tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473511905561690652024-02-18T17:58:35.663-08:00One Gear RayA blog about my single speed rides and other ramblings that interest me....Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-80617860212571488312018-09-05T16:47:00.002-07:002018-09-05T17:01:08.521-07:00Revel in the Nerdiness<br />
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OK nerds, are you ready?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last time we were talking about Quadrant Analysis and how SS
MTB’s force you into all quadrants much more than say geared road bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that being the case, it provides a more
well-rounded workout. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between then and
now, I’ve had a chance to get my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt up and running which has enabled
a few things….first, it connects to my HR strap and my PWR meter so I can
collect that data simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Secondly, it allows me to display my power real time which then enables
me to adjust my effort…all cool stuff. (and a freaking awesome unit...garmin should be worried).<o:p></o:p></div>
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So last Friday (day before the AES Tusayan Tussle Race), I
made a fast run up to Crystal Pt. which contrary to popular belief, is not a
meth house…It’s our little jewel of singletrack here in Munds Park which climbs
about 800ft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect for a Z5+ run and
to loosen up the legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire climb
is a bit over 14 minutes and is split into 2 sections, a flatter section with a
few ups, then a steady grade with switchbacks to the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since we looked at the QA stuff before, let’s look at the cadence
distribution for a little insight…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC3fIY9_pmIkTdr6SdirSz4-GuahGuSDEPll0NMTcCg0Uk0FsPkldX_05fut7dvxidMKJhNyp3m53GBMk1QN9vj0iMfM9KWzTKNvUHE2rmImbUndu6vQEDUaj1579cdAbhchA61E_jOP_/s1600/CP+Cadence.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1584" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC3fIY9_pmIkTdr6SdirSz4-GuahGuSDEPll0NMTcCg0Uk0FsPkldX_05fut7dvxidMKJhNyp3m53GBMk1QN9vj0iMfM9KWzTKNvUHE2rmImbUndu6vQEDUaj1579cdAbhchA61E_jOP_/s320/CP+Cadence.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Interesting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The whole ride is t</span>wo
distinct distributions(cyan colored) and the lighter grey colored one is the steeper
switchback section which is almost entirely standing pedaling (w/ a
34-19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This I believe actually shows
that in between area well which for my case is around 75 rpm (too steep to sit
and mash, too easy to stand).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now let’s look at the Tusayan Tussle file…almost 5 hours of
data!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, this one took a few beers to
digest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the quadrant plot…as you
might expect, tons of scatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That race
was actually fairly flat and my gearing was 34-19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see from the plot that I spent over ½
the time sitting and generating power in Z2. (lower right hand quadrant and below the curved line which is 250W)(Contrast that to a Flagstaff climbing ride where over 50% of the time is spent in the upper left quadrant).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The cadence distribution on that one looks similar except
the middle area is a bit more filled in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLVlZ8vm58leJiPXsIybobehaog8rtg9vmKoqU1FaJixXMvKsam0VpFJalvKYUT8aa3CKFE4qazOd1TPgbMMP7eCKm9tuwHZXBncsAsy_rJkIuXL0gpyvfmMborbZ-yJO-fsLdI8utg27/s1600/TTCadence.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1584" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLVlZ8vm58leJiPXsIybobehaog8rtg9vmKoqU1FaJixXMvKsam0VpFJalvKYUT8aa3CKFE4qazOd1TPgbMMP7eCKm9tuwHZXBncsAsy_rJkIuXL0gpyvfmMborbZ-yJO-fsLdI8utg27/s320/TTCadence.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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However, if I look at the first 45 minutes or so which was
flattish with a slight uphill grade you can see the familiar “bimodal” look to
the distribution which again shows seated and standing cadences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This section btw, I was clawing my way back
up from 6<sup>th</sup> place and had my eyes glued to the 5 second pwr avg
trying not to let it get too high and burn all my matches. (it was very useful
for that since when you see someone in front of you, you wanna close that gap fast!).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other interesting thing to notice from that race is how
my average power trended over the entire 5 hours… Below is a plot where I plotted the 1000 second average (almost a 17 minute average).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see that I was chasing in that first
part of the race then backed off until near the end where I then could smell
the beer at the finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
interesting…I’d love to think with training I can keep the power consistent or
maybe with at least a bit more “control” I could do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More thinking about this to be done…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWxu0XLTGcTKC7Y2Crc4YO1rVK8J4QSpboDJDza1O3KLkF52OG0DwW2X-BZcK16r39cQVgAWPpqWL2_PW39ZDItHJwOUdYlUUXb84Ebw47NZRNWyzFjv7iHjSiLkJW_QrZMer2Tt-6mBQ/s1600/TT1000ptavg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWxu0XLTGcTKC7Y2Crc4YO1rVK8J4QSpboDJDza1O3KLkF52OG0DwW2X-BZcK16r39cQVgAWPpqWL2_PW39ZDItHJwOUdYlUUXb84Ebw47NZRNWyzFjv7iHjSiLkJW_QrZMer2Tt-6mBQ/s320/TT1000ptavg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, to help address the bi-modality of the cadence data,
I did some seated intervals up Waterline Rd where I targeted about 225W for
durations of 5 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking
that with some work in this area, I can improve my seated power when I’m in
that “in-between” area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what the overall quadrant plot looks like with one of those 5 minute intervals selected…note how
the seated pedaling interval(Green Points) has such a tight cluster(and fairly near the 250 W curve)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now you might ask..."WTF do you do with all this you angry mofo?"... several things....<br />
The Tusayan Tussle race was a flattish course and I was not trained very well to do it...I didn't have the endurance I should have (hence the fall-off in the power data) plus almost all my training rides are 50% or more standing and very little in the lower right quadrant. I believe mixing in some seated intervals as I did today will help...and BTW, my legs are shredded from them....obviously a weakness I can address.<br />
Now that I have HR data along with PWR data, it will enable me to play around with something called aerobic decoupling...which is basically a measure of aerobic fitness. I think my lack of some longer training rides has impacted my ability to keep generating steady power late in these 4-6 hour races.<br />
I know some of you are like, "You're wasting your time you dumb f*ck! Just go ride your bike!"....Yeah...whatever...I've ran out of f*cks for you.<br />
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ARRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-68859272472234423022018-08-30T07:40:00.001-07:002018-08-30T19:48:20.700-07:00Data...My New Time SuckOk, so it's been a while since I've knocked back a few IPA's and sat down to the ol' blogger machine. So, it seems about that time. A while back I was ranting about stuff like Strava Challenges and how SS MTB's make you work corners of your fitness that a geared bike may not (unless you are really disciplined about training)(more about this below). It's time to continue a bit on that same thread...<br />
I've been a big fan over the last few years of less junk time in the saddle and more intensity. It's proven to at least qualitatively move my fitness in the right direction. I've always worn a heart rate monitor and used it to do some simple post ride analysis to understand how long I spent in given zones. I'd always wanted some sort of power meter but being the cheap a$$ that I am, I could just never part with the dough.<br />
Finally, PM's have come down in price and I picked up a Stages PM (crank arm based) unit. I'm not here to argue the pro's and con's of the Stages...sure it's a one sided measurement that uses math (multiplies by 2) to get overall power.<br />
So, here's the deal...I'm no expert at using this thing (YET) and especially using it on a SS MTB which there seems to be very little published out there.... So, if you have some great insight, well then, lay it on me!<br />
I should also say that I don't have a "real" head unit to record the power data from the Stages PM...that'll be here tomorrow but for the last month, I've been using the Strava iPhone app which has at least allowed me to do post ride analysis....speaking of that, there is a great free application called Golden Cheetah written by a guy in the UK that is amazing for analyzing the data.<br />
Here's what I've learned...<br />
1. I believe my FTP (Functional Threshold Power) to be around 265 watts...now, big disclaimer...if my left leg is 5% stronger than my right, then when you do the complex math of x2, then my overall is going to be 10% high...so, if you're like, "There's no f*cking way Angry Ray is making that kind of power"....well, you might be right. Honestly, I don't think it's WAY off....and BTW, it's from MTB rides and some modeling that GC does...not trainer stuff and not roadie stuff...(dirt, rocks, slippery surfaces...you know...reality).<br />
2. Given that, my Watts/Kg is around 3.6...yes, I'm a fat Mofo...162# of fat.<br />
3. I've realized why SS MTBing is putting coaches out of business... Ok, so pay attention...some smart dudes came up with a way to display data called a Quadrant Plot or Quadrant analysis. It's basically a plot of pedal force against pedal velocity...(WTF?)....yes, so imagine this...you hit a short punchy climb on the SS, and you stand up and mash the pedals, barely turning them...LOW CADENCE, HIGH FORCE.... at the other end of the spectrum is HIGH CADENCE, LOW FORCE...that is spinning. So now time for a plot...below is a plot (not mine) of a roadie time trial. Note how the spread of data points looks like a shotgun blast at close range.<br />
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Now look at the Quadrant plot of my SS MTB ride where I did a bunch of climbing in Flagstaff...<br />
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My points are all over the place! Why is that? I've only got one f*cking gear people...when it's steep, I stand and mash...when it's not, I spin like crazy. (BTW, I've checked the data from the PM on a smooth hill and it's nice and "clean"). Now, why is that good? Imagine for a second you have an constantly variable automatic transmission on your bike..it changes gear ratio so you always pedal at 90 rpm. What do you think happens? You are super strong at 90 rpm but otherwise, you are NOT!<br />
Thus, a SS bike essentially MAKES you generate power in all quadrants of the plot since largely your power output is a function of grade (how steep) and gearing. (Essentially the idea that you have to work both your slow-twitch (endurance) muscle fibers and your fast-twitch (sprints) and that's probably more than I'm qualified to discuss!)<br />
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Now here's what's interesting...overall on that ride, I spent almost 1/2 the time (47.4%) in the upper left quadrant (high force, low cadence)...but when I select one of the 16ish minute climbs (Weatherford), it's almost all in that quadrant(Green dots)<br />
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The other very interesting thing is where the dots are relative to the curved line. That curved line is a constant 250 watts...dots over it are > 250W, dots under are < 250W. So in that upper left quadrant, those green dots seem to generally be on or a little above the line whereas in the lower right quadrant (low force, high cadence), they tend to average lower. The vertical line separating those quadrants is 59 rpm which happens to be about where I would transition from sitting to standing. Most of the rides I've done so far with the PM tend to look like this which tells me either, 1) my seated pedaling power is low and/or 2) I tend to choose routes and gearing that force me into that upper left quadrant.</div>
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What I do at least anecdotally see, is that on some gradual, steady grades, there is a combination of grade and gear that seem very "in-between" for me... too hard to sit and mash, too easy to stand... I think this tends to be in some of that lower right quadrant.</div>
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In any case, I'm gonna do some more experiments...probably find a long steady road of the grade where I can sit and not be spun out so I can verify if my ability to apply around 250 watts in the 60-90 rpm range is weak or if it's simply been a result of what I've been riding. If truly that area is a weakness for me, then I can actually choose routes and gearing that force me to do work in that area... that's cool! ah....inner-engineer is satisfied....</div>
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There's just so much more to learn with this thing...with a proper head unit, I'll be able to capture HR and learn some cool stuff about the relationship between HR and Power.</div>
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More to come!</div>
<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-619881375454512682018-03-23T20:56:00.001-07:002018-03-23T20:56:23.953-07:00Trashing a Tire in the Interest of Science<br />
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Having been mountain biking for the last 7 years or so in
the sharp, thorny environment of AZ, I’ve certainly experienced my share of
punctures, slices, and other issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us are aware of the concept of plugging a tire using the
commercially available product called “tire bacon”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s basically a scaled down version of what
people have been using to plug holes in car tires for quite some time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have actually never used tire bacon..matter of fact, I
have lost the 2 Genuine Innovation tire bacon kits that I’ve bought due to
somehow bouncing out of my jersey pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have however, stuffed other things into a sidewall hole to take up
space and allow the sealant to fill the remaining yet smaller spaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those things being a small piece of cloth
(like t-shirt material) and even a stick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, I decided to try some other materials that are
cheap and easily obtained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those being,
strips of an old inner tube, cotton string, and strips of an old mouse pad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It just so turns out that I’ve been putting off changing out
an old Maxxis Ikon so before doing so, I decided it’s final gasp would be
donating it’s tread and sidewalls to science…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I decided that I would see how the above materials filled a cut between
about 0.15” and 0.2” since anything larger, you’d probably be either tubing or
pulling out the sewing kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Punctures up
to about 0.2 are great candidates for plugs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I took a small pair of sharp scissors and jabbed it in
the tread as you see below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did this
again a few inches away as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then
pushed in a strip of mouse pad material(neoprene covered with cloth) in one
hole, and a strip of inner tube in the other hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used a small flat bladed screwdriver to do
this but in the case of the inner tube, I used a small allen key since the
screwdriver just punctured the tube material.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61So1uHuMy7GtGh6XuYcQbTymPPKWb3Li3Vcr04Srhm0u1p75Xc6lE6MUE6PT-Z0Q_2NsZJMGxqralfNtgqKL76gByCKYBur9kCTb7yca6HKJldH8oYFTAOH7rIqgCKfdWNvyDe85glSl/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61So1uHuMy7GtGh6XuYcQbTymPPKWb3Li3Vcr04Srhm0u1p75Xc6lE6MUE6PT-Z0Q_2NsZJMGxqralfNtgqKL76gByCKYBur9kCTb7yca6HKJldH8oYFTAOH7rIqgCKfdWNvyDe85glSl/s320/IMG_2657.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7cU7JuCqF84Wqv1PzhOmTha5Z1sic3XWC8AY9L0AQ-5kmzOLnnOuWMIC-qX23sTY0TCRlLI16NCZqxbrWuGcGnkUhktxoaExW9IAWHSeGn0YXYCuLYomzfUM5WgeFEKeUOPWfhyLkkL/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s7cU7JuCqF84Wqv1PzhOmTha5Z1sic3XWC8AY9L0AQ-5kmzOLnnOuWMIC-qX23sTY0TCRlLI16NCZqxbrWuGcGnkUhktxoaExW9IAWHSeGn0YXYCuLYomzfUM5WgeFEKeUOPWfhyLkkL/s320/IMG_2659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4sw6rE4pyK5v1uFG4yQ6VZ0J8b6NMKHKkbaJr5QgoW2at8ek2thO3qlAz9J4DLjM9Ac2DnYTvWGGqVnUZ_Dm0dHCs7Y2IOamI3LQSY8y4HHn6zta3H9bVDjWDGDbCOJIUJkz2B_JQSdV/s1600/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4sw6rE4pyK5v1uFG4yQ6VZ0J8b6NMKHKkbaJr5QgoW2at8ek2thO3qlAz9J4DLjM9Ac2DnYTvWGGqVnUZ_Dm0dHCs7Y2IOamI3LQSY8y4HHn6zta3H9bVDjWDGDbCOJIUJkz2B_JQSdV/s320/IMG_2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small flat bladed screwdriver used to push in the plug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I aired up the tire to 30 psi and after just a little
sealant weapage, both sealed up well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I repeated the process but this time in the sidewall where I
punctured 3 slices, oriented radially and stuffed in a slice of inner tube in
one, a slice of mouse pad in another, and a piece of cotton string in
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSt02hNpQj8dOvRXOO-idDDX3_6TdfLhL0vEChBd0T39HeAzSZKjHYOiBH4zicLszItHOwNZbFYQtZkUW0jDKT3MWwVFvSSZ3zRQzM74N6s0tTzRwPgFRWS6RGSynRbAGIdJ-KXW7_pee/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSt02hNpQj8dOvRXOO-idDDX3_6TdfLhL0vEChBd0T39HeAzSZKjHYOiBH4zicLszItHOwNZbFYQtZkUW0jDKT3MWwVFvSSZ3zRQzM74N6s0tTzRwPgFRWS6RGSynRbAGIdJ-KXW7_pee/s320/IMG_2663.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUgPEVvRNEmel-My_z3GMhUECYFXsH_wuHNzvFiLnWe2sudkRjBwTKI-tcdKtZ81Ad4ZI6GDkUpO8XrtQU26qx0pj89hoaAeuutqRgbk2UiopA0jxjlR5OVuz5y5J9dW5emmclnr-PzY/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUgPEVvRNEmel-My_z3GMhUECYFXsH_wuHNzvFiLnWe2sudkRjBwTKI-tcdKtZ81Ad4ZI6GDkUpO8XrtQU26qx0pj89hoaAeuutqRgbk2UiopA0jxjlR5OVuz5y5J9dW5emmclnr-PzY/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aired the tire back up and all 3 held air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sprayed them all with some windex and none
showed any signs of leakage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtWgdR-EMRejpRQdPqfOE8sI9dFPN6zH1B0H0EN8N89IQhz24WzQgagyJ-NoMhHyW8JVRtjeJ7w4kua7tPcYjD2nzMjE93Pii6jIx0RHN2hlrPzzV1ygykGi2kCS6rOyNI2GtPTsdSkkb/s1600/IMG_2667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtWgdR-EMRejpRQdPqfOE8sI9dFPN6zH1B0H0EN8N89IQhz24WzQgagyJ-NoMhHyW8JVRtjeJ7w4kua7tPcYjD2nzMjE93Pii6jIx0RHN2hlrPzzV1ygykGi2kCS6rOyNI2GtPTsdSkkb/s320/IMG_2667.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No bubbles coming from any of the plugs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I then pulled the tire and what I noticed is that it seems
like the sealant gathered around the mouse pad strip and the cotton string but
not so much on the strip of inner tube (because it’s butyl rubber perhaps and
not too much likes to stick to it).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRVno8iENdrwMtiqSIyhRcoNkegcZlvt3z1wMmRrK4Ngp8Tt01q_yvLNGOca35wGRgKrGSBtbW673cGSGT7ZHM80LnwxYlgEruV4THMGS3uDt3VbtN5Tjn0EpNRJ5lbhuQhuhqzm__2rs/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRVno8iENdrwMtiqSIyhRcoNkegcZlvt3z1wMmRrK4Ngp8Tt01q_yvLNGOca35wGRgKrGSBtbW673cGSGT7ZHM80LnwxYlgEruV4THMGS3uDt3VbtN5Tjn0EpNRJ5lbhuQhuhqzm__2rs/s320/IMG_2668.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously, I did not go out and ride the tire to see which
would stay in the best but would venture a guess that the cotton string and
mouse pad strip would have the best chance.
So, bottom line, if you don’t have tire bacon around, any
absorbent material would work, but I found the cotton string and mouse pad
material held up to the poking device used (flat bladed screwdriver) the best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-732215554428003762018-03-23T14:33:00.000-07:002018-03-23T14:33:26.126-07:00Angry Ray’s MTB Hacks and Other Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
OK, so the Schilling Blog Machine has been a busy one and it’s
time for me to catch up a bit. Sure I’ve
done some cool rides and could talk about that, but I’ll leave that to later…what
I wanna talk about now is HACKS…and other ideas that will a) save money for
which you can buy more beer and b) enable you to fix your bike trailside (so
you can get back to your car quicker to drink beer).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a fairly creative and “thrifty” engineer, I love DIY
ways to accomplish things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally,
finding things that solve a problem that is otherwise not obvious is pretty
cool to me…so here you go…a dump of what I think are some good ideas…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chain Measurement<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our drivetrains here in the desert take a ton of abuse due
to the dusty conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wearout is a
given and lots of folks have come up with tools to measure chain wear (stretch,
but such a poor term).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s how I do
it…first, I have several chains that I rotate through the SS bikes I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m trying to see where a chain is in
terms of wear, I put them on the ground in a circle as shown…smaller the
diameter, the more the wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve found
at about 22” diameter, I will start to have chain derailing on the SS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it’s time to put that chain in the “art”
bin for a future project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDuqEbKeQsLGzgmd7n3bW3KdmCgaY5Ue4kxEEM9THZv49UeVfUaGNQhzem3Wk3eiqtqFqpspaIjuAn9pXv32YuaogmsQhZTrzIJrkFSOKSHQxH_pLVWu4bsk2rvTh4haaYGMhrsMUj8JH/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDuqEbKeQsLGzgmd7n3bW3KdmCgaY5Ue4kxEEM9THZv49UeVfUaGNQhzem3Wk3eiqtqFqpspaIjuAn9pXv32YuaogmsQhZTrzIJrkFSOKSHQxH_pLVWu4bsk2rvTh4haaYGMhrsMUj8JH/s320/IMG_2634.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fix it stuff and how to carry</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love the idea of repurposing worn out stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It keeps it out of landfills and that just
seems like a good thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently
I lost a small kit of tire fix it stuff that I had in a zip lock baggie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I realized was that a zip lock is
slippery against my jersey…and I needed something with a bit more friction that
wouldn’t work its way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I took an
old MTB tube and sewed up a simple pouch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see below that the pouch contains many necessary items like a
multi-tool, mini-leatherman, quick links, valve cores, cleat bolts, ibuprofen, etc…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Works awesome and stays put.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-bBm5dvZ3X4sxSlYhZkmdTFQVCsbGIfECW7Ap6c22KhGQ0lz41lnzjZ0AWbrRWO2_0-NZKjbv4gKQmRnUxeDiLMoCZBPKthfghPsWOIsX-1XG3z2w2YBbCD7AxXNL9pj14Zw39N5moK0/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-bBm5dvZ3X4sxSlYhZkmdTFQVCsbGIfECW7Ap6c22KhGQ0lz41lnzjZ0AWbrRWO2_0-NZKjbv4gKQmRnUxeDiLMoCZBPKthfghPsWOIsX-1XG3z2w2YBbCD7AxXNL9pj14Zw39N5moK0/s320/IMG_2635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAlpp14dSU3hXhfZvIHx4pVPqw9Xqc_Y4FeuJYqMgK6JGXiqVWlQcRg4nc5A1x1RCJz_YblAzyn6C3Hgy0_QZz0VAD8ZQf6WwNUU92_7-Q7DTTQmSRPUJgpTlQ_iTXTk-jgrxOXL-Zuz-/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAlpp14dSU3hXhfZvIHx4pVPqw9Xqc_Y4FeuJYqMgK6JGXiqVWlQcRg4nc5A1x1RCJz_YblAzyn6C3Hgy0_QZz0VAD8ZQf6WwNUU92_7-Q7DTTQmSRPUJgpTlQ_iTXTk-jgrxOXL-Zuz-/s320/IMG_2654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqSNoc8fwGdcZACbuuao4YIabTHVy1ZWH3Zij-6KzMPhMJwHZk_3T3Mj0c2ZcXOkj-Y_pTvFjOKiaw09EDond6PU8sEUtgWxSp78cCxjTbL29xV27eGGrwEntvs_p6BjBVSEh5jiQ9IHj/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqSNoc8fwGdcZACbuuao4YIabTHVy1ZWH3Zij-6KzMPhMJwHZk_3T3Mj0c2ZcXOkj-Y_pTvFjOKiaw09EDond6PU8sEUtgWxSp78cCxjTbL29xV27eGGrwEntvs_p6BjBVSEh5jiQ9IHj/s320/IMG_2655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tire plugging</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure most of us have tried to plug a tire that was
punctured on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tire bacon works
great, but I’ve found almost anything you stuff in the hole that is a tight fit
and can absorb some sealant will work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Heck, I’ve even used a stick and was able to ride back out to my vehicle
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the pic below are several
items plus a simple poker tool made from a needle and cork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOao46JbNbEnOVG6-niqOzioPrZexFy0-yx1Vn8Zku5o6yrZ6IQoQgZVjDtTRaZz0qaeZUkT0E2k05qZzqpRBnQsb8Fg-1gsYZk2ZY7BYzOefCOXdINoreDb_a4KcTxD7AM47W5wGGvx-S/s1600/IMG_2652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOao46JbNbEnOVG6-niqOzioPrZexFy0-yx1Vn8Zku5o6yrZ6IQoQgZVjDtTRaZz0qaeZUkT0E2k05qZzqpRBnQsb8Fg-1gsYZk2ZY7BYzOefCOXdINoreDb_a4KcTxD7AM47W5wGGvx-S/s320/IMG_2652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_2HLzLK68BE0QGUWh2DdlPPFeb20tHG9DfUM448eAFEDlbFheaiCjiLFL58x8PYskOLr8lmNwR5wts5gLrtAay53WRCSCdPjdNnKhTJt3nwia2qxGXOz60R6cTROzIGRNf7_Ya7QBws6/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_2HLzLK68BE0QGUWh2DdlPPFeb20tHG9DfUM448eAFEDlbFheaiCjiLFL58x8PYskOLr8lmNwR5wts5gLrtAay53WRCSCdPjdNnKhTJt3nwia2qxGXOz60R6cTROzIGRNf7_Ya7QBws6/s320/IMG_2640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotton string, strips of old tube, strips of mouse pad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chain tool</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes a quick link can be undone by hand, but the right
