4 of us: Ward, Greg (Mud and Cowbells), Michael, and myself. We got a good gap and kept going. After lap two, I bumbled over a barrier and stacked onto my bike and twisted my bars sideways. Boneheaded maneuver! I had to spend 20 secs twisting them back while the other 3 rode away. I thought that was it. To catch back up, I knew I just had to keep it steady and smooth and stay upright. A half-lap later I luckily caught back up to Greg's wheel and I was back in the group. That was about when Ward was riding away from us. I had to keep with him so got to pass was on Ward's wheel as we dove back into the singletrack. This was the time and place where I realized I was faster than him today on the trail and plans were hatched in me head. He got me yesterday, it's my turn today. I ended up passing Ward on the next road section before the next singletrack and rode just a tiny bit faster than him through the singletrack. I got a good gap and was able to keep it for the last lap and a half and took home the Victory. Greg ended up running right by Michael on the long run up and help the gap to grab 3rd! That dude can run faster than anybody I know, except maybe Webber.

I have not won many races, in this or any of my previous racing seasons, so this was truly one of the best and most satisfying wins (or races) I've ever had. Ward's going very fast right now, and just in time for State Champs next weekend. It was awesome to see my team mate Greg riding so fast too, and get a podium spot I believe for the first time this season! Part of the fun of the race is always gossiping with the crew at the finish line after the race, replaying each step. There's such support for everyone and how they did, no ego, just pats on the back and high-5's. This is what I come back to racing for: throwing yourself out there into the mix with a bunch of guys you know (or don't yet) and getting props and support for your efforts no matter how you do. 45 minutes of adventure.

Check out the pictures on Mud and Cowbells as I wasn't able to grab any today.

Back at the Ranch, me and my girl hiked in the fresh snow with the Count Muppies on the MonkeyTraverse loop. Lots and lots of tracks around the area...coyote, a very wandering vole, fox, squirrel and rabbit. Smrp saw the elk herd a few days ago on the eastern ridge heading up the aspen gulch so we know they're around, but they haven't browsed the valley since then unfortunately. I really love that winter is coming and all that brings with it, but I will miss the MTB rides and cyclocross.

Perfect cross conditions at Chatfield today. A surprise storm blew in
4" at the house and a couple down in the flatlands. Swervy slick
singletrack thru the huge cottonwoods with only a couple places to
pass. I wasn't as smooth on the singletrack as i would have liked but
felt pretty good and raced with a big smile. Four of us got off the
front after the first lap and we all traded the lead not being able to
drop any one person. Ward took V in the end just ahead of me; he was
riding the slick corners better than me. Jon of Moots just behind me
and then Tim. Only two races left in the season here with tomorrow at
Bear Creek, State Champs next Sunday.

Thanksgiving day.
We're not much for killing turkeys so this holiday always comes with mixed feelings...but we make the most of it by spoiling the animals we have.

It started out a cool way with us watching the 5-pack of coyotes playing in the back meadow...And I mean playing like they had no worries in the world! Too funny.


Then, a big out-the-back hike with the Count-muppies (4 dogs) in the morning and smrp letting the horses out to play in the afternoon, among other play sessions with the dogs.

It snowed a tiny bit last night so I just HAD to step out at 3 for an awesome 2 hour singlespeed ride on the Hunter dressed with his new mtn mustache bars (swapped out the H-bars to the 69er for the winter). Went west and up to B&S and sat on a rock overlook of the creek on the way down.
Perfect conditions:
Light snow over singletrack.
Right when I was about to leave a Goshawk lofted low below me up the drainage on his way home for the night. I agreed, it was time to head home before dark.
For all of this I am thankful.

Some videos of the Durango trail riding we did a few weeks back.
I set it up so you could see much of the trails being ridden, which is cool to watch but dizzying at times. They're quite long videos so careful:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Trails2000

Returning today from a visit out to norcal for my dad's 80th birthday.
That's a big birthday, and to see that he commonly gets mistaken for less than 65 is cool. Glad to have good genes. I got to hang out with his brother and sister and hear lots about
my grandad and grandma who I knew little of as I was pretty young when
they died. My roots are indeed in Colorado and I find it strange how I
ended up here not knowing that.

