I rebuilt the site, and it seems to be working better. On my end I can view it in IE, Safari and Firefox. How's it look on your end?

Not much to say beyond that. It's cold!

The last few days have been busy. But I am back home now and settling into my everyday routine. I returned home from Vegas to snow and ice. Winter is here.

While in vegas I had a chance to ride out at Bootleg Canyon. I am not sure I rode the best the area has to offer, I found myself on a trail that was....well...terrible. After I rode I looked at the map again, and realized I was out on some unnamed trail. It had a few tire tracks, but I don't think it is a well used route. Ah well...live and learn. If I get the chance to ride out there again I will know to avoid that particular trail.

I am going to try and figure out why my template is choking in Safari and IE. The odd thing is that it worked fine in those browsers when I first posted the new layout. Firefox reads it just fine...

Bootleg Canyon trails
Las Vegas in the distance

On our way to Vegas, we stopped in St. George. So I rode. I hit the Bearclaw Poppy and Stucki Springs trails. It was a blast on the single. Time to hit the road...Vegas (and in-laws) await.

Saturday the sun was out. The sky was blue. The temps were warm-ish. It was a great day for a ride. We hit Frank's trail. On the SS it was a pain cave, but I managed to ride a lot of the climb. The trail was in mostly good condition, although the warmer temps had thawed out some of the mud, creating some nice goo in spots.

Also, my site is not loading properly in Safari. I will try and figure out why, but in the meantime use Firefox.

Timpanogos from Frank's
K.C. reaching the top of Frank's on her SS
Squaw Peak road in the distance
Tim's flat tires are a regular occurrence.

Right now we are caught between fall and winter. There are signs of both seasons, but neither is dominating the other. A defining characteristic about this time is the grey, featureless days. The sun is a blur behind a shapeless mist.

Most of the local trails are gooey right now. One network that is still in good shape however is the Provo Canyon race course. There was once a thriving weekly series on this course, which has since been replaced by the Sundance/Soldier Hollow series. The races here were the first I ever did. Those were the races I met many of the people who are regular riding buddies now. The Gibson's and Gillespie's would turn 3 laps fast than I could do 2.

The races are long gone, but the trails remain a staple in my riding. They are a mix of tight turns, roller coaster ups and downs, long climbs and fast traverses. In fact, the course makes a great testing ground for new gear. It is where I go to test out new wheels, lights, components and even fitness. The race loop is an excellent off road TT route. So, while the races are gone, the trail remains a favorite. It is an "old standby", a route that despite riding countless times, never seems to get old.

Monday and Tuesday were 12 hour work days. Today was not. I was excited, because I got out on another ride today on my newly acquired GF Rig. It is a stock 2005 model that I picked up for a nice price locally.

Does this mean my inner viking will try and manifest itself? Will I find myself wanting to do away with my ninja weapons, only to replace them with a heavy, brutal 2 handed war axe? Time will tell. Right now I don't see me becoming an SS only guy. I do plan to ride my single a lot though. Training, XC races, snow rides...basically anything that doesn't last more than 6 hours and doesn't climb more than 10k vertical.

After only 2 rides one thing is apparent. I will become a stronger rider on the SS. There are two paces on the bike: hammering, and walking. Perhaps that is an exaggeration, but not too far fetched of one. It's been great so far, "re-learning" how to ride certain climbs, picking lines better, and overall, just riding more out of my comfort zone. Training is training on a singlespeed.

For those of you who are long time SS riders, you will have to forgive the moments of discovery I will no doubt write about as I get more time on this bike.

Another difference I am noticing, is that this bike rides like a tank. the wheels feel huge. I think that must be because on my X-Cal I have DT Swiss rims and Maxxis Ignitor tires. Overall, a much narrower set up. The Bonty tires and rims on the SS are beefy. I don't mind it at all. I can see why Dicky likes his fat 2.5 diesel on the front of his meatplow.

Not much else is happening right now. The snow is trying to creep into the valley, and the temps are dropping more each day. Winter is coming.

Thanksgiving will be spent in Vegas. The bike will be with me. That means a quickie ride in St. George, and then some time at Bootleg Canyon, I hope, once I am in Vegas.

Anyone ridden at Bootleg Canyon?

Apparently USADA believes that athletes are the only people who are held accountable for their actions. Even when USADA admits (see the press release) that it is impossible to hold an athlete accountable, they still hold them accountable.

