Helluva hole.....................

Outline of a plan IDEA

I do stuff often without thinking it through to the logical conclusion.  That said, Home Town Heroes is in a hole from the get go.  Our corporate underwriter from the very beginning decided at the last minute to .............. back out.  So, we're starting the season in the hole and about four months behind schedule.  So like the fool that I am, I came up with this "seemingly" great idea to do a sponsor jersey, that would allow us to offset a large part of what was lost.  Well............timing is not the best and it is a solid headwind right from the gate.

My friends at Hyperthreads have helped me put together a kit, with a tech-tee that will serve s the means to pickup sponsors.  There has been a little interest, but so far, pretty cold.  I'll have more information as to inquiries and how to get the stuff in a few days, but below is the general layout.

Somehow, I believe we'll make it work.  Time is short.

Riding again

Slowly getting the distance back on the road.  When I can't get a full ride down, I do a series of hill intervals, or sprint intervals right nearby. I've made some mods to the mountain bike, that will allow me to burn some steeper terrain with more confidence on the downhill.  I've got what I need, just not all the time I'm used to having.  Guess we'll find out what this sorry old dog is really made of before its all over.

Last night was a great ride; I mean the very ride I needed, up to Causey reservoir.  As usual, the last 7 miles home really seemed to go on forever, but I love South Fork.  I used to love fishing that with my dad when I was a kid.  Of course, that was when there was available stream access.  Still, just going up that canyon makes me feel like I'm almost twelve years old again.  The pic below is at the end of the oiled road, above the dam, looking toward the scout camps.

Call me sentimental.  Sometimes I still feel like I could be a hero............

Click here for a Wild West Hero - Thanks Jeff.........

Ride HARD!

Still hanging around????

Doing what needs to be done................

Right.............it's been a while.  I've finally been out on the road, but equally, if not more still on the dirt.

I mean, with vistas like this, why wouldn't I ride the dirt?  Oh, that's right, I need some long rides in the saddle.  Not to worry.

Just getting ready to head back over Trappers Loop, for some climbing this morning.  I've hit that a couple times this season already, but wasn't impressed with the times - even with it being early in the season.

I wasn't able to ride Trappers at all last season due to ongoing construction, so there was (still is) a little trepidation.  The new asphalt is kind of squirrely on the descent, which makes me nervous, but I'm still getting used to the the fast feel of the road.

This past Saturday I reluctantly signed up for the MS150 - literally at the last minute.  A ride I used to enjoy, but steered clear of last season due to the "sketchiness" of some of the riders.  I needed the road miles, especially a longer day in the saddle, so....why not?  It was darn cold at the start, like 39°, so full-finger gloves, jacket and toe-warmers for the first 40 miles.  Stopping at Lewiston, Utah for a quick lunch, I met up with a former, fellow employee.  I rode with him earlier going up to Dayton, Idaho, but voluntarily dropped off the group, as I wasn't confident enough to ride too hard that early.  After the Lewiston stop, we stuck together for the remainder of the day.  I seldom get to ride with anyone else, so having someone to talk to, as well as work on my "wheel chasing" without any stress made for a great day.  Exactly the right ride for the right time.

It's no secret my attitude has been suffering this season, but this ride was really a good idea.  Riding with "Mr. Blue Sky", literally made the difference - all the difference.  Thanks Dan!  You're a life saver.

Big announcement in the next couple of days - it will be great!

Here's to you Mr. Blue Sky - Click here.

Ride HARD!

Stalled!

Weather!

What to do?  It's been another of those years where it just wont let up.  A few years ago, I'd ride in the worst of conditions - 'till I figured out how stupid it really is.  It is risky, hard on my bikes and mostly not necessary.  There will always be times when it can't be avoided, but until then.........don't do it!

The mountain bike has been the main outfit thus far, with the spin bike getting more time.  I took the time to build up a "harsh weather" wheel-set, but still no road riding.  I've swapped out my SPD's on my spin bike for for road gear, simply to start working on form.  The MTB is good for leg strength and intervals, but it raises heck with my road form.  This morning it was pouring buckets, so I did some pretty hard spin intervals.  Followed tonight with the first trip up top of Mules Ears.  The north side is still too muddy, so I did a fast return back down the south side.  Good time, but man my legs are burning.  Dang limbs being pushed down from the snow scratched my legs up pretty good - that stings.  Still.........beats a day at the office.

Things with Huntsman are going to take a turn very soon.  I hope for the positive, but there is a huge deficit to makeup.  I'm not really sure If it can all come together, or is it just wishful thinking.  Either way, this week is the turning point.

It's been good riding when I can get it, but the whole HHH thing is really hanging over my head.  Still, who gets to see this kind of stuff right from their own driveway?  The fact that I can get some of the best riding without ever having to drive somewhere else is great.  It comes with a price, but.........oh yeah!

Anyone else remember the fall of '80?  We lost "Bonzo" that fall, but they still released a classic.  Sometimes I wish I didn't know now, what I didn't know then.  But then, I don't think any of us could truly appreciate how good times were if we didn't have the perspective of time behind us.

Check back in about a week.  I'll layout the plan.

Until then............

I'm gonna crawl.

Ride Hard! (when you can)

Wondering - Wandering

Really, what's the difference...........

Busy at work with shutdown projects, but still getting on the mountain bike.  Riding the crap out of that same section of Shore Line Trail, but it fits the schedule.  It looks like the Avon Divide road may be clear enough to ride.  Not technical at all, but it can really burn the legs - if you hit it hard.  We'll see what things look like in the next couple of days.

