Buy Nothing Day 11/28

Today is Buy Nothing Day. I'm doing my part by not going near a store. I'm slowly coming out of a turkey coma from yesterday. Eryan's mom and cousin were in town and we ate all day. Time to start base training to burn some calories.

Pikes Peak Supercross Race this Saturday 11/22 at Bear Creek Park. I'll be working the registration booth from 11-3 and cheering on the racers. I'm going to bring my Surly Cross-Check to play around on the course but won't be racing. It should be a beautiful sunny day.

http://www.pikespeakvelo.com/2008%20cx/2008supercrossflyer.pdf

Back to riding

After a little break from riding I got back on the proverbial horse. I rode with Nick and John in the canyon on Sunday and felt really good. I rode around Ute Monday for a couple laps to play on the new SRAM trail. The new trail is fun with a couple jumps so I'm going again tomorrow morning with Kip. I played guitar again with Joe this week and we are working on some of his original punk songs. 75 degrees today, not too shabby for Nov. 18th in Colorado. Thank you global warming.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. Today we cooked brats and are planning on eating all day at my office. Another beautiful 80 degree Colorado day.

Daylight Savings is this weekend.

An extra hour of drinking Saturday night. 80 degree weather in November for Colorado. This global warming stuff feels good.

The Rig is finally tubeless

After a season of many many flats the Rig is now set up tubeless. I took it for a spin yesterday around Ute Valley Park and was pleasantly suprised to see the trails were redesigned. There is a section of twisty singletrack that was added and even a big jump. I've been playing a whole lot of guitar and neglecting biking lately so it felt good to ride a little.

Back on the horse

I haven't been on the bike very much lately but had a nice ride today on the Santa Fe trail. I've been playing guitar an hour a day per my new guitar teachers intruction so ride time has been cut. I feel pretty good on the bike and the fall weather is looking good.

Off to the querque

Eryan and I are going down to Albequerque this weekend. I'm bringing the bike to ride with Chaz Saturday morning. Eryan is going to be doing some car racing at a day long class. All this and balloon fiesta to boot. Arriba!

Sick Week

I've had a sinus cold this entire week. I tried riding Friday morning at Ute and only made it about 1/2 an hour. At least it's given me a chance to practice guitar. Oh well, at least I got a good ride in Monday.

Forester trail Monday

I rode Forester's trail Monday with Kip and ended up completing the loop from the upper lot in about 3.5 hours. I haven't been riding much lately so the quick time suprised me. The cooler air of fall and the aspen leaves on the trail made the ride an awesome experience. I've been reading more and practicing guitar more lately due to my lack of interest in biking. It was nice to get out and experience the mountains again.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

I ended up riding Cheyenne Mountain State Park with John yesterday instead of the big trip to Monarch Crest. The park is a pretty easy ride but has great scenery. John and I are planning on doing the Sand Creek fall race Oct. 18th and wanted to pre-ride the course. The trails in the park are very well groomed so the pace will be fast and the riding not very technical. It's cool to be riding around the base of NORAD. John recently did an environmental survey of the property where new bike trails are going to go up further into the mountains. I'm planning on riding up in the canyon today for the last morning of Summer. I am also thinking of taking guitar lessons every Monday to get my dreams of being a rock star off the ground.

Another lazy week

Wow. Another week without much time on the bike. I rode for about 2 1/2 hours Monday up in the Canyon and felt really slow. I've been doing yoga and eating veggie style lately so I still feel pretty good but haven't been putting in the miles I usually do. This weekend I'm planning a trip to do the Monarch Crest trail with Kip. This is supposed to be one of the best singletrack rides in the US. I'm planning on riding the singlespeed so it might end badly. I'm estimating about 6 hours of pedalling and 40 - 50 miles of tough riding, with only one gear, chasing one of the fastest riders in the country. Good times. I'm going to bring lots of snacks and water in the camelback and go with the flow.

