No its not that long, but thanks for the compliment. The answer is my first century.
Today, I completed the buffalo bicycle classic. It was a 103 mile ride from Boulder to Fort Collins and back. As with most if not all centuries the ride started at 7:00am. Being that it is early fall and 7:00 am, I didn't expect to see the sun for the beginning of the ride. Unfortunately, the sun didn't show up at all through out the ride. Without the sun the temperate didn't rise above about 55 degrees. Due to whatever front we had moving in that kept the clouds overhead all the day, we had a constant wind to deal with. Most of the wind was a headwind or a crosswind. This combination of weather phenomena made for a long cold ride.
Other than the aforementioned conditions, I would call the ride a success. I did complete all 103 miles. My total time on the bike was 6 hours and 38 seconds. This added up to an average speed of 16.6 miles per hour. I was slightly worried about my chances of completing the ride when at mile 47ish on the climb up to the turnaround point, my leg started to cramp up. I was able to push through and make it to the aid station, only to get off the bike and instantly cramp. After about 15 minutes of stretching and eating I got back on the bike. I did cramp up again every time I got back on the bike after stopping at aid stations but I was able to spin through the cramps.
At the finish line I was greeted by none other than the world renowned cyclist...Scott Wenzel. This was such a delightful surprise. We chatted for a minute as I was waiting in line for my hat that proves my successful completion of the century. Scott (that's right, the same Scott that has been in Belgium training for months now) didn't get a hat for he only rode 70 miles today. I proudly wore my hat as I grubbed on some pasta, got a post race beer, and a 10 minute free massage.
That was my day, How was yours?
Good huh, well Till Next Time!
8.09.2007
I'm Back
Not only am I back to update my Blog but after an unexplained absence I'm back on my bike.
In the last few months I have only ridden the fixie around town. I just didn't ride. I Don't know why, I just didn't. So to help motivate myself to get back on the bike I registered for a charity ride. The Boulder Colorado, Ride the Buffalo. I am not a big fan of the charity but I am riding with over 100 people I work with and work is subsidizing it.
The ride which is one month today has motivated me. In the last 3 days I have ridden twice. Each ride being a little more than 30 miles. I know I have a long way to go before I am totally ready for a century but the goal is really just to get out and ride and have some fun with friends.
The training has been going pretty well. Throughout both rides I felt good. Into the wind, down wind, uphill, etc. It all felt pretty good.
So I will try to keep everyone updated a little on the training but just in case I don't, thanks for the concern and thinking about me.
Till next time.
In the last few months I have only ridden the fixie around town. I just didn't ride. I Don't know why, I just didn't. So to help motivate myself to get back on the bike I registered for a charity ride. The Boulder Colorado, Ride the Buffalo. I am not a big fan of the charity but I am riding with over 100 people I work with and work is subsidizing it.
The ride which is one month today has motivated me. In the last 3 days I have ridden twice. Each ride being a little more than 30 miles. I know I have a long way to go before I am totally ready for a century but the goal is really just to get out and ride and have some fun with friends.
The training has been going pretty well. Throughout both rides I felt good. Into the wind, down wind, uphill, etc. It all felt pretty good.
So I will try to keep everyone updated a little on the training but just in case I don't, thanks for the concern and thinking about me.
Till next time.
6.16.2007
The Quarterly Report
Please refrain from posting comments about how long its been since I have posted. I know. I am not very good about this blog thing. I read yours, I think about mine, but I'm Lazy.
So for all you curious readers out there let me tell you what I have been busy doing while I wasn't posting.
April 15- Ski season ends! YAY!
April 21-may 1- I went to Israel. It was a trip through Aish DC. Aish is an international education organization. It was amazing. I went with my dad and 20 other guys from Washington DC. We saw the old city in Jerusalem, including the western wall, the temple mount, the wall tunnels etc. We went to the North of Israel with the ex-brigadier general of the army and stood on the border of Syria, in a militarized zone, between an abandoned tank, blown apart bunker and mine fields. In one word "incredible". We went to the dead sea. To all four ancient holy cities (Jerusalem, Tzvat, Tiberias, and Hebron). Our tour of Hebron had to be cleared by the military and we had to be in an armored bus. Kind of crazy. Most of all on the trip...we ate. We ate at a ton of 5 star restaurants, all with multiple courses of delicious food.
