The Big Two

There are two things that scare me on a bike. Of course, these are very relative and may be above or below someone else's "threshold". But for me, although they are attainable, they scare me, make me feel weak and intimidated and generally cause all kinds of anxiety:

1. 100 miles solo on the road bike or even 80 miles at a really stiff pace seems to do the trick (5+ hours)

2. 50 miles or more solo on a mtb nightride (5+ hours).

I find I have to think about doing either of these for some time before I launch the effort. Sure, it seems like I just wake up and decide to go for a 5 hr night ride...but it is really just the timing that has all come in to place where motivation meets weather meets schedule meets fitness.

The whole idea plays with my mind...knowing that I may reach points of suffering or might even get lost and need to spend the night. There is no finish line, no feed zone, no comfort of an encouraging word. There are no race fees and no one is cheering or even cares. You flirt with bonking and pacing and nutrition become quite important as there is no support vehicle to pick you up. There's wind, hills and spooky animals at night. If it sounds easy, or if you do either regularly, hats off to you.

I have been close to making the call of shame on road rides, dehydrated and spent on the side of the road. I have fought turning back on epic night rides when faced knee deep creek crossings or 2,000' climbs. The mental games can be intense and overpowering.

It is the risk of being vulnerable that gives me such a high. Try it, you might like it. You'll be guaranteed to learn something about yourself.

The 1 1/2 Man Tent

Went camping a few weeks ago with the boys. Used my 1 1/2 man tent. It took a few tries with the self portraits, but here are all four of us bedded down like deer in a meadow of tall grass. More comfortable all wedged in than you would think.

Home Sweet Home

Front view of our house. Master bedroom is right above the garage. We have windows out the west (shown) and east ends of the bedroom. Great to wake up with the sun at 5:30 in the summertime.


Back of the house view. Huge patio that is a pain to sweep and keep clean in the fall with all the leaves. We need a leaf blower!


Punkie would want me to mention our cats. Tigger and Killer. They are mouse hunters and live in the back garage.








If you look closely, you can see our singletrack...


More singletrack...





The house is big but old. We are sure it will be a pain in the winter with the cold and bad windows etc but the yard is fabulous. I'll get some shots of the moto track up soon.

Biking Trip in Vegas

Yep, that's what Interbike is for me...a biking trip followed by 1 day of new products. This was my 3rd year for demo days and I am still learning how to make it better. After last year, Rich and Greg were planning to try the demo days with me. I think it was a super fun trip for everyone. I am baffled how everyone doesn't go to demo days but I suppose 2 days of long hours back to back on brand new bikes on sweet trails in the desert heat isn't for everyone. It is for me. Rich reported 4:06 and 5:10 of riding over the two days.

Here is what I will remember for next year:

1. Ride long and ride fewer. The exchange process can be lengthy...esp if you wait for your size to come back. Fewer bikes, longer rides and more smiles...unless you get stuck with a DOG!

2. Hydration is key. In the 95 degree heat, we were burning through the bottles and ran out more than once. What reaction would you get signing out a bike with a Camelbak Mule 100 oz strapped on your back? "See you later".

3. Tubes and CO2 is nice. We had 4 flats...or more. Rich even Flatted the Pugsley. Patches suck and walking is worse so bring the goodies.

4. No pedals. Why was I bringing pedals? That only applies to guys riding Be-Bop pedals or old Frogs. You do need road pedals if you have your road shoes.

5. Bring some bars. Unlike previous years where Hammer and GU were there with good samples, Powerbar had a monopoly on nutrition and the little chewy gels don't last long. I needed a full bar more than once.

We chatted extensivly on most rides although we had a bunch of faster pace spurts. Good to get caught up. Greg is always game for riding long or riding hard. He never says no if he thinks the pace will be too high. THAT, is how you get faster. I loved our ability to discuss different merits and feedback from the bikes we rode. When you go from one to the other and so on some traits become very obvious.


Rich on the Pugsley (before he flatted)



Greg on the 19 lb Cannondale Flash

That's the beauty of Demo Days. Both of them really enjoyed riding those bikes and had always wondered..now they know!

The Crack

Fish Creek Provincial Park, is a large urban park with vast forest areas and some meadows. Fish Creek, as you may guess, flows through the middle of the park meandering around this way and that.

Somewhat patchy at times there is easily enough A+ stuff to ride for 2+ hours. Awesome tech ST with roots and off cambers and a few fallen logs. Some great meadow sections and some spectacular climbs up the ridges.





The ride always ends with the boys taking the high road...a singletrack that climbs up right underneath an overpass. It is low enough, that I get wedged between the underside of the concrete slab and my stem. The boys just slip through. Especially eerie on night rides.

Since we had yet to discover the battery charger for our camera after the move, I was without a photo taking device for the whole 32 hours-of-driving-with-Cale road trip. Too bad. Lasting memories but some good sights.

Check out my team kit. Yes, I am the one with the long white stockings and the red, black and white jersey. The Dead Goats. A cycling club in Calgary named after a saloon in SLC. GO figure.

Laramie was good. Hard to compare to last year when I recovered after a tough 2 hr start to pass 40 or so people on my way to a strong finish. This year I basically rode with 1st and 2nd from my group for the whole last 1.5 hours. We traded spots back and forth and if it wasn't for my aid station 5 pit stop and a whole bag of Sport Beans...I would have been barely hanging on for 3rd.

I enjoy that race for the sheer amount of travel accomplished. You see some wide open vistas and some cow single track, mud bogs and hard packed fire road. Lots of sweet singletrack to test your mental alertness.

Riding a new bike wasn't the greatest. In hindsight, should have ordered another Rush and really felt at home. Also, the 16 hour drive was not stellar for my legs although I wore compression socks the whole drive (and race) which I am sure helped.

I am doing the race again in 2010 if I get in. Seems to be getting really popular but it is a great rendezvous for seeing a bunch of Revolution teammates. As much as I enjoyed the race, I enjoyed hanging out in the picnic area, eating as much as I could stomach and chatting with old friends. That was the best.

Moto Nation Has Begun

Well, thanks to Toni's hard work, we moved in to the acreage Friday. It is so nice out there! We are loving it so far...but who wouldn't!

Steve lays down a nice roost.

Here is Joe and cousin Gavin ready for some hot laps.


We have not ridden a MTB lap yet nor done a trail run lap. I hope it can be close to 10 min. Would make a fun short track race. We are sure we will have many great memories out there and can't wait to see what they are.