A Lot of STUFF............

An early evening view from the Mule's Ear overlook

Changing the Method

After the cooking I took going to Woodruff last Tuesday, I decided to modify the schedule - a lot.  Everything was mountain biking, with an emphasis on intensity.  More than that, an emphasis on mental conditioning.  A hard push up some single track every night, with a double on Friday morning, followed by another loop that night, made for some pretty good rides.  Doing some fast spinning intervals Saturday morning wasn't enough to cap the week, so I did a fast loop in the evening.  That was by far the best I've climbed that trail all year, if not for several years.  Talk about a confidence boost.  It was really needed.  With only 14 hours this past week, I'll give it a solid "B" for overall performance and benefit. 

Big Week

The Schedule

This upcoming week is very critical - on several fronts.  Planning two trips over the top (Woodruff), with the Cache Valley Century on Saturday.  Likely an evening mountain bike ride in the middle somewhere, with little time for recovery.  Saturday's ride will be the real indicator of where I'm at for Lotoja.  That will be something like 300+ road miles, some dirt in roughly 22 hours - at moderate to high intensity.  Everything depends on this week and how I feel in seven days.  Looking at two more trips to Woodruff the following week with a couple hard mountain bike rides in the mix - not really tapering.  That will put us out only one week from the big day.

Fundraising

I've spent literally all of my fundraising effort this year toward the "Club", or team kit.  I'm directing all corporate donations toward the team effort, thus I have no personal donations.  Everything we get for the team this year will land on the kit for next year - kind of an endowment thing.  It will be the vehicle that carries the effort forward - ongoing.  I'll make a bunch of contacts this week to get the personal stuff covered - always in the back of my mind.

The Mountains...........

I love to ride in the mountains.  Thus, the ride over Monte on the road bike and all the stuff in the dirt.  There is simply something that can't be described about being in the mountains.  As intimidating as it may be at times, it is truly liberating.  I prefer to keep my wheels under me, with the front of the bike going the direction of travel.  Take a look at the link below - a little extreme, but it clearly illustrates the point.  Watch closely as he switches bikes.  That is when rider and bike are one.  No substitute for time on the bike.

Never was a big fan of "The Buffalo Springfield", but it seems to work here.

You've gotta see this - Click here

Ride HARD!