Touching the top

 Monte Cristo

Mote Cristo Camp Ground

I've said this before, Monte is like an old friend; brutally honest and always dependable. I love Monte for all the right reasons - and maybe for a few of the wrong ones as well. You pay a price to get up there and it it is a grind at times. Straight up SR 39 from Huntsville, it starts easy enough, but quickly turns into a series of gradual climbs and rollers. Starting at MP 19 it is a constant 2% - 3% maybe. By MP 23 you are in some minor rollers. All the camp grounds - Magpie, Botts, South Fork, Meadows, Willows, Perception Park and finally up on a flat just before the Causey turn-off. About a quarter-mile of something about 5% and then it levels out to something more like 4% for the next couple miles. At about MP 30, it is a constant 4% - 5%, with the occasional upward pitch. Approaching the "blue roof cabin", there is a solid stretch that makes you push ever so hard without going into the bailout ring. Once at that crest, you have a little rest to get a quick banana down before it starts again. By MP 34, you are at the spring and ready to go to the smaller front ring. MP 36 is Ant Flat road. The snow gate is just prior to MP 37, then the Wagon Wheel and Big-Horn. Then it's past Marriots at MP 40. Dry Bread is MP 41 with Little Monte at MP 43. MP 44 outbound, you are officially on the "shoulders". From then on, you are back in the big ring and making some pretty good speed. Just past MP 46 you are well above 9,000 feet elevation and the air is thin. The Camp ground is closer to MP 48 than MP 47. When Going to Woodruff, you'll pass MP 49 at Curtis Creek and finally MP 50 before you are committed. All the way, Monte never disappoints - you just pay the price.

SR 39 MP 44 Outbound

A final ride to the top for the season

It may be a little late, or too close to the race, but I had to go back one last time. This time there was no construction, but the new road was pretty rough. Rather cool in places with sweat pouring into my sunnies (glasses).  Equipment problems made for a distraction, which didn't do anything to build confidence. The camp ground was closed for the season, but still had the hosts trailer and running water. Of course, he still had most of the water I took up a couple weeks ago, but there is something magic about Monte water - or so I'd like to think. Being up there in the Autumn takes me back to my youth. I ran across several grouse just off the road. Last week was the odd coyote. Traffic is generally not bad. Yesterday was pretty quiet, with the holiday in the rearview mirror for most campers. Standing up at the top, taking a couple picts, the breeze blowing and no traffic - this is Monte Cristo. Then it was time to let it go for yet another season. Time to get back to business.....

SR 39 MP44 Inbound - Bring it on home....

The long ride home

When you blow past MP 44, you still have a long way to go. Invariably, when you get to Red Rock at the Causey turnoff, you catch the blast furnace trying to push you back up the canyon, but you only have ways further to go. Still, that canyon can just go on and on - or so it seems. Finally, you are out of there and it happened faster than you care to remember. The price paid seemed so distance - like a lifetime ago, but it was just a few hours earlier. In the books for yet another year, I will long for that ride come the middle of winter. But that is what makes it so precious. It's not always available. When it is......well, you're grateful for the beating she gives you.

You gotta love Zeppelin II. It has aged like a fine "cheese". SHARP!

Click here for "Bring it on home" 1969

Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD!

Things are getting tight.......

 Doing it for our brother.

Back of the 2024 Huntsman HEROES jersey.

Front of the 2024 Huntsman HEROES jersey.

This is the eleventh year riding for Huntsman. It's been a helluva ride along the way. I've written about that first year and how I spontaneously wrote my cousins name on my sleave the night before the race. Her fight was with Glioblastoma (brain cancer). A few years later it was little Hadley - same thing, Glio. Along the way, every jersey has been worn only once with meaning to each one. Names of individuals somehow involved in a fight against the "Big-C". Last years jersey was pretty intense and I cut it a little close on the finish. After all that, I felt a little of the gravity that goes along with the honor and commitment of doing this type of thing. Right - I know, I'm not curing cancer, nor am I making that pain go away, but I can do this - I hope. Turns out our brother (Reed) is fighting Glio as well. As such, the "gang" has all agreed to place their names on the jersey in honor of Reed and his fight. We didn't have time to send it around to all twenty-something of the group, as I just received the jersey about nine-days ago. At that, two-weeks ago I thought I was out of this thing (another story that I would just as soon forget). Here were are, getting it ready and I'm in this thing for keeps. The jersey will go to the family tomorrow to markup the front, sides and wherever it fits. Reed won't know about it until after the race (ride). Absolutely zero pressure on this one.......UGH!

The biggest mobile billboard on the road

Lets face it, I'm not built for road cycling - at all. That said, as wide as my shoulders are, I can put up a pretty good platform for a billboard. You want to get a message out, well.....I'm only a little smaller than a box-truck. It's not about me, but that is a lot of "beef" to push to the top of three mountain passes over the course of a 200+ mile bike race. Last evening I did a session of hill intervals for basic maintenance. I mean.....at this point, other than dropping about 3 ounces of mass, nothing is going to change between now and Saturday morning (barring an injury). I can say those first three sets were still pretty painful. By the mid way I was using the harder gears and pegging the force at lower cadence. To my surprise, my heartrate was still mainly in zones 3 & 4. I never did get into the threshold - again. One thing is for sure, that is definitely some serious mass. I'll use it to my advantage.

Donations

This year is a little different, as I have also pasted a link to Reed's "Go Fund Page". I still have the link to Huntsman over at the top righthand-side of the "PAGES" column. To be clear, Huntsman is a registered 501(c)(3), so you can claim it if needed. When you make that donation to Huntsman, you have the option to direct your donation to an area of your choice, but not an individual patient. It is my understanding that Reed is getting his treatments at Huntsman, but is also having to cover some expenses out of pocket expenses as well. From the looks of it, they haven' seen much activity there for the past several months. The Porpoise rides for everyone, but cannot make decisions as to who, how or when donations are handled. That said, please follow your better sense and do what you believe in your heart to be the right thing to do. I know that things are tight for a lot of people these days - I get it. If nothing else, pass this Blog page along to a couple people and get more traction. The Porpoise gets nothing out of it, but it does help the algorithm find the page when people try to search for it. Page views do make a difference. Donations always help  - regardless of where they land.

The "Gang"

I've mentioned this group before, but will go in to a little more detail in future posting -hopefully before the race. Until then just know, we are all brothers (and sisters) from a long time ago. These jerseys have seen too many of our fellow Scots & Lass names over the past few years. I have a picture in my office of the "Porpoise" coming into the finish line in which you can clearly see a specific name on my right shoulder - that went all the way back to second grade. She had lost her battle with the "Big-C" earlier that year. I mean...........this has gotta be stopped! Until then, our gang still supports those a part of our lives and our principles.

Talk about "big" bodies and mass......... Eric and boys got together back during Covid, as to not be outdone by Morgan and Doug (see the previous post and compare the work).

Click here for "Big Fat Funky Booty" - Spin Doctors

Pulling for REED! Ride HARD!

Pushing it over the top

 

Welcome to Woodruff - Coolest Temps...Warmest Hearts (and they mean it!)

Woodruff.......

If you've been around this blog before, it's likely you know the significance of Woodruff. It's kind of complicated, as it is simply no easy task on the best of days, but always worth the effort. Of course getting to Woodruff requires going over Monte Cristo, which is a topic of its own, but it also requires that you get back over the mountain from Woodruff, heading west and down the other side. From Huntsville, it is all SR39 and is 50-miles one way.

