Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Cyclic Traditions

Out with the old in with the new? Hmmmm...it's amazing that one day every year creates such a fuss, not to mention the drunken traditions. New Years Day is just another day in the passing of time, which is truly only another mark on a cyclic chart to inform us of our relative age compared to others or mark an event that has passed. Age as we know it has nothing to do with eating habits, weight, physical health, smoking, drinking, lard ingestion, current state of mind, or stress, but it does seem to weigh heavily on some people's opinion of appearance and social status. We even have odd sayings about age - my favorite is "Act your age," which is hard to figure out since there is young, old, and the rather broad neither-world in between. To top that off there is no defining line to separate any of these. Personally I feel young so when someone says, "quit acting like a kid" or "act your age" I not sure why since I am acting my age according to me - young that is. Then again I find it rather insulting if someone labels me old, since I figure if and when I ever feel old then I will most likely have a shovel in-hand digging my grave.
From 20081231

Everything is cyclic...minutes, hours, days, years, life, and of course the two wheels I love to spin endlessly. So as we continue the circle of life together I hope your wheels remain flat free and you are young at heart in the coming cyclic event we have labeled 2009.

SINGLE-SPEED RULES!!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Snow Fish?

The riding days have been more adventurous here lately since snow has decided to accumulate in a series of storms over the last several weeks...I love it since we rarely have snow here on the ground for more than a day and I miss having it after living in Montana for most of my life. The down side is that people here have no clue (and I mean they are stupidly clueless) about driving on snow, which means fear for your life much more so on the streets. Also most people here can not seem to grasp that riding a bike in snow is an option and fun...I get some crazy comments and looks.
From 20081223


Riding in the winter just takes a wee more thought and preparation about clothing and warmth options. Layering is key, just like it is for any winter sport. Hands and feet, which seem to be the most difficult to keep warm, to play in the cold you need to pay for quality in my opinion and many experiences. For example, I keep the feet toasty with my Lake winter boots and a quality pair of wool sock...I have yet to experience cold toes with this combo in temps down in the teens.
From 20081223


On a recent adventure I was just riding along and...WHAM!!! I hit something under the snow which popped up whacked my pedal. Upon closer observation, I realized I had come across the elusive Snow Fish and it appeared stunned after I ran it over.
From 20081223


After a few minutes though the Snow Fish seemed OK and I coaxed it off the trail (which no sane cyclist would be on anyway) and back into its native environment...
From 20081223


In snow I also think that riding a single-speed (SS) is the best option since derailleurs and shift cables seem to get a bit iffy with snow and ice on them. Tire choice is something to think about also and running good grippy tires and low air pressure is the best, but as you can see I get away with tires that have a very low tread design. I've also found that Stan tubeless sealant works very well in the cold - I have yet to figure out what is puncturing my tires in the snow but no flats yet.
From 20081223


Yes winter riding is a tad more fun than building cholesterol plaque in the arteries in the Lazy Boy all winter.
From 20081223

Monday, November 24, 2008

Think Pink/650B Race Testing

The Gunnar-Think Pink single-speed bike was blindly selected for a mountain bike race course I knew nothing about. I kind of decided to do this race at the last minute and was a tad late leaving for the 140+ mile journey to the course. I arrived with 1/2-hour to spare, which means I had to register, dress, and frantically change the rear cog on the bike after hearing and seeing the course was essentially flat and twisty (aka fast and ideal for the SS). Mission #1 was complete as I rode up to the starting line within about a minute of the start. Mission #2 was to start cold without any warmup and ride fast on a course I was unfamiliar with since I did not preride it (both of these issues are not recommended practices if you want to be competitive). I quickly studied my competition at the start line and picked out 2-guys that would be the fastest and therefore good to be behind going into the single-track...that was my plan...
From 20081027

Ready, set, go...CRASH, stop...Go again. That's how the expert race started with 2 guys getting tangled up about 25-meters from the start who then blocked the entire back field while they untangled (it was rather comical and we were all laughing about it, including the 2 that crashed). However, it was not so funny that a nice sized group were off the front and completely unaware of the crash behind them. Needless to say by the time I got around the crash there was a huge (and I mean HUGE) gap between me and the group off the front. So here I was chasing a few others that got around the crash just ahead of me and a lead group that I could not even see anymore. Well I red-lined it (bad idea with cold muscles) until I was seeing stars while my legs were screaming in an endless, painful agony. I had thoughts of quitting so the pain would quit, but my ego never let it happen.

I quickly learned the areas of the soft, twisty course where I was fastest and used them to my advantage...I steadily picked off riders in front me while getting faster on the course as the laps sped by. I came through the finish after the required 10-laps all alone with nobody in site front or rear - my eyes just about popped out of my head in disbelief as I signed out in 4th place.

