Across the sky..............

Ben Lomond Peak

 This was a ride I've been wanting to do for a long time.  The first time I hiked this trail was something like 43 years ago.  Our scout leader took a group of us 11 year-old scouts, by foot, from Mantua, to the top of North Ogden Divide.  This time, I did it in reverse order - with my bike.  As much as I'd like to say "on my bike" I need to be honest; there was a fair amount of pushing.  As much as I've had my mountain bike in some pretty hairy places, it is still an older, 26" wheel, full suspension, aluminum (heavy) bike.  That said, the 26" wheels don't fair as well over the rocky terrain.  So call it a ride with extended periods of "hike-a-bike".

The first hour, or so, is spent getting off the south facing exposure.  In the summer months, this can be hot.  This time the cold winds were right out of the south.  Dropping over to the east side, it becomes a bit more scenic, with more challenges.  Tree roots and long sweeping, constant climbs, versus the loose shale and rocks on the south exposure.  A while later and you crest over to the west side, look straight down at North Ogden.  From here it kind of skirts along a narrow trail, that at times, gets a little sketchy.  A little more than half way to the peak, you are more on top, but still pushing along the front edge - that is until you get to Bailey Springs, where all three trails from the south and east meet.  The peak is only a couple miles of trail ahead, but it gets steep and rocky.  Before long, it's all pushing, trying to find a good trail through the rocks.  The last half mile is pretty much all rock and steep.  The trail passes just below the peak, by less than 100 feet.  Nobody in their right mind takes a bike to the peak - that is in their right mind.

 At the top, you can see forever in all directions.  This day was breezy and cold.  I stopped long enough to have a few fruit snacks, a drink and snap a billion pictures.  One other person on top, with having seen only two others all the way up.  Pretty quiet even for a weekday, also pretty cold.  Funny thing; no sign of any wild life - at all.  Usually there are mountain goats just off the top, but not even a distant look.  Eerily quiet.

After getting the "money shot" I carefully got the bike down onto the trail and on the way north.  Still pretty rocky and dangerous, I had to push past a lot of rocks.  Eventually able to get on the bike, it was a pretty quick hop over to the Black Mountain, where I ran into a couple other hikers coming over from Inspiration Point.  The picture below is from the north side of Ben Lomond, at the west side of the Black Mountain, looking toward Ben Lomond with Mt. Ogden in the distance.

The vistas are spectacular from here - anytime.  But this day was particularly gorgeous.   The colors were already fading, but still full.  At this point it was time to get home - or at least to Mantua, about 16 miles away,

Around Willard Peak, the trail is narrow and rocky enough, that I didn't have the confidence to ride it.  Being tired and a little beat-up, didn't make it any better.  Not too long and I was back on the bike, but I decided to cut-off and drop directly into Willard Basin.  Maybe another 3/4 mile and I could hop on the service road at Inspiration Point.  Cutting directly down to the basin would shave about a mile off, but at a cost.  Snow on the single track made for an icy path - more pushing.  Down into the lower area, it was "hucking" the bike over felled trees.  Eventually I got back on the service road and started pedaling up and out.  Between the exertion and the altitude, I was pretty wasted.

Finally out of Willard Basin, I was on some steep roads, with long cross grades.  Not too far down, I caught an area of ice and went down - hard!  Pretty good road rash with a bruise to my ego.  From that point on, it was hard on the breaks the rest of the way down.  The road was loose and rocky, with the bike wanting to take off - but still no confidence.  Stopping for a quick phone call at Perry reservoir for a planned pickup, it was quite a view down toward home.  The rest of the way down was just holding the bike back, never really getting comfortable.  What seemed to be forever finally got me into town.

As much as I'd like to call it a ride across the sky, I'll have to settle for just "Across the Sky".  After all, it is literally the western skyline as seen from my house - and I rode it. It was harder than I had expected and I'm pretty beat-up as a result - but it is in the books. 

Snow is coming .................

The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond

A hard ride .......................

Autumn Riding

........and it couldn't be better.

A series of storms this past week brought snow to about 7,000 feet.  Most everything has burned off by now, but has definitely set the feel of the season.  Cool and maybe brisk at times, but worth the effort to make it out.

The trails are pretty good at the moment.  Pretty soft from all the precip, but not muddy - for the most part.  I followed some horse tracks up and over this evening, but didn't really see anything but the obvious signs and destruction left behind.  They are bad enough in dry conditions, but conditions this soft, they just rip everything apart - literally.  It is amazing to see the damage, not to mention the frustration of having to dodge the frequent wedding cake sized piles of................  Still beats a good day at work.

The leaves will be going fast now, so I'll try to make the most of the time.  As the days get shorter, I have to get out earlier and earlier.  The climbs are pretty good, but the overall ride is kind of short, thus I need to make up time on the indoor spin bike.  Still worth it all though.

I think I'll get the road bike out for one more spin before the conditions get too bad.  I'll have to take an afternoon off to make it happen, so we'll see ho it goes.

Here's to a little cool riding.....enjoy this cool tidbit.

Ride Hard!

Back on a bike after more than a week

Mountain Biking

So..........after getting home from the race, I had a million things to accomplish before leaving on a stressful business trip.  The trip was scheduled to run over the weekend, with about two weeks of work in four days.  Needless to say, it lived up to the billing.  Getting back late to the hotel made it hard (not impossible) to go for a quick run in the fitness room.  I really wanted to get on my mountain bike Sunday afternoon, then Monday night, but neither happened.  After some pretty good rain today, I did manage to get out with just enough time to beat the darkness.

Again, up to the old reliable; Mules Ear, on the mountain bike (X2).  I really didn't feel the need to hit it hard, but rather sat back and enjoyed the ride.  Into the single track, it seemed to just kind of flow.  By the time I got into the lower switchbacks, it was feeling pretty easy - little if any strain.  At the upper switchbacks, I was still out of my bailout gear and moving at a pretty solid rate.  Out around the face and I was confident I would make it over the top without stalling - provided I could get over the last two rock ledges.  Before I knew it, I was over the top and around to the east overlook.  Needless to say, the balance and leg strength felt better than expected going up.  The little routines I've been doing to fill the gaps since the race seem to be holding things together pretty well.

The descent was a little too dark.  Add to that, it was pretty cold and the fingers gripping the brake levers were numb.  It's been a little too long and my balance and confidence weren't what they need to be getting down.  I need a little more time on the mountain bike before I try to ride my last big dirt ride for the season - in maybe a week or two.

Overall, it was nice to feel the bite of the Autumn air, see my breathe in the air and have the mountain to myself.  This is truly the pay-off for the entire summer of training.  I just hope the season holds out long enough to to enjoy it more.

Riding the X2 - X-Ray Specs.....................

Ride Hard!

Race Review

The Details

Start to Emigration/Strawberry

Start time was 07:06, with a slight breeze and temps in the mid 50's.  A fairly good sized group of something like 47-ish riders.  Immediately, one guy was having problems with his pedals, spending more time messing with that, than keeping a sharp eye.  Out of the rolling neutral and out on the highway, things got moving around 22-24 MPH.  Not too fast, but moving along.  Just before the Idaho border, we actually caught the 1000's group.  They were a 07:00 start, with all the women racers.  We blew by them rather quickly, as we were something like 29-30 MPH.  At the Preston turn-off, we had a clear turn back onto the highway and made it very quickly up the two steps before the descent into Riverdale.  As disorganized as this group seemed, I let the main group get out ahead of me until making the hard right-hand turn up Idaho 36.  I kept them close enough to still hook-on and make our way toward the climbs.