I generally stop at the store and take on some fuel and get a brief rest. The people up there are the best. Over the many years that I've been doing this ride, I can honestly say every person I've met in that town has been genuinely kind and gracious. The highway that runs directly through the center of town, comes from Evanston, Wyoming, where travelers going to Bear Lake, Jackson Hole, Teton Park, or Yellowstone will jump off of I-80 and cut across to Sage Junction, some 20+ miles to the north of Woodruff. It's kind of in a tough place, as Evanston is not too far to the South-East and travelers often stop there for last minute supplies before heading north across the plains. From the north, Randolph is only 10 miles in that direction. There is a little more commerce in Randolph, but the old Maverick closed many years ago. We nearly always stop in Randolph at the little park there on our way back from LOTOJA every year. Because of this, the little store there in Woodruff gets passed by - a lot. Communities like this rely on a local "bodega" as more than just a resource for goods, but also a community hub. When you consider that this little store has to get supplies from a long ways away, it can be difficult to make it all work for a profit. When you also consider that SR39 ends right at that intersection, but is closed for as many as 5-months of any year, you can see the challenges associated with keeping that operation afloat. I do not take them for granted and try to show my appreciation whenever I can. 

This fall, before SR39 closes sometime in November, I'd suggest taking a drive over Monte to the "other side", enjoy the autumn colors and experience the warmest hearts you are likely to run across. Of course those Autumn colors go fast, when they begin. You're probably looking at a mid-September drive. Regardless, do it because you can. I know they will appreciate the visit.

The ride back

Coming out of Woodruff can be a little tough. You have already spent a ton of energy to get there in the first place. The drop into the valley starts at MP49, just past Curtis Creek Road. It gets very fast in the first 10, or so miles. Eventually, you are having to push  through a few gears as you get closer to town, at what should be MP68 (the intersection). Somewhere between MP53 & 52 they installed a new cattle gate, that used to only be paint stripes across the road. This is were you are absolutely flying, coming off a straightaway in the mid-40's and heading for another steep grade. Those stupid cattle-gates are dangerous on anything with less than 4-wheels. The key on a bike is to be perpendicular to the grating and try to bunny-hope if possible. Well today, I bunny-hopped that thing at about 41 MPH - crazy! Coming back can include a ton of variables - wind being the most prominent. Getting back to the first cattle-gate at MP60 is generally my first landmark. A lot of rollers to that point, but the wind can make it harder than it needs to be at times. The snow-gate is between MP56 &55 an is the next milestone. Today I was well under one-hour, but there have been times I've had a screwy little tailwind that got me up there in just over 45-minutes. By this time you are now in the top canyon, with the afternoon winds nearly always right in your face. The canyon starts to open at MP54, reducing the funnel effect of the wind, but then it starts to get steep again. By MP53 you are well into the dugway (that place that gets you going way fast on the way down), from where you can see all the way up to MP51 - only to get in your head. As you round the curve from MP51 up to MP50, you are definitely in the bailout gear, knowing you are looking for the relief between MP49 and Curtis Creek Road. By Curtis Creek Road, still in the small front-ring, but indexing between the full rear cassette. At MP48 you are feeling bold enough to jump into the big front ring, only to be pushed through the top-end of the rear cassette. Before you know it, you see the Forest Service sign for the Monte Cristo guard house and campground. This is what we affectionately call the "shoulders of Monte", as you still have rollers for next nearly 4-miles - albeit at 9,000 feet elevation (give or take). As you see MP44 inbound, you are on the way home. All things considered, this is as hard if not more difficult than anything you will see at LOTOJA - assuming you ride both sides (outbound and inbound).

Monte Cristo

I can't count the number of times I have written about Monte. For now, I can tell you that two trips up that thing this week have truly put me in my place. I love Monte for all the right reasons, but like a true friend, she is brutally honest. I'll post that assessment in a few days - when we properly "Bring it on home".

