Gut Check - The Truth

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"She's running low Skipper!"

Owning it

When is it ever enough to simply recognize a problem? I'm talking about inner reflection and examination. I've become pretty good at identifying problems, particularly those of my own making. I can even go as far as prescribing a remedy. That is the easy part - call it "arm-chair quarterbacking" at it's core. Implementing the remedy is the hard part, but not yet the most difficult. Many a diet or exercise program has been started with only the best of intentions. But it is the follow through that matters the most. Sure starting is a milestone and even making it through the first milestone period, but what about the assessment and follow up? Lets face it, we've mastered the first few steps toward success; 1) Identify the problem, 2) Develop a solution (plan), 3) Execute said solution..... but we often end there. After implementation of the plan, it is necessary to reassess and evaluate - then repeat the cycle with modifications as needed. When not completing this cycle (honestly), it is only a cruel joke of self gratification - LYING to myself! Lying to ones self if not a healthy habit.

Success: Knowing it when you see it

It would seem we recognize what  is perceived as "success" by simple observation. I suggest this is merely a perceived result of what we may believe to be success. True success in its absolute form is what cannot be readily seen. To succeed requires more than what can be observed in passing. People who succeed do more than persevere, they live IT non-stop. So....what is IT? Let's narrow  this down to two fundamental things; What you do in your "down time" and how you control appetites and passions. What you see when observing a perceived successful person, is merely the result of these two things. What is it they do on their "day off", or when they get a break? How do they manage their personal passions and appetites? Do they get caught up is endless "doom scrolling", binge eat potato chips, take extended afternoon naps (because they can)? You get the picture. What we don't see is the real success  - the things that really matter.

Maximizing your gift of time

Time is a funny thing. Kind of a commodity, but everyone has the same allotment every day - 24-hours to be exact. It is irrevocable and non-refundable at the same time - until it ends. And then it doesn't matter anymore. Until that point, success is determined by what is done with that allotted time. It's not luck. If you want to be lucky, set yourself up to be lucky - and no, buying a a lottery ticket doesn't count. Ask yourself at any given moment;  how will this particular thing that I'm doing at this particular moment appear as my outward appearance. Does it truly represent me and what I want to be, or will it keep me from exhibiting my success. And by exhibiting, I do me achieving that level of success that is yours to be had. Time is a gift. Make the most of it and yourself together.

Overcoming

Our bodies are pretty amazing machines. Again, another gift in itself. But man, talk about a wild mustang. We are wired with some pretty intense motivations - lacking a better description. We have these appetites and our own passions. We become conditioned to want things we really don't otherwise need. Left unchecked, this conditioning leads us into a deficit with our own regard. We focus on the wrongs things - and by wrong I mean those things we had once set out as desires and goals. Weight gain is brought about one potato chip at a time (what's with the potato chips). It is the same for everything. Staying focused is key. Watch a video of a carrier aircraft pilot landing on the "boat". They quite often won't even so much as blink while trying to "stick it". Yet, we too often take our eye off "the prize", if even for just a few seconds. Back to that body thing again, it tends to go where we are looking.  Sure, enjoy life and the beauty of our surroundings, but keep your eyes forward while in motion. And motion....well that is another matter. Keep moving forward toward the objective. Moments of distraction and weakness slowly add up to a variation in course. The key is to master that wild mustang. Learning to control your machine is the second key component to individual triumph.

Assessment

Assess, plan, execute, reassess - the loop of virtually any progress. It seems we are generally pretty good with an initial assessment and even a plan. Execution sometimes becomes a struggle as we tend to be overly ambitious toward our end result. Breaking down a task into smaller individual components. keeps things real. The 1% rule speaks directly to this (improving by only 1% each day). However, the ongoing assessment is too often omitted from the day to day operation. You will have victories as well as setbacks. In both cases a reassess, own it - all of it. There may be times when the setbacks simply stack up and the victories seem a distant mirage. We also can't control everything in our sphere, but we can control how we react. When execution doesn't yield the desired results, assess and replan. Doing it the same way over and over, expecting a different result is literally stupid. Learn from your mistakes and be better for them. The darn things certainly have cost you a lot in this process - learn from them and maximize the sunk cost. It ain't coming back. Close that loop but don't throw away the investment. Study your failure - the enemy. Return for the next battle with a sharper edge. Providing there is still time on the game clock, reassess and return for another victory.

To whom.....

So this really is for nobody but me. Writing things down is an absolute way to internalize almost anything. My problems aren't necessarily the same as anyone else's. However, we all struggle and can learn from other peoples success and mistakes. We make our own way eventually - like it or not. But here's the thing, as some point we all have to own up to our life's decisions. The choice to to deflect and deny, wear it like a gravy stain, or simply make the most of it toward being the bet version of ourselves. Everything has a price. You pay for your mistakes as well as success. Cash in every once in a while...

Click here for "El Becko" - Jeff at his finest!

Ride HARD!

Know your Role

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A Morning Ride through the Dirt

The Big Picture

I ran across this field early one morning this past week. The picture certainly doesn't do it justice. A field with perhaps millions of flower blossoms that collectively make up a sea of wonder. The morning was very peaceful as well. It is often these moments that get taken for granted, where I may continue to ride by. The outbound through this location is a subtle grade - maybe 3%, on dirt. It makes for a good opportunity to push hard until hitting some oil maybe 12 minutes along. It's not a place I would ordinarily stop as I try to make the most of that stretch. All too often while riding, I blow past stuff thinking how I should have stopped for a quick picture. As the season goes on, priorities have to be kept making it not feasible. Over the many years, I have recorded countless images in my own mind that are nearly impossible to share. These personal memories are often what keeps me going.

The ideal course...for now

The 52-mile out & back elevation profile

Traffic and construction in various locations across the upper valley have limited my course selection this season. By now, three-hour fasting rides have to be second nature. The elevation profile above shows what has become my "go to" out & back, with 2,000 feet of climbing over 52-miles. It's not anything close to a tempo ride - far from it. The first climb is a great location to get the heartrate up followed by a very fast descent. Then on to the highway where speed over rollers takes focus. The dirt section slows things down, followed by a little kick over the bridge for some fast flowing down hill. Back on the highway and through the roundabout up to SR 39 - that familiar stretch that I have ridden countless times over the years. A loop around the south side past the monastery and finally finding my way (the long way) out to the point. A quick loop and it is all in reverse order going back. What was hard outbound is somewhat easier going home. And what was easy becomes....a challenge. The goal is to do this without putting a foot down. To build a little mental toughness, a turn up the training hill before going home adds to the excitement. Total moving time is a bit short of 3.5 hours, with an average speed...not quite where I want to be. Keep in mind that conditions are seldom the same from day to day. Therefore, the overall average speed isn't the objective, as much as the task of not putting a foot down. Everything else will take care of itself - in time.

Stand out

One small stand that has escaped the fence - standing out

Being part of the collective can have some advantages. Call it strength in numbers, or simple comfort. The importance of being unique and standing out on your own is tremendously important. Afterall, it is the individual strength in us all that bring things together. Never under estimate the importance of your own position in anything. Stand outside that fence and be you, doing you. Make an individual difference and don't settle for being lost in the sea of wonder. There are those times that together we are greater than the sum of our parts, but you have to begin with great parts.

Complacency

Complacency will kill you - one way or the other. I learned the hard way about talking myself into believing I didn't need to put in all the hard work and effort. Sometimes I would underestimate the task and believe it to be far easier than it truly was. That never ended well. I believe it is somewhat human nature to be easily lulled into a sleep of forgetfulness, having already known the hardship that await us. You've got to be real and recognize those things that will hold you back before it is too late. Hard work and effort have to be commensurate with the desired result. As stupid as it sounds, even Joey Chestnut trains to be the world champion hotdog eater that he is. Nothing is easy. If it is....it simply can't be real.

Key milestones this week

With only three weeks until the Cache Century, it is time for some serious road climbing. The key will be setting up for success, while not giving in to the temporary pain. Suffering is a choice, but it is necessary to meet the objective.

Here's one back when Clapton stopped by to work with The Blues Breakers - and the "Beano Burts" '59 Gibson.

Click here for a lesson in the basic blues.

Ride HARD!

 

Turning it up

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Exploring New Trails

New Dirt Trails

I've had to remind myself what riding for the sake of enjoying the event is really like. Getting the full suspension bike down, I've been hitting the local trails up in North Fork the past week or so. Kind of stupid that I don't ride up there more often, as I literally can roll right out of the garage and be on dirt single track within a few minutes. Better yet, I can get a good workout in the process, with rides lasting a couple hours. I have found this puts me frequently into Zone 4, with overall averages in the Zone 3 range. The past couple of years they (who ever they are) have cut probably 10+ miles of new trails - with some pretty good climbing. Given the recent warm, strike that, HOT weather, rolling out in the evening keeps me out of most of the heat and into the shade. The lack of rain has left the trails rather dusty, requiring bike servicing every night coming back home. The trails aren't too technical and can be fun on the descent with flowing speeds. Out on the farthest north side I'm regularly encountering moose, fox, big deer, grouse and of course the occasional snake. It reminds me why I do what I do in the first place - as hard as it can be.

It's like an Alman Brothers thing....

Eye on the Prize

I'm reminded of a post card from some number of years back (call it forty plus) from Pennsylvania Amish country, about two towns about four miles apart. It said something along the lines of  "If you go through the one particular town, you'll end up in Paradise". That's exactly where I'm at in this years progress. It's not the suffering I'll endure at the event, it is literally the aftermath of finishing that drives me. Sometimes that is what really matters - look past the hardship and suffering and focus on the intended result. At that, keep things in perspective - like be real. There are sacrifices to be made in getting there, but those things are handled one at a time, never in aggregate. All that said, time is spinning by, as it always does. Metrics and milestones are more important than ever. Discipline and diligence equally as much. What does it take to get to Paradise? Look up that town on Google Maps and you'll figure it out. You can't fake it!

Meeting a moose in the worst of all places.

Minor Changes to the Road Bike

Trying a new saddle (seat) on the old bike again. This is like the fifth or sixth saddle I've had on that same bike. They wear out over time and even break occasionally. Bike tech has change a lot over the years as well. I'm trying a fi'z-ik 3D printed system that really seems to work well. The  key to this is a proper fitting for the old "sits-bones" as it were. From there a proper position setup goes along way. The shorter cranks are allowing better over the top positioning in the pedal stroke itself. Add to that the rearward position of the cleats and it definitely feels different - probably better. The slightly shorter crank-arms do require more force to offset the loss of torque, but it is manageable thus far. The old cycle computer also had to go, as it was not reliable anymore. I'm using a very simple GPS system between all three of my bikes - making it more reliable and easier. In all, the old bike is still......an old bike, but it is still fast. Concerns about the frame have proven not be be an issue, but the mechanicals are wearing out. She'll make it through this season - with style.

Trying not to be too philosophical

I know some of my past posts have gotten a little....off track. Sure every once in a while we can go down that road, but I'm not trying to be a Chaman, or online influencer. There are times I think it important to get something out in the open, but for tonight, I'll focus on the progress. When it is time for that other stuff, well - you'll know.

Lets try something a little different. After all, our differences is what makes us fit together better.

Click here for Ella and Louis

Ride HARD!

Finally....

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Doing it with the road bike

A different route for the road bike.

It doesn't seem too many years ago riding almost anywhere across this valley and seldom encounter traffic. That included riding on any of what used to be four of the State highways in the valley. Like everything else, that has changed - a lot. With those changes also come other new opportunities. It used to be, a simple morning ride would be a 40 mile tempo-ride, or maybe a set of 30/30 intervals. The entire route would only have perhaps 850 feet of total elevation change. With the new road cutting up to SR 158, I can get nearly 2,000 feet of elevation, with a couple good climbs - in about 52 miles. This is also pushing me into areas and roads I wouldn't have otherwise taken the road bike in the past. Dust-Guarded dirt roads, loose gravel on some short climbing segments, hoping curbs - a regular Peter Sagan. I still have to push it to maintain a respectable average moving speed. One descent pushes nearly 50 MPH - when traffic permits. The overall statistics are also pretty good, pushing a little into Zone 4, extended Zone 3, with a solid balance in Zone 2. Still dealing with traffic for parts of the ride, I'm having to ride at a hard and deliberate pace for some sections - making it easy to maintain a race pace cadence through parts of the course.

The new turn on to SR158 (Powder Mountain Road).

Hesitant 

A lot going through my mind while riding, but not sure where to take it. The changes made to the road bike seem to be having a positive effect. Still need to make a few changes - albeit minor. Thinking a new saddle is in order, bar rotation adjustments, maybe even slightly wider tires. Just not sure where to take everything a this point. It's obvious where the training rides need to go, but the fundraising has completely stalled - as in kaput! Lacking inspiration more than motivation. Something that always seems to land me is going back to "461". Don't ask me why, but that slab of vinyl reminds me of only the best of times on Monte Cristo - and I can't even tell you why. Truth is, Monte is brutal, but a true friend. Few if any changes on the highway after passing the State sheds. Sure, they added a couple new cattle guards going down into Rich County, occasionally they resurface parts of the road - stuff like that. Make no mistake, that ride is a suffer fest - but I keep going back. Providing the work schedule permits, that will be on the agenda for the upcoming week. I still don't know what any of this has to do with "461", but go along with it as though it really makes sense. I'll figure the rest out later.