tool makes it super easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Park makes one
which is fine, but if you have a spare set of needle nose pliers, just bend the
tips slightly inward and boom, you’ve got a cheap set of quick link pliers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhvzv3E-zgHDsjFpxd4rUFD9A3aWBSRrENVwKwe9jdcCwoOywPf41yXoetyczkyU0SlAPx84hp9CmkjZdb8giV8ocDH782RfJyTz3MHIMP2L_ozbBpsqBM8FxdpHiFu_PPrSLUEn3h9iq/s1600/IMG_2636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhvzv3E-zgHDsjFpxd4rUFD9A3aWBSRrENVwKwe9jdcCwoOywPf41yXoetyczkyU0SlAPx84hp9CmkjZdb8giV8ocDH782RfJyTz3MHIMP2L_ozbBpsqBM8FxdpHiFu_PPrSLUEn3h9iq/s320/IMG_2636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoJKDiEB38Qz8afLGp1ARe6H8P032O3EM2rPn6OgyE1_-Ut782UmVOKO5C7aZBvOj22KirlT8xa-KDqvIqB9snbiDzQiBGG78U1Ia8AG4KCbxdomL83rsUp8rgkF56Ar49bwSSPqb9RO3/s1600/IMG_2637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoJKDiEB38Qz8afLGp1ARe6H8P032O3EM2rPn6OgyE1_-Ut782UmVOKO5C7aZBvOj22KirlT8xa-KDqvIqB9snbiDzQiBGG78U1Ia8AG4KCbxdomL83rsUp8rgkF56Ar49bwSSPqb9RO3/s320/IMG_2637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Cheap Velcro</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t imagine where we would be without Velcro…Harbor
Freight sells a package of Velcro straps for cheap…I’ve used these for so many
things from securing a waterbottle, securing a battery pack, etc…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stick a few of these in your kit and I’ve
sure you’ll find a need for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4E_Bd6BjGKNPmngYyKOJ-KYx0rBsX-ONiVYHTnOO52jz-S_9VagxRAk1tLipmTIjV7BQC_l3M9T4C3djLCZkOArDZHKwvo8xpB1R4y6-7HnqnsraIaIPou2xkuJ-LQwjVmrA69uXJKKM/s1600/IMG_2638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4E_Bd6BjGKNPmngYyKOJ-KYx0rBsX-ONiVYHTnOO52jz-S_9VagxRAk1tLipmTIjV7BQC_l3M9T4C3djLCZkOArDZHKwvo8xpB1R4y6-7HnqnsraIaIPou2xkuJ-LQwjVmrA69uXJKKM/s320/IMG_2638.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mouse Pads</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mouse pads made from neoprene rubber have a number of great
uses…cut them into strips for tire plugs, cut out rectangles to go between your
light battery and your frame,etc… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5s3te0MbrjyxbDMF-r1uJShtDQuPT9gTrDBYtkwN_iFq1h0kioZVb4kU-Y_rzlpGNX95TxXvVgSDhikX5dgS0xmXpAKtVcueiHBZYM9TvIwLcYbids3dK4UBPUJIAJpZob8giUbBOTM5/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5s3te0MbrjyxbDMF-r1uJShtDQuPT9gTrDBYtkwN_iFq1h0kioZVb4kU-Y_rzlpGNX95TxXvVgSDhikX5dgS0xmXpAKtVcueiHBZYM9TvIwLcYbids3dK4UBPUJIAJpZob8giUbBOTM5/s320/IMG_2639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Single speed spacers </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having 3 SS bikes, different cog brands, and several wheel
sets creates a bit of a an issue when trying to change a cog for a ride and
being sure the chainline is right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
a couple things…first, standardize as much as possible on a given cog brand…then,
keep track of the spacing between the cog and the inside lip of the
freehub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then use that as a reference
when changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a bunch of
spacers like I do, I zip tie a set together with the cog so I can quickly
change w/o measuring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMS8cEX0-yhfVxxmt_AtjFR3cIJDI6f-NYb7sSqt7C-LrTE0MAsK7S_Zf8g_LHgTUlmJqgpl7DBfVmBVb_P0kQrQuz8aLjDp0jHeZOKm_IaBpG2G63pR5dPlEe2L9riY2n8FpqbXxlm4l/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMS8cEX0-yhfVxxmt_AtjFR3cIJDI6f-NYb7sSqt7C-LrTE0MAsK7S_Zf8g_LHgTUlmJqgpl7DBfVmBVb_P0kQrQuz8aLjDp0jHeZOKm_IaBpG2G63pR5dPlEe2L9riY2n8FpqbXxlm4l/s320/IMG_2641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QGC0ArS5K6VI_bLcrhEfk9MFLTCcnqYTd6p-7BDIwonOUHjdjBT4ZL6oB4XlyQ2QCt_H7gys-f0nymFeDXGvg3M_d3YYHDL824hn-RNs0PyJdx6khxrOrdxDzaA6N-shQawsVXVN4IWM/s1600/IMG_2642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QGC0ArS5K6VI_bLcrhEfk9MFLTCcnqYTd6p-7BDIwonOUHjdjBT4ZL6oB4XlyQ2QCt_H7gys-f0nymFeDXGvg3M_d3YYHDL824hn-RNs0PyJdx6khxrOrdxDzaA6N-shQawsVXVN4IWM/s320/IMG_2642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Good value brake pads</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love stuff that has value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>TruckerCo semi-metallic pads bought off of ebay in 4-packs are like $25
total…they work and work well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmOkijVPkWqewGRJ9uoKqEegG7RgQZnkT22Dc8hukTdVc_CK6wYGW3frs6FWcKOTQ8SN6JrH2YpVYfv96TB8w7iWGTQuqOZ27_fL1TRGV6MPvBFyc8syVVujzkPtTWbWApFnTu8ZxFx4g/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmOkijVPkWqewGRJ9uoKqEegG7RgQZnkT22Dc8hukTdVc_CK6wYGW3frs6FWcKOTQ8SN6JrH2YpVYfv96TB8w7iWGTQuqOZ27_fL1TRGV6MPvBFyc8syVVujzkPtTWbWApFnTu8ZxFx4g/s320/IMG_2645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Syringes</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plastic syringes are an important part of maintaining your
bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve ever bled brakes, a
dropper post, or added sealant to tires, you’ve probably used them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are INCREDIBLY cheap off of ebay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The larger one below cost me less than a few
bucks and with the small included tip glued on, I can directly inject sealant
into tires…super quick and easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
smaller one will actually thread right into a bleed port on a Xloc and enable
you to easily bleed your fork lockout or dropper lockout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRdVwxc7nfSuZLgK3McrMH49Lg0ck97XkXD9cF8YlFiA54GrWQZoGgi0wi7q5qioT22XQCbX0zsYypy2YbJNpdn7dHDnw0ybNM1hlkMy9eVpOjXq7_wqE_q3kUW7DWqj1m8iSbutPqrzl/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRdVwxc7nfSuZLgK3McrMH49Lg0ck97XkXD9cF8YlFiA54GrWQZoGgi0wi7q5qioT22XQCbX0zsYypy2YbJNpdn7dHDnw0ybNM1hlkMy9eVpOjXq7_wqE_q3kUW7DWqj1m8iSbutPqrzl/s320/IMG_2647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Super Glue</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Super glue is another indispensable item…get the big pack
from Harbor Freight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put some on the
toilet seat before your buddy sits down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLDL2-xtuXk9zja1LYLPyimRxQ-i0tumVLmLNfjIvND_9UFaQP3NRZNDhrg8KkvGGVhrKyfeHbrU1lVZHi1WyR20ZcP5AlGpNk8qzENYJnPmo9OLyZHUmZ7TRe8Cqu4Wx3Hj6keoPYyy8/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLDL2-xtuXk9zja1LYLPyimRxQ-i0tumVLmLNfjIvND_9UFaQP3NRZNDhrg8KkvGGVhrKyfeHbrU1lVZHi1WyR20ZcP5AlGpNk8qzENYJnPmo9OLyZHUmZ7TRe8Cqu4Wx3Hj6keoPYyy8/s320/IMG_2649.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, so there you go...a few of my ideas and hacks that have served me well.</div>
<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-17305140689298805282018-02-11T13:57:00.003-08:002018-02-11T14:07:54.866-08:00The "Because Schilling takes forever to blog"....blogYep, you got it...Mr. Schilling's TAT (Turn around time) to blog about his rad adventures is just too long...so I've taken it upon myself to do so...plus it ups my blog count and I'm gonna bury that chump in blog numbers...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz6P7pSYN6QSkVvj4irtHCZpf2IgwMX3qbrUSdATlsThQuyU578TfAN4usgbLFD_-kQI_a5kgTOMycCKCPc2gq9ys9h9sh8Bvheyie024Gh_nabBL2JtYx2u11UyGnf1G-NH5Cm4GwQMl/s1600/shil1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1152" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz6P7pSYN6QSkVvj4irtHCZpf2IgwMX3qbrUSdATlsThQuyU578TfAN4usgbLFD_-kQI_a5kgTOMycCKCPc2gq9ys9h9sh8Bvheyie024Gh_nabBL2JtYx2u11UyGnf1G-NH5Cm4GwQMl/s320/shil1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the cool bike from George Harris that John borrowed for this ride... it's in front of the BCT where he's taken about a billion pics... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGVEC2UH6MscDSNqduSTeeFEC4DeRzuL3iy9fZV-zsI_gkD_58fha7im1BOcm_0DaUXNoVmZwUUdZLNDXf9nAT0qBgnJROcO7NSeAJ2ijfr6ODTDCyGs0rM6LSPoj526gyQly7ZKkz5rn/s1600/shil2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1252" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGVEC2UH6MscDSNqduSTeeFEC4DeRzuL3iy9fZV-zsI_gkD_58fha7im1BOcm_0DaUXNoVmZwUUdZLNDXf9nAT0qBgnJROcO7NSeAJ2ijfr6ODTDCyGs0rM6LSPoj526gyQly7ZKkz5rn/s320/shil2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a dirt road...in case you didn't know...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY_h-hopVDuU-YyLajzX54yP50_Cz-ESwsfITc1TwAW1cd1zqcRJqjFnG9sseFaoT9MEMB8_CGDUcHjwUlMejt18dxRMB90gU76ngoWtsH-W5LdeeZ1WbqqqDdmhJwUbULTyFvlTnmk0d/s1600/shil3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1243" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY_h-hopVDuU-YyLajzX54yP50_Cz-ESwsfITc1TwAW1cd1zqcRJqjFnG9sseFaoT9MEMB8_CGDUcHjwUlMejt18dxRMB90gU76ngoWtsH-W5LdeeZ1WbqqqDdmhJwUbULTyFvlTnmk0d/s320/shil3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an old gas pump that has been repurposed to dispense Bud Lite Lime...mmm, John loves that stuff when he does big rides....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-25046534989248646992018-02-08T12:49:00.001-08:002018-02-08T12:49:26.897-08:00# ┌∩┐= 0<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OK boys and girls, time for a good ol’ fashion rant…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_xdrJ4nURDTp62VClnJ85wNA58Hk9KVq_5FU3X_F290WzoBR9fqFB-egDfQt19ShWsxICK_Vq6QebQG0v2zCrXwlBgAUyBxr9FCsD-apoobIkCetFTfRi0i6KG0kgkSMg5wmJssBTWbu/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1280" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_xdrJ4nURDTp62VClnJ85wNA58Hk9KVq_5FU3X_F290WzoBR9fqFB-egDfQt19ShWsxICK_Vq6QebQG0v2zCrXwlBgAUyBxr9FCsD-apoobIkCetFTfRi0i6KG0kgkSMg5wmJssBTWbu/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While doing my usual mix of activities (work, beer drinking,
bike riding, reading about bikes, shopping for bike stuff, blogging, bike art, etc),
I realized that many of us (including me at times) spend TONS of energy trying
to eek out more speed on my bike. We all
read about carbon this or that to drop weight, new tires, training methods, blah
blah…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What I realized is that the # of f*cks I was giving to things
that had very little influence on my riding speed had creeped north of
ZERO. And that many of my riding buddies,
and the conversations we were having centered around these same, somewhat
insignificant things…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What are they you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">#1: Tires… Arguing
about tires is about as close to conversational masturbation as it gets. Ask 10 people what their favorite tire is and
you’ll get at least 5 different answers (even for a given terrain!). Granted, you can’t compare a Walmart tire to
a $75 race tire or to a downhill specific tire, but arguing that a high quality
Maxxis XC tire is faster or slower than a high quality Bontrager or Specialized
XC tire is just plain dumb. (I’m sorry,
those rolling resistance tests published are OK, but don’t tell the whole
story) We all know people out there that are absolutely killing it on tires we’ve
kicked to the curb saying that “traction was poor” or “it washed out in a turn”… Guess
what, it’s not the tire that sucks…it’s your technique. Work on it, over and over and over…when you
can get that worn out front tire to hold you in turns on kitty litter, you’ve
got $hit down…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">#2: Boost… OK people,
listen, I’m a mechanical engineer…I understand things like forces,
stiffness/compliance, angles, etc…. But
when did a small amount of additional lateral wheel stiffness make me
measurably faster? Nope… If you can find a good, statistically valid
study that proves the lateral stiffness that boost spacing provides makes me
cover ground faster, I will sell all my non-boost crap and drink the
Koolaide. Till then, I will watch boost
empty peoples wallets faster while the value of their non-boost components goes
to hell... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, take that time you spend at the computer writing emails
to buddies arguing about tires and boost and whatever else, and go f*cking ride
your bike…ride it fast to the point of near puke….ride no more than 1x per week
at Browns Ranch to practice momentum conservation and cornering, ride rocky
stuff to practice sketchy handling…ride with faster people to push you...just be sure to ride and don't blame life for getting in the way. Yeah, sometimes it REALLY does, but each time you think it does, i'll bet at least half the time you can come up with a plan that still gets you on the bike. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THAT's the #1 thing that will make you
faster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you’re getting in only 4 hours a week on the bike and spending
that or more surfing the internet reading bike related stuff looking for things
to make you faster, you’re doing it WRONG.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-17644599787585590052018-01-11T14:53:00.000-08:002018-01-12T13:55:28.190-08:00Glues, Spooges and $hit like that…<div class="MsoNormal">
So as MTBrs, we’re undoubtedly going to run across times
when we need to glue something together… could be our favorite pair of MTB
shoes to get a few extra miles out of before replacing, could be a slice in a
tire sidewall, could be our frame that we got welded and are now stranded out
in some remote place (Looking at you <a href="https://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/">Schilling</a>).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I’ve noticed as I’ve talked with many of you reading
this, is that you choose a substance that may not really be the best thing…I
mean lets face it, we have ready access to stuff like JB Weld, Shoe Goo, Super
Glue, lots of 2 part epoxies, silicone, etc…But, they are all made for VERY
different purposes. So this little blog
write-up is to hopefully add some logic based on my experience but also my
mechanical engineering know-how from working with some of these things in my
past life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Shoe goo<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shoe goo is amazing stuff, rubber in a tube that gets you
really high (note: use in a well ventilated space) but gets mistakenly used as
a bonding agent. It is NOT. I would highly discourage using the stuff to
bond two things together since that is NOT what it was designed to do. It really doesn’t have great bond strength. It’s basically a wear surface to replace worn
off parts of your shoe. Sticks great to
rubber, but not so much to other highly flexible parts of your shoe (like the uppers). I have applied this to the underside of my
mtb shoes WHEN THEY ARE NEW to lengthen the HAB life of them. Below is a pic of two of my pairs, both of
which are at least 3 years old, the Shimano’s having been HAB’d up Mingus 2x
and been through the AZT300. Obviously,
you have to clean the surfaces to which you apply it and it will tend to flow
so you can’t lay it on too thick. But, the
stuff is great when used for what it is intended.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JTOgt4LlcltTPlzVPbq8isga1DlcCGJDdLJn7AGQqf0GDh_cffxEcIe_qjgVLKZtgt3dCLJwbmydWEJtpXZbyRx7BF4tvMaWg9u38O221mOl1xKaCXHptpZQ6mFFPXORHNfGiUuPmBar/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JTOgt4LlcltTPlzVPbq8isga1DlcCGJDdLJn7AGQqf0GDh_cffxEcIe_qjgVLKZtgt3dCLJwbmydWEJtpXZbyRx7BF4tvMaWg9u38O221mOl1xKaCXHptpZQ6mFFPXORHNfGiUuPmBar/s320/IMG_2394.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great for parties and making your shoes last longer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQquux8NhrDNg0swYOZV4R9T0IwZVPo4hbMr1lj0galaH7WUFrOq1YQ74eblnA8Nw6x89HSWmTfGjdXfmwHOdmleB1pxxX8SOw4D8maRFsUBScT426iGszcPXCMUh4rbgnBLdF_l60mx-/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQquux8NhrDNg0swYOZV4R9T0IwZVPo4hbMr1lj0galaH7WUFrOq1YQ74eblnA8Nw6x89HSWmTfGjdXfmwHOdmleB1pxxX8SOw4D8maRFsUBScT426iGszcPXCMUh4rbgnBLdF_l60mx-/s320/IMG_2387.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put on Shoe Goo on these SIDI's when they were almost new and have not worn through the toe yet....still going strong. I'm sure the socket head cap screws used as toe spikes helped too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMG5__7zFYtSYfhogdhAcpGShMI-L10mvPi5qL3yOF5KJkYy44xBUcMdX1gzhE_6kf5GspjwOpC13ZwdvrOdFRPlokM-db3aL9rPPDdhveYSHYce4ESapD6eny67jUsMJHHyQSjSaku59/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMG5__7zFYtSYfhogdhAcpGShMI-L10mvPi5qL3yOF5KJkYy44xBUcMdX1gzhE_6kf5GspjwOpC13ZwdvrOdFRPlokM-db3aL9rPPDdhveYSHYce4ESapD6eny67jUsMJHHyQSjSaku59/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the SIDI's... note that that it doesn't stick to the leather very well due to the flexing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tVfq5EqPlxFLCmQe07acjw4pZ2twnnrxfXW4r4Qq9PYT5O90G_Y3sT7VBevWz_-ZaN9rOD-168EFeuKj20huq9m9VlmEIaqJtKUcS_8uDzOUIW67j9pToNX0Dj8saO2Se0rzuK9Ffr1j/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tVfq5EqPlxFLCmQe07acjw4pZ2twnnrxfXW4r4Qq9PYT5O90G_Y3sT7VBevWz_-ZaN9rOD-168EFeuKj20huq9m9VlmEIaqJtKUcS_8uDzOUIW67j9pToNX0Dj8saO2Se0rzuK9Ffr1j/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are those Shimano M089's that have been to hell and back..again, I put the stuff on early in their life...well before the toe area got too worn down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-Nx-DGcS6GinS7lftHc6Aj8wrGhQ71TQAf1pfBXFBXDDiquRwHsDp4fWSp9MvM2e68YLVVGgCEi4vIkrvZX1H5HVVLfwKfl61VU1BBanxts6z9xCVsQ93ZvLTHcuB3fWvZRNTtP49MT9/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-Nx-DGcS6GinS7lftHc6Aj8wrGhQ71TQAf1pfBXFBXDDiquRwHsDp4fWSp9MvM2e68YLVVGgCEi4vIkrvZX1H5HVVLfwKfl61VU1BBanxts6z9xCVsQ93ZvLTHcuB3fWvZRNTtP49MT9/s320/IMG_2390.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here again, note how the shoe goo does not stick to the uppers very well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Superglue</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Superglue has a ton of uses for MTBing….keeping skin stuck
together, gluing your buddies ass to the toilet seat, etc… lol…Superglue is obviously a GLUE(duh)…a
bonding agent (Cyanoacrylate). They work
when the stuff you are bonding is fairly rigid AND the bond line is THIN. They don’t fill gaps very well. Below you’ll see a pic of a pair of my
somewhat new Shimano’s that have an inherent design flaw where the sole next to
the cleat delaminates. This happened the
same way in the pair I discussed earlier that has been through tons of HAB. The solution (which works EXTREMELY well) is
to use some superglue (the cheap stuff from Harbor Frieght), let it wick into
the joint, but then clamp it with some spring clamps to keep the bond line
tight. If you were to try and fix these
with shoe goo or some other flexible adhesive, you would probably have
issues. Where superglue falls down is
when the surfaces flex a lot, ie, tire sidewall slices. However, some manufacturers have formulated
more robust cyanoacrylates (gorilla glue) that can flex. Personally, I have not tried these. Hutchinson has a tubeless tire patch kit
(that they are quite proud of) that has a specially formulated superglue for
bonding rubber…<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqydiIcnuqzZOdAYE6yM7MewnZasFXnsfF5w8LZ3iSh-UMlZd1DQfsyyGHwrpTGYlFb3Kt7QwUV7YCK4YxFpNAGwq3EpPeRUZd4G0CZumV8WU8LcRTRMFJRjb9ROSmmeujvi_nlL1sIUn/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqydiIcnuqzZOdAYE6yM7MewnZasFXnsfF5w8LZ3iSh-UMlZd1DQfsyyGHwrpTGYlFb3Kt7QwUV7YCK4YxFpNAGwq3EpPeRUZd4G0CZumV8WU8LcRTRMFJRjb9ROSmmeujvi_nlL1sIUn/s320/IMG_2392.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a fan of the cheap stuff at Harbor Freight...used correctly, it works great</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkKVsRgdLSb1IoeJsC5pR1d7S7tuX4gbTMnSnKuZdAqlLvHABLhtS5nCwlx2YRCHfeaREc_pYDXmyVHYXfXh2IupByw1sCihSDnhpaud9ede56lYsFkQ0gBAcYoJqMhXCjHCY85KugJAU/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkKVsRgdLSb1IoeJsC5pR1d7S7tuX4gbTMnSnKuZdAqlLvHABLhtS5nCwlx2YRCHfeaREc_pYDXmyVHYXfXh2IupByw1sCihSDnhpaud9ede56lYsFkQ0gBAcYoJqMhXCjHCY85KugJAU/s320/IMG_2396.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the slightly darker area right of the cleat...that's the superglue where I bonded down that sole ridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K5SzhFcVkpW2hQ2oQ7mmoyg6_Y-PVeOIh4J4mBTaCspnkade1TrbBX5tk8xRHwUL2I6iR_WGc0CmzVCLcJuiCWgmyHZW4wJfROpxDTnND302g7qattWC_PG-kD6UFmB7kiS0Xqj3EjGe/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0K5SzhFcVkpW2hQ2oQ7mmoyg6_Y-PVeOIh4J4mBTaCspnkade1TrbBX5tk8xRHwUL2I6iR_WGc0CmzVCLcJuiCWgmyHZW4wJfROpxDTnND302g7qattWC_PG-kD6UFmB7kiS0Xqj3EjGe/s320/IMG_2397.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a spring clamp to keep it tight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYSuvdqz1KYl7NIzuajcz0MOH_XNKzeWIIBQW4I44x5VDV48q18NNVIDpI5ZezV-rW6oBKBA0iKR5j4Jbjc-N5iXFPe3f5uetXLq0HntaeTF2VWpEmmZeiTSpx9y3aMHaMdiHrRSCWzVT/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYSuvdqz1KYl7NIzuajcz0MOH_XNKzeWIIBQW4I44x5VDV48q18NNVIDpI5ZezV-rW6oBKBA0iKR5j4Jbjc-N5iXFPe3f5uetXLq0HntaeTF2VWpEmmZeiTSpx9y3aMHaMdiHrRSCWzVT/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shoe was glued EXACTLY like above very early in its life...it never failed after bonding it with cheap a$$ Harbor Freight Super Glue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2-Part Expoxies</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are of course a ton of these ranging from quick cure
ones to not so quick. Things like JB
Weld are 2-part epoxies. Typically these
cure very rigid but also have great bond strength with metals, plastics and
carbon (stuff we find on bikes). Below
is are a couple of pics where I used it to repair a set of carbon bar ends that
after multiple crashes, had worn through the carbon. They are definitely not made for flexible
materials. I did end up fixing a set of
saddle rails with it, but in the end did not use it since I had a
replacement. I’m pretty confident it
would have worked fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWsvuNpMSYmrPYSCS3Q8ooxe3mRXhEWyMY0X4jvnngPGtNoyfdX6ogcrw8Ox1FzczCsNGSNZjffybW6zOpCJl7p8pjG556tp2niwB1ET9lNhKNvIP6bv8vnjKFjXprw_oVgFD3Lw9a6iI/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWsvuNpMSYmrPYSCS3Q8ooxe3mRXhEWyMY0X4jvnngPGtNoyfdX6ogcrw8Ox1FzczCsNGSNZjffybW6zOpCJl7p8pjG556tp2niwB1ET9lNhKNvIP6bv8vnjKFjXprw_oVgFD3Lw9a6iI/s320/IMG_2391.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cheap Chinertown carbon bar end that started to crack from too many diggers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8qzErKCRlBY5J7DHu0-uIexYYOZdcDfC22k8fGtZ5BQ3V2rC6S9uuEVUDyOf-ilZV5Lt2xNaXTUwd75obiwFEVR-hheVrVujLactfuWWE8-0Gnaat3k7Gtr92NydE_LXCUZfjADzA0-y/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8qzErKCRlBY5J7DHu0-uIexYYOZdcDfC22k8fGtZ5BQ3V2rC6S9uuEVUDyOf-ilZV5Lt2xNaXTUwd75obiwFEVR-hheVrVujLactfuWWE8-0Gnaat3k7Gtr92NydE_LXCUZfjADzA0-y/s320/IMG_2393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 bucks worth of 5 min epoxy...works great...get it at HD.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Silicone</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silicone actually has more uses than just to seal bathtubs
and make boobs bigger…I have had great luck using it to repair cut tires. For example, we all have cut a sidewall at
some point and later get it home and patch the inside. Sometimes, the cut is barely through the
sidewall or even the patch we use might be “just” big enough. I will take pure silicone, and smear it on the
inside of the tire over and beyond the patch or over the cut. It adheres quite well to the inside of tires and
when it sets up, will not extrude itself through the cut or puncture in the tire. Obviously, it’s not a very robust wear
material so if you put it on the outside of the tire, it won’t last too
long. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimun-IrDrqWzN81FgannRZ_hIGCgUuM5J94EVIuY59LrHzopmktT3o9GibXtINaNDcEMq_egbScIuJOY4igqccA-4TL1vT15TccnoDFlIHWR-zCbyaBEkrfTMRKDtoBc3XDLQf0UkKgr2S/s1600/boob-job2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimun-IrDrqWzN81FgannRZ_hIGCgUuM5J94EVIuY59LrHzopmktT3o9GibXtINaNDcEMq_egbScIuJOY4igqccA-4TL1vT15TccnoDFlIHWR-zCbyaBEkrfTMRKDtoBc3XDLQf0UkKgr2S/s1600/boob-job2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, not this kind of silcone ya bunch of perverts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, there you have it…a quick brain dump on glues and
such. I’m positive I don’t know
everything about this, and you all have info to add. But, hopefully this helps a few folks buy the
right spooge for their need.<o:p></o:p></div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-17694972158717135652018-01-06T15:48:00.000-08:002018-01-06T17:32:25.784-08:00Trail 4, Like having a Baby<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, first, I don’t know what it’s actually like to have a
baby, but based on experience being there and the comments made like, “That
hurt like f*ck, I’m never doing that again!”, I have to imagine it’s not a terribly
fun experience…But then a few years later, the memories of passing a bowling
ball sized tiny human through your crotch seem to go away and they want to do it all over
again. The right response to such
silliness is of course, “Wait honey, you said it hurt like hell the first time…and
you want to do this all over again why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s what Trail 4 is like…A solid shit show from start
to finish...bowling ball sized rocks...10.5 miles of rugged, rocky, sharp, brutal desert terrain that makes
you work for every mile… After you do it
once and say things like, “I’m never doing that again!”…a few years later,
perhaps lured by the possibility of adventure and backcountry shenanigans, you’re
ready to try it again…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKIeSDNglC_MMklzeLu0VtVVIeWQBCX3bFseyT37r_0WRoTPL-1d7kot6V8Iqzxw3UkpiAj9e5IHcRBM74ln5PydSIgwJWkh_GX1LEe0b4qQa2_Jd1Hv6cKet9rIWTmqB-SanlG7tsZdY/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKIeSDNglC_MMklzeLu0VtVVIeWQBCX3bFseyT37r_0WRoTPL-1d7kot6V8Iqzxw3UkpiAj9e5IHcRBM74ln5PydSIgwJWkh_GX1LEe0b4qQa2_Jd1Hv6cKet9rIWTmqB-SanlG7tsZdY/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note here that there are no pictures of bikers...should have been a warning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That my friends brings me to today’s little adventure…Yes,
this blog is not about Strava bashing, zone this or intensity that, but an honest to God blog about an epic ride (shocking, I know).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all started a few weeks ago when Justin and myself did a
little ride where we rode the newly completed Maricopa trail between the Bronco
TH and Bartlett Lake Rd. After that
ride, I started thinking about better loop options and thought, “Hey, if you go
up Trail 4 from Spur Cross, through 7 Springs, pick up the Maricopa trail, it
would be about a 40 mile loop from Cave Creek.