Bike Karma

I rode the Cross-Check on the Santa Fe trail and flatted again. My lunch ride is only about 11 miles and I flatted with 6 miles on the odometer. I started the 5 mile walk back to work (of course I didn't bring a tube or pump). Luckily a guy (Rich or Rick) stopped his bike and had a patch kit. I ended up walking for about 15 minutes before he stopped so I wasn't out too long. This year has been really bad for flats. I keep tempting the cycling gods by "riding naked", basically just grabbing my bike and going without any supplies. Lately I haven't been bringing any water on my rides. I guess I have learned my lesson; be prepared. The rider who helped me has just earned a healthy dose of bike karma and now it's my turn to have a tube and pump so I can help the next rider in need. Karma is a funny concept because the more people who believe in Karma the more "real" it is. I was helped my a good samaritan so I will go forth and help the next poor schmuck who is stranded on the side of the trail.

Lazy Week

I haven't touched a bike or worked out since Saturday. We met Bill and Courtney and went hiking Sunday. We hiked up by Palmer Lake and then ate at an Irish bar. It's starting to feel like fall and I am losing motivation for biking and gaining motivation for drinking beer and relaxing.

Vacation Pics

These are some pics of the Seattle part of out trip. I'll post some Vancouver pics soon. A great time was had by all.

Getting my legs back

Since I got back from Vancouver I've ridden 7 hours and done some yoga at the gym. The weight I put on from constant eating and drinking beer for a week is just about gone. Kip and I rode Palmer this morning. I rode the singlespeed but was wishing for full suspension. Next time I'll bring the Heckler.

Back from BC

We got back to town yesterday from our trip to Seattle and Vancouver. I had an awesome time. No biking, but lots o' beer and food. Today to try and burn off some of the pounds I put on I rode the Forester trail with Kip and Eric (guy from Fort Collins). 4 1/2 hours of pedaling got the mojo working again. I will post some pics soon but have to say I am very impressed with British Columbia. Vancouver feels like one of the most livable cities I have ever visited. 

Vacation time!

Tomorrow we start our vacation and head to Seattle and upward to Vancouver. I'm ready for some R&R.

NaNoWriMo

I want to get my behind in gear and start writing something worth reading. I stumbled across the National Novel Writing Month website while trolling the interweb. The people who sign up to participate will write a 175 page (50,000 word) novel by midnight, November 30th. Sounds like a great way to get something on the page. It don't need to be pretty, it just need to be completed.
Here's a great pep talk for the NaNoWriMo peeps by my favorite author Tom Robbins.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/node/1052008

Surly riding

I rode the Cross-check this morning and Monday morning before work. I haven't ridden the bike much this year and it's a nice change of pace. I haven't ridden either mountain bike since last Monday when I crashed. My knee feels much better so I will try to get out on the Rig and the Heckler before heading out of town this weekend. I'm getting excited for the vacation. We're heading up to Seattle from Saturday till Monday and then up to Vancouver from Monday till Friday.

Cross-check = Versatility

I put cyclocross tires back on the Surly and took it for a spin today. I rode on the road for most of the ride but hit the singletrack in Garden of the Gods and then rode through Ute Valley Park. The bike is not as comfy on the trail as my 29er but it gets the job done. This was my first ride since hurting my knee on Monday and I felt really good. It still hurts a little when I'm walking but no pain while pedaling.

The Crown of the Sun

A photo taken during a total solar eclipse of the sun's corona (outer atmosphere).

RIP EJ

I didn't know EJ well but he seemed like a great guy. He and another rider were killed yesterday by a driver. I was planning on meeting him for a singlespeed ride the last couple weekends and now wish I wouldn't have slept in. Life is short. Live a life worth living.

37 more days till Cyclocross season

I'm going to give Cross a go this year starting September 13th here in the springs. My team, Pikes Peak Velo, will be sponsoring the race so it should be a good time. I really am looking forward to the whole experience that is mud and cowbells.

Magical Thinking

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Arthur C. Clarke

This is a great article about magical thinking and superstition. I'm a very superstitious person, so this article spoke to me.

http://www.mywire.com/pubs/PsychologyToday/2008/03/01/6144633

Ouch

I rode the singlespeed in the canyon today and had a great ride until the end. After coming down the chutes and riding in the open space I tried to unclip at the top of a rock garden and my right shoe wouldn't come loose. I fell on my right side on a bunch of rocks and cut open my knee. The universe is telling me to take a break and drink more beer. At least that's what I want the universe to tell me to do.