May 3-Present- Working at Red Sky Golf Course. I work outside services. Basically I whore myself out to really rich people (Like frank Azar, The Strong Arm Of The Law), and valet their cars (like franks Bentley and Ferrari 612), clean their clubs, and play a little golf.
Also in this time period I have been training for my other job as a wrangler (Photo Below)
, and working as a bartender for banquets at the ranch.
Being a cowboy, however fake it may seem, is a blast. I love hanging out on the ranch with the horses, and the beautiful female wranglers I work with.
You know what...Other than a little drinking, some live music (Kid rock and a bunch of local bands), and painting my room, that's about all I have done.
Stay Classy San Diego, I'm Ron Burgandy?
So for all you curious readers out there let me tell you what I have been busy doing while I wasn't posting.
April 15- Ski season ends! YAY!
April 21-may 1- I went to Israel. It was a trip through Aish DC. Aish is an international education organization. It was amazing. I went with my dad and 20 other guys from Washington DC. We saw the old city in Jerusalem, including the western wall, the temple mount, the wall tunnels etc. We went to the North of Israel with the ex-brigadier general of the army and stood on the border of Syria, in a militarized zone, between an abandoned tank, blown apart bunker and mine fields. In one word "incredible". We went to the dead sea. To all four ancient holy cities (Jerusalem, Tzvat, Tiberias, and Hebron). Our tour of Hebron had to be cleared by the military and we had to be in an armored bus. Kind of crazy. Most of all on the trip...we ate. We ate at a ton of 5 star restaurants, all with multiple courses of delicious food.
May 3-Present- Working at Red Sky Golf Course. I work outside services. Basically I whore myself out to really rich people (Like frank Azar, The Strong Arm Of The Law), and valet their cars (like franks Bentley and Ferrari 612), clean their clubs, and play a little golf.
Also in this time period I have been training for my other job as a wrangler (Photo Below)
, and working as a bartender for banquets at the ranch. Being a cowboy, however fake it may seem, is a blast. I love hanging out on the ranch with the horses, and the beautiful female wranglers I work with.
You know what...Other than a little drinking, some live music (Kid rock and a bunch of local bands), and painting my room, that's about all I have done.
Stay Classy San Diego, I'm Ron Burgandy?
4.08.2007
The Glorious State Bridge-Accurate Report
I went on a ride yesterday. If you have already read matts blog than you have heard about it. Not to burst your bubble but heres the real story.
The ride starts out flat for 8 miles from our house in Edwards to Wolcott. Once you get to the Wolcott Yacht Club (there are no yachts by the way, just an old fishing outboard and a bar) you turn right and start heading uphill. The ride for the next 10 miles is 75% uphill with a little bit of rolling. It is a nice climb, I will admit that, but it is a long one.
When you arrive at mile marker 9.5 you start to descend. The descent to state bridge was fun as matt stated but even "riding his donkey" he did not reach 50 mph. Maybe KpH but not mph. My computer clocked the top speed at just under 40. Still fun and impressive but its not 50.
The downside to the ride is getting to the closed town of statebridge, stopping long enough to let the legs get all gluey and stiff, than riding uphill for 4 miles. It was a steep hill too.
Now as I said to matt at mile 18 of the ride while we were still climbing towards state bridge, I dont want to do a 50 mile ride my first real day back on the bike. With the fused back I am still getting comfortable on the bike. I have a lot of trouble getting into the drops. My neck gets really stiff really quick. Stupidly though I let matts overambitioun get me all the way to state bridge, and I paid for it all the way back home and at work today, bastard.
Next time we ride to statebridge we will take pictures to show all of you loyal readers just how pathetic state bridge really is.
Till than, happy chocolate and colored eggs everyone!
The ride starts out flat for 8 miles from our house in Edwards to Wolcott. Once you get to the Wolcott Yacht Club (there are no yachts by the way, just an old fishing outboard and a bar) you turn right and start heading uphill. The ride for the next 10 miles is 75% uphill with a little bit of rolling. It is a nice climb, I will admit that, but it is a long one.
When you arrive at mile marker 9.5 you start to descend. The descent to state bridge was fun as matt stated but even "riding his donkey" he did not reach 50 mph. Maybe KpH but not mph. My computer clocked the top speed at just under 40. Still fun and impressive but its not 50.
The downside to the ride is getting to the closed town of statebridge, stopping long enough to let the legs get all gluey and stiff, than riding uphill for 4 miles. It was a steep hill too.