No biggie right? How hard can 40
miles be?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, after bailing this morning on some other ride options(Sorry Mark!),
I decided it was time for a little solo adventure, a vision quest of sorts….so I loaded up a gpx
file on the etrex and got after it…Started a few minutes after 9AM from FTBS in
Cave Creek and headed north. Weather was
perfect, a tad chilly and a nice thin cloud cover to keep the temps in
check. Up through spur cross; stopped to pay my $3 at the entry to the park and asked the lady, "anyone come through hiking Tr4?" She looked at me like, "Hell no man, no sane person goes up there". Perfect...off I went passing some huge groups of hikers out for a nice 1/2 jaunt then like
you would expect, the trail gets teeth quick after the first climb away from
the creek. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNypuIEkXLu-hFLqg1U7XDq7KD2swiE_7A6WjyWqoJt9lmrZ7Bll0uwN95_iO_0qtR2z4Zoo4cJsy3MSAMiDuZGFR55nO856MezQLNYR5yCqBGIcFLyCv_yEE07hqoJ5EEpufMn6Ti-uC/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNypuIEkXLu-hFLqg1U7XDq7KD2swiE_7A6WjyWqoJt9lmrZ7Bll0uwN95_iO_0qtR2z4Zoo4cJsy3MSAMiDuZGFR55nO856MezQLNYR5yCqBGIcFLyCv_yEE07hqoJ5EEpufMn6Ti-uC/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually a good section of trail...still not rideable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukw6zcwxpHZCSMkZ5UvdDuNOzBlTpet_LM6qE0gMoK5fxXaQ9oXro0HUyVGUwqbCF-vUvv-P3JxxEUhzCr-y2-4NLXJZGQdvINVHWiQBivAK9u5-7R54CCqa8cEOm2Owtq2tI0CXkmVlN/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukw6zcwxpHZCSMkZ5UvdDuNOzBlTpet_LM6qE0gMoK5fxXaQ9oXro0HUyVGUwqbCF-vUvv-P3JxxEUhzCr-y2-4NLXJZGQdvINVHWiQBivAK9u5-7R54CCqa8cEOm2Owtq2tI0CXkmVlN/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These signs are scattered along the 10 or so mile stretch...just to mock you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From there, it’s a constant
cactus dodging, rock hoping, HAB up, HAB down for at least the next 9 or so
miles. I really can’t say I’ve HAB’d
that much in quite some time…truly a Schillingsworth type of route. In all this suck ass trail, I will say that
the views are spectacular, its incredibly quiet, and all in all a pretty cool
experience (to walk beside your bike). Honestly, it was quite enjoyable!...I was in no hurry, no strava KOM's harmed, just enjoying a nice HAB....<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09dCwcFT0HgOgi87mEdFDVIYtNBgYZsyglHXFr7ZqmGtlVl2-UsyESnXL0VsS9Yz0oaquCFhMmoiXRO79FhyphenhyphenzLaAMfI7Z1uASQmVfPB6QaZo9sGGzEktdqtum-zbnGlqJg2om248D2HjO/s1600/IMG_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09dCwcFT0HgOgi87mEdFDVIYtNBgYZsyglHXFr7ZqmGtlVl2-UsyESnXL0VsS9Yz0oaquCFhMmoiXRO79FhyphenhyphenzLaAMfI7Z1uASQmVfPB6QaZo9sGGzEktdqtum-zbnGlqJg2om248D2HjO/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of water up there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AnxLP7SmH3hBk1FPA4HVLWYOynZuJJ_TsmhaaqskSXhPFC9TBOrDishZqdj4MhDmiOBHE_Aiu55dbr_zZEhL6WqBQWVD4KwQsHxdUk5TZSuHe_oxAyCGPZphomPLKK1GPwIIO3DlTNjY/s1600/IMG_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AnxLP7SmH3hBk1FPA4HVLWYOynZuJJ_TsmhaaqskSXhPFC9TBOrDishZqdj4MhDmiOBHE_Aiu55dbr_zZEhL6WqBQWVD4KwQsHxdUk5TZSuHe_oxAyCGPZphomPLKK1GPwIIO3DlTNjY/s320/IMG_2324.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowing water right here...neato.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjScexT18zpU1tB8hHnNvqssxJ_xbxs5eApFNDruMDkUNowJFZH47SnLNUEbc4vH1iklbYWRk6dNcpHvXCdxDWJV1tL3e682cntKI0QFgYS0iGVoRpDDhXZ70tdhtziQYNERzd4V__fj5C/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjScexT18zpU1tB8hHnNvqssxJ_xbxs5eApFNDruMDkUNowJFZH47SnLNUEbc4vH1iklbYWRk6dNcpHvXCdxDWJV1tL3e682cntKI0QFgYS0iGVoRpDDhXZ70tdhtziQYNERzd4V__fj5C/s320/IMG_2368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful scenery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08Aeg-pfMWy2kqSivAJxztTQNKbrkMbKA1RUEQU4ZW_QTihzoo2VOntNyiehWets6bLWIQ12JVgOpKVWvMqpx0oTeSmx6hcELrZuW9AD370_D9CnGPt2C6tXQYcx6tQ6RTe3jqCyUqnUA/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08Aeg-pfMWy2kqSivAJxztTQNKbrkMbKA1RUEQU4ZW_QTihzoo2VOntNyiehWets6bLWIQ12JVgOpKVWvMqpx0oTeSmx6hcELrZuW9AD370_D9CnGPt2C6tXQYcx6tQ6RTe3jqCyUqnUA/s320/IMG_2369.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more water...would have been nice to soak my feet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXuqhX3dnLzKs7xUCOApgIPhpdmJP0FEwtPEhk4tE1oAKR_dMUPGXdu5Xo6usShY2apy2nAHeHprGMwwil1cnRSlE2T76-UkSfNTSklrK1E49pdvw_qB94DeMtM3xSJT6f9CdrasQ2xMv/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXuqhX3dnLzKs7xUCOApgIPhpdmJP0FEwtPEhk4tE1oAKR_dMUPGXdu5Xo6usShY2apy2nAHeHprGMwwil1cnRSlE2T76-UkSfNTSklrK1E49pdvw_qB94DeMtM3xSJT6f9CdrasQ2xMv/s320/IMG_2370.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some rideable trail! actually this section was REALLY cool and very much not desert-like!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQYUJWcRoCTzefDvbfRznF-bDOTROQha9AUXkvxD5X6U4q1Qda1HSYyD36Uh-3LgiEFzMOjbnietcmUPLNgWAj9yUK44mG_M6JO-DcSDXf6pUl3yaF56gtKSAg0oxPhZ2ZUJ2ZqUz9ShC/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQYUJWcRoCTzefDvbfRznF-bDOTROQha9AUXkvxD5X6U4q1Qda1HSYyD36Uh-3LgiEFzMOjbnietcmUPLNgWAj9yUK44mG_M6JO-DcSDXf6pUl3yaF56gtKSAg0oxPhZ2ZUJ2ZqUz9ShC/s320/IMG_2371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old fashioned Ride-Over gate...need skillz to ride over this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I emerged near the 7 springs campground where there
is still quite a bit of water flowing (which is amazing considering our lack of
rain or snow). </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnO8v_xyMzPgqNtl0UWD0LmnEXwxPzNWMrPHCn6Gkl9eKj_iyBa2wxtzz4cQgLKGK3OohbQ9nb6iuJSZqBx021tZ2MQxvGH1Mgtdn1rgta9jubJ-UxyZc1ckbBMF0w5bK2-neKzTz-knK/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnO8v_xyMzPgqNtl0UWD0LmnEXwxPzNWMrPHCn6Gkl9eKj_iyBa2wxtzz4cQgLKGK3OohbQ9nb6iuJSZqBx021tZ2MQxvGH1Mgtdn1rgta9jubJ-UxyZc1ckbBMF0w5bK2-neKzTz-knK/s320/IMG_2372.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On down to the Bronco TH
where the new section of the Maricopa trail ties in. Here the trail follows the powerline access
road but they reworked much of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3Mk2EXk4dWbhbwEVyFdbyI1YK3OLWiD8JJWMtilQSQPY38O0xlMgyFtlQRDYlXqfuFWTBS-Ds2vRIUuSdt6WgNop1KasddHOKXLmD3RzqdSeMVISTWaPJc-4oGp0TsMR_4a8rCtSjPF_/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3Mk2EXk4dWbhbwEVyFdbyI1YK3OLWiD8JJWMtilQSQPY38O0xlMgyFtlQRDYlXqfuFWTBS-Ds2vRIUuSdt6WgNop1KasddHOKXLmD3RzqdSeMVISTWaPJc-4oGp0TsMR_4a8rCtSjPF_/s320/IMG_2374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new bridge on the Maricopa Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It takes a turn upward and eastward to go through a valley
climbing towards Kentuck Mountain before topping out. This is where the suck really started to get me...the trail in this section is SOFT...like oatmeal...a slight uphill is a HAB... Finally, I got to the top.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NMeRQ6jsldUgC8d0RTMQC6aO8d3n1CCi02WjaO25e3ICUcubdaGFq3HenB69RMZ6UTg38XDiLY6mdptgbK6zMZSOAcuSlv6HxkvLLZ7Nd92NP4476VA7MvygREjObx1PKTSsZY_rFK0L/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1600" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NMeRQ6jsldUgC8d0RTMQC6aO8d3n1CCi02WjaO25e3ICUcubdaGFq3HenB69RMZ6UTg38XDiLY6mdptgbK6zMZSOAcuSlv6HxkvLLZ7Nd92NP4476VA7MvygREjObx1PKTSsZY_rFK0L/s320/IMG_2377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Highpoint...let the brake smoking begin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the scree slide begins…basically a 1300 ft descent to
Blue Wash (with a few stinger climbs tossed in there). The final grunt up out of Blue wash and an
easy roll back into Cave Creek…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was quite an adventure…after all the “training” and other
intensity nonsense, I was due for a good ol’ fashioned adventure…and this one
delivers!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
AR<o:p></o:p></div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-66696539384598550172018-01-02T14:00:00.001-08:002018-01-02T14:00:14.519-08:00STRAVA Challenges are BS<div class="MsoNormal">
As the year came to close, I sat at the computer with a
Pizza Port IPA close by, seeing people
post their ride stats for 2017 as summarized by Strava or Veloviewer… Admittedly, I do the same thing, that is post
my ride stats for the year (since I’m kinda proud of them!). However, this year was different for me…my
ride numbers(miles, time, vert) were not my highest to date yet this year, at the
ripe old age of 52 (well, 51 up to October), I qualitatively felt like I was
riding stronger than ever before;
Busting into top 10’s on highly contested climbs, grabbing some key KOM’s,
and all in all feeling like my angriness has been paying off.. but why not in prior years with more miles,
more vert, and more saddle time?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I’m sure you all realize, I humbly believe I know the
answer to this; an answer I wrote about in my prior blog post. But, since I don’t want to repeat that, let
me take a different tact. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WARNING: What you are about to read pertains to those people
who mainly ride bikes to get fast…if adventure, flower sniffing, or pleasure
riding is your thing…COOL… what follows will not pertain to you. But if you are a Type A, competitive SOB that
wants to be fast…keep reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flash back to when you first started riding in a more consistent,
serious sense…not just rolling down to the liquor store for a sixer of PBR, but
actually riding with some intent. That
being either better fitness, competition or what have you. At some point, it probably dawned on you
pushing your limits was fun (in a sick sort of way). So maybe you trained for a century or perhaps
some longer MTB ride. So, you piled on the
miles after a spending some money on chamois cream for your taint, you got it
done… Following that accomplishment, you
were hooked…the desire to become faster overcame you. Maybe setting goals helps you so you did that…miles
per week/month, or ride time per week/month.
And so you did it, more saddle time, better fitness, and all was well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But still, other riders were faster. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They dropped you on the climbs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They stood around in the desert waiting for
you to catch up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They waited at the car
for you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
W.T.F. you may have said….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along comes STRAVA….what a great mashup of ride data availability
and cheap recording technology (smartphones, gps devices)…. We now compete every day on rides even though
our competitor is either asleep, at work, or sitting at the bar. STRAVA upped the ante with their challenges…The
equivalent of costume jewelry where you gain “badges” by accomplishing basic
goals…ie, miles per month, or vertical climb per month. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
UGH…what a setback (IMHO).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before your panties get too much in a bunch, let me explain… We all have different goals and different
ways we are motivated. Read a little
B.F. Skinner and the behavior theory stuff and you’ll get that. For some people, basic activity goals work
great....that’s why all these step counting devices people wear on their wrists
work! Give ‘em a goal, a way to measure
progress against that goal, and they’ll alter their behavior to get it. It’s awesome and I’d venture a guess that
people who measure activity are in general healthier (I’ll bet insurance
companies have all the quantitative data on this).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if you want to be at the top of your game in something
like cycling? Forget it…just focusing on
miles, vertical climb or saddle time, just ain’t gonna get you there. And this is where STRAVA does us a disservice…it
creates these challenges and pits us against our fellow athletes to maximize these
basic, yet almost meaningless metrics.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p>As I said in my prior blog post…it’s about intensity and
skill. A friend of mine summed it up
well…”Hard days hard, easy days easy”.
Wanna get fast on the MTB, do intervals.
Practice bike handling. Go hard a
few days a week…really hard…like OMG I’m gonna puke hard. Go easy other days. Practice conservation of momentum…you work
hard to make speed, work harder at maintaining it. Sleep a lot.
Eat good stuff. Clean your
drivetrain (well OK, the OCD guy in me needs to do this).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And finally, boycott those climbing and distance challenges
on STRAVA. They are just plain dumb. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
AR<o:p></o:p></div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-62705054199184689872017-10-17T16:08:00.001-07:002017-10-18T09:07:20.482-07:00Why Strava Climbing Challenges and Browns Ranch can make you SLOW<div class="MsoNormal">
First, for those falling off their chairs at the fact Angry
Ray has posted something on his blog, get over it. I like to wait for just the right moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, what I’m about to discuss is entirely my opinion
based on my own observations and self-study.
If you don’t agree with it, no problem…I won’t be offended or at least if I am, a few IPA's later and I'll get over it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tend to believe wholeheartedly a few things when it comes
to getting faster on a mountain bike based on my experiences over the last 7
years of riding seriously(and making MANY mistakes), as well as reputable sources of quantitative research
found on the internet. They are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you want to build speed, you HAVE to do high
intensity cycling.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I certainly hope no SANE
person argues this point…there is so much research about this and even more
importantly, it is crucial as you get older (just ask people like Ned Overend). Oh and BTW, I'm not talking about, "gee, I'm breathing a little more", but more like, "I f*cking taste blood in my mouth and feel like I can puke" type of intensity.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Getting faster on a MTB means you have to master
two dimensions: bike handling and fitness.
You can be a WATT machine, but there is truly an efficiency thing at
play when you ride that could probably be calculated in watts/mile or some
other efficiency metric. Bottom line, carrying speed through turns, tech sections, and using the terrain to generate speed (like a pump track) is huge. I like to call it "free speed".<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to have at least one pic in this blog...may as well be my awesome Vassago VerHauen...</td></tr>
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OK, so hopefully at this point, you’re on-board with what I’ve
said and possibly wondering, “Why are Strava climbing challenges bad and why is
he so down on Browns Ranch?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In order to answer this, I first have to admit, I only ride
a single speed mtb. The only derailleur
I own is on a road bike and I don’t ride it on the road anymore. Hit by a car,
a few near misses and I realized my life is more valuable. Too many idiot drivers. Anyway, it’s last use was on a Wahoo Kickr(thx
Dana Ernst!) while I recovered from hernia surgery and unless I end up unable
to ride mtb’s, it’s gonna get sold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So that being said, most people who ride SS probably understand
that your power output is generally dictated by the terrain you ride. Without gears, you are either spun out(at one
end of the spectrum) or barely turning the pedals over at the other end of the
spectrum. However, that is precisely
what is so IMPORTANT! On a geared bike,
you can generate nearly constant watts over varied terrain by simply changing
gears and keeping your cadence constant…on a SS, you don’t have that luxury and
are forced to generate watts at all ranges of cadence. The fancy term in the power world is “quadrant
analysis” where you can see this illustrated(google it). We SS
folks end up training our legs to NOT be narrow cadence power generators, but a
multi-purpose engine capable of high RPM’s and low, “god this hurts” lug the
engine kind of stuff. (Shaw Butte, Mt. Elden, etc)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I love Browns Ranch…it’s like a Cornering 101 class… and doing
work out there is important since it teaches you all the finer points of
efficient cornering (or suffer the consequences).
However, a steady diet of that place will NOT work all “corners” of
fitness (especially low RPM). It will reward the Strava
whores with plenty of costume jewelry and make you feel like you are a
BAMF. You will look at your HR trace and
think, “damn, I was zone 4-5 for many of those segments! What a great workout!”. Sure, it’s one part of the equation, but it’s
like crack…people get HOOKED. Now, if
you don’t care about getting faster on a SS and just love miles and scenery,
then no worrries, that place is AWESOME.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now for those Strava climbing challenges... I think Strava challenges are great and for
some people, goal setting can be a very powerful motivator. But taking a very unilateral stance of saying
“all that matters is how many feet you climb” is just stupid. Here’s why…as I said above, we need to spend
some portion of our training week in our upper zones of HR and do so at a range
of cadences (especially for the SS people). Just
focusing on feet or meters climbed does not equal better training! Consider this…I know of friends who focus on
that 10k meter challenge every month but accumulate much of it in zone 2 and
their other rides are hardly in zone 4. Does
it make them faster? Well, it’s certainly
good endurance miles, but I would argue it’s not building power for them. They can check the box for meeting the goal but it's not the right goal if speed is what you strive for. My point, don’t become a slave to the Strava
challenges… focus on getting into the higher HR zones (or power zones if you
have that technology) for a slice of your training week. And of course, be sure you make that power at
both high and low cadence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you gotten this far, thanks for reading. Stay angry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ray<o:p></o:p></div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-91375184199922257302016-08-26T20:32:00.003-07:002016-08-26T20:33:17.011-07:00Tell-you're-Ride...Such a blast<div class="MsoNormal">
About a month ago, Olson and I were talking about taking another road trip after our successful and super fun time last fall where we toured the west. However, we didn’t have as much time, and wanted to go someplace we hadn’t been. Additionally, after getting totally rained out last fall and not getting the miles of riding in Colorado that I wanted, I was looking for a bit of redemption. Olson mentioned Telluride since a few Doc friends of her from work had places there and I’d never been… She found a VRBO place in downtown Telluride 200 yards from the free gondola so the plan was hatched. Within milliseconds, I was doing my trail research planning my assault on some sweet mtb trails.<o:p></o:p></div>
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About a week before we left, a check of the weather was not looking good…f*&K. Really? Can I get a freaking break here Mother Nature? <o:p></o:p></div>
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On our drive up Monday, we encountered plenty of rain in AZ and consistent rain from Cortez to Telluride. Luckily, it let up late in the afternoon Monday when we arrived.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yeah, that's snow up there</td></tr>
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We took the gondola over to Mtn Village and had some dinner at the Tomboy Tavern.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up the gondola</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y55gTW3gu_1UOASlvoJ-_DDDLJU294Tt9I0ER39uN536sJlGsVaCVPE35k1X08F_4Qy0nbYc_NtZ8c8rRmTvTnd1I7QwJy0XaEaQZLE4FnNI0pbGGWdwopx9K4abvclAtTd2UV7btn50/s1600/IMG_0403+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y55gTW3gu_1UOASlvoJ-_DDDLJU294Tt9I0ER39uN536sJlGsVaCVPE35k1X08F_4Qy0nbYc_NtZ8c8rRmTvTnd1I7QwJy0XaEaQZLE4FnNI0pbGGWdwopx9K4abvclAtTd2UV7btn50/s320/IMG_0403+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many beer choices..one of each please...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So angry that one...</td></tr>
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The next morning, it was time to shred...I decided I'd ride what's referred to as the "Gentlemen's Loop" which starts at the top of the Gondola and takes the Prospect Trail...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my bike hanging precariously outside the gondola</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking down on Telluride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_0ZtZnzC5DYppv9wqzJuCtpzrk42VuTxUcJ6w0pysiQKkxpYGP9hmdMuDJbZkdlg63NLSw9e-0efLVIXGVFte5gLffPQK1eaRxzllYM5xN0IciaV_jae2ZyuZO_oTV3qnhG6TH8pw4Cg/s1600/IMG_0416+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_0ZtZnzC5DYppv9wqzJuCtpzrk42VuTxUcJ6w0pysiQKkxpYGP9hmdMuDJbZkdlg63NLSw9e-0efLVIXGVFte5gLffPQK1eaRxzllYM5xN0IciaV_jae2ZyuZO_oTV3qnhG6TH8pw4Cg/s320/IMG_0416+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to rip the prospect trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crosses lots of ski runs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so much water...prospect creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nGJ_elSwFNQU-YSiRqwRNJRONsl4Ieu2bFqgF99B3w4JPpYUi0wirln7x239Co7A6Mlwd976WQ3ucUWG_VssINfIFxMiWUZpCTEW3Qd6TbtUoLf6RGiUCIp8zfnplylbRayHWCNROteB/s1600/IMG_0420+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nGJ_elSwFNQU-YSiRqwRNJRONsl4Ieu2bFqgF99B3w4JPpYUi0wirln7x239Co7A6Mlwd976WQ3ucUWG_VssINfIFxMiWUZpCTEW3Qd6TbtUoLf6RGiUCIp8zfnplylbRayHWCNROteB/s320/IMG_0420+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jurassic Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Jurassic Trail</td></tr>
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Finally back into town after a little less than a 2 hour ride and the Olson was looking to do a hike. So we decided to hike up bear creek which is a very popular one in Telluride...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGUH74R1hZhjqLcS5Vd1dt7lCEivVLDopcY021NnG9gQsq1u85ComcQvtoMPtUrY1XJiMr6OMF-0r5soJSBKDzahjWH_-WjrSJKv2uqHCu5PCYIIIDZhE1oCOdd-4x9DetREUGSVGLJjn/s1600/IMG_0427+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGUH74R1hZhjqLcS5Vd1dt7lCEivVLDopcY021NnG9gQsq1u85ComcQvtoMPtUrY1XJiMr6OMF-0r5soJSBKDzahjWH_-WjrSJKv2uqHCu5PCYIIIDZhE1oCOdd-4x9DetREUGSVGLJjn/s320/IMG_0427+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsB7ObJ-_uWvTXSE4l9WaNJOe4ZSm1PPDNxUIJPWtcntbDgmPGH7OXmrIC35J2domf7hUZzaigVzPYsQ8oEPXiVlGAWdsXgJMzm-wZQltt8rZjVvAnd1sgyWQUHhsDHrUr51unyko83Um/s1600/IMG_0430+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsB7ObJ-_uWvTXSE4l9WaNJOe4ZSm1PPDNxUIJPWtcntbDgmPGH7OXmrIC35J2domf7hUZzaigVzPYsQ8oEPXiVlGAWdsXgJMzm-wZQltt8rZjVvAnd1sgyWQUHhsDHrUr51unyko83Um/s320/IMG_0430+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">where cairns are born and raised</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo420g8HaMTlnjJLb1HWkGpPpqSxcTbz38oTgLY7jRYo8guEGk5HkvjIn6nTnflsYfah2DokEAfzVC_D9Z_hiKVtke_iTtns1kwnd3VbtBcHa1ywy8Q6B-0at4YnHGe5iz31p11WUKcWp/s1600/IMG_0436+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo420g8HaMTlnjJLb1HWkGpPpqSxcTbz38oTgLY7jRYo8guEGk5HkvjIn6nTnflsYfah2DokEAfzVC_D9Z_hiKVtke_iTtns1kwnd3VbtBcHa1ywy8Q6B-0at4YnHGe5iz31p11WUKcWp/s320/IMG_0436+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That night we hit up some 1/2 price sushi at Cosmopolitan...so good!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn5l7jlEcO6Ap4W4nE7TO8leQerdnPns511FaXuxfn-lB02FXIm5-vIk3Ayi-wFmiW6Bs1R49YlsCgLpbYqlryQq6z3j0I98roKRjB6qh06rVJnziNYzE_cgjNsVRiKO2Qb8sfUUz2QSW/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn5l7jlEcO6Ap4W4nE7TO8leQerdnPns511FaXuxfn-lB02FXIm5-vIk3Ayi-wFmiW6Bs1R49YlsCgLpbYqlryQq6z3j0I98roKRjB6qh06rVJnziNYzE_cgjNsVRiKO2Qb8sfUUz2QSW/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SdQ0KBzMWPHJpsApsWso6tU7t9NBNHj9HLtPG6epqwQypJSraUZrEzNZy4JapkgYZ74Z_5koQ2cS3fUzX2CpoORFY6X6502tUwExmn9i8HXCS0KeZ4Vg-96-g60dva_XIWIz_WU5gjpb/s1600/IMG_0442+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SdQ0KBzMWPHJpsApsWso6tU7t9NBNHj9HLtPG6epqwQypJSraUZrEzNZy4JapkgYZ74Z_5koQ2cS3fUzX2CpoORFY6X6502tUwExmn9i8HXCS0KeZ4Vg-96-g60dva_XIWIz_WU5gjpb/s320/IMG_0442+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then took an after dinner ride up the gondola for a nice glass of wine at Alreads... was actually snowing at the top! (10.5kft)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet ass ride...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain, rain, rain</td></tr>
