I would guess that you have been there. Recently returned from a bike trip. Maybe it was in Moab, or Fruita, or maybe it was from Moab to Fruita. You pushed yourself, you saw new places, learned new things and met new people. It was, on every level, an epic.

And now you are back home.

You are sitting at your desk, legs heavy, face sunburned, fingers and toes still slightly numb. The world becomes tedious, mundane, boring. Your mind drifts back to the desert, and for an instant you think you can feel the wind and the sun. Your coworkers are oblivious to your plight. They ask "how was your weekend?", and you try and explain to them what it was like watching the sunrise from the crest of a 2,000 foot ledge over the canyon country. You laugh about being on your bike at sunrise, and that you were still pedaling at sunset. But they don't laugh. They look bewildered and uncomfortable. They slowly walk away.

Yes, life after the euphoria of an epic ride can be dull for a few days. The jet-lag like state of mind and body can persist, turning you into an anti-social grump, only concerned with trip photos, gps tracks and other people's blog postings.

It is hard to come down from that endorphin rush. Or is it a trickle during an all day epic? When things go right, when the weather, the bike, the trail, the fitness, and the company all combine to create those idyllic days out in the wilderness the everyday routine seems so...routine.

And of course that is why the epic days are so coveted. If everyday were epic, then epic would cease to exist. The contrast between a normal day, and a fantastic one is compounded by the brilliant light of the desert sun, or the quiet swaying of high altitude aspens. To appreciate being 'out there', one has to experience being 'in here'. That is, inside your cubicles, your traffic jams, and your board meetings.

And while people who don't ever see the 'out there' won't ever truly understand what you mean when you start talking about cleaning Murhpy's Hogback (they will probably think it sound's dirty), you will understand. And as you sit at your computer, doing whatever it is you do, you will cast your mind back on those moments, and for an instant the sun, the wind, the dust, will all appear crystal clear. And for a brief moment, you will be back.

Labels: epic, moab, Wilderness

2 days, 200 miles, and lots of smiles.  More to come...

Labels: moab, white rim

In contrast to the BLM permit requirements that I discussed earlier, the USFS has a very clear, concise, and not to mention user friendly, system in place. (Quotes below are from the downloadable .doc titled "Non-Commercial Group Use FAQ").

The need for a "non-commercial group use permit" has one simple criteria:

Under the regulation, a “group use” is an activity that involves a group of 75 or more people, either as participants or spectators. “Noncommercial” is any use or activity where an entry or participation fee is not charged, and the primary purpose is not the sale of a goods or service. Some examples of noncommercial group uses are weddings, church services, endurance rides, regattas, camping trips, hikes, music festivals, rallies, graduations, and races.

That's it. 75 people.

And further, it's an easier permit to apply for . The application can be submitted up to 72 hours in advance of the event. The BLM, I can remind you, wants 6 months of advance notice. The application must be reviewed by a USFS agent within 48 hours after receiving it. If it does not get reviewed within that time frame, then the application is considered granted. If your permit gets rejected for some reason, your are not left searching the Four Winds to find out why. Instead:

Equally important, an authorized officer has to explain to the applicant in writing the reasons for the denial. There has to be an adequate factual basis for the denial, and a record has to be developed to support the reasons for the denial. If an application is denied, and an alternative time, place, or manner will allow the applicant to meet all the evaluation criteria, the authorized officer will offer that alternative.

Why the numerical standard of 75?

While any numerical threshold is arbitrary in that 25 people could have more impact than 75, depending on the type of activity and the characteristics of the site, a numerical threshold is the fairest and most objective standard for applicability of the rule. In addition, groups with 75 or more people tend to have a greater impact on National Forest System lands than smaller groups.

Does the USFS non-commercial permit require proof of insurance?

No. Noncommercial group uses involve or potentially involve First Amendment activities. Requiring bonding or insurance as a precondition to the issuance of a permit for expressive conduct could be construed as an undue burden on the exercise of First Amendment rights. In other words, requiring an applicant to obtain bonding or insurance before a permit is issued could be seen as putting a price tag on speech in violation of the United States Constitution.

What is stopping the BLM from adopting a similar non-commercial permit policy? It seems that it would solve the issue for both sides. Make a permit that is easy to get, and easy to process. Win-Win.

