Leadville Part Duex

Well weeks following the Silver Rush 50, I made my way back to the town of Leadville. This time as team support and spectator. My old sponsor, long time friend, and hard chargin machine from KY, Steve Wilson and his buddy Steve Beckett voyaged back to CO for their second take at the LT100. Unfortunately my epic ride leading on the foothills of Pikes Peak leading into the event left Beckett with a fracture in his hand and a cast. So needless to say no racing for that guy. Even though he got up at 5 am on Saturday with clothes laid out to race just so he could say that he started a race with Lance Armstrong.

I think the best quote that I read prior to the race was in the news clipping that a co-worker passed to me in the week leading into the event. It had Lance quoted saying something like, "I don't know if I can beat Wiens, but I'm 100 percent sure I can beat Carmichael," Armstrong said. "I will be home, showered and probably three beers in by the time Carmichael gets back."

Well that was definitely true as the CO local Dave Wiens laid down a smokin time of 6:45:45 to scrub over 10 minutes off last years record and finish almost 2 minutes ahead of Armstrong. I'm glad to see this type of exposure come back to the sport of mtbing, no matter the if it takes a 7 time yellow jersey holder.

Bummer of the weekend was that Steve Wilson was taken out on the 1st substantial downhill by a female spectator walking on the course. What a nice way to end a day of racing tearing your shoulder out of joint! Errrrgghh!

Well I don't have any pictures from the LT 100, so I will catch you up with some from the SilverRush weekend.
Me after taking the lead and coming through the check station with a few minutes on 2nd place in the SR50. Nice distant picture from the disposable that Heather picked up between feed zones when she realized that she lost the digital.

On top of the World or at least Mt. Belford. Yep! The day following winning the SR 50, Heather, Buck and I summitted two CO 14ers. Mark Oxford and Belford off the list!

Oh look how tired I look taking a seat on the way back down the hike. It's like they talk about following running a marathon...you know... the walking down stairs concept that hurts. Well try hiking down a couple 14ers. Good idea but memories, none the less.

Can't beat the company here!

Random thoughts through pictures


Well if you need proof why I've been loving on riding and racing the dirt lately, just have a looksee at my team kit after the AFA RR where I went down at 53 mph (according to the last instance of data from my SRM) in April.
This is me just goofin off when Heather is not home. Grow a little stubble and get creative while cutting my hair. Yeah that's right....a mohawk and dirty stash! She made me shave it immediately, with nothing more than a disgusted look and a sigh.
Nothing else to say but fun hike in Taos, NM up to a lake at 11,000 ft with my #1.

This is the classic picture as this is my #2 and one of the most common sights of this summer for both Heather and I. Buck with his head hangin out the window on trips to the mtns. He is like a frickin test child...goes everywhere with us, trail runs, walks, to the grocery store, 3 hr mtb rides, to the coffee shop, to the office after hours (shhh), and even on 27 hr cross country drives to NY at the last minute.