Boo YAH!!!!!

With snow covered trails I was off to Herriman to squeeze in my last 26 miles on the bike this season before hitting my goal. I was lucky and got to do this one in daylight, and off I went on a spin on familiar trials in Herriman. I was pretty busy as I riding, thinking of all the great rides this year. I still did not ride a few things this year and hoped to but with work now in full swing my time off is going to be hard to swing anything fancy. I really have to thank my wife for yet another great riding season. Loving it, I guess I am somewhat excited to explore Arizona trails in March next year but time will be limited and riding time will be tough with her in medical school and all. Bring it on 2016!

Cold and Dark

With snow all over the Valley and mostly right in my backyard, I headed for the dry and I decided to hammer out 20 miles at my not so favorite riding location over in Herriman. It was cold and dark but I was armed and ready and got the job done. Trails were fast and frozen and now I am just 26 miles from victory!

Making Best of it

   Well the snow came, It came down harder than I though as I headed out to do a little riding while Landon was in school and before I start work. It was pretty slow moving making tracks in the snow, it was borderline doable as I was moving uphill, anything level and downhill were just fine. The snow was coming down and it was absolutely beautiful as the big flakes came down. I shortened my loop and explored a litte in between stuff and got a good 5 miles done. 

Weather Moving In

   Weather is moving in, the snow is on the way, I wish I had more time to finish up these miles but looks like they will have to wait after the storm. Got one more ride in in confidence of beautiful warm dry conditions, I must say this fall has been mighty kind!

CT Punks

A old CT riding friend had a friend moving to SLC and he gave him my info to give him some help or pointers. So he contacted me and we got talking, we planned to ride but it fell apart twice but on the third time, this saturday it all came together. We met up at Corner Canyon and I took him on a good tour, I was pretty jealous he was getting his first ride on our trails, I can only imagine if I got to go back to my very first time I rode Corner canyon, I cannot even remember. He turned out to be in good shaper and we spun a quick run up and down to the summit twice. Another warm fuzzy sunny day on the bike, thank you November!

Another Big Rippa

    Oh its is sweet to be getting long rides at the end of the season. I can happily say that even after 30 miles these legs could do a lot more damage. I am a bit bummed I didn't do a big ride this year, but I rode a lot and I have little to complain about. I set off Friday morning with 30 miles planned as I am growing nearer to my goal and nearer to snow and cold temperatures. This morning was the coldest to far but still not bad at all. I decided to ride All of The Sandy/Draper shoreline trail and once that was done made a big loop and filled in the miles. A great ride was had and so happy to be out there enjoying the morning! A little snow squall passed by throwing flurries around and was welcomed.

Monday Spinner

Closing on in on that 100 mile left mark, I needed miles and weather was moving in for mid week so I cranked on an early morning. I am desperate to ride but finding time is tricky, my son waking up crazy early lately is not helping my cause. Next week my brother flys in and we are off on adventures and I will loose time for riding that week. I believe I can get my 2k in as long as I ride when I absolutely can before the valley gets coated. This ride was really good, I actually didn't want to stop riding but I had to stop since I already pushed my allotted time. I ride Corner Canyon a lot since it's close and I can hammer the miles out. Not my way of doing it but gets the job done.

Dusted

   Couldn't wake up in the morning on time for an early morning, but luckily got out to the trails one way or the other. It was a stunning day with tacky trails from the rain the day before. The peaks got dusted in snow and made for a nice view but reminder winter is just around the corner. Been feeling really good on these last few rides, lots of energy and excitement.

Shoreline gets a cave

   Rode out to Corner Canyon for a Thursday ride while Landon was in school. It was another nice day on the bike, mid day rides are just so awesome. While heading out on shoreline, I noticed a new trail cut that lead me to this cool new mini section. It's pretty much a cave and is short but was a cool feature now as I guess they enhance the draper shoreline trail.

Glorious Fall

    Utah has been fortunate to be having a mild fall so far this year, with plenty of temperatures in the 60s and 70s. This has made for pleasant bike rides as we head for November. I am loving every one of them in the warm fuzzy weather. This one was no exception, Landon went off to school and off I went on the bike for a good mid day spin, trying to squeeze miles out of my goal. I know I have plenty of time to figure out how to fill 150 miles but you just never know what can happen the next few weeks. This was a great ride, a fast one too! I am finally feeling back in the groove!

House to trails

Planned to ride the crest monday, wish I had a homie to ride it with, makes riding it a bit more difficult. Plan was to start mill creek and ride it out an back, a bad nights sleep had me take an extra hour of sleep and start a ride from my house instead. In usual darkness I headed down the road into Dimple Dell to my normal route out to the quarry trail. This is a fun ride except for the few miles of the sandy mulch road. The crank up Quarry trail was slow, painfully slow, I guess my legs or heart wasn't there, needless to say I did reach my turn around and headed for home. Again i felt like my heart was not in the ride, for some reason just not there. But I will roll on as the season comes to a close shortly. I start work up at Snowbird in a few weeks, approximately on the 21st of November if we get needed snow. Excited to go back to work again, even more excite to be working int the mountains!