This wasn't part of the original release in "461 Ocean Blvd", but it was added to the deluxe edition forty years later. This is actually the final show for that tour at the Hammersmith

Click here for "The Sky is falling..." Eric.

Ride HARD!

Making a few changes

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44 mile morning rides on the hardtail

 Finding what works - Bike Fit / Setup

There has been a lot said about bike fit and setup. I've personally wrestled with the different setup and fits over the many years. A lot of rec riders settle for saddle (seat) height, but there's a lot more to consider. Basically everybody has their own unique body geometry and as such, well it's not as easy as it sounds. The road bike has been running the same drivetrain for the past 15 years. 50/34 front rings, with an 11/28 rear cassette. The crankarms have been the same 172.5 mm the entire time. I've had a couple professional bike fit attempts over the years - with limited, if any success. The front stem has been shortened and raised over time, with several variations of saddle positions. A few months ago I noticed a picture someone had taken of me grinding solo up Snake River Canyon. I had always thought my pedal stroke to be good - but that proved wildly incorrect. The picture screamed the reason I have broken saddle rails on other setups. Basically I was pushing back from the top pedal position into the saddle with tremendous force. Heel down to make matters worse. This also explains the chronic frontal knee pain I would have after climbing Monte - or anything else for that matter. Without going into the weeds, I'm trying a shorter crankarm setup - going down to 170 mm. Also, I've adjusted the cleats on my shoes to put the driving force farther back. I'm sure there will be other minor adjustments, but for now its time to get the road bike in service - next week.

Don't buy a Bucklos Chain

The hardtail has been getting a ton of time and miles. That bike is pretty low maintenance - for a mountain bike. Still, regular service is a must. Regular chain/lube and cleaning makes it run much better. Chains, rings and cassettes wear out - not mention tires and bearings. Having replaced a lot of chains over the years, I've always ran either Shimmano or Sram high-end components. I took a chance on a plated BUCKLOS chain - from Amazon. Major mistake. I put maybe 400 mile on it before it started to bind up. It's kind of the problem with 12 speed chains having thinner side-plates, in that they can bend a lot easier. I've never had that problem with a Shimmano or Sram chain - yet. This is also the argument for still running 2X front ring groups, versus a 1X chain ring. Regardless of that debate - steer clear of the Bucklos chains.

Another month or so and this will be approaching a "mud hole".

Stalling....

It has been a struggle, as usual this year. The Huntsman campaign is not moving at all, not to mention the event training has not really taken off. The next 30 days are critical and a more concerted effort will be required. The path toward success narrows with every passing day. Options become limited as the key days approach. Work commitments are also taking their time, but not insurmountable. It's just time to get serious - about everything. If this were an undergrad class, I think the professor would give this a gratuitous B-, mostly for just attendance and handing in the work. Certainly not mastering the material.

Click here for "The Moonbeam Song" Harry Nilsson

Ride HARD!

On the shoulders of giants

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Carrying the load

I recently read a very short biography of an individual I knew growing up. I would have known this person for pretty much the second half of her life. Confined to a wheelchair and without any use of her limbs, she was still able to live a remarkable life. The biography only covered her early life - basically the first half that I wouldn't have seen. It is an amazing story, as it could be almost unbelievable had I not known otherwise. One thing that stood out was that from the earliest of her days, she had a tremendous support network - a family, that made life even possible. By the time I came along, she was a giant in our community -albeit, none of us youngsters were to ever know that at the time. The point to all of this is very simple; everyone needs a support network along the way. Eventually it is passed on to the next group or person to carry the ones that follow. Nothing new about that, now is there?

Little chance of coincidence

Luck is not all its cracked up to be. In fact, the harder your work and the more you prepare, the luckier you will become - pretty straight forward. Along with that, practically every decision you make will have an effect at some point down the road. When we are younger we convince ourselves that we can get away with poor habits and bad decisions. Truth is, it all adds up along the way. And then there are those occasions that we identify as coincidence, when in fact we chose to be at that place at that time - be it intentionally or unintentionally. You had to make a series of decisions to even get to that point. The results are what they are. In the end, if you desire happy coincidence, you need to make choices well ahead of time that will put you there. Repetition becomes behavior. Behavior becomes part of your character. If you want to race fast, you have to train fast. At the end of the day, a persons character is what they do when nobody else is not looking. At some point it can't be faked. It will all come home to roost eventually. If you want to take your chance at coincidence, set yourself up for success first.

Training Updates

A minor foot injury during the week, completely unrelated to riding, kind of set things back a bit. Add to that some work demands and it has been a less than ideal week. A session of hills last night felt pretty good. Changing the methods to stimulate more progress. It is past time to get the road bike out and go through all the details. Time is flying by and not a lot of progress on the Huntsman campaign or other training metrics. Diligence is the word of the day.  Time to string a few together.........

Click here for Dave Mason "Only you know and I know"

Ride HARD!

Being Brief - whoever that is...

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A stretch of dirt on the way home

Time limitations.......

Schedules being what they are, everyone has their demands and needs. Baseball games across the valley give me an excuse to ride to and from - using the hardtail. Again, not a lot of kick and glide on that rig when compared to the road bike. It does give me a pretty good workout. When schedules permit I go looking for something that will produce a challenge. Of course the biggest challenge for me can be committing to the final 4-miles home. It is very important to learn how to finish and push past an easy way out. All total, tonight was a bit short of 3-hours actual riding- with only hydration. Add to that roughly 85 minutes at the game and it made for a long evening - rolling in just before dark.  You do what you have to do....

Not much to tell for now...

Still haven't had time to work on bikes. The road bike will be coming out soon, which will change a lot of things. Until then I'm still spending most of the time on the hardtail - although I've given some thought to taking the full sus up into North Fork. That place is just too busy in the evenings. The high school kids show up like locusts - droves (would that be loci?). Regardless, they make it not worth while in the evenings. Some mornings are better, but the trails are getting hammered - especially by all the e-bikes. For now it is a matter of getting quality time on what bike and ride is available. Still working out some stuff health wise. Staying more focused on the diet and consistency.  Recover days take a little longer than when I was younger. Following days like today, I can feel the burn in the quads particularly. Nothing too serious, but I know I've done something. It is minor soreness and nothing chronic - like burning tendons. Spending more time in zone 2 and 3, meaning I'll need to do some zone 4 polarization stuff along the way. Hills sure aren't doing that at the moment. Maybe I do need to hit some single-track dirt in North Fork after all.

