One month ago I was discovering new trails in the Tortolita Mountains! The 'WILD MUSTANG' was an instant favorite!
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Training & The Southwest!
Does it count as training when you have a huge smile on your face the whole time? When your riding with these guys it does...
I'm so glad I decided to make the trip to Prescott a week early and get in a good day on the race course with Tom, Trav, and Chloe. Last year during the race I really struggled with a longer race than normal and not being familiar with the course whatsoever was a killer. I think its going to be a huge advantage this year.
We had a blast ripping the descents on the Whiskey 50 course and I feel it was critical to preview the one hour long 2000ft+ vertical climb in the middle of the race. I'm much more confident now heading into the week.
The ride capped off another big week of training which makes 3 solid weeks of quality volume leading up to the race. Now its time to rest up and soak in all this good training. I'll go out again on Wed and ride the 25 mile course which does not include the Skull Valley climb, but will allow me to dial in all the technical lines. Other than that its going to be full rest mode.
In a few minutes I'm going to be headed out for an easy spin with an old school buddy! Skyler Reeves....yep its been a long time. After our ride yesterday Sky invited us over to Prescott Station, a really nice restaurant in town, where he works with some amazing food. If you are in town this weekend for the Whiskey stop by and say hi. Its been about 9 years since I've seen Skyler and must be another 3-5 since we've ridden together! Can't wait.
Driving across the Navajo Nation Reservation on my way back to AZ I had a ton of time to think about the good times we used to have...whether is was in the Saab or in the Dodge Caravan we covered some ground!
The only other time I had been to Durango was back in 97. We rallied Sky's Saab on some dirt roads, went cliff jumping, and on the way back managed to catch some air over a cow grate and came down with a flat after dropping our buddy G - Heitman in the 15 passenger van. G rolled by a few minutes later threw a banana peel at us and laughed as we struggled to get the car on the jack on a powdery dirt road. In the end the lid to a Tupperware container gave us enough stability to get the car up and change the flat. Later that night we almost got arrested for playing a little frisby in the buff up at Ft. Lewis on the soccer fields. Finally it was race day...the Cow Chip classic and Derek managed to uphill endo into a scorpion on the pre-ride....so many good times from back in the day!
The plans for the next adventure are coming together....Sedona and Moab on our way home from the Whiskey! Can't wait....but first the race!
I'm so glad I decided to make the trip to Prescott a week early and get in a good day on the race course with Tom, Trav, and Chloe. Last year during the race I really struggled with a longer race than normal and not being familiar with the course whatsoever was a killer. I think its going to be a huge advantage this year.
We had a blast ripping the descents on the Whiskey 50 course and I feel it was critical to preview the one hour long 2000ft+ vertical climb in the middle of the race. I'm much more confident now heading into the week.
The ride capped off another big week of training which makes 3 solid weeks of quality volume leading up to the race. Now its time to rest up and soak in all this good training. I'll go out again on Wed and ride the 25 mile course which does not include the Skull Valley climb, but will allow me to dial in all the technical lines. Other than that its going to be full rest mode.
In a few minutes I'm going to be headed out for an easy spin with an old school buddy! Skyler Reeves....yep its been a long time. After our ride yesterday Sky invited us over to Prescott Station, a really nice restaurant in town, where he works with some amazing food. If you are in town this weekend for the Whiskey stop by and say hi. Its been about 9 years since I've seen Skyler and must be another 3-5 since we've ridden together! Can't wait.
Driving across the Navajo Nation Reservation on my way back to AZ I had a ton of time to think about the good times we used to have...whether is was in the Saab or in the Dodge Caravan we covered some ground!
 |
| Some beautiful scenery thru the Reservation |
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| Love the Southwest |
The only other time I had been to Durango was back in 97. We rallied Sky's Saab on some dirt roads, went cliff jumping, and on the way back managed to catch some air over a cow grate and came down with a flat after dropping our buddy G - Heitman in the 15 passenger van. G rolled by a few minutes later threw a banana peel at us and laughed as we struggled to get the car on the jack on a powdery dirt road. In the end the lid to a Tupperware container gave us enough stability to get the car up and change the flat. Later that night we almost got arrested for playing a little frisby in the buff up at Ft. Lewis on the soccer fields. Finally it was race day...the Cow Chip classic and Derek managed to uphill endo into a scorpion on the pre-ride....so many good times from back in the day!
The plans for the next adventure are coming together....Sedona and Moab on our way home from the Whiskey! Can't wait....but first the race!
Monday, April 14, 2014
AZ 2 CO
Well its been a while...guess that means I've been busy with Momentum Endurance coaching, training, moving, and building bikes! Being busy is a good thing!
Its definitely game time for the 2014 race season. My first race, the Whiskey 50, is two weeks away, and the first WORS race is the following weekend! All the Momentum Endurance athletes are in full swing with their training and so am I!
We packed up and left AZ about 10 days ago. So far Durango is awesome and the training is going great! I did however get in a few good jam sessions in AZ w/ Tom Sampson before making the trip to CO.
Shriver has been a great host and tour guide for the huge network of trails in Durango! Thanks man...I've hit so many fun new trails on the Remedy and now on the new Superfly FS! However I have been slaving away. Painting, carrying King Size memory foam mattress' up two flights of steps, and even fixing laundry room appliances....I think I'm paying my rent in labor for the month!
Had to fix the dryer with some Pro Gold EPX Cycle Grease!
My new Rock Shox equipment arrived last week and I was able to finish the build of the Superfly! Two days ago I took 'er out for the first shred sesh! WOW...it can go! I'm always blown away at how good a 29er FS can descend after being on a trail bike. In my head I think I can and should be able to rip so much faster on the trail bike with the dropper seat post, but then I get on my race bike and its just as fast or faster and I love it....
The jump to the bigger wheels size was much easier this year after riding the 27.5 Remedy all winter in Tucson. I'm a huge fan of the trail bike and think everybody should get one! They are so good for you skills, your visual confidence on the trails, and they take a beating that keeps your race bike in tip top shape.
No time wasted in finding some mud, some river crossings, and using all 100mm's of buttery smooth travel!
Training at altitude is definitely a little different and way easy to overstep the boundaries of fatigue. I've definitely learned that you need to back it down a notch or two sleeping at 6,000+ft and training up at 8,000+ft. I just finished up a 20+ hour training week and today resting and cleaning bikes! One more big week of training on tap and then the Whiskey 50! Can't wait for the first big race of the year! Thanks for reading!
Its definitely game time for the 2014 race season. My first race, the Whiskey 50, is two weeks away, and the first WORS race is the following weekend! All the Momentum Endurance athletes are in full swing with their training and so am I!
 |
| Gila Monster on our last ride! |
 |
| Great Horned Owl nest spotted on drive to Durango! |
Shriver has been a great host and tour guide for the huge network of trails in Durango! Thanks man...I've hit so many fun new trails on the Remedy and now on the new Superfly FS! However I have been slaving away. Painting, carrying King Size memory foam mattress' up two flights of steps, and even fixing laundry room appliances....I think I'm paying my rent in labor for the month!
 |
| Pro Gold - 1 Dryer - 0 |
 |
| Colorado Trail |
Had to fix the dryer with some Pro Gold EPX Cycle Grease!
My new Rock Shox equipment arrived last week and I was able to finish the build of the Superfly! Two days ago I took 'er out for the first shred sesh! WOW...it can go! I'm always blown away at how good a 29er FS can descend after being on a trail bike. In my head I think I can and should be able to rip so much faster on the trail bike with the dropper seat post, but then I get on my race bike and its just as fast or faster and I love it....
 |
| Rock Shox front and rear! |
 |
| Shimano XTR all around! |
 |
| Bontrager cockpit w/ 720mm wide bar! |
The jump to the bigger wheels size was much easier this year after riding the 27.5 Remedy all winter in Tucson. I'm a huge fan of the trail bike and think everybody should get one! They are so good for you skills, your visual confidence on the trails, and they take a beating that keeps your race bike in tip top shape.
No time wasted in finding some mud, some river crossings, and using all 100mm's of buttery smooth travel!
Training at altitude is definitely a little different and way easy to overstep the boundaries of fatigue. I've definitely learned that you need to back it down a notch or two sleeping at 6,000+ft and training up at 8,000+ft. I just finished up a 20+ hour training week and today resting and cleaning bikes! One more big week of training on tap and then the Whiskey 50! Can't wait for the first big race of the year! Thanks for reading!
 |
| I wonder if the baby Road Runners have left the nest yet? |
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