I ran the Pacenti Quasi-Moto 650B tire up front and a Bontrager 26" Revolt (tubeless) in the rear. I was wishing for the beefier Pacenti Neo-Moto 650B up front and a Bontrager Jones ACX in the rear to maintain more speed through the numerous sharp, soft-sandy corners in this course. The tire combo I had on the bike (Quasi-Moto/Revolt) did OK, but both were sliding through the corners which equates to less speed and more effort coming out the corner. Pushing both front and rear tires to their limits and sliding through corners is a good skill to practice (and fun) and that is the attitude I took instead of worrying about it as I raced.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

SS Cyclocross

Why I continue to pay for self sufferage at cyclocross races is still something I ponder on a daily basis (and more so during these events). It just seems contrary to normal thinking to pay someone money so that you can self-induce extreme burning muscle pain that makes you want to puke and send one's self into an ego depleting humbleness when you get your butt stomped by those that actually train for this insane sport of cyclocross. And I still am praying for a sloppy rainy, muddy course to make all this even more fun!? I've lost my sanity it seems.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane


I bumped my pain up a notch this last weekend (and my ego down a notch or two) when I raced a Spokane cyclocross race on my single-speed (SS) converted Gunnar cross bike.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane


After pre-riding the course I realized I was at a gun fight armed with a water pistol...not good to say the least. The opening run-out was at least 1/2-mile of fast pave (which is so anti-cyclocross). The long pave start translated into a need for SS crank RPMs that are not physically achievable by me to keep up with 28-30 mph speeds. I was spinning like mad at the start and doing 25+ mph while I was watching everyone pass me and steadily fade away. Then once onto the dirt there was another long straight stretch that was again a high speed runout. The end result was that I had no chance to keep up from the start.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane


By the time I got to the more traditional cyclocross stuff (twisty with barriers) were the SS shines, I was so far behind that all I could do was to overtake anyone in front of me with continuous all-out-I-don't-train-for-this-kind-of-stuff-effort. I was happy that I was not lapped (not even close) and that I finished within the middle third of the group.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane


Also I was happy that I was not the only SSer out there that got their butt kicked by this road-toad course. I only hope that the course designers come up with something a little more creative and cyclocross-like for the next few races that are up in that area.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane


On the better side of this story, this was another fun event and I do believe I am addicted to cyclocross racing...so much so that late next summer I may actually change up my endurance training for some short power training needed for cyclocross. It's too bad they don't have a super-cross event that went on for 3-6 hours so that I could shine at what I do best...the long haul.

After my event Donna (my mate-for-life) and I cheered on some familiar faces (as well as nearly everyone else). Louie Fontain got plenty of support from us as the only SSer in the elite mens group. He worked hard and had the same problems/limitations as I did on this course, but his effort made everyone else's look minor in comparison.

Then there was Ted from Pullman who made the hill run-up look easier than anyone else...he ran up that thing so smoothly that, in appearance, he made it seem effortless (which he and all of us know that it was not so easy). He started fast, but somehow ended up nearly last after the first few laps. However Ted showed us all how it was done by steadily picking up places and putting in a hard effort until the end.
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane
From 20081102_Cyclocross Spokane

Monday, October 27, 2008

Fall, Cyclocross, and Think Pink?!

Fall has been here for some time and I've been busy taking advantage of my favorite season viewing the colors everywhere possible and enjoying the perfect riding temps. The Gunnar cross bike has been getting some serious back-road miles all over the region. I recently took to exporing the numerous mountain roads around Grangeville, which has some of the coolest vistas I've seen in some time.
From 20081007


For some very odd reason I also recently decided that cyclocross racing would be fun and since I own a bike that is designed for cyclocross I thought I should test it...note, I am not testing my ability, but the bike's ability to perform because I have no desire to put myself though such incredible sufferage without a lick of training. So last weekend I did my first ever cyclocross races (notice the plural) in Walla Walla. Is it fun? Well that depends on when you are asking me since in the 3rd or 4th lap of all-out-kickin-my-butt-effort I found myself praying for a flat tire so that I could stop the insane buring in my legs, but for some reason I never got a flat. Then just as I was getting warmed up (after 45-minutes) they announce last lap...I think to myself, "Oh crap! I just got warmed up" And I'm starting to push some of the lactic acid out and gain speed. I will not mention the cruelty they designed into the cyclocross racing courses, but I did enjoy the double water crossings and riding through old barns at high speed (to say the least it was all very over stimulating and a fun experience) and this was just the first day.

