got a little Christmas eve snow ride in

Met up with Jerry after the temps warmed up to about 10 degrees. that was up from about 6 earlier. Gators are perfect for keeping dry! Combined with the neoprene booties....ah dry warm feet.



Who wouldn't smile on a day like this!


Funny, all the pics i have are us riding and not pushing through the snow which there was plenty of!
This was the most fun section!

Was really good to get out and ride today! Merry Christmas!

Skinny tyres and washboards

Yes, been on the injured reserve lately. Rollers in the family room just suck! Out on the road bike yesterday was really nice. Just a bit of a nip with the wind chill on the ear that i had to cover it with the beanie. Still tender to the cold. Prob will be for a long time. Felt good just to get out! Think i'm finally on the mends. back is still really sore but have to get through it, have no choice!

Headed up griggs for some dirt road and on up to the daniels park overlook. Always enjoy the views from up here. Walk to the edge and imagine the possibilities of all the singletrack that could be built down there! Washboards on the way down make for a total body shakedown! It'll rattle anything out of you! Now i know where to find all the empty aluminum cans i could ever want as this road looks to be where all the Keystone light cans end up! Litter bugs are lame!

Home from Fargo Tho!

Boys came home with some 3rd place hardware and a few injuries. 3rd out of 12 teams wasn't bad, and up there the boys can be 13 in this league compared to our 12 yr olds and that one year can make a big difference in size!
All in all 3 concussions and one broken clavicle on one of the boys. The hit involving the clavicle was a shitty cheap hit and that kid should have been kicked out of the tournament! Instead picked up a one game suspension for it. Cody came home healthy and played great really stepped up for this tournament. The game for third place was a good one and beat the Moorhead team 4-3 in a very exciting game! Picked up a new helmet and am just anxious to get out and ride. My back/shoulder blade pretty much hurts all the time even ribs on left side and i landed on my right side. Gonna see how it goes for a couple days and if not better. Get an xray.

Headin to Fargo

Not that Fargo But close enough! Got some hockey to watch, codys tourney!

Wind chills look to be a bit brisk

What was good for the soul :

Yesterday, Had to be good for the soul today. Started out a beautiful day headed to monument (sat.) to hook up with Joe and some of the crew from the south. Spike, Jeremy and Jerry joined me in heading down.




Tracked along in the snowy trail from mt. herman rd. rolling along chatting and feeling pretty good. Joe is the mt. herman expert and our tour guide for the day.

Tough getting clipped in with the ice build up on the cleats but we managed to roll pretty well.


Came down a really fun descent and came out on a fire road and began the climb. Got to our high point for the morning and took a breather. Next thing i know we are heading out and that is about all i remember from here the next couple hours were a foggy memory. I started down the tight rutted trail and unclipped once then clipped back in and found myself in the gut of the rock garden picked my way through and saw Kristian to my right shooting pics then thats all i remember.
Next thing i know someone has my arm and was walking me up the trail and i heard someone on the phone telling our location. I had surmised i had crashed by the blood on my sleeves and the concerned look on everyone around me. I felt suddenly embarasssed and tried to convince them i was fine and we should just keep going. That wasn't gonna happen. I dont know who all did what but i thank all of you and thank jeremy and spike for getting the truck. I honestly dont remember talking to the paramedics but found the form i filled out denying transport. I do remember seeing the truck. I guess i hit pretty hard because looking at my helmet today it is dented in the front and cracked near the back and wore off about a 1/4 inch of the foam just above my ear. Or what was left of the ear. I dont even know who took these but they were on my camera. Spike im guessing. Not sure why im smiling. Probably just embarassed. I know my technical ability and usually ride within it. It was just a rock garden and i guess i hung my front wheel up and went over from what they tell me. Kristian may have a pic just before the crash.

