Weekend of great fun to be had...

So this weekend, New Mexico race was canceled (sucks minus I am glad I don't have to drive that far) in stead Colorado University is holding a Short Track race. As of last week CSU cycling team is first in our conference, ahead of Fort Lewis (they won the last 10+ years) by about 1000 pts. Basically, if our team overwhelms the races at Boulder this weekend its a sure win.

On another thought, I ordered a new road bike this past week (can't wait) and I have been working on getting my training schedule worked out. With high hopes this next year should be a good one. This summer since Caley (my teammate and roomie) live here in FoCo, but our parents live out East we are going to take our time this summer and travel back east while hitting up some races (both road and mountain). I would like to do Snake alley (hear its good from a la-git source...she knows who she is) and a couple of other interesting venues. We are also looking at possible heading to the wonderful land of Canadia...(it's its own continent) to do some racing. And then to Mount Snow for MTB nationals. Should be a good solid month of traveling and racing. Now all I have to do is find a team for this summer, but all else fails...I am just going to fly solo...

So, I will keep this posted (hopefully more on a regular basis..its been a stressful week) with any updates, good photos, and other really really fun stuff.

PEACE>>>james

Mesa (Grand Junction Colorado)

We left Fort Collins around 430 pm Friday headed South to Grand Junction Colorado. It took approx. 5 hours to get there. The Mesa Collegic cycling team coach was generous enough to let us crash at his house for the weekend. So, funny story. There was a cage in the basement where we were sleeping, Amanda made me sleep by it, and in the morning our host asked us about seeing the creature that was in the cage...there was no creature. The was a two foot lizard roaming free around the house. Kinda weird, but it all worked out.

So, the ST race was crazy to say the least. The first location (changed due to rain and increased amounts of mud [concrete]) had an intense climb from the start and followed this ridge followed by a fast road descent. The loop was 1 mile long, majority climbing. Glad it was changed minus the fact that the race we did was in a parking lot weaving around some traffic cones in mud while it was raining. About two laps in I was stuck in one gear, not that it mattered because it was a big ring race. This weekend I moved up to the Men's A level (wasn't sure how it would turn out) I ended up taking 20th in short track. Not bad for getting stuck behind the bottle neck in the drainage dip.

Saturday wasn't a sure thing, but Caley (CSU teammate) prayed to Baby Jesus, so it was sunny and in the 50-60's. The XC race was fast from the start. Going through a ravine, into a long climb. For the most part the climb was easy (would have been easier if I would have warmed up). After the first part of the climb there was a section where you had to rock climb with your bike, get back on ride some more, and then carry your bike for about 50 yards. It wouldn't have been so bad but, it was nearly impossible to clip in once your shoes were muddy. Seriously, the mud was like cement. It stuck to everything, and didn't come off. I am still cleaning my bike from it. Overall, good fun trail. I ended up taking 20th again. hopefully regionals will be better.

This is what the terrain looked like at the Mesa Race. You climbed and then road the crest.

Amanda, myself on our was home...I was definitely ready to get back to the FoCo. There is a race this coming weekend in Boulder, Co. Not sure if I am going to race. The following weekend in regionals. Stay tuned and we'll see what happens.

A little practice...

So today got out of class late (5pm) and decided that I was going to ride around Horse tooth reservoir (failure from the start) so as soon as I got home I grabbed my roomy, Caley (also teammate for CSU) and went. We got to shoreline and realize that it is already getting dark and that there was no way that we were going to be able to make it around the reservoir so we found some tech-ie sections and rode those for a while. Today was the first time that I realized that fall was here. It got dark at 6:30 and cool (where did summer go???)

The tech section that we went to used to be semi ride able, not today. You could make it down, but coming up was another story. Loose rock on top of large rocks with no space to keep your momentum up...it basically became a fun downhill with a hike-your-bike back up. Either way I can't complain, I mean I was on my bike and anytime I am riding its a good day.

This weekend is the Mesa collegic race in Grand Junction, Colorado. Should be a good weekend weather wise. Until then have fun, be safe and enjoy.

Random

After being in class all day I decided to do a hard ride up Maxwell, shoreline, and some other extension of a trail off of shoreline. Was a quick ride (the usual when limited on time) Sorry theres no pictures.

This past weekend (10/29 - 10/30)

Finally, a race close to home. In Wyoming this weekend, Saturday was fairly good weather. The short track course was a hard packed trail that started on a flat fire road going into a big-ring climb followed by a fast downhill. I led the race for the first 10 minutes (falling short due to sickness) I ended up taking fifth.

Sunday, couldn't be more different from Saturday. We arrive in the morning to find temps of 31 degrees, snow, and wind of 35-40mph. Not the most amazing race weather. With the race being pushed back half-an-hour I sat in the car debating whether to race or not. In the end I ended up racing. I finished 4th after wrecking early, playing catch-up, stopping to help a teammate, and on the final lap after catching the leaders I get taken out by a small sapling. With the race being close to home and ending early I was able to make my way up to Estes Park, CO with Amanda Miller. Amanda Miller (originally from Iowa, and fellow teammate) wanted to see amazing views so we planned on going over Trail Ridge Road, which was closed due to snow, so we just found the next best thing (Views of Longs).

Up and Running (soon hopefully)

So i just decided to start this blog and it will probably take me a while to get it going. It mainly is going to be about cycling and what I am doing. Right now I am busy with the Collegic MTB season, which is approximately half way done, and the usual classes. The majority of by riding will be done around Colorado, Moab (Thanksgiving break, look forward to some good pics) , and hopefully some riding out east pending on whether I make it home anytime soon.