Not taking things too serious

As busy as  I have been, I do look for things to break up the routine. I noticed Macky posted his recent romp from "Mountain of Hell" France. This is impressive and deserves a watch. Considering he crashed a couple times on the glacier and made it all up down on the mountain says everything. Some of those lines are nuts!!! What you don't see is the actual grade, as there are some places they are at nearly -60%. Hats off to both Syd and Macky as they really seem to be putting together a great year with ARI. This particular video makes it look easy. Truth is, Macky hammers the single track like a down-hiller. Never mind his age - both he and Syd are killing it this year. My stuff really isn't that serious after all.

Click here to watch perhaps the most impressive downhill and comeback you will see this year. Nicely done Macky!

Ride HARD!

Fixing, Breaking and More Breaking

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Morning Hill Repeats - before another broken spoke...

 Maintaining Equipment and Making Repairs

Repairs and maintenance are not the same thing. It may sound obvious, but solid maintenance keeps things running better - longer. There are just some things that don't neatly fall into that category - like broken spokes. Aside from the new brakes I need to install on the hardtail, the chain was in need of replacement, as well as the freewheel on the commuter wheelset needed serviced. Sometime last week I was completely burned out from working on client stuff and spontaneously decided to perform a quick wheel service and chain swap on the hardtail. In the process, I found another broken spoke - like the third one on that particular wheel. Replacing a spoke is time consuming, as the entire wheel has to be broken down - including the tubeless tire. Once back together, its a good 30 minutes' in the truing stand straightening the wheel itself.  After all of that, cleaning the tire and filling it with new sealant and using a few magic tricks to make it air-up and seat. It takes time. Yesterday morning seemed like a good opportunity to get 90 minutes of hill intervals in the book - that was until I heard another spoke "snap"  mid grade (the image above). Such is the nature of J-spokes; an inherent stress concentration at the point where it bends. In the end, its simply a matter of engineering mechanics and applied physics. I've pull the center hub apart on my road bike, split rims and busted countless j-spokes over the years. The only remedy is to use hubs with straight-pull spoke-hub assemblies - which I do have for both the hardtail and the full-sus. This isn't a matter of maintenance, but it sure can eat up precious time making repairs. I'd rather be investing time into upgrades and maintenance - more on that in a later post.

Swapping wheelsets & pushing the endurance

The quickest way back on to the road this evening was to swap wheelsets wholesale.  I've been running by best wheelset on the full-sus, with some very aggressive tires. They are light and fast, but can take a lot of beating. In a race, I'll put on a different set of tires and reconfigure the drivetrain and rotors for the hardtail. Until then I've also got a pretty solid DT Swiss wheelset with some cross country race tires - that are wider and a tad bit more aggressive than the commuter tires. It's an easy swap, with maybe a few minor adjustments on the shifter - on the fly, but it puts me back on the road. Schedules and commitments being what they are, sometimes I have to ride my way to baseball games or other family events. The ride tonight with the wider dirt tires, took me across the entire valley to a late baseball game. Because the bike has great cross country and dirt capability, I can take a few detours not available on the road bike. More importantly, the hardtail doesn't permit the typical "kick and glide" you often get on a road bike - even on minor downhill grades. Basically it is pedaling full time, up to about 28-29 MPH. Looking at the Garmin stats post ride, the overall speed is not bad, but more importantly, the effort is pretty continuous. I threw in a solid 20+ minute climb just to make it legit, with heartrate recovery spot on for expectations. Truth is, it is really the right setup and ride sequence for the current situation. Breaking those spokes was probably a blessing in the end.

Cool mornings in the mid to upper 30's

Sorting it out

Not enough time to get into "it" tonight, but there is definitely some sorting to be done. Methods are changing by necessity, as well as some equipment. I'm looking to make some changes to the road bike, if not replacing it all together. Some time this week it will be going up on the stand for some serious work. It has a lot of miles on it for a carbon/aluminum frame. Lets face it, I'm hard on my bikes. There is a possibility of a carbon-fiber crack in the seat-tube. If that is the case...not a lot that can be done. Aside from that, I have been riding a bike frame that on paper should fit my geometry. Truth is, that the geometry has always stretched me out - creating forces during climbs that are damaging and inefficient. I've always been able to make it work, but it may have finally been too much. Assuming the bike can ride one more season it will be getting a few changes - stay tuned. Aside from that and on a personal note, I have been distracted by questions that have just never been answered. Right - it doesn't matter. But when you reach a point in your life that taking things for granted is no longer an option, you have a tendency to look harder at the little things without immediate dismissal. I'm sure there will be more on this as well. For now, just know that the muscle fatigue is in the right places and not a chronic issue. We are making progress - in some areas anyway.

Enjoying the simple things

Harry was such a perfectionist. A lot of his stuff took countless hours cutting and splicing tape. In the end, so much of his work has gone largely forgotten. There is one piece he did that starts out some basic, it is almost unassuming. in a matter of only a couple minutes, he blends perhaps one of the tightest sessions into a complete work. The depth of the effort is lost in it's simplicity.

Click here for Harry Nilsson "Driving Along"

Ride HARD!

A Tribute to the Crew

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Just below the peak....on our way there.

 On our way......

It has been 45 years to the day that our crew of misfits and eccentrics were let loose onto the "big blue marble". The world was said to be our "oyster" - and I hate seafood. Nonetheless, off we went -wherever the road would take us. I know there were a few that had a plan and a few of them actually executed that plan. There were others that followed "the template" and met expectations. And then, there were the rest of us (probably most of us) that just made it up as we went along. For some reason we all walked out of the building in the comfortably warm evening at the Browning Center, believing we had accomplished something in our lives up to that point. Hats off to those who really did land prestigious appointments, or scholarships. Let's face it, I hadn't any idea until years later, what an accomplishment that actually was for them. The fact the some of our peers actually had it put together well enough as struggling teenagers to do something like that is remarkable. Approaching nearly five decades of dirt, luck, bruises, scar-tissue and eventually some level of success - it has been a fascinating trip indeed. 

From a ride to the peak about ten-year ago. It never gets old.