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The next morning, I wanted to get up to higher elevation but the threat of rain was significant...I really didn't want to get soaked and struck by lightening but I figured I'd head up past the power plant as far as reasonable...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd2pM5-8m2ccouY_vNBmrpeS7SHtI2d4G9Um413sp9LYRurQutSY3kO_1gMePqaJKWl6MlYd_Mk6P5zQtxqe99TT3sQgJk_WGvaY7pA6kC8BGN37lPAINiBQcVE4qJaWxIDG4BjkyRLTV/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd2pM5-8m2ccouY_vNBmrpeS7SHtI2d4G9Um413sp9LYRurQutSY3kO_1gMePqaJKWl6MlYd_Mk6P5zQtxqe99TT3sQgJk_WGvaY7pA6kC8BGN37lPAINiBQcVE4qJaWxIDG4BjkyRLTV/s320/IMG_0466.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old dude in yoga pants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I5sOlK8CLUpnqWCIPANxB_L6ZJjKpsx4sm59S-T84VkWItJPmkPVJP64Sre8SSdftRgSkgswo2R6xjhSXcciS6p6zECNwQyhFN-MNUOff5tKMQICjJ1J0KdsR8mXfI92SNoPRiTMeNpK/s1600/IMG_0467+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I5sOlK8CLUpnqWCIPANxB_L6ZJjKpsx4sm59S-T84VkWItJPmkPVJP64Sre8SSdftRgSkgswo2R6xjhSXcciS6p6zECNwQyhFN-MNUOff5tKMQICjJ1J0KdsR8mXfI92SNoPRiTMeNpK/s320/IMG_0467+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hey baby...wanna feel my spandex?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje55PRpwgpdAm2nd8WYvYvzAtx2QxJ8cvEto4ezMCuS-8q41OYGETpn0-Gumm0oEole4AJpM9YLRM8FuYjrDcMLqXTpQDpouoIu1zgDW-lb_lfDpQdYWHaiH5ZqQ3HEr_LzLFSbLDjWdOb/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje55PRpwgpdAm2nd8WYvYvzAtx2QxJ8cvEto4ezMCuS-8q41OYGETpn0-Gumm0oEole4AJpM9YLRM8FuYjrDcMLqXTpQDpouoIu1zgDW-lb_lfDpQdYWHaiH5ZqQ3HEr_LzLFSbLDjWdOb/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views get better as you climb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TYRBV5UBVH9T1X5vjahXI2GEScIMV8J0F50ck25tr_YNfh7Gtj48euLjUq-0Ok1Z5UadpDN1jIBDMWy5jwXwuRGR2rjkQiH6Rc4b5Ic2bJQO88GRyxaUPBb4-FICAEecyQdI8TNqdJx8/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TYRBV5UBVH9T1X5vjahXI2GEScIMV8J0F50ck25tr_YNfh7Gtj48euLjUq-0Ok1Z5UadpDN1jIBDMWy5jwXwuRGR2rjkQiH6Rc4b5Ic2bJQO88GRyxaUPBb4-FICAEecyQdI8TNqdJx8/s320/IMG_0471.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The power plant and Bridal Veil Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above the power plant and falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crazy wildflowers</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNia_Yw9HK9sZphildqAJsZUKxFXfoKy_6ODaMcIrHZ6p0PeAb-NVIJ5sjrGNDu42pnY8tx2iAt_vTVIK2huhmEY1jKh_wK3yE7Lb4CYjwTaczZ93PwzByvzR2ZPQSbk09aSdLBsXf-r0n/s1600/IMG_0492+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNia_Yw9HK9sZphildqAJsZUKxFXfoKy_6ODaMcIrHZ6p0PeAb-NVIJ5sjrGNDu42pnY8tx2iAt_vTVIK2huhmEY1jKh_wK3yE7Lb4CYjwTaczZ93PwzByvzR2ZPQSbk09aSdLBsXf-r0n/s320/IMG_0492+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPEFj3_wX0a5MlT69AYAtpmzb0bnU0f0pYHVoFhBzwn7Z6Pyfa8EFLvciVdrMyQo5YIRMP8-C6GoDqjzagclHzoDhNVplRZa3EDMsOfpNF9PrFSCKp9mJ8VKdBMHF0fpAUJzyBLFrl45R/s1600/IMG_0493+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPEFj3_wX0a5MlT69AYAtpmzb0bnU0f0pYHVoFhBzwn7Z6Pyfa8EFLvciVdrMyQo5YIRMP8-C6GoDqjzagclHzoDhNVplRZa3EDMsOfpNF9PrFSCKp9mJ8VKdBMHF0fpAUJzyBLFrl45R/s320/IMG_0493+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The theme of the day...wet, green, and steep</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14JYcaGR-NMwIIcmL4tVFnzIxhH2AQuEhk5ONGyHZQNlBa9VnCMsj_2i_TmjaQohCKypdRkqqQdA_1ZwQIY5DOaPmoKBw2gjiR6ZMymrpQidFbAsurKUAvhckooVCQYdYZMYq_Ldbkzif/s1600/IMG_0496+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14JYcaGR-NMwIIcmL4tVFnzIxhH2AQuEhk5ONGyHZQNlBa9VnCMsj_2i_TmjaQohCKypdRkqqQdA_1ZwQIY5DOaPmoKBw2gjiR6ZMymrpQidFbAsurKUAvhckooVCQYdYZMYq_Ldbkzif/s320/IMG_0496+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKXa-I0WYsTDKJDux5ESeETFPkIwCsNg46psokpZyJ4zj4bvePS-PPVDWTMFqNqfWW4I4sKPdGeX0dTJuYd5ZGrk98XScMioW8GPTGIEYffeaO68jqNJ0kNsNXKNBXaagANlFc5YFoNbI/s1600/IMG_0497+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKXa-I0WYsTDKJDux5ESeETFPkIwCsNg46psokpZyJ4zj4bvePS-PPVDWTMFqNqfWW4I4sKPdGeX0dTJuYd5ZGrk98XScMioW8GPTGIEYffeaO68jqNJ0kNsNXKNBXaagANlFc5YFoNbI/s320/IMG_0497+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6uJevVNJ1bJCcvmVvKJ8Grypt7fUvmHcEVZ3-yqk01mRi3-wVGHutowalTMOwhWDIjR2ervD-4eXcTBY4TrRA_e678on4sJMq9uZLG_mbOVMt7wmYpXBASWoJHHf5GyBEOFHiu2JEUYv/s1600/IMG_0500+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6uJevVNJ1bJCcvmVvKJ8Grypt7fUvmHcEVZ3-yqk01mRi3-wVGHutowalTMOwhWDIjR2ervD-4eXcTBY4TrRA_e678on4sJMq9uZLG_mbOVMt7wmYpXBASWoJHHf5GyBEOFHiu2JEUYv/s320/IMG_0500+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back on the powerplant on the descent</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NRgnvhOtt92Gk0WSkJ32GYt2SWpJfW6V9k4hYdUl-OfD2USCeE1pG6NklBcOwGcWCtZhj8uy9T9VVmAxs53LvqHFyTE7ckWYSuRmyplfMlt_ga_hzHnjWhD3f8_9KZhyTPFHnPg4wFi5/s1600/IMG_0501+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NRgnvhOtt92Gk0WSkJ32GYt2SWpJfW6V9k4hYdUl-OfD2USCeE1pG6NklBcOwGcWCtZhj8uy9T9VVmAxs53LvqHFyTE7ckWYSuRmyplfMlt_ga_hzHnjWhD3f8_9KZhyTPFHnPg4wFi5/s320/IMG_0501+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the money shot...looking down on Telluride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPT_7oiIgMo8nwcPLaiiqr08mmeWU-PXlC4_jSqNz2ShIcbK12oAMPViL7GO0ZIYgjuiUCHUbRkoLOr3wf4WNuAeA67KesW5BWv106HYfyXfj7n1BVCKxVV1MwP6RYTvS2N9-l9Yg-4yz/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPT_7oiIgMo8nwcPLaiiqr08mmeWU-PXlC4_jSqNz2ShIcbK12oAMPViL7GO0ZIYgjuiUCHUbRkoLOr3wf4WNuAeA67KesW5BWv106HYfyXfj7n1BVCKxVV1MwP6RYTvS2N9-l9Yg-4yz/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was up there</td></tr>
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After my ride, Olson was itchin' to get out and hike...so we decided to head up the See Forever Trail with hopes to do the loop down the Wasatch Connector and Bear Creek, but the weather got ugly quick... so we ran down...(I need new knees now).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANDV7u1YlJVCcErjmyhpbRlBTL6z7bTIZ8PH7AsRXUiV7Axbr9b2Qfmh_fHeHImljDu71XFOkljWd7msx24xSjLU8ozhQHYVNYxQqH8MKRz6mplV9E9PyUElIt7QHgmOgfSKPvJ-FD3CE/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANDV7u1YlJVCcErjmyhpbRlBTL6z7bTIZ8PH7AsRXUiV7Axbr9b2Qfmh_fHeHImljDu71XFOkljWd7msx24xSjLU8ozhQHYVNYxQqH8MKRz6mplV9E9PyUElIt7QHgmOgfSKPvJ-FD3CE/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAJfdZIuv0sUkJdUoOt-OZ08sFPZdkrJaAtGh_UufIURa_sMZkokUzyemgaIILCM5c796LzcRvpO_U4pysutvkq1hgDEgHUEW6HXmdb8ilGr-rAsEt8TvDTKzKaCdZdw3aeY8iNk5asmq/s1600/IMG_0519+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAJfdZIuv0sUkJdUoOt-OZ08sFPZdkrJaAtGh_UufIURa_sMZkokUzyemgaIILCM5c796LzcRvpO_U4pysutvkq1hgDEgHUEW6HXmdb8ilGr-rAsEt8TvDTKzKaCdZdw3aeY8iNk5asmq/s320/IMG_0519+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she won the prize...a sketchy old dude...me.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0rFIz9_mzYWDjIfGVfH96mEvnvJllhjmQUqUcMyi63vDVuunjnHa-g4ZEFloW8uDa7c-VbIGjEHvaA_wna1Gwqlz0wBKhN-2LLrBSQyGaVO-ZNVBliE0KXkILUBfCh33Xfjtgh40OpiT/s1600/IMG_0520+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0rFIz9_mzYWDjIfGVfH96mEvnvJllhjmQUqUcMyi63vDVuunjnHa-g4ZEFloW8uDa7c-VbIGjEHvaA_wna1Gwqlz0wBKhN-2LLrBSQyGaVO-ZNVBliE0KXkILUBfCh33Xfjtgh40OpiT/s320/IMG_0520+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiA9mX8ppym5GpO4bSM1od1CE2NU02VRDDxrwcNneBpF7j1VsQyTGXTI856igSvE75lPNY7CTvdKf1hvS906uB_Mlao-a9LceSkaleINFmRTJlCd195DV-AIcfhcq6lOFCJQ3ECSuEWic/s1600/IMG_0521+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiA9mX8ppym5GpO4bSM1od1CE2NU02VRDDxrwcNneBpF7j1VsQyTGXTI856igSvE75lPNY7CTvdKf1hvS906uB_Mlao-a9LceSkaleINFmRTJlCd195DV-AIcfhcq6lOFCJQ3ECSuEWic/s320/IMG_0521+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big views</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2-wubwI5mdJ_T2JivlNbf9pRzBHf9UyL1zMTTxrxgBKG8P7uTE_1cm-uy2CJraYl9ZUi4RE5aqNIloxV3ZpxJF_yZSTJ63h6X_e5_lxLbQUZVZu3Mw51cEfp3JV5NI1Q8yO5fjM1eTRr/s1600/IMG_0525+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2-wubwI5mdJ_T2JivlNbf9pRzBHf9UyL1zMTTxrxgBKG8P7uTE_1cm-uy2CJraYl9ZUi4RE5aqNIloxV3ZpxJF_yZSTJ63h6X_e5_lxLbQUZVZu3Mw51cEfp3JV5NI1Q8yO5fjM1eTRr/s320/IMG_0525+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our turnaround point at the top of see forever trail...storms were headed our way fast!</td></tr>
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On Thursday, the weather forecast looked a little better; at least until about noon. I decided to do a loop somewhat similar to the Gentlemens Loop but more climb and further to the south that followed more of the Telluride 100 course....it was AWESOME...just a little rain right near the end...Perfect.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf6hGIXGzd9LAiHdheUoPpv_kJuh_pfENv-K0hUJ8dT5c2f-b1kuxidcPwOixdoGG-TisBQ9Fk0tJXrpSoUIfJCGcLIs0-JJYYW3GEpIK7cvPM1ezb2kelbJavWGe4X1PC48L9KWLBHLc/s1600/IMG_0532+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf6hGIXGzd9LAiHdheUoPpv_kJuh_pfENv-K0hUJ8dT5c2f-b1kuxidcPwOixdoGG-TisBQ9Fk0tJXrpSoUIfJCGcLIs0-JJYYW3GEpIK7cvPM1ezb2kelbJavWGe4X1PC48L9KWLBHLc/s320/IMG_0532+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A grouse...sat very still!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTYQLNfRevTmZ4o1RL-MoHG4dXQiqMvWtLgAL5aVqhPFO6V2jQkW71aJz5B9Jgn7Aahpd-boquzRICC1B0iSecTVurAoHIFWiCj6Zatj3il5C8riR_JLcsqQapae6JK5jTYEUhiopwXuh/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTYQLNfRevTmZ4o1RL-MoHG4dXQiqMvWtLgAL5aVqhPFO6V2jQkW71aJz5B9Jgn7Aahpd-boquzRICC1B0iSecTVurAoHIFWiCj6Zatj3il5C8riR_JLcsqQapae6JK5jTYEUhiopwXuh/s320/IMG_0534.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a marmot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqPRK0h0_ILq4C0q-FcXFE-DLaDlks60Hj3G8Vw1qUCtG-9EKi37JV7YJJK1NK3H0W9JSfjP7jnIWfWMZmudH92minPYd0dODaDmZ477JZJl5JDrCEiXmspJT6dF1dKubfNuwKbDgbWZD/s1600/IMG_0535+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqPRK0h0_ILq4C0q-FcXFE-DLaDlks60Hj3G8Vw1qUCtG-9EKi37JV7YJJK1NK3H0W9JSfjP7jnIWfWMZmudH92minPYd0dODaDmZ477JZJl5JDrCEiXmspJT6dF1dKubfNuwKbDgbWZD/s320/IMG_0535+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prospect trail crossing the talus field</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPDUkDdBHaYyPCJX2bs6-UaC82VcdnomRyA-o67nZIcPN40GfxxlvL3WfG0ZverDd6fwEEr-A8Wy2tf22Pts5qqTKdWE60PH4RKBL6ipzxbu7yunfMdC5QuDOLXU_7S9WzOpBH3OG1fDC/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPDUkDdBHaYyPCJX2bs6-UaC82VcdnomRyA-o67nZIcPN40GfxxlvL3WfG0ZverDd6fwEEr-A8Wy2tf22Pts5qqTKdWE60PH4RKBL6ipzxbu7yunfMdC5QuDOLXU_7S9WzOpBH3OG1fDC/s320/IMG_0536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey mesa trail...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaADMuz_eW8AjpmbLRgLD-iUYVl__gHMI_Gmghxj0AUuvCuST6-vq5QW8H23cvyJzGQkoYPInT_nvY96HX-eU1DJ8uZIkv_DO2Irf7qOKX_-vTC6O8V-73thUp0nbk4VuVNQVx-Y4ahLa/s1600/IMG_0542+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaADMuz_eW8AjpmbLRgLD-iUYVl__gHMI_Gmghxj0AUuvCuST6-vq5QW8H23cvyJzGQkoYPInT_nvY96HX-eU1DJ8uZIkv_DO2Irf7qOKX_-vTC6O8V-73thUp0nbk4VuVNQVx-Y4ahLa/s320/IMG_0542+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome descent through the aspens...incredible </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZHJInTcmolgnERijHyTt9fOD6F1P0A2jBih5anDuPOyqfeAdiBg0I0i2huen4QxFBAu60tLpZ6eZaWYtdZIOQ12Tl8yAivQl41hEtE3I41Y9MkEwCHHWyDXHX7t6ChCp9eXedswkQsT4/s1600/IMG_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZHJInTcmolgnERijHyTt9fOD6F1P0A2jBih5anDuPOyqfeAdiBg0I0i2huen4QxFBAu60tLpZ6eZaWYtdZIOQ12Tl8yAivQl41hEtE3I41Y9MkEwCHHWyDXHX7t6ChCp9eXedswkQsT4/s320/IMG_0544.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on my way down to the Illium Valley</td></tr>
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It rained like crazy Thursday night so for my last ride, I figured I'd take another run up past the power plant since the road drains well and is pretty rocky...Some fresh snow up there!<br />
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It ended up being a great trip...4 days, 4 rides...59 miles, 8200 ft of climbing plus a bunch on foot....Olson hiked her legs off and I got a healthy dose of Colorado mtb riding in... So many great rides up there; need to plan more trips soon.</div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-53372023446756277352016-07-18T17:53:00.002-07:002016-07-18T18:14:48.806-07:00Angry Ray Triathlon <div class="MsoNormal">
Some time ago, after doing lots of MTB rides around
Flagstaff, I had this idea that I wanted to get to the top of Mt Humphreys(12.6kft)
but not just hike it, but start as low as possible…ie, somewhere about the elevation
of Flagstaff (7kft). However, I’m NOT a
hiker…matter of fact, if the trail is something that can be ridden on a MTB,
then I’ll be damned if I’m going to walk it.
Seriously, it’s just a matter of efficiency. Walking is 3mph, and MTB speeds are more
like 8-10mph. So the thought was hatched that I could combine the two! Ride as far as I could, stash the bike, hike to the top, then return. However, something about doing the standard approach up the mtn via the Humphreys
trail just didn’t appeal to me. I’d done that hike a few times, and the logistics of stashing a bike with so many people around
seemed a little sketchy.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the idea hit me…do it via the Inner Basin Trail which
is an approach I’d never done yet, and is so much less traveled. Boom…that was it! I’d ridden to the wilderness boundary at
10kft in the inner basin several times and there was lots of Aspen trees to
stash a bike at…<o:p></o:p><br />
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This year since the monsoon took a big 2 week break in July,
I had a window of time to do it without worrying about weather (which can get
super nasty up there). However, the
temps were pretty toasty so I wanted to get an early start. So Saturday 7/16 was it… Get up early, pack my stuff, and start riding
at the bottom of Shultz Creek (the “Y”).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLK7ChltjaLShB8KqKiq9sJ2YbUle5MtkWb3ARj6cVb5EZd84NPnc0aG1qlVShUlrcpt6WvKLxwnT18tEdFOc6G6zszBLdPwNVYfmHF7pRTrVQH8i-V4d36qKB5U_rFaebHnqtV1dEvtl/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLK7ChltjaLShB8KqKiq9sJ2YbUle5MtkWb3ARj6cVb5EZd84NPnc0aG1qlVShUlrcpt6WvKLxwnT18tEdFOc6G6zszBLdPwNVYfmHF7pRTrVQH8i-V4d36qKB5U_rFaebHnqtV1dEvtl/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the start...ready for an adventure!</td></tr>
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I had my new trail running shoes packed along with my trekking poles in my camelback and set off around 7AM. Kind of a grunt up Schultz since I had so much
damn weight with gear and water. Like an
idiot, I didn’t gear down enough on the SS, so by the time I got past the green
cabins in the inner basin(when things
got steep) I was working too effing hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShZb36z4VfVeGleaYVrCiVPGTjO35qLwuNsOAbX2Vuna1a-eduVcB2hnijMUo2zaFd1wWmki0_vJLtzVyVbCkOkbHSwEyKtGiY3pgaRL8WWO1GJayursERMBDgPDCwDphceDL0Qn0dF43/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShZb36z4VfVeGleaYVrCiVPGTjO35qLwuNsOAbX2Vuna1a-eduVcB2hnijMUo2zaFd1wWmki0_vJLtzVyVbCkOkbHSwEyKtGiY3pgaRL8WWO1GJayursERMBDgPDCwDphceDL0Qn0dF43/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on my way up Waterline Rd.</td></tr>
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Finally I arrived at the wilderness boundary in the inner
basin, wandered off in the aspen grove, and changed over to hiking mode. Took the thru axles of the bike and put them
in my pack just in case some tweeker found my rig.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNB3k1QfYK0CaNQwQORNHVUF-IY_07QsXwwq64QKpYGm1kpuE8irj4ynEClpHlLHBv_6vNuJRgflNUNChhrUynrHku-mugzmMP-X6HxkOtmDol7-zQYzDejRYF2PnggJBQm0XTstwitRL/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNB3k1QfYK0CaNQwQORNHVUF-IY_07QsXwwq64QKpYGm1kpuE8irj4ynEClpHlLHBv_6vNuJRgflNUNChhrUynrHku-mugzmMP-X6HxkOtmDol7-zQYzDejRYF2PnggJBQm0XTstwitRL/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking shoes on, biking shoes off...ready for serious hiking....look at those cool new shoes.... they were effing awesome.</td></tr>
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Got cranking up the trail which initially begins as a loose,
granular climb up a drainage, until finally reaching a left turn at what was
signed the “Inner Basin Trail”. It
climbed STEEPLY, initially with some really nice switchbacks and them some
fall-line stuff. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Ray with Flavor-Saver attached....wtf, why is it so grey?</td></tr>
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It was there when I found this rock….so appropriate!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, after a few minutes, the trail intersected the
Weatherford trail which is actually an old road…this thing is a dream to
hike/walk…wow…easy grades, spectacular scenery. </div>
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A few miles later, I reached the saddle between Agassiz and Freemont
peaks which had a great view to the south.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point, it was pretty much all above treeline hiking
and it was amazing… The trail zig-zagged up the east face of Agassiz Peak until
going over the ridgeline to the west side(Snow Bowl side) to finally intersect with the
Humphrey’s trail at the saddle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to the inner basin...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading up the east side of Agassiz peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGYBudznymmqwbKwZPL4XVN6IXv7k-EzkD1TkIooex2TZSLOoP4mYN8NgO-Rk-HkkTvpM6IU_S1ixJIanmp9EBmQ82nBYI0EO2PORFjTaKsIy9w6R2vbaGJEn-CU0C7BURGUJHFLVusz4/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGYBudznymmqwbKwZPL4XVN6IXv7k-EzkD1TkIooex2TZSLOoP4mYN8NgO-Rk-HkkTvpM6IU_S1ixJIanmp9EBmQ82nBYI0EO2PORFjTaKsIy9w6R2vbaGJEn-CU0C7BURGUJHFLVusz4/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn, I hope someday we can ride this on a MTB...such a nice trail!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGVZtzNabnZbqnU6LPc86HA-r7IWzoJFzvDeJ-pZlkYYzNfLpoeDNWsVfCp7pp0-zdwkh4jyfTbdLT9FLCeBMhFhjmFqFbK8ehDFHUTa_yfDgUppfNa5PK9aPSZPtPm0yF2qRZ5ZTmg4N/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGVZtzNabnZbqnU6LPc86HA-r7IWzoJFzvDeJ-pZlkYYzNfLpoeDNWsVfCp7pp0-zdwkh4jyfTbdLT9FLCeBMhFhjmFqFbK8ehDFHUTa_yfDgUppfNa5PK9aPSZPtPm0yF2qRZ5ZTmg4N/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfKx_7IRtpzFKjbZ-gEZy8sMlNPQnDkp7dnntH-wvQu_B2gUZ8zviJgauZ-8_rNvWq7Ln1lbWwJ_vrY4tWTOvhsw53iW_ijUSpLpaSVuxxK2whB7AswUx5KVJlE7ISx0wnWq9EtgTrr6Y/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfKx_7IRtpzFKjbZ-gEZy8sMlNPQnDkp7dnntH-wvQu_B2gUZ8zviJgauZ-8_rNvWq7Ln1lbWwJ_vrY4tWTOvhsw53iW_ijUSpLpaSVuxxK2whB7AswUx5KVJlE7ISx0wnWq9EtgTrr6Y/s320/IMG_0145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glamour shot by my photographer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BMz7nw1a-439tok9yHunpc3zXPCmnMLuWZ6oXC7qoCSd7xo-TF1gVxtAtqay-p5_uJ_tGdGVkS7FBhIuPUJYRRB78v-jfgHXHn7U5l3-IbkuWFoW9HjS_qliqG3kvtVmCRd4ZvcE0XNL/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BMz7nw1a-439tok9yHunpc3zXPCmnMLuWZ6oXC7qoCSd7xo-TF1gVxtAtqay-p5_uJ_tGdGVkS7FBhIuPUJYRRB78v-jfgHXHn7U5l3-IbkuWFoW9HjS_qliqG3kvtVmCRd4ZvcE0XNL/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From this point, there was a $hit-ton of hikers since so
many come up the Humpheys trail. So many
of these people seemed to not understand that the temperature drops about 5
degrees F for every 1000 ft of elevation gain and its ALWAYS windy up
there. I passed several people in shorts
and tank tops literally shivering. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally got to the summit, hunkered down with some other
folks who all seemed very surprised that my adventure started on a bike. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ-bWbrlUZeaNneYg9_Cv-d_baJxtzArnaPBmwAf5aJw0VCP_k9Uy8-pPxdT_oy6-oWGt7tN43YQHXUKqaONA0n7AUdyeAeXSBX9Xr7KsSHpYfSF1l9k-kLwWJqshcGJZ_5CGuTBtIKuk/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ-bWbrlUZeaNneYg9_Cv-d_baJxtzArnaPBmwAf5aJw0VCP_k9Uy8-pPxdT_oy6-oWGt7tN43YQHXUKqaONA0n7AUdyeAeXSBX9Xr7KsSHpYfSF1l9k-kLwWJqshcGJZ_5CGuTBtIKuk/s320/IMG_0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGG3betn2786k0_cnTEBnA9Mg4EmxgSr5XiwoqwPSdduynXEQ0-uUrZJ3DMlTCYBZWeDA4ck0dzGwEg-DWVqYXqhEBsnzcduXVav9RmVaUFNqByp4Ms2ZI1JbHvKEaJ8Byw2428zM58fm/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGG3betn2786k0_cnTEBnA9Mg4EmxgSr5XiwoqwPSdduynXEQ0-uUrZJ3DMlTCYBZWeDA4ck0dzGwEg-DWVqYXqhEBsnzcduXVav9RmVaUFNqByp4Ms2ZI1JbHvKEaJ8Byw2428zM58fm/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know why I didn't take this pic w/o a mouth full of food.</td></tr>
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Chowed down a luna bar then started my trek
back down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the part that kills me…I can hike up like a mad-man,
but my knees seem to just hate me for the downhill. So I use the heck out of my trekking poles to
save my knees. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, got back to the wilderness boundary, and thankfully
my bike was still there! Switched out
my shoes, put my bike back together, and had a nice little downhill cruise back
to where I’d started.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdVHhnJKQEI_eRYJttfvHe2cwm09VkDHRiiPVM58EVhhOXC359t0IYu_xr83hQPf_CiKVtokGGjwEob634Qf2Bu6_S_yF9Y4FcpqryuVPzshua9RT8DQZgm7uxvievBG6UekH3xNG2cdD/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdVHhnJKQEI_eRYJttfvHe2cwm09VkDHRiiPVM58EVhhOXC359t0IYu_xr83hQPf_CiKVtokGGjwEob634Qf2Bu6_S_yF9Y4FcpqryuVPzshua9RT8DQZgm7uxvievBG6UekH3xNG2cdD/s320/IMG_0154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQxzvehM0RpQNwmiFFwtxqWr5d9QNL5ev3R5DzCFYh9bpambRchEnw1iTgSaamGgmsqtyfY3tSTKMC4YM_cRirWSqQJG3eOYCcng2l09PjP9ORrcJYBVGlO6YZHxV2pgOeLrzRgm-B40R/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQxzvehM0RpQNwmiFFwtxqWr5d9QNL5ev3R5DzCFYh9bpambRchEnw1iTgSaamGgmsqtyfY3tSTKMC4YM_cRirWSqQJG3eOYCcng2l09PjP9ORrcJYBVGlO6YZHxV2pgOeLrzRgm-B40R/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Bowl to the right...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-NwjGrXFEx2TiaEbqYxFaFKX2vr6UvLIfx4-S4avDN-j0EVY8CKY9DFBlyfBqhlBnov2gmE1oeEHsAH6DWp87tUCSszkHTMmuePME32f-xPaJh2iKdPCsIFmn4ueQbgCmZgWd0f9ObYB/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-NwjGrXFEx2TiaEbqYxFaFKX2vr6UvLIfx4-S4avDN-j0EVY8CKY9DFBlyfBqhlBnov2gmE1oeEHsAH6DWp87tUCSszkHTMmuePME32f-xPaJh2iKdPCsIFmn4ueQbgCmZgWd0f9ObYB/s320/IMG_0156.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back to the Agassiz - Fremont Saddle...that's Flagstaff down there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwYZh-r9J3oiMRzIm2Hc55iSCiHwVMI7_IThtGMhAmEixOwYYbrbvBfHSw_lPCjuHK1_SBS9DH8CB_FMdQ7QvYPQZ4NENxBBDsa8pa5vzmtV0E34fDQo8estgel2rco6n4j4pfkdB8EEH/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwYZh-r9J3oiMRzIm2Hc55iSCiHwVMI7_IThtGMhAmEixOwYYbrbvBfHSw_lPCjuHK1_SBS9DH8CB_FMdQ7QvYPQZ4NENxBBDsa8pa5vzmtV0E34fDQo8estgel2rco6n4j4pfkdB8EEH/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily, my stuff was still there....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmLOyHahxBx9zfgP98tVIPAQEOeZF0cyvErpisEKwSVvY-vtswa0boaaONo4WLWCtfunRqXrfsEuWvzQgm83hbNAUu4_E2WAJ8LHDbak9PUevbdimZ1q_Ml5ScMRd69Rh_nHwQOscnom6/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmLOyHahxBx9zfgP98tVIPAQEOeZF0cyvErpisEKwSVvY-vtswa0boaaONo4WLWCtfunRqXrfsEuWvzQgm83hbNAUu4_E2WAJ8LHDbak9PUevbdimZ1q_Ml5ScMRd69Rh_nHwQOscnom6/s320/IMG_0162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to biking mode...thru axles installed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wow…not the hardest thing I’d done, but what a great little
day adventure. Always love doing
something that is a bit different and this was just the ticket. HIGHLY recommend doing this! <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7qpG4JOFOmKFO1by2kI_bkvpSoyJrG9zEFvbsvdRceL91cDXnBZm8O8gv4giXNjui53bsnM39wtxDNwX6RI61AX0TTzgXl3PckIuZW2ePvaQN_rKYVqU8owsXXCHWamJYganxFjon__O/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7qpG4JOFOmKFO1by2kI_bkvpSoyJrG9zEFvbsvdRceL91cDXnBZm8O8gv4giXNjui53bsnM39wtxDNwX6RI61AX0TTzgXl3PckIuZW2ePvaQN_rKYVqU8owsXXCHWamJYganxFjon__O/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good solid day of riding-hiking-riding...the Angry Ray Triathlon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-13355273593783981642016-03-31T16:49:00.000-07:002016-05-09T17:06:56.064-07:00Middle Fingers, Pussy, and Angriness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfAiJEC0ZmM7CK8gTi0mx12iiPNSvbbE467Te0AJtexHCiHggUKH9RsjQTb9QcXADxh2P9xHlPuZavRw9kKSkDT9j1z_8uYiIQ0IJGyHtqkaYJlwqxHWQrNYwioTf4fMS9y-zYCrGV6pM/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Well, it’s been a while since my last blog post so I figured
I’ve done enough silliness over the last few months that I’d blog a bit…you
know…like if anyone actually cares…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ-g1aepxvTrnxROdJoIZgONxTu14sP9_3FgW6u8gY25e3qrYjLhHitFDCvT66SLFxZMqkC8w5kgRn7mkvZdPJP3hyByYTTg1RPXa0JB70MXxu4qlS_Xn_AzWPMQXik06YnSpZv1J2Yyr/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ-g1aepxvTrnxROdJoIZgONxTu14sP9_3FgW6u8gY25e3qrYjLhHitFDCvT66SLFxZMqkC8w5kgRn7mkvZdPJP3hyByYTTg1RPXa0JB70MXxu4qlS_Xn_AzWPMQXik06YnSpZv1J2Yyr/s320/IMG_2457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the cat that makes me angry...</td></tr>
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As of today, the first 3 months of 2016 are over and looking
back on them as well as the final few months of 2015, there were a few
highlights…and lowlights so to speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The AES fall race “season” got off to a great start with
Kentucky Camp. Some stiff competition
with Neil Stitzer and Bart Leyko….Bart’s late navigational error gave me just the
edge I needed to take 2<sup>nd</sup> place in that race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw5VfQcEQV0ajbapzHgN8x0Kmyg5WDq1U4XfZK6_ZEagwn0CixeUY1roDB1NFq335iIAShwdVzD0_oA7bFimH4Ub0_umRByCkiA1rIIFPy1veAiNfChJ5uuOvfeIWLspDhfmRbi1WHZH1/s1600/22443694557_574e56cbec_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw5VfQcEQV0ajbapzHgN8x0Kmyg5WDq1U4XfZK6_ZEagwn0CixeUY1roDB1NFq335iIAShwdVzD0_oA7bFimH4Ub0_umRByCkiA1rIIFPy1veAiNfChJ5uuOvfeIWLspDhfmRbi1WHZH1/s320/22443694557_574e56cbec_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following Neil up the first climb...yes, I have my tongue hanging out...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq14dd2SSbglHj4kNkuIX2YRnKkwGDmZqd3_4J0qyfmN6XeUozPc19GhXi2kmrL498tYKnGyFbthoxx44RLTggtWPzxl1gq6tIDm8VDHb6uCbAXcS2sNJMbxefc1lTx_MJT1hmQYFr8DCM/s1600/22674061160_52186e6cf0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq14dd2SSbglHj4kNkuIX2YRnKkwGDmZqd3_4J0qyfmN6XeUozPc19GhXi2kmrL498tYKnGyFbthoxx44RLTggtWPzxl1gq6tIDm8VDHb6uCbAXcS2sNJMbxefc1lTx_MJT1hmQYFr8DCM/s320/22674061160_52186e6cf0_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil, me, and Bart up the initial climb...turned out to be the same order at the finish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The 2<sup>nd</sup> race of the season was the Picketpost
Punisher. That day was marked by BRUTALLY
strong winds and I basically ran out of motivation when I reached Superior…yeah,
a DNF. LAME.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our 3<sup>rd</sup> race, on my somewhat local shred was the
McDowell Monstercross…This one is a favorite with a cluster fvck of the HAB up
Tom’s Thumb, followed by dodging hikers on the descent, followed by many miles
of easy Browns Ranch singletrack, followed by some typical rocky McDowell stuff… managed to come in 3<sup>rd</sup> behind Bart
and Tim…whoof, that one hurt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally in January, the Antelope Peak Challenge that uses
the 27 mile segment of the AZT from Tiger Mine Rd to Freeman Rd, followed by
some big wide dirt road, followed by some WTF cow track called Painter
Boy. This race is such a kick in the
nuts…if you really want to place well, you HAVE to climb Antelope Peak to get a
time bonus…and since the time bonus is more than what it actually takes you to
climb it…it’s well worth it…but holy crap.
There ain’t no trail up there…just scramble your way up. In the end, a late effort to overtake Bob
Monahan helped me get 3<sup>rd</sup> place…such fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgtx-_NVGvSSpVYML3jirEEL_n1JeocaP0zYVMe6S0Go7jYYvTyYAHDqUO7IF35rvRlJTUIqmDy0A6-oxIZBmqbp19X_oY4PAGukafKOUZ8VZUhNWKosqGP23vzrZJJHu2r9C8G2qf5UH/s1600/Ray+in+APC2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgtx-_NVGvSSpVYML3jirEEL_n1JeocaP0zYVMe6S0Go7jYYvTyYAHDqUO7IF35rvRlJTUIqmDy0A6-oxIZBmqbp19X_oY4PAGukafKOUZ8VZUhNWKosqGP23vzrZJJHu2r9C8G2qf5UH/s320/Ray+in+APC2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me just leaving the Tiger Mine TH</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBhDwosSfsGf1hDG9wOuW2mMlC8ReL06adNHBgL7Js8-r2WBrce9SnihndSH1e8Q_anFhtm7F3lUewSN4B6anO2ITgVC78vkA35GL5zru-0R5lzzhEan-BpoIehTb0OgwpOBLL4IiNVFs/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBhDwosSfsGf1hDG9wOuW2mMlC8ReL06adNHBgL7Js8-r2WBrce9SnihndSH1e8Q_anFhtm7F3lUewSN4B6anO2ITgVC78vkA35GL5zru-0R5lzzhEan-BpoIehTb0OgwpOBLL4IiNVFs/s320/IMG_2577.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare selfie of me at the top of Antelope Peak</td></tr>
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This year, there would be no Gila for me although Bart and I spent the day riding a loop that would have us encounter all the riders...it was a great day. http://onegear-ray.blogspot.com/2016/02/ripping-ripsey-and-stalking-gila100.html<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last weekend, was one of the funnest races of the AES "season"...the Sedona Big Friggen Loop...no pics unfortunately, but it turned out to be a great day... Midway through, I had to backtrack and find a bathroom to make some hershey kisses, but in the end, it was fun. I ended up playing a game of leapfrog with Krista Rust (Enduro pro racer) who would absolutely smoke the downhills and rocky bits, then I'd catch her on the ups...Not my best day on the bike, but non-the-less, any day riding in Sedona is WINNING.</div>
