Daveconfessions of a manic cyclisttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5Community Server2005-11-14T16:29:00ZThe revolution has cometag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33572008-01-30T18:33:00Z<P>...and without further ado, you'll find it here: <A href="http://2-epic.com/">http://2-epic.com/</A>. This is where Lynda and I will be sharing our journeys, ramblings, thoughts, stumblings...like all sites it's a work in progress. We'll fill it out in time.</P>
<P>In the words of EdE, crackheads unite!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3357" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave(R)evolutiontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33552008-01-24T13:15:00Z<P>Since 2001 there's this core group of guys I've been loosely training and racing with. We've bundled our interests together, shared the enthusiasm, and made a <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/">team</A> of it. The name has changed over the years - Gojus, 505 Trek, HFX - but the core group has been the constant theme. That core group is undergoing major change once again, and will be known as <A href="http://www.teamdirectoryplus.com/">http://www.teamdirectoryplus.com/</A>. </P>
<P>As this year of the pig comes to a close (look out campers - the Chinese calendar says YOTP goes till Feb 6 on our calendar!) there is no shortage of change. For one, Team HealthFX has come to it's end. The HFX years of the core group have by far been the best. Special thanks to <A href="http://www.healthmyths.net/blog/">Shane</A> and <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/ken/about.aspx">Ken</A> for your support and guidance. Your efforts have been appreciated throughout and took the team to new heights.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Moab07/photo#5122090328467023570"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RxVSBAe9ptI/AAAAAAAACJg/FmcHSlGBcEM/s400/dh-lw.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Another big change: Lynda and I will not be part of the new team. We are riding for Desert Cyclery of St. George this year, far removed from the gang in Durango. We'll be moving our inspirations & aspirations elsewhere...still working on the overhaul but we are full of ideas ;) </P>
<P>You can expect plenty from this gal:</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/08Randoms/photo?authkey=wdbYXs46TX4#5159018909079469666"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/R5iEXTk0fmI/AAAAAAAADLE/oIebETEGtac/s400/100_1684.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>And this guy</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/08Randoms/photo?authkey=wdbYXs46TX4#5159019145302670962"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R5iElDk0fnI/AAAAAAAADLM/gw-a7jN0u5c/s400/glr_finish_dave.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Going on about</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106888413298151890"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9P9FYx0dI/AAAAAAAABmY/RbpJRaNfVoI/s400/P9020110.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>and</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746499590200594"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFQ0fgnRI/AAAAAAAACXo/mDJE_P-V53I/s400/PB030038.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Some of this</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5021350805304696898"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Ra9r9ALO4EI/AAAAAAAAAYA/Y7pb-kVbnxI/s400/100_1491.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>and most definitely a lot more of this</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5139366131716711538"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R1KyRGul5HI/AAAAAAAACrk/YaW0iZjLyM0/s400/QA_adapted.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>But probably not a lot of chatter about multiple gears. At least not more than one at a time ;)</P>
<P>OK, back to my revolution planning and scheming.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3355" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTogwoteetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33512008-01-18T23:55:00Z<P>Tomorrow is the start of a race of a different ilk: the <A href="http://www.togwoteewinterclassic.blogspot.com/">Togwotee Winter Classic</A>. This is a bike race in the mountains of Wyoming. In January. </P>
<P>Dave Byers has the GPX up on the race site. Here's what I get for the profile in TopoFusion. 107 miles and ~15k vert for the hundy!!! Have I mentioned this race takes place on snow? And they've been getting plenty.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/08Randoms/photo?authkey=wdbYXs46TX4#5156968925509135138"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R5E76jqzKyI/AAAAAAAADJg/16V7WW93PwE/s400/togwatee%20profile.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>All I can say is wow. Anyone that starts this race I want to buy a beer. Anyone that finishes get's an all you can drink hot chocolate pass. It's an intimidating concept and route. You'd really have to like snow. </P>
<P>Of course, this would be a mere snack for <A href="http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/">Jill</A> or <A href="http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/">MC</A>...wonder why they aren't there?</P>
<P>I look forward to seeing how this one plays out. Good luck and be safe out there snowbikers!</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3351" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCamp Lynda done, over and outtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33372008-01-15T03:06:00Z<P>It sure was nice to have ~25 folks join us for a long weekend of training. We got to show off some of the lesser known great rides in the area along with some of the more popular ones. </P>
<P>Today was the finale. The route had optional sections - one to Gooseberry mesa for a bit of technical riding, and the other a 25 mile lap around the Jem/Goulds/Hurricane Rim loop singletrack. It was all linked via a main 45 mile loop. As it turned out the route was hard enough nobody did it all. I like that ;)</P>
<P>The evening before had us at a Chinese buffet, followed by an impromptu trip to the Iceberg - a shake shop. Meredith had everyone excited about the magical shakes of this place...I learned that Utah has the highest ice cream consumption per capita in the nation. No surprise there, gotta keep things in balance.</P>
<P>I rode gears today. Let me tell ya, it was sweet. Being able to choose a cadence today was golden and I wouldn't have wanted to be on a SS. The Fuel is back in favor, thanks to Dave Nice's cool hangar straightening trick. Turns out my PT axle is threaded the same as a derailur hangar bolt, just thread it in, lock in place with the skewer, and wala you've got a straightening tool - trailside friendly too.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155526941779110418"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wccDqzKhI/AAAAAAAADF8/6ld1PLnJzrM/s400/P1130002-1.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Early riding with Bart, Matt and Lynda.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155526963253946914"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wcdTqzKiI/AAAAAAAADGE/6dmjhZr33SQ/s400/P1140004.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155526980433816114"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wceTqzKjI/AAAAAAAADGM/GR8rusjEKvA/s400/P1140007.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Did I mention the scenery today? Views of Zion all day.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155527040563358306"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wchzqzKmI/AAAAAAAADGk/6G44P5S3ASM/s400/P1140015.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Edge of the known world.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155527143642573474"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wcnzqzKqI/AAAAAAAADHE/cFQ8POVVJfY/s400/P1140021.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Marshal modeling his big ride food of choice.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5155527220951984866"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4wcsTqzKuI/AAAAAAAADHo/t7pLX-9r0nI/s400/P1140026.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>So it's done. Impressions post event...</P>
<P>- Dave Nice riding the crap out of SW Utah on a fixed gear for 3 days...with big smiles and loving it all the while. Word. Day 3 we rolled up on him while he was changing a flat acquired on the road thanks to some glass. First thing out of his mouth: "Anybody want a shot of whiskey?" Ummmm....you know this is Utah, right Dave? LOL...</P>
<P>- Funniest moment had to be day 2. At the end of the Barrel roll trail there were maybe 20 riders eating and chatting when Adam Lisonbee comes in hot, locks up his back wheel in what would have been an impressive powerslide only to have his stansed wheel burp its load and roll off the rim. Thanks Adam!</P>
<P>- There are some strong riders in N. Utah and it was darn cool to meet and ride with y'all.</P>
<P>- Lynda's idea for the camp was brilliant. Self-supported, GPSed routes meant anyone could come, do the route on their own terms and timeline, and still enjoy the cameraderie. It worked a charm, riders of a wide range of abilities came and made the most of it. </P>
<P>Stats? Today turned out to be 67 miles in 5:25 and about 4000 kj. Thats some pizza I gotta get eaten.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3337" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCamp Lynda day 1 in the bookstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33292008-01-12T23:36:00Z<P>A great group of riders showed for the first annual Camp Lynda. Great conditions, sunny skies, good times were on the menu. Not everyone rode the exact same route, but my stats were</P>
<P>56 miles<BR>6319' vert<BR>4:52 ride time<BR>338 TSS (yikes!)</P>
<P>You've had enough of my words lately, here's some pics.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154738866819901762"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lPsDqzKUI/AAAAAAAADC4/y4bNZQL_HWo/s400/P1120009.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737737243502722"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOqTqzKII/AAAAAAAADBU/RYatkAr0A2k/s400/P1120011.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737758718339218"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOrjqzKJI/AAAAAAAADBc/-7yFzF1Ld3M/s400/P1120013.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737784488143010"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOtDqzKKI/AAAAAAAADBk/1iX-meoGarE/s400/P1120015.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737827437816002"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOvjqzKMI/AAAAAAAADB4/Wrcrql4B9xo/s400/P1120021.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737853207619810"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOxDqzKOI/AAAAAAAADCI/oWmpaeS95oQ/s400/P1120026.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737870387489010"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lOyDqzKPI/AAAAAAAADCQ/OAOyqHlXbJc/s400/P1120027.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737909042194706"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lO0TqzKRI/AAAAAAAADCg/kq2GQxcLw2Q/s400/P1120029.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5154737951991867698"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R4lO2zqzKTI/AAAAAAAADCw/csrkq6Acmj0/s400/P1120033.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>1st day done, 2 more to go. Eat well campers, tomorrow has plenty of challenges awaiting.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3329" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveRecursive bootstrapping to formtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33262008-01-11T14:00:00Z<P>Extreme geek alert!</P>
<P>More than I can recall there have been suggestions that I just toss the gears away once and forall. Finit. Single is simple. Liberating. But...it ain't gonna happen. Here's why.</P>
<P>Like all of us spokeheads, I often learn via the sensations that come with training on a bike. The difference between pedaling a road bike and a mountain bike are actually quite minor...and that's about all I know - until the SS obsession struck. I'm in the midst of a big tasty 2 wheeled single geared education.</P>
<P>At first, the SS never got old. I'd just grab it every time I rode aside from the long weekend exploratories. There came a point when it lost it's charm tho. Something was missing. I craved putting down steady power and that is plain ol impossible on a SS. </P>
<P>In another timeframe I was pretty smoked. Something like 1300 SS TSS inside of a week had me not too excited to do anything on a SS or geary for a bit - yet that is a load that isn't that big (by my standards) on a geared bike. This told me that TSS doesn't track well for SS - at least not nearly as well as for geared riding.</P>
<P>So what's all the rambling about? Two major systems we work when cycling are neuromuscular and metabolic. The latter is all about efficient fuel delivery to working muscles. Due to the high force demands of SS riding and the highly erratic nature of force applications, SS riding is disproportionally stressful to the neuromuscular side. The frequents "rest" periods - when being spun out or coasting - makes it much easier on the metabolic side. The catch here is that TSS was modeled after metabolic strain, not neuromuscular strain. So monitoring EweTSS metrics (PMC stuff in WKO+) while awesome for geared riding is somewhat limited for SS riding. I can have positive TSB and still feel smoked!</P>
<P>In retrospect this is no surprise. The focus of my training the past few years has been the long stuff - increasingly long. Metabolic fitness has been goal #1. Trying to mix SS with my current physiology is a challenge for sure.</P>
<P>Bootstrapping is something you prolly do every day: booting your computer. Starting a process which in turn fires up another process. Recursion is doing something repeatedly...this is the basics of how my training is evolving. The SS is the best neuromuscular training for cycling that I have ever encountered - far better! Geared riding is super for steady efforts. For the past month I've been doing blocks of SS riding, followed by blocks of geared riding. Hit yourself at the musular level, then hit at the fuel delivery side, rinse, repeat.</P>
<P>It's working. My method for testing FT is the average power for 3x20 min intervals. Tuesday's session put power 25 W higher than what I thought FT was at...that is somewhat shocking. It's also something I would have no clue about without the benefit of my power meter.</P>
<P>I haven't been on the SS in awhile - since last week anyway. It looks like there is always going to remain a spot in my garage for gears. For now tho it's time to diss them gears and dance on those pedals in Camp Lynda.</P>
<P>Speaking of which...here's the requisite picture for those that found the above waaay too tech/longwinded/boring/understimulating. Camp Lynda hostess or trail bandit? Could be a tough call on Tuesday morning ;)</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5152151041649879090"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R4AeEzqzKDI/AAAAAAAAC9I/cUXuiCzbALM/s400/P1010004.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3326" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGears: a love/hate relationshiptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33202008-01-10T15:04:00Z<P>So there I am yesterday, cruising along and feeling the gear love all the way. Testing out the conditions for Camp Lynda day 1 things start to get a bit mucky. Then it happened, that crunchy grinding sound every geary fears. I stop, look at my rear derailleur, cuss, then laugh and pull out the camera. Oh the irony.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5153857616840173666"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R4YuMjqzKGI/AAAAAAAAC_0/wmYSbpERN-8/s400/P1090001.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>25 or 30 miles from home this was not a pretty sight. No phone, long walk. Or make it a SS? It took some field service that'd make the boyz at Desert Cyclery cringe, but I got her running again.</P>
<P>In any case, I was so unimpressed with them gears at this point. Is this how it all begins? The unavoidable fall into retro-grouchiness? Not quite yet, but if I had to walk it'd be all over.</P>
<P>How about a roll call for Camp Lynda? Me first - I'll be there ;) What to ride is the question. SS days 1 and 2, gears day 3 is the likely call. Small gears like 32.18 on the 26er may get the nod, we'll see. For sure on day 1. Day 2 may see the 17. If I was gonna SS day 3 I'd prolly go with the 16 and plan on doing a bit of walking on the steep Smithsonian climb. It's all downhill except that climb ;)</P>
<P>The weather forecast last time I looked is mid 50s and sunny for the extended weekend. Can you handle that?</P>
<P>Here's a descent we'll hit day 1. This is about as close as we'll get to snow. Snow is pretty when miles away. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/CampLynda/photo#5153857638315010162"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R4YuNzqzKHI/AAAAAAAAC_8/xjtkk9LQlbU/s400/P1090003.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>LOL I just realized this is my first post of '08. A fitting title to frame the season methinks. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3320" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTraining camp #1tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33072007-12-27T23:53:00Z<P>Day 1 of 08's first training camp: <A href="http://www.ride424.com/yuri/">Yuri</A> cruising the secret singletrack. St George will never become the MTB destination that Moab is cause the real gems are hidden from view. Unmapped, unpublished. Local knowledge required. That's where I come in. LOL there was still some headscratching as the real local guide is in Scotland, but we still got'r done. A Zen experience you could say.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/08TrainingCamp/photo#5148805116097406258"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R3Q6-TqzJTI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/H4v129YbOso/s400/PC270004.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Yuri is sporting a new <A href="http://www.marinbikes.com/2008/us/bikes/specs_mount_vision_pro.php">Marin 5" travel XC ready rig with the new XTR</A>. Sweeeeeet bike, it's like what everyone rides out here minus 10 pounds.</P>
<P>3 more days. Trails are drying out nicely and a warming trend is coming. Give a holler if you feel the need to join in the fun. </P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3307" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSomething old, something newtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:33052007-12-27T03:00:00Z<P>Here's a view I never tire of.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5148436526299030770"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R3LrvjqzJPI/AAAAAAAACyg/BfZvrb79YBU/s400/PC250010.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Christmas morning the family was fast asleep so I snuck out for a joyride in familiar terrain. Not having been here for nearly 2 years, it was waaay better than expected. On the SS, it was so new and fresh even though the trails are so familiar. After the ride it just didn't matter how the rest of the day went, it was already a success. But it got so much better.</P>
<P>So that's about it for the obligatory cycling stuff. The real Christmas gem this year came from Dixie. Remember Dixie, the gal who announced her wedding a few days before the Moab 24 hour race? Yes, that Dixie. Really, how many Dixies could there be anyway?</P>
<P>To make a long and personal story short, she put together a set of 8 stories about our childhood together, complete with pictures and all wrapped in a handmade leather booklet. The stories are great, and what's even better I don't recall most of the details but she tells it like it was yesterday. Things like "With you I learned that if you skip school enough the truant officer will come" and "if you toss a match on a mattress the house will burn down" jump right off the page. And then there was the trick or treating session she just had to be part of, but unbeknownst to her I had mapped out the entire town and we went waaaay beyond the borders of our neighborhood and didn't stop until we had mountains of candy. </P>
<P>And all this time I'd been thinking my manic nature on the bike came on recently. She taught me I've had it all along. Cycling isn't the constant, manic is... </P>
<P>Here's the lucky guy. Boyd, I hope you understand what a great gal you've got. All you gotta do is be her best friend. Get that right and the rest is easy.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5148493056658580738"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R3MfKDqzJQI/AAAAAAAACzk/Q7Urexo4DAs/s400/PC250012.JPG" border=0></A>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3305" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe path to enlightenment: manic or nibbling away?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32802007-12-14T13:46:00Z<P>Ah, holiday time. I always get a bit retrospective this time of year...</P>
<P>Using all sorts of resources I've been trying to piece together that optimal picture of the perfect training and racing year. No matter how many studies, theories, or blogs I read, it always comes back to my own training data. There just isn't anything more convincing, powerful, enlightening that my own store of power file data over 3 years of ultra endurance training and racing.</P>
<P>Hopefully I can say CTL without causing too much forehead wrinkling amongst y'all (got that, Rick?). CTL = chronic training load, an analytical measure based on the daily TSS (training stress scores) calculated from power meter data. I've actually got 7 years of the stuff, but the last 3 have been the enduro focus. Here's how they've progressed. Click for the big'n.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5143824345603449954"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R2KI_TqzJGI/AAAAAAAACtc/d1jC9leaWAg/s400/Dave%27s%20CTL%2005%20to%2007.jpg" border=0></A> </A>
<P>It's hard to make sense of this picture for a few reasons, but there are some things that jump right out. Such as:</P>
<UL>
<LI>a CTL of 120-130 seems to be the comfy zone for racing and training.
<LI>coupled with power meter data I know that the fastest power gains occurred with the slowest CTL ramp rate - early '05
<LI>in the fall of '06 I apparently developed the ability to dig enormous holes from a training stress standpoint
<LI>the only 2 major cycling injuries in this lifetime have both come on the heels of PB CTL peaks, both in terms of absolute volume and ramp rates.</LI></UL>
<P>The observations above that are most affecting my thoughts for '08 are the 2nd and 4th...</P>
<P>There's been some talk on wattage about what sort of programs lead to better power gains - and would you know it? The Cog presented a lot of data showing similar stuff as above for his wife who is a national champ pursuitist. I've come to realize I have the ability to do massive training and get away with it most of the time (except when I don't) but that doesn't lead to power gains per se...it does lead to enormous endurance. It was perfect for Grand Loop. For anything shorter and more technical though, not the optimal plan by any standard. So this year the plan is to "nibble away" and avoid huge training stress spikes for the most part, and spend more time doing quality work. That pic above is proof positive of a massive 3 year base that is pretty much unshakable - no need for more.</P>
<P>The corollary to the above point is what I refer to as "headroom." You only have so much capacity for training adaptation, and if your CTL is too high there just isn't any room to do the quality work that increases power and improve from it. To put the above values in perspective, it's been estimated that Le Tour cyclists hit a CTL in the 150s by the end of the race. My peak this year was 173. That's friggin manic!</P>
<P>That 4th point...yep, no question, long deep builds are expensive. They are now so alluring because I can get stronger as they progress, seemingly adapting just fine. At some point the bottom drops out - but not until I rest. I never know during the build how much is too much cause the body (or ma head?) says "more please." </P>
<P>What does it all mean? Slower ramp rates (or even flat ramp rates) for '08. More quality. More SS. More power. More fun. Save the big manic builds for the end of the season - which in StG means June and Nov. It's all coming together.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3280" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGoat trail exorcised!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32542007-12-03T19:34:00Z<P>If you've done any amount of technical mountain biking you've experienced the goat trail. No, not that winding skinny high mountain trail that heads up to where the air is rare. Those trails are for goats, yes... but I'm talking about the trail that *gets* your goat. You know, the one that forces you to push beyond some mental or physical barrier or subject you to the dreaded walk of shame. Or worse.</P>
<P>There's this short loop near StG that has provided more than enough challenge since first putting tread to it. LW was telling me about a trail that was smooth and buff so I had to check it out. When I got there...geez I thought, this is no place like home. Smooth in spots, sure - for 20 feet. Other than that, plenty of rocky terrain and a few spots that required some scouting to find rideable lines (well for me anyway).</P>
<P>I'm not a great technical rider. Too much time with a NORBA license and not enough time with an EPIC license. I'm working on it...and add to that the hesitancy that comes from not being able to clip out on demand cause of the July injury, and well I'm a trainwreck when it gets tech these days. I'm far from Ed's consumate bike handling abilities...</P>
<P>This trail has been my benchmark for a few months now, and it has had a strangehold on my goat for the duration. Sept: spd crash (which I've begun to call "tipovers", an important semantic difference), left side a mess and a quarter sized hematoma - volcanic rock is sharp. Then the next round: right in the same spot I get a flat. Rythm gone, walking ensues. And so it went. I hadn't cleaned this trail yet as of 2 days ago.</P>
<P>Then comes the magic. Yesterday, for the first time since July 6, I clipped out intinctively, unplanned, with that left foot. Pain free. Unfettered. Confidence soars. With 3.5 hours and 5k' already done, I hit that goat trail up for a rematch. Just as we got to "the spot", LWs chain comes off both the front and rear rings. What is it with this trail? Well, I just said I had a score to settle and kept on going. Maybe it was the confidence of a working foot, the 3.5 hour warmup, the damp ground...but the trail seemed *easy*. Those tech pitches just cruised under my wheels like butter. There was hooting like those folks I used to guide down rivers in another life...embarrasing but no regrets :)</P>
<P>Yesterday's goat trail becomes today's best friend, just like that, and on the 32.17 no less.</P>
<P>Wanna ride it? It'll be on the menu at camp Lynda, only I don't think she's gonna make you do that forever Blakes climb beforehand. But I gotta warn you: this trail is a lot like chocolate chip cookies. one is never enough.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3254" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSS adaptations in QAtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32502007-12-02T13:26:00Z<P>A few weeks back I posted a this QA scatter plot. I'd been riding the SS about 2-3 weeks at this point.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5132808647974276018"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RztmRUKPS7I/AAAAAAAACi0/HMZfu8P1Nc0/s400/single%20speed%20quadrant%20analysys.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Here's the latest. Both rides were on the 2:1. The "Blakes" data is from a ~ 2500' climb with sustained grades well over 10% while the other ride was just rippin around faster singletrack with a grin.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5139366131716711538"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R1KyRGul5HI/AAAAAAAACrk/YaW0iZjLyM0/s400/QA_adapted.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>See any differences? The legs are changing. Here's what I see in QA:</P>
<P>- the left "edge" of the data points in the first file is at a cadence of about 50 while it's upper 30's in the second.<BR>- there are no cadence/force "holes" in the data.<BR>- power is up despite no structured training. Free power? Yea baby!<BR>- somewhat hidden in the second file...but there are several points popping up above the max AEPF/CPV line established by the standing start testing - this means max force at low cadence is increasing.</P>
<P>Note to Ed: see how the points on that left edge start to go straight up? That's where it's getting really tough to maintain that minimal cadence and I'll go as hard as I have to to maintain it. To hold a given power, force has to rise rapidly at low cadences, and that's the physics part I was tallking about in the comments. It's power that gets us up a hill, not force. Dangit.</P>
<P>I promise at some point there will be non-technical backway meanderings again...there would be today if I'd have had a camera yesterday!!! Big rain event and mountain snowfall, flash floods rising 30 feet over bridges in slot canyons...just picture that in the most scenic spot on earth and you'd have the picture :)</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3250" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSS training plantag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32402007-11-30T20:25:00Z<P>This SS thing is darn fun and it's tough to contain my excitement for it. Not that I'm trying ;) I promised I'd share my thoughts on actually training to be a better SS rider and that's the meat of this post...but some other interesting & related things are worthy of mention first.</P>
<P>It's taken about a month to adapt to the SS. I have limited gearing options (too lazy to buy more?) which are 32x (18/17/16). For a long time I futzed around on the 18. First time on the 16 I thought "holy crap this is hard." Last weekend I did (among other things) a 25 mile singetrack loop twice on the SS, first lap on the 18, then a lap with the 16 and gave it some gas (not that there was any choice!). To my huge surprise, I loved it on the 16 - and biggest shock to me - that was the fastest I'd ever done that loop and I've hit it hard on gears before.</P>
<P>Must be a fluke. As part of the new training plan I did 1.5 hour climb yesterday on the 32.16 - a climb I recently got spanked on in the 18. Pure folly, right? Well, I didn't think I was drilling it but another PR fell by the wayside.</P>
<P>Yet another observation: I don't seem to get tired on a SS like I'd expect to. It actually feels like I'm super energized like when in a power lifting program - weird! Hormones are fired up or somesuch...</P>
<P>Yet another: bike handling is getting better by necessity.</P>
<P>Yet another: my favorite of all, it's so stressful to the lower leg that it has forced my crappy foot to step up it's healing. I can run on it!</P>
<P>Yet another: SS for a few rides has been much more efficient than a geared bike. For the same routes - one a rolling singletrack loop, the other a long climb - the SS was faster and average power and hence energy requirements lower (normalized powers spot on identical). Higher variability index (normalized power/average power), less energy used, and less time pedalling by far. Hard when you're pedalling with lots of rest. The gist of this? Get your gearing right for a given course and maybe - just maybe - it's a better choice for endurance racing than a geared bike (OK I still don't know if I can climb all day on the SS). Did I just put that in black and white???</P>
<P>SS a disadvantage? Right...I'm beginning to get a clearer picture of Travis Brown's secret.</P>
<P>This whole experience rounds out my thinking on the demands of MTB racing. You see, I've used quadrant analysis in the past to determine demands of MTB racing and adjust training accordingly. The problem with this method, tho, is it tells you what you actually *did*, not what would have been best to *do*. The bottom line is I think the metabolic demands must be balanced with the neuromuscular demands when devising a good plan. The past few years I've been focusing a lot more on the metabolic demands. This is great for the long haul - but sure made the first 2 weeks of SS riding painful ;) </P>
<P>In a nutshell, the neuromuscular demands IMO don't get enough "attention" in most MTB training plans - at least the way I've tackled it. So whether training for 2 hour XC or 15 day races, a certain amount of on the bike strength work is called for in the right proportion at the right time. I don't think weights make the cut - not specific enough. Trail running, low cadence/big gear work, standing starts - these all make the cut. Of course you gotta be good at high cadence too so a little higher cadence work (at power otherwise it's wasted time) just before the racing begins is in the plan.</P>
<P>My first early season race goal is Vision Quest in Orange County. Whether SS or geared I haven't yet decided, but SS will play a large role in my training for the event since it's all uphill anyway. It falls on March 1...so without further ado here's the plan overview. If I get a lot of questions I'll do a follow up post explaining what the nutty professor is thinking. Click for the big pic.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5138731881011209314"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R1Bxa2ul5GI/AAAAAAAACq8/fBRTwX51aNg/s400/SS_training%20plan.jpg"></A>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3240" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSS analysis: strength or power?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32212007-11-22T13:30:00Z<P>Pure single speeders are a passionate bunch. After doing a bit of lurking on the mtbr SS forum and observing the SS related comments here it's obvious the top reasons SSers do what they do come from the heart. As it should be.</P>
<P>Perhaps I will find that happy SS nirvana in time, but right now I'm a geared rider having fun on a SS. It's my analytical nature that has me analyzing the demands of SS right now so that I can make a better plan to train for a SS event or two (or three or... ;). Nirvana is directly proportional to speed, 'tis a proven fact - so this quest is worthwhile.</P>
<P>There are two obvious paths to go when considering how to train for SS: target specific aspects of SSing (on the road or MTB), or just go ride your SS. On the geary, my long-standing paradox has been that to really improve, I have to do specific work - intervals and the like - usually on the road but not always. So, I'm going to choose the former cause it's worked best for me in the past. SSing 6 days/week might not be sustainable for me, it's hard stuff!</P>
<P>So then, what are the aspects of SSing that need special attention? Power Tap to the rescue....the first step is to install the PT on the SS, go ride, then take a look at the ride data through the various tools available. The most valuable of these has been <A href="http://home.earthlink.net/~acoggan/quadrantanalysis/index.html">Quadrant Analysis </A>developed by Andrew Coggan. Chances are that if you train with power you know the good Doc.</P>
<P>QA simplified: every data point in a file represents a power output and cadence. Knowing this in addition to the crank length the data is further broken down to the constituents of power - pedal speed (CPV) and average effective pedal force (AEPF). In lay terms, how hard you are pushing on the pedals and how fast your feet are moving. Crosshairs are then drawn with the intersection at the pedal force and cadence that represent what is normally done at threshold power. This divides the plot into 4 quadrants with these relative characteristics.</P>
<UL>
<LI>I: high power, high cadence</LI>
<LI>II: high power, low cadence</LI>
<LI>III: low power, low cadence</LI>
<LI>IV: low power, high cadence</LI></UL>
<P>Obviously, SS requires one to push darn hard at low cadences and really fast when spun out. But where are the limits? And are they trainable?? Key questions in my quest. I'll be sharing my random thoughts along the way of this process. They evolve daily ;) But first, let's look at that QA plot again and see what it can tell us. Note: 57 is not my preferred cadence so the QA crosshairs are misaligned in this plot...preferred cadence is about 96 so just about all points are in QII in reality.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5132808647974276018"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RztmRUKPS7I/AAAAAAAACi0/HMZfu8P1Nc0/s800/single%20speed%20quadrant%20analysys.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>There is a lot going on here. Yea, it'd make a nice tattoo M but I'm not sure I have the bicep to pull it off so I'll stick to the geeky stuff ;) The points here are from two different rides, one on a 32x18, the other on a 32x16. The route is rolling, some steep short climbs, some fast descents. Overgeared and undergeard, like every SS ride I've done. The pace was moderate (not hard), but where it tilt's up I went hard enough so as not to walk. IOW, L6 power levels. </P>
<P>There is also some test data from 2 types of efforts: maximal standing starts, one set is done seated, the other done standing. It turns out the maximal AEPF-CPV relationship is linear, so getting some good points along this line allows one to extrapolate the maximal curve out to max force and max pedal speed. That's what the 2 straight lines represent. Those lines are the highest pedal forces I can achieve for any given pedal speed - I wanted to establish these lines to see how close SS low cadence stuff came to maximal. </P>
<P>That's enough background. Here are some things I see:</P>
<UL>
<LI>normal cadence range for SSing is 45-130.
<LI>typical pedal forces go up 550 N. In geared riding they rarely go over 275 N (I'll post a comparison geared QA at some point) and for the most part are below 225!
<LI>pedal forces occasionally bump right up against that maximal force/cadence line
<LI>pedal forces routinely go to (and above) 75% of max AEPF in a moderately paced SS ride. This is in comparison to ~ 25-30% in a geared ride.
<LI>the ability to put out power at low and high cadences are equally important (but have very different demands!)</LI></UL>
<P>Finally, note the 3 iso-power curves - red, yellow, and orange. In particular, note how they tilt rapidly upward on the left side. Where they are horizontal on the right, small changes in pedal force have big effects on power output. But on the left, it takes huge changes in pedal force to alter power output, or from another angle, at very low cadences it takes huge AEPF to put out any sort of power. In theory, at a cadence of 20ish I can do no better than threshold power no matter how hard I try. So for anyone, no matter how "strong" you are, being overgeared beyond some point is going to reduce your power on the climbs. Physics in action.</P>
<P>Did I miss anything? Requirements of the soul perhaps?? They don't show up in QA ;)</P>
<P>This weekend I'll be doing some longer rides with the SS. I'm curious to see what those data sets will say about sustainability of these higher pedal forces over the long haul.</P>
<P>Happy Thanksgiving! Stuff yourself silly as is our custom...gives cyclists a reason to ride more.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3221" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSquare Top denialtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32182007-11-20T14:59:00Z<P>North and a bit west of St George is a range of mountains snuggled up against the Nevada border. They haven't hit my radar at all yet 'cause they don't lie between here and St George, not even by way of my jagged thinking. I've put the trans utah obsession on temporary hold and saddled up with the crackhead for some "local" explorations this weekend.</P>
<P>Looking north from Gunlock Res there are two side-by-side prominent peaks - Square Top and Jackson. They lie in BLM land...the surface maps show a trail going between them. That was the destination, to explore the trail in that pass between these peaks. From this view NE of the peaks they looked huge, gaining that pass would be no easy affair - probably hike a bike - if the trail does indeed exist. We didn't find out...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936533076432178"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1kh4yVTI/AAAAAAAACpI/vFm4G3e-0Yc/s400/PB190031.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The early part of the route heads up Veyo Shoal Creek road. It proved to be a wonderful backcountry route, lots of climbing, sometimes in canyons, sometimes in wide open desert terrain, it climbed roughly 4k' before we left it.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936434292184306"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1ex4yVPI/AAAAAAAACok/WgX2XF71ExQ/s400/PB190020.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Then was the rancher encounter. This place is back o beyond...we surprised half a dozen cowboys and ranchers, one with his pants literally down ;) It was initially a barage of questions "where'd you come from" "where ya goin" and when this one grizzled old leather faced guy had processed our responses he proceeded to tell us where we were going, tossing out at least 15 place names that of course didn't even ring a bell. Good ol boyz for sure.</P>
<P>Surprise finds along the way. Slickrock where I least expected it!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936464356955394"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1gh4yVQI/AAAAAAAACos/2tnhSQUG4nA/s400/PB190023.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>These granite pinnacles sparked a fire in the old climber in me...looked just like Joshua Tree rock!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936490126759186"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1iB4yVRI/AAAAAAAACo0/V0LIYInIy5M/s400/PB190027.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Then the hike a bike began. The really fun part of exploration using GPS, maps, and inquisitiveness is that you just don't know what conditions are going to be like until you get there. There is a trail on the Dixie National Forest boundary with BLM land called the South Boundary Trail. Well, it didn't exist at all. We got a good solid dose of <A href="http://www.topofusion.com/diary/">Scott</A>-a-bike. Following random horse tracks sometimes took the best route through, but those tall critters put the rider above the endless scratchy brush. It was never ending...turns out the only thing worse than hike a bike is hike a bike where you can't actually hike ;) And there's more than a little guilt to dragging someone else through it. I had to keep reminding myself that I was with Lynda, toughest non-complaining mountain biker I know.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936515896562978"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1jh4yVSI/AAAAAAAACpA/kArq5CGIrJA/s400/PB190028.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>So that hike-a-bike took the wind out our sails for further exploration...not to mention sunset was getting ever closer but the truck wasn't. </P>
<P>But of course, it isn't about the destination, it's about the journey.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936382752576706"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1bx4yVMI/AAAAAAAACoM/BxVo8oslYm4/s400/PB180028.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>All was wonderful in the end.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936554551268674"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1lx4yVUI/AAAAAAAACpQ/Za08jebA7bs/s400/PB190032.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Ahhhhhhh......</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5134936412817347810"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/R0L1dh4yVOI/AAAAAAAACoc/hpRaqGlz2lM/s400/PB180034.JPG" border=0></A>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3218" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSS upgradestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:32032007-11-14T21:18:00Z<P>The SS learning process continues. Thanks to Dave Nice's advise (SID isn't squishy enough or rigid - ditch) I put a Reba U-turn on it. At about 105 MM it handles great, and along with a stiff gate setting it has no out of the saddle bob. Noice.</P>
<P>And then there's the Power Tap. Oh yea, baby, full on data collection mode.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TheBikesFor07/photo#5132808063858723746"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RztlvUKPS6I/AAAAAAAACis/PaYP_Tj3de4/s400/PB140020.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>So what would happen if instead of sinking time and energy into drinking and tatoo acquisition a guy was to look into the demands of single speeding and how to improve those aspects of fitness?</P>
<P>You'd come up with charts like this...for starters. Welcome to <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/quad.asp">quadrant analysis</A>.</P>
<P> </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5132808647974276018"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RztmRUKPS7I/AAAAAAAACi0/HMZfu8P1Nc0/s400/single%20speed%20quadrant%20analysys.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>More details <A href="http://groups.google.com/group/wattage/browse_thread/thread/d5872aa19183d107?hl=en">here</A> but you'll have to join <A href="http://groups.google.com/group/wattage?hl=en">the club </A>to see them. The club is free tho with many benefits. One of them is you can download a copy of an excel spreadsheet used to make this QA analysis.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3203" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSmoky Mountain 'sploratorytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31902007-11-12T16:56:00Z<P>The Smoky Mountain road between Big Water and Escalante covers huge expanse of remote, lonely, beautiful country. The road surface is actually quite good for the most part. Water availability is not bad either. It's been dry for a good long while yet we found plenty. The area lends itself nicely to an ambitious 2 day or ambling 3 day bike trip - I highly recommend it so I'll post a few more details than normal for this one.</P>
<P>A lot of these pics ya gotta click for the big version...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131967577334651874"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhpUj3am-I/AAAAAAAAChg/fNa_S5zTBpE/s400/smoky%20profile%20-%20map.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Near the start of the route (starting at Big Water) this sign looks so new and official. Not to worry, the man was nowhere to be seen and every other sign was bullet riddled, old and illegible ;)</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131963849303038338"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rzhl7j3amYI/AAAAAAAACcI/wgLddiI6lwQ/s400/PB100024.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131963862187940242"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rzhl8T3amZI/AAAAAAAACcQ/LxcpliOfyps/s400/PB100026.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>After a bit the climbing comes on in earnest taking you up to the southern end of the Kaiparowits plateau. Initially steep, it rolls a lot through drainages and contours in other spots.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131963879367809442"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rzhl9T3amaI/AAAAAAAACcY/vB92e18MDHg/s400/PB100028.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Lake Powell in the distance, Smoky Mountain road contouring below.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131963948087286242"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmBT3ameI/AAAAAAAACc8/GNcRB3uTC2g/s400/PB100033.JPG" border=0></A>
<P><A href="http://bedrockandparadox.blogspot.com">Ion</A> working it up the final grunt to the plateau.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131963982447024626"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmDT3amfI/AAAAAAAACdE/nBXpFCg4B6M/s400/PB100034.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Other signs of life. This was the first (but not last) time I would hear yee-haw! this trip. Cowboys are grumpy.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964051166501410"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmHT3amiI/AAAAAAAACdc/OvhN8nfouqs/s400/PB100042.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>We took a diversion. At Collet Top we headed over the Left Hand Collet canyon to descend to Hole in the Rock road. The Grand Staircase site said the road conditions were "unknown." In the future I'll know unknown means non-existant. The conditions were unknown cause this rockslide prevented vehicle traffic and the road was later abandoned. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964145655781986"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmMz3ammI/AAAAAAAACd8/FX1v7_Xs0ZI/s400/PB100050.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>For the most part we traveled a stream/canyon bottom for 11 miles. Most of it was rideable but very slow. Sand, water, big rocks and boulders, a bit of slickrock - a real cornucopia of conditions. Slow going, but it really put a smile on our face anyway. It's not everyday you get to ride something like that.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964162835651186"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmNz3amnI/AAAAAAAACeE/-LqLLWCmXOI/s400/PB100051.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>A cruise on HitR road took us to Escalante. It'd be easy to get lodging there and not take the overnight gear...</P>
<P>But you'd miss out on this.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964201490356882"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmQD3ampI/AAAAAAAACeU/1Prm04HG8NE/s400/PB100054.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>You'd also miss out on the redneck locals. For future reference don't ever camp in the open near towns on a Sat night. Holy crap...repeated high powered rifle shots overhead scared me beyond belief. And here I thought I was afraid of nothing in the woods....drunk johny reb and his 12 half brothers were playing all sorts of antics. Big spotlights looking for gawd knows what, they spotted us in our sleeping bags. Shit. Nothing like being the evening's entertainment for local drunken idiots.</P>
<P>Yea, nice sunrise pic but note the atv track in the lower right corner. This shot was taken from where I was camped. They came by within inches in the middle of the night spewing rocks and hoots and hollers. The episode lasted at least 2 hours...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964240145062594"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmST3amsI/AAAAAAAACew/SKymGuw3Rts/s400/PB110060.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Heading south from Escalante on the Smoky Mtn road takes a nice climb to the ride's high point.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964283094735586"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmUz3amuI/AAAAAAAACfA/11oL3M2bKes/s400/PB110066.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Beyond this point there is a wonderful section of rolling road. It skirts several canyons, crosses others, big views abound. You'll have to ride it to see it, I was too enthralled to stop ;)</P>
<P>I took a spur to the SW on Heads of the Canyons road. It goes in and out of several drainages. Plenty of up and down and road conditions similar to the Kokopelli trail. I kept having deja vu...then I realized riding this was remarkably similar to the White Rim - except much less traveled, more tech and more climby.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964364699114274"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmZj3amyI/AAAAAAAACfg/zp1K5Ldg-44/s400/PB110070.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>It drops through canyons on it's way to Big Water. This looked old and abandoned but there was food in the cupboards - oops!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964489253165954"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Rzhmgz3am4I/AAAAAAAACgQ/I0LDjBZb8ck/s400/PB110080.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Everywhere to the north is wilderness study area - no motorized vehicles allowed. Nice ATV tracks here, not one of them turning around at the signs. What is about ATVs that requires disrespect for land and your fellow man plus mass stupidity to ride them? My disgust is complete.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964536497806242"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rzhmjj3am6I/AAAAAAAACgk/0Q3NNxpYQpE/s400/PB110082.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Strange black hearted canyons on the way into Big Water.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5131964596627348434"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzhmnD3am9I/AAAAAAAACg8/c9xvxcYCseY/s400/PB110085.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>So there you have it. This may be the off-season and all...and I think I'm chilling out but I've got quite the string of 25 hour weeks going here. It's just too much fun to stop!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3190" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSo that's how this works...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31752007-11-09T14:33:00Z<P>So many of my posts come across I'm sure as some desert whacko's ruminations. Not too many folks can identify with that.</P>
<P>But...if I want some feedback all I have to do is look for common ground, right? Like single speeding?</P>
<P>Yesterday's ride was pure bliss. There's this climb I really like, takes well over an hour on the geary. Plenty of steep spots on it and 2 months ago I'd have said it was an impossible SS route. Yesterday I rode it in a 32x18 and it was purfect. It all came together. There are massive views off to Zion NP from this climb and I was seeing it all through rose colored glasses. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5130848231547902290"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzRvSD3amVI/AAAAAAAACbQ/FHVf78eCzTE/s400/blakes%20profile.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Tomatoe you are right, I'm hooked now. I've been looking at all manner of squiggly lines and scatter plots of old data thinking on how best to improve this game. But I'll try the beer drinking too. </P>
<P>This weekend it's off to check out a great big chunk of wilderness between Big Water (N end of Lake Powell) and Escalante. Ion & I will have pics and stories next week. Ya know those blog writeups that sound like the desert version of "Into the Wild."</P>
<P>So many pursuits, so little time.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3175" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKISS principaltag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31552007-11-08T01:30:00Z<P>Mon-Fri the past month this is the only bike I've touched.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TheBikesFor07/photo#5130275497829651666"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzJmYkgG1NI/AAAAAAAACas/gBpdjZ1weNY/s400/PB070021.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Darn ghetto, eh? I've had this 9.8 frame for maybe 5 years now and it's seen all sorts of use, but has never been set up for long at any one time. It's current lifeform is w/ the Surly singleator + SS conversion kit. About 3 days after Moab I knew I had to get this thing singled out...had the parts since '05 just hadn't done it yet. The surly instructions start out with "1. Take off all that gear crap and toss it in the trash..." </P>
<P>SS riding is so...different. Maybe it's the crappy old SID noodle I'm running, but it really seems to make me pay attention to lines more. Momentum is your friend, and losing it is costly. Then there's the matter of torque. Cadences range from near zero to as high as you can go. When cadences are super low, it takes a lot of torque to get over that next obstacle. This is unlike geared bikes where you can spin on up and keep torque fairly low. In other words, it just might be possible that strength can be a real limiter for SS climbing - and some strength training could be in order if I was to get serious about SS riding.</P>
<P>Which, BTW, I am. I'll do a Kokopelli trail ride on the SS in '08 - underground race style. I'm considering some other big events too on the SS but we'll see how a few small ones go first ;)</P>
<P>So that means the powertap is going on the SS. Some quadrant analysis will give good ideas about the amount of strength required ... once I see some of that data I'll thinker on whether or not time in the gym is going to get the nod. It's hard to imagine as when I stopped lifting in the winter I started to get a lot faster.</P>
<P>What's the consensus in the SS crowd? Y'all do any strength training? Looking at Dicky I'd guess not, but hey looking at Kenny Jones maybe so. 2 fast SS guys with opposite builds.</P>
<P>What started as a whim is sparking new interest - and that is a ton of fun. Something new to deconstruct/reconstruct. </P>
<P>Just hope the knees and elbows hold out.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3155" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Journeytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31492007-11-06T15:17:00Z<P>The older I get the more I like to take my time with things, it leaves more time for savoring. Destinations often have a finality attached to them; everything that happens before then is the purpose. I don't seek the payout, I seek the experience. </P>
<P>You can draw a ton of analogies to this...racing is certainly among them. How often have you done a big event, full of excitement for it only to hit the post-race blues?</P>
<P>So this past weekend I continued on with my journey, explorations of new surroundings. It's cloaked in the guise of course research, but it's fullfilling other needs beautifully. </P>
<P>The previous week's outing gave glimpses of this huge plateau. I simply had to find a way to it's summit.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746924791963154"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFpkfgnhI/AAAAAAAACZs/OleT1iqasaY/s400/PB040080.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>There are easier ways up than I chose.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746357856279746"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFIkfgnMI/AAAAAAAACW8/brpRNtdO43c/s400/PB030025.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>But the easy ways don't have these views - and the summit would come and go too quickly. More savoring.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746430870723826"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFM0fgnPI/AAAAAAAACXU/ddDWbMOKsR4/s400/PB030032.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>It was one of those all day climbs, filled with wonder around every turn. </P>
<P>With 4k' elevation over the surrounding region most of southern Utah is in view. It's a powerful chunk of turf up there. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746559719742786"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFUUfgnUI/AAAAAAAACYA/xIh2Cp9rnb4/s400/PB030046.JPG" border=0></A><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5129746679978827154"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RzCFbUfgnZI/AAAAAAAACYo/Tn_DFhTWD8Q/s400/PB030055.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>And, wouldn't ya know it - from the top more new terrain comes into view, picquing my curiosity for another adventure.</P>
<P>The journey continues.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3149" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveChallengestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31352007-10-30T17:05:00Z<P>To quote Curiak, "a challenge is something I'm not quite sure I can do." This Trans Utah concept is becoming a challenge in many ways.</P>
<P>The original concept was to have something that would make a good shakedown roughly 2 months prior to GDR. Big problems with that though: it limits elevation to ~ 7k' (april snow up high), and an April race date will force riders to choose between Scott's AZT race and Trans Utah. But the real deal killer: there's a massive chunk of real estate between StG and Moab that is made up entirely of sand. Unrideable sand. Improved/paved roads are the only way through by bike.</P>
<P>Creative redirection this weekend yielded some pleasant surprise finds - and ideas. The fall is crispy dry in southern Utah; the deserts and the mountains are rideable and pleasant. So why not shoot for an October date, remove the elevation restriction and AZT conflict?</P>
<P>'xactly.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5127176678923082802"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RydkBkfgnDI/AAAAAAAACU4/h2lsd-gkQEA/s800/PA280045.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>It's an evolving process, but I'm leaning heavily towards an early - mid Oct '08 start. Level of effort along the lines of GLR, perhaps a bit more. First half in '08, StG to Escalante, 2nd half in '09, full route in '10. Start training now.</P>
<P>Not many viewpoints will go untouched by this route.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5127176769117396098"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RydkG0fgnII/AAAAAAAACVg/59MCB0cUecA/s800/PA290060.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3135" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePowerlesstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31222007-10-25T12:55:00Z<P>...as in no control. And no power meter. Ain't the "off season" grand?</P>
<P>This weekend there's a big group doing the White Rim. I was going to join them but when I realized it would mean 15 hours of driving and 8 hours of riding that just seemed out of balance. Besides that, I'm gripped by an increasing passion for designing the perfect MTB route traversing southern Utah. So...I've got a ~ 120 mile route through the outback planned for the weekend. 3 hours driving and 16 on the bike, much better balance, eh?</P>
<P>After last weekends sand exploits I've got 2 of the widest tires I could find for 29ers on the way, the WTB Weirwolf 2.55s, and I'm not afraid to run < 10 psi either on my swanky <A href="http://lacemine29.com/">MC</A> built stans rims.. Didn't figure that one out last weekend until the last few miles when some 4x passed me with super soft tires. Duh!</P>
<P>Where am I going? I'll be checking out the <A href="http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/recreation-activities-mountain-biking-grand-staircase.php">Grand Staircase</A> (and no, not one of those routes. Those are far too civilized.). Right now it's just mesmerizing names on a map - White Cliffs, Vermillion Cliffs, Skutumpah Terrace, Pink Cliffs, Bryce Canyon - sounds colorful and vertical. I think I'm seeing why it's called a staircase. </P>
<P>Have you checked out <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/archive/2007/10/24/3116.aspx">Camp Lynda</A>? Big desert rides on tap, be sure to toss your suggestions up on her blog if interested. I've got a monster loop planned to cap the camp. It's the first part of this route I'm cooking up. If you're nice and not stinky you might even find floorspace in my house during the camp;)</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3122" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMy 24 Hours of Adrenaline experiencetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31102007-10-23T17:14:00Z<P>This may be taken as a rant. It will almost certainly result in a ban from 24 hours of adrenaline events. So be it, this story must escape...</P>
<P>Last December I registered for their 24 hour worlds solo event. In recovery mode from the first injury, I was looking for a solid goal. Perfect.</P>
<P>Fast forward to July and the BC bike race. Day 7 shattered heelbone means no worlds for me. Dangit. LW and I decide to trade support/race roles for worlds and Moab.</P>
<P>Not having read the cancellation policy but reasonably certain Stuart would have no allowances for such misfortune, I shot him an email anyway. My request was simple: first, to postpone my registration a year, and if that was impossible to transfer all or part to LW. That email garnered no response. So then I gave up on that and simply asked for my pit (since I was already registered I should get a pit, no?) to be located next to LW and Bernice Pierson as they were sharing a mechanic. We could use the extra space.</P>
<P>This time I got a response. It was from Stuart (the race promoter), and to paraphrase I was denied on all counts. The no refund policy was copied and pasted into the email; and no, I could not have my pit next to LW or Bernice cause that would give them an unfair advantage.</P>
<P>Right. Well feck that.</P>
<P>So, it cost me $450 to learn this lesson (I leave it up to the reader to draw conclusions). I've heard so many <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=350584">stories</A> about this series it's hard to keep track. 24 worlds was devoid of the passion and festival atmosphere of Moab - why was that? </P>
<P>Anyway, had to let this out but didn't do so before the event so as not to cast a cloud over any of the racers I was associated with...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3110" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOff the gridtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:31012007-10-22T14:49:00Z<P>What a constrast. Last weekend was a struggle within; this weekend was a purely, deliciously, physical struggle.</P>
<P>Post Moab recovery took about 2 days. I built a SS out of my old Trek 9.8 hardtail - I had the parts in the garage to get it done and within 2 hours of motivating I had a SS bike. It has got to be the fastest thing I've pedaled....so after a couple days of hammering SS style, the weekend was ripe for some Trans-Utah explorations.</P>
<P>The setup I was using on the Yeti earlier this year, this time on the Lev. On front is the sleeping kit, misc food/maps, note water bottles on fork legs. This proved much too heavy on the front end of the Lev, repacking day 2 I learned that the sleeping kit fits nicely under the saddle and the bike handles oh so much better.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159403192068082"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr1Ae9p_I/AAAAAAAACMM/Et3z8hehoBc/s400/PA200027.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>As I was cruising through Warner Valley towards the Hurricane cliffs all that joy and excitement of the spring came flooding back. The realization of a night away from civilization was a breath of fresh air. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159407487035394"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr1Qe9qAI/AAAAAAAACMU/_80h9RJBV-c/s400/PA200029.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The first sign is a nice try by the BLM, but I'm fairly convinced all Utah OHVers are illiterate. The second sign came out of freaking nowhere, posted about 30 ft off trail as I was cruising along beneath Little Creek mesa.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159428961871922"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr2ge9qDI/AAAAAAAACMs/9AUOgotLY4s/s288/PA200032.JPG" border=0></A><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159437551806530"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr3Ae9qEI/AAAAAAAACM0/qVRy-DA7NpA/s288/PA200036.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Gould spring. Yum.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159489091414162"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr6Ae9qJI/AAAAAAAACNc/N1CI33csbgs/s288/PA210043.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The view from the top of Little Creek is endless. That "small" ridgeline is Gooseberry mesa.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159562105858290"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr-Qe9qPI/AAAAAAAACOQ/h06_AMvbPhc/s400/PA210049.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Little Creek mesa was named for the creek, not the mesa. It's huge, higher than Goose and pinyon/juniper covered.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159579285727506"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr_Qe9qRI/AAAAAAAACOg/oymxlR_aiLw/s400/PA210051.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The timing couldn't have been better for this as I decided to pass on the Gould Spring oil slick.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159587875662114"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxyr_we9qSI/AAAAAAAACOo/oGFbSTrm6FM/s400/PA210052.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>This is an interesting slice of americana. Hilldale and Colorado city are adjoining towns on the AZ/UT stateline where polygamy is the norm. The homes are massive 10+ bedroom affairs. This is the site of Warren Jeffs that Krakauer had so much to say about in "Under the Banner of Heaven." Awesome read.</P>
<P>As I was rolling through the area my proposed route had me bumping into several locked gates. No signs, just locks. Usually I might go past such obstructions...but not here. Something about potentially trespassing on folks property who's way of life is against the laws of the land is most unsettling.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159600760564018"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysAge9qTI/AAAAAAAACOw/ruUUCPVSA4w/s400/PA210053.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Shortly past Hilldale the hiking began. I spent the better part of the next 9 hours on foot. Steep & sand was the rule. The only place there was no sand was where the terrain was too steep for it to settle - and even the slickrock areas were sandy.</P>
<P>But, it was over the top gorgeous.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159652300171618"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysDge9qWI/AAAAAAAACPI/4QIPZwdlbaI/s400/PA210056.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Sand.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159660890106226"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysEAe9qXI/AAAAAAAACPQ/wzZIklao4ok/s400/PA210057.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Rock.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159678069975426"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysFAe9qYI/AAAAAAAACPY/5p3ocKrdUaU/s400/PA210058.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Sand and rock.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159708134746530"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysGwe9qaI/AAAAAAAACPo/EY40Kz1hs2k/s400/PA210060.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Views.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159811213961730"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysMwe9qgI/AAAAAAAACQY/F316pQ90Wlo/s400/PA210066.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Just as I was thinking the trail couldn't be any harder (5 labored steps, bike on back and 3 points of contact, rest...repeat) reality showed it could be worse. Choose your horse carefully. Two laser like holes in the eye socket told the full story.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124159867048536642"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RxysQAe9qkI/AAAAAAAACQ8/42kpvdOD0Qo/s400/PA210070.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Just past this point I ran into a polygomous hiking group (or so I was informed by the next crowd I met): 40ish year old guy and 4 gals in their teens wearing long dresses. We chatted for a good long while, mostly about the area. They told me the route I had come up was nothing compared to what I had planned...I should have listened....one of the gals asked me why I didn't just toss my bike into the bushes since it was only slowing me down. </P>
<P>Plenty more happened beyond that point but it gets on towards a painful blur... </P>
<P>The first 64 miles took about 6 hours. The last 16...well let's just say that won't be part of the southern trans utah route. But if you need some beta on a good hike in the area let me know!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransUtahSploring/photo#5124177588083600002"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rxy8Xge9qoI/AAAAAAAACR4/sIMCrExrO9M/s400/stg-beehive_profile.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Ah, and looks like the blogosphere is about to explode. We've been joined by <A href="http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/">Laughs at Licraphobes</A>.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3101" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDiversitytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30902007-10-19T11:55:00Z<P>A buddy recently told me I'm too intelligent for lap racing. Dunno bout that. Maybe. Perhaps everything pales in light of the intense stimulus of the dual Grand Loop experience this spring. For now I'm going with Shane's assessment more or less - brain and body need new stimulus. That's the beauty of cycling, there are soooo many ways to get your spin on.</P>
<P>Yesterday I went out for a rolly singletrack ride on the Lev, but with a twist. I picked a roughly 2:1 gear and stopped shifting. That was an hour of fun that was so sorely missing last weekend. I've never had a SS bike and have spent a grand total of 10 minutes on one.</P>
<P>See where I'm going with this?</P>
<P>Out with adversity, in with diversity.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3090" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExistential delimnas in the deserttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30772007-10-17T12:18:00Z<P>There comes a point in every 24 hour race I've done where I'm beat, and unfortunately it happens before the race is done. For these occasions I've learned to bring apple pie. So about 1:30 AM I came into the pit and said "pie!" and Lynda was so on top of the situation (I was 10 min later than expected) that pie was in my mouth before I could sit down...</P>
<P>In every other race, this has been a period of great torment. The body says no, the head says get up you wuss. This time, the body did all the talking. The head was quiet. Quite frankly, I didn't care. I knew I could carry on and chug out enough laps to hold 2nd place, and knew what it would take in terms of effort and recovery - and at that point it seemed stupid, pointless.</P>
<P>This is the defining moment of 24s for me. It is easy to pedal along up to this point. After this point the race requires a certain depth of fitness, hunger, motivation, mojo. This is when the real race begins. For the first time in my experience, I had the fitness but not the hunger, motivation. Fitness is not enough.</P>
<P>In a nutshell, that's what happened. There are lots of details, plenty of highs and lows of what actually went down out there and I'll post some of that shortly. Many have asked about bones...none are currently broken that I'm aware of, maybe a crack or two but that's nuthin...</P>
<P>What is waaaaay more than nuthin though is the absence of motivation mid-race. That's new for me and has never been an issue. Naturally that was a topic of discussion with LW on the drive home. She recognizes it as burnout, thought it was similar to the end of her pro glory days. It's really hard for me to wrap my head around that one - that I could be burned out when not racing for 3 months. I guess I could be burned out on fighting for the comeback as that has been the theme for the past year. Tom Danielson has had a rough year, check out his interview on VN. Our seasons have been strikingly similar.</P>
<P>Terminal burnout? Yea, right - I give it a snoball's chance in hell. I got a little care package from Curiak yesterday - Leviathon seatstays with brake posts on them. This means I can use the power meter on the 29er MTB. I was excited like a kid in a candy store about that one. Does that tell ya where my heart is?</P>
<P>One thing is certain. I'm relaxed. For the first time in a year there isn't some event that requires immediate training or rehab. I'm excited to get out and explore my new surroundings, and excited to get out and find that perfect route from St George to Moab. This fall is going to be about exploration. Not forced, just natural. </P>
<P>I'll go with the flow I have.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3077" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOff to the Moab Circustag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30702007-10-10T12:15:00Z<P>OK bike racers, imagine this: about 2 weeks into summer you sustain a season ending injury and while all your bro's are out there givin it every weekend you are in serious rehab mode. This of course comes on the heels of another injury...about 5 months of rehab in the previous year.</P>
<P>So with a healthy mix of anticipation and trepidation I'm heading to Moab tomorrow morning. Racing for 24 hours solo, of course. With nary a race in 3 months, I'm hungry. Very hungry. With the fresh memories of being laid up in my mind, coming back whole from these things isn't something I take for granted anymore. With a foot at maybe 75% the plan has required a bit of massaging.</P>
<P>How it will play out is anybodies guess. <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/">Fox</A> will surely be turning some fast night laps if he can keep his skinny tires out of the sand and inflated. The Coed-Pro Am field is bigger than I've ever seen with some fast teams in the mix. Sager's brainchild MonaVie looks super tough - if they can keep their 20 lb bikes running (and with Bart's experience in Moab they will) it could be a runaway. That will be fun so watch! The Jack Mormon Militia is back. The overall is going to be a stretch given the Pro-am field, but ya never know. They sure rocked it last year. </P>
<P>The solo men's field is huge - over 60 riders last time I checked. What's interesting so far is who isn't registered. Nat Ross and Josh Tostado aren't in yet, but I'm sure they will be there - has Nat ever missed this race? In '05 the conditions were good and I was able to get in 17 laps - more I think than had ever been done previously by a solo rider - but 2 other gents went faster with Anthony Colby doing an astounding 18 laps in his first solo 24. Word on the street is the course is slow...so maybe nobody will be doing 18 this year. I don't generally set a lap count as a goal - that isn't how races are scored in the end. I'll dig as deep as I can/have to in order to achieve my goals tho. What are my goals? Well, it is a bike race now isn't it? OK, one goal is to be able to ride the White rim 2 weeks post race and not spend this fall rehabing race injuries, there is some serious socializing on the horizon ;)</P>
<P>Of course solo is a misnomer for this endeavor. I'll have a team helping the cause. Lynda is the mastermind in the pit. If you've ridden with us you know the mojo advantage that will bring. I'll be debuting the <A href="http://www.sirenbicycles.com/softail.html">Siren Song</A>, a svelt 26/29 softail. The bike's godfather Brendan will be there to keep it running smoothly. The other bike is a Leviathon 29er with that new top secret shock courtesy of MC (thanks Mike). Desert Cyclery has helped to dial in all the mech bits and pieces to keep the show going. </P>
<P>The 29er theme is no accident - though I've done a good bit of power testing and in most situations find my 26ers faster, that doesn't hold true on the Moab course. There will be 29" wheels (at least one) under each podium rider this year - or I'll eat a whole apple pie! </P>
<P>Speaking of pie...this is a social circus. I'll be somewhere in solo row with a big bbq grill. Come on over Fri afternoon/eve, bring something for the grill and we'll catch up and relieve the tension building in advance of what we're about to put ourselves through. </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3070" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFocustag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30572007-10-07T12:57:00Z<P>It's detail week. Must...have...focus...</P>
<P>Change has been the recent theme. Change is not such a good thing for my focus, so today I'm reigning it in. </P>
<P>Speaking of change, St George may lie in the desert but that doesn't mean we can't have a taste of autumn here. This is just up the trail from my house on the way up Pine Valley mtn. It's quite the ride. The tail end of a 4,000' climb finishes with 26% grade pitches. Reliable Vertigo, maybe that's what this climb should be called.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5118577895622420050"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RwjXege9plI/AAAAAAAACHY/oFJoFlxNpn4/s400/PA060024.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Water is everywhere on this ride. Water spigots in the boonies, tough to beat that.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5118577929982158434"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RwjXgge9pmI/AAAAAAAACHg/WT_7JwIhVSs/s400/PA060026.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The focus of yesterday's ride was to dial in a new rear shock on the Lev. Thanks to this gent on a big white horse I am now testing a new shock that kills the Lev bob issue, is quiet and smooth. It has no branding and I don't know what it is so don't ask! So far though I gotta say it works well. It looks to be in for Moab.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5116188901668398530"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RwBaswe9pcI/AAAAAAAACEk/0oe6if9ceGg/s400/P9290034.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Not to be outdone by the white horseman, Brendan was dropping stuff last weekend fully rigid. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5116188841538856338"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RwBapQe9pZI/AAAAAAAACEM/wEYVttfowz0/s400/P9290031.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Next up: tuning the rear shock for the new Song. The Cane Creek valve kit is here, time to make this girl sing her finest tune.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Siren/photo#5116188729869706562"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RwBaiwe9pUI/AAAAAAAACDk/63YdLPn5fjg/s400/P9300049.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>A'ight. Off to make that plan.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3057" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCertaintiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30462007-10-04T14:29:00Z<P>Death, taxes, swallows to Capistrano and DH to 24HoM...what do these things have in common? Right. Like there was ever any other possibility. I've been to that race every year in this century, ain't about to stop that trend now. It's a circus, a spectacle, a bitch, a lover, a supreme challenge yet so simple. It has left me whimpering more than any other course and left me with month long highs. To me, it is the very definition of the high risk game of 24 hour <EM>racing.</EM></P>
<P>Life is short so I'm making it count. The road to Moab is in my windshield, scorch marks in my rear view mirror.</P>
<P>Sorry sis, enjoy Paris. Love ya.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3046" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveUncertainties Pt. IItag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30312007-10-02T14:34:00Z<P>30 minutes ago I wrote: "One thing <EM>is</EM> certain. Come hell or high water I'm going to the 24 hours of Moab and will ride until I can't."</P>
<P>5 minutes ago my sister told me I have to be in Phoenix Oct 13th - for her wedding! Apparently beyond age 40 you can dispense with that courtship part and skip to the wedding.</P>
<P>What would you do?</P>
<P>This fucking pig has got to go.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3031" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveUncertaintiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30292007-10-02T13:12:00Z<P>Somebody shoot that golden pig already. Please. The only certainty is uncertainty.</P>
<P>Warning: geeky training talk and squigly lines below.</P>
<P>EweTSS has been instrumental in keeping me in line this year. With two big injuries it's been essential to come back smarter, not harder. Er, well sorta. With several years of power data and EweTSS experience I know what I need to do well in a 24 hour race - by more than just instinct. The type and quantity of training that make a good race are not so uncertain. In OP this year I didn't have time to get there so just called it a training race. </P>
<P>Moab is different. There has been enough time for the key elements, although some of them got squeezed into a shorter period than I like. More experimentation. Increasing CTL from 107 to 147 in 16 days has turned out to be the biggest jump in that time frame in my experience. It was basically like doing back to back Transrockies. What was I thinking anyway?? Fortunately I recognized it was a bit agro and planned a 3 week taper instead of the usual 2...it's a damn good thing cause if the race was this weekend I'd be in trouble. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5116716688724567602"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RwI6uAe9pjI/AAAAAAAACGg/n-beHrKP7dc/s400/moab_planner_07.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>But...the sensations are improving rapidly now. Fitness is really the least of my concerns for Moab. Things seem to be unravelling in other areas....</P>
<P>Like the foot. I can only clip out if it's done well in advance. My left side is cut and bruised from a week of "spd falls" cause I can't clip out quickly. With any pressure on the foot, or in the wrong location, I just don't have that range of motion anymore. I have no doubt I can go circles around that sandy course on two wheels - it's the repeated trips on foot over nosedive and to a much lesser extent the Lemans run that have me concerned right now.</P>
<P>This all is probably coming off as self-doubt and confidence issues...however it's anything but. It's a small part of the big picture, yet this is the only brush I could find this morning.</P>
<P>One thing <EM>is</EM> certain. Come hell or high water I'm going to the 24 hours of Moab and will ride until I can't. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3029" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveAnatomy of the Epic Ridetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:30122007-09-23T11:48:00Z<P>Ingredient #1: join me for a day in the saddle, <A href="http://www.jeffkerkove.net/">you</A> not being from around here.</P>
<P>Ingredient#2: I've got a burr up my craw to hit the top of some peak miles and miles away...</P>
<P>Ingredient#3: add the storm of the decade to the mix. </P>
<P>Time for some pics to do the talking. Here's topping out of the Virgin river gorge on the south side. Great views to be had on sunny days. Honest Jeff ;)</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5113219571733340946"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RvXOHAe9oxI/AAAAAAAAB-o/RV44-OYnnf4/s400/P9220024.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>It wasn't long till #3 began to figure heavily.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5113219606093079346"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RvXOJAe9ozI/AAAAAAAAB-4/tTAviDG3LQo/s400/P9220026.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Ingredient#4: brake pads become a pulverized mess.</P>
<P>Me: "Jeff, you don't wanna go up this climb cause you can't stop coming down. But I can't turn around now or my head will explode, I gotta go up this mountain"....</P>
<P>Jeff: "I'm following you"</P>
<P>Hmmm....ingredient#5: questionable decisions (LOL like there was any choice for either of us).</P>
<P>The top was in the clouds. This is the first spot that wasn't completetly shrouded in mist.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5113219636157850450"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RvXOKwe9o1I/AAAAAAAAB_I/ZJV-PQlR0DI/s400/P9220028.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>While we were climbing and descending, ma nature really revved it up and left this cherry for us on the return trip. We had to wait it out until it dropped to this questionable crossing level. Same crossing as the black creek above.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5113219683402490754"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RvXONge9o4I/AAAAAAAAB_g/Ds8mjP4DATo/s400/P9220031.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Towards the end we did have some moments of sun and the way the light played with this gorge offered the kind of natural beauty you can only really see through eyes that have been pounded by weather all day. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5113219704877327250"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RvXOOwe9o5I/AAAAAAAAB_o/sdX2wpfW54c/s400/P9220032.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Now there are two bikes in St George that are up for sale and cheap! It was a tough day on bikes...</P>
<P>On a clear day here's the view from the peak. Top of Black Rock mtn looking towards St George, Pine Valley mtn is the horizon line on the left.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180468477626146"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RusCD6m_hyI/AAAAAAAAB6I/bDWhqzvXRBM/s400/P9140058.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3012" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Siren Songtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29992007-09-20T11:50:00Z<P>I met Brendan and <A href="http://sirenmary.blogspot.com/">Mary Collier </A>at the Kaibab Mountain Cross in June. Brendan is (among other things I'm sure!) a custom frame builder and owner of <A href="http://www.sirenbicycles.com/">www.sirenbicycles.com</A>; Mary races them. Purty fine mojo for this power couple if you ask me.</P>
<P>Siren doesn't do just any old frame design...the one that really fires Brendan up is a 26" rear wheel and 29" front wheel design. I rode his bike a little at KMC and really liked it. That big front wheel floats over stuff, and with the normal back wheel size the drivetrain gear ratios are what I'm accustomed to. The drivetrain issues were a constant issue for me when I rode 29ers in '05.</P>
<P>Shortly after KMC I started working with Brendan on design ideas for a new bike he's coming out with. OK the ideas are his and I supply the excited anticipation. Oh wait he's full of that too...anyway, to make a long story short, the new bike is a 26/29 softail design in the vein of the Salsa Dos Niner, but with close to twice the travel and more careful tuning of the suspension characteristics. She's in the jig and nearly a frame now. Here's how it looks so far.</P>
<P>The artisan in his element.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Siren/photo#5111639438803306338"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RvAw_Km_h2I/AAAAAAAAB7s/u2-AWfjiZiM/s400/brendan-miter.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Lot's of standover in this beauty.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Siren/photo#5111639443098273650"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RvAw_am_h3I/AAAAAAAAB70/CHJoLUqs9c0/s400/davefrontend.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>I think he's done this before!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Siren/photo#5111639447393240962"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RvAw_qm_h4I/AAAAAAAAB78/GPJIsC8yQ6U/s400/bbmiter.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>The lower end consists of a titanium flex plate and another brace (not shown). </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Siren/photo#5111639451688208274"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RvAw_6m_h5I/AAAAAAAAB8E/jOZipN3jqdw/s400/flex-plate.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>What's the coolest part of this design? Hard to pick one...but if I had to I'd say it's the action of the rear travel. There is some negative loading built into the design, meaning the shock will be tuned to get the appropriate sag, and it will be active! The Dos' rear end was rock hard to me - I'd get maybe 1/2 to 2/3" travel hucking something stupid - but this design will be active for any rider weight, and the Cane Creek AD5 will provide all the tunability required to dial in the sweet ride. So there you go, a bit more info that the teaser here: <A href="http://www.sirenbicycles.com/softail.html">http://www.sirenbicycles.com/softail.html</A>.</P>
<P>The bike will be known as the Siren Song and both Mary and myself will be doing some serious R&D at Moab. The anticipation thickens!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2999" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHorizonstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29982007-09-20T10:54:00Z<P>Newness...I'm surrounded by it. Springtime in the fall.</P>
<P>The blog silence is a good sign in this case...I've been deep into my own version of a 16 day stage race. What's that mean? Well, it's part of the grand plan for that upcoming desert rumble...and given the foot status I was a bit limited to what I could do and when. 'Tis fine cause I like playing catch up ;)</P>
<P>Rides have been like this: stick my head out the door and see what chunk of unexplored horizon fascinates, consult the maps, plan a route, toss the filter and a prayer in the pack, head out for 60-80 miles of dirt. Repeat. Sometimes it's great training, sometimes it's just good for the psyche. Most routes include a 3 hour climb - the low point is usually about 2500' and the high point about 7k. Lots of volcanic rock in the region means every other new route I explore is riddled with black rubble on the edge of unrideable. Luck of the draw. </P>
<P>There is so much big ride potential around here it boggles my mind. South is the AZ strip, public lands stretching to the GC. To the west is the Beaver Mtns and tons of singletrack then big mountain climbs. N and E is more singletrack and Pine Valley mtn, the highest point in the county - about 7k' higher than StG.</P>
<P>A visual sampling.</P>
<P>A climb I'm quite fond of on the slopes of Pine Valley Mtn. Grades of 25% make it a challenge. The goal for popping over this climb is a spigot controlled spring...nirvana in the desert.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180232254424658"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RusB2Km_hlI/AAAAAAAAB4c/OEmYP6yR198/s400/P9100083.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>A fork in the road? I couldn't decide so did them both. The author wasn't kidding about the boldervard part!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180386873247442"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RusB_Km_htI/AAAAAAAAB5g/D_1TCwaK_dg/s400/P9140053.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Cedar Pockets overlook. Pine Valley Mtn is the horizon line on the right; the big slanted uplift in the center is Blakes Lambing grounds, the location of 2 of my favorite climbs in the area. I may as well sell my road bike cause it's become redundant.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180335333639842"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RusB8Km_hqI/AAAAAAAAB5I/ZZXO-aLj-nU/s400/P9140050.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>I've developed a real fondness for domestic critters. They mean water is close by.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180296678934146"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RusB56m_hoI/AAAAAAAAB44/NxXzsztPiRw/s400/P9140048.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Others have been to these places before me...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180094815471090"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RusBuKm_hfI/AAAAAAAAB3s/QZ5I43XEDFA/s400/P9100077.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Another day begins in the land of golden horizons.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorgeRides/photo#5110180245139326562"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RusB26m_hmI/AAAAAAAAB4k/GJWf83UwkB0/s400/P9140046.JPG" border=0></A>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2998" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDiscoverytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29842007-09-08T10:02:00Z<P>Some years back I rediscovered the passion for the epic ride. So much so that I made them the focus of my training, racing & free time. If you want my attention you better be on two wheels. Oddly enough, in all the years I lived, trained and raced in Durango most of my riding was done solo. Durango has got a quiver of strong riders, yet it always seemed to me that if it wasn't labeled by USCF, NORBA, or collegiate racing it just didn't make the radar. This applies to my HealthFX teammates - we'd get together maybe once/summer for a longish ride, but not epic by my standards.</P>
<P>Imagine my surprise at the evolving riding inclinations of <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/miles/about.aspx">Miles</A> </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic/photo#5107771806466561218"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RuJzZVYx1MI/AAAAAAAABug/2Th6h2vg5gA/s400/DSC00892.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>and <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/greg/about.aspx">Greg</A>. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic/photo#5107771660437672994"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RuJzQ1Yx1CI/AAAAAAAABtQ/hoognmviAII/s400/DSC00864.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Since I've left Durango, they've been having fun for long periods in the back country. They are fast too. They finished 1-2 at the Durango 100, a race that always involves 10+ hours of riding, 18k' climbing, nosebleed elevation and monsoons. A couple days ago Miles shot me an email of a description of their ride from Molas pass to town on the Colorado Trail, along with 40+ pics. His excitement for the experience was obvious; not only does it come through his words, but pics as well. There were some places he had to take 3-4 pics, trying to capture the moment he was experiencing at the time. </P>
<P>His account is just too good not to share with the world. I haven't asked permission, but he knows where good stuff he sends me is likely to end up :) Fellas, great ride & story. Maybe you should <A href="http://www.climbingdreams.net/ctr/">start thinking about this </A>for next year? </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic">All his pics are here</A>.</P>
<P>-----------------------------------------------</P><FONT size=2>
<P>We had an epic adventure yesterday while attempting to ride Molas Pass to Durango in one day!</P>
<P>We started at 5:00 am (up at 3:30am) from the top of Molas Pass. We proceeded to ride with lights until the sun came up around 6:30 am. The reason for leaving so early was because we knew the ride was going to take 12-13 hours and we wanted to get home before dark.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic/photo#5107771419919504114"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RuJzC1Yx0vI/AAAAAAAABq0/t0gr54wFzds/s400/DSC00843.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Everything was going as planned; we met the girls (Kricket and Sue) at hotel draw where we took on more calories and water(about 5 hours in). The girls did an amazing job and it was good to see them. After a short 30 minute rest we were back in the saddle ( a little reluctant because of the building thunderstorms).</P>
<P>About an hour after we departed the girls we were at a junction that was our last "escape" route off the colorado trail (Corral Draw). This route would have put us into the Hermosa drainage and we could of been home in 3 hours. However that was not the "goal" and would have left us feelings of disappointment. At this junction we ran into a solo hiker who was 2 days from finishing the entire (Denver to Durango) Colorado trail. This guy was hiking with a small 10lb pack and had been averaging 24 miles a day (walking), incredible!!</P>
<P>We stopped here for a while and contemplated pulling the plug because of the dark clouds looming over us. We were concerned because at this point we still had a large section of trail to do that was above tree line, very exposed and across some unbelievably hard terrain (Indian Ridge 13,000 feet). Needless to say we decided to continue on!!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic/photo#5107771849416234226"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RuJzb1Yx1PI/AAAAAAAABu4/fE-E2y3JPms/s400/DSC00905.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Our pace was good and we continued to make good time all the while the thunder/lighting was getting closer. As we approached "Indian Ridge" the rain started to fall and the lightning got way too close. We knew we needed to stay warm and dry so we stopped, got off the bikes and made a "lean to" shelter under some trees (real mountain man shit!!). We used logs and pine branches to water proof the structure, sat inside and built a fire. Now the rain/thunder/lightning was on top of us but we felt secure in the hut and knew if we waited it out the storm would pass and we could continue on.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MilesEpic/photo#5107771840826299618"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RuJzbVYx1OI/AAAAAAAABuw/D66XHj7GxYc/s400/DSC00904.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>1 hour went by and we started making alternative plans to get the hell out! We knew that we could go back the way we came and come out and descend down "bear creek" drainage which would put us at Rico (halfway between Dolores and Telluride). However, if we did that we would have to call somebody to pick us up and that is about an hour and 15 from Durango. The girls had <BR>already sacrificed their entire day and we didn't want them to have to come pick us up.</P>
<P>2 hours went by and finally the storms subsided and we had our window to summit the ridge and get down via Kennebec pass into Durango.</P>
<P>Waiting was a very wise decision and once we got on top of the ridge the clouds, light and fresh hail that looked like snow made the huddling in the shelter worth the wait. We made it over the ridge and into Durango with an official time of 13.5 hours including the 2 hours of waiting in the "lean to".<BR></P></FONT><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2984" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBattling entropytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29782007-09-07T13:29:00Z<P>So this year I've been testing Ergon products. Last year I put some Ergon grips on the bike before TransRockies and haven't used anything else since, so when Jeff asked me if I'd like to fly the Ergon flag for '07 it was a no-brainer. Let me see...a German company that puts lots of engineering thinktank time into cycling products...duh!</P>
<P>In the chaos that I'm calling '07 - the year of the Golden Pig - I've fallen behind on what I intended to post about a few products. So let's play catch up.</P>
<P>I've been using the Ergon gloves since early spring. </P>
<P><A href="http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/gloves/hm1.html"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RuFU_FYx0pI/AAAAAAAABpU/libmfQ54K8M/s400/gloves-07.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>This critical piece of equipment is often overlooked, at least until you end up with intolerable blisters or the tips of your fingers ripped off. I'm not one to give glowing reviews, generally speaking. I am learning to bite my tongue though if I don't like something ;) Well, these gloves rock, plain and simple. I've used the same pair for 2 grand loops, 2 Kokopelli rides (oh wait, make that 3), BC Bike Race, Kaibab monster cross, and all the training to come between those events. They are still intact - a record for me. Tough, tough gloves.</P>
<P>I've modified them a bit as I like to have some fingertips open so I can find that gu in the bottom of a jersey pocket. All the fingers (not the thumb) have been clipped.</P>
<P>Initially I didn't much like the semi-hard plastic velcro over the back of the hand. When removing the gloves, you pull the plastic velcro bit apart but it snaps back onto the velcro, holding the gloves in place. I've since learned to be smarter (at least as smart anyway) as the gloves but attaching the velcro bit so it is loose - that keeps it in place and you can pull a glove off with your teeth. That's something I do quite a bit while riding long climbs for the cooling factor. Try it, it makes a big difference.</P>
<P>The palm material is minimal - no padding. Unlike some other gloves though, the material is thick enough so that it doesn't bunch up and pinch your hand. Oooo I really hate that! It's a perfect blend of toughness and minimal design to make a perfect match with Ergon grips.</P>
<P>Next up: I've been testing the BD2 pack and GX grips. Stay tuned.</P>
<P>Since this is my blog and entropy has not yet been conquered...you gotta check this out: <A href="https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10885&locale=en_US">https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=10885&locale=en_US</A>. Surely this is going to send a few of you into a terminal tailspin and firmly establish the trenchnlines (hi DN and EdE), but talk about the holy grail of geekness. Garmin is all over it. Their new Edge unit is not only upgraded to do all the stuff of a mapping gps + cycling computer + HRM, it also can receive information from 3rd party compatible devices. What does that mean? It means, for instance, that the new forthcoming <A href="http://quarq.us/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">Quark</A> powermeter that is ANT compatible will be able to feed the Garmin display. This is an entirely new level of geekness not seen before. It's hard to imagine any limits to data collection with this system. </P>
