Baggy Shorts and Road bikes, sweet

Recovery ride with Lyna up City Creek canyon, if you want to view the oddities on bikes, this is yer place. The hand is kind of sore after yesterdays car door encounter, but no swelling.

9:30 Saturday AM at 17th south 4th east for a 5 hour tour of sumthin, maybe up and over suncrest around the UC for a bit and bak, I'm going easy the whole time.

Rumor has it Foxy is makin a come back, claims to be racing with us in the pain cave of 30 somethin expert, careful with that, them boys have just gotten faster, and in our late 30's there ain't no reason to upgrade. I remember a foxy paraphrase in 2003 in Sandpoint ID. "I was off the front not even close to maxed and they were all suffering trying to catch back on." This was after he won the STXC. fast bastard, it will be good to have ya back.

Motor Vehicles Trump Bikes

SO todays ride consisted of a few incidents, with vehicles. I was meeting Jerry at the zoo at 6, so I headed out a bit after 5 so I could get a few of my 4 minute efforts out of the way before we headed up and over emigration together. On my way out, riding on 15^th east a bit north of 17^th south, I ran into a opening car door with my right hand, it freaked me out, I pictured the season, my bike and my drive to ride all going out the window, thank goodness none of these thing happened, I did get a nice gash on a knuckle, if it weren’t for the mtb gloves, who knows. I blame myself more than the driver, as I was not paying attention. I say I was 65% to blame.

I mske it to the canyon and do 2 of my efforts, head down the canyon, meet Jerry, do 2 more and ride easy up and over little mtn and start up Big mtn, it was getting late, so we turned around early, traffic was light in the canyon and Jerry and I were just chatting our way down, about ½ way down the canyon I decide to get in single file a bit later a car pulls off a side street honks at me and the driver points at me yelling. Well the next chain of events is unfortunate and lucky all at the same time. I go with my first reaction, I give him the bird, I used to wave, guess I had a bad day. He slows down, pulls over and gets out asking why I gave him the bird, I asked why he yelled, he said, you were in the middle of the road, you got that bike lane (Nice rock filled, pot hole laced bike lane). I tried to say ‘I was in the bike lane!’ It came out as ‘I was in the road, no lane’ and I kept riding. In reality Jerry and I were both in the bike lane, although we don’t have to be. Poor Jerry, being in front of me, he had no idea what had happened, I turned a round a few minutes after getting past the car to talk to him and he wasn’t there. He almost got taken out by the car door, he proceeded to tell the guy that we can be on the road (even though we were in the bike lane). He finally caught up with me, we decided, besides me reacting too quickly, and being spectacularly inarticulate, that the driver was way too angry over nothing.

I’ll try and go back to the wave, but the drivers are not going to take away my rights, I ride where it is safest, sometimes that is in a bike lane, sometimes that is in the middle of the road, I think they can slow down for 1 second to get around me. Too many deaths and no consequences has me confused. This guy must not live up emigration, cause there are hundreds of bikes on that road every day.

I feel lucky, yet belligerent.

On a happier note, the F4000 has been shipped, UPS be nice to it, please.

I plan on taking it to Phoenix with me while I go recruiting at MLA, right after the Soldier Hollow race.

Big Mountain

Headed up nd over emmigration today, hoping to make an assault on Big Mountain, the warmer weather over the weekend gave me hopes the road would be clear, well I did get a mile past Affleck park, just below the first switchback when the smalle ribbon of pavement vanished under the snow, nice 2.5 hours in on a work night.

I am going to keep trying all week to see how high up it I can get, I really want to get to the top by Saturday, the sun should help this week.

Quads, Motos and Big ass trucks

Yes, 5 mile pass, ATV area, race course and shooting range. Lyna and I headed out Saturday noonish for 4 hours of fun. There was a large number of helmetless wonders on quads and motos, going over the rough terrain, kids and adults together, my favorie site was the dad with a car seat, with a baby, attached to the front of his quad. That is just great. That kid has no chance. So 3 laps and 45 minutes of riding around the start finish area, it was so hot I could not keep my HR down. Lyna and I were fried afterwards.

Lyna 4 hours later

Lyna, 1st lap cresting 7 mile pass

A bit further back

Quads on the loose

Nice face, covered in salt

More shoreline

Down Dry CreekStill Life With Scalpel and Wasatch Range

Wile E. Coyote

Couple on the Creek Crossing

Hill Climb

EveryThursday at 6pm a group meets at an undisclosed location, makes a short warm up tot the mouth of an undisclosed canyon and the race is on. I am glad I did it this week and not last, cause last week this guy was there. So this week there are about 10 of us a bunch of Contender guys, BZ and me. About 2.5 miles up said canyon, 6 of us are still together, it's my turn to pull. I get 1 minute in, my heart rate is at 190 and the other 5 blow past me, I end up passing one of the guys a mile later and almost catch BZ after he popped, he attacked me 2 or 3 times o keep me off, felt good sustaining power and effort for more than 10 minutes.

Saw the coach on the way up, i probably have some explaining to do, as it was not in the plan.

Bed time.

Road miles

Went up Emmigration today, did some efforts, saw Bartman head up Emmigration Oaks, tried to catch up to him, no luck, he is way too fast. Saturday a.m. theres a group of us probably going to ride the East Canyon course, more info to come

We speak way too soon

So Saturday and Sunday Lyna and I hit the Shoreline loop, about 21 miles round trip from our front door. Dry creek was still, not dry. The temps were close to 70 and I got a nice burn on the arms. Sunday A.M. we went to Brunch with C-dog and her Mom, later in the afternoon we had Easter dinner at Nathan and Cami's. It was a nice weekend.

