Ramping it Up

Last year was not a great year on the bike for me. I struggled early in the year with knee problems and my hours and efforts were very minimalistic. This year is different. I knew I needed more base earlier in the year and more structure to get my body back into racing shape. Luckily, everything is coming together quite well.

I just finished a block of training. Early last week we saw some snow, then bitter cold temperatures. This relegated me to doing my prescribed efforts on the trainer for two days in a row with double sessions. I couldn't take it anymore, so back outside I went in negative wind chill temps.


This past weekend I had a nice 4 day volume block. I managed to sneak in 17 hours covering 298 miles in the past 4 days. I can tell the form is on the rise as my intervals yesterday went way better than planned and I felt great, even after the previous 2 days of 11hrs and 8000kj of work.

I'm getting pretty excited to get back on the dirt with a number plate. Looking forward to seeing how my work has payed off this off-season. T-18 days until the first test of the season.

In other news, looks like there is more hope for the Quizno's Pro Challenge to come to Grand Junction and race over the Monument like the old Coor's Classic days. Yes, we need another American Flyers!

Time Ticking Away

Man, winter in Junction has been a "normal" year for 2011. I've been able to get all my workouts outside, which is really nice. I've had only a couple snow rides, but the white stuff is gone and the sun is shining. Riding dry trails in January is a pretty sweet deal.

Been getting everything in order for a run at the 2011 race season. I just did a pre-season VO2 Max test yesterday to see where I am at. Results were good, and showing that I am in really good shape for January. That's good, casue last year I sucked. First race will be down in St George, UT again this year. Nothing like blowing the cobwebs out of your legs in early March. Riding in Hurricane the next day isn't bad either.

Still trying to figure out my race schedule for the year. Going to be doing some of the PRO XCT's, some MSC races, a few local races, hopefully some cross, then Iceman. I'd like to come back for a run at Ore to Shore, but I'm not sure if I can get back this year.

Off to Moab tomorrow to shred some trail!

2011

I'm not getting anyone's hopes up here, but maybe I'll do a little better job of updating this blog over the next year. I've had a great and exciting 2010, so I'm hoping for the same in 2011. The 2010 riding was some of the best I have done. I did not have the best fitness or results last year, but I had a hell of a time traveling around racing and riding bikes.

Here is a quick recap of what had gone down in the 81501 the past year.

I took the summer to explore all the fun things one should do. I set my home base of Grand Junction, and spent the summer riding, hiking, floating the river, fly fishing, racing, and traveling. I go to Crested Butte twice to ride the most glorious trails ever made. Some awesome camping was had, along with a few killer rides and some river fishing. I was also able to head back to Michigan for a couple weeks to visit family, hit the Ore to Shore and have a little camping vacation in the UP. Ore to Shore was decent, but a flat tire ruined my hopes of a good ride. I still finished up 15th and had a good time seeing everyone. Copper Harbor the following week was good enough redemption.

I didn't do much fall racing. Did a fun 24 Hours of Moab team and then headed back to Iceman for the true end of the season. My chainring gouged on me and kept dropping my chain after mile 12, so I had a long ride/walk to the finish line. At least I was able to see everyone from the mitten and ring out the season at the afterparty.

Besides riding and having fun, I graduated from Mesa State College with a marketing degree this fall. I also started a job running a new bike shop here in Grand Junction, LTR Sports. It is going to be exciting watching it grow along with the exciting cycling scene in the valley. I will be riding for our local team, LiveTrainRace.com next year. If I'm not posting here, you'll see some of my posts on their website.

I also just bit the bullet and decided to stay in Grand Junction for a while. I bought a pretty cool little house the other day which should give my outdoor gear a place to stay when I'm in town. Yep, thats about it. This whole social media thing is booming, so follow me on FB or TW for more consistent updates over the next year!

Summer

Well, since the last post I have been enjoying myself quite a bit. Went down to Angel Fire, New Mexico for the MSC race a couple weeks ago. I had some better fitness and a decent ride finishing 14th. Nothing too spectacular this year, but I am having fun for sure.

Went to do a local race in Rifle a couple weeks ago and it was a deluge of rain, hail and lightening that morning. Not ideal conditions for a bike race, but we managed to get one lap in before it was called.

Also did a the ride the rockies day two from Grand Junction, over the Grand Mesa and into Delta. It ended up being 95 miles with 6,800ft of climbing. It was a good time even though it was cloudy, cold and raining at some points.

Hitting the Gas

3 weeks of hard training are down.

Feels good to have a little bit of fitness again.

Looking forward to the next block of training to really ramp up for July.

Did the MSC/Triple Crown race at Nathrop

Surprisingly felt good in Short Track and lasted the entire 25 minutes finishing 14th

XC was a sufferfest

Got some sweet rides in this past week

Did a local MTB race in Palisade on Saturday

Was on the bike at 6am to ride to the race...way to early to be riding

Won the race and scored a DT swiss EXC 150 fork

Cursed the spring winds again on Sunday's ride

Chilling out this week.

