The Don ride

This 4th of July Kris and I went to Salida, CO., to partake in an annual ride that has been going on for about 20 years. Everyone who rides, meets at Don McClung's house/shop at 4:20 am. This year was Don ride # 3 for me. There was about 40 characters who showed this year, with the majority of them riding single speed.  The ride is Monarch Crest as a loop and consists of about 90 miles with 10ooo Ft. of climbing, mostly on dirt. We had dropped a cooler full of food and water at about 2/3 s the way through. This point is tough cause there is pavement leading back to Salida or to continue the ride there is about an hour ahead of hiking. To be honest this year I contemplated  taking the pavement back.  As Kris is super tough she helped me get through this feeling of quitting. We ate refueled and continued on. We ended up back to Salida in a solid 12 hours. We each took an ice bath and barely made it to watch the fireworks. This was one of the last big pushes before competing in Canada at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline solo world championships. BRING IT!  

  

THE REASON I FEAL BEING POWERED BY 29 INCH WHEELS IS FOR ME

• Faster rolling. Once you get them rolling they roll fast and long.
• Less resistance. When the tire contacts an object, the angle is less rolling smoother.
• More tire to ground contact. This aids in soft sand, soil...etc. helping the bike float. Also giving the bike more traction in cornering.
• Longer spokes. Giving the wheel a bit more flex acting as sort of suspension.
• Bigger wheels and frame. Putting the bike to scale for taller riders. 
• Conrad Stoltz inspired me to write this check em out. He is the man! 
• I ride a Raleigh XXIX. Check it out.  
• Wikipedia 29 Check it.     
• Peace

Colorado Springs to Aspen

This past weekend was the 4th annual single speed only rode ride from Colorado Springs, CO. to Aspen, CO. I joined it last year for the first time. Its a tough one. 168 miles, 4 mountain passes, 6 Colorado counties, 5 cities, and 10,000 + feet of climbing. I have been riding alot lately so my legs were far from fresh but I got it done and it was the mental challenge I was looking for. We had two sag vehicles, so only needed to carry 2 water bottles and a small amount of food. The weather has been very rainy this early summer here in Colorado, but we got a good break. The rain stayed away until the last 12 mile descent into Aspen. It started pouring and got super cold but since we had sag we were able to layer up and stayed somewhat warm. Overall a sweet day with 9 other strong, fun, crazy single speeders. 

Sushi party for Fish

Last weekend was the fundraiser to help me to get to the 24 hours of Adrenaline world solo championships in Canada. I felt a bit awkward  with holding an event like this for myself. My friend Dogger is a sushi chief  and donated his time with his fish supplier (Mountain Valley Fish and Oyster) getting us product at cost. My friend Brian works for the New Belgium Brewery and donated 5 cases of beer. The nuun and Vodka was also flowing. (Stay hydrated and full of electrolytes to feel fresh the morning after getting your drink on) Some of my sponsors donated items for a silent auction. Raleigh Bikes gave a women's cruiser, Magura gave a set of  Marta brakes, nuun gave some electrolyte tabs, and a couple of other small items. Although I was a little worried with the amount of people that would show, the party had a great turn out.  Many friends showed for the Sushi, pixi races and fire jumping, even the cops showed up. They were pretty cool though, they just asked us to keep it down. I think they were just upset we did not invite them. I am very lucky to have such amazing friends providing me with such awesome support.   

Post Infection in da ankle

Yesterday, I went to check out a new trail in Fruita called Peak A Boo. This trail is located in a secret spot off 18 Rd. I started in town and packed for 12 hours not knowing really what to expect or how long it would take. I packed 2 PB&Js, Fig Newmans, Peanut M&Ms and 180zs of water with nuun electrolytes. I got a later start and not knowing how long it would take I mounted up the light system to the Raleigh XXIX and off I go. 

The trail is sweet! It starts with a STEEP double-ish track climb! at the top it overlooks 18 Rd, which is an amazing site. Mostly in the trees Peak A Boo climbs up and descends several peaks, as the trail is new there are some sections that must be hiked due to soft sand and newly dug soil, it will get better the more it gets ridden. There were some Mountain lion prints in the mud from the last rain 5 days ago. I was probably being watched, I had the I pod cranked, was in the zone and didnt much care. After 15.5 miles the back door dropped me onto the Edge loop climb which is another STEEP double track climb, so steep that i've seen tanker trucks getting a pull from another truck! it hurts! The Edge was washed out due to the heavy rains Fruita had recently, none the less it was still fun. Just before the single track descent down to the wash, there were two motos in new condition leaning in the bushes covered in clay turned to cement. They must have got stuck in the rains and had to leave their bikes and start walking out. Damn! They were 15 miles from anywhere! The single track descent was fun and fast down to the wash which is generally sandy but was wet and packed which made for a fast escape around the rappel to lower Chutes & Ladders, over to 18 Rd and back to town. 

Before going home I stopped at the gas station and grabbed a 20lb bag of ice, threw it over my shoulder and road home with my lights on, I had them on my bike the whole 9 hours but only needed them for about 1 mile in town. Oh well, I like being prepared and its like training (as Courtney says) "Rocky Balboa style". I got home, filled up the tub with ice, cold water and took a 5 minute bath. BRRRR! Than put my legs straight up for 1o minutes. I believe taking these two steps make for rapid recovery.    

In fact my roommate Dogger had salmon and a fresh spinach salad ready for Robo, who is an OG snowboarder from Montana, Doug, who is the cat now living in the backyard and actually built Peak A Boo, and Myself. 

Awesome day! 

Peace                 

18 Hours of Fruita

   

 

This was my third year at this race in Fruita, CO. I won it the last two years. Starting at midnight this an 18 hour race. The laps were about 6 miles long and they took about 30 minutes. I ended up with 35 laps bringing the total mileage to 210. DAMN! 

I arrived at Highline state park on Friday 7  hours before the start to organize, set things up, and relax a bit before the race start. 

The first several hours of the race went smooth after Tad, from Orange peel in Steamboat Springs, CO. fixed my Bottom Bracket. I was keeping a consistent  pace on my Raleigh XXIX. Than the rain came!, the soil on this course is bentonite and while its raining its fine, but when it starts to dry out it becomes clay and just sticks to everything not allowing the wheels to roll,  so running with the bike than becomes the next best thing. Good thing I had a spare bike and an amazing pit crew so that every lap start I had a clean bike. I felt strong through out the entire race never going into the lull that normally I find my self in mid way through these long races. I think it had allot to do with eating wright and the nuun tabs I was consistently having my crew add to my water. I never got any consistent feed back on the results, so I never really new were I was place wise. I just kept eating and pedaling. At the race end I thought I had finished 2nd. I was stoked with this result thinking I did single speed nation proud even though I had wanted a win for the three peat. While in the showers a friend came over to let me know that I had actually one! Since I finished 5 min behind the guy I thought I was chasing I was confused as to how I possibly had one. After looking at the results I than saw I was actually about to lap who I thought was leading and was  actually 25 minutes ahead of him. YEAH! I GOT THE THREE PEAT!    

  

   

Checking out the new trail in GJ

This is trail is located to the right, of the top of Holy Cross and climbs up to little park road, a great way to access the Ribbon.

Notice the new Raleigh  jersey, sweet! Would look good with a black Raleigh XXIX SS under me. 

This was the first time I had a chance to ride Ergon grips I got the GP1 in size Lg and they were honestly amazing! They have lots of surface area and spread the weight of your palm. Riding long distance, my wrists take some abuse and get lazy, these grips give the wrists much needed support. The grip is also solid for lifting the bike.