The best part about the USFS permit requirements? It makes no discrimination against competition. The USFS is not out to stop individuals or groups from racing. In fact, scroll up and re-read the first paragraph I quoted. Wait, never mind, I will just re-quote the relevant text,

"Some examples of noncommercial group uses are weddings, church services, endurance rides, regattas, camping trips, hikes, music festivals, rallies, graduations, and races.

No garbage about contesting established records and nothing about 2 or more individuals who have the nerve to compete. The distinction for the USFS is between commercial and non-commercial. The element of competition is irrelevant to the nature of what permit you may need.

The clear language eliminates all the ambiguity the BLM seems intent on perpetuating. With the above requirements there is little question as to whether or not your event (if it is on USFS land) will need a permit.

If only the BLM could be as sensible.

Labels: BLM, permits, USFS

Frank was due home at any moment. The day had been long, cold, and windy. Betty sat quietly in the one room cabin, a thick stew slowly simmering on a large iron stove. She glanced out the window and shuddered.

Frank entered the cabin silently. There was a coldness in his eyes that matched the dark of the coming night. Betty spooned his stew into a wooden bowl, wordlessly set it before him on the knotted table and left the cabin.

She stepped into the twilight, as she did every night, following her own worn path into the gloom.


~

Today hikers, horsemen and mountain bikers unwittingly retrace Betty's woefull steps. Her nightly isolation into the thicket is mostly forgotten, but some say that she still roams the hollow. In the dark of night she whispers, she weeps, and she mourns. She mourns a life lost in the clutches of a cold man, in a cold world. But others say she mourns also for another...

And that is why the trail is today known as Betty's Lament.

Labels: Betty, folklore, Frank, photos

The wind will not stop. Gusts of sand swirl before me, stinging my face. But there is still too much to see and marvel at, the world very much alive in the bright light and wind, exultant with the fever of spring, the delight of morning. Strolling on, it seems to me that the strangeness and wonder of existence are emphasized here, in the desert, by the comparative sparsity of the flora and fauna: life not crowded upon life as in other places but scattered abroad in spareness and simplicity, with a generous gift of space for each herb and bush and tree, each stem of grass, so that the living organism stands out bold and brave and vivid against the lifeless sand and barren rock. The extreme clarity of the desert light is equaled by the extreme individuation of desert life forms. Love flowers best in openness and freedom.

Labels: Edward Abbey, moab, photos

Soon no one will be allowed in the canyons unless they float in on a non-damaging cloud of smug...

The thread is in response to a proposal from Save Our Canyons that would increase designated wilderness area along the Wasatch Front.

Labels: Wasatch, Wilderness

Much like Saturday, today I enjoyed the early season flow of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Legs are coming around, lungs feel good, I am riding well. I feel like a mountain biker again...

This is the final drop on the "roller coaster trail"
Mount Timpanogos, always photogenic

Labels: BST, singletrack, Timpanogos

Nothing puts the world back together like a good piece of singletrack...

Labels: BST, singletrack

Also see: In Contrast for further discussion on this topic.


~~

Competitive SRPs are required for events where 2 or more people compete in a recreational activity. A permit is also required when 1 person or team contests an established record.

-Colorado BLM page.


The language regarding a solo rider is new. At least since I last read the page. It is, no doubt, pointed directly at our niche of riders. One of our defenses at the KTR last year was that we were simply individuals riding a solo time trial. We just happened to be starting together.

However, the absurdity of trying to require a permit for an individual is landmark. It seems to me to demonstrate everything that is wrong in the world of bureaucratic fumbling and bumbling. It is nothing short of charging a fee to use public, tax funded lands. They are also putting a fee on intent, rather than actual usage. If you intend to ride your bike quickly across public lands you are required to apply for a permit. This is ridiculous. And it borders on discrimination.

Never mind that this idiotic policy is utterly unenforceable.

BLM Agent: Hey! Hey you there on the pedal bike!
Rider: Um, yeah?
BLM Agent: You were riding pretty fast there, are you trying to contest an established record?
Rider: ...

Again intent comes to mind. What is the intent behind putting such a policy into place? It seems explicitly intended to put an end to the way unsupported solo riders are using the public trails.

----

There is a lot of vagary in the permit requirements. And they vary from State to State. Colorado and California are the most detailed I have looked at. (For anyone wondering, the Utah SRP page just talks about all the money that tourism brings in to the Rocky Mountain West).

Competitive SRPs are required for events where 2 or more people compete in a recreational activity. A permit is also required when 1 person or team contests an established record.

