Rolling, rolling, rolling......

Another night on the rollers. I have been logging on average 80 miles a week on the rollers. Combined with my outdoor riding I have surpassed the 600+ mile mark for January. Not bad for living at nearly 9000 feet elevation in the San Juan's.

Going back to Albuquerque this weekend to pre-ride the San Ysidro Dirty Century course. Not that I need to really pre-ride for any other reason than to log the miles before the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo race coming up on February 14th outside of Tucson, AZ. Another reason is to visit again with my twin bro Jerry. Laura and our three kids (Nacho, Lucy and Shady) are making the drive as well.

It should be a great time.

Weekend

Went to Albuquerque to see my brother Jerry and ride a little bit. The weather was pretty flawless. Highs near 60 and lows in the 30's. That's similar to our summer time temperatures around here in Rico. Good times.

Jerry's sweet single speed tricross.

Jerry's yard rat, Roxy.

Jerry posing in front of his house as I get ready to roll my rig back to Rico.

Goof ball Jerry. Later.

More of the same

Yes, another sunny warm day in the San Juans. 40+ degree temps with a high of 48 at 3pm. I had a nice little ride up to Trout lake and back. Check it out.


I'm happy as a clam on the bike at 1o,ooo feet elevation.

Items on the bike: Polar watch to record heartrate, mileage, elevation gain and calorie burnage. Spare tube and mace to fend off the critters and wild hilljacks.

At 10,000 feet elevation in January riding the bike is unheard of. I love it!!!

Share the road.

SSWC2009

I'm in for the Single Speed World Championships in Durango in September. Yahoo!!!!!

http://sswc09.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/09startlist2.pdf

Train Wreck!!

Had some people over last night and boy was the kitchen a wreck this morning. Took me an hour just to clean it up.

Sun, sun and more sun

I sound like a broken record lately but it's been perfect winter riding conditions in the San Juan's. Another road ride with 53 miles knocked out on Saturday. I have just about 200 miles for the week and after today's ride will have well over that. I'm really focused on the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo; less than a month away.

Mike Guskea's IF SS cross bike. Pretty sweet!

Running a 42x16. Seems good for all around riding.

My sweet Bianchi SS cross bike!!!

Dry, dry roads abound.


I think I counted at least 30 beer cans in less than a twenty mile stretch from Mancos to Dolores. Don't drink and drive people.

Amazing Place

Went out on the road today up to Lizard Head Pass and beyond toward Telluride. Usually temps in January in the San Juan's are frigid, but we are enjoying spring like temps in the 30's and 40's. The skies are clear and bright blue. You couldn't live in a more peaceful, beautiful place.

Lizard Head in the distance.

Lizard Head

Trout Lake. Nobody fishing today.

Bootlegs Brent Thompson Has Heart Attack

Bootleg Canyon’s Brent Thomson Suffers Heart Attack - Quad Bypass Scheduled January 13th, 2009 by adam
Bootleg Canyon’s Brent Thompson Suffers Heart Attack - Quad Bypass Scheduled
Donations to PayPal Account Requested to Offset Enormous Hospital Bill

