Burning Chad

I won't be able to make it because of training camp, but it looks like a blast! Chad Cheeny is getting hitched. Burning Chad is his bachelor party down in Sedona. Should be a great time for all. Chad's last stand as a free man.

Moab always delivers

Rise and shine campers, don't forget your booties because it's cold out there!
Drop it like it's hot! Why is my tongue out?
Turned out to be a little more snow than expected on Porcupine Rim

Moab always delivers some kind of adventure. Last year I didn't get to ride my mountain bike that much. Going to Moab was definitely a test of the skills that I once had on the mountain bike. It was great to get back to my roots for the weekend and ride some epic classic mountain bike rides in Moab.

When we left on Friday it was dumping snow in Durango. About 12 miles out of Moab we ended up hitting some serious white out conditions. We couldn't see 10 feet in front of us and the roads were covered with snow. My brother and I thought for sure we would be turning right around and heading back. We woke up to snow.

We decided to roll into town from out camp at Behind the Rocks and get a cup of coffee. The sun came out blazing and there was no snow on the North end of town. We hit up a new ride on the way out to Sovereign trail and also some new trail to get out there called Bar M loop. It turned out to be a great ride and the sun was shining the whole time.

After the best sleep I have had in months in the Westy V-W, we hit it early today to get back to Durango at a good time. Zach and I decided to go for Porcupine Rim which we knew would be a little snowy and epic near the top in the shade of the North faces. Our approach was different as we took a new trail out on Sand Flats called Fin's N things. It turned out to be an awesome jeep trail that puts you right into the Porcupine Rim trail. The descent was a little hairy. Not only is Moab famous for very technical riding, dropping steep ledges with ice and snow was a bit more trying. My skills were a little off at first. When I came up to my first ledge, all of about 6 inches, I totally puckered and hit the brakes. Finally I got myself to get up the courage to drop the little ledge. It felt like I was base jumping or something, serious pucker factor!

I have two days of training in Durango and then I am off to San Diego for camp and to meet the team. I have been looking foreword to this coming week since I signed with Jittery Joe's. My future awaits me and I get a taste week of what is to come. Hopefully I also get a taste of some dang good coffee from Jittery.

Going for some Dirt!

I did a ride yesterday that I haven't done in years with Troy Wells and Adam Snyder. Picked a couple of goof balls to ride with for the day and it was great. 55 degrees yesterday and today it is supposed to rain and snow. We did the Cherry Springs ride out on Red Mesa, a good dirt road ride that was pretty much dry for the most part.

The weather is supposed to be back to normal wintery conditions today with rain and snow. Tomorrow it is going to snow some more and Sunday it will be descent weather. I am going to bail out of town and head for Moab. Now is a good time to hit the dirt since it helps build good power, will be different than riding the same rides in Durango and the weather is always better in Moab this time of year. I will be going with just my brother so I won' have any dead weight to haul around this year like my roommate Raley in years past. Should have some pictures from the weekend.

Alright, gotta get out there before the wintery mix starts up. It is already clouding up and supposed to get crappy, I am outta here!

Wintery Mix

First of I have to say something about the controversial stage one finish at the Tour of California. Something shady is going on??I can't believe they neutralized the race because of a crash so far from the finish. Crashes like that happen all the time. That is racing road racing when it gets hectic near the finish. Crashes in bigger races have happened just outside of 3K in huge races and were not neutralized. It seems a little shady. The fact that Levi was not in the yellow in his home state and the fact that a non pro tour team would be leading the race. I don't know if that is what it was, but it seems shady and I don't understand? Am I missing something? I feel bad for Ben Jaques Maines, a strong racer who should be in the jersey in my opinion. Levi is strong enough and his team is excellent a riding at the front and would have no problem getting the lead back. Strange decision I think?