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Other than that nonsense, I've had some fun getting the Lynskey back in action with a rigid fork. It's breathed some new life into it and made me learn some things about line choice and cornering. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOZGC8ainOeOtP_NKPdz9RmhP2JQMM_q3GCG3LBn-GMrezPzuLokBCjhDVexlhR_pYSrRYB8NHNWYNsGCAyAMCNad-bzqKwdUKbnScfyHQBJrej96SlZwsW9veO2A-lBMN5wdBytRK2cu/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOZGC8ainOeOtP_NKPdz9RmhP2JQMM_q3GCG3LBn-GMrezPzuLokBCjhDVexlhR_pYSrRYB8NHNWYNsGCAyAMCNad-bzqKwdUKbnScfyHQBJrej96SlZwsW9veO2A-lBMN5wdBytRK2cu/s320/IMG_2677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lynskey with a rigid fork</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfAiJEC0ZmM7CK8gTi0mx12iiPNSvbbE467Te0AJtexHCiHggUKH9RsjQTb9QcXADxh2P9xHlPuZavRw9kKSkDT9j1z_8uYiIQ0IJGyHtqkaYJlwqxHWQrNYwioTf4fMS9y-zYCrGV6pM/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfAiJEC0ZmM7CK8gTi0mx12iiPNSvbbE467Te0AJtexHCiHggUKH9RsjQTb9QcXADxh2P9xHlPuZavRw9kKSkDT9j1z_8uYiIQ0IJGyHtqkaYJlwqxHWQrNYwioTf4fMS9y-zYCrGV6pM/s320/IMG_2670.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Yes, I do actually feel that way quite often..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtorIT-TIgOshOLpEHxhRhXpD3xTEfUeCV7s1aY-cWHqQdGEkxNU0xbtPbWYJEtar9pQqliY4ZgYnYXzY7XDUXo96ijKp0o8wl_BbkW6UHsgh5vXq_Vxnd22OBuBj6iBoyGcfnJO05Ptn/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtorIT-TIgOshOLpEHxhRhXpD3xTEfUeCV7s1aY-cWHqQdGEkxNU0xbtPbWYJEtar9pQqliY4ZgYnYXzY7XDUXo96ijKp0o8wl_BbkW6UHsgh5vXq_Vxnd22OBuBj6iBoyGcfnJO05Ptn/s320/IMG_2584.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And sometimes you just run out of talent and the earth punishes you</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie19kJKIZmmtJ6ndasl5_iK7WDHoicUsFUBXL6J4Ecsiq6u5NquNxnzNmzwJXHZL3pgeTyD97PGcEB0tvoaJma4TFDKN3s90acoDLqqAleJ5o2E1fqQmxDa1oL0eU20nl8qRgR1ce_cqxL/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie19kJKIZmmtJ6ndasl5_iK7WDHoicUsFUBXL6J4Ecsiq6u5NquNxnzNmzwJXHZL3pgeTyD97PGcEB0tvoaJma4TFDKN3s90acoDLqqAleJ5o2E1fqQmxDa1oL0eU20nl8qRgR1ce_cqxL/s320/IMG_2711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool singletrack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPGsRHZljeaR-9BSGs2OfgYqVQXgOzbvqrq54Jdst1vxEGxvAH49ge0wY1IUWDKUqJnbt-PWYRqeemGW8-LPhGaIRswsUusWDI2xVs3Ffq3AJfqAZ-Gep14MnkvjG9XJz0ebg4TUAIPhE/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPGsRHZljeaR-9BSGs2OfgYqVQXgOzbvqrq54Jdst1vxEGxvAH49ge0wY1IUWDKUqJnbt-PWYRqeemGW8-LPhGaIRswsUusWDI2xVs3Ffq3AJfqAZ-Gep14MnkvjG9XJz0ebg4TUAIPhE/s320/IMG_2712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool trail in North Scottsdale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMbUb0AxqtxLuQTZ8H4yI7TUQMfISMOpD13wlqiYns5KAyngBrzkDRrB6kqLPZFTRR4TNr_G0LjPODaFwpDJoby6Wo7Au_nlsrNCYcIWVo3Z14ZaznVWxl8WSMjjkC-0AiyxLCGqKd404/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMbUb0AxqtxLuQTZ8H4yI7TUQMfISMOpD13wlqiYns5KAyngBrzkDRrB6kqLPZFTRR4TNr_G0LjPODaFwpDJoby6Wo7Au_nlsrNCYcIWVo3Z14ZaznVWxl8WSMjjkC-0AiyxLCGqKd404/s320/IMG_2602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Humboldt looking down at Horseshoe Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean at the top of Humboldt...one of the great climbs north of here and perfect for the repurposed Lynskey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBHeJ-_wYy9IS8UT-2OHZ0b0tflmyEr099jVi3BvUKZhRMQb0dWbD0ni4H_haRbpodRiGn6pK5WWrQmCfJpeNbig4z8HEGNDE9_KblPDC_1JxSRm0WZj_P9zH_zjb7-6wdLto4LStXxcI/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBHeJ-_wYy9IS8UT-2OHZ0b0tflmyEr099jVi3BvUKZhRMQb0dWbD0ni4H_haRbpodRiGn6pK5WWrQmCfJpeNbig4z8HEGNDE9_KblPDC_1JxSRm0WZj_P9zH_zjb7-6wdLto4LStXxcI/s320/IMG_2714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another great place to ride the Lynskey... Land of the Lost</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and finally, me with my angry pussy...gansta style...the anger has returned.</td></tr>
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Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-76159064333439141722016-02-28T05:33:00.002-08:002016-02-28T05:34:07.065-08:00Ripping Ripsey and Stalking the Gila100 RacersWith all the wildflowers starting to pop per the report from John S. and Jeff from two weeks ago, it was time to take a trip out there and see the sights. I hadn't been on the AZT from Freeman Rd to Kelvin since my AZT300 run last April when so much of it goes by as if in "fast-forward" mode. It just so happened that 1) Bart had never been out there before and 2) the Gila 100 race was that day. So, with a nice little lollipop loop cooked up courtesy of John S loaded on the GPS's, we headed out to spend a great day on the AZT.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxmdMTYIdRSDS1sQ8PtVQ_raPIqMsgDH_OT8YO9pV_DOkl9zeTIWOhheQ5vV49rbn_g9iJ6BpZYOM4_76MzV8U1vQEY-TZlGSpWKVceB6nGXdDvm-2mOPxGezyND0bO2Nf2SJZCsEDjXO/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxmdMTYIdRSDS1sQ8PtVQ_raPIqMsgDH_OT8YO9pV_DOkl9zeTIWOhheQ5vV49rbn_g9iJ6BpZYOM4_76MzV8U1vQEY-TZlGSpWKVceB6nGXdDvm-2mOPxGezyND0bO2Nf2SJZCsEDjXO/s320/IMG_0378.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whenever you follow a track from John Schilling, there is going to be some WTF moments....I should have known better</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first two racers, Neil Stitzer and Hunter Keating. Both looking pretty fresh as they start the Boulders Segment</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFvZO-htWXYu2PgHvXD9ouswx71PNFG2Xn1kZnJAR_quHKpc4u25EtDGpenMr6yWNX9V1qy1XIrOuX8J9Rh5dykNBUeXltSjqC_dyO7NLIGBUPet9rWtERRLohY3P_WL1YPE7y7mZmnNb/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFvZO-htWXYu2PgHvXD9ouswx71PNFG2Xn1kZnJAR_quHKpc4u25EtDGpenMr6yWNX9V1qy1XIrOuX8J9Rh5dykNBUeXltSjqC_dyO7NLIGBUPet9rWtERRLohY3P_WL1YPE7y7mZmnNb/s320/IMG_0383.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few minutes back, Courtney Phillips, always in a great mood and having fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gerrit Mack, two thumbs up, tongue out, and enjoying the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4hyphenhyphenmBmv63xbr7pAlyeBmWeGi2vSR3kB7ML07VWH1PLphedeIy0goEkwDMFq7dZ295T8sqxMbakBGZIZugYRv2ZxLvwEPz8NoPKd4ebGw9S1h2Wp6bOscyOtbhBAqsjuniclImDtYKb3i/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4hyphenhyphenmBmv63xbr7pAlyeBmWeGi2vSR3kB7ML07VWH1PLphedeIy0goEkwDMFq7dZ295T8sqxMbakBGZIZugYRv2ZxLvwEPz8NoPKd4ebGw9S1h2Wp6bOscyOtbhBAqsjuniclImDtYKb3i/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Morris, Jeff Hemperly, and Bob Monahan...a little overheated but survived Ripsey</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Leighton and Eugene Gonzalez making their way out of Ripsey Wash up to the Green Gate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Gibbs, sporting the latest fashion in man-bras. Out of the deepest part of Ripsey Wash.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh and Holly, just starting to head up Ripsey...still in good spirits despite a long day so far.</td></tr>
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So, that was all the racers that Bart was able to get a picture of...we did see Carlos Resto HABing up out of Ripsey. He was all smiles and determined to get it done.</div>
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This being Barts first time on Ripsey, we snapped a few glamour shots...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bart, feeling sleepy standing among the poppies on the Ripsey descent</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on the top of Ripsey</td></tr>
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So, a great day in the desert was had.... Huge congrats to the Gila100 racers...that course chews people up and spits them out...finishing it is a giant accomplishment!</div>
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Thx to Bart for driving us there and taking pics. If you haven't been out there, do it...The trail is in good shape; typical for AZT but the views are stupendous.</div>
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Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-38298509511836957432015-10-30T15:38:00.000-07:002015-10-30T16:10:53.736-07:00Hemmele-Olson Brewery/Biking Tour of the WestWell, the 10 day road trip celebrating our 5 years of marriage came to close yesterday, on 10/29. We arrived home after a long day of driving from Park City, UT through some pretty gnarly downpours courtesy of the Godzilla El Nino this year.<br />
Neither of us quite remember what redirected our vacation plans from a tropical destination to a big tour of the western US, but in the end, we both agreed that it was one of our best. <br />
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Day 1, rolling through 4 Corners...not sure why the Olson has chose UT and NM to put her feet...<br />
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Ahh, that's better... that's where we're going...</div>
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Some very angry travelers getting photobombed by PBR</div>
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Finally, a dry afternoon in Durango and I put some tires to the CO dirt...no longer a CO mtb virgin!<br />
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Good beer spots in Durango...(mountain town + beer = WIN)<br />
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Deep, angry thoughts about life, marriage, biking, and beer. Here is where I wish I had a pipe.<br />
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No angry thoughts here on the Olson.</div>
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Time to leave Durango...driving north towards Silverton</div>
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Getting snowy as we head north from Durango.</div>
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Molas pass...quite beautiful and snowy...the Colorado Trail is down there somewhere...</div>
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Leaving Breckenridge after one night...the start of our near death experience on I-70 eastbound.</div>
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Made it to Fort Collins that night... time for beer (or 3) after all that driving stress.</div>
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So, Colorado left me more angry than when I started... One freaking hour of riding in that state is all!....too wet, cold and snowy... I'll be back!</div>
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Left Fort Collins after one night and drove to Jackson, WY...Got in a nice little ride that afternoon on the Snow King trails. (Finally....ahhhhhhhhh)<br />
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Too many juice boxes consumed...</div>
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Some cool mountains... The Tetons that is...</div>
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A big elk...we waited him out since he was slowly coming our way. I don't think my pellet gun would have been enough.</div>
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Why did the elk cross the road?</div>
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Tough to take a bad pic up here...</div>
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Gotta love Jenny...Jenny Lake that is with a little Tetons for a background.<br />
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Back in Jackson that afternoon, I got another ride in...so NICE. (Tetons in the background)</div>
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Really nice singletrack in Jackson...</div>
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That's a SH*T-TON of elk antlers...holy crap.<br />
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The Olson in the antlers...<br />
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Celebrating 5 years with the Olson. :)</div>
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Old Faithful...we arrived just in time to see it blow...</div>
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Looks like a nice hot tub...</div>
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This one didn't seem to care. </div>
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Beautiful colors in this hot tub...</div>
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My favorite part of this feature was the Asian tourist that jumped off the walkway to put her hand in the acidic water... I hope it ate her hand off. Note that there were many signs that said to STAY ON THE WALKWAY... In about EVER Language you could imagine.</div>
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So many cool colors...<br />
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Gurgling mud...</div>
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Personally, knowing that heat from the inside of the earth was escaping here was a little weird...<br />
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Yellowstone river...a whole lotta water moving there.</div>
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Yogi...maybe looking for Boo Boo?<br />
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Well, it was time to head south and find some slightly warmer weather. We 'd hoped to drive further north into Yellowstone to see wolves in the Lamar Valley, but the weather was getting ugly...Park City, UT here we come!<br />
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Park City, UT trail...so fun.<br />
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Dreamy MTB trail in PC...</div>
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View of Park City from the Armstrong trail</div>
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Some grunting on the SS to get up here on the Pinecone Ridge Trail.<br />
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Fun descending through the spent Aspens...</div>
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More descending through matchsticks...</div>
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Fun, fun...<br />
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Trail from Guardsman pass...high up.</div>
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Shadow Lake...fun 6.5 mile hike with the Olson</div>
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Another pic of Shadow Lake.</div>
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Awesome view looking west from Guardsman Pass</div>
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Did some great riding on the Round Valley Trails...flatter, but way fun.</div>
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Someone shot up my car...so pissed.<br />
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Mooses...err, is that moose...err is that meese?</div>
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Fall in the high country is almost over!... so much fun.</div>
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There you have it...10 days, 2750 miles of driving...here is what I learned...</div>
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1. To really appreciate the West, you HAVE to drive through it. The open expanses of land can never be fully felt by flying over... AMAZING... Do. It. Now.</div>
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2. Spending many hours in a car with your spouse is AWESOME...deep conversations, laughing, joking, are super fun...sure there were a few moments in the 10 days that were not all unicorns and rainbows, but 99.548% were pretty darn close.</div>
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3. Tons of Marriott points rock...we stayed in some sweet places for free along the way thanks to all the points I've accrued from traveling for my work....so nice.</div>
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<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-59183445925193487772015-10-11T08:47:00.001-07:002015-10-11T08:50:10.331-07:00A Doctor and Two Engineers<div class="MsoNormal">As the heat of summer in the valley starts to break, the air in Northern AZ gets crisp and the Aspens begin to turn their golden color…Those changes all mean one thing… Coco250 time! This was my 4<sup>th</sup> year doing the Coco250, two time finisher in the Stage Race style (which is the most popular), and two time DNF’r in the ITT style. I’d intended to do the stage race this year, but after a little prodding by John Schilling, I decided I’d make another attempt at an ITT. This convinced my two friends Josiah Morgan and Bart Leyko to make the trek with me since neither of them wanted to be on the course for 4 days. Josiah had intentions to make a fast run at the course and went without sleep gear, whereas Bart and I wanted to finish in 2.5 days and still get some reasonable sleep.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">So on Friday morning, 10/9/2015, the 3 of us converged on our place in Munds Park where we decided to start from given the recent rain and almost certain death mud on the course south east of Flag (on Andersen Mesa).<br />
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We rolled down I-17 a couple miles south to where we’d intercept the course at Schnebly Hill Rd, reset GPS’s and set off at about 8:45AM. We arrived at the edge of the overlook and bumped our way south on the hot loop and began our descent down Munds Wagon Trail. Nothing like a little chunky tech to start the morning with a loaded bike. A few bobbles, but the 3 of us escaped unscathed and rolled over to do the loop around Chicken Point. There we encountered some trail reroutes but eventually made our way through that, under Hwy 179, along the creek and through Red Rocks State Park where we got water and Gatorade.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Now some suck would begin…Lime Kiln trail.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Ughh…this gem starts with a HAB up a rocky ridge, then a dicey descent, followed by what could be described as Hell. That is assuming Hell has deep silt and barely identifiable single track. Finally reaching Cottonwood, the three of us were hot, hungry and ready for some food. We chowed down at Hog Wild and each took a 3 pound BBQ sandwich to go. Following that, we stopped at the gas station for some final supplies before the assault on Mingus.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Queue up EXTREME Suck.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Temps Friday afternoon were hot…mid to high 80’s in Cottonwood, and a fair bit of the lower part of climb (a 4200 foot climb) was in the sun. We were all roasting. Bart and I pulled ahead of Josiah (who hates the heat) and would not see him again until the west side of Mingus. We continued to push our bikes up Mingus, riding where we could, and eventually hitting Tr 105 (which has been improved thus changing it’s status from “Oh my God, this is the most epic suckfest of my life” to “this really sucks, why are we doing this?”). Finally by 7pm, Bart and I reached the summit in dark, put on some layers, and began the descent off the west side.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
At the bottom, we rode through the magic gate then sat down to eat our to-go BBQ sandwiches. Just as we were packing up, Josiah rolled up and said he was having heat related issues and unable to eat anything. We continued northward along the west side of Mingus, then eventually winded along the drainages on the north side of Woodchute Mtn. There we seemed to lose Josiah again, and would later find out he stopped as his cramping got the best of him.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Bart and I made the chilly descent down to the Verde where we found a place to sleep on the north side of the river and crashed at about 11:45pm. I woke up at about 5:40pm and prodded Bart to get up as we had a long day ahead. Our gear was completely soaked from a heavy dew so we packed up the wet mess, filtered some water and began to climb. It was about 6:45am as we started our climb north.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
About an hour later, were stopped and Josiah rolls up. He had apparently not been able to eat or drink anything since Cottonwood w/o throwing up. I mentioned to him that the easiest way into Williams was to backtrack a bit to Perkinsville Rd which he ended up doing and hitchhiking his way into Williams.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Bart and I continued on route, climbing our way up onto the plateau and eventually back into the pine forest south of Williams. There we had a discussion about Bill Williams Mtn and evaluated our appetite for the HAB up and techy descent. We decided to give it the middle finger (thus DNF’ing), and roll into Williams. At this point, I was still OK with doing the full loop, but my neck/upper back pain was beginning to really take its toll on me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
In Williams, we had some “real” food and while waiting, I checked Trackleaders to find that Josiah was also there. Apparently, he was at the medical clinic where they gave him 3 liters of IV fluids and my wife (who was in Munds) drove over to pick him up. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Bart and I continued on down the forest roads to the Sycamore Rim trails where we bounced along the rocky mess of a trail. Finally, exiting those trails, we worked our way towards I-40. This is where things fell apart for me quickly…neck was really hurting and I was having a hard time convincing myself to get through the pain. So, I decided to pull the plug. Bart decided that he’d had enough and thus we made a call to my wife and Josiah drove my truck over to pick us up.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">So there you have it, 3 ITT riders, 3 DNF’s. Not the way we’d planned things, but I know at least myself, I’m more than good with it. Having completed the loop twice stage fashion and DNFing it twice, I’d conclude that it’s a tough one when trying to squeeze the effort from 4 days to 2 and change. We essentially rode the two toughest stages which took its toll. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-43097124816932101052015-04-07T13:17:00.001-07:002015-04-13T08:29:25.268-07:00Bye Bye Monkey...A little over 24 hours after my AZT300 finish, I feel like I’d better tell my story before all the detail that makes it colorful fade away. As most know, this was my 3rd attempt at this race and as they say, 3rd time is definitely a charm. So much disappointment in 2012/2013 due to variables outside my control as well as variables in my control. This year, full of anger, I battled those variables, one by one and in a few cases, with a well placed phone call for emotional support(or in some cases tough love) and emerged victorious. So, buckle up as I tell of my <b>Cage Match Fight To The Death </b>with the “Monkey”.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year, anger meter pegged...but still had doubts!</td></tr>
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<br />
As you might imagine, the real race starts months and months before showing up at the starting line. My training this go around was different than prior years, with much more intensity, but fewer long rides. It wasn’t entirely by design however…I had plans to do some long rides and an overnight out on the course, but some mental and mechanical snafu’s got in the way. I ended up a bit stressed by this, but tried to convince myself that given a choice, intense training is better anyways. I mean heck, my 5-packs-o-suffering up Shaw Butte have to have done some good right?<br />
<br />
Along with the physical prep, comes that mental prep…this is where I struggle. I literally, was never 100% committed… My head was not where it should be and the one overnight prep ride which was the prescription for my “illness” was cut short by not carrying a spare set of brake pads. …and worse yet, I preach to people about being mechanically prepared, doing preventative maintenance and being able to deal with issues trailside. Obviously, I needed to listen to myself…I was embarrassed and really disappointed in myself.<br />
<br />
None-the-less, I was still “In” more than “Out” so I proceed to get stuff ready and prepare my “date” for a 4 day journey. Due to prior experiences, I carried WAY too much tire fix-it stuff(3 tubes, CO2, patches, glue, needle, thread, etc) but figured “better safe than sorry”…<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SS Carbon Niner, with a 34T oval and 22t cog, ready to go</td></tr>
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<br />
On Thursday afternoon, several of us met at the Picket Post Trailhead where Manny from Sunday Cycles helped us load our bike and selves into the Sunday Cycles van for a trip to Parker Canyon Lake. Manny was towing a U-Haul trailer with essentially nothing but a few ratcheting tie-downs. When we arrived at PCL, we opened the trailer to basically find a pile of entangled bikes. …holy crap, “THIS IS NOT GOOD” I thought standing there in disbelief. We slowly and carefully untangled the mess of carbon and metal and everyone checked their rig. Surprisingly, aside from a few marks, everyone’s bike was still functional. The funny thing is that in the back of my mind, I was hoping my bike was messed up…it would have been the excuse I needed to bail.<br />
<br />
The next morning, I woke up at 5:30AM and began to ready myself. John Schilling, Arturo Codina, and Bob Monahan woke up and saw me off on my early start (I decided starting early would allow me to take advantage of the cool temps even though I was officially listed as an Individual Time Trial). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to rock and roll! (pic from John S)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling, Rolling, Rolling.... (pic from John S)</td></tr>
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<br />
As I left, John’s last words were something to the effect of, “just back off the pace…” since he knows I tend to go too hard out of the gate. So that I did, and without a mass start, it was easy since I wasn’t either chasing someone or trying to pull away from someone. About half way through the Canelo’s, the first problem came up…my right heel was beginning to feel hot even though I had pre-taped them with Leukotape. I knew this issue alone could be a show-stopper so I immediately dealt with it by applying another layer of tape…it worked! Whew, problem #1 solved. On I went.<br />
<br />
I finished with the Canelo’s arriving in Patagonia in exactly 5 hours…I thought to myself, “Aren’t you backing off the pace?” But dismissed the thought since I intentionally walked many sections I’d typically ride. Onward to Sonoita, I stopped for some supplies and had a nice chat with a roadie couple touring the US from San Diego to Minneapolis. He was asking me 100 questions about my rig…when I told him I was in a race, his eyes got real big and the questions stopped…lol.<br />
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At about 7:30PM, my neck was starting to hurt. I was 88 miles in and past where I had gotten in prior years. So instead of pushing too hard, I layed out my sleep stuff for the night. As I did, Kurt Refsnider rolled past saying “Howdy!”. I laughed at the fact that he made up a 2:45 time gap on me in 13 hours…the dude is FAST.<br />
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At about 11:30pm, my friend Josiah Morgan rolls by and the only reason I knew it was him was his very characteristic laugh. So I got up, packed up and hit the trail. As I made my way into Tucson, I stopped along the Old Spanish Trail to put more clothes on (It was COLD), and take a caffeine pill. The road miles were literally putting me to sleep.<br />
<br />