Now as I said to matt at mile 18 of the ride while we were still climbing towards state bridge, I dont want to do a 50 mile ride my first real day back on the bike. With the fused back I am still getting comfortable on the bike. I have a lot of trouble getting into the drops. My neck gets really stiff really quick. Stupidly though I let matts overambitioun get me all the way to state bridge, and I paid for it all the way back home and at work today, bastard.
Next time we ride to statebridge we will take pictures to show all of you loyal readers just how pathetic state bridge really is.
Till than, happy chocolate and colored eggs everyone!
3.19.2007
Good ol' Saint Patrick
My Saint Patricks day was great. I must have had the luck of a leprechaun on my side.
It started friday when I did my checkout from ski school and realized I had no kids coming back on saturday so I told my boss I wasnt coming in. The weather all week was beautiful, sixties and sunny everyday, and all I could think about what riding.
I did get a ride in after work on tuesday which was great. Tuesday I rode for about an hour as the sun was coming down. I warmed up with an out and back on the little highway. Pretty flat and pretty short, but it got the blood warm. On the way I home I still had some time before the sun dropped behiond the mountains so I starteed climbing. On that ride I caught the spring fever bad.
So saturday when I didnt have to work I did a little spring cleaning in the morning, waiting for the temp to rise a little. At around 12 I got on the bike and headed east on Highway 6 towards vail. This being my first real ride of the season and since my accident I wasnt sure how long I could make it so I questioned my turn around point. When I finally turned around I was in minturn, which is a little over 10 miles from my house, and I turned into a headwind. I wasnt sure I could make it back.
Half way home, I was still moving kind of slow into the headwind but I felt great. I got to my house and kept riding past. I headed into a neighborhood with some really good climbs and headed all the way to the top. I was surprised not only how far I rode but how well I could climb.
When I finaly pulled into my house I had been on the bike for about 2 1/2 hours, and it felt great.
Saint patricks day ended with the annual ski school vs. ski patrol ski softball game on the snow, and of course a few beers.
What a great day it was. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a pot of gold at the end of the ride.
It started friday when I did my checkout from ski school and realized I had no kids coming back on saturday so I told my boss I wasnt coming in. The weather all week was beautiful, sixties and sunny everyday, and all I could think about what riding.
I did get a ride in after work on tuesday which was great. Tuesday I rode for about an hour as the sun was coming down. I warmed up with an out and back on the little highway. Pretty flat and pretty short, but it got the blood warm. On the way I home I still had some time before the sun dropped behiond the mountains so I starteed climbing. On that ride I caught the spring fever bad.
So saturday when I didnt have to work I did a little spring cleaning in the morning, waiting for the temp to rise a little. At around 12 I got on the bike and headed east on Highway 6 towards vail. This being my first real ride of the season and since my accident I wasnt sure how long I could make it so I questioned my turn around point. When I finally turned around I was in minturn, which is a little over 10 miles from my house, and I turned into a headwind. I wasnt sure I could make it back.
Half way home, I was still moving kind of slow into the headwind but I felt great. I got to my house and kept riding past. I headed into a neighborhood with some really good climbs and headed all the way to the top. I was surprised not only how far I rode but how well I could climb.
When I finaly pulled into my house I had been on the bike for about 2 1/2 hours, and it felt great.
Saint patricks day ended with the annual ski school vs. ski patrol ski softball game on the snow, and of course a few beers.
What a great day it was. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a pot of gold at the end of the ride.
2.27.2007
What did Phil say about the weather?
I know I am a huge slacker when it comes to posting. I will be better this summer. Currently though I spend 40 hours a week in front of a computer and I have little motivation to talk about my boring life.
Any way that's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I am getting the itch. We had a few beautiful warm sunny days up in them thar hills and I wanted to ride. I didn't, and now its snowing and has been for days. I want to ride. I actually dreamt about riding last night.
Come April when I am done working I am going to go on a "training camp" and go ride in Greeley for a week or so.
Until than, contemplate this:
Any way that's neither here nor there. The important thing is that I am getting the itch. We had a few beautiful warm sunny days up in them thar hills and I wanted to ride. I didn't, and now its snowing and has been for days. I want to ride. I actually dreamt about riding last night.
Come April when I am done working I am going to go on a "training camp" and go ride in Greeley for a week or so.
Until than, contemplate this:
1.16.2007
Whats Soft White and 16 Inches? The best day of my life!