On the second day I did it again on a different course that was again a pain to my legs to say the least...so much so that I opted to do the mountain bike class immediately following my primary race. I got back to the car swapped out the cross bike for a MTB, had time for a few swallows of water then off to the start. I felt better on my MTB (but then again I was already warmed up a bit). I was antagonizing a poor young soul all through the MTB race and in the end let him have it - I think he puked (or nearly so) off in the distance beyond the finish line. It was all fun if you can call this stuff fun. (sorry no pics)

Then I watched the Group A Mens (Elite) race and was awed at their speed and seemingly ease of effort compared to what I felt during my events. Well not all of them were so relaxed looking - a few were obvioulsy suffering baddly. The most interesting part about the Elite race was 2-single speed guys (brothers I believe) who were holding their own and in my opinion kicking some serious butt on the majority of the field...they instantly became my picks for giving the best effort and were promoted to a high level in my personal world of hiarchy. Hmmm...cyclocross on a SS...sounds like more fun than shifting gears.

Speaking of SS I just happened across one of those bike sale deals that I could not stop my "I thought I was past this" obscessive-compulsive-must-ride-and-buy-everything behaviour...end result is that I now own a second Gunnar (an awesome steel frame to say that least) and the up side is that it's a Single Speed and the color is the most awesome Pink! The down side is that the frame is gear compatable (boring) and my wife has somehow come up with the idea that it's now her bike...hmmm.
From 20081027


The frame was of course was instantly built upon arrival into another Super Bike with incredible insight from none other than me. It was originally a custom 69er - that's a bike with a 29" front wheel and a 26" rear wheel which some people feel is a better combo than either a full 29er or 26" wheeled bike alone. I tried it as a 69er, but have found more happiness putting a slightly smaller 650B front wheel on it instead (650B is a 27.5" wheel for all those wondering). The end result is still in the gentle thrash testing phase (after all I just got it today). For now though I'm thinking Pink is it!
From 20081027

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Chip-Seal Love

One should never discount the biting love that chip-seal can provide...on one hand it provides nearly endless traction for our tires to keep us upright and provide quick stops. On the other hand it wears our tires faster, provides greater resistance against our tires making us work harder to pedal (which could be good if you like sufferage), and it lovingly bites back when you impact it while doing an unplanned (or planned gone-awry) dismount from from your bike.




You may or may not know that smooth pavement is so much nicer to land on and skid many feet across since it tends only to scrape or rub the skin off over large surface areas of the body. Chip-seal just rips your hide off leaving deep lacerations everywhere which causes incredible amounts of bleeding and some interesting pain issues. I just so happened to take a recent low-speed chip-seal impact while doing a planned dismount from my cross bike where my cleat mildly stuck in the pedal causing an awkward skin on non-moving jagged rock (aka chip-seal) sudden-stop-to-forward-motion followed by copious amounts of blood and some pain.



Unfortunately I don't have the bloody gross pics right after it happened so you are spared the yuk (which I thought was rather interesting). I've since been patched up by Dr. Jane (a super awesome wound care doc) and healed up for the most part. My elbow obviously took the greatest impact and is still being protected every time I ride with an oversized guard.






The major damage consisted of 4-deepish lacerations and one 1.5 cm deep puncture into my bursa area (not good), but after a few weeks everything is looking quite good.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

The Adventures Never End

OK, so I've been a bit slow at putting anything up here, but that doesn't mean I've not been out playing hard on 2-wheels. Mountain biking up on Moscow Mtn has been at least a weekly if not more...
From 20080813

Here's a typical profile for a few hours of riding Moscow Mtn...
From 20080813

I've been on numerous other semi-epic explorations in the surrounding area and have seen plenty of cool things while out-and-about either on a bike or a horse adventure with Donna...
From 20080824_Sheep

From 20080824_Sheep

From 20080824_Sheep

To my amazement I've had 2-rides with the SeanMan in the last several weeks. The first on was a ride home from Pullman where I got my behind kicked by the SeanMan quite easily (although not justifiably an excuse, I was riding my Gunnar cross bike with fat, knobby tires on the pave while he was on a speedo-like roadbike).

The next ride we did was on the mountain bikes up in the Giant White Pine area. The rain had stopped just before our ride which made for wet, firm trails. We were soaked though in the first 10-minutes of riding from the heavy, wet brush along the trail. Being wet was not a problem and the fun-o-meter was pegged all day along the awesome trails in this area.
From 20080827_WhitePineRide

Some of the trails were a bit steep and we felt the burn several times to say the least...
From 20080827_WhitePineRide

The maximum climbing grade % was only 28.4%...the rest was easy...
From 20080827_WhitePineRide

From 20080827_WhitePineRide

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Riding Boise

From 20080809_Bois...