Little riding, some hiking, maybe some floating the river and kayaking

Angel Fire, New Mexico in a couple weeks.

Killer Weekend

I've finally got back into the training groove and started a big block to get me flying later in the summer. I put some big hard rides in earlier this week, and capped it off with a couple awesome loops this weekend.

I camped out at 18Rd with some friends on Friday night and had a good time. Perfect sleeping weather and great conditions.

Saturday was the Edge Loop out in Fruita. Started in the lower desert and went up and around. Rob and Mike were both killing it and we were all feeling good about the ride until we saw a guy on a UNICYCLE. Really. He was attempting to ride a unicycle on the 32 mile Edge Loop. We saw him at the waterfall and he was already 5 hour in. Crazy!

Today was a nice day to ride up high and explore. We rode from GJ up to Turkey Flats, and then came back JS->21 1/2 Rd->LPR->Gunny Loop. An awesome 4 hours of riding in the high country with 5500ft of climbing.

My legs are a bit tender with 25 hours in them this week. Time to take a day off, then keep on building. Chalk Creek is next weekend and it is going to hurt with the fatigue monster taking full control of my legs.

MSC #1

Did the first round of the MSC series this weekend here in Fruita. I skipped out on the TT on Saturday, but hung out at the event all day. The weather was bluebird skies and 70 degrees. I finally got out for a ride about 3:30pm and rode the first 6 miles then came back the return route.

Sunday the weather was just as nice, but a stiff headwind the first 10 miles of the course. The first 10 miles were 2-track with some rollers and sand. A few pileups, broken chains, and people stuck in sand blew the pack up a bit. Suffered the first 45 minutes to the top of the mesa before riding for 30 minutes on what felt like a paint-mixer. Rough. I hit the wall after 1.5 hours and suffered bad the next 50 minutes. I thought it was the big effort the first hour and the no recovery, but it could have been the food. A bowl of granola with a piece of bread at 8am might not hold me until the 12:45 start time. And 2 gels for 2:20 might not be the smartest idea. Ah well, it was fun and we picked off people near the end. I thought I was near the back of the pack, but I ended up 34th of 54, so not too bad for early season riding.

It is finally time for me to start hitting the blocks and training hard for the important races later this summer. It all starts tomorrow morning! Can't wait to suffer and start becoming fast again!

Upcomings

Last weekend was awesome. After traveling every week/weekend for the last couple months, I am finally at the stage where I get to stay home. This is the PERFECT time of year to be here. Last weekend I was able to get out and enjoy the awesome trails in the valley, a majority of the stuff I never get out and ride. The weather was top notch, with highs in the upper 70's and bluebird skies. Couldn't ask for better weather.

Pre-rode the Rabbit Valley course with Mike on Saturday. There's a MSC race there next weekend which could be entertaining. Not my type of course, but it will shake stuff up. Went back out to Fruita Sunday and did a sweet exploration loop on many of the lesser-ridden trails at 18Rd. Got in some good climbing with a nice mix of dirt roads and some super buff 1-track.

This weekend we have the race at RV on Saturday and Sunday. I'll likely just do the XC Sunday as registration fees are way high. Has the price of promoters insurance skyrocketed in the last year? Everything else in this economy is becoming cheaper as disposable income has shrank with lack of dollars flowing through peoples pockets. All the races I have done this year have been over $50. I can maybe see $50 for a sweet XC in the pro class where they are paying out, but $45 for a 20 minute TT on Saturday is whack. So, I might head down and hang out, or I might go on up to Ranchstyle. Nothing like watching a bunch of freeride nutjobs ride crazy fast and hit mega-air.

Next week is the Fruita Fat Tire Festival. First time I have ever been in town for it. Some people from the mitten are headed down so it should be fun to show off some of the local jems. After that, it is time to buckle down and get serious about riding bikes. Need to get fast for the summer. I also am done with school in a couple weeks. I'll get one of those expensive pieces of paper that says I'm edumakated.

Happenings

Just kinda cruising through.

Pics thanks to Kristy at Livetrainrace.com

-Had a fun trip down to Fontana for the first Pro XCT a couple weeks ago.

-Did a good pre-ride Friday with a bunch of the U23 guys.

-Wrecked hard on the pre-ride and lost some confidence.

-Race day was alright finishing in the 50's of 90 pro guys.

-The 34T chain ring was a painful grind up the elevator climb.

-The results are different on 3 cycling websites

-Short track was dusty and painful

-In 'N Out was good

-10.5 hours back to Durango, 3 more to GJ

-Came home for 3 days to do laundry and school

-Drove down to Hurricane, UT for another MTB race

-Legs felt okay, but flatted twice

-Cruised the last lap in with Mitchell

-Had a good time around the campfire

-Shredded some sweet trails. JEM was soooooo dialed

-Drove back to GJ where it is 50mph winds and high in the 30's tomorrow

-Sea Otter in 2 weeks

-Living the dream riding my bike and hanging with cool people

Fontucky

Fun weekend, crazy stories, messed up results. More to come!