Even if I had a kid, Saturday would have been the best day f my life.
I woke up as usual on a day off, this last Saturday. I lay in bed for a little. Listened to the plows outside. Heard the dog stir. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I then had a knock at my door. When Matt took the dog out he discovered that there was over a foot of fresh snow. I immediately check my work email for the official Vail resorts snow report to find out that while Vail got 7 inches of snow, Beaver Creek got 16! That's right 16.
So I call the family who was in town and tell them I am no longer going to Vail with them. Beaver Creek is the place to be.
I scurry to get ready. Drive to the hill and get on the chair right after it opened.
Shub who was in town visiting and I, did laps on larkspur chair for about an hour and a half. In that time there was not a single wait for the chair. There was miles of untracked powder. There were face shots galore.
We pushed it hard, almost non stop for almost 2 hours until we moved to a different chair only to find more bottomless powder.
I was on my Tele Ski's in the morning which was phenomenal. Towards the afternoon I was unable to stand I pushed it so hard. We took a short break to rest the legs and I switched to my Alpine ski's. We skied the afternoon in some more beautiful powder until both of us needed food.
We had a beer and a burrito for lunch and could not find enough in us to get back on the hill. It didn't matter though, It was still an epic day.
It was the stuff that dreams are made of!
I woke up as usual on a day off, this last Saturday. I lay in bed for a little. Listened to the plows outside. Heard the dog stir. Nothing out of the ordinary.
I then had a knock at my door. When Matt took the dog out he discovered that there was over a foot of fresh snow. I immediately check my work email for the official Vail resorts snow report to find out that while Vail got 7 inches of snow, Beaver Creek got 16! That's right 16.
So I call the family who was in town and tell them I am no longer going to Vail with them. Beaver Creek is the place to be.
I scurry to get ready. Drive to the hill and get on the chair right after it opened.
Shub who was in town visiting and I, did laps on larkspur chair for about an hour and a half. In that time there was not a single wait for the chair. There was miles of untracked powder. There were face shots galore.
We pushed it hard, almost non stop for almost 2 hours until we moved to a different chair only to find more bottomless powder.
I was on my Tele Ski's in the morning which was phenomenal. Towards the afternoon I was unable to stand I pushed it so hard. We took a short break to rest the legs and I switched to my Alpine ski's. We skied the afternoon in some more beautiful powder until both of us needed food.
We had a beer and a burrito for lunch and could not find enough in us to get back on the hill. It didn't matter though, It was still an epic day.
It was the stuff that dreams are made of!
1.01.2007
Welcome 2007, Good Riddens 2006
It is a new year, and hopefully a good and safe one for everyone. My 2006 wasnt all bad. Here are a few highlights from the good things last year.
I Graduated College.
I bought a house/apartment.
I got a supervisor position at Beaver Creek.
I Broke my back.
So thats kind of a short list but, well it wasnt the greatest year. Heres the list of the bad things.
I Graduated College.
I bought a house/apartment.
I broke my back.
Yeah so there are other things that happend in 2006. I had a great time finishing up school. I do have a lot of great memeories from this year that I wouldnt trade for anything in the world. I was part of 2 great weddings of 2 great friends. I consumed my fair share of tasty adult beverages, and in the process, met some adult women with whom I shared some deep intelectual conversation. Skied more days than I ever will again in a season, during one of the best seasons on record.
The biggest thing in 2006 was of course when I broke my back. I wont get into details. You all have heard about it, but I did want to thank everyone for the support while I was recovering.
I hope everyone has a happy and a heatlthy 2007.
I Graduated College.
I bought a house/apartment.
I got a supervisor position at Beaver Creek.
I Broke my back.
So thats kind of a short list but, well it wasnt the greatest year. Heres the list of the bad things.
I Graduated College.
I bought a house/apartment.
I broke my back.
Yeah so there are other things that happend in 2006. I had a great time finishing up school. I do have a lot of great memeories from this year that I wouldnt trade for anything in the world. I was part of 2 great weddings of 2 great friends. I consumed my fair share of tasty adult beverages, and in the process, met some adult women with whom I shared some deep intelectual conversation. Skied more days than I ever will again in a season, during one of the best seasons on record.
The biggest thing in 2006 was of course when I broke my back. I wont get into details. You all have heard about it, but I did want to thank everyone for the support while I was recovering.
I hope everyone has a happy and a heatlthy 2007.
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