Camping was a great time

Our camping trip to Eleven Mile this weekend was a great time. Lots o' beer and relaxing by the river. Eryan hit a tree with her head and got a cool scar. Not much excerise at all. Monday I rode for 2 hours around Palmer Park on the singlespeed. That place is the perfect ss riding spot. Tuesday did a quick ride around Ute and did the Yoga/Pilates workout in the evening. I actually jogged with Eryan this morning (not being chased).

Camping this weekend

I really haven't been too motivated to bike this week. I rode 6 hours Sunday by doing the Jones loop from the Chutes solo singlespeed. I rode for about 2 hours Monday in the heat of the afternoon on the Heckler with a new Maxxis rear tire. The Heckler feels so heavy and sluggish compared to the Rig. I haven't ridden since Monday and won't be riding this weekend at all. I'm excited to go camping and relax. We bought a new coleman campstove and a table this morning and should have a good time.

Cutting it close

I wanted to ride the Chutes, Buckhorn, Jacks loop this morning but didn't leave the house until after 8:30. It normally takes about an hour and a half to do the ride but today I needed to do it in about an hour to be to work on time. I ended up doing the ride in about 1hr 20min which is pretty fast for how I felt today. I was a few minutes late to work but had a good ride.

Not much riding

I haven't been riding too much lately. This last weekend we went to 2 BBQ's on Sunday and ended up eating and drinking alot all weekend. I need to get back out on the trails while the weather is nice. I rode a little on the Heckler yesterday and a little on the Rig today. I'm sold on the big wheels. The Rig is a much better handling bike than the Heckler and the Heckler is one of the best handling 26" bikes out.

Passport is ordered

Eryan and I went to the post office and applied for our passports this morning. I'm excited for the trip to Vancouver. I need to see if I can sneak away for a day and ride Whistler now.

Flatted Again

I went for a road ride with Kip this morning and ended up flatting again (multiple times). I pulled the bike out to get it ready to ride this morning and it had a flat front tire. I changed the tire and biked up to the Garden of the Gods to meet Kip and saw that the tire wasn't seated on the rim. When I fixed the tire and put air in it got a pinch flat. I have been having the worst luck this year with flats. I ended up having a good ride around the Flying W Ranch area and will have to go to the shop to stock up on tubes and CO2. I'm enjoying riding on the road and plan on getting out more often this year. I'm thinking the perfect storm for training will be mixing up singlespeed rides, road rides, and technical rides with the Heckler.

Back from Florida

Eryan Mark and Tracy

Chillaxin

Sunset

Kids playing

Dad and the kids

We got back from our week in Florida on Friday. I feel great after a week of laying on the beach and relaxing. We went out to a 4th of July BBQ Friday night and had a good time. Saturday we took it easy but Sunday I got out on the bike for a nice ride in the canyon on the singlespeed. The new brakes feel awesome and I am still loving the Rig. Today I did a short spin around Ute on the Rig. It was nice to take a break and recharge the batteries.

Night Rider

I rode for an hour on the Santa Fe at lunch yesterday and decided to go for a night ride when I got home. Eryan was out with the girls from her work so I had time and a partially charged light. I left the house at 8:20 and didn't even need to turn on the light until 9:15. I rode 3 laps around Ute and took my time. It's amazing how different everything feels at night. I've ridden UVP countless times and could probably ride it with my eyes closed but I still had a couple near misses because my cheap (John gave it to me for free) Nightrider Rover just lit up my front tire and a few feet in front of it. I can see why 24 hour racers insist on using very powerful and expensive lights. Tomorrow we fly to Florida and the week of R&R begins.

Short Rides

Wednesday I rode for an hour on the Santa Fe Trail.
Thursday I rode Ute for an hour and a half and rode an hour on the Santa Fe Trail.
Today I did yard work in the morning and am charging the light for a night ride. I will probably do a short ride on the Santa Fe for my break.

I'm ready for my trip to Florida next week. We are leaving Sunday morning for a condo in Destin, FL and returning Friday July 4th. I'm going to work on losing my weird biker tan and focus on relaxing on the beach.

Flatted!