<P>A single setup good for Grand Loop, general exploration, and structured training? If it works on an MTB, I'm all over it. Someone, sometime, some year, is going to make something that works off-road. I'm still waiting.</P>
<P>Impatiently.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2978" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe big showtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29732007-09-06T00:54:00Z<P>Worlds...what an experience. I've been waiting for Lynda to break the silence but her DSL got shot down while she was gone...so here are just a few impressions.</P>
<P>As is typical in these things, the Cyclingnews piece and the results don't speak to what went down in the ladies race. As early as lap 2 it was clear it was a race of Lynda vs. Rebecca Rusch. These ladies were killin' it. F'n goose bumps.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106888477722661410"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9QA1Yx0iI/AAAAAAAABnE/KFcmRfbAK9c/s400/lynda-rebecca002.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Full on racing, lotsa smack going down. They were neck and neck until just before sundown, much like the lead 2 in the mens race.</P>
<P>Eventually Rebecca pulled ahead for good. She laid down an incredible race. She showed up ready for anything and it showed. Much respect - it's hard to imagine a better ride. I honestly didn't think she'd fare well against Lynda on that course. Lynda made her earn that worlds title, but earn it she did. Without Lynda it'd been a one horse show. I've ridden a bit with Juli Furtado in the 90's when she was utterly dominant and Rebecca had that same look & demeanor I recall in JF.</P>
<P>Happy endings. Sally in 3rd used Lynda's training plan in prep for the event. Sally was looking buff and, well, manic! She had to lay it down to get that 3rd spot.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106888413298151890"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9P9FYx0dI/AAAAAAAABmY/RbpJRaNfVoI/s400/P9020110.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Hey fox, you want these lights?</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106888482017628722"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9QBFYx0jI/AAAAAAAABnM/uPAC7-6-Rvs/s400/lynda-lights.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>They were a secret weapon and as far as I can tell there wasn't anyone with any more light on the course. On one of the first night laps Andy looked up and said something like "holy freak that's bright" followed by "oh, it's Lynda!" That was purty funny...after that we never had trouble knowing when she was close, the lights stood out 200 meters away.</P>
<P>Andy was another secret weapon. Well, not so secret cause he's a sucker for a dirty, non-functioning bike. If you bring one to him you will leave with a clean, well tuned rig. He was working on somebody's bike every minute of the night it seemed.</P>
<P>Apparently he's not a Specialized fan. He still fixes 'em up tho.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106887859247370210"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9Pc1Yxz-I/AAAAAAAABic/FNDzwhETYMM/s400/P9010076.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Conditions were unusually hot for the region and attrition was high. Roughly half of the womens field had quit less than half way through the race. Particularly hit hard by the heat were the Aussies as they flew from winter conditions to 100F racing temps. I actually didn't pay a ton of attention to the men's race, but it was hard to miss what was happening at the front. Kelly Magelky would come by, followed by Tinker 10 seconds back for the first 21 hours & 17 laps. On lap 18 Tinker laid it down with a 1:02 lap time. That's some 25 minutes faster than they'd been going for quite some time and one of the fastest laps in the race period. I would never have thought that possible, and have certainly never seen such a thing in a 24. One of the most impressive feats I've seen on a bike. Tinker is da man.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/24HourWorlds07/photo#5106888469132726786"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/Rt9QAVYx0gI/AAAAAAAABm0/ttK-392VN-Y/s400/P9020113.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Even though I didn't get to race it this year, I'm comforted knowing patience is the name of the game in endurance racing ;) </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2973" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveIn support of indulgencetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29652007-08-29T09:15:00Z<P>Holy crap we leave tomorrow morning in a big ol' rented RV. Andy, Cathleen and myself will be joining Lynda in support of her 24 hour Worlds indulgence binge. It's all about the last minute details right now...downloading music, packing up the goods, spit shining bikes. Oh, and cycling batteries for the super special double top secret light setups made especially for the Wurlds course and based on LW's feedback. Light levels, patterns, functions all pure custom. Betcha want some more details, eh? Ask me next week.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5104047923792039810"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RtU4i1Yxz4I/AAAAAAAABgw/zV7BucoScSM/s400/P8290165.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The girl is gonna have some lumens on her side. We were riding side by side at 5am the other day, she with the custom setup and myself using a NiteRider HID. She had to <EM>ask</EM> if my HID was even on! I told her she'll know when its night by the temperature change ;)</P>
<P>Yea...guard yourself.</P>
<P>Exciting stuff. Rumors are floating about the inner circle about top competitors - what they have been doing, what they are doing now. Juicy. This is going to be a great show. My notepad is at the ready.</P>
<P>And training? I didn't realize it at the time, but I set a lifetime PB 30 min pnorm in training yesterday and at -20 TSB as well. I guess that explain my inability to move the next 20 minutes... You don't really expect those to keep coming at my age, but there it is. Limits are self-imposed and I choose not to impose any. Keep 'em out of your head and your body does the rest.</P>
<P>Best of luck to all those pushing the boundaries this weekend. May your mojo be full, crack endless.</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2965" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSocially acceptable maniatag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29492007-08-25T09:12:00Z<P>The start of 24 hour Worlds is one week away. Excitement is building, anticipation thickening, mojo rising.</P>
<P>And I've stopped sleeping.</P>
<P>My standard training rythms just don't fit any established norms. In good training periods sleep is optional. I'll wake up in the middle of the night with a head full of, well, manic, and the day begins. Toss in an upcoming world championship event and the manic becomes MANIC. I can keep this up for a loooong time. I wonder if I could keep it up for 2 weeks on GDR?</P>
<P>Wurlds part I. Our star player is looking great. We did this loop yesterday featuring a 1.5 hour climb into a desert sunrise (can you say nirvana?), not drilling it at all but keeping a nice steady tempo. We totally chilled the last 20 minutes...yet still the ride time was a PB for her - by a lot. And she's only been riding a few days since being sick, go figure. All I can say is wow. The big show is gonna be fun, our gal is on.</P>
<P>Wurlds part II. I'm obviously not racing. Good and bad, really. I'll get to watch the heavy hitters take take their best shot in this wide open edition. Tinker, Nat, Steve, Ernesto, Mark, Brandon, Mario, Yuri - it'll be fun to watch y'all drill each other into the dust. I look forward to having time to meet a few folks rather than be wrapped up in the racer's obsession. I look forward being part of LWs team, keeping that pit humming smoothly. But...I will miss racing oh so much. I'll keep that bottled up for 6 more weeks.</P>
<P>Yesterday the day began at 1 AM. My eyes flew open with the force of a hurricane...the previous evening we were getting lights dialed in and wow there are a lot of little details to work out and some thorny compatibility issues that I didn't solve immediately. In the space of the 60 seconds I had them all conquered, mentally anyway. An hour later I was testing some settings on the Lev crusing up and down the block...and to my surprise I wasn't the only one working in their garage. Yet another benefit of this desert life, the nocturnal lifestyle is not quite so zany.</P>
<P>Is it ok to be listening to Rage Against the Machine at 3am?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2949" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTesting, testing, and more testingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29312007-08-21T10:19:00Z<P>In winter 05/06 I was on a quest to answer the question: which bike is <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/category/1032.aspx">more efficient</A>, a Trek Fuel or a Salsa Dos Niner? It just so happens that one uses 26" wheels while the other uses 29" wheels... </P>
<P>These have proved to be rather popular posts, most of them getting over 10,000 hits and still counting. To this day, it is the only published attempt at quantifying the difference in wheel formats using power. I could be flip and say it doesn't really matter anyway, we're just riding bikes for fun, right? Well, based on the popularity (infamy?) of these posts it clearly matters to some folks out there. Probably you ;)</P>
<P>My stable has grown - it now includes a FS 29er (again), lots of 26ers, and soon a 55er (<A href="http://www.sirenbicycles.com/fifty-five.html">26+29=Siren Fifty-Five</A>). And if that isn't confusing enough, there's an outside chance I'll be testing a new entry to the wheel size mix, the <A href="http://www.bicyclenewswire.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showrelease&cid=132&id=547">650B/27.5"</A> by Kirk Pacenti. </P>
<P>So guess where my interests lie now? Yep, learning the strengths of each of these formats. It's a technical nightmare as James at CN has learned. Realistically, the only power meter I trust on an MTB is the Power Tap. The major (MAJOR) hitch is they don't have a disc compatible hub yet. I've been leaning on them for a few years but I'm only once voice. If you are interested in the same hit with an email. The Lev is rear disc only...so any testing on that bike is limited to terrain where a rear brake is optional.</P>
<P>Fun things to look forward to, more charts and geekdom.</P>
<P>So with all the downtime in the last 6 weeks, aside from moving and a few other things...I've got my music situation dialed in. Some folks get cable TV, I get a monthly music service with Rhapsody. Their top plan is called Rhapsody to Go but it requires specific MP3 players to utilize it - it always seemed overkill to me. Well my trusty little Creative Nano finally croaked and forced my hand...so I got a Rhapsody compatible player. All I have to say is I'm glad that Nano bit the dust. In the past once I found the music I liked online, I had to buy it somewhere. It wasn't so much the money but the time that was a PITA and kept those efforts to a minimum. Rhapsody to go - so far - has changed all that. I can now upload anything from Rhapsody's catalog to the MP3 with a 30 day license - this even includes custom stations. Pretty sweet deal considering I work at a desk and use Rhapsody most of the time already...the new MP3 just upped my music addiction.</P>
<P>Ain't technology somethin'? I guess this means I'm no retro-grouch. Gimme gears, suspension, music, and power baby. That and a touch of crack makes for a lot of flow. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2931" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveAdaptationtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29262007-08-20T10:02:00Z<P>Lots of adaptation going on right now - and it all seems to be coming at the speed of light.</P>
<P>The past several years I've done blocks of high intensity training (HIT) in the winter & spring months. The basic MO for these training periods is stringing days of self-flagelation together until you crack, rest a few days, repeat. VO2max and anaerobic capacity intervals with a smattering of threshold work is the standard fare. It's super powerful stuff and raises all of my power levels in a hurry. The timing of this stuff was partly due to race goals and partly because short workouts are easier to get done in Durango winters. Here in St George, there's a short window of daylight in the AM before it gets too warm for quality work - so it's sort of the same, but in reverse. </P>
<P>I haven't done any of this stuff for the '07 season - once I could get outside after the collarbone I was outta control on long rides. Now that I live in Utah I'm in Durango training mode, how ironic ;) In any case, this area is awesome for this sort of training. Snow is seldom seen here so there are short super steep hills all over the place. Great stuff. And...I'm adapting quickly. Having some extended down time has been a gift horse as MC says...this week I ended up with 1200 TSS of self-flagelation and there's no sign of a crack. Sorta scary - that's a truckload of L5&6 - so I'm taking time off anyway. That's tough for a manic to do...but <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/performancemanager.asp">EweTSS</A> has taught me all too well that my intuition in these things isn't always on the mark.</P>
<P>One workout this week is worth mention - I'll call it the full spectrum VO2 workout. The interval durations are descending, the power levels increasing. 5-4-3-2-1 minute intervals with a 1:1 work:rest ratio. I started the 5 min int at 116% of FT then raised the power 15-20 watts each interval until the 2 & 1 min ints, which were done out of the saddle the final 30 seconds. 2 sets of these and boom, that was a 200+ TSS workout with the warmup/cooldown. </P>
<P>This stuff is my catnip, it fills my crackbag and morphs me into a racer. Utterly beautiful, purposeful suffering.</P>
<P>Desert living in the summer is another round of adaptation. Yesterday I was in the garage getting the Lev sweetened up some (new wheelset ala MC totally rocks) for a couple of hours - like 1-3pm - and realized it seemed cool. So I checked the temp and it was 101F. Freaky! I'm gonna freeze my ass off this winter. A benefit of heat adaptation seems to be leaning out - weight has tanked 5 lbs since getting here too. Of course I'll have to admit to carrying a lot more goo than I needed on arrival ;)</P>
<P>The foot is on the adaptation plan too. About every other day it feels really good, so I push it some, rest it, and it responds. I'm going to be normal again soon (my foot, that is) and that's a relief. You can only hear so many dire predictions from surgeons without letting a bit of doubt in.</P>
<P>Now for some tidbits on other folks...</P>
<P>Lynda's mojo is returning. She's not completely out of the woods, but feeling waaaay better. She will be at worlds - so depending on who you are you can be happy for her or start tweaking your gameplan accordingly ;)</P>
<P>Matt McFee put together an outstanding writeup of his GDR experience complete with tons of pics. <A href="http://www.spokejunkies.com/gdr/index.php?get_page=gdrintro">Check it out!</A></P>
<P>Jill struck out on a long solo journey in Alaska/Canada. <A href="http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/2007/08/golden-circle.html">Great story </A>from a fellow enduro nutjob. </P>
<P><A href="http://akrunning.blogspot.com/">Geoff</A> has been on a tear this summer. I think it's his first summer of serious competition (Geoff?) and based on his accomplishments it will be fun to watch his progression in endurance sport. His <A href="http://akrunning.blogspot.com/2007/08/slow-to-believe.html">last big race</A> gives me goose bumps. I really hope to meet Geoff and Jill in the spring.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2926" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBaby steps to the skytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:29102007-08-17T19:24:00Z<P>Tomorrow will be 6 weeks from the time of the shattered heelbone incident. Since it is feeling good enough to start thinking about weight bearing, I headed off to the doc for an x-ray to make sure all was well. Since I'm in StG now, this was a new (to me) doc - the one that put Lynda back together after her clavicle demolition. He was funny - wanted to talk about cycling, not my stinkin' foot. Can't blame him. "So how well does Lynda do in these long events? There's nobody around here that can stay with her." "Oh, she's one of the best in the world. We'll find out in a couple of weeks"</P>
<P>When he learned of my calcaneus fracture and looked at the original cat scan he started telling me how healing this thing could be a 2 year proposition. Why do these guys always have to sound so pessimistic? Jeez.</P>
<P>Then he looked at the x-rays, looked at my range of motion, and changed his tune dramatically. Everything is where it belongs, tight, and on the fast track. He said I'm half way there, 6 more weeks and he figures I'll be back to 100%.</P>
<P>Now it's time to let some cat's outta the bag.</P>
<P>The 24 hours of Moab is ON. Competition is gonna be fierce this year and I plan to be in the mix of it. It is the focus of my training right now, what ignites my fire. The competitive streak that seemed to falter in the spring has come back ten-fold. I may not be able to walk, but that hasn't slowed training. It's nuthin' a little tape and coffee can't take care of. This might sound odd to you hammerheads out there, but even at high power levels pedal forces are much less than bodyweight. I'm in the middle of a big ol' VO2 block right now, and doing it under 3k' where there are lots of Os is making quite the difference. Lots of perks here in StG so far.</P>
<P>To get it done (Moab, that is) I've got a new stable of bikes cooking up. As I've gone to the hospital and a long recovery twice now from the Yeti, it has lost favor. It'll be a backup bike at Moab. The other two bikes I'm really excited about. One is a Leviathon, the other is an innovative custom bike built by Brendan of <A href="http://www.sirenbicycles.com/">SirenCycles</A>. Between the two of them, there will be 3 29" wheels. My boxing gloves are on, bring it :-)</P>
<P>The final cat: I'm looking into a route traversing most of southern Utah. The idea is rather loose right now...but some things I expect are</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>4-7 days to complete it<BR>Extremely remote in spots<BR>timing to be mid-late april (sorry Scott)<BR>some intriguing twists to course routing...that's all I'll say for now ;)</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>Generally speaking, I'm thinking it should be similar in nature and difficulty to the Grand Loop. It's scarier on paper than the GL though - it will be very tough to bail. On GL, especially on the Tab, you just point your bike down some drainage if the shit hits the fan - not an option in S Utah. Hence the allure.</P>
<P>Hard to imagine a better way to get acquanted with my new surroundings. Lots of forays into unprobed territory on the plate for the fall/winter/spring. I'm tossing this out now so anyone interested can weigh in - and start thinking about all the strategy it's gonna take to pull off such a trek.</P>
<P>A good friend referred to my broken foot as a "gift horse" as while everyone is pushing through August burnout and heat, I've got that late winter excitement thing building. I'll have to agree with him!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2910" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThat desert lifetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28932007-08-12T11:10:00Z<P>No question: I'm a desert rat. I wasn't sure 2 weeks ago cause I don't think you can be a desert rat if you hate the desert summer...but I'm loving it. It could be other factors...such as being able to ride outside.</P>
<P>You read that right - it's no misprint. I still can't walk, but riding the road is fine. Leaving Durango also meant I left my ortho doc behind - along with the restrictive don't do anything for a couple of months advice. <A href="http://www.permanente.net/homepage/doctor/steve_palladino/">Steve Palladino </A>has been invaluable in providing advice for an athlete tailored aggressive rehab program while maintaining (and even building!) fitness levels. Of course I have taken it to new levels of aggressiveness...but the overriding philosophy is to pay attention to the foot/heel. It will let me know if what I'm doing is too much. More on healing in general later - but the gist is that the body is so dynamic, left to sedentary recovery it would heal at a sedentary pace. Stimulate it at the right time in the right way and accepted timelines go out the window. I'm becoming somewhat of an expert on the topic ;) </P>
<P>Mornings...there is no better time in the desert summer than the few hours surrounding sunrise. Riding as the sun rises in a deep blue sky rimmed with red rock walls and far away mountain ranges, it is all so clear and open. It does the same to my mind, these morning rides leave me mentally acute and optimistic. I couldn't be more psyched to be here.</P>
<P>St George is an interesting place. EA would never approve of it - the church to bar ratio is utterly out of proportion. In fact, I haven't seen a bar yet - is there one here? But the folks I've met thus far have been great. The cycling scene is big. Different than Durango, but big. Yesterday I saw no less than 20 riders in Snow Canyon. Based on the bikes coming and going at Desert Cyclery, I'd have to say a 7 inch travel beast will be required if I'm gonna ride with anyone here! Lot's of free-ride terrain with names like "fuzzy bunny." I had a peek at the fuzzy bunny and it didn't look rideable to me, not by a long shot.</P>
<P>Well it's 5:30AM. Time to get the sunrise fix of the day.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2893" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFriendstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28872007-08-06T10:52:00Z<P>What would we do without them?</P>
<P>When I lived on the north side of Durango I was lucky enough to have some great neighbors. 3 guys in their 20's, athletic, each very different but all with a quick smile and positive outlook. Gabe, China, and Chet. As it goes in this stuck up country we didn't have a lot to do with each other for several years...mostly cause I was "too busy." Last winter after my clavicle surgery it was tough to get much done. Chet would come over after it snowed, shovel my walk and wipe the snow off my truck. I never asked, he just did it...</P>
<P>It was hard not to notice the interesting stuff going on next door. Chet is a sculptor - there were stone heads, wooden signs, all sorts of stuff in their yard. They all ride a ton. No racing (right now) but if they wanted to they'd clean up. The riding they do is more along the lines of pure nuttiness - extracycles with kayaks attached. Extracycles, wind fairing, with skiis attached and riding to Purgatory 30 miles uphill in winter. Extracycles loaded with work tools and riding 60 miles to the next job. Friggin studs all of them.</P>
<P>When it came time to move to St George last week it was a no-brainer to ask their help. Since all I can carry is crutches, I was gonna need a lot of help. It was a bigger job than I imagined (I won't bore you with how much bike shit I have) but these gents hung tough until every last thing was loaded, tarped, tied. I was pretty speechless at the end of the loading.</P>
<P>Next up? The 3 musketeers are doing a full ridgeline traverse of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. 30+ days, nearly all above timberline.</P>
<P>The moral of the story here is get to know your neighbors! I guarantee you have the time.</P>
<P>Here on the St George end I was greeted by local honch Dave H and ace wrench Andy to unload all that stuff. It took about 1/10th the time it took to load it, thank goodness. So far I'd have to say this is one friendly town. Warm, but friendly ;)</P>
<P>Remember Ryan and Hillary who won the mixed field at BCBR? </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923531322989922"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUgV9OnWI/AAAAAAAABYA/IGL0AFB0lug/s400/P7040103.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>They had been planning on going to TransRockies. However, Ryan just took a nasty spill on that BC terrain, got nasty concussion and jacked shoulder out of the deal - so he's out for TR and Hillary isn't looking to replace him (he's irreplaceable anyway). There's no option to get a refund, so if anyone out there is interested in doing TransRockies, shoot me an email (contact me link above & left) and I'll put you in touch with her. The event is sold out so this is a great opportunity if you were late to the party and can still make it.</P>
<P>Ryan, here's to a speedy, full recovery.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2887" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSo you like riding the Colorado Trail do ya?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28702007-07-28T16:57:00Z<P>Well if so check this out: <A href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_recreation/article/0,2777,DRMN_23950_5647282,00.html">http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_recreation/article/0,2777,DRMN_23950_5647282,00.html</A></P>
<P>Large chunks of the CT, including Monarch Crest - are in danger of being closed to mountain biking. </P>
<P>Please, read the article and send your comments to the email address at the end of the article. Note the link for the address is broken - type it in.</P>
<P>Thanks!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2870" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHungertag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28622007-07-27T12:26:00Z<P>Cycling itches take many forms...</P>
<P>Earlier in the year, rehabing from the last big crash, I had this whole existential dilemna about where my cycling goals were going. My interests were all over the map - most of them in new directions. The thought of racing really seemed to get in the way of the learning process, and at one point had utterly lost all appeal. The springtime quest for something new took charge, and while training with others was awesome, I had no inclination to race others. It was about learning new tricks for the bag of lucky charms and learning where the limits of that bag lie.</P>
<P>It was a solitary process, more or less. When your cycling itches take you on 200+ mile rides at regular intervals that restricts the training partner pool considerably ;) 700 miles of solitary racing in 2 weeks (the grand loop double) was enough for even my solitary tendencies. Suddenly I was craving more social events, and the KMC and BCBR fit the bill to a 'T'.</P>
<P>Now, with every day I spend on my butt with my foot in the air, the hunger for *competition* grows by leaps and bounds. BCBR was by far more competitive than anything I've done this year; it ignited some latent passions... The healing is coming, the scheming has begun, a goal has been set.</P>
<P>Let's just say my season isn't quite over yet. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2862" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveProject 1: into the firetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28472007-07-21T13:21:00Z<P>As I nearly rear-ended this thing while day-dreaming along Hwy 160 the irony was not lost on me...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorge/photo#5089640356117578754"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RqII8BThhAI/AAAAAAAABb4/8VLxwmHLJfY/s400/P7180150.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>First, the medical update. My orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Field Blevins, is top notch. Nonetheless I've spent far too much time with him in the past 9 months. I met his family under less than favorable conditions Thursday. His son Christopher is one of the best 9 year old BMX riders on the planet and was all set for BMX worlds next weekend. Just before my appt, Christopher broke his arm in training, so the doc was attending to him. As both Christopher and I face missing a world's event this year, the doc wanted us to meet so we could comisurate a bit. Chris was sparkly and alert for having just broke an arm, been under pain meds, having it set and all that...that little guy had the eye of the tiger glowing brightly. He wasn't bummed, he was pissed! I just told him it would make him that much more hungry for the next one, and for this year's worlds the competition just got watered down a bit. He got that in an instant.</P>
<P>As for my situation - no surgery. It was a tough call and I've consulted with 4 surgeons to come to the conclusion. The outlook isn't as bad as I initially heard, but I'm still looking at 2 months of non-weight bearing. It's the lamest injury I've ever had. It seems so insignificant, but everyone I've talked to about it has put the fear of lifetime gimpiness in me to ensure I don't rush things. So I'm not rushing things. Well...not much ;)</P>
<P>The first project is well underway. Since I'll be back to normal training this fall...there's no way I'll maintain my sanity in a Durango winter after this layoff. I've been planning a move to warmer climes this fall anyway...this is the perfect time to get it done though. Destination: St George, Utah. I'll save so much in terms of gas money this winter - last winter/spring I was in Utah every weekend. It is a bit tricky though. Not being able to carry anything does create some issues, but good friends on both ends will make it possible.</P>
<P>The new home is a 3 br townhome. That's a lot of space for one, visitors welcome!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/StGeorge/photo#5089640347527644146"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RqII7hThg_I/AAAAAAAABbw/_BelJr1ZhbM/s400/P7180149.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2847" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe return of optimismtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28392007-07-13T13:45:00Z<P>There's no denying it. Coming back from Canada all busted up - long term - and having let my partner down has landed on my head like a ton of bricks (or a BC tree as it were). Not neccessarily in that order. It is an odd experience right now. There are so many parts of the week that glow in my memory, and those parts fill my subconcious. I know this cause when I wake in the morning it is from sweet dreams. Then the rib screams, the foot aches, I go for my crutches and the day begins...</P>
<P>Yet, the initial shock is wearing off (the diagnosis 2 days ago was a surprise dave bomb), opportunities are presenting themselves, the head is clearing. </P>
<P><A href="http://www.permanente.net/homepage/doctor/steve_palladino/">Steve Palladino</A>, Wattage forum member, has been fielding questions left and right for a day. His experience and responses have helped put this thing in perspective and remove some of the unknowns. Thank you Steve for shedding some light! </P>
<P>No matter how I slice it, there isn't going to be any serious training for 2-3 months, which realistically means no racing for 5-6. Christmas star anyone? As I learned in the collarbone experience, lots of time off = lots of fitness loss. At my age it doesn't come back in a week or a month. It takes a bit of time. Realizing this, I'm actually quite relaxed about the situation. There's no rush, aside from the ability to do enough to maintain sanity. After the collarbone incident, I rode like there was no tomorrow as soon as I could toss a leg over a saddle. I've ridden and raced more in the last 6 months than most do in a decade. That'll hold me over for a good long while, and in the meantime, I've got some cool stuff in the works. One project is gonna be over the top...something I've wanted to do for a long time, and the current situation makes it doable.</P>
<P>The support from friends has been tremendous - thank you everyone who has emailed, called, commented and sent the vibes. All have been well received...and it's been overwhelming.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2839" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveA mesmerizing fish storytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28212007-07-11T13:16:00Z<P>Impressions. That's what I'm left with in the wake of the BC Bike Race. I'm not sure if it's from trying to take out a tree with my noggin or the sameness of much of the route...but some of the days have already blended together, while others stand clear. So here comes a sampling of my impressions, straight from this stream of (un)conciousness.</P>
<P>Getting there was half the fun. plane/plane/bus/ferry/bus/taxi and 14 hours later we were crammed into a tiny, 129$/night 4th story room slightly larger than a postage stamp. Did I mention there was no elevator? It didn't seem to matter, I was fired up to be away from the everyday and set about building my bike up with gusto. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085922934322535474"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTT9l9OnDI/AAAAAAAABVo/WUnNZqAiSmA/s400/P6290058.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The next day we got our registration taken care of - which sounded uber complicated on the website but went quite smooth in reality. At the end there was a pep rally, the first of many where the race organizers would gush with enthusiasm about how great this race was going to be for us all for years to come. My eyes glazed over...these pep rallies never failed rile me a bit. Yet, I seemed to be alone in this sentiment. I was constantly reminded of a B movie called "The Wave." If you've seen it you know what I'm saying. Let the race speak for itself!</P>
<P>Earlier we took a short spin on a paved bike path. Not much of an opener, but the week would provide plenty of opportunity for that. As my spring schedule has been a bit enthusiastic and ultra filled, I showed up with a bizarre combo of feeling a bit smoked, but undertrained. I warned Lynda ahead of time to bring 7 jerseys.</P>
<P>The start was a mellow affair in an alley. Ahead was roughly 5 hours of gravel road terrain. I think we hit a short section of trail at one point. There was one decent climb, many views of clear cut logging areas. The forest is incredibly thick/dense on Vancouver island, it was a treat to be riding in such different environments. We just plugged along, not too terribly hard, but I was feeling sorta smoked at the end and was happy to jump on the back of the Spike boys for the 35k of pancake flat, straight as an arrow ass numbing rail trail finish. It was the perfect opening day for rusty legs, and we were surprised to be the first mixed team to the line. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085922998747044946"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUBV9OnFI/AAAAAAAABV4/Cx6znz4cfe8/s400/P7010065.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>For the rest of the race we would hold on to these yellow jerseys, building our GC pad each day. Until day 7, that is.</P>
<P>Day 2 I felt great. It was a long, flat, roadie beginning and we rode in a group of sometimes 50 riders for roughly 50 km. Then at the first aid station the terrain made a sudden change to the rougher side of things, and I went on the attack for about 6-7 minutes. Lynda and I were out of sight from the rest of the mixed teams. From this point forward, knowing we could make big gains on the longest stage of the race, I pushed hard on all the flats and we pretty much drilled climbs. It felt great, maybe I wasn't smoked afterall ;) Lynda was riding at a new level too, she is lighter and has grown her threshold power a few watts. Holy moly can that girl ride! We hit the finish line and watched the clock...tick tock...22 minutes was the gap to the next mixed team.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085652183879162882"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RpPdt19OnAI/AAAAAAAABU8/liSCLUMzre0/s400/P7020072.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>GC leaders get staged at the front. Several of the stages sported neutral starts behind a moto or police car. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923273624952002"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTURV9OnMI/AAAAAAAABWw/YkNl4VGP0uA/s400/P7020076.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Day 3 was a nutbuster. Lots and lots more gravel road, then a "Fantastic climb" in marketing speak that in reality was a bitch of hike/ride combo up washed out double track. The descent was incredible though. Steep, fast, inside an alder tunnel in spots, full of bear shit. I thought for sure we'd be coming face to face with a big bruin on this section.</P>
<P>No pics, but the race lead medical guy was always warning us about bears and cougars. "You must discuss with your partner what to do if you encounter a cougar. Ram a pump in it's eye, you gotta take it down!" I'm sure it was a had to be there moment, but his warnings were one of the highlights of the race. </P>
<P>So no bears today. We did get to ride Bucket of Blood, and I left some along with my fancy GPS. This was the first real singletrack of the race and it was a wakeup call for both of us. We were seeking advice from locals on how ride this stuff shortly after the finish. Julian Hine, NORBA guy from the 90's, was in the race and satisfied our curiosity. His tips helped a lot.</P>
<P>Port Alberni mascot.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923350934363378"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUV19OnPI/AAAAAAAABXI/Whkx_93JGrk/s288/P7020082.JPG" border=0></A><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923325164559586"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUUV9OnOI/AAAAAAAABXA/QpjjR5LbgXs/s288/P7020081.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Breaking in new singletrack for the locals.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923621517303170"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUll9OnYI/AAAAAAAABYQ/Gkk1lNKO9rg/s400/P7040105.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>On paper, day 4 looked like a race promoters nightmare. Get everyone on a bus by 5:15am for a 6:30 ferry ride, catch a second ferry, then race. This was probably my favorite day on the bike. We both were quite sparkly this day, riding with smiles - it was the 4th of July after all. We rode with Ryan and Hillary for a bit, but on the first descent really drilled it and the ensuing power line rollers and then it was just us. It's hard to put into words how in synch we were this day. I'd grab a banana right as Lynda was...on this one steep roller we both jacked our front derailurs at the same spot. Freaking hilarious, we're both fixing front Ds at the same time and laughing. We also worked with the <EM>other</EM> SS team a bit - waited for them on a road section. They were wanting to make some time on the 80+ GC bid as the course got steeper, and they seemed to have the legs to get it done. Sorry Tim & Rich. We backed it down rather than picking it up at the end. Still lots of racing left to do, gotta save those matches, right? We finished in Seshelt, grabbed some ice cream and headed to the beach. Can this day get any better? Then it was off to dinner, after which we were treated to a tribal dance performance that eventually had most of the racers dancing on the floor too. This was a doozy of a day, hard to conceive how much the BCBR staff stuffed into one day, but they pulled it off. Fantasy island day.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923904985144850"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTU2F9OnhI/AAAAAAAABZY/CidAZUeq_Kg/s400/P7050120.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Day 5 was an incredible day of singletrack riding. 2 major climbs, the last of which was semi tech singletrack. This stage likely created the most smiles at the finish. Folks were jubilant at the end - those that were still in once piece.</P>
<P>It turns out this day was the line of demarcation for me. On that last singletrack climb I had a seemingly benign slow speed uphill fall. The front wheel whipped a 180 and the left barend tagged my right rib cage on my way down, breaking rib #7 clean through. From here there was still a bit of climbing which I could barely do cause I couldn't breathe now, and then a shitload of techy descending. What was bringing smiles to everyone else was giving me a bad case of tourettes as every root, rock and bump was nuthing but pain, I couldn't lift the bars or even get out of the saddle and was pretty much on the ragged edge of control on flat pavement, this techy stuff was suddenly tough to manage. But manage we did and the stage eventually ended. After arriving at the finish, we got to wait 3 hours for the ferry then bus to the next camp. This really took a toll. I was compensating for the broken rib and by the time we hit the ferry my right shoulder and back was knotted and tense...I couldn't release it. Fun times, especially looking forward to the next day, the queen stage with the most climbing, tons of techy stuff.</P>
<P>Day 6 is bittersweet in my head. The views heading up the river gorge were outta this world. The water was high, unrunnable falls everywhere, the roar filling the canyon. I was in trouble though. The night before the race doc taped my ribs but I don't think it did much. I couldn't breath more than about half a lungful without the rib clicking. Clicking is bad. So I was reduced to rapid shallow breathing. It wasn't that effective, and I couldn't hold the pace of the paceline up the dirt road. Somehow I felt this was betraying my partner and it's hard to relate the depths of my dispair at that moment. As always though, we were right in synch; as I was wrestling my demons she started telling me that was good to get off the train cause they were too bursty or sketchy, this pace was perfect. </P>
<P>There were more surprises in store. Shortly after losing the train the hike a bikes started. Mean hike a bikes, at least to a guy that can't even lift his front wheel off the ground. Maybe I had no business starting this stage, I dunno. But to be honest, not starting wasn't even an option in my mind. On one hike a bike I was clearly struggling and folks were marching past us while I fumbled. Lynda wasted no time and grabbed my bike and hers, marching up some rocky pitch. This vision is indelibly etched in my memory, tiny 102 lb Lynda hauling 50 lbs of bike on her shoulders - and moving at a good clip too. </P>
<P>And so it went. It couldn't have been too bad cause the day seemed to go by in a flash. We started to get time gaps to the lead mixed team of Ryan and Hillary. At first it was 3 min. Really? I would have thought they were 30 min up the trail by then. Then 1 min. You kidding me? Then 20 sec. Sure enough, they were in sight. All I can say is they must have been tired on day 6. We eventually moved into first and kept it trucking up the nutty 32 switchback climb above Whistler to arrive at the insanely steep billy bob (or whatever) descent. My back was seizing again and things were not flowing...but the trail did finally end in much appreciated pavement taking us to the finish. </P>
<P>I'm an emotional racer as things go. I've been known to get choked up on podiums, and once even for a 4th place finish, LOL. From so many angles, this was one of the hardest rides of my life. It wasn't the trail - that would have been awesome under normal circumstances. There is nothing that pushes me like a team effort. Back in high school I could run a full second faster in the 100m split in a 400m relay as opposed to a 100 m sprint. Team efforts make me tick. The thought of letting a teammate down is beyond unbearable...so I pushed with all I had that day, and together, we won that stage. I have no doubt that Lynda carried me every bit along the way, and to think about it still gets me a bit choked up. </P>
<P>But alas, I screwed the pooch on day 7. With a 75 min GC pad, all we had to do was finish. My memory of what happened doesn't jive with Lynda's, and since she was concious for all of it her version is prolly closer to the truth. In any case, like VN said, I fell off a bridge, hit a tree that knocked me out, then landed (a long ways down) in a heap. When I came to, I tried to keep going, but it was hopeless. I was a bit disoreinted, left foot was jacked and swelling, and Lynda was pushing my bike again on flat ground. Our race was over.</P>
<P>--------------------------------</P>
<P>The magic ingredient to a good event is good people. This becomes increasingly clear to me as time goes on...here's but a sampling of some of the faces and friends at BCBR.</P>
<P>Tim and Rich (ya know, Dicky pink wheel guy) rode brillianly all week. Dicky really stepped it up late in the week, Tim set a hard pace to match but it was impressive to see them building mojo. And the entertainment factor..well yea that was there in full force!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923411063905554"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUZV9OnRI/AAAAAAAABXY/2Cbf_YLmZPE/s400/P7040090.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Karl and Jen rode a great race in the open mixed. They seemed to have great synergy and always had a smile. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923432538742050"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUal9OnSI/AAAAAAAABXg/tAjbai5TyiA/s400/P7040092.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Ryan and Hillary. Hillary races with 100% heart and only gets stronger in these long ones. Ryan was the first on the scene of my accident and settled us down a bit, taking control until the medics took me away. He gave no thought to his own race despite being in a position to win. I have mucho respect for this power couple.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923531322989922"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUgV9OnWI/AAAAAAAABYA/IGL0AFB0lug/s400/P7040103.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Matt and Leslie were tabbed as the team to beat but there luck was about as good as ours.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923574272662898"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUi19OnXI/AAAAAAAABYI/MbyIQt39nXQ/s400/P7040104.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Cornfish's leg after day 4.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923711711616418"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUq19OnaI/AAAAAAAABYg/VNyGBut3MkM/s400/P7050107.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Cornfish is tall and rides a 29er. His mojo was on the upswing BIG TIME all week. Super positive guy. You want to ride with him, trust me.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923724596518322"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUrl9OnbI/AAAAAAAABYo/sVY36IBNCJs/s400/P7050108.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Don't know these gents name but ran into them everywhere. They were having a blast. This is the big smile produced by stage 5 singletrack.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923814790831586"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTUw19OneI/AAAAAAAABZA/do8O7SrhQFQ/s400/P7050116.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>More post stage 5 smiles. Mark and David from Breckenridge rode an awesome race. We rode with them quite a bit. Parnters in suffering, one day they pulled us, one day we pulled them...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085923874920373762"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTU0V9OngI/AAAAAAAABZQ/Wt_EygNxs-E/s400/P7050119.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Yep, it's the people that make an event great.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/BCBikeRace07/photo#5085924046719065698"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/hairball.dh/RpTU-V9OnmI/AAAAAAAABaA/rKA_o87s1cs/s400/P7080138.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>---------------------------------------</P>
<P>OK, this was about the hardest blog to write ever. Lots of mood swings in it cause it took about 5 tries to get it done. In the middle of the writing of this biatch, I learned that my injuries are far worse than expected. In short, my heel bone is shattered and it is one of those things that doesn't seem much at first, but is quite possibly the end of the season for me. No hard riding for 4-6 months was the last thing I heard today...other phrases included "life changing injury" and "we gotta take care of this one Dave" as if the collarbone was childs play. I'm really struggling with the reality of another long rehab right now...seems like I'm just getting going after the last one. </P>
<P>Sooner or later this shell shocked state will give way to bold action, but not quite yet.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2821" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBCBR quickie posttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28182007-07-10T19:56:00Z<P>We're back and I'm alive to tell the tale. And what a tale it is...</P>
<P>We didn't head up there with the intention to win, but rather more of a cycling vacation. In retrospect, that was a silly notion. Lynda & I are what we are - pin a number on our bikes and the strategem is never ending. Our teamwork far surpased that of TransRockies, and the closer to start time the more aggressive our plans became. Surprise, surprise ;) It was dreamlike for the first 5 days...</P>
<P>Anyone reading this is prolly wondering what happened at the end...the VeloNews article only reveals the surprise ending, which is a shame cause the the previous day we did an interview with Jason Sumner. He had all the story but I guess it wasn't all newsworthy. That's the media for ya. Whatever VN.</P>
<P>I'll get to it in time. As I've got another round of bone healing to get done before riding again, I'll have plenty of time. Right now I just wanted to let everyone know that checks in here that all is well. Thanks for the emails!</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2818" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveH2Otag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28112007-06-26T12:58:00Z<P>We're all oddly shapen bags of water. Without it we perish; <A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/2007/06/e12-in-summary.html">too much of a good thing </A>is possible. GDR racers are struggling with the heat and aridity and it's taking a big toll on everyone out there. The most <A href="http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/">recent reports </A>are filled with the personal drama (trauma?) of this struggle.</P>
<P>Sunday I did a little cruise of the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/06/18/1313.aspx">Alpine Loop</A>. As I took in the breathtaking scenery and high altitude climbs, water was everywhere. My thoughts drifted towards the past, current and future struggles of the enduro crowd out there. With a tinge of guilt I savored the cool temps and abundant H20.</P>
<P>The stats surprised me. It's the easiest 10k of climbing around. Maybe it's the water ;)</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080358637259553426"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoEPQ4FxepI/AAAAAAAABRs/DpQ1mzJCWxo/s400/alpine%20loop%20profile.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>The route is never far from liquid gold.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080100922041924050"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAk34FxedI/AAAAAAAABP8/oFbaXFjes8I/s400/P6240033.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>It comes from the highest places...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101291409111634"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAlNYFxelI/AAAAAAAABQ8/NJSY_DgzYeY/s400/P6240044.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>to follow the path of least resistance.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101188329896498"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAlHYFxejI/AAAAAAAABQs/0Vmemj27O9Y/s400/P6240041.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>We try to control it...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080100977876498914"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAk7IFxeeI/AAAAAAAABQE/J5jmGjz_Tvk/s400/P6240035.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>...play on it...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101145380223522"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAlE4FxeiI/AAAAAAAABQk/HwWfxx84vb0/s400/P6240040.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>...span it...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101252754405954"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAlLIFxekI/AAAAAAAABQ0/9XrClorQTts/s400/P6240042.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>...carve it.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101321473882722"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAlPIFxemI/AAAAAAAABRE/DTb_HOOXemI/s400/P6240045.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Ahhhhhh.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5080101012236237298"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RoAk9IFxefI/AAAAAAAABQM/3kRSe-IBTyY/s400/P6240037.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2811" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveArmchair GDR analysistag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:28002007-06-22T12:35:00Z<P>There are times when it sure is fun to *watch* a race rather than ride it. GDR is one of those. Lots of suffering going on out there - body aches and ills, broken frames, frozen freehubs, headtrippin' drama - the Great Divide Race has got it all this year.</P>
<P>I'm a visual guy - I need plots to get a feel for what's going on at the front of the race. So, using <A href="http://topofusion.com/divide/GDR07.htm">Scott's chart data</A>, I generated a few charts to get a good glimpse of status for the first week of the race.</P>
<P>The first chart simply shows distance covered at call in times. I didn't do it for all riders...let me know if I've missed your favorite rider and I'll see what I can do. One way to look at this chart is to notice the change in horizontal distance between points. For instance, you can see that Matthew gained some time on Jay in the last round, since less time lies between the points at 950 miles than between 790 miles.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR07/photo#5078872097538799970"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnvHQ4FxeWI/AAAAAAAABOw/CTj6VtWYx6E/s400/GDR%20time-dist-week1.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Here's the cumalitive average speed for the top 3 riders at each check in. See any trends here?</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR07/photo#5078872101833767282"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnvHRIFxeXI/AAAAAAAABO4/I4rRb0YXq4U/s400/GDR%20cum-speed-week1.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>This is the money plot. It shows the average speed between call ins. Think of this as the current momentum plot.</P>
<P>Clearly, as far as the start goes, Matthew is shooting himself in the foot by doing the Canadian prologue. I just read yesterday he did 200+ miles in rough weather in 36 hours before the GDR start. He lined up with a big load of fatigue, so was unable to hang with Jay and Pete.</P>
<P>That ain't the end of the story tho. Matthew has some serious "mo" building. Mo as in momentum, and maybe mojo...his pace is generally trending upwards! Pete has had a triple whammy the past couple of days...and Jay appears to be slowing down.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR07/photo#5078872101833767298"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnvHRIFxeYI/AAAAAAAABPA/w-5PqussyvA/s400/GDR%20curr-speed-week1.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Interesting stuff. Time will tell...but based on Jay's aggresiveness in the construction zone, he's still burning some high octane crack. He nailed the fast start he was looking for, in the next week we'll know if it was a good strategy. It very well could be that some of Pete's current issues were triggered or compounded by trying to stick with Jay's hot pace - and that's what he was hoping for. I've tried that strategy myself a few times but it always backfired :(</P>
<P>In the scheme of things, Jay's lead is pretty darn slim. Given the current trends, if I was a betting man my money would be for Matthew to pull out the W. His mo is building, he knows the route well, has finished the race multiple times...and Jay senses the hot breath on his neck.</P>
<P>It's gonna be a nailbiter, that's for sure!</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2800" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGDR overview maptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27872007-06-20T12:57:00Z<P>Is anyone not completely wrapped up in the GDR updates? I didn't think so ;)</P>
<P>Jay P. has really busted the start wide open, but now they've all been moving awhile it sounds like the effort is starting to really sink in. From his last call in:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><STRONG>Uh, JP here. It's 7:20 PM, Tuesday, and uh, I just got into Flagg Ranch. And uh, had a decent day. Things are taking shape. Waking up, and taking a long time before I can actually sit down, due to the rear end. And uh, had quite a bumpy ride on that stretch from Island Park, on the railroad bed. And uh, other than that, you know, starting to get hot. The heat's here. So... Just uh, going OK though. So I'm just clicking away. Feels good to be here in Wyoming. So, just feeling the vibes from everyone that knows I'm here. Alright, I'll check in with you next time. Thanks.</STRONG></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>I can relate to that. He's on an Orbea hardtail so for sure his butt is taking a beating. There's no way I'd do the event on a HT but I'm soft. I don't know the history of this race that well and don't know if it has ever started this fast (for the leaders). It sure seems like JP is burning a ton of matches early on. The tough part of an <A href="http://davebyers.blogspot.com/2007/06/2007-great-divide-race-begins-go-jayp.html">aggressive start strategy </A>is backing it down. Everytime I start hard it becomes a "go till ya blow" event.</P>
<P dir=ltr>I put together a couple of overview maps with the names of the towns from the <A href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatdivide.cfm">ACA GD stage overview maps</A>. It helps a bit when trying to get context between the reports and the actual locations of the riders. </P>
<P dir=ltr>Here's the northern half. </P><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnkqOIFxeTI/AAAAAAAABOA/gJ8v9ZrVDf0/s800/GDR%20north003.jpg" border=0></A>
<P></P>
<P>The southern half. KMC and GLR route included for perspective. Geez...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR07/photo#5078136481310144834"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnkqOYFxeUI/AAAAAAAABOI/52d9ES-rZvk/s800/GDR%20south2.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Rock on riders!</P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>Late edit: Doh! Of course I should have known Scott would have a GPX available for this beast. That means we get to check out a profile too. Lot's of spikes riding this Great Divide route.</FONT></P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR07/photo#5078148528693410130"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rnk1LoFxeVI/AAAAAAAABOY/AkhSR2jig_U/s800/GDR%20profile.jpg" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2787" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKMC photoblogtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27812007-06-18T17:38:00Z<P>After seeing the pics Mark took, I guess I didn't take that many. But, here's a tiny sampling of the scenic wonders all the KMC riders were treated to. </P>
<P>Fred W and his "secret weapon."</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235109408634786"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2boFxd6I/AAAAAAAABKQ/tQjHKvjQplQ/s400/P6160001.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The hosts. Not the best shot but it's all I have. I tried SO hard to get a shot of Meridith. She's camera shy defined.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235139473405874"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2dYFxd7I/AAAAAAAABKY/gOh-FJfXOqI/s400/P6160002.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>You kiddin' me? We get to ride on the rim of the GC? The canyon was filled with echos at this point. Multiple yahoo's blending into one big woooooo.....</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235182423078850"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2f4Fxd8I/AAAAAAAABKg/K6NG_qs_KlY/s400/P6160004.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The tightest ribbon of singletrack anywhere, about an inch the either side of your tire (well, my 2.10 tire that is) is all you get. Slightly downhill with fat tailwind = more yahoo to woooo.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235311272097778"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2nYFxd_I/AAAAAAAABK4/d_TpPhlqNbQ/s400/P6160007.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>East rim views. You can see well over 100 miles. Oh my.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235405761378322"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2s4FxeBI/AAAAAAAABLI/04Gxoyi1MZQ/s400/P6160009.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Taken from the same spot as the previous pic. You're in the high mountains, looking into deserts.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235470185887778"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX2woFxeCI/AAAAAAAABMk/QMLReGhurRM/s400/P6160010.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Same spot again, other direction. The trail surface changed constantly but was always awesome.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235534610397234"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX20YFxeDI/AAAAAAAABLY/FEY6TBPB3HE/s400/P6160011.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>After the AZT we bombed off the top of the Kaibab and into a P/J zone with difficult riding, ala the Paradox. 9-10 hours in and temps in the 90's. Mandatory shade breaks started. I was soooooo happy I filled to capacity at the store up high as well as grabbing a liter of pepsi. I left the store with 260 oz of fluids, finished with 35.</P>
<P>This pic is heinous! These lenses were a friendly gift from MC a couple weeks ago. They also obscured the GPS. I had to remove glasses to see the GPS and consequently made a lot of navigation fubars.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235564675168322"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX22IFxeEI/AAAAAAAABLg/8QQ3oNZPp20/s400/P6160012.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The bike didn't get shade. I was getting grumpy at it about this point...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235624804710482"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX25oFxeFI/AAAAAAAABLo/l_Xicm8HlSo/s400/P6160014.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The final climb was a doosy. All the steep pitches are over 20% grade. It's also part of the great western trail, an off road vehicle route. When I first saw the GWT sign I almost cried. That meant we'd have moto's torn up surfaces up the climb. And that's how it worked out.</P>
<P>The climb was up through the burn area of the Warm Fire (odd name for a fire, eh?) so no shade to be had. But the wildflowers post-burn were off the hook.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235775128565874"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX3CYFxeHI/AAAAAAAABL4/MF7Dp9PKxco/s400/P6160016.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Heading home I came across this scene. A ranger was blocking the road so I quized her:</P>
<P>DH: Is there a fire somewhere?</P>
<P>Ranger: No, were hauling water to a game stock tank above Vermillion Cliffs.</P>
<P>DH: That's odd. What did the critters do before you started hauling water for them?</P>
<P>Ranger: Well, before we showed up the water table was healthy and there were many springs that are now dry.</P>
<P>DH: hmmmmm.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235848143009954"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX3GoFxeKI/AAAAAAAABMQ/QzeoLP2bBZE/s400/P6170019.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>A touch out of sequence, but here's the profile of the route. My 10 miles of off route stuff was removed for this - this is the exact course.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077424019250182338"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnaiPoFxeMI/AAAAAAAABM0/4Gxz1dDsSzc/s400/KMC%20route%20profile003.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Floating in the mid-day heat, dreaming about a trip down the big ditch rounded out the experience.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235891092682930"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX3JIFxeLI/AAAAAAAABMY/oExmrj18wPk/s400/P6170020.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Hard to imagine, but the long awaited BC Bike race is just around the corner. Lynda and I leave next week. Hope I've got some matches left!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2781" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKMC short posttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27792007-06-18T03:07:00Z<P>Yesterday was the innaugural Kaibab Monster Cross. The most fitting term in the title is monster...</P>
<P>15 salty enduro vets showed up, 2 finished. The re-route added considerable mileage and difficulty, and I added 8 miles and 1000' of climbing just for good measure. The GPS only works if you use it wisely, doh! As best I can tell, the official course was 135 miles with about 16,500' climbing. It's funny that my total mileage should fall at 143 cause in the last 2-3 hours I was getting the strong impression the route was on par with KTR as far is difficulty. Except the KTR has more water availability. Flashback to the Paradox multiple times...</P>
<P>We were all a bit surprised, but everyone rode smart and relatively conservative as we all knew the re-route was unkown territory. Everyone had a great time, finished happy, the cameraderie was a lot of fun. Everyone camped at the same spot so we got to relive our day's adventure for a bit more before snoring became rampant. Dave and Meredith did a killer job working with the FS, made cool trophies (!), brought ribs to go with my bbq grill and cake to finish it off, yum!</P>
<P>Highlight of the day was an 18 mile section of the AZT with views of the east rim of the Grand Canyon. Trail conditions and views were off the charts, nicest chunck of trail I've put tire to in AZ. Put this event on your calendar for '08, it's full of scenery, wildlife, good trail, challenges, and more challenges just for good measure. One of the coolest parts of the race? Staging from our campsite and getting to know everyone after the event. Nobody opted for a lodging option (not sure there are any close?) so it was one big happy family.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007KMC/photo#5077235534610397234"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RnX20YFxeDI/AAAAAAAABLY/FEY6TBPB3HE/s400/P6160011.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>It took me a bit over 12 hours, Brian aka Donkey finished a bit over 13. Everyone rode 12 hours or more so a big day for everyone. Those roads we all thought were gonna be smooth and fast, well, weren't! Roadblocks awaited some as well in the form of Mormon reinactment parties. The report I got was "a sea of humanity" as one of the Matt's was flying downhill as he came around a bend, there they were, 200 folks dressed like pioneers covering every bit of road.</P>
<P>Yep, we had a lot to talk about over dinner. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2779" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveRandom acts of thinkerin'tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27742007-06-15T12:13:00Z<P>There may not be an official prizelist for <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">GLR</A>, but the <EM>unofficial</EM> prizes have been steadily forthcoming. Lots of intangibles like new and/or rekindled friendships...and some tangibles too. <A href="http://www.lacemine29.com/resume.htm">MC</A> gave me a few lenses for my M-frames and some clothing so I could finally get outta that chammy (that's an evil thief, wherever you are may the fleas of 1000 camels...oh nevermind). Yesterday, <A href="http://www.topofusion.com/diary/">Scott</A> gave me a copy of <A href="http://www.topofusion.com/">TopFusion</A>.</P>
<P>GPS software is something I've been using a lot lately, and I've come to the realization there is no package out there that does everything. I end up using one for route planning, one for GPS interface, yet another for performance analysis. Depending on the task, I'll use 1 of 3 for certain operations on track data. </P>
<P>TopoFusion is quite complex with all the built in features and the more I use it, the more I prefer it over others. One feature is track playback - you can look at where you were, in time (or distance), at what elevation, how fast, and see a little guy riding or running at that location on the map. I'm really interested in how many times I stopped and for how long in the GL, and this is the only software that makes that analysis easy.</P>
<P>Scott & I shared our GPS data from our respective GLRs, and it's been fun & educational to compare. Scott is apparently unaffected by sleep depravation ;)</P>
<P>It's fitting that I should be talking with Scott about multi-day racing. In 2005, I read <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=141838">his account of his individual time trial </A>of the <A href="http://www.topofusion.com/azt/">Arizona Trail</A>. The pictures drew me in, but the play by play just astounded me. I had no idea anything like that was possible and the story - and Scott - seemed larger than life.</P>
<P>Anyone that's trained and studied for a big goal knows about the post-event "now whats?", and I've had my share. Fortunately, they've all been positive and not at all depressing. If anything, GLR taught me that anything really is possible. So I've been looking with keen interest at the GDR (incidently, this year's version is set to start in a few hours as I write this), but the lack of real mountain biking makes it a mental struggle. I am intrigued by a 2-3 week effort, but can't commit to doing it all on dirt roads. The AZT, however, is puuuuurfect. I've been emphatuated with AZ since I read about Doc Holiday when I was 10 years old, and it continues on even though I've spent many years there. Sky islands, desert, mountain and canyon, singletrack and hikes...the AZT is filling a big spot in my mind right now. Eventually it will see a race similar to GLR...but can I wait that long? </P>
<P>The planning has already begun.</P>
<P>Here's a bonus pic of the East Rim of the GC taken from Scott's AZT trip. I'm not sure where exactly it was taken from, but in the final miles of the <A href="http://kaibabmonstercross.blogspot.com/">KMC</A> tomorrow we'll be dropping off this rim to the low areas to the east, only to climb back up. Good times await.</P><IMG src="http://www.topofusion.com/aztr/DSC01022.JPG"><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2774" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKaibab Monster Cross!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27632007-06-12T15:37:00Z<P><A href="http://bedrockandparadox.blogspot.com/">Mr. Ionsmuse</A> has strung together an awesome section of forest roads and singletrack in the Kaibab National Forest, adjacent to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. He's calling his legitimate child the <A href="http://kaibabmonstercross.blogspot.com/">Kabiab Monster Cross</A> - 120 miles of dirty goodness this Saturday. It's not that far from Durango and most is new ground for me - how can I resist?</P>
<P>Here's what the mapping reveals:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5075201996444759858"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rm69U4FxdzI/AAAAAAAABI4/15RnvMLTTm0/s400/KMC%20route%20profile.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Probably some wild inaccuracies in here so don't take is as gospel, not that you can read the details anyway ;) I come up with significantly less than expected mileage on the Rainbow Rim section of singletrack, so I may not have the entrance/exit points right. Or, maybe it really is that twisty...anyway, I get ~ 97 miles and 11k' climbing. The 120 miles is gonna be alot closer to reality though, this mapping technique always comes up short. In any case, it looks like a very fast 120 miles.</P>
<P>I have done the Rainbow Rim before - incredible views of the North Rim of the GC, and the only decent singletrack on the GC where bikes are allowed to my knowledge. That alone makes the trip worth it - toss in 37 miles of the Arizona Trail and a meeting of a bunch of enduro nutz in the deep forests of the Kaibab and you have a winner.</P>
<P>Post GLR recovery has gone better than expected - probably cause I stopped to eat and/or sleep whenever the urge struck. MC's take after reading my report: I was a Grand Loop tourist. What can I say? The best thing about not drilling myself into the ground is I get to keep on playing! Sunday I tested the legs out on 6k' climbing up the Colorado trail, all systems are go. OK, maybe the butt is still a bit tender... </P>
<P>If any local Durango riders are interested, give a shout out and we'll carpool it. </P>
<P>Chances are I'll be hauling a gas BBQ grill for the event, so bring some grillin' goodies!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2763" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGreat Divide Race rider spotlight: Matt McFeetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27552007-06-10T11:50:00Z<P>Thanks to this blog, it seems after every big event or ride I meet new folks. This may come as a surprise, but here in Durango I'm somewhat under the radar. Cycling is huge here, but so is the spirit of competition - NORBA, USCF, and collegiate type events dominate the scene. I don't know one person in the region that would be interested in most of the stuff I do on two wheels.</P>
<P>That all changed yesterday. I got an email from a guy offering congrats on the GLR finish and that he was about to head out for <A href="http://www.greatdividerace.com/">GDR</A> in a few days - and that he lives in the neighboorhood & we should join up for some backcountry fun when he gets back (and recovers). That was a real shocker.</P>
<P>Meet Matt McFee. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR/photo#5074256077142456066"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmthBIFxdwI/AAAAAAAABIM/QtOIQPlm8yg/s400/matt_closeup.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Me: "Is there anything I can do for ya before you head out?"</P>
<P>Matt: "Pray?"</P>
<P>I can relate to that sentiment. Turns out he was going for a sendoff ride on one of his favorite loops - Hotel Draw -> Corral Draw -> Hermosa creek. He wanted to make sure he remembered what it was like to have fun on his bike, or something like that ;) I hadn't been down Corral Draw before, so jumped at the chance to ride new trails with new friends.</P>
<P>It was an international group. Matt's wife Katrin (left) is from Estonia, Gabby is Czech. They were both as strong as you'd expect from Euro chicks!</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR/photo#5074255922523633346"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmtg4IFxdsI/AAAAAAAABHs/fovFjcxd0b0/s400/P6090006.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>If we did 20 miles, Sampson did 100.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GDR/photo#5074255982653175506"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmtg7oFxdtI/AAAAAAAABH0/2pBOw-uzze8/s400/P6090009.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>I've seen Matt's food supply, it looks like he's got enough to cover the Great Divide a few times over. One of his "secrets" is the <A href="http://www.bigsurbar.com/">Big Sur bar</A>. He gave me one to try out and wow - the calories of 3 powerbars in a package not much bigger than a powerbar, and tastes like pecan pie. </P>
<P>Just in case you didn't click that GDR link above and don't know what it is - that would be the Great Divide Race, a mountain bike race from Canadian border in Montana (yea Rocco, the port of Rooseville of strip search infamy) to the Mexican border in Antelope Wells, NM. It follows the great divide, climbs some enormous number of feet, and has never been done in less than 16 days - that honor is held by Mike Curiak. The race, like the Grand Loop, is fully self-supported. Hard to imagine how tough this one is...and yes, I'm keenly interested...</P>
<P>The race starts this friday (June 15) at noon. Updates will be made via text to <A href="http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/">http://greatdividerace.blogspot.com/</A> and via voice to <A href="http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/">http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/</A>.</P>
<P>Matt, pack lots of chammy butter and have a great race!</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
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<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2755" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBig Mojo on the Grand Looptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27412007-06-07T13:24:00Z<P>The morning of the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">Grand Loop Race </A>I was relaxing in the lobby of the GJ Super 8, enjoying some "free" raisin bran and reading the paper. I turned to the horoscope section just for fun and found this:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><EM>You will have abundant energy the next few days but it's best to pace yourself - you can't do much with a pile of ashes</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>Let's just say the pre-race vibes were as good as they get. I had a rare day to relax before the start. While that may drive some nutz, that's a luxury I never have, and it set a great tone and mood for the start. MC read it as overconfidence, but in truth I was oh so relaxed, content with the prep I'd done for this monster, and was downright excited to get going. </P>
<P dir=ltr><STRONG>Planning</STRONG></P>
<P dir=ltr>I'd ridden much of the course already. The <A href="http://www.2pedal.com/multiDay/Kokopelli/">Koko</A> obviously has seen my tracks a few times, and 2 weeks prior I'd <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2007/05/21/2654.aspx">attempted a solo GL venture </A>only to be turned back by snow at the beginning of the <A href="http://2pedal.com/USA/CO/Tabeguache/">Tabeguache trail</A>. So 2/3 of the course I'd already ridden; I'd generated routes via mapping software to be loaded to my GPS for all of it, knew the profiles and elevations well, had done my homework.</P>
<P dir=ltr>Weight and heat were big concerns. I wanted to minimize heat exposure because in late spring/early summer I'm not adapted to it yet. If there was a way to hit all the big climbs at night or early in the day...and lighter than 2 weeks ago...</P>
<P dir=ltr>Putting these concerns in my pressure cooker lead me to a plan of a fairly aggressive start with minimal food supplies, relying on the Bedrock store for resupply. Then move on to Tab creek for a short bivvy, getting some much needed rest - before making the big push to attain the Uncompaghre plateau in the darkness before the heat set it.</P>
<P dir=ltr>The other key piece of the puzzle was the <A href="http://www.co.blm.gov/ubra/TabeguacheTrailLog.htm#divide225mesa">Roubideau</A> section of the Tabeguache. Difficult routefinding, difficult trail conditions - I had to be through that section before dark set in on Sunday, otherwise I knew I'd end up having a forced bivvy. Beyond that, the plan was to go until I blew. I expected routefinding and trail conditions to be much easier after Roubideau. If I could keep going to the end, great - if not, so be it. Sleepytime is good too.</P>
<P dir=ltr>As it turned out, I stuck darn close to that plan and had very few problems. The big push from Tab creek all the way to the end was a bit over enthusiastic, but I was still able to finish the loop in <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page5.html">record time</A>. Here's how it went.</P>
<P dir=ltr>--------------------------------------------------------------------</P>
<P dir=ltr>Planning for 3 days self-supported is new to me. I've been on one very steep learning curve since doing the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2007/03/12/2421.aspx">first overnighter back in March</A>. I started the GLR at least 25 lbs lighter than my first overnigher (!). It turns out you don't need slippers, a coffee press, a big coffee mug and who knows what else I was hauling. My equipment was pared down to this (not shown is my sleeping kit that attached to the bars). About 14 lbs before water but including food.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072995839248528114"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbm1oFxcvI/AAAAAAAAA-8/pln2mXhRAzk/s400/P5310004.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>We (all 7 of us) met at the Tageguache trailhead in GJ with MC to head to the official start at the Kokopelli trailhead in Loma. At 6pm, it was fairly warm and arid, but not so much that we didn't chat like schoolgirls for the entire 20 miles. We rolled along at a nice easy pace; Stephan & I compared notes on our "secret" weapons, homebrew LED light systems that threw huge lumens but burned few watts; MC and I chatted about all sorts of stuff - he's a real "idea man" and the more time I spend with him the more I want to; Chris and I chatted about bikes, tires, prep - ya know the geeky stuff.</P>
<P>One gent made the haul from Washington for the race, Dave Kirk.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996127011337058"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnGYFxc2I/AAAAAAAAA_0/HydIKbxr9gs/s400/P6010011.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Dave had the most unique bike setup/gear choice. Everything was on his bike, he didn't even have a pack. That had to be comfy, at least on the rideable parts of the course.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996092651598674"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnEYFxc1I/AAAAAAAAA_s/U67Lgnxu5IQ/s400/P6010010.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>By comparison, Chris had almost nothing on his bike.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996036817023810"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnBIFxc0I/AAAAAAAAA_k/sRS7qEUSWCY/s400/P6010009.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>MC ambles up the course a few minutes ahead of us so he can snap some shots of us coming through. We are left to make our own start. As we head up the first hill out of the parking lot, I move forward and hear Stephan say something like "well I'm not holding that pace" and that's the last I heard of anyone. Solo time from there on out.</P>
<P>As I came by MC, he said he bet <A href="http://www.topofusion.com/diary/">Scott</A> a pint of ice cream I'd take 6 hours off the record and wished me a good ride. Considering he held the record, I found this remarkable and a real testament to his character. It was a great sendoff, and added to my already building mojo by providing a concrete goal to shoot for. I wasn't gonna be responsible for MC losing a bet if I could help it!</P>
<P>Riding to Salt Creek in the daylight was a treat. I'd done this section 5 times this year, each time loaded, each time in the dark. I never really liked it that much. But in the waning light it was a hoot! It only took about 1:45 to hit the top of the hikeabike, and Plesko was close behind. He was looking quite strong. I changed into clear lenses and fired up the deisel.</P>
<P>Everything was flowing like butter, the desert landscape crunching under my wheels at a nice clip. I don't know if there were tailwinds, but it felt like it. A nearly full moon was casting light and shadows all over, the temp was perfect, and damn was it good to be cruising steadily. At the top of the Bitter Creek climb I looked out and saw all the riders lights close together. It let me know this was a race, not a solo TT - and the sensation made it completely different. I realized that with competition present, I was riding considerably faster than 2 weeks previous.</P>
<P>And so the desert section went - quickly. I had a flat spot between WW and Cisco, but the McGraw section started to wake me up and by Yellowjacket I was on fire. The turbo kicked in big time here and I knocked that bit out in 1:05. When I hit Dewey bridge the moonlight was making the white stanchions glow so bright I busted out the biggest cowboy howl I could muster. I was just overwhelmed. Riding across the bridge, somebody was camped on it. A group of sight impaired teens (as I later learned) were camped on the bridge. No wonder they were so confused as I stepped over them and informed them there would be 6 others behind me - this was a race. "Whhhaaaat?" Just past the bridge, somebody comes running my way - it was <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/">Lynda</A>, my crack buddy who was camping there. She was on a family rafting trip and wanted to get some shots of the riders coming through. We chatted a bit, I ate a lot, a quick hug and it was off to the shandies.</P>
<P>I had not been looking forward to the Shandies. These steep sections of Entrada Bluffs road are super loose sand with rocks, traction is tough and when loaded it can be really draining. Not tonight. I was making good time, so did all the Shandies in the dark. The sun didn't come up until after Hideout actually. That was perfect timing for a breakfast stop - time to make coffee and have a bagel with hummous - yum! I was stoked to be here so early and was way ahead of schedule. Taking 30-40 minutes for breakfast was just fine. I learned in the solo ride that going sans coffee is suicide for my GI, so I brought lots and lots of the black gold on this trip.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996260155323298"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnOIFxc6I/AAAAAAAABAU/J_ypwSVtLtc/s400/P6020016.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>All caffeinated and fed now, the climb up North Beaver mesa went quickly and I began the <A href="http://www.co.blm.gov/ubra/paradox.htm">Paradox trail </A>by10am or so. The goal to do the climbing before the heat of the day so far was on track. </P>
<P>I really love this section of riding. There's a lot of climbing to it, and it hurt me some last time. This time I was mentally prepared and and just cruised along soaking up every view the east side of the La Sals could offer - and that is many. This is a hidden wonderland...</P>
<P>Flowers were everywhere.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996612342641682"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnioFxdBI/AAAAAAAABBM/YOt7i3pDIBw/s400/P6020024.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>It's all gravel road - the surface at least isn't very tough.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996393299309522"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnV4Fxc9I/AAAAAAAABAs/HFTzNeV5JZ4/s400/P6020020.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Just before dropping to the paradox valley (named so because the Dolores river carves across it, not through it as every other river in the world does in it's canyon) Buckeye res was oh so inviting. I now regret not spending some time going for a dip here. Beauty spot.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996715421856818"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnooFxdDI/AAAAAAAABBc/kVsI7bq4qVs/s400/P6020026.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The descent down Carpenter ridge is steep! It's a real brake burner and I felt my levers getting closer to the bars.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996809911137362"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbnuIFxdFI/AAAAAAAABBs/d8MyeExJgPM/s400/P6020029.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Headwinds in the Paradox valley, and they were pretty warm. Nonetheless, I hit Bedrock store at 2:18. I was shooting for 4, so I had some time to kill. First things first: get some ice cream, a Frappaccino, and a V8 and put it all down the hatch. That done, I considered the next move. It was in the mid 90s outside and no clouds. If I kept moving I'd be at Tab creek by 5:30 or so - then what? I don't like dry camps, and the next spot beyond tab creek with water is the far side of Glencoe Bench - 4-5 hours when feeling good from tab creek. That just was way more than I wanted to do - and I don't think I could have. It was hot. Plus, I was a bit sleepy...and there was a comfy chair in the Bedrock store...and a swamp cooler...and as it was built in the 1800's it was as if time was standing still - peaceful. I sat in that chair and had a great, cooling nap. The gal in the store didn't say a peep and I thanked her when I woke. She was completely unfazed.</P>
<P>Next, get the supplies to finish the route. Some of that included pop-tarts, but I didn't want the entire box, only 3 of the 4. A group of Prescott college students had drove up, on a boating trip by the looks of their gear. I asked them if they wanted the extra pop tart and one guys eyes really lit up. Sweet tooth in the group, eh? We chatted about what I was doing - they were fascinated. Then, one of them offered me an orange. I'm a real fruit bat and to my dismay there was no fresh fruit at the store - my mouth burst into watering mode. "Hell yea!" As he goes to get the orange, it dawns on me that could be construed as support - strictly against the rules of this event. This was the hardest decision I made the whole race, to tell this guy no thanks I really don't want that orange. Relating that story to MC post trip it turns out it was within the rules to accept it since it wasn't planned...oh well. Next time I'll accept!</P>
<P>In the meantime, it had clouded over a little. Still warm, but the ride through the Dolores canyon to the confluence of the San Miguel was quite pleasant. Intermittent shade from canyon walls made it much cooler. I was in no hurry here since I was only going to Tab creek. Once at the creek at about 7:30, I soaked my legs in the creek a bit before making dinner. The leg soak trick worked well for Lynda & I at TransRockies last year, so what the heck. It sure felt good. I was snoring solidly before the sun went down...</P>
<P>I hate alarm clocks and never use them. I let my body decide when it's time to get up - and it usually tells me it's time darn early. Sun at 12:14 am is precisely when that happened this time. And holy moly did I feel good - no stiffness, soreness, just ready to get chomping on a big day.</P>
<P>Since I was pretty tired arriving at the creek the night before, the first order of business is something I did an awful lot of - filtering water. My filter choice was based on weight more than speed. I think I got those priorities wrong. Oh well. Note the coffee is already made. Seeing a theme here?</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996960234992786"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbn24FxdJI/AAAAAAAABCM/ecCBk7H5Qrw/s400/P6030035.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>I'm embarrassed to say how long it took between waking up and getting rolling, sometimes I just don't know where the time goes. But anyway, there were still many hours of darkness left.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072996977414861986"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbn34FxdKI/AAAAAAAABCU/mCHAU8_PINM/s400/P6030038.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>This section of the Paradox is a bit of a bear. It starts out well enough, but quickly turns to one hike a bike after another - both up and down. It is not well marked either, but thanks to my GPS work and previous rides here I made short work of this difficult section. It was interesting to see how many signs there actually are, they show up so much better in the dark under lights!</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997020364534962"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbn6YFxdLI/AAAAAAAABCc/fKJQpZYz790/s400/P6030040.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The rough, sandy, nasty conditions give way to grassy meadows and ponderosa forests on Glencoe Bench, still one of my favorite sections of the Grand Loop. This was the site of breakfast/coffee # 2. Often the trail was only defined by dead dandilions.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997119148782818"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmboAIFxdOI/AAAAAAAABC0/QBcm36P5rnU/s400/P6030045.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>2 weeks ago it was much wetter in all the meadows. This time conditions were much, much faster. It was a blast cruising this section this time.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997166393423090"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmboC4FxdPI/AAAAAAAABC8/BNHoy0giu80/s400/P6030046.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Big views into the upper reaches of Tabeguache creek.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997269472638226"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmboI4FxdRI/AAAAAAAABDM/5RVJxGVGgxw/s400/P6030048.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Next is the magical Aspen forests of Hauser road. The road is well graded most of the way, but does get steep towards to the top. At this point I'd been riding, oh maybe 5 hours but was feeling really good. I kept having to check myself: "back it down harris, remember the horoscope - can't do much with ashes!" It started to get really cool as I approached Divide road. Finally, I hit the top at about 10am.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997372551853362"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmboO4FxdTI/AAAAAAAABDc/e9jZFgJ17fY/s400/P6030050.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>After a quick spin down the Divide road, I'd hit Transfer road and quickly enter the beginning of the Tabeguache trail. This is where I was turned back by deep snow last time - only 2 weeks previous. What would it be like now? There wasn't much snow left on Divide road and that was encouraging. But the real trouble spots were north facing slopes that receive little sunlight. At least I had most of the day to work it out....</P>
<P>As it turns out, the snow was GONE. There were a couple of drifts to go around, and plenty of swampy areas, but it was really all rideable. I was surprised, and relieved. </P>
<P>This was as far as I got last time - there was no exposed dirt AT ALL. Now there is no snow. That was fast.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997595890152818"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbob4FxdXI/AAAAAAAABD8/neE4c7LVSAg/s400/P6030054.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>The singletrack was actually quite tech - lots of roots, steep in spots and demanding. Even with good conditions it wasn't very fast going, and I was beginning to feel human. Just in time, I hit the Roubideau trail proper, a fast, rocky descent of about 1000 feet on two track. This is where conditions really take a turn, and the beginning of what I figure would take a lot of time - must finish before dark.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997656019694978"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbofYFxdYI/AAAAAAAABEE/nrdFg8P9Nuc/s400/P6030055.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The Uncomphagre plateau is massive. Now that I've seen it from the Divide road - a dirt road that follows it's spine - and the Tabeguache trail, it's still hard to wrap my head around just how immense this landform is. The Roubideau section drops away from the spine of the plateau and crosses 15 (!) drainages before climbing back up onto the spine. The Tab trail designer is a bit twisted methinks, and I thank him/her for the demensia. It goes something like this: rocket down some steep eroded scary ash hell trail to the bottom of a drainage, cross a creek getting your feet wet, then hike out the other side with said wet feet. A few of the ups are rideable, most are not. From canyon bottoms you have no clue where on earth you are, other than inside your cloistered forest home. In between drainages are mesa tops where the world opens up to massive views and the riding is oh so easy and pleasant.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997694674400658"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbohoFxdZI/AAAAAAAABEM/SMUZj3Kmtw8/s400/P6030056.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Typical trail conditions.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072668214848221922"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmW83YFxcuI/AAAAAAAAA-o/uGN98xXWWBU/s400/P6030059.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The last 3 of these drainages were huge with 15-30 minute hikes out of each. This is Potter canyon, filled with marshes and small lakes, it was absolutely gorgeous. It was tough going but is there a better place on earth to be? Despite my dislike for hike a bikes, there was no complaining coming forth. The pics just don't do this spot justice. It's a real "have to be there" place.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997827818386898"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmbopYFxddI/AAAAAAAABEs/1ffZwasuopU/s400/P6030061.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>I was a bit unsure what conditions were going to be like after the last drainage crossing. My GPS routing was telling me to turn left where there was no trail or road, and I was loathe to leave the nice track I was currently on. Unsure what to do, I sat down and pulled out some food, something I almost always did when unsure of which way to go. No coffee this time though ;) Then I looked up and saw a Tab trail marker pointing right where my GPS was telling me to go. Well I'll be. The GPS routing work saved the day once a gain. I thought about Fred who didn't have a GPS and how it was going to be so confusing for him at this spot, especially since I had overshot the turn leaving tracks in both directions. </P>
<P>Heading off into the grass, a trail began a 100 feet later. It was faint, slow, bumpy, and prolly my least favorite part of the whole Tab. I was ready for some fast moving roads and this was a slow boat to China. Oh well. Finally, FINALLY, this slow piece of semi-trail mostly grass led to a major dirt road. Just before the intersection there were all sorts of aspen logs tossed across the trail and no trespassing signs - and a Tab trail marker sign. Access issues on the horizon here for sure.</P>
<P>A short while later I came to Cottonwood road. Fast, scenic riding. Oh yea! I had made it through the Roubideau with plenty of light to spare - it was about 5pm. I celebrated the day with a 2 hour nap, dinner, and coffee. A large area of stately ponderosas and the soft pine mat underneath was too inviting to pass up.</P>
<P>It's just amazing how much coffee & a nap can bring me back to life. Cruising the ups and downs of Cottonwood road in the waning light was truly magical. The evening light was filtering through the fresh greeness of apsen trees. John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" was doing loops through my conciousness. I know according to most of the reports I've read of folks doing this loop I should have been deep in the pain cave right now, but honestly, euphoria was closer to my state of mind. I almost feel like I should be apologetic. Almost.</P>
<P>Climbing up 25 mesa the ponderosa gave way to spurce/fir as I gained ~ 1,500' towards the high point of 9,600'. It was now dark and almost spooky here - this was new terrain, the first time night riding in unfamiliar terrain this trip. A huge canyon or drop off seemed to loom off to the left and I wished I was there in time to catch that view in the daytime, but the nap was worth it.</P>
<P>Soon I'd be hitting the Divide road, and shortly after that stretch came the Dominguez section. It was all new to me and not knowing where the next water would be I stopped and filtered to capacity. It's a good thing I did this where I did, because there was some climbing afterwards and it was getting cold. I needed the warm up.</P>
<P>Divide road was fast and easy and mostly with tailwinds. It was a rush to descend at 30 mph through deep forests in the dark. Eyes were everywhere, picked up by my homebrew lights. However, it was getting cold. I stopped several times to put on more layers, and before long I was going homeless style - I was wearing everying I had.</P>
<P>Dropping down off the top of the Unc towards Dominguez creek, it's all downhill. And it got MUCH colder. I was beginning to have some difficulty - I couldn't see very well and was shivering. The constant descending offered no relief to the cold.</P>
<P>I was hoping to make it to the finish in one push through the night, but I'd been on the move for roughly 21 hours at this point and it didn't feel at all safe to continue. Time to concede and bivvy.</P>
<P>I was soooo cold. All chammied up, wearing everying I had with me, I crawled into my bag. As always, I put some calories down the hatch before sleeping, but not much this time. I had to get some heat going. Coyotes were howling away all around me, but that didn't keep me from drifting into deep sleep.</P>
<P>I didn't budge until daylight, about 5.5-6 hours later. First thing I did was check the trail for tire tracks - something I always did after bivvying. With no reports coming my way, I had no idea if anyone was close behind. I half expected to see Plesko's tracks - but there were only my own.</P>
<P>Damn was it cold! A water bottle had frozen, my bivvy was covered in ice. This wasn't the expected weather...and meant the extremes of this event were something like upper 20's to mid 90's. As always though, coffee and food snaps me right into action, and after sleeping for what seemed forever, I felt like a million bucks. It's time to knock this thing out. I only had 55-60 miles left to go at this point and ~ 15 hours to do it to best the record pace. Only a catastrophy was going to stop me from ensuring MCs ice cream!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072997866473092578"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RmboroFxdeI/AAAAAAAABE0/4y0Qa8Tvn7o/s400/P6040062.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Yesterday at the end of the Roubideau section I left my chain lube somewhere...luckily I had a bit of olive oil with me. It makes good chain lube, FYI!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072998046861719074"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbo2IFxdiI/AAAAAAAABFU/W8e2geKVZ5M/s400/P6040067.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Clipping into the pedals today was a little different than the day before. I was a bit tight and it took some time to warm up. Fortunately, Dominguez road has some great rolling climbs after crossing the creek. It is wide open sage plains, big views in all directions but the sort that a camera just doesn't catch well. Flowers were off the charts as well. It wasn't long until I was back in the groove, and since this was the last day I was raising the pace some and loving it.</P>
<P>Before I knew it the road was dive-bombing down to Dominguez campground. A real ripper of a descent and the scenery was turning towards red sandstone canyon country. Then it hit me - BAM! I was so choked up. This is when I knew I'd finish strong, that 3 days of hammering away was within my grasp, that I was on the final leg of the most difficult cycling journey I'd ever done. And, that I'd set a new course record in the process. But it wasn't so much these thoughts that triggered it, but the scenery, the sensory overload. Tears began to roll...just as they had done on day 7 at TransRockies last year.</P>
<P>Holy crap Harris, there's people at the campground, pull your shit together man! I hate it when folks interfere with a white moment...</P>
<P>The campground is an awesome oasis, fully equiped with vault toilets. Ah, the good life. After filtering a bunch, rolling up the road a couple hundred yards there's a pipe coming from a spring..doh! I filled another bottle just for good meaure. After a short steep climb out of the canyon, it's on to the Cactus park section.</P>
<P>Cactus park was a blast. There's a slightly descending road, very sandy, that you can just fly down. What a surprise that was, moving 20+ in the sand for miles. In general, the Dominguez road and Cactus park sections have a lot more descending that ascending as you go from 8900 at Divide road to ~ 5000 at Hwy 141. That isn't to say there isn't any climbing, it's still the Tab after all. But nothing too tech or demanding. Cactus park proper was very green and I was pushed by massive tailwinds coming across it. Just before the final descent to 141 is this spot:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GrandLoopRace/photo#5072998141350999618"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rmbo7oFxdkI/AAAAAAAABFk/1y34_afXPFs/s400/P6040069.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>An awesome limestone ledge with big views, much like Murphy's on the White Rim. I christen this the Murphy's of the Grand Loop :) I stopped here for 2nd breakfast which consisted of a bagel, almond butter, and cold soup. Odd combo, yes - but after the descent to 141 I was going to be hitting the 9 mile climb "no mas hill" in the heat of the day. Salty soup seemed like the thing to toss down. My options were a bit limited now anyway.</P>
<P>I started up 9 mile at 11:30. At under 5,000 initially, it was hot. At first it is techy singletrack, most of which I found unrideable. This was seriously bumming me out - I didn't know if it was going to be like this all the way or not - but it quickly turned into jeep track with improving conditions. As it turns out, it was mostly a middle ring affair.</P>
<P>This was the homestretch in my mind. Only 22 miles left! Time to drop the hammer, and that I did. I was maching up that hill. It was effortless, I felt weightless, I was grinning ear to ear. And I was sweating like a glass of icewater in the tropics. About an hour from 141 I hit the 6500' mark (the climb goes to 7200), and at the same time got the gurgling sound of an empty camelback bladder. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Things could get real ugly out here all of a sudden. I backed the pace waaay down to conserve that last bottle of water I'd grabbed from the Dominguez pipe.</P>
<P>Now I was a bit ticked at myself. I had totally underestimated how much water I'd need in the final stretch, and what was worse in the heat of hammering that climb I wasn't even paying attention to how fast I was drinking. Worst of all, I had to back it down. That was just not what I was in the mood for right then and there.</P>
<P>Suddenly, unexpectedly, I found water. Manna from heaven? When your mojo is strong, it can sometimes make up for stupid mistakes, but it's best not to count on that...anyway, I was oh so relieved. And hydrated.</P>
<P>The next few miles were quite technical, but more down than up and before I knew it there was my little red truck in the distance. I rolled into the Tabeguache trailhead parking lot at 3:02 PM, for an elapsed time of 2:19:47, completing the hardest, most demanding event to date. The satisfaction of completing this loop is as immense as the Uncompaghre plateau. There are only a few of us that have managed to finish this one out.</P>
<P>That is the end of my ride story, but it isn't the end of the experience. There's a lot more I'd like to say - in time - regarding MC's part in this ride and my continuing "education"; those that have helped me achieve this goal either through direct support or inspiration; a thing or tow about what I know of other rider's rides; and some about the state of ultra racing in general.</P>
<P>But it's high time I get something posted, the hits to this blog have been off the charts lately, so here ya go, thanks for reading, and here's to more adventures!</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2741" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave2:19:47tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27282007-06-05T19:44:00Z<P>That's how long the Grand Loop took. Unlike most race finish times, the units are days/hours/minutes. I covered more ground in less time over much, much more difficult terrain than the solo attempt. I was racing full gas from go. It was hard, brutal, beautiful, magical, and required all my reserves. I loved every minute of it.</P>
<P>It's a funny thing, this ultra bag of racing. At the end of the trail there are no crowds or podium girls to shower you with kisses and flowers, just my truck with a broken window, all valuables removed. The hardest part of the entire affair was driving home after the race. After a coupla hours at Mike's place, I was feeling great so hit the road. Big mistake. 20 min later I was asleep at the wheel and had to go right back into ultra race mode - nap when you have to, give'r gas when you can. I didn't get home until sunrise today....and driving the passes without a drivers side window in the night when the bad guys have removed your clothing for you isn't that fun either.</P>
<P>There seemed no end to magic moments in this venture and over the next few days I'll think of how best to put them into words and pictures. For now though, I gotta get my feet back up the wall...it's time for some serious kankle reduction work.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2728" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGrand Loop do-overtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:27112007-05-31T17:37:00Z<P>Second chances are a wonderful thing since I rarely get anything right the first go-round. Usually though, I have to wait awhile for round two. Not this time. Just 2 weeks after the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2007/05/21/2654.aspx">solo Grand Loop attempt </A>(where I got stuffed by too much snow), I'll be lining up at the start of the official event in Grand Junction Friday 6pm. </P>
<P>Two weeks after a big effort seems to be just about perfect timing for me...I didn't plan it this way but hey, I'll take it! I also have the benefit of learning a lot of stuff in the first try and as a result will be 11-12 lbs lighter overall. This only equates to a 5% increase in w/kg for total weight at typical enduro climbing power, but I'll take it. Every bit helps on a route with 340 miles of difficult terrain and 40,000'+ of climbing.</P>
<P>It is different this time - I'm a bit more nervous, anticipation is thicker. Maybe cause I have expecations for myself this time. One thing that hasn't changed is how much I look forward to uninterupted riding and time under the big blue sky. Is GDR in my future? Then what? Well for now GLR is aplenty.</P>
<P>It's been relatively cool and it even snowed above 8k since my solo ride...so that snowy section will still be a challenge. Should be interesting.</P>
<P>The new camera is making the journey with me, look for a colorful update early next week.</P>
<P>Fellow Grand Looper Mr Plesko on Carpenter Ridge. Chris, we won't feel quite so fresh this time at this spot...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853152267243314"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhMSgADzI/AAAAAAAAAo8/tguh7rsZLJg/s400/100_1626.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Until then, check out <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/">Fox's blog </A>for some Utah racer personality interviews, <A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/">Adam's</A> ideas for another multi-day route...</P>
<P>Keep ridin' and smilin.'</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2711" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSpecificitytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26942007-05-27T13:46:00Z<P>With the GLR start fast approaching (uh, as in Friday - didn't I just do this thing?) I figured I'd head out and do some specific training. Lots of time in the saddle has been my approach, rather than higher intensity efforts. Seeing how I rode 35+ hours last weekend I wasn't sure what the legs would have in store - I'm so treading new ground here - but my overriding assumption for this go-round is that being too fresh is worse than being too tired.</P>
<P>The chosen route was Jones Creek to Flag-Pinkerton and the return leg via the Hermosa trail. Durango is just off the bottom of the map for reference...</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069241025370635826"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmP2sYNvjI/AAAAAAAAA8k/zPxZySUmneY/s400/route.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Like most good rides in Durango, the profile is an inverted "V" shape. Accumulated climb is ~ 8k.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069241025370635842"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmP2sYNvkI/AAAAAAAAA8s/pFacIK3XFlY/s400/profile.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Lucky for you I just got a new camera. No more of this nonesense of a dead camera on big rides. When I told MC my camera died on the GL last weekend his immediate response was "well then you have to do the race!"</P>
<P>You never know who you'll run into on the trail.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235489157791042"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmK0cYNvUI/AAAAAAAAA6k/SleRB0yxrSk/s400/P5260003.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Conditions were wet but rideable. Slow going...and of course I loaded my pack with miscellaneous items to make sure a 20 lb pack feels ok next week.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235609416875362"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmK7cYNvWI/AAAAAAAAA60/WKHruRAVtLE/s400/P5260005.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Flag-Pinkerton follows the top of the ridge between highway 550 and the La Platas. Good views in all directions. Trail conditions are another story. A motohead came through right after all the recent rains and tore the trail to shreds. Jerk.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235665251450226"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmK-sYNvXI/AAAAAAAAA68/-GRZZCSMgcI/s400/P5260007.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>How bizarre to see this 1/2 mile long fence up here.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235785510534546"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLFsYNvZI/AAAAAAAAA7M/ix9sNrE_Hfk/s400/P5260009.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>At about 10,300 things started to get interesting...</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235806985371042"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLG8YNvaI/AAAAAAAAA7U/0HJEAluUIF0/s400/P5260012.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Note to self: hitting deep drifts hard is ill-advised.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235828460207538"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLIMYNvbI/AAAAAAAAA7c/69wZExwvvUI/s400/P5260015.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Lots and lots of postholing for the next several hours. What should have taken an hour took 4. It's funny how my perception has changed though, a year ago I'd have turned back after 10 min of postholing. Now it's just part of the experience.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235841345109442"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLI8YNvcI/AAAAAAAAA7k/KzUhwTEv9Bs/s400/P5260016.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>In the midst of the postholing session it started snowing. I'm trying to understand why I have a useless 20 lbs of weight on my back but no good wet weather gear. Right when it's beginning to feel epic, I see that I'm not alone.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235854230011346"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLJsYNvdI/AAAAAAAAA7s/s3PubnryjT0/s400/P5260018.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>But alas, the postholing training came to an end and I was treated to the Hermosa creek trail for a fast, mostly downhill 20 miles of killer singletrack. New obstacles on the trail!</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235927244455410"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLN8YNvfI/AAAAAAAAA78/07shRlrvD1A/s400/P5260021.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>My favorite filter spot.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069235983079030274"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLRMYNvgI/AAAAAAAAA8E/REMLvg3T8NM/s400/P5260022.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Not bad, eh?</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/FlagPinkerton/photo#5069236077568310818"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlmLWsYNviI/AAAAAAAAA8U/I8c6Dfz2-ok/s400/P5260027.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Awesome day on the trail. Now, what do y'all think the Tab will look like next week? We are gonna get so wet up there...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2694" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveErgon Grip Setuptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26812007-05-24T12:37:00Z<P>And now we'll take a break from the GLR obsession for a word from our sponsors...</P>
<P>Ergon is a German company putting some R&D into all things ergonomic for bicycles. Grips, gloves, packs, saddles, suspension posts are just a few of the items in the works. They have several styles of grips currently available and with their growing popularity, I figured I'd share some of what I've learned on how to set them up.</P>
<P>I first used the grips at TransRockies last year. For sure, I carried a set of normal grips on the trip in the event I hated the Ergons...but that was not the case. The Ergons wiped out some forearm numbness issues I'd been having since the 24 hours of Steamboat. This year I learned the setup is not bulletproof. For one, the instructions are written in english by non-native english speaking folks, so seem pretty cryptic to me. This led to trial and error - and at 24 hours in the Old Pueblo this year I had them set up wrong and had numb hands for quite some time.</P>
<P>This is a snippet of an email I sent to a fellow enduro nut interested in the grips. The first sentence is about how not to put them on upside down (hi Nat). The rest is all about the angle.</P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>Edit: Google's picassa changed the links so the pics aren't coming up right...</FONT> </P>
<P>----------------------------------------</P><FONT size=2>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>Just look at one of the million pics of ergons on <A href="http://www.jeffkerkove.net/">Jeff's</A> site and you'll see how to put them on - it's obvious. What is less obvious is getting the angle just right. It really depends on your riding style - do you keep your arms locked at the elbow or bent at the elbow with forearms close to parallel to the ground? Something in between? Based on the answer here, the grips may be pointed upwards or flat. See if you can spot a pic of Adam's (</FONT><A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>http://epicriding.blogspot.com</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>) setup vs. my setup and you'll see what I'm talking about.</P>
<P>Here's a pic of Adam's setup. Not very good...but look where the grip is. He rides with locked arms. </FONT><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/adamlisonbee/2WheeledPhotos/photo#5046832636629728642"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><FONT color=#810081 size=3>http://picasaweb.google.com/adamlisonbee/2WheeledPhotos/photo#5046832636629728642</FONT></U></FONT></A></P><FONT size=2>
<P>Here's a pic of my setup. I ride with bent arms. <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058969510468091826">http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058969510468091826</A></FONT><FONT size=2> Again, not a great grip pic, but note the angle between the grip and barend is about 180 where on adams it's more like 100*.</P></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2681" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGrand Exposuretag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26542007-05-21T15:13:00Z<P>There could have been no better way to begin a Grand Loop solo TT than to stage from Mike Curiaks home. He's a machine both on and off the bike - the way he was putting wheels together as we talked exuded the sort of expertise you want from the person building the most important part of your bike. I haven't spent a lot of time talking to him and have usually had the impression his hard earned lessons in endurance racing were closely guarded from a competitive stantpoint. Such is not the case - he understands that the most valued lessons learned are those learned through trial, error, and pain. Those are things you won't forget, and things you will cherish. To freely hand those out is to cheat the new ultra rider out of a good part of the experience. </P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRSoloTT06/photo#5067002763293867010"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlGcKsYNvAI/AAAAAAAAA3U/Y0hHKLfOzzw/s400/100_1743.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>As we chatted and my understanding of his motivations became clearer, more pieces of this ultra puzzle were clicking into place. As I write this goose bumps are coming up because I realize in retrospect the time with MC for a coupla hours had a large impact on the outcome, the decisions I made, in this GL TT...</P>
<P>As we roll out to Loma on pavement, we chatted about a lot of things and at times I was in stitches. Mike is a cunning rider; you don't set long distance records by luck or chance and some of his strategies had me getting an early ab workout. Rolling into the Kokopelli TH at Loma we met Pete Basinger who I had not met before. </P>
<P>The more multi day ultra riders I meet, the more I'm convinced it's a big boy's game - literally. Pete, Mike, Scott M., Stephan - all are considerably bigger than my 140ish lbs. The reason is simple - there's a fixed amount of gear required to get these done, and the larger the rider the less the percentage of body weight of the gear. No matter what my w/kg is, it changes drastically when considering my beginning gear weight was ~ 1/2 of my bodyweight. Rather significant when a route entails some 40k+ feet of climbing, eh?</P>
<P>Just before sunset I head off down the Kokopelli trail, alone in my thoughts for the next 3 days. This was a great feeling. I was on the Yeti, recently tuned to perfection by Andy at Desert Cyclery in StG. In addition, I'd asked him to get as many water bottle mounts on it as possible and it came back with 6!!! This is 5 more than the bike has mounts for. Impressive work my man. This was great. It meant I didn't need to use my pack bladder at all, and therefore didn't need the rear OMM rack to haul extra food/gear.</P>
<P>Before I knew it, I was at the top of the hike out from Salt Creek. MP3 on, I was ripping along in a moonless night under the power of 500 lumens of my custom lights. Rabbits and mice were everywhere. Now there are a few less. As many times as I'd ridden this trail in the past year you'd think I could follow it blindfolded - but I was in such a great groove with the tunes and vibes of riding through the night that just past Rabbit Valley I made a left down to the river instead of heading upwards towards Westwater. I almost made it to the river before I figured it out. DUH. An hour later I was back at the missed turn, slightly aggravated with my error - and hugely aware that this wasn't a "paint by numbers" endeavor and I better wake up and start paying attention.</P>
<P>The rest of the night was heaven. There is a lot of flow in the desert section of the Koko and I enjoyed every bit of it. Next up were the shandy climbs of the Entrada bluffs road beyond Dewey. The last time I rode these loaded I ended up walking a couple of times to relieve the grind...but conditions were great, it was still dark & cool and they seemed much easier this time. At the top of the second one I stopped to enjoy the sunrise unfold over the Uncompaghre plateau. That looming monster was to be the challenge of tomorrow...</P>
<P>I really dislike missing sleep, and that's one of the bigger challenges of multi-day racing (for me) and of the timing of this route in particular as it starts when I usually fall asleep. To my advantage though, I can take a quick catnap at the drop of a hat and rise refreshed. The periodic napping began somewhere after Rose Garden Hill...</P>
<P>Working my way up N. Beaver Mesa I was astounded by the flowers. The building billowy cumulus clouds, blue sky, greeness spring was really accentuating the bloom. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRSoloTT06/photo#5067003012401970290"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlGcZMYNvHI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Lg9-rAVNyxc/s400/100_1751.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRSoloTT06/photo#5067003136956021906"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlGcgcYNvJI/AAAAAAAAA4c/0K1OzDV1LXs/s400/100_1753.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRSoloTT06/photo#5067003240035237042"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlGcmcYNvLI/AAAAAAAAA4s/Y6OCIg42AhU/s400/100_1755.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Shortly thereafter the route leaves the KT behind and follows the Paradox trail through the La Sals until it bombs down Carpenter Ridge to Bedrock, CO. This section, although non-technical, is above 8,000' and never flat. It wore me down some to say the least, but I was bouyed by new scenery...and even saw a big brown bear running down the road. It was suddenly there no more than 30 feet in front of me, running from me, and I had no idea where it came from. It must be naptime again ;)</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRSoloTT06/photo#5067003454783601890"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RlGcy8YNvOI/AAAAAAAAA5E/QwerUERUeqA/s400/100_1759.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>I really enjoyed this new region and I'll be back in a non-race setting sometime...sadly, this is the last picture my camera took the whole time. The next time I went to snap a shot it was dead as a dodo.</P>
<P>A while later I'm pushing throug a decent size storm, getting really muddy and the roads turned to muck. It was slow going for a couple of hours. Finally, getting near Buckeye it was drying out and getting fast, just in time to descend to Bedrock. By then I was tired. I'd hoped to make it to Tabaguache creek tonight, but Bedrock would have to suffice. I phoned Mike with my progress and was slightly dissapointed to get his answering machine. In retrospect, it was prolly a blessing in disguise as he could have easily played on my weakened mental state ;)</P>
<P>160 miles done, I made a little nest in the sand and slept like a baby. A few hours later I awoke to sky sparkling with stars and the rare sound of a live, running Dolores river. Suddenly I was ALIVE. Oh man that was a fine time. I slammed some breakfast, packed up, and started off in the dark. The river canyons were lively as both the Dolores and San Miguel were running high. Lots of class II stuff to listen to as I rode by. Next up was the Spring creek mesa climb which was relatively uneventful. Cows early on made for some poop dodging as I had a water bottle in the crud catcher position. </P>
<P>Arriving at Tab creek it was time for some calories to go down the hatch while filtering enough water for the most challenging section of the Paradox, Tab Creek to Hauser road. Having pre-ridden it with CP and DN, I knew what was coming, at least to Pinto Mesa. It got fairly hot here and I did stop under a tree once or twice, but still made good time. Arriving at the top of Pinto Mesa a very light shower blew over to provide my own personal misty cooling system - manna from heaven. Actually, it was from the Uncompahgre plateau, that great weather cooker. Each day I'd see clouds form over the top of this beast of a landform.</P>
<P>Then something special happened. Glencoe Bench. This is the section north of Pinto mesa, and for me, this was terra incognita, beyond where our pre-ride had taken us. The vegetation, the views, it all changed in a heartbeat from p/j high desert to ponderosa, aspen, marshy ponds, and so green it made your eyes hurt. Enormous views down into Tabaguache creek, it was overwhelming, and to be in new country after so much effort (my GPS was telling me I'd climbed well over 20K feet by now...) was priceless. It made me re-think the concept of pre-riding courses for this type of event...made me consider why anyone would do these events. Is it for the result? Experience? Escapism? Just to ride unfettered? I don't have all the answers, but one I do have is this: I don't do it for the results, and that is the best argument for pre-riding routes. Pushing hard through unknown territory forces one into a heightened awareness of ones own existence - survival - and pre-riding demystifies this. I like mystery. Hmmmmmmmm........</P>
<P>Hauser road. Upward and onward. Soon I reached to Divide road at nearly 10,000' and was somwhat alarmed by the quantity of snow still remaining. It was a dry, warm March that had snowpack much reduced from normal levels and I had guessed it would be OK by now, but now I wasn't certain. A few miles later, heading up the powerlines everything was dry and snow free. Where the tab singletrack heads into the woods, it was not so dry and I was dodging snowbanks and fallen trees, but the going wasn't too bad.</P>
<P>I was hoping to make some good progress on the Rubidau section before a short bivvy, but man this was looking grim. Then it got worse. postholing through crotch deep drifts, dragging a loaded rig, is just a lot harder than riding a bike. And I was moving inches per hour, not miles...after a few hours of this it was clear I wasn't going to get through this section before sunset. There was no way I'd make it through here in the dark, if at all. </P>
<P>Decision time: should I bail down transfer road and call it quits, and if so, then what? Should I skirt the singletrack section via Divide road? Should I cry for mamma?</P>
<P>Truth be told, I was damn tired and didn't trust my decision making ability in this situation. So, I backtracked out of the snowy area to find dry ground, built a white man's fire and made dinner. Slept like a baby again, and since there was no need to start before daylight had lots of time to sleep too. I'd hit the snow puzzle in the am with a fresh pair of eyes.</P>
<P>It froze up there overnight, so the snow was crusted. I could make easier progress without postholing. But eventually the trail sidehills on a steeply sidehill slope in deep, dark timber. This was my undoing - there was not a patch of ground to be seen, it was all 5-10 feet of snow and trees. Trail? What trail? It was winter. I tried to guess where the trail would go and followed that route for a few hours, but realized I had gone about 1/2 mile in 3 hours - doing the math, it was going to take another week to finish this 7 mile section. Stick a fork in this GL attempt. Game over, film at 11.</P>
<P>Getting out of there proved no easy task. The sun was up, the air warming, the snow's crust softening. Where I was able to walk on the crust earlier, I was now postholing again, but I was much farther in than yesterday. To complicate things, coming in I didn't make lasting tracks and navigation in those dark woods is rather disorienting to say the least. The GPS saved my bacon in this area as I was able to follow my track out of there.</P>
<P>6 hard hours later, I was back to the Divide road. I started pedalling...soon thereafter I came to the road that shoots down to the Roubideau trail - and it looked rideable. Soupy, but totally doable. Yet another decision to be made. Do I head down this road, pick up the tab and do the remainder of the route? I had been salivating over the idea of doing this trail for a long time. It started last summer, and really heightened when laid up this winter. Mapping it out intensified it further. Yet, I was now a DNF for the GL, which could mean only one thing: I would be back. To ride the tab would be in essence to pre-ride the tab, and I would cheat myself out of the intense experience back on Glencoe. I held a straight line, sticking to the Divide road, and never looked back.</P>
<P>The Divide road did not dissapoint and affording sweeping views of at least half the planet. At one overlook, you could look down on Glencoe bench and the route up to Pinto Mesa. That in itself was a real sense of accomplishment. Funny, I felt probably better this day than all the previous two, and tapped out the ~100 miles back to GJ in no time. I got to see the Uncompahgre plateau from the top; it's deep dark timber in the south, giving way to aspen and open meadows in the north, and eye popping canyons descending to the Gunnison river drainage. Deer, elk, bear, porcupines, a blind rodent crawling in my bag, wild turkeys are just a few of the wildlife encounters. After it's all said and done, I covered 345 miles in under 3 days time and was flooded by many emotions, thoughts, experiences. </P>
<P>Of the entire experience, my favorite part? By far, that left undone.</P>
<P>See you June 1. </P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2654" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDreaming with open eyestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26332007-05-16T10:50:00Z<P>"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." - Helen Keller </P>
<P>---------------------------</P>
<P>It's game time. All the planning, training, anticipation have culminated in this moment. Today I begin a solo time trial of the Grand Loop.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5065094831446801346"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkrU6cYNu8I/AAAAAAAAA2o/ZabODOvAqJ4/s400/Grand%20Loop%20big.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>As you can tell lately, this isn't something I'm taking lightly. This route has nearly destroyed tougher men than I.</P>
<P>For perspective in the profile below, the Kokopelli trail/Paradox (gateway rd) intersection is at mile 102. It's actually about 113 to this point...my mapping produces shorter than actual mileages. Lots of time in the desert, lots of time in the alpine. The last 150 miles I know only by the maps...it is intimidating. High elevation, uber tough trail conditions (by reports), abundant wildlife, as remote as any spot in the lower 48. I am fascinated by this stretch...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5065094809971964850"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkrU5MYNu7I/AAAAAAAAA2g/aaFBrz7o6SI/s400/Grand%20Loop%20profile.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Some comforting words came my way yesterday.</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>- Mike Curiak (who established this race) upon learning of my plan: "sheeeeit, glad it's you and not me..."<BR>- Sager: "it's an interesting place you guys go." He ain't talking geography either.</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>But I can take comfort in knowing it has been done before. Mostly I'm just thrilled to have the health and fitness to contemplate such a ride. It will be a great learning experience. New limits will surely be found, and with luck, extended.</P>
<P dir=ltr>The schedule: I'll leave GJ this evening about 6:30 pm, which should have me starting the KT about 8pm. Just enough light to get through some techy bits. I'll call Mike from Bedrock, CO and he may post updates to MTBR in <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=268198">this thread</A>, or he may make a new one. Not sure...</P>
<P dir=ltr>To all those doing KTR, good luck, play fair, and I'll (eventually) miss y'all, but I'll be deep in my own cocoon during your race. If the plan pans out I'll be at the Virginian hotel in Moab Sun am, prolly dead as a dodo but willing go out for b-fast and swap stories. Hope to see some of y'all there.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2633" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMarch of the Pigstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26102007-05-10T18:50:00Z<P>Quest of the obsessed might say it better.</P>
<P>Time for some geek talk, it's been awhile since I mentioned stuff like TSS, the training manager and the like.</P>
<P>So what does one do when GLR is in the plan but fitness is at rock-bottom post surgery? Time for some planning, that's what! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that an event like the Grand Loop requires massive endurance, a functional gut, solid technical skills...and about 20 other things I could mention. To nail the first (and to an extent the second) the training manager, as usual, comes to the rescue. Knowing a bit about the demands of ultra events, how I respond at certain CTL/ATL levels, it's possible to map out a plan projecting TSS forwards. I do this in a spreadsheet of course. It's turned out to be darn close in reality to what I had mapped out back in the winter when I had all those long hours of no riding to fill my days. Here's the pic, click for bigger.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5063005976567447890"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkNpHFj7gVI/AAAAAAAAA1w/IsweaD69aA0/s400/GLR%20form%20planning.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>This is one serious build, even by my standards. Coming from a CTL of 57 in Dec to 150 last weekend - that's a march of the pigs :) Note the occasional big spikes - that's characteristic of ultra cyclists. Days of 500+ TSS will do that to your CTL curve. Even so, the upward trend is more or less constant over the long haul. Those really big spikes tend to incur some hefty recovery penalties. In some regards, this makes ultra cycing ideal for the working rider who has lots of time on the weekends but not so much on the weekdays - I couldn't train like that all week long every week or I'd be toast.</P>
<P>This is a bit of an experiment. I've never done an event anything like GLR - the closest would be a 24 hour event. GLR is more like 2 24s and a hundy strung back to back. I estimate TSS to be about 2300 for the event - that's more than 7 days of full-tilt racing last summer in TransRockies. But with this tool I have confidence that endurance is right up there at or close to PB levels as I'm about as high CTL-wise as I got last year. The difference this time around is I never got smoked in the process, and that's a good thing.</P>
<P>Last week saw very little training, so TSB shot upwards in a hurry (5 day ATL TC). Starting this week at +54 TSB, there's room for a 1000 TSS week while staying positive TSB the entrire time. How about that for a "taper" week?</P>
<P>So there are all my training ideas in a picture. Make sense?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2610" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave10k Foray, part Itag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:26052007-05-10T00:51:00Z<P>The hills are opening up quickly. Despite the cool moist weather the past few weeks, it's dry to the top of Jones creek trail now. It's a bit moist over 9k, but I only had to go around one small snowbank.</P>
<P>Here's what it looks like at 9600'.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5062715022597914914"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkJgfVj7gSI/AAAAAAAAA1A/KulQq7hdQjs/s400/100_1735.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Even the NW facing wet slopes were free of snow.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5062715091317391666"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkJgjVj7gTI/AAAAAAAAA1I/3l18eCRV5gk/s400/100_1736.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Why blog this? Well for one, I feel darn lucky every year this time to have this sort of terrain an hours ride from my front door. But most importantly, this spot is about 60 miles as the crow flies from the higher elevations of the Grand Loop - and within 300' of the highest elevations as well. </P>
<P>Given that the long range weather forecast has nuthing but sun and more sun + rising temps, a May 19th Grand Loop expedition is ON. Of course, I'll go check out the high points of the Tab this weekend just to make sure ;)</P>
<P>It's climbing season!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5062715147151966530"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RkJgmlj7gUI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/ti923fKCAtE/s400/100_1737.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2605" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Grand F'ing Looptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25992007-05-08T16:05:00Z<P>There is this event that has been looming large for me for quite some time. My training, equipment & nutrition so far this year has been focused on this single goal. The event is the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">Grand Loop</A>. The scheduled race date is June 1, but since it is technically a time trial event can be done at any time. I have chosen to do it ahead of the official race date. Snowpack is low this year and that's the main reason the race is scheduled as late as it is.</P>
<P>I'll be posting a few bits and pieces about the event prior to my departure. The whats, the whys, the hows, the wheres. The intent is not so much to inform those interested in the event, but rather to shed some light on this obscure event and genre of racing for those not familiar with it.</P>
<P>I'll start with this. Jefe, aka wookieone on MTBR was the second finisher last year. When asked why, here's what he had to say:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><FONT color=#ff1493>Yeah it haunts me, I can flash back with ease. Suddenly i feel that deperate panic pounding with adrenaline, that cooked beyond recogintion totally used up feeling. Oh my, i was about 24 hours in when Scott and I hit Fischer creek in the La Sals, and i swear at the time i was never going to do this again, never, my mind and body was in revolt, " you foolish dupe!" And to be honest the first 24 were the easiest part. Not to discourage anyone from an attempt, but imagine this, a 24 hour race, a 100 mile race and then another 24 hour race, back to back, little sleep, horrible trail conditions, and carrying everything on your back and bike. No one to clap and encourage you on, keep you company, make you food, fill your camelback. It was one of those experiences that i will never be able to forget, trully life changing, yet it still hurts a bit deep down.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000000>The pink can't even soften those words...yet the anticipation, the draw, is huge.</FONT></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2599" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Davech-ch-changestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25942007-05-07T23:37:00Z<P>The past 7 days have been "interesting." I've suddenly achieved race weight; I moved across town and now live next to Bread - yep, that Bread; winter returned. Not exactly a blog-worthy lifestyle, but it has been trying to say the least. I hate snow and moving, I love eating. The universe has been out of order for a week, but I do sense my zen space returning.</P>
<P>The weather is looking like it's gonna turn summerish, my GI tract is back to normal, and the move is complete. </P>
<P>Moving...it's been awhile. Moving is a shocking experience. How much crap do we really need? Being ruled by possesions is in direct conflict with my need for the simple life. Moving has been a big whack across the face. About half of my life is now sitting at the bottom of the La Plata county landfill. Fox had it right trying to sell his life...</P>
<P>But, the new location kicks ass. It's all good.</P>
<P>In the meantime I've been living vicariously through the efforts of others. Anthony, <A href="http://www.jessejakomait.com/">Jesse</A>, Greg Lewis, <A href="http://www.durangowheelclub.com/">Michael Carrol</A>, Mitch, Gaige, Marisa - they all rocked Gila the past week. Jesse gave it stick day 5, coming close to an upset stage win, but alas he's a mountain biker. Greg was solid all week and had a great final day to finish 3rd GC in the 3s. How about Michael winning the Inner loop stage? And how about Marisa winning the pro women day 5???!</P>
<P>And Colby. Jesus man, nice riding.</P>
<P>On the other side of the pond, <A href="http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mtb/EventReports2007/20070503_nightrider.asp">Rob is back in action </A>picking up a win in a 12 hour race. In the UK they like to start 12 hour races at 8PM. Truly nutz over there. Looks like Gav took the mixed field - who's your partner?</P>
<P>Francis just set a lifetime PB (I think he's over 40 now?? Francis?) and a <A href="http://indianabikeracing.homestead.com/Index.html">course record </A>in a 40k TT. How cool is that.</P>
<P>The <A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb/?id=2007/may07/paysonstampede07">Payson 24 hour race </A>that I bailed on was this past weekend. Despite being on USA Cycling's Ultra calendar, it drew few top riders - Nat and Tinker, and local Chuck Wheeler whom I remember from OP had a good ride too.</P>
<P>So now it's time to think about bikes again. KTR is right around the corner, GLR shortly after that. I've been planning to do the Grand Loop on the KTR weekend, but I really don't think ma nature has been aware of my plans - looks like there may be too much snow left for that. So, I could end up doing KTR, Grand Loop the following weekend - or back to square one and doing them all at the scheduled race times?</P>
<P>I'm not a big fan of loose ends. I'll make the call soon. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2594" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveColby the rock startag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25912007-05-04T12:28:00Z<P>It's been really great to see the recent successes of Anthony Colby. He has had more than his fair share of hurdles to overcome on his way to good health and peak fitness, but he's doing it remarkably well.</P>
<P>Back in March we rode together some and at one point when he turned on the power up a climb, I watched in amazement as he blazed away while my power tap was telling me mid 300's - and a few minutes later <EM>he accelerated even more</EM>. I knew right then I was witnessing something special. That was the week before the Tour of California.</P>
<P>Then, in the Tour of Georgia, I whined about the peleton's laziness in allowing a 29 min gap to a break, negating further efforts in the race. Just on queue, Colby kicked ass on the Brasstown Bald stage, leaving his daylong breakaway companions to finish 3rd behind Levi and Tom. That'll teach me not to whine!</P>
<P>Marching on, Colby pushed on to a 5th place finish yesterday in stage 2 of the <A href="http://www.tourofthegila.com/">Gila</A>. This is no ordinary field this year. There aren't major conflicting NRC races right now, so all the big teams are represented. It's like a Georgia or ToC field.</P>
<P>Keep killin' it bro!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5060680835892216018"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjsmaFj7gNI/AAAAAAAAAzw/3g0Qu2A9kkc/s400/colby.jpg" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2591" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHow to lose 6 lbstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25842007-05-01T14:05:00Z<P>Believe it or not, the past year or so I've been having trouble with ride nutrition beyond the 8 hour point. Just like clockwork, at 8 hours the acid gut would show it's ugly face. There were some good nutrition threads over on MTBR that led to links for various nutrition products, one of which is Succeed. I've used their electroyte tabs in the past but didn't know they made drink mixes. They have a good article on nasuea <A href="http://www.succeedscaps.com/Nausea.html">here</A>.</P>
<P>So I ordered some Amino and Clip2. The former has aminos added, the latter has complete whey and a touch of MCTs (an easily digested fat source). Suddenly, I have zero gut issues! This is huge...it also meant I was eating at an alarming rate last weekend. My calorie plan for the weekend was 3000 cal + 32 * 350, where 32 was my expected ride time for the double KT and 350 was the number of calories per hour (if you are wondering, yes 14,200 calories is heavy). As it turned out, I rode about 23 hours, not 32 - and I didn't finish with very many calories left over. What a pig!</P>
<P>What does this have to do with losing 6 lbs? Nothing really ;) I just wanted to mention the succeed drinks cause they work so darn well. Along with the drinks, I could throw most anything down the hatch without any trouble - pizza, dried fruit, pizza... The 6 lb weight loss happened after eating fast food on the drive home, getting food poisoning, and being thoroughly cleaned out and unable to eat much for 2 days. Despite how much I was eating out on the trail, I was burning a lot more and always end up with a calorie deficit following big weekends. I tend to make that difference up on Mon/Tues, but that didn't happen this time. </P>
<P>It's not my first choice of getting down to race weight, but hey, whatever, I'll take it.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2584" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveScenic lessonstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25732007-04-30T14:38:00Z<P>How many views can one take in inside of 36 hours?</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058969424568745890"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUR41j7f6I/AAAAAAAAAxU/nFhkQCXfvQ0/s400/100_1694.JPG" border=0></A><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058970859087822946"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUTMVj7gGI/AAAAAAAAAy0/apo0kOXnCIs/s400/100_1716.JPG" border=0></A></P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058969772461096914"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUSNFj7f9I/AAAAAAAAAxs/ykgVTVtgK1I/s400/100_1700.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058969510468091826"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUR91j7f7I/AAAAAAAAAxc/og_XqzvXhX0/s400/100_1695.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058970468245798962"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUS1lj7gDI/AAAAAAAAAyc/jW_qsrNXYr0/s400/100_1710.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058970030159134706"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUScFj7f_I/AAAAAAAAAx8/XwImve3cEUc/s400/100_1702.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058970949282136178"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUTRlj7gHI/AAAAAAAAAy8/yY0bu5qT0ms/s400/100_1719.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058971176915402898"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUTe1j7gJI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Y6sEQ1-aOJo/s400/100_1728.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>It became obvious early in the ride that this wasn't to be a KT double. A few mechanicals, 2 hours of sleep prior to start, tool escapes...all the same, I did ride roughly 250 miles roaming the KT and parts nearby. It was an incredible experience.</P>
<P>For one, I've never done a ride quite like this - 11 hours at a fast clip 2 days in a row. Add the overnight gear and it gets real interesting. Add the first warm weekend of the year and it gets even more interesting.</P>
<P>The lessons kept coming. Like, water. Traveling long distances in desert country when warm, you really have to be on top of your hydration, current water amount on board, and time to the next water hole. This, more than any other element, dictates pace and planning in this sort of ride. I felt myself getting in harmony with this triad at some point on day 2 and it was very cool indeed.</P>
<P>And, that shandy hill is a real bitch with 7 hours in the legs. KTR/GLR is gonna be a hoot!</P>
<P>Bonus points if you can figure out what you're looking at here.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5058970257792401426"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RjUSpVj7gBI/AAAAAAAAAyM/nXRWp9iEUc0/s400/100_1706.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2573" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSabotagetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25632007-04-26T15:29:00Z<P>Right when you think you have a good plan.........</P>
<P>So. I've been trying to figure out how to make this weekend happen to my liking, but no matter how I slice it the road ride from Moab to Fruita on an MTB w/knobbies is so unnatractive. Then crackhead Lynda this am was bubbling with inspiration: why not do an out and back of the Koko?</P>
<P>Well, why not? There are good reasons to do it:</P>
<P>- shakedown for GLR<BR>- the weekend is clear<BR>- it appeals to the manic in me<BR>- weather looks great, albeit a bit warm<BR>- if things go awry, bailouts abound</P>
<P>The challenges:</P>
<P>- there are zero restocking options on the route<BR>- is it reasonable to think one can do ~ 4300 TSS in 16 days and come out of that stronger, not wasted???<BR>- I don't think I could (or really want to) do it without a sleep break. More gear required = slower climbing.<BR>- The Yeti is in St George getting gussied up, it'll have to be on the Fuel.</P>
<P>Sure seems like a great idea to me. Intimidating, and I've been cheated out of the anticipation...but not the journey.</P>
<P>Thanks so much Lynda. I think ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2563" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveA tale of 3 racestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25582007-04-25T17:28:00Z<P>More and more I am becoming aware of a paradigm shift in my athletic inclinations. For example, the Kokopelli Trail Race. I did it twice last year, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/05/15/1123.aspx">first</A>, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/10/01/1895.aspx">second</A>. Very different rides. The first was a mass start event with 56 starters, the second was a solo training mission.</P>
<P>The mass start event was a blast. Starting at midnight under a full moon was unforgetable, no doubt. The vibe on the start line was thick as pea soup.</P>
<P>The solo mish was, without a doubt, my favorite 1 day ride last year. Now why would that be I ask myself...</P>
<P>I could go on and on about this paradox. Mass start events usually come with a goal of victory, and to be honest, I have no desire to "beat" others. I absolutely enjoy riding near my limits on a regular basis (duh) but don't relish the thought that doing so might diminish others enjoyment of their efforts. I say this because when I am unsuccessfully chasing in an event, I usually find my limits before expected because sensations are muted in this instance. I don't know I'm pushing as hard as I am until it's too late. And that isn't very fun. </P>
<P>If you've raced with me, this might sound like horseshit. In the heat of battle, I am very focused, level headed, and will do all in my power to chase you down or leave you choking on my dust. That's the rule of the game. The shift is that my enjoyment of this game is waning. More often than not, I find myself preferring to smell the roses.</P>
<P>Back to that solo mish: now that's the sort of thing that turns my crank. Why? Because its me and the course and it's as simple as that. It's pure. The only external influence on my actions is the wind, sun, trail. To me, this is the essence of athleticism - or dare I say the human experience.</P>
<P>The 3rd race would be team events. In TransRockies last year I discovered a new type of racing, one requiring teamwork, synergy, and focus towards a common goal. That is entirely different because with the right partner you will help each other reach new levels of performance. Maybe that is the human experience.</P>
<P>In any case, as I look at my early season racing schedule there are some things that don't quite gel. For one, the Payson race. It's hard to get excited for lap races these days (thanks a lot Curiak) in general, but when I learned it was staged in a county fairgrounds (read: animal manure and flies) and there is no singletrack - life is just too short to spend doing that sort of event, and I can't bring myself to ask a support crew to hang out in the fairgrounds for 36 hours swatting flies. So, about 2 weeks after registering for it, it's off the plan. That leaves a big hole, cause I have been building fitness for the event. I'm shaking things up a bit like this:</P>
<P>This weekend I'll do a solo KTR mish. So far no shuttle plans so I may park in Moab Sat, ride to Fruita via pavement, sleep a few hours in a hotel then blast away. That will push the 16 day TSS total to ~ 3500, not a bad 2 week binge total if you ask me. From there its a taper and sharpen period to the weekend of the scheduled KTR. Depending on conditions, I will either do the GLR route or KTR that weekend. I'd prefer to do the GLR route, but if the Unc is still snowy then I'll chase moonbeams & rabbits with y'all.</P>
<P>For certain, I will put everything I have into solo 24 hour worlds this year. Time will tell whether or not it is a one-off event. What really gets me excited for '07 is a solo GLR attempt and BC Bike Race.</P>
<P>Kudos (or condolences) if you've made it this far. These are some concepts that have been rattling between my ears for awhile. Hope it came out right, but I doubt it...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2558" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveShe's back!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25422007-04-23T21:01:00Z<P>Remember this gal?</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5056729476358795394"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ri0cqsOc8II/AAAAAAAAAv0/9AUgdpnUtDc/s400/100_1684.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>That's right, Lynda is back in action, and as far as I can tell she's as strong as ever - and oh so appreciative to be outside riding big climbs and taking in big views once again. Having something taken away from you for awhile makes it all the sweeter on it's return.</P>
<P>It was the perfect weekend. Sat was a solo White Rim mission. I hadn't done the WR in the spring before, wow was I ever missing out. It's green! Flowers were in full force, the sand of January was gone, packed firm by the hordes of tour support vehicles and recent moisture. Easy crusing in comparision - except for the wind. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5056728656020041746"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ri0b68Oc8BI/AAAAAAAAAu8/huItsu01SqY/s400/100_1671.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Sunday I teamed up with Lynda and <A href="http://davebyers.blogspot.com/">Dave Byers</A> to check out the Kokopelli trail from Dewey Bridge to Moab. Adam and EdE had just done it the day before, and we met them Sat afternoon after they finished their ride and shuttle. The ride is considerably more epic in this direction. Except for the last major climb, the elevation gained is on sandy, rocky terrain as opposed to pavement/hardpack coming from Moab. The climb from Cows Head Hill to Beaver Mesa is long but generally not steep and was really my favorite part of the day. The views just keep coming at you and before you know it you're up in the pines.</P>
<P>Here's Dave on that climb overlooking Fisher Valley and Top of the World.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5056729695402127522"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ri0c3cOc8KI/AAAAAAAAAwE/vxf91PsiRsw/s400/100_1688.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Weather - we got it all. Sun, rain, snow, wind - it is definitely springtime! But, there is no snow to speak of at 8500' in the La Sals. When we got to the Paradox trail junction I felt a strong pull and started heading in the wrong direction...</P>
<P>About 14 hours of riding this weekend, every second of it heavenly.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5056729051157033042"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ri0cR8Oc8FI/AAAAAAAAAvc/rdLrvetQlOY/s400/100_1677.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2542" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGeorgia Lemonstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25282007-04-18T23:21:00Z<P>Allright, who drugged that sluggish peleton in Georgia today? With the main group coming in 29 minutes after the leaders of a 13 man break, the race just lost all of it's suspense. I'm pissed. No matter how well my secret heros like Colby, Donald and others do, their efforts are going to be washed away by todays bizarre result. </P>
<P>Speculation: the Discos were supposed to be rallying around Tom, right? All I can think is that Tom wasn't feeling as snappy as he had hoped and with Brajkovic up the road they blocked instead of chased. So much for Tom's '07 Georgia peach. Or...maybe this was the plan all along and all eyes were on Tom so the group didn't feel threatened by Brajkovic? Yea...right. That kid's a ripper, if he doesn't take the spoils I'll be surprised.</P>
<P>OK, so this is supposed to be a MTBers blog...but that rant just had to get release. Today I got a solid climbing workout doing Jones Creek laps. Yep, that's right - Jones is mostly dry to about 9k'. I laid the first tire tracks of the season up there today. The trail is showing some wear from the fall rains in spots, and a couple of downed trees, but otherwise she's good to go to the waterfall. Couple weeks and it should be clear to the top.</P>
<P>This weekend it's a desert double: White rim on Saturday, followed by Dewey to Moab on Sunday. Should be fun, haven't been to the White rim since it really was white back in January.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022046555646910578"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbHkvALO4HI/AAAAAAAAAYg/a0rUL68xWcs/s400/100_0065.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2528" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOn cracks & craterstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25212007-04-17T23:04:00Z<P>Caller ID strikes again. I just called Andy at Desert Cyclery and the first thing to come over the other end was "Speak of the devil, destroyer of drivetrains!" What's really funny? He hadn't read the Dawn til Dusk report yet. He did say it was time to send the Yeti to him for some lovin...he could sense it's pain. So the Yeti gets some new parts, shocks, wheels and who knows what else. Andy and Kong at Desert Cyclery are the real deal - if you are in need of anything bike related in St George, ya gotta check 'em out.</P>
<P>Each year, early in the season, there is some event where I push it really hard - too hard too soon for the distance - and have one helluva crack. It seems to be an integral part of my training. I can't claim the crack is planned, but they are very productive. Dawn til Dusk served as the '07 spring crack, and it was a good one. The day after I felt as though I'd done a 24 hour, not a 12 hour. But I'm happy to report things have come back to normal very quick. </P>
<P>Today was a nice steady climb to 9,000' - no snow up there, even though a foot or so fell up there last week. Ya been next to a stunt kite doing it's thing? Ya know the big whoosh sound it makes? That's what I heard at one point on the ride today - even felt it. Surprised, I looked up, and was even more surprised to see a golden eagle no more than 6 feet above my head with talons waaay bigger than my hands, wings and feathers all over the place, so much that it looked deformed. Almost crashed again, but stayed upright...turns out the eagle had some screaming critter in it's dangling talons and was being harrassed by some sort of agile bird of prey. </P>
<P>That screaming little critter had more than a crack. That was a crater.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2521" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Bridesmaidtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25142007-04-16T14:34:00Z<P>Dawn til Dusk 12 hour has come and gone but it has left a mark. Quite a few actually ;)</P>
<P>My initial goals for the event were to dial in nutrition and get some good training in a competetive environment. I'm trying out some different race fuels, stuff that is light to carry (thinking forward to KTR and GLR) yet works well for the long haul. In the 4-5 days before the event, though, my legs were telling me it was going to be a bit better than a training event. By race time, the goal had shifted a bit - leave nothing out there, no kJ unused.</P>
<P>Apologies for the lack of pics - my camera went AWOL in the event and it is still unaccounted for...it didn't work too well anyway. Team Matt & Jeni took a lot of pics enroute to the SS solo win, you can see them <A href="http://mcturge.blogspot.com/2007/04/dawn-til-dusk-2007-race-report.html">here</A>. Awesome job by Matt - he's entered the super freak category.</P>
<P>Weather was a concern. Driving down the day before it wasn't too bad until we got to Gallup. It was cold and rainy driving from Gallup to the course. Since there's a bit of clay out there (NM is all clay, right?) I was concerned about another mudfest. Moab '06 and the RimRide were both wet events...not another wet desert event? I put on some raingear and had a great pre-ride - the moisture had the course totally buffed out. Conditions couldn't have been better, and I'd say the same for the legs. I was feeling good for mid-April.</P>
<P>At the 7am race start it was cold and moist. The ground was covered with a very thick frost, almost like snow, that hung around for the first two laps. Throughout the day I swear I could see the grass getting greener by the lap! But sight wasn't something of mine to be trusted today as it turned out...</P>
<P>It didn't take too much effort to stay with the first 10 riders at the start. I was comfortable and relaxed. About 15 min into the lap that all changed took as my chain broke. Jeesh. Much to my surprise, Brian Lugers stopped to help fix the chain. He later told Anna he was really just planning to grab my chain and ride off, but I don't believe it! He's a great guy all the way...it seems I'm racing with gentlemen this year. After it seemed I had it mostly taken care of Brian rode off. After I got the chain put back together, I went to get it on the chainring, but DOH! It was wrapped around the BB shell. You gotta be kiddin me...so, 15 min later I'm heading off down the trail, about 5-10 min behind DFL. Sweet. Passing was really tough on this course as it's all singletrack. The trail was buff and fast, an inch to either side was deep sand, soft and slow. If riders didn't move over, passing took a huge effort...so that first lap I mostly hung out behind riders.</P>
<P>On lap 2 the herd had thinned and it was time to get to work. I was riding at a pace I knew wouldn't last all day...or would it? With a DFL start, there wasn't anything to lose, so I just kept the power to the pedals. The course was a blast, the music in my ears was great. I was taking in a lot of calories and all was working well. Updates were confusing and slow in coming - I never really knew my position. I knew Brian was going to be super tough, and Fred W was rocking his SS in the geared cat as usual, but I was basically chasing ghosts. There was one guy I caught up to maybe on lap 5 or 6, he was riding really well and it took quite some time to catch him once I saw him. I later learned this was Peter, a local master's rider who kicks some serious butt. Nice riding Peter!</P>
<P>On bike choice...both the Yeti and Fuel were ready to rock, but it was Yeti love all the way. The smooth rear end bearing pivots are so much smoother than the Fuel's ('05) bushing pivots, so I stuck with the Yeti until the final lap. The rear D cable kept coming out of the channel in the SRAM derailur, forcing me to loosen the pinch bolt to get it back then do a quick re-adjustment. Other than that, the Yeti flowed like butter all day.</P>
<P>At the end of lap 8 I asked Anna where Brian was, and right as the words came out of my mouth he rolled on up and said he was done. Turns out he hit something out there and was feeling the effects. So as far as we knew, heading out for lap 9 I was in the lead. Could it be true? I still don't know.</P>
<P>Now I was starting to fade. My left eye had been checking out on me, just like what happened in OP in '06. By lap 7 it was seriously foggy, by lap 9 it was gone. Then, while trying to eat a banana, my front wheel strayed off the buff course into soft sand and it was air time. The full impact of the crash was on the right shoulder (the good one) and I swear it should have broken that collarbone...but I came away with nothing more than cuts, a mouth full of sand, and the rear D cable jumping the channel once again. But with that crash I could feel my mojo draining into the dirt.</P>
<P>Last lap: position still unknown, I headed out for #10. I was tiiiiiiiiiired at this point, and the first steep "cougar hill" climb cracked me. 10 hours in chase mode had taken it's toll. I was overheated, legs dead. At the top I layed under a tree for 10-15 min, waiting for things to normalize. There was a local photog up there from a Gallup paper, he shot about 15 pics of me while interviewing me in that dazed and confused state. Funny. Finally, I get up and start rolling. Wobbly and not seeing well at all, things began to improve as the lap went on. By the end I was feeling OK again...but still uncertain of my place in the field. On the final descent, Jenna Woodbury was there (she wins the loudest cheering award!) and I asked if anyone was in front of me and she said yes, Brian Bennet was. Well shucks. Matt later said I lost by seconds, but I haven't seen the results yet so have no clue. I was a touch dissappointed, but man did I get the workout I was after. </P>
<P>It was a killer race. Lots of competition and plenty of drama in the solo field. There were several players with the lead a moving target. Team HealthFX was there in full force too. Zach Shriver and Greg Lewis laid waste to the course with a 12 lap tally - that's under an hour for average lap times!!! Miles and Andrew teamed up to keep Zach and Greg honest, coming in for 2nd in the duos. Our own cap'n Ken Armstrong rode a super strong race to take 2nd in the master solo field. Did I mention this was his first solo 12 hour bike race? </P>
<P>It ain't pretty but it is honest. I had some very human moments out there and the battle was largely within. The only other thing I could have asked for is a non-lap race, but that's another topic!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2514" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFree stuff and a realizationtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:25012007-04-08T22:31:00Z<P>Spring cleaning has taken a double meaning as I'm moving soon...and this is to your benefit, at least if you're in the area and need some random bike stuff. There's some goodies in front of my house, everything in front of the camper is free for the taking, come on over and help yourself. Among the items is a road wheelset, and Ultegra 170mm crankset, rollers w/ resistance unit, and lots of tires - both 26" and 29".</P>
<P>Here's a sample pic, check out the garage sale link below for more.</P>
<TABLE>
<TR>
<TD><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GarageSale/photo?authkey=-niT8UomUCE#5051188459815940626"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhltJFDhshI/AAAAAAAAAsY/KEqNiXYLhUI/s400/100_1661.JPG"></A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TR>
<TD>From <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GarageSale?authkey=-niT8UomUCE">Garage Sale</A></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P>Now for the realization. I woke up yesterday with an understanding about GLR, which simply put, is that the reasons I want to do it don't have anything to do with anyone else. It really doesn't have anything to do with <EM>racing</EM>. It's hard to explain. But one thing is for sure: I'd rather do it completely solo than in a race setting. That doesn't mean I won't try to go fast cause of course I will. It is simply more natural and agreeable to make a solo TT effort out of it. </P>
<P>I was quite surprised to gain clarity on this thing that doesn't make a lot of sense...but that GLR route is my solo quest for '07.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2501" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveScared witlesstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24932007-04-06T13:51:00Z<P>Global warming ain't so funny all of a sudden. Riding up to almost 9000' on the Colorado trail in early April is fun and all...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5050302747365192050"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhZHl1DhsXI/AAAAAAAAArU/Afnzk4iOMU8/s400/100_1655.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>But Durangoans recall all too well the fire season of '02 when Missionary ridge burned ALL SUMMER long. Nasty. Then Mike Curiak offered <A href="http://www.honedesign.com/sites/zipp/2002/adventures/great_expectations.html">this bit o wisdom</A> yesterday on an MTBR forum about just how bad things can get in an ultra race in a drought year.</P>
<P>Time for a gut check. </P>
<P>What are current conditions?</P>
<P>SW Colorado snowpack is at 55% of normal right now: <A>ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/update/co.txt</A>.</P>
<P>SE Utah snowpack is at 2% (!!) of normal right now: <A>ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/update/ut.txt</A></P>
<P>What's the long range forecast? From weather.com, here ya go:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5050313450423693746"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhZRU1DhsbI/AAAAAAAAAr8/OHnKazU-QtI/s400/apr-june_outlook.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>KTR and GLR could be more challenging than usual this year...I'll be keeping an eye on conditions and a flexible plan. I'm all for personal challenges, but death marches into sandstorms take the fun right out of it. It's all about the optimal experience - and if they happen to be in Canada this year then so be it!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2493" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveParadox demystifiedtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24832007-04-02T15:28:00Z<P>'Twas an awesome weekend in no-mans land. Perfect weather, hard trails, what more can you ask for.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853066367897378"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhHSgADyI/AAAAAAAAAo0/mtRxFK7gvyk/s400/100_1625.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Day 1 was a ride West of Bedrock on the Paradox. The route winds around the valley floor a short while before heading up Carpenter ride. Riding up Carpenter ridge with Chris is where I learned that 30+ lbs of gear is waaay more bad than 14 pounds of gear. Maybe it was the VO2 and superoxic threshold training of the previous two days, but crikey.... Creature comforts are getting tossed, weight-weeniness is in.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048852971878616850"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhBygADxI/AAAAAAAAAos/amfW25KiWVc/s400/100_1624.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Once on top of the ridge it got muddy. A little snowfall late last week made everything soft above about 7300', that seemed to be our turnaround elevation both days. Riverside camping, can't beat that!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853594648874882"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhmCgAD4I/AAAAAAAAApk/Rp06fKHl5kg/s400/100_1634.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853534519332722"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhiigAD3I/AAAAAAAAApc/d2ZKLhd_B58/s400/100_1632.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Day 2 took us to the beginnings of Glencoe Bench north of Pinto mesa. Interesting section of trail...after a climb out of the San Miguel drainage, the riding is incredibly pleasant through sage covered plains (seemingly) leading to the Uncompaghre plateau. But in the sick demented manner of the Paradox course designer's mind, the trail bombs back downhill to Tabeuache creek so that you can do that climbing again.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853895296585650"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEh3igAD7I/AAAAAAAAAp8/k8J2LZOpZys/s400/100_1640.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>This is where it got fun. Thank god for GPS, that's all I have to say. There's no way I'd get through that section without it. Sketchy tracks in every direction that see very little use. In some places there are trail markers...one such place I didn't believe at first cause there was only a jumble of boulders...sure enough, more sketchy track around the next corner. The route is steep, rocky, uber soft and slow going from Third Park to Glencoe. Hike-a-bikes abound, both up and down...just like Jefe said. Fortunately though, my mapping proved effective and was always within 100 feet or so of the actual route. Kinda feels like cheating. MC's record GLR ride without GPS just got a whole lot more impressive in my mind.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048854226009067490"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEiKygAD-I/AAAAAAAAAqU/EfVv_ygduWg/s400/100_1643.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The pre-ride was invaluable. The route is frightening. All the while I was trying to put into perspective how the section to Pinto Mesa would feel after doing the Koko and West side of the Paradox already. It put new perspective on that term "shambilizing." GLR is a very complicated, difficult undertaking. It has my full respect and attention.</P>
<P>I wonder what surprises the Tabeauche trail has in store?</P>
<P>One of my time limiters for a GLR type race. The bibs gotta go. Note the beached whale on the right. That's gotta go too.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853259641425730"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhSigAD0I/AAAAAAAAApE/ZqxrN-5Ptig/s400/100_1627.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853697728090002"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhsCgAD5I/AAAAAAAAAps/dFcmbYHN4wE/s400/100_1638.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Dave Nice rode this silly stuff on a fixie - and rode it well. He's looking really strong this year and he's a diesel. I predict a GDR fixie finish for him this summer :)</P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048854466527236114"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEiYygAEBI/AAAAAAAAAqs/bT_UbXdcab8/s400/100_1647.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5048853452914954082"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RhEhdygAD2I/AAAAAAAAApU/m7DXAaEe3Yo/s400/100_1631.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2483" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGLR Recontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24702007-03-29T14:17:00Z<P>All the goods are in: racks, waterproof panniers, packs, hydration systems, lightweight bivy gear, GPS, maps. Now, how does all this stuff a) fit on a bike, and b) work?</P>
<P>Time to find out!</P>
<P>The middle section of the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">Grand Loop Race </A>is the <A href="http://www.co.blm.gov/ubra/paradox.htm">Paradox trail</A>. Getting maps for this has been more than challenging. An email request to <A href="http://www.copmoba.org/">COPMOBA</A> was returned 3 weeks later with a suggestion of joining the organization and requesting the map pack - with another 2-3 week turnaround time. I don't mind supporting MTB trail advocacy groups (and joined up), but the delays...are like getting a passport.</P>
<P>Fortunately, I'm resourceful and google ferrets out the goods. Using this map as a guide and the BLM section descriptions, I've mapped out a GPS route in NG Topo!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5047352718327287490"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RgvMjigADsI/AAAAAAAAAn0/8uUzbNsrPNU/s400/paradox.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Here's my version:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5047349308123254450"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RgvJdCgADrI/AAAAAAAAAno/-j5nKXp27Y4/s400/paradox.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Hmmm...I think I see discrepancies already...</P>
<P>This weekend is Paradox recon weekend. Hard to tell where the mudline will be...if I'm lucky and can get to the 8000' mark I'll be able to check out the Glencoe bench area - one of the routefinding toughies of the Paradox. The Paradox goes through some awesome river canyons at the lower elevations, should be the perfect time of the season for those. It'll be much nicer now than in June!</P>
<P>Oh, and an added bonus: the camera lives. Pics to follow.</P>
<P>Anyone wanna join in the fun?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2470" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTechnical difficultiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24582007-03-27T13:16:00Z<P>My camera is dead. Is it any coincidence the last picture taken was this one?</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286773170827650"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggDFXWZcYI/AAAAAAAAAnA/llj8yY2Vaa0/s288/100_1618.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>I think not.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2458" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveRim Ride Moab: the new classictag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24512007-03-26T17:33:00Z<A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286584192266562"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggC6XWZcUI/AAAAAAAAAnM/IqdBwu6FYvc/s800/100_1614.JPG" width=600 border=0></A>
<P>As Fred W and I stood waiting for the start of Old Pueblo this year he was telling me about a different epic ride a month later in Moab. It was hard to think of doing the RimRide 2 minutes before starting a 24 hour effort...all I could think was the timing was bad, I really needed to be in a good training groove at this time. That is pretty much what I had been thinking all along, until about 4 days before the event. But, I knew I'd cave in...how much sense does it make to pass up an epic event for the sake of training anyway? Yea, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes, but eventually I come to my senses. And holy muther, what an event it turned out to be.</P>
<P>Springtime came early this year. March up to a few days ago has been unusually warm and dry. Well, that changed in a hurry. The weather gods knew there was a race to be held in Moab so sent the clouds and storms to Moab - desert and drought notwithstanding.</P>
<P>But hey, what's a little rain in the desert? It just makes the sand more rideable, right? Yea, that's what we thought at Moab 24 last year too :)</P>
<P>Food: let's see...in my platypus bladder (100 oz) I had 7 scoops of drip and 2 packs of eFuel plus a few enduralytes. In pockets, plenty of eGel, mini-snickers (my new favorite), 3 bananas, and 4 <A href="http://www.blackwing.com/product_view.php?id=338">organic Ostrich sticks </A>stuffed in the elastic of my shorts. In total I had about 4500 calories with me. I expected a 10 hour ride but planned for 12 just to be safe.</P>
<P>I shared a hotel for the weekend with Adam and the Holleys. Adam had done his scouting and after some time wrestling inner demons was excited to get going.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286240594882770"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggCmXWZcNI/AAAAAAAAAlo/tkq8C1vG7_M/s400/100_1606.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Chris wasn't stressed at all as he and KC weren't really planning to ride the whole thing. They were doing Porc rim and Flat pass the next day so were going to save some legs for those.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286296429457634"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggCpnWZcOI/AAAAAAAAAlw/2X8R-euZmP4/s400/100_1607.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Meet Tex. Tex loves people, and really likes to burrow under your covers at 3am ;)</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286408098607362"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggCwHWZcQI/AAAAAAAAAmA/h0r7STuy1Tk/s400/100_1609.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>KC and Chris were rippin last year at the E100 12 hour, almost winning the overall.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286451048280338"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggCynWZcRI/AAAAAAAAAmI/OmNbCV20AmU/s400/100_1610.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Back to the race start. Checking in with Jenna. Henry Horrocks there in the blue/orange kit. He was super strong on his single, but one of the hypothermia victims of the day.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286519767757090"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggC2nWZcSI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/j-3vQ639dwE/s400/100_1611.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Fred W the man, Adam's bike, and my GPS.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286562717430066"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggC5HWZcTI/AAAAAAAAAmY/o-aqdOxr6k0/s400/100_1613.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>So, race details. Off we went up the paved bikepath with a neutral start until Fred said "go." Nobody was willing to go any faster than our conversational pace...so I just had to go. It was a fool's folly as I knew I'd get lost. Anyway, the sight of the lights behind me quickly faded, but there was an almost imperceptible hum of tire on pavement behind me. I look back and ask who's on my wheel. Yep, it was <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/">Sly</A> as he had promised. No lights and traveling light, he was taking advantage of my light. "What's your fueling plan?" "I'm gonna eat when you eat." So we're cruising along, and my GPS wasn't set up quite right and I couldn't get it done riding, so I stopped. Hey, we're at the front, I have the only light, what's he gonna do? Leave me in the dark? Naaaa..."there's 4 guys coming up on us." At minute 15 of 600 it didn't seem relevant. I continued to fiddle, purposefully wasting time...changing clothes, taking a leak...shenanigans to be sure.</P>
<P>Rolling again. The other riders had caught us but we slipped away again. As we were cruising down a dirt road, we heard Fred yelling at us that we missed a turn. Doh! Backtracking through sandy washes in the early dawn, I decided to stick on Fred's wheel until 191. There were a lot of turns on the Sovereign trail and I just didn't trust my GPS or mapreading skills. Sly did a lot of yo-yoing off the front, but there were 5 of us that more or less stayed together to a bit past 191: myself, Fred, Henry Horrocks, Chris Peters, and Sly. The clay-mud hike-a-bikes were the great neutralizers and kept us all together.</P>
<P>Once we had passed 191, I was more comfortable with the upcoming navigation. It also was very obvious Sly was just cruising along. The pace wasn't enough to soften him up. If he was fresh at the end, I'd be in trouble...so the Seven mile canyon climb is where I upped the pace a bit. Well, after the really crappy muddy hike, that is. What would have been normally rideable was a hike with a 80 lb bike on my back. Yuk. I even said a bad word or two directed at my heavy ride, to which Henry told be to be nice unless I wanted to walk back. Good point!</P>
<P>From there on Sly and I rode at a good clip for a loooong time together. We chatted a little, but not much. He wasn't much for words so I put on the MP3, which dropped PE and upped the pace some more. All the better. Riding between Monitor/Merrimac was dreamy, and the subsequent slickrock was pretty cool too. We got a bit lost, cliffed out and had to backtrack. At one point I stopped to put lube on to stop the chainsuck, and to my surprise Sly stopped and waited for me.</P>
<P>Pretty soon we're at 313, cruising up that pavement into a headwind and steady rain. The weather was looking sooo ominous. Pretty soon we were descending Gemini bridges road in a very cold rain. It was hard to see as the glasses were a no-go most of the day and mud was in the eyes. There was an adventure race going on in the area which provided many slow moving targets...folks running and riding, all looking beat. We must have been at the back of the race. </P>
<P>After 20 minutes of this, I had myself a situation. My forearms were cold, hands numb and barely functional. I made the call to stop and put on drier, thicker gloves and a jacket. Thanks goodness I had them with me, otherwise it'd been ugly out there. It also meant I was now in chase mode. Sly wasn't showing any signs of slowing down...I had my work cut out for me. This was turning out to be quite the epic race. I wasn't too concerned as the end of these things is where I can really turn it on - and I was feeling great once I warmed up.</P>
<P>But, alas, between some bad luck and dumb mistakes, I never saw Sly again - before the finish that is. It didn't really matter though, cause the experience up on Gold Bar was priceless.</P>
<P>Shortly after the glove stop my right cleat got a bit loose. It'll stay put, right? wrong. The cleat fell out of the shoe. Finding those screws in the sand is some fun, let me tell ya. That was the first time that happened. It happened again before getting to Gold Bar, and they loosened up again on Poison Spider but held on for the finish.</P>
<P>Then on Gold Bar my chain broke. A day of chainsuck, mud and the like had taken it's toll. Just ask Henry how many times he got stalled out while I botched shifts ;) But still, I was feeling GREAT, no pain and riding strong. There was a lot of time left. If Sly was weakening at all, I'd catch him mechanicals or no. But then I really goofed. In my head, the route had us doing all of the blue dot trail, a techy, granny gear, routefinding challenge along the top. Very tricky, very slow, very scenic. Then I realized there were no tracks - I was breaking new ground since the last rain. At first dissapointed cause I figured Sly was lost or bonked somewhere, I got over it. Coming to the top of the Rim on the blue dot trail for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the scene spreading out below. Billowing mists were swirling up the canyon rim, obscuring the view below, and looked soft as if you could step out there into the softness. First I yelled. Then I busted out the camera, thinking of you.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286640026841426"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggC9nWZcVI/AAAAAAAAAmo/zUODLIKMueE/s400/100_1615.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/RimRideMoab/photo#5046286687271481698"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RggDAXWZcWI/AAAAAAAAAmw/ns_zAdFuyTI/s400/100_1616.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The effort, the chase, the fatigue, the epic scene - they all combined into a poignant moment up there on Gold Bar Rim. It was one of those moments that happen once or twice a year with luck...and for the record, the type of moment that has never happened in a XC event. It's the kind of moment that validates the addiction.</P>
<P>OK, so maybe you can't see those pics through my eyes...but I hope you can. It was damn cool up there. </P>
<P>As it turns out, we were only supposed to do a small portion of the blue dot trail. I lost way too much time...but I didn't really care. The above scene wasn't part of the course, and if I'd have been on course I would have missed it. I rolled into the finish at 10 hours, right on schedule.</P>
<P>When all is said and done, the Rim Ride is an epic route. Mad props to anyone that towed the line, and moreso to those that finished. And Fred - my friend you've just created an instant classic. It inspires me to do something similar in Durango...</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2451" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOutfoxed at the RimRidetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24482007-03-25T13:29:00Z<P>Quickie update from the Mondo Cafe here in Moab - the RimRide was a blast...and made even more epic by yet another storm of the century. Whoever said Moab is a desert is just plain wrong! At least on race day...</P>
<P>Turnout was good - around 30 folks didn't let the weather dampen enthusiasm and met at Lion's park before 6am for a dark start. Lots of SSers were in the mix, and some folks were carring an amazing amount of gear too. Marco showed up with a big pack and winter bivy! I wonder if he used it?</P>
<P>The course is amazing. Tough but amazing. Rim ride is a good name for the race cause you always are riding to or on some canyon rim. I did take some pics out there and will post 'em up later. One set of pictures was during a rare "moment" in racing...stay tuned.</P>
<P>In the end, Chris Fox came across first and I was 14 minutes behind him. We rode together most of the day and I gained a lot of respect for him - he's a full-on heads up rider. If you only know him through his blog you prolly don't know him.</P>
<P>A big SS contingent (I think) filled spots 4-8. Scott Sportsman, Chris Plesko, Ed Ellinger, and Dave C all put in great rides. I wonder how much walking they did in GBR?</P>
<P>More stories to come. Today it's a little recovery spin on Porc rim before heading home.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2448" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveQuack Quack Quacktag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24342007-03-21T13:59:00Z<P>Those ducks are making a lot of noise but not sure they are all getting in a row quite yet, but I'm pushing them in that direction. With a head full of new stuff, here's the sampler:</P>
<P>Navigation. 'Tis a big deal for GLR and Scott Morris did a great ride with the help of a <A href="http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60csx/">Garmin GPSMap 60 CSx</A>. Guess what I just received?</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60csx/graphics/pt-gpsmap60csxRF-SM.jpg"></P>
<P>Maps are ordered and on the way as well. Topo maps can be uploaded to a SD card in the unit, pretty cool, huh?</P>
<P>A few folks recommended the Old Man Mountain racks for the upcoming adventures, they promptly sent the <A href="http://www.oldmanmountain.com/rear_rack_page.htm">Sherpa</A> model my way. It attaches to the hub and v-brake bosses, has a 40 lb load limit, and looks and feels super super solid. No more of that seat post mounted stuff - they break too easy and adversely affect bike handling.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.oldmanmountain.com/images/racks_new/rear_Sherpa.gif"></P>
<P>And training...is flowing like butter these days. I had planned a L4 climbing sesh for today but the weather looked iffy so I doubled up yesterday with a L5/6 am (G2 for those in the know) and then hit the new Edgemont/Cliffs climb with Fergy in the afternoon. If you haven't been up that climb, you gotta do it - brand new pavement to the top of Missionary ridge, smooth as glass, steeper than the Mogollon in the Gila SR. Good stuff. Little did I know there was a group ride last night, it's already that time of year!</P>
<P>I've been on the fence on whether or not to do the <A href="http://rimridemoab.blogspot.com/">RimRide</A> this weekend. It's a brutal course and I really don't want to break up my training rythm with a forced recovery period. But...Fred W has done so much work putting together such an epic route...it's springtime in the desert...and I am weak. <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/">Prime Time </A> made the decision a lot easier by posting the map below. I've traced the route on a Classic Moab Trails map (since I haven't seen the first 2/3 of the course) and plugged coords into the GPS. The rack is on the bike, as is a new hydration system to test...and a 6am start means lights are needed the first hour or so. All in all, it'll be great testing grounds for a bunch of new stuff. I just hope those ducks don't get lost!</P><IMG src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_d_SZkXTUykU/RfocBOdIFsI/AAAAAAAAAhc/F5M7W7eECjw/s320/DSCN7667.JPG"><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2434" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveEnjoying global warmingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24312007-03-16T12:44:00Z<P>At least for now. As anyone who's been around here long knows winter is coming back...but for now it's tough to beat 70F in March. That's overtraining weather! It's been warm and dry long enough that it's time to check out some dirt ...it's been all pavement around here for awhile.</P>
<P>Training has been going well. I'm finally beginning to feel like my old self now that CTL is comfortably closing in on 120. It doesn't hurt to toss in a bit more intensity too. 2 weeks ago I started raising the roof with help - getting towed around SW Colorado by some strong local boyz, teammates Miles, Greg, and Colavita guy Anthony. Anthony was a good sport and pulled us along all day. Any time I was next to him it was taking 250-300W to keep up. Ouch! Coming off of OP I could maintain 200 forever, but that ride woke up some dormant muscle fibers. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5042503630377073250"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfqSVeM-OmI/AAAAAAAAAlI/xvP3pVoUjuo/s400/DSCF0263.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The other aspect of global warming is snowmelt - the rivers are rising. Just in time for Steve's (the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda">recovering crackhead's </A>husband) training trip down Westwater canyon on the Colorado, just W of Fruita. Nuthin like a good float and bloat to prevent overtraining.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5042504081348639346"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfqSvuM-OnI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/n6VHMWLcNfY/s400/dolores.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>I'll be back Sunday and plan on doing a big passes ride. Something like Needles -> Ouray and back. Anyone care to join me?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2431" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMTB the Grand Canyon?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24292007-03-14T16:55:00Z<P>A couple weeks back a story in the local paper mentioned 3 guys that rode their bikes into Grand Canyon national park on trails reserved for foot & mule traffic. The NPS was sufficiently pissed to chase them down in Tucson at the 24 hours in the Old Pueblo. That's a lot of tax dollars and effort for a misdemeanor. As part of their plea bargain, they initially put up an antiseptic story of what happened on their website. Well, now they've put up more details, and it's a helluva read. Food for thought....like...careful what you blog, you never know who's reading!</P>
<P>Go to <A href="http://www.ridingthespine.com/Journey/uncategorized/denouement#comments">http://www.ridingthespine.com/Journey/uncategorized/denouement#comments</A> for the lowdown.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2429" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOvernight Revelationstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24212007-03-12T15:53:00Z<P>The past week I've been in <A href="http://www.bcexp.com/">Backcountry Experience </A>no less than 4 times. The 3rd time one of the guys that work there saw me walk in the door and exclaimed "Buy me backpacking now!" OK, so he didn't get the specifics right. Bikepacking would have been a better term. But I did buy it last week, LOL. As it turns out, the Grand Loop Race is going to be more expensive than doing the BC Bike race this year.</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>1 lb down bag<BR>Bivy<BR>pad<BR>stove and pot (7.3 oz!)<BR>compression sacks<BR>backpack<BR>hydration bladders</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>Nothing left to do but give it a test run, so instead of doing the big group <A href="http://rimridemoab.blogspot.com/">rimride</A> pre-ride, I opted for a solo overnight of the Kokopelli Trail. That route is just nothing but good vibes.</P>
<P dir=ltr>School was in session. Packing for a self-supported overnight by bike took as much time as getting ready for a 24 hour. Ugh. That put me at the Fruita side of the KT at 5pm on Saturday. I've got good lights and was looking forward to some time in the dark. </P>
<P dir=ltr>The sunset was a beauty on the Troy Built trail.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5041065679621339474"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfV2huM-OVI/AAAAAAAAAio/l3lrwqUPHsw/s400/100_1592.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>It's getting green out there already. Springtime is making an early showing.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5041065563657222450"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfV2a-M-OTI/AAAAAAAAAiY/qy5YxxvFsvw/s400/100_1590.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>So the big question for this type of effort is how much you can do without. This I learned in retrospect ;) Hiking up from Salt Creek with a 45 lb rig and wearing a 20 lb backpack felt a lot like work. Reading various GLR reports I was wondering why nobody hit the Bedrock store before it closed. Well duh. Aside from the heat riders faced last year, it's a whole nuther ballgame with a loaded bike and backpack - everything you need for 3-4 days.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5041065494937745698"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfV2W-M-OSI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/hNzPIICPG0c/s400/100_1589.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Yep, that's the Dos Niner all loaded up there. Big, big revelations with this rig. First of all, I've never got much suspension travel out of the softail design. I'm too light to get it to move. But - put a trunk on the back with my grub, and a heavy pack - suddenly the bike felt as smooth (or better) than the Fuel. I was getting full travel out of it and it felt great! Much to my surprise, the 29" wheels felt great with a loaded rig. With this much weight it just feels like it holds momentum so well. This bike was just about to get dissassembled and sold...but maybe not. </P>
<P>So...how to carry all the creature comforts? I put a small rack on the front and the Delta seatpost mounted rack on the rear. The front held strong, but the seatpost rack was a no go. For starters, I was riding conservatively on any descent cause I was afraid it would break my post while I was out of the saddle and I'd sit back down on a sharp dagger. That'd be bad. Turns out the Easton EA70 held strong but the rack didn't:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5041066070463363490"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfV24eM-OaI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/9PPloudx-Z8/s400/100_1597.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>So...everything gets redistributed between my pack and the front. No biggie. </P>
<P>And the riding? What a hoot. Cruising through the Rabbit Valley area in the dark, I come around a corner to hear ~ 20 generators. RVs on the KT? And then the real treat, getting chased by dogs in the dark. Sweet.</P>
<P>Speaking of dogs, the sheep (and their big dogs) are in the Cisco area right now. That big pooch stood squarely in the middle of the road, waiting for me, but as I approached his tail started to wag and he was smiling. If you encounter this fella, just say something nice to him and stay away from his sheep, no matter how lonely it is out there ;)</P>
<P>As the high points of the KT near Moab are still under snow, I opted to finish the ride with an out and back from Dewey bridge to Top of the World. It was a good litmus test to see what a 3000 foot steep techy climb will feel like loaded after 5 hours of riding. At the top of the climb, suddenly the trail ends and you ARE at the top of the world. Breathless, literally.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/GLRPrep/photo#5041066280916761042"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RfV3EuM-OdI/AAAAAAAAAjo/_eGWgo_SFwI/s400/100_1600.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2421" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveObsessiontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:24022007-03-03T14:03:00Z<P>There are some incredible stories coming out of Alaska right now. The <A href="http://www.alaskaultrasport.com/iti_home_page.html">Iditarod trail race</A> is a 350 or 1100 mile winter race through the heart of Alaska - in winter! Mode of travel is optional. Some bike, some run, some ski. Read <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=272942">this thread over on MTBR </A>and if you don't get all jacked up you best get your pulse checked. Lots of illuminating commentary by the previous course record holder Mike Curiak on what the leaders are likely experiencing, thinking, feeling, and what tactics they are opting to use. Prolly the most engrossing MTBR thread I've come across. Congrats to anyone that started this event, special congrats to anyone that finished, and super special congrats to Jay P for busting out such an amazing ride as a rookie. </P>
<P>So how many details do you think have to be nailed down to survive an event like that? -30F temps, 40 mph winds, as much as 24 hours between checkpoints, wildlife, trail conditions all over the map including ice, snow, rivers (frozen & otherwise), vegetation choked mountain passes - the list goes on and on. Yea, to survive that one I'm thinking takes a deep bag of tricks and quite a few lucky charms. And that comes from...</P>
<P>Obsession.</P>
<P>------------------------------------------------------</P>
<P>So, I hate the cold. Really. As exciting as it is to read those accounts, I don't ever see myself doing that sort of thing. But...I've been looking at the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">Grand Loop Race </A>for over a year now. It is similar in distance, and the course record times are similar as well. Maybe a bit more climbing at 48k+'. The trick is it's completely self supported. No outside support, at all. There is one remote store near (but not on) the route. I find this fascinating...</P>
<P>Clearly in a 3+ day period ya gotta get some shuteye. How much grub do you have to carry? Water filter or tablets? Cooking gear or go with all cold stuff? I've never even done an overnight by bike so school is in session. </P>
<P>The attraction of this event is tugging at me with the power of a black hole - and it is a bit of a black hole as well. It'd be cocky to do it with any sort of plan to "race" it the first time around - if I do it the goal will be to finish. Besides, with events like the BC Bike Race, 24 hour worlds, and the 24 hours of Moab in the season plan, it'd be darn risky to burn the candle at both ends for 3 days in the heat of June.</P>
<P>Physically, I am ready for this race. Not so long ago I had the impression than when the bonk came that was the end. But in the past 2 years there have been many times when I thought I was done, only to experience a quick rebound. All it takes is a bit of fuel, water, maybe a nap, and I'm good to go again....mentally, I need a new challenge. Cycling has always had a way of providing new challenges. </P>
<P>I feel a good obsession building. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2402" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMoab meanderingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23812007-02-26T14:10:00Z<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035845289063726466"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqm_53vYI/AAAAAAAAAhY/XmoyjvEwTBc/s288/rimrideheader.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>The week after 24's...well they can be an exercise in patience, but not this one. I was trashed for 2 days then suddenly felt great. That can mean only one thing in late Feb: it's time to get on over to Moab.</P>
<P>There's an event coming up late March, the <A href="http://rimridemoab.blogspot.com/">Moab Rimride</A>. It hits a lot of unfamiliar terrain, and after reading the route description I figured it would make for a good ride (part of it that is...). I didn't have the recommended "classic Moab trails" map, just the Latitude 40 Moab East and West maps. Resolution and included trails were not sufficient to get the course figured out, so I ended up just picking my own route, which was Gemini Bridges, Gold Bar Rim (the blue dot trail), and Poison Spider.</P>
<P>I hadn't been to Gemini Bridges before, you walk right on up to it before you know you're there. Suddenly a gaping hole in the ground lets you know you've arrived. Yea, real observant harris...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035844846682094866"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqNP53vRI/AAAAAAAAAgg/k8a9d6o4n8M/s288/100_1573.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035844760782748930"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqIP53vQI/AAAAAAAAAgY/pKmgW3b9Z7Y/s288/100_1571.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>From Gemini it's a short bit of backtracking to get to the Gold Bar Rim. I'll be calling this the 90 weight trail, as that's what it smells like. Jeeps hit this one hard, literally, and their transfer cases & differentials have left trails and puddles of the goo all over. I found Gold Bar to be rather hard. Very little dirt, mostly slickrock. Lot's of stuff requiring a quick dismount or a freeride bike. There's an alternate route that goes right along the rim in spots, the "blue dot trail", it's singletrack, techy and fun. The main road makes a zigzag route from 300 feet below the rim and back to the rim...repeat...over and over. Great interval work. Views from the top let you know your livin'.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035844949761310002"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqTP53vTI/AAAAAAAAAgw/28-6bewpS0Q/s288/100_1577.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>For those doing the March event, this section at the end of the ride is going to be HARD. Save some juice or you'll be suckin' the grease. Literally. Stuff like this will present challenges to tired legs (it's deeper and farther across than it appears):</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035845074315361618"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqaf53vVI/AAAAAAAAAhA/C9TPKG9a028/s288/100_1581.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>There were a coupla moto guys from Boulder out there. They had me in stitches at one point. "Yea, Mark here had a skiing accident last year, broke his hip, back, and got impaled in his ass by a stick. Skiing mag wrote it up in Nov '06, article title is The Tale of Two Assholes." Then they went on to hammer endurance runners..."There's no adrenaline! OK, what am I going to eat in the next 20 minutes...Ooo, I'm gotting lift my foot REALLY high on the next step!" and on and on...oh and they shared some jellybelly sports beans, haven't had those before but they are now on the shopping list, yum. </P>
