Doin' what I can

to ride bikes! Hit up BC the other day with a crew for a snow filled hike with the bike. The climbs were tough to say the least but the descent was some of the best downhill action I have been involved with in a while. Here's a picture of Spike, you like the women's pink jacket with the matching shorts to get the onsey look? This is what we have to look forward to when we get old and a little senile. You show up to gatherings wearing your wife's clothes and looking for something to put in your mouth. WAS he already into the whiskey before the ride? I believe so, and the trail is all downhill from here, guaranteed!
It was a nice jaunt and it felt super nice to actually be in the woods, even if trails are still limited. You take what you can get when you can get it, right?!
Yesterday went out for a fat tire road bike ride. Was hoping to hit some singletrack along the way, but it was way to moisty for that. Ended up with a 50-ish mile jaunt just rolling around. Saw this dude rolling around when we came down from red rocks, and yeah that's a schnauzer just chillin' in the trailer with a blanket on. Good times!Met another fixie dude, Mike from Baltimore, the other day. We've thrown down for a few rides and the dude is strong! Makin' me earn my miles, to say the least.





Yeah we were rocking the matching orange fat tire road bike setups. Sometimes it just happens like that. Rolled into down town and hit up Salvagetti for their shop party. Such a good time with some super cool people. Hopefully the snow stays away for a bit so we can throw down a couple more rides this week. I'm so ready for some trails to open up!

Gonna hit up a hike with the black & white to enjoy some full moon action tonight. Get out and enjoy this day. peace.

A little spin

in the snow on the big green hill. Ran by Lubes' house on the way and he was just finishing up work, so the timing was perfect.

The plan was to do a stroll around the middle loop, up BOR,, down the spine and back on the lower loop. Yeah, that didn't happen. The snow was deeper than expected and was not packed down at all. Some riding and a little pushing was to be had. Definitely a harder effort than was expected.
wondering why it's so hard to ride up this little incline?


Lubes being all happy and stuff.
Ran in to MGE, as he was finishing up his 5+ hr ride and he snapped this pic.

Good times, for sure. the 2nd winter race in Leadville was this weekend, but decided to stay local instead of driving up. Kind of bummed as it is the most fun event of the winter series, by far. Gonna get out and pedal for a bit tomorrow, before the snow melts and makes for no riding for a week or so. Just taking advantage of what we are being presented with. I'm out.

My little wolfie!

So I just got my build date-ish for the Wolfhound. It's still about a 6 month wait, but is gonna be so worth it. It's already been almost 13 months so what's a couple more? Fred sent me some pics of his newest creation. The one that he's gonna show off at the San Diego custom bike show in April. All I have to say is wow! It's pretty flippin' amazing. He asked me not to show it off and I shall honor that. It has me worked up so much that I would be stoked if I still had to wait another year!

Anyway, the Giant is pretty much finished due to the LARGE groove through the carbon fiber on the chainstay. So the vicious is the ride of the year, unless someone has an extra rig they want me to ride. Just have to make it 'til around August and will then hopefully have a new steed to rip it on! So excited I can hardly stand it. peace.

Back again,

but without much to say. Haven't been on the dirt in a while and definitely jonesin' for some dirty mc dirt. I have always been a huge fan of winter, but I am over this freeze-thaw bullshit cycle we have had going on for what seems like forever. It would be different if the snow in the mountains was spectacular 'cause then it would be worth my time to drive to the them there hills. But it is fairly lame that way as well. Call me spoiled, but I have very high standards and expectations.

So anyway, I have been pulling this bike out about every day or so. Many days it's just over to the parking garage at DU with the dog for some hot laps and manual session. 'Cause I need all the practice I can get.

So I have been working out everyday in the non-cycling fashion with plans on being strong at some random point in time. I'll have to see how that works out for me. I'm thinking exceptionally well will be the outcome. I have been having the urge to run quite often, so some new running kicks are in order for the week and looking forward to some 30-ish mile runs very soon. Want to join in? Hit me up!