I took the Rig up to do a quick loop around Buckhorn and Jacks this morning. The weather was perfect and I started out feeling good and moving pretty fast. About 15 minutes into the ride my front tire exploded with a loud bang. I must have had the tube piched against the rim. I have now had more flats with the Rig than ever before with all bikes combined and 27 years of riding (more if you count my big wheel in the driveway). I am getting a little frustrated but am getting very proficient at changing a flat. I discovered that I need to go tubeless ASAP and that a regular size CO2 inflates a 29er tube to about 8psi. I have now purchased 6 29er tubes and a bunch of CO2 cartridges this year and am down to 0. I have also used a few 26er tubes so this season is a little crazy. Oh well, it's all part of the fun.

Short ride day

I did an hour and a half ride today around Ute Valley Park and took it easy today. My legs feel suprisingly fresh after riding for 6 hours yesterday. I did some work on the bikes and have all 3 tuned up and ready for action. It's nice to have options as far as which bike to take. Tomorrow I think I'm going to take the Rig up to the canyon. I haven't been doing any race specific training this year but I've put more miles in than ever before. Eryan and I are going to Florida from this upcoming Sunday through Friday to get some R&R with my family. I'm looking forward to laying on the beach with a cold beverage and getting some down time.

First century ride!

Today I did my first 100 mile road ride. Kip and I rode to Cripple Creek and back. I biked straight from my door up to Cripple Creek and back for a total of 102.57 miles and more than 8000 feet of elevation gain. This is the 4th Sunday in a row that I've done a 5 hour or more ride and I can tell my endurance is getting much better. It's a pretty cool sensation to cover 100 miles of mountainous terrain using only human power. The peace of the road ride gave me time to think about how great the invention of the bicycle is and how it is one of the most energy efficient modes of transportation that exists. I am going to try to get out on the road bike more this summer and leave straight from my house. After today I really like my Surly cromo bike more than ever before.

Raced last night

I did the final race of the Sand Creek Series last night in singlespeed class. It was a fun little race and pretty well run. I am hoping there will be more local races in the future. A 20 minute drive to a race is way better than 4-6 hour drive with a hotel room. I got my racing fix so I'm going to skip Crested Butte this weekend. I don't think I placed really good but had fun. All the 50+ mile rides have really helped my endurance but I don't feel very fast now. The short track format is not my favorite but the course is perfect for singlespeeding. The Rig is now set up with the Magura Marta SL brakes and carbon spacers. The blinglespeed is now in fully blinged out mode. I am really liking how the bike came together. It's the nicest part spec I've ever ridden.

Back to work

I'm back in the office now after my Sunday/Monday weekend. I ended up having a big weekend as far as bike saddle time goes. I rode with Kip Sunday and Monday and worked the legs pretty good. Sunday I did another 50ish mile ride but this time I rode Lovell Gulch into Rampart Reservoir with some backcountry exploring thrown in for fun. Monday I rode up Rampart Range road and down a technical trail that goes by a waterfall. This was a really fun trail but it was raining and made this boulder strewn tight trail into an adventure. Battling the elements always humbles me a little and made for a good ride. Today I did yoga in the morning and am going to do a light recovery workout. I've put a lot of miles on the bike this year and feel pretty good about where I am now. I had a busy day at work today but it was nice to be warm and dry and using my brain after spending 10 hours on the bike in the last few days.

My blog is boring

I mainly write this blog as a personal journal and way to keep track of my biking and other personal stuff. Taking a good look at my blog today I realize that it's about as interesting as watching Ryan Seacrest floss his teeth. Being out in nature on the bike is really therapeutic for me but doesn't translate to riveting web content. I've decided to continue on with the blog but to focus more on creative writing, music, beer, and other more interesting topics. Eryan was reading some of my books on writing this morning and got me to thinking about why I don't write anymore. I really got into writing when I was living in Dallas and helped co write a screenplay for a film. The writing process is fascinating to me and very fulfilling. I will hopefully be writing some more interesting stuff in the future and will try to use this blog to get the creative juices flowing. It's really easy to lose touch with your creative side when trying to work at an office for 40 hours a week, ride the bike for 15 hours, and watch too much TV for the remaining non-sleeping hours. Time to make time for writing, reading, music, and art.

Feeling tired

I rode Buckhorn and Jacks this morning for about an hour. I kept the bike in a small gear and spun my way around. It was fun but decided to skip the afternoon ride I planned and just ate lots of cookies at work instead. I'm waiting to install my new brakes on the Rig and really miss the lightning fast acceleration. The Heckler is a fun play bike but isn't nearly as much fun on the climbs in the canyon. I'm hoping to get the Rig back up and running to do a singlespeed ride on Sunday.

Time for reflection

I am right in the middle of a month of no racing and taking time to reflect on what is working and what needs improvement. I started doing a yoga/pilates workout a couple times a week and am noticing a stronger core and better balance.
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-1-20-16856-1,00.html
The 6 hour long rides the last few Sundays have really helped with my endurance and switching between the geared bike and singlespeed is a nice way to switch it up. The next race up is Crested Butte on June 21st and I'm looking forward to some high country riding. As far as training this week I jogged with Murphy Wednesday morning and then rode for 45 min. on the Santa Fe trail at lunch. Today I rode for an hour in and around Ute Valley and will do the hardcore workout on my break. This Sunday I will most likely do the 50 mile ride on the singlespeed again to keep the legs churning.

One must train from a state of movement towards a state of stillness.

I try to keep my life as simple and stress-free as possible. The easiest way for me to calm my mind is to stay in motion. The yoga and biking really helps keep things in focus for me. In keeping with the Fengsshui blog I thought I would explain why I picked the name. Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. By riding through the mountains on a singlespeed bike with speed and skill the energy of the universe is all around. I hope to live my life in balance and utilize the energy of the world to enhance my life and the lives of those around me.

Rest Day

Today is my rest day. I jogged a little with my dog Murphy this morning and I'm going to do a yoga workout at the gym. Yesterday I rode a couple laps around the Bear Creek race course until I could figure out how it's ridden for the race. It's not a really fun course but it should be interesting in a race. There doesn't seem to be a lot of room to pass. I got bored after playing at Bear Creek for an hour so I drove home and refilled the water bottle to go into Ute Valley. Between Sunday and Monday I got about 8 1/2 hours of time on the bike.

Long singlespeed ride

John on the ride up.


I met up with John at 6:30am Sunday for a big ride in the canyon. Kip met us at the top of the Chutes and we climbed up to do the Forrester trail. Finished the ride at around 1:00 for about a 6 hour ride. Lots of climbing and lots of miles. John and I both felt better about the ride this week. 

A day at the office

I've been in the office all day this Saturday. I did get out for a 45 min. ride on the Santa Fe trail again today. It's not a long workout but it's nice to spin the pedals and get fresh air. Tomorrow I'm meeting John at 6:30am for a big ride. I'm bringing the Rig which will be easier climbing than the Heckler. I've got 2 weeks until Crested Butte so I might try to structure some sort of training plan so I can race well.

6/6 6:00 - Time of the beast

I rode during my lunch break on the Santa Fe trail for a quick 10ish mile ride and got back to my car at exactly 6:00. It was a short ride but I pushed the big ring and kept the heart rate up. I need to do this more often on my break from work. It's amazing how much harder the workout is in the "real world" rather than on the exercise bike watching the Daily Show. Although John Stewart is a lot funnier than the joggers on the trail. I guess I still know how to ride a bike.

I hope I dont' forget how to ride a bike

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2007/01/03/ecnmem03.xml

According to this article I should be OK after 3 days of no riding. I worked on the yard this morning instead of riding and it seems like a long time since I've been on the bike. It's looking like good weather for the weekend so I will be back out on the trails soon. I'm thinking my legs are going to be very fresh on Sunday for a big ride. I am thinking of using my blog as my training diary also since I never keep up with one on paper.

Looking ripped!

I'm going to look ripped and buff at my next race.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,362304,00.html

I rode the Heckler for about 1 1/2 hours yesterday around Ute and rode the Rig for an hour around Ute this morning. The Wednesday night series starts tomorrow so I have to decide if I'm racing or not. We're planning on doing the 50 mile ride again Sunday so I'm building up the endurance.

Long day in the saddle

I got on the bike at 6:45am and didn't get off until after 1:00pm. The legs are a little cooked now. I met John and Nick at the Southgate Starbucks and started our ride after a double expresso. We rode up the Chutes to Forrester's trail and back down Buckhorn and Jacks for close to a 50 mile ride. The Heckler is comfy but not the best climbing bike I've ridden. Time to work on my endurance.

