We got some good work done today on the trail that goes up Battle Creek Canyon. I don't have to much to say about it, we moved a lot of rocks, widened several sections of trail, and otherwise had a good morning of manual labor. Below are a few pics. (sweet hard hats I know!) A close eye will catch me wearing the Wingnut Hyper 2.5 in a couple of them. How many ways can I say that I love that pack? The 3.0X is pretty sweet as well. I am tired. Not as tired as the poor souls who slogged through mud and slime and goo and poo and gunk and muck in Iowa today. Wow. I can't wait to see the pictures and read the reports.

Today I rode up Sqaw Peak again. I followed it up with the mild 4 mile climb up the South Fork of Provo Canyon. This weekend is the last of the hard efforts I will do before the KTR. The one exception will be next week's XC race. In other words, it is nearly taper time. My heavy legs are looking forward to it. My riding over the next couple of weeks will be all about rest and recovery.

Tomorrow is a huge White Rim ride with 40+ people. Including this guy. I have wanted to do the annual RAWROD for some time now. This year I was all set to go, until I realized that duty called elsewhere. Tomorrow I will be helping with a big trail building effort on part of the BST near here. The Mad Dog Cycles team will be involved, as well as other people from the community. It is a trail I often ride, and I am happy to be able to help improve it. I will just have to wait for another day to ride with the Fat Cyclist. Perhaps the KTR?

Speaking of tomorrow...I will keep all you soggy, wet, muddy gravel grinders in mind. I can't wait to here all the war stories that will come trickling in Monday morning. Good luck to everyone at TI V.2!

Mount Timpanogos from South Fork Road
Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon

If you have been following this blog since last summer, then you have read about Squaw Peak Road. It is one of my favorite places to climb. It has been repaved in the last year or so, and consists of many tight, steep windy switchbacks. The road climbs just over 2000 feet in 4.3 miles. Over the years it has become a great fitness indicator for me. I can get a great idea of where I am at while hammering up that road. Today I climbed the road for the first time this year, and honestly I wasn't expecting to push my PR. After Tuesday's 6 hour effort I was pretty sure that my legs just wouldn't have the oomph. But I still wanted to get a LT effort in, so up I went.

Surprisingly, despite feeling at times that I was pulling a trailor full of bricks, I finished just 27 seconds off my PR. I think that bodes well for where my current fitness level and power output are at. Last year I would have struggled heavily 2 days after a 50 mile off roader. So, in other words...I am pretty stoked about the climb today. It was also a bonus that I ran into Chris while on my way to the base of the climb. He happend to be heading to the hill as well. I couldn't hold his wheel today. But that is nothing new.

Posing at the top...

I think it is fairly obvious what I forgot on yesterday's ride. Doh!

I decided at the last minute to alter my planned route in the desert. Instead I stuck closer to town, and rode on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. I was able to get 6 hours, 52 miles, and 8500 vertical done. I was also able to test out some gear for the KTR. So both objectives were accomplished.

I also decided at the last minute to try and pack up my Wingnut 2.5 to see how my KTR gear would fit in it. I know the 3.0X will work, but I was curious about the 2.5. Well, it will work also. The determning factor on which pack I will choose will most likely depend on which water strategy I choose for the race. If I decide to haul water it will be the 3.0X. If I decide to filter, then the 2.5.

Overall it was a good ride. I was feeling a bit sluggish early on, but after a couple of hours the legs seemed to wake up and they felt decent after that. Mentally I was a bit of a basketcase early on as well. I was grumpy, and was struggling on sections of trail that are usually no problem. I am not sure where the bad attitude came from, but after a while I was my normal self again. Maybe it had to do with my MP3 player giving out 40 minutes into the ride?

BST singletrack on the south side of Provo Canyon
Do you ever take it off any sweet jumps?
The X-Cal and part of its engine
Yeah, another self-portrait
Looking west over Provo from high up on the BST

I am planning a "KTR shakedown" ride tomorrow. I will be heading out into the desert between Route 73 and Eureka. There are several jeep roads out there, and using Google Earth I mapped out a big 60 mile loop. The two main objectives I have for tomorrow are 1) Get my gear selection nailed down, and 2) get some long miles in at race pace. I have my Wingnut 3.0X prototype packed up just as I plan on having it for the KTR.