I was in Boise for some family happenings and I just happened to bring one of my mountain bikes along for the just-in-case riding adventures that are always tempting in that region. Since I did not know how secure my bike would be during our stay I brought along my SuperCal-29er since I would not cry as much if it were stolen vs. my Ellsworth, but believe me I would wimper plenty if the Supercal was lost. The Supercal was great to ride up there and performed well.
From 20080809_Bois...

My ride started in the lower Foot Hills area at Camels Back Park then proceeded up, up, and away to Boise Peak and beyond before I turned back for several thousand feet of steady decent on a single track trail.
From 20080809_Bois...

Anticipating the need to be back at a 'reasonable' time for some 'mandatory' family business (actually playing some odd games, I'm not lying about this)and the rather warm temps predicted for the day, I started quite early in the crisp, cool morning air.
From 20080809_Bois...

I came across several other people on foot who for the most part were not friendly at all, but I did not really care since I was blissfully climbing up. Above the upper 8th Street parking lot after nearly being run over by some very out-of-control off-road motos I continued up on trails closed to those psycho-motoheads (actually the last guy was cool and apollogized for his ignorant buddies). From there on I saw only a few people like some freak runners that think 20-miles of trail running a day is hip...hmmm?
From 20080809_Bois...

I rode way up and beyond my planned return time to the family business, but I could not seem to get enough. Eventually I did turn it around after being in close proximity to Bogus Basin. I went way back down and took a screaming single track trail down...
From 20080809_Bois...

By this time many others were making there way up the trails sweating their butts off now that the temps had climbed quite a bit. One person commented that I must have been up pretty early to be coming down at this time...a big smiling "yep" was all I could get out before passing them and continuing down, down, down...

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Slowing Down

There's way too much beauty to see out there and at times I have to slow down my internal need for speed mechanism so that the small, important things in this world don't pass by me unnoticed (like driving the steering wheel I found mysteriously on a hillside - now this is living life!).
From 20080706


Sometimes it takes someone to slow you down a bit...to make you realize life is about more than one's selfish desires to ride a bike constantly (that's me most of the time - a biking obsessive-compulsive-obsessive). When I do slow down I find I really enjoy many other things in life and that getting from one place to another with ultra-biking speed is not necessarily always fun (needed for stress relief, yes).
From 20080706


So this last week I've backed off the constant 80+mile rides to much slower 40-mile or less rides with some always-interesting exploration adventure along the way. I was even named Trail-Boss on a ride recently where I guided two very happy horse-crazed people on some ultra-fun trails I happen to know of. Donna (my ultimate soul-mate and forever companion) and Niki (a young, fun-loving person borrowed from a Michgan family, thanks Pat and Patti) both had a fun day as did I. Curiously though the horses could not seem to keep up with my Ellsworth super-ultra-endurance bike (the only choice of knowing trail bosses everywhere).

From 20080706


We even saw a bear this day not to mention a stubborn rattle snake that blocked the trail for the girls. I never saw it and may have simply rode over it unknowingly...wouldn't be the first time.


We've also spent some time together hiking a viewing the wild flower shows around this area.
From 20080706


Yesterday I just explored a new area on the Tucannon River side of the hill (after I climbed over the top that is) to find new areas to ride and just to see what existed out there.
From 20080708

From 20080708


To say the least I was not dissappointed in anything except the desire for more daylight and time to ride a few new areas I seem to have found, but it will be waiting for me another day.
From 20080708


From 20080708


From 20080708

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Exploring Single Track

My rides exploring at higher elevations continue as I try to escape the 100+ temps here in the valley. The temps are bad enough that I have actually driven (gasp!!! yes, I know it's so not me to drive the 20 miles up the inferno like canyons here) to the lower reaches of my favorite riding areas. I've been exploring a few of the many trails I have long ago (last year or more) marked on my GPS as "need to follow"...trails that don't exist on any map except the one in my brain and a few on my GPS.

So far all the trails have paid high in the fun-factor and huge smiles. On the "down-side" each new trail has presented additional need to explore more trails discovered along the way (oh darn). I stuggle with to stay focused on exploring one trail to its end when there are so many new, highly tempting adventures to be followed along the way. I am finding a huge network of trails and old (very old) narrow roads...which are essentially single-track trails now. Many of the trails are prime single-track (very rare around here) that are amazingly fun to ride. The trail makers are those amazingly stupid cows that have long been summer pastured in the area. They actually make some of the sweetest single-track trails.

I've had some some crazy thoughts that I can map some of these trails out and interconnect them for a long single-track ride...hmm imagine a long ride on real trails around here...a paradox to say the least. I may share my mapped out trail network with other people (if I get it done)...maybe I won't take the time to map them at all...maybe these trails will never be known to others...here is a small peak at one of the trails...oohhh yeah, the WOW factor is huge here!