Pics from Angelfire

The pics from Angelfire are now on the Vast website. I didn't ride very well but the pics look ok.

SS long recovery

I took the Rig up to the canyon and did a quick ride on Buckhorn and Jacks this morning. At lunch I did a 45 min SS ride on the Santa Fe Trail geared too low for a flat ride. I didn't ride the SS since the race Sunday to let my legs recover. I love the Rig but recovery time takes a while after a big ride like Angelfire. I'm doing a big ride Sunday with John and Fast Nick and might be bringing the geared bike. It will be interesting chasing these guys on a 40 mile singletrack ride on a SS or the Heckler.

More pictures

Eryan's cowgirl phase.

Eryan and her Mom.

Dirty Sue.

Fun with bikers.

Eryan in the mountains.

Pictures from the weekend

No race pics but here are some highlights from the trip to New Mexico.

Hiking by Angelfire the day before the race.

Oxygen bar in Red River. It didn't help much for the race.

Biker rally in Red River on Saturday.

More Bikers.

Murphy after a long weekend.

Great weekend

The Memorial Day weekend in New Mexico was a great time. We got to Cimarron Friday night and I registered and pre-rode the course Saturday. Angelfire was really muddy on Saturday and doing a full lap of the course on the singlespeed worked the legs pretty good. After pre-riding we hiked up in the mountains for a while and then went to Red River for the motorcycle rally. If you're into people watching this place is great. Sunday the race went well. The legs weren't feeling great but the trails dried up and I had a fun ride. I think I got 15th place in singlespeed. I had a hard time with the climbing but was happy to finish the course with no major issues. Eryan brought the camera to work so pics will come later.

Leaving for Angelfire today

We're packing up the car and driving down to New Mexico tonight. I'm excited to race the new singlespeed at Angelfire. This weekend will be filled with lots of fun riding followed by a whole lot o' beer. I feel pretty good and am ready for a long weekend and some cold beverages. Here's a quote to remember for the weekend.

If I had my life to live over... I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
- Nadine Stair

The legs are back.

After being sore for a couple days after Battle of the Bear the legs felt really good today. I rode up the Chutes from the La Veta lot and did Buckhorn, Jacks, and Twister this morning. The trails are in perfect condition. It rained enough to keep the dust down. I took the geared Heckler which was a nice change of pace. I finished the ride in an hour and a half and didn't feel tired at all. I think the legs are as ready for Angel Fire as they are going to be. I'm registered for Singlespeed class in the Chile Challenge this Sunday. This will be my fourth year doing the race and it's one of my favorite spots to ride. I just need to switch out the gearing on the bike to 32x20 to handle the climbing and all should be ready to roll.

A Blog devoted to Failing

I'm an optimist at heart but this blog devoted to people who fail makes me smile.

http://failblog.org/

17 websites to spark creativity

This is a good list of interesting stuff.
17-obscure-creativity-sparking-websites

I found a quicker way to get my zen going.

Monday ride

High Drive

Buckhorn

Tight switchback

Lots o' climbing

I rode up High Drive from the caretaker house up to Buckhorn and Jacks Monday. Normally this isn't too big of a ride but my legs were still cooked from Saturday's race so it was pretty tough on the singlespeed. I need to switch my gearing back to 32x20 for the Angelfire race. I'm going to spend most of this week on the road bike to help the legs recover.

Metal

Here's a clip of the metal band at Johnny T's crib. I think they were called 3 Fisted.

Singlespeed racing, Metal, and a Pig

Saturday was filled with XC racing, heavy metal, and pork products. The Battle of the Bear was a fun race but not a very technical. There were people doing the race on cyclocross bikes and even one woman on a road bike. I kept the front shock on the Rig locked out for the whole race and spun out on all the flats with my 32x18 gear. I flatted on the 2nd lap and lost a lot of time trying to fix the flat. I need to go tubeless after flatting 3 times now with the Rig. After the race I stopped at my friend from college John Targ's house for a beer and some Metal. He had a band in his garage and a dead pig. I didn't dig on the swine but the beer and metal were nice after 30 miles of singlespeeding fun.