Strawberry to Montpelier

Staying with the main group up to about MP10, we were making good time.  I had figured I'd have trouble around MP13 where the grade went to about 6%.  Turns out, the guys up front called for a pee break - with the race marshal right on us and all (unreal).  About a third of the group slowed, but didn't stop.  I decided to "soft-pedal" and wait for the group.  By the time they got back on the road, the others were a good 1K ahead.  Next thing I know, we're having to sprint on about 4% to catch them.  At this point I knew what it would do if I went anaerobic this early.  I let them go with the idea I'd catch somebody to get me to the climb.  By the time we got to MP13, I was not climbing too well.  By MP15, I was in too easy of a gear, letting too many people past me.  Over the top of the false summit at MP17, I figured I'd better push it a little harder up the past 3 miles.  Passing the feed zone, I could see most of the people that had passed me on the climb.  I was able to beat all of the them over the summit at MP22.  The descent was fast, as I was able to hook onto a really fast group at about Liberty.  By the time we hit Ovid, we were a pretty big group and pushing hard.  Speeds often above 30 MPH on the flats, we were working pretty hard, in fact too hard.  Into the feed zone at Montpelier, I was cooked, but optimistic as my over all time was pretty close to the plan.

Montpelier to Geneva

Out of the feed zone, I was feeling the effects of having pushed it a little hard only a few minutes earlier.  The short 8 miles to the climb took a little longer than it should have, but the climb over the top was not too bad.  Heading down into Geneva, I was hitting speeds in the upper 40's until I got onto the new chip-seal.  After that it was a little sketchy.  Not the best surface for the hard 23 mm tires.  A rider only less than an hour in front of me crashed hard on this new surface and had to transported by ambulance back to Montpelier and then airlifted to another hospital.  At the curve to Salt River, I was almost right on one hour - still not too far off schedule.

Salt River to Afton

The 12 or so miles to KoM (King of the Mountain) wasn't terribly fast, in fact I was kind of dragging.  I stopped at a water stop and picked up an extra bottle about a mile from KoM as well.  Rolling up to the KoM timing strip, I just kept going, rather than stop for a breather - I'd already had plenty of that.

I just passed by the other riders that had stopped to catch a breather and I started a fairly hard and deliberate pace.  Within a few minutes, I was passing other riders that had passed me earlier in the lower areas.  As I worked up the hill further, I saw several riders walking their bikes - unreal!  Still I was having to make quick inclined sprints past occasional riders.  Every once in a while, somebody else may pass me, but I passed far more myself.  Reaching the top, I had my jersey completely unzipped, doing the full "batman".  Over the top and through the timing strip, I was good to pass the feed zone.  I did have to stop just passed the feed zone to do up my jersey for what would be a crazy fast descent (51.82 MPH).  I was able to catch a team that took me all the way into Afton.  I didn't drop below 30 MPH until we got through Smoot.  Way fast into the feed zone and I was feeling pretty confident.  An amazing climb, descent and trot into Afton!

Afton to Alpine

34 miles of side cross winds, slightly off the back, negotiating rumble strips and dealing with sketchy groups.  I really couldn't find a "fast" group, but I moved from one group into the next, at one point having to take long pulls trying to connect one group to the next.  I settled into a team from Colorado that was fast enough, but a little un-nerving in the rumble strips.  Just before the relay exchange zone, I jumped out front and headed for the final feed zone.  The average speed through this section was nearly 23 MPH.

Alpine to Hoback

At the Alpine feed zone I was a little tired - believe it or not. I stayed there a good 15 minutes but didn't really take much fuel, in fact I didn't take anything aside from a 16 oz. Throwback (all sugar). Heading up Snake River Canyon, I was getting a good tail-wind.  By the time I caught  group, I was already flying.  As this group got bigger, it became a little scarier with each new rider.  I eventually decided to let them go and I watched for the next group to come along.  Instead, I was flying past other riders, occasionally hooking on to someone for a minute or two, before moving on past them.  It soon occurred to me that I wasn't likely to find a suitable group, as these were all 12 hour riders.  I was out of luck.  It took me an hour to get to Hoback, at which point I again sailed past the feed zone, heading for home.

