Tough Times

Needing bike time............

Winter in the Northern Wasatch is not ideal for outdoor bike training.  Last year I was able to ride a ton on parts of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Network.  This year is completely different.  The main service road is snow packed and sketchy at best.  Looking up toward some of the single track, it appears there are places it has burned completely off, but other places it may be 12" deep.  This isn't going to work.  I tried some parking lot riding, to work on technique, but patches of ice make that hazardous as well.

I have only a few options, and none of them are close to ideal.  Indoor training doesn't get me the time I need on my mountain bike. Road riding, steep repeating hill intervals on the hard tail is good cardio and leg strength, but still no technique.  Heading south is a considerable investment in time, for nowhere near the riding hours.  I've only got about 5 weeks and had better get it figured out, or it will be another "no show" for the True Grit.

All things considered, it's been a pretty crappy past few months.  Sometimes you just have to hang on and work toward the change.

Ride HARD - or something..........  

Hey Bull Dog - Click here "You know anymore?"

Initial Post 2019

What's ahead?

A lot of changes this year.  Most of them won't be noticeable on the outside, but they'll be there.  2018 was nothing close to the banner year we needed for HHH as a whole.  As such, we need to make a few change and put the program "on the map".  The "Porpoise" on the other hand, well...…..we got some pretty good traction.  We'll build directly from our efforts last year.

The season will start a little earlier than last year, if I can stay healthy - no crashes!  True Grit is less than two months out and I haven't been on anything outside of a spin-bike or trainer for more than a month.  A lot to do between now an then, but I'll figure it out.

I still have a couple crazy ideas for this year, but I need to look at things in depth to make any decisions.  Assess and plan, we'll figure out how to execute form there.

Traction

So......the push at the end of last season provided considerable traffic.  Up until last week we were still getting regular looks.  Whatever it was that brought you here, stick around and tell others.  The "Porpoise" community is building steam.  We're all in this together - in some way or another.

It's gonna be a great year!

Ride HARD!

You'll know this one.

Final Post 2018

Heroes.................

Click Here for more info about the Fighting 486th

Another sleepless night.  I need to be moving snow around 03:30 as this is where my day starts this time of year.  What a better time to put it in the can - so to speak.

About the ride

Well..........there hasn't been a ride for a couple weeks due to weather.  I've also not had the chance to hit the "shore-line trail" either, but I don't expect to have much time there before that is under snow as well.  So I'll tell you about the ride some 33 years ago.  Actually, a series of rides that started when a friend of mine and I bought our first mountain bikes.  In the day, revolutionary.  By today's standards........... it makes me laugh.  We used to ride from the top of Ogden Canyon, up Wheeler Canyon, to Snow Basin - my old stomping grounds.  Occasionally we'd ride up the service roads to the top of a couple of the lifts - because we could.  It was way different back then.  We never saw any other mountain bikes, in fact, people on horseback would look at us if we were from another planet.  Snow Basin was completely deserted during the summer months. Still, it was a break from what had become a rather crappy situation in most other respects.  Somehow I knew things would never be the same, but I never realized how cold it would get.  The next few years I rode the heck out of that bike, simply to get away from whatever was behind me.  During the winter months, I'd ride around Willard Bay as fast as I could, while later I'd take my dog and ride the always empty and local North Fork Park.  Man, has that changed as well.  I always had a little hope and that was all that mattered.

If you go back a read my final from 2017, you'll tie hope to heroes.  If not, just trust me on this one.....

This year..............

"Hadley My Hero" - is where we left off last year.  It was my inspiration for what I needed to do this year.  That was before the busted ankle and the humiliation that became last summer.  Thanks, Reggie and fam; It made literally all the difference on race day.  You are my heroes.

To those that contributed - in any way.  Thank you so much.  Your overwhelming support literally took me to my knees.   I know you were supporting the cause - the "purpose" and not the "porpoise", but my gratitude for your support is well beyond measure.  What a humbling experience to know of such tremendous people.  It does give me hope.  Thank you for showing up when you did. Obrigado!

I've learned a lot -still, but have even more that I need to resolve.  That's for another day.  I'm already looking toward next year with optimism, as I have already scheduled a couple races and am considering something a bit unconventional for HHH.  All I can say is, swing back around in a month or so.  I'm not going to put it off like I did this past year. 

One last thing to answer a question

I've been asked about the "Juniors Farm" thing.  It's nothing too deep, but it is like this: That was a very happy time in my life.  It formed me.  The Scotsman that wrote the number (Jimmy), died not too long after that.  Linda died about twenty years ago - of cancer.  Both of them are something to me for reasons nobody else will ever understand.  The short of it is, it reminds me of when times were good - before the realities of life.  I long for the chance to reconcile.

