Long live IMBA epics.....

The weekend for me entailed a bit of an organizational cluster (to say the least) all in the efforts to ride a sick high mountain trail....the Monarch Crest Trail. Now you may need to know the lead into this one. Basically I was supposed to hit up the 32 mile section of the CDT/CT outside of Salida last summer with some buds from work, but the unfortunate timing of the broken leg nixed that plan. Especially since the trail starts at 11,313 ft and is above treeline for the majority of the ride, the only ridable time is after snow clears and before 1st snow. Well that was my window shade pulled in '07. I wasn't going to let evening storms, spoiled camping, no hotel rooms in the surrounding 4 towns, 3 hrs sleep, morning overcast, or Monarch Pass being closed for a road race deter this trip. Late start and cloud cover rolling out at 9:15 am I proceeded to ride some of the best singletrack I'd ever laid rubber to. There was just enough climbing, rolling, technical, fast, steeps, mud, east-coastish rocks and roots, and descents that I was thoroughly satisfied. Now I know why IMBA named this as one of their Epics and it is ranked as one of the best trails in the US.

Too bad I couldn't stick around the town to ride more trails on Sunday, but I had to get back to get the dog and I was planning on racing the next day. Yeah who races after doing an epic. Me! All in the name of having fun and the Sunday race wasn't a focus; just for fun since on the AFA Falcon Trail. Needless to say the State Games of the West didn't do such a good job of publicizing even having a MTB race so not that many people showed up and I barely did since Buck stretching, yawning, and shaking his floppy ears was the only thing that woke me up. Anyways, my category was comprised of 5 other Expert/Semi-pros and I was the only Pro. I knew I had this one so from the gun I had to tell myself that it was a race intrinsically and against the clock. It worked as I turned two sub-1 hr laps (57ish and 58ish) for a winning time of 1:57. That satisfied me for the day considering I did a 32 mile high altitude ride the day before and I didn't have anyone on my wheel making me keep that pace. I did get the nicest gold medal I've ever been presented and guess I now have the title of State Games of the West Pro Champ. Huh, kinda funny.

Anyways, really motivated right now to do well and race more mtb and CX. I've been having bunches of fun on the dirt and look to see what 2009 brings for racing.

Silver Rush 50 MTB results posted

The unofficial times are posted for the race and they look good. It turns out that I finished in 4:12, which means 12 minutes over 2nd place.

Pictures to come when I get the disposable camera developed. Haven't had to do that in a long time.

Well heading out this weekend to ride the Monarch Crest Trail just off Monarch Pass to Poncha Springs. Should be sweet to do that with a cool group after camping tonight.

Then to race the State Games of the West Mtb XC race on Sunday. Probably won't be fresh but will be fun to race the home race of the Falcon Trail on the Air Force Academy.

Silver Rush 50.....finally got a win under the belt!

Well I don't have any pictures yet (lost camera over the weekend) but hopefully have a picture in the Leadville newspaper. Bummer on the camera but excitement to take a win in a race of this caliber. The start at 10,000 ft in the town of Leadville that has several relentless climbs to the 1/2-way point just to turn around and reverse them back. At several points the course was above treeline. The views amazing, from what I could take in through the altitude goggles that I had on from hammering.

Funny thing is I allowed myself to get dropped several times by the leaders (1st and 2nd place guys from last year) because I'm still running the 1x9 and couldn't grind out that hard on some of the steeps and realistically wasn't expecting to be doing that well. After a long hike-a-bike section after the turn-around, I made some ground coming over the high point. Once remounting to start the dh section, I never saw 2nd place again. I just continued to keep my pace, not take for granted riding smart, and was on the throttle the entire way back to the finish line.

I posted a 4:12 which more than beat last years winner and had almost 10 minutes or more on 2nd place (if I remember correctly, no online results posted yet).

Would like to say thanks to Ken and Merilee for putting on a great race and keeping a good mtb culture thriving!

It was a fun venue and even more fun when Heather and I went off to camp near the Collegiate Peaks and bagged 2 14ers on Sunday. Belford and Oxford after a 50 miler. Time for some recovery!

4th in Breck

Main street in Breck. Awaiting parade start

Yep gettin back to the roots doing some long mtb stuff lately. My mom and nephew, Dorian, came out over Indepedence weekend for a visit from KY, so I didn't think I would get to do the race I had planned. Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge. Well it worked out that I did since we started the parade as a neutral start of the main street downtown. How cool is that for a mtb start? Lots of cheers and high-5s from the kiddos!That's me startin the 4th of July parade.Nice post race helmet hair and dirt lines!

Finished 12th in Pro class with time of 4:18. Not bad for not knowing the course and running a 1x9 gearing with a 38t front ring. I actually think it helped since I had no other option but to keep grinding that gear.

It was cool to finish up the race and then head to a primitive campsite outside of Keystone to entertain the family and hang out by the campfire.

But oh so nice to head home after racing and a couple days of camping without showering. Heath and I before a clean dinner once home from camping.