I've been thinking a lot of character.  You know, the things we do when nobody else is watching, or more importantly, when it really counts.  There are those that put up a good show, waving arms and all, but who really puts up when it counts? If you have to stop to think about something, rather than react, that is not your true character.- right?  I mean............are you truly invested, or are you just putting on an act? Hmmmmm.............

There are things I've earned over the course of my life that have served me well.  Other things - just a good lesson.  I learned to whistle loud without my fingers when I was like six years old.  Talk about a useful skill! And then there was that time about in the first grade or so, I came home to ask my parents what you see when you look down a mole-hole.  I had know Idea what the punch line really meant, but my folks sure did.  I'm fairly certain my dad turn to my mom at that moment and said; "No piano lessons or braces for him.  He won't need them in prison".  Well, here I am, no piano lessons and didn't have braces.  Never made it to prison, but I sure made a mess of a lot of things along the way.

So what does that have to do with anything?  Character, the thing people are rally made of, regardless of what they may think of themselves.  I think we're to that point where it may actually matter.

Pay attention!

Click here - '71

Ride HARD!

Piecing things together

The "Cantaloupe" Antelope Island way out there under those clouds.

"Frankenstein" 

Oh.....about a hundred years ago - give or take, I used to read a particular trade magazine pretty much every month. It was back in the college days when I was broke most of the time, and could generally read it at the University library for free - then, my favorite word. There was this article about Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer, making the classic track "Frankenstein". They explained how it was originally supposed to be "Drum Solo", but kind of evolved. After some period of time, they had accumulated a massive collection of master tape, of which none were connected. The album they were building was "They only come out at night" an absolute classic, and one of my all time favorites. At some point they figured they had to get the master tapes all together for this "thing" they had been creating all along. Literally hand splicing tape from piles on the floor, they compiled their monster. Add to it the lumbering tempo and you have the enduring classic that has always fascinated me - personally.

It appears this year is developing much like the classic - more than in previous years. The weather sucks, the riding has been sparse, funding is uncertain.............I mean everything is just a mess. The only thing that is constant from previous years is the pile that has to somehow come together to make it work. Everyone has the will to put up a good fight, but not everyone, in fact few, are willing to prepare for that fight. That's where we're at this year. All the ancillary crap is simply making it hard to have the will to prepare. Things wont change unless I make them change, and I'm not really sure how to do it.

The above elevation profile shows the section of trail I've been riding. Just under 700' climbing, but still pretty technical - in several areas. It's good interval training, with some short burns, but nothing for endurance. It's barely 40 minutes from start to finish. It beats indoor spinning for sure. I need to get some road time, but until the roads dry out............

A lesson in adapting.....Click here and pay attention!

Ride HARD!

Back in business......

Leaving the dropper down after a quick descent.

"Just because I don't like it, doesn't mean I don't love it...

It's never easy, or so it seems.  I did manage to get on the Shore Line Trail this past week.  Weather works for me on this trail, as it scares the "fair weather" rider away.  Yesterday was primo!  Only a few riders and conditions were excellent - and cold.  Getting on to the trail takes some motivation, but once I'm up there - I love it.  It's the same with riding Monte in the summer.  Getting started is hard, but riding over Monte Cristo takes me to a place in my mind that I simply can't explain.  It'll be likely first part of June before they have SR39 open for the summer.  For now, I'll take the dirt rides to fill-in until then.

I'm hoping for a little break this week on general funding for HHH.  If it falls through, we - and do mean WE, will have a different charter.  Rub the lucky rabbits foot - or whatever you do for such things.  

Meanwhile, the donation page is "Hot and Ready"!

461 always reminds me of Monte Cristo, September 1978.  What I'd give..................

click here - Florida Mainline

Ride HARD!

Gearing-Up

Change of Plans?

Snow Cactus on the Shore Line Trail

Things are not going well - at all.  Along with the other crap I've had to deal with this season, now it appears we may start $20K in the hole.  If there is a "silver-lining", we have all season to off-set the loss.  The truth is, it will be hard, and I mean hard, to make up that deficit.  Our goal is to break the $2M mark this year.  To do that, we really need to make up that loss.  If something doesn't come through in the next 48 hours, I'll start to plan the thing I've always wanted to do, or thought about anyway.  Nothing to elaborate on yet, so stay tuned.

The way things are shaping up, I'll be on the road within the next 14 days.  Still a lot of sand and salt, with not much for shoulders (on the road).  I need to ride the dirt every night this week, and start doing extended climbs.  Maybe two more weeks and the Avon Divide road should be clear enough to climb at night.  I'll probably stay down on the Shore Line Trail until the Rattle Snakes start coming out.  Those stupid things are a menace.  You quite often don't see them stretched out across the trail until you run over them.  Most of the time, they try to get out of sight before they are seen, but boy can they get mad.  There is a long and steep climb up to an abandon surface mine that is always a ton of work.  The southern exposures are where you'll find them, trying to get warm in the spring sun.  Gotta keep a sharp eye.

The mountain bike needs some TLC.  It's been rode hard and needs a complete overhaul.  Shocks need drained and cleaned.  Chain has a ton of hard miles.  All the pivot points need cleaned and lubed.  Tires need to be replaced (ouch) and re-filled with Stan's Racing Sealant.  I could take an entire afternoon to service this thing, but probably will do it a little at a time.  Meaning, a lot of it may not get done for several months.  Bikes need attention too.  Especially when you hammer them as do I.

This is going to different than anything in the past.  But then.......there was 52's.  Talk about different.  Did anyone else make the connection with Fred and Squidward?  I mean, who saw that one coming?

Fred's do'in it....Click here

Ride HARD!