Yesterday by the numbers

9hrs at work
3:34 pedaling for 64ish miles with a 15lb backpack
2 hours and change at the rock gym

Ups and Downs

Todays ride with Eric started off with big plans.  The route had a lot of climbing, was going to be all roads of different types, and done on mountain bikes.  They are way more fun to ride and there is still some ice on the paths and dirt on the roads from recent storms.  I had a good ride Saturday, but did not think my legs would be that tired from it.  The headwind out of the south we rode against for the first hour was enough to tax me a fair bit.  Then we climbed.  Deer Creek to High grade.  It was painful.  I didn't have anything and my outlook on this ride was quite down.  Turning the pedals was agonizing.  I stuck it out and made it to the top where I ate some Honey Stinger Limeade chews and a Honey Stinger Berry Banana Buzz bar. 

After our short break we doubled back down to the High Grade Deer Creek canyon intersection.  It was so cold I stopped to do jumping jacks to warm up while I waited for Eric.  During the climb up to the top of Deer Creek canyon road I started to feel better.  Not great, just better.  Parmalee Gulch was much better.  I was feeling good.  A few hard efforts and a failed attach to far from the peak changed my outlook on this ride.  On the ride down to Morrison, I even tried to reel in a few roadies (I was still on mountain bike).

A little over 5,000ft of elevation gained and 5 hours.  It was frustrating that it took me two hours to get my legs under me, but the last few hours were great.  Looking back though, I guess I did have a decent rolling 7 days of training.  Info from todays ride here.

Pinned

After Saturday's snowfall in the city, Ben, Les, Amy (did not race) and I headed up to Leadville for the Tennessee Pass Night Jam, the second race of the Leadville Winter mountain bike series.  It was the first time a pinned a number on the Pugsley and it was the first race of the year.  Thankfully Leadville did not get anywhere near the amount we received in the front range (15-50 inches).  We stopped at the Tennessee Pass Cafe for first dinner and 4-5 cups of coffee.  Conditions were near perfect.

Ben (right) and I (left) warming up in 5 degree weather

Les and I just before staging

The start of the race was pretty cool.  65 mountain bikers with lights on all set to go.  Two short but decent climbs lead to a long winding decent.  The course was groomed and in great shape, but its still snow.  The easiest way to descend in snow is to just let it go, but that gets pretty sketchy with turns and trees.  Add in a few noticeable "ruts" in the snow where people in front of me wiped out, and negotiating the descent became interesting to say the least.  Case in point, I started wandering a bit to the left halfway down.  Braking hard would have surely caused me to crash.  I continued to head to the left, sort of planned as it looked untracked.  All of a sudden my front wheel hit soft snow.  My bike stopped instantly, sending me cartwheeling over the handlebar.  Les passed me just as this was happening giving him a great vantage point and something to laugh at.

Now the chase was on.  I had to catch Les.  Once I got to the open meadow I upped the tempo a bit and began to pick riders off, including Les.   I latched on to a single speeder and we would end up yo-yoing the rest of the race.  The rest of the race was pretty uneventful.  Some fun descents and a pretty difficult climb for a 35lb bike in snow lead to the finish.  Even though the temperatures were around 0, I was not cold at all.  My Northwave Artic Celcius shoes were amazing-cold toes are the worst, everyone else seemed to complain about them.  The Leadville races are super fun, and I especially like the night races.  They are usually a great test of fitness, with summer like XC race efforts.  167 heartrate for Febuary, that is crazy, as my effort was pretty much pinned the whole time.  Race data here.

Les's sweet new Twenty2 Cycles Bully

Still fueled up on caffeine and telling the story of going over the handlebar

Different types of training

My world is pretty cycle-centric.  Its funny.  All year I talk about doing different things, but biking is normally the priority.  Fill in the blank sounds fun, but I am going to ride my bike.  Last Saturday Eric and I hiked Mt. Sherman.  I am not really a hiker.  I would rather roll than walk (on wheels, yes, a bike really, going back to a previous statement).  Sherman is a rather easy 14er (14,000 ft mountain).  We decided to hike this in the winter rather than the summer.  It ups the ante on difficulty, plus, we ran into 2 people all day, which is the way we prefer it.  Out and about, doing the things we like, enjoying the solitude of the wilderness.  The forecast looked good.  Sunny, 40 to 50 mph winds and temps -20 to -30.  Hike info here.

Mt. Sherman peak far right

Mt. Sherman conquered

 

Monday I went to the first 2012 RMR meeting at the Spot.  It was good seeing a few familiar faces and meeting a lot of the team.  I also ordered the 2012 kit, which should arrive by Aprils training camp in Fruita.

