I’m A Slacker Therefore I Bike

Or, I’m a biker therefore I slack. Not sure, but biking and slacking are things that come very easily for me. I’m a natural you might say. That being said, I’ve slacked long enough. It’s time to own up, buck up, stand up, HTFU.

I’ll use the excuse, “who am I, what can little old me do?” to explain my doing nothing but the reality is I am a slacker. But not today.

I finally started a Live Strong fund raising page to help my dear friend Susan Nelson fight the cancer that has been beating the crap out of her and her family. Click on the picture to go there now.

To make things a little more interesting I thought I’d suggest that if you plan on attending the 2nd annual Gooseberry 100k that you make a donation as your entry fee. I just totally stole the idea from Kenny. I have no shame.

What do you get for your “entry fee”? An all day kick-ass ride all around the Gooseberry Mesa area of Southern Utah, a campfire built by Kenny, all the CarboRocket you can handle, free post ride recovery beverages from The Bohemian and the chance to be part of a cause bigger than you.

It’s A Wrap

The holiday’s are over and not a moment too soon. We went to DC to spend time with Tasha’s family and eat. A lot. I gained 10 pounds from Christmas through New Year’s but it was so worth it.

Most people want to go to the top of the Washington Monument. I got the Washington monument on top of me.

The fam.

Highlight of the trip was winning the drawing for front row seats to West Side Story. Nothing like spit and sweat flying all over the stage. Loved it.

I followed up an award winning trip to DC with a jaunt to St. George and a ride around the newly award winning Zen Trail. I just awarded it the coveted Golden Chainring. Seriously, this could be the best loop in the state of Utah. It’s only 6.5 miles in length but you could spend hours and hours finding and trying technical moves both on and off the main trail.

Jon flashing a move.

Dan, not so lucky.

Top of the Zen. “Where’d Brad go?”

My favorite thing about the St. George trip. A custom sweet ass stem from Jon at Sabrosa. It’ll be the icing on the pumpkin pie Jabberwocky build. Coming soon.

Merry Christmas

While Tasha decorated the trees in the back yard,

I think there are some deer in the background,

the kids decorated the tree inside the house.

How about a closer look. I’m pretty sure Waldo is in there somewhere, not to mention a completely rotten banana.

My favorite Christmas tree topper ever on my favorite Christmas tree ever.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

It’s Going To Hurt

But it will be worth it. Why? I don’t know yet but there will be a reward for participating in the weekly shop ride tomorrow. It may be a material reward but most likely an intrinsic reward.

It should be a balmy 27 degrees at Noon. I think arm and leg warmers will suffice if you are from Maine. For the rest of is we should bundle up.

Road ride for an hour or until my toes and fingers break off at which point I will turn around.

Noon sharp! Unless it’s dumping snow then we will just hit Bevalo’s.

Agua Escondido

The photo suggests something else but in reality I am trying really hard to hold onto my briefcase of $100 bills that the water well driller is trying take away from me.

He eventually won, which is actually a good thing.

My place in the Universe:

With a little luck and a couple hundred feet of drilling we should hit water on Gooseberry. Stay tuned.

Finally, A Road Ride

Bring your booties.  It’s really cold out and the trails are covered in snow so, I thought it would be a good day for a road ride.  Leaving SLC Bike at Noon today for an hour tour around the SLC followed by something warm from Bevalo.

I really haven’t ridden my road bike around downtown much so, I’m not sure of a good route for an hour ride.  Any suggestions?

Cross Or Crack

I was planning on doing the final cyclocross race of the season at the Draper Equestrian Center today even though I suck at cross, seriously, I’m Mr. DFL.

That being said, I try to do a couple of them every year as they always serve me a nice slice of humble pie. As much as I don’t like humble pie I think it’s good to eat every once in a while.

However, I got the call this morning about doing a mountain bike ride instead of the cross race. The mountain bike ride would consist of one of, if not, the best loops in the Salt Lake Valley (Clark’s trail to Crack Cocaine loop) along with some of my favorite riding buddies.

View Larger Map

The cross race would be in my backyard as well but would only consist of about 50 minutes of suffering followed by about 15 minutes of exercised induced asthma. What to do?

Duh! Crack beats Cross every time.

I still can’t believe that a loop of this quality is literally in my backyard, as in I hop on the single track in my backyard and go. Unbelievable!

My backyard:

Some DH with dug about to launch:

and Elden bailing on the launch:

We finished the ride with a duel:

I won the camera duel. Elden eventually dropped his camera and ran off like a small child.

And a few more pics from dug:

Not a bad day of December biking at 6000′ in Utah.

What Does A Lunch Ride Look Like?

If I had never been on a lunch ride the question I would ask is, “what would a lunch ride look like?” To answer that question I submit the following pictures:

Now that you know the answer, what are you waiting for?

Leaving from the SLC Bicycle today, as in every Tuesday, at Noon. Bring your mountain bike.

I almost forgot, in order to make it a proper lunch ride there will be slices at Este Pizzeria post ride.

Church Of The Blue Dome World Headquarters

Southern Utah. Specifically, Southwestern Utah. I can’t think of a better place to locate a rapidly growing religion. I heart Southwestern Utah.

People actually live here. Unbelievable! They must feel like they are at Church all the time. Well, the Church of the Blue Dome anyway.

The only problem with Southwestern Utah is that most of my family and now part of Tasha’s family, not to mention a lot of friends, now call it home. By the time we visit everyone, share the Gospel and mooch all their food (Thanks Tom and Dion, Kris and Bob, Jerry and Diane, Sergio and Wendy) there is very little time left over for biking. I guess we should stop preaching and just worship.

If you haven’t done Barrel Roll, Southwest of Santa Clara, you need to add it to your short list of rides should you visit.

I grew up in ST. George, Utah and it hasn’t changed much. The local bowling alley still looks just like it did when I was 10 years old. I’ve always loved those green stools and counter and the fries are still delicious.

It has changed a little, the competition has gotten a lot stiffer.

If you haven’t made it down to Southwestern Utah lately for worship you better start working on your priorities because religion doesn’t get any better than this and you are just getting older.

Nooner

Get your Nooner on!

Don’t forget to take your mountain bike to work tomorrow. Dirt ride at Noon from SLC Bike on Tuesday. You know you are going to eat like a pig on thanksgiving so come ride tomorrow so you don’t feel so guilty.

You can get that other Nooner you’re thinking about on Wednesday.