Day: April 13, 2024

Today’s ride was yet another episode in the grand soap opera I like to call “As the Pedal Turns with the Cuddle Bears!” I was riding shotgun on Moki, and she was on her beloved Pumpkin Spice, as we charged up Marshall Grade like a couple of Tour de France wannabes. It’s typically a no-sweat ascent, but today, we pushed our limits, bypassing our usual pit stop to venture deep into the heart of Marshall Woods. This wasn’t just any old detour; it marked the debut of a fresh single track that snakes its way back to our old haunt, Sheep Mountain Trail.

Our tires chewed up the trail down Sheep Mountain, swerving back onto the familiar dirt of Marshall Grade Road. Just when it felt like the excitement was winding down, we dove into Quick Draw—or as we’ve affectionately dubbed it, Two Larch—and flew down with a mix of adrenaline and zen. We took a wild card turn into Woods Gulch, tossing a little chaos into our meticulously planned route.

While Mo took a zen moment on the tranquil Rattlesnake Creek Trail, I opted for a little extra burn up Powerline, cresting Jumbo Saddle to loop back to the car. We regrouped back at the ranch, drenched in sweat but grinning ear to ear. Just another typical day shredding the trails with my favorite cycling sidekick and our noble steeds. Here’s to countless more!

I was sick on my birthday so the entire event was rescheduled. And since I was sick I did not get the email about when it was rescheduled to. Then one day I got ambushed by the entire clan. I knew something was up when an art project irrupted in the spare bedroom in which I was banned from.

Mr Bear presented me with a round gift which was wrapped in a custom gift wrap. My total haul was a sweet Kali bike helmet and a very cool custom picture frame with all our memories in it. Very sweet of all our gang to put all this effort into a day in which I turn 48 … or is it 49. I cant remember.

“Interval training today?”

“Yeah… I’m feeling chunky… ugh.”

Pretty sure that random cyclist didn’t sign up to hear that bit. I mean, you bump into someone while out for a ride and suddenly it’s confessions of feeling bloated? Am I a walking, biking Dear Abby now?

Back in my old haunt, Missoula, squeezing in one of those quick, gritty workouts.

Took on Sentinel after chaining myself to my desk all day. With daylight slipping through my fingers, I sprinted for the trailhead and soon found myself on a ridge, practically touching the clouds.

Managed to snag some time to test out the new camera, too. Here I am, twisting the swivel screen to snap a shot from underneath—felt a bit like a sci-fi movie, but in a “Big Brother is watching” kind of way.

Time slipped away as quickly as my feet carried me down the mountain. Oh well, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

Forget “tooting” or the symphony of the nether regions – I have to admit, the title just tickled my funny bone like a toddler’s giggle. The Barking Spider Mountain Bike Race in Nampa, Idaho this weekend had my name on it, and let me tell you, it was a doozy. Racing, driving to Butte, six hours of dirt-slinging fun, and making it back home in one piece – challenge accepted! (Check out the pics – they’re worth the click!)

First off, I nearly missed the whole shebang if it weren’t for Bob and Triple Ring Productions. Big shout-out to those guys for squeezing me into the first race of the season. Cheers! So there I was, fueling up at the Travelers Rest, prepped for my Idaho escapade.

Seven hours later, I found myself camped out in the back of my car – surprisingly comfy, considering my bed situation at home is basically a glorified hammock. Slept like a log, or should I say, a sleepy spider.

Sunrise greeted me, and I was on a mission – spreading the word about the Butte 100 like a seasoned flyer-posting ninja (thanks for the tip, Triple Ring crew!). Carbo Rocket fueled my veins, and soon I was ready to tackle the trails.

Gotta say, my Turner was a rocket on two wheels that day. Thanks for the nudge away from that “other” bike, Chad (Red Barn Bikes, