Brutal base miles

November 30, 2008

If you are yearning to put on some base miles, head up north every month for the Winter Ralley Series!  Tons of food/water, and fenders are recommended!winter-ralleye


New rides with old friends

November 29, 2008

Log Drop trail in Pueblo

Log Drop trail in Pueblo

With my day off before Thanksgiving, I headed down to Pueblo to ride with an old college friend, Jesse Jacobs. He was the first mtn biker I met down at FLC in ’94. I remember the moment cause we are both named Jesse.  I think it was the first time I had met another guy with the same name.  He also had the same Yeti had on that I did and we got to talking and also both had the same bike, brightly colored anodized GT Zaskar.  We became good friend and rode a lot down in Durango. After we graduated, both of us have moved along the Front Range, Boulder, Ft Collins, Denver, CO Springs with Jesse settling in Pueblo.  Jesse had gone back to school to become an Xray tech and this was the first chance to ride in a couple years.  Jesse took me out to Pueblo reservoir and we rode on some of the mtn bike trails on the south side of the res.  They were nice, rolling trails with great views on cool broken slate rock.  It was good to catch up, see where his life has taken him and just ride like the old days! – Swift


Black and White

November 24, 2008

You know when you are racing fast when your site goes black and white!

Colin Osborn - FLC Cyclocross race


Trying something different

November 23, 2008

I got a text message from a number I didn’t recognize asking me “if I was going to the race?”.  I soon realized that it was one of my 7th grade students talking about the cyclocross race happening in Golden.  I hadn’t been planning on going, but decided I would stop by and cheer him on.  I have only been teaching about 4 years and have gotten to know 450-500 students.  In that short time I have realized it really rare to see a 13 year old kid go out and try something unique, something different.  They are quick to follow others, so its nice to see one out doing their own thing!  It was inspiring to see him trying so hard.  He isn’t the biggest kid and that mtn bike isn’t the lightest.  I was very proud that he invited me to watch him race and hope he keeps on riding and creating his own path!  I can imagine the conversations in the middle school hallways tomorrow when the other kids ask what he did this weekend…

Golden youth

Golden youth


The White Rim Trail

November 17, 2008

 

The White Rim Trail

The White Rim Trail

Every year, Brian Smith, leads a group out on to the White Rim Trail for his birthday ride.  Normally I would head out and ride with them, but… they do it in 1 day….. all 100 miles of it!   Parker Macy is a 5 time vet of the ride and finally talked me into joining them.  Now in November, I usually spend more time on my dirt jumper than the XC bike.  I knew I couldn’t motivate myself to train for it this late in the season, so I called up another White Rim virgin, Josh Kravetz and easily talked him into it.  Long story short, we did it!  Here are photos from The White Rim Trail…

 If you want to geek out… here is the GPS tracking of the first 80miles… then the battery died!  I was bummed it didnt record the climb up Shafer’s Trail!   – Jessewhite-rim-gps


Sunset Jumps

November 17, 2008

 

Woo Hoo!  Ride the Train!

Woo Hoo! Ride the Train!

It was a beautiful Nov 1st, so Mr V., Bill and his 3 ‘Gromits’ met me down in Lakewood for a afternoon session at Sunset.  It was blast with the little boys there and cool group of riders enjoying the day!

  I was going a little too far for the camera, overshot the landing, slipped a pedal and tore my shin open.  Thank goodness I had dinner plans with Dr. Carol and she stitched me up after supper!  Thanks Carol!!  Here is my attempt at a quick video inspired by Shelby! 🙂  – Jesse


Golden Cruiser Ride – Halloween

November 17, 2008

peak-cycles1

The last Golden Cruiser ride of the year happen on Oct 28th.  Being October in Colorado means it can be 70deg or snowing, luckily we had the first!  Everyone at the shop got dressed up and headed out.  Check out the photos of the costumes!  Everyone had something cool on I personally think New Matts costume of AWESOM O wins the shop costume contest!    Overall it was a great night and lots of fun!  Make sure you come out in the spring for the 2009 cruiser season!  


Gunbarrel

November 17, 2008

It was “Fall Break” at school, which meant we had Thursday and Friday off…  but I am not complaining!  I took advantage of the time and headed to Boulder for some dirt jumping at the Gunbarrel Jumps.  I called Laiho, Mr. V and a new buddy to Colorado, Pete.  

Pete steppin up!

Pete steppin up!

We had a good session!  I scrapped together some courage for Main Street, but after landing upside down on my back, I stopped pushing my self too much farther.  Pete was getting in the groove on the step up jumps, but came up a little short and ended up separating his shoulder.  Just another day jumping…

 

Laiho dusts off his camera and catches Jesse in flight.

Laiho dusts off his camera and catches Jesse in flight.


Time Travel

November 14, 2008

I was riding to work on Thursday and as I rode by the gas station I realized I must have time traveled back to 2001…

 

Cheap gas

Cheap gas

I didn’t like paying $4.00 a gallon for gas this summer, but also think that is the only way to get people to think about their consumption of non renewable resources.  I am curious to see how much longer the gas price drop will continue…


sweet pics from Bryan Derballa at Wired.com

October 30, 2008
Wired.com - Bryan Derballa

Wired.com - Bryan Derballa


Woody made the NY Times

October 14, 2008
Dave Wiens, AKA Woody, contemplates life in Gunny

Dave Wiens, AKA Woody, contemplates life in Gunny

New York Times article
By SEAN D. HAMILL
Published: October 13, 2008
link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/sports/othersports/14cycling.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1


Sunset Jumps

October 12, 2008

RICHES vs. STEWART ET AL

October 12, 2008

Tour De France Champion Floyd Landis named in a legal case along with Martha Stewart and E.T.

E.T. is the ring leader.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

Link to the case: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/pennsylvania/pawdce/2:2007cv01338/82738/1/

More from Mr. Riches: http://news.justia.com/cases/jonathan-lee-riches/


New MTN bike category system for 09 racing season

October 12, 2008

“The new categories, which closely resemble those used in other disciplines of competitive cycling, have been created to offer USA Cycling mountain bike members a more competitive racing environment. The previous license categories will be replaced with a new system which include Category 1, 2, 3 and Pro designations.” – USA Cycling

 

https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3846


Fall Colors

October 12, 2008

A few photos from Kenosha Pass and the Monarch Crest Trail.  🙂  – Jesse Swift


Life gets a little ‘Blurry’…

October 12, 2008

…when you go back to college!  

Have fun down at Fort Lewis Colin O!


Start ’em young…

October 12, 2008

and they will ROCK!


If you are down south…

October 12, 2008

SingleSpeeds will be taking over… 

 


Rainy Sunday

October 12, 2008

 

Hey All- 
In case you are bored on Sunday and want to see me get my butt kicked on national tv, the Jeep KOM race from Utah will be on CBS on Sunday afternoon.  I finished 13th, and they focus more on the top 8, so I probably won’t get much coverage.  But it was a pretty crazy course and a lot of the big names were there so it should be pretty fun to watch. -Jon Watt

A ride to consider for next year….

October 12, 2008

Up and down Pikes Peak from town.  9 1/2 hours.

Colin M