And from California's page:

2.Competitive Use – Competitive Use means any organized, sanctioned, or structured use, event, or activity on public land in which two or more contestants compete and either (1) participants register, enter, or complete an application for the event, or (2) a predetermined course or area is designated.

"...where 2 or more people compete in a recreational activity.." This is as wide open as the land around Cisco. If me and a friend want to wrestle in the Mary's Loop parking lot do we need a permit? Is racing one another back to the parking lot after a hike a recreational activity?

"(1) participants register, enter, or complete an application for the event,"

None of the "underground" events have registration, fees, entry forms or anything of the sort.

"(2) a predetermined course or area is designated"

This is another broad stroke. Every ride, wether organized or not, has a predetermined course or area. Have you ever been on a group ride where you arrive only to find out that you will just be riding "where ever the wind blows us"? Obviously there are variables, but this seems to me a silly requirement.

What I find most interesting in all this are the listed exceptions to needing a permit. Again from the Colorado site:

To determine if an SRP is required for organized groups, the authorized officer at a field office evaluates a proposal using the following criteria:

Will the event create conflicts with other users?
Will the event cause resource damage?
Will the event be inconsistent with BLM recreation management objectives?
Will the event create unacceptable risks to public health and safety?

Besides being subjective to the whims of the relevant Agent, these are fairly broad terms. But it can be reasonably argued that a bike ride answers "no" to every question, nearly every time it would be asked.

From the California site:

Preapplication Interview Checklist:

Are you charging a fee?
Do you expect to make money on the event or is the fee to cover expenses?
Will there be a competition?
Will you advertise?
Will you mark a course?
Will you be expecting vehicles at your event? (How many?)
Will your event involve public lands?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may need a permit from the BLM

All of our rides can fall into the "no" category in all but the public lands question. The vehicles question is odd, and I assume is more applicable to events where massive amounts of people will be participating, or if the event itself involves vehicles, like a jeep safari or rally.

It still comes back to intent though. Will there be a competition? Generally, the answer is yes. Even if the ride is described as a "group ride" or a "solo time trial" there are usually participants who are either going to race one another, or at the very least race against a clock or their own established standards.

The elephant in the room is this: If there are no fees, no registration, no advertisements, no prizes and no sponsorships, then why does the element of competition even matter? Why are we being policed and penalized on our intent to compete?

Why does competition alone require government intervention? Or more accuratley, why does the government think they need to intervene?

Some have asked me why I (or we) just don't get a permit. There are several reasons. First of all, I don't believe we need one. In addition: They are expensive. They must be applied for 6 months in advance. They must list the number of participants, have proof of insurance, and have permission from any relevant land owners, and many other red tape steps. On top of that, they have to be processed and approved by a government agency that can decline the application for any reason at all.

It flies in the face of the spirit and purpose of these rides.

Now, let me point out one more thing. I am not an anarchist. I am not anti-government. But I am pro-self reliance. I believe firmly that individuals ought to be responsible for themselves. I don't need laws and policies to protect me from myself. I will attempt to use my own wit and wisdom to do that. Which is one of many reasons I am attracted to these underground, no frills, rides. They encourage a spirit of independence. Or, as so often cited when describing these rides, they admonish riders to "carry what they need or do without."

Last year at the KTR I pointed out to the BLM officer that fined me (us) that it was easier to simply get ticketed and pay a fine, than it was to apply for a permit.


She reluctantly agreed with me.

Labels: BLM, permits, self supported, underground races

The debate raging in my own skull is far more intense than anything Obama and Hillary have come up with. Those 3 way exchanges between McCain, Huckabee and Romney? Child's play.

Over the last several weeks, and months I have gone back and forth, back and forth over wether or not to switch to a full suspension bike. I have argued for both sides, against both sides, I have made decisions, been happy with them, and then reneged on those choices, only to start the process over again.

There is one underlying reason that makes this all so difficult.



I love my Jersey Devil hardtail.

There is no obvious reason to strip it down and build up it's sister-frame, the Jersey Devil FS. The bike handles well, it's comfortable, it's light, and it looks fantastic. But then, the FS version is all those things as well. And it has 4 inches of rear travel to go along with it.




The first time I ever considered a full suspension 29er was last September during the VT125. I was descending off of Tomichi pass, and I became what can only be described as a human jackhammer. It was a long, difficult, rocky descent. Since then I have waffled back and forth, back and forth...