Please come back in a month or so.  We have a lot to fight for............

Here's to heroes - Click and enjoy this one.........

The Porpoise 2018

Thanksgiving Morning

Pressing My Luck

Seemed like a good idea at the time.  You know - going for an early ride this morning before the weather got much worse.  There are few, very few things that will keep me off my bike, but ice is certainly the one thing, if not the only thing that I truly hate.  I love the cold - I can dress for it.  The wet, the mud, even the snow - I can deal with everything but ICE!  Don't ask me how, but I managed to get all the way to the hill at Cold Water before my bike came out from under me.  I really had to think it through, as I was committed to getting a ride in this morning, but the risk - scratch that, the danger is not worth the chance.  One of my neighbors had this very thing happen to him a few years ago and it put him in the hospital for four days - dang near killed him at that.  Last year I had my bike come out from under me after riding over Ben Lomond peak, down past Willard Basin.  There is no more gut-less feeling than when your bike goes from under you.  It is completely unpredictable, never the same and always bad.  Just stopping for this pic below I was standing on an icy bridge deck.  Bad idea..............

I've never been a big holiday fan.  However, as a kid, I used to love going hunting on Thanksgiving morning.  From my earliest memories, I remember some of the most unbearable conditions; snow, fog, ice, wind - it didn't matter I truly loved that experience.  From probably four years old 'till....well when things changed. I couldn't carry a gun until I was twelve, but I didn't care.  Truth is, most of those hunts were completely unsuccessful from the hunting perspective, but I remember so much about them all.  One year it was so cold while duck hunting, I remember thinking if I shot my gun a few times, I could warm my hands on the barrel (stupid) - not that I would ever do it.  The last year I can remember was perhaps the only successful hunt on Thanksgiving.  Chasing Chukars in a foot of snow up where I would ultimately break my ankle last March.  The irony......

Through some of those years, as I got a little older, there was this phenomenon called FM radio.  In particular, there was this early local station that would play nothing but deep tracks and extended full versions.  Virtually no commercials and absolutely no talk - none.  It was XM/Sirius thirty years earlier, but better.  I'd leave that playing all night, very low, with only the light of the tuner illuminating my bedroom.  It was magic. While at work yesterday, I was going over a project with a tech.  While going over the details of some calculations he used the phrase "FM", which I learned early on in my career, that's what techs often call engineering.  Later in the day, I had business over in the other valley.  Afterward, I took a couple of my boys over to the farm for a little target shooting.  Cold and windy, it was reminiscent of those earlier days, when on a cold autumn night, I would listen for hours to the magic of FM.  Those were great days and I miss the magic.

Some uncut magic with a touch of Chopin

Watch out for the ice and Ride HARD!

Slowing down?

Next season is in the gate......

A couple of good rides on the dirt this week.  The ride Monday was pretty cold and pretty much the way I like it.  27° by the time I got back to the house.  Tonight was a tad warmer like upper 30's when I got home - riding shorts weather.  The trail is mixed with snow, ice, some minor mud and a ton of leaves.  No other riders either night, but I did happen on to a bull moose Monday night.  A couple weeks ago I tied a bell to the bottom of my saddle for such occasions.  Still, this feller was right in the middle of the single track, not sure what was coming at him.  By the time I saw him, I was coming out of a blind turn at just under warp speed - literally no time to adjust.  Fortunately, the moose had already turned around and was for getting out of there.  I've had it go the other way when the moose has sent me packing all the way back from where I just came.  All that is what makes this absolutely great.

Had a quick meeting with the company riding club Poobah.  He's getting ready to retire, so another guy and I are going to split duties.  Thus, we are already starting to look at kits, gear, rides, and activities for next year.  This is where Huntsman and Lotoja get the primary funds for the HHH function.  I also registered for my first race - okay ride.  True Grit is March 9th near Santa Clara.  This is the race I was training for last year when I jacked-up my ankle.  I've also been getting notices for Leadville, but that is definitely a long shot at best.  I'm also looking at a different approach to fundraising for next season.  Stay tuned.....................

I've noticed the page views have started to slow, so maybe time to cool it for a while.  Still, if I can still ride in North Fork, the season can't be over yet.  Meanwhile, riding is always good when you can get it.

We're not done yet.

Ride HARD!

Should I stay or should I go?

Sacrifice

What is the cost?

Cold and dry today.  Took a short little ride out on on the oil (and a little dirt), to appreciate 33° in the face.  Schedules have been less than ideal for riding and such, but I've made a few changes that will remedy that problem.  Still, not a lot of time left on the local trails before I'll be on the other side of the mountain.  Registration for "True Grit" opened yesterday - the one I was training for when I busted my ankle last March.  I need to figure out how to get some training rides in down there before I sign-up.  13 weeks, I think I can make it.

