Ode To The Off-Season

Another perfect example of a picture that is worth a thousand words. I call this one "Ode To The Off-Season". I am officially too soft to go out and ride today. The temperatures have dipped below freezing and the comfort found in another cup of Joe are all to alluring.

And to that woman who ran past my window at 7 am when the roads were still ice..... "Your crazy, man!"

Sight For Sore Eyes

The video below contains graphic content that is not suitable for those with a light stomach. Don't say I did not warn you.... if you are looking for some G rated stories, log onto Sager's blog.... With that being said, I know that curiosity killed the cat.

I don't want this site to just be footage of all my training partners eating it big but for some reason they are all blowing up around me. Off-road triathalon guru, Seth Wealing, got to a know a spectator a little more than he would have liked to....



Seth managed to finish the race, despite not being able to remember it and the woman was in critical care for three days. Everyone has fully recovered but it goes to show you once again how long an instant can really be.

Letting It All Hang Out

A while back I was on a ride with Jeremiah on his home turf in Harrisonburg Virginia. He said something to me on that ride that still rings in my ears, something along the lines of: "This season as I pulled to the line, I could honestly say that nobody out there trained as hard as I did this off-season".



Those words can give you a little insight into the grit and determination that Jeremiah brings to the sport. Much respect JB, for letting it all hang out down in Costa Rica! I am glad that you are on our side.

Another Clumsy Chord

NORBA Points leader or not.... Ranno made sure JHK knew what it was going to take to beat Trek/VW this year. Get down and give me 20.



Imagine if we lived in a world where our kids could sign up for cyclocross instead of baseball. A place where the air smells of freshly brewed coffee and Ned Overend is a household name. Don't get me started....

Well after the huge turnout for the US Grand Prix here in Boulder, the city may consider building a permanent cyclocross course. Take a minute to help take action and sign this petition to get some cycling in our culture... Ranno would but he can't stop smiling.

The Endless Static Sea

Six hours down, 394 more to go. Base is really the only time of year we get to mingle with the roadies and their clean drivetrains. It's refreshing to actually hear new stories of the season past.... Crazy how similar our lives are but yet so different.



I have said it before and I will say it again, safety first kids! There are a lot of crazy drivers out there, so error on the side of caution.



Since Sager is being treated like a criminal in this police state, I thought I would share one of those "feel good" stories to brighten up his day. Check this out.... Ride Free!

The Next Chapter

This off season has officially left as quickly as it came. For most people January 1st marks the beginning of the new year..... For me however, the 2007 season begins this week with my favorite time of year.....Base.



Time to upload the I-pod with my new favorite artists, bands like: The Photo Atlas, Cursive, Arcade Fire and The Faint, and hit the pavement for an extra helping of long slow miles.

This time of year, a cyclist's most valuable resource can'’t be bought or ordered. A strong network of dedicated training partners can help make the time pass with ease while feeding off of one another'’s motivation for the season to come.



Word on the street is that Boulder's MTB scene will be stepping it up a notch with riders like Alan Obye, Tim Johnson and Ross Schnell moving into the front range in order to enroll in Boulder'’s daily "making it big"” base rides.. I guess it is time to step away from the pint glass, inflate the tires, and begin the next chapter.

Old Man Smith And His Epic Adventure

Maybe you have heard some of the legendary stories of Brian Smith's Epic Birthday Rides, if not then consider this Brian's personal invitation to show up in Moab this weekend and experience it for yourself.



The date is November 11th, and the plan is to once again bust out the White Rim Trail in Moab, UT in one unsupported effort. This means carrying all the water and gear you will need for a 110 mile mtb adventure into the backcountry. Last year's journey turned out to be arguably my favorite ride of '05..... if not my riding career.



At the root of our mtb culture lies these epic adventures that give us conversation pieces of a lifetime..... Get out and play.

I am opening up the comments section of this post for specific information about the ride. Please leave a post if you are planning on showing up so we can make arrangements. You won't be disappointed

Don't Fear The Reeper

Nothing jump starts your motivation for next season better than being a spectator and seeing what the scene is like on the other side of the barriers. I actually went out a little hard on the cheering front and almost completely lost my voice. Next time I will know better and bring the mega-phone....



The culture of cross can be contagious. Not only is it the final hurrah of the cycling season but it is also one of the only cycling events besides downhill that could make money having a beer tent. And hey, I hear they don't card....



And the "Ah isn't that cute" award of the day goes out to Whitey and his son Sid. I think I know what is going to be on the Debroux's Christmas cards this season.



Brian Fuentes continues to show us why is he the most stylish man in cycling since Cipollini retired.



He was actually showing off his new "Superman like" cross skillz he has recently mastered after practicing hours on end in his bathroom mirror. Mad props.

On a side note, make sure you drop by jeremiahbishop.com and wish him well from his latest wreck down in Costa Rica while leading the La Ruta. In typical JB fashion he finished the stage....

Perks Of Being A Wallflower

For one night every year we are handed a "get out of jail free" card to pretend to be anyone/anything we wish. Whether its a good excuse to dress up like a nurse or its time to dust off that gorilla costume that sits in your closet all year long... You are guaranteed a good time. Recognize anyone?



In an effort to fair goodbye to Rock-Tober, we rode until we bonked. None of us have ventured beyond the 3.5 hr mark in a long time and we were all due for one of those "glycogen deprived" states of bliss. The kind of ride where the last hour's converstation shifts to what each of us is going to eat when we get home.

Two hamburgers, two cans of V8, and three eggs later I reached the lethargic state that I would remain in for the rest of the evening, operation digestion.



It appears that my last post fired some people up (note the comments section). The politics of mountain biking can be a touchy subject and we are all free to have our own opinion. Regardless, the best trail is the one we haven't ridden yet....