The other day on my ride I got a taste of everything. Before I headed out I checked the weather and it said "Wintry Mix". I was wondering what a Wintery Mix was as I was riding in pure sunshine and 40 degrees. It didn't take long to find out that it was a taste of everything mother nature can throw at you. One minute the sun is shining and the next there was snow. Shortly after that it was pouring rain and 38 degrees. The wind picked up and the rain switched to sleet and then groppel. As I decided to cut the ride short and avoid Hypothermia and head back to the house the sun came back out. Toward the end of the ride there was lightning and thunder in town. Crazy weather.

I am starting to get bored with the training in Durango. I have been putting in allot of miles this year and hitting allot of the same roads. It has been pretty wet and the dirt roads have been kind of off limits because of the mud, unless you are Troy Wells the Thrasher who will ride anything on any bike even if it ruins it. Anyway, I have been having a hard time mixing it up lately and I am ready to get to some new riding in Southern California for a little change. Then I will be refreshed on the Durango training. Allot of it has to do with loggin miles in the cold. It is finally getting to me and I thought I would never be over the rides. When the dirt roads are bad, it is kind of hard to mix it up. They should be good tomorrow though, heading south and it is supposed to be 53. Finally!

As for the training, I have been hitting some transition this week an did a few short Threshold efforts today. I don't want to be to far of the back at team camp next week and it is time to start hitting it to get ready for Redlands which will be a stepping stone for Georgia. I do feel strong this year. Whish is great.

I killed my Midterm today. Now I am going to make a great dinner and finish up some work, maybe head to Moab for some MTB action if the weather is bad here. Will be fun to hit the dirt. More later!

Throwdown Session!

Today was the first little test of the season as I hit up the annual Sunday ,Durango showdown throwdown. I am starting to dabble into the suffering a little. I am always dragging a tad coming out of base and today hurt. It was a beautiful day and the warmer temps are starting to show.

The group left from Bread and kept it neutral over the top of Edgemont. The usual route to Vallecito and back. Two sprints, one at Vallecito and the other at Edgemont on the way in. Dan Bowman came out to turn the srews on all of us and to make sure we had our share of punisment by the end of the ride. In the end, Dan killed me up to the dam as I got gapped out before the sprint. I got him on Edgemont though, HA ha! So we are even so far. I am very pleased with the way my form is coming along and I felt very strong for not doing much intensity yet. Signs of good things to come.

Yesterday we got pulled over by a State Trooper. The guy was a total idiot. He was so unprofessional and didn't say why we were being pulled over. He yelled at me "you go, get out of here" . I looked into his beady little rat eyes, totally confused. What the hell is he talking about? "Go now" he said. I left and he let Bowman, Lee Rosenthol, and an FLC kid named Allister. Anyway, the rest of the group including the Chocolate Factory boys, Wilk and Grant Berry all received tickets for being over the white line and riding double. I can see riding double, but over the white line? Also, the law says you can ride double under certain circumstances. I am a little confused about the law. I better check into it before the State Trooper from Bayfield, who looks like Hitler, yes he looked like Hitler, gets hold of me.

Dan Bowman's quote of the day regarding Assof and Yordan from Israel. They are attending the Fort and racing for the team. He asked me " So where are all these Israeli kids coming from? Uhhhh?? "Israel Dan!

Given'er!

I have been way to busy to update the site lately. I am also a little burned out on updating this thing and until I get my camera fixed, it is boring without pictures. I have been given'er with the training. I just finished base adn took 3 days off the bike. That actually worked me over. I tried to do some transition the first day I was back and it was not happening. THe legs just weren't there. I have been doing Yoga to help me structurally and to give me more core strength. It is funny how old ladies in the class are doing head stands and I can't even stay upright while using the wall.
I am getting excited to go to San Diego for spring trainign camp and to meet the rest of the team. They will be racing in Fresno. The race in not my style so I opted out and will be doing Redlands instead to prepare for Georgia. Nothing like getting thrown into the fire at Redlands. I should be going o.k. by then with a month of harder training under me.
With Jittery Joe's we didn't get a addle sponsor this season. I am officially sponsored by Specialized Saddles as of today. They are very nice and comfy, and super light, so I am excited. Thanks to Overend for making it happen. www.specialized.com. I will put up a link to just the saddles later. That is all for now. More excitement later.