I arrived at Safeway with my neck hurting and was ready to call it quits. I talked to my wife and like most would do, was ready to come get me. Then I decided to give Coach Ziemski (he’s not actually a coach) and he gave me what could be described as verbal ass-kicking. A few Ibuprofen and some water and I was off, at least to give it a shot. At the end of Broadway Rd in east Tucson, I called my wife again and told her I was going ride for another hour to see how I felt. If I ran across John Schilling (who was camped up Reddington Rd) I was going to see if he could give me a ride. Near the top of the Reddington climb, I called my wife back and told her I was going to continue and that I’d evaluate how I felt in Molino Basin. As the miles went by, I gained momentum. The neck pain had reduced (Problem #2 solved) and I was IN.<br />
<br />
I reached the bottom of the Molino Hike-a-bike (HAB) and caught Kaitlyn. We chatted for a bit then I asked to pass her. If there’s one thing I can do fast is HAB! After descending into Molino Basin, I continued on the trail to Prison Camp where I see a guy riding towards me whooping and hollering…I was like, “WTF is up with that guy…why is he so happy?”… Turns out it was Max Morris, clearly the happiest and nicest guy on the planet. That lifted my spirits significantly. I asked him, “How’s the rest of the trail to Prison Camp?”. He said, “Oh, it’s about to suck pretty bad..”. Thanks Max…kudo’s for honesty!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic from Mad Max</td></tr>
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After Prison Camp, I started the climb to Summerhaven via the Catalina Highway. Although roadie miles are often thought of as “easy miles”…these aren’t. I stopped a few times at a wide spot in the road, laid down in a shady spot and had interesting conversations with myself.<br />
<br />
Finally I reached summerhaven at about 4:00PM and sat down at the Sawmill Restaurant. I pounded down a Pastrami Ruben, order of fries, and about 3 cokes. Wow, almost instantly I was new man. I had gone into the visitor center restroom and was considering sleeping there (it was spacious, and WARM) but after a few texts to Coach Ziemski, I did the math and realized that a sub-3 day finish would only be possible if I continued down Oracle Ridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't stand a chance...</td></tr>
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<br />
So off I went… I hit the trail and was like, “WTF?”….I have to go uphill?!?!?<br />
I continued and could not believe how rugged this trail is….I’d describe it as “Ruggedly Punishing”. My goal was to get down to 5kft so I wouldn’t freeze for the night but it seemed to take FOREVER. This trail (not really a trail IMHO) was work…overgrown, rocky, you name it… finally the worse was nearly over (or at least I thought) then I was confronted with a 2-track hill in front of me that was literally 30+% grade…Seriously? Very carefully I made my way up since any misstep would cause me to slide to the bottom and most likely with less skin.<br />
<br />
As I hit the Cody trail, I was on a roll, feeling good and hitting all the moves. I arrived at Hwy 83 at about 11:30PM where I decided to sleep for a bit. At about 3:45AM, Kaitlyn rolled by which motivated me to get up. I rolled into Oracle where I waited a few minutes for the Circle K to open. I bought what I though was WAY too much food but didn’t want to run out for the last 95 miles w/o any convenient resupply options. I packed up and left the circle K at about 5:20AM. At Tiger Mine TH, I was feeling strong and mentally juiced. The air was crisp, the flowers were colorful and I knew all of this trail. It was a euphoric feeling! <br />
<br />
Problem #3 came up; a loose saddle. I busted out the tools and fixed that thing immediately. Figured riding another 80 or so miles w/o a saddle might be uncomfortable. <br />
<br />
Just south of Antelope Peak, I caught Kaitlyn again, as she was HABing up a short section of switchbacks. Feeling good, I passed her and made my way to the Freeman Road water cache. I watered up, chatted a bit with Kaitlyn and some hikers, then proceeded to do the Boulders section.<br />
<br />
The Boulders went fast then I arrived in Ripsey wash. For anyone curious, I now can tell you what Hell looks like...I didn't see the devil, but his house is deep sand surrounded by canyon walls that focus the sun. (Note: I am not a Sun Devil, but an Arizona Wildcat… we don’t like this shit) I kept looking up expecting to see a magnifying glass trying to explode me like an ant. I pressed on up the Big Hill (Ripsey) where lo and behold, my head did explode. Finally I made it to the north end of Ripsey and I carefully made my way down the series of switchbacks.<br />
<br />
I arrived at the Wilson Trailer Park, completely blasted and mentally drained. As I sat down on the park bench, an elderly gentlemen walked up with a can in his hand and said, “Hey, how you doing? Want a cold Pepsi?”. To which I responded, “No, I’m a Coke drinker…”…. Lol…That Pepsi represented life in a cylindrical aluminum vessel…holy crap. I went from rock bottom to ready to rock and roll. I watered up and prepared for the last 36 mile push.<br />
<br />
My plan was to at least get to the bottom of the big climb and sleep. That would leave just 20 miles of hard trail ahead…and very dangerous trail that I didn’t want to attempt cross-eyed.<br />
<br />
As I made my way west along the river, both of my pedals became extremely hard to unclip from. Uh-oh, I’m gonna need to unclip easy on what was left. So, problem #4 confronted me…why did my pedals (both of them) become so hard to function? So I pulled out my chain lube and squirted a few drops on each…viola! Problem solved….turned out that the very fine silty dust along the Gila did a number on them.<br />
<br />
I reached the bottom of the climb at about 8:30PM, filtered some water from the river, ate a bunch and laid down. I did the math and figured to have a sub 3 day finish (meaning finish no later than 6:15AM Monday) I needed to leave by midnight. That would give me some buffer in case of an issue. At 10:45PM, the game of the Tortoise and Hare continued with Kaitlyn…the sound of her tires on the gravel woke me up so I popped up, packed my stuff and was moving at 11:11PM. My legs felt amazing…I climbed like a possessed maniac. I ended up catching Kaitlyn again on the climb in the lower canyon where she was going to take a nap. We chatted for a few minutes then I pressed on.<br />
<br />
As I made my way along the narrow exposed trail, my sense of balance began to suffer….I scared myself really good a few times until problem #5 confronted me…what happened to my balance and steering precision?. I was cold! So I put on more clothes to make myself intentionally warm. Problem #5 solved! <br />
<br />
As I climbed(and descended) though Martinez Canyon, I took it really carefully not wanting to die(major exposure with a very high penalty for failure). I HAB’d a lot of stuff I’d usually ride. Occasionally, I came upon night hawks sitting on the trail. These little red-eyed birds sit in the middle of the trail, always 90 degrees to the trail direction and will not fly until your tire nearly crushes them… it provided a few good laughs just when I needed it.<br />
<br />
Finally, I rolled into the Picket Post TH at 4:26AM. I layed my bike down by my truck them immediately broke out in tears. I could not believe that after so much preparation, so much prior year disappointment, that I’d completed the AZT300. It was emotionally overwhelming. After a few minutes, Kurt walked up, we talked a bit, then I got cold and headed home.<br />
<br />
Later than day after a nap, Birthday Boy John Schilling came by with celebratory brews…yes, the 400lb monkey was off my back! I could not feel any better!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-CumrnZnyWRppr5oOCJimvBjc3MV0hqlntT8bpBIh1auTVNtQ9AZHwe3j3LxScQSrJAnOqLpdHSC7vIddlH3pCDSKekXspqh2KxprmSTP_A3SKPN4DvApbgNkiHRogtJYKSL8IQFAL4u/s1600/pic+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-CumrnZnyWRppr5oOCJimvBjc3MV0hqlntT8bpBIh1auTVNtQ9AZHwe3j3LxScQSrJAnOqLpdHSC7vIddlH3pCDSKekXspqh2KxprmSTP_A3SKPN4DvApbgNkiHRogtJYKSL8IQFAL4u/s1600/pic+6.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monkey is gone... (pic from John S)</td></tr>
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Some lessons I learned from this experience that will hopefully help others be successful…<br />
1. Problem solving is EVERYTHING. Attack each thing immediately as it comes up…don’t let it become a real problem that eventually festers in your head.<br />
2. Find an asshole friend and get their phone number. Call them when you want to quit.<br />
3. Cold water is not only good, but easy to drink…I bought a bag of ice at every chance I had and packed my bladder and insulated bottles with it. I fashioned a bladder insulator that was not only light, but kept me drinking cold water 5+ hours. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN-bpNV5mtfdM_ktNmALyoJOWoHo7WbmZr8B0kmV0ec5NYEUsJXebU5UVg-eP8s8p2Q_BsVdh33rqqfi5P8ZadgeRMRzdgkC0uV-Vb48FQpn1KlWwpiFRfcww8lA5QgSzGxPn7tGAM9ZY/s1600/pic+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN-bpNV5mtfdM_ktNmALyoJOWoHo7WbmZr8B0kmV0ec5NYEUsJXebU5UVg-eP8s8p2Q_BsVdh33rqqfi5P8ZadgeRMRzdgkC0uV-Vb48FQpn1KlWwpiFRfcww8lA5QgSzGxPn7tGAM9ZY/s1600/pic+7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Homebrew Bladder Koozi</td></tr>
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Finally, I do need to thank my wife for all her support and my good friends Jeff Ziemski and John Schilling for their mental encouragement. A shout out to Scott Morris too for creating this crazy event and giving us nut jobs something to do with our time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iaj1hw54_FSzr_0IEdp6v5Z1h3wG8-sk7F_JfwjJX-r9KBj2_9jxujLS2c1ve4XeKAw2O3AqPFpinB7ex1FSjjB-J9_itZv3s86FrYRk7gcXXwbm2R-PoCHO5nYNYm1lxcu5uNso9Y76/s1600/pic+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iaj1hw54_FSzr_0IEdp6v5Z1h3wG8-sk7F_JfwjJX-r9KBj2_9jxujLS2c1ve4XeKAw2O3AqPFpinB7ex1FSjjB-J9_itZv3s86FrYRk7gcXXwbm2R-PoCHO5nYNYm1lxcu5uNso9Y76/s1600/pic+8.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two dirty compression socks and tired feet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIbHDeY9X90GtnLJVWTH1Hyj7GeU5zdAMntYsqHcx1lGHW30xV7s2V4yEaRqqdfhP9VVG76PbYQhriSG-bloxR8BviCm2cMPT5_DHM5I0d6AkOZ20f6H9j5QYysBg2_NmDg8XmGn5qoCO/s1600/pic+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIbHDeY9X90GtnLJVWTH1Hyj7GeU5zdAMntYsqHcx1lGHW30xV7s2V4yEaRqqdfhP9VVG76PbYQhriSG-bloxR8BviCm2cMPT5_DHM5I0d6AkOZ20f6H9j5QYysBg2_NmDg8XmGn5qoCO/s1600/pic+10.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That white shirt and (used to be white) arm warmers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U9h_7K5WwSdm4lTyQIuGBQD3LYkYl5etdXRSauA9nKutoP4JSL14LOt90eMkNFIvhkqNKceAThweGezpIvnBteNaVnAmq7-8WHi9y2n49VaQh0IZ8Ltsnow8hA2drFQWfNNNmxRcQHJe/s1600/pic+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U9h_7K5WwSdm4lTyQIuGBQD3LYkYl5etdXRSauA9nKutoP4JSL14LOt90eMkNFIvhkqNKceAThweGezpIvnBteNaVnAmq7-8WHi9y2n49VaQh0IZ8Ltsnow8hA2drFQWfNNNmxRcQHJe/s1600/pic+9.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leukotape is a lifesaver...thanks for the tip Arturo!</td></tr>
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<br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-86454465760337693152014-10-14T10:46:00.002-07:002014-10-14T17:16:15.719-07:00Oh so Cocolicious...Finally, I’ve done something blog-worthy! Whew, I was on a major dry spell regarding what I’d consider truly epic MTB rides….Until now… Monday 10/13 wrapped up the 2014 Coconino 250 Bikepacking Stage race which has to be one of the best(IMHO) multi-day events that combines racing, bikepacking and socializing all in one festering ball of sweat, dirt, faceplants, and phenomenal views. Kudo’s to the corporate staff at the AES headquarters for cooking up this gem.<br />
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It was my second coco, after my “win” (lol) in 2012 and a ITT fail in 2013. What I can say is that the stage racing format is awesome and I’d HIGHLY recommend it to anyone thinking about getting into the sport and considering bigger events like the AZT trail race. Ok, let’s get on with it…<br />
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<b>Day 1: Mud and Beer</b><br />
The easiest day of the 4, I decided for a little bit of a later start than the masses and rolled into Flag around 8:45AM. Loaded up and headed out, I passed Carlos shortly down the AZT fixing a flat. It was to be the beginning of his tire troubles that I believe led to his DNF. I passed Fisher Point and then made the left turn that would lead to a fun, rubly HAB section where I would catch the famous endurance freak, John Schilling. We would end up leap frogging a bit and finally entered the “mesa”…The “mesa” by the way is basically a raised portion of land that has been spread with dark brown peanut butter…but, 1) you can’t eat it and 2) it sticks to your tires better than a couple of low self-esteem centerfolds to Hugh Hefner…yeah, bad. We walked for about a mile, cleaning our tires every 20 yards or so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-EWbNhTxp7LDSV3LUmRLgaz2ZIvojbwiBgkBznjo4Y63qIAV_VjK5D3RjC1Ka3FVOvuWqcf-itXZgljRmEvY2s52ohs_26JpgI9Ci65xJM1e1rv2MhereUB116q7jBHcaoPD5-cl_96V/s1600/Single+and+Angry+mud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-EWbNhTxp7LDSV3LUmRLgaz2ZIvojbwiBgkBznjo4Y63qIAV_VjK5D3RjC1Ka3FVOvuWqcf-itXZgljRmEvY2s52ohs_26JpgI9Ci65xJM1e1rv2MhereUB116q7jBHcaoPD5-cl_96V/s1600/Single+and+Angry+mud.JPG" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got mud on my sticker...that made me angry.</td></tr>
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Finally, we arrived at Marshall Lake where we opted for the detour down to Lake Mary Road. I ended up riding with Artec, a Flag local with extensive bike touring experience that was just beginning to bikepack. We eventually rolled into the ADOT yard where we found Mike K. and Ben getting water. Rolled out after tanking up, we headed to the Schnebly overlook where we enjoyed a great sunset, a few beers (brought by John S and Jeff Z), and a great group of bikepackers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmsnMgVavhYZCGt3nkpATOcRERpXJxnciMbgXgc5pD_rk8oJuvy0Kdx4sRi2LKXEXpZckLMzMMwcJBPIoH-p1k9HL5blYJFV77xBQtbPsfcodcLnqha35IjoUrsIIaYL29Ij4AH749n0n/s1600/Z+and+Shil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmsnMgVavhYZCGt3nkpATOcRERpXJxnciMbgXgc5pD_rk8oJuvy0Kdx4sRi2LKXEXpZckLMzMMwcJBPIoH-p1k9HL5blYJFV77xBQtbPsfcodcLnqha35IjoUrsIIaYL29Ij4AH749n0n/s1600/Z+and+Shil.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer Sherpas and all-around good guys, John Schilling and Jeff Z. Brian from Grand Junction in the back(with a hat on), Devon in the red, and Mike K. in the black.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpcYRz1FQnVgXwrE-nHwJGP5QxZotJzFYAH8YhaZjueHb-yCfzDdlSnbl90b8Hx0U2_d8yWGpH0MXeauTsu8yFDzfARj__GvUntFBEE0IlyOxUDtOATtWGlus-12DDuiMjo5NirzBfYot/s1600/ben+me+and+brad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpcYRz1FQnVgXwrE-nHwJGP5QxZotJzFYAH8YhaZjueHb-yCfzDdlSnbl90b8Hx0U2_d8yWGpH0MXeauTsu8yFDzfARj__GvUntFBEE0IlyOxUDtOATtWGlus-12DDuiMjo5NirzBfYot/s1600/ben+me+and+brad.jpg" height="119" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savoring the view above the red rocks of Sedona...Brad, me, and Ben. Pic from Seron.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ELXiVnp3CNWEoM4OBisL7sOEUQel3Xhja49sAkxKFo9eIHivHD1BB5Mz7Hzs3z6MEeMkof2x4Pk7SfjFEgL3MpWmhnNDzep0xglz6Evt8E5LX7ZmP38MKXNifSqOlVply_YsBXfI7sdV/s1600/me+and+brad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ELXiVnp3CNWEoM4OBisL7sOEUQel3Xhja49sAkxKFo9eIHivHD1BB5Mz7Hzs3z6MEeMkof2x4Pk7SfjFEgL3MpWmhnNDzep0xglz6Evt8E5LX7ZmP38MKXNifSqOlVply_YsBXfI7sdV/s1600/me+and+brad.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad and I resting at the overlook. Judging by the dents all over my head, I now fully understand why I am the way I am. Thanks Mom. (pic from Ben)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz0Qv-ID7l1RBKk7RnIHQVZUdolEQo0mNFnL0bRj-2X5VMbCHhUtwKqu5r6eOMavC7hPe2cmYbNyq_csltiLYHOM1M2elckDOemHP7zX5c0Wf_5M7qtN8O3qQla3-8dkeDM8vNjgZ3AC1/s1600/coco+pic+3+over+sedona+-+seron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz0Qv-ID7l1RBKk7RnIHQVZUdolEQo0mNFnL0bRj-2X5VMbCHhUtwKqu5r6eOMavC7hPe2cmYbNyq_csltiLYHOM1M2elckDOemHP7zX5c0Wf_5M7qtN8O3qQla3-8dkeDM8vNjgZ3AC1/s1600/coco+pic+3+over+sedona+-+seron.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and I praying for an easy day 2. Pic by Seron.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2HPa7un_TzHk4oHRsWsqYhBp4BDqTAZGrFBMPEoHLuX67Kn6OzPOFPrvIlT7P1vqqVjqcZfbrxz058U8ta1zi0GLuBDFORn-XJ3SwWSeQrWbOwwOTcwvmuWvrfiSosLTscf3vo8fPdZl/s1600/coco+pic+4+over+sedona+seron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2HPa7un_TzHk4oHRsWsqYhBp4BDqTAZGrFBMPEoHLuX67Kn6OzPOFPrvIlT7P1vqqVjqcZfbrxz058U8ta1zi0GLuBDFORn-XJ3SwWSeQrWbOwwOTcwvmuWvrfiSosLTscf3vo8fPdZl/s1600/coco+pic+4+over+sedona+seron.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corporate meeting room scene. Pic by Seron.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-ShJQ5sewafAw3pYh6UHDdV1A2R6taeCYcoWyGsTDwbCygzhp_UkyvYgfmApbum6Fdi1gn_ZUabFDDiaYwXYJCx07FxIICDJ9-76PbTfvvPrtOgAzn8_MZQ0fMOMUjMv0HRnaP0iKnEn/s1600/coco+pic+over+sedona+-+LA+K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-ShJQ5sewafAw3pYh6UHDdV1A2R6taeCYcoWyGsTDwbCygzhp_UkyvYgfmApbum6Fdi1gn_ZUabFDDiaYwXYJCx07FxIICDJ9-76PbTfvvPrtOgAzn8_MZQ0fMOMUjMv0HRnaP0iKnEn/s1600/coco+pic+over+sedona+-+LA+K.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Money Shot! Awesome pic by LAK.</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>Day 2: Goatheads, Sand and Extreme HAB</b><br />
Woke up Saturday morning with everything soaking wet from a heavy dew that evening. I proceed to pack up the wet mess then proceeded down Munds Wagon Trail in the dim morning light. Bouncing my way down, I passed Mike K and Caroline, then rolled into the Circle K where I found Jeff & Nancy. I pounded down a fine breakfast consisting of a sausage biscuit and Red Bull then proceeded to make my way up to Morgan Rd. and around Chicken Point. I then caught Jeff, Nancy, and Jason, before going under the highway and eventually to Red Rocks State Park. There I watered up at the visitors center and proceeded to head up the cluster-f*ck of a trail called Lime Kiln. This thing truly has every bit of evil all mixed into one continuous ribbon of sharp rocks, cacti, sand, goatheads, tall grass, fire ants, and dirt. Oh, and I did I mention sand? Ugh, never have I been so glad to see the final ledgy descent into Cottonwood as I was Saturday. I stopped at the BBQ place and this time said to the woman taking orders, “What is the fastest sandwhich you can make?”. Apparently my sense of urgency made quite the impression since later than night, everyone mentioned how she was offering “quick” options. I’m 99.98% positive she thinks I’m a real d-bag. Brian was also there battling what I’m sure was his worst tire issues of his life. He rolled on, and I unpacked my sleep kit to dry the wet mess a bit in the hot sun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBtmMOjlxH9DyrcUccq2tUN1WJC3BMx_cgaftYXRxwl0MSNKbwSoQfBXt-8nNcoMfON3-T2TgB-zdLXXDXjQMfWkpHi8nOxgYdBrY99OxotJMOkascm3387gOKOAqjcbcvC7QxU2mQ9Om/s1600/hog+wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBtmMOjlxH9DyrcUccq2tUN1WJC3BMx_cgaftYXRxwl0MSNKbwSoQfBXt-8nNcoMfON3-T2TgB-zdLXXDXjQMfWkpHi8nOxgYdBrY99OxotJMOkascm3387gOKOAqjcbcvC7QxU2mQ9Om/s1600/hog+wild.jpg" height="104" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're in a hurry, just tell them I sent you.</td></tr>
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I packed up, hit the Maverick for some snacks, water and ice, then proceeded to climb the Mingus Monster. …and climb I did…riding, then lots of walking. Finally I hit the singletrack portion where even walking becomes hard with very steep, rocky sections beating you to a pulp. It's a full-body workout pushing a loaded bike up that thing. This being my 3rd time up Mingus, I knew where the top was and not to get fooled by the false summits…but none-the-less, it was brutal…nothing short of a good swift kick to the nuts. Alas, I got to the top, stumbled along the boulder strewn trail till hitting the road where I found Brad. I headed to the campsite, built a fire, and spent a nice evening socializing with everyone as they rolled in.<br />
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<b>Day 3: Epic Descents, Ascents, and Gnar</b><br />
Woke up early on Sunday knowing that this day as well is a long one. Got packed up and headed down the west side of Mingus. The two sides of Mingus are like Jerry and George, Laverne and Shirley….exact opposites! The west side descent will make you grin like the Cheshire Cat. At the bottom of the descent as the track crosses Hwy 89, I caught up to Ben, Jeff and Nancy where we proceeded through the magic gate and north along the powerline access road. I worked my way around the north side of the Woodchute Wilderness then plummeted down towards the Verde. There I filtered some water, while Jeff, Nancy, Brad, and Chris(?) rolled in. We all chatted a bit, watched Jeff swing out over the Verde on a rope, then I got back to business and began the last huge climb of the route. That climb goes from 3800ft up to 9000ft at the top of Bill Williams Mtn…yeah, it’s kinda rough. I finally made it back to the pines where I tried to regroup and stave off Brad. Finally, he caught me as we rolled through a meadow and made our way towards BW Mtn. All the way there, I kept thinking about skipping it…but like most of us nut jobs probably do, we argue with ourselves; we create mental games. I my case, I just kept saying, “make the turn to the trailhead…just make the turn”. So I did, and shortly up the trail I found Brad taping up some blisters and resting his aching back. We’d end up riding/HABing(mostly HABing) all the way to the top with a nearly constant conversation to help pass the time. Finally, at the top, we cheated death and mostly rode (plus a little downhill HAB) our way into Williams, neither of us wanting to do something silly to prematurely end the race. We grabbed some Mexican food and beers with Artec and Brian, hit the Safeway for supplies, then crashed for a good nights sleep.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh9e9jfj8Vw1Maa0aXFtpDacGhBVwq9nzv0SZaqLdkQO2iCrnvJdW-MnWs8OFZgpVVKkG-yVHbcWKdjWbC5ZDrvfPC7c3wvn0fUhz81jRldAMz_HMyQimLT1jkFMNfyVE5WVoRfBEusNF/s1600/ray+end+of+stage3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh9e9jfj8Vw1Maa0aXFtpDacGhBVwq9nzv0SZaqLdkQO2iCrnvJdW-MnWs8OFZgpVVKkG-yVHbcWKdjWbC5ZDrvfPC7c3wvn0fUhz81jRldAMz_HMyQimLT1jkFMNfyVE5WVoRfBEusNF/s1600/ray+end+of+stage3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me feeling beat up and lucky</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Day 4: Bitter Cold, Wind, and Yellow Carpets of Aspen Leaves</b><br />
We got an early start, heading out at about 5:45, stopped at the Safeway for a hot coffee, and proceeded west. At the RR bridge, we started our clocks(stage start) and made our way down the chilly collection of roads that would get us to the Sycamore Rim Trail. This gem, often called the “suck-a-more” rim trail, or the “sick of more” rim trail, is an eclectic mix of sharp lava rock, stream bed rip-rap, post-holed singletrack, and a little primo singletrack along the rims edge. Any other day, this could be a fun trail, challenging your skills, but with the end in sight, it was generally just survival mode today. Luckily, it came to an end and we made our way back north, across I-40, and over to the Wing Mtn area were we’d ride a cluster-f*ck of moto trails until getting spit out at Hwy 180. There we ate a snack, jettisoned water we didn’t need, and began the climb up FR151 and eventually to Aspen Corner. We encountered Mike K. who was riding the course backwards to find his friend Ben and and ride back to the White Mountains. Chatted a minute, then proceeded to rip down the yellow carpet of aspen leaves towards the Y. There, we both decided to pass on the gap jump(lol) just prior to crossing Mt Elden Rd. Finally, we rolled out onto the finish at Quintana Drive. There we took a few pics and decided to grab a celebratory beer in town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u7KqM1a2U3Bce4oNhCM19CkjMr5KWTILyVD2YUltGQHi_EkJnDcjKxXQOr3fh3mUsbt-sfZsja9f26ou3UwlCMckBjgE99M8cPsrd5ES-Fps_HSxL2nzLnO4cwQUtmlzX7-TuB_sRoFc/s1600/brad+and+end.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u7KqM1a2U3Bce4oNhCM19CkjMr5KWTILyVD2YUltGQHi_EkJnDcjKxXQOr3fh3mUsbt-sfZsja9f26ou3UwlCMckBjgE99M8cPsrd5ES-Fps_HSxL2nzLnO4cwQUtmlzX7-TuB_sRoFc/s1600/brad+and+end.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad at the finish...first BP trip and winner of this years Coco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ4HxuGEYE2lxQdI7hfnnZatDNRnDbItkzPnm8mKHtoqnILkZHWvPYRTvj1ncqetGMAhTnn7HE2Rw1FutMqlf8a8VtrWhDQioSoCQir_PGpHLLictKYJZ0TFpfvn2uXlMu99Zh-i-yi5-/s1600/ray+at+end.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ4HxuGEYE2lxQdI7hfnnZatDNRnDbItkzPnm8mKHtoqnILkZHWvPYRTvj1ncqetGMAhTnn7HE2Rw1FutMqlf8a8VtrWhDQioSoCQir_PGpHLLictKYJZ0TFpfvn2uXlMu99Zh-i-yi5-/s1600/ray+at+end.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the finish...2nd place and damn happy to have it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>In Summary, I leave you with a few Angry thoughts.</b><br />
1. Andersen Mesa sucks, but attempting to ride it after a hard rain is about as successful as wrestling with grizzly…you ain’t gonna win.<br />
2. The view over Sedona with a cloud strewn sky and a setting sun is nothing short of stunning. Sharing it with a group of friends and like-minded individuals is a real bonus.<br />
3. Mingus.Sucks.Bad<br />
4. Getting a loaded bike from 3800ft to 9000ft takes a lot of calories and makes you angry. Very angry.<br />
5. Bill Williams Mtn can cost you your front teeth. Unless you’re lucky. In the case of Jeff Z, his faceplant could ONLY improve his looks.<br />
6. The last day of the Coco isn’t easy, but it is fun.<br />
7. Do this route. If it doesn’t kill you, you’ll savor it forever.<br />
<br />
Finally, a pic from JS, what I call, "The Green Socks over the Red Rocks"<br />