It was determined that neither Sager nor Redpath were significantly at fault for the violation, which justified the reduction in the period of ineligibility under the applicable rules.

So let me get this right. USADA admits that Jason was not at fault, but still dishes out a 1 year suspension? I suspect some of the same B.S. for Bart, who just received notice of his suspension, for the same "offense".

Interesting that Jason Sager was not the only racer to miss a sample at Deer Valley. But the lack of communication from USADA could not have had anything to do with multiple people missing tests. USADA performs their noble duty perfectly.

Still want a governing body for Endurance events?

I can see it now....

Dear Mr. Lisonbee,

We regret to inform you that we must suspend you for 1 year because while you were lost in the Colorado desert during this so called "KTR" you missed a drug test. We didn't tell you about this test, nor inform anyone who would be able to to contact you about it either. But really, let's face it, you were in the desert!

I feel for Sager and Bart. They work hard, they race clean. I have been racing against Bart and his brothers, and his dad for years. His 50+ year old dad can kick my butt. They are good people. I hate to see this garbage fall on the heads of good, honest people.

Jason and Bart, hang in there, if we are lucky NORBA, USADA, and the whole lot of them will bury themselves in their own inane, and insane, rules.

I rode 2 hours this afternoon. Temps were very un-November like. It was almost like St. George.

As happens each year around this time, my mind turns to lights. Last year I spent a lot of time researching LEDs. The KTR was screaming for a lightweight, long burn light, and the Cateye Double Shot got the nod. I have been pleased with the DS since, but I do feel like I could use a flood light on my bars. The Triple Shot is a prime candidate, but to race with that set up, I need an extra battery for each light. Spares are nearly as much as the lights themselves....

Dinotte, I think makes the most attractive package on the market. Small, light, and bright. Try though as I may, I cannot get a hold of anyone in the offices. Hmmm....

I have also been thinking about a DIY set-up. The glaring problem there is that I have zero know-how with the subject. I found some nice potential housing pieces at Home Depot last night though. In the meantime I will keep an eye on Dave to see what new creation he comes up with in his latest endeavor.

Changing subjects...like Podcasts? Check out Endurance and Nutrition. It is a series of podcasts dealing with...endurance and nutrition! Episode 1 was a nice listen. Load 'em up on your mp3 player for that next stair master session.

And finally, I have a completely random link to share. If you like baseball, and you like snide humor, and you think sportswriters are idiots...then Fire Joe Morgan is a must read. The archives have had me in tears...go check them out!

And for today's "Random photo from Central America..."

Another shot on the Rio Grijalva, Mexico

The best way to cope with a Utah winter is to flee from it! With Lynda talking so much about the perfect riding conditions in St. George, I decided to see it firsthand. The Holley's, Tim, and the other Adam (TOA) and I all went down for some sun, moon and desert.

Lynda and I met up for a night ride on the Bear Claw Poppy trail Friday night. Saturday me and the above mentioned Mad Doggers raged around the Jem trail. Afterwhich I got in the car and drove home....it was a much needed weekend in the sunny desert. I'll exorcise those wet Moab demons one desert trip at a time!

The Friday night moon was nice!
The Bear Claw Poppy trail is full of helpful tips
Behind that light is Lynda on the Bear Claw Poppy trail


K.C. on the Hurricane Rim trail
Raging up the Hurricane Rim trail
Tim looking down on the Canal trail
One of the best trail signs I have seen


Remind me again why I love the desert....





Ah yes...that's why!

Yesterday afternoon the bright sun was to much to resist. So I left work early and hit the singletrack above my house. I also played around with the timer on my camera. The results are below. Take note of my "silver bullet" Wingnut Assault and my new Ride424.com jersey.

"Endure and persist; this pain will turn to good by and by." ~ Ovid

Winter is coming. And with it comes a force that can pull a normally fit mountain bike racer into an abyss of soft living. Workouts are easy to skip, and egg nog easy to drink when snow is lightly falling outside.

"Endure and persist..."

Winter is when races are won, or lost. Winter is when new thresholds are crossed, and old habits broken. Winter is for persistence, at the gym, in the basement, or out in the cold. Winter is coming.

"...this pain will turn to good by and by "

Summer will come again. Too soon in fact. Suddenly we will awake and find ourselves in the sweltering heat of the desert, longing for the cool days of late October. The days will grow longer, and the snow will melt. But for now....winter is coming.

Pony Express Trail, West Desert, UT, January 2006