A lot riding on this year

As we get a couple days closer, there will be more information about Huntsman, "The Porpoise" and the jersey. I can tell you that I have not felt this much pressure going into race-week in any of the other 14-years that I have started/finished. The lingering illness is still having some effects, but I feel like it is turning a corner. A few more key rides, with some additional bike maintenance and packet-pickup on Wednesday. The key at this point is to get healthy, keep moving forward and focus on what I can control. Stay tuned for more information in the next few days......

HOPE

I coincidently ran across a video last evening, that I had almost forgotten about. It is from 2020 - you know, that stupid Covid year that jacked up everything. Morgan James and her talented husband Doug Wamble, did a series of recordings from their New York City apartment (the place that was ridiculously locked down like virtually no other). They called them Quarantunes and they were great. With so many of us being stuck in our homes (for some stupid reason), this became the go to for so many music lovers. After all of those releases, they did an REM cover of "Everybody hurts". Toward the end, they do a quick collage of clips from all the previous Quarantune videos they performed. It was and is still one of the most powerful performances that I can remember. The key to the track is "hold on". Given everything that has been happening of late, I can say that showed up at a pretty good time. I recommend going back and finding all of the Quarantune performances, but especially catching this one.

Click here for "Everybody hurts" Thanks Morgan and Doug!

Pulling for REED! Ride HARD!

What do you find on the floor of a chicken coop?

 

Ready to go....

Genuine Badass

Sometimes I need a harsh reminder of what hardship and struggle may really feel like. Lets face it - I'm soft. No match for what the world is capable of throwing at me anymore. These guys (above), they knew death and destruction on a scale unimaginable. These guys are a tender 19-years old in the picture. It was taken as they were loading up for a raid on Kiel, Germany - early 1945. Top left is Hugh J.(Mac) Maguire (radio and waste-window gunner), Ivy Murphy (ground crew chief), top right Ray Weistling (tail gunner), bottom left my dad (general badass - not a rank) bottom right Ed Thomas (top gunner and flight engineer). When this picture was snapped, none of them had any idea if they would live to see the actual image. It has been nearly 80-years, but I feel a certain sense of responsibility and pride when I look at those big mitt of hands that I would later know as my dad's. He knew how to fight and never backed down. He stood his ground even if it meant taking the short end of the stick. Shortly after V-E day (victory over Europe, May 8, 1944), he called out his left-seater (command and control) in front of other officers - calling him "chicken-shit". That was a term well known in the military during those days, as chicken droppings are the lowest and smallest thing on the farm. It cost him his rank, but what did he care - he was still alive. He sat right in the front of that bird in the background. Those were the guns he fired. As a matter of fact, he was the ship's armorer - responsible for all the guns in flight, as well as the payload (bombs) and dropping them over the target. I know for a fact they were all scared beyond anything I can ever image. These guys are all long gone at this point, but the lessons still burn deep into my soul. Don't be the smallest thing in the farm yard.

Soul Searching and Second Thoughts

2024 CVC Course Map

A couple months ago, I signed up for the Cache Valley Century. It's one I try to use as a gauge toward my position and readiness for LOTOJA. Last Monday morning I woke up very sick. It lingered on all week, but I thought to go and give it a try anyway - after all, I'd paid for the dang thing. An early start meant I had to leave home about 04:30 regardless of how well I didn't feel. I did head up there and jumped out with some pretty fast and incredibly strong riders. Conditions were absolutely harsh. Punishing headwinds made for a brutal ride - for everyone. If I had felt like crap before the ride, afterward I felt as though I had been run over by the gut-truck and sprayed by a farmers shit-spreader at the same time. I can't say it was pretty, but I needed the experience in all it's glory. In the end, I have reconsidered my sorry ass excuse for a life, along with my whining and whimpering. I'm still feeling the effects of being sick - like way sick - but I can work through my misery. If I'm going down, "go down swinging  - for hell sakes!" And if you couldn't hear it, that was my dad laying it out for me. To give up now is simply chicken-shit!