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Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-38205940173055008382013-11-03T04:34:00.000-08:002013-11-03T04:36:20.927-08:00Pulverization Complete<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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</style> <![endif]-->Sometime back in summer, I mentioned to John and Jeff that we needed a replacement for the AES BCT race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John had done some riding out at Picket Post exploring the AZT north of the highway, so I had mentioned that maybe we could cook up a couple loops, short and long to incorporate some of that trail as well as the great stuff south of Picket Post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John delivered…and did a ton of work putting together GPX tracks and scouting the area with Jeff and Nancy a few times to identify water sources and connector trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, thankfully, WE HAD A RACE; the Picket Post Punisher!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHk4JSYQ9DeLYvRqxPgGlCMQ3UehIpe81N7jJGIYKN8IGqbSQTabM8LXS4sv94_wmMOo8_kJdiTRe1pU6eWeX_elaRR5KL_BVLUcnHE6d8PT6nb-qmrT6IuIWVnU4d0tL9qgiShe4DJIv/s1600/PPP+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHk4JSYQ9DeLYvRqxPgGlCMQ3UehIpe81N7jJGIYKN8IGqbSQTabM8LXS4sv94_wmMOo8_kJdiTRe1pU6eWeX_elaRR5KL_BVLUcnHE6d8PT6nb-qmrT6IuIWVnU4d0tL9qgiShe4DJIv/s320/PPP+Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The morning of 11/2, 6 of us idiots gathered shortly before 5AM for the long loop…81 miles of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rolled out of the parking lot a few minutes after 5AM and made our way north, under Hwy 60, to the formal start point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, with few words said, we began the grind north up Montana Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunter and Neil led the charge and I slotted in a distant 3<sup>rd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At several points in the climb, I got within about 100 yards of Neil, but resigned to the fact that he was faster and chasing him would just burn those precious matches I’d need later in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that point mid-climb, I’d never see any of them, in front or behind me other than Neil’s lights a few switchbacks up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The climb was tough…windy, and always seeming to be in your face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked several of the steeper sections to conserve energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At what I thought was the peak, the road began to descend but unfortunately there was still ample climbing left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the AZT turnoff, I stopped to eat and took in the incredible views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, Picket Post Mountain was incredibly far away to the south and I knew the Gila River, my furthest point south was even another 20 miles trail beyond that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I got after it, descending the sketchy, narrow switchbacks of the AZT off the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally, I felt as though I cheated death on a few of them with plenty of carnage awaiting should you crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the trail turned flatter and followed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a drainage out till it crossed the road we’d climbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I saw several of the 50 milers as they ground their way up the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing down the rough and rubly singletrack, I finally reached the LOST trail and took that over to the med clinic to refill water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, I filled up on some nasty, plastic garden hose like water (I really should have tasted it then removed the hose from the spigot).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">South from Superior, and up FR4, I passed by some dudes unloading their automatic weapons into the hillside, then along the slow, crappy road to the junction with the AZT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was decision point; I’d made it here by a few minutes before noon, and figured if I didn’t fall completely apart, I should be able to finish by 6pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I was so wrong).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I continued, generally west along FR4 and finally south towards the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This entire section was simply brutal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ups were super tough and steep; the downs where techy, steep and took every bit of attention and strength to avoid a crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before the Gila River, you make a final, sketchy rubly descent down a 4wd road covered in baby heads that wants you off your bike in a bad way…no way baby, at this point, I almost to the Gila and back to trail I know.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the river, I attempted to access the water and fell in up to both knees. Shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gotta find a better spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John had told me just before the trail turned north was better access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough, at the rocky bank I used my Sawyer filter to filter a few quarts of water…good tasting water too…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was 3pm on the nose, as I HAB’d up the first rocky section of jeep road to the singletrack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, I was totally blasted, stomach a mess, and hardly able to get any food down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set small goals for myself; get to the next ridge, once there, get to the next one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was literally walking almost anything with an upward slope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, while in the canyon section, I got a bit of a 2<sup>nd</sup> wind and just kept telling myself, “you got this, you got this”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(as if I had a choice!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped, put on my lights and my clear glasses and continued the grind out of the canyon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mentally, I knew once I got to this point, it was generally level or downhill so I rode more, powering up the small inclines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Night riding for me isn’t something I do much except on these long trail races or bikepacking, but once you find that comfort zone, it’s actually quite enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trail was covered with this small spiders that had a very shiny spot, almost like a diamond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped a few times in amazement to look at them and used that thought to distract myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night hawks along the trail are also a weird AZ thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The damn things sit on the trail and take flight when you are nearly on top of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked up on one and was amazed with such large eyes(and probably great night vision) they don’t take off sooner.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, I was nearing the end…and thank God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rolled into the trail head at 8pm and was greeted by Jeff, Nancy, John, Chad, Neil and some of the other finishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not feeling very well at all, I walked to the truck and laid in the passenger seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, I decided to make the drive home…probably the longest 1 hour drive of my life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turns out, of the 6 that started the 81 miler, only 3 of us finished... </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Looking back on that day, it truly ranked up there as one of my top three toughest days on a bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both physically and mentally, this course beat me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It beat me down bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me dig deep and question why I put myself through these sufferfests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding bikes is fun…lots of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffering like a dog, not so much.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">…and to think this was my idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, thanks again to all who did it and special thanks to John for turning my race idea into reality. It was his gpx wizardry and scouting trips that gave life to the idea.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-13151495893901279542013-10-14T04:47:00.000-07:002013-10-14T04:47:02.875-07:00Stomach and Mind Fail<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Fail…hmmm, yet another story of an uncompleted challenge I
took on…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last October, I successfully completed and won the Coco250
stage race thanks to the fact that no one fast or in a racing mindset rode the race(and
I felt really great and had no mechanicals!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So this year comes along and I figured, OK, let’s do an ITT of the loop
and gun for the recently set SS record of 36 hours and change set by Bobby Treadwell
last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cumulative stage race time
was roughly 32 hours for the stage race leaving me about 4 hours of time for
sleep and sections of the course not “on the clock” for the stage race.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I arrived at our cabin in Munds Friday afternoon and while
organizing gear I realized I’d forgotten my battery packs for my lights….Sh*t.
A few calls, several 4 letter words later, my wifes friend from PHX was on her
way up and dropped them off Friday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During that time, my emotions went from “crap, I’m done” to “I’m still
in!”…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(many thanks to her!)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, after a few hours of sleep, I woke up Saturday AM at 4,
and got ready to head out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, there were still some doubts in my head about the next 36
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting those aside, I left in
the cold and dark at about 5:30, rolled south on the interstate a few miles,
and joined the route at I-17 and Schnebly Hill Rd at about 5:50AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I began the descent down Munds Wagon Trail, I passed
Caroline who had stopped to take a picture and remove a layer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pressing on, I dropped into Sedona, made my
way around Chicken Point and then down by Oak Creek where I had a near miss
with a big Cottonwood tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Onward to Lime Kiln, I did the ugly HAB up the first ridge,
then happily nailed all the switchbacks off the west side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I battled epic wheel sucking sand and goat
heads across the valley floor and finally arrived in Cottonwood where I stopped
at Hog Wild for a BBQ Sandwhich…oh, and 3 root beers…. Which may have led to my
eventual demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, for some reason, my 48 year old body has decided
that when doing endurance races, it doesn’t like excessive sugar…but oh, that
root beer tasted so good!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Onward up Mingus, I kept looking up at the towers and
yelling at the top of my lungs…”It’s not that far!...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally hitting the single track,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did my usual fast HAB pace, up the loose,
rocky trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt much better than
last year, but like Mingus usually does, it handed me my a$S in a big way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even tromped through snow on the last
couple rocky switchbacks to the summit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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At the top, I put layers back on in preparation for the descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I reached the last smooth switchbacks on
the descent(that are so damn much fun!), I came up upon a kid, maybe 20 or so,
who was off his bike taking pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
moved his bike off the trail then asked me, “Where did you park?”, I said, “Just
south of Flagstaff in Munds”…his eyes got very big and he said, “DAMN!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re crazy! You’re a champion!”….lol…so
funny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rolling north on the west side of Mingus, my mind began to
get the best of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started thinking
about the task ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fighting to keep focused,
I pressed on feeling really good and making good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked my way around the north side of
Mingus, putting on my lights as darkness fell, and kept thinking about my
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“just get to the river, refill
water, and climb for at least 3 hours before a short nap”…then at about 6:30pm,
my stomach flipped…ughhh…sh*t…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the
mind got weak…I’ve had stomach issue before…if it comes on bad, I’m worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And given the fact that once I descend to the
Verde, I’ve got to dig myself out of that hole….either going north to Williams,
or south to Jerome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I stopped at that
intersection on the north end of Mingus and called my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talked to her about things…she gave me great
advice…just rest a bit and see how you feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I jumped in my bivy and rested… and slept…all the while
my stomach gurgled…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my head, I felt done…but at the same time felt like the
record may still be within reach but it would take at least 18 hours straight
of riding…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is that moment where your drive and desire is in competition
with your body and mind…for me and my conservative mindset, I convinced myself
I was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept till 6AM then called
my wife and met her at 9:30 in the Verde Valley.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some interesting things for me in this…every one
of these, especially the failures, teaches me more about myself…</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>ITT’s are not only a test of your body, but
moreso your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding with others on
multi-day trips are SO MUCH EASIER.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Prior to the ride, you have to have NO DOUBTS in
your mind…all in, no excuses.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>My body (other than my stomach) is up to the
task…Training your body is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
ride a lot and mix in some intensity.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Keep sugar to a minimum…I should know better…my
last several multi-day trips have taught me this.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, there you have it…That’s my story….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m stickin’ to it.</div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-52040908724752778012013-09-11T16:37:00.001-07:002013-09-11T16:38:38.608-07:00Why your infatuation with single track is limiting you...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK, so we love great singletrack…narrow, flowy, exposure,
techy…all great stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live for it… Gives
us a spandex chubby, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, there just isn’t enough of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse yet, it can take miles of driving to
get to it, travel time where we could have been riding, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be in tough shape due to weather, or get
ridden so much by you that you can almost ride it in the dark without a light.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well guess what…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You actually CAN take a mountain bike on dirt that does not
have a 8” path worn in it…it actually does work!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see young grasshopper, not all beautiful places on this
rock we call earth have a nice buff ribbon of singletrack through them or
leading to them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So get off your high horse…And start to explore all the forest
roads, 2 track jeep roads, and cattle track around you….it’s just not that bad…
it leads you to beautiful places rich with history.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Digressing a bit… I feel super fortunate to enjoy a cabin in
Munds Park that enables me to get away from the oppressive summer heat of
Phoenix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Munds is a great little
“cabiny” community far away from Flagstaff enough to feel remote, yet close
enough by car to enable a run into town for another 12 pack or growler refill
when "supplies" get low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But Munds isn’t known for oodles of singletrack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is known for a funky little 4<sup>th</sup>
of July Parade, the Lone Pine Bar, and a bunch of old retired f*cks that look
at me as I do hill repeats up Pinewood Blvd as their 3 lb chihuahua barks at me
like I’m a pound of hamburger. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, there are some really great maps of the forest
roads in the Coconino National Forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That combined with a bunch of gpx files ripped off of strava, and some
super-secret beta from friends has enabled me to explore this wonderful graben
on the coco all accessible from Munds…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Miles and miles of forest road that might get a car or ATV on them a few
times a day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it turns out, some cool geological sh*t happened a long
time ago that lifted the northern half of Arizona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a whole lot of erosion and other events
that I don’t entirely pretend to understand caused some interesting rocks to be
uncovered…Those rocks are what we love to ride…Sedona, Granite Dells, etc… That
whole section of land south of Flag between 89A and lake Mary road that dropped
in elevation a long time ago (a graben).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That ridge of land on the east side of lake Mary is where the escarpment is…
for those that ride the AZT...as you ride south of Fisher Point then climb that
rubly trail up out of the canyon, you are climbing up that escarpment!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just north of Munds lies what I like to refer to as the
Munds Divide… from about Mountainaire southeast to Mormon Mountain lies a small
ridge that divides the watershed…rainfall north of there makes its way to the
little Colorado, rainfall south of there flows down into Oak Creek and then
into the Verde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that same area,
accessible by forest roads, are a number of old railroad beds that were build
back in the early 1900's to transport timber to Flagstaff for processing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These railroad beds are simply amazing rock structures
that are still existing today although the rails have long been removed. Many of these cool things accessible only by forest road!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYsprA4cO6WiYh8X83eYl5N_dP6l-7-XgSY9tRfPsNv4qzh5UBzNLNbb-RINSStG2M5RE69ENMBhDmGqeQ6PifPdl8il7aathF1Y_2uHmL01qmLwmzFaa8KPwVhvm1mwr1ev9uoCGpENg/s1600/photo(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYsprA4cO6WiYh8X83eYl5N_dP6l-7-XgSY9tRfPsNv4qzh5UBzNLNbb-RINSStG2M5RE69ENMBhDmGqeQ6PifPdl8il7aathF1Y_2uHmL01qmLwmzFaa8KPwVhvm1mwr1ev9uoCGpENg/s320/photo(7).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railroad bed just north of munds off of FR700</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaYpOpPFz098gUTbiZgENbMgspRArZEz6xf_8C-yYNh40pINm4vsGeRpOUIKeK5Zy_La65MLrVVsgYPWXewejE88eq0LxeMZKU9AOu16h806ofod-iUq2LlaQ-JV-FMr4d_33GaCquveb/s1600/photo(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaYpOpPFz098gUTbiZgENbMgspRArZEz6xf_8C-yYNh40pINm4vsGeRpOUIKeK5Zy_La65MLrVVsgYPWXewejE88eq0LxeMZKU9AOu16h806ofod-iUq2LlaQ-JV-FMr4d_33GaCquveb/s320/photo(9).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different view of the same built up RR bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
As I continued to explore the maze of forest roads around Munds, I found all kinds of cool stuff... again, only accessible by 2 track...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkctBezYlPVyyAqWHK8QzuAwQ2qcfln3ZOFOU84Tpgi1BLiGnx1cjgRJUe5_NfkiEyTr7LjuidJe5mRvCFUuqVbBPGDx_BAQvR_e5GtnthTuUG3ctkXzb9U6qimDwayTaWhGXwyZxeg7w1/s1600/photo(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkctBezYlPVyyAqWHK8QzuAwQ2qcfln3ZOFOU84Tpgi1BLiGnx1cjgRJUe5_NfkiEyTr7LjuidJe5mRvCFUuqVbBPGDx_BAQvR_e5GtnthTuUG3ctkXzb9U6qimDwayTaWhGXwyZxeg7w1/s320/photo(8).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky, mind blowing graffiti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd422YpFhuZkRcrLv6JqSLRWVRVxmMQPc6OyMgAPi4IgEzuyxR9Y-L4KX21EXj7crjtIcfKUl4qXEzH4hsYo1UaHaL28Tu8G9d8lmRB2mjsOvgSTOa70WpPIMTUdMXj5WFC7t2dRppMlX/s1600/photo(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd422YpFhuZkRcrLv6JqSLRWVRVxmMQPc6OyMgAPi4IgEzuyxR9Y-L4KX21EXj7crjtIcfKUl4qXEzH4hsYo1UaHaL28Tu8G9d8lmRB2mjsOvgSTOa70WpPIMTUdMXj5WFC7t2dRppMlX/s320/photo(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Nemo must have been here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XU_TcPpt2m-u8pI3oLraYSUWKUyCN9KsG59rx6-Hjvh2vWQU8zxETYj4NPfGCDfC5BRTxXSPvr9mDRBOrZIsrMsAfw1fHk_meuNkJTvEZk63vKu6_Y-j-igY9ds9OJh1VqfbplryMahG/s1600/photo(6).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>As you travel west from Munds, there are some very cool things to see...all accessible by forest road.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gGu11Cg5yKDrQbM4qa37KkRg1yvcCiaqK8_ezDqIBZMAwxFNPgkYJpmf1-iNFerqt0T7rbgYX2hMVTLm_24tpbl47TWgloGht2rZVSw8vHfwyeou1aRGcSFbHJ0aINubXnk7wJwJVLFN/s1600/photo(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gGu11Cg5yKDrQbM4qa37KkRg1yvcCiaqK8_ezDqIBZMAwxFNPgkYJpmf1-iNFerqt0T7rbgYX2hMVTLm_24tpbl47TWgloGht2rZVSw8vHfwyeou1aRGcSFbHJ0aINubXnk7wJwJVLFN/s320/photo(6).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big meadow full of flowers SW of Flagstaff, on the west side of Hwy89</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Xj1NRGVKI-p8nC2uxfJ2ginE0nWvet2Ko9uePTp6upWnik1XyyZg9mRLM3MXv8TPR0sztfF7j9SpUgoiNVeqJRP8jnVQjaC5LL7PC3Imh8U9Sa6TO5EgWCm6gWwWKSdPbOtDBUmbg_b/s1600/sycamorewray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Xj1NRGVKI-p8nC2uxfJ2ginE0nWvet2Ko9uePTp6upWnik1XyyZg9mRLM3MXv8TPR0sztfF7j9SpUgoiNVeqJRP8jnVQjaC5LL7PC3Imh8U9Sa6TO5EgWCm6gWwWKSdPbOtDBUmbg_b/s320/sycamorewray.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me overlooking Sycamore Canyon Wilderness on a narrow strip of land that bisects it and the Red Rock Wilderness. This is part of the old Casner Dirty Century route.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbp-fYEc4x3HW0MNhrBIuZ2BGAcuNtsY5ubc-WVu9YHAOhSh-ZVMpJLEbZuNqjGdz_w9cFjZGv1_T4kZHVoe4BgO8NfBRvViaEX03hfgZCZ1la5BhpOvmFgBum8ow4pip0FkTPqhGIrAC/s1600/photo(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbp-fYEc4x3HW0MNhrBIuZ2BGAcuNtsY5ubc-WVu9YHAOhSh-ZVMpJLEbZuNqjGdz_w9cFjZGv1_T4kZHVoe4BgO8NfBRvViaEX03hfgZCZ1la5BhpOvmFgBum8ow4pip0FkTPqhGIrAC/s320/photo(13).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark on the narrow 2 track that separates two beautiful sections of AZ wilderness...again, part of the Casner route</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally, one of the classic views you get after riding a bunch of forest road...Point Sublime on the north rim... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuPpBRjVrN6coNwiRnQyHUSj_LUcXyGEm_kFyhdOZKXtyWExMEwx4-aYr4pjhJRdWRyBeGMG8x2W-PBh1Nsr-5zcB5bvjsFlOD0jGN8tMxwWGrQioJFuqramSOmv5kaM6W5XfExLtL7q4/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when you wondering what to ride next, and want to see some new stuff, pull up a map or Topofusion, and get creative...sketch out a route and let the adventure begin. Fun trips aren't all on singletrack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cheers...OGR</div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-51298975146493105442013-06-23T19:33:00.001-07:002013-06-23T19:33:27.080-07:00Big Friggen Sufferfest<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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Mark: Hey man, you wanna carpool over to Santa Fe and ride in the New Mexico Endurance Series Big Friggen Loop Race?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I DNF’d last year and need redemption.</div>
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Ray: Uh, maybe… How does it compare to the Gila100 in terms of suffering?</div>
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Mark: It’s no Gila100</div>
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Ray: OK, I’m in.</div>
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Now, silly me, I was figuring he meant the SFBFL race was gonna be “easier” than the Gila100.</div>
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I could never have been so wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I should have known given that the race takes place between 7000 ft and 12,000 ft, and in the first 30 miles, you’ve already climbed over 8,000 ft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, I even threw on a 22t cog with a 32t chainring…that oughta be plenty, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Wrong again.</div>
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The fun started Saturday morning at 6:30AM in downtown Santa Fe where we listened to Lenny Goodell give us the pre-ride info then rolled out to the east.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately after hitting the dirt, you had to HAB up a set of stairs to begin an assault on Atalaya Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gem of a climb is rideable at first, then a pushfest to the summit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reaching the summit, the descent is loose, sketchy, and difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Switchbacks w/ major exposure and trees lining the trail just waiting to grab a bar end making you exit stage left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I however did not let the trees stop me, but a loose left handed switchback introduced me to terra firma in a very rude way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I escaped with only a few scrapes and bruises.</div>
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After cheating death on the descent, we proceeded northward along the Dale Ball trail network until turning east to begin the next climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This climb gradually made its way up the mountain towards 12,000 ft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All single track until 10,200ft, then an unrelenting evil doubletrack to the cell phone towers at 12,024ft. </div>
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Despite what people say, there is no oxygen at 12,024 ft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Nor sane people on bikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Nor single speeders running 32x22t.</div>
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Except me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGtn9ZQeGgE4frFT6MptEMhtYDn7hfGDpWZ8hyrpQoGuPnV3-x-9v4Q0neTrHwkyKQlwyZg7eNd-Hme-ssG1x8ieBQnuTrWM0Bu8pY_SnGkDm-Js1buf0UL25exTxoAIZFqpf66kXM7Ye/s1600/photo(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGtn9ZQeGgE4frFT6MptEMhtYDn7hfGDpWZ8hyrpQoGuPnV3-x-9v4Q0neTrHwkyKQlwyZg7eNd-Hme-ssG1x8ieBQnuTrWM0Bu8pY_SnGkDm-Js1buf0UL25exTxoAIZFqpf66kXM7Ye/s320/photo(11).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Tesuque Peak, 12,024 ft</td></tr>
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After snapping the only pic of the trip, I proceeded down the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The track followed a rutted out ski run littered with large rocks…straight down the fall line of the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, it entered an aspen grove with some of the best, flowy singletrack I’ve ridden…</div>
