PMBAR!!!

Yesterday was pmbar, for those that don't know, it's a race with 5 checkpoints, you have to hit four, two are mandatory and the fifth receives a 2 hr time bonus. You can get them in any order and it is in the heart of pisgah nat'l forest. Adam and I teamed up and didn't look at the map until after we climbed black mtn to the turkey pen turn off, did a quick map check and figured out our route in about 40 sec. Dropped turkey pen, we were the first up to there and the first to turkey pen th. Turkey pen was absolutely gorgeous, lined with mtn laurel on tight and fast singletrack. Held it together on some sketchy and a little too fast for conditions singletrack but that's what makes it fun. Crashed right at the trailhead when some laurel grabbed bars bars and proceeded to send me over them. It was right in front of a hiker, classic! Checkpoint 1 in under 1.5 hrs and out before we saw anyone. Up mullinax to squirrel gap to checkpoint 2, passed Bob and Dennis and team dickey right before our checkpoint, they were going opposite of our route. In and out quick then up horsecove to fast ass double track to 1206. Rolled 1206 to the base of pilot where we hiked up 3.5 miles to the top of laurel for checkpoint 3. Started raining so we set under the tarp with Christy and had a much appreciated picnic. There's nothing like a picnic in the middle of the race. Droped Laurel and it was oh so fun. Ate it a few times on some super slippery rocks that I new better than to ride, but it's part of the game. Then we got to the too long for me, if I wanted to ride gravel roads I would ride the cross bike, section. Gravel down to mills river campground, then up 5000 to the last camp site and hit checkpoint 4. Turned around and climbed back up what we just descended and stayed on this until we turned off of 476 to south mills river trail up to buckhorn gap. Then some more hike a bike up black mtn trail. On the next to last descent had a rear flat and a team that we created a gap on passed us as we were putting the tire back on, one more flat section then a giggly fun and fast descent to the start/finish line. This descent was flowing super smoothe when I flatted on the front and said piss on it. I finished the last mile or so on a flat front tire. Ended up finishing 9th out of 60ish teams. 8hrs and 18minutes wa our official ride time and I don't know about mileage or elevation gain, but will get a rough estimate later The views were absolutley stunning, so many different color greens with all the wild flowers coming to life and the amazing fragrances made for an amazing day. The weather was absolutely perfect, overcast with a high of maybe 70, one small rainy section and absolutely perfect trail conditions. Adam and I had planned on hittin all 5 checkpoints but it was going to be another 20-25 miles of gravel roads so we mutually agreed to bail on that. We never pushed hard and just rode at a quick, casual and steady pace. We never made it hurt and just rolled along. It was a great day to be riding a bicycle and awesome to be able to have Adam as a partner. I wasn't exactly pleased with how I rode, but it was still a good day. It's good to know that I could go out and do the same ride today at the same pace. 9 more days of riding and I should be in shape when I do actually leave Asheville. Gonna go try and get a 4ish hour rainy day ride with anyone who will go ride with me. Should be able to to find a few. Then cookout at gabe's this evening. Another fabulous day. Oh yeah, covered front porches are the jam. peace

Aheville, baby!

Had a sweet day yesterday. Shuttle bus picked me up at the house @ 4a.m, it was brutal. Made it to asheville about 3:30 where Lela picked me up and took me to the country to pick up my bike. Tony had it all dialed in. About 5 minutes later Jane rolls in, so we head to BC for a little welcome back ride. Pedaled some trails that went up and then back down a few times. Got a couple of hours with a nice casual pace. She is still a rock star when it comes to going up hills, little speed racer that is rocking a new custom dean ss! She drops me off at Gabe's and we decide to pedal to Big Nate's for a bit. That's where the sketchy ass litespeed fixie comes in to play. 39x13 with flat pedals and an on the outs fork while riding in the dark with no lights is no joke, good to be back in asheville! It's easy to forget how green it actually is in the east when you've been gone for a few years. Gonna enjoy this drizzly friday morning and pedal over to meet up with marshall for some tea before kicking it around town for the day. death march tomorrow, it's gonna be rad!

Took miss maddie up to BC to get a couple of fast and flowy rides before heading to Asheville for two weeks of pure mountain biking bliss. She surprised me with her badassness for two days. Hit up a 35ish mile pedal on tuesday. The CT was in need of some serious tree cleaning, but the ground conditions were really good. Once we got over to the burn area it was fast and flowy as usual. Maddie killed it. Got back to the truck and we took a nap. Thought she would be done, but no, she woke up and was jacked. Went and bouldered for a while , hiked and then caught an absolutely beautiful sunset.


This was the view from the camp site. Woke early on wed. and pedaled over to chair rocks on some uber sweet and flowy trails. Got another 22ish miles in today. Again, maddie killed it. No sore paws or anything, just one badass dog! Headed back to town where I pulled the trailer with dog to run errands to get ready for a two week hiatus. Too bad b&w can't go to ash-vegas, she would dig it. 58ish miles in under a 20hr time period makes for one happy b&w!
So unbelievably stoked to be back in the woods for multiple days. Life is so good and it's about to get silly fun!!!!!!!

The last several days of riding, spent my b-day on a 70ish mile fixie ride. The day began as breaking trail in 4in of snow, hub deep water in the tunnels and ended as a classic 65 plus degree day without a cloud in the sky.

Thursday turned into a killer day in the mtns, with Kevin! Heil, picture rock, hall and back turned into a 40 mile fixie ride on the vicious.
Maddie ended up running some errands with me, put in a little over 30 miles on this silly contraption!

Headed to pisgah on thursday for the deathmarch coupled with 2 weeks of some sik ass riding! It's about to be on.

Graduation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is official! 6 amazing years, both coasts and ending up in CO. It's been said that it's more about the journey than the destination and I do say that they both feel pretty flippin' sweet. This is my graduating class, filled with some amazing individuals. This is to all of the people who supported me on this crazy little journey, much love. Now it's time to ride bicycles for a couple of weeks with no worries! peace!

Lazy Day!

B&W chillin' in the tree beside the lake. Can your dog climb trees? Didn't think so. She is one rad little critter!















Rode the jake on the bike path over to bear creek park and hit some in town singletrack. was a nice 60/40 split of singletrack and bike path. 36x15 and flat pedals requires some serious gumption to climb singletrack, but made it work. Nothing feels better than roosting mountain bikers on a descent while rocking the cross bike. The sketchier the situation the better it feels.

Got home and grabbed the Merckx and rolled around the bike path, just taking in the evening!
It was a good day!

Thursday Night Ride

Made a trip up to BC with Chris, Kevin and B&W for a little pedal. Chris showed up with his sweet new podium 1x9 and moto fork on the front. One plush rig, for sure!
Was nice going for a ride where riding (not waiting) was the objective. Super fun pace and very little down time.
Miss Madolin taking a H20 break after a giggly fun descent.
Kevin and Chris rolling along
The vicious posing with a sweet little back drop. 18 miles on a weekday night ride is pretty sik! Fast and flowy trails are much appreciated! Three more days off with no studying, so plenty of riding to be had. peace

more pics here!