By the way, I got a skype account the other day, so I now have the ability to talk to people verbally, if'n you're interested.

Oh, and here's the new painting on the side of Qi athletic club, of which Happy Mantas Wellness Tree is a part of. It's pretty rad except for the dumpster sitting in front of it.





We have a really sweet tag inside where you walk into the bathroom and the door that walks into the treatment area. It's hard to get a good picture as you can't step far away back to get the whole thing in the pic., but you get the idea.
peace. I'm out.

Stupid flat tire!

So I had some free time today so figured I would go pedal my bike on some dirt. First time on my mountain bike in the dirt since early November. It was much needed. Pulled out the Vicious as I am over the Giant coastie bullshit after riding it in Leadville. Just not feeling it.

Headed over to the big green hill for a spin. Felt good on the climb to the top, the descent blazed by even though I was wishing for a bit bigger gear. Then over to Dakota Ridge. Cleaned Zorro up to the stairs easily so I tried to clean a big chunk of the stairs in a big and sketchy move.

Psssss is all I hear. Fuck! No tube, no pump, not even a wrench to take off the wheel if someone were to offer me a tube, which not a sole did. Rolled down zorro on the flat like I normally do no big deal. Get to the bottom and the tire came off of the rim and was all over the place. So I wrapped the tube and tire around the frame and continued pedaling along on the rim.

Then the tube gets wrapped around the non-drive side crank arm and stops me in my tracks. Unwind that mess and then proceed to tie my tire to the frame with existing tube as my tie down, now that it's ripped in half. Pedal the next 2ish miles on the rim in an uneventful manner.

Roll to Lubes' house to borrow his chainwhip so I can change my rear cog. I also borrowed some files and filed down all of the burrs on the rim from thrashing it on the trail. Cog would not budge.

To the house I went, put a new tube and newer tire on the rear. Normally have to run a 2.1 due to clearance issues, but tried for a 2.3 instead. Holy shit was it a hassle. Tried to break the cog loose by doing skids and track stands and generally trying to knock it off. Not happening. Broke Lubes' whip, I'll get you a new one btw.

Headed to the shop where it took two guys and a 4ft cheater bar to break it loose. I wish I had a 17t to put on, but had to settle for the 18t. It's gotta feel better then that easy gear I have been running.

Now all I have to do is bolt on the rear wheel, right. Well that 2.3 turns out to be a bitch. Have to run the rear wheel all the way out in the drops Now the chainstay length is like 20", retarded long. Then the rear triangle is soooo tight that there is about 1.5mm clearance. I hate this bike. I don't know what it was designed for, but straight up mountain biking it was not. I suppose it would be a perfect monstercross bike with the minimal clearance it has. All I have to say is I hope I don't get a flat on the trail, 'cause that rear end with that tire is a pain in the ass. I guess I forgot how bad it was since I haven't changed anything on that bike in over a year and a half. All I know is that was the most pissed off and frustrated I have been in a long time. Anyway, now she's ready to roll and I'm over it.

Can't wait for the Wolfhound. Another year and I may have it. I'm out.


It will resemble this but be even more badass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No pedaling

to be had for over a week, other than commuting to and fro. Full moon tele ski jam over Berthoud Pass on Saturday was so rad. The moon was super bright and the snow was surprisingly good. Put a mediocre skier, at best, in the trees at night and you're sure to get a good laugh. Actually my gut hurt I was laughing so hard at myself. Would definitely do it again. Followed that up with three days of snowboarding at Winter Park. Had some of the hardest charging days I have ever had on the mountain. So much fun and totally worked. Jiggety James and Sunny gave me the locals tour of the hill and definitely showed me where the hidden goods were. Any time your hiking a bit in bounds, it's gotta be good.

The rest of the week will be bicycle related unless we get some of the white powdery stuff. We shall see. Peace.