Casual Weekend

Have been riding bikes just to ride. Thursday was the board meeting for the APEX ordeal. Met up with Spike, Pbrme and Lubes for a ride at Apex before the meeting. Pedaled up, up and away in a meandering fashion. The first time I've ever really ridden there. Normally I just descend enchanted forest on my 60+ mile loop around the front range. It's actually quite enjoyable.

There ended up being over 400 mtbers that showed up to support the cause. If you're not a member you need to join COMBA, they're doing a hell of a job.

Was supposed to work on saturday but that didn't happen. So headed up to Evergreen for a pancake breakfast then on to Bergen Peak. What a stellar little climb. And yes, the coastie feels awesome! THen back to town and threw in a sweet full moon hike for shits and giggles.

Today headed up to BC with Laura and the black and white for Laura's virgin run of the flowyness we call Buffalo Creek. Giggly fun was the way of the day.

So I have had four rides on the new titanium mountain mustache bars and all I have to say is, WOW! They are everything I thought they would be and more. They flex ~2in. which is crazy. When combined with the ti fork and 2.55 front tires you get a soft and compliant front end. If you want the best feeling bars ever and are willing to throw down $270 for them, these are what you want. Absolutely amazing.

Riding Along!

So the coastie is back in the rotation. The new black sheep bars match up nicely with the fork they built me last year. The legs are toasted but once the trail points down it's all good. It may take a few rides to be able to descend up to my potential and get used to the new hand postion, but I was still able to let it all hang out. Did a BC ride with Lubes on friday. It was one of those beautiful days with a nice chill in the air. Just pedaling around, then hit up Indian Creek yesterday. 30 miles of coastie goodness with Jerry, Scott and Steve.

Riding these bars gives a little extra cushion. The bars flex about 3/4 to 1" when force is applied. They feel oh so good. I actually have to work for a few days, it's been almost a month, then I shall ride again. peace

Coasting

Hit up BC yesterday with Lubes and my little white dog. Beautiful day on the bike. A chill in the air with a beautiful blue sky above. I've got some painful shit going on now so it was the last day on the fixie for a bit. The coastie is tuned, clean ready to roll with a new titanium mountain mustache bar from black sheep. I'd rather be able to ride than not. I'm even gonna pedal an easy gear, silly huh? Now i's time to just ride along, no objectives just enjoy where I am and what I'm able to do. Especially with fall blazing through and winter rearing it's head. Gotta get it while you can. Checked out Mateo's in progress pump track, very nice and just kicked it for the evening. Picked up some killer pics Steve took, now to make a matte and frame 'em up.

Headed to Indian Creek today for some lushness, then tomorrow to Lyons for a sufferfest as long as my innards don't get jarred loose today. I'll post a pic of my new bars later, there flippin' sweet.

Ride bikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Molas Pass

Drove up to Molas Pass for a high country ride while in Durango. We decide to go high on the coldest day we had experienced on our trip, plus we were starting at 11,000'. The ride started off bad as the map we had was atrocious. Stick to the latitude 40 maps for those interested, and we couldn't find the starting jeep track, it didn't exist. With the drive there and the looking around for the begining we got a much later start then I was comfortable with. Had planned on riding by no later than 9, it was 10 when we finally got going in the right direction.

I had a 35ish mile ride planned but that didn't happen. After climbing some pristine singletrack for a few hours with an imposing storm looming overhead, we decided to enjoy where we were and then head back. The legs were feeling much better by this time, but they were still spent. Got some killer scenic shots that describe the day quite well.

Ended up with around 20 miles and many smiles for the day. The wind was brutal and the sun was out. The water on the trail was frozen and we were chillin'. Another beautiful day of just riding along. I wish the rest of the posse could have ridden with us, but it was not to be. They were headed across the country in all directions.