Hoeback to the Finish Line

About 3 miles past Hoback, I could feel the tank beginning to run dry.  I was thinking I should have stopped at the feed zone, but too late now.  I was out of water, but had some Zipfizz.  By this point I was starting to also feel a little sick, so I wouldn't drink the Zipfizz. Bad idea number one.  I had plenty of fruit snacks, three gu's and a Stinger-Waffle, but I didn't take anything.  When I got to the last hill before crossing the highway, I was gassed.  Heading out west, I ducked under my handlebars to get a little break, but not much.  Heading north toward the bike path seemed to go on forever.  At the bike path there was another water stop, this time with cans of Coke. I hung out there for about 10 minutes and sipped a little Coke until my stomach was settled.  I then crawled off and headed for Wilson.  About 15 minute after sipping down some Coke, I was getting my legs back.  On the highway to Teton, I suddenly had enough to start pushing again.  I caught one group, then left them, and finally caught on to a couple Cyclosportive Open riders.  I stayed with them out to about five miles to go.  I Jumped over them and started to mash the pedals - HARD!.  By 5K, I was skipping over a few others, but not able to quite reel-in the larger group.  At 1K, I was looking down the finish line and could see a large group just clearing.  I was trying to stoke it, but could only muster a steady hard pace.  One guy I last saw in Snake River Canyon was crawling in just in front of me, so I hit it hard the last 100 meters and finished with ............ my tongue dragging in the dirt, but I was done.

Post Race

I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the race.  I was way slower than I should have been with moments of brilliance.  The bike was "sqwaking" for the last 165 miles.  I didn't keep my head on straight and I stay completely unfocused.  Still riding that long, by myself, with some degree of exposure is bound to have an effect.  At the awards ceremony, I got a little more information.  The winds earlier were helpful in a new course record and generally were mostly favorable.  Several bad crashes during the day, some far worse than others.  I saw two group pile-ups within the last 20 miles myself.  The big news was Huntsman raised a projected $200K for the season, with 102 total participants and roughly 85 in the race.

As much as I had my doubts before hand, I think I can do better all the way around.

Not a bad weekend after all...........................

Time for a little down time.

From where it all started........Juniors Farm

Updates will continue weekly until the snow flies and the MTB is up for the winter.

Stick around.

Race Day - Officially Done

Not Exactly as Planned

Without going into much detail (I'll save that for tomorrow), I did manage to hit a few key milestones, but my finish time was............nowhere near where I wanted it.

Time to Montpelier

I had targeted 4 hours to get to Montpelier - the first supported feed zone.  I missed it by maybe 10 minutes, if that.  It came at a price - details later.

Catch at least one Tandem by Salt River Pass

Considering that they started 66 minutes ahead of me, I though this might be difficult.  Turns out, I caught two of them at the top of Salt River Pass.

Stay out of all Neutral Feed Zones

It took a little creativity, but I did manage to stay out of the three neutral feed zones.  I did spend a little time at two watering stops, as well as spent too much time in the supported zones at Afton and Alpine Junction.  This isn't what ultimately contributed to my longer than planned finish time, but it certainly wasn't planned that way either.

The Bonk - Double

Bonk is what runners call "hitting the wall".  It is basically when you completely run out of gas - for whatever the reason.  I had two periods that I Bonked - and hard.  The first was leaving Montpelier and pretty much all the way to "king of the Mountain" at Salt River.  The second was with less than 20 miles to go.  In both cases I was able to pull through, but it was costly in the end.  Again, more details tomorrow.

Summary Assesment

I'm disapointed overall, but pleased with several of the keys.  I think I could make several improvements, but keeping in mind how conditions play a big part in the equation - hard to say.

Tomorrow, we go back to the awards ceremony and then head straight home.  Tonight I try to sleep in a motel room in beautiful Driggs, Idaho.  I have a hard time with Hotel/Motel rooms.

Take the rest of the weekend off................

Getting Ready

About the Ride

In years past I've spent considerable time detailing the different segments of the course.  It's a long course with a lot of diversity, however, I'll only be brief this go around.