<P>They were intrigued by my Power Tap hub; I was envious of their power!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5035845258998955378"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReLqlP53vXI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/spPRfThnM6w/s288/100_1584.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Next up was Poison Spider. After Gold Bar, PS was a breeze. Felt so easy and all downhill...except for the sand.</P>
<P>And that's a wrap.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2381" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave"It's my turn" (updated!)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23732007-02-24T13:50:00Z<P>That's what Levi said to Voigt yesterday after nailing the TT win in the ToC. Levi has been super confident and not afraid to show it. He is looking more like a champion than ever right now. There's something to be said for being backed by LA and his winning team, eh? I can say for certain that good support plays a big role in cycling success.</P>
<P>Also in the "it's my turn" category is Lynda. She went in for surgery yesterday afternoon...I'll bet she's back in no time. Her range of motion has been good even with the breaks, so I don't think she has major muscle or ligament damage. The tricky part for her will be the patience required to heal. She didn't get that gene. </P>
<P><FONT color=#ff0000>LW update: just spoke with her, surgery went well, she's back in one piece and at home resting. She even sounds to be in high spirits. Less than one week after the crash she's speeding down the road to recovery! Most excellent.</FONT></P>
<P>Other odds and ends...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5035104561823988962"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/ReBI6_53vOI/AAAAAAAAAgA/IvGOZpnAm9o/s288/ergon_pack.jpg" align=right border=0></A>Ergon's new packs, grips and gloves will be available early spring and ooooo am I drooling. I'm keenly interested in their pack designs and really looking forward to tying those out on some epics. If you haven't seen them yet, the Ergon packs have an interesting concept where the pack itself is hinged on the frame like a "knuckle" and floats on your back. I haven't actually seen one, that's how it was explained to me...stay tuned for more. Ain't this a beauty?</P>
<P>Team HealthFX has a new blogger - Rick Callies is a super strong (both physically and verbally) cyclist, skiier, and adventure racer. Gawd only knows what will come out of his keypad but we've turned him loose anyway: <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/rick/default.aspx">http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/rick/default.aspx</A>.</P>
<P>In the week after a big event, there's always the NOW WHAT syndrome. What's next? As you can see in the left sidebar, I'm way behind in updating my season schedule. To be honest, I've had OP tunnel vision for awhile, it has served as a great carrot on which to focus the post-surgery recovery efforts. The base is solid, now it's time to get fit. The biggies of course are BC Bike race and WSC. KTR? I'm actually waffling a bit on that one because it will dominate the entire month of May if I do it. There is a lot of cool stuff going on in May - a 12 hour race in Cortez, the 18 hours of Fruita, another Epic Rides event - the Whiskey 50 miler, and of course the whole Iron Horse weekend. Doing KTR will hose all but the Fruita event...a large concession. So...I'm gripped hard by the NOW WHAT. Still working it out...</P>
<P>For now, it's a quick trip to Moab for the weekend. It's springtime in the desert and it beckons!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2373" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDrivetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23652007-02-22T15:42:00Z<P>Being goal driven alters the experience, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Seeking a destination can get in the way of the journey. It's a delicate balance.</P>
<P>For those of us in the inner circle of ultra endurance sports, Adam reminds why we do what we do - at least the lucky ones. If his words don't ring true it's time for some introspection.</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><FONT color=#800080>I am happy that I can go out and "suffer" through a day of bike racing. That I can experience the gritty wind in my face, or the dull ache of numbing feet. A 24 Hour solo is hard, don't get me wrong. There is physical and mental pain, but it isn't suffering. It's experience. And that is why I think I do it.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000000><A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/2007/02/old-pueblo-2007.html">His full post is here</A>. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000000>Thanks for the inspiration Adam.</FONT></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2365" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOld Pueblo, '07tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23442007-02-21T00:46:00Z<P>So the first race of the year has come and gone. I had a good, conservative plan that panned out in the end. I could write another zillion word essay on another race and even started to do so, but other events have transpired to take the wind out of my sails for such a literary effort.</P>
<P>You see, my crack buddy LyndaW had a freak accident in the race, falling into some sort of hole at low speed allowing another rider to go by and broke her collarbone, hand, finger, and knuckle. The collarbone isn't just a little break - it's like mine was. Shattered. She's going in for surgery next week so please send her your wishes for a speedy recovery. She's tough as nails and has big plans for the rest of the year and I have no doubt she'll get it all done, but I can say for sure that it helps to know you have friends out there, even if you haven't met face to face. I received an enormous number of emails after my accident and it became a big part of my recovery day to respond to them.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/OP07/photo#5033625632785284226"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RdsH1_53vII/AAAAAAAAAfE/t-bKqtt64fY/s288/100_1565.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>So...the race did go down and here is the top 10 list of highlights, lessons, observations....</P>
<P>Speaking of LW, did anyone get to ride with her at OP? She was tearing that OP house down. She came in with a super aggressive plan, and I'll be damned if she wasn't pulling it off.</P>
<P>Tinker was stronger than ever this year. In '04 I think he pretty much struggled to get 18 laps done. He had 18 done by 9:30 am this time. Jeesh. I guess a 24 is nuthing compared to RAAM, eh Tink? Nice job man.</P>
<P>As I've been training all of 2 months post surgery, I had no expectations for the event. I did want to experiment with a more even pacing plan, starting easier and finishing stronger. I paced by a combo of PE and HR and was suprised to be ticking of 1:08s at the planned pace. I figured it'd be more like 1:15 given current threshold power and weight. It turned out to be a good plan for where I was and allowed me to pull in a 2nd place finish.</P>
<P>I did have issues...the legs never tired, but man I just couldn't stay awake to save my life after about 4am. I ended up napping on the side of the trail for about 10 min, then again in the pits. By then I figured oh hell, I've blown 2nd so might as well change the chammy too. That's what the 3 hour lap was all about. Then I got the intel that 2nd place was 17 min in front of me and it was before 9am. Then I got to work. Lap 17 was the only lap where I felt like I was drilling it and it felt great. My watch told me 1:10 but the splits say 1:15. It all comes out in the wash anyway I guess. So 2nd place with 18 laps is how I finished up.</P>
<P>Narcolepsy is a new one for me...I haven't had that issue before. The week leading to the start was also about as stressful as ever, and to top it off I left home without my cycling shoes, doh! So I ended up taking an unplanned detour through Mesa to hit DNA cycles for some specialized shoes (I'm fussy), picked up a table from Home Depot since I forgot the one from home...and finally got to the venue late Friday afternoon. It was a mad rush to get everything setup before go time, and the howling wind that started the night before the event didn't help sleep any. So big lesson for me. Minimize stress in the week prior or pay the price at 4am!!!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/OP07/photo#5033625808878943410"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RdsIAP53vLI/AAAAAAAAAfc/LJVWrmwwxug/s288/100_1568.JPG" border=0></A>
<P>Support. Andy (from Desert Cyclery) and Anna were in fine form, and I can't say enough good things about them. Andy was so on top of everything I threw at him (and that was plenty), and he also found time for 4 other cyclists. Anna was great too. Around 2am I was sick of the same ole gruel and recalled there was pie in the camp somewhere...I just couldn't get to the pits fast enough. PIE, GIVE ME PIE! That's the sort of stuff Anna puts up with, filling my pie hole at 2am with a smile. Brad Mullen was there supporting Epic Adam. Brad turned out to be a great help too. Thanks Brad!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/OP07/photo#5033636842649926866"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RdsSCf53vNI/AAAAAAAAAfw/tOnr6rog7G8/s288/100_0778.jpg" border=0></A>
<P>Lights. Simply put, they are an unfair advantage. My lap times don't even change after the sun goes down. I think I have the holy grail. Eyes were happy the entire event, lights were blazing good. One of the lights had a mount failure (bar mount) and I used a NiteRider HID for a few laps. Wow, what a dissappointment. It was so much dimmer than my LED lazers...so I figured a way (with Andy's help, of course!) to use the LEDs for all laps.</P>
<P>Todd Sadow and the entire epic rides crew do an awesome job with this event. I'm impressed every year and this was yet another great run event.</P>
<P>A solid OP has been a long time coming for me. 3 years running I've met some sort of misfortune at this event, but I'm persistent if nothing else. 2nd isn't so bad, and given that it was 2nd to Tinker it's really 1st human now isn't it?</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/OP07/photo#5033636816880123074"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RdsSA_53vMI/AAAAAAAAAfo/o3PGuWOQr2s/s288/100_0782.jpg" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2344" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveVision quest, '07tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23312007-02-11T22:12:00Z<P>There's been a current theme hitting me hard the past few weeks - vision. Last year at OP I basically went blind for 8 hours. There is a certain entertainment value in riding off course and not even knowing it, you find yourself in some interesting places. All the same I'd prefer to keep the sight this year.</P>
<P>Last week I had the first eye exam ever. They told me at DMV some years ago I had 20/13 vision so heck, I'd never need an exam, right? Well...things do change. 20/25 and a slight astigmatism. Damn. He even talked about glasses. Some sweet prescription Oakley M-Frame lenses are 300+, ouch. 20/25 isn't that bad I'm thinking. Besides, I am now a light whore:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5030402345945806642"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rc-USAtkNzI/AAAAAAAAAew/M-x8mji4fjM/s288/100_1564.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>I've been researching, designing, and testing new and better lights every chance I get. Nothing beats LED technology now, the Crees have raised the bar. At least as efficient as HID, better light color, more focusing options, infinite dimmability, instant on/off, 50,000 hour lifetime, the list goes on and on. Above is a collection of my designs over the past year. There's an 800 lumen Cree Quad, two Cree triples, a Cree double, and a K2 triple that I used at Moab. </P>
<P>Of the different lights, the Cree triple is likely the most versatile. Lightweight enough for your noggin all night, bright enough to see planets, dimmable enough to burn for days on lower power. Combine all the above with the lightest, highest capacity batteries available today and this is state of the art.</P>
<P>It's gonna be an interesting night at OP. Now, if I could just have that 20/13 back?</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2331" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFull public disclosuretag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23292007-02-10T14:56:00Z<P>I was recently accused of being super stealth. The reality is I've just been to busy to blog...and is overtraining that interesting anyway? So here comes a random sampling of all the stuff I've been meaning to catch up on.</P>
<P>First off, dump truck drivers. These rednecks are the worst of the worst in La Plata county. I've been getting buzzed by them at least 4-5 times/year, they have no respect whatsover for cyclists, and what's worse, they <STRONG>intentially</STRONG> aim for them. Yesterday, case in point. I'm riding N on 550 up Shalona hill, about 6" right of the white line. There's 2 northbound lanes here since it's uphill. Not a single vehicle in sight, except Mr. Dumptruck who thinks its funny to buzz my skinny butt. He was ON the white line. He had an entire passing lane, wide open, to his left, yet he aimed for me. Yes, the truck grazed me. Yes, I was about as mad as I've been in recent years and HR jumped up 15 beats instantly. As I was going up past Tamarron, he was coming out of Tamarron, apparently having dumped his load. He had the audacity to toot his dam horn at me. Grrrr....</P>
<P>Mr. Dumptruck driver in La Plata county, you are a sad pitiful little man. We need your dirt but you can keep your shit to yourself.</P>
<P>On a more positive note, this was the second ride to Coal Bank this year. It's a bit early for heading over 10k, but hey, the roads were dry both times. In case you were wondering, climbing Coal Bank pass seems harder in the winter ;) OK, maybe it's the descent that is harder.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078025225045058"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdSUvR8hEI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/WxByu7DZmpU/s288/100_1530.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Last weekend was a beauty all around. I really let the cows outta the barn & rode myself silly. What do you get when you combine a relatively low CTL, a 10,000 kJ weekend, and an already negative TSB? A TSB of -122. I could only do this sort of training off-road being an MTBer at heart. The first day's route was Lockhart Basin rd from Needles to Moab. It's similar to the White Rim, but much less travelled, and in fact, there are a few spots that are impassable to jeeps or bigger. Zero tracks out there...the "road" gets difficult in spots with a series of rubbly steep rollers, then drops down a wash to the Colorado river at the base of Hurrah pass. Some scenes...</P>
<P>The start near Needles. An hour earlier it was 7F in Cortez. It must have been 40+ here, a real beauty of a day.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078089649554514"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdSYfR8hFI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ainZ_GGtplg/s288/100_1533.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>There were quite a few jets flying in formation overhead today.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078312987853954"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdSlfR8hII/AAAAAAAAAdw/Hm0Czud6rOI/s288/100_1540.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Looking across the Colorado drainage to the White Rim near Shafer trail.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078506261382306"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdSwvR8hKI/AAAAAAAAAeA/xsSc8Ec0Lgk/s288/100_1544.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>At the base of Hurrah pass is this lodge. It's for sale and can be yours, camels included.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078583570793650"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdS1PR8hLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/tSxxc-6uJiY/s288/100_1545.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Sunday the goal was to dial in nutrition and pacing for OP. White Rim is the perfect place for this. 'Twas a great day, respectable power and endurance. I've been training somewhat aggresively for a couple of months and have had a grand total of 3 days with TSB over 0 since early Dec...so I did exceed my expectations for this point in time. </P>
<P>White rim was oh so slow. From Potash to the base of Shafers is some of the most incredible scenery, especially during sunrise. I highly recommend the route...in general, the WR is at least a little sandy everywhere, and for miles and miles on the south and west sides it's like this:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078806909093090"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdTCPR8hOI/AAAAAAAAAeg/XETB0_YJQuc/s288/100_1556.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>At one point I noticed that at 250 W, going slightly downhill, I was getting all of 6 mph. The WR required by far the most kJ of any previouis ride I've done here, so it was super training. Riding it this time of year gives it's own type of rewards not seen other times of the year...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078652290270402"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdS5PR8hMI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/eKf-vMWcLi0/s288/100_1550.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>As for OP...right now I'm a diesel. This time last year I was a jackrabbit. There will be no sub 1 hour laps for me this year, and I'm OK with that. Since I really don't have any huge expectations for the race other than a good time on my bike for 24 hours, there's a freedom to experiment. It's an opportunity to test out some ideas and equipment in preparation for the WSC in September. </P>
<P>Lights will be new and different, my Cree creations. 800 lumens on the bar, 600 on the noggin should cover it. Did I mention the helmet mounted light will last all night on a single battery?</P>
<P>1 week to go and let's keep those fingers crossed for good weather. See ya out there!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2329" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe power of greentag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23232007-02-08T13:30:00Z<P>No, not that kinda green...and for once, not that kind of power either...well kinda sorta but not really ;)</P>
<P>Thanks to <A href="http://jeffkerkove.blogspot.com/">Jeff Kerkove</A>, Lynda & I are going to be riding and testing the Ergon product line for '07. I picked up some grips before TransRockies last year, rode them the entire race then after the race mounted them on all my bikes & never looked back. They made an enormous impact on my ability to keep my whimpy arms functional. They do a lot more than just grips, and each product seems to be about rider comfort. In my book, comfort = speed. I'm stoked!</P><A href="http://www.ergon-bike.com/index_en.html" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/ergon_logo.jpg" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2323" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThat was a big weekendtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23122007-02-05T16:02:00Z<P>Quickie post. More with pics to come.</P>
<P>Chris P couldn't get out of the icy grip of the front range, so it was some big solo MTB time in the desert for me. Sat I ditched the road loop and opted for a new (to me, and based on the lack of tracks not well known) route I've been eyeing on the map for some time. Very cool.</P>
<P>Sun was the Potash to Mineral bottom route as planned...conditions were awesome and horrendous at the same time. No leg coverings!!! Miles and miles of sand though. ~ 90 miles required more kJ than any white rim ride I've done, and the WR is about 104 miles. Awesome training for sure.</P>
<P>So after a 915 TSS weekend it's time to chill a bit.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5028078506261382306"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcdSwvR8hKI/AAAAAAAAAeA/xsSc8Ec0Lgk/s288/100_1544.JPG" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2312" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveA weekend in Abbey countrytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23092007-02-02T13:20:00Z<P>It's time to let the cows outta the barn one more time, letting them roam far and wide across the mesas, mountains and canyons of SE Utah. Day 1 is this route below. It's got some of everything and is prolly my favorite 105 miles of mostly pavement around. It isn't fast...but the terrain ranges from desert near Mexican Hat to PJ forests near Natural Bridges NM. It crosses Comb Ridge twice, and if you've read the "Monkey Wrench Gang" that should resonate. If you haven't do so soon!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5026930049186300914"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcM-PvR8g_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/VpFlCflZ-vY/s288/utahRoadLoop.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The next day will be a little jaunt of my favorite stomping grounds, the White Rim. With Shafer's closed, we'll start at Potash.</P>
<P>Did I say we? Yep, <A href="http://slipangles.blogspot.com/">Mr. Plesko </A>will join in on the fun.</P>
<P>From a training perspective, this weekend is all about making the most of what ya got. 2-3 weeks before 24s I like to drill a weekend effort. Does it raise FT? Not likely. But what it does do is help you to go a lot longer before you begin to fade, shake out nutrition ideas for the event, and really figure out if your bike fit is gonna work out. But honestly, besides the training mumbo jumbo, it's a great excuse to tromp around the scenic center of the universe in a semi-socially acceptable endorphin producing state. And that is what it is really all about, isn't it?</P>
<P>A month or two ago I posted a pic of my planned build for OP. Here's the actual build - at least up to today, beyond today the values are obviously predicted. I still have a long ways to go, which is great - I couldn't have said that this time last year. But, considering where I was 7 weeks ago, I couldn't be happier. The body is an amazing thing...it's healing powers are nothing short of magical. Don't take it for granted and treat yours right!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5026928150810756066"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RcM8hPR8g-I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/_IV0sdEbzbc/s288/OPplanner.jpg" border=0></A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2309" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKooks and Cracktag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:23012007-01-28T00:01:00Z<P>The next best thing to a no chain day is a new chain day. A few posts on wattage yesterday reminded me of the phenomena I've seen many times before - that when putting a new chain on a bike I see an automatic power increase. An old, worn, dirty chain loses a fair bit of power to frictional losses, and because I use a PT, those losses happen before the power is measured - so dirty chains work against you mentally if you ride a PT. SRM/Ergomo users would never know the difference. Seeing how today's plan was a road ride up into Mesa Verde NP (from Durango, of course) - the longest road ride since september, and the same route - hell yea I put a new chain on the bike! And I'm happy to say, it did not dissapoint.</P>
<P>Looking at the power file is encouraging. I've been doing what I can to regain some sort of form, but today was a most pleasant surprise. Power was 95% what it was on the same ride before Moab on <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/09/27/1879.aspx">this ride </A>(same route), but identical on the final climb. The endorphins were overflowing today, most certainly helped along by some new tunes, the <A href="http://www.thekooks.co.uk/html/">Kooks</A>. Thanks for that big wally :)</P>
<P>No camera today...this is the opening climb in Mesa Verde (last Sept, it's a lot whiter right now). Lots of switchbacks before this grade...and a shaded area covered with a couple inches of ice. More ice. Fun stuff.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5024871816290423746"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbvuS0Pc08I/AAAAAAAAAcE/ONYbZWMX4hI/s288/100_1305.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>I'm doing something different than originally planned with lights for OP. Let's just say I've opted for an 800 lumen Cree bar light...then whatever I put on my head is mostly redundant - so I'll go with light weight for the noggin, prolly a Cree x 2 setup with spot beams. But honest, this light I'll put on the bars is so obnoxiously bright (about 40% more light than Lynda's monster) the helmet light is going to be redundant...apologies in advance to anyone that'll be at OP and gets blinded by my luminosity.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2301" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveRumors and rumors of rumorstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22972007-01-26T16:20:00Z<P>A few quick blotter notes:</P>
<OL>
<LI><A href="http://bartmangbikestowork.blogspot.com/2007/01/smog-has-lifted.html">Bart is free</A>. <A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/free/">FREE SAGER </A>is working. Now, what will this mean, retroactively, for Jason and Cale?? Anything at all???
<LI>Word has it the NORBA marathon event has gone the way of the dodo. While this generally sucks, the format was really only any good in '04 and '05. Last year it got so watered down with crap courses...it's just as well. I'm fortunate to have been able to do so many of the early events, they were some eye-popping epics with a guarantee of first rate competition.
<LI>The OP startline to include Monique Sawicki, LyndaW, Tinker, and Nat Ross. A real clash of the titans is set to go down in a few weeks in the desert. A preview of WSC perennial favorites...
<LI>There are more free ultra events popping up than you can shake a stick at. This ultra thing seems to be gaining critical mass.</LI></OL>
<P>Late edits....</P>
<OL>
<LI><FONT color=#ff0000>Cale is free!!! Will Sager be next or will USADA make him a martyr? Time will tell.</FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT color=#ff0000>Philips/Lumileds, the folks that once had the high powered LED market more or less cornered, have just made a public release of a forthcoming LED that puts out 130 lumens at 350 mA, and a whopping 501 lumens at 2A. The free market is doing wonders for portable lighting and cyclists will reap the benefits in the very near future. HID is SO dead.</FONT></LI></OL>
<P>Ride on!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2297" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWhite Rim Comediestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22852007-01-21T19:01:00Z<P><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2284/500x102.aspx"></P>
<P>Good times at the White Rim this weekend and if you were there, you know what I'm talking about.</P>
<P>First, how about starting a big day when the temps are below 10F? This is what the back of my truck looks like after driving 3 hours in a snowstorm...lots of snow here at Mineral Bottom road too.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022558949540290690"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO2wQLO4II/AAAAAAAAAY0/Vr9tiEkcnNc/s288/100_1495.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The plan was to ride clockwise. Chris and the Dave's were leaving around 6am, I was leaving whenever I got there. Maybe I'd see them, maybe not...</P>
<P>Here's what I saw when I got to the top of the Shafer trail.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022558971015127186"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO2xgLO4JI/AAAAAAAAAY8/-mNr3vNaS5M/s288/100_1496.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ranger: "you can't take my picture, that's illegal!"</P>
<P>Me: "so do I have to burn my camera now??"</P>
<P>Let's just say he wasn't seeing the humor I had rolling. He was going for the stoic as Smokey the Bear look. "I get it. We're just props." Learn something new every day - no picture taking of government props. Noted.</P>
<P>Then he turned as away. Shafer trail was closed. It wasn't so bad for me - Chris and the Daves got turned around while partway down. Chris was a bit frustrated, he was in the mood for adventure. There was plenty of that to be had though, simply ride out towards Murphy's hogback and flip it when time was getting thin. That's exacly what I did and wow what a ride. 9 hours and 95 miles later (including 7.2 walking/running due to unridable ice) I called it a day. Here's a sampling of what was there for the taking...</P>
<P>The road below the Mineral Bottom switchbacks.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559774174011890"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO3gQLO4fI/AAAAAAAAAbs/tZfg4DT65qg/s288/100_1518.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The close up view. At 10+% grade I found this quite unridable. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559052619505858"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO22QLO4MI/AAAAAAAAAZU/T2zOSHrfplg/s288/100_1499.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The river showing the effects of one of the colder spells in recent history.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559233008132354"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO3AwLO4QI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/eUGSQPM1C-M/s288/100_1503.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Good times on Hardscrabble.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559615260221874"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO3XALO4bI/AAAAAAAAAbM/CvgVfeSUzs8/s288/100_1514.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559516475974018"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO3RQLO4YI/AAAAAAAAAa0/exOtfWKGJ08/s288/100_1511.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ride's end, impeccable timing.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022559795648848386"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbO3hgLO4gI/AAAAAAAAAb0/i44hlQSN83Q/s288/100_1519.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The WR in winter is sloooow going. If it isn't so icy that you're on your feet (or ass, as the case may be), it's loose sand/dirt, and mineral bottom road is snowy...so allow lots of extra time if you're planning a winter foray here. But guaranteed, you will get some serious balance work in!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2285" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveI feel a binge coming on...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22822007-01-20T09:27:00Z<P>The past 2 weeks has had me bleeding out of my eyeballs, but it's in the books, mission accomplished, and for that I get a 20+ watt power boost.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5022043832637644898"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbHiQgLO4GI/AAAAAAAAAYY/DdnePUClHSQ/s288/power%20distribution.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Now that base is done, it's time to get on with the regularly scheduled program. With OP fast approaching, that can only mean 3-4 White Rims in the next 2-3 weeks. Yes, there are other places to ride, but none as delicious & accessible this time of year. Let's just hope it doesn't live up to it's name in the next two weeks ;)</P>
<P>Installment #1 is today with the <A href="http://slipangles.blogspot.com/">future of endurance racing</A>, a <A href="http://cellarrat.blogspot.com/">fixated fellow</A>, and <A href="http://bedrockandparadox.blogspot.com/">this gent </A>I'm looking forward to meet. He's promoting <A href="http://kaibabmonstercross.blogspot.com/">this event </A>in June which looks most interesting.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5022046555646910578"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RbHkvALO4HI/AAAAAAAAAYg/a0rUL68xWcs/s288/100_0065.JPG" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Yep, it's 3am and I'm still in Durango. Gotta run!</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2282" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLight building in progresstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22782007-01-18T12:49:00Z<P>Lookie what showed up yesterday.</P>
<P> <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5021350805304696898"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ra9r9ALO4EI/AAAAAAAAAYA/Y7pb-kVbnxI/s288/100_1491.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Here's a better view of the Cree's:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5021350818189598802"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ra9r9wLO4FI/AAAAAAAAAYI/b1avZ64SY-0/s288/100_1492.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Time to get assembling.</P>
<P>Lynda called last night with the report from her first night ride with a triple Cree system. I'll leave the detailed descriptions to her...but let's just say her HID (that was on her bars) was rendered useless :)</P>
<P>The night is getting a whole lot brighter.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2278" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLights for a night or a month?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22692007-01-17T11:39:00Z<P>I have this dream of a super bright light that will go all night without a battery change. Too much to ask for? </P>
<P>A side benefit of this quest is a light that will burn for, uh, weeks. Yea, no BS here - doing GDR this summer? Put one of these on your bars as the main light and something silly light for your helmet (for around camp and nightime repairs) and you're good to go. </P>
<P>These charts show the potential dual useage of this setup I've got cooking in my brain.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5020962218138591266"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ra4KiQLO4CI/AAAAAAAAAXo/F9RMiw41ROs/s288/cree_quad_1000ma.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>The light is run by the bFlex as mentioned in the last post. The bFlex allows configuration of max current (light intensity), and within each setting there are 5 levels. The light levels are listed on the chart as "lumens", each grouping of runtimes are values for specific battery configurations. The battery weight is approximately 6 ounces for 2400 mAh. Yea, kinda techy but that's how to read the chart. </P>
<P>For the above chart, this shows that you can have 668 lumens for ~ 5 hours with a 12 oz battery. That's twice the light I had on my head at Moab (and 320 was plenty). 392 lumens can be had for 11 hours with the same system.</P>
<P>Now, take a look at what happens when we throttle back the max current setting to 350 ma.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5020962222433558578"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Ra4KigLO4DI/AAAAAAAAAXw/QFJMf96k9bk/s288/cree_quad_350ma.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>For reference, a single 3W Luxeon puts out about 80 lumens. I used two of these for KTR this year and the night went great. Throw was a touch short on the descents, but totally doable. Looking at the light blue lines, at 123 lumens you get about 70 hours of runtime, while at 200 you get about 40. GDR nutz: how much weight do you typically allow for batteries? It's certainly feasible to have a sub 2lb setup that will last the duration of the event, provided you finish in a month ;) It's also possible to use AA battery packs and use expendible batteries...but not having to worry about batteries I'd think would be quite an advantage.</P>
<P>Keep in mind this is all within the same light but with different settings. I don't think there is anything remotely close to these capabilities on the market...dunno why, that market space is soooo big ;)</P>
<P>The best thing? The above projections are based on the P3 Cree and in a couple of days I'll have the P4s which are roughly 10% brighter. When they show up I can turn this gedanken experiment into reality.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2269" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHard Candytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22602007-01-15T16:11:00Z<P>Question: what do you do when the weather is wet, snowy, and cold and you have a 24 hour race coming up? The correct answer is of course get outta town, head south for warmer climes. I've been doing that for 2 years, but not this year. I was getting soft on that program. The alternate answer is to dip into the candy jar...</P>
<P>Although I am more patient than I used to be...power has still been a bit slow to return for my liking, so I've been on the drillin' and chillin' plan the past week. It's been an eye-popping week of relentless intensity - and an associated power increase that is beyond my expectations. </P>
<P>What has the program been like? Lots of time at VO2max power with short rests, and lots of time at about 85% VO2max (longer ints) and short rests. The inspiration for the workouts is courtesy of <A href="http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Performance-Cyclists-M-D-Michael/dp/193138262X/sr=1-3/qid=1168878018/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-5048907-5547228?ie=UTF8&s=books">Michael Ross' book</A>. He really nails protocols on determining optimal intensity and duration for HIT interval work wrt studies on which I've been basing my HIT workouts for 3 years already. Great book, it really resonates and I recommend it highly. Slow base fans eat your heart out.</P>
<P>Ah, heck...don't get me wrong - <A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/blog/2007/01/carmel-valley.html">this is my preferred plan</A>. Sometimes ya gotta make do.</P>
<P>This weekend has been a study in light building. I've considered the LED permutations from a lot of angles and have settled on building 3 x 4 Cree LED units. With more LEDs, I can run them at lower currents, get better runtimes for a comparable light output to a system with fewer LEDs, and incur a very small weight penalty for additional LEDs - about 20g/LED added. Look for the guy with a big ol' bar of blinding light on his head at OP and that'll be me ;)</P>
<P>For the tech heads, here is some beta on the design considerations.</P>
<P>This plot shows the general performance characterstics for a Cree P3 based Quad light. Most relevant details are in the chart; the one left out is the driver. I'm using a bFlex from <A href="http://taskled.com/">http://taskled.com</A>. The bFlex offers a dizzying array of setup options, drive currents (brightness settings), low battery warnings etc, etc.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5020284253255950322"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/Rauh7gLO3_I/AAAAAAAAAXE/LSsbMU3M5Hc/s288/cree_quad.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>This one illustrates why I chose to go with 4 rather than 3 (sorry for the bass-ackwards chart...doh!). The drop down green lines, for example, show that at 450 lumens the triple gets about 7.5 hours runtime while the quad gets almost 9 hours. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5020290158835982338"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaunTQLO4AI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/u1Cq6IBfmwE/s288/cree_quad_vs_triple.jpg" border=0></A></P>
<P>Dinotte has a super bright LED system in the works for about $500. Early reports are very good. I'll have 3 systems that are a bit brighter for about the same price, but they won't look as dope as Dinottes. Who cares in the dark though?</P>
<P>Don't leave home without booties and ear protection! -10F this am, yowza!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2260" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Red Rechargetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22512007-01-08T15:25:00Z<IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2250/500x140.aspx" width=500>
<P>Ever get that feeling you just gotta get some dirt between your fingers? There's a chunk of the country that has given me this sense before I ever set foot in it. It's roughly a square region bounded by Grand Junction on the NE and Diamond Creek on the SW. Lucky for me, this is also my backyard ;)</P>
<P>In the lower elevations of this region, snow is not usually a concern, but it can be. This weekend, for example...a few days ago Moab got 3-4" of the white stuff, unbeknownst to me. Armed with the Yeti, a ride plan to drool over and a generous helping of ignorance I hit to road for Moab yesterday. Getting closer and closer, and lower and lower, and the snow getting deeper and deeper, it was apparent the ride was going to be on roads.</P>
<P>80 miles of mostly pavement in sub-freezing temps, but damn was it a sparkly clear and calm day. A real beauty. The Yeti flowed like silk...which was nice cause the last time I rode her she tried to kill me.</P>
<P>This was the start of the planned route. After a bit it seemed stupid to ride on ice and snow. Dave and Chris, you guys are nuts. Maybe there just wasn't enough snow to make it fun? </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5017681288827782930"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaJijCC0RxI/AAAAAAAAAUU/lU6bhfDN8cg/s288/100_1470.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Click this one for the full res - Darwinism in action.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5017681683964774226"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaJi6CC0R1I/AAAAAAAAAU0/U4-Aqp6U8ZU/s288/100_1474.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Nice scenery around here...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5017682418404181986"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaJjkyC0R-I/AAAAAAAAAV8/MPUlLw5eZbI/s288/100_1483.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Arches NP</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5017682500008560626"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaJjpiC0R_I/AAAAAAAAAWE/DEkIQdomJXI/s288/100_1484.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>Top of the initial poison spider climb.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/MoabWinter/photo#5017681864353400690"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RaJjEiC0R3I/AAAAAAAAAVE/3f1a21_JQjI/s288/100_1476.JPG" border=0></A></P>
<P>The recharge is complete. I came back with a head full of new ideas and tons of motivation to kick my own ass for the next 2 weeks. </P>
<P>Shuweet!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2251" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFrom dreams to realitytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22452007-01-04T15:00:00Z<P>Newsflash: the <A href="http://www.twenty4sports.com/twenty4/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_eventDetails&eventContentID=15b20e56-7e90-e2a3-b273-b588f52786cf">24 hours of Adrenaline World Solo Championships</A> is set for September 1-2 at Laguna Seca. This is a key piece of the season's puzzle I've been waiting for. This event is becoming more and more interesting as it seems most riders accept the event as the defacto worlds (no event is UCI sanctioned as 24 hour "worlds"). Rider acceptance is everything, and if ya really want to test your mettle...this is it. So it's a go!</P>
<P>I was considering a run at the GG 24 hour series - but on top of 7 and 24 WSC that's just too much cake for one season. Did I really admit that?</P>
<P>So '07 is looking to be an epic dream season:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>Feb - 24 hours in the Old Pueblo<BR>May - KTR<BR>July - 7<BR>Sep - WSC<BR>Oct - 24 hours of Moab</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>Those are just the biggies. Plenty of fun stuff in between. Notably absent are the E100 events. Boris is gonna send the KGB my way for sure, but the 12 hour and 100 mile are out for sure and the 50 isn't too likely. There is one possibility for a team run at the 12 hour...we'll see.</P>
<P dir=ltr>Now it's time to get scheming. Gotta figure out how to turn these dreams into reality.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2245" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGazing into the crystal balltag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22322007-01-02T13:01:00Z<P>Here's my best guess on how some things will take shape in the new year...</P>
<P>Lynda is going to win a big enduro race - outright. That's right, she's gonna chick every guy present in some big event somewhere. I just hope it's early season cause the rehab excuse will only last so long ;) She's getting into the flow of relentless intensity, big volume, and dialing in the details - and getting better all the time. If you've ever ridden behind her you know she's got some whack biomechanical issues, but they've all but gone the way of the dodo. And her tech skills just keep on getting better. This revelation jumped right out at me while she was kicking rocks in my face for 4+ hours on the Gem trail last week...</P>
<P>Here she is kicking rocks in the face of one of the fastest guys from the UK in TR last August. More of that to come! (no pressure Lynda)</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TransRockies2006/photo#5015404859470492242"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RZpMJZ2BslI/AAAAAAAAATc/WGc6j7oHpy8/s288/701360.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Events: the bar is getting raised for '07. There are two more big events in our neighborhood, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.sevenbikerace.com">7</A> and <A href="http://www.thee100.com/main.html">Boris' E100 Ultra</A>. Those are biggies, dream vacations for crack addicts. Then there's the undergound movement in motion - KTR is alive and kicking with new blood, a new direction and interesting tactical changes...new events in Moab, Nederland area, the Colorado Trail Race - the self-supported racing movement is taking endurance MTBing back to it's roots of self-sufficiency and away from <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.usacycling.org">Big Brother</A> along with all it's disregard for those whom it is chartered to advocate. The multi-day self supported ultras will continue to stand on their own, isolated by the difficulty to start such an event, but the growing number of no entry fee ultra's that can be completed in a day are going to compete with the organized, supported ultra events. In order to stay alive, promoters are going to have to sweeten the pot to stay alive - especially in the west where entry fees are (generally) high and payouts (generally) low or non-existant.</P>
<P>Competition: speaking of USADA (US against dedicated athletes), the bar is also going up for competition. There are 3 obvious characters in the west who we'll likely see toeing the line at enduro events who typically are gunning NORBA events. The thing is, when these guys start doing enduro stuff, they are going to (re)discover why they race MTB in the first place. A child-like enthusiasm is about to overtake these gents...it's contagious too, so look for others to bail out of the grip of big brother.</P>
<P>Everyone's doing it these days...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5015411542439604850"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RZpSOZ2BsnI/AAAAAAAAATo/apFncRYUbp8/s288/100_1468.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Finally, I see a week of unbounded crack coming to team Desert Cyclery/HealthFX starting July 1 in Victoria, BC. It's official: Lynda and I are registered for the Seven bike race, a 7 day epic in western BC in the same vein as Trans Rockies. Hot damn, there's rocks to be kicked up there!</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2007/photo#5015417168846762626"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RZpXV52BsoI/AAAAAAAAATw/I60_FGCKnCs/s288/seven.jpg"></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2232" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGettin' to the core of it alltag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22292007-01-01T17:14:00Z<P>In the fall of '04 I made some significant changes to my training routines, habits and mindset. The effect on race outcomes was huge. It really is true what they say about training smarter, although I still tend to think harder is better too. Character flaw for sure. The biggies were:</P>
<P>- Became a beta tester for the <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/performancemanager.asp">Performance Manager</A><BR>- Used an <A href="http://www.hypoxico.com/">altitude tent</A><BR>- Discarded the concept of slow base and off-season fitness losses (think threshold power)<BR>- Focused on core work</P>
<P>While it's always hard to say what really works, the 3rd item was prolly the most beneficial for power development, the 2nd the most expensive, the first the best for race preparation and tapering, and the last the most healthy. In fact, extensive core work the past 2 years has almost certainly made the injuries sustained in the recent crash less than they could have been and the subsequent healing waaaay faster than anyone expected (can I get a hell yea???). </P>
<P>The core work I adopted was the stuff laid out by <A href="http://store.coreperformance.com/store/Customers/Core/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=1070">Mark Verstegen's Core Performance</A>. All but the most reclusive ostrich's use this program now ;) It's great stuff and easy to do anywhere, anytime. If core is lacking in a cyclists program, this can improve performance dramatically.</P>
<P>Verstegen has a new book out tailor made for endurance athletes, <A href="http://store.coreperformance.com/store/Customers/Core/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=1129">Core Performance Endurance</A>. It was a pre-order item at Amazon a month ago and my copy arrived while I was <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/archive/2006/12/28/2225.aspx">riding my fat ass off in St George</A>. I've been running the program through it's paces for 4 days now and have discovered some new muscles, that's always a good sign ;) One aspect of the book that is quickly leaving a big impression is the stuff on regeneration. He goes into many way to get to trigger points, relieving pain and tightness. I never knew a tennis ball could inflict such sweet pain. It's really too early for me to give it a two thumbs up, but based on his results with elite athletes and the result I had with his "made for everyone" book, it looks to be another winner.</P>
<P>So, fellow enduro head pack toting bike hauling energizer bunny in training, be sure to take care of that neglected region between your butt and neck and mind those energy leaks.</P>
<P>Here's to a healthy, strong, and happy new year!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2229" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCheating naturetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22152006-12-21T03:01:00Z<P>Yesterday was my 5 week post-op checkup with the surgeon. I'm happy to say I'm ahead of the recovery curve - the doc was surprised how much new bone I've grown in a short period. Range of motion is nearly symmetrical now too after a bit over a week of PT work. All involved are sorta scratching their collective heads, but hey - it's exactly what I expected. </P>
<P>So now I have the green light to go play on my bike as much as I can stand it. No restrictions other than don't fall on it. Tis a good thing too. The last gas purchase was in Grand Junction leaving from the infamous race back in October. Can you say cabin fever? So off I'm going to St George for some riding time with the crackhead...then I can get back into the flow of long rides and their desert vistas to share with y'all. They seem to be a bit more popular than training squak ;)</P>
<P>Last weekend I got busy with my LED light project. Quite a few things cooking there. For one I thought I'd experiment with different light colors. The human eye is much more sensitive to certain wavelenghts (colors) of light in the dark. The optimal wavelenth is that of the color cyan, and as luck would have it (probably not luck, really) Luxeon makes LEDs at that exact frequency. So I made a cyan light.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5010798492536278882"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RYnurjywD2I/AAAAAAAAAS4/qOufZX-b2BU/s288/100_1450.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Here's a beamshot comparison with my K2 light (the K2 is super bright):</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5010798522601049970"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RYnutTywD3I/AAAAAAAAATA/LQXZLye8kMk/s288/100_1454.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Since the part of the eye that detects periphereal vision is most sensitive to cyan (go <A href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/bright.html#c2">here</A> for where I got the scientific inspiration), the first run with this will be as a wide beam bar mount light. I haven't ridden with it yet (it's friggin cold and white in D-town right now) but have walked it. Anything red turns black, other than that it seems quite easy on the eyes. Not sure what that will mean in a red desert landscape...</P>
<P>So this morning waaay too early I'm sweating like a hog in my 10 degree garage, water bottles and feet freezing while internal meltdown seems imminent. Pushing that trainer's flywheel round and round, sure is great to be a mouse. Anyway, it's pitch black. I can't bring myself to train under a garage light, and the streetlights have been taken out by aliens. It's quite nice actually, but - for night riding when you want to see your dashboard, ya know, power meter display, gps, bike computer, HRM - why is there no handlebar light design that illuminates your gizmos for you? Such is how inspiration strikes. Necessity is the mother of all invention as the saying goes.</P>
<P>The final bit of light news I'll share...I received some Cree LEDs before Thanksgiving but really wasn't able to do anything with them until recently. I now have a 3 LED Cree light...all I can say is WOW. This thing is so freaking bright, it blows my K2 system outta the water. Since the Crees are so efficient, it will run a lot longer too. The current system puts out HID light quantity in a more useable pattern and lasts for 6+ hours - and it weighs about 1/3 the weight of my Niterider HID. </P>
<P>Here's a beam comparison (from L to R) of a Niterider HID Firestorm, the Cree triple, and the K2 triple. Both LED lights are considerably brighter to the eye. The Cree is much whiter than the K2 as well, and because of the optics chosen has considerably more fill as well. I'm looking forward to riding this light!</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5010805892764929938"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RYn1aTywD5I/AAAAAAAAATQ/Aq8cVGQnIto/s288/100_1462.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Here's a better shot of the Cree vs. K2. OK, better being a relative term as all the pics generally suck...but anyway...Cree left, K2 right. It gives a better view of the fill comparison. </P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/LightingProjects/photo#5010798556960788354"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RYnuvTywD4I/AAAAAAAAATI/zg_SxavRv08/s288/100_1460.JPG"></A></P>
<P>Even better Cree LEDs are on the way (and I'm talking in the mail, not next year...). Cool stuff going down in my little workshop.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2215" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMore power toolstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:22012006-12-12T11:42:00Z<P>Many cyclists focus on limiters in the early season. I haven't been doing that for a few years, mostly because there was no "early" season and no "late" season...it's been one continuous season for 3 years ;) Well, it's definitely the early season now.</P>
<P>One of my limiters is when the terrain is steep enough that cadence is forced below 75 or so. On the road, this number is closer to 80. I am no grinder, not by a longshot, and if you want to see me suffer just look for the steepest part of a course. </P>
<P>The past few years I've just worked on FT so that I had enough power to avoid low cadences. It has pretty much worked...but my FT has tanked big time. It is quite humbling: the first time I got on a trainer, I could not sustain 180 W for more than 2 minutes, no joke. At this elevation, FT is 280ish in good form. It seems I've got some work to do! The good news is that it's coming back at an alarming rate. I really have to use HR along with power because my FT seems to go up 10W every day.</P>
<P>An interesting tool that I haven't used much is another <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/coggan.asp">Cog</A> creation, <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/quad.asp">Quadrant Analysis</A> (QA). In a nutshell, QA is a scatter plot of pedal force vs. pedal speed and is calculated from power and cadence data. For a given ride (or segment of a ride), it shows you what typical pedal forces and pedal speeds were. Using this to analyze key rides gives insight into the demands of the ride, and in turn insights on how best to train for similar types of rides.</P>
<P>Loss of strength is a concern with 6 weeks of inactivity. To address this, I took a look at a QA plot of a race file - in this case lap 2 of the E100 12 hour in '05 - and eyeballed what sort of pedal forces were common. Since this was a 12 hour event, the power was below FT but I figure it's close enough for these purposes. Then I took a look at what sort of cadence I'd have to use to maintain this pedal force for 60-90 minutes on the road or trainer. Basically, I'm mimicking race specific pedal forces at lower cadences & power. Here's what the chart looks like and how it turned out:</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5009458132027445026"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RYUroTywDyI/AAAAAAAAASU/azQeT6GiDYY/s288/QA_06.jpg"></A></P>
<P>Actual cadences ended up between 65 and 80 in contrast to my preferred 90+. These workouts are fun and I dig it. They seem surprising easy at the beginning, then gradually settle in on ya. Best of all, they have been working a charm. Based on yesterday's ride I think I've pulled back 70-80 of those 100 lost watts inside of two weeks of training. That's waaaay faster than I had anticipated.</P>
<P>Now, about those extra few pounds...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2201" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe comeback trailtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21932006-12-10T16:59:00Z<P>CTL has risen 6 points in the last week and it feels good. It's time to plan the comeback.</P>
<P>For the past 2 (or is it 3?) years, I've been a beta tester for EweTSS, now termed the Performance Manager as part of Cyclingpeak's WKO+ software. As a beta tester, I could only say so much about EweTSS...but now that the cat is outta the bag my tongue is tied no longer. It's is hands down the best tool to manage training volume. It's a perfect tool for coming back from injury, and that's a new use for me!</P>
<P>Generally speaking, I'll be building CTL steadily until mid-spring when I'm back to the 120-140 levels where I prefer to be for ultra racing. On the way, it's good to have some intermediate goals, and since I already registered for Old Pueblo before the accident, it gets the nod. Without further ado, here's the pictorial of my plan from today until OP.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TrainingTools/photo#5006928716320048066"><IMG src="http://lh5.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXwvI7_1g8I/AAAAAAAAAR8/_UHpLGo0PSw/s288/OP%20build%2007.jpg"></A></P>
<P>One of the things I've done with my down time is create a windows program to help analyze my EweTSS data. I'm fussy and want the ability to track all sorts of stuff besides CTL/ATL/TSB. Plus, I wanted an easy way to use the concepts in planning mode. That's just too much to expect from a commercial software product...so I took matters into my own hands. It's been more challenging than anticipated, largely cause most of the work was done while on narcotics. Not so good for the clear thinking!</P>
<P>This plot illustrates some of the functionality of the new program. Anything prefaced by a "p" is a planned value. The "7" series is a 7 day rolling sum. The TSB=0 is simply done for a neutral reference point for TSB.</P>
<P>The plan to OP is quite conservative for me - but recovering the shoulder area takes a bit of oomph out of my sails so it prolly won't feel so conservative. Some interesting things to note in the chart:</P>
<P>- As per Andy Coggan's quote, "the more you train the more you can train." Note how as CTL rises, so does the 7 day TSS sum, yet TSB holds fairly constant. This shows that the higher the CTL, the more training can be done.</P>
<P>- Long ride progression. TSS for OP is predicted as for a conservative race (no, I'm not gunning for it this year). Looking at the race requirements, the long ride progression is designed to best get prepped to survive for 24 at OP.</P>
<P>- OP "taper." It isn't really much of a taper. Typically I'd have more of a taper for a 24, but this race is happening in the middle of a long build, so I ease back just enough so that the CTL crest post-race is where it would have been if the build continued instead of dong the race.</P>
<P>OK, that's really techy to some folks I understand...but there are a few years worth of personal insights buried in this chart as it applies to training for ultras. It's pure gold to me, and if you can wrap your head around it there might be a nugget for you too.</P>
<P>Happy training!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2193" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHow much is too much?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21872006-12-09T13:48:00Z<P>Dicky is struggling to <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/1337804/#cmts">put into words </A>his notion that there is some point point beyond which pushing incurs a risk far greater than the reward. This seems to be a revelation gained from inspiration from Craign Gordon's incredible ride at 24 hour worlds in October in which he dethroned Chris Eatough, prevouis world champ 6 years running. For his extreme efforts, he was rewarded with kidney failure, a 3 day stay in a hospital on a dialysis machine and who knows what other maladies.</P>
<P>Here's another take. We don't know exactly why Gordon suffered the problems he did...but it has to begin with dehydration and/or improper nutrition during the event. Yes, he was tearing down muscle for fuel and that's what gummed up his kidneys...but why did this happen in the first place? It's no wonder he didn't have all the nutritional details of a serious 24 hour bid nailed down tight - it was only his second 24!</P>
<P>The way I see it, PB performances come as a result of impecabble preparation and smart execution. You toe the line relaxed, confident in the work you've done to get there. External stresses are non-existant, you are focused in the moment. As the event unfolds, it is effortless, not difficult. Your mind is clear, you stay on task, fueling & hydrating wisely, staying within the bounds of your pacing plan. Even though it is effortless, you are hauling ass.</P>
<P>Of course, there comes a point when it isn't so effortless. But, provided you really are ready for the event and stay on top of fueling and hydration (and this is your top priority event), as the level of effort required increases, there is no point beyond which you should not push. You are prepared for the effort, both physically and mentally, and that's why you are there. </P>
<P>Just give'r.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2187" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Big Otag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21762006-12-08T14:11:00Z<P>O2, that is. Got your attention now didn't I?</P>
<P>This blog started out as a way of confessing my obsessions...and winter seems to bring out the real blab in me...</P>
<P>What's a guy to do when he's mostly stuck to trainer duty even though it's nice and sunny outside? Well, ya gotta get some sun in your life, so naturally the trainer gets set up on the back deck in the direct sun. It was warm enough yesterday that I had to set up a fan outside. That's a real sight, some dude cranking a trainer on his porch with a big fan in his face. The neighbors continue to shrug their shoulders.</P>
<P>Some of my missing synapses are returning, thank goodness. You see, I have a great training aid for trainer work but it hasn't occured to me to use until recently. Back in '04 I acquired this baby, a Hypoxico altitude generator to be used with an <A href="http://www.hypoxico.com/home_sleep.htm">altitude tent</A>.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXlyJL_1g7I/AAAAAAAAAR0/E4LHGq-nLPs/s288/100_1448.JPG"></P>
<P>When you live at 6500 feet, an altitude tent's value add is dubious at best, but it is great to have in the winter's I'm in lower elevations. However, as altitude generators work, they must remove oxygen from the air in order to simulate altitude. That removed oxygen has to go somewhere, and in the case of this generator it comes out of an exhaust gas port on the front. The great <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/coggan.asp">Cog</A> helped me figure out how to make use of this waste gas for training in hyperoxic conditions. It honestly isn't something I've done much cause why ride the trainer when you live in Colorado...but now is a great time to experiement with these methods.</P>
<P>How do I use it? The exhaust gas is 60% oxygen. I've hooked up a tube with nasal canula at the end, like you see folks using in the hospital, and wear it just like post-op 3 weeks ago. Using a pulse-oximeter, at this altitude I've determined it's about impossible to get saturation levels below 90% using the canula, but without it I can easily drop them to the 70's.</P>
<P>What does this mean? It's sort of like training at sea level while living at altitude. I am able to produce similar powers on the trainer that I would at lower elevations - about 10% higher. Oxygen is like magic, I can put the canula on during steady riding and watch HR drop 5-10 beats over 30 seconds. </P>
<P>Fun stuff on the back deck.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2176" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveInauspicious beginningstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21672006-12-04T13:11:00Z<P>Life in slow motion is beginning to speed up. It's been a waiting game for 5 weeks, but one day this week I got up and couldn't feel the repaired collarbone anymore. Wow, just like that. Amazing. On the flip side, the repaired muscles don't work so well and spasm all the time. But hey, talk about improvement...in the last few days I've put on t-shirts, pullover sweaters, and scratched my left ear with my left hand. It is difficult to put into words the pleasure these simple tasks give...healthy folks take a lot for granted. My eyes are wide open now.</P>
<P>I've been able to get on the trainer a few times. At first it was on the road bike with the bars upside down with the drops facing me - I was nearly straight upright. That was hard on the butt, so I waited a few more days until I could get on the Dos in this setup. Note the riser bars facing the saddle, stem as high as it gets. Completely opposite from my usual setup, but hey it works.</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/TheBikesFor07/photo#5004658004822395458"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXQd8IfBCkI/AAAAAAAAARM/kwCbIK6P98A/s288/100_1440.JPG" width=400></A> </P>
<P>I'm using a Tacx basic electonically braked trainer with the PT. Hard to tell where FT is, but I think it is about 80% of what it was 2 months ago. Ouch. But damn am I ever fresh. CTL is still about 60.</P>
<P>My surgeon is THE MAN. He fixed a lot of stuff and enabled a normal existence...I'd be out for many more months without him, and never the same again.</P>
<P>I am really stoked for the '07 season. Still unsure of what I'll target, but lots of ideas are floating in the cranium. The accident won't likely affect any event other than OP. I'll still likely do it, but with different goals.</P>
<P>There's been a lot of downtime in the last 5 weeks. I've let my inquisitiveness take over for awhile and researched a few topics that caught my interest. Here's a sampling...</P>
<P>Heart rate variability (HRV) is fascinating. I'm trying to learn how it may be linked to performance, or more accurately, fitness & stress/training load. Despite how powerful the PMC stuff is, there are times when at high CTL and TSB I feel great, other times not so great at the same values. PMC is a model; I'm looking for direct measurement. Of what I don't know ;) But I've been aware of HRV for many years, and can sense that when high it's to be a good day. Suunto has based their <A href="http://www.suunto.com/dyn/t6/index_flash.html">T6 HRM </A>on HRV and EPOC and developed a training software similar in concept to the Performance Manager. Unfortunately, the watch doens't give direct HRV measurement. At $300+, that's a deal killer...not to mention the fact that HR is so variable as to make the whole concept useless for me anyway.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Health/photo#5004660152306043490"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXQf5IfBCmI/AAAAAAAAARY/fh16Vyg7p9Q/s288/HRV.jpg" width=400></A>
<P>I've also taken a close look at diet. One of the keys IMO to developing is the understanding that nothing is static. This is a prime example. Here's a big picture view of my diet over the last week:</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Health/photo#5004661999141980786"><IMG src="http://lh4.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXQhkofBCnI/AAAAAAAAARg/EXWJS0ypY-E/s288/diet_analysis_06.jpg" width=400></A>
<P>Now compare to a period in early '04. Talk about changes! I've been keenly aware of changing metabolic needs that past few years but wanted to quantify it. More on this in time...</P>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/Health/photo#5004662012026882690"><IMG src="http://lh3.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RXQhlYfBCoI/AAAAAAAAARo/JadPxV_jl-w/s288/diet_analysis_04.jpg" width=400></A></P>
<P>Signing out.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2167" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave2006 Visualizedtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21122006-11-21T17:05:00Z<P>Join me on a visual journey through the 2006 season. The highs are many. The lows, there were a few. I'm still calling it dream season # 2.</P>
<P>Click the image for the slideshow.</P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2006Visualized/photo#s4999878959050653714"></A>
<P><A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2006Visualized/photo#s4999878959050653714"><IMG src="http://lh6.google.com/image/hairball.dh/RWMjw4djABI/AAAAAAAAAP4/3nCW1abLKXY/s288/100_0145.JPG" width=500></A></TD></TR> </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><TR><TD> From <A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/hairball.dh/2006Visualized">2006 Visualized</A></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2112" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMore morphine, pleasetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:21032006-11-19T14:08:00Z<P>The past few days have been all about expectation management.</P>
<P>Doc pre-surgery: "your collarbone might heal fine without surgery. With surgery you will have good range of motion after the pain recedes in about 3 days"</P>
<P>Doc post-surgery: "you will be in a sling for 6 weeks. Don't even think about physical therapy until the stiches come out"</P>
<P>Needless to say, there were some complications in the surgery. Namely, a couple of muscles were torn from the collarbone. I didn't get both of their names, but one was a deltoid. In addition to the muscle tears, the collarbone was in 7 pieces (only 4 were observed in the xray). 1 plate, 11 screws and 5+ hours later everything was back where it belonged. The next 24 hours were a blur of pain. Much of my memory of it is altered, but I do know that Lynda was there to help me through those dark hours. It's the "down" times when the depth of friendships are revealed. </P>
<P>For now the dominant theme is pain management, but sooner or later that is going to give way to the road to recovery. I'm a rapid healer in general; this time around I'm focusing more energy on the healing and have an outstanding team of docs and pt's to guide such efforts. The surgeon also finagled a bone stimulator that is supposed to drastically cut down the healing time (for the bone, anyway). </P>
<P>Current topic of research is recumbents. A recumbent with one of my PT wheels set up on a trainer would be da bomb...anyone have one they could spare for a few months? </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2103" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTi upgradestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20902006-11-14T14:16:00Z<P>Today I become the six million dollar man, the modern day humpty dumpty. After 2 1/2 weeks of waiting, it's my turn with the surgeon. The pieces of what used to be a collarbone are to become one again with the mechanical assistence of a titanium plate and screws. </P>
<P>Things have been pretty quite around here lately, and they are about to get quieter for a time...but not to fear, my relentless need for speed (and all it takes to achieve it) runs deep. Once I'm back in action look forward to some PMC related stuff (hi Norm), LED light goodness, and probably a bit of stuff I learn about rehab.</P>
<P>As for now, if you can spare any healing thoughts I'd be most grateful.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2090" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOn NORBA, part IItag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20872006-11-11T13:00:00Z<P>WTF is going on with this organization anyway? If you're a cyclist, this probably isn't news, but just in case...</P>
<P><A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/blog/2006/11/well-start-with-usada-scenario-re-how.html" target=_blank>Read this</A>. Squeaky clean, the guy doesn't even eat meat for chrissake.</P>
<P><A href="http://bartmangbikestowork.blogspot.com/2006/11/long-live-passion.html" target=_blank>Now read this</A>. Another squeaky clean guy, a family oriented working man. Seems to prefer yardwork over cycling.</P>
<P>You gotta be kiddin' me. Paranoia must be ruling the roost at USA Cycling. The organization that is supposed to support the sport of bike racing in the US has created an environment where it is impossible not to fail, where reputations are slurred, where the athlete is disempowered. Whats even worse, despite how fast these gents are, they don't derive their income from the sport, just great satisfaction pursuing their passions.</P>
<P>And Basso just signed with Discovery...</P>
<P>Drugs in sport is one issue. How NORBA allows USADA to proceed over their events is entirely another. The way the latter is being handled it's clear to me that the rider's best interest doesn't even make the <EM>bottom</EM> of the priority list.</P>
<P>My NORBA boycott begins today. </P>
<P>That's easy for me to do though, so is little concession. As a license holder I receive emails on a regular basis from the CEO, Steve Johnson. The most recent was to inform their membership that United Airlines has dropped sponsorship for USA Cycling, which incidentally is the only thing that made the license worth anything for me last year. Part of the membership included 4 one-way bike vouchers, a ~$200 value. I used 2 of them going to TransRockies, so that covered the license cost. </P>
<P>The only NORBA event that is even remotely interesting these days is 24 natz...although the venues tend to be not to my liking. It's more about the ride than the prize for me and riding in muggy then stormy midwest locales is, well, (sorry Kerkove!) unappealing. Adrenaline's worlds has better competition anyway...so if I need my thrashing fix off I'll go to that event.</P>
<P>Is it any wonder non-USA Cycling affiliated cycling associations are thriving? Is it any wonder the primarily association-free genre of ultra endurance racing is experience tremendous growth?</P>
<P>Me thinks not.</P>
<P>----------------------------</P>
<P>Check out <A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/2006/11/accountability.html">Adam's take </A>on the issue. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2087" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCross seasontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20852006-11-11T11:00:00Z<P>Is there more cyclocross frenzy this year or have I finally noticed it? The CO state cross champs are today, here in Durango. The course is up at the college and will surely be a good one. </P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture2084.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2084/276x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Elite women at 2:30, Elite men at 3:30, Masters A at 11, Masters B at 10. Now you know, don't miss it! I hear they've got a beer tent...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2085" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOn NORBA, India, geeking, and bonestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20802006-11-09T12:50:00Z<P>With so little physical activity of late, the brain is doing overtime. It's kinda fun in a sick way, feels like college days.</P>
<P>Here's an image of (part of) the damage.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture2079.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2079/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The ER doc's response in Grand Junction: "consider this an advantage, with a shoulder 3 inches shorter you'll have less frontal area and improved aerodynamics! You're now in an elite club."</P>
<P>Dunno bout that. My orthopedic surgeon says 3 months to heal without surgery, but has seen cases where 6-9 months down the road everything is still floating around. NFW. So...I'm getting an upgrade. Surgery next Tuesday will add a Ti plate and screws to the mess and tie it all together.</P>
<P>The training impact is huge. Although structurally I should be fairly mobile in a short time, it's a false sense of security cause the bones still will take 2-3 months to knit. I'll prolly go old school for '07, LSD winter miles and gradually ramp it up. Time will tell, but right now I'm just not too willing to spread out the healing energy over HIT training and bone healing. Priorities. It's a good thing I'm not in AZ this winter or I'd go NUTZ! </P>
<P>Yesterday my CTL dropped below 100 for the first time in almost 2 years...</P>
<P>NORBA...total number of NORBA XC races I did this year: 0. Total number of USCF races I did this year: 0. Price paid for dual license in '06: don't remember, but it was about $100? Total amount I'm willing to pay in '07: 0$. You don't always get what you pay for, but I will next year. Plus, you can get <A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/blog/2006/11/musings.html">totally screwed </A>in NORBA events by a paranoid system without regard for it's athletes.</P>
<P>I've been using a spreadsheet to track my training progress forever it seems. It started with the rolling TSS days and has been upgraded to include EweTSS. There's a ton of info in this thing and it gets cumbersome to use all features, so I've been wanting to design a GUI front end for it for years. It's turning out to be quite the dynamic analysis tool, pics to come. Finally, my own windows based program to track what I want to track. CyclingPeaks is da bomb for power meter data analysis - unrivaled. My little program is a helluva complement to it. Look for some snapshots sometime soon...there's a silver lining in every event.</P>
<P>Finally, news from Anna, my <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/images/1957/400x300.aspx" target=_blank>24 hour pit boss</A>. She's in India for 2.5 months taking Hindi courses and studying yoga with Mr. Iyengar. She's been sending some gems via email, here's a snapshot:</P>
<P>"...the monkeys and piggies are keeping to themselves - although a monkey made contact with the electric wires this a.m. and caused a big thwump sound..." </P>
<P>"Today this little internet place has each tiny cramped space filled with the local young Tibetan monks.... dressed in dark red with closed cropped hair.<BR>Yesterday and today, the Indian airforce has whizzed around. ??? 2 F16s doing quick circuits at acute angles...." </P>
<P>"The craziest analogies.... today about getting someone's attention - something about sticking pins in a monkeys genitals...."</P>
<P>Tip of the day: if in India, take it easy on the bananas lest you be mistaken for an ADD monkey.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2080" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSpec the light system of your dreamstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20712006-11-02T15:12:00Z<P>If you've been reading my ramblings for awhile, you know I'm really into LED lighting technology. Why?</P>
<UL>
<LI>LEDs are extremely durable because they are solid state "radiating matter", no fragile filaments or ballasts</LI>
<LI>many options exist for light patterns, as opposed to an HID where the lens/reflector/light are a one piece deal. this allows you to put the light where you want it, lowering the overall luminosity requirement for an application.</LI>
<LI>LEDs produce vivid, white light that is especially nice in green underbrush, but works great everywhere I've had it so far.</LI>
<LI>very lightweight, minimal material requirements.</LI>
<LI>LED technology is advancing at a rapid rate while halogen and HID are sittin' still.</LI>
<LI>instant on/off compared to the HID slow ignition.</LI></UL>
<P>Putting my $ where my mouth is, I've used my homebrew lights this year every time I raced in the dark. For KTR, I used a <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/05/06/1050.aspx">2 x luxIII helmet mount </A>(and batteries were on the helmet too). It proved to be great lighting for the conditions. In Steamboat & the first leg of the E100 I used a similar system, and in the Koko record ride and Moab 24 I used <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/09/28/1882.aspx">my newer K2 lights</A>. </P>
<P>The K2 lights are sick and I'm convinced were the brightest thing going at Moab. They are a LOT brighter than my Niterider HID. That's a strong statement, considering that by the stats the HID should have been roughly twice as bright - it puts out 2x the lumens. But, luminosity is only part of the story. The color of the light matters, and where it goes matters even more. The Niterider HID pattern is quite wide, so all those lumens end up in places I don't look. But...I designed the K2 model to put the light where I wanted it, and presto - the death ray is born!</P>
<P>Now let's consider efficiency. For each watt of power consumed, how many lumens are produced? HID technology has had a stronghold in this arena as far as bicycle lighting is concerned with a typical efficiency of 50-60 lm/w (halogen I think is in the 15 lm/w ballpark). The K2 LED falls somewhere between 25 and 45 lm/w, depending on the current. They (like all LEDs) become less efficient at higher currents. </P>
<P>Enter the Cree XR-E LED. Cree has been supplying cell phone manufacturers with blue LEDs for some time. A relatively new company, they were initially immune to the ups and downs of cell phone sales. But in the past 4 years they have saturated the cell phone backlight market so have been busy looking at other lighting possibilities. Flourescent lighting is very efficient at 70-100 lm/w...but that's where they want to go. Their new XR-E LED puts out more light than any other commercial LED <EM>and </EM>is more efficient than any bright LED at 70 lm/w. They are moving at a fast clip too - they've got LEDs in R&D right now that are producing 131 lm/w and expect to have a commercial product in '07 that puts out in excess of 100 lm/w. That's nearly twice as efficient as HID, and given all the advantages to LED lights... </P>
<P><EM>Just like that, HID technology is so yesterday</EM>.</P>
<P>A couple more great things about LEDs: they are plenty bright and most efficient at lower power consumptions. HIDs are not - you gotta run at least 12 W, period. This enables enormous control over runtime capabilities and hence battery requirements...which means these babies are perfect for ultra stuff as well as NASCAR style 24's. As efficiency increases, we'll either have lighter batteries or more runtime - or both. It's only gonna get better for quite some time.</P>
<P>So here's the deal. While my bones are knitting I need something to think about. I'm after the perfect light design and have a lot of ideas, but if you could share your lighting requirements, especially where ultra events are concerned, that will help steer/form a good design. I think with some swappable parts a single system could work for just about any application...what would you want for your lighting application?</P>
<P>You can put your ideas in the comments section (which requires that you register to the site), or hit me via email at hairball.dh @ gmail.com.</P>
<P>We are not mushrooms...</P>
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<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2071" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Daveshattered but not brokentag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20612006-11-01T16:17:00Z<P>what an interesting few days. first - many, many thanks for the kind comments and emails. i'm a lucky guy with no lack of support.</P>
<P>doc says collarbone might heal w/o surgery - all those chunks would make a big knot. it might not though, and would take a long time if it does work. so - my choice is an upgrade, pure ti baby. a plate and screws puts it all back together.</P>
<P>it looks like i'm out for at least a month - from work and riding. that's what i'm told anyway...but ya know my style by now...</P>
<P>in any case, for at least 2 weeks i can't do much that involves movement, so i'll be getting cerebral. the grey matter is long overdue for some feeding anyway.</P>
<P>any suggestions as to cerebral topics?</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2061" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Daveguardian angelstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20412006-10-30T16:34:00Z<P>mine is a heavy-handed bia-tch at times...must be cause i'm deaf to her subtle messages.</P>
<P>for the final yehaa of the season i went to GJ for the 50/50 - 50 miles mtb, 50 road. super tough old school mtb course and a climby road route. bitchin' concept & event, but hard enough that only a select few finished. if you finished, props.</P>
<P>a duathlon of sorts. the transition area:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture2040.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2040/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>i was on vacation. took camera, mp3, enough fluids and food to go a week and planned to get lots of pics of the action. dang, for so much jeep road, there was no smooth stuff so no pics of action. my garmin measured an average grade of 13% for a 17 minute techy section, wow. i was pretty far back but by the bottom of a 2500' descent was right there...hmmm...suddenly started to get racing fever. 60 seconds later i stacked it big. garmin says i went down at 24.2 mph. it was steep, football sized rocks, and violent. helmet in pieces, left shoulder in most unusual position...</P>
<P>then 2 guys ride up, joel and nate - emt and paramedic. they helped in ways i can't even say. thanks. all slinged up, the 3 hour atv ride was next. big thanks to jim and dave anderson for the evac. dave offered morphine but i declined. enogh addictions already.</P>
<P>worst part was at the hospital. pain meds - bad reaction, bp cut in half, pulse aroud 30.."stay with me. breathe" these are things you never want to hear from your nurse.</P>
<P>xrays: collarbone in 6 pieces, not shaped like a collarbone anymore. prolly need surgery, will find out later today. </P>
<P>i need a break anyway. in the future, guardian angel, i promise to be more receptive to your subtlies. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2041" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDon't lose your headtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:20052006-10-24T20:32:00Z<P>Like this fella.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture2004.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2004/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Tis the season when you better put your brightest jacket on if you want to survive that sweet fall singletrack...I find it quite bizarre that so many folks with a southern drawl migrate to this region in the fall to hunt and kill our animals. It's not that I'm an elk hugger...it's just plain <EM>weird, </EM>not to mention dangerous for the locals.</P>
<P>Great ride today, straight up the Colorado trail and hit it pretty hard. Gotta get things opened up for <EM>something</EM> this weekend. Still don't know if I'll be in CO, CA, or somewhere in between this weekend which makes it tough to plan...but with a CTL of 125 and TSB of 35-40 I'm getting a little stir crazy. Moab didn't even come close to trimming that peak I had built...so this weekend's possibilities include a 24 hour in CA (Chamberlain ranch), the 50/50 race in GJ (but it sure is hard to tell what is up with that event), or maybe just a blast around the White Rim. The latter sounds most appealing for many reasons...</P>
<P>There are so many trails around here I occasionally find new ones (new to me, that is). Mitch showed me a piece of trail right out my front door Sunday - duh! Awesome trail, super techy and slow, great for skills and made for 29ers. Sailing hawks for you locals.</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture2003.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/2003/225x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2005" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveYuri's 24 Hour Worlds Top 10 Ridetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19972006-10-23T22:12:00Z<P>Remember Yuri Hauswald? Back in March he asked some very pointed questions on how to train for and execute your first 24 hour race. His questions served as the launchpad for <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/category/1033.aspx">5 posts on the topic</A>, which to date have had collectively about 15,000 hits.</P>
<P>The articles seem to have been effective. Yuri is by no means a rookie, he's one fast rider - but still he won his first 24 hour event, garnering him a spot for 24 hour worlds, and went on to a top 10 finish in his first worlds. Wow! </P>
<P>He wrote an article on what it was like to compete at worlds. It's detailed and especially goes into the mental aspects, painting a vivid portrait of what it is like to hit insurmountable troubles, push beyond them, do it again, then do it again, then keep pushing. It really begs the question "where are the limits." I don't really think Yuri has found them yet. </P>
<P>Its a long article, but if you read all the way through I guarantee some goose bumps will come your way. Yuri, super congrats on a great ride and result!</P>
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<P><EM><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1996.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1996/225x300.aspx" align=left border=0></A>After 13 hours in the saddle of my Soulcraft steed, vision blurred around the edges, the linear sense of self begins to bleed out like fresh blood on cotton. “I love the smell of napalm in morning!” …..a distant fantasy that kept running through my head in this “heart of an impenetrable darkness”, and how the hell did I get here? I trudged through the midnight woods which began to, in my sleep deprived state, take on a sinister tentacled look, something straight out of Ichabod Crane’s worst nightmare in “The Tales of Sleepy Hollow”. I felt like a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines, lost and alone, instinctively knowing that I had to move if I was going to survive.</EM></P>
<P> Being that I’ve never served in the armed forces, I can only imagine that preparing for my 24 Hour Solo World Championship journey may very well be similar to what a young GI might feel while training to be sent off to battle. Please don’t think I’m making light of our soldiers in uniform just for the sake of my analogy, as I honor those individuals’ commitment. It’s just that I believe that demanding physical training and meticulous logistical planning can be equated to some of the preparation for Solo Worlds. For me, my training began ten years ago, when I first picked up a mountain bike. Those years of residual fitness have helped propel me to where I am today. Next, was laying out the necessary gear to be shipped to Conyers, GA. Would I need cold weather or rain gear? No, I’d been following the Conyers’ weather for two weeks and no rain was forecast. I brought some anyway, just in case. (Case in point: the recent 24 Hours of Moab that was shut down eight hours into the race due to rains of biblical proportions and severe course damage.) Anyway, I digress. Clothing for pre-riding, multiple race changes, two pairs of shoes, two helmets, two bikes (my ti Soulcraft and my Soulcraft 29er were my weapons of choice), an extra set of wheels, lights, and my energy food and bottles were all laid out in my living room. Once all that gear was crammed into two bike boxes, two duffle bags, one cardboard wheel box, and a giant cooler, we stuffed it, (along with my mom’s luggage), into my van. My wife Vanessa drove us to the San Francisco Airport.<BR> <BR> After slipping the Skycap a fiver, we were able to get our mountain of luggage to the Air Tran kiosk…..this is where my blood pressure began to rise and I nearly pulled the pin on the frustration grenade I’d been hiding in my camos, but didn’t. Too much Homeland Security. After much “official language” from the manager, the Air Tran attendant told us,” that the baggage costs were in the airline’s literature,( which they weren’t), and that we would have to pay $115.00 per bike, both ways! I grabbed my ankles and gave them the cash, what else could I do? I was still rubbing my backside when we had to go through security, where my mom, due to her pacemaker, had to undergo a full body “onslaught” by one of the “friendly” white gloved security personnel. It wasn’t a surprise that when we boarded our flight for Atlanta at 9:30 p.m., all we would be eating on this five hour “red eye”, were pretzel sticks and peanuts. I hunkered down, burrowing into my “fox hole” of anonymity, seeking solace in my stiff seat, but was bumped all night, while a lady across the aisle from me had a sedated cat that periodically let out a guttural yowl that sounded drunk and pissed off! We landed at 5:15 a.m., Atlanta, GA time, and piled our belongings haphazdardly onto a cart and rolled off to our rental car.<BR><BR> After renting our mini-van we realized that we had over six hours to kill before we could pick up our RV. Like Richard Dreyfus in “Close Encounters” we wandered towards an Atlanta suburb called Stone Mountain, an area that was punctuated by a gigantic, bare granite mountain of rock that jutted incongruously out of suburban Georgia. Unlike Dreyfus, we did not encounter any alien life forms, but we did get a chance to circle Stone Mountain, briefly cat nap in a parking lot, and then realize that we had to go back towards the Atlanta city center to find a market and do our weekend shopping. On our quest we discovered a very hip suburb on the edge of Atlanta called Decatur, where a strong shot of espresso from the Java Monkey helped shake off our flight drowsiness. We were then directed to a local breakfast joint were I satisfied my hunger with a plate full of eggs, sausage, biscuits and lots of gravy…heaven! Whole Paycheck lived up to its nickname, significantly lightening my wallet in the process and making me feel right at home.<BR><BR> The town of Snellville, our next destination, was deftly found by my mom, who navigated the Georgian freeways with ease. We arrived at “Camptown” to find our behemoth of a 32 foot RV awaiting for us. Being that she has years of experience driving horse trailers (and may have been a trucker in a past life) my my mom got the nod to be the driver and thus had to listen to the 45 minute tutorial on the intricacies of our moving chateau. While she was being enlightened about our two t.v. , air conditioned home on wheels, I was able to build up one my bikes. Our trip from Snellville to Conyers was without incident, my mom’s adept RV driving skills were on display as she zoomed down the road.<BR><BR> When we arrived at the Conyers Olympic Equestrian Center I was suddenly struck by the magnitude of the event. Seeing the Barnum and Bailey circus type tents dotting the infield, course makers, my name on an official athlete sign in front of my pit tent, and other banners that were being erected, caused my legs to get weak and the first butterflies to appeared in my stomach. We parked the RV and took a long overdue nap. Around 5:00 p.m. I went out for my first preride of the course and had the distinct honor to “briefly” ride with Trek’s Chris Eatough, the reigning six time 24 Hour Solo World Champion, who was very approachable and down to earth…extremely fast as well, even when “taking it easy” on our reconnaissance of the Conyers single track. My preride with the World Champion albeit brief, was a shot in the arm and got me fired up about my chances in the race. <BR><BR> The first thing I noticed about the Conyers course, beyond the humidity that clung like a wet towel and sucked the moisture out of me as I navigated the twisty wooded single track, were the ruts and stutter bumps that were impossible to avoid in search of clean ride. Being that I was on a hard tail made this discovery even more painful. The eight mile figure eight loop concluded with a three mile stretch that took riders over a Moab granite slick rock section that was undulating and bumpy, making it very difficult to be fluid and smooth. This section was dotted with steep little climbs and rutty sylvan single track that twisted and turned, making it difficult to get into a rhythm, further emphasizing the importance of being able to carry one’s momentum through this rocky wooded maze. I made mental notes of “clean” lines, rock obstacles, and areas that would need my utmost focus and strength to navigate. I returned from my first of five prerides excited, soaked through, and acutely aware that the technical nature of this course, combined with the humidity, would make this race an epic battle testing body and mind.<BR><BR> From Wednesday to Friday I rode the course five times, hydrated, read every bike magazine I had from front to back, put the legs up, ate copious amounts of food, visualized the course, began a “mental mantra” of positive thinking, talked with the promoters and other racers, and slept as much as I could. Friday evening Matt and Vanessa arrived. Matt and I did a short lap of the granite section of the course, Stans’d my 29er tires, talked race strategy, did random bike mechanic tweaking, and enjoyed another amazing meal cooked by my mom. The butterflies returned that evening as I went to bed and besides the sick feeling that they created in my stomach, all I was sweetly sung to sleep by the roar of a neighboring RV’s generator that howled late into the night.<BR><BR> Saturday dawned clear and there was a definite air of excitement building as people made final preparations for the chaos to come. My favorite early race meal of eggs and bacon went down well, followed a few hours later with a bowl of oatmeal. By 10:00 a.m. the butterflies were in full force and I began to drift off into my own world of focus, trying to prepare mentally for the suffering that quickly approached. While I was doing my best impression of a Zen Buddhist Cycling Monk, the rest of the crew was filling bottles with GU2o, Endurox, Ensure, and electrolytes, making almond butter and jam sandwiches, cutting salami and cheese, doing last minute bike adjustments, and getting the pit tent ready. At 11:00 a.m. it was time to sequester myself in the back of the RV, get my gear on, breathe, and visualize what was to come. D-Day was approaching and like the allied troops who landed at Normandy and suffered horrific loses in their noble quest to defeat the Germans and liberate Europe, I was about to embark on a journey that would surely be ugly in its physical and mental toll and whose outcome was definitely anything but certain to be a success, but a battle that I knew I was going to complete whatever the costs.<BR><BR> AC/DC blasted over the loudspeakers as the competitors gathered in the staging tent. It was 11:40 a.m. and I was 20 short minutes away from organized chaos and pain. The race would begin with a Le Mans start, which meant that we would have to complete a quarter mile out and back run, grab our bikes off the staging racks, and then head out onto the course. From having ridden the course five times and knowing how hectic and jammed the start was going to be with over two hundred competitors spread out in various categories, I knew that getting a good position going into the woods would be crucial to my overall success. Standing in the line of competitors waiting to be called up, my body was coursing with electric excitement and energy, making it hard to focus on what was to come. Waiting nervously in the teeming colorful mass of lycra clad racers, with the exception for the guy in a grass skirt and coconut bra, I thought about all of the encouraging words of support that I had received from family, friends, sponsors, and students. A deep sense of pride and duty, solidified the realization that my competing in this event was more than just about “me” or the race. Rather, I represented my father(who died of cancer a little more than a year ago, and was also my biggest fan) and mother, my wife and friends, my sponsors, my school community and was obligated to finish, no matter the physical or mental toll, to honor all of those who had helped me get to where I was today, this moment.<BR><BR> 11:50 a.m. I stepped closer to the end of the timing tent, realizing that with each successive call up I was that much closer to the edge of a huge personal precipice, the 24 Hour Solo World Championships. Whatever was to follow couldn’t be scripted or anticipated, much like battle, and that what occurred in the next 24 hours would most likely force me to explore physical and mental exhaustion that I’d never experienced. . I was called up ninth, and as I ran down the starting shoot my breathing became more deliberate and slow. I lost all peripheral vision as I intently focused on the quarter mile run’s turn around point. Camera crews and photographers where standing on the other side of the starting tape, eagerly snapping shots of Eatough and Gordon, adding to the overall excitement that would explode in a matter of minutes. Since I was called up ninth I was able to stage on the front row, shoulder to shoulder with some of the World’s best 24 hour solo athletes. As the clock began to wind down towards noon I ignored the tumult around me, I kept a steady and intent gaze on the turn around maker, my breathing slowed, and I readied myself for the ensuing chaos……BANG!!!<BR><BR> I was surprisingly calm as the gun went off, all distractions were gone, it was now time to race. I settled into a brisk running pace, sandwiched between Chris Eatough and eventual winner, Craig Gordon of Australia. I knew better than to go too fast on the run, but I was also aware of the importance of getting my bike and entering the single track in the top 10 to 15 riders. At the turn around I was about 7th or 8th runner and made it to my bike staging area quick enough to avoid the crushing melee of people scrambling to grab their bikes off the racks and, more importantly, was able to get in the front group of 15 riders as we headed out into the woods. By the time we finished the first 3 mile section of the course and doubled back by the venue, I was in 9th overall and 6th in the solo elite riders, closely following Subaru Gary Fisher rider Cameron Chambers. I tried to keep my heart rate in check, but in the heat of the battle I had a hard time controlling my energy output. I was so stoked to be riding in the front group, minus Eatough and Gordon, who had already put the “wood” to all of us mere mortals. I finished my first of 25 8 mile laps in 43 minutes and was basically shadowing Cameron Chambers, as he was one of my “marks” for the race. I continued like this for three laps, riding within my limits, or so I thought, ticking off consistently fast lap times. Around lap four I realized that in my excitement I had not been eating enough, in fact, the heat was suppressing my appetite and making it hard for me to stomach my race food. I was hydrating, consuming 50 to 70 oz. of electrolyte water via my Camelbak every two laps, but this was not giving me the calories that I needed to sustain this kind of effort. I began to slip into serious caloric deficit, which manifested itself in a loss of power and caused me to fall from 6th to 16th by the sixth hour of the race. On top of the caloric black hole I’d dug myself, I began to suffer from leg cramps and severe foot pain, so bad that my mind began entertaining thoughts of quitting. At hour seven I couldn’t take the pain anymore and did a quick shoe change, which helped, but didn’t negate the fact that I’d been going backwards for the past few laps. My pit crew was nothing but encouraging when I would slur these concerns, reminding me that I could do it , while trying to get me to eat so that I could rebuild my energy stores for the night. At this point in the race I was beginning to feel beat down from the physical punishment the course was inflicting and mentally defeated by my drop out of the top ten in less than five hours. As night approached something changed, my focus sharpened, my stomach started accepting the calories that I was ingesting, and my mental attitude improved with every place I gained.<BR><BR> I rode my pink 29er for the night laps, the change of bikes was refreshing and helped me navigate the course just as quickly as I had during the day. I changed clothing at 10:00 p.m., a light dusting of Baby Powder increased my comfort in the saddle and gave me new found focus to battle into the night. The Light in Motion bar and helmet light system that Matt and I were using was super illuminating and allowed me to rip through the black forest just as fast as I had during the day. At some point in the evening I “went native”, like Kurtz in Heart of Darkness, and began chasing my spirit animal through the Conyers woods. It was during the night that I refound my wings and began to work my way back up.<BR><BR> By 12:00 a.m. I had scratched my way into 10th and by 1:00 a.m. I was 8th, locked in a see saw battle with 9th and 10th, swapping places on course and during pit stops, which I had been limiting to under a minute. Around 2:00 a.m. disaster struck. As I came out of the wooded opening loop, my helmet light went dead. No problem, I thought, my bar light will get me through the next five miles and then I’ll get Matty to change it out when I come through the pits. After crossing the road which led into the technical granite section,which had been sketchy during the day, my bar light began to flicker. At first I thought it was my vision playing tricks on me since it had been getting slightly blurry around the edges during the past two hours. But unfortunately it wasn’t, and my bar light died, leaving me stuck on the most dangerous part of the course, too far to run/ride back to the pits, and with no other option but to “solider” on in the dim moonlight. At this point I was physically beginning to implode again, and the added mental stress of my situation nearly sent me spiraling backwards into despair. The gravity of my predicament weighed on me like the infamous albatross, and certain that my demise was secured, I began to mentally unravel. I soft pedaled through the rocks wondering what to do when I heard a mumbled greeting from the darkness behind me, “What’s up Hoss?! Everything O.K.?” <BR> I’m not a very religious person , but if there is a god, my savior had just appeared. I quickly regrouped mentally enough to blurt out in a semi-slur, “Brother…my lights went out, is there….????” My night angel rolled up on me, haloed in an aurora of blue light, silent , and drawled, “ Get on board Hoss! Let’s go. I’ll get you through this section.” I think I replied something incoherent like, “Thanks, I’ll stick to your rear wheel as best I can…..I’m hurting pretty bad.” Charles, a member of the Pink Turtle Racing four man race team, proceeded to light my way through the “valley of darkness”, deftly checking his speed to help keep the perimeter of light within a certain distance so that I was able to follow his line. Every once in a while he asked, “You O.K. back there?” <BR><BR> With us was a competitor from South Africa who had been forced to ride a single speed because he had sheared off his inner ring. He rode behind, creating a “light sandwich” with me as the filling. We slowly navigated the rutty wooded singletrack, walking some of the climbs, actually most of them, and making small talk. As Charles and I rode, side by side, into the timing tent, I told him how grateful I was for his help and kindness and that he should give me his address after the race so I could reward him with some Soulcraft gear….Unfortunately, he never came by, but my faith in the goodness of humanity was restored, and my race had been saved!!<BR> After surviving my light brown out, I spent the majority of the night swapping places with 8th, 9th, and 10th, each rider surging and receding in a tidal flow of expended energy until 5:00 a.m. The next seven hours were particularly difficult as my body was reaching its physical limits and I was having to basically “will” myself to keep going. Matt and Vanessa were very instrumental in keeping me moving forward, even as I mumbled about really thinking that I wasn’t going to be able to physically finish the race. These hours of physical pain and mental exhaustion reinforced the notion of “mind over matter”, because it was my mind that made me keep going, one pedal stroke at a time, one foot in front of the other. <BR><BR> By the 21st hour I was ready to quit. The pain in my feet, which had never really gone away was now beyond manageable, and the lack of upper body control I had, made every lap an interesting proposition of Russian Roulette riding. The urgency of holding on to my top ten position coupled with the fact that I was forced to ride safely, created a hard balancing act to maintian. But there was no way to ride stutter bumps safely, especially when all the clean lines had been ridden out. It was during these last few hours that I went “robotic”, my mind controlled every action in a slow mechanical way. I put on my “death mask” and went into survival mode, I focused on forward progress, whether I was pedaling or walking. <BR><BR> The last three laps were shrouded in a mental fog and I was forced to overcome physical pain I’d never experienced before. Let’s just say that I was able to stumble around the course and finish somewhere around 11:40 a.m., 25 laps, 200 miles, and 27,500 vertical feet later, completely shell shocked and hollow. My sunken cheeks, coal miner sooted legs, and ashen appearance were, along with palms purple from bruising, my reward for finishing. My fuzzy vision didn’t stop me from finding the nearest chair to collapse in, languishing lethargically there while my pit crew <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1995.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1995/225x300.aspx" align=right border=0></A>took care of me as best as they could. After visiting the medic’s tent to get ice packs for my bruised hands, where the newly crowned World Champion lay covered on a stretcher doing the “tuna” with an IV in his arm, I hobbled back to the RV and took a shower. Unfortunately for Vanessa I couldn’t bend over, so she had to give me a sponge bath. I was a pathetic sight. Vanessa claims that after drying me off, I sat down on the bed and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. I’m pretty sure that the puddle of drool I woke up to on my pillow and the dry “snorers” mouth were signs that I had slept hard. The rest of the crew also took a well deserved nap after the frantic evening and 24 hour duty in my support. They were my rock. Their inspiring words, amazing food, and mechanical wizardry kept me going, long after my body told me I couldn’t. I can’t thank them enough for their selfless love and support.<BR><BR> T.S. Eliot said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” It is now two weeks later,I’m finally not walking like Fred Sanford anymore, and I can honestly say that I’m willing to risk again. The endorphin rush alone was better than any high out there. I know I’m starting to feel “normal” again, because my appetite has been voracious and I’m actually able to look at my bike without cringing now. I’m really surprised how much Georgia took out of me, both physically and mentally. Having survived the battle, being able to “soldier” on in the face of adversity and pain, made me proud to have finished ninth in the world. It definitely gives me motivation for next season…….</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1996.aspx" target=_blank></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1997" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveEnduring Nutritiontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19892006-10-21T13:15:00Z<P><IMG src="http://www.healthmyths.net/cornerpic.gif" align=left>Meet <A href="http://www.healthmyths.net/about.html">Shane Ellison</A>, founder of <A href="http://www.health-fx.net/">HealthFX</A>. An organic chemist by training, Shane has seen the ugly side of the pharmaceutical industry. He is on a crusade to re-educate a misinformed populace on solid health and nutrition practices. News flash: good health and prescription drugs have nothing in common... His concepts are guided by science, pure and simple. OK, maybe not so simple...but with Shane, you'll get no BS hype - and there are no shortcuts.</P>