Boulder City, NV - January 13, 2009 - - Brent Thomson, Godfather and Trail Master of Bootleg Canyon suffered a heart attack last Saturday while riding the trails that he has famously cut into the mountains surrounding Boulder City, a stones throw from Las Vegas, Nevada.
While he is currently resting under doctors care in the hospital, Brent is scheduled for the second Quadruple bi-pass in his life. Sixteen years ago he had the same surgery performed due to an unusually high hereditary cholesterol build-up.
Brent’s Job Provides No Health Insurance - PayPal Donations Needed
“I try to stay in reasonable shape, and was even riding when I started to feel chest pain and severe shortness of breath,” says Thomson. “My assistant Andrew helped me out and my son Barret got me to the hospital pretty quickly. Now I’m just waiting to go under the knife.” While everyone who has ridden the trails at Bootleg can attest, Brent’s dedication to creating, maintaining and promoting the trails of Bootleg Canyon has created one of the most lauded riding areas in the Southwest. Unfortunately his position comes without a health insurance policy.
Brent’s hospital expenses are estimated to grow to hundreds of thousands of dollars, so any help that his friends in the bicycle industry can provide will be graciously appreciated. Click on the link below to donate securely with Debit, Credit, PayPal and Bank accounts. It is simple, quick and safe. Brents family and friends send you appreciation in advance.
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Q7j1BrcDsicJRpBdY9uc8d47buMVEc1HFb0fC5VfBJCBhl1MCxYCLPTu0LyLrR7VSet7caCmfmAQqzDrrxzgqzDV2B-3A8zYZtwGU08RkyLgDnvP5ceviT0gNqMnzzaOmeueC-e8ELggDaVqIRhA-pKX86ABk7lfb8aNzXNwI3nDc-3aFOiRefTNmMZtkkidsXQaFCpnX6i7MGYr58dkOrg7Sc1vI2OYwKITunjKqDNgBhGAjCQnpxyTSNDNihak7SsIYXj59NcLYrko3FaAy-ufSgSW68SbS1QcKXvSdBg8AcjbF08jjf7C4yZ89QW6AhH_Ejruq9RRO9KfOJFtIX4gUAZMiR_iz3L9PGcV634=
Surgery Scheduled for Tomorrow (Wednesday the 14th)
Feel free to send get well wishes to St. Rose Dominican Hospital - San Martin ER c/o Brent Thomson, 8280 West Warm Springs Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89113, and call Brent at 702.204.7810. We’ll send a follow-up e-mail to let everyone know how Brent is recovering and how his surgery went. Thanks again for your thoughts and support for one of the legends in the bicycle industry - Brent Thomson.
About Bootleg Canyon Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park is an extensive network of World Class Downhill and Cross Country mountain bike trails located in Boulder City, Nevada. The area has been visited by riders from as far away as Japan and Germany and has been written up in magazines around the world. The International Mountain Bike Association has certified one of the XC trails as an Epic Ride, a title given out only 18 times so far.
Boulder City is located approximately 40 minutes south east of Las Vegas by the Hoover Dam and beautiful Lake Mead. The riding season is year round, however, temperatures average around 100 degrees Fahrenheit from June through August, so mid-day riding is difficult. If you do decide to come in the summer be sure to bring plenty of water and maybe some head lamps for a night ride. Be sure to check out our sponsors while you’re in town for some great Boulder City hospitality.
Website: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Q7j1BrcDsif9ZEiLeukzmYF8By8wv_KvGiCsbGDraMSnzXTEpI6H6kfSLFnsIIPkMjN0-V4xA4pmKFBiRTq7XyzWb97Ygf_LlDCOz1NFZoga7pYu_BUQyg==

Endurance Racing

Links to a couple of endurance series in our region.

• New Mexico Endurance Series, http://nmes.wordpress.com/
• Arizona Endurance Series, http://rockyroad5050.wordpress.com/

Racing time soon

Even though it's only January the racing will be upon us soon. Here is what I have on tap:

1-24-09 Quadruple Bypass Scottsdale, AZ
1-25-09 Pre-ride the 24 hours of the old Pueblo course during the Antelope Peak Challenge Endurance race.
2-14-09 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
3-14-09 SYDC, Albuquerque, NM

Another Sunny Day

Another near perfect sunny winter day in SW Colorado. The temperatures were much better on Sunday. Temps at ride time at noon were 31 degrees and when I returned home three hours later it was 34. Tallied 3 hours on the bike and almost 50 miles at a low cadence. No high intensity today. I can work in those temps real easy. Looks like no new snow in the next five days either.

Out riding

I know the curse word is juvenile.

The Bianchi torture machine. Switched out the front crank set to change up my gear ratio. Ran a 42x16 for this ride. Seemed good for everything.

Pic above of McPhee Reservoir. Nobody out water skiing today! LOL!!!

Matt and I had planned for an all day epic but he decided to bail on me so my plans changed. (You owe me Matt) My bro-in-law, Mike Guskea, didn't want any part of a ride either so I decided to not go as far as we discussed but still tallied over 60 miles on the Bianchi SS cross bike. Started in Cortez at 10.20am and went out to 491 and headed towards Dove Creek, turned around after awhile and cut across to Dolores and back up to Rico. Over 4 hours in the saddle and 5k of climbing. Not a bad day when the temps were single digit in the morning. More of the same today I figure. Another 50 or so miles will be good.

Taking a break at the West Fork of the Dolores.

Dolores River.

It's cold out here.

Beautiful Rico, CO.

It's hard to beat leaving right from your house on your tele skis and going right up the mountain. Went out for a short skin up the hill and took the dogs for a play in the snow as well.

Another good time.

Took Nacho and Lucy on Sunday and had a great time snowshoeing above the house in Rico.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone. The weather has been amazing so I took advantage of the nice weather and drove down to Dolores to do a road ride on the torture machine (SS Bianchi Cross bike). I changed up the gearing to a 48x18 for today's ride. Ouuucchhhhhh! I must be a wuss because it hurt me today. I rode 50 miles and only 3k of climbing. I need to step it up for the upcoming 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo (http://www.epicrides.com/index1.htm) in Tuscon , which is on tap for February 14th. Damn the pressure!! Regardless of me feeling slow, it was a beautiful day with beautiful road conditions and very little traffic.