Jill in Alaska, these pics are for you, today there as up to 6 inches of fresh snow on the benches, Spring was here.

One of the lower 'Dry' Creek Crossings

Lyna Hiking it one of the larger crossings

Look how dry the trail actually is

Looking up in them thar hills, I think that is known as Black Mountain, I hiled up there once, why would I hike, when I can Bike?

Lyna looking down Lime Kiln Gulch to the Avenues and Salt Lake City

ahhhh dirt

Met up with Ty and Shannon androde to the zoo trailhead, met up with lots others and rode all the way to city creek, then pavement home. The trail was dry, except for Dry Creek, which had a creek running through it in several spots, we just rode on up. Good ride, good weather good friends. Ended up with close to 3 hours again. Of course I got no pictures of the water, was having way too much fun.
Karen, Ty, Todd and Drew at a regroup













Jeff and Shirlane rocking the FS tandem













Shannon above the U













Lucy













Justin

I wish I brought my camera...

So met Jerry and one of his clients for a ride up emmigration canyon, went part way up Big mountain till the snow was not passable. Came back over and ran into the coach and his frau. Road back to the top of little mtn with them, saw many others and Lyna, rode back up and down with Lyna. The run off from last weeks snow is incredible, the creek is swelling and the road has inch thick water running over it in several spots. There was also a nice mudslide part way up. Crazy.

Ended up with almost 3 hours which was good, even though I was only planning for 1.5

Dirt ride tonight, meeting at the zoo at 6

I will bring the camera this time.

Could it be

Spring?!?!?!?

I doubt it. Looks like Sea Slaughter was, well a slaughter. Local riders that I know of, Kathy Sherwin did well, despite a rough week. I hear Gunn Rita passed almost all the semi pro men who started 5 minutes ahead, sheesh that woman is fast.

So Saturday Ty and I rode south to meet Kday and Ryan. Finaly met up with them and headed north, we then met up with Shannon and Brian and I headed home after 3.5 hours of trying to stay below 135, unsuccessfully. I might add. Sunday Lyna and I did an easy ride out past the airport and back.

What is up with UTA busses? Sunday and Today I got buzzed by a bus on my rides, I should write a letter, but alas, I am way to bored with it. Oh, it is my life, so maybe I will.

Big hours in the coming weeks, goodnight,

BTW, utahmtnbiker, i may be down for slo-ab, we will see, we will see.

Snow again

So something like 20 inches up emigration canyon, s'possed to be 60 and sunny all weekend, that'll be a nice run off. Gym tonight, whoopee. I am ready for a ride

Rest Week

And much needed, Tuesday night road the shoreline with C-Dog, (Lyna was walking puppies with Dawn) C-Dog was on her new Giant, we rode from the zoo to the top of Dry Creek, we headed down dry creek, she went home and I rode back to the zoo. Took this pic as I got to my car at the zoo at 7:50. I love Daylight savings time.
So the Cholla results are up and they are a bit messed up, at least team points wise, Ed is going tpo correct them, we have close to 25 points outstanding from some finishers who wrote revolution on their tags, oh well, it ain't that big of a deal.

Again life is short enjoy.

Fun weekend and a race in the middle

Friday we woke up early and headed south to Hurricane. Got there a bit after 1 and got on course at a bit before 2. Rode nice and easy with Ty and Lyna. Just as we got off the course the rain came. Saw Adam after the ride and Bart before. Went to the Travelodge to shower and headed to St. George to register and eat. The race cos 45 bucks for amateurs, 36 for 9 and under, all because it was part of the Cactus Hugger Festival. I can tell you, I got gipped. So did many others. That is way too much money. They said it was due to guided rides, which were cancelled and the meal Saturday, which I did not partake in.

Race day, feeling good, relaxed and ready. get a good 50 minute warmup, ready to go. They start us with the Expet 19-29 and the 2 pro women. The start loop is pretty tight and people are antsy, so i stay at the back, we then paceline the first 1/4 of a lap, witness Adam's OTB and aftermath, later in the first lap after thing broke up a bit most of the expert group takes a shortcut (2.5 miles off the real course) I head the right direction with Newby and Tyler, I'm thinking at thos point that I could be winning, due to poor course markings, but hey it all counts right? SO I put the hammer down, which became a problem later, I pulled Newby and Tyler for the rest of the lap and then started to lose it. Made it through the second lap and 1/4 of the 3rd when the mind body and spirit turned the Scalpel around for a DNF. Just did not think it would be a good idea to go on. Ty ended up in 4th in Pro, Lyna, in her return to racing after 2 years, took 6th in sport women. Oh yeah, Chris H (Adams Teammate) and Brad P (my teammate) took the right way on th course and came in 1 and 2, Newby was third. So I was not too far off in my thinking.

Sunday led us to Gooseberry Mesa for some fun riding. It had been about 4 years since I last rode there. Vegas Brad, Drew and Lucy and I planned on meeting at the dirt road at 9:30. Morgan Harris one of the twins that designed and built the trail met us as well for a few hours of fun ups and downs on the south rim/hidden canyon/north rim circuit. Morgan is 60, rides an upgraded superV and is amazing in his abilities and outlook. Ran into the Red rock boys at Little Creek Station and Burger joint. They rode with Cimarron and Bryce the other 2 southern Utah trail creators/saviours, who happened to have recently moved to Tuscon. We all need to be grateful for these pioneers/advocates. The make all the great trails possible for us.

I rode every thing the big travel boys did, on my scalpel even, my first time there, on a hardtail, I walked everything, boy how things changed. Lyna rocked it on her first trip, making many moves I didn't 4 years ago on her first attempt.

The Sunday ride reminded me why I like riding, with friends, at a leisurely pace, having fun and laughing.