<P>Yes, HealthFX is the primary sponsor for team HealthFX. It should be obvious by now, however, that I'm not one of those "brought to you by x, y, and z!" types. I am no sellout and in fact probably don't do as much as I should for my sponsors. But, you can be damn sure that if I do talk about a product and/or company favorably, it's simply a result of positive experiences and a desire to share the knowledge. I'm a workng stiff just like you, where my $$ goes is important to me.</P>
<P>Shane has been my nutritional advisor since '03. Before I met Shane, I bought into all the high carb-low fat craze that most sports nutrition experts tout. Yet, every time I'd pick up my training, I'd eat even more and gain wait. WTF? Whew, glad those days are gone. Compared to '02, my typical race weight is 10-14 lbs less with lower bodyfat, increased power and endurance...a lot of this is a result of nutrition choices. </P>
<P>Every now and then I get a HealthFX email with some real gems. Shane spends a lot of time writing, more than I do ;) The latest is too good not to share. So here you go. This is my biggest "secret", and now the words out.</P>
<P>Here's to your good health.</P>
<P>---------------------------------------------</P>
<P><STRONG>The Athletes Deadly Mistake <FONT face="Courier New">–</FONT></STRONG><FONT size=2><STRONG><FONT size=3> 3 Benefits to Avoiding</FONT></STRONG> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>It By Shane Ellison, M.Sc. <BR></FONT><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.healthmyths.net"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>www.healthmyths.net</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2> © 2006 <BR></FONT><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.health-fx.net"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>www.health-fx.net</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2> © 2006 </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Most athletes have ignored the warning not to eat sugar. They usually pay more attention to fat and carbohydrates. This mind-set is courtesy of the self-appointed nutrition gurus who promote low fat, high carbohydrate eating plans. This is a deadly mistake. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Most low fat, high carbohydrate foods are loaded with sugar or "sugar mimics." These include sucrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed proteins, trans fat and milk sugars such as lactose and maltose. In many cases, these food adulterants are being fed to an athlete’s body every time they put something into their mouth. The body responds by pumping mass amounts of insulin into the blood stream. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Insulin is the nutrient taxi. It escorts glucose and other nutrients into the muscle cells. It is also the chief fat storing hormone. To the athlete, this means an artificial feeling of energy coupled to fat storage. But the real danger lies in sugars ability to create a metabolic nightmare later in life. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>High insulin levels lead to a medical condition known as insulin resistance or Syndrome X. Today, Syndrome X is an epidemic among children and adults. An estimated 80 million Americans suffer from this slow but insidious killer. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Similar to those who consume excess alcohol and develop resistance to it, excess insulin numbs muscle cells. Muscles no longer react to it. The insulin receptors within the body become "jammed." Unable to gain entry into muscle cells, glucose (blood sugar) remains in the blood-stream. Blood sugar skyrockets. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Recognizing the rise in blood glucose, the pancreas attempts to curtail the danger with yet more insulin production. The blood stream becomes toxic with exorbitant amounts of insulin and glucose. Syndrome X begins to take its toll on the body. It leads to the clinical diagnosis of depression, premature aging of the skin, hypertension, heart disease, type II diabetes and cancer </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>—</FONT><FONT size=2> sometimes in that order. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>To avoid insulin resistance, athletes must stop making the mistake of lowering fat intake while increasing carbohydrate consumption. Instead, they must increase their consumption of healthy fat and protein while lowering carbohydrate intake. Basically, this is the antithesis of what the "gurus" promote. Rest assured though, it is in complete accord with science. Three benefits of increased fat intake await: </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff>1. Athletes will lose fat and build muscle.</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Unlike carbohydrate, consuming healthy fat does not cause a spike in the fat storing hormone insulin. Instead, it keeps insulin levels low (or controlled) relative to sugar and carbohydrate (carb) consumption. When insulin is controlled, the body is better equipped to take part in fat burning courtesy of "thermogenesis." Thermogenesis is the conversion of fat to heat and physical energy (lipolysis). The best athletes in the world have mastered thermogenesis </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>—</FONT><FONT size=2> either through diet, supplementation, or both. Sparking it is the Holy-Grail for eliciting lean muscle mass and even raw athletic power </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>–</FONT><FONT size=2> the kind that sets apart the weak from the strong. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Be careful, the wrong kind of fat will make you fat. That would be the trans fats coming from food served out of a window (think Wendy’s). </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff>2. Athletes will have far more energy and endurance</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>When thermogenesis is active, the body can utilize fat as a substrate for heat production as well as ATP production. ATP is the master energy and strength producing molecule within the body. The more you have, the better you perform. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>A single fat molecule can produce a whopping 129 molecules of ATP. In contrast, if thermogenesis is not being activated the body is forced to utilize an inferior source of ATP production </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>—</FONT><FONT size=2> carbohydrates. A single carbohydrate molecule produces a paltry 38 molecules of ATP! Do the math </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>–</FONT><FONT size=2> fat yields more than three times the energy as a carbohydrate! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>The difference between fat and carbohydrates as fuel substrates is the difference between sustained energy and "bonking." Promoters of sports gels and sugar fortified energy bars and drinks ignore this basic biochemistry </FONT><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>—</FONT><FONT size=2> or don’t understand it. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff>3. Athletes will not age-prematurely</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Everyone has heard of the endurance athlete who was seemingly healthy yet keeled over on his morning bike ride from a deadly heart attack. Excess sugar consumption plays a leading role in this sad fate due to its ability to leach essential nutrients from the body. Such nutrients include fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. The outcome is a dying cardiovascular system unfit for physical fitness resulting in a premature heart attack. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Trash the carbs and sugar. Eat healthy fat. Healthy fats can be obtained from coconut oil (in tea or used for cooking), cod-liver oil (contains omega-3 fats known as EPA and DHA with the added value of vitamin D), olive oil, avocados (omega-9), eggs (raw, scrambled, hard-boiled, whatever), fish, nuts, seeds, chicken and grass fed beef. Adhere to this basic nutrition science and you’ll break personal records guaranteed. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>About the Author </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>Shane holds a Master’s degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. With his keen ability to sift through scientific literature and weed out fact from fiction, Shane has empowered thousands to assert their health freedom by saying "no" to prescription drugs. Learn more about his books Health Myths Exposed and The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs. Get his FREE Life-Saving Health Briefs at </FONT><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.healthmyths.net"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>www.healthmyths.net</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>. His nutrition supplements that work can be found at </FONT><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/admin/blogs/www.health-fx.net"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>www.health-fx.net</U></FONT></A><FONT size=2>. </FONT> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1989" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveJack Mormon Militiatag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19832006-10-20T12:36:00ZCheck out the <A href="http://fatcyclist.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B26536EE8298D087!8298.entry">account</A> of the <A href="http://www.grannygear.com/realtime/public/class.php?display_standings_flag=1&class=ALL&PHPSESSID=c3d4a5831975d2d44d26f354e51ff9c6">Moab overall winners </A>- on single speeds (first time for this to happen) - over at fatcyclist. <img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1983" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBorgian Justicetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19812006-10-20T10:49:00Z<P>There's a new link in the sidebar to <A href="http://dirtpedaler.com">http://dirtpedaler.com</A>. Don't know anything about the site owner/s, except that they have a keen eye for what's going on the MTB world. It's only been up a few weeks and in that time they've been busy reading and linking up the goods.</P>
<P>One of their <A href="http://dirtpedaler.com/?p=11">articles</A> give pointers to the Floyd Landis wikipedia defense, his tact of sharing defense documents on the web. An interesting <A href="http://www.dailypelotonforums.com/main/index.php?s=86e857d6b7c879e066f7a4c03b3e35bf&showtopic=1458&view=findpost&p=29877">forum discussion</A> between Landis and forum member one-mint-julich goes like this:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>[one-mint-julich] "This is definitely one of the waves of the future, actually of the present. It is getting harder and harder for any one person to know anything that a large number of other people, combined, don't know better."
<P>[Floyd] "You called it. Will and I have been reading these from the begining and while you guys are opinionated (as am I) we decided that, if given the info, you would be constructive. We'll call it the Wikipedia defense, and I would have given everything to you sooner but had a very hard time selling the idea to the lawyers."</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>Brilliant. Completely blows my concept of what Menonites are capable of...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1981" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Flower Girltag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19772006-10-19T14:41:00Z<P>A couple of days ago I awake with a head full of three's: I've done Moab solo 3 times; for the past 3 years I've been 3rd ('04 was in the duo field with Mitch Moreman, '05 and '06 were solo); this year I was 33rd overall. Not quite the bridesmaid.</P>
<P>NOW WHAT?? What does a chronic cyclist do when the season's goals are all in the rear-view mirror? The abbreviated Moab experience leaves me with way too much energy - TSB is in the 50's today and I feel like I could rip titanium cranks to shreds. I'm supposed to be the shredee right now, not the shreder. Couple that with a 3 month business trip to San Diego and it doesn't look like there will be any off season this year. Good, just the way I like it. I haven't really done much of an off-season for years and I'm convinced they are bad for long term development. I guess it depends on how one defines "off-season".</P>
<P>Anyone from San Diego wanna show me the ropes?? Road or mountain, it's all good.</P>
<P>The head is spinning on what to set the sights for next year. The Moab event, despite how chaotic it got, really reminded me how much I love 24 hour racing and how good grannygear events are. That's putting the bug in my head to hit 3 of the events next year as the series is the best 3 of 6. How about the Grand Loop Race? I hate hike-a-bike & high heat, so dunno...but it's something new and would offer up a winter's worth of obsessing. OP? You bet...24 hour worlds? Maybe. TR? Hell yea. Can I do it all? Time will tell...</P>
<P><A href="http://www.moabactionshots.com/">Moab Action Shots</A> took some sweet pics at the event. Here are some of my faves.</P>
<P>Sometimes it's just best to use no brakes and close your eyes...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1976.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1976/original.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>School is in session boyz!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1975.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1975/original.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>In the clouds.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1972.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1972/original.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>A collection of shots chronicling the Moab lead up is <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/category1048.aspx">here</A>.</P>
<P>If you did Moab solo and feel cheated by the experience, give <A href="http://www.floridasports.com/article/?Guid=8356355c-26e3-4ca3-a1d4-8e884fe17544">this one </A>a shot. The weather is guaranteed.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1977" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMoab: short race, long storytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19632006-10-16T19:30:00Z<P>Biblical. That word best sums up the 24 hours of Moab this year - epic is overused and isn't strong enough anyway. The 4 corners region has been getting nailed by weather of biblical proportions the past 2 months and old muther nature stayed true to recent form this past weekend in Moab, Utah.</P>
<P>Let's begin with the ending. It was messy in many ways...but here's how I think the results ended up for the top 5 in solo men:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P>Nat Ross<BR>Josh Tostado<BR>Dave Harris<BR>Peter Kenyon<BR>Nick Martin</P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>Now for how this came to be...</P>
<P>The forecast when I left Durango for Moab called for a 20% chance of showers on Saturday and Saturday night. Given how wet it's been you'd think I'd interpret that as "be on the lookout for flooding"...but 20% barely registered on my radar screen. I packed stuff for a few light showers. </P>
<P>Arriving Thursday afternoon was killer. We had the perfect campsite, or so it seemed. We were within earshot of the announcer, within range for wireless access to the GrannyGear network, close to potable water, showers, right on the course, and amidst all the top contender's camps. What I failed to recognize in choosing that spot, however, was that it was the primary drainage route for roughly 200 acres. This became rather critical when the rains got busy. Ouch.</P>
<P>The day before the start was typical Moab October weather - mid 70's and sunny. Everyone was lulled into thinking the weather would be great. Note the migratory tents:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1956.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1956/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>By the start time of noon Saturday, conditions had changed considerably.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1961.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1961/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ah well, us spoiled desert rats were gonna get our come uppance. In my 7 different races here, the only moisture I'd ever seen was a 2 hour snow shower. It left the course faster than ever after it stopped. Such was not the case today. With all the biblical weather of late, the ground was already completely saturated. Instead of getting tacky & fast, any moisure loosened the sand into a muddy texture.</P>
<P>Time to warm up the legs. I only run ~3 times each year - the 3 LeMans starts I do each year, and the last time I started stone cold and pulled a muscle. None of that this time.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1953.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1953/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The start was hilarious. There must have been 10 people fall on there face with the first step of the LeMans start run. My start was as good as expected - somewhere in the top 100 riders, good enough for my first lap intentions. </P>
<P>The game plan was a bit different this year, as was the fitness level. Confidence was at an all time high, which meant I was in no hurry to burn up those matches. I was going to take my time picking this race apart and felt no need to start fast. One very interesting factoid pulled from my power files of previoius 24 hour efforts is that for similar lap times, as the race progresses power drops - or conversely, for similar power, lap time decreases. In essence, I become more efficient as time goes on. Why waste a bunch of wahoo on the first few laps when it could be better spent at a later time? 24 hour racing has an enormous mental aspect. If momentum is gaining, that mental aspect is positive; if your'e going backwards, well ya know that sucks. Another reason why starting too hard is bad: if the weather turns south, either by getting cold, wet, or both - your energy stores may be too low to generate the level of power required to maintain body temp in a good "operating" range. More than one top rider succumbed to this problem when conditions got hard. There are so many good reasons not to start too hard in a 24 hour race. In this race, I learned a very good reason to start full throttle, however. </P>
<P>The physical prep for this event was equally matched with top notch support. Andy and Kong of Desert Cyclery in St George proved to be relentless round the clock mechanics, regardless of conditions. Andy arrived Friday afternoon and literally jumped out the truck with tools in hand asking what he could start working on. "I've got a Park tool in each hand and ain't afraid to use 'em!" seemed to be his motto. Kong arrived with Steve the next morning and our wrench force was complete. Boris (of the E100) helped during the race as well - digging drainage ditches and doing what he could to speed up pits, while Anna completed the encampment as the pit boss in charge, keeping everything running as smooth as possible. </P>
<P>Meet Andy and Kong! </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1954.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1954/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The pit boss is happy this morning.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1957.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1957/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>So, back to the race. The first 3 laps were pretty insignificant. JRA is what I'd call them. It rained intermittently, but no deluges. Bikes, legs, and fueling plans were all humming along nicely. I had not clue where I was in relation to other solos, and in fact didn't even see any double digit number plates near me (indicating a solo rider). On lap 4 the legs really started to open up and I felt like giving it some gas, but didn't. Patience. The stalking would come later. PE really dropped and it seemed almost too easy. I wasn't sure if I was going too slow so in the next pit I asked Anna if I was going fast enough, which she promptly yelled "yes!" OK then, I'll take that as a good sign. </P>
<P>Lap 5 was biblical. That word again. It was raining hard at the start of the lap and just got harder. The sound of waterfalls was everywhere; every drainage, wash, ditch was running. Prostitute Butte was covered with a sheen that gave it the appearance of being snow covered. Slickrock (now I know where it got it's name) isn't porous at all and was covered with running and standing water everywhere. I didn't care. Bombing down the steep sandy descent at mile 3 there's a hard banked right hand turn which up to this lap had been fine, but I was greeted with muddy trenches at speed and took a spill to the inside of the curve - which was a puddle about 2 feet deep. I know, cause I was blowing bubbles from the bottom. So that's how lap 5 went. Wet.</P>
<P>Before heading out for lap 6 I had to get a shell on. It was getting colder and dark, as well as wetter. I'd so far managed to keep pits in the 30 second range, but this one was disastrous...or so I thought. All I wanted to do was zip the sleeves back on the vest I was wearing...but that proved an impossible task - tiny zippers, sandy zippers, wet cold hands...Anna saved the day by suggesting I put a different shell underneath and put the vest back on ( I wasn't going to give up the vest because it had pockets in the front, easy food access in the mucky conditions). Dunno how long it took, but seemed an eternity. 15-20 minutes? Ah well, there's plenty of time to make that up I figured. Confidence was still good and I hadn't dipped into any power reserves yet.</P>
<P>All that rain was wreaking havoc in our camp. Because of my choice of campsites...there was literally a river running through the whole area. Kong and Andy kept working nonstop, despite being ankle deep in running water. Lynda & I had clean, tuned, shiny bikes to start each lap. How they kept it going without a single complaint in these conditions is hard to comprehend. They'd fix brakes, shifting, replace BBs, even repack hubs in between laps. Lynda & I were still turning out decent lap times despite the conditions, which made it quite challenging for them to keep up. They told us next time were riding single speeds, like it or not :)</P>
<P>Here's Andy and Kong at work on bikes, Steve (wearing his river booties) getting stuff ready for Lynda, and Boris digging drainage ditches. Biblical!!!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1959.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1959/400x216.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>So finally I get going on lap 6. Body temp had dropped some during the inactivity, but the legs still felt great - snappy in fact, which surprised me. It was full dark now, and I had been eagerly anticipating the night. The first night lap is one of my favorite times in 24s for some reason...this time around I had lights to die for. My 3xK2 LED homebrew light was off the charts bright - so bright that it completely washed out my Niterider HID light! However, I had overvolted my HID a bit with a lighter 14.8 V lithium ion battery, so the two together was a distinct advantage. Riders on course kept asking if I'd swap them lights; spectators repeatedly yelled out "hey, nice lights!" They were a hindrance in some spots - the top of each climb was shrouded in mist/fog, the lights were so bright the pea soup was blinding. But when it was clear...bombs away! This was a super fun lap. Aside from the two sandy hike-a-bikes and nosedive, I was still cleaning everything despite the wet conditions. There were a lot of riders cracking - the weather and fast early pace was taking it's first victims. The course was radically different in spots too. The rain had let up, but the flash floods had dug 4 foot deep trenches across the route in spots. One of these was on the final descent - and I came up on it at high speed. I tried to clear it...but caught it with the back wheel. No biggie, but man I thought my bike would explode. That was the biggest hit I ever gave the ol' Top Fuel. Coming into the logout tent, I was actually starting to feel like this was turning into a race. Lap 6 was getting fun. </P>
<P>This is where it gets strange. No more riding or racing from here on out...read on if you're interested in a race promoters nightmare.</P>
<P>The volunteer in the logout tent tells me the course is now closed, to come back at 6am for a meeting to discuss when to restart the race. I was surprised because the course was improving, the rain ceasing, and well crap I was having a blast now. But I completely agree with Laird Knights decision to close the course. It'd be one thing if it was an elite championship event - conditions were such that top riders could manage them safely - but there were riders falling victim to wet slippery rocks, hypothermia, and mechanicals. "This isn't Kansas anymore Toto!" So, props to GG for keeping rider safety first and foremost.</P>
<P>I knew I had moved up some on lap 6, but not exactly how much. Then it comes over the loudspeakers: I moved from 5th to 2nd, with Josh Tostado in the lead. Nat Ross was nowhere to be found. Well, that's interesting...what I wasn't looking forward to was riding for just a few hours in the morning to have it all decided. I'm confident racing most anyone for 24 hours...but for 2 or 3? Nick Martin, for one, will crush me like a bug under foot at that duration. Ugh. Fill belly with food, get some sleep, and get mentally prepared to do a high powered battle for the finale.</P>
<P>Fast forward to 5am. Eat again, coffee up, go to race meeting 6am. Laird and co. had been working on a plan all night but weren't ready yet - come back at 7 (or was that 7:45? It's fuzzy now).</P>
<P>Race meeting version 2: Laird tells us we have 2 options. First: have our final lap stripped (my 6th), resume racing. The least fair option. Second: have our final lap stripped (my 6th), race stands as is. That would have put me 5th.</P>
<P>OK, you gettin' this? Not counting the last lap completed? I say no freaking way man, you can't discount laps completed for solo riders. The issue was with an existing AMTRI rule that says teams may cancel a lap even if a rider is out on course. In the event of postponement, a savvy team could use this to their benefit like so: rider goes out at 7:45 pm; course is closed at 8pm; teammates, knowing that the course will be much faster in the daylight and hopefully drier conditions, cancel current riders lap which will bump up their start time the next morning, AND enable a fast daytime lap to take the place of that rider's slow, wet slog...this clearly doesn't come into play for solo riders though. Laird just had so many things to work out, it was understandably mind numbing to figure out a fair way to solve the issue. It was just easier to apply the same rule to all.</P>
<P>When I brought up my reservations in the meeting I was somewhat surprised at how receptive Laird was. He never used the loudspeaker to overpower someone who wished to speak their mind and let everyone say their piece. He was stressed to the limit but maintained a relatively cool and easy demeanor through it all. I was darn impressed. He still didn't give on his decision though, and we took a vote. We'd resume racing with the first riders going out at 9am. The faster solo riders would start as late as 11:30, time for only one lap. Double ugh. I still don't know when I'm supposed to start, but head back to camp unwilling to wait to find out.</P>
<P>30 minutes later Dave (a fellow solo rider in the next camp) comes and tells me Laird was pretty much mobbed by the solo riders after the meeting and hit him with the same reservations I had. This time Laird couldn't hold his ground and came to understand the flaw. The final ruling: the solo racers would not resume racing and the race was to be determined as of the last lap completed. No laps were to be discounted. Cool, that sounds fair. Overnight Nat Ross had risen to the top of the leader board somehow. I'm not sure how that happened, but based on a conversation with Josh it seems legit. It was probably a timing/scoring glitch that had him lost on his 6th lap. </P>
<P>So, in an instant, the race is over and I'm in 3rd place. Last year I was thrilled with 3rd; this year it leaves me flat - it's a dissapointment. The dissapointment isn't the actual finish placement - it is the loss off the <EM>opportunity</EM> to finish out the exection of a race plan that was a long time in the making, strategically, physically, mentally, mechanically. Whether or not I'd have done any better than 3rd if it went 24 hours is impossible to say, but to find out would have been priceless, as they say. Considering my conservative start, I'm fortunate to have made the top 3. In this case, I really think my conservative start left me with plenty of reserves to handle the lap 5 storm and lap 6 aftermath. It seemed easy, but only because I still felt fresh. It could have been waaay different.</P>
<P>Lynda had a great race - but similar to mine in that she didn't have the opportunity to unleash the real beast. The results posted right now are wacko - she won her race by a large margin, leading from the gun. She's on the Green River now with her family, so you'll have to wait a week for the full rundown of her story. But I'll say this: she was rock solid and only 6 guys were in front of her after lap 6, and we all know what her endurance is like. Can you say morning bloodshed? Guys, we were all spared...</P>
<P>As any solo racer knows, the strength of ones performance relies heavily on their support crew. No race I've done before was ever so dependent on so many folks. Without Anna, Andy, Kong, Steve, Boris and Kathleen there's no way either Lynda or I would have done more than 3 laps. We had the most bitchin support and many racers commented to that effect. It was a burly race to support, and big thanks to all who lent a hand.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1955.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1955/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I also gotta say Laird Knight earned full respect this weekend. He was faced with impossible decisions and the empathy coming from the tortured man was the real deal. </P>
<P>And of course, I will be back in '07.</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1963" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMoab or busttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19462006-10-12T13:49:00Z<P>Yea, what Lynda <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/archive/2006/10/12/1945.aspx">said</A> ;)</P>
<P>It's time to finish out this grand season riding for 25 hours in my most favorite of favored locales - Moab, Utah - not to be confused with the <A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/">one</A> in the middle east. Having been around that course at least 50 times, I know it like the back of my hand and it seems to get easier with every edition of the race.</P>
<P>It most certainly is not all about the race. Preparing for this event has been a manic cyclist's dream come true. <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/09/27/1879.aspx">Lots</A> and <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/09/04/1851.aspx">lots</A> of <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/10/01/1895.aspx">relentless intensity</A>, to steal a phrase. There just isn't anything better than spending copious amounts of time on the bike traveling through epic terrain, and it's even better when done with other crackheads. It has turned out to be yet another experiment, to find out where the limits are. The KT ride may have been pushing the envelope, time will tell. But, I've had an unexpected month off from work so what's a guy to do? In years past (decades, actually) I've had enough spare time to completely toast myself. 12 years later my base fitness is so much different, so the experiment needed a repeat. </P>
<P><A href="http://jeffkerkove.blogspot.com/">Jeff Kerkove </A>posted a pic on his blog the other day that haunts me. The aftermath of 24HoA Worlds, top 2 riders attached to IVs, one unable to move/walk and spent several days in the hospital on dialysis...</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.mbaction.com/archive/Eatough%20foreground%20and%20Gordonb.jpg"> </P>
<P>This was perhaps the grittiest 24 hour race to unfold - these guys are rippin fast and took a no holds barred approach and raised the bar for these types of events. </P>
<P>For better or worse, I've climbed out of the underdog status these days. Does that mean a similar fate awaits should I find myself in contention...or do I have a "governor" that will prevent such madness? How much am I willing to push?</P>
<P>That's why they hold the races, to answer these questions. The answers are hidden deep for 2 more days...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1946" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMicroTech insole power meter updatetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19392006-10-09T17:31:00Z<P>There were several good questions in the comments to the "Someone's listening" post in regards to the MicroSport insole power meter, and I had a few of my own. I shot of an email this am and bingo, detailed answers didn't take long. So far I'm impressed with their responsiveness.</P>
<P>Here's the Q & A. <BR>--------------------------------------------------------</P><FONT size=2><FONT size=2>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- what is your anticipated ship date?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>We are advertising "early 2007". I would guess that we may be ready by March. We still have lots of development, testing and certification to do. While we know that people want this product NOW, we don't want to release a<BR>sub-standard product.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- I don't see any speed pickups as part of the hardware, how is speed/distance measured?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>The base unit comes with a wired velocity sensor (like most cycling computers). We are working on a wireless velocity sensor too for a future option.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- Are additional 3rd party ANT devices required for full functionality?</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>As a cycling computer and power meter, there is no need for any additional ANT devices. We will support other ANT devices as we build up our product portfolio including:</FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><BR>- ANT sport watches<BR>- ANT wireless velocity and cadence sensors<BR>- ANT Heart Rate Straps<BR>- ANT wireless computer dongles</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- My primary use is for mountain biking - do you think the algorithms will work for this case? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff>We believe that the product will work for MTB but we have not done any testing with MTB yet. It has all been road bike.</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- Is cadence measured via crank sensors or virtually (2 dead spots/revolution)? I can see a situation where descending on an MTB would throw the unit into chaos if cadence is virtual.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Cadence is measured "virtually" through the shoe computer. It is different that the "virtual" cadence from Shimano and "virtual cadence" from PowerTap. It does rely on the force curve measurements but is not implied from velocity and gear (like Shimano). It is also more reliable than the torque based measurements from PowerTap that had reliability issues at low and high<BR>cadences.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- Can ride files be downloaded from the CPU to a computer?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>We will be offering a download kit as a separate option. We will bundle the Cycling Peaks software for download and analysis. The interface to REVOLUTION will be wireless from your computer so you can just park your bike and the computer will grab the data! The bundle will include the wireless dongle (it looks like USB memory stick)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#ff0000>- What is the max file size? Record interval?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>This is still in development. The max file size will probably be 1Mbit. We will have multiple recording intervals from 1.6s to 15s. At the highest sampling rate of 1.6s, you will be able to store approx 3-4hr of ride data.<BR></FONT></P></FONT></FONT><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1939" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSomeone's listening!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19212006-10-06T12:03:00Z<P><A href="http://www.interbike.com/">Interbike</A> is always interesting with all the forward-thinking cycling minds converging in the Nevada desert. Such a bikefest, yet I've never been there....hmmmm....</P>
<P>Anyway - my ear is always to the ground listening for the latest and greatest from the cycling industry. I must admit that power meters are an area where I'm most interested. The physiological side of cycling (and maximizing it) is king in my book, and for cycling, there is no better tool than a power meter to guide one's training and performance analysis.</P>
<P>The flip side of power meters is complexity. Generally speaking, they are a pain the ass for mountain bikers. We are faced with the dilemna of "which bike" to set up with power, the MTB or road bike? I have 8 bikes now, not just two - some 26" mtbs, a 29er mtb, and a couple of road bikes. Some of the mtbs are disc brake only in the rear, meaning the PT is a no go - and I've already got 3 of them. Then add the hassle of keeping the wiring harnesses working on the bikes that will accept the PT and it gets even worse...Getting the picture? PITA.</P>
<P>Enter <A href="http://www.microsporttech.com/index.php">MicroSport Technologies</A>. They've come up with a perfect solution to my nightmare - they've been listening! For a number of years I've periodically tossed out the notion that it would be great if some enterprising inventor would develop a power meter based on either force actuated pedals or shoe insoles. Now I have no clue if MicroSport actually heard my ramblings, but hey, they've gone and done the latter, the magic slippers of power meters. </P>
<P>It's a very simple system: force measuring insoles; a 2.4 GHz wireless transmitter that clips to the shoe; bike computer. I'd assume there is also a speed sensor in there somewhere, but it doesn't appear to be listed. The product literature does say that it is compatible with 2.4 GHz ANT compatible hardware/sensors - the Polar comes to mind there, but cross-manufacturer compatibility? </P>
<P>They did a bit of homework to figure out the forces a rider puts on the pedals in 3 different modes - seated, low cadence seated, and standing. Below is a graphic representation of how the results of one of these cases might appear. The dotted line represents the crank, the straight line at the end is the pedal orientation, and the arrow shows the direction the force is applied while the length indicates the relative magnitued. </P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.microsporttech.com/images/clock.gif"></P>
<P>This is key to the design since the normal force at the pedal is required to calculate power. Supposedly the algorithm can detect when the rider is in any of the 3 positions and uses that specific known relationship.</P>
<P>The end result? They claim +\- 5% accuracy, and +\- 2% repeatability. It's completely electronic - no hubs or bbs to wear out, no equipment changes, and works in any condition (completely wireless).</P>
<P>Cost? Well...pre-order now and it's $500. I have...and no, I have zero affiliation with these folks. But this is the coolest thing to come out of interbike in a long time. It's not a novel *idea*, but to implement and market it - I am so impressed, and pretty excited too. It would mean the end of TSS estimation and will probably be the lightest PM on the market to boot.</P>
<P>On the flip side, the wattage listers poo poo'd it pretty hard, mostly because when sprinting you do lift up on the pedals, and this upward force can't be measured by this system. If you want hard numbers for sprint workouts, thats a good reason to go with the other PMs...but for me? I only sprint out of the saddle when chased by dogs.</P>
<P>They are not yet ready to ship the units, but when they do, I'll give it a thorough testing, comparing with the power tap ala Robert Chungs Rosetta Stone files and post findings here. Until then I'll just keep swapping out my wheels ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1921" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTaperin'tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:19112006-10-05T13:46:00Z<P>So when you've been riding 20-30 hours/week for a while, what constitutes a taper? Good question...</P>
<P>A "taper" is really better termed as a peak. There are few universal practices among coaches. One of the few might be that to bring on a peak, volume is reduced while intensity is at least maintained and perhaps increased. So, after a few days recovery after the KTR effort, I figured I'd try raising the intensity a bit for a few days and see what happens...what better way than a XC race?</P>
<P>The Road Apple Rally is Saturday in Farmington, NM. It's the longest running MTB race in the world, and being close to Durango draws a stacked field. Ned is a perennial winner, and I'd look for Travis Brown to do some damage there too since he's a local boy these days. He will almost certainly be on his SS 69er. Let's not forget our team boyz too - Brent is always strong there, as is his rippin' pop Ralph. Miles has been riding well lately do from what I hear on the grapevine...if Fergy is recovered from the all the hammering he's been doing he'll be crushing it too.</P>
<P>It's been a few years since I've ridden down there, but I thought I'd give it a go this year. The best race I've had down there was on a hardtail, and I have had the same frame hanging in my garage for a few years now. With all the spare time on my hands lately, it is now a complete bike, a Road Apple Machine, 22 lbs of snappy hardtail. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1910.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1910/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>But alas...the monkey wrench. Rain. The Road Apple is downright unrideable in the wet, elevator gumbo clay. The forecast is wet, wet, and wetter. Count me out if it's looking like a mud race.</P>
<P>Besides, I haven't ridden less than 12 hours in each of the past 4 weekends...a 2 hour race is a bit of a drastic taper, wouldn't ya say?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1911" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKTR v2.0: a record ridetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18952006-10-01T23:00:00Z<P>Yesterday was the last big ride of my Moab build. I was looking for a 12 hour ride, and after last weekends apparent form on the White Rim with the Pocket Rocket, why not give the Kokopelli trail another go? I was thinking that with a lot of luck 12.5 hours was within reach. That course is such a bear...but I came close. Without further ado, here's the new mark on the Kokopelli Trail as a solo, unsupported effort:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1894.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1894/200x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I've uploaded the ride file <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/entry1890.aspx">here</A>. As always, it's in WKO+ (aka Cyclingpeaks, ya know, the software used by T-Mobile for season planning in '07). I was riding the new Yeti which is disc brakes only - so the file doesn't have power, it's speed/hr/distance/time only.</P>
<P>I followed the same set of rules we used for the May KTR event - basically that of self-sufficiency, carry what you need, accept no outside assistence, no water/food drops, no drafting other riders. In a sense, this was an even more pure event as it was done solo.<BR>--------------------------------------</P>
<P>As it was for the other 55 competitors to do the Kokopelli trail in May, KTR loomed large for me for months. All the planning, the preparation, the anticipation - it was all so juicy; the highlight of my early season. It also meant that I've done all the legwork into putting together a good KTR ride, so all that obsession wasn't required this time around. Simply make a few tweaks to the plan based on how the May event turned out and go giver' the gas. Those tweaks were:</P>
<P>- a new filter for the water filter. The dang thing failed on me in the May event. It worked great yesterday.</P>
<P>- an easier start. Initial pace is a delicate balance in this event because the first 2:45 are uphill with perhaps 5,000' of climbing. Go too hard and you'll pay dearly later in the day...go to easy and you won't make that time up.</P>
<P>- travel lighter. I packed enough food for a week last time and finished with prolly 6 lbs of food in my pack. I was going to finish in 13 hours or shortcut the end, so either way I didn't need that much food.</P>
<P>- take in more calories in the first 6 hours! I totally blew this in May...in part because I was going so freaking hard for the first 6 hours. It's hard to eat when you're gasping for air.</P>
<P>Here's the bike setup:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1893.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1893/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The bike worked great, for the most part. It felt much faster on the climbs than the Dos, and it was downright comfy for the long haul. It really inspired confidence on the fast descents. The only downside is the Fox rear shock blew last week so I put on a Cane Creek cloud nine I had. Great shock if you like bob and lack of adjustability...I can't wait to ride this steed with a decent rear shock. Some details you'll see if you blow the image up full res...a goofy looking custom light on the bars. This is my most recent, as yet unblogged K2 bar design complete with bitchin cooling fins. The battery is tucked away in the 2nd saddlebag under the saddle. It worked flawlessly, turning the night into day. 2nd spare tube on the downtube attached with Dicky's favorite method: duck tape with tabs. PT pickup; the power tap pro was used in computer only mode. North Face pack, courtesy of Boris in '05 for registering for all 3 E100 events. It's a great pack; for whatever reason, I just can't use a Wingnut. Weight down low kills my lower back. In the pack I had a water filter, food, 100oz fluids, and another water bottle. Total capacity was 150 oz. It was warm for my 5am start, so arm/leg warmers was all I needed. I also had my new (previously blogged) helmet mount K2 light. Way more light than I needed because the sun rose before the descending began, but hey, it was another testing session. That's it. Light and simple.</P>
<P>Friday, the day before the ride, it dawns on me about 12:30 pm that I haven't started packing yet and it took months for v1.0 and slight panic sets in. It's only a training ride, right? Ha! Anna had volunteered to go with me on the trip - do a hike in Moab after I started, then drive to Fruita to pick up the remains. So off we go at the crack of 6pm. We were both beat and didn't make it past Monticello. </P>
<P>2am Saturday I was more than wide awake, I was wired. It was game time. I always look forward to the last big ride of a build for long events, they are a special beast in my mind. It is the time when it all comes together, and is always an indication of how well the block has progressed. 3 hours later we're in Slickrock parking lot, ready to rock. Anna is amazed at all the stars in the sky; I'm amazed at all the light my two systems are throwing. "Look at all the stars!" "Look at my lights!" It went back and forth like that a bit, then I gave up. Off into the night I roll...this time alone and without the full moon.</P>
<P>So what do you think about when you head out for something really, really big? I could wax philosophical here a bit...but the truth is in my mind I'm going over my checklist: when to eat, how much, where to filter, pacing goals, contingency plans (gotta be flexible) - all the little details. Once I got that all worked into the seams of my conciousness, it was time to unleash the mp3 and let it do its magical PE lowering trick.</P>
<P>At about the 2 hour mark I hit the first bit of pavement. It wasn't quite light yet, but there was plenty of "seeing" light. The vistas below made me gasp; the La Sals were covered with deep snow, and the aspens were in full fall regalia. There was a little snow in shady spots left over from last weekends snowstorm. This was a magical part of the ride, when vistas were huge, both mountain and desert, and I was patting myself on the back for the decision to start later this time. Starting at midnight, you miss all the high mountain scenery; starting at 5am the ride is literally a "mountains to desert" experience.</P>
<P>The top of the paved climb was going to be a good benchmark for how my pacing was going. PE was pretty low initially, so I expected to be maybe 10 minutes behind the pace of May, but was surprised to hit the the top only about 1.5 minutes behind the May pace. I was also using a HR monitor to keep myself honest. It was going to be a good day. Rolling over the top of the La Sals, it was time to switch the clear glasses for the shades. The sun was up now and right in my eyes at times. But wow! The views from up there were mind boggling. Sunrise in the deserts below is a scene I won't soon forget.</P>
<P>The first 2 times I've ridden this section I've felt great on the Beaver mesa descent, but I was starting to feel really flat. Then there's that short steep climb just before you pop into Fisher valley (I call that the 4 hour climb), and that thing had me seeing stars. PE was through the roof; this was the toughest part of the day. Inner demons were lurking. Was I going to have to enact the cell phone contingency plan? I had to stop and eat a bit, collect some wits, and carry on. </P>
<P>By Rose Garden hill I was back on top, feeling great. Hike-a-bike is something I really dislike, but I've done a lot of it lately and seemed to fly up that thing with ease. Suddenly PE dropped out of sight and the legs were snappy as could be. This is a phenomena I've come to recognize as a sign of really high CTL - taking a long time to open up. Usually it's not 4 hours...but I don't typically start big rides when I'm already at record CTL either; The techy stuff to Dewey bridge seemed easy and went by quickly. A quick check of the water supply revealed I had plenty to stick to the McGraw filtering plan. </P>
<P>I was really feeling good now, wow! The yellow jacket section went by in just over an hour, and a few minutes later I was at McGraw draw. Time to filter. It had to go quick - in May the filter fiasco took so long I completely shut down afterwards. The filter improvements worked a charm and I was outta there in good time. Quick chainlube, a mix of some Drip/eFuel, eat some solid stuff, drink an extra water bottle while doing it all, carry on. The singletrack alongside the river was totally overgrown with tamarisk...and the late summer storms had made the following section quite nasty with erosion ruts & big rocks/boulders. In fact, much of the course was a lot rougher than in May - but in general the sand was less, so I figured it was a wash.</P>
<P>After a few short climbs, it's on to the pavement near Cisco. From here to Westwater it was all about the steady, fast pace. My tire selection was partly based on the fater parts of the course - a tubeless fastrak on the rear for low RR on the flats, and a big (but light) Conti 2.3 on the front for the sandy parts. Power was still great and in fact the section from Mcgraw to WW took only 1:23! I had visions of a sub 12 hour time for awhile, but as the heat of the day set in, my stomach turned south and calorie intake was getting much reduced. Oh well. By McGraw (at t=6:56) I had already taken in 2600 calories and that certainly saved my bacon in the afternoon heat. After awhile, all I could think of was Salt creek. My head was baking, and a big cooldown was needed before that final techy bit of singletrack and hike-a-bike. Knowing how long that final 11 miles takes, stopping meant I wouldn't make my 12.5 hour goal...but something about that creek, that heavenly cool goodness at just the right place, it calls to me and I am powerless over it's beckon. So in I go, water filter in hand, and filter a couple bottles for good measure as I sit neck deep. Made sure to remove all electronics this time around - in May I torched my camera in the creek. </P>
<P>I spent something over 10 minutes at the creek and was almost cold when heading up the mostly hike-a-bike stuff. Like RGH, the hikes went fast and easy. It wasn't the deathmarch of before. As the singletrack became more rideable, it was quite fun this time. The canyon walls were putting parts of the trail in the shadows by now, the coolness was awesome. There were a lot of folks out there riding (it was a saturday afternoon afterall) and were giving me some strange looks with the funky light system still on the bars.</P>
<P>Finally, that last little hill came into view. I looked at my watch and seeing 12:38 made me smile. Much to my relief, Anna was there with chocolate milk in hand, icewater, and a soft seated truck. (note to self: riding in wet chammys is way bad for the butt).</P>
<P>Some interesting stats: ride time was about 11.5 hours. That means I spent about 1:11 on hike-a-bike, water filtering, and pee stops. The later was happening at an alarming frequency the first 6 hours...dang was I ever hydrated. Post ride CTL is 158. Pre-ride TSB was -10, about as high as it's been for 3 weeks.</P>
<P>Those are some downright silly numbers, even for my standards. After last weekends white rim binge I knew I wan't ready to taper yet...but today? Yea, I'm ready ;)</P>
<P>It's been a helluva season, and there's only one thing that could make it any better. Time to let that taper work it's magic.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1895" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKTR v2.0tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18822006-09-28T14:27:00Z<P>The KTR in May was an incredible experience. With so much time to plan, to obsess the details, and even to pre-ride, the pre-event anticipation was huge. Meeting a group of 56 enduro nut jobs under a full (fool?) moon at midnight was off the charts cool.</P>
<P>This time around, it's a solo affair (that is, unless someone cares to join in on the fun - I'll leave slickrock parking lot between 4-5am on Saturday). The plan just sprouted wings a couple days ago, so the obsessing has only just begun...it's really just a key training ride this time anyway, and it isn't new. It is a toughy though.</P>
<P>Just like the May event, I'll be testing a new light system. In May I had 2 new systems, one of which failed and was nothing more than a weighty PITA for 142 miles. The new light systems are really made for 24 hour events, not so much for KTR. For a KTR type effort, I'd favor a lightweight system without the high-power requirements of high speed/tech 24 hour races, especially for this time around since (hopefully) the only darkness will occur on the initial climbs. But hey, gotta test the goods...</P>
<P>Luxeon makes the LEDs I've been using, and they came out with a new K2 model recently. They are bright, putting out 100 lumens each at 1000mA (which compares to 80 lm for the LuxIIIs). They can be pushed at 1500mA supplying 120 lumens, but if you do the math you'll see that isn't nearly as efficient as running at 1000mA. They also have a new optic made especially for the K2, probably since it has a squared off base rather than a round base. <A href="http://www.ledsupply.com/">www.ledsupply.com</A> sells them built into ready to solder stars, same form factor as the LuxIII/LuxV stars. The new optics have a tight 3 degree spot with a bit of wider spill. It isn't as clean as a reflector, but using some snap on diffusers the beam can be altered to 6, 12, or 25 degrees in an instant. Makes for some easy testing.</P>
<P>Here's the first K2 light build. It is using one reflector and 2 x 5 degree optics of the older LuxIII/V variety. Matched with a 4800Ah 14.8 V LiOn battery from <A href="http://www.batteryspace.com/">www.batteryspace.com</A> provides a bit over 5 hours of very bright light and weighs in at ~500g. Not too shabby compared to my Nite Rider HID that weighs in at just under 1000g and runs for 4 hours.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1881.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1881/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>On the nutrition end of things, I've really taken to the Drip lately. A mix of 4:1 drip and eFuel providing 300 cal/bottle has been the BOMB lately. KTR will surely provide the acid test for the mix...</P>
<P><A href="http://health-fx.net/store/product.php?productid=16144&cat=255&page=1"><IMG src="http://health-fx.net/store/image.php?productid=16144"></A> + <A href="http://www.cranksports.com/"><IMG src="http://www.cranksports.com/images/eFuel-torn-2.gif"></A> = crack, oh sweet crack.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Did I mention the new bike?</P>
<P> </P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.yeticycles.com/Bikes/BikesMedia/BikesMediaASR/ASRMedAngBlk.jpg"></P>
<P>Talk about nutjobs. New nutrition plan, new bike, new lights - anything static is dead.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1882" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBack from the deadtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18792006-09-27T15:26:00Z<P>Dead silence, that is. As I seem to recall, the last thing I wrote on this blog was "damn I love September". About 2 days later I got slammed by the other job (the one that pays the bills)...and since I don't have <A href="http://ridewithnickmartin.blogspot.com/2006/09/youve-had-too-much-to-think.html">Martini's</A> "check engine light" syndrome, with Moab looming that means an even more extreme bi-modal existence that usual. Working and riding become the two primary activities, all else takes a backseat (or is chucked out the window, actually). Even sleep becomes minimal.</P>
<P>That other life I lead is feast or famine, and suddenly it's famine time, leaving time to play catch-up on things that didn't make it out of the window. This blog, for instance, in case anyone is still checking :) Thanks for the emails of concern, BTW.</P>
<P>In training land, things are going great. OK, beyond great. A big CTL dump (aka rest) following the E100 left me with a lot of training reserves and I've been squandering the power like it's free. Specific training mid-week and big riding on the weekends is the typical fare. A few weeks back one of the rides was a road cruise to Mesa Verde. I'd never been beyond the tunnel (about 4 miles into the park), but beyond the tunnel lies tons of great climbing, fun roads, and well, some bitchin' archealogy as well. Great riding if you ever get the chance. Just know ahead of time there's a tunnel of about 1/4 mile. It's straight so you can see the light at the end...you just can't see the road beneath you. Cool stuff.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1875.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1875/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I wasted no time getting back to the Utah desert. Those that know me wonder why I live in Colorado because it seems I'm drawn to Utah spring, summer and fall. There could be a move in my future...but that is another story! Anyway, the following weekend was a camping affair in Canyonlands. After a breakfast to this sunrise, the day held a quick trip around the White Rim, one of my favorites.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1876.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1876/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>But wait...there's more! This past weekend the <A href="http://lwcoaching.com/">Pocket Rocket </A>(the <EM>real one</EM>) & I met in Canyonlands for what was originally going to be a day on the Moab course pre-riding, a day on the first half of the KTR route, then a White Rim day. Ma nature had other plans for us though. The beginning of the weekend saw some nutty cold weather for September - we even had a few inches of snow where we camped. The KTR plans were nixed as the route goes over 8,500 a couple of times - it was pure white up there. Of course it turned out for the better - we did back to back White Rim days and was it ever awesome. Perfect weather and there was water everywhere as all the potholes were full. </P>
<P>Lynda is flying. Her combined times for the back to back white rims was something under 16 hours, and that's just silly. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1878.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1878/383x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The past weekend put my CTL at an all-time high of 150, a mark I've yet to hit. Funny thing though, there's more to give. A lot more - yes, this is a manic confession. Now that I've suddenly got a ton of time on my hands, I'm going to do one more big push this weekend (prolly Saturday) with an assault on the Kokopelli trail. Between a couple blunders and bad luck on my ride there in May, it left me wanting to do it better. It really falls in with my final long ride theory leading to a 24 as well.</P>
<P>One other thing the KTR weekend will do is some serious bike melding. You see, I'm making the Yeti ASR the primary race bike for Moab, thanks to some huge support from Kong and Andy at Desert Cyclery in St. George, Utah. They totally rock, which is yet another story...but anyway, the Yeti has received well over 300 miles of abuse in the last 5 days and it wants a bit more. It climbs like a scalded duck and descends like no other bike I've ridden, and I'm pretty amped about that!</P>
<P>The old and the new come face to face:</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1877.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1877/400x266.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1879" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMoab by way of Durangotag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18512006-09-04T19:40:00Z<P>September is quite possibly one of the finest months in SW Colorado - certainly one of my favorite times of the riding season. The main season has come to a close, the monsoons have loosened their grip, and the mornings are cool and crisp. Before sunrise, the stars are big and bright, twinkling with the day's potential.</P>
<P>Since the racing season is more or less done, that gives plenty of time to focus on the next big event, the 24 hours of Moab. Durango has got all the goods with which to assist the Moab prep.</P>
<P>Training partners: who <EM>doesn't </EM>race bikes in Durango? Fergy is always up for some action in the passes. Yesterday we got the Moab plan off the ground with a ride from Durango to Ouray.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1850.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1850/200x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>We weren't the only ones up there. These folks were in the midst of a <EM>death ride, </EM>but with a bob trailer. FYI, the death ride is the loop going through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgeway, Telluride, Dolores. Check it on a map, 3D if ya got it - it's appropiately named.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1846.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1846/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>'twas a great day in mountains. Clear and cool with just a hint of fall in spots.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1848.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1848/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Terrain you ask? Ledges and sand make up the techy sections at Moab, and we've got plenty around here. Then again, Moab is only 2.5 hours from here - daytrips are feasible.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1847.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1847/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Of course, everyone knows the best training for a course like Moab happens on the road. We've got our share of those too in a wide range of elevations to choose from. Decisions, decisions!</P>
<P>In lighting news, Luxeon has come out with a new LED, the K2, since I last put my projects together. They put out as much as 50% more lumens for a similar power expenditure. This can only mean better lights, so looks like it's back to the drawing board. The fall is a great time to play with light systems. I'll standardize the battery system so that I only need to change once in the night, and still keep system weight, including a battery, a smidge over a pound.</P>
<P>In bike news - a new one is on the way. Look forward to some pics, and probably a surprise as well...new frames these days are disc only, which means no PT compatibility. The new steed is going to get disgraced with a Polar power meter for the next month. What can I say? A geek must have his/her data :)</P>
<P>One thing is certain. Moab is approaching. Having raced it 7 times, I've got a lot to draw from experience-wise. However, nothing is static - if it is, it's dead. So, there are just a few things to improve on from last years event. Despite a few notable events in the last 2 months, training stress is quite low right now and I'm chomping to get started. </P>
<P>Damn I love September.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1851" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe E100, 2006tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18382006-08-29T12:58:00Z<P>I love the sensation hair-free legs impart. Gasp if you must but try as I might, there is no way to honestly deny the simple fact that hairy legs slow me down. It's a proven fact, and I'll supply the power meter analysis as evidence to those in disbelief. On the flip side, shaving is a pain in the ass, and I rarely take the time to do it. This year it happened 3 times since I found the perfect place & time to do it: cruising I-40 at 80 mph between Crescent Jct and US 6. It's all about cruise control and the electric razor. It really does seem to blow the mind of passing truckers though and I gotta get a CB radio to hear the chatter...</P>
<P>The thing I'll likely remember most about the '06 season, other than TransRockies, is the revelation of highway shaving. It sure helps pass the time on the long haul to Park City from Durango, a route I've done 6 times in 2 seasons.</P>
<P>----------------------------------------------------------------</P>
<P>One of my season objectives was to repeat the E100 series overall win. Once again, the 12 hour race was a great event for me - and the competition was a lot tougher this year. The 50 miler went pretty well too, so coming into the 100 miler it looked like I just needed to have a respectable ride to cinch the series. Well, I was looking for more than a respectable ride. In the same vein as the final day at TransRockies, I didn't want to end the '06 series with a wimper - I wanted to end it on a strong note. Given that Lynda & I put down huge efforts at TR, our power training analysis tools told us we could be in for some impressive riding. In the short opener ride the day before the race, I couldn't even feel my legs, PE was that low. It was going to be a good day.</P>
<P>Then the rains came. It rained hard at the pre-race meeting, then it rained most of the night. Loading my bike on the truck at 5:15 am to head to the start, I see that my front brake pads are getting thin - much too thin for a mud race. Decision time: change the pads or leave'em? I chose to change them, and it's all downhill from there...</P>
<P>From this point forward, an endless cascade of stupidity proceeded, the full details of which would sound more like whining - and nobody likes a whiner. The reader's digest version is this: I missed the start (changing brake pads), made it up to the top 20, had a major mechanical (related to my poor decision to change the brake pads, and the "repair" was impossible leaving me with screeching rubbing pads the rest of the day) that put me at least 5 min behind DFL, then worked back up to the top 20 in the singletrack sections of stage 1. Just to make sure I didn't get cocky, the powers that be put a hole in my rear tire on stage 2.</P>
<P>My plan was a moderate start, like most folks had in mind I'm sure...but that plan went out the window and the new plan became "go till ya blow". TransRockies fitness would carry me through, right? To a point, yes...in stage 1 I learned how many matches I have and what it feels like to race another 80 miles of tech singletrack after burning them all up. 3 days later I'm still sore - that's a longer recovery than I need after a 24 hour event!</P>
<P>So...that's the hard part. There were some highlights:</P>
<P>- Riding with Lynda for part of stage 2, ripping some sections and passing several riders.</P>
<P>- Riding with Marko a bit on stage 1.</P>
<P>- Having an MP3 player to mask the screeching brake noise (although the battery died on stage 4).</P>
<P>- The views from stage 4. The bowhunter trail was very "rustic" with sweeping views 3-4k feet below. It snowed up there too!</P>
<P>- Seeing Kenny Jones rip his 29er SS on stage 5. Wow. He's a different rider this year. His power at the 10 hour mark left a big impression. Maybe my screeching brakes were too much for him to bear?</P>
<P>- Seeing how strong an on-form Monique Sawicki can be!!! Impressive.</P>
<P>- Spending time with Epic Adam & Team Dicky, aka Mr. "meat and sugar." </P>
<P>- Not getting lost</P>
<P>- Finishing.</P>
<P>So there you have it. It isn't pretty, it wasn't the result I was looking for and I made more mistakes than when I raced beginner. Often times being that on-form is too hot to handle for me, for whatever reason, but where sound reason is lacking I make up for it in dogged determination. In the grand scheme of things, the finish (5th overall, 4th guy, 1st dipshit) was good enough to cinch the series by a decent margin. However mousy it appears in the results, at the end of that day I felt like a lion.</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1837.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1837/235x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1838" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveE100 previewtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18262006-08-24T12:52:00Z<P>The Park City Endurance 100 mile race is this Saturday, Aug 26. This is quite possibly the finest (and hardest) one day MTB event on the planet. Roughly 95% singletrack, never highly technical, but never non-technical either - riders are continually paying attention or paying the consequences. Fueling it tough on this course. It's got over 18,000 feet of climbing. It occurs mostly between 7,000 and 9,200 feet. Yep, it's a good'n.</P>
<P>This year the race has some extra status: it's the final stop of the <A href="http://www.warriorscycling.com/events/rmu.php">Rocky Mountain Ultra </A>series, it's the 5th stop of the <A href="http://www.usmtb100.com/MX/">National Ultra MTB series</A>, and it's the final event of the <A href="http://thee100.com/">E100</A> series. There are going to be some fast riders coming from all over to snag those points for the various series. </P>
<P>On the mens side, Thane Wright and Kip Biese are among the guys vying for top honors in the RMU series (and Kip may have his eye on the national series as well); singlespeeders Dan Jansen and <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/">Rich Dillon </A>are in the national series hunt (and if Kenny Jones and Florida Rich show up they will have their hands full), and yours truly has set a goal to wrap the E100 series overall. It doesn't look like Tinker will make it this year. I don't think he's raced since RAAM - and who could blame him for that!</P>
<P>The womens field looks strong as well. The riders I'm aware of include Monique Sawicki (that's really cool!!!), Hillary Harrison from Whistler, CA - she was very strong at TransRockies - and of course that crack head LyndaW.</P>
<P>There will also be many riders who hope to complete the event - no small task. The 6am start has us in the dark for 20-30 minutes, and leaving the last aid after 5pm requires lights - that will likely happen to more than half the field if history repeats itself. It's a massive undertaking and requires your 'A' game simply to finish...respect to all those who have prepared and will line up Sat morning.</P>
<P>Am I ready? I thnk so, but I'm really in uncharted territory. It'll either be a PB performance, or I'll go down in flames... TR was a 2000 TSS week, and since then I haven't done much, so TSB is high. But I'll shut up now and let the legs do the talking.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1826" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTransRockies in pictures, days 1-4tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18182006-08-23T10:59:00Z<P>There were (at least) two professional photographers at TransRockies. Each evening we were treated to slideshows of their (& our) day's work, a big highlight I came to appreciate more and more as my head got lower and lower ;) Many of the shots captured by Dan Hudson have been made available so I've linked to a few of them in this post. Dan has a keen eye - his shots were often breathtaking. I've talked enough about TR, now how about some pics? </P>
<P>You can see all the photos at <A href="http://www.transrockies.com/media/photos.html">http://www.transrockies.com/media/photos.html</A>.</P>
<P><STRONG>Day 1</STRONG></P>
<P>"First woman!" Note the super low body position - that means that dude behind her is about to get dropped, and hard.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage1/tr06_stage1/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%201%231338BD.jpg"></P>
<P>Lou Kobin is one tough lady. Hard to the core.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage1/tr06_stage1/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%201%231338BE.jpg"></P>
<P>Killer singletrack all day. This part wasn't really rideable by mere mortals. These two guys demonstrate...</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage1/tr06_stage1/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%201%231338C9.jpg"></P>
<P>We ate like royalty the entire trip, thanks to volunteers in each host location.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage1/tr06_stage1/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%201%231338CE.jpg"></P>
<P><STRONG>Day 2</STRONG></P>
<P>The day started with a massive climb to the continental divide, average grade 12%. Here's Seamus and Dre Hestler coming over the top in 3rd (but wearing yellow).</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage2/tr06_stage2/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%202%231338D2.jpg"></P>
<P>Crowsnest peak and lake. We were working really hard through here & it was hot. The lake was pulling oh so hard...</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage2/tr06_stage2/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%202%231338DE.jpg"></P>
<P>Our Aussie friend Mike hit this bridge a bit too hot and stacked it good. He was unhurt, but someone elses race ended here.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage2/tr06_stage2/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%202%231338F1.jpg"></P>
<P>Vanessa, we miss you!</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage2/tr06_stage2/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%202%231338F5.jpg"></P>
<P><STRONG>Day 3</STRONG></P>
<P>Here we are on the start line. One day (day 2 or 3) I asked Lynda to look back from the startline - there were riders going back for a couple football field lengths or so. Yes, starting on the front makes a difference here.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage3/tr06_stage3/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%203%231338FD.jpg"></P>
<P>Racehorse pass was an epic climb to the continental divide once again. Dan sometimes shot from the helicopter.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage3/tr06_stage3/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%203%23133919.jpg"></P>
<P>Randy Iddings was uber fast. He'll be going up against Tilford at master's worlds in a couple weeks.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage3/tr06_stage3/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%203%23133927.jpg"></P>
<P>The singletrack at the end of the day took us to the edge of this waterfall. I heard, but never saw it - until the slideshow, that is.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage3/tr06_stage3/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%203%23133929.jpg"></P>
<P>BC riding is awesome.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage3/tr06_stage3/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%203%23133930.jpg"></P>
<P><STRONG>Day 4</STRONG></P>
<P>This must be Whiteswan Lake that we didn't see...</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage4/tr06_stage4/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%204%2313393D.jpg"></P>
<P>Almost everyone showed up with their crack buddy. Teamwork was ever present.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage4/tr06_stage4/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%204%23133943.jpg"></P>
<P>This creek was oh so refreshing, and this pic was a real hit with the crowd.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage4/tr06_stage4/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%204%23133956.jpg"></P>
<P>This tent was setup before we arrived. Night 4 was a remote camp in bear country.</P>
<P><IMG src="http://www.transrockies.com/media/2006_images/tr06_stage4/tr06_stage4/images/Dan%20Hudson%20-%20Stage%204%23133957.jpg"></P>
<P>More to come...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1818" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Durango MTB 100tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18132006-08-20T19:03:00Z<P>Meanwhile, back in reality (that'd be D-town silly) folks are getting amped for the <A href="http://www.gravityplay.com/MTB100/index2.htm">100 mile epic race </A>above Durango Mountain Resort next Saturday. This race is a toughy - not technically, but aerobically. It's got something over 18,000' of climbing and most of it is above 10k'. Yuk.</P>
<P>Yesterday I rode the first loop with <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/mitch/about.aspx">Mitch</A>. I gotta say I like my chances going up against Tinker next week in Park City over racing Mitch. Coming off of the Tour of Utah 2 weeks prior, Mitch is gonna light that course up. Yea, I know other big dogs are showing up - Cale, Miles, Greg to name a few - but it's Mitch's race to lose, it's a race for second.</P>
<P>Course conditions were pretty good. The singletack to the top is in much better shape this year, not the deep trench of last year. The old logging road turned singletrack from Relay Creek road to Graysil is mostly dry and fast. If the weather holds it'll go faster than last year. On the downside, a lot of the dirt roads are freshly graded and/or gravelled (read: slower). I think the event organizers are in cahootz with the SJNF road crews...that $500 bonus to the first rider to go under 9 hours is probably going to be safe for another year.</P>
<P>Since your head will be down and you might miss the views, here are a few.</P>
<P>The descent down the Cascade Divide road. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1810.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1810/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Top of the first loop on the CT.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1811.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1811/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Yea, nice views. Be sure to catch'm if the day is nice!</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1812.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1812/400x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1813" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe highest hightag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:18092006-08-20T18:23:00Z<P>In the yin and yang of things, the finest moments come on the heels of the most difficult of times. There is balance in the cosmos, and in racing, to experience the best requires some suffering.</P>
<P>Take for instance, Lynda's time on the singletrack section at the end of day 3 in TransRockies. That was one of her favorite moments in the event. Leading to that section was a stretch where, in her words, "we pinned it for the next 58 km to keep the lead to the finish." That is really an understatement. There were a bunch of rolling roads, some dirt, some paved. Since we knew a long day could be really good for us, I wasn't about to let up on this section. One particular part of this was 20km of slightly uphill dirt, it was hot, and there was a slight tailwind. There was no draft, there was no hint of relief from the heat, our heads were baking, yet I pushed on in silence. I knew Lynda was working really hard - but she dug deep and didn't complain. We passed strong men's teams in this section. We had been racing for close to 6 hours at this point. This big effort set the stage for lots of euphoria in that singletrack descent. </P>
<P>Fast forward to day 7. The previous 3 days had seen lots of difficult racing, and I'm sure I lost a pint of blood each day "bleeding through my eyeballs." On day 4 my energy levels were all over the map, day 5 I stacked it at speed on a bridge, and day 6 was the epic hike a bike day where a bad bought of tendonitis in my elbow made each lift of the bike excrutiating (and sometimes impossible). I was racing to the hilt, and feeling the effects. Sam Koerber of the 2nd placed GC team who won on day 6 was feeling strong and confident going into the final stage. We shared some good ol' fashioned rivalry on the podium and at dinner that night.</P>
<P>Lynda had already set her sights on this stage when she learned of its inverted "v" profile. It was a climbers delight, and since she set her sights on it, well I did the same. We always like to finish strong and this stage was perfect for us. </P>
<P>We didn't have to drill it. Going into day 7 we had a 42 min GC lead, and nothing short of us stopping for a picnic could have taken the overall from us on a short non-technical stage. But that wouldn't have settled quite right. You know how what's his name always had to drill the final TT in that French race 7 years running...I felt the same. Sam added to the motivation. </P>
<P>From the start we were flying. Everyone was. It was a mad dash to finish this brutal event. Everyone had fresh legs all of a sudden. As the climbing began, we were pinned, but we wouldn't back off. An hour later, we were still pinned - but as the climb steepened, we were getting stronger, not weaker. Lynda and I were riding as one, it seemed as though the week of riding had brought us to identical fitness levels. We had strong competition too - Hillary and Ryan were rocking the climb. When we took the lead for good, we laid it all down. Everything. Absolute. We were flying! Lynda was unstoppable, I was unstoppable. Heading up the final pitch to Paradise divide, I jumped up a few gears and got out of the saddle. All pain was gone, PE low. Abruptly, the summit was ours and spread out before us was a view to die for. 10,000' peaks freshly dusted with snow jutting up from the clouds *beneath* us. Absolutely breathtaking - and in fact, I couldn't breathe. With the sudden change from climbing to descending, full effort to coasting - asthma hit me sharp and hard. Next was a round of puking - and I've never ridden so hard to bring this reaction. Yep, it wasn't pretty - I had a jellyfish over my face too with a mucus explosion. What a mess. I don't think I had ever pushed that hard for that long before. But the real kicker was the tears. They were rolling down my face like the rains of the previous days. The beauty of it all, the harmony of teamwork, the absolute effort, the realization of a long term goal achieved - it had all hit me in an instant up there at the top of Paradise. I could barely see to negotiate the fast descent to the finish.</P>
<P>Rather personal, and I may kick myself for sharing this some time later. But I think it's important for anyone interested enough to read this. A question often asked by both endurance athletes and those confounded by our actions is "why?" I ask myself this from time to time. Up at the top of Paradise ridge, I had my answer. I may never need to ask myself why I do this again.<BR></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1809" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCrack Buddiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17992006-08-18T18:47:00Z<P>There are a lot of details that go into a good team format multi-day MTB performance, but the one that tops the charts is the choice of your partner. With this person, you will scheme, strategize & execute. You will help each other in times of need. You will see each other crack and get through it. You will see the best, and maybe the worst, but for sure you will see the "unfiltered" version. It'll get raw at times (you define "it" ;) If you are lucky, will also enjoy some white moments together...</P>
<P>With all these challenges a team will face together, ya gotta be tight. Not all the teams at TR were tight...of a few teams I had a glimpse into, one was formed at the last minuted due to a partner bailing on the other...and another team consisted of 2 guys with very different goals for the event. Neither team finished together, although one guy from each team rode the entire event and had a great time.</P>
<P>The endurance racing game, from my experience anyway, has been a solitary pursuit. There have been exceptions - a couple of team events at 24 hours of Moab come to mind (and it was those experiences that taught me I'm stronger and more motivated in a team environment than going solo - is that what roadies find attractive about their game?). In the past year, though, this game is taking on a decidedly different tone, one of teamwork and friendship. Last year after the Brianhead 100, Lynda and I both had good races. After looking at our respective split times, she figured we raced similarly and asked me if I'd be into doing TransRockies with her. "What's that?" "It's a multi day race in Canada" "OK, sure. Let's do it." I'm such a pushover!</P>
<P>Of course, I had my reservations, but they didn't last long. We started training together when possible, and had already been sharing training ideas freuently. It quickly became apparent we tended to have our best rides when riding together. So much so in fact, that we now refer to it as "crack". It's pretty much guaranteed that if we are riding together, were riding as though we are on crack. That there is what crack buddies are all about. Somebody who can help you achieve things you probably couldn't on your own. We have a significant impact on each others riding even for solo events, and chances are we've pre-ridden the course together anyway. We've got mojo and synergy. We are lucky and fortunate and I realize that every time we're on crack. </P>
<P>So, if you've got a crack buddy, give a shout out to him/her and say "hey, watcha doing next August?" and start thinking about your next optimal experience.</P>
<P>Here's a shout out to my crack buddy!</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1798.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1798/199x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1799" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveAnd then the geeks ruled the world...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17912006-08-17T20:45:00Z<P>It's a great time to be a geek and a cyclist. Your geekiness has been rewarded. </P>
<P>Think it's odd how Lynda and I went from nowhwere to the podium in the last couple of years? A large part of our success has to be attributed to training with power meters and the various tools available for data analysis & planning. The best of the bunch is the performance manager. I've been a beta tester for it (as a result of getting the ball rolling with a similar tool I developed, rolling TSS) since the idea sprung forth from Andrew Coggan's noggin and we've been learning how to make it hum ever since.</P>
<P>It is now available to all. Check out Hunter Allen's post here: <A href="http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/2006/08/performance-manager-comes-to-life-in.html">http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/2006/08/performance-manager-comes-to-life-in.html</A></P>
<P>That's the good news. </P>
<P>The bad news: if you don't know what I'm blabbering about, you are way behind the 8 ball friend. You have 3 choices: start studying, get a coach who understands it, or get left behind. </P>
<P>Competition is going up a few notches next year.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1791" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFantasy Islandtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17882006-08-17T14:09:00Z<P>While Lynda has done a great job of capturing the flow of the event, I'll be posting on some different aspects of TR. If you haven't seen her posts yet <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/lynda/">check'm out</A>!</P>
<P>Transrockies was made for folks like Lynda and I, and since you are reading this, probably you too. </P>
<P>It boggles my mind all the logistical details they work on a daily basis. Each day after the riders leave, there must have been some serious hustling going on. As we raced each day, they had to take care of breaking down and setting up 200+ tents, transporting, cleaning, and dumping 50 RVs, breaking down and setting up an extravagant start/finish area & relating timing equipment, transport a portable shower truck & bike wash setup, and in remote camps, a monstrous circus tent in which we all shared meals, awards presentations, slideshows, and video highlights of the days exploits.</P>
<P>6pm is when grub was served - but let's call it dinner, grub is too coarse a word for the typical TR fare. The TR organizers had tremendous support by each local community through which we passed. There's a hocky rink in every Canadian town, eh? This is where we usually had our dinner/breakfast and the big TR camp in a surrounding soccor field or similar. Local volunteers helped cook our dinners, and were up at 5am getting our breakfast ready. At each finish we were greeting by a local who presented us with some sort of welcome package - a really sweet hat at Nipika; a bag with a silver dollar, cookie, and local info at Blairmore. TR is the biggest thing to hit remote BC each summer, and the communities back the event 110 %.</P>
<P>Another example that knocks my socks off: can you imagine what would happen in the states if a bike race somehow adversely affected commercial production of any kind? Well, in BC TR organizers worked closely with a logging outfit so that they would not work the day we were to travel *their* PRIVATE roads. Damn, I felt like a king. Clear the way, coming through on my bike! So impressive. It simply added to the overwhelming positive vibe surrounding this event.</P>
<P>The after dinner entertainment was something we always looked forward to. For one, it started with the awards presentations and I'm happy to say we maximized our podium time at the event, ahem! The top 3 teams in each category were first recognized, after which the GC lead team from each category was brought to the stage and given new jerseys for the following day. After awards were a couple of slideshows followed by video of the day's ride. This was awesome and garnered a lot of cheers from the crowd, especially when gore or immenent gore were captured on film. These images were absolutely awesome - the photogs at the event are top notch all the way. It was great to see the country through which we had just passed too as it's hard to catch it all through 30 hours of rivet riding.</P>
<P>As for course design - I was taken aback at times by the difficulty of the terrain. Some of the descents were steeper than I think I've ridden in any race before. Day 1 there was a goat trail that looked *marginally* rideable at the top, but then really steepened about 100 yards later to a sphincter tightening pitch that was freaking hard to get down on foot. There was a "caution" sign at the top, and we decided right then and there "caution" in BC means GET OFF YOUR BIKE AND WALK FOOL! Not everyone made the same connection though, and for those riders' benefit was a helicopter that shadowed the race from start to finish, along with an extremely experienced, well staffed, well equiped (radios, motos, helicopters, coctails to keep those with broken bones smiling...) emergency response team. This MASH unit got a bit of work in the race, especially in the remote stages 4&5. As a new course this year, many of the long descents were not well traveled but contained some super nasty water bars & ditches. Broken bones were many.</P>
<P>As the race rolled on and our GC position improved daily, we got a bit more conservative each day, realizing one bad incident could spoil the experience. In general, that's probably a good way to approach this event...although if you're at the pointy end of the field it ain't gonna be easy.</P>
<P>Having so many details taken care of really allows riders to focus on their race and we never failed to appreciate this during the race. </P>
<P>The combination of off the charts course difficulty coupled with EMS onhand sends a clear message: the TransRockies organization has set a goal to provide a venue in which endurance junkies can test themselves to the hilt - and from more than simply a fitness perspective. As adults, we decide how much of that challenge to bite off...and Lynda & I turned out to have voracious appetites ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1788" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCanadian Cloud 9tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17612006-08-14T14:57:00Z<P>Has anyone seen the ground? I can't seem to find it. </P>
<P>TransRockies is a larger than life experience. Even during the event it was obvious an indelible mark was being imprinted on my psyche; it was a week without comparison and words can never explain the full impact. Yet, this is a blog, and since I took no pictures cause I was racing my ass off, the written word must suffice. Bear with me as I struggle to find firm footing...</P>
<P>The highs were many and came at us every day. The lows were few, but made their presence known a time or two. The competition was fierce. Our teamwork was unstoppable, our bag of tricks deep, our lucky charms endless. When all was said and done, we had won the open mixed field, winning 6 of 7 stages with just under 33 hours of racing. 15 podium appearances, 16 medals, 14 leader's jerseys, several new friends.</P>
<P>But that is simply the destination; the beauty is in the journey. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1761" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTake off to the Great White North!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17552006-08-03T00:56:00Z<P>Remember <A href="http://play.rhapsody.com/bobanddougmckenzie/greatwhitenorth/track-7">Bob and Doug McKenzie </A>from the 80's?</P>
<P> <IMG src="http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/419472_170x170.jpg"></P>
<P>I've had this silly song playing in my head for at least a week. Now it's playing for real.</P>
<P>It's game time. Lynda & I have done the training and are ready for an epic week of racing. What could be better?</P>
<P>I've set up a blogspot blog so we can podcast whenever we have cell reception. Not much there now except a few pics (since we won't be sending any from Canada), but hopefully we'll be able to make updates 4-5 of the 7 days of racing. Check it out here: <A href="http://teamhealthfxtransrockies.blogspot.com/">http://teamhealthfxtransrockies.blogspot.com/</A></P>
<P>Be sure to check out the <A href="http://www.durangoherald.com/">Durango Herald</A> on Friday - should be something about our <A href="http://www.transrockies.com/">TransRockies</A> bid and something about the team too...</P><IMG src="http://www.crankfernie.com/news/images/2004_10_05_01.jpg">