Day 2

Here's most of the crew from our Condo, kicking it with the Texans, as they made us a killer dinner. The day was pretty casual with a course pre-ride the only thing that needed to be done. Rolling through town we spotted the coolest limo, ever.
Spotted Jacqui Phelan chillin' with Pooh Bear in the park.
Jeff Jones sexiness.
Our trusty one speed steeds.
Here's a view of the hogback. Raider's Ridge is that whole ridgeline and she is sweet. Nice and techie with full exposure to one side and totally rideable. It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.
We started the course at the midway point, so this is actually the second hike a bike, that which crushes souls.
Views of awesomeness.
Did the second half of the course, then dropped off the dog and a few riders who didn't want to do the BIG hike a bike and ridge. Toni, Craig, Jamie and myself headed out. Found some sweeetness that led to some steepness. Everyone bailed as I kept climbing. This is the view half way up,
looking forward
and here is the reward at the top. This is where the silliness began. Soooo much techie goodness but easy compared to techie riding in WV. I had one dab and one 10 foot push in the 3+ mile section. I was stoked! Came off the ridge to see Maddie and her adopted grandpa, I'm not sure whom adopted whom but they were new best friends.
Gave Marshall some head game info for the ridge and told everyone what was up with the ridge, pure bliss. Kicked it around town and watched the storms roll through. Another great day in paradise.

Day 1

I woke up in Denver at 2:45 am wed and was out the door. I had to be in Durango by 11 to pick up Craig at the airport. Talk about slumming, I was totally not with it for the 6 hr drive. Made it to town about 8, hit up the dog park, ate a killer breakfast at Carver Brewing and then tracked down Marshall and Shanna. Hung out with them for about half an hour and to the airport I went. Picked up Craig, then to Durango Cyclery to grab his bike. Saw Eric, the most badass rider '09 from the enduro, and threw his bike in the car as well. Went to the trailhead for the last segment of the CT and built up Craig's bike in the parking lot. He was rocking a fixed gear Karate Monkey with a huge 32x17 gear.
Climbed for a bit on some nice switchbacks that made me want to vomit. Then here and there for a nice 18 mile shakedown ride.
Of course the great Miss Madolin was there and killed it, as usual!
Got back to town later in the day and found Shanna of endless bikes and our condo for the next several days. The party had already started and we were stoked to have a killer place to crash.
It was so nice to be able to park the car and not touch it for several days. 100 miles of trail less than ten minutes from the center of town via bike. Absolutely amazing!

SSWC 09

WOW!!!!! People riding bikes of the one speed variety always makes for a nice day. Especially when they're were over 1,200 riders. Rode around town a bit before the official start just to see what I could see. Ran in to the WV night club as well as numerous people that I have ridden without around this state. Lined up in the front 75 people, but the people I was behind SUCKED!, absolutely no handling skills. So the parade through town was nice and sketchy, once the uphill began I was able to reel off a shit ton of folks. Pedal pedal then feet on the bottle cages was the tactic to go as fast as I could into the singletrack. Rolled with Bucky for a bit, until the entrance to the hike-a-bike. Was in a fast enough group that I was able to pedal all the way to the true hike-a-bike. By the time we hit the ridge I had a nice separation from the pack I hiked with and reeled in about 15 riders. Got slowed up by one dude who wouldn't move over, but whatever, he finished behind me.

Descended raider ridge in a full on sketchy ass descent. I was faster than a few ssers even though I couldn't coast and it was steeeeeeep and looooose. The bummer is I had to stop to pee, the longest pee ever, and gave up half of the places I had just gained.

Ran the next 10 miles or so just cruising along at my own pace, casually. A few would come and go as I walked up totally rideable sections. Then came the second hike-a-bike and it crushed me. I'm so glad they were handing out bacon and twinkies along with shots of tequila, whiskey and beer as a chaser. The twinkie and bacon was just what I needed. Grabbed a few spots back on all out descents.

Thats when the cramp monster reared it's ugly head. Just keep it moving and don't give up a spot. That's when I see this hottie coming up behind. It makes me feel much better to stay in front of someone. She rode my wheel for about 5 miles and wouldn't pass. I was blocking the head wind, so she followed even on the little gravel descent.

Had nothing in my legs as I got to the last climb, and she walked by me. At least I followed her to the finish. She finished 9th female and was the former 24hr ss world champion, Christina Begy. Not to bad of a place to finish considering it was 22+ miles with over 3,000' of climbing and riding a rigid fixed gear. Ended up riding with most of the women in the top 9 before finishing and they all were ripping.

Ended up 1st fixed gear, I know there were at least 3- all with me, and top 200 overall. Another great day on the bicycle. Next year will be in New Zealand and hopefully I will be on a new coasty bike by then.

I'll give a recap with some pictures for the last week. Sorry for the lac of pics as my camera jammed and wouldn't work for most of the trip. More later.

All of the pictures are under slakass pictures under this is where I may be.