So..........on this, the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, the thought of true sacrifice definitely comes to mind. A sacrifice is something you give up, to never get back, or reimbursed.  It is not a donation, it is absolute giving - to never be given back.  There is a lot to be said for someone that will sacrifice for another, without knowing who that other maybe.  It doesn't really matter the cause, just the fact that someone - anyone, may be willing to sacrifice for another.  That is character of the highest kind.

You locals know of the most recent in our area.  These are truly the people that make a difference.

No matter what you may believe, who or what you worship, how you vote, how you voice your opinion - somebody paid the price that you may do so.  It wasn't free.  More so, the debt is never satisfied.  As I've said so many times before; you've got to put your self in a position - prepare yourself, that you may step up when the time comes.  It's not easy.

Thanks for your service.  Thanks for the sacrifice.

Riding is so easy.

Find the Cost of Freedom - CSN&Y

Cold and Muddy

Needs/Wants - Wills/Desires

Yesterday was ideal for almost any kind of ride, so why not do yard work instead?  After spending yesterday doing yard work, and the completely overwhelming week at the office, I needed a good ride.  It just wasn't going to happen while the weather was agreeable.  This afternoon had to be it; cold wet and raining/snowing.  I really didn't want to go out, but I needed to just get away for a while - something that took a lot of convincing on my part.

With North Fork closed to all motor vehicles for the season, it was a great time to head up to the north canyon and Bicentennial Trail.  Dressed for wet and cold conditions, I wasn't too concerned about the elements, but more concerned about leaving everything else behind for a spell.  Before jumping onto the single-track, I rode up to a couple summer home gates, just to get a look around.  I ran across a pretty good "fire-scar" from a quick brush fire last August.  Lots of variation in terrain and conditions made it hard to get comfortable.  One minute on a tight hard surface, the next, grease.  Even on the service roads, it was sketchy at times not knowing if the tread would hook-up, or leave me sliding.

The start of the single-track was pretty tight.  Most of that is climbing, with good traction and manageable grades. Just around those fur trees above, the trail immediately got greasy.   This was the case most of the way up to the junction.  At times the tires would load-up, but quickly clear, often not fast enough to take sharp turns very fast.  Several places you could see where a couple of horses had a tough time keeping a solid footing along the way as well.  There are some steep grades that are hard enough dry.  Add the grease and it's pretty much hike-a-bike.

The trail was a tad better from the summit down, but still, a few areas that the tires wouldn't hook-up.  I hadn't been up this trail for a couple years, so I wasn't sure how far anything was.  I knew this sign was just a shade over a mile from the crossing at Cutler Creek.  A couple switchbacks and a simple little water crossing.  With temps in the mid 30's, it wasn't a good idea to get wet feet.  Sure enough, cold feet for the rest of the ride home.  With some daylight left, I headed up Cutler Creek Trail, as I hadn't been up there in quite a while either.

This is an old trail I used to run some thirty years ago, with my yellow lab.  Back then, there weren't many single track trails - besides the original Bicentennial Trail.  I used to ride my old hard-tail mountain bike over the service roads, but would seldom ride up this trail, as the terrain was not enjoyable on that technology.  Still, this was a pretty quiet place that I could trail run with my dog after a long day at the office.  There was never anyone else up there.  It was up at the top of this trail that I caught the picture of the "frozen mushroom" on the stump (at the top of this post).  That place sees direct sunlight about 20 minutes each year.  A stretch of marsh right down the middle of the trail always slows things down, trying to pick through it.  With the park now closed, there won't be anyone up there for a long time - not that it goes anywhere in particular, just a quiet place.

You may notice the little blue bell zip-tied to the bottom of the bike saddle.  There have been a ton of "cat" sightings (lions), including a lioness and her two cubs in this particular area.  The bell serves to let other riders know I coming on "blind" corners, but in this case, keep the lions from considering me as prey.  You'll also notice the RaceFace flat pedals.  Still no confidence in the SPD's.  I think I need to try some EggBeaters.

This afternoon was all need and will.  Literally, no want, nor desire involved.  It was cold, wet and everything else you' expect,  A darn fine ride and am glad I forced myself out there.  I really couldn't come up with a good reason not to go.  I mean, cold and wet is nothing.  Rather, I'm fortunate to be able to ride right out of my driveway and onto top grade trails.  It won't be long and I'll have to drag my bike to trails that aren't covered with a few feet of snow.  I'll lament not being able to ride with such ease, but until then I'll have to make the most of the conditions - but will I?

Blues Deluxe - Beck/Stewart, Fillmore West '68

Ride Hard!