Perspective

Riding bikes, that is what we do. We live, sleep, eat thinking about riding bikes. Some people race an hour long crit. Others suck wheel for a 100 mile road race. The fat tire folks suffer for two hours in a cross country race. The others push out the grueling 100 mile endurance races. The crazies race 24 hour solos. But after all, we all love riding our bikes. We go out and ride during the day in the name of training, stress relief, fun, and other reasons that are hard to put into words. For this, we are all similar.

Well, there is one exception...

Local guy and cycling badass, Mike Curiak. He is a downright cool guy. You would never be able to tell his accomplishments just by seeing or talking to him. He is also a leader in cycling innovation, especially in the 29er movement. He is a superb wheel builder as I can personally attest to. But there is one thing that makes him different-his latest cycling adventure.

You've probably heard of the Alaska UltraSport aka Iditasport. Same route as the Iditarod dog sled race. 1,100 miles from Knik to Nome, Alaska. Temperatures up to -60F and even colder. Racers travel on bike, foot, or skis. Racers stop at checkpoints and sleep in warm cabins and eat hot food until they are ready to hit the trail again. It sounds miserable, but that is luxury compared to what Curiak has just done.

He won the race to Nome a few times I believe and set the record of just over 15 days in 2000. That would be enough for most people, not Mike. The past few years he has set off to do the race self-supported. He has had some problems with equipment, but this year he got it right. He just finished the trip to Nome in just over 21 days self-supported. That are no cabins, no hot food, no support from anyone. Isolation in the barren land of Alaska for three weeks. Sleeping in a tent every night in temperatures most of us could never think of. Cooking up all his own food and eating sugary snacks every day. No going to the local pub after a long day in the saddle.

His bike weighed 145 pounds at the start of the race. He carried 24 days worth of food and reports are that he estimated he would loose one pound per day as he could not pack any more food on his bike. Can you imagine riding a bike like that? He rides all day and only averages 50 miles. Some days are spent slogging along pushing this heavy bike through deep powder. Doesn't sound terribly fun. So, here is a HUGE congrats to Mike for finishing this ridiculous endeavor. I'm sure he's got some incredible stories. The rumor is this trip is just a trip for something bigger and more desolate in the future. That is not an everyday cyclist. That is Mike Curiak.

For more about his trip, he will likely post some stuff in the next couple weeks after he eats a small town. There are some updates and trackers on the site now. Lacemine29.blogspot.com. There is a link on the right.

Spring Break

Well, this past week was spring break for us. The trails are still unrideable, and the weather is nothing to speak of. Friday morning I packed up the car and headed off to St. George, Utah for some mountain biking. We arrived to mid-60's and sun. It felt HOT! Got in a couple laps of the race course and got the mountain bike feeling back. We went back to the campsite and hung out all night around the campfire bull shitting all night. Good times were had.

Race day was Saturday at noon which is a great time for racing. Sun and warm temps were back for an enjoyable race. 35 pros lined up at the start which is the biggest field the Intermountain Cup series has seen in a long time. The competition was stiff as 4 Mona-Vie/Cannondale riders lined up with 3 Jamis riders, Burke Swindlehurst and other local pros. The race sorted out on the two 400ft climbs per lap. I battled back and forth with a couple guys for most of the race and ended up finishing a content 12th. I was happy with it for the first race of the year following a tough training week.

Saturday night was spend chilling around the fire again, then hit the sack as it rained on the tent all night. We got in a good 3hr ride Sunday hitting up some fun trails in Green Valley. We then headed out for some food at In 'N Out then off to a real campground.

It rained again Sunday night, which killed our chances of riding Gooseberry on Monday. The trail would have been good, but the back road to the trail was 8" of wet clay. We hit up Hurricane Rim to the Jem trail instead which was fun and had some nice views. Once again, it rained that night just as our campfire was dying down. We woke up Tuesday morning after constant rain to big wet snowflakes. Now mind you, St George is a desert and normally never sees rain and the average temperature is 68F this time of year. We packed up and drove 6 hours back home in mostly snow, then rain.

Wednesday was rainy here in GJ. My ride was very wet and not too enjoyable as my legs did not show up to ride. Thursday was finally sunny and 40F which felt nice. Got in a good long ride with lots of climbing. Now I will be going out for a few hours before heading down to Boulder for the weekend of racing crits. Today will be ride #4 on the road bike in a looooong time. Hopefully I can figure out how to handle it.

Coming up is a weekend of racing in Fort Collins, then our home races or Fontana Pro XCT, then an I-Cup race in Hurricane, races in the Springs, Sea Otter, Fruita MSC race, then the Fat Tire Fest. Gonna be a good spring!