Not looking back, but remembering the important stuff

Living in the past is stupid - like dangerous stupid. Still, learning from our past is how we survive the future. Learning what will kill you and how to avoid it is a survival skill baked into our DNA. We develop a little muscle memory along the way - call it reflex, but it's something that keeps us from making the same mistake more than ... a few times. I am amazed at how often we do forget what was once important to us in our younger years and worse yet, how often we have been willing to throw away things we always considered to be of value. Sure, we change, but at what cost and end result? We think we know so much more as adults. After all, we have years of experience and hardship to show for it - right? But wait, we thought that same thing when we walked out of that building 45 years ago. To think we have all the answers now may not be as misguided as we were all those years ago, but we still don't have a corner on the market of absolute knowledge. Not being able to see over the horizon was always a bit uneasy, but given the advantage of age, there is less over the horizon than there was all those years ago. So, knowing that..... when you look back behind you and draw the continuous line through history and project it out forward, are you content with where the resulting path takes you? It's too easy to accept fate as something we can't change - we've done it all our lives to some degree anyway. Truth is, we are better and more capable today than we ever have been. It is a function of how well we have learned from our past and can project into the future. 

Humility and all the trappings of learning about life

Perhaps the single most significant difference between now and 45 years ago would be the value of humility. Lets face it; at 18 years old, pretty much everyone feels invincible and has no idea what is out there that can really eat you. Getting knocked down isn't a big deal, as you could bounce back like a jack-rabbit. As you developed a career, perhaps obtained an education, it became apparent that setbacks are a daily part of life. At first you think it may be other people's bad luck and not your own. Soon it settles in, life can be hard - get over it. Sometimes life can be unfair - get over that as well. In the past 10 years we have lost far too many of our friends that walked across that stage 45 years ago. To that we can all agree; life is truly unfair and uncertain. As we absorb that humility, there is more of a sweetness to life and far less apprehension. The adults we used to seek out as "safe harbors" from life's storms - well they are all mostly gone. That leaves us to fill that void, that role - call it what you will. We are better for having been through all of our struggles - personal and otherwise. Maybe those struggles are still every bit as big as they were all those many years ago, but somehow we have all become our own versions of "Jack Arnold".

I wouldn't trade it for the world

Anyone who says they would do it all over exactly the same way (given the chance), is either a liar, or a fool. Fair enough. However, I wouldn't have traded my experiences getting to that day 45 years ago, for anything. Nor would I have substituted those with whom the adventure was shared. Time tends to mellow a lot of the sourness of life. At the same time, we tend to selectively remember things the way we want them to be in our own minds. The awkwardness of trying to figure out who we were is lost to the memories of time spent with our crew. That evening at "Big Buns". Long bus rides home from away games, or meets. Sluffing class to go skiing or to simply fly kites at the park. Gone are the memories of insecurity and the nervousness of being asked to dance by someone you really didn't know - but may have secretly thought was totally hot. The endless hours of practice and workouts, with sweat burning your eyes. Getting the crap kicked out of you at practice and showing up the next day like it never happened in the first place. All stored in back where it belongs. Remembering with fondness the cheerleaders all out on the of the road at the top of Sardine Canyon, doing their thing on our way to a rare Saturday game - we felt like Vikings! Gone is the sting of having lost a fellow Scot and friend only less than one week prior to that graduation day. Ingrained in my heart is the Baccalaureate service only a few days later, with a invocation by our class president - on the heels of that loss, as well as having to deal with potential litigation that threatened our very graduation (Andy was a stud and was made for that very moment in time). And finally, when it was all over, outside in that warm and very comfortable outdoor setting, running into each other knowing there was nothing holding us together anymore. Some things did not have to be said. The firm embrace....hell, the warm and overdue hugs - everything was conveyed without saying a single word. Some relationships were nearly a lifetime at that point, whereas others only three short years - in the end we are bound by that of which we together endured and conquered.  I personally can't imagine it any other way.

Cheers

To you all - and I hope you all do get this message, life is short. Make the most of every single moment. Take nothing for granted. Be the hero you have always been meant to be. We have lost far too many and that will only continue at a faster rate. Live your individual lives looking forward - always. Be proud of what we all are, but don't be prideful. In those quiet moments alone, take inventory of what matters most. Age may have crept up, but we are far from done. Be strong and determined through the finish line - as you really never know where it may be. Perhaps someday we'll look back on this all and laugh at ourselves. Until then, laugh anyway. It's been one helluva ride and we were all darn lucky to have had each other to get us started. Cheers to you all!

Click Here for "Baba O'Riley" The Who

Ride HARD!

Squeezing in the effort

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Making Things Work...when they otherwise won't.

What the view will be in only a few more weeks....

Time commitments being what they are, it is often difficult to get the miles in as one may otherwise desire. This past week was certainly the situation, with it culminating today - being out and about taking care of personal business. It seemed everywhere I went, there were road cyclists out doing what I desperately need to be doing myself. As the day dragged on, time slipped away - making it nearly impossible to get out on any kind of a ride. I did say nearly. As quickly as I could get everything put away from the day, I threw it all together and did a serious session of "pass/fail" hill intervals. Funny, when I perceive my back is against the wall, I tend to put out considerably more effort - and tonight was exactly that. The net result being impressive was one thing, but more so I pushed limits that I had been short of doing these same intervals. Taking quality above quantity can be productive.

Your Brand

Recently I have been reflecting back on how I have managed to land exactly where I am in this world. Along with that, I have stopped to notice what really sets some people apart. Back in the college days, we were taught that our "education" would be what defines us above others in our field. I learned very quickly that GPA contributed to getting in the door of your first job - maybe grad school. Truth is, you can waive the colors of your alma mater, but that really doesn't define you in the end. It is kind of funny how I notice more people wearing the swag of a particular school that they never have attended - call it "fandom". Truth is, you make your own brand over time - whatever it may be. You cannot run from the truth, it always catches up. Whether through relationships or reputation, given enough time your brand is made. so what is your brand anyway? Does it even matter at this point? The particular place I have landed is rather non-traditional - admittedly. When I look back at the various "forks" I have taken, I'd say luck has been on my side more often than not. But than again, I'm reminded of what Gene Simons has said in countless interviews (not that I'm a big fan, but you can't argue with success). People have said they were lucky. He would reply that he agreed. He would also go onto say he found the harder he worked, the luckier he became. In spite of my own bad decisions, I have somehow managed.

Going back 51 years

In 1975 I was doing my first paper route. They bent the rules for me as the company was desperate. They gave me that route when I was only 11 years old. Sure, I had to walk almost two miles to my first house, but hey - I was making it on my own (or so I thought). Truth is, Sunday mornings were hell in those winter months. Cold and dark. My dad helped me during those winter months, which made all the difference in the world. I played a ton of baseball that summer and was my last two years playing hockey. I learned to save money and put off buying stupid things for those that mattered more. After a few months I bought my own NEW baseball mitt. I saved up for my first shotgun - a used Mossberg 500A. About every other month I would buy a new vinyl album. One of those was "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" - Elton John. It was a couple years old by then, but was available as "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was simply hard to find. It (Don't Shoot me) was a good album, but it was a bit too sophisticated for my undeveloped gray matter. 51 years ago to this very day, "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" was released. My album hording buddy bought it - if only for the album art. Talk about sophisticated for my mind - what was he even talking about with some of those lyrics. Its debut at #1 was the result of the momentum and inertia of "Yellow Brick Road". I threw that on this evening while doing hills. I can still remember the first time I heard some of those songs. I takes me back to those very long walks delivering papers on that first route. That year set the stage for things to come....