Photo by Kristian



I know it was just a crash with a bad outcome but i feel very lucky that my helmet did its job and my friends were there and took good care of me. I cant thank you guys enough. Trip to the er was long and seemingly lasted forever. Thanks guys for staying with me. When the nurse told me she could stick her finger through the hole in my ear that mad me a little queezy! Final outcome: concussion, 19 stitches in all 10 behind the ear and 9 in the front she did a great jog putting it back together! And super sore back, shoulder blade, Everything on my right side. somehow my left pinky finger swollen like a mfer! Fatter than my middle finger at the moment. I was super bummed i missed cody's game but glad im here to see more it could have been worse. My back is really sore and does not feel right i'm going to see how it feels tomorrow and maybe get it xray'd if not somewhat better.

A whole week and finally turn the pedals

excuses are lame get out and ride! I have had too many lately. Today was a beautiful day, the sun was out and i finished my job early. Anticipated sloppy conditions but a nice surprise - everything was still frozen and the dirt that wasnt snow covered was dry.






Today was a day to clear the head a bit and i succeeded! If you do not own this girls book, or at least not read it. I would highly recommend it and its on sale - autographed. Now i just have to remember who i loaned mine to......If nothing else read her blog and be inspired!

Note to self

Check for all your gear before leaving to go ride!

no helmet = no ride

Back to the big green hill

The Amoeba lights up the shitter quite well!



Headed up the path to the trailhead chatting it up and legs are feeling a bit sluggish, they'll get going. Well decided to go up John OOOOO Hayden trail figuring it would be the driest I just hate this climb i like the alameda start a little better. Its just one in your face climb followed by a couple shorter ones. I am just being a nancy boy tonight as anything going up was going to be shit! I haven't felt this sluggish in a while. I'm blaming it on turkey day and being lazy lately as far as riding. Just working!! blah


So evil Jeremy took the reins tonight and i was happy to hand them off. If eric or spike would have been with us it would have been a little easier cause i would have just got rid of my lunch right away and got it over with. Then just try and hang on. But i eventually chipped away at his lead and got within spitting distance and saw how hard he was working and breathing like a madman. So i backed off and let him gain the summit on this late November warm evening on Green mountain ;) That was the only time my legs felt good all night. Looking at options and trying to avoid mud was our goal and ride as much as we could. Went down the spine and over to the fire road and began the climb and saw a distant aura that could only be the glow of an Amoeba light. It was Jake and he cought up in no time. After a brief vote - "all in favor of going up the fire road say I" Crickets chirping

That was that and we headed to sol terra. Another hike a bike for the ssers terry made a great effort and almost cleaned it.
Coming down the last section before the green mtn. trail I found a light pointed back up from where we came. I thought jeremy was trying to identify the native grasses and that he did! Mini yard sale and he was up in no time, little handlebar adjustment and we are off and running again. Back to IW for a cold IPA. Schnauzers band was playing at buff. rose in golden so i was talked into going over for a bit. Ended up quite a bit but was fun and they rocked the house!
Long story for just a short ride but with just one a week lately have to make it worthwhile. New rule: post ride activities should never last longer than the ride itself.


Big Thanksgiving tournament for the boys this weekend GO HAWKS!!

snow

Snowbound in BC! from Kevin Noel on Vimeo.

t.i.t.s. ride friday night at BC was a gamble we won i would say. There have been so many nights where you would think it to be crappy and turns out beautiful. This night was no different. Add some snow, about 16 cool people, throw in a little strannys and let the good times roll, or push as was the case for the majority of the ride. Till we broke off on lower sandy wash. Where the out and back to shinglemill was never harder. This was a pleasant surprise. Some dry trail! snowy spots and then back to the 6-8" powder on the north side. Which made for some sweet descending!! So we looped it 3 times just for fun.




Ahhh some dry trail!

friday the 13th!

Weekend of work allowed only a friday night ride but i will take it! Work is good and no complaints, except its cutting into my riding time!! Met up with mGe at the fort and hopped in for a ride up to bc. Sketchy ass drive with jeremy at the helm! We didnt really say it but i both think we could have easily bailed on the ride tonite. Content to discuss the ability to propel ones self forward, up hill and eventually downhill on a two wheeled wonder kown as a bicycle! Over a cold beer. But its BC we are talking about and this oasis that it is never dissapoints. The snow in conifer only picked up more and made visiblity almost zero. As we neared pine jct. what is this, still snowing. As we made our descent down 126 it started to lighten up. Once in pine, nothing! No snow, dry pavement now there was a small amount of dissapointment as this was shaping up to be an epic snow ride. As were gearing up the snow began just enough to wonder what layers would we need for tonight. Of course, in my bag no waterproof jacket. Only my trusty wool jersey and the heavy PI outer. Decided to go with both. 4 of us headed up 543 and hit the dirt lot and found e and jerry. Oh and least we not forget maddie! So the 7 of us head out on a snow ride.

Climbing sandy wash was the route and just as i thought overdressed! ditch the knee warmers that kept sliding down anyway. Downright hot now. But happy to be out riding at night with cool people! In fact very cool people. After a brief regrouping we get the last bit of climbing done by way of reversing Charlies, which was a first for me day or night.

Once we hit the top, just took in the quiet of the evening. E was challenging the local elk with a bit of bugeling of his own! We hit 543 by descending baldy, what a kick ass descent! I hit the real rooty section and just about endoed trying not to pinch flat. But rode it out. On the road we found some yellowish eyes and spotted a bobcat! Awesome! Then Jeremy caught a glimpse of what looked to be a mt lion. Near the same area spike and i saw what we were pretty dam sure was a mt lion. But it was out of reach, even of the amoeba lights.


This photo (above) kind of sums up the feeling at this point of the ride. We had just climbed morrison creek and were just sitting on the ground chillin out when we see a faint light. It appeared to be just over the ridge from where we were. Then it went away and a few moments it looked to be headed our way and a bit closer. Someone laughed it off as Jason. Being fri. the 13th and all. I then had those images in my head and was ready to roll. We didnt waste any time and Jerry volunteered to be in the back. It wasnt gonna be me! I am not the fastest descender nor the slowest. So i found myself in the middle alone ! Again more images of jason in that long coat toting his machete. All at the same time feeling like a kid on this sweet descent and stellar trail conditions. Back to the images, back to grinning and hanging on to the bars as my front tire disappeared in more than one corner. That is BC riding at its best! All too soon we are at the bottom and laughing again!

Maddie wasn't scared she just wonders why we are always stopping! A quick drink and she is ready to roll again. Great ride was had and conditions could not have been much better. Till the next time were back up there.......

thanks t.i.t.s. crew!

Why do you ride that singlespeed

borrowed this from a "local forum" :

I am running 36/22 (and bash) since about 2 years. I've also tried 34/22 - but that didn't allow me to keep up with some of my buddies riding tripples on long, slightly descending stretches. The 36 allows me to stay with them on most trails - but on dirt roads/double track and road I am still faling behind. So sometimes I'd want even a 38.

BUT: There is a balance to be reached. While a larger front ring provides for a longer gear it also increases the jump in gears when to switch from the small front to the large. See the table below.

22 32 34 36
34 0.65 0.94 1.00 1.06
30 0.73 1.07 1.13 1.20
26 0.85 1.23 1.31 1.38
23 0.96 1.39 1.48 1.57
20 1.10 1.60 1.70 1.80

Consider you crawl up a hill that gradually tops out. You are in the 22 front 34 rear. First you shift in the rear... t0 30, to 26, 23. Each shift makes the gear 13% - 15% longer. At 20 you shift the front. Now, if that front is a 32, the jump is a 45%. It it is a 34 it is 55%. And for a 36 it is 64% Does this matter. Maybe. Chances are you will want to shift back more gears in the back when you go to the large ring. (And vice versa)

I am riding a 36 for the top speed - but I am buying it by more frentic shifting whenever I switch between small and large in the front.

Just wanted you to be aware of the trade-off.




While i can appreciate the thought into all that, i just pedal and if i can't pedal anymore then i walk. If i can't keep up with my buddies then i just try a little harder. While there are some that i don't try too long to keep up because it is pointless. But that is what makes you stronger and keeps you younger. Kinda random but nevertheless riding a single gear bike is just riding. Oh and sometimes hiking!


Might get in a snow ride tomorrow night for the t.i.t.s. ride!!!!

more pint 2 pint

few more

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This is what most of Enchanted looked like

Those that skipped it missed out imho!

Then back out to apex trail where more snow was found. Came around a corner to find a horse coming up trail and stopped and she waved me through and after asking she said come on by, very polite and nice as well as all hikers i yielded for. After that passed Torkima changing a flat and passed some folks that never passed me, i guess they rode down apex. I rolled all the way to the bottom parking lot, only to remember Ithnu was gonna be at the upper lot below dakota. Cranked up there and got my mid ride hydration requirements ! Torkima rolled in and we headed up dakota and super conditions once past the very skiable stretch.


Ahh, the top glad box o rox is over. Sticking with the "planned route" dropped down the spine and hit the sol terra trail around to the front. Rolled this with Torkima and rich?






Hit Ironworks and ordered my pint!

Thanks FT for puttin this on and thank you to Ithnu and your better half for helping out with hydration duties! Terry you were all over the place and i cant wait to see the footage from the top of lookout with you filming while driving! Glad i didnt endo when i hit hat snow drift! Good times! for sure!!

Pint 2 Pint 09

My version went like this

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After the gathering and the pre-ride beverage or beverages. 1x1 said oh man you better have two bro- we did. Then all the sudden troops are rollin out so it was a down the hatch second pint and on the bike. Casual roll up the path and under the hwy. then the nice little climb up. I had never ridden that section before joining with the normal chimney gulch trail. Usually start at the landing zone. After the "pro field" broke away seriously pro riders in the pint 2 pint? Couple of em were on trainers near the start. So i cranked away and found myself riding solo. Wait-- Jason how'd you get past me?















Found Terry several times with the camera rollin! We decided i would try Enchanted and glad i did. Snowy at the top few hundred yds or so, i pretty much planned on a slog through the snow at this point and figured this would set me way back. But around the next corner moist trail and i mean perfect dirt. it definately was flowy! One more snow section and across the sketchy snow covered ladder. Then more perfect dirt. Funny I could only see one set of tracks in front of me that were fresh. Guess the pros opted for the gut of apex.

Attached Images

Some PBR art

There is a bit of white stuff hanging around, bit more on Green Mountain than i would have thought with the temps we've had the last couple days. t.i.t.s. ride tomorrow night is gonna be a mix of pavement and maybe venture on some dirt. I still have not ridden any singletrack at bclp. So maybe venture that way. Was supposed to go out to Fruita for a couple days of fun, but that is gonna be hard with work, so opting to stay around and join a "little ride" on sat. after cody's game. One road ride this week is not cutting it!

Quebec and Beans

Littleton Hawks make it to the championship game for the Quebec Qualifier tournament. Beat Aspen 4-1 Now the Avalanche send the team to Quebec for an 11 day tournament in feb. What a cool experience for the boys!!






The clear pics below borrowed from mGe as he and his daughter came and watched



BeanFeSSt 09' After the first game on sunday i hustled up to Shinglemill TH where i found the group getting ready to head out. I quickly got dressed and was on the bike chasing the leaders. Hopping out of a hot truck with shoes under the heater the whole way up is a good way to start a cold ride. So down the trail a ways the group decided to split. Can't blame those that braved the weather camping and swilling the night before, for opting to head back and eat! I busted hard to get up there so i was down for more riding. 5 others were in. So we headed up to redskin and up gashouse down baldy and back up shinglemill. I was pretty chilled after baldy descent so i cranked hard up shinglemill and managed to stay warm. Riding surreal today, not sure if it was the weather or the desire to get back and watch codys second game of the day. Whatever it was i was full of energy and having a great ride!


Forcast looks pretty bleak for the rest of the week. Really hoping to get in on the pint 2 pint if they have it. t.i.t.s. rides have been lacking so, letting it rest for a bit.