Bridges!

The new bridges are cool. Thanks to Sam and all who helped!

OLE'S BIG GAME STEAKHOUSE

Tour De Guyot

This was a 6 hour epic ride going over two high passes, French Pass (see the snow) and

Georgia Pass, and a long descent on the Colorado Trail.  Some hike-a-bike and a several

stream crossings.  Fortunately we had perfect weathers.  The pics are of Mike.

Hagerman Pass

Rode up Hagerman Pass with Mike and Sam (who is out to do the Leadville 100 for the 10th time!)  About 2500 feet of climbing with some pretty rocky and steep sections.  After doing

the descent, I had a flat--the Michelin Mud had a nasty sidewall cut.  I had to be rescued by Mike

since I didn't think I could fix it with a tube.  The Lefty Fork worked well with 160 pounds pressure, about 40 more than is recommended.  (The Fork had lost all it's air in the previous ride.)  I've decided that the Michelins have weak sidewalls.  Comments anyone?

BRECKENRIDGE

No pics yet, but I'm out in Breck staying at the same condo we stayed at last year, rented by my

friend Mike O'Brien.  He doesn't blog, or doesn't even know what blogging is, but now I'm getting

him started (well maybe).  Rode up Vail Pass yesterday and back--about 45 miles on bike paths

with lots of bikers.  Coming back down I was over 30 mph a couple of times, but there were too

many people to go really fast.  Tomorrow it's mt. biking on the Soda Creek trail, which I have

done many times.  It is a very nice trail, takes 2 or 3 hours.  Sammy is out to do the Leadville

100 and I'm hoping to hook up with him this week.  

Singletrack Attack

I went down to do the race at Elk River. My race didn't go over anything very technical so

I relaxed and had a good time. I passed a few people and got passed back a couple of times,

but it was not very competitive. Mostly it was a social event for me. I enjoyed talking to

Dan Meyer and Rob Ogren about their race at the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge, a race

I attempted for many years. Dan thought it was a harder race than the Leadville 100 since it

has more climbing. After the race I spectated with Jenna and Justin for awhile, cheering

for Tom, Justin's dad. When we left Justin ripped over the constructed Berm and the

wooden Stairs and I followed. They turned out to be easier than I thought. (My race

didn't go over them.) I looked for Kyia before her race but didn't find her. The trail

has some strange constructions, a teeter-totter that looks unsafe to me, and a sort

of rail thing that goes pretty high off the ground. Not for me, thank you. Next week

we are off to Breckenridge to stay with my friend in his rented condo and to see

various Colorado friends.

NEW TRAIL!

I rode on the North Loop today with the resurrected Scapel. It has a new

fork! Rolled over the new log pile on the first expert spur without any

difficulty. Now it rides pretty easily; before it felt more like a log drop.

There is a tree down shortly after the official log drop. The steep hill

by the prison is getting eroded and harder. I removed a rock from the

next expert spur. It is now easier I guess. Didn't do the rock gardens.

Given my pathological and neurotic proclivity to crash, I've decided to

avoid them from now on.

The New Trail that I found comes shortly before the last crossing of the

ski trail. It is fairly short (2 or 3 minutes) and easy, but I liked it.

It is a little bumpy now but it will be fast and fun!