Shore Line

another bright and early morning on the bike, much more pleasant in the dark as Serfs has finally got be warrantied with a new light and battery, what a mess I went thru with them let me tell you. Plenty of people were out on the trail and I had plenty of bright light to throw at them, 2500 lumens that is. The ride was kind of boring and me un motivated but as to chug on and do a run down Bobsled. It's way less fun in the dark and on a 130mm trail bike. I remember the good old days on my coil air charging down hard what seemed to be twice as fast as I can now. Made it back to the car and that was a good mornings riding.

Thursday Giver

My son now attends school right down the street form my house, so on Tuesdays and Thursdays weather permitting, are now ride days still but I will be hitting Corner Canyon likely instead off Herriman trails. So I was off on a guilt free middle of the day ride at 12:00. Did a fast loop and pushed my legs quite hard and really enjoyed it out there, probably a much better rider in the middle of the day than these early morning shenanigans. They closed off a trail on my return and I had to back track or find another way, I wish I had back tracked cause my route sucked.

Mueller To North Canyon

Headed for Mueller for an easy 20 mile spin, love this trail as it's comfy smooth rolling and fast and mostly an easy riding trail. I have been forcing myself to ride lately, I must say my sleeping pattern has shifted and lately I am not asleep till 12 or sometimes 1am. The mornings are getting colder and ambition just slightly lower. But I will chug on until I meet my intended goal of a 2,000 mile mountain bike season! It was nice as I was gearing up in the lot of darkness a rider rolled by and we followed each other up the trail for awhile, company on a dark fall morning is always welcome! He turned around at Elephant rock and I chugged on to Rudys flat. Dropped into North and cleaned it down to the road and back up to elephant to complete my 20 miles.

Off to Rampage!

   Stormed down the Mesa onto pavement and made my way to the venue. Having no clue what to expect I came upon the entrance to the parking lot that was completely filled with bikes and people. There were three options to get to the venue, take the shuttle, walk down the 3 miles dirt road, or pedal. I chose to pedal for obvious reasons! I bought myself a sweet sweet hat and off I went down the road passing people left and right. There were quite a few beaters out there I must say, all walks of life and many people that couldn't make it up the smallest of hills, it was frustrating weaving and passing thru on my way but I was in a hurry.
   After the short pedal I was still filled with adrenaline and excitement for the days event, I was flying high as I valet my bike and walked into the venue to me my own super heroes! There right in front of me, Graham Aggasiz, Cam Zink, Brandon Semenuk just massive celebrities to me, just chilling signing autographs and taking pics. I was overwhelmed with what to do, do I bother them and blah blah or just sit in the distance and watch what was going on. I chose to leave them be since I didn't want to bother them although they appeared extremely friendly and outgoing. I saw massive players in the bike industry left and right, I was fan grilling so hard! After a few pictures the riders started the long walk up the course, what an inglorious site as they walked up helmet in hand to put they're life in the balance. I was scared for all of them, not just the ones with families.
   On walking up I saw my biggest idol, Andreu Lacondeguy, he was walking up the hill by the spectators with Darren Berrecloth. Since Andreu was being hammered by fans I jumped in for a shot with darren, wished him good luck today and he was on his way. I wish I got a pic with Andreu, I easily could have but again I was reserved and didn't want to bother him. I Found my seat by myself almost level with the Razr Booter. I picked this spot since this was a close tricking jump and I didn't have to rub shoulders with anyone.
    Soon riders came down, my mind was completely blown! Antoine Bizet came storming down throwing an incredible run and he threw that double backflip which was a winning run but unfortunately crashed. It was the first crash and only a few riders in. I always remember rooting for him since he threw down hard two rampages ago and became my favorite. Rider after rider began to drop, I knew 90% of all the riders, I was grinning like a schoolgirl as each superhero of mine came storming by.
   Paul bass took a massive spill, I was so close to it it made my heart stop as I watched him tumble to the ground. I would soon later that he shattered a vertebrae after he was air lifted to the hospital. I was most pumped to see Smenuks  and Cam Zink. Bother riders had underrated scores but I had high hopes for them. Sink threw an absolute crazy 360 off a massive drop and Swemenuk tricked the course too but neither were enough in the judges eyes. What a great time I was having, I couldn't stop thinking I have to go next year, I have to go next year.
    It was nearing the end of the competition and just three riders left, there was something going on since no riders were dropping, they weren't filling the crowd in about the wind issues. After enough waiting I gave up and headed to get my bike since I assumed the show was over and Aggy,Andreu and Darren were not taking their runs. Turns out Darren took his run as I watched for the bottom, and then I beat the crowd to the car and had a nice ride down to the car.

    Such an incredible event, I can't wait to go back, I will easily travel from Phoenix to make the show, I really want to spend three days there next time, getting Practice and Qualifications and next time autographs and pictures, those riders were so dope!