Click here for "Capt. Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy"

Ride HARD!

Milestones

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The importance of learning to finish

It can be assumed that training is generally about doing hard things - whatever they may be. Perhaps one of my weaknesses is developing a habit to finish. There have been some years that I'll do some long and enduring rides, only to call for a bailout from the last hour of riding. Too often it will be as simple as bailing on the final 4 - 5 miles. I'm pretty good at making those excuses to cover for it as well. The fact is, riding right out of my house for almost any ride is an ideal situation. A typical road ride drops almost 500 feet in elevation in that first four-plus miles. I have options to jump into some pretty good short duration climbs in the initial 20 minutes or so, that allow my heartrate to jump up before heading out on the course across the valley. Other days I can simply spin my way all the way out and back, or take it into a solid hour of climbing to Snow Basin. Regardless of what the ride is, I always have to recover that initial 500 feet of elevation back home. It gets progressively harder the closer to home I get, with a steep little section less than a half-mile from my driveway. There have been years that I would add a little more climbing by going up and around - driving it home even more. The point is; you have to learn how to finish. Going through the motions will get you nothing in this life - and that includes mailing in the finish.

It is also important to set yourself up for success. Being overly ambitious is not helpful, nor is taking the easy path. Yesterday's ride on the hardtail was just that - not overly ambitious, but geared toward one key metric: FINISHING! As weak as that sounds, it is about conditioning oneself to push through the end of whatever IT may be. Once finishing has been established as "non-negotiable" then you can stretch the effort more along the way. Save the bailout calls for when it really matters - not as a matter of convenience. Lets face it, not finishing is watered down quitting at best. But it is still quitting. That is not building on success.

The Left Sleeve of the 2020 Jersey.

Taking too much for granted

One of my riding buddies, kind of my barometer from the past, has been sidelined with an ailment that has kept him off the bike. This is a guy that would be stacking 300 miles a week by mid summer, with a solid showing at LOTOJA every year. The point to all of this is very simple - you never know when things will stack against you, keeping you from doing those things too often taken for granted. I suppose my situation is somewhat like that, albeit I can still ride. I just don't know that I have the confidence my ticker is going to allow me to continue somedays. I'm being more cautious about things I believe my trigger the issue, but I'm certainly not making the most of these opportunities - admittedly. I suppose at some point we tend to lie to ourselves, telling us how we would never take things for granted - but we still do. 2020 was a terrible year for riding. That same buddy and I went out to pickup our packets together that year. It was very strange indeed. We shared a support crew for most of the race that year, with me starting 12-minutes before him in my group. Once we were on our bikes, it was like that year never happened. Conditions were near perfect and was a welcome reprieve from the previous 5 months. That was also the year we had to traverse down a dirt road and across a wooden bridge about 22-miles from the finish. Man, that was a great year. Now I'm totally on my own and having to make it up as I go along. Talking to my buddy, he reminds me of how not to take things for granted - as he would give his eye-teeth to be riding anything this year. But somehow, I seem to miss the message. Call it laziness on my part.

Katies motivation

Katie is one of only a few that I will follow occasionally, as I'm impressed with her story and transition. She does have some legit advice from time to time. Watching her most recent post, she talked about reserving interval training for the indoor sessions - beating herself to failure, whereas she doesn't have to save some in the tank to get home. You know....she's right. Blowing up on a ride always leads to a struggle getting home - if not calling for a bailout. Blowing up on an indoor trainer, or spin bike - well, you are already home and can push those limits to their fullest. Doing hills does this for me as well, as I don't have to ride any distance to get back home. What it boils down to is my motivation - and that is lacking. I guess I shouldn't say she motivated me, but she sure did get me thinking about my methods. Katie is a stud - because she just is. Look up her YouTube stuff and see for yourself.

Lets hope for a solid couple days going into the weekend.

Click here for "Thunder Island" Jay Ferguson

Ride HARD!

Slow progress - but still it's progress.

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Ideal trail conditions

 Time on the old reliable

I really didn't think I'd be riding the full suspension bike until well into the season - like perhaps autumn. But the past few rides have been a solid reminder of what it is I love to do. That bike is getting a bit old, but still a great machine. Truly more a trail bike than a cross country bike, but very comfortable to ride. In the day, a pretty solid - middle of the road outfit, that would take me pretty much anywhere I'd want to go. Sure, I have a crash or two on her, but aside from a broken ankle eight years ago - we've gotten along pretty well. I'm currently running some pretty heavy tread on my best wheelset - creating some serious drag, but excellent grip on the trail. I'm too old to bomb the descents, but still enjoy the fast flowing run from the top. Frankly, I don't know why I'm not doing it more often.

You can't buy this in a bottle

Overcoming the things that draw me backward

Being self employed comes with it's own challenges - different than going into the office every day. I mean, I did that for the better part of four decades before I finally decided to tell "the man" to go and piss up a rope (that requires significant surface tension). Having been with the same organization for well over 30 years, I wasn't prepared to accept that it had become my identity. Look, I did it on my own terms and am glad I finally bailed, but I didn't really expect the part which seemed to be missing every morning after that. Never mind the fact that I have been very busy since the day I left to go out on my own, but somehow it felt like a part of me had been taken away. Here I am some forty-four months later and have proven my own identity. There are still those days, somewhat reminiscent of 2020, when things just didn't seem exactly right. Those situations can result in a loss of several days progress - even creating a setback of sorts. Almost like clockwork, I get a stray and unexpected message from an old friend that seems to land with incredible timing. Other times.....its' just a matter of hearing a track that takes me back to a place that is wholly specific to that one moment - and I find myself smiling. I'm fortunate to have the fledgling little business that I do - and darn grateful for the clientele. There are no guarantees, and there are times it can be a bit stressful - but to have the ability to pull yourself along everyday is truly a blessing. I'll take the challenges - as long as those occasional messages continue to roll in at the right moments.