I'm wishing I had gone to singlespeed worlds in Sweden as all the
times my relatives have gone, they've been welcomed by a town full of
relatives and reunion dinners of 70 people! My uncle related a story
to me of his first trip back of him going to a church to ask
directions and the priest present said "why don't you ask the
gardener... he's your cousin!"

I saw this sweet setup at the race Saturday. Crappy pic due to my
finger. The ultimate cross-bike transporter...if you have two bikes of
course!

More cross

Raced last saturday at Louisville Rec Center, next to the lil crappy skatepark there. It was another sunny day on the cross course, if a bit colder (long sleeve jersey....whoa!). For November 15th, having a 50 degree cross race in Boulder seems odd. Record field numbers in all races - the Women's Open race had more women in it than I thought that rode bicycles in Boulder! Cross is indeed growing at an alarming rate. Who would've thought such a painful sport would gain such appreciation? It IS fun to watch, and now that I'm racing in the 35+ category, I get to watch some of my old friends suffer in the Mens Open race with beer in hand. It's kinda fun to yell (heckle) at them as they pass. Next year I may have to go back to the Open category cause I think with more training I could be competitive in there again. I'm by no means dominating the Masters class as each race is a struggle to get top 5, but I feel like the top 5 in the Masters could be top 15 or maybe top 10 in the Open. For example, the Pilot got a strong 6th place his first race back in the Open class after 4 wins in a row in the 35+ races. So anyways, I'm not good at race reports, so I'll leave that to Dr.Cross at Mud and Cowbells.

In other news, the Nederland Skatepark finally opened! After 5 years, it happened...it's there...and it's amazing! I heard opening day (when I was racing) was quite cold and windy. It highlighted what a wind tunnel Ned is situated in. Boards flying away from their owners...that is just classic.

AT article

Giving AT a try on the slopes this year. And why not? Looks like fun! and it's safer in avi terrain (releaseable bindings) while being lighter and better in variable snow conditions. I don't think i'll like the TURN as much as tele or snowboard, but I'm all for trying new things.
Here's a Lou article with the to-be-expected tele-slamming undercurrent, but nonetheless somewhat interesting for its historic content:
http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/at_article_big/at_article_big.html

First snow in awhile! Not much...but its a start. The wind has been
insane this fall...rattling the house and blowing off tarps that we
thought Andre the Giant couldn't rip off. Dry weather always comes
with wind...So I am ready for some snow!
Here's a picture of the before-work walk with Monkey and Basie (the
Guppies and Smrp and in tow).

Veteran's Day ride

First, I want to send a hat's off to the Veteran's out there on this Veteran's Day. Other than my dad who was a Marine during the Korean war but didn't get sent to Korea, I only know one Vet - friend and neighbor NinjaPonyDad who lives with his experiences in Vietnam every day. I cannot imagine what it's like to live with those experiences, to lose friends, and have to return to "normalcy" and make it all work out. My thoughts go out to all of you.

As I work for a Government agency, I get the day off and decide to go for a ride before settling into some ranch-work. The weather called for snow yesterday and today, but we just got some wind that blew snow in from the Divide. Partly sunny, or cloudy depending on whether your glass is half full or empty, it got up to 42deg I think and turned out to be a very nice day. A perfect singlespeed ride on the Hunter around the hood. A two hour ride turned into a 4 hour ride as I unexpectedly found some 'interesting' things in the woods (see picture).

After some ranch work I headed out with Basie and Monkey before darkness fell (5pm now! ouch!). I let Monkey lead the way as she's the Matriarch in the family now and she can do whatever the hell she wants as she just turned 12 (we don't know her real birthday unfortunately as Smrp found her on the side of the road over a decade ago). We go down the driveway, up to the "Monkey Traverse" trail as I call it. It's a contour-grade trail on the property that makes a loop instead of an out-and-back. I hope we can have a few more years of exploring together.