<P>See ya Aug 15!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1755" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveA samplingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:17442006-07-31T11:59:00Z<P>Adam Lisonbee wrote an exceptional bit regarding cycling heros. <A href="http://epicriding.blogspot.com/2006/07/to-everyman.html">Check it out</A>.</P>
<P>Respect to all that participated in 24 hour natz this past weekend. <A href="http://jeffkerkove.blogspot.com/2006/07/race-report-24-hr-norba-nationals.html">Conditions were herrendous</A>...Not surprisingly, Chris Eatough bagged the win in a race that was stopped at 5am due to tornados and such. </P>
<P>Almost makes me feel guilty about how cool yesterday's ride was. As long as I've been in D-town, there are still new trails to find...and found a new favorite. The descent on Engineer trail to the base of Coal Bank pass is 2600' of pure descending switchbacking bliss. Here's the full route (in red, the yellow is HWY 550): </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1743.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1743/397x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The weather held nicely, a perfect day in the high country. Typical views on this ride are like this:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1742.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1742/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>This was the final longish ride before TR. It's all about the taper the rest of the week.</P>
<P>New additions to the bike: Race Face rings and BB bearings (when in Rome...) and Ergon grips. When I pulled the old BB bearings out a good half cup of water dumped out. That's been there for about 3 weeks, no wonder it's been creaking. I've been told I have good bike karma ;) The Ergons were a huge surprise - they are going to be worth the additional weight. Lots of padding for the hands, super positive feeling on descents, and appears to eliminate some forearm issues. The Wingnut 2.5 was working perfectly as well. All systems are go, in just a few days it's off to the great white north.</P>
<P>Tick tock tick tock...tapping feet.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1744" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave24 hour natztag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16732006-07-28T14:57:00Z<P>Some live and nearly live updates for this weekends championship event:</P>
<P><A href="http://www.ridewithnickmartin.com">www.ridewithnickmartin.com</A> will have audio updates.</P>
<P><A href="http://www.eatough.ww.com/">http://www.eatough.ww.com/</A> will have a webcam pointed at Chris Eatough's pit. Should be educational. I haven't seen him in a 24 before, but hear he's about as organized and efficient as it gets, doing stuff like bringing a chest of drawers to worlds. Now the world will know.</P>
<P>Karl Etzel at <A href="http://www.ride424.com/">http://www.ride424.com/</A> is keenly interested in the event (duh!) and will post any info he has...</P>
<P>Ernesto Marenchin may be able to make updates to his blog at <A href="http://sologoat.blogspot.com/">http://sologoat.blogspot.com/</A>. He's already put some pics up - looks like a flat, fast, non-tech course. Bummer for him!</P>
<P>I'm all ears if you know of other live updates.</P>
<P>Enjoy!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1673" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBad Beer?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16682006-07-28T12:15:00Z<P>Cyclingnews has done their homework. Be sure to <A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=features/2006/landis_beer">read this article</A>. Hopeless idealist that I am, I choose to believe that amazing ride in the 17th stage was legit. Regardless, the media will render Floyd's reputation about as healthy as his hip in the next year.</P>
<P>Good recovery strategy for <A href="http://www.transrockies.com/">TR</A> (the beer & JD, I mean)??</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1668" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExciting times are heretag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16612006-07-26T15:05:00Z<P>Now that the <EM>other</EM> race is in the history books and a new cycling hero crowned...the collective energy of cyclists can once again return to more regional interests. Such as...</P>
<P><STRONG><A href="http://www.24-9.com/">24 hour natz </A>this weekend. </STRONG>Oooo, how's it gonna go down? There are the favorites Nat Ross and Eatough - history tells us they'll go out fast. But will it be too fast (again) in the sticky midwest heat? Nat's awesome RAAM ride seems to have been costly ever since, based on results. Is he full steam yet? How about Cameron - is he in? Haven't seen much of him this season. Gotta count Ernesto as a favorite as well, but of the smarter kind. He's not so likely to burn it up in the first daylight stint. Or is he??? Maybe he's got over the "second season expectations"...I know I have ;) If I was a betting man, the safe money is Eatough, but I look for <A href="http://jeffkerkove.blogspot.com/">Jeff Kerkove </A>to have a breakout performance. Best of luck to y'all, wish I was going to be there with you, but ...</P>
<P><STRONG><A href="http://www.transrockies.com/">TransRockies</A> is just around the bend. </STRONG>It's no secret Lynda & I have been training for the co-ed TransRockies 7 day stage race for some time. We get on that big jet plane in just over a week, there's an ever-present palpable excitement, sort of like waking up on Christmas morning as an 8 year-old. We are working out the logistics of what to take, equipment and what-not, but physically? We are so ready. We've put a laser beam focus on the prep and are ready to put our best effort forth. One of our not-so-secret weapons is Lynda. She has trained her ass off (literally) this year, and as a result some of her power numbers have reached world class level. She is redefining what female competitors can accomplish in the endurance world to the point that she must be considered a possibility for the overall, male or female, in any endurance event she enters. I've been training my butt off too, mostly so I can keep up with her! In any case, it is going to be an awesome week of riding through epic Canadian bear country.</P>
<P><STRONG>The </STRONG><A href="http://www.tourofutah.com/"><STRONG>Tour of Utah</STRONG></A> is happening the same week as transrockies, Aug 7-12. Check out the course maps - it looks to be the most exciting, mountain filled pro stage race in the US since the Coors Classic. Jeez, Utah already hosts the <A href="http://thee100.com/">best endurance events </A>in the country, now it's going to corner road racing too. Burke Swindlehurst will be racing it - a new link to his blog is over to the left (t-bird's roost) as is the link to Chris Fox's blog. Good stuff coming out of Utah, the land of the paradox.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1661" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePark City rehab racin'tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16572006-07-24T14:45:00Z<P>In Boris' E100 series everyone seems to be recovering from or dealing with some or another malady. Cancer, gall stones, muscle strains, diabetes...you name it, these races are all about the comeback trail. It's a different sort of series where strange things occur...for instance, since the inception of the 50 mile solo race, the first across the finish line has <EM>not</EM> been declared the winner...</P>
<P>3 years back <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/">this guy </A>was tearing up the semi-pro fields at nationals. I watched him lap the field on a solo attack in the short track event at the Durango finals, garnering the stars and stripes. Then he sort of dissappeared...apparently health problems hit him hard and he's been fighting his way back ever since. He's getting damn close. We rode together for nearly all of the first stage at the 50 mile event this weekend, and he really rides with some attitude. We stopped riding together when he missed a turn, bypassed the first checkpoint and missed a few miles and lots of climbing at the beginning of stage 2. You'll really want to <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/2006/07/pissed-off-and-ready-to-kick-some-ass.html">read</A> his <A href="http://bikehusla.blogspot.com/2006/07/ala-kloden.html">story</A> though - entertaining. As a bonus you can learn all about bile.</P>
<P>My race went pretty well. Considering the previous weekend's 100 miler in Crested Butte, it was a big success to have decent legs in PC this weekend, and a success I attribute in part to Coggan's training manager. It's tricky to do well the weekend following a hundy as I learned last year, but using the TM as a guide helped. I simply rode easy each day after the CB event, waiting for TSB to reach +20 before I started opening up for PC. Race TSB was +32 with 3 days of short openers and it worked pretty well. The only glitch was getting the first flat tire with a stans'd wheel since '03. That was a bummer, and especially so since the race was tight - the top 3 riders were all within 30 seconds of each other at this point, about 3 hours into the race. It took me 7 minutes to get rolling again - doh! Those 2 guys left me for the buzzards (which were looking hungry - there were about 50 in this aspen grove!).</P>
<P> <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1655.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1655/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I got a little carried away on a decent right after getting going and about ate an aspen while doing a nose wheelie - who says old dogs can't learn new tricks? In the end, the race was too close to lose 7 min, and although I had a strong finish, I came across third. </P>
<P>I just got a Garmin Edge 305 and used it for the race. All the gory details are up at Motionbased.com, just click the image below. GPS file, HR data, elevation, the works. One oddity though: Using GPS the course comes out at under 46 miles, but since I'm using the speed sensor with the unit, the average speed (as displayed in cyclingpeaks) x the duration = 50 miles spot on. Go figure...</P>
<P><A href="http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=1095654" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1653/400x236.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Highlights: meeting more riders out there as a result of this blog. Really cool...the awards ceremony was a hoot as well. There is a strange mix of event sponsors, Pharmanex and Budweiser. So Boris is raffling off a Budweiser tshirt and a bottle of Pharmanex "overdrive" and in his thick Russian accent tells us he wants us to have a good time tonight...OK, maybe ya had to be there...</P>
<P>Another highlight was hanging out with Adam all weekend. He had a great race too. Might have something to do with his consult with <A href="http://lwcoaching.com/">Lynda</A>??? </P>
<P>Park City continues to be one of my favorite areas to ride. I thought 3 trips to PC this summer might be over the top, but I'm already looking forward to the 100 miler. The riding is just that good...and it's a great place to rehab what ails ya ;)</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1654.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1654/281x375.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1657" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePhloyd!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16422006-07-20T20:13:00Z<P>Now that was one inspired ride. Not that he had a choice, but that he pulled it off with such panache...it isn't often I get emotional about such things - after all, champions are a dime a dozen in this town - but I nominate Floyd for national hero status. He better get a call from dubya!</P>
<P>Anyone notice that he kept his jersey zipped up for the duration, regardless how many gallons of sweat was pouring off his body? Holding 350-450 watts for hours on end produces a lot of heat... Given the amount of work he's done to dial in his TT position with power and wind tunnels, he's almost certainly trying to keep as aero as possible while off the front for 150 km.</P>
<P>Maybe Boris will postpone the E50 a day? Crap, I can't miss the TT fireworks just for a stinkin' bike race!</P>
<P>Floyd, here's to good legs on Saturday.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1642" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveScenes from the Crested Butte underground hundietag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16212006-07-17T12:28:00Z<P>In keeping with my ongoing work at creating a regional travelogue via the medium of mountain bike racing...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1619.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1619/500x232.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Crested Butte is where it all began for me. A magical mix of terrain, trails, views, and flowers are simply off the charts. So when I learned last summer of the "underground" 100 mile Crested Butte Classic the salivating began...but it just didn't fit in the plan last year. It didn't fit that well this year either, but hey, it's way better to regret things you have done than things you haven't, so off to CB I went Friday afternoon for the weekly fix.</P>
<P>I didn't intend to leave a mark at this event. It's one of those things I just had to do 'cause the riding is so good - but in order to have a semblance of form next weekend in Park City, slow & steady was the order of the day. The legs cooperated nicely with the plan as last weekend crackhead Lynda & I put in some big training & just for good measure I did some big intensity mid-week. I had nuthin up the first climb, missed a turn on the first descent, and added a few miles to the route for good measure. I would do that 2 more times before the day was done... </P>
<P>Dave & newly wed Chad promoted the event. Here's Dave giving us the rundown on course details and rules. On your honor, no entry fee, no waiver, no shit! If you were looking for competition, you'd be hard pressed to find a faster hundy crowd - or XC for that matter. This event drew 80+ riders and some with serious horsepower.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1617.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1617/251x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>A highlight was meeting several folks who I thought only existed in the ether, as well as being surprised by some friends of another lifetime. Dave Nice is back in action after his GDR misfortunes (his bike was stolen while he slept in Montana). He was rockin' the Surly Crosscheck, fixed gear and skinny tires. I have no clue how he could ride that bike on this course!!!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1618.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1618/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ed E sporting a sweet 29er. Helium filled and all, that bike can't be more than 20 lbs.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1615.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1615/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Jesse J, aka "Canadian Stick Boy" was glad he brought 2 bikes. His 6" travel bike's rear shock blew out as he sat on it. Not sure how cause he can't weight more that a buck thirty.</P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1611.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1611/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>There was a good bit of dirt road on the route - but it was welcome dirt road. The singletrack was plenty challenging, and the dirt roads were sometimes damn steep. Did I mention this course was all within the elevations of 8900' and 11,400'? I clocked about 12,000' of gain on the Garmin. Overall it's a lot easier than the E100, but some sections of the singletrack were much more challenging.</P>
<P>The views and the flowers were going off in fine form. Riders coming in from loops were wearing ear to ear grins.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1610.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1610/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I got to ride the L'Alpe-d'Huez climb with Fred M. He was rocking the SS 29er up that thing, not a clue how he got up that climb at such a low cadence. It's something over 2k' at an average grade of maybe 15% and tops out at about 11k. Burly. Fred was looking super tough and is planning on Montezuma in August. I think he'll have a good race there...</P>
<P>The final loop takes in the Dyke trail which I'd never seen. It starts out as a mostly semi-tech descent, super fun.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1616.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1616/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>After the fun part, it heads into deep aspen groves and throws a litany of short punchy climbs at you. Tons o' fun in the 8th hour. Just for good measure, the trail drops you out on the back side of Kebler pass, giving about 1,200' of climbing before the final descent. Tailwinds all the way up and down to town for the finale, just rippin.</P>
<P>I'm not exactly sure how the race shook out up front, except that Dave Weins was the first in at just under 8 hours. I came in at just over 9 hours in 10th, but more importantly, had a memory filled day of 100 miles of CB epic terrain & views.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1614.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1614/500x261.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Many thanks to Dave & Chad for organizing the event. If you haven't done this one yet, put on the calender for mid July next year. Primo.</P>
<P>---------------------------------------</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/category1047.aspx">More pics are here</A>.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/07/12/1596.aspx">Here's the dealio with comments.</A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1621" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHolding the edgetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:16012006-07-14T12:36:00Z<P>It's been awhile since I've gone into full-on geek mode, and if you disagree, hold on to your britches...</P>
<P>Those from the <A href="http://lists.topica.com/lists/wattage/read">wattage forum </A>already know that I'm a beta tester of Dr. Andrew Coggan's latest creation, the Training Manager (TM). This came about as a result of putting his TSS concepts to use in a rolling TSS Excel spreadsheet within a month or two of his TSS release. The rolling averages over time proved to be a great way to manage training volume and the concept received a lot of interest on the forum. Some time later, Andy came out with the TM and shot a copy of his spreadsheet my way. It became immediately apparent the rolling averages had just become obsolete...</P>
<P>If you're not sure what I'm blabbering about and still reading, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2005/11/30/97.aspx">check this out </A>for a very brief refresher.</P>
<P>The TM is hands down the best method of volume management I've seen. With historical power meter records, one can not only determine *why* form was so good on that particular mystery day, but recreate the training pattern that produced it in the first place. When the TM goes public, those with the capacity to understand it's use and implications are going to have an eagles eye view. It is better than EPO, HGH, IGF, and anything else that comes from a needle, and what's even better, it's legal. Thanks Dr. Coggan.</P>
<P>One of the lessons from last year was when to call it quits for a bit. After the E12, I kept right on training and CTL kept moving upwards. It wasn't long before my body gave me the finger...so in an effort to avoid that this year, I scheduled in a rest week following the E12. Funny thing is, my body still gave me the finger - right at the start of the E12, in fact the first *step* of the race - that hip issue turned out to be a torn rectis femoris - so taking the next week off wasn't optional. I couldn't walk, let alone ride...</P>
<P>Another thing I've learned is that to do well in long events, the chronic training load needs to be fairly high. Of course it's a delicate balance - too high and recovery is compromised. An obvious difference in my training patterns between when I did shorter races and now is that the peak CTLs occur during events, whereas they used to occur about 2 months prior to the big events. Here's what the first race block of the year looked like in TM pictures:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1491.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1491/490x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>That's a nice every-other week pattern...the result of another realization last year that back to back weekends of hundies kicks my a$$ ;) </P>
<P>Anywho...after 8 days off the bike post <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/06/25/1393.aspx">E12</A> (including a business trip out east), I was shut down hard. It took some work to get going again, but wow! 8 days off mid-season is the best thing I've done in years (js, you readin'?), or so I think...time will tell. It is definitely the most time I've had away from the bike in years (yet another manic confession). Since the E50 carries higher priority for me than Breck, I bailed on the Breck race in favor of this one:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1600.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1600/494x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I'm fairly certain the competition will be off the charts at both events, but the CB event carries absolutely no pressure. If I pay $175 at Breck and pin a number on, well that changes my whole outlook on things and that would not be to good for the E50. So I'm actually gonna try something different & do this as a training race rather than go out and kill myself. I've been thinking about the CB event since last year - it is one of the best places to ride on the planet. I've done the first 2 loops before, but haven't been on the Dyke trail and am so psyched to see some new CB paradise. </P>
<P>That's my story and I'm sticking to it!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1601" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCommentstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:15962006-07-13T00:58:00Z<P>We've been getting truckloads of spam to the blog comments of late, so I had to take some drastic measures. Anonymous comments have been disabled. It was a painful decision and I delayed it as long as I could...we really appreciate the feedback from folks and we hope you continue to do so. To leave comments, you'll need to <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/user/CreateUser.aspx?ReturnUrl=/default.aspx">register</A> then <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/default.aspx">login</A> to the <A>http://teamhealthfx.com</A> website.</P>
<P>While you're at it, go to <A href="http://www.teamdicky.blog.com">www.teamdicky.blog.com</A> and learn how to get this meatplow riding singlespeeder and his wonderboy buddy into <A href="http://www.transrockies.com">www.transrockies.com</A>. They would be the first SS team to do TR, how cool would that be?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1596" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGuilty until proven innocenttag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:14542006-07-05T14:00:00Z<P>From the VeloNews live update page:</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><FONT color=#ffa500>"Not all the names have been revealed," Fuentes told radio Cadena Ser in a telephone interview. "And some of those on the list should not have been there. I don't know why."</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P dir=ltr>What a BS career ending witch hunt. Somebody better get shot over this.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1454" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKennebec, the July 4 traditiontag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:14522006-07-05T11:47:00Z<P>July 4 means one thing to MTBers in Durango (well, at least if they're in town) and that's the annual Kennebec pass/Colorado trail ride. It's a big 50+ mile loop that starts with a climb from 6500' to 11,200 at the pass, and from the top, bombs down the Colorado trail back to town. Sort of, that is...there's another 1500' of climbing once the trail hits Junction Creek, so it isn't all downhill. When I first did this ride back in the day by ride's end I'd be screaming "no more singletrack, please!" I was such a wuss back then ;)</P>
<P>If you live around here you know the flowers are going off the charts. Get up high if you haven't yet! </P>
<P>The Colorado state flower is the Columbine. Good choice.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1447.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1447/382x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Usually there is a big group on this ride. This year it was just Fergy and I. Fergy was riding better than I've ever seen him ride - both uphill and down. Funny thing about that...he's made the switch to 29ers and is riding a Dos Niner now. He says for racing the 29er format is a liability, not a benefit, but for trail riding it's a blast. I guess his races are short, cause for a 5 hour ride he was rockin' it. He's no flyweight either...there goes my theory ;)</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1451.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1451/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>We did see a lot of folks out there today. Busy day on the trails. Here at the top of Kennebec pass right at timberline is Chris L. on his cell. Maybe he was lonely up there?</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1449.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1449/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>"Oh no, not more singletrack!!! Make it stop..."</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1450.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1450/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>We ran into Kristin Danielson near the end of the ride. She really balances Tom's, uh...shall we say "confident" nature. She's been hitting the NORBA scene again this year with great results and is totally loving it. She just pulled out the 'W' at Crested Butte at the Wildflower Rush a week ago. Way to go Kristin!</P>
<P>Jeez, if I could choose my parents all over again...</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1448.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1448/249x375.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1452" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSquawkin' Trans Rockiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:14402006-07-03T12:24:00Z<P>August 6-12 Lynda & I will put our best efforts into <A href="http://www.transrockies.com/">TransRockies</A>, a 7 day mountain bike stage race across the Canadian Rockies. With some time on my hands yesterday, it was time to do some research.</P>
<P>An interesting tidbit for this years (5th) running is that the course is mostly new (the first 2 stages may be similar or the same). I think it came down to politics - Alberta wouldn't increase the rider limit, but BC would allow more riders. Since the course previously was mostly within Alberta, it was essentially as big as would ever be, and apparently that didn't jive for the race organizers. So this year the course is primarily in British Columbia. The course details have not yet been made public, but the stage endpoints have been. Here they are in a Google Earth rendering.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1438.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1438/500x320.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The start is about 180 miles SW of Calgary. Since we are doing the deluxe package (complete with RV), we'll pick up our RV in Calgary and then it's vacation time. The Canadian Rockies are spectacular and it's tough to contain this anticipation! I've driven through this area on route to Alaska about umpteen years ago, but to be honest my recollection is a bit fuzzy. My merry little group of river guides were strip-searched at the border so had to immediately activate our emergency stress relief plan...was great at the time, not so great for the memory...but it was big, tall mountain scenery, deep woods, and robin-egg blue streams, much like the little C. at the big C. confluence, but for different reasons: glacial melt.</P>
<P>Just looking at the stage 4 endpoints gets me all fired up. That there is some tall scenery and it looks like we'll get up there to see each acre of it a time or two... </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1439.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1439/500x215.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>A start list is also posted. In the coed field there are 32 teams listed. I only recognize 2 teams (strong US riders), but it is an international field with riders from the US, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, GB, Ireland, Scottland (did I spell that right Lynda??), South Africa and I'm sure I missed a few. Lynda's been a globetrotter in the past, but this is going to be completely new to me.</P>
<P>For the most part, these nutty builds Lynda & I have been doing have been to serve one purpose this year: to enable us to race and recover for 5-6 hours/day for 7 days. We're hoping it works, but regardless it'll be a hoot to ride for 7 days through them thar mountains.</P>
<P>On other fronts...For those that haven't given up on Le Tour, <A href="http://www.srmdataserver.de/tele/science/telemetry/races.php">SRM is displaying real-time power/HR/speed/cadence data </A>for selected riders using SRM telemetry. They are also displaying images of complete race files. Check it out to see what it takes to ride a tour stage. So far I'd have to say stage 1 looked a helluva lot easier than last week's 12 hour race ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1440" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe E100 12 Hourtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:13932006-06-26T00:56:00Z<P>Wow. Did that really happen? Somebody pinch me.</P>
<P>Time is tight, so the abbreviated version will have to suffice. Cutting to the chase: I overcame many problems during the race, came on strong at the end, and won in nail-biting fashion of the same ilk as the 3rd place Moab finish last year. Competition was deep with 50+ solo men at the start line.</P>
<P>Doubling the sweet factor was Lynda's ride. She rode to her potential yesterday (maybe??) and finished 4th solo overall with an astounding 13 laps. Her 13th lap was the fastest of any solo rider (there were 4 to complete 13, 1 to complete 14, ahem!).</P>
<P>Lynda told me before the start she was going to shadow me on the run. I had planned to hit it hard enough to be near the front to avoid bottlenecks. It turned out to be alot easier than either of us expected and we both slowed a bit towards the middle of the run - no need to be greedy and take the hole shot, eh? We entered the singletrack in the 3rd and 4th positions. Lynda was so psyched to be out of the way of traffic, "how was that Dave?!" That was the last I saw of her until about lap 12...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1388.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1388/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The opening singletrack near the start finish:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1392.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1392/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I had a look at the (long!) start list before the event. I recognized 3 names in there that I knew were very strong. One of them, Josh Tostado, had a golden year in '05. He came out on top at every endurance event he entered and set a course record at Montezuma. It was going to be a challenging day.</P>
<P>Lap 1 started well enough, but became hellish. I about nailed a runner around a hidden in the trail and got a fine "feck you" in return. Ah yes, Park City's love/hate relationship with mountain bikers. That fella ain't gonna be happy when NORBA rolls into town. Shortly thereafter, I was JRA when some guy is yelling at me telling me I shortcut the course...then a couple others chimed in. It turned out the course was a little different in one section from last year, and I was on last years course rails. Crap. So I had to turn around, watch the leaders ride off, and go find that corner I missed. I just kept telling myself that 12 hours is a long time so don't sweat it & did my best to shake it off. Rather than tear off after them and try to regain contact, I chose to settle into my own pace.</P>
<P>All the while, my legs didn't feel good at all. With Steamboat 2 weeks ago, and an overly aggressive training plan between then and now, I was feeling the effects. Then on lap 4, my right hip joint began to provide the sharpest pain imaginable. Simply finishing was in question at that point. During this time, I was riding with Thane Wright, one of the 3 on my radar screen, and he was riding amazingly strong. At one point, he yelled "c'mon Dave, let's work together!", to which I told him he was on his own. I watched him ride off...and began pounding vitamin I in the next pit.</P>
<P>The next several hours were JRA. Crusing along, biding my time, waiting for the vitamin I to do it's thing, and saving some juice for a late race charge. It was my only hope.</P>
<P>Anna ran the pit to precision. I told her before the race what the plan was, and also that the leader may get as much as 20 minutes on me my by lap 9. If he could hold, he deserved the win. But I was betting he wouldn't, whoever he turned out to be. I did this race last year and recall how hard the final 5 hours are...and he who has upwards momentum in the final hours had the upper hand. At the lap 9 pit, Anna yelled at me, jolting my lumbering buttocks into action: "Harris, Josh is 14 minutes ahead of you. Get your a$$ moving!!!" Anna being the soft spoken gal she is, she's never spoken to me like that. I left the pits covered in goose bumps.</P>
<P>The next time through I had gained 2 minutes, cutting the lead to 12 minutes. I'd also moved into 2nd - the last I heard I was in 4th. These chase laps were going beautifully, the energy was tip-top, the legs feeling great, and the flow was with me. There were a few places I had to brake on climbs. The next pit I cut the lead to 9 minutes, then 4 minutes heading out on the lucky 13th. 4 minutes...I could do it. Problem was, I had to pee so bad...it took 50 seconds. Finally, near the top of the final climb, there's Josh, about 20 seconds up the trail around a switchback. He recognized me and dug deep, giving it everything. It was apparent I wasn't going to catch him as he held onto his 20 second advantage, and let me tell ya I considered the foolishness of my 50 second pee stop...Greg always says if you're in that situation ya gotta pee your chammy. Well Greg, I did try...you'll understand when you're over 40.</P>
<P>Coming into the s/f for the 13th lap, I was immensely satisfied with my effort, even if I fell 20 seconds short of the win. The big question was, what time was it? Was I going to make the cuttoff for a 14th lap? I asked the timing crew, and Emma, Boris' daughter, said "you have time for another lap Dave, you can do it!" I'll be damned. The fat lady ain't sung her final note yet. </P>
<P>Anna rushed me out of the pits, second bike all set up with fluids and such, and it was game time. I hit the first climb hard and gave it everything that was left. I was cracking by now and as worked as could be - but I left the pits before Josh did and had the lead. I didn't want him to get a visual on me on that first climb - if I was out of sight, I'd be nothing but a ghost...on the long descent on the backside, I caught Lynda. She was riding like she had been since lap 5...ticking off 57 min laps like clockwork. She was so strong on the climbs, I couldn't hang with her at the end of the race. Can you say impressed?</P>
<P>I finished up that lap, totally spent, breathing hard, elated by the effort and the result. One of the hardest earned wins I can recall, especially given the additional issues to work through - made it all the sweeter. Mandatory bike carry! To my surprise, <A href="http://jasonsager.com/">Jason Sager </A>made an appearance to see the finale too. It was great to see him...and he saw a side of me that only comes out (thankfully) about once every year or so, but there's usually alcohol involved. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1389.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1389/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>My girly stick arms could get the bike up to my helmet, no higher ;) Worked!</P>
<P>I later learned Josh never went out for a 14th lap. Stories differ as to <EM>why</EM>, but it didn't much matter while I was out there on #14. It felt like the grim reaper was on my tail. Epic.</P>
<P>By rides end I had racked up something over 18,000 feet of climbing, 140 miles, finishing 1st overall solo and 5th overall (including teams). I finished on the same lap as the winning team (which if I'm reading the results correctly was a coed duo team - Chris and his wife from Mad Dog Cycles - they were both wicked fast and on 29ers!), about 25 minutes back. Not a bad day's ride.</P>
<P>Today is another story. That bum hip? Frozen up tight as a drum, you can call me the gimp.</P>
<P>Other highlights were meeting a lot of folks who know me (I think?) through this blog. It was a pleasure to meet ya, and if you gave a shout out thanks so much. Boris, your events are just first class. Thanks for making it happen and I really look forward to your next event.</P>
<P>Lynda & I have allowed ourself to daydream a time or two about how cool a it'd be if we both won at the same event. I'm thinking this bodes well for TransRockies. It's a dream no longer.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1391.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1391/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1390.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1390/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1393" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Ultimate Goaltag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:13712006-06-22T10:14:00Z<P>So what <EM>is</EM> this nonesense all about, anyway? Why race bikes?</P>
<P>For me, the first MTB ride was a fluke on a borrowed bike up the mountain behind the rafting company I worked at the time. The goal was to see the view from the top - I'd always been drawn to the outdoors and high places in particular, logging many miles of hiking and climbing in Arizona's "sky islands" in my teens and early twenties. The ride itself was most painful, and I walked a good bit. I basically sucked.</P>
<P>Then I discovered Crested Butte, where one could cover so much territory by bike. Revelation! I was hooked for life. Later that year, friends wouldn't ride with me anymore and told me I needed to race these things. Certainly, racing holds it's own competitive flow & draw, but the typical XC race isn't exactly a great way to get "out there". It did, however, provide the motivation to improve skills to new levels...</P>
<P>Fast forward to 2003. I (re)discovered the joy of epic rides, the being "out there" aspect, the hours upon hours of aerobic effort and the clear-mindedness that results, nearly meditation. Dang, there are 100 mile races out there? 24 hour solo events? It was a whole new world, the sport of cycling keeps evolving and presenting new opportunities and challenges.</P>
<P>This year has seen more revelations. <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">KTR</A> was an eye-opening experience. 142 miles self-supported through desert and mountain with a midnight start, who'da thunk it? An interesting format, with it's basis firmly tied to mountain bikings original code of self-sufficiency. I've been fascinated with the concept of doing the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page5.html">Grand Loop Race </A>as well, a 3-4 day epic event. </P>
<P>In the same vein is the ultimate mountain bike race, the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/index.html">Great Divide Race</A>. From the website: </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=#993333>The Great Divide Race is a self-supported, solo competition following the 2,490-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Traversing Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, the route demands over 200,000 feet of climbing along it's length. Competitors carry all equipment necessary to negotiate the backcountry, restocking on food and other supplies from the small towns along the route.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
<P>I'm feeling the attraction as sure as the earth tugs at the moon...
<P>Last year's winner, Matthew Lee, is racing again. He does the entire Great Divide route by starting outside of Banff, Canada a week ahead of the official race start. I wonder what that makes his stats? Anyway, he's put together a terrific blog on the course, complete with photos, and will post audio updates as the race progresses over the next month. <A href="http://www.tourdivide.blogspot.com/">I'd encourage all to check this out</A>. For most, it's armchair reading at it's best; for a few it may even seem doable.
<P>Dream away!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1371" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLunchtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:13632006-06-21T18:41:00Z<P>How was your lunch today? Mine was quite tasty, thanks for asking. I've got the favorite route I do the week before big events - it takes me to the top of Missionary Ridge, about 3500' higher than my front door, but only a smidge over an hour to get there at moderate pace. The Ridge burned to a crisp in 2002, it's life after death up there.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1362.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1362/342x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>From the top, the views sweep over the La Platas, Durango Mountain resort, Animas Valley, and on a clear day Lizard Head is even visible. That isn't the case today as there are plenty of fires burning in this parched west right now...time for a rain dance!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1361.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1361/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It's a freaky fast ride dropping that 3500' back to town. This wraps up my prep for the E100 12 hour event this Saturday. I'm trying something a bit different this time around. Hope it works cause it's gonna be a hammerfest for sure.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1363" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Alpine Loop, Colorado styletag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:13132006-06-18T13:52:00Z<P>On tap for the weekend was a ~5 hour ride & not too hard. Given that I'm nearly certain to do the <A href="http://www.warriorscycling.com/events/breck.php">Breckenridge 100</A>, it dawned on me yesterday morning I could kill two birds with one stone by getting high. The Alpine Loop takes in 50+ miles of backcountry jeep roads through the San Juans, much of it above timberline. Just the ticket. I started just outside of Silverton, rode up to Animas Forks (the headwaters of the Animas river), and began up Cinnamon pass for a counter-clockwise ride of the loop.</P>
<P>Photo blog time! Here's the next best thing to being there.</P>
<P>The base of Cinnamon pass. Yes, that's right - the ride begins at timberline and goes up from there. Of course, there was maybe 1500' of climbing to get to this point. This pass is pretty steep in spots, steeper than Engineer, but not as high. It only tops out at 12,600.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1302.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1302/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It looks like this up top. Earth or moon? This area will explode with flowers in a few weeks.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1311.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1311/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>From Cinnamon, it's down, down, down until Lake City at about 8,600'. Lake City is the home of the Hinsdale county museum of Alfred Packer fame. It took some searching, but there's an unlikely public waterhole in the back of some field near the Lake Fork of the Gunnison.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1307.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1307/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The route immediately heads out of Lake City uphill towards Engineer pass. The "pass" is at 12,800', but that isn't the high point. The road continues upward to near 13,000' beyond the pass. Go figure. The climbing is actually quite gradual as it occurs over 18 miles, mostly middle/big ring stuff, until the last two miles where it becomes steep in the tundra.</P>
<P>Capitol city, formed 1877, is about half way up. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1312.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1312/421x375.aspx" width=400 border=0></A></P>
<P>Near timberline there's a cabin dedicated to Henry David Thoreau. It's been awhile since I've read some of his works...but just being here gives me the motivation to get to <A href="http://www.mariasbookshop.com/">Maria's</A> and update my library.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1304.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1304/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>From here the climbing steepens. At 12,800, obvious signs of winter still exist. And this was a light winter.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1306.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1306/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The views from Engineer pass were mesmerizing. I spent a good bit of time hanging out up there at 13k'.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1303.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1303/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Rooftop of the world...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1310.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1310/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It just doesn't get any better than this. Unil August, that is :-)</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1308.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1308/281x375.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1313" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveTinker's RAAMtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12852006-06-14T13:30:00Z<P><A href="http://raceacrossamerica.org/">Race Across America</A>, the name says it all. 9 AM Sunday the solo field left Oceanside, CA in route to Atlantic City, NJ. I consider myself an ultra MTB specialist, but no way would I even consider such a race. More than a week of sleep deprivation and solo road riding and I'd lose my mind, what's left anyway. </P>
<P><A href="http://tinkerjuarez.com/">Tinker</A> is another story, however. A guy that strong, talented, focused, <EM>stubborn</EM> - he must always be looking for something to step up the challenge. After seeing him roll into Durango yesterday evening on day 2 of ~9, it would appear he's found a challenge alright! I was surprised that he rolled right up to me to chat for 5 minutes or so before he went to the safe haven of his air conditioned RV. He left some strong impressions in that conversation:</P>
<UL>
<LI>RAAM is going make 24 hour racing seem so easy for him</LI>
<LI>He looks strong as a bull when talking face to face as opposed to looking somewhat slight from a distance on the bike.</LI>
<LI>He has plenty of pressure to finish on a pre-determined schedule, since his 7 person crew all have flights back home already booked.</LI>
<LI>He was amazed at how hard the event is: "It's crazy! You ride your bike till midnight every day, its just crazy!"</LI></UL>
<P>Tinker was visibly tired and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the experience, but at the same time was articulate and clear speaking. He's one tough hombre, my bet is he does quite well in his journey to the East Coast.</P>
<P><STRONG>Tinker, we wish you the best!</STRONG></P>
<P>In pictures...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1284.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1284/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1283.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1283/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1281.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1281/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P> </P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1282.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1282/400x266.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1285" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSteamboat: do as I say, not as I dotag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12722006-06-13T13:53:00Z<P>Carved from the school of hard knocks, here's how the morning of the 24 hours of Steamboat played out: sleep wasn't happening, so got up about 5am. There is a lot of stuff to get ready when doing these unsupported, so I went out to the truck to haul some plastic bins up the "stairway to heaven" of my friend's house, a steep narrow stairway leading to the upper living area. Well, I must not have been fully awake yet, cause I tripped, lost my balance, then tumbled backwards down the stairs, slamming my left knee and right hip in the process...but the real kicker was the way in which the concrete floor met my head. There was time for an instant of shocked recognition before the lights went out. Sometime later (no idea how long but I was getting cold) conciousness slowly came back, at first just a glimmer, sort of like that can't run in a nightmare feeling, and as I lay there aware of the throbbing goose egg right where my helmet would sit for 24 hours I thought to myself "self, things can only get better!"</P>
<P>--------------------</P>
<P>First let me set the record straight. I wasn't self-supported for the event. I had planned to be from the outset, and was ready to be at the start, but my great friends Bill and Jen Murphy showed up in the late afternoon on Saturday and never left. Chrissy & Joules also stopped by at key times to help with this and that...and there was help forthcoming from other pit crews too. Words simply don't describe how fortunate I am to have such friends. </P>
<P>Getting everything set to go was a lot more time consuming than I had planned. Setting up bottles of eFuel, flasks of eGel, setting up all food on one table, getting the 2nd bike ready for night riding, filling camelbacks - then there was the mandatory 10am meeting, and a breakfast meeting with friends I rarely get to see...it all made for a mood of full blown mania by the time the gun went off.</P>
<P>Last year I walked the run, finishing DFL pretty much. Not this year...started mid pack and moved up to the top 30 or 40 thereabouts, and once we got the bikes, well let's just say the legs were beyond happy. The training leading to this event had gone very well and the legs gave instant positive feedback. The climbing part of the course is mostly either dirt road or double track, passing is rarely an issue. I wasn't going hard, yet I was moving up fast. After about 15 minutes, there were only 3 guys in front of me and I thought how cool would it be to be the first one in? I jumped up a few gears and was alone. Another 15 minutes or so and I was at the top - there were huge crowds, and it wasn't lost on the onlookers that I had the number 1 plate. From there the descent is up and down a bit, but some of the best flowy singletrack around. Coupled with my new favorite Fuel setup - a Reba at 100mm and disc brakes front/rear - the bike was flowing under me like the Animas at high water. When I reached the bottom, I learned there was another rider that was way off the front, so it turned out I was 2nd guy in. Must have been one of the guys from the team that did 22 laps. </P>
<P>For the 2nd lap I decided to shut it down. Although I didn't feel like I was going hard (even ate a banana on that first lap), it was a strange senstation to be that far ahead. So I ate more grub and just cruised along...but to my surprise I didn't get caught by any riders. After finishing the 2nd lap as the 2nd guy across, I was looking around to see if Rod Serling was over my shoulder.</P>
<P>For entertainment, I was really working the descent, much more than the climbs. It was so freaking fun. This was my first time with discs front and rear, and now I know what Sager means when he talks about controlled two wheel slides in turns. Holy crap is that fun. Running the PT on the MTB has prevented me from the full disc experience for some years now, Graber get with the program!!! I'll not do another race (that I care about) with the PT. Discs are way better than data.</P>
<P>Clearly, this kind of pace can't keep up forever, and it didn't. I'd like to say that I went fast early to throw out a warning shot to the competition, or that I thought I could maintain that pace...but in retrospect, I now realize that after obsessing over so many details - lighting, self-support efficiency - the one detail left out was a pacing plan. The morning's events had me so amped up and agro at the start nothing was going to slow me down. It sunk in about nightfall that I screwed the pooch as my gut showed the early signs of shutdown. </P>
<P>I had been holding a steady 30 min lead for the solo's, but after about midnight, the <A href="http://jessejakomait.com">Canadian Stick Boy </A>began to reel me in. Finally, about 2am I had just finished a really hard lap and asked Jen where Stick Boy was and she just pointed. His pit was right next to mine, and there we were, looking at each other. Bad gut or not, this is seriously fun stuff. For the next 5 hours or so I dug deep to stay close. Through the rest of the night and early morning, I think we saw each other at every pit. It was a great time. This was his first 24 hour race and he was kicking some butt - self-supported too - he later told me he just wanted to call a truce in the night. Those late night laps were a hoot. The moon was full, it wasn't very cold, just gorgeous. All the fresh high mountain growth had that thick "skunky" scent going off the charts, and that descent was getting more fun even in the dark. I had serious competition, was in my element, and concious of it all the while. It just doesn't get much better than that.</P>
<P>My gut was my undoing. Through the night, I was less and less able to take in calories, then water wouldn't even stay down. It got to the point where I had to take long pits and eat 600-1000 calories just to get the next lap done. Eating while stationary was fine, eating on the go was a no-go. If I shortened a pit to get on the trail sooner, I'd have a really bad time on the climb so I yo-yo'd a lot that way. Finally, the 13th lap was disaster. Jesse was about 4 minutes up on me, and Jen said "Dave, how far behind Jesse do you want to be?" Yea...waving a red flag in front of a bull..."I don't want to be <EM>behind</EM> him at all!" so off I went without eating. How many ways are there to say empty...it was lap 13 that I quit thinking about chasing Jesse and went into damage control.</P>
<P>Before the 14th lap I ate my fill and put in a solid lap. It was looking like it was going to take 16 laps to hold onto 2nd, so I kept the efforts moderated on the few really steep bits. The first 3 riders were all close and fast (we were all well ahead of course record pace) - the guy behind me was Jason Stubbe, a super salty, amiable, fast guy. Last I heard he was 30 min back, but had momentum going in the opposite direction as me. Could I hold him off? </P>
<P>Nope. I headed out for the 15th without getting enough calories down, and on top of that, it was getting hot. I was dead in the water. Jason came by me all happy, asked me if I was going out for the 16th and told me I was his hero and he loved me (I said amiable, remember?) when I said no, and that was that. My upper body was totally thrashed from working the descent, so rather than finish that lap out I turned it around and coasted back down the S/F and settled for 3rd & 14 laps. </P>
<P>14 laps was good enough for the win last year, but this year only 3rd. Those 14 laps did take 1.5 hours less this year, gut trouble notwithstanding. I really have to give props to Jesse Jakomait and Jason Stubbe - neither had done a 24 hour race before, and both rode great races, perfectly paced and finishing strong. Jesse went on to do 16 laps in 24:04 - methinks that record will stand for some time. Jesse really should consider doing the Moab 24 - if he can ride desert stuff like he can in the mountains, he'd be a good bet. </P>
<P>I've had about a dozen emails now thanking me for the 24 hour tips blog posts, several of which have been from riders who just won their first 24. Looks like we can add Jesse to the list. Nothing like making more competition for yourself!</P>
<P>As for my race, I've always been critical of the big 3 for their usual strategy of a ballistic start, and have secretly always wanted to try it. I've always figured it would cost a lot in the end and be detrimental in the long run. Now I know. Once things start heading down the tubes, it's really tough to turn it around. Despite the hard ending, I felt a lot better this year and had more fun on course than last year. It was a freaking blast, and I hope Brad and Katie keep this race going for years to come.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1272" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBack from the dead: 29er studiestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12582006-06-08T11:46:00Z<P>With the Dos stripped of components and hanging in my garage, let's just say 29er studies aren't at the forefront of my interests right now. I found the answers to my questions. However, <A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com"><FONT color=#0000ff>Cycling News</FONT></A> is <A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2006/features/29invs26inpt1"><FONT color=#ff0000>hitting the issue hot and heavy</FONT> </A>.</P>
<P>It's nice to see an organization with some industry ties and a bigger budget is taking the time to look at the issue. They do have some interesting analysis techniques proposed, such as using GPS and MotionBased to analyze specific sections of a route, comparing between the two bikes.</P>
<P>There are a couple of deal killers in the study, though. The first one hit me in the head so hard I nearly passed out. They aren't using power! Without measuring rider output, how can efficiency possibly be determined? It can't. You could determine which bike was faster over a short course by repeated time trials, sure. But that doesn't apply to the endurance racer, the segment of the cycling market that is gung ho on 29ers. Efficiency is king to the endurance racer. We have a limited supply of energy, and the more distance we get from that limited supply, the better. Gotta have power.</P>
<P>An example: Robert Chung of the wattage list (I think he is a statistician by trade, but not sure) assisted with the data analysis of my files from the Old Pueblo 24 hour event. He looked closely the files comparing a couple of laps with similar times but different power, one on the 26, the other on the 29. What he found was that for most of the time, the power between the two bikes was very similar. There was 1 section, though, that required a lot more power on the 29 when compared to the 26. For those familiar with the course, this was the Corral trail. This section is slightly downhill, twisty but very fast. Time to cover that section wasn't much different, but power was much different. That sort of observation would have been lost without the use of power.</P>
<P>The second issue is that they've gone to great lengths to normalize the cockpits between the 2 bikes - and I'm assuming this implies there is only 1 test rider. It's been my observation that larger riders tend to prefer 29ers more than smaller riders. By larger, I'm talking about weight more than height. There is probably a reason for that...results from one person's runs will likely be different from anothers, especially if they differ in size.</P>
<P>In short, CN has tightly controlled for equipment variables but without objective energy measurements, their results are just going to stir the pot rather than provide any sort of definitive conclusion. They could change all that with an SRM or Ergomo...are you listening???</P>
<P>Don't settle for 80% CN, this ain't the pareto principle. </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1258" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLet the climbing begin...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12552006-06-07T22:48:00Z<P>Damn am I ever ready for Steamboat. The anticipation has me in it's grip like a good buzz. 24 hour events are <EM>special </EM>- when else does one get to ride without constraint for 25 hours straight? It takes a lot of time to prepare, both physically, mentally, tactically, mechanically...so many details. When the gun goes off the easy part begins.</P>
<P>Yesterday's training was a nice ride to High Point on the Colorado trail, starting at 4am. Today was Missionary ridge, a bit shorter than yesterday and tells me all I need to know. How cool is it to be at 9500' at sunrise in the summer? Livin' large in the Rockies.</P>
<P>A quick trip to <A href="http://www.cottonwoodcycles.com">Cottonwood Cycles </A>in Farmington and I now have a new XXX racelite disc wheelset. To my surprise, it is of the centerlock variety - not what I need with the Hope Mono Minis...but no worries, Ralph got me so dialed in with that and other stuff too, like sweet new Oakley lenses. I didn't know they had a "heater" version of lens - sure could have used that at OP! Anyway, I gotta plug Ralph and Cottonwood cycles, if you need serious cycling goods and are within 150 miles it's worth the drive. </P>
<P>There's an interesting showdown going on this weekend. Granny Gear is doing a monster 24 hour coast to coast series (not sure if any teams or solos will actually compete for the series title though, it'd take serious funding) and this weekends GG event is Big Bear, WV. Solo Goat (aka Ernesto Marenchin, 2nd at 24 hour worlds last year) vs. current National Champ Cameron Chambers. Should be interesting. Them boyz better watch out for banjo pickers out there...</P>
<P>Looks like entrant #s are down at 24 hour events this year. There are so many events to choose from these days...it's watering down the fields. Choice & variety is good, but so are big competitive fields. Kinda torn on that one. Steamboat registration I hear is down considerably over last year, likely becuase there's an MSC event this weekend and Erock was last weekend. </P>
<P>Saturday begins "the climb of your life", round 2. Look for updates early next week.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1255" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFuelin' ittag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12412006-06-05T12:19:00Z<P>With the Steamboat 24 next weekend, final prep & shakedown was the order of the weekend. This was somewhat delayed by a bout of food poisoning, so now I'm extra rested and lighter than anticipated. I'm making up for lost time at the dinner table though, but trying to hold back - the real fueling begins Wednesday. A couple of interesting bits:</P>
<P>Lights, lights, lights. The LED project continues. The <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/05/06/1050.aspx">previous version</A> was solid as it got me through 7 hours of darkness on the Kokopelli trail, but turned out to be just a bit much on the helment for that duration (batteries were on my nogin too), didn't have as much throw as I like, and the electronics were integrated with the battery, not the lights. I've made another creation, and it's considerably different. The last version used optics, solid acrylic lenses. I recently found a source for 3 different sizes of reflectors made to fit the Luxeon LEDs, each with different beam patterns. Reflectors are what you see when you look at the business end of a flashlight - think chrome plated cone. The beam pattern is two-fold for these, a tight spot in the center, and a wide dim portion. In other words, perfect for night riding! Loads of throw. In fact, of the 3 reflector sizes, I chose the one with the shortest throw. The other 2 were too much spot, more like lasers. Combined with a 5W Lux bar mount with 10 degree optic and all bases are covered for minimal weight. I think I'm getting close to the holy grail of lighting here...</P>
<P>Other features - square tubing provided just enough room to get the buckpuck inside of the light housing, although I did have to solder wires directly to it as the harness wouldn't fit. No more battery mounted electronics. I've also installed a potentiometer directly to the housing - made waterproof by spit and glue - for infinite power control. Total weight is about 30-40 grams lighter than the last one. 6 hours of brightness for 240 grams system weight. Here'tis:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1240.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1240/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Bikes, bikes, bikes. The Dos is out for this one - it's a climbing liability. In fact, it's been cannibalized to make 2 sweet Fuels. The Dos has a SS setup in it's very near future...</P>
<P>I found a cheap but new Reba U-turn fork. The U-turn allows you to adjust the travel on the fly from 85mm to 115mm. Very cool feature as you can immediately feel how changing geometry affects bike handling, and let me tell ya, its a lot. On the Fuel with ~100mm, handling was a bit off on a steep climb so I dialed it back to 85 and badabing, it settled down and tracked nicely, just like a hopey damper was installed. 115mm is fun for straight descents, but didn't feel right otherwise. One thing I noticed is the air pressure must change when the travel is changed. I set the pressures with the fork at 100mm, but when dialed down to 85mm it got pretty stiff. Bleeding a touch of positive air solved that.</P>
<P>Now for some randomness...</P>
<P>The <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page5.html">Grand Loop Race </A>is going on right now. This is a doosy of an endurance event. Promoted by Mike Curiak, it takes in 340 miles and 48,000' of climbing in Utah & Colorado. The course record is something over 3 days, and as Mike says, is the hardest endurance event he's aware of...and if he isn't aware of it, it probably doesn't exist. It startes with an easy stroll of the KTR course from Fruita to the LaSals, then parts unkown from there. Completely self-supported like KTR, only 10x harder. I had considered this event for this year, but I'm not even close to ready for it. Next year? <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=1305557">Check out Mike's updates & commentary on the event here</A>. 3 of the 6 starters are still on course, but no finishers yet. They started Friday evening and have been busting butt ever since. Awe and respect.</P>
<P>If you haven't seen "Walk the Line", put it on the list. I never really "got" Johnny Cash & his outlaw country style of music as it's pretty far beyond my musical boundaries, but the movie was so good it changed all that. More good stuff to listen to Sunday at 3am ;) </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1241" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveChanges & challengestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12222006-06-02T11:51:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1221.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1221/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It's time for a new challenge. After a dozen or so 24 hour races all done with some type of support, why not do one self-supported? This silly thought has been rattling in the back of my head for some time...KTR leftovers? In any case, Anna, my longtime one person support crew, is a bit under the weather and good friends & Steamboat locals Murph and Jen are racing so fate has made the decision for me - I'll be doing the Steamboat 24 hour solo event self-supported.</P>
<P>This is certainly nothing new in the world of 24 hour racing...just new to me. Each 24 gets a bit easier, and now I'm at the point where I don't need much anyway, so long as the bikes hold together. Don't get me wrong - if you're in the area and are just itching to go through one of my bikes I'll accept help. I'm no purist. </P>
<P>Thoughts on streamlining the pits dominate. </P>
<UL>
<LI>Hydration, I tend to use a small hydration pack plus a bottle. The Fuel's only have one bottle cage which is taken up by a light battery at night. This time around, I'm foregoing the hydration pack in favor of 2 bottles, and my fancy DIY lights have small battery packs that fit under the stem. Going with bottles means I can mix everything up prior to the event and put it in a cooler, ready to go. I do have 4 50oz packs that I'll have ready with water for the witching hours as it'd be hard to pick a water bottle up at 4am (I get dumber and lazier at 4am).<BR>
<LI>Hot food is out. By the time the food got hot I'd be cold, so that's a no go. A couple thermos' of coffee & hot water for instant oatmeal, one of my personal faves...and last weekend during a 10+ hour ride I gobbled 3 oatmeal bomb cookes from <A href="http://www.insiderpages.com/profiles/Bread-E3nG6r9ITWiIubsTimhH3w">Bread bakery</A>. I'm not sure I want to know how many calories are in those monsters, but lets just say there was no hunger all day. I'll be showing up with a bunch of those for sure!<BR>
<LI>Lighting - my DIY systems can go all night with a set of Lithium AAs, so futzing with lights should be minimal. I haven't tested them for water resistance yet, so I'll have the Niterider's on hand just in case. Steamboat was "moist" last year.<BR>
<LI>Intel: the announcer at the 'boat is as good as they get. Don't know his name...but last year I knew where I stood each time I came through as I could hear his announcing for the first 5 minutes of the course every lap. Hopefully he'll be back this year - the registration form actually asks for some background info for he announcer, so I'll bet he is...<BR>
<LI>Competitive goals: I'll have to admit it'd be nice to repeat. However, I am realistic and understand going self-supported will probably cost me a lap or two. *** just happens. I'll go in with a solid plan but an open/flexible approach, have fun and ride hard. Podium or not, it'll be a new experience in a familiar venue.</LI></UL>
<P>Should be fun. Besides, if a <EM>girl</EM> can do it...</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1220.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1220/400x267.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1222" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveCheatin' Deathtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12092006-05-29T12:36:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1208.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1208/500x150.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The latest <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/">Dickyism</A> seems especially poignant right now: "It feels like you are cheating death by sneaking in some extra living. <BR>Only fools sleep when they could be riding."</P>
<P>With 2 weeks to go until <A href="http://www.rockypeakproductions.com/24%20hours%20of%20Steamboat%20site/">the next 24 hour event</A>, this can mean only one thing in my world. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's been complicated the past week though by a heavier than normal work schedule. Let's just say I haven't been a fool the past week, not one bit.</P>
<P>The reward? Time will tell...but the immediate payback has included face time with a bobcat, a bear, several owls, elk, snow, somersaults and air time (3 times I might add), being chased by the grim reaper yesterday (aka the pro field in the Iron Horse), snowmelt swolen stream crossings, new trails, and new friends. I couldn't be more alive.</P>
<P>While most cyclists were either racing or spectating the downtown Iron Horse criteriums yesterday, I chose to make it an all day epic affair. None of this road stuff - the snowpack is gone below 10,500 and that opens a lot of country around here. The first leg of the ride was up the Dry Fork to Colorado trail, taking the Colorado up to the base of Sliderock at about 10,500'. I was joined by Alb. strongman <A href="http://www.mcturge.blogspot.com/">Matt</A> , here he is cruising up the Dry Fork trail.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1203.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1203/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Even though I'd ridden the C-trail <EM>down </EM>many times, I wasn't sure how rough that climb from Junction creek to the top would be. It seems damn steep coming down and it's getting up there to nosebleed elevations...but it turned out to be a most enjoyable climb. That is, aside from the part where I blew it trying to clear a water bar on a steep exposed section and did some airtime. The <A href="https://www.wingnutgear.com/product_details.cfm?id=117">Wingnut</A> saved my a$$, it is great padding back there!</P>
<P>We decided to take the Clear Creek trail down to Hermosa creek. This where things turned epic...20+ stream crossings (lotsa trout in there), big exposure, and the faintest of goat trails. The pictures tell it best.</P>
<P>Yes, there is a trail here.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1205.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1205/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>And scenery. And exposure.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1206.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1206/500x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I'm not sure how many miles this little goat trail was, but it was the hardest earned few miles of descending I've done in awhile. Finally, after plowing our legs through the 813th wild rose bush, we arrived at Hermosa creek - the <EM>wrong side</EM> of Hermosa creek. The snowmelt is near peak right now, and our next trail was on the other side of the creek. Damn, no bridge...fast, fat, and deep. Just like old times. Luckily I made it across without soaking another camera.</P>
<P>You might think this is enough riding, time to pack it in, right? There was still daylight left, so the ride finished off with 2 climbs of my favorite climb in these parts, the Jones creek trail up to the first overlook of the valley. Jones creek trail is some sweet, buff, not too steep (climbs 2,000' in about 4.8 miles), a little rooty/tech in spots, just pure heaven. It's a lot like sections of the Steamboat course, so it's great training for that event.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1207.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1207/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I'll sleep when I'm dead.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1209" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveIron Horse '06tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:12012006-05-28T12:30:00Z<P>Iron Horse weekend in Durango is always huge. It's no coincidence that Ed Zink's child falls during the greenest time of the year, drought notwithstanding. Since I'm in a really big training binge right now, I decided to ride up the course early & take photos instead of racing, that way I can keep piling on the hard miles.</P>
<P>Time is still limited cause I'm heading out the door shortly for what will likely be a 10 hour MTB epic - details to follow - but here is a sampler of yesterday's road race.</P>
<P>Our very own Rolando Gonzales (well sorta...he rides for Team HealthFX in the dirt, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on the road) took the win. RMCF took charge of the race at milepost 1, sending an early break up the road comprised of some all-rounders and riders with good power on the flats. Word on the street is Grant Berry was instrumental on the flats, fully sacrificing himself for the better climbers. He still managed a top 15 finish, and that's damn good in this race. Nobody expected them to stay away and nobody chased. Rolando was in this group and continued to ride stellar through the passes to take the win. I don't know what the final time gaps were, but the gap between the first 4 and the chase group was huge, seemed well over 5 minutes but I wasn't looking at time. RMCF owned the race putting a flock of riders in the top 20 and possibly 5 in the top 10...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1191.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1191/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The chase group was comprised of Scott Moninger, Mitch Moreman, Phil Z (how is that spelled??), and last year's winner Eric Carter. They were hauling the mail when they went by my spot near the top of Molas. How fast? <A href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8415362040971084170" target=_blank>Check out this short video clip </A>(apologies in advance for the lame quality, but hey, it's my first).</P>
<P>Lot's of other great rides out there. There was an endless stream of riders in the passes...it was impressive to see. Lot's of smiles too, surprsingly.</P>
<P>T. Brown rode singlespeed, of course. Or is that a fixie? Gawd, I hope not.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1190.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1190/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ned hammers away only seconds behind the chase group.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1196.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1196/200x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Robbie Robinette, 40-44 national champ showing good form for a giant.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1192.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1192/305x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ian rode a strong race in the 3's</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1198.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1198/249x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/category1041.aspx">More pics up here</A>.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1201" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDreamstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:11682006-05-24T16:08:00Z<P>Did I get up at 1:30 AM to get set for an epic ride before work?</P>
<P>Did I head off into the night with ultralight, ultrabright custom LEDs on the bars and my helmet?</P>
<P>Did I come face to face with a bobcat at 4:30 AM?</P>
<P>Did I see fields of illuminated lupine?</P>
<P>Was I at 10,000 feet in the San Juans at sunrise?</P>
<P>Did I shave 3 min off of a PB climb up a local 2000' singletrack climb <EM>in the dark</EM>?</P>
<P>Did I shave <EM>another 3 min</EM> off in the 2nd climb in the early dawn during the 4th hour?</P>
<P>Somebody pinch me.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1168" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKTR, moonbeams, and dead rabbitstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:11232006-05-15T12:56:00Z<P>Pre-race quote: "Mike, I want to thank you now for organizing this race 'cause I ain't going to be thankful at the finish"</P>
<P> - anonymous rider to race organizer Mike Curiak 15 minutes before the midnight start of KTR.</P>
<P>Well said amigo. That was a tough race. I'm hard pressed to think of a tougher race I've done. But at the start, midnight Friday at the Slickrock trailhead ouside of Moab, Utah - it was all grins, smiles and anticipation. What an exciting time and place! As the minutes ticked off, Mike would announce the number of racers...45...50..52! 56!!! No way, 56 enduro nutcases showed up under a full moon in the desert to embark on what would be a grueling day's ride where only slightly more than a third of the field would finish.</P>
<P>By the numbers, I had a pretty good race. I finished 2nd to Jon Brown (who ripped it on a singlespeed), coming in with a time 20+ minutes under the previous course record. The numbers lie. I got my a$$ handed to me out there, and I'm not embarrased to admit it. As the first unsupported epic race in my experience, I had a lot to learn. Still do for that matter...</P>
<P>It's hard to convey the scene at the start. Slickrock trailhead was crowded, there were so many people and vehicles there. We were a bit behind, and when the trailhead first came into view it looked like a small active city with all the moving lights. Everyone was excited, you know, that sort of excitement that finally gets release after months of anticipation...old friends were reunited as well. It was a magical time, a magical place.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1118.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1118/350x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>So there we are at the edge of the parking lot, MC in front of us about to turn us loose...and he does so with the most subdued "go." It was nearly a whisper, and I laughed outloud at the contrast of the actual start to this epic with the anticipation of the crowd. No warm up meant I was going to take it easy for awhile. That was my plan anyway, to start relatively easy to moderate up the initial climb, then push it a bit more on the second climb to the end of the pavement. </P>
<P>I had problems immediately. The first one was technical - the sweet lights I've been cooking up? Well, I decided to add some power to my bar setup by adding 2 x 3W luxeons to the 5W already there...all run at 700 mA. It is an absolutely amazing setup. All together it draws only about 10 W and is much brighter than a light in motion HID according to a side-by-side comparison. My mount, however, wasn't sturdy enough for the extra weight (it was now 150 g) and on the very first bit of washboard on Sandflats road the light came undone, found the front wheel and broke lenses...and wiring. 5 minutes into the race and I'd lost 2/3 of my lighting. Sweet. Luckily, I still had my helmet mounted setup...</P>
<P>The next problem came quickly as well - and it was painful. I used a Wingnut Hyper 2.5 for the event and added a 100oz camelback bladder to the main comartment. With 200 oz fluids in the pack and clothes bungied on the back of it, it squeezed the pack so that something with the shape and texture of a football pressed firmly into my back, right at the kidney zone. OMG that was some intense pain, I thought for sure I was bound for a DNF. Some repositioning helped, but it would haunt me the rest of the day.</P>
<P>The first 1.5 hours were pretty tough, I must say. Very unusual for me...but anyway, things got better when we hit the pavement. After railing the descent (I'd just ridden it recently so remembered the hairpins) I found myself with the leaders, although I didn't know it at the time. I thought Jon was still up the road...but he was in this group. IIRC, all but one of these riders were on singlespeeds. I was amazed at their ability to remain out of the saddle for long extended climbs. Jon Bailey was there and crushing it. 40 min of climbing later, Jon (Brown) and I crest the top of the climb together and pause for a bit to take in the view of Fisher (or is it Castle?) valley to our left and the LaSals glowing to our right under the full moon. Extraordinary..."that's pretty clean" as a racer friend once muttered under similar circumstances in the Soul Ride...This sport is simply amazing in terms of the currency used to reward hard efforts.</P>
<P>Jon was crushing the climbs on his singlespeed, and since it was a no-drafting event we didn't even bother to stay near each other most of the time. He'd fly up the steeper sections, I'd diesel back up on the mellower sections...but once at the top of the LaSals, with SS gearing he spun out immediately and I started to move ahead. This was about 2:50 am when we started descending, and for the next 4.5 hours I continued on by myself. There were areas where I could see lights behind me and get an idea of the gap. After the descent off Beaver Mesa there's a short steep climb...where there were 4-5 hardy souls waiting for riders and cheering at 4am! How cool is that? Anyway, from the top of the short climb, I could see a light and estimated the gap at 12 minutes or so. The Beaver Mesa descent was kind to me. I was on the Dos Niner, and the big wheels were just the ticket. Deep sand, rocky ledges, it was no trouble on the Dos. The Dos found redemption in this race... My helmet LEDs were working flawlessly, and being the first one through meant there was no airborne dust that is typically an eye irritant in lap courses. I was in the flow, feeling great now and loving life. What can be better than racing off the front in the middle of the night through epic terrain?</P>
<P>Soon I came to Rose Garden hill, aka Magpie hill. Magpie hill redeemed itself as well as the Magpies were absent and replaced with happy morning chirpy bird sounds. The short hike up the hill was great for my back and while at the top I took a little break for some solid food, an almond butter and honey tortilla. I could see that the gap was still growing and was at least 15 minutes now.</P>
<P>Thank goodness for the pre-ride Lynda and I did a couple of weeks ago, becuase without it the next 2 hours would have killed me. Instead, I knew what was coming and just took it nice and relaxed, kept hard efforts to a minimum, and tried to be smooth. Very technical, ledgy, rocky, and quite a few bits where I got off the bike. It felt good though, and when finally reaching top of the world where MC's truck was, it was about 5:30 am with glimmers of sunrise in a pink sky. Magical again! I hit Dewey about 5:55, and there were some folks cheering there too. Now for the Yellow Jacket section, the sandy, climby, semi-tech bit of 9 miles. The sun came up during this section to reveal the Lasals in the distance, and a day that would become hot. Here's a pic from the pre-ride:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture996.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/996/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Of course, water is the big issue in this event. How to stay on top of hydration in the desert??? My plan was to stop and filter at McGraw Draw out of the Colorado River. I had tested this when the river was muddier, and knew it work fine. So where the trail becomes singletrack next to the river, I sat on a ledgy rock next to the river to fill up. This was the turning point of the day...</P>
<P>Pumping...nothing. Huh? Well, this is something I haven't encountered before being a water filtering neophyte and all. All the pumping in the world wasn't getting any water through the filter. Nada. I wasn't dry and had plenty of fluids to get to Westwater, but didn't want to take the 15 minute penalty of the detour. So I fiddled with that #$%^%^$$ filter until it worked. 30 minutes later everything was packed up, bladders full and I was ready to continue. But my lead (which was 28-29 minutes) had been erased. Jon came by just as I was re-packing. Also, unknown to me during the race is that Jason Stubbe came by when I was filtering. Also unknown to me is that I passed him when he was watering the flora.</P>
<P>Wind and SS gearing, these were my 2 thoughts. I know Jon is tough as nails and I was glad he was on a SS. The forecast had called for east winds in the am (headwinds) switching to the west (tailwinds) after it got warm. If that wind switch happened, I figured I'd be able to fare better with the higher speeds with full gearing than Jon with SS gearing. I didn't know what his gearing was, but it had to be low enough to tackle the LaSals. But alas, the wind remained a steady headwind for the entire race, keeping speeds low. When Lynda and I pre-rode the second half, it took us 1.5 hours less than it took me race day. We had rippin tailwinds that day. We rode together for awhile, but he had a bit more juice on short climbs and started to pull away. In the meantime, riding into the "blow dryer" was beginning to take a heavy toll on me. The comfort of cool night riding was replaced with hot desert...and I made the mistake of putting drink mix in much of my filtered fluids, so plain water was limited. The gut wouldn't tolerate much of anything but plain water...and the not so slow drain of fluids from my body was turning this into a survival event. My goals were changing rapidly...no longer chasing Jon, I simply wanted to finish before 2pm.</P>
<P>Finally...FINALLY...came the descent to Salt Creek. I had been looking forward to this cause all I could think of was taking a dip and dumping some of this heat. I was surprised to see Jon still only 5 min ahead of me. He must be hurting too, and rightfully so since he started with 170 oz fluids and didn't stop for more along the way. Anyway, into Salt Creek I went - literally - and forgot about the camera hanging around my neck. But I didn't care...the creek was cool and offered a moment of relief. </P>
<P>The relief was short lived. The next 15ish miles were brutal. Very steep tech singletrack and hikeabike, and at one point, my upper body was so weak it took a long time to get past a few boulders over which the bike had to be carried. As blown as I was, I still passed at least 20 rec riders out on the trails to the finish...I remember those days ;) Finally, the finish was mine in 13:55. Mike was waiting with the coldest, sweetest water ever to pass my lips and for that I will be forever grateful.</P>
<P>Here is the man, Mike Curiak, taking a shot of my bike pre-race:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1116.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1116/276x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><STRONG>Post Mortem</STRONG>:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Lynda will tell her own story in time, but that desert rat had a strikingly different race. She had bionic competition which pushed her hard and she rose to the occasion with a time that will surely stand for a LONG time. Huge congrats to her for a beautiful effort. She gets more confident and savvy with every endurance event and I am privelidged to be witness to her growth.<BR>
<LI>Both Lynda and I were sick as dogs the night of the race. Can you say heat stroke/electrolyte loss?<BR>
<LI>Sadly, this will likely be the last running of the KTR. It seems that many competitiors didn't follow the rules clearly laid out by MC. MC isn't paid for this - he does this to return something to the sport that has provided so much to him - and this is a disrespect he can't tolerate.<BR>
<LI>Huge kudos go out to Jon Brown, who nailed the course in 13:26. The previous course record was 14:19 (on a geary!) set on a day when conditions were tailwinds. This year's race conditions were slow - headwinds from start to finish. How he did that on 170 oz baffles me, I drank twice that!<BR>
<LI>Many, many thanks to Mike Curiak for having the patience to put up with all the silly pre-race questions, getting the organiztion dialed in, and being so easy going on race day. It was a pleasure to meet him and I hope the eventually takes on a positive sheen for him. Ah, and thanks for that water from heaven...</LI></UL><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1123" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveGila wraptag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:10662006-05-08T12:22:00Z<P>Tour of the Gila has wrapped up for another year. I just wanted to give a shout out to the fellas for adding an element of suspense to my surfing the past week. There were a lot of great performances out there.</P>
<UL>
<LI>Ian's win in the cat 3 TT.</LI>
<LI>Greg's solid performance <EM>every day</EM> to finish top 10 overall in the 3s.</LI>
<LI>Brent had 2 6th place finishes in the 3s.</LI>
<LI>Ben made top 10 overall and 3rd on the final day in the sandbagger, er, cat 4/5 field.</LI>
<LI>Miles had a solid ride in his first big race as a cat 2.</LI>
<LI>Andrew rode through what I know was a hard week after racing Bisbee last weekend. We did that double a couple of years ago and I swore to never do it again. He didn't.</LI></UL>
<P>Another big ride at Gila - Anthony Colby was sitting between the 8-10 GC spots most of the race but put down a great ride yesterday and leapfrogged to 4th on GC, finishing 2nd on the day @ 3 seconds. Nick Gould made the top 10 GC in the 2s as well.</P>
<P>Dunno what field he's racing at the Iron Horse, but I look for Ben to win it, whatever the field...</P>
<P>Quote of the race: "I wanted to try to do something more today, but I'm over the top of my peak fitness wise, so I was trying to focus on the task at hand." - Chris Baldwin, GC winner. Must be tough to only be able to hang on to Moningers wheel when you're cooked.</P>
<P>Great work gents!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1066" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBike Meldingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:10582006-05-07T20:58:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1057.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1057/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Specificity. It has many applications; one of my favorites is something I call "Bike Melding." With an important race coming up, the idea is to ride only the bike you will race. If training includes intervals, that's fine, they just get done on an MTB. With KTR coming up, it's especially important because after the pre-ride, I decided to go with the 29er Dos Niner. Except for the first 2.5 hours of climbing, the course is ideal terrain for the big wheels. Lotsa sand, legdgy stuff, classic desert riding. I'll miss the Fuel in the singletrack at the end, but the Dos overall is a good choice. If it only had 3" suspension...</P>
<P>The route today was the last long ride before the race. Starting from Durango, head north to the Hermosa Creek trail, take that to Salt creek where it becomes doubletrack (and under Hermosa creek right now anyway), backtrack to Jones creek & hit that climb then descend Mitchel lakes & spin back down the valley. This has become my standard "taper" ride the week before the big day and it's served me well. It's got some of everything: graded road climbs, paved climbs, tons of singletrack, big singletrack climbs, semi-tech terrain, and one crappy steep jeep road descent. This time I made it extra special by starting at 4AM, packed like it was a 14 hour ride, and filtered water out of Hermosa creek.</P>
<P>I'm happy to say the Dos is fine shape, and what's more, the bike melding is on. It felt sorta strange the first two rides last week as I haven't touched it after the OP testing...but today, it was a dream. It helped to have Radiohead guiding me along. One of the issues with the Fuel last week was with a loaded Wingnut, the front end was too light, I couldn't keep it on the ground on the steeps and that was way annoying. It's probably because I've altered the bikes geometry a bit with the 100mm Reba...the Dos handled the steeps like a champ, steady as a rock, and traction to spare - I forgot about that part! Steep rubbly climbs were no problem, and that's good cause KTR is littered with them. </P>
<P>There are a lot of eyes on Hermosa creek trail in the dark! I haven't done these trails yet this year, and was pleasantly surprised to find them in great shape (except for Jones which has been rooted by motos) and most downed logs cut away. The views from the top of the Jones creek climb (going towards Mitchell lakes) are so worthy...I leave you with this shot of the Animas Valley from my perch of 9600'.</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1056.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1056/400x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1058" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLED R&Dtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:10502006-05-06T12:50:00Z<P>For the past 10 years, heavy batteries & light systems is something I've just accepted as part of night riding. Then last year I raced the <A href="http://www.rockypeakproductions.com/24%20hours%20of%20Steamboat%20site/">Steamboat 24 hour race</A> - and that changed my thinking entirely. The course is one big climb followed by one big descent. 2100' from 6,900' to 9,000', so when night came and I strapped on my Niterider HID helmet and Niterider Classic bar system, I just added about 1850 grams, or 4.6 lbs! Sweet, I busted my a$$ to get down below 145 lbs for this event, then put 5 right back on in an instant.</P>
<P>The research began. What lights produce adequate runtimes, are lightweight, and have good light qualities? HID is great, no doubt about it. The new Flight and Moab models from Niterider look relatively lightweight, too. Those might be good options, but spendy. This sport is killing me...keep looking. What about LED technology? Last year I test drove some <A href="http://www.solidlights.co.uk/">SolidLights</A>, and although the light seemed good, the batteries died after 20 minutes. Glad I brought one of my own systems as backup! To their credit, they were probably just not sufficiently charged. But, those batteries were tiny and very light. I was intrigued.</P>
<P>I looked into more LED stuff. At Old Pueblo, Dinotte was supposed to have lights on hand and a vendor setup - I looked and looked, they were nowhere to be found. Persistant as I am, I shot off emails to them, which were not returned. 2 strikes you're out. Almost had a doulbeshot purchased, but the vendor wouldn't ship to any address other than the billing address, WTF? OK, whatever...the doubleshot heavy anyway at 650 grams since they use yesterday's battery technology for today's lighting.</P>
<P>As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of all invention. Diving deep into the research, there's a fellow in the UK that I know as "robdeanhove" who appears to be the guru of do it yourself LED systems. He apparently pioneered such efforts, and it makes sense this would come out of the UK. They have a lot of darkness in winter. Regionally, <A href="http://slipangles.blogspot.com/">Chris</A> has also gotten into the DIY LED fray. He provided some vendor links I found invaluable.</P>
<P>So let's cut to the chase. The last LED post showed a single 5W LED helmet mount. The LuxeonV stars have an anomoly that creates a dark spot in the center of the beam pattern for all but a 10 degree lens. After testing this light, it clearly is more along the lines of a flood light - which for me means it is going on the bars. So I decided to make a 2 x 3W head torch, which I believe is what the doubleshot is. I used aluminum pipe stock for the housing. The LEDs are heat sinked by cutting strips of aluminum sheeting, folding them so they follow the inside of the tube, and are bolted to the tube. This provides a solid base for the LED. The lens holder is epoxied to the LED, and that assembly is epoxied to the tube, seated against the heat sink, with some Radio Shack heat sink compound in between the two for good measure. Both lenses are 5 degree spot beams, but are easily changes to suit preference. I had a final requirement that the whole shebang mounts to the helmet. I hate wires coming down my back...here'tis:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1048.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1048/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Lightweight, too.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1049.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1049/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>That's right - less that half the weight of the doubleshot. Runtime with this setup is a little over 4 hours compared to the 5 of the doubleshot. However, I can dim the lights to conserve when I don't need full power - the doubleshot is simply on or off. Ease the power back on climbs and it will go for 6 hours.</P>
<P>Why is this so much lighter than the commercial product? Mostly the battery technology. After looking at all the battery combinations at <A href="http://www.batteryspace.com/">www.batteryspace.com</A>, nothing - not even the polymer LiOn batteries - comes close to the mAh to weight ratio of the new Energizer lithium batteries. The closest the custom solutions came was about 61% of the Energizer AAs. Of course there's pro's and cons to using the Energizers. They can be found anywhere, which makes this a really good solution for events like the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/index.html">Great Divide Race</A> or the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page5.html">Grand Loop Race</A> (the latter of which I'm seriously considering...but that's ANOTHER story...). Also, they don't have to be the fancy Lithium AAs, the light will work off any AA battery, the difference of course is in the runtime. I've got some NiMH rechargables that instead of 4+ hours will go for about 2:45, and for 8 of them weigh in at 120 grams more. The downside would be replacing expendible batteries, and the <A href="http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf">energizer lithiums </A>are expensive. For special events where space and weight are important, it's an expense I'll swallow. The lighting electronics are quite flexible as well. The head torch can use any niterider battery, and the bar torch can use any 13.2 volt niterider battery. So all those heavy archaic batteries will still get some use ;)</P>
<P>But the proof is in the pudding, right? I gave them a test run this am, going up the Colorado trail at 4:30 am. They are freaking bright! The helmet spot beams especially are bright, so much so that if they are pointed too low they completely wash everything out. LED light is very white. The 5W 10 degree on the bars is perfect for those long initial climbs at KTR, and the spot beams have a very long reach to help the high speed descent off of Beaver Mesa.</P>
<P>It's a bit early to claim total success on the project, but so far so good. The weight savings over my traditional setup? 1290 grams, or about 51 ounces, or about 3.2 pounds. Plus a lot more runtime: 5+ hours on the bar light, compared to 3 with a single beam on the previous setup. </P>
<P>KTR will be the acid test...I'm stupid about stuff like this. What better way to put my $$ where my mouth is?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1050" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDIY LED Lightstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:10292006-05-04T12:09:00Z<P>Grrrrr....had this really nice post all written up then hit the refresh button and poof, it's gone. Here's the gist:</P>
<P>KTR bike choice: the route screams for 29" wheels after Magpie hill. I ain't deaf; the Dos is in.</P>
<P>DIY LEDs: the second prototype is ready for action. Here's pics.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1027.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1027/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The housing is aluminum pipe stock, 5W Luxeon Star LED, powered by 700ma buckpuck with pot & 8 AAs. Should run about 4.5 hours at high, lot's more with judicious use of the pot. Mount and connector wires poached from an old niterider setup. It's not heavy - the light is 54g, total system about 280g, all on the helmet, and bright too. With NX05 optics there is no dreaded dark spot in the center of the beam pattern.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1028.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1028/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1026.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1026/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1029" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveKTRtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:10172006-05-02T23:32:00Z<P>Mike Curiak is an underground Laird Knight, an enduro junkies pimp. He's cooked up an unsupported race through 142 miles of mountain and desert. Are you self-reliant? Resourceful? Smart? Lucky? It'll take more than good legs to get to the finish line of this epic adventure. And those that do...and some that won't...will be thanking Mike for the crack fix he's cooking up.</P>
<P>The rules are completely foreign to me, and at first pass I thought "what the hell? Does he want to see folks die out there?" No outside support. No drops. Bring what you need or do without. No drafting.</P>
<P>The funny thing is, as I was preriding the route over the weekend, I gained a good bit of clarity on why those rules are set up the way they are. It is the purest of individual pursuits, the purest accomplishment to complete the event under ones own power, entirely. It demands a certain toughness from which MTB riding has it's roots, but have gone the way of the dodo with the myriad of supported event formats. </P>
<P>KTR may kill me, but it is a beautiful quest to consider.</P>
<P>Now, for those of you considering the event, you must decide right now whether to keep reading. Reading this will help you prepare, perhaps...but may also take away some of the surprises in store. If you prefer surprises over survival, stop right here X.<BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</P>
<P>There are a lot of tricky elements to this race. It has some of everything, something for everyone. Lots of climbing. Lots of ledgy, rocky jeep trail. If you like the Moab 24 hour course, you'll be right at home. It's also got quite a bit of smooth dirt road and pavement, that if the winds are good you'll scoot effortlessly across; if headwinds are the order of the day add 2 hours. </P>
<P>Some tidbits. Consider the source - neither of us had ridden any of these trails before (except sand flats road).</P>
<UL>
<LI>there is no perfect tire choice. Anything you choose will have trade-offs. I'll air on the side of floatation for sandy/rocky conditions.
<LI>Water. You'll think about it a lot during this ride. Fisher creek is good, but way high up and early in the race. The Colorado river is accessible at Dewey (albeit requiring a bit of a scramble under the hwy bridge), and 12 miles later the trail goes right alongside the river, easy access there. It's muddy though. Westwater has tap water, but will cost at least 10 minutes. Salt creek is big, fast, and muddy. The next 11 miles past Salt creek will be challenging with the previous 130 in your legs...so if you're dry...I'm sure there are other options I'm missing here, but the salty dogs that have done this before have earned the right to hold those cards closely.
<LI>Lights: don't feck around if you are serious. Moonlight ain't gonna work in a lot of spots. The lead riders will likely be to Dewey by sunrise - and guess what - the hardest terrain of the course (except the Fruita singletrack) is the second half of the Slick rock and Dewey section. Part of that includes a 3000+ foot descent on jeep roads of varying quality. Lighting will be a big issue here.
<LI>Difficulty: it varies wildy...but every time I was tempted to call it the "Kokopelli Road Race", some twist would settle me down. There is basically no singletrack until mile 130 or so...but that doesn't mean it's easy. The first 2.5-3 hours is mostly climbing, including one long paved descent (with some very sharp surprise curves waiting in the dark). It gets more interesting as you descend out of the LaSals. The views are great too BTW! The surprise part of the course for us was the section past some biatch of a hike-a-bike, I think it's called Rose Garden Hill? The two cottonwood canyons...lots of super slow, techy climbing in sand, that'll be challenging in the dark. How rigid guys get through this is beyond me...I kept thinkng of Ed on his 34x18 29er rigid and going OMG as I was in my 22x30 full squish and thinking it was harsh...The 10 mile section past Dewey is also a bit challenging, mostly from sand. After that the course is relatively easy, not nearly as much climbing...until Salt creek, anyway.
<LI>Signage: the route is marked quite well up to Rabbit Valley. The Rabbit valley and Loma trails are poorly (or not at all) marked. Pre-ride this if you can; finding your way through this area in the dark would be, well, impossible without GPS or prior knowledge.</LI></UL>
<P>In pictures.</P>
<P>The top of the first extended section of climbing. 8300' elevation.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1012.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1012/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Lots of these kinds of views. We won't see 'em on race night tho.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1011.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1011/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Lynda isn't even peaking for this event, but damn is she riding well! She's a tireless crackhead.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1004.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1004/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Funny story about this hill. It's known (I think) as Rose Garden. I've got a different name, though. Lynda and I got separated at one point, and I had been planning on stopping at some water sources to filter...but by this point realized I'd blown right past them all. Dumbass. As I descending to the base of this nasty climb, a cocophany of magpies greeted me with their laughing ridicule "dumbass, dumbass, dumbass!!!" For me, this will forever be Magpie Hill. Strange mojo here, tread with caution.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture993.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/993/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It's all a hike. Here's looking down Magpie Hill.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture995.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/995/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Flower season is on!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture1008.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/1008/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/category1038.aspx">There are a few more pics here</A>.</P>
<P>All in all, it is an enormous undertaking to complete this course in a day. I did use a powermeter and scored about 850 TSS points over 2 days, and we had nuclear tailwinds both days. Lighting, water, feeding, pacing, luck, karma, common sense, clear thinking under duress, and plain old brawn will all have to align just so to reach the finish of this one. </P>
<P>It's an epic I eagerly anticipate.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1017" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLost in my backyardtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:9822006-04-28T11:53:00Z<P>Last evening I got a view of Durango that was completely new to me. Sorry, didn't have the camera in tow... Last weekend Walker mentioned the new singletrack heading up Missionary Ridge that starts under the Edgemont sign up Florida road, so it was time to probe something new. To my surprise, this new trail extended roughly half way up the Durango Hills climb, cutting out much (almost all) of the residential riding and pops out onto FR 071. Bumpy as new trails tend to be, but a great singletrack climb just 10 minutes from my front door. Ah...it's good to be back!</P>
<P>But wait, there's more. This is the route commonly ridden to reach the Haflin descent or Missionary ridge trail, but the ridge top is still a bit wet/snowy above 9500' (it should still be 5 feet deep in snow, be scared, very scared). Rather than hit one of those trails, I looked for another route down along the southbound edge of the ridge. That's where the big views came into play - the LaPlatas, Weminuche, Animas Mtn, Animas river, my house - all in plain view from new perspectives. Evidently it's mostly private land - the amount of development up there was STAGGERING. Most of that terrain is 20-30% grade too, they will develop anywere around here.</P>
<P>In other news, Lynda and I are doing a Kokopelli Trail recon this weekend. Tomorrow is Moab to Dewey, Sunday is Dewey to Loma. Really looking forward to this weekend, it'll be a lot more fun than the <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">unsupported 142 mile backcountry race in 2 weeks </A>;) Goals for this weekend: determine where water access lies (but will they still be there in 2 weeks???); get a read on tire choice; figure out how to carry all the stuff needed for this race; get more acquainted with my new <A href="https://www.wingnutgear.com/product_details.cfm?id=117">Hyper 2.5 Wingnut </A>pack (review forthcoming). Those are the strategic goals...on the training front, the weekend will finalize my base 2 (no, not Friel speak...first base ended Jan23, I prefer a 3 month repeating cycle for much of the year) with CTL 140 and a 30 day rolling of 5000. I've been here twice before, but never felt this fresh - weird!</P>
<P>Pics, report, water source info to come. Stay tuned.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=982" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSpring has sprung on the Colorado Plateautag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:9672006-04-24T13:17:00Z<P>The first Indian Paintbrush spotting of '06. Certainly one of my faves, it gets top billing.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture964.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/964/400x120.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>What a nutter. Anna signed up for a 25 mile <EM>foot</EM> race (trail) in Fruita for Saturday. It was held on the trails at the end of the Kokopelli trail - Mary's, Troy Built and a few others. A week before the event I get an email from <A href="http://www.yourmtb.com/blog/walker">Walker</A> saying he's heading to Fruita for an Edge loop epic ride. I knew nothing about it, but it sounded intriguing - hell yea, its a go!</P>
<P>Here's the start of the trail run. A good part of this crowd even signed up for 50 miles. That's a lot on a bike...MTBers don't have the nutter market cornered, not by a long shot...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture960.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/960/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Walker is a fine writer - you can read his account <A href="http://www.yourmtb.com/blog/the_definition_of_epic">here</A>. However, his pictures suck so check this post out too :-) This vantage point overlooks the Colorado river, Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa and all points between and some beyond. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture965.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/965/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Included in Walker's write up of the ride is a video of his rappel down this 50' pourover. There was a walkaround option for the faint of heart (yea, that'd be me).</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture961.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/961/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The Book Cliffs.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture962.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/962/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The Edge loop has some great singletrack, scenery, and a rappel sure makes it interesting...but it's really more of a sprint than an epic. I suppose it all depends on ones perspective, but it took us roughly 3 hours - so that clearly is short to me. Everyone has their own definition of epic, and this ride had elements, but missed the mark on the length. So, to make it an epic weekend...</P>
<P>The next day Anna dropped me off at the Starbucks in Montrose (yea, that's right - drive through and all, right in Montrose), next best place to Bread to begin a ride. The plan was to ride to Durango, roughly 110 miles and also taking in Red Mountain, Molas, and Coal Bank passes. So here's a math question for you: at what headwind speed does it require 300 watts to maintain 11 mph on the level for a 145 lb rider in the drops? This question was burning a hole in my brain for the better part of 5 hours. Near the snowshed on Red Mountain, the headwinds were so hard that it took well over 300W to go 6-7mph...granted the grade is probably 7-8% at that spot, but still...standing hoping to find a bit more oomph just slammed me backwards as I set sail for the edge...</P>
<P>Now that was epic. I'm ready for <A href="http://www.transiowa.blogspot.com/">TIV2</A>.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=967" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Passestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:9212006-04-17T00:30:00Z<P>I'll admit it right here, right now: Durango cyclists have an (unfair?) advantage for a number of reasons, but the one I really like is the proximity to the million dollar highway, US Hwy 550 between Durango Mountain Resort and Ouray. The road strikes fear into those driving trucks, RVs, or anyone pulling trailers. Anyone from Iowa for that matter ;) The route hits 3 major passes: Coal Bank, Molas, and Red Mountain. They are all between 10,600 and 11,000'.</P>
<P>Since the elevation is so high, power output is much reduced. According to one performance model (<A href="http://www.midweekclub.com/powerFAQ.htm#Q17">http://www.midweekclub.com/powerFAQ.htm#Q17</A>), at 11,000' you have between 77% and 81% of your sea level threshold power and not a watt more. Some think this is bad for training - half of the reasoning of the live high/train low model is based on such reasoning. But I say bull hockey. Guys that train at elevation in these parts kick some serious booty. Ned is one of them, training high hasn't hurt his palmares! One thing I've noticed when training at elevation is that recovery is faster than a similar TSS workout at lower elevations. In the latter, FT is higher so absolute work performed is much higher - and I presume that accounts for more muscle damage (don't quote me on that though, I'm no physiologist). Of course I mix it up, interjecting high intensity stuff at (relatively) lower elevations mid-week. It's my opinion though, that prolonged work at elevation builds FT power because it's all relative - FT relative to available Os. At elevation I can do a helluva lot more "threshold" work than lower elevations. </P>
<P>In any case, after a serious block of elevation work last year I saw gains beyond expecations, so I'm at it again. Today's ride was 111 miles, Durango to Red Mtn pass and back. Total ride time was about 6:20. Not sure how much climbing, but by Silverton there is over 5,000' and that was just the first 2:40, only 2 of 5 passes climbed...</P>
<P>The aesthetic perks are huge. It's awesome country any time of year up there...right now it's mud season at the lower elevations, and still winter at higher elevations.</P>
<P>This shot is just before the base of Coal Bank Pass. Engineer Mountain on the right.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture919.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/919/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The top of Red Mountain pass is still wintry. Last year snowpack was more than double this amount. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture920.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/920/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>6 years ago I spent a summer guiding rafts down the upper Animas river. This is the first view the crews get, looking down the daunting Animas River gorge from Silverton.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture918.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/918/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Now you know another reason you should groan when a Durango cyclist shows up to your next event!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=921" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHumbledtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:9112006-04-15T17:18:00Z<P>So, you're fast on a bike and have an ego the size of all outdoors. If this is you, you need help, the kind Durango can dish out.</P>
<P>The sqwauker classic is this weekend - a 3 stage collegiate road race put on by FLC but open to the public and licensed by USCF. This am was the team time trial. We threw a last minute team together with myself, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/brent/about.aspx">Brent</A>, <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/greg/about.aspx">Greg</A>, and <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/miles/about.aspx">Miles</A>. The course was a gently rolling out and back (CR 250 for the locals).</P>
<P>I knew it was going to hurt a lot, but that was on tap for today anyway, so what the heck. My training volume is really high right now which makes it hard to maintain the top end efforts required at the front...pain was everywhere, and tears were falling into my glasses, that's when I know I'm on the rivet.</P>
<P>So, about 6 minutes from the finish we're doing a fast rotation, and while I'm up at the front and about to head to the back, I hear something like a muffled helicopter. What??? Well, that's the sound of 10 disk wheels piloted by 5 <A href="http://www.rmcfcycling.com/">fudge packers</A> led by <A href="http://www.tomdanielson.com/">Deez</A>. It's not that we were slow - our average speed was about 28.5 mph - but these guys were hauling a$$. Greg hates to be passed, and TTT or not, he jumps hard, gets in their draft, and my sorry but is blown off the back before I even know what happened. Mad but relieved...what can I say?</P>
<P>Pictures were taken but not by me. Maybe some will get posted (hint, hint boyz...). That's enough racing for me this weekend, tomorrow its back to the regularly scheduled program with a 6.5 hour day of climbing, out and back from Dtown to Red Mountain Pass.</P>
<P>Greg, you in? </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=911" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLucky or frivolous?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:8922006-04-13T22:05:00Z<P><IMG src="/images/dave/la_platas.jpg" width=550></P>
<P>Sometimes I just have to pinch myself. Today for instance - it was one of those days that only happens every so often - deep blue skies, gentle breezes, a comfortable 70ish F, and views to die for. My time in Phoenix the last 2 winters drives home the cold reality that not everyone has it this good, the ability to chase their dreams & passions. Even in this affluent country, many folks are in survival mode, nose buried too far into the grindstone to see the view, too numb to even be aware of their passions.</P>
<P>The day rarely passes anymore that I don't realize how lucky I am. Hell, I've seen the end of the rainbow and it's right out my front door.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/rainbow_small.jpg" width=500></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=892" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDawn 'til Dusk 12 Hourtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:8812006-04-10T13:04:00Z<P><IMG src="/images/dave/plate.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>Dang...it's been awhile since I've been here. Part of my blog periodization plan is a transition period ;) So...since the Nova national, I've moved back home to Durango. It always takes me a couple of weeks to get adjusted to life at altitude again...it baffles me how some riders can come and go with no adverse affects. The altitude is a biggie for me. After an easy week, I did a couple of 3-5 hour passes rides, taking in some fine San Juan scenery and ultra thin air. Power at elevation was about 30-40 watts off the mark on the first ride, but a day later improved by 20 watts. Dang!</P>
<P>I'd been thinking about doing the Dusk til Dawn 12 hour race down in Gallup, but didn't really want to go solo. The important races are awhile out yet, and I am unable to race without drilling it ya know...then Fergy asked if I was interested in going duo - sweet! Duo 12 or 24 hour races are awesome training - some of the best I ever do. It is both lots of volume, and lots of intensity. So we packed up the pop-up and drove on down to Gallup.</P>
<P>The course is a lot like riding in the lower elevations around Durango, and definitely like riding in the Aztec/Farmington area. All singletrack, twisty, fast turns, dry, slickrock in spots, short climbs, generally slow, super fun at race pace, with the added twist of some off-camber turns that if you stack (like I did once) you've got a good chance of serious air time over a cliff's edge. The folks putting on the race were awesome - friendly, and put on a helluva good show. T-shirt, watter bottle, post ride dinner and band, (did I mention 12 hours of racing?) all for $40 solo, $70 duo (I think?). If you missed it this year, get on down there next year...Good stuff!</P>
<P>I thought the course was a bit tough for solos as it wasn't that smooth and had some short punchy climbs that take it out of ya. There were some great solo rides: Brian Lugers took the solo men, while his wife Jenna Woodbury took solo women. I rode with them both a bit on their 7th/8th lap and they were still looking strong! Brian went out unbelievably hard; Fergy and I didn't move in front of him for good until the end of the 3rd lap. Crap he was flying. Rick "foaming" Callies did his first 12 hour solo and brought it in for 2nd. Super strong ride by the infamous Durango old timer. Glen Golrad was right on his heels for a super solid 3rd place finish.</P>
<P>Here's Rick in the final minute. He's a fierce competitor, despite his self-depricating manner!</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/rick_finish.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>New guy on the solo scene, Glen Golrad. Solid ride!</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/glen.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>In the duo's, Fergy and I more than had our hands full. There were 3 male duo teams from Durango: myself and Fergy, teamates Greg Lewis and Ralph Winebarger, and Zach Shriver and Sean Raley. We started up a dirt road short climb, and none other but Kip Biese sprints off the line (he was solo) and puts the hurt on immediately. It was short lived though - he tore a sidewall and dropped out in the first lap. After suffering out the first lap (my slowest on the day, can you believe it?), the pecking order had been established. Zach put down a blistering first lap, then Greg, then myself. The first lap was coooold, 30ish F. Fergy was riding his Salsa Dos Niner since he hasn't yet received his Fuel, and he seemed happy with it. There were a lot of big wheels at the race, actually. Anyway, that's sorta how it went the rest of the day, at least until about 4pm. Fergy and I just kept a steady pace - all my lap times after the first were within a 2 minute spread, and it felt good, lots of fun. We never were within striking distance of the first two duo teams, but had a big gap on 4th - a sort of comfortable no mans land.</P>
<P>The big news, though - was the Greg/Ralph duo. They just kept on hammering, chipping away at the first place team's lead. Sean broke a seatpost or somesuch on his 4th lap and Ralph was right there to make the kill and came in some 5 minutes before Sean - they had taken the lead! Just in case you don't know...Ralph is the owner of Cottonwood cycles, Brent's pop, and a busy guy. At age 55, he is literally riding circles around guys half his age. We're trying to twist his arm to get him to mammoth this year...</P>
<P>And that's how it played out to the end. Greg and Ralph kept their advantage, finishing with the win with 11 laps. Zach and Sean also finished with 11 laps. Fergy and I were about 15 minutes off the mark for going out for the 11th, and finished with 10 laps. Team HealthFX rocked it with a 1st and 3rd place finishes, just like Moab.</P>
<P>Ralph showing his preferred recovery beverage.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/ralph.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>Zach charging out for his final lap in hot pursuit of Greg.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/zach_going_out.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>Greg rocking the final descent.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/greg2.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P>A job well done!</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/done2.jpg" width=500 border=0></P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=881" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMarathon Maniatag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:8102006-03-25T16:32:00Z<P>The season's first NORBA marathon in Fountain Hills, AZ was a real ripper. It turns out a lot of folks were chomping to get the season under way - the field was deeper than any marathon to date. Without a published start list prior to the event, you never know who is going to be there. I knew there were some guys coming over from Cali, and some from CO...but it had the feel of a pro xc start. There were something over 40 guys in the open/pro field. I don't think I've done one of these with more than 20 in the past. You could taste the start line anticipation, it was that thick.</P>
<P>The forecast was a warm one - so Team Big Bear cut the race back from 5 to 4 laps. Everyone but myself breathed a big sigh of relief on that one. The longer the better I say. So off we go...my start position wasn't so good in the 3rd row back, but the first 100 yards were wide open so I gave it stick and snuck up into the front of the group. That position didn't last long. The course funneled into wide singletrack quite suddenly, so of course we're riding 4 abreast (or more) where there is space for 1 or 2...and both my left and right barends get hooked by riders pressing in on me. Crap! Next thing I know I'm that guy who crashes off the start. Although I had the presence of mind to see the humor in the situation, it was a bit annoying to be suddenly DFL. The course is 100% singletrack, so the first lap I spent a lot of time and energy passing.</P>
<P>After that first hectic lap, it was all about staying smooth, eating, drinking, and working with folks from time to time. It was super fast, super fun racing, nearly all big ring stuff. I was taking in about 50-60 oz fluids every hour and still finished a bit dehydrated...also was taking in about 400-500 cal/hour and lots of electrolytes. The heavy eating/drinking seemed to work pretty well. I did slow down a bit towards the end, but steadily moved up throughout the race, finishing 14th. A couple of Canadian guys took the top 2 spots, followed by Travis Brown (on his singlespeed, or course!). Lots of DNFs, 15 or so. </P>
<P>These results come courtesy of <A href="http://sologoat.blogspot.com/2006/03/032406-hella-hot-in-arizona.html">solo goat</A>.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/nova_ma_results.jpg" border=0></P>
<P>I used the PT for this race, the power file is <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/entry809.aspx">here</A>. </P>
<P> </P></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=810" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveNova Marathon course betatag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7672006-03-16T23:21:00Z<P>There have been some requests for beta on the Nova Marathon course. A course map is at the bottom of <A href="http://www.teambigbear.com/event_detail.php?event_id=139">this page</A>, for both the XC and Marathon events. </P>
<P>Last night I rode 3 laps of the course. It took about an hour each 14 mile lap; the race is 5 laps. The course is note the same as last years course. This year, the course is comprised of all 3 competitive track loops at McDowell Mtn park in this order - sport, expert, long. If you've raced Nova before, the TT is the long loop. The expert and sport loops are typically part of the XC course, as well as the long loop. </P>
<P>It will be an exercise in hydration and concentration. It's non-stop singletrack, twisty, rolling, and pretty darn buffed out by the recent rains. Some of the turns are a touch sandy/loose (but not much), and the back of the long loop has a mile or two of rocky terrain. There are a few power climbs (30s-1min) on the long loop, an opening big ring climb on the sport loop (about 2.5 min), and a ~2.5 min climb on the first part of the expert loop. It's never really flat or straight though, lots of rolling terrain. </P>
<P>If I had unlimited bikes to choose from, my preference would be</P>
<OL>
<LI>26" FS</LI>
<LI>29" HT</LI>
<LI>29" FS</LI>
<LI>26" HT </LI></OL>
<P>Obviously I don't like hard tails...but if I was riding one the 29er would be a lot nicer on the rocky backside of the long loop. Overall though, the course is just twisty enough to favor the 26" for me, but if I only had hard tails it'd be a 29er.</P>
<P>Last year folks were <EM>dying</EM> in this race. It gets hot here in late March. The forecast is low 80's, humidity will be low, and with a 10am start we'll be riding till 3pm or so, right through the heat of the day. It's hard not to ride this course like a short XC race, it's also hard to get bottle to mouth...and this year's course will be much more challenging than last years. 15 loops! Bring dramamine, good gloves, ice-filled water bottles, and maybe even a camelback.</P>
<P>Here's a link to the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/entry766.aspx">pre-ride power file</A>.</P>
<P>See ya next week!</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=767" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLiterature breaktag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7602006-03-15T18:17:00Z<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Every so often I stumble across an author that inspires me towards a reading binge. The latest is Daniel Coyle, author of "Armstrong's War." I'm currently in the middle of <EM>Armstrong's War, </EM>and so far it's an exceptional read. Deep insights into the many characters surrounding LA...but that isn't what prompts me to make this quickie post...</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Hey enduro nutz: this is a must read article. <STRONG><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sports/playmagazine/05robicpm.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=43ea654b7a294d89&ex=1142571600">That Which Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stranger</A>.</STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Favorite quote from the article: </FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#deb887><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT color=#000080>''In fatigue, it only feels like we're going to die. The actual physiological risks that fatigue represents are essentially trivial.''</FONT> <FONT color=#000000>- Timothy Noakes</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Coyle wrote many years for Outside mag, some of his </FONT><A href="http://outside.away.com/outside/features/literary-all-stars_5.html"><FONT face=Arial size=2>older material is linked here</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Time to go work on that governor...</FONT></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=760" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave24 Hour "Worlds", fact or fantasy?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7562006-03-15T13:02:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/24_hours_of_moab/picture10.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/24_hours_of_moab/images/10/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>24 Hours of Adrenaline yesterday <A href="http://www.24hoursofadrenalin.com/twenty4/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_eventDetails&eventContentID=701d36dd-7e90-e2a3-b54c-9446f148c77d">announced</A> the date and venue for their solo world championship event. Keen observers knew something was in the works - they previously announced a much reduced 06' schedule and billed it "part 1", leaving room for the assumption there was more to come. There is some long standing bad blood between Adrenaline and Granny Gear, so it should come as no surprise that Adrenaline decided to put their world's event the week before the 24 hours of Moab.</P>
<P>Given <A href="http://just-riding-along.typepad.com/just_riding_along/2005/08/kerkove_suspend.html">Adrenaline's proclivity to ban riders </A>for speaking, after this post it'll be obvious where my choice will be...but really Adrenaline, what are you thinking? Moab is the granddaddy of them all, you can't touch it. But for riders at the pointy end of the field, you present a real conundrum. This is completely unfair to the riders because you force them to make a choice. How much sense does it make to have the two biggest 24 hour events of year on back to back weekends? There's a not so hidden agenda here.</P>
<P>As a bit of background...<A href="http://www.grannygear.com/">GG</A> formed the <A href="http://grannygear.com/AMTRI/index.shtml">AMTRI</A> in '95. So far as I can tell this is simply a framework from which 24 hour events should be run. It's been a part (the heart?) of the contention between Adrenaline and GG, both publicly and legally. </P>
<P>There is no independent, impartial sanctioning for 24 hour events...so each promoter claiming it's event to be the "Worlds" has as much right to do so as the other. Ah, then there's the Kona Global series...but put that on hold for now...so it would seem that it's rider acceptance that creates the most status, entitling a promoter to claim the title "worlds". In the past, that seems to have been Adrenaline's event. But given Adrenaline's mounting trouble in the public eye and latest schedule conflicts, that all could change.</P>
<P>I guess we'll just have to wait until October to see where all the big dogs cast their vote.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=756" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExtremestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7382006-03-13T00:04:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture737.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/737/500x101.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>143 days without measurable precip, then yesterday the sky unloads over 2" of rain here in the valley, and well over a foot of snow above 4,000'. There was a heavy snow warning for Maricopa county above 2,000' - no joke! That probably doesn't mean much to the CO, UT, Iowa, or east coast crowd, but for these parts that is unheard of. The picture above is of my planned ride for the day - yes, over that snowcovered ridge. That was a no go...</P>
<P>Here's a rare shot of Superstition mountain covered in snow. The view from my front door told me I was road bound for the day.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture735.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/735/500x336.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>My training has been a bit on the extreme side lately as well. With the Nova Marathon just around the corner (I consider them sprint events now), it's time to bring some top end back. Training has taken a "drillin' or chillin' " flavor of late & it fully kicked my butt in the last block. I was so tired yesterday, could do nothing but sleep, wasn't sure I was going to make it out the door today. Glad I did though...it was an amazing day to be on the roads. How often do you see snow covered peaks aside lush green golf courses and palm trees? (BTW Humboldt survivors - that peak got well over a foot of snow yesterday)</P>
<P>Only gripe is the official Mormon assault vehicle. Damn near got killed by at least 6 of these monsters. Hummers are innocuous; if I see one more over suspended, jacked up, big tired EXPEDITION I'm gonna go postal...</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture734.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/734/500x358.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=738" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExecuting your first 24 solo, part 5 (training)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7272006-03-12T13:02:00Z<P>Part 5 addresses how to train for your first 24 solo effort. The first 4 posts in this series are <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/category/1033.aspx">here</A>.</P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri</STRONG>: Do you do any 24 hour simulations...or just go for it?? Dave, I really appreciate all of your input on these matters and putting up with my petty questions, I know that it will help me out as I prepare for Laguna Seca.</P>
<P><STRONG>Dave: </STRONG>Thanks Yuri for the questions - they are really well thought out. They directly address aspects of racing I've been working on for a few years now...and I'm happy to help out fellow chronics!</P>
<P>Training for ultra MTB events in general is a passion of mine. I've spent years thinking on the topic and used different tools to help understand what is happening, how to guage progress, and how to plan. Sharing these thoughts is the #1 reason I started this blog. In time I'll go into more depth on the whys, whats, & whens of what I've found to be effective, but for now, this will get you pointed in the right direction. Of course, there are a million ways to skin a cat...so you may end up doing something entirely different based on your previous training experiences...</P>
<P>24 solo efforts are huge - physically, financially, emotionally, mentally. It's always been my approach to come at them with the best possible fitness, because anything less is just going to hurt that much more and leave me dissatisfied. We're always looking for optimal experiences, right? </P>
<P>Time to stir the pot again. There just isn't much info in the public domain on ultra mtb training. I've been coached, used Friel's methods, and learned a lot for both scenarios. However, neither filled the ultra gaps. At issue is the demands of the event, balanced with a need for speed. There's a basic paradox in ultra events: you rarely if ever do sustained efforts at or above threshold power, but <EM>power at threshold is the primary determinent of endurance capacity</EM>. That last part is key. If you train by power, you know that you have an intrinsic power-duration curve. For example, let's say you can do 600W for 1 min, 400 for 5m, 300 for 20m, 250 for 5 hours and so on. These are points on your power-duration curve. For long events, we're interested in raising that 5 hour point. It is my observation that to do that, you must raise the shorter duration points - the 1, 5, and 20 minute points.</P>
<P>This isn't to say endurance rides aren't important - they are key! Another aspect to consider is specificity. 24 solos are long...and the closer to an event, the more "race-like" you should be training. So when I put these thoughts in a tumbler and shake'm up, I come up with a rough periodization plan that looks like this:</P>
<P>Transition<BR>Endurance phase, tempo training<BR>Top end training (power level 5, 6)<BR>Threshold training (power level 4)<BR>Big, a$$-kicking tempo blocks.<BR>Taper/sharpen/race</P>
<P>That's more or less reverse periodization in terms of intensity. The general idea is to first raise threshold power as high as possible, then build the endurance required for the event. The final big tempo blocks are key - and to get to your question - no there aren't any 24 hour sims in there. I shoot for getting a ride in that is at least 8 hours, and not usually more than 10. In the long rides of this period, I always try to pick it up towards the end. It instills good PE/pacing practices & intuition. This is based on power of course...the long rides are when you want to dial in your on-bike nutrition (300-400 cal/hour), pit stop actions, equipment, clothing...all the little details that add up to make or break performances. </P>
<P>This is the most race-specific preparation of the plan - and part of the process is to learn your body's signals/requests. During the race, you should always be thinking about what you need now, and what you need in the near future. Is your calorie intake on target? Is it digesting well? How about electrolytes? Are you getting cold? Are your eyes getting worked over by dust?(!!!) Out on a lap you are thinking of things you might request of your support either now or for the following lap. The long rides of this period are a time to dial in this ability to plan ahead on the fly, listening keenly to your body's signals. This is also a good time to dial in your night riding equipment and technique.</P>
<P>When to end that final tempo block and enter the taper depends on your base and race intentions. If the goal is a good solid finish, you probably want to enter the taper about 2 weeks prior to the event. If your intention is race domination, you'll want to end it 3 weeks prior, and after you freshen up (about a week) do a week's worth of higher intensity mtb stuff to bring on top end...but that is something I'd strongly recommend for a future event. You need a huge base to pull that one off. A 3 week taper will leave you flat (less fit) if your base isn't big enough.</P>
<P>Blah blah blah...a picture is worth a thousand words. <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/">Cyclingpeaks</A> is *the* software package for power meter users. Here's a plot of some of my training metrics leading to Old Pueblo this year. Higher intensity weeks occured in early Nov and mid-Dec, the low volume weeks. Note the steady progression of volume each week through early Feb (except one easy week when I was torched, had to rest up for <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/01/30/435.aspx">this week</A>). Long rides get a bit longer each week in this phase. This was a very aggressive, experimental training block. The result was my best 24 hour form to date. This just goes to show that even folks with average genetic endowment can have their share of "pinch me" moments given smart, hard training.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture729.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/729/479x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Yuri, thanks again for the well-formed questions. Good luck in your quest for an optimal experience, I know you'll rock it.</P>
<P>I'd really like to hear what others think about this and any of the other ideas I've expressed in this series, all thoughts are welcome. </P>
<P>TeamDicky: care to share any insights from the <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/592381">Viking</A> point of view? Don't worry, Yuri's a west coast guy ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=727" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveUnintentionally stirring the pottag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7212006-03-11T15:29:00Z<P>It's a rainy morning here in southern Arizona, the first in 140+ days so no complaints...</P>
<P>So. My quest to determine which bike is faster for me, the Dos 29er or the Trek Fuel, kicked up a bit of a ruckus in places. The Cyclingnews piece in particular got folks talking, er, yelling? In case you missed it, it's this one:</P>
<P><A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=news/2006/mar06/mar03mtbnews">http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=news/2006/mar06/mar03mtbnews</A></P>
<P>Then yesterday g-ted posted a link to bikemag, which features an article on Old Pueblo and the bike test.</P>
<P><A href="http://bikemag.com/features/columns/030806_mike/">http://bikemag.com/features/columns/030806_mike/</A>. Mike Ferrentino doesn't exactly have a gentle writing style...</P>
<P>It has really baffled me why so many folks get so worked up over my little quest. How many folks are riding 29ers strictly for racing & speed? Very few. It's as though readers see my test and think it's a slam against their belief system. Some bring up points that would be valid if I was doing a blanket across the board study...but I am not a research facility! </P>
<P>Entertaining in a "gee this doesn't make me so proud to be a human" sort of manner. Here's a random collection of the links I found to MTBR threads concerned with the testing, either directly or indirectly. From initial reactions, to "where'd the love go", to "I'm outta here", to "wait a minute, we ride these for fun!". </P>
<P>Phew! Someone finally got it in the end.</P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170033">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170033</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170202">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170202</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170114">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170114</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170650">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170650</A> </P>
<P>This one is about the 96er. Anything 26" gets attacked here.</P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170773">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170773</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170061">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170061</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=171388">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=171388</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=171890">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=171890</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170790">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170790</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170491">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170491</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170411">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=170411</A> </P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=166486">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=166486</A></P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=155598">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=155598</A></P>
<P>On the endurance racing MTBR board: </P>
<P><A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=141317">http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=141317</A></P>
<P>Funny thing is, I love riding my 29er. 26er too, for that matter.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=721" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExecuting your first 24 solo, part 4 (pacing)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7202006-03-11T13:34:00Z<P>Now it's time for the fun stuff. </P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri:</STRONG> Last, how do you pace yourself? Did you preride so you knew what kind of times you should be laying down, or did you just go out and base your pace off your first lap?</P>
<P><STRONG>Dave:</STRONG> There are several possible answers to this one...as in what did I do in my most recent race, or what did I do in my first few races...but sticking with the theme of solo virginity (that sounds bad!), the short answer is start out a lot easier than you think you should, especially on a SS. I've been training with power for several years now and have collected power data for long rides and a few 24 hour efforts as well. From this data, one thing that is obvious is how much initial pacing affects late race performance. Go too hard early in the ride and you'll slow sooner. Fatigue in these events is inevitable but manageable with good fitness and a good plan. Let's break the event down into 6 hour chunks.</P>
<P><U>Hours 0-6</U></P>
<P>This is a critical period of the race - not because you can win it here, but because you can lose it here. Since this is when you are uber fresh and chomping to get racing (you've been tapering for a couple weeks and have been going stir crazy with extra energy) it will be easy to come out of the gate flying, and it will feel effortless. Be conservative! No matter how fast you go, you still gotta go in circles for 24 hours...go too hard here and the next 18 hours will be pure torture, or worse. A prime example of going too hard early in the race happened last year at 24 hour natz. All the big guns did their best to torch each other - and took themselves out of the race, one by one. A hard pace means you aren't eating or hydrating well either, it all leads to CTD conditions.</P>
<P>I suggest setting some sort of limit for the first 6 hours. This can be based off heart rate, PE, breathing rate, or power, depending on what you have available. If using HR, the limit would be about 10 beats below LTHR, and you probably wouldn't want to average any more than LTHR-20 for any given hour. You never want to go to the point where you hit your ventilatory threshold, where breathing just begins to get labored. If you find yourself there, back off quickly. At this point the primary fuel source is muscle glycogen which is good for about 2 hours. If pacing by power, Coggan's level 2 is a good place to hang out, and limit any power spikes above L5. </P>
<P>So you're wondering what I'm talking about there...some of the fastest 24 hour riders come out swinging throwing down wicked fast first laps, sometimes faster than any team riders, and still go on to win. It takes quite a few events under the belt to get a feel for what you can get away with. Experience builds confidence. Still, I've often pondered the pacing question. Given what I've learned about power output (which determines speed & performance), it seems ridiculous to start a 24 so hard. Yet, the winning riders often go hard. Is it just because physiologically they are head and shoulders above the rest? Or maybe it's best to make hay while the sun shines, so to speak? The mental edge of leading the race? Hard to say. But for sure, in your first 24 solo effort, take it easy the first 6 hours. If you find you have lots of energy left you will still have 18 hours to put it to good use.</P>
<P>In general, I don't pace by lap times at all. It's all perceived exertion for me these days. Ride the wheel of others when you can, but avoid getting on the wheel of someone riding like a XC event - super bursty - you'll want to ride as steady as possible to avoid those higher power bursts. Ride relaxed, upper body loose, and get dialed into your nutrition plan ASAP. You'll want to be taking in 300+ calories an hour, the sooner you get on track with this the better.</P>
<P><U>Hours 6-12</U> </P>
<P>The first 6 hours don't tell you a lot about how you'll feel for the rest of the race, but in this period (6-12) you'll get strong indications. In my first 2 events, there was a time around the 9 hour mark when I'd have trouble maintaining, probably because that's about the length of the longest training ride pre-event. It was a difficult time. Your circadian rythms are telling your body its time to get some shut eye. Don't push pace at all in these hours. This is the time to "settle in" and find your flow. Your actual power output will likely come down considerably, and you are best served by a comfortable pace. MP3 players were made for night riding in 24 solos...talking to others is a treat as well. The cameraderie/vibe of 24s in general is so NOT norba, it's grassroots stuff where everyone is having a great time. Soak it in, it becomes more apparent in the night. Keep your pits as short as possible. Long stops in the night just have you starting the next one colder. You don't have to ride hard, just ride...</P>
<P><U>Hours 12-18</U> </P>
<P>The witching hours. By anyones measure, the hardest part of the race. Everyone slows towards dawn - just know this, accept it, don't fight it, flow with it, and keep the wheels turning. Focus on keeping to your nutrition plan - and when I say "plan", I'm talking more about calorie goals. Eating in the middle of the night is often difficult. This is when you will make use of all the variety of foods you brought. Be flexible in *what* you eat, just make sure you get the calories in. I find that I need surprisingly little water in the night so can't get nearly enough calories by drink alone - but just be aware that solid foods take energy to digest. This can be trouble, leaving energy reserves super low...if your support person can keep track of your calorie intake in calories/hour, they can help you avoid the total crash. These are oatmeal hours. You might find that sections of trail that were previously rideable become techy monsters. Don't sweat it; when the sun comes up you'll see that line again. This is also a good time to make little short term goals for yourself. "Eat banana at turn x" or "make it through rock garden without unclipping" sort of stuff. </P>
<P>If you have inner demons, they will surface in this period.</P>
<P><U>Hours 18-25</U></P>
<P>So you've been hammering away for 18 hours, only 7 to go! After suffering through the dawn lap, the sunrise brings warmth back to the world. It's amazing what this can do for you. Hopefully at this point you're feeling OK, haven't cracked too hard, and have a little something left. If you are in a good position, this is a tactical time. Know where you are in the field in relation to others, and know that they are hurting as much as you. If you haven't overcooked the pacing, you'll wake up nicely and have more to give...it becomes absolutely limited by fuel intake. If you find that you are still racing, you'll want to go fast...but one fast lap in the last quarter of the race can leave you pretty drained. So it's the constant tug - go hard, or eat? If you can do both, great...if not, eat as much as you can in the pits. I'm usually on to pepsi on alternating laps in this period...if you do a straight sugar approach like that, be sure to use electrolytes of some sort as an electrolyte bonk in the morning is a bad thing. In a good race, I'm riding right at VT for most of the morning, and might even have to dig deep for a lap or two. Despite the hard breathing, power output isn't much, it's just that by now the primary fuel source is fats & it takes a lot more oxygen to burn them.</P>
<P>On tactics: you'll need help from your support crew here. The idea is to do the least amount of time on the bike to achieve the highest possible placing. You're racing, right? You could find yourself at the front, but close - which might mean you have to crank really hard to come through before noon so you get the honor of another lap. Or, you might be in a bit of no mans land, where you can stop at 11am and not lose a spot. If the SS field is small (not likely in CA I'm thinking), the gaps could be large. Just don't convince yourself you will stop at 11am if there's any chance whatsoever you need to keep it rolling.</P>
<P>More on tactics: if you have the good fortune to still be racing (95% or riders are in survival mode right now) it is a huge mental game right now. Actually, racing always is...but especially so after everyone has been to the bonk and back already. You may be really tight with one or two competitors. If you lay down a lap that is substantially faster than a previous lap, it will strike fear and doubt into your competition. Or, really motivate them...depends how tough they are. Just know that these are the type of games that go on at the pointy end of the field, and if you are still racing, everything you do will have consequences one way or another...OK so this is a more advanced topic, but Yuri is a fast, salty dog that just might find himself in this position.</P>
<P>Finally, you'll come into the timing tent for the last time, and with that arrival a sense of accomplishment you've done something out of the ordinary, something big. Your body will know it too.<BR></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=720" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExecuting your first solo, part 3 (pits, chammies, the run)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7132006-03-11T01:31:00Z<P><STRONG>Yuri:</STRONG> How long were your pit stops?</P>
<P><STRONG>Dave:</STRONG> They've been all over the map. At Old Pueblo, they varied between 0 and 5 minutes, probably averaged about 1-2 minutes - except for the 8 hour forced stop :( Moab was similar, quick stops throughout. Competition was really tight and strong; I was motivated to hustle them all on through. </P>
<P>Pit stop length seems to be something I've adapted to. I couldn't do short pits in the first couple of events. I tried...but ended up stopping for 5-10 min through the night after 9pm or so, and really looked forward to the "every other lap" in the night when I switched out batteries, since it took a little longer. </P>
<P>For your first event, I'd strongly recommend taking a "relaxed" plan of attack. You want to keep the wheels rolling as much as possible, but it might be too costly to shoot for 2 min stops throughout the night. Have a good plan in place, then on race day be flexible and seek the flow.</P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri:</STRONG> I know this one is a little more personal but, how many shammies did you go through? Did you rotate every few hours or did you just use one for the whole 24 hours? Any issues with chaffing, if so, any secrets for prevention...besides vasoline?? </P>
<P><STRONG>Dave:</STRONG> It depends on the race. If it's a close one, I'll go the whole 24 without a change. I think the perfect plan is to change twice during the race, every 8 hours. The first change could coincide with when you mount your lights, the second the am breakfast stop. To keep things pain free (well, sorta anyway) new chammies are key, and the kind that you know are uber comfortable. I started using performance bibs, not sure the make but they come from Italy...every 24 hour event gets a new pair of bibs. 24 solo events are so big, so epic - that I figure I just owe it to my nether regions. The other key is a saddle you know won't rub you raw. I prefer the WTB lasers as the whale tail design spreads the pressure points over a wide area - but this is totally subjective. It all gets lubed up with Udderly Smooth udder cream - cheap and works better than anything else I've used, although it doesn't have the menthol tingle of that expensive euro stuff.</P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri:</STRONG> Now, I read your blurb about the run....how important do you think it is to be in good position on the run? I don't think that Laguna Seca bottlenecks too bad at the beginning, so there will be time to bring people back. How do the other solo riders approach the run? </P>
<P>At OP last year I dawdled the run and got completely bottlenecked in traffic. My first lap was about 25 minutes slower than the second. This year I was on a mission, and getting bottlenecked wasn't part of the plan. It takes a few races to get a feel for how you'll respond, and with each race confidence improves, allowing more aggressive pacing. However, for the first one, the position of the run is absolutely meaningless. You could walk it and it just wouldn't matter, especially on a course that doesn't bottleneck. For example, last year at Steamboat I was pretty much dead last on the run. Didn't expend any effort at all, yet it certainly didn't affect the results. In fact, there are some potential pitfalls of an aggresive run. First of all, it will put you with the front-runners, which may motivate you ride harder than you should. The second point - if you aren't accustomed to running, you can do muscle damage in the first 60 seconds of the race that will haunt you the rest of the race.</P>
<P>Most solo riders take the run nice and easy. The exception would be the contenders. Even then, the race is not won in the first 400 yards ;)<BR>---------------------------------</P>
<P>Next up: pacing, then training.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=713" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExecuting your first 24 solo, part 2 (lights)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:7082006-03-10T15:43:00Z<P>Update 3/22/06: Pivvay (Chris) has done a great write-up on DIY LED lighting. It's a bit of work and no guarantees you will have light out in the boonies, but check it out: <A href="http://slipangles.blogspot.com/2006/03/geek-this.html">http://slipangles.blogspot.com/2006/03/geek-this.html</A>.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/03/08/689.aspx">Part 1</A> of this series addressed nutrition and supplements for 24 hour solo efforts, geared towards an experienced racer who is doing their first solo event. Picking up where I left off, here's another bit of Q&A from Yuri.</P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri: </STRONG>How many lighting systems should I have and, do you wear a <SPAN>system on your helmet as well?</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN><STRONG>Dave: </STRONG>Great question. 24s can be won and lost in the dark, trust me on this one. For starters, there's a lot of info at <A href="http://www.mtbr.com/spotlight/lightshootout/">MTBR</A> on lights. Another great review of LED light systems is at <A href="http://www.gearreview.com/2006_led_lights.php">gearreview.com</A>. There are so many choices out there...I encourage anyone reading this with different experiences to post a comment of favorite setups. </SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>It depends on the style of riding and the course demands...but I generally prefer two light systems. On the bars I'll have a bright (HID) wider beam light, and on my helmet a narrower spot beam. The helmet light doesn't have to be quite as powerful as the bar light - it is simply a spot to fill in the gaps, especially in twisty singletrack so you can see where you are going as opposed to where your bars are pointed. I also like the helmet mounted light to be narrow and bright enough that it can throw light farther than the bar light. This is especially helpful if there are high speed sections on the course. At Moab, for instance, there are some straight shot gradual descents that are rippin fast - if you have enough light, anyway (unless of course you just use the force). </SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>Also, some types of lights seem better for certain types of terrain. For example, if it's dark terrain, like high-country in the woods stuff, I prefer brighter light, like an HID. If it's desert terrain, like Moab, I like yellower halogen light possibly mixed with HID light. I've only used one LED system to date, and this is an area of keen interest as the systems generally last longer and are lighter. Experiment as much as you can before the race to determine what works best.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>I wouldn't consider any light system that I didn't trust to run for 2 laps, about 3 hours. Also, the batteries must be able to charge up within the same timeframe - 2 laps. This way, you can get by with 2 light systems and 4 batteries. This is what I'd consider the bare minimum - if you can beg, borrow or steal a couple of backup systems and/or batteries you'll have more piece of mind. 24 hour events require a backup light source of some sort, and this requirement is satisfied by a second light. That is a great argument for two light systems. You can get the charging done by neutral support probably, depending on the type of systems and support offered, or you could do it yourself with a power inverter and your car battery. I've been doing the latter for the last 3 years. The inverter can be found at Radio Shack. I can charge multiple batteries and run a low wattage shop light through the night, works a charm. Here's my setup:</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture537.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/537/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>Before the race, you'll want to make sure you have it all dialed in. If you need a connecting wire from the bike mounted battery to the bar-mounted light, zip tie it in place...if you need an extension from the helmet mounted light to the battery, make sure you've got that worked out and it works. Sometimes long cords develop shorts at the worst possible times. I find that the routing of the wire from the helmet to battery is non-trivial, in particular. Good to have it figurred out so it isn't in the way on race day (night).</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>As a final note on night riding, take good care of your eyes. I can't stress this one enough... Always wear eye protection, no matter how much it might feel good to go without (initially). The colder the temps, the more critical this becomes. Evolution, for example, has set up some deep water fish with mechanisms that keep the eyeballs at a constant 20-25C. It turns out that the "speed" of sight is greatly determined by eye temperature. I can tell you from personal experience, if you scratch your eyes with dust or whatever, then it gets cold, you are going to be so pissed as you crawl in your sleeping bag listening to the race carry on despite your temporary blindness.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN>So there you have it. Stay tuned for more rants and secrets.</SPAN></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=708" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveExecuting your first 24 solo, part 1 (nutrition)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6892006-03-08T11:11:00Z<P>A long time racing bud shot me an email the other day with a great set of questions on how to make his first 24 hour solo attempt a success. It seemed like a great thing to share here...so here we go. Don't worry Yuri, I'll send you a few top secret details off-line :)</P>
<P>First of all, Yuri has been racing a long time at a very high level. He's already a hammer, and that's a great place from which to launch your first 24 hour attempt. I've read that Eatough doesn't do any specific training for 24s except maybe one 6-7 hour ride before the race...maybe Yuri is the next E? The following responses are geared towards a rider who is already fit, fast, and has a good bit of racing under their belt.</P>
<P><STRONG>Yuri:</STRONG> I am going to be doing Laguna Seca on my single speed....just for a little more pain, and have a number of questions. First of all, I've only done a 24 hour event as part of a four man team, so I've never suffered for 24 hours straight by myself and<SPAN> </SPAN>I'm wondering if you have any nutritional secrets that will help me out?? What is your favorite/most effective replenishing food? How were you feeding...did you take it on the run, or did you stop?</P>
<P><STRONG>Dave:</STRONG> Do I have secrets...hell yea! I'm a blabber mouth though, so here we go.</P>
<P><U>Support:</U><STRONG> </STRONG>You didn't ask about this...but your support at a 24 solo is the single largest factor for consideration. My teammate Lynda did her first 24 totally unsupported (SITS last year, the sicko finished 3rd), and for her second 24 did OP this year with a killer support crew. She thinks support make a difference of about 3 laps in a race. 3 laps! Start dialing it in now.</P>
<P>On a SS, you might get by without a mechanic, but it's still risky. A lot can happen in 24 hours. At the very least, you'll want one dedicated, very patient individual. I'd suggest more because it is very hard on that one person to do it all. At OP Lynda and I shared pit; we had a professional mechanic and 4 support staff, 2 kids, and one dog. Dogs not needed...</P>
<P><U>Feeding:</U> my normal feeding routine is pretty simple, and perhaps gross...in one back pocket I carry bananas already peeled and cut into 3 or 4 chunks. Easy to grab and I don't tire of them. In another pocket is an eGel flask. Fluids are almost always eFuel and water. I've used other drinks in the past, but can't tolerate anything else for long periods. <A href="http://www.cranksports.com/rid=42157">eFuel/eGel</A> is high in electrolytes so you won't need additional supplementation unless it is really hot, or you are a heavy/salty sweater. As a general goal, I aim for 350-400 calories each hour. Eating that much is a challenge if your pace is too high - use that as one of your pacing guages. No matter how fast you go, you're still going in circles for 24 hours. </P>
<P>As the race progresses, the need for solid foods with a bit of fat becomes apparent. My favorite is tortilla, almond butter, and honey wraps again cut into chunks. At OP, Tinker was in the next pit - we saw him going for bite size snickers & oreos. You'll probably want some variety in there - my taste buds were all over the map at the first couple of 24's I did, and at one of them I was eating enormous amounts - most of it what Anna (my support guru) had brought for herself. Some riders need a lot more salt that can be obtained from drinks and will eat soups in the night. Ever look at the sodium content of a can of soup? It's like eating 20 enduralytes. </P>
<P>For your first 24, I'd strongly recommend sitting down to eat at least twice during the race, once about 6-8 pm, and once about 4-7am. Not too much, and easy on the fats/proteins, something easily digested, but you'll thank yourself later if you do. I never planned these breaks in my first attempts, but they became mandatory anyway. Planning them in will give you something to look forward to, and keep energy levels up. It should only take 10-15 minutes. One of my favorites is instant oatmeal (maple & brown sugar, oh yea), I can down one of those in 30 seconds at lap transitions...In Steamboat last year, I cracked so hard I darn near threw in the towel. 3 instant oatmeals, 4 advils, and a jug of coffee later I was a new man and soldiered on (at the coaxing of one very persistent crew member, Jen Murphy. She about kicked my a$$).</P>
<P>Most of the time, all this eating happens on the bike. I'll have a table set up with some easily grabbed items in the pit to fill pockets and mouth. </P>
<P>There are some essential supplements in my 24 hour kit. I make sure to take in a little protein each lap. The research I've seen suggests that additional protein can mitigate muscle damage and also prevent/delay mental fatigue. If it's cool I'll mix <A href="http://health-fx.net/store/product.php?productid=16137&cat=254&page=2">HealthFX whey </A>with OJ; if its hot I'll mix it with V8 juice (the V8 provides a ton of electrolytes for the heat). If this secret gets out there is going to be a lot more competition this year... Advil was the big revelation for me last year. I honestly had never used it before. You will probably reach a point where everything starts to hurt - back, neck, shoulders, and of course legs - every little thing seems painful. That's your body telling you it's time to shut it down. You can silence your body with Advil. I go to a prevention mode with Advil at the 8 hour mark - 2 every 4 hours - then more if needed. I've heard talk this interferes with proper hydration, so make sure that isn't an issue. It hasn't been an issue for me. I use something with some zip in the night to help stay alert and keep the bike handling sharp. Things that have worked are coffee, yerba mate, and <A href="http://health-fx.net/store/product.php?productid=16151&cat=255&page=1">EnduroFX</A>. If you use enduro, though, don't get carried away - you can easily bonk on that stuff! The idea is just to keep bike handling sharp, not necessarily to hammer. More on that in pacing...</P>
<P>If it's a really tight race and you want to drill the finish, you might try defizzed pepsi or coke, either watered down or full strength if you have water as well. That works well for me, and sometimes pepsi in the night will settle an unruly stomach. Not sure how something that can eat pennies settles a stomach, one of the great mysteries in life...</P>
<P>I find a small, 50 oz water filled camelback to be the trick for 24s. 30 oz would probably be plenty big as well, maybe something like <A href="https://www.wingnutgear.com/product_details.cfm?id=126">this</A> . Haven't laid my eyes on one yet, but hear they are awesome. I'll also carry the eFuel water bottle. Except for the first lap where I don't have a camelback, I use that combo for the duration.</P>
<P>Dang, this got long! Let's call this the end of part 1 of ? Stay tuned for the rest to include pacing, chammies, lights, and the big one: training.</P>
<P>Don't ask me <EM>why</EM>, though ;)</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=689" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWhy I suck on the roadtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6652006-03-05T15:26:00Z<P>Has anyone seen my top end? It seems to be missing...if found, please return via the "contact me" link. Thanks.</P>
<P>I do on average 1 road race per year. Yep, that's singular. This year I'm going all out and making it two. Yesterday was the Humboldt RR north of Cave Creek, AZ. It's more or less one big descent, followed by one big climb with a mountain top finish. The final 3.7 miles average 11%, which is paved (sorta), but the 3 miles leading to the final climb is a rolling dirt road - bumpy, washboardy, rocky. Lots of flat tires out there...but that was by far my favorite section.</P>
<P>It's a small race, so the promoter combines the p/1/2/3 fields. I'm a 3, so this was a new experience for me. All was fine until the climbing started and some Sierra Nevada guy threw down an attack that split things up. About 1 minute into that effort and suddenly I realize I haven't done a single anaerobic capacity workout in, well a year or so. Pain cave, lactate haze, pop! For the next few minutes I was well below FT...but then things perked back up & I found myself with some good riders. The climbing was on!</P>
<P>In pictures...here's the race winner Anthony Colby. Anthony had some tough luck down in the Sonoran SR & was taken down at speed, dislocated a shoulder which was followed by 3 different ambulance rides, and a Mexican doctor's foot in his armpit, yanking his sholder back in. You should hear the rest of the story from him...don't get hurt in Mexico is the bottom line! He didn't feel very zippy today. The story is he couldn't really attack and was forced to just ride off the front. Must be tough to have such troubles.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture661.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/661/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Nick Gould had a great ride today too, bringing it in for 3rd.</P>
<P>I was a tourist out there, having a great time. It's really fun not to take a race seriously now and then. Some shots of the boyz:</P>
<P>Miles and I rode with a few other guys for quite some time. Brent was up the road a minute or so in another group, but by the end of the pavement Miles and I had caught him. Brent hates to be caught...and to be honest, I hate catching him because he makes it pure misery for a steady state guy like myself. He's got some of the best short term power I've seen...here he is using it. Muscely.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture659.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/659/400x268.aspx" border=0></A> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture660.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/660/400x268.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Here's the finish. Miles flatted on the dirt road section (note tube in jersey pocket, he a consciencious fella) giving me plenty of time to get this shot...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture664.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/664/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>That last 3.7 miles was an awesome climb. Really steep, that's for sure. I was happy to have my big ol' MTB pie plate on the back. Folks were chuckling at the start, but wishing they had it in the middle of the climb. It was on Brent's mind every time he went for another gear that didn't exist...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture663.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/663/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Miles reflecting on his first race of the season. 4 Peaks in the background, Barlett lake 4000' below, the low point of the course.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture662.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/662/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=665" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveI need a PR guytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6542006-03-04T12:50:00Z<P>My inbox is out of control, something to do with <A href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=news/2006/mar06/mar03mtbnews">this</A>.</P>
<P>Who would have ever known a 3 inch difference in wheel diameter would mean so much to so many...</P>
<P>Have I mentioned I LOVE riding my 29er? </P>
<P>There seem to be a few universal questions about my little study..I'll address those shortly. But for now, I'm off to the Humboldt RR. </P>
<P>No matter the wheelsize...just ride!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=654" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDickyismstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6452006-03-03T12:09:00Z<P>If you haven't yet checked out the creative genious that is <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/">Team Dicky</A>, get on over there. </P>
<P>He's a talented singlespeed enduro nut with (apparently) bulletproof knees. He's done TransRockies on a SS (the first perhaps?), and this year will do <A href="http://www.ironbike.it/">Iron Bike</A>, a multi-day MTB epic race in Italy with an incomprehensible set of rules. In Italy, they have no clue what singlespeed *is*, and generally seem to think he's insane. I think they're right.</P>
<P>I asked him why he singlespeeds, and the response...well this is simply must read material. <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/592381/">Resonse #1</A>. <A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/593867/">Response#2</A>. He has a way with words that sums up what it is all about to be an endurance cyclist...with a bit of flare. Two of his phrases stick with me, have become a mantra of sorts:</P>
<P>"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing", and</P>
<P>"I don't come for the kill. I come for the killing."</P>
<P>Keep it coming Rich! And if those knees ever start to weaken...</P><A href="http://health-fx.net/store/product.php?productid=16140&cat=262&page=1" target=_blank><IMG src="http://health-fx.net/store/image.php?productid=16140" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=645" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveHumboldt madnesstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6232006-03-01T01:41:00Z<P>Got a call from <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/greg/about.aspx">Lewis</A> today - it seems there are folks on this team other than Lynda and myself. Good to know! Looks like the Durango Posse is coming down for a little bike race near Scottsdale, the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/greg/about.aspx">Humboldt Mountain RR</A>. The race finishes with an average of 11% grade for 3.7 miles, but includes a lot of pitches at ~20%. A lot steeper than Mogollon at the Gila and steeper than the redtail climb. The race is pretty small so they combine Pro/1/2/3 into a single field. That should be fun. Probably mostly Durango folks. </P>
<P>I rode it Saturday, had a blast. Here's some tips for you Durango boyz:</P>
<P>The dirt road is washboardy, about 3 miles worth. Some downs and ups too. Make sure everything is tightened down well as it will shake anything and everything loose, including the filling in your teeth. One guy on the ride had a sweet Madone and had his stem & bars change position on him. Carry stuff for flats. They are inevitable on this ride. It's a mountain top finish, and tends to be cool up there at 5200, you might want arm warmers or a light jacket for the descent...ahh nevermind. Showing my soft southern belly.</P>
<P>Gearing: I averaged a cadence of 67 for 18 minutes of the climb (the steeper part) running a 25. That hurts, I like to spin at 85+. Maybe that'll work for you...a 23 would be cocky, anything smaller stupid. I'm going with an 11-34, no joke. Gave this a test run today, works just fine but has some pretty big gaps between gears.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/5200_close.jpg" border=0></P>
<P>Here's a pic of the climb.</P>
<P><IMG src="/images/dave/humboldt.jpg" width=400 border=0> </P>
<P>Great view from the top but I won't spoil it...</P>
<P>See ya Saturday!</P>
<P></P>
<P> </P></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=623" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePsychology of Endurance Racingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6162006-02-28T13:09:00Z<P>Endurance racing is a headgame - before, during, and after the event. </P>
<P>Before: the blogosphere has changed the nature of these events somewhat. Blogs get squawky, or not; riders release goals, or not; whichever side of the fence you are on, it affects you. Then there's the taper: do you have it nailed? Doing too much, too little? Does it make you restless? Anticipation is half the fun of these things.</P>
<P>During: in long events, energy levels are in a constant state of flux. If you're in a tight race- and actually racing as opposed to riding to finish - there will be times when the competition is stronger, times when you will be stronger. Especially as the race progresses...getting passed with authority is demoralizing and can lead to negative thoughts if not placed in context, that context being that that rider is at the same point in time as yourself, so they aren't really any faster. The trick is...how much mental/emotional energy does it take to overcome those thoughts, how much can you take, and how much can you dish out...</P>
<P>After: the nuttiest part by far. After goal events you can find yourself anywhere on a continuum of cloud nine to depression. It all depends on how the race went down.</P>
<P>For 2 years running I find myself in the middle of that continuum in late February - 2 years running forced to pull out of the season's first big event due to factors outside of my control. Frustrating, yes; but each year there were many positives to climb out of the smoking heap. All the same, a purge was required, which leads me into Sunday's ride.</P>
<P>Arizona is such a varied region. I pulled out the trusy old wrinkled Tonto NF map and chose another dirt road route from Pine (north of Payson at the base of the Mogollon Rim) to Childs. Childs lies on the Verde river, 1 mile downstream from the Verde river hot springs. I've been to the hot springs via raft a few times, a spectacular place. As it turned out, the roads in are equally spectacular. By rides end, I had climbed something over 7,000', but the pace was relaxed so I'm calling it active recovery. 4.25 hours & 225 TSS, nice and easy. Good for the mind & legs. A photo blog:</P>
<P>Near the start of the ride. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/fuel_pines.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/fuel_pines_sm.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>These guys have their hands full in this region. Mogollon rim in background.</P>
<P><BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/FS_rim.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/FS_rim_sm.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>Water!!! Fossil creek.</P>
<P><BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/fossil_creek.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/fossil_creek_sm.jpg" border=0></A> <BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/bfly.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/bfly_sm.jpg" border=0></A> <BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/snake.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/snake_sm.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>I'd show the hotsprings, but some folks apparently missed this sign...</P>
<P><BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/nudity.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/nudity_sm.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>The Verde river. </P>
<P><BR><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/images/dave/verde.jpg" target=_blank><IMG src="/images/dave/verde_sm.jpg" border=0></A> </P>
<P>What a great day on the bike...again. The head is clear, the legs fresh. Anticipation is once again building. </P>
<P>Next up? Humboldt this weekend, a "road" race that includes some dirt road and a summit finish up a 10-20% grade 3.5 mile climb. Totally euro, narrow road, old pavement, it'll hurt. I'm going to throw an XT rear mech and 11/34 on the back of the road bike for that climb. The NORBA marathon just up the road will round out the winter's AZ experience Mar 24, then it's back home to Colorado, just like the swallows to Capistrano.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=616" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Yardsticktag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:6052006-02-24T14:13:00Z<P>I'm just another <A href="http://velonews.com/news/fea/9537.0.html">faceless rider in the night</A>...</P>
<P>In our various meetings, Tinker and I have gone 1-2 (Soul Ride '04 in which we rode several hours together conversing at times), 3-2 (E100 50 mile), 1-6 (E100), and at OP we had quite the exciting time, riding together on at least 5 different occasions. Yet, I remain nameless...</P>
<P>I guess to Tinker we are all just so many fleas to flick off his backside.</P>
<P>Tinker, to us enduro nuts, you will always be the yardstick by which we guage our progress.</P>
<P>Rock on amigo!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=605" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveEvery thorn has it's rosetag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5712006-02-22T01:25:00Z<P>Drum roll please...as you look at this plot, keep the following in mind:</P>
<UL>
<LI>This compares a Trek Fuel 26" wheeled bike and a Salsa Dos Niner 29" wheeled bike
<LI>Bikes were similarly equiped - near identical weight
<LI>Identical tread pattern, Specialized Fast Traks all the way around
<LI>I changed the crankset on the Dos to accomodate a 30T middle ring to more closely match the Fuel's gearing</LI></UL>
<P>The data is the result of daylight laps at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo race. When I say race, I mean it was full on...see the <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/02/20/557.aspx">OP race post </A>if interested. The upshot of this was that I did everything possible to go as fast as possible, within the limits of the event. No prior subjectivity could have skewed the results. The displayed lap times are the time on the course. Pit times are not included. I threw out the night laps for publication because of the eyesight issue - the 9th and 10th laps are extreme outliers due to extenuating circumstances.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture570.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/570/325x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>OK...giving this a minute to sink in...each point represents the x, y pair of average power and lap time. In other words, the dots in blue show the relationship between power and lap time when riding the Fuel. More power = faster laps. Make sense? The black lines show a linear regression (done by MS Excel) to illustrate a trend, or predicted values. The two pink squares show what happened on the Dos Niner.</P>
<P>I added the red rectangles to show the "what if" scenarios. Consider the case where average power over a lap is 188 watts. Based on this data, a lap time of 67 minutes would be predicted for the Fuel, while the predicted time for the Dos is just under 69 minutes. Looking at it from another angle, for a lap time of just under 69 minutes, I'd have to average 175 watts on the Fuel but 186 watts on the Dos. </P>
<P>So there you have it. It's cut and dried in my mind. The 29ers in my testing have lost in rolly, twisty singletrack, and also on climbs. They might fare better on downhills, and almost certainly in sand and maybe even rocky stuff...but right now I'm losing interest fast.</P>
<P>Anyone interested in a tricked out Dos Niner with a Power Tap hub?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=571" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave24..uh..16 hours in the Old Pueblo is in the bookstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5572006-02-21T00:50:00Z<P>Glad to have this one out of the way...OP has become my annual throw away race. This edition was no different - and again, I come away with new lessons.</P>
<P>Expectations were high for this event. By the numbers, fitness was at an all time high. In the past 5 weeks I've basically rebuilt my normalized MTB MMP curve from 7 min on out to 8 hours. Combine that with a leaner frame, more experience, 3 bikes, a <A href="http://www.gvbikehike.com/">crack mechanic</A>, Anna serving up the best support imaginable, and you see what I mean. There would be no excuses this year. It was an all or nothing event.</P>
<P><STRONG>4..3..2..1..BOOM!</STRONG></P>
<P>Last year I decided to take the run easy, save the legs, and start easy. The problem with that was 7 miles of bottlenecked singletrack and givning up 20 min on the first lap. So this year I ran for my life and took off down the road with the lead group. It felt great and it was pretty easy to hang at the front. </P>
<P>About 10 min later here comes Tinker, his back wheel making funny sounds. His pit was right next to mine, and I was surprised to see him still standing there when I came in. I figured he'd do his usual plan and rip the start, and if I saw him at all it would be much later in the race. Not one to look a gifthorse in the mouth, I picked up the pace a bit for 2 more laps. I knew he'd go into chase mode, and I wanted him to burn those matches. Cool, playing cat and mouse is fun!</P>
<P>Of course he caught me. Sometime towards the end of lap 3 the energizer bunny came by with authhority, and since I'd been going harder than usual for the start of these things, I backed it down and ate a bunch, settling into a more sustainable pace. From there it was all about keeping the pits short and the pace steady. During one of the pits, there was Tinker, so we were within a couple minutes of each other. </P>
<P><STRONG>Steve: "Dave, are you having fun?" "F-ck yea! We've got us a horserace"</STRONG></P>
<P>Sometimes the littlest things provide big motivation. There's a section on the course called the corral trail, a twisty, fast, cactus corridor with incredible flow. Before hitting this section I put on the MP3 and great tunes had me moving a lot faster...before I knew it, there was Tinker, then just after him was Lynda! What are the odds...things only got better from there. Tinker rode my wheel for awhile on a dirt road section, so I just backed it down to crawling speed. No wasting energy then. In the next section of singletrack, I kicked it in and soon found myself riding with no lights behind me. In the next lap I widened the lead to 13 minutes. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture556.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/556/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><STRONG>Houston, we have a problem</STRONG></P>
<P>Sometime during the 9th lap my bike handling was apparently heading south. Blowing off course, hitting cacti, getting stalled in sandpits, what is going on? I felt fine and didn't understand what was going on. My HID headlamp seemed too bright and was washing everything out, so I turned it off and went with a bar halogen only. That seemed dim like the battery was dead. What is going on??? The 10th lap I ended up going off course a few times and even ran right into a guy in front me. Wow. Back in the pit, I took my glasses off cause I couldn't see through them, but it turned out it wasn't the glasses. Blind in the left eye and could only make out shapes with the right. Every light source created a blinding halo. We tried some eye drops, all to no avail. Night riding, typically one of my strengths in 24s, just became my nemesis with no eyes. So just like that, I couldn't continue.</P>
<P>Tinker went on to win in 18 laps. His fiance, Terri, came over to inquire about my wellbeing. She was genuinely concerned, and perhaps dissapointed as well to learn of my fortune. She said the race was "quite exciting." That it was!</P>
<P><STRONG>Flashbacks</STRONG></P>
<P>Deja-vu, it was just like last year, sitting in the pit as the race continued on. I don't much care for that...it was certainly more interesting this time though. Lynda was crushing it!! I think she had lapped the field by midnight, so was pretty relaxed in the pit. She had time to let Damian dial in her preferred bike, and eat some magic speed cookies. She was so in the zone and never wavered the entire race, going on the win with a 3 lap margin and a lap count that would put her 3rd in the men's field...when results are posted, check out her 14th and 15th lap times. Wow!</P>
<P><STRONG>16 Hours in the Old Pueblo</STRONG></P>
<P>As for myself, I gave up on returning eyesight about 3am and crawled into the sack. The next morning I was getting super ancy. I could see pretty well out of the right eye, that's good enough for daylight. The race goals were of course out the window, but the race was still going on so what the hell, might as well finish strong. So that's what I did. The eyes came back after a couple of laps and I still felt great. My OP finished at 12:08 & 14 laps.</P>
<P><STRONG>Post Mortem thoughts</STRONG></P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="http://www.gvbikehike.com/">Damian Leuck</A> turned out to be more than just an awesome mechanic...we hope to do more races with him!
<LI>Anna dials in support like none other. I'm a lucky guy in that respect.
<LI>Fitness-wise this was my best 24 to date. 12 hour PB power by 7%...
<LI>Can you say goggles???
<LI>Lynda is the real deal. There ain't a gal on the planet that could have touched her in this race.
<LI>In case you're interested in the 26/29 debate, I have data for all laps. 10 laps on the Fuel, 4 on the Dos. That tell ya anything?</LI></UL>
<P><STRONG>The event in pictures...</STRONG> </P>
<P>It takes a lot of gizmos to do a 24. Check out the <A href="http://www.mobibluamerica.com/dah1500.html">18 gram mp3 player</A> that rocks for 10 hours per charge.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture553.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/553/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Ours was a popular pit...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture555.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/555/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>...and also a family affair.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture554.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/554/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>And with that this edition of the OP comes to a close. A somewhat painful experience...perhaps it's time to move on. It's got me 3 times now, will I ever learn?</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture552.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/552/400x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=557" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveOld Pueblo, round 3tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5392006-02-15T12:16:00Z<P>This is the third year in a row that I've kicked off the race season with Old Pueblo. Historically this race hasn't been that kind to me, but each event had a lesson for me. </P>
<P>In '04 I went to register on New Year's day only to find out the solo field was full. How could that be? Who is thinking about 24's in December? So what the heck, Feb is experimentation month anyway, so I entered in the duo field. Upon getting to the race they told me I had to have a partner to race duo (duh!)...found some fast kid who wasn't racing but wanted to do 1 lap, he did the first one for me and I took it from there. Team "flying solo"...Tinker and Cameron were there and had quite a duel. My pit was right next to Cameron's - both Anna & I learned a lot about running an effective 24 hour pit from his family. Cameron had awesome support, and lots of it. He won the race that year. As for myself, I was able to stay on the same lap as the leaders until mid-morning. I developed a case of asthma & that really sucked! As I was laying on the side of the trail wheezing, some guy came by and gave me an inhaler and a beer, saved my bacon! I was 5th or 6th in the duos most of the race, but fell to 11th after that debacle.</P>
<P>Then there was last year - the year of the torrential rain. It rained and rained and rained...nonetheless, I was having a stellar race, but just couldn't keep the bikes working. No brakes, no shifting after about 2 am. Everyone had the same problems, but the guys that finished obviously handled them better. Some I think chose to just keep their bikes in a gear and run singlespeed style. My big lesson in that event was that if you want to be competitive, you gotta have a mechanic. You just never know what is going to happen.</P>
<P>So for round 3, Lynda and I are setting up camp together and between us have a mechanic and a 4 person pit crew. I now run full length housings as I've found they are more impervious to wet weather (and less ferrules is less resistance, even though more housing) than any other setup I've tried. Our battery charging is self-contained, here's what it looks like:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture537.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/537/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>At the top right of the board is a 400W power inverter. This attaches to a car battery and spits out 110 volt AC. Pretty handy - we can run all of our chargers plus a low-power shop lite simultaneously. </P>
<P>I'll have 3 bikes: 2 Top Fuels and 1 Dos Niner. The Dos and one of the Fuels is power meter equiped, the non-PM equiped bike is backup only. Hopefully I'll have a complete power file from the event. Should be interesting! Having power files at 24 hour race pace for 26" and 29" bikes - in the same event - that will paint the picture I seek... </P>
<P>I'll be setting up camp up in the solo area sometime tomorrow. Stop on by - look for the red Nissan, a 12x12 red tent, and a gas barbeque grill. Feel free to bring something for the grill too!</P>
<P>In other news - did you notice the book in the above picture? </P>
<P><A href="http://tinyurl.com/bvu7w" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/538/250x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Just received my signed copy, and at first glance it looks to be a necessary reference for anyone interested in making the most of their training with a power meter. I'll have a review up shortly for those that want the skinny before making the purchase...but I can say right now that Andy and Hunter know their stuff, and also really complement each other since their backgrounds are so different. Andy is a physiologist who has developed IF, TSS, normalized power, quadrant analysis, power profiling guidelines, and Hunter is an ex-pro roadie and now big time elite cycling coach working with some of the most talented athletes in the sport. This book has a healthy balance of science and art, the 1-2 knockout punch. Get it or get dropped!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=539" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBurning Arizonatag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5272006-02-13T02:07:00Z<P>So today was the last significant ride before Old Pueblo. The 4 peaks road was just the ticket, a 4.5 hour out and back over the Mazatzal mountain range. It may be February, but it hasn't rained in these parts for something like 116 days now. It is DRY. Arizona is already on fire. From the high point of the ride looking NE you can see the smoke from a big fire on the Mogollon Rim.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture526.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/526/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It's about a 4,000' drop to the valley below, the turnaround point. The climb back up El Oso road averages a little over 8% grade, but given that there are a few descents in there, most of the climbing is a lot steeper than that. The legs were wide awake today, that climb was FUN!</P>
<P>Then coming down the other side, yet another fire had sprung up. There's a spot in the sky section of that image, no it isn't where you sneezed on your screen, its a plane doing some fire recon.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture525.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/525/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Most of this ride is through old burn areas...if ma nature doesn't throw some moisture this way soon whatever hasn't burned yet will. Even so, I hope the weather holds off for another week...it can start raining after about, oh, 2pm next Sunday. That's my request ;)</P>
<P>Now begins the hard part, taking it easy to be well rested next weekend. Dunno about others, but the week before 24s just kills me. I breathe a sigh of relief once the race starts.</P>
<P>It's hard to put into words how much I am looking forward to 24 hours of unrestrained effort. It's a beautiful thing, a pivotal time in a manic cyclists life.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=527" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave26 vs 29 singletrack shootout: tietag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:5102006-02-11T01:23:00Z<P>Well now, (AHEM!), looks like I jumped the gun yesterday in revealing results. That's what I get for seat of the pants analysis.</P>
<P>The testing of 29er vs 26ers continues on. Quick recap: <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/01/02/309.aspx">the first round of tests </A>looked at how climbing on the Dos 29er compares to climbing on the Fuel 26er. Those results showed a small but repeatable advantage to the Fuel for climbing dirt roads. That wasn't a big surprise to me, however, many took it as a direct attack on their lifestyle ;) We're just talking about a slightly larger wheel size, right?</P>
<P>This round of tests was done on a 3.2 mile singletrack loop in McDowell mountain park outside of Fountain Hills, AZ. If you've done the Mesa NORBA nats, you've ridden this trail. Swoopy, twisty, fast in spots, steep rollers, bad braking bumps in spots, a few very tight turns. It starts with a ~ 3 min big ring climb, finishes with a more rolling but trending downwards section of whoops and twisties. I call the latter section the "descent" in this analysis.</P>
<P>I did the rides on 2 different days separated by a 5 day period. The first ride tested the 29er, the second ride tested the Fuel. The results for each test are broken down by overall time, average power, and normalized power. Here's how it turned out: </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture509.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/509/425x167.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Other relevant data not reported in the above sheet: energy expenditure was identical across bikes and runs at 185 kJ & 184 kJ for the Dos, 185 kJ and 182 kJ for the Fuel.</P>
<P>At first I thought based on average powers that the Fuel was significantly faster on the descent portion - which is completely non-intuitive. The Dos felt like it held speed better in turns, so I expected the Dos to be faster on the descent. If we just look at average power, that conclusion would stand. However, normalized power comes to the rescue. Normalized power was just enough higher in the Fuel tests to indicate I had a bit more snap in the legs on that day. In rolling terrain, it is very important where you put the power down, and how much at a time. On the Fuel's day, I just had a bit more to give on the steep ups, and rested more on the descents. The averages were the same, but Pnorm tells all...another factor that may have attributed to faster times on the Fuel was that I got 3 runs in on the Dos 5 days prior, so I was more familiar with the trail. The Fuel did feel faster in the tightest terrain, oh wait, that's subjective, nevermind.</P>
<P>Here's a chart showing how the distribution of power changed between the two rounds of tests. There's a considerable shift to the right for the Fuel's test, which simply means I was feeling better that day. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture514.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/514/original.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>As for the climb - look how tight the data is between the first run on the Fuel, and the second run on the Dos. Looks identical to me.</P>
<P>Round 2 conclusion: it's a tie. </P>
<P>So what's next?</P>
<P>One test will be similar to this one, except at a much more relaxed pace. These runs were at a XC like pace, far above that of an endurance race. What happens if power spikes are much lower & most of the riding is in the saddle? Will the bigger wheels conserve energy somehow in the twisty/rolly stuff under those conditions? </P>
<P>How about some pure downhill runs? There aren't any around here I can think of, that'll probably have to wait until late-spring back in Colorado. The great thing about a bunch of downhill runs means I get to do a bunch of climbing :)</P>
<P>Signing out for now, fire away, but keep it civil.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=510" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePreliminary results: round 2 of 29/26 testingtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4992006-02-09T23:48:00Z<P>No time to get the full details written down yet...but the latest round of testing produced some unexpected (to me, anyway) results. The chosen course is the sport loop at McDowell Mountain park, a 3.2 mile rolling singlerack trail. The first 3.5 minutes is a big ring climb, wide and twisty, sometimes sandy, sometimes rocky. From the top of that climb it's roughly 8 minutes of twisty, swoopy, rolling singletrack. A real treat at speed!</P>
<P>Each bike gave very different sensations. The Dos held way more speed in whoops & gentle turns. The Fuel felt agile as a cat, accelerated faster, and also felt to be the better climbing bike. The second part (the 8 minute section) has more downs than ups, I really expected the Dos to come out ahead in this one.</P>
<P>I'm sad to say it didn't. The Dos was slower on the climb, and slower on the twisty whoops. Maybe I'm just feeling better today...but that's not what the data says. Identical power for the last 8 minutes, but the clear advantage goes to the Fuel.</P>
<P>I'll post the details when I have time to distill it into understandable format...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=499" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave'06 Scheduletag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4922006-02-08T13:48:00Z<P>The '06 schedule is taking shape nicely. Funny things is, there are few NORBA events on it. I'd sure like to do 24 hour natz, but it conflicts with TransRockies so maybe next year. The NORBA nationals stop in Park City includes a marathon, that is interesting. It's penciled in tentatively - that'll be 4 trips to Park City, and although I love the place, that's a lot of travel.</P>
<P>Learning from last season, there is no silly block with 3-4 ultra events on consecutive weekends. That Park City/Brianhead/Durango triple last summer hurt!</P>
<P>There are a couple of new race formats. The <A href="http://greatdividerace.com/_wsn/page4.html">Kokopelli Trail Race</A> is a fully self-supported 142 mile event from Moab to Fruita. No outside support, no water drops. This race switches direction each year - starting in Moab has the route in the La Sal mountains before sunrise (cold) and then crossing 80+ miles of desert later in the day. Brutal. I'm in!</P>
<P>The other new format is of course <A href="http://www.transrockies.com">TransRockies</A>. Lynda & I had such a great time doing the big week training in St George that I know we will be great teammates in Canada. I'm more excited for this race than I can say...</P>
<P>I've decided to hit all the <A href="http://thee100.com/">E100</A> events again this year. Boris' passionate race promoting and world class course design along with innovative ideas (this year he's doing a reality show for the series) makes his races a must do.</P>
<P>Let's not forget the 24 hour races, there's a few of those sprinkled in as well. The first one is just 9 days away at OP; I'll also defend my record at Steamboat and hope to move a couple steps up at Moab in October.</P>
<P>Only a handful of races, but adding up expected race times, its over 150 hours of racing.</P>
<P>Who's an addict now?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=492" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThe Apache Trailtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4772006-02-06T14:28:00Z<P>Yes, this is another winter ride report...what can I say? Sunday I was looking for about 5 hours of saddle time. A road ride was tentatively planned, but the Dos has been pulling me tighter into its web the past few days, and she wouldn't be denied. </P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture469.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/469/400x300.aspx" border=0></A>
<P>The <A href="http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2058/travel.html">Apache Trail</A> is a popular scenic byway NE of Apache Junction roughly paralleling the now damned Salt river. Wilderness areas lie to the south and north; the views are nonstop. The first bit is paved, then there is a 22 mile section of dirt road with varying levels of quality. Some of it is pretty harsh washboard - the Dos and big wheels were good to have.</P>
<P>Apparently not all of the land to the north is wilderness. If you like this mountain:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture470.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/470/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>It can be yours!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture472.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/472/400x267.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The initial paved section of road is a semi-popular out and back road ride. Lots of short climbs and finishes with a longer (for the lowlands) climb. My recollection was that it leveled out some after the infamous Fish Creek hill...man was I wrong! As it turned out, the road is either up or down with few level sections. Grades are pretty steep too. Many climbs in the 4-10 minute range and one a touch longer. Great stuff!</P>
<P>The downside: traffic. Doing this on a Sunday is a duh move...ate pounds of dust. Probably a lot less traffic on weekdays...</P>
<P>The midpoint (end of the Apache Trail) is Roosevelt dam.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture473.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/473/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>At one time this was the largest masonry dam in the world, and IIRC it was built circa 1906. I was surprised to see it isn't a masonry dam anymore, at least on the surface. I'm sure all the intricate brick work is under that ugly concrete...I think a few years back (maybe in the 90's?) they did a rework and height extension to take advantage of big melt years. Lakeshore property owners must have been up in arms about that project! "sorry landowners, build your house on stilts or get a big snorkel."</P>
<P>About a mile south of the dam is the Roosevelt marina, supposedly with a store but I never did find it. Ended up finding water and Pepsi (!) at a national forest welcome center. This is a good restock option...nice foks there - one of the rangers saved my day when I jammed the Pepsi machine by sticking a sweaty dollar bill in...</P>
<P>Time to turn this horse around, 40 something miles later I'm back at the truck, grinning the post ride grin. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture475.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/475/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The tunes werre great today, BTW...the power file of the ride is <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/entry476.aspx">here</A>.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=477" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBraaaap!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4672006-02-05T12:35:00Z<P>Just outside of Phoenix is <A href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/">McDowell mountain park</A>, part of the Maricopa county park system. Lots of trails here, and best of all, they have an actual mountain bike specific <A href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/Trails.aspx">competitive trail system</A>. Can you say manna from heaven? That means that just a few miles from town, you can go out mid-day on a weekend and ride as fast as you want without fear of horse/hiker issues. Is this legend bitchin or what? </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture466.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/466/264x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I've chosen the sport loop for 26/29 testing. 3 spicy laps yesterday on the 29er (Dos) was just about more fun than I could handle. They are short - only 3 miles - and all singletrack, an opening short big ring climb, then lots of twisty, rolling, whoopy stuff. So much fun at speed. The Dos was like riding on rails yesterday, those big wheels hugged the dry terrain like velcro and flew through the turns. Each lap was within 1 kJ, so the data is tight! </P>
<P>What is really interesting is that a slower warm up lap at roughly 24 hour pace used 12% fewer kJ over the same distance. That's something I've always suspected (that going fast is inneficient) but never quantified. So think about this, if you will: in a 24 hour solo event, how much sense does it make to go out hard? The faster you go, the more inneficient you get and you also chew into your valuable glycogen stores at an accelerated rate. Somewhere there is a balance between too fast and too slow for the first daylight stint...part of the balance is mental for sure...where do you think that balance is? Many good 24 hour riders have wildy differing pacing strategies, maybe there is no one size fits all answer, but for sure, last years natz was an example of too fast ;) Pretty cool - the 26/29 comparo project is teaching so much more than wheel size related stuff. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=467" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DavePower Foodtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4552006-02-03T14:50:00Z<P>Presented in the finest <A href="http://jeffkerkove.blogspot.com/">Kerkovian</A> style, my breakfast of choice:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture454.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/454/414x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>What's in your breakfast bowl?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=455" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveAnd on the 7th day...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4522006-02-03T12:01:00Z<P>4 of the last 5 weeks have been between 1,100-1,500 TSS, and let me tell you, that has kept me in the hurt locker for the week. <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/brent/archive/2006/02/02/449.aspx">Brent mentioned his sensations </A>of his first recovery day...well I've had that for the past 6 days pretty much. Wednesday it seemed the legs were itching for action - but once on the bike it was obvious it was to be another day of recovery. When energy levels return, I have a very active mind in the wee hours of the morning - today for example. The trouble is, I'm too dim-witted when in the hurt locker to remember that, doh! Anyway, today feels like the first day of the peak and taper into OP - I'm excited for the next few weeks, rather than looking forward to the post-OP break.</P>
<P>So what's all this nonesense about high CTL training? Here's a plot of my CTL for the last 3 years. The y-axis begins at 80 and goes in 10 point increments, horizontal lines represent months (CTL, or chronic training load, is a measure of current training load based on the accumulated TSS of previous training. I've put a short def in the glossary, but just realized it doesn't mention TSS. Sooner or later the actual calculation of CTL/ATL/TSB will be publicly available, but until then please accept my apologies for the cloak and dagger stuff). To get a feeling for the stress associated with TSS points, it's normalized so that 100 points is the equivalent of going all out for one hour. Hmmm...thinking that way, 1500 TSS is the equivalent stress of 15 x 1 hour time trials in a single week. NO WONDER!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture451.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/451/500x336.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Hmmm...now that I look closer, it's more of a 2.5 year plot, oops. '03 data is not as complete as I thought...lots of time on the MTB sans PM. Anyway, the trend is obvious - increasing. The implications, especially to an enduro freak, should be pretty obvious. By strategically increasing one's ability to train, one can train more - and race longer, and with the right training (refered to as composition of CTL), faster. So part of the experimentation leading to OP is to see how far I can push CTL and also with an eye towards big weeks since <A href="http://www.transrockies.com">TransRockies</A> will be one helluva big week. I'm happily calling 145 my limit for this season;)</P>
<P>Speaking of CTL limits and such, check out <A href="http://www.tinkerjuarez.com/schedule.htm">Tinker's schedule for '06</A>. That looks incredibly ambitious, even for Tinker. Sorta boggles the imagination what CTL he'll find after RAAM...</P>
<P>This is my 3rd year of doing self-experimentation leading to OP, it's the best form of learning. There isn't a lot of info on how to train for ultras and it's something I've been passionately putting my thoughts to for a few years now. In a month or so, the results of the current experiment will be distilled and the results added to the library of my training hypotheses/ideas/methods. The rough training sketch for the main racing season is in place, but it always gets tweaked in March after the OP process. From March forward, I stick to what works, no more experimentation.</P>
<P>For now, on this 7th day, I'm darn excited to get to the business at hand: dropping some CTL and increasing the intensity. One of the projects that lends itself to this period is the 29/26 singletrack testing. So look for some interesting 5am posts in the near future, but be forewarned, they might blow up the universe!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=452" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWhatever doesn't kill you...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4352006-01-31T00:14:00Z<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture431.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/431/500x72.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><A href="http://www.epicrides.com/twofour/24.htm">19 days and counting</A>...</P>
<P>Leading to 24 hour events, I like to do a big volume push about 2-3 weeks out from the race. Since Lynda is doing the race as well, and we are doing TransRockies together, it seemed only natural that we torture each other for a week. We had the double perk of testing our TR strategy - towing. We chose Saint George, Utah (her home town) as the jump off point for the week. I've never ridden in the area and didn't know exactly what to expect...but whatever my expectations were, they were far exceeded. Great riding, great scenery, good clean desert air, good food, and tumbling with a 3 & 6 year old for a week - who could ask for more?</P>
<P>One of the weeks' highlights was the Jem trail. This is a 25 mile singletrack loop over a network of trails near Hurricane, Utah, just west of Zion NP. These trails are heavenly! Think the best parts of the Road Apple Rally, Rage in the Sage, and 12 hours of the E100 courses combined with views worthy of national park status (hey, it is Utah) and you're getting close. If you ever are in the area, it's a must do - fast, flowy, slightly tech in spots. Email me for more beta if you need it...</P>
<P>Another highlight was the last day of the ride week. Lynda mapped out some sort of torture fest up local climbs (scrub peak and hellhole pass/peak) - the 2 peaks are pictured above. This was a long day - we left around 8:30 and got back just after sunset. The second climb was pretty long - something like 2500' to 7400'. How many climate zones is that? Mohave desert to pine & fir...the real surprise came the final 20 minutes of this ride. Since the sun was setting and we were cruising in on paved roads, we didn't want to get caught in total darkness. Lynda dropped the hammer and probably clocked the best power numbers she's ever seen for 20 minutes on the mtb. This came at the end of a very long day and a hard week of training...take home point for me? She's gonna be tough to keep up with at the end of TR!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture433.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/433/500x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>This ride was a solid validation of a lot of hard work the past few months. Power was rock solid steady throughout, and in fact the finest part was the last climb. For the TM savvy: CTL hit 145 (a new high) and 30 day rolling TSS is a touch over 5100. The composition of that TSS is a bit higher intensity than previous seasons, so we'll see how it turns out. I've always got some experimental ideas floating between my ears and the winter/OP is the time to test them. It's tough to be too serious about results in February... We'll see how it turns out. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=435" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSt George Epicstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4132006-01-25T21:21:00Z<P>Sure is quiet around here when Lynda and I are spending lots of time on the bike. The training thus far in St George has been a blast. Monday we opend the day with 40 miles of road followed by the Gooseberry mesa loop plus some out and backs. Slow, technical riding - tons of fun! The views don't stop out here either...pics to come next week. Yesterday we did a longer day, several big climbs, lots of singletrack and a rolling dirt road where Lynda really dropped the hammer on me. Have I mentioned shes riding outside of her body?</P>
<P>At one point yesterday we were both close to pinned on this long climb...when we hit the top we were both pretty giddy with endorphins...big week training is such a kick in the butt. It sure helps to ride in unfamiliar terrain with a tour guide too.</P>
<P>.......................</P>
<P><A href="http://teamdicky.blog.com/">Dicky</A> asks: why do we compete? Great question. Endurosnob I think is close to the truth. Way back in the day, primal caveman had to hunt down and chase dinner. These days the old urge is there but with no outlet. That's one thing that is so special about wild places, they take us to places where creative thought is unbounded by civilization. But sooner or later you climb to some peak in seeming wilderness only to find a chairlift hauling plaid sweater loafer hoofed college kids to the top...then wild places can't anymore sooth that urge. The only thing left is to view your fellow man as dinner and chase him down. Funny, but some folks in the past have assumed I must have some inner demons from which I run. Maybe they were right...just not exactly how they thought of it. You could call is personal development, seeking and pushing boundaries and all that...but it is much more primal than that. Along the way it is a helluva good time and considerably healthier than some other addictions.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=413" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveSupercaliber Anticipation!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:4072006-01-21T12:43:00Z<P>Ryan Atkinson shared the current status of the Gary Fisher Supercaliber 29" race day bike on the <A href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=159233">MTBR forum</A>, including an artists rendering of the frame. It looks to be a great design - but will take some $$ to bring up to race readiness. The current plans include:</P>
<P>- another prototype ready in a couple of weeks<BR>- May/June delivery<BR>- Reba Race<BR>- SRAM X.9<BR>- Bontrager Race GXP crank and Race wheels <BR>- Avid Juicy 7 brakes <BR>- $2859.99 (about half msrp of the Trek Top Fuel)</P>
<P>So let's see...throw on some superlight AC wheels, twisties, Race Face turbine crank w/20/30/40 and round it out with miscellaneous carbon bits and now we're ready to rock.</P>
<P>But wait - isn't that a 29er??? Sure enough it is...but I'm still intrigued. The jury is still way out for me - at least I have escaped the initial emphatuation stage where objectivity goes out the window in place of lust. </P>
<P>Speaking of objectivity, the first few weeks in Feb I'll be doing some 29er/26er testing on a rolling, desert singletrack course, the competitive loops of the McDowell Mtn park area in Fountain Hills, AZ. I'm even going to plan in a day of SS testing - at least as best I can with gearies. This is the kind of terrain I'd expect the 29ers to rock.</P>
<P>An update to the previous test: I got a rear Fast Trak for the Fuel and re-rode the same route. Energy expenditure dropped 3% from the previously reported values. I'm still using the beefy Weirwolf up front. I also re-rode the route on the 29er, this time with higher psi in the tires (38) and enough air in the relish shock to effectively lock it out. Energy expenditure INCREASED. Ouch.</P>
<P>Take away points: first, although higher PSI lowers rr on the road, the same is not true for off-road. Second, my Fuel climbs better on smooth dirt roads than my Dos - I have no doubt of this. The real question of course, is which is better under the condtions in which YOU ride or race? You won't find that answer here...but I'll keep you posted on what works best for me. </P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=407" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBits and piecestag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:3932006-01-19T17:14:00Z<P>Here's a shout out to <A href="http://www.xcracer.com/content.php?pid=193">Rob Lee</A> who held control of the solo field in this <A href="http://strathpuffer.co.uk/strathpuffer/index.htm">24 hour event in Scottland</A>, but had to pull out midway due to injury. He's already back on the mend and planning what's next, that's the spirit! Just toeing the line at such an event gets my respect. 16 hours of darkness and -5C temps - all bikes were renderred SS for much of the night as cable systems froze.</P>
<P>So y'all know vegies are good for you, right? I eat a lot of them, that's for sure. When training volume gets high though, my food choices get more and more brown as I reach for the high calories stuff. To offset that, I've taken up juicing. Fun stuff and there seems to be no limit to what you can run through this thing. Might even make a decent bassomatic. The advantage? You can get all the veggie goodness without all the bulk - a better mix when quality nutrition is goal #1.</P>
<P>The post for that 26 vs 29 test I did continues to get a lot of traffic...wasn't sure why so did a little research. It has been linked to by several sites and blogs now, including the WikiPedia, <A href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29"er'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29"er</A>. A link to objective test data is at the bottom. Interesting!</P>
<P>Looking forward to the next week for sure. A weekend with family in Vegas will kick it off, followed by a week with Lynda in Saint George putting some finishing touches on the form for OP while we dial in our <A href="http://www.transrockies.com">Trans Rockies </A>tactics. One of the rides she's got planned: the county towers ride (or was that the hellhole ride?) is long - 100ish miles, off-road, huge climbs, and plumbs regions even the locals have never heard of. That day is going to be EPIC. Look for more pics (perhaps even with people in them this time) to be tortured by.</P>
<P>Pollution is generally bad, yes...but it makes for great sunsets/sunrises. The sun has greeted me with this view several days in a row now.</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture392.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/392/400x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=393" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveDangerous ideastag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:3852006-01-17T20:46:00Z<P><FONT size=2><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana><FONT color=#cc0000>"Fantastically stimulating...It's like the crack cocaine of the thinking world.... Once you start, you can't stop thinking about that question." </FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT color=#333333>— BBC Radio 4</FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Verdana color=#ff0000> </FONT></P>
<P>Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to <A href="http://www.edge.org/q2006/q06_index.html">read 3 of these a day </A>for a week. </P>
<P>That's the easy part.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=385" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveZane Grey Countrytag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:3822006-01-17T18:48:00Z<P>Sunday is epic day in my little world. Usually the rides are planned out in advance; this past Sunday I woke up at 5am still not sure where I was headed...it had to be something new, something fresh. There is a lot to choose from around here if you're willing to drive. Anything goes on Sunday. </P>
<P>There's a blank, mostly roadless area on the map that's been attracting my eye for quite some time - the area NE of Roosevelt reservior. A couple of wilderness areas and the Sierra Ancha mountains domintate the scenery, and comprise the scenery looking NE from the top of 4 peaks. This is Zane Grey's country - the Tonto basin and region south of the Mogollon Rim. His old cabin lies about 20 miles north as the crow flies...or did 20 years ago. Haven't been in these parts for awhile ;)</P>
<P>A look at a national forest map revealed a route through the area - and <A href="http://earth.google.com/">google earth</A> (you need this if you don't have it - it's free!) helped with the details. Google earth even shows forest service road numbers if you zoom in enough. It's like having a $10k GIS app for free. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture381.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/381/375x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The first 30 miles was a series of short climbs and descents in the foothills of the Sierra Ancha, all of it low in the Sonoran desert with Saguaros for company. One of the more scenic spots was a trailhead into the Salome wilderness area.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture376.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/376/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>In the other direction was the res:</P>><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture375.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/375/400x266.aspx" border=0></A>
<P>A Cross road eventually runs into hwy 288, a mostly dirt road that heads north into the Sierra Anchas towards Young. It climbs 3,000' in the first few miles with some outstanding views along the way. It was considerably cooler today and I've never experienced as much trouble with temp regulation as this climb. Heading one direction, a headwind meant you needed coverage - the next switchback put you with a tailwind and the sensation of melting was quick in coming. Can guys get menopause? </P>
<P>The Sierra Ancha have many deep chasms that fall off of the east and west sides; this ones on the west side.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture372.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/372/400x266.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Long rides often warp time - it seemed just a few minutes between leaving the saguaros and hitting the first saddle in a ponderosa forest.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture377.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/377/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Of course in reality that climb took a long time...I must admit to riding like a tourist today. Yes, it was training...but I was more interested in pictures and eating than riding today. CTL is over 140 right now, and this week's expenditure is something north of 15,000 kJ - I was feeling it! But the views kept me energized - that and the realization that at 3pm I still hadn't reached the jeep road turnoff. Who knows what condition that road was in? Better get crackin! </P>
<P>There are some very deep chasms that fall off the east side of Aztec peak (below). In another lifetime, I made half a dozen trips into the wilderness area with ropes and a mad chemist partner (no, not shane) to see how far down we could get. We found one chasm to be over 1000' deep - and narrow enough to jump over - with a huge amphitheater at it's floor, & wet walls with black and white bugs with great big eyes. Those were awesome trips...I was in my teens, new to the west and full of wonder for it all. Oh to have had a camera then!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture371.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/371/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>In yet another life, I was really into trees. Alligator junipers are among my favorite trees.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture370.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/370/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Finally got to the last leg of the route, FR 609. How far left? A bit over 30 miles on jeep trails of unkown quality. It was just after 4pm...damn, to much picture taking & eating! It's always more fun to get cracking at the end anyway, and given that I was at about 6500' and the truck was parked at about 2100', there were some big downhills coming up. Somewhere, anyway. Not for a loooong time. About 12 miles in is a long climb appropriately named Malicious Gap. The trail gets very rocky, loose pumpkins of rock. The scenery never stopped though, with big sweeping views to the north of the Mogollon rim. </P>
<P>There was plenty of time for reflection today. Thoughts like "why did I choose not to bring the headlamp" were at the forefront...but others such as why riding through the Sierra Anchas was much like a homecoming, a ride through one of the places where it all began ("it" being my fascination with the West and wild places), how being a slave to one's competitive self can often limit such opportunities as today's ride, and how these traits all blend together into one big mosh to create an endurance racer...towards the end of this ride, I pretty much had myself convinced I was headed for the super tough guy hardman point to point self-supported thing. Then again, that still presents the conflict between love of place and competive drive...</P>
<P>Onward. About 10 miles from the end the sunset was over the top.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture378.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/378/460x312.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>That last 10 miles flew by in the waning seeing light. By rides end, CTL bumped to 142 and 30 day rolling TSS is at ~4800. Doing this much volume (and intensity: the biggest week time-wise was 18 hours) really put my mind in a different place. I rarely get introspective on long rides, but when you're deep in the paincave anything goes.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=382" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFirst Bloodtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:3382006-01-09T02:30:00Z<P>It happens every year. Some sort of encounter with the ground to let me know I'm a feeble fragile human...it often is in the springtime when handling skills are at the yearly low...but never before has it come as early as January 8!</P>
<P>The day started much like yesterday, bike pointed up a 3,000' climb. There are actually a lot of big climbs down here in AZ. If you don't mind motorcycles, 4 wheelers, 3 wheelers, jeeps, Suburbans (aka mormon assault vehicle), hummers, the smell of castor oil, dune buggies, 6 wheelers, lots of guys in camo shooting stuff in all directions, bow hunters (they seem pretty cool so far), more guys shooting stuff - then southern AZ is your place! Want to see a war zone? No need to head to Iraq, just come on down here. </P>
<P>On the way up there is a lot of cool desert scenery. This route (<A href="http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_18.html">AZ trail website info</A>) is a real kalaidescope - Sonoran desert at the base, shady pines and junipers at the top, and great views.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture332.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/332/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Up top, here's looking towards Pinal peak, just south of Globe.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture333.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/333/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The object of the day was to find where the Arizona trail crosses FR650 near the top of Montana mountain outside of Superior. I've done this ride (the jeep roads) before, it's got super steep climbs, well over 25% grade in spots. There was even a race here in the early 90's, Mark Gullickson was riding for ProFlex at the time and cleaned up winning by a fair margin. I wasn't able to clean all the climbs back then. Now that I'm an old fart it's no problem carrying 160 OZ of fluids, things sure do change. Much to my surprise, the trail was easy to spot and has had recent work. It looked sweet!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture331.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/331/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Fresh trail work, it's gonna be sweet, right? Hmmm...its a sucker trail. There's fresh trail work at the ends, but in the middle there's 1,500' of sketchy, loose, cat claw infested descending. Don't get me wrong, it was fun in a twisted way, but when I bailed on a switchback sticking my foot down into some grass - there was no ground to meet my foot, just 6 foot tall grass...here's the landing pad:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture334.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/334/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Crap, that hurt...gotta get up off this prickly thing...oh something ain't right...right foot doesn't really hurt, but it won't work either. What? Wasn't quite prepared for what I saw next - 6-8 inch long thick needles buried all the way in various tendons, one of them even nailed my shoe to my foot. Pulling them suckers out was pure fun, let me tell ya...</P>
<P>Front view, not too bad:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture336.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/336/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Back view. The "dots" are where the needles were pulled from...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture335.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/335/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Advil is my friend for life, and is always with me on long rides. Today it was useful!</P>
<P>On the upside, the new Fuel is now dialed in. It always takes a hard learning experience to dial a bike in. The bars are a touch too high and the Reba rebound was too fast. Couple on-trail adjustments and it is sweet - handles faster than it did with the SID.</P>
<P>After the forever descent, it was time to go back up the back side jeep trail, on up to Montana mountain, and descent back to the start.</P>
<P> <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture337.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/337/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Darn sweet epic, something to write about. Maybe if I didn't bring the camera it'd been a boring ride ;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=338" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFirst results of 26 vs 29 inch wheelstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:3092006-01-02T20:04:00Z<P>Note (added 2/3/06): comments to this post have been disabled due to malicious spammers. You know who you are. Contact me through the "contact me" link if have something you'd like to add. If there is enough interest, I'd consider opening a public forum for the issue. </P>
<P>Note (added 2/12/06): this test looks at comparisons for climbing relatively smooth but variable pitched long dirt road climbs. For an analysis of rolling, twisty singletrack, check out <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/02/10/510.aspx">http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/dave_harris/archive/2006/02/10/510.aspx</A>.</P>
<P>Thanks!</P>
<P>-------------------------------------------</P>
<P>Which one of these are faster? This is the question of the hour. Every 29er fan would have you believe 26" wheels are "kiddie" wheels and also that 29" wheels are faster. Time to cut through all the subjectivity and put some numbers on the problem. The short answer: for this comparison, the 26" wheels outperformed the 29" wheels, but it's not an overwhelming difference. Then again, the margins between winning and losing are often quite small... </P>
<P>I've got a Salsa Dos Niner and a Trek Fuel 110, both setup with power tap hubs. In the past week I did the same ride twice (4 Peaks road from hwy 87 to hwy 88 and back), a 60 mile dirt road/jeep trail route with approximately 11,000 feet total climbing. Two sections of the ride are compared: the first climb, which is partly rolling with some steep climbs and one long climb, rising about 4,000' in the process. The second section climbs from hwy 88 back to the high point; this climb is quite steep, climbing ~4,000 in 8 miles. There are a few short descents.</P>
<P>Bike setups: The Dos was setup with Specialized Fast Trak tires, tubeless ala Stans. The Fuel was setup with a tubeless (plus Stans latex) Panaracer fire XC pro rear and a WTB Weirwolf 2.3 front, tubeless ala Stans. The Dos is .6 lbs lighter than the Fuel, as measured by a Tanita scale (.2 lb increments). I started each ride with the exact same amount of water & food so as to eliminate rider weight changes. I assumed my weight to be the same on both days.</P>
<P>First off I just went out and rode the routes. I made no attempt to ride even paces for any sections of the ride, and in fact, the latter ride (on the Fuel) was done at a more spirited pace. I just planned on sorting out the data post-ride. </P>
<P>Next, I had to come up with correction factors for the power meters. Power taps are strain guage devices, and as such, have a small but significant precision variability. I performed a stomp test for each power meter (including my road bike PT), here's how they turned out:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture307.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/307/500x129.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Based on the stomp test, the 29" PT measures .86% high, while the 26" PT measures 1.75% high. This leads to correction factors of .9915 for the 29" and .9828 for the 26".</P>
<P>Now there's nothing left but to look at the data for each climb:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture308.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/308/400x206.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The road surface is sandy in spots, rocky in others, and fairly loose decomposed granite throughout.</P>
<P>Conclusion: in this test, the 26" wheels outperform the big wheels. The first "climb" has a lot of rolling terrain, I was interested to see how this would turn out. In the end, though, a consistent advantage exists for the 26" wheel, whether rolling or straight up climbing. On the steep climb ("climb 2"), one would expect a linear decrease in time for a linear power increase. IOW, a 10% power increase should decrease time by 10%. This is because the major resistance to overcome is that of gravity - a constant. Yet the Fuel saw greater speed increases than linear with power increases. I could feel this on the ride - any change in speed necessitates wheel accelerations, and the big wheels are simply slower to accelerate. The smaller bike feels much more "lively" or "responsive".</P>
<P>Another interesting detail is how closely the kJ tracked for each climb. Identical for the big climb! This is somewhat surprising given that the Trek was .6 lbs heavier.</P>
<P>Clearly, a test on a dirt road is only valid for similar conditions...so I'll do more tests off-road. But I'm becoming biased now. The acceleration issue of the big wheels is tough to overcome...I suspect they will be best suited for rocky/tech stuff.</P>
<P>One more data point: at Moab, I did a lap each on the Fuel, Dos, and the 292. I never did a lap on the 292 that was within a minute of the Fuel's lap time...</P>
<P>More to come!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=309" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave26" or 29"???tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2992005-12-31T12:32:00Z<P>Oh, that's a tough one. But in the end sponsorship arrangements made the decision for me...the team is sponsored by Trek & Gary Fisher. Trek doesn't yet make 29ers, and GF 29ers, although super fun really are better for trail riding, not so much racing. The Sugar 292 is currently the only FS option, and at near 30 lbs stock that's a lot of extra KJ over the course of a 24.</P>
<P>On the flip side, the Trek Fuel has been an awesome bike for me for 3 years now. It feels harsh compared to the Reba equiped 29ers I've ridden - but I think that is a result of the SID forks. They are designed for minimum weight, not maximum performance. As such, that's what you get - the lightest production fork. It feels like a jack hammer in your hands after awhile though...that's one of the biggest take home lessons of my foray into 29ers. Been riding SIDs for years - didn't know any better - but now I've seen the light. It was not lost on me that Eatough was riding a Fuel with a Reba fork rather than the stock SID when he won worlds 24 this year. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!</P>
<P>It'll be interesting to see how more travel affects the handling of the bike. If it's too slow, I may end up shortening the travel a bit, for for now I think it's set at 115mm. Free-ride front end, baby!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture298.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/298/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I've come to really prefer the XO gripshift. Fast, precise shifting. The Dos was setup with XO and has worked flawlessly ever since. Still have XTR on the older Fuel - that option will be good for rain events.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture297.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/297/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The bike you see here will likely be the bike of choice for Trans Rockies. I've been considering the 29 option, but because of sponsors and a probable scarcity of 29er specific parts in Canada, the Fuel is going to be the machine. She weighs in at 24 lbs even with the Reba.</P>
<P>Test rides all weekend!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=299" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWinter quarterstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2952005-12-31T11:46:00Z<P>While the majority of cyclists turn to winter sports this time of year, or worse ride their bikes through the winter months (hi Mitch!)...I like to fly south for the winter. Call me soft if you will, but trust me I've logged plenty of snowbound fender weather miles. It doesn't make me any faster to do so and it sure is more fun in southern Arizona.</P>
<P>Wednesday I got reacquainted with one of my local faves, 4 Peaks road:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture286.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/286/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>One of the coolest things about coming back down to lower elevations is that what was previously L5 power is now L4 power. You'd never know it was that much of a difference without a power meter! Here's the file: <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/entry294.aspx" target=_blank>4 Peaks Road: Dave</A>.</P>
<P>Here's what my office looks like in AZ. A lot different than in CO!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture290.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/290/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Here's the mastermind behind the decor (pick one):</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture289.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/289/225x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>All in all, '06 is getting of to a smashing start. </P>
<P>Anyone have any New Year's resolutions you'd like to share? Here's mine: spend less time on the computer.</P>
<P>Happy New year's y'all, here's to great things in '06!</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=295" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveE100 Series Reviewtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2712005-12-23T10:05:00Z<P>Boris, you are a sick, twisted, sadistic man. Just look at these numbers:</P>
<P><STRONG><A href="http://thee100.com/">100 MILE COURSE STATISTICS<BR></A></STRONG>Stage 1: 20.64 mi with 3472 ft. of vertical gain<BR>Stage 2: 18.98 mi with 4229 ft. of vertical gain<BR>Stage 3: 22.09 mi with 4204 ft. of vertical gain<BR>Stage 4: 16.73 mi with 2463 ft. of vertical gain<BR>Stage 5: 21.56 mi with 4259 ft. of vertical gain</P>
<P>Oh yea, and it's better than 95% technical singletrack. Here's the map. Lots of switchbacks, even in the map.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture269.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/269/400x276.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>You know we can't resist a challenge...so when you put something like this together, we'll come in droves to suffer on your hillsides.</P>
<P>But seriously Boris, thank you. You are a visionary in the world of MTB event promotion. You have helped to fill the void for endurance racing in the Rocky Mountain region. I can't wait to see what manner of creative torture you'll cook up for '06. Make us suffer boss!</P>
<P>It's probably no secret that I consider the E100 series the highlight of my '05 season. There were certainly other highs - Steamboat and Moab come to mind - but something about Boris' playground keeps me coming back. The sweetest alpine singletrack, and not just a little of it - miles and miles of interconnected trails. The challenge of repeated 2,000' climbs. The rush of repeated 2,000' decents. The welcome given racers by Boris and his family. Each of the events presented some sort of lasting memory, the kind that have you waking with a glimmer in your eye. This is what endurance racing is all about.</P>
<P>This is going to be a long, sprawling post. I suddenly have lots of free time for the next 10 days...There were 3 events in the series, the beta for each follows.</P>
<P><STRONG>The 12 Hour Event<BR>TM Stats: CTL 123, ATL 98, TSB 25</STRONG></P>
<P>The series begins with a 12 hour race. This is supposed to assist E100 hopefuls get into shape, prepare for the rigors of the 100 miler in August. A 12 hour event? Again Boris, you're a touch off kilter. If you want to do this race justice as a solo rider, better show up with your A game cuz it's no walk in the park. 12 hours is a long time to be hammering away. The course is sweet singletrack. Big guys would say there's a lot of climbing; I thought it was perfect with 1300' climbing in slightly under 10 miles ;) If you've ridden in the Durango area, the trails are very similar to Horse Gulch. Think Telegraph repeats...dry, rocky in spots but buff in most & fast.</P>
<P>The event uses a Lemans start at 7am, then it's on to the bike. Here we are cruising through the S/F for the first time.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture125.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/125/400x270.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>You can see the dust kicking up - there was plenty of that until things spread out, which acutally didn't take long at all. I was feeling good, but wasn't sure how good...3 weeks prior I had a breakthrough performance at the Steamboat 24, but CTL was still high at about 123 for this race. I wasn't certain I'd rested enough, so after a hard charging run, I backed it right down once on the bike. Craig had just built up a sweet lightweight powertap MTB wheel, so I even had the PT to play with today. That can be fun in long events - at least until it gets discouraging! </P>
<P>Anna was doing support and we were a great team this day. Wow it was all clicking so fast. Coming in for the first pit I looked at her all wide-eyed and said "OMG the magic legs are here!" It doesn't always work out this way, of course, but on this day all 8 cyclinders were firing and then some. A float day for sure. We kept the pits to under 60 seconds average over the course of the event. I was riding the Trek Top Fuel 110 and it was working flawlessly. A little T9 to the chain about every 3 laps and that's all she asked all day. Anna had camelbacks filled with ice ready to go each time I came in. Filled up a jersey pocket with a few banana chunks, grabbed an eFuel and off I'd go.</P>
<P>And that's how it kept on rolling, just like clockwork. There were issues though. We had no idea what my position was in the field. The timing crew was using new equipment which was really sweet RFID anklets, however, they didn't have any software to make sense of what the RFIDs were reporting! So it seemed everything was getting done by hand. 8 laps into the race and I still didn't know my position. I knew it couldn't be too bad cause I was in the top 10 overall - but you never know if all the fast riders went solo or what...then on the 9th lap, I stop to water a particularly dry looking bush, and here comes a guy looking super fit & fast. He was riding for Scott and looking pro. OK, get back on the bike and go investigate. By the top of the final decent, he was right there, but then he dropped me like a hot potato on the decent. It's hard to explain what happened next...but getting dropped like that provided more motivation than you can imagine. </P>
<P>For lap 9 I pretty much unloaded my gun. I attacked climbs with impunity. The day was unreasonably hot, but during lap 9 there was the smallest of clouds hovering above that kept me shaded & cool. Intuitively, I knew that I was racing the Scott rider for the win. Don't ask me how, I just knew. Lap 9 was a barnburner, one of my best efforts of '05. Before heading out for lap 10 the guys in the next pit said the Scott rider was Todd Tanner. I knew the name, but didn't yet know Todd. </P>
<P>From there forward I just kept up steady pressure, consistent smooth riding. It felt good. The effort you put in at the end of long events, well, it's a special thing. It's that part of the race where you are way past the bonk, way past glycogen depletion. It's the part of the event that defines ultra endurance athletes. Can you handle the slow drain, the negative thoughts? Can you find power where there is none? I thrive on the sensations brought about by the end of (good) long endurance performances. It is something I eagerly look forward to - even in long training rides on occasion. It's something that must be preceded by many hours of hard riding. It's probably not healthy, and certainly not something I'd want to do too often, but these are key times in the growth of ultra endurance performance. I finished lap 13 shortly after the cutoff of 6:10, winning my second ultra endurance event in 3 weeks, and finished 7th overall. This will surely become the defining moment of '05 in my mind.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture127.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/127/369x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P><STRONG>The 50 Mile Solo<BR>TM Stats: CTL 123, ATL 99, TSB 24</STRONG></P>
<P>It wasn't my plan to do this event. On the schedule the following 2 weekends were the <A href="http://www.brianheadepic.com/">Briahhead Epic 100</A> and the <A href="http://www.gravityplay.com/MTB100/index2.htm">Durango MTB 100</A>. It would be sub-optimal to do long events on 3 consecutive weekends, so the 50 miler was out. But alas, Boris kept calling me "Dave, Tinker needs some competition, and Todd will be here too." What can I say? I'm weak. I'm easily pursuaded. At least when were talking about 50 miles of killer singletrack!</P>
<P>The legs of the 12 hour went on haitus, not to return until October...but riding was still fun as can be. Starting at 6am, there was barely enough light to see. It had been very hot, but today we were treated to a thin cloud cover that kept us cool. </P>
<P>As it turned out, the 50 miler was a good shakedown for both riders and promoters. You see, the course is marked with these little flags stuck into the ground, where for each stage the color of the flags match the stage color on the map. You gotta know what color to follow when, or else you'll end up in timbuktu. At the start line Tinker asks me about the course markings - yea, at 5:58:30 am he asks me how the course is marked...doh! I don't think he got it straight, cause he took at least 2 wrong turns in the race, one of which was on the first stage. That put him in chase mode for the rest of the day.</P>
<P>My ride was not so dissimilar. Todd, Tinker, and Heinrich (local Park City stud, the guys a hammer!) were all ahead of me coming into the first transition - or so I thought. Emma told me only Heinrich was in front of me though. Hmmm...where'd they go? Upward and onward, the big climb of stage 2 is long, scenic, steep, and very pleasing. I could see Heinrich on some switchbacks, I think were about 2 minutes apart. A quick transition through T2 and it's off for the final leg of the race. As usual, I was really looking forward to unloading my gun on the final climb up Tour de Homes, hopeful I could catch Heinrich. I gave it everything, but he never came into view. 2nd would have to suffice today. But wait! After coming across the line, Park City TV comes over and interviews me, asking for race details and was I happy with the win...what??? Then I tell Boris I never passed Heinrich. The waiting begins. Some 20 minutes later he makes it in. Boris asks him "what happened, why so slow?" He was baffled. "What'dya mean, I won didn't I?"</P>
<P>Apparently I had taken a wrong turn somewhere on the course. Stage 3 of the 50 only does about half of the full stage 3 (for the 100 mile course), the markings were confusing and vague. Of the front 4 riders, only Heinrich, a Park City local, stayed on course for the duration. In the end, Boris had to determine a fair finishing order. I wouldn't have wanted this job...it went like this:</P>
<P>1. Heinrich Deters<BR>2. Dave Harris<BR>3. Tinker Juarez<BR>4. Todd Tanner</P>
<P>It was a messy ending. Heinrich left frustrated, Tinker took off ASAP to fly to Europe, and Todd left disgruntled as he was listed as DNF (it was later reversed to 4th). As it turned out, this finishing order was pivotal when it came time to detemine the overall E100 series winner. </P>
<P><STRONG>Grand Finale: The 100 Mile<BR>TM Stats: CTL 122, TSB 96, TSB 28</STRONG></P>
<P>With no racing since the Durango MTB 100, I was feeling fresh and ready to go. The 50 mile intimidated me in spots from a technical standpoint, mostly because it was rough on the mid-mountain trail, and some of the stage 2 decents were challenging. At the same time, I was flirting with the idea of 29ers. They had become so popular with the endurance crowd, so what the heck, I pulled the trigger on a Gary Fisher 292. Riding this bike was a breath of fresh air! The big wheels rolled over stuff so easily and riding took on a newfound child-like aura. The harder sections of the E100 course were going to be sooo much easier.</P>
<P>Anna has been a great supporter of my racing all season (actually since '03), so I booked a condo for the week preceding the event. I made it a working vacation, but Anna had plenty of time to roam the trails of the Wasatch. She's a geek too and would come back talking about all the numbers produced by her Garmin...elevation climbed, % grades...next best thing to a power meter for a runner :)</P>
<P>The week in PC gave me time to pre-ride some of the course. In particular, I wanted to see where stage 3 *really* went, and to ride stage 4. I'd heard rumors the Black Forest section of stage 4 was super tech, big drops & tree roots. Tuesday: tried to ride stage 3 (supposedly it was marked) and got lost. Aw no, not again! A quick call to Boris "dude, you said this was marked!" "yes, it is marked!" "uh, I don't think so"... Wednesday: head back out to stage 3. I'm gonna ride it if it kills me. Well, I'm getting lost again. WTF? I ride past a guy with a happily bouncing *** hanging from his saddle. No, not his own, but it sure did require a doubletake to figure out what it was supposed to be! This was Greg Roth, the man in charge of course markings. He had one helluva tough job. There must be some local PC anti-mtber sentiment, or at least one very PITA non-mountain biker, cause they were stripping course markings as fast as his crew could place them. Not good! In the end, I gave up on stage 3. Never did ride it before the race - but later that day went on to check out stage 4. It was longer than I expected; total ride time for the day was about 4 hours, way sub-optimal in the week preceding a race. Oh well, it sure was fun and the 292 was a freakin blast.</P>
<P>Race start: dark:30. The 292 and I were ready to go, despite some tripidation about the markings of stage 3. After 3 attempts, I had yet to complete the 20 mile circuit without getting lost.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture132.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/132/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>A few riders chose to use lights, including myself. It turned out to be a good thing too, because when it got steep I found myself quickly alone. Not at the front, just alone. Most riders were depending on the lights of others to get through the initial dark climb.</P>
<P>It was going to be along day, so I started relatively easy. Winning time last year was over 10 hours, so no sense in attacking that first climb. Todd, Tinker, and Gillespie quickly faded in the twilight up ahead. But when I hit the top of the initial climb the sun began to rise and trail tilted downwards - the true strength of the 292 - and things began to feel really, really good. Too good...heading up the climb for stage 2 I knew things were deteriorating already. Sometimes alls you can do is alls you can do. I rode some with Alex on the S2 climb, a talented rider out of SLC. He eventually rode away from me on the climb, came back to me on decents, and rode away for good on the final climb. He rode a great race...don't really know him, but his progression this year was impressive.</P>
<P>After stage 2 comes stage 3. Makes sense, eh? I opted to ride the Fuel for this stage. My perception of what I'd seen of stage 3 was that it was less technical, but more rolling and the lighter Fuel & smaller wheels would be more responsive. Staying on course was the biggest concern - and I gotta hand it to Greg and Boris - they did a fantastic job of making sure nobody got lost on stage 3. Course marshalls were everywhere, so even if all the flags were pulled, we'd still get directions. Thanks guys! So *thats* where stage 3 goes. Ah, I see...</P>
<P>This guy had a great day, stayed on course, and obliterated the field busting it wide open on the stage 2 climb. We knew he could do it, and today he did. At 44 & getting stronger in long events, he is an icon to anyone interested in endurance racing for the long haul and a great example of how to do it in style. A fine wine, so to speak.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture130.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/130/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Coming in after stage 3, I decided to take a break, hanging from a chairlift for a bit:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture128.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/128/397x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>You can see my two favorite kidz laying on the ground, and Anna doing what she always seems to do when I see her in races: hustling!</P>
<P>It was all for naught though, cause I died a thousand deaths on the way to the stage 4 summit. And then I got passed from a SS guy - and with authority I might add. Oooo, that guy is good, and I'm hurting! Such is endurance racing.</P>
<P>But alas, a big climb for stage 5. It went on for an eternity, but I was coming back. Something about the end of long races, you just gotta rally no matter what! Up the Spiro trail...damn this is steep...breathing hard...oh good, here's the mid-mountain trail...but noooo, straight up Crescent grade road the route goes...damn, and I thought Spiro was steep...thank god, downhill...back to mid-mtn trail - all downhill, right? Not exactly. It goes on a long ways and starts climbing again as you get closer to the finish. Where's that decent?? Finally, an abrupt right turn and down to the finish. On the way my chain not only breaks, but breaks only half way so that a link gets lodged into the rear mech, meaning I have to run any short ups for the final 3 miles. That sort of matched how I felt today!</P>
<P>The big question as I was coming down that final decent was "where is Todd?" I wasn't too concerned with race standings today, just placement in relation to Todd. We had a tight race for the points lead. If he was 2 spots in front of me, we'd tie the series. If he was 3 spots in front of me, he'd win the series. Not that I had set out initially to win the E100 series, but after the 50 mile it seemed well within reach. So the first question to Anna as I finished was "where is Todd?" The answer: he was 5th, a few minutes in front of me. I was 6th. It's a wrap. </P>
<P>With a 6th place finish, I became the first E100 series winner. It was immensely satisfying. Not because I rode well that day - I didn't - but because despite the obstacles of the week and less than good legs, I kept it going, always pushing, and achieved my goals. It was a tight race and Todd is a fantastic rider. We've never spoke of it, but had the course markings of the 50 been different, the series could have had a different outcome...</P>
<P>Quien sabe?</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=271" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveElite BMXtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2632005-12-21T15:17:00Z<P>And now for something totally different: Jens Westergren is researching BMX power requirements and has some data to share as well. Below is a chart of his data and some of his comments/questions:</P>
<P>----------------------------------------------------</P>
<P>The new UCI Supercross format (Olympic format) consists of two time <BR>trial runs as qualification then a number of finals, in all around 5-10 <BR>heats of 30-45 s duration. Because of the jumps and turns it´s rater <BR>different from for example 400 running.</P>
<P>I'm currently working on a "performance criteria analysis" of BMX racing <BR>for the Swedish Olympic Committee. My only problem is that the amount of <BR>published research done on the subject is to put it nicely, <BR>non-existent!<BR>A pubMed search gives maybe seven relevant hits, of which all of the are <BR>about injuries in BMX racing (must be a very dangerous sport...)</P>
<P>This is what I´ve found:</P>
<P>Politi, S.; Heazlewood, I. Exercise physiological, biomechanical and <BR>kinanthropometric<BR>predictors of bicycle motor cross in young adults : a preliminary <BR>study.Mathematics and computers in sports : 3rd conference held at<BR>Bond University, Queensland, Australia, 30th September to 2nd October,<BR>1996, Queensland, Bond University, 1996, p. 123-153.</P>
<P>Attached is the power output graph of a 74 kg top level Swedish rider,<BR>measured by a SRM pro system fitted to his race bike. To avoid any <BR>interference from other riders (and crashes...) it was done as a time trial.<BR>This is especially relevant now since the UCI Supercross <BR>use time trial runs to qualify. I would be very grateful if you could post<BR>this on the forum!</P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture262.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/262/400x239.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>----------------------------------------------------------------------</P>
<P>If you have any insight for Jens, contact him at <A href="mailto:jenswestergren@hotmail.com">jenswestergren@hotmail.com</A>.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=263" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveFast Track 29er tire first impressionstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2492005-12-19T11:41:00Z<P>If you don't ride & race a 29er this post will make abolutely no sense to you. You've been warned.</P>
<P>Tire selection for 29er race tires is limited at best. Switching over to tubeless 6 years ago was a big performance improvement. As far as cycling equipment innovations go, tubeless tires are on the level of suspension forks and clipless pedals. 29ers are a blast - but one of the tougher nuts to crack is tire selection. At this time there is not a single tubeless 29er tire available. The only tubeless option is some sort of conversion using non-tubeless tires. This involves a rim strip to seal the spoke holes and putting some sort of latex (or other chemical) sealant in the tire. <A href="http://www.notubes.com/">Stans</A> makes is a popular commercially available conversion kit for 26ers and 29ers.</P>
<P>This is not without significant risk, however. There seems to be no standard for producing 29er tires. As opposed to their little 26" cousins, 29er tires almost always fit loose. You can mount a 29er tire by tossing it across the room, it'll land on the rim just fine :) Also, the beads have been breaking or simply blowing off the rim when converted to tubeless. Not good!</P>
<P>Last time I checked Stans recommends only one type of tire for 29er conversions: wire beaded WTB. That's what I've been using all season. The race setup is a Nanorapter rear, Motoraptor front. They weigh in at about 760-780 g each. Ouch.</P>
<P>The big red S comes to the rescue. They've previously announced that they'll never make 29ers...but their <A href="http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/6697.0.html">defunct WC star </A>was at one point interested in 29ers, so they set about designing a decent race tire for 29ers. The Fast Track is the end result of their work, and after one ride I'm jumping for joy. </P>
<P>Finally their is a <A href="http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?minisite=10080&spid=14238">viable 29er race tire</A>. They are light. Compared to the wire bead WTBs, 300ishg lighter, and that's rolling weight. The weight difference is immediately apparent in moderate to high speed turns. The bike loses some of its longboat handling qualities. They are grippy, much more so than the nano/moto combo. The comparison ride was a snowpacked dirt road, and in those conditions the tires felt like velcro. They are supple. I ran them at 32R30F and at those pressures found them to be very compliant in the rough. They are not as high volume as the nano. On the Dos, rear tire clearance is an issue. With a nano on my Mavic Open Pro there is only about 3mm room between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wishbone. There is more than twice that now with the Fast Tracks. They come with an aramid bead, which as I understand it is considerably stronger than typical kevlar beads. I've taken the leap and mounted them tubeless. They aired up much more easily than any other tire I've mounted tubeless on 29ers, probably because they actually fit snugly on the rim. So far so good.</P>
<P>I'm thinking this tire outperforms anything I've used to date on 29ers...but I'll hold on that call until I abuse them on trails. But putting my bike in the 23 lb range by changing tires? How could that not be exciting! So long as that bead holds...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture251.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/251/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=249" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThese are fast!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2452005-12-17T21:49:00Z<P>Getting psyched now...my 24 lb Dos niner just lost half a pound. The big S just released their new Fast Track 29er tire. Can you say excited? Can't wait to try these rippers out down in the warm desert southwest...</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture244.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/244/400x300.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=245" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMomentumtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:2182005-12-17T13:40:00Z<P>Durango's got it.</P>
<P>Last night the FLC concert hall was the place of a cycling fundraiser multimedia show and auction hosted by none other than Bob Roll. The first part of the show highlighted several local cyclists and cycling related organizations. Notables to get their mug shots at theatre size projections included Robbie Robinette for winning the 40-44 road champs, our very own <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/blogs/ben/about.aspx">Ben Kraushaar</A> for his his winning ride at mammoth, 7 year old <A href="http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=col&article_path=/columnists/articles/annArticles/ann050706.htm">Christopher Blevins</A>, national <A href="http://www.durangobmx.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=staticc.main&file=location">BMX</A> champion (I had no idea Dtown BMX was so big...but Neds kid is doing too), Martha Iverson for crushing every record in her path to numerous victories and national titles both on and off-road, <A href="http://www.trails2000.org/">Bill Manning and Trails 2000 </A>for many years of trail advocacy and trail work/construction...then moved on to the big dogs. Todd and Troy wells (the brothers just snagged the Elite and U23 national cross titles), including a great video interview with Todd; Chris Wherry including a video of the final 10 minutes of his national championship ride (you gotta see this one - Pate and Wherry worked Horner over good), Bob Roll, and Tom D, including footage of his Brasstown Bald win in Georgia.</P>
<P>Afterwards, we got to hear from some of the starz.</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture217.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/217/400x181.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>From left to right: Ned, Roll, Michael Barry, Liam and Dede Barry, TD, and Chris W. Bob Roll is always entertaining - if ever you have a chance to see this guy do his thing (aside from OLN) do it.</P>
<P>Take away points:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Ned will race forever. "I have to stay in shape cause once I get out of shape I can't get it back." This shouldn't come as a surprise.
<LI>TD's primary goals for '06 look to be the Giro, taking in the California and Georgia tours along the way, but Michael Barry says TD's got a good chance (it sounded like 4 riders are under consideration) of leading Disco in France. Tom was more relaxed, mature and generally strong and confident that ever before.
<LI>Dede's greatest triumph is motherhood. #2 was the silver in Athens. Liam is one happy little guy and really likes microphones & TD!
<LI>Bob Roll's single professional victory was the result of the peloton getting stopped by a train when he was off the front.</LI></UL>
<P>Looking around in the packed concert hall, there were dozens if not hundreds of cyclists that could have also been featured - there is just that many talented cyclists in Durango. Must be something in the water here. </P>
<P>So if you're looking for a cycling hotspot to call home...Durango is darn tough to top. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=218" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave29er news from Trek & Gary Fishertag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:1902005-12-14T14:24:00ZGuitar Ted spent yesterday at the Trek university (?) in Iowa. He shared some exciting news for the 29er crowd, <A href="http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2005/12/big-wheel-news-from-trek-u.html" target=_blank>check it!.</A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=190" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBuilding for Old Pueblotag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:1792005-12-13T22:44:00Z<P>It's December 13 and Durango finally got some of the white stuff. It's been the first year I recall that you could ride your MTB all the way to December. It's been great, but oh man the Nordic and Alpine folks are jonesin.</P>
<P>According to my training plan, the build up for <A href="http://www.epicrides.com/twofour/24.htm">Old Pueblo</A> begins today. It might sound odd, given that I've done 4 White Rim rides in 2 weeks, that I consider today as the beginning of the build...it's more of a seasonal attitude thing. Growing up in Michigan, I was programmed at an early age to put on winter fat in the fall, and no matter where I live it happens every year. Late October to Jan 1 is typically a time of weight gain, regardless of training volume. Gimme some pie dammit! This year seems to be different. I'm super excited for what's to come in '06 and feeling fresh as a daisy at a CTL of 124.</P>
<P>The trainer is no way to start this build, so I opted for some interval work up Junction Creek road in the snow. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture177.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/177/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Riding MTB in general reduces power output. Combine that with snow and it becomes a judgement call whether to call it a skills ride or L5...it often required quite smooth form to avoid slippage, and going down was a real treat!</P>
<P>In between intervals 4 and 5 the shifting took a nap. I have no idea why :)</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture178.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/178/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Riding in the snow turned out to be a ton of fun, and I think I just discovered another strong point of these 29er wheels. Hmmm....</P>
<P>Here's how it all turned out:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture176.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/176/374x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>If you've seen my rants on wattage, you know why I'm doing this kind of stuff in December...but for the benefit of everyone else: the short answer is that after a long season of long events (feb-oct), my power duration curve gets very, very flat. That means top end power declines while long term power rises. I view the winter as the time to rebuild top end power - a rather different take than most, but it works for me. For <EM>MTB </EM>ultras, the trick is to have plenty of top end, and great long term power. It's a difficult balance to achieve...but hell, riding a lot can make up for a lot training mistakes;)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=179" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveMeet the Fergusons!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:1192005-12-07T14:11:00Z<P>Fergy is back in town and he arrives with a new ride for '06: check it out!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture118.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/118/281x375.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>I'd advise getting out of his way this year :)</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=119" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveThank you sir, may I have another!tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:1112005-12-05T14:14:00Z<P>Ma nature scuttled plans for the Kokopelli trail recon so it turned out to be a double white rim weekend. Questionable at best...the weather was rough, the drive from D town to hole-in-the-rock looked like this:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture110.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/110/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The holy ground (or is that hell?) was warm enough to keep the snow off...but had received lots of rain. Flash floods left their traces all over the eastern side of the WR and the road was completely different in all tech/sandy spots. Very slow going compared to last weekends float conditions. Can you say arctic headwinds? Could be worse - I could be living in <A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/blog/" target=_blank>Park City </A>and thinking it will be good for training.</P>
<P>It only takes one stop longer than 5 minutes to drive home the realization that stopping is not a good thing. If it's cold enough for water bottles of e-Fuel to freeze (high electrolyte content so it was really cold!), guess what happens to a skinny sweaty biker...</P>
<P>Day 1 was clockwise. Here's a different view of Hardscrabble:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture107.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/107/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>This hill is darn steep in this direction!</P>
<P>Day 2 the weather was different - less clouds, less wind, colder. The puddles remained frozen for the duration, as did my bottles. Ice & fast riding is *really* fun. Keeps you on your toes. This was the last ride of a big training block, and I like to push it towards the end if able. The last 3 hours of this day were nothing short of magical. The MP3 was dishing out the goods and the wind was light, even a tailwind for much of it! Pizza was the primary fuel source today, and let me tell ya, ain't nothing better for long rides.</P>
<P>Weekend stats:</P>
<P>ride time: 14.5 hours<BR>Pave: 206<BR>Pnorm: 220<BR>kJ: 10,621<BR>miles: 208</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/7/power_files/default.aspx" target=_blank>The day 2 file is here</A>.</P>
<P>The sunset yesterday was a beauty. Here's the parting shot of the WR in '05.</P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture109.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/109/281x375.aspx" border=0></A><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=111" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveAnother epic weekend?tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:932005-11-30T12:38:00Z<P>The training plan calls for one more epic weekend before moving on to new things. This may be taunting the weather gods, but I'll head to the Moab area one last time this year. On deck is another White Rim loop and the Dewey Bridge to Moab section of the Kokopelli Trail:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/maps/picture92.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/maps/images/92/original.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>Curiak puts on an "unofficial" self-supported race on the full Kokopelli trail in May. Looks brutal, so of course I'm interested. This is a scouting mission, the primary task being find out where water is available! The race hasn't been completed by a woman yet so guess who has set her sights on the event? Must be a super slow course with a lot of sand in the lower sections as the course record is just under 15 hours. Maybe 2 hours of that is filtering water. </P>
<P>As of last weekend it was clear sailing at 8500' in the La Sals, but the weather is getting increasingly grumpy...so it could turn out to be 2 WR rides...or less if old man winter shows up in full force.</P>
<P>This weekend will have CTL rising to the 135 range. I don't spend much time at these levels outside of race season, so it'll be time to dump some of that and trade it in for some good ol' L5 block work, which will lead to the final build for <A href="http://www.epicrides.com/twofour/24.htm" target=_blank>Old Pueblo</A>. What is this dribble, you ask? More details on that in the near future.</P>
<P> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=93" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWhite rim #4 (this year)tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:832005-11-26T14:39:00Z<P>It's official, I'm addicted to this loop. Had to burn off some turkey yesterday, so did another trip around the WR. Rode the Dos today with the new PT setup, the file is uploaded <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/files/default.aspx">here</A>. 6:51, not too shabby for late November. </P>
<P>Today Mitch and I are off to do the upper upper Porc rim ride...</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=83" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveLife as a chronic geektag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:762005-11-24T14:44:00Z<P>Chronic. The term conjures up visions of terminal smokers hacking their way through the day. I once worked with a gent that went by "chronic", and indeed he was (still is so I hear) keepin' it real. But as Miles points out, it's my new favorite word. It has a different connotation in my vernacular, just to clear any confusion.</P>
<P>The night before Thanksgiving and I finally found time to get the PT wheel set up on the Dos Niner. You'd think it'd be easy, right? Slap a tire on it, mount the harness and you're off. Some extra steps included a Stan's tubeless conversion and switching to a v-brake system from the Hayes disk. 3 hours later, this is what I have:</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/bikes/picture75.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/bikes/images/75/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>This is all very exciting...you see, if you don't have the data, it didn't actually happen. I've been flying blind since late July when I got the first 29er.</P>
<P>So this am it's off to give it a whirl, run it through the paces and pick up the metabolism in preparation for the gorging to come. 4 days in Moab are on deck...and everytime I spend time in that place the White Rim beckons. More than likely, tomorrow will be another trip around the WR. Not sure what it is about that ride - it's only jeep road, right? It sure does call loud and clear tho.</P>
<P>Any ambibuities in my useage of the term "chronic"? The geek part should be obvious.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=76" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Davedecisionstag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:642005-11-22T12:48:00Z<P>those guys operating in a vacuum up in c.springs make me crazy.</P>
<P>in the plans for ~ half a year: <A href="http://www.transrockies.com" target=_blank>www.transrockies.com</A>.</P>
<P>also in the plans, but date was TBD, 24 hour natz. <A href="http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=1996" target=_blank>just released yesterday by the hoovers</A>.</P>
<P>looks like it's gonna be canada. no offense to those in the midwest (i'm from there waaaay back) but the canadian rockies are a great place to spend a week.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=64" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveA different viewtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:612005-11-21T23:22:00Z<P>Epic rides have long been my favorite. Dave Wiens once said he wished he could just go out and do epic rides every day, but the specific demands of shorter events mandated some shorter glycogen burning high intensity training. The fall is a good time to do what really floats your boat, especially if it isn't specific to your goal events...like a good ol' epic on the White Rim. Brian mentioned this ride to me as we were decompressing from 24 hours of racing in Moab...but at that time, doing the WR sounded far too painful to consider. Chronic I am though, and before sunrise on Saturday I found myself at Mineral bottom road ready to embark on my 3rd trip around the rim in 2 months. This time was different - there were 18 of us. In my 6(?) times on this ride, this was the first to have company aside from the occasional bighorn ram. This was no ordinary group of riders, but rather (mostly) a group of professional mountain bikers. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture50.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/50/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>The pre-dawn start was reminiscent of the Soul Ride, that great 100 mile event in Tucson put on by Todd Sadow & <A href="http://www.epicrides.com/">www.epicrides.com</A>. Nothing beats starting in the dark. Riding a 24 at night is one thing, but you're not exactly fresh at that point. Starting in the dark is entirely different.</P>
<P>So how does a ride progress with such a group? A series of sprints punctuated by long mechanical breaks, snack stops, and these. </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture51.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/51/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>We had intended to hold the group together for the ride - you know, strength in numbers. The first major mechanical hit just before Hardscrabble hill. A broken seat collar and a near terminal chain/spoke entanglement. Lynda saw the writing on the wall. The number of stops increases exponentially with the group size, and as any enduro freak can attest stops really get in the way of the endorphin buzz. So she just rolled over the top of the hill, thinking she'd stop in the sunshine...oh maybe stop after the descent...oh maybe stop at potato bottom...damn it's cold down here...and she was gone.</P>
<P>In the meantime, we get the bikes sorted out and are on our way. Brian was riding a Trek 9.8 SS with 2:1 gearing. That pint sized rocket tipped the scales at 19lbs, or so he claimed. Felt more like 15 to me. One of the highlights of the day was rippin through the rollers leading to Murphy's hogback. Brian was putting the hurt on a group of 6 - we were basically being motorpaced. This went on for about 30 minutes, damn were we having fun! Mitch looks over at me as asks if his wheel was dragging on something...yep, there was some heavy breathing. Brian would really punch it on the rollers (he couldn't shift, right?), so in an effort to not get dropped on the rollers I did the same - held the same gear and stood for the rollers. Well...sounds good on paper, but when my chain broke there was a painful impact of crotch to stem while I nose wheelied over a small ledge with one foot flying solo. Found the chain, got it back on and off we went, only to have the chain break again 2 minutes later. They didn't wait the second time around, which was fine - by that time the ride was split up so I had new riding partners.</P>
<P> </P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture53.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/53/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>A short while later we're at the top of Murphy's hogback, eating what we have. It was great to chill and get to know some new chronics. While we're stopped, I'm starting to wonder how far ahead Lynda is. That gal is a lightning bolt - let her slip away and she's gone. The problem was she drove, and if she ended up waiting for a couple hours, would she? The other thought...when doing the WR counter-clockwise, the second half is a lot more taxing than the first. Headwinds, rocky/slick rock, it just beats you up. There was going to be carnage, even in this group, or should I say <EM>especially</EM> in this group. The guys in this crowd are darn fast, which means at times the pace was pretty hot. The bigger the shovel the bigger the hole. </P>
<P>I made the call to go find Lynda...</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture54.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/54/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>This shot comes right from the trail. Glad the chain didn't break here!<A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture51.aspx" target=_blank></A></P>
<P>The next 2 hours was a nice steady cruise, enduro freaks you know what I'm talking about, you're in the zone, cadence is up, no MP3 but you've still got music playing, the views are killer and your bike is simply flowing with you...suddenly, there's Lynda. Good for both of us as she's getting bored by then, power starting to fade and getting a little bonky, and I don't have to ride back to town. We are planning to do Trans Rockies as a coed team next year, so that was a big topic of conversation...how do we make the most of our collective strengths in Canada? </P>
<P>Can't forget the litter leash. You know, the little tab of material on Clif Shots that prevent the top from ending up on the ground? That's Lynda's creation, a contribution to Clif that has earned her a lifetime supply of Clif products. Her inpiration? The tampon.</P>
<P>It wasn't long before we were at the base of the Shaffer trail, a 1500' climb at 10-20% grades. The views from the top are quality!</P>
<P><A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture49.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/49/400x300.aspx" border=0></A></P>
<P>All that remained was a short spin to the cars, about 8 miles of pavement. Or so I thought. Right into the teeth of a norther we went, and Lynda was WAY more motivated than I. I mean, c'mon now, we just did all the fun stuff, what's the rush? It hurt to ride her wheel at that point, I'm not afraid to admit it. Then she sees a rider up ahead and picks it up a touch more...then she's had it so I go to the front. Going slower than she was, I'm sure...until I see that the rider in front of us is a roadie. Huh? Lynda says she knew exactly when I realized that bike had skinny tires - her power went up 80 watts. Completely subconcious...but funny. It only takes a little motivation, from wherever it may come. BTW, if you are a powerphile and have <A href="http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com">www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com</A> loaded, you can check out her power file over on the files section of our website. There's also a file of the next day's ride, an upper and lower Porcupine rim adventure.</P>
<P>Meanwhile...back in the group there were varying amounts of pain in that final section of headwinds. <A href="http://ridewithnickmartin.blogspot.com/2005/11/worth-thousand-words.html">For some</A>, it was a religious experience. <A href="http://www.jasonsager.com/blog/index.php">For others</A>, apparently purely noxious akin to sticking needles on one's eye. Brian carried on as Brian will, hammering up the Shaffer trail on that 2:1 SS, cleaning the 20+ minute climb out of the saddle in single-digit cadences. That ain't human...at 30 he's only hitting his stride. It'll be tough on the endurance crowd when he starts getting bored with the 2 hour race! </P>
<P>It wasn't long ago that the White Rim would have bent me into submission...but after 120,000 TSS in 3 years, the bonk is darn elusive anymore. For an enduro freak, it's just a great day on the bike...and that's my view.</P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=61" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveBrian's birthday epic: White Rimtag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:432005-11-17T12:32:00Z<P>Saturday looks to be a good day in the saddle. It's Brian Smith's 30th birthday, and to usher in the decade properly he's set up a White Rim ride. More details on this ride are <A href="http://ridewithnickmartin.blogspot.com/2005/11/ep-ic-e-pik-adj.html" target=_blank>here</A>. The views are like this all day...we've got it rough in this area!</P>
<P> <A href="http://teamhealthfx.com/photos/team_pics/picture42.aspx" target=_blank><IMG src="/photos/team_pics/images/42/400x300.aspx" align=float border=0></A> </P>
<P>I'll ride the Dos Niner and Mitch is doing his first 29er ride on a 292. So for you 29er afficianados, care to take a guess on his first impressions? The WR is perfect for 29ers - I did it twice before 24hoMoab, once on the Dos, once on the 292. The big wheels roll great through the sandy sections. We'll see what he thinks...he's a gifted climber and a lightweight. A 28 lb bike might feel like a tank to him...</P>
<P>This is one of my all-time favorite day rides. No matter your pace, the scenery is grand and you just can't miss it. It's also killer training grounds for long events since it's mostly mellow jeep road. Much like road training as far as keeping constant power to the pedals...but it ain't pavement!</P>
<P>More pics to follow. </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=DaveWe're on the web so we must be...tag:80ac4abe-d350-4cd2-bdda-7e6b18357834:332005-11-14T23:29:00Z<P><FONT face=Verdana>Legit! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>One of the great things about this team is it's diversity - we've got fast young bucks and fast old bulls - we all come at it from different angles. What am I going to blog about? Let's first lay out what it won't be. My life as an engineer would bore most folks to tears. I'm accustomed to the glazed over looks when discussing what I do for a living. The daily routine is: get up early (like 3-4am), surf a bit, do core/flexibility stuff, work, eat, ride, eat, work, sometimes ride again, always eat again, and again...repeat...every day is groundhog day, but a good groundhog day.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Enough of that. Here's what to look forward to as time allows:</FONT></P>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Verdana>discussions of training techniques for various types of events.</FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Verdana>I'll share some power files along the way...</FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Verdana>An <EM><STRONG>objective</STRONG></EM> look at where, if anywhere, 29ers outshine their little 26er cousins. I've got 2 29ers and a garage full of 26ers, power taps for each wheel size - and plan to get to the bottom of the hype. </FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Verdana>Race reports. I'll play catchup - 2005 has been a dream season and I've had a lot of requests for some reports. Look for reviews of the E100 series, the 24 hours of Steamboat, and the 24 hours of Moab.</FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Verdana>Some favorite workouts...</FONT></LI></UL>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>See you on the trail.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </P><img src="http://teamhealthfx.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=33" width="1" height="1">Davehttp://teamhealthfx.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserName=Dave