Sure this thing is 200+ miles start to finish, but there is a lot more than meets the eye. The front end of this thing is a ton of climbing; 22 miles up Emigration/Strawberry, another 10 over Geneva summit, and then the infernal 16 miles over Salt River Pass.  By the time you get to King-of-the Mountain (KOM), a mere 3+ miles from the top of Salt River, you have given up on any sense of dignity.  By this time you've lost enough electrolyte to make a 10 pound salt block.  Looking straight up at the top from about 2 miles away, in rips your will to live right out!  Still, you get over it (literally and figuratively) and take the little recovery into Afton.  From there its a matter of road management and discipline.  Stay on groups, or get dumped.  Out of Alpine, the beauty of Snake River Canyon, but there is no time for sight seeing.  From here you really need to "Johny" up with the best groups you can find, as you need to get past Hoback and into the Valley.  Across the highway, you can taste the finish, but you can't cash in quite yet.  At Wilson, you put in the last 7 miles, pretty flat, with whatever you can find in the tank.  Then your see the signs 5K, 4K and so on, at 1K its time to look good.  At 500 meters, you hear the announcer.  By the time you hit 100 meters you want to give it all you have and thunder in.  And then............."slow down, this way"....."timing chip", its over.

There is so much to tell about, but it impossible.  Like everything else, it seems its over before you know it and you just have this emptiness that follows.  For me, I devour a huge thing of chocolate milk and try to process the entire summer that just finished.  

Tomorrow needs to be about more than a "fun ride".  Its about time I do something besides talk big.  

I have a lot to do today and I need to get some good rest.  For now, trust me, I'm as nervous as you could be.  Still, I do this because I can.  

Stay tuned......................

This is for the others that didn't make it...............

Ride Hard!

Details and Repairs

Checking in

This is where all the nerves start to boil.  Check-in day and now its for real.  

After getting the bike out of the shop again yesterday, I did a quick 32 mile spin, only to have the noise re-emerge.   So.....at about ten last night, I decided to pull the rear mech (derailleur) apart.  Not generally the best of ideas, but I need to make sure I won't have a failure during the ride.  Pretty risky, but was able to service the jockey-wheels and bearings.  Taking a quick 21 mile ride tonight, I'm not sure the noise has been solved, but I know the rear mech is good.  Tomorrow I'll do a complete clean and lube to catch any last thing.  From there, it is what it is.

Knowing what I'm, up against, I always get nervous.  The entire summer comes down to this and it weighs heavy.  Kind of stupid when you think about it, I mean, its a bike ride - right?  Thats the problem.  Its supposed to be a race, but somewhere a long the way it turns into a survival thing.  This is really a check of ones self and discipline.  Your mind can make, or break the entire day.  Believe it not, a stupid pedal noise can be the tipping point.  Still, there is something that is hard to describe, riding with a group of sixty guys, hearing the sound of hundreds of spokes cutting the wind, knowing that you all have the same task ahead.  That doesn't last too long, as before you know it, the first climb is under the wheels and it time to get busy.  It's...............

I don't know if it is the ride that intimidates me as much as it is the thought of finding out what I'm really made of.  In my mind I will have covered this course over and over, always with grandiose images of what I would like to happen.  What I forget is the suffering that accompanies the effort of trying to stay on a group, catch a group, or simply get over the next climb.  Its like thinking how impervious you are and then having to deal with the truth.  Truth is, I'm not a racer.  I'm not built for it.  Still, I see guys bigger than me crushing the climbs - only because they are mentally stronger.  Why do I choose to let off when it hurts?  Maybe my fight isn't what I claim it to be.  I mean, "Ride Hard" has to be more than a phrase - right?  It is all up to me, as it always is.

Weather forecasts look fairly promising.  Mid 70's most places past Geneva, with possible winds W-SW.  60% chance of showers, but duration and intensity are low.  I can only hope.

I rode down with a buddy to get checked-in today.  Funny how we compare notes on different parts of our tactics.  Nutrition, hydration, group strategy...........its unique - something you can't understand unless you've done this as many times as we have.  Kerry's a stud.  Ten years older than me, but rides like he twenty years younger.  I struggle to stay with him on flat ground and don't even try on the climbs.  I'll see a lot of guys Saturday that are good riders and pretty good friends.  Nobody really cares where you finish, but all have an unspoken respect knowing that you did.  No real bragging.............not much anyway.  Mostly just stories of everyone's experience.  You kind of have to be there to appreciated it - I guess.

The day starts early tomorrow and there is a lot to do.

Thanks to all that have carried the water for the "porpoise" this year.  You are the true heroes.

Robert Johnson wrote a little thong about selling one's soul.  No selling here............

Cross Roads - it puts me in my happy place...........

Ride Hard!