Cyclocross

It becomes an obsession. It was my "thing" each fall up until about 8 years ago when I unofficially "retired." But as most know by now - especially in the cycling world - no one really retires...they just go away for a few years and come back almost just as strong (many times anyways). To name just a few retirees that still kick your ass: Ned Overend, Travis Brown, Pete Webber, Dave Weins, and now Lance. They "retire" to have a normal life - have kids and such - and then show up out of nowhere and go right back to where they were before they retired. Now I'm definitely NOT comparing myself to these riders, no way! But I do have the same virus that they got when they returned to racing.

My passion for CX has always been there, but my desire to race wanes as other priorities take precedence. To me, cross is a true racing sport. It's a fast paced cycling steeple chase where roadies, mountain bikers, and everyone inbetween gets together to duke it out in the "off-season." It's fun to watch for spectators and fun to race even if you're suffering grasping for every last O2 molecule. If you haven't checked out Mud and Cowbells yet (new link on the side) definitely do if you love cross. I recently met Keller and he writes (and rides) cross very well and is more passionate about it than anybody I know.

So...after 8 years, more or less, away from cross, things have changed. At least there are still people cross-dressing and wearing fake rainbow afros out there having a ton of fun!

My Independent Fabrications Planet Cross steel frame is no longer a sweet race bike in the minds of many...frames have all gone to carbon and superlight aluminum (Scandium) is even falling out of favor. (However, Indy-Fab's stainless steel frame is just sick! Drool....) The new carbon trend has dropped bike weights to road bike levels - my bike is seriously at least 5 pounds heavier than many of my compatriots. But hey, it's steel and it's sweet! I'm sure my 10 year old Mavic tubular wheelset has been replaced by something carbon as well...but would it last 10 years? Don't think so. How do you even true those wheelsets? I'm at a total loss. So this must be why I'm now the "Old Schooler" at the races. I'm only 35, but my friends DJ'ing the races and on the sidelines are yelling such things as "The ONLY school is the OLD school!" I laugh, but also question why I'm an anomaly at the races?

Is it my Midge bars (new style Dirt Drops)? Or is it what I wear? I wear what's comfortable and functional for me - baggie Nemas and a wool jersey (cotton shirts the last few weekends as it's still summer here somehow!?). For some reason, this wardrobe confuses many, offends some, and I think threatens others. I never have understood why so many people don't like racing with, and especially getting beat by a dude in baggy shorts. One of the other reasons I wear what I wear is to show that ANYBODY can race bikes. It has nothing to do with what you wear and how many sponsors you have or if you shave your legs or not. It's all about what's inside, and how hard you worked to get here. Think of your favorite fast rider or racer...now think of them in baggies and a t-shirt (if they aren't already of course). They would be just as fast. I guarantee it.

I guess I've always just questioned the mainstream and questioned authority. And I do understand that there are benefits to the lightweight lycra jerseys and shorts that everyone races in. But there are other options. So when everyone's towing the line, and you can't understand why, don't just step in line, make your own line! Ok, I'll step off my horse now. Cheers!

It was a Boulder Cup cyclocross race weekend. Two races in two
days...raced the "masters" open category (35+) and had a good old
sufferfest each day. Saw a ton of people that I hadn't seen in a long
long time - probably since the last time I raced cross seriously 8
years ago. Highs in the 70s made for some very un-cross like
weather. I was very happy grabbing 6th and 3rd place finishes as I
thought I was in much worse shape than I am. Thanks to NPD and all the
others for the cheers and props! I'm not even close to the Pilot
though who has won 4 straight!...but I'm on the rise so watch out! The
highlight was seeing McCarthy join in on the fun! Just like the ole
days!

The picture is of the top four Elite boys killing the rest of the
field....they were in their own category for sure. (Trebron, Wells,
Powers, and Johnson). It's cool watching the elite race from the
sidelines instead of partaking. Tons of people cheering and enjoying
the afternoon.