Pulling for Reed

Sometime toward the end of this past week, I received my jersey from Huntsman. From the very beginning, I have always written names of those for whom I would dedicate my sorry excuse for an effort. I will admit, it seems almost cheap in a way, while being a heavy load to carry. From that first year when I spontaneously wrote my cousins name on my sleave just prior to the race, I've felt the gravity of what it means to honor someone else - as cheap as it may otherwise seem. As I looked at that unopened package, I realized how I was being shallow and a quitter all at the same time. Talk about the ultimate chicken-shit, there I was. I know my effort will not end another's suffering, but ....I committed to pull for our brother. I have a few days to get it together. I need to get healthy, but I've had to ride LOTOJA while sick before - albeit a lot younger and more fit. It's never been about me, but here I am making it about me anyway - whatever "IT" is anyway. There is no forgiveness in giving up when someone else wouldn't have the same opportunity to walk away from their personal fight. After all - what does "Ride HARD!" really mean? Do it when it's easy? Time to put it to work and get over my own sorry excuses. I'm doing this thing - and I hope hurts bad enough I learn an indelible lesson.

Mile Post 44

If you've followed this post from previous years, you know what MP44 means. I need to feel that hurt and the satisfaction of making that post for the year. You simply can't cheat that one. I have to earn it all if I want to post about it. And here were are again - talking about "IT". Load your gear. Lets face this one head-on and take it wherever "IT" goes!

This one is playing in my headphones as I finish writing this post.........

Click here for "Cool Change" Little River Band

Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD! (make it hurt  - A LOT!)

Pulling the plug

 Sometimes you just don't belong here

It's been a rollercoaster of a year. Too many lows to offset the highs. I took some water up to the top of Monte last evening - knowing all along the inevitable task of climbing over that mountain a few times before race day. As I drove up and back down, I recounted every single mile, every curve, every landmark and the countless times I have done that ride - alone. This morning when my alarm went off at 05:00, I had the distinct impression that I just don't belong in that group of riders. For that matter, I don't belong in any event - much less LOTOJA. For years I have been kidding myself and every year it only gets worse. It's pretty bad when you lie to yourself. It is worse when you begin to believe your own lies. I don't belong here - end of story.

Thanks to all that have supported the cause. I know most of my page views of late have been bot-crawlers, so I don't know that many, if any are even reading this thing anyway. To those that have been loyal- Thanks for the ride. I'm sorry to be the disappointment that I am. Thanks all the same. I hope it all comes back to you someday.

Enough said...............

Time for A PUSH!

 

Grinding up "The Mule" in between storms. No place I'd rather be.....

Sharing.........

Its a big world out there gang. You know someone that knows somebody, that is friends with someone else.... You get the picture. At that, we ALL have some capacity to do good when it counts. In fact, I believe we do more good than we ever really know. At this point, it is that time of year again - "The Push".  The organization (HHH) is struggling this year - again. It is a function of the "real" economy. These types of things take a backseat when the coin tray gets emptied out. The need is still there, as I personally know several people who are in the fight for their individual lives. I'm sure everyone else knows that someone that is also dealing with a struggle, if not "the struggle". It's time to brighten another persons day and share a message of hope and optimism.

Because you are here......

Because you are here, the world is better place. Because you are here, others feel they can conquer the insurmountable. Because you are here, life is worth living. "Here" is where you may be when someone else may feel your goodness and inspiration. Life is hard -make no mistake. Sometimes we make it harder than it really has to be. We can be our own worst enemy and put us in a place that seems too dark to continue going on. You are that light that someone else will need at that very moment when it matters most to them. Leave a light on for them (thanks Tom Bodette). In that darkest moment, the littlest bit of light can shine well past it's output potential. The thing is, you never know when that will be the case. All that said, you are unique......special in your own right. I don't personally take much stock in coincidence. Sometimes you are right where you need to be when you are needed most - even when you don't know it yourself. And now, you are here. Time to push and share hope.