 

Tuesday it was windy and cold, plus there was fresh snow and ice on the ground.  I needed to ride.  I took the Pugsley to Meyers Ranch, which was new to me.  Exploring a new park at night in frigid temperatures on a bike in snow was fun.  The trails were perfect for snow biking.  Data here.  It turned out to be a short ride distance wise, but it was worth it to get out.  The elevation gained on a 34lb bike in snow plus the temps made it enough.  Meyers Ranch will be waiting for me the next time it snows.

Photo taken with stupid Black Berry which does not do the trails justice

2012 is starting to shape up

We are less than five days in, and the 2012 season is starting to shape up.  Sponosorships for the year has already been confirmed.  I've already signed up for a few races.  And I already have a few good days of climbing in on the bikes.

For 2012 I will be riding for a local team, Rocky Mountain Racing.  I am excited to ride and race with new people this year.  It will also be great to have the support of Golden Bike Shop, RMR's primary sponsor.  Twin Six, Honey Stinger, Crank Brothers, and Schwalbe will be back for 2012 again.

I am already signed up two races that are new to me.  The Whisky Off Road 50 Proof, April 28.  I am really looking forward to heading to Prescott AZ to ride, race, and watch the pros vie for the $30,000 in prize money.  May 12th I will be racing 12 Hours of Mesa Verde.  This 12hr race is in the desert, so hopefully I will avoid the snow storm that took place during my first 12 hour race.  Soon RME race registration opens up and the scramble to get into a few select races as well.

Hut Hut

This past weekend I went up to the Peter Estin 10th Mountain hut.  Our group had 14 or so people, most of whom met Friday morning for the trek up to 11,200 ft.  The weather for hike was warm and sunny, which is quite a contrast to the previous three hut trips I have done.  I think the other three were very cold, and at least one was quite snowy.  A base layer and pullover were all that were needed to keep me warm this time.  We even found the hut before lunch, which is a first.  This allowed for plenty of lounging around.

Home for the past weekend, no electricity or water, but pretty sweet

View from the outside of the hut

Saturday I got off to a slow start, but rallied after breakfast.  Most of the group took off for Charles Peak, which sits at 12,050 ft.  Five of us motivated sorts chose to go on.  Eric and I set the pace and our destination was the highest peak in the center of the picture below.  We encountered some extended ups and downs and had to break trail in fairly deep snow.  The pitches we experienced proved to be the most difficult though.  Even with my MSR snowshoes, which have amazing crampons, I was sliding down quite a bit and I had to use my hands to balance and crawl up.  Once we reached the hump in the middle of the picture, the terrain after it and before the long ridge were a little to dicey to carry on.  A quick snack and the others decided to return back.  Eric and I had no desire to head to the hut early.  As long as the sun was up and the temperature was tolerable, we sat on some rocks to enjoy the view.

Taken from the top of Charles, which is higher than our turn around point

 

Our tracks to the top can be seen if you zoom in

 Evidence of hard work and unseasonably warm temperatures

 The trail back down

100

In January of 2009 a group of friends and I challenged ourselves to ride a century a month.  It became what we did.  Every month, we would get together, ride, stop for candy, cokes, and ice cream.  At first it was a challenge (not the eating part, the riding).  Can we get the ride in before it gets dark in the winter?  What about the winter, which Denver does get.  Early on, it was something I had to prep for quite a bit.  But it was fun.  I mean riding your bike all day with friends.  Its tough to beat. 

Chris, me, Brady, Erik, Jeremy

It also paved the way for bigger things.  Some of the rides were quite difficult.  I learned a lot while I was out there, wherever there might be.  What works well to keep me going.  How far can I push myself. 

36 months later the streak continues.  36 consecutive months with at least 1 100 mile bike ride.  How it goes down changed a bit.  People moved on and don't ride as much.  Unfortunately I rode a handful of them by myself this year.  Will it continue, I don't know.  I will still ride my bike and get big rides in, but the 100s, well its not quite the same doing this by myself. 

1999 Specialized M2Comp after its 1st 100 mile bike ride



Sundays ride, while not the most difficult (Mt. Evans from town?  WRIAD with lots of wind?  Wrist canyon with rain and maybe 50 degrees?) was up there.  I departed at 6:38 AM.  It was cold.  I turned back for more clothes.  The hose on my camelbak was frozen for at least the first two hours.  It was icy and snowy, which is why I chose the Specialized.  I certainly would have died had I tried to ride my road bike.  The ride itself was pretty uneventful.  Lots of bike paths, a few roads, some state parks, and a pretty fair headwind out of the south.  About the most exciting thing that happened was passing a pack of roadies as they were walking on ice and snow a few minutes after they blew by me.  I rode the snow.  They hiked it, ha.  Oh, and I had to get done by 1:50 or so so I could see the kickoff of the Packer game.  Almost 7 hours of pedal time, and I made it.  36 for 36.