Approaching Tomichi Pass



This spring I put a White Bros. Magic 110mm travel fork on the hardtail. It feels incredible. But the Rim Ride conjured up more human jackhammer moments, and I finished the ride wondering if some rear squish would have helped me along the way a little more efficiently.

I must be getting soft. When I got my first 29er I was amazed at how comfortable it was, and how aggressively I could ride it. I was coming from a FS 26er and was worried that I'd miss the suspension. I didn't miss it at all. I rode several solo 24s, including Moab three times on a hardtail. I have done the E50 twice, the E100, the E12 twice, the KTR twice, and the RR twice, among others, all on a hardtail. Until that descent off of Tomichi, it never crossed my mind to get a full suspension bike.

If I do make the switch, I still have my Ramble Tamble SS for those times when I want a rigid feel. I will be racing the RT in the ICUP this year, so it is going to still see all kinds of trail time.

And so I continue to go back and forth.  Right now I am back, (or it is forth?) leaning toward the full suspension frame.  I just can't see a compelling reason NOT to pull the trigger.

Labels: full suspension, hardtail, Jersey Devil, Van Dessel

The Dewey Bridge was destroyed by fire last night.  I am in shock.  That simple landmark held powerful symbolism for me.  It was, in short, a gateway to a new world.

The bridge was a defining point on the Kokopelli Trail. Each time I have ridden the trail, wether in it's entirety, or partially, that bridge has played an important role. In the time-trials of the trail I have done it has welcomed me as an old friend. A sigh of relief has always passed over me when I reached the historic marker. The symbolism behind the bridge was tangible, and iconic. It was a passageway to a new type of terrain, a new challenge, and a new state of mind.

And now it is gone.

I would be surprised if the State bothered to rebuild it. The highway crosses the river now, and the old bridge was just a simple historical landmark. Its practical use was nill, but its presence was important. At least to me it was.

And I know for the others out there like me it meant something. And that something will be missed.

Labels: Dewey Bridge, Kokopelli, moab

There is an irony to endurance riding. That is, every rock, every ledge, every incline and sand trap becomes difficult, memorable, significant.

And yet, an individual is so minimized in such terrain as to become utterly... insignificant.

Photo: Ed

Labels: ed, irony, significant

“You should not see the desert simply as some faraway place of little rain. There are many forms of thirst.”

--William Langewiesche--

Saturday left me as a dried reed. I am thirsty, and worn out. I have broke down a little bit since then, and find myself fighting off a cold. But as I put the day into perspective I am reminded again, of why I do long mountain bike rides. I've said it before, but each time I find myself alone in the wide desert, or high on an exposed mountain ridge, the idea is hammered home once again.

Experience.

As I wound my way along Rockin' A the sun fought through the clouds, creating a surreal scene over arches. What tourists in Moab that day saw that?

Photo from Jeny



Climbing 313 cars whirred by me, oblivious to where I had been, and where I was going. To them, I was just another pedal biker. But I knew. I knew where I was heading, and what I was doing.

Just before the KTR in 2006 I wrote:

I am looking forward to the isolated pain of an endurance race. The world shrinks, becoming just the size of you and your bike. Pain and fatigue grip your thoughts, and life itself becomes a bitter battle between pressing forward, or falling over.

That holds true. I still look forward to those isolated moments, those times when the entire universe seems only to consist of wether or not you can progress. And it seems, progress is a product of experience. Or as B.H. Roberts put it, "progress or perish".

Saturday held a small victory for me. I shut out the quit demons and pushed on through the mental urgings to do otherwise. Despite the highly persuasive nature of the demon and his argument. That was important for me. It was mojo in the tank, to be used down the road when again the whispers of failure creep up from the sand, enticing me to turn back, sit down, or never start at all.

The quit demon does not see what I see. He only knows failure. He does not experience the beauty of the blowing sand, or the heat of the desert sun. He does not hear the sweet sound of running water. He does not smell the high alpine air. He only knows the dark silence of defeat.

And so today, I am still thirsty. Physically, but figuratively as well. I am already longing for that next moment of clarity, isolation, and yes, even delusion. It is those moments that purge out the distractions of an ever increasingly distracted world. And as that world descends into the chaos of the rat race, I am content knowing that "out there" I can reconnect with myself, and remember and appreciate that indeed, "there are many forms of thirst."

Labels: endurance, moab, solo