 "461Ocean Blvd"

Funny how somethings get better with age. It was at this very time of year,  fifty-two years ago Clapton connected with Tom Dowd to create the comeback masterpiece "461 Ocean Blvd". Eric had basically been holed-up in his estate for nearly three straight years - mainly following Duane's untimely death. Prior to that he had one helluva run with a number of different collaborations - including Duane (Derrick and the Dominoes). There was the mystical image of an unidentified graffiti-artist having painted "Clapton is God" that seemed ominous. Through those years he played a mix of Les Paul's, SG's and even an occasional 335. When he hooked up with Duane, he ran across a bunch of vintage Strat's that led him to build what eventually became "Blackie" - a mix of a '56 & '57 Strat with hand picked single coil pickups. That became the iconic sound he produced with "461". Of course "461" was a serious departure from his heavier work prior to his sabbatical - featuring a lot of acoustic and even a lap-steel guitar. It was recorded during April-May of 1974 - rolled out at the record stores in July of that same year. Needless to say, it caught a lot of traction. Some may say it was a tectonic shift in the industry. When you look at the other stuff that was released that same year, as well as the two years before - I think it can be a qualified trend setter for sure - leading to '75 that exploded with countless rivals. To this day "461" just seems to go down smooth regardless of the occasion.

Click here for "Please be with me" Yvonne with the beautiful harmonies.

Ride HARD!

In the dirt - Finally!

Atop Mules Ear

 Familiar territory

Living close enough to great dirt riding, that I can do it right out of my driveway, certainly has its advantages. The first single-track was cut around twenty-years ago. The trails were very limited and archaic by todays standards. Very few mountain bikers would ride what was there, as it was rough in many places, with a ton of overgrowth. There were probably more trail runners on average than cyclists, mixed in with even more horses. It was pretty quiet even on the busiest evenings. On rare occasions you may run across someone - that you most certainly would always know. It was rather quaint. About seven years ago they (whoever they are) hosted a race series up there - mainly on the original Mules Ear. This was in conjunction with more trail building - but on a still smaller scale. And then of course....COVID. That year from the first weekend the park opened until about the time school started back up, the place was "choked" with campers. Add to this the stimulus money flow that put tremendous pressure on the mountain bike market and....well, the place has never been the same. Sure, it has brought a ton of attention to the area, but they (again, whoever they are) have developed a lot of new trails, while improving some of the original stuff. I have learned to take the good with the not so good. The past couple years I haven't taken advantage of the close proximity, making excuses all along. A couple nights ago I just had the urge to pull down the full suspension bike and take it out for a run. As painful as it was, I felt surprisingly good about getting on the dirt again. Tonight I made a couple minor adjustments on the bike, that really needs a full service, took it up and pushed myself to the overlook area. Given the relative levels I have to push, there is no reason I shouldn't be doing this several nights each week. I suppose I tend to take things like this for granted too often.

Looking across Ogden Valley on the way down from the top.

What riding in the dirt does for the bigger picture

My best years have always been associated with a ton of dirt riding. The route I took tonight is notorious for being more like extended interval training than anything resembling a casual ride. Generally I can get a solid twenty-minutes warming up before I have to "gas it". There are a few technical spots in the first thirty-minutes that also require a little attention. By the time I hit the base of the main section (Mules Ear), I've already peaked heart rate a couple times and am settling in for a lengthy session of grinding. Throughout this first hour or so, I will be in Zone-4 a lot. When my leg strength improves, there are places I will punch into Zone-5 briefly. Generally splitting a balance between Zones 3&4 evenly. Of course the ride down is Zone-2 pretty much all the way home. So.....for now, I'm getting a harder workout riding in the dirt - on this particular course anyway. At some point, I will have to master this particular ride from start to finish. This will also have to include morning sessions that will be multiple loops consuming at least three-hours. When the road season is finally over, the autumn leaves will be falling - and that is when the best riding in this park really is. Having mastered this particular course makes the casual rides through all of the park a special experience. Call it an investment.

Stick around. More to come......

Ride, Ride, Ride.

Click here for "Let it Ride" BTO

Ride HARD!

Getting past the head games

Feeling it

I did an impromptu tempo ride Friday - because I could. The stats weren't overly impressive, but it was a consistent push for nearly 3-hours solid. Believe it or not, the boredom threshold is only about 20-minutes at the moment - meaning I really have to want to be out on my bike. Frankly the boredom really has a lot to do with success these days. That and having the daily thing that is life taking the wind out of your sails quickly. There are four basic levels that have to be met for success - all in time increments. 75 - 90 minute interval (mainly hills), 3-hour consistent tempo (near race pace), 5-hour century (100-miles) and the 6-8 hour plus endurance (typically Monte, or East Canyon). With all of that, you really have to be in the mood to be on the bike, as well as concentrating on the key points and milestones. If you don't feel it - go do something else productive and don't waste the resources.

The things you see along the way....

Things have not gone according to plan the past few days and it shows. Measurables are pretty stationary at the moment, as the input method has kind of sputtered-out.  Several distractions between work and home commitments are taking the toll. If character is what we do while alone - well, my character is certainly floundering. The need for inspiration has probably never been greater - and this is the time of year it is supposed to be easy. Probably needing to reinvent the input method - or maybe just lie to myself. One thing for sure, you can't by it - whatever it is. A precious commodity if you can find it.

Southern Hemisphere

In my previous life I was working on projects in South America - for several years. I'm guessing there had to be 24-25 trips to Brazil (Brasil) over the course of only a few years. Somehow I still managed to train with all that travel. Those trips were all business - typically 112 - 115 hours each week. Very early mornings, very light nights - all work and no leisure. So many evenings heading back to the hotel around midnight, driving through the darkness of cities and industrial areas - I never could see the stars of the Southern Hemisphere. I guess I had always figured there would be more trips, but I always packed them with a busy schedule. Through all of those visits, I saw three or four different hotels, a hand full of restaurants, a couple grocery stores and the same 145 miles of highway between the airport and the jobsite. I let that opportunity slip by without truly seeing the beauty that was literally all around me. Man.....if I had a dime for every time I've done that very thing.

Sometimes you don't realize what you've had until it is no longer there.  Speaking of that, this album speaks directly to the previous paragraph. For such a brief period, it sure brings back some special memories. Take it all in while you can - because you can.

From the Portland Rose Garden, 1982.....

Click here for "Southern Cross" 

Ride HARD!

Grit! - Just doing it....

Signs of the season.....

 Modified Tempo Rides

The roads and trails across the Valley are as bad as I've seen them for this time of year. Considering how mild and warm the winter was, I'd expect the conditions to be far better. There has been so much utility construction over the mild winter, everything is all chopped up. The normal early season tempo ride would generally consist of a lot of highway miles, with several backroads along the way. This still is a pretty fast pace - even early on in the season.  The conditions are definitely not suitable for the road bike, but very well for the hardtail. I've learned the lesson about trying to add too much climbing into the tempo ride so early. It turns into more of an endurance ride - which can come a bit later. Tonight was nearly 3-hours of cold and getting colder, continuous grinding. The stats aren't ideal, but better than what I had only a few days ago. I do manage to get a few miles of dirt on this particular course, with my return speed on that stretch pushing a pretty solid race-pace. I wouldn't say I bonked, but I could feel a difference right around the 2-hour mark. Part of this is likely due to a couple minor adjustments in cleat and saddle positions that are needed. Weather permitting, I'll try this again within the next 5-days.