I loaded the pack this afternoon and it came in at 17 lbs. To heavy I think. I trimmed some fat, mostly in the form of liquid, and right now it sits at 12.5 lbs. That is more managable, but still a bit heavy. Tomorrow will be a good indicator I hope of what stuff is just coming along for the ride, and can be left home for the KTR.

Four Share the Road signs went in on State Road 68 on Saturday. I just didn't have the heart to attend. Seeing the news story, and file footage from the accident scene was troubling enough. I am glad though that many others did attend. I am glad it got some news coverage, and I am very happy to see these signs installed so quickly. See the story here.

Be safe out there.

We pre-rode the 5 Mile Pass race course today. It was dry and fast. This is a course that can be dusty and loose, but right now it is in prime condition. We had a good time out there, it was our largest Mad Dog team ride of the year so far. The weather is heating up, and people are getting ready to drop the hammer on 2006. In 2 weeks we will race at 5 mile, and then in 3 weeks I will be suffereing in a different desert at the KTR.

Here are few pics from the day in Utah's West Desert, sepia style.

Start/Finish area for the race is just behind us
Keith reaches the top of the brutal hike-a-bike
The view from the top of the hike-a-bike, the West Desert stretches out below

Today's 4 hour off road effort toasted me. But I felt good on the bike. There was lots of climbing today, 5052 feet in 35 miles. I rode for 2 hours, then met up with some other Mad Dog peeps for our Thursday night group ride. The weather was perfect, the company was good, and the legs were happy. All in all a nice afternoon on the bike. I also ran into 2 guys, both riding Salsa Dos Niners. How often does that happen?

I finally got around to messing with some video I have taken over the last few months. Below are some snippets from various rides. The final mountain stuff in the video is from today. Enjoy!

Keith cranks up Dragon's Back
Today I rode Dragon's Back with Keith. The trail was rocky, but as usual it was fun. We rode down it, then turned around and cranked up it. The pitch reaches 23% at one point. Climbing Dragon's back takes a viking approach. You just have to hack away at it, grinding up the steep rocky grades. It can get messy, tires can peel out, breathing can get uneven and labored, profanity can even sometimes be heard. Today though we were somewhat graceful on the climb. Score 1 for the ninja. The trail is in about as good a shape as it ever is. It is not a popular horse route, and thus it is not chewed up that way. The great challenge lies in the loose baseball size rocks that litter the trail. It is these shale like rocks that give the route its name. This time of year, and with the amount of rain we've had, the trail is relativley tight. As we dodged rocks we didn't have to deal with loose dirt underneath. So, we were able to ninja a climb that is normally conquered viking style.


Heres to the ultimate Ninja

I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the wind of change

The world closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close,like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Dang it! A GnR reference yesterday, and now the Scorpions! I am turning into Dicky with all these glamrock moments. But speaking of winds, they were blowing strong today. The day was bright and sunny, but cold. I am hoping, and the weather report seems to float my hope, that these winds are blowing the cold front outta here. The temps are supposed to be in the high 60's the rest of the week. That would be perfect. Tonight's ride was easy and short. Just a spin, with some hills worked in to keep things real.

Things are shaping up for KTR. At least from a training standpoint. I have the next couple of weeks mapped out, and then we go into taper mode. There is an XC race the Saturday before the KTR, it will fall right in the middle of my taper, but I think it will be a good idea out get out there and hammer a bit. It is a course that I like to think plays to my strengths. It is long (33 miles), tons of short steep rollers, and it is wide, with a lot of passing and hammering room. In the meantime it will be high (by my standards) volume mixed in with some top end efforts.

I recieved an email today announcing that Saturday April 22nd there will be a gathering of cyclists, friends and media to install a "Share the Road" sign near the spot where Bill was killed. I am glad to see this happen so quickly, and I hope that the desired effect of the sign sets in immediatley. I am torn about attending. I would like to be there and offer my support, but I am not sure I am ready to return to the accident site. A few days ago I rode in the general area, I could see cars speeding along the stretch where he fell. The memories came back pretty thick, and that morning is just not something I like re-living. Something to think about I guess.