The Goal

As of this writing, HHH-LOTOJA is just above a meager 25% the season goal. Porpoise page views are kind of flat. And frankly...training has been anything but ideal. But here we are anyway. So, I challenge everyone to share this post with three other people immediately after visiting the page. If "the six degrees of Kevin Bacon" is a thing....well, it won't take long to get some traction. And traction is what is needed. The challenge is simple; increase the donations on the HHH-LOTOJA site by 10% and produce the number of Porpoise page views by 1,000 - all by August 24th (sun down). Simply share with three other people. Even the smallest donation to Huntsman will make a difference. You do make a difference. Please share!

Climbing the single-track up Mules Ear.

A few final notes:

Hats off!  Lachlan Morton made a great showing at Leadville and podiumed as fourth place. Of course Keegan just had a point to prove. Nice job Lachlan Morton. You are still a stud - for an "old dog".

The OG donation of the year is dealing with a worn out knee. Kind of slowing down the "ball of fire" that never slows down. I hope you are on the mend soon kiddo. All that energy in one place for too long could result in spontaneous combustion.

The "Inspiration" (CW) is making a return. Although not exactly as planned, it will work itself out. Don't watch the wheels. Look out ahead.

A little hidden blues from "Ram"

Click Here for Paul & Linda "Great Cock & Seagull Race" - 12 Bar....

Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD!

Use your imagination

Sunrise at Downata, Idaho

When it counts, expect a flat

Pulling the road bike off of the hanger this week, led to some unfamiliar challenges - like pinch-flats. I've not been shy about ripping the shite for roads in the upper valley this year, but the hardtail is equipped for the adverse conditions and garbage - more than the Six-13. The week started with two back to back 14 hour work days with clients. Wednesday I was able to push out a 50-plus mile tempo ride without having any stops. Feeling pretty good about the effort, Tuesday was 40-pus miles with highway intervals (30-30). Again no stops until a phone call from a client 7-miles from home. Twenty minutes cooled me down enough, I was gassing it pretty hard when I hit some rough roads and pinched the back-wheel. A not so quick tube replacement and was on my way again. Another phone call from a different client one-mile from home had me stopped for another 10 minutes. The Garmin stats for when I was riding looked okay, but not where I should be in August. Out the next morning for what should have been another 50-plus mile tempo ride was cut short by another pinch-flat about 16-miles out. Rather than fight fate, I called for a bail out and went home to do hills on the hardtail. Not really where I need to be this late in the season, but I'm not giving up quite yet.

"....it's driving me nuts".

Right - the sixth-grade pirate joke. Had a follow-up with the doctor this past week. Nothing new to report, other than I'm cleared to fly - for now. We'll make some further evaluations after the race (ride) - maybe in October. But for now, there is really nothing to be concerned with, other than some sore tendons - which is just part of the drill. But then there are the things I can't control. More like, things that other people tend to control for me. Being spent like pocket-change gets a little old, but it is expected. The early part of this upcoming week is already looking like a challenge to stay on task. Whining about it does nothing but make matters worse. It really gets to a point that desire and willingness aren't enough. I have to constantly remind myself how it feels without the option to even have the ability to ride. One small mistake and I could be out of the mix without the choice to ride, or whine. Sucking it up.............

"Better Lucky than Good"

A phrase I started using some number of years ago, as I realized how lucky I have been. Let's face it, I'm far luckier than good on my best day. When I consider where things could have been, I know at times, I'm lucky to simply still be in the position to do what I do - whatever it is that I do. I'll take luck when I can. I just need to learn to fully exploit the opportunity when luck does roll my way. All that said, don't expect luck to carry the baggage if the work hasn't been put-in. Make that investment and work as though there is no luck to be had. Truth is, you can't be any luckier than work you put into a situation. The pain is only temporary. Always position yourself  as to be in a position to win.

"Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend" Click here for J-B

Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD!