Chalk Creek Stampede-Nathrop, Colorado

Saturday May 2nd is the second race of the Colorado Mountain States Cup Series. Made up of multiple laps with a lot of double track...it holds some real road racing strategy. Every time I have raced it, we've experienced wind to the point that an actual paceline is created. I keep checking the weather..up to 70% chance of precipitation. Either way I'll be there.

Getting up this morning and feeling the work week...I thought about Working and training . ..I'll tell you what...We as riders look up to the pros with their abilities
to ride so darn fast....It really inspires me...but the art of balancing time for spouse-kids-career-training/recovery is really something too! Hats off to the art of scheduling!!!

HAPPY B DAY TO JOEY JR ! the big 20

Zaskar Stretch

We have so many interesting commuter bikes in Durango.
I just saw this bike today next to my office. Wonder how many miles this one has seen....

First MTB race of the Season

Fruita Colorado is an epic place if you like high desert technical riding. That was the place for our first Colorado Mountain States Cup race.

Cat 1 and pros raced a very long 27 mile loop.
It had a bit of everything from big sprocket double track to quad burning climbs/ steep descents ... sprinkled with a few rock drops.
2hours and fifteen minutes later I arrived at the finish with a 6th place. For my 1st race of the season I was pumped. I had 4th place up to the 2 hour mark but my legs started to protest so I had to back off a bit.
My Zaskar performed awesome. I was descending with the best of those suspended guys! I can't believe how stable and neutral this bike is. The geometry is killer.

Fort Lewis Squawker Classic Road Race

The first race of the season is always good. No matter how you do..the key is that you are introducing your system to hard efforts and a sample of what it will be experiencing throughout the season. It can also be a gauge as to what you might be missing in your training regimen. Dave Hagen who is one of the collegiate coaches always puts together a great race.
The venue is at the college just above town. The course has a mixture of high speed descending, quad burning climbs and open -wind in your face -riding. The race started out at a good pace and progressively got more difficult as one of our local talents was committed to giving us "free" intervals on each climb. I ended up with a 6th place and was happy. Next weekend is Rabbit Valley... in Fruita, Co ... my 1st mtb race of the season....
Some short "race start" intervals are in order for tomorrow.

Dawn 'Till Mud...n...Snow

I was really pumped about racing my first 12 hr with Travis. Unfortunately, we woke up to snow. The race organizer delayed the race a few times in hopes of the course drying out.
Didn't happen. We did get to ride a lap Friday night so that was 1 lap more than most!
I'm back in Durango so I'll be doing the Fort Lewis College Squawker road race tomorrow....
...weather permitting. Come on...summer

Dawn 'Till Dusk

Ok, this past winter I thought that I would try new events to keep things fresh. Well, I am racing in the Dawn 'till Dusk 12 hr race in Gallup, NM. It was last minute and I couldn't find a partner...I was prepared to ride it solo and just count it as great endurance training. I've done some 5 and 6 hr rides this winter and know that if I played it smart I wouldn't make a total ...out of myself. Travis Brown from Trek e mailed and said his race partner had to cancel. So here we go... GT and Trek. Travis has always been so willing to answer questions from all of us locals over the years. It's great to have that wealth of knowledge riding in the pack or at the local 'cross races, he has the answers to tire pressures , geometries and more. I am sure I will have plenty for him regarding this endurance stuff. His wife Mary Monroe heads up Trails 2000 which works on trail advocacy and actual trail maintenance. There is a great group of volunteers that make this happen.

Sunday Ride

Well, after the snow and winds on Friday and Saturday we were
treated to some sunshine! I rode with Andrew Ferguson who
rides for the Trek regional team. He was sporting his new Fuel.
Andrew and I are both late 40's and well matched in abilities... so depending on who's feeling the best, the goal is to make the other suffer. It is always a crapshoot on who puts the hurt on who...
in between the hard efforts we manage to get some good coversation in.

I'm half hearted to do the Dawn 'Till Dusk 12 Hour in Gallup this Saturday.. a little late for planning but I am having so much fun on the GT that I think I'll skip the road race at the college this weekend and continue to work on getting to know my Zaskar.