Allright, I am out.

If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain

It is freezing outside. 37º currently. What is up with that? It feels like late November again. The rain falling today turned to snow briefly. I just don't have the heart to suit up in my winter clothes. I think I will hit the gym. Maybe some stair master for oldtimes sake, then hit the spin class.

Remember all those posts at various blogs wishing away the winter, and beckoning the arrival of the race season? Well, wish no more. The race season is in full swing now, and you can feel it in the air. Or at least read about it in magazines and web forums, and of course other blogs. I am really looking forward to reading people's race reports from T.I. V2 this year. The race happens on April 29th, just in time to get me all amped up and inspired for the KTR. I have said it before, and I will say it again...KTR just gets me excited. It is totally different than anything I have done before.

Good luck to everyone putting down the hammer at the slew of races happening this weekend.

C'mon admit it...there never was a better music video than November Rain

I was messing around with some cycling photos trying to dust off my design skills. I soon learned that any "skills" I may have once had, are now very dormant. Anyway, I came up with a couple T-Shirt designs that I thought were kind of cool. Check them out here! If you have any suggestions on other designs/products let me know. I'll be happy to accommodate.

Utah Valley from Provo Canyon

The last few days have been perfect riding days. The weather could not be better. That rain I thought was coming? Yeah, it was obliterated by sunshine and temps in the high 60s. Yesterday was another 40 miles on the road and today I got out on the 29er and hit the trails. They were dry and tight. In spots they were torn up from horses whose very trail savvy riders decided that muddy days were ideal for horseback riding. Last night the moon was full and bright. The sky was crystal clear. I can only hope that 1 month from today the same conditions exist. A clear night sky and a full moon will make the first 5 hours of the KTR that much more enjoyable.

Last night's moon

Tuesday's Road Ride

I hit the pavement today for a 40 mile 2.5 hour ride. It was nice to get out again after 5 days (gasp!) off the bike. With the wedding and family in town, riding was just not in the cards. Ah well at least I am well rested. Today the weather is rainy. So I may hit the spin class, or just brave the wetness. It looks like it will be one of those on/off rainy days. If I can get lucky with my timing and get out there when the spicket is off then it should be all good.

The Wingnut Gear Hyper 2.5 is a versatile hydro pack that features two defining characteristics. The Lowrider System and wingpockets. The Lowrider system puts the pack lower on the back, creating a better center of gravity. The weight is over your hips and legs, rather than sitting atop your back and shoulders. The lowrider system works. The pack is very comfortable for the long haul. The other defining feature are the wingpockets. These side pockets wrap around the waist and are easily reached while riding. I was able to dig into them even while bouncing down a dirt road on my mountain bike. Because they are so easy to get into, they are the perfect place for gels, food, camera, phone, or anything else you want to access while still moving forward. There are 2 parts to the wingpockets. An outer mesh pocket, and an inner zipper pocket. Both are large enough to stow an extra water bottle.

The Lowrider and wingpockets are probably the two most unique features about the 2.5. However, they are not the only strong points. The pack is made from sailcloth, so it is durable and light. The bladder loads from the top of the pack, into a mesh puoch. The mesh keeps airflow at a maximum between your back and the pack. More airflow means less wet, sweaty footprint on your back. Another strong point are the mesh shoulder straps. These save weight, keep things cool and also come equipped with a nice pouch that can hold a gel flask, cell phone, mp3 player or keys.

The 2.5 holds 95oz of water. This is a lot of water for the size of the pack. The bladder is a unique square shape that instead of sitting lengthwise on your back, it sits horizontilly. This makes for less contact on your back, and better fits with the style of the lowrider system. The thing I like the most about the 2.5 is that it is very versatile. It is small enough that it can be used in a XC race, but large enough to be packed up for an all day epic. It can be cinched tight with the compression system, or it can be expanded to hold enough gear for many hours in the saddle.

Is the 2.5 a perfect pack? Almost. There are a few quirks to it. The nozzle on the bladder can be tricky to figure out at first. It doesn't really lock like many other nozzles, instead it works like a beach ball, you have to bite down on it then suck for the water to come out. It isn't a big deal, and once I got the hang of it I really like it. Also, the bladder is not included with the pack, but is a necessary add-on due to the unique shape of the pack. Overall though, this is a very solid hydro pack. It is light, well built, and ready to be abused.

