Geared Up!

Friday June 18th I finally bought a geared mountain bike. I ended up getting the Gary Fisher HiFi Deluxe and upgrading some parts on it. The shakedown ride was the 40ish mile Forester's big loop. The bike feels heavier than the singlespeed but the gears and suspension make the ride so nice. I'm loving the ride and the new bike smell. Today I rode the Chutes, Buckhorn, Jacks loop and found myself going too fast in parts. I was a little worried about skidding off the trail.

Still Single

Well I'm still just riding the singlespeed as my only bike. There are way too many good full suspension 29ers out there. I need to just choose one and be happy with it. I'm always looking for the "perfect" bike and can't quite decide between the Gary Fisher HiFi, Santa Cruz Tallboy, Pivot 429, or Specialized Epic 29er. I really like Fishers but the Tallboy is carbon and I can have it built up locally by Colorado Cyclists. I'm looking for a sign from the heavens but will continue to tire my legs out with the singlespeed till I decide.

Singlespeeding is hard

I've had the single speed as my only mountain bike for 2 years now and I'm getting tired. I still love the bike but a shiny new geared bike is in my future. The ride from my new house to the trails is only a few miles but the singlespeed makes it take longer than it should. I just put my Range Rover on craigslist to not have a gas hungry suv and that will give me some cash for the new bike. I'm thinking of getting the Gary Fisher HiFi Pro 29 or building up a Pivot 429. Either bike will probably work great for the Colorado trails.

The SStart

I was going through old pictures today and found pics of my first singlespeed. This was my second mountain bike a Gary Fisher Big Sur. My first bike was a steel Diamondback I bought around 1993. The Big Sur was a great little bike that helped me get into biking in Colorado. I sold it to friends and think it was stolen so it's probably still being ridden around town.

Moving

I'm packing up the house this week and moving out this weekend. I'm moving to a cool little house close to downtown by Cheyenne Canyon. Great big yard and quick access to some of the best biking trails in town. The house is not very big so I will be getting rid of a lot of stuff for the move. It's amazing how much random junk one accumulates over the course of a few years.

SSimplification

My theme for this spring is SSimplification. In the past couple months I seperated from my wife and I'm selling the house. I have taken this opportunity to find out what matters most to me and refocus my priorities. I've been putting mostly organic healthy food into my body. I'm going through all my clothes and stuff and getting rid of all the non-essential. This process has been tough on me but it is truly what the singlespeed experience is all about. Strip away all the unecessary stuff and what you are left with is the pure experience of life. Now I just need to simplify enough so I have time to ride my bike.

Getting strong now

I haven't been getting out on the bike much (just the trainer in front of the tv) but I've been going to the gym consistently the last couple months. I can really tell the difference in my body since I've been following a lifting program and doing yoga regularly. I'm down to my ideal weight so now I just need to tune the engine by doing a more structured plan. I still haven't eaten any meat since watching food inc after New Years and have been buying all organic produce.

Spinning

I did my second spin class of the year today. Wow, it feels like I lose 5 lbs of sweat every time. I did a short spin on the trainer this morning so my legs feel like they actually got a workout. Since the start of the new year I have lost 10 lbs and gained a bunch of fitness. I'm hoping to start a formal training plan in February. The challenge is limiting my training hours so I can also have a life outside of work and bikes.

Ute Valley Park

I rode the singlespeed around Ute for a couple laps yesterday and will probably be back today. Having perfect singletrack in your backyard is great for the lazy cyclist. I went out to the Rocket Room last night with Joe and saw Grease Machine, a talented Denver band. The lead singer hung upside down from the rafters and played the last song. Great dive bar for the Springs.

Wii Yoga and green tea

As part of my life changing 2010 I did some Wii Yoga and drank green tea this morning. The Wii Yoga is pretty awesome but I need to get a yoga mat so I can do all the poses. I've always done self directed yoga from books and internet videos so it's nice to get some feedback from my virtual yoga instructor. According to my yoga instructor I'm doing pretty good. Now if I could just get out in the freezing cold morning and ride the singlespeed. I have a feeling my cross bike on the trainer is going to see a lot of miles this winter.

Back to Winter

The weather is starting to look like Winter in Colorado again today. Instead of riding outside this morning I hiked with Murphy and then did a little 30 minute spin on the trainer before work. Tonight I'm going to try out a new recipe and make a Quinoa Pilaf thanks to the MTBR XC racing forum.

Backyard paradise

I rode Ute Valley Park this morning for the first time in a while. I forgot how much fun UVP can be and it's right outside my back door. I need to get in the groove of riding a lap or 3 every morning on the singlespeed.

1st Spin Class of 2010

Wow Spin class kicks my butt every time. I've worked out consistently the last two weeks and am starting to feel results. It felt really good to do some high intensity work. Now it's time to start a more structured training. Things are crazy at home right now so biking and lifting are really helping me keep from losing my mind. I started using protein for recovery today also.

Pueblo SS ride!

My friend Billy from Denver got a Gary Fisher Rig so we took our Rigs to Pueblo Reservoir for a quick ride. The trails are in perfect shape and the temp felt awesome for January. It was very therapeutic to be out on singletrack again. I really appreciate the calming effect that biking has on me after being off the bike for a while.

Back on the bike!

Time for me to get back on the bike. Saturday I'm going to head down to Pueblo for some singlespeed action.

2010 is the year to man up!

My friend Aaron sent me a link to this blog.
http://artofmanliness.com/

There are some very insightful articles if you hunt around. I've started the 30 days to a Better Man by defining my Core Values. This time of year it's helpful to take a step back and rethink how you are living your life. I'm not a fan of "self help" genre but I think this blog is very well done.

Happy New Year!

Some random hoopla from New Years in Austin.

With a new year comes good intentions. I've been hitting the gym and getting back on the bike a bit so far. I'm ready to start getting some good base miles on the trainer and starting to eat healthy again. This past couple months I lost a lot of fitness and ate way too much junk food. I spent the New Years weekend down in Austin and really enjoyed the city. We flew in on New Years Eve and watched Black Joe Lewis at Stubbs. This was my first time in Austin and it really is a live music mecca.
Well bring it on 2010 i'm ready to rock!