End of the Year Snowshoe

I finally received the motivation I needed to get out early this morning. Over a foot of light and fluffy new snow. New snow sure brings new life to the trails. I followed some of my old tracks (that were now covered in new snow) for the first little while.

Then the real work started. When I got off the trail on to another trail that I had not been on yet this year the snow was deep. I had forgotten how much easier it is to snowshoe on a trail that is already packed down somewhat. I really got my workout this morning.

The morning was calm and beautiful. I had a headlamp but I turned it off since the moon was so bright. The moon's rays reflected off the white snowy landscape and it was easy to see the trail and navigate the trees. So worth getting up early.

If you look closely you can see some of the lights from the valley below. See how bright the moon is?

I had one small issue this morning. When I took a drink out of my Camelbak the thermal sleeve popped off the bit valve. I watched it fall down into the snow, followed by a steady stream of water leaving the Camelbak bladder. Luckily I was able to find the bit valve and put it back on, which stopped the steady stream of water.

I usually fill up the Camelbak all the way for extra weight for a better workout. With the deep snow today I really didn't need the extra weight.

I made it to Lookout Point and snapped a quick picture of the valley.

Gave my dog some water.

And headed back. I wanted to go longer this morning, but my dog was tired because of the deeper snow. I turned to climb another hill and she just sat and waited. That is when I realized it was time to call it a morning.

I won't lie, I sure wish I could have had a snowboard this morning and been somewhere where fresh tracks would have been possible. The snow was amazing.

Great start to New Year's Eve. Now I won't feel so bad eating more treats tonight.

Needing Motivation

I am not sure what my problem is but I have a hard time getting motivated to get up early during the Christmas/New Year's Holidays in the winter. Here are a couple of reasons why.

1. Cold inside.
2. Colder outside.
3. Dark.
4. Warm inside my bed.
5. Relatives staying in our home
6. Etc.

This morning I had full intention to get an early morning snow shoe in. When the alarm went off, I didn't even hit the sacred snooze. I reset the alarm for 2 hours later. 2 hours later, got up shoveled my driveway of snow and went to work.

I didn't think the relatives wanted to hear the trainer/television combo that early in the morning either.

I think this is why December is always a hard time for me to workout. There are so many family things going on it is even hard to workout at night.

I am not complaining, I love December and all the holiday stuff it brings.

I just need to get moving again.

Too many, frosted sugar cookies, fudge, caramel, pies of every type, etc.

Time to set the 2010 goals.

Desert Dreaming

You know it is this time of year when I start to dream of hitting some nice desert trails. Could be because of the cold snow that is around. I really enjoy different snow activities, but they just don't compare to riding a bike.

Remember a couple weeks back when I attended "Fall Moab?" Horsethief was one of the better trails I have ridden.

Check out this cool video on Yeti's website. I wondered if someone could clear that first section of the Horsethief trail. I wonder no more.




Want to see more? Tired of snow?

Here is a good clip from Yeti on the Slickrock trail.



Remember when I rode the "Whole Enclilada?"

Here is a video of Hazard County. I agree, some of the best sections of trail combined together.

First Snowshoe

Today I took my Mother-in-law snowshoeing with me. She was really excited to try out her new snow shoes. ($20.00 discount/close out buy off LL Bean)

I let her use my poles since the are telescoping poles so that we could adjust to them to her height. I pulled out my old skiing poles. I had to go get them from the basement storage out of the ski bag. I am not sure the last time they have been used since I have not skied in quite a while. Ever since I started snow boarding back in high school I have never gone back to skis.

Anyway.

I took her up the draw that I found on Christmas Eve.

She really enjoyed it. Here she is in the draw as we were hiking up. That is not a bunch of trees/bushes in the middle of the photo. It actually is my Mother-in-law decked out in all her "camo" gear.

It was nice and clear, but it was really chilly 8F. In the shade I imagine it was closer to 0F. I took my lighter weight gloves, since a couple says ago I was burning up I was so warm. Not today. My hands were cold. Big difference from 22F to 8F, although it may not seem like it.

Good times, and once again good to get outside so close to home.

Christmas Eve Snow Shoe

It snowed all morning at our house on Christmas Eve. It wasn't a whole lot of snow, but enough.