MSRP: $80 (add $18 for bladder)
www.wingnutgear.com

It's been raining big time the last two days. The business associated with this weekend's wedding is starting to happen. So there will not be much active blogging from me for the next day or two. The Wingnut review will be posted soon. Hopefully tomorrow. If not then, well then on the weekend.

Doing the KTR this year? The thread on MTBR regarding the race is heating up with a lot of questions, comments and other musings. That can all only mean one thing...the race is approaching!

Perhaps...



The rain and snow didn't show. There were clouds but no wetness. The temps were almost as warm as yesterday, so I enjoyed a 90 minute recovery spin. The KTR is less than 6 weeks away. For whatever reason, whenever I get within 6 weeks of a big event, I start to feel that "it's go time" feeling. The next 4 weeks will be important prep time for the 142 mile epic. I am still tinkering with different ideas as far as water, gear, lighting, pacing and goals. I wonder if I can carry enough water to get to the Westwater ranger station? With my Wingnut I can carry 100oz plus 4 bottles. Add 2 more bottles to the bike and that adds up to a lot of fluids. Hmm... things to think about. Speaking of Wingnut, stay tuned this week for my review of the Hyper 2.5 hydration pack. The 2.5 carrys a lot of water, in a light, compact design. I'll divulge all my feelings and impressions later on.

That's it for now. Be sure and check out the recently linked blog of Utah fast man Bart Gillespie.

Laters.

After DNFing just a few minutes into Saturday's race, I was still feeling the need to hammer today. So I got out and pounded out some lung searing hill repeats. The intervals were done on a climb that lasted about half a mile and gained around 300 feet. The first section of the climb I forced myself to stay seated and smash a big gear. The second part was steeper, and I stood as needed on that segment. The pain was intense, but it felt great after the frusterating DNF. After an hour of the intervals I spun it out for 2 more hours. Total time on the day was 3 hours and 40 miles. The temps were in the high 60s, and the sun was shining bright. Easily one of the best days of the year so far.

Spring is in full force. At least today it is. Tomorrow snow is supposed to return. However, despite that, people were still enjoying the spring weather. There were people waiting to tee-off at the golf course, there were roller bladers on the canyon rail trail and I saw many other cyclists, including my Mad Dog teamate Adam Gurtler who I joined up with for about 1.5 hours.

The legs felt nice and light during the repeats, and they kept that good feeling through the rest of the ride. Tomorrow I will get out on a recovery spin, then Wednesday the plan is to hit it hard again, followed by a Thursday night spin class. Fri/Sat family is in town for a wedding. So no weekend riding this week.

I recently learned that "Share the Road" signs will be installed on the stretch of highway where Bill Corliss was killed. This is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done about the quality of roads in Utah. Many roads that were once considered back roads are now major thoroughfares. WIth new communities growing in these areas the traffic has become overwhelming. Many roads that were once cycling friendly are now dangerous. Roads need to be wider, smoother and cleaner. Utah County is growing faster than many cities can keep up with. A lot of people, some who knew Bill, others who didn't, are stepping up efforts to improve the state of many popular cycling routes in Utah. More efforts of this type need to happen. More people who make decisions about where UDOT money is spent need to know the importance of building/rebuilding roads with wide shoulders. Not just for cyclists, but for the overall safety of traveling on them. I have always been aware of some of the efforts to improve the safety and quality of road cycling in Utah. But Bill's death was something that brought it all into sharp focus and horrifying reality. When you are on your bike, ride smart, and ride safe. When you are in your car drive smart, and drive safe.

Allright, it is late. Keep the rubber side down.

The race went great for about 20 minutes. Then I went over the bars at a high rate of speed. I came out just fine, but my front rim...well...I'll let the picture do the talking.


Other than the taco rim, and about half the field going off course, I guess it was a good weekend. I got to see a bunch of faces I hadn't seen since last summer, so that was cool. The downside is that I have to wait another month before I race again. Once May arrives the season is in full swing. So much for early indicators.

Ah well. I live and learn....oh, and order a new rim.