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Now at this point, roughly half way through the ride, I was worked over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worried if I’d have enough to finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about bailing but kept telling myself that after driving over 400 miles to get here, bailing would be epically stupid… So I pressed on and luckily was riding at that time with 3 other guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Peer pressure works.</div>
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You don’t want to be the guy who wusses out.</div>
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Onward then, to the farthest extent of the course…about as far from civilization as you could get…point of no return.</div>
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From that point on , the ride never got any easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would think that after climbing a 12,000 ft mountain that the rest would be downhill…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Wrong yet again.</div>
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Not only was it not all downhill, but the downhills made you work…technical, tricky, steep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The uphills from that point were brutal HAB-fests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I may have clocked 5 miles in my PI x-alps on that ride.</div>
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New Mexico trail builders are evil people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect they don’t like mountain bikers and most likely have a keen disdain for single speeders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They run trails straight up creek beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They build 6” wide switchbacked trails on side slopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They put trails so far from civilization that neither tires nor feet see them regularly.</div>
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Finally, to make a long story short, I finished…14 hours of riding. </div>
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And Mark is not my friend anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bastard.</div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/activities/62387030/embed/b8381d4527925c9f267580a30ed026f6e92231f0" width="590"></iframe><br />Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-39749440889166903452013-05-27T07:14:00.000-07:002013-05-27T07:14:30.375-07:00Memorial Munsters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The AES Kaibab Monstercross race hadn’t been held for
several years until this year when Chad decided to bring it back to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you might imagine, it’s difficult for an
underground bike race, at the far northern extent of state to have a huge
turnout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But c’mon, riding bikes on the
Kaibab Plateau?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Views of the Grand
Canyon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ribbons of singletrack that thread
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As it turns out, there was nine of us that showed up however
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<br /></div>
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I arrived at the camp spot around 6pm on Friday where I
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</span>Everyone rolled out at their own pace, mostly between 5 and 6AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chad and I left around 5:30AM and made our
way out the network of forest roads skirting the west side of the plateau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fighting some brutal headwinds the entire way
was definitely taking it’s toll and we finally arrived at Parissamwampitts
Point, the northern terminus of the Rainbow Rim Trail, some 44 miles in. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwOS77hwlzU_a_oY_yYAij5f_Lh82_5JyPoEWYMAVoTMismYxIoyHmHbo1yKbTJgqeqv5m25ex9B4zeyJRmV8TQqYCBdWuyQELVRMPG6rOmnFdenUlOZSRjCVBs_hUpxGaD-1YCko6YiB/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Rainbow Rim Trail</td></tr>
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We cruised along the 18 miles of singletrack that offered
stunning views as it contoured along the 5 points of the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we reached the end were Mark C,
Caroline, Chad and myself stopped, had a snack before we pressed on.</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthF20HuCRTxlbV2NqZuOnMLcto-rGUYeaKGAf9hfUSEkKkevgMICZ57nkLidZQXunoiYJ0_Y6TEpMl9oK1rkmKiQt5z_l2-rPz3HKM3u7bts7cFgM7AADp_pLtlMz0tMwwRJ6KF3SAIG/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthF20HuCRTxlbV2NqZuOnMLcto-rGUYeaKGAf9hfUSEkKkevgMICZ57nkLidZQXunoiYJ0_Y6TEpMl9oK1rkmKiQt5z_l2-rPz3HKM3u7bts7cFgM7AADp_pLtlMz0tMwwRJ6KF3SAIG/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking to the west from the Rainbow Rim Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, resting... </td></tr>
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By this point, we were about 62 miles in out of the 95 to
the north rim…so only 33 more miles of easy forest roads right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, as we later found, those 33 miles were
not easy…mass destruction ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
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<br /></div>
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But hey, we’re riding through beautiful country! Luckily,
that helped mask the pain.</div>
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<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9KnYQxmGFChx_ZSO__InlSP3PlL6DOU8RUlHOUveKuwiUK0-IU429-6zCR_Jz2oohImJGXXy1rkCChJ6CtavFBdDeNV_P6wYuKKLDVwMaJhNcP0nskbmkk6YM6POZBSaHosgM28ICur_/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9KnYQxmGFChx_ZSO__InlSP3PlL6DOU8RUlHOUveKuwiUK0-IU429-6zCR_Jz2oohImJGXXy1rkCChJ6CtavFBdDeNV_P6wYuKKLDVwMaJhNcP0nskbmkk6YM6POZBSaHosgM28ICur_/s320/IMG_0423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point Sublime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wKAl-ycrJ0yOo-7tUrBXKtopzT8ZF_qQm6AxHwy76xqHyt9GYSw2E2iug1HPd_2vAmCVv14296vQ0-ZChYyTbb6OhufUnSk_Ngyx5RyqujVmIdnaQnAg1dBhjyBgZPfsKRqtuztkc5oQ/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wKAl-ycrJ0yOo-7tUrBXKtopzT8ZF_qQm6AxHwy76xqHyt9GYSw2E2iug1HPd_2vAmCVv14296vQ0-ZChYyTbb6OhufUnSk_Ngyx5RyqujVmIdnaQnAg1dBhjyBgZPfsKRqtuztkc5oQ/s320/IMG_0425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point Sublime</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_61_vyAYauUuCHvDxrwEko5WlOLOq6Da4gTHucO1s9JpGkTj3zfWqRsi6zon-t-1zMT2v7jBQ6mz_o39L0WgDk3ZadBwVrf1gtpDic_C9HDRnR0p4rbJIPMwwxhqRaEU5qSQlIZ_tJLv/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_61_vyAYauUuCHvDxrwEko5WlOLOq6Da4gTHucO1s9JpGkTj3zfWqRsi6zon-t-1zMT2v7jBQ6mz_o39L0WgDk3ZadBwVrf1gtpDic_C9HDRnR0p4rbJIPMwwxhqRaEU5qSQlIZ_tJLv/s320/IMG_0426.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point Sublime</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
All this time, Chad and I were racing the clock; not the “race
clock” but closing time for the deli at the north rim where pizza and beer awaited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After arrival, we claimed our prize, pulled
up chairs on the patio, and proceeded to annihilate a veggie pizza and
hefeweizens.</div>
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<![endif]--> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXssOvesqnWAGEGsVTmPrZOghIv7xnjWLgqossAZmlF1hKcS0RxaaOi9klDEVkrUWlfE7hMEmoIHa1EJFh3J4oFHeF-s2t3OfWjuaZvvApy5lP90Xfhux3bgF_chap0joVvMZli1icFuZu/s320/IMG_0429.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view did not suck</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL40m6qKPpRFk8FibnwCDr7JXUJeVCpIBu9cgtUJ_IUy1g-Ej7ZrzVqAniS91jrJNdTIX42SQyDrbcEeUPq_nZbwonGb6UpTuMdanP-bMicQbmlNfSKrb4tQZkrmhhAhNw7w9CQYTqlx5/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL40m6qKPpRFk8FibnwCDr7JXUJeVCpIBu9cgtUJ_IUy1g-Ej7ZrzVqAniS91jrJNdTIX42SQyDrbcEeUPq_nZbwonGb6UpTuMdanP-bMicQbmlNfSKrb4tQZkrmhhAhNw7w9CQYTqlx5/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pizza didn't have a chance</td></tr>
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<![endif]-->The next morning, the five of us that made it to the north
rim the night prior, packed our gear and converged at the camp store, where we
grabbed a few supplies and readied for the 50 mile journey north along the Arizona
Trail back to the cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rolled out of
the north rim at about 7:30AM and made our way to the AZT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good night sleep, plentiful calories, and
50 miles of upcoming singletrack made my legs come alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost as though the prior days damage to
them was non-existent, I pressed on at a good pace, like horse going back to
the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The views….well, utterly
incredible…pictures will have to speak.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5tGCh3r08O2o-YAax6YVTl4HjK8ag01a2QZ3cfxl0kbaUNV6_AoB50e4uElA7ZCeg-XVpqWXHW2W1S6AUr_bxD2_gu9BD8A5L8cr0U4TbFG8j_ORIA59g7ODfLsJhr3ybthGS0zqTLa3/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5tGCh3r08O2o-YAax6YVTl4HjK8ag01a2QZ3cfxl0kbaUNV6_AoB50e4uElA7ZCeg-XVpqWXHW2W1S6AUr_bxD2_gu9BD8A5L8cr0U4TbFG8j_ORIA59g7ODfLsJhr3ybthGS0zqTLa3/s320/IMG_0438.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get to ride this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKATWAY6lZecHgeFi8ZNDfT7MEczmGOUh15lrzMTvCjCJK9MDuvJP9YBHqIOZ86moeFU6lRB_T8glmzCWNwee3Z4FrLcP4qO0S93bMdQs-8iT0aW3j5h9PmRGQvrcNsOsKODmqcFf5dsT7/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKATWAY6lZecHgeFi8ZNDfT7MEczmGOUh15lrzMTvCjCJK9MDuvJP9YBHqIOZ86moeFU6lRB_T8glmzCWNwee3Z4FrLcP4qO0S93bMdQs-8iT0aW3j5h9PmRGQvrcNsOsKODmqcFf5dsT7/s320/IMG_0440.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View off east rim</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tI81j5Clh2tYBhEUBAMXU0nyCizcsCghDRLD16r_mgM5rb6gbbW96Fb9ei9v4u7l-p4XXS_cPKVu0k-E3V_5oRKsUY1e5ab3JDTwOz3nMsQGr0oSkuXQ1iC9eMLYmxAnrZBT8uZRlQBu/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tI81j5Clh2tYBhEUBAMXU0nyCizcsCghDRLD16r_mgM5rb6gbbW96Fb9ei9v4u7l-p4XXS_cPKVu0k-E3V_5oRKsUY1e5ab3JDTwOz3nMsQGr0oSkuXQ1iC9eMLYmxAnrZBT8uZRlQBu/s320/IMG_0442.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was almost laughing at this point...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWubbIwCdJVxoKMsSe3YxmVjUf-tongrYVanWebWrCm_Ys5Qb_edRVW6-7w4Zbj-UU9GyWtmc0FTp5JdtjHbEnysKz1qR1TZf84H0LAc1ztlQrWPpiPTOKUhUT5wQYP_n0OXBwLTXOD1HG/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWubbIwCdJVxoKMsSe3YxmVjUf-tongrYVanWebWrCm_Ys5Qb_edRVW6-7w4Zbj-UU9GyWtmc0FTp5JdtjHbEnysKz1qR1TZf84H0LAc1ztlQrWPpiPTOKUhUT5wQYP_n0OXBwLTXOD1HG/s320/IMG_0445.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look on that far hill, you'll see the little ribbon of trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow on the left</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
At 2pm, I arrived back at the truck, still riding an
endorphin high having seemingly “shredded” (at least in my own mind!) those
last 50 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which by the way is so
ironic since the AZT typically shreds people, reducing them to salt-covered
piles of flesh and bones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This day would
be different for me for I had taken a withdrawal from the Bank of the AZT… and
it was about time after all my “deposits” !</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many thanks to everyone who showed; it’s always fun to ride
and socialize with such a great group of like-minded people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also a HUGE thanks to Chris’s family who
chased all of us around in their truck cheering us on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They caught Chad and I late in day 1 as we
were pushing our bikes up out of a drainage. …you guys rock!</div>
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Until next time…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
R</div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-61058233777036271862013-05-06T11:39:00.001-07:002013-05-06T11:43:57.575-07:00Casner Resurrected<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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Two years ago was the last “formal” running of the AES Casner Dirty Century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, it was my first time doing the ride which as I recall, was a good 11.5 hour beat down taking us through some of the best views in Northern Arizona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the ride that was somewhat of a turning point for me since it demonstrated how much ground you can really cover in a day on a bike. It was then my longest ride to date...and well since that point, my infatuation with long rides has simply gotten worse.</div>
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It was time to run it again – This time with fellow endurance nut Mark Allen coming off his recent AZT300 finish and superhuman fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark made my phone ring Friday asking me if I was into a CDC run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was I to say no to nearly 12 hours of pedaling some super scenic terrain?</div>
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Outfitted in our new AES jerseys designed by the one and only Nancy Gray, Mark and I rolled out of Munds Park at about 6:30AM on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rolled north along forest roads then through some singletrack at Fort Tuthill, then connected to Woody Mountain Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would take us southwesterly towards Casner Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The headwinds were brutal – a cold breeze, straight in our face nearly the whole way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we began the traverse down a narrow strip of land that bisects the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This route offers absolutely stunning views albeit extremely remote and difficult to get to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 2 track powerline service road is almost AZT-esque <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in parts… steep, rubly, rocky, and loose. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south into the Red Rock Secret Wilderness - Canser Mtn on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sycamore Canyon Wilderness</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back along the narrow strip of land bisecting the 2 wilderness areas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me looking out into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness</td></tr>
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Finally after about 5 hours from the start, we reached Casner Mountain, where we snapped a few pics of the views, scarfed down a snack, and proceeded down the brake-burning descent off the south face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there, we made our way over to Sedona via dirt roads where we began the single track assault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pano shot looking south off Casner Mtn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending off Casner looking east to Sedona - we'd have to ride all the way over there</td></tr>
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As we say, this is where “shit got real”…almost 70 miles in the legs and now it was time to get our tech on; generate max power to get over obstacles all the while avoiding OTB’s and other associated potential carnage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where fitness gets the real test… go zero to max power and back; wash, rinse, repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally popping out on Jordan road, we hit the c-store to resupply with calories and caffeine prior to the ascent up Schnebly.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team AES (lol) at the C-store modeling the new AES jerseys</td></tr>
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Rolling through the tourist infested streets of Sedona, we headed towards Schnebly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, my Mountain Dew and Coke charged legs found their rhythm as I played leapfrog with pink jeeps and camera happy tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An hour later, I reached the peak and decided I’d roll all the way to Munds and wait with beer in hand for Mark to finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark rolled in roughly 20 minutes later and we proceeded to destroy a few beers and a feast of fajitas.</div>
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Another successful beat down complete.</div>
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Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1147351190556169065.post-77860839452034889162013-04-21T13:02:00.001-07:002013-04-21T13:02:15.851-07:00My 2013 AZT300: Attempt #2 = DNF<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sitting here some 19 hours after pulling the plug, I’m still
playing the events over and over in my mind that led me to ending my
AZT300.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike last year, where other
peoples carelessness took me out, this year it was me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although I’m still very new to this kind of racing, it is
painfully clear to me that you have to dial in the factors at your fingertips
(nutrition, hydration, training, etc) and then plan and practice for all the uncontrollable
factors that the trail hands you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
those uncontrollable factors and how you manage them ends up being the the
difference between finishing a monster like the AZT300, and throwing in the
towel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My race basically went like this…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eleven of us met at the Picket Post trailhead on Thursday
where we met our shuttle driver Phil from Gnar Gnar Tours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short stop for Pizza in Tucson, we
continued to Parker Canyon Lake where we unloaded and camped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t sleep very good that night due to my
ribs still hurting from a fall a week prior as well as some vicious wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As day broke, we all readied our gear and met
familiar faces as they arrived for the start of the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally at 9AM after some words by Scott
Morris, we headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOlWDnrmaq8B-o12XLft-GUMHDvZVhpGPC52wI5o_IqKkLn6ESm18tNF81ZljyO4Xb1FScgurDSfV7PLMyHxEoYpDA4MRQCjjcu7beCkUSaG1pa06WYhktkWgfGpf3hLb90-erCHHFpTj/s1600/ray+azt+pic+from+scott+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOlWDnrmaq8B-o12XLft-GUMHDvZVhpGPC52wI5o_IqKkLn6ESm18tNF81ZljyO4Xb1FScgurDSfV7PLMyHxEoYpDA4MRQCjjcu7beCkUSaG1pa06WYhktkWgfGpf3hLb90-erCHHFpTj/s320/ray+azt+pic+from+scott+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the start (pic from Scott Morris)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Several took off
at a very brisk pace but I knew better and quickly settled into a steady churn
through the Canelos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trail there is
brutal - lots of fall line ups and downs, littered with tire slicing
rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 4 hours later, I really
just wasn’t feeling right; climbs were harder than they should have been and
already fighting fatigue in my legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
arrived in Patagonia at 1:45pm which was a respectable time through the
Canelos, and focused on trying to eat as I spun up the road to Sonoita.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUvCtV_udZ6DfUS-leB2eMg1KGUlnNoQFgGC1nrVuWUK086Usg5XjVY7Pja0Dsn1nyxkdL54R1fdMfDJEQcfHgCaD5zjpil5Hz-mVaEq4awWk1-AnznhcXNXZH33-4eloGschyKXnDbk/s1600/ray+azt+pic+from+scott+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iUvCtV_udZ6DfUS-leB2eMg1KGUlnNoQFgGC1nrVuWUK086Usg5XjVY7Pja0Dsn1nyxkdL54R1fdMfDJEQcfHgCaD5zjpil5Hz-mVaEq4awWk1-AnznhcXNXZH33-4eloGschyKXnDbk/s320/ray+azt+pic+from+scott+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in the Canelos (pic from Scott Morris)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I arrived in Sonoita, where I ran into Jeff and Nancy who
had started earlier than the mass start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After picking up some supplies, I headed out along with Jeff and
Nancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling OK, I slowly pulled away
from them then the fatigue set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
stopped, sat on a rock and ate (something I almost NEVER do).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeff and Nancy came by and I mentioned to
them that I really needed to find my mojo – it was way early to be feeling this
poor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back on the bike, I rolled into Kentucky Camp where I refilled
my water, ate and pressed on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
feeling descent and in comparison to last year, I was about 30 minutes
faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally as the sun set, I put on
my light and figured listening to music might help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolling along the rough and rugged sections of
the LosColinas Passage in complete darkness, with only my headlamp to light the
trail, was a very surreal feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a particularly tough passage with very little margin for error; lots of steep
ups and downs as the trail goes in out of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>drainages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dumped the bike a
few times as my front wheel washed out on the downhill side of the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, I avoided harm and simply got back
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At about 9pm, on a rough downhill, I sliced my rear
tire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dropping an f-bomb or two, I
stopped, calmly got out my curved needle and dental floss, and sewed up the slice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifteen minutes later, I was back on track,
and had decided I would at least make it to where I’d camped last year, roughly
5 miles south of I-10.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arriving at my camp spot at 10:30pm, I quickly rolled out my
bag, jumped in and was out within minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At 4am, I heard something around me and sat up in my bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was enough to make me decide to pack up
and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus at 4:30AM, I was back on the
trail rolling north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about 5:30AM, my
rear tire went flat again at my prior fix so I stopped, put on an external automotive
tire patch, and even stitched it down figuring I really did not want to be
messing with this one again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I continued to roll north, stopping at the Rincon Market for
some snacks where I ran into Chad and Max.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was still feeling at about 60% power so I called my wife and told her
I was going to continue and climb Reddington to see how I felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spun my way through Tucson then began the
steep climb up Reddington Pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
way harder than it should have been but I decided I would continue and see if a
steady stream of calories would help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
passed the spot where my attempt last year was ended and stopped for a second
to laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured anything from this
point on was gravy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, hitting AZT
singletrack, I made the turn north then gradually back to the west on the AZT.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then slice #2 happed…$&%&#!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed fixable with just a little
superglue and gorilla tape but after a few miles, it just wouldn’t seal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled out the needle and dental floss and
stitched it but again, no dice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
tubed it (using one of my two tubes) but I couldn’t get the bead to seat regardless
of how hard I tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tire was wobbly
as heck but I figured I’d go with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I got down the trail another mile or so, I was simply out
of energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped in the shade of a
big tree, sat down and ate… and thought… and stared at the ground… and then
finally made the extraction phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ughh…at the time, it’s the best feeling in the world…a near term end to
my suffering!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But little did I know,
there was still significant physical and mental suffering ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still about 3 miles from Catalina Hwy
but what stood between me and the paved road was the AZT over Molino Saddle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, it’s HAB hell – one of the most
wicked HAB’s I’ve done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pushing a loaded
bike up a steep, loose trail, then having to lift it over boulders is tough…really
tough…really f*ing tough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally I managed myself down from the saddle and then back
down Catalina Hwy where I was picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My race was officially over....160 miles in, 32 hours after it started.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This kind of racing is nothing short of brutal and on a
course that eats people and bikes for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I said above, you do everything you can to control the variables you
can, but it’s those other variables that end up being left to chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the chips don’t fall your way, it works
on your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each little thing starts
to add up…that creak your bike is making, the tire with 2 cuts in it, legs that
won’t go, a sore rear end…till finally you raise that little white flag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, now I’ll watch from the couch, cheering on my friends
that are still in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the while
wishing I was still out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
hoping there’s going to be a next year for me…I feel like I NEED to do this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
R</div>
Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717855174174072704noreply@blogger.com6