This sign is only at MP22 - you get the picture.

Where does desire meet success?

Seeing the signs over on SR39 this evening really makes me yearn for those days going up and over the top. The snow gate on the west side is only 15 miles up the road from this sign. MP44 - well that math is pretty simple. The camp ground is just under 26-miles, with the snow gate on the east side just shy of 34-miles. I could go on about all the landmarks and mileposts, but that is a series of memories from many years of riding this road - all the way to Woodruff and back. Some of those have been very long days that spanned from complete heat exhaustion to freezing, trying to outrun torrential summer storms. As much as it costs physically (and emotionally), I need that experience to drive my success - however I may measure it. There are days when it seems like an eternity trying to get past each landmark. There are also days when my soul finds peace with being up there - and away from everything else. I never ride it with anyone else and have a lot of time to sort through things in my head. Sometimes I solve engineering problems in my head - which has been very fruitful on some stressful projects. Other times I contemplate relationships - both personal and professional. There is no cell service most of the way after you get past Atoka on the west side and the end of the powerlines on the east side. I often see a lot of wildlife along the way - making it special in it's own right. Most every time going over and back, I think about how I would write about that particular adventure. So many times it sounds like "And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street", but by the time I get home it is all boiled down to the "horse and cart". When all is said and done, success isn't measured out in standard units, but rather the satisfaction of overcoming the thing that always pushes back.

Recovery with Intervals

Tomorrow will be an indoor spin session early, focusing on cadence. Hopefully being in the office all day, I can also get a couple sessions of spring and balance work. The next day will be early intervals with hills in the evening - weather permitting. I also need to work on the bike - both doing maintenance and upgrades. I'm also thinking about tearing into the road bike and completely redoing all the cables and guides. The key is to stay diligent without causing damage - plenty of rest. The diet side of things is doing better. Rides shorter than 3-hours don't require much in the way of fueling, but more on the hydration side of things. Keeping things clean - or at least cleaner than before. A ton of protein and some "good" fats. Creatine is only at about 10-12 grams daily, which seems to agree with my system. At the moment its not about total miles, but weekly hours and relative intensity. Maintaining 9 - 12 hours per week with moderate intensity seems to be a good combination for now. Mixing it up - even better.

Click here for "Sad ol' Love Song"

Ride HARD!

Answering the question...

 

One of the updated Porpoise Stickers

Finding the soft spots...too many to hide.

My work schedule being erratic at times, makes for a interesting training combination - if you can even call it training. Gone are the days when sacrificing a little sleep for early morning spin sessions was more advantageous than not. Sarcopenia being what it is, getting more rest is a necessity. When I can fit two mixed sessions in one day, the recovery seems to take a bit longer.  This was very obvious on Tuesday when I had setout for an intended 3-hour tempo-ride on the hardtail. The previous day started with intervals on the Airdyne, followed by cutting brush, burning and spraying - oh, with several hours at my desk. Monday night was a set of last minute hill repeats - on the usual 1/2-mile grind. After a solid 6-hours on my desk Tuesday morning, I took off for the afternoon to get that intended 3-hour tempo ride in the books. The new course involves a pretty good climb that I didn't include in the tempo rides of years past - which was a mistake. I could feel the fatigue in my legs when making that climb, but pushed through. I was feeling heavy on the trail over to Middle Fork and really couldn't hop the bike. Add to this a few unplanned distractions and it turned into a mediocre ride in the wind - calling for a bailout at just under 2-hours. It's very clear there is some ground to regain - using something different.

This morning started out with another good interval session on the Airdyne, with some a very cold hill interval session this evening. The overall stats indicate weakness in a couple muscle groups, but worse yet - what appears to be a low VO2 max. This will be addressed by doing a couple different types of intervals between the Airdyne and spin-bike. Moderate core and strength work to help with the fast-twitch groups needed for offroad skills. "Skills".....that is an entirely different issue. I have switched back to original SPD cleats and pedals, away from the Eggbeaters I have been using. This is pushing me back into better pedal stroke form - especially on the longer climbs. I need to work on the hardtail, adding the new brakes and getting ready to ride North Fork. The plan is to stay exclusively on the hardtail for all dirt riding through August, mixing in the road bike about mid to late May with faster paced tempo rides. The full sus will be hanging on the wall most if not all of the time again this summer.

"The Gentlemen's Club" - Four Jakes looking for action on tonight's ride.

Huntsman Updates

Looking through the different Huntsman Heroes events for this year, I noticed some pretty awesome stuff. As mentioned in the previous post, LOTOJA parts of Huntsman are way down, but there is one individual that has already nailed it with nearly 50% of the overall event targeted goal. This was the guy I had mentioned last year as well, using his contacts to make a difference. But then over at Little Red, there is an even more impressive story. For those not in the know, Little Red is an all womens ride across Cache Valley. This year they currently have something like 92 Huntsman Heroes participating, with a pretty impressive goal. More impressive and equally inspiring is the one individual that is carrying that torch nearly single-handed. Her story is remarkable and her efforts incredible. I invite you to go out and find her page at the Huntsman Heroes Little Red site. You'll know it when you see it. There will be more about Huntsman and the Porpoise as we move along, but for now go look at this particular individuals page. It makes me feel almost insignificant, but wanting to do much more at the same time.

Long Nights in the Near Darkness

All those years ago when I used to run stairs several nights each week, lifting 4-5 days and kicking not less than 5-nights, I would get home well after dark completely spent. Needless to say my sleep patterns were affected  - laying awake in bed for seemingly hours on end, but still up early on the other end. I had a pretty nice stereo system that included a good turntable, a great cassette-deck and even an eight-track player. I always had something playing as I went to sleep - always to the low light of the main amplifier, glowing across the room. I had "America's" first release on eight-track (from way back). I could plug that in and it would loop all night into the morning - occasionally waking me up with the auto-track changing "click". That soft background crying steel-guitar still takes me back to those evenings. Gerry, Dewy and Dan - three Airforce brats that setout to piss-off the local Britts. I studied those songs learning the cord-shapes on my twelve-string, to the point I would play them laying on my bed - quietly, until I fell asleep. The simple times I let slip away -taking those moments for granted. What did I know? I was young.....

Click here for "Rainy Day" America

Ride HARD!