Two minutes from my house I was on the trail. Here is a new trail I have found. I can't wait to see what this gully looks like in the summertime. It could be a really good bike trail with some work.

Merry Christmas.

It Can Only Get Better

December 21 the shortest day of the year. No more shrinking days. The days can only get longer from here. Soon we will have daylight in the early morning hours and I won't have to drive home from work in the dark.

On another note I tried to make the www.racerscycleservice.com 10am ride this past Saturday. I ended up playing Hot Wheels with the kids and making Christmas Cookies instead. We had a good time.

I did get out for an hour later in the day. I am very lucky that I can be riding down country roads riding 1-2 minutes from my front door.

Looks like a good snow storm tomorrow so I hope to be snow shoeing the rest of the week.

Early AM Snowshoe

Usually I take the month of December off from activities. Seems like there is always too much going on with Christmas and such. Well the real reason is most of the time I am kind of burnt out from the years activities and I need a rest. This year I am trying to stay active so that when the workouts get harder in January and February, I am hoping they will not hurt as much.

I woke up early and met Jesse for some early morning snowshoeing. I hurried and put on my gear, ate a banana and orange juice and headed out driving to Jesse's. I still needed some extra energy so I ate some Swedish fish along the way.

We started snowshoeing at a little before 5am. Yes I know that is early but it sure feels good to do something active before going to work. And you don't have to miss any family time, because nobody is awake.

At first the snow was hard and crusty. Then as we turned off the Pipeline Trail in Payson Canyon into a gully/horse trail the snow got softer and deeper. We kept the pace high and soon our conversation dwindled as we were both trying to hang on to the pace we had set. We traded pulls and soon enough made it to the top.

Jesse was kind enough to let me borrow a headlamp to use. It worked great. It sure felt good as we rounded the corner at the top of the "teardrop" and started to go downhill.

We finished at 6:30am and it was still dark.

The view out into the valley was amazing with all the lights from the houses glowing in the distance. Too bad I didn't take any pictures.

Motley Crew

Today's lunch ride was great. Good, nice, sunny weather. At first it was a little chilly, but I was dressed for it. In fact a little too dressed for it. I heated up way too fast.

Can you see the diversity of the bicycles if you look close?



Yep, you are right. Two road bikes (Rick and Miles), one cross single speed bike (Dan), and one 5"-6" travel mountain bike (Justin), and me on my road bike.

All I could think of was how I am sure people looking at us thought that Justin on his mountain bike was the toughest rider ever hanging with guys on road bikes.

As always, knowledge is key. Next time I will know where the Omniture Sprint starts and ends. If I wouldn't have wasted my legs on my own little spring that I caused climbing that hill in the neighborhood, I maybe could have won the sprint.

It has been a long time since I have really ridden a road bike. They are sure fast, and it seems that you use different muscles in your legs, like the muscles around your shins.

Usually I take the month of December off from riding. Not this year, maybe it will make me faster, or slower. Only time will tell.

Niner Air 9 Carbon

(Photo Credit http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/niner-reveal-pricing-for-air-9-carbon-hardtail-24353)

Niner recently has made one of the most beautiful bikes around. The Air 9 Carbon. Not to mention it is made out of Carbon and extremely light. In a world that seems to have been ruled by Carbon Gary Fisher 29ers, the Air 9 Carbon bike is a very nice addition.

I also like the fact that you can either set it up single or geared. Maybe one day I will get the chance to ride this fine machine and see what it can actually do.

I really think I have the skill set and riding ability to make this bike fly. I will show you what I mean.

First of all let us be clear that this bike is not intended for novice or beginner riders. Anyone looking to ride this bike (or pony up the cash for it) needs to have gained some experience out on the trail.

Although having trials riding skills like Hans Rey is not necessary it might help. You see The Air 9 Carbon is a bike that not only looks good, it defies gravity.

Look at the rear wheel for heaven's sake!

(Photo Credit http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/niner-reveal-pricing-for-air-9-carbon-hardtail-24353)

It is suspended about 4"-5" in the air.

Now like I said, some trials riding skills will be necessary. How else will you be able to ride a nose wheelie at all times on this bike.

Good news is that you will no longer need to squeeze the front brake to nose wheelie. The Air 9 Carbon automatically puts you in that position.

