Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Interbike Outdoor Demo
Bootleg Canyon is a great location for this west coast event. I can't begin to put into words how great the two days at BC were getting to ride all kinds of bikes and getting to check out the latest bike accessories. Some non bike pictures....
Interbike 2009 Day 2
Day 2 brought another early morning visit to McDonalds for breakfast before hitting the shuttle to the trails. While Monday's line for the shuttle was only a couple people deep the Tuesday shuttle line was packed with 100+. Next year I'll wake up earlier on Tuesday and keep my wrist strap on from Monday (you get to move to the front).
The trails on Tuesday were a little looser and a little more crowded, but still a blast. The lower temps (90s) felt great, but the wind was still strong blowing up all kinds of dust. It was a struggle to get suited up in the hotel room, but once on site it was another day in paradise.
that's a carbon weave
stair stepper anyone
Canondale left rize
Giant 29er
Banshee Paradox
A2B electric bike (20 miles @ 20mph)
Moots Mooto xz
new special addition 100oz mule pack
The trails on Tuesday were a little looser and a little more crowded, but still a blast. The lower temps (90s) felt great, but the wind was still strong blowing up all kinds of dust. It was a struggle to get suited up in the hotel room, but once on site it was another day in paradise.
that's a carbon weave
stair stepper anyone
Canondale left rize
Giant 29er
Banshee Paradox
A2B electric bike (20 miles @ 20mph)
Moots Mooto xz
new special addition 100oz mule packInterbike Day 1
Outdoor Demo in Bootleg Canyon lived up to the hype. I've included pics of most of the bikes I road on day 1. Keep in mind the weather was perfect, the community of riders A+, and the bikes were out of this world. Not a bad Monday.
GT Sensor 29er
Intense Uzzi
Santa Cruz Tallboy
Gary Fisher Rumblefish
Yeti ARC
Ellsworth Moment
Surly Pugsly
Surly Pugsly
Jamis 650BIt was a long day of riding on some really excellent trails. I took one shuttle run up to the top, but the SC Tallboy was a disappointment on the way down. The winners for day 1 were definitely the GF Rumblefish and the Surly Pugsley.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Back to basics
I've been a major slacker when it comes to the blog. You'd think I'd have more time for blogging since I've also been slacking (off-season?) when it comes to training.
Upcoming events:
PBR Off-road Tri in a couple of weeks. I'm debating adding a race to my off-season. Thoughts?
Interbike - yup I'm living the dream this year. A new camera is on order and I'll try to provide daily blog updates with plenty of bike porn. If you're going this year give me a shout.
Sunday - lift w/A
Monday - lift during lunch
Tuesday - 800m swim, lift during lunch
Upcoming events:
PBR Off-road Tri in a couple of weeks. I'm debating adding a race to my off-season. Thoughts?
Interbike - yup I'm living the dream this year. A new camera is on order and I'll try to provide daily blog updates with plenty of bike porn. If you're going this year give me a shout.
Sunday - lift w/A
Monday - lift during lunch
Tuesday - 800m swim, lift during lunch
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Defying death in the off-season
I guess it's official. I'm in the off-season. I made the decision to skip XTERRA Nationals (too much money, too much training) and just enjoy the fall here in Arizona exploring new places. This past weekend taught me that the off-season might just be hazardous to my health.
While hiking with friends on Granite Mountain in Prescott, AZ I came face to face with decisions and situations that are best left to Survivor Man and Bear Grylls. Almost to the summit of Granite Mountain the four of us (plus our brave pooch) experienced a sudden change in the weather. Dark clouds became pitch black, it rained, hailed, and lightning started crashing down around us. As we were several miles above the tree line we started a fear inspired run down the mountain. One particularly large lightning strike forced us under the partial cover of a large boulder where we crouched on our boots and and tried to formulate a plan. Forced to leave shelter by the fear of hypothermia, as a result of sitting cold and wet, we entered back into the melee on the mountain and continued running. The switchbacks down the mountain were quickly flooded and we should have expected that the dry canyon we hiked up would now be flooded, but we did not.
Once under the cover of the tree line we rejoiced in our safe descent and set out on a safer and more comfortable pace for the car. Not a 1/4 mile down the trail was the first of many torrents of water that impeded our way. Raging waist deep water in some parts and increasing volumes coming off the mountain and from the sky made our decisions to cross parts of the trail questionable, but again, fears of hypothermia and an ignorant focus on the proximity of a warm car drove us to cross ever deepening bodies of water.
Thankfully we all made it out without injury, although plenty cold and definitely shaken. Next time I see dark clouds on the horizon I will be thinking twice, and I plan to buy a bigger camelbak with a little more room for some extra preparation - just in case.
While hiking with friends on Granite Mountain in Prescott, AZ I came face to face with decisions and situations that are best left to Survivor Man and Bear Grylls. Almost to the summit of Granite Mountain the four of us (plus our brave pooch) experienced a sudden change in the weather. Dark clouds became pitch black, it rained, hailed, and lightning started crashing down around us. As we were several miles above the tree line we started a fear inspired run down the mountain. One particularly large lightning strike forced us under the partial cover of a large boulder where we crouched on our boots and and tried to formulate a plan. Forced to leave shelter by the fear of hypothermia, as a result of sitting cold and wet, we entered back into the melee on the mountain and continued running. The switchbacks down the mountain were quickly flooded and we should have expected that the dry canyon we hiked up would now be flooded, but we did not.
Once under the cover of the tree line we rejoiced in our safe descent and set out on a safer and more comfortable pace for the car. Not a 1/4 mile down the trail was the first of many torrents of water that impeded our way. Raging waist deep water in some parts and increasing volumes coming off the mountain and from the sky made our decisions to cross parts of the trail questionable, but again, fears of hypothermia and an ignorant focus on the proximity of a warm car drove us to cross ever deepening bodies of water.
Thankfully we all made it out without injury, although plenty cold and definitely shaken. Next time I see dark clouds on the horizon I will be thinking twice, and I plan to buy a bigger camelbak with a little more room for some extra preparation - just in case.
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