I know you are wondering, if the rear wheel is always in a nose wheelie position, how will I start moving?

Niner has borrowed some of the technology used on the skateboards that Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) used in Back to the Future 2. All you have to do is pedal the bike like normal and the "hover" technology will propel you along the way. Niner has made some improvements on the surfaces in which the "hover" technology will work.

If you still are on the fence about buying the Air 9 Carbon think of the following.

1. Higher Bottom Bracket Clearance (in fact you will never hit anything thanks to the "hover" technology
2. Your rear tire will never wear out
3. In fact you could run a slick tire to save weight and still have incredible traction.
4. "Hover" technology will make your Air Nine Carbon feel like a full suspension even if it is a single speed

Riding will never be the same on the Air 9 Carbon. Get yours on order now at Racers Cycle Service.

(This post is entirely for fun and humor. No Niner bikes were harmed or tested in this post)

Ride Conditions

If you are planning on driving down to Moab or Fruita thinking you will get away from the snow and find some good winter riding, think again.

Utah and Colorado are covered in snow. And down in the Moab and Fruita area the snow isn't just a little skiff either. The plants are covered and it looks like a soft white veil of snow hiding everything underneath it.

Well maybe you could go down if you are on snow shoes or a snowmobile.

Winter is upon us and one of the most beautiful sights is the snow covered Pine Trees in Vail, CO below.

So whatever your fancy for winter activities, get out and get some.

I hope to get out and do some snowshoeing and snowboarding this winter.

The snow can't last forever.

(and I am thankful it can't)

Hot Wheels

My kids really like to play with Hot Wheels cars.

In fact, I also enjoy playing with Hot Wheels cars. Yes, even today.

I used to take my favorite cars and put them underneath my pillow when going to sleep. Put them in my pockets, backpack, etc. I since have outgrown that habit, but my kids now do the same. I didn't teach or tell them to stash their cars in their bed, but they do.

I remember running the orange tracks down the stairs to get enough speed on the cars so they could make it through the loop the loop or whatever obstacles along the track.

Speaking of loop the loops.

Have you seen this?

Last MTB Ride of 2009

As many of you may be aware, Old Man Winter is upon us. I don't think I can see more than a couple hundred feet with the snow falling and blowing around. And to make matter worse it is only 16F outside. Winter is here so time to switch gears.

We did enjoy some wonderful Fall riding this year. Lunch rides definitely were the place to be this Fall. Plenty of times we had 12-15 guys riding. I can't think of a better way to spend you lunch time.

Here is a very poor video of last week's possible year ending ride. This is part of the climb on Dragon's Back.

Dragon's Back Climb from South County Ciclista on Vimeo.

No what I am I going to do for lunch?

Beating The Storm

My neighbor just picked up a new road bike. Our schedules have not been able to meet up to ride. Mostly because it gets dark before I get home from work now. But today was the day.

It sure seemed nice and sunny from our driveways. It was cold and windy during the ride. I forgot how fast road bikes are, and I think the last time I was on mine was in July. It has been a great fall mtb season.

We did a quick frozen 45 minutes and just beat the snow storm. It was a nice little lunch road ride.

When I got home and took of my jacket, my three year old made a comment about my jersey.

"Daddy, that's scary."

One More Thing To Watch Out For

ksl.com - Bicyclist loses court battle in Logan

Broken Spoke

I was so excited to finally get out for the "Lunch Ride" today. I have been very busy with work and other things that I have missed the rides.

It has been so busy I even have not written on the blog or even checked my friend's blogs.

But today I finally got out. It was great to be there with I believe 12 others (rickyshub.blogspot.com, atomicmiles.com, shammytime.blogspot.com, ride29er.blogspot.com, bradkeyes.wordpress.com, kennysphoto.com, cowboycramer.blogspot.com, outonmybike.blogspot.com, and others).

Then as I was pumping up my tire, I saw the broken spoke. I contemplated not riding, but decided to ride very conservatively. In fact while not climbing I rode off the back. It was quite a sight to see everyone riding down Dragon's Back in front of me. It was a colorful ribbon of jerseys against the dead backdrop of trees and brush on the serpentine of trail.

Good to get out but I didn't like riding so gingerly, worried about my wheel. It is more fun to ride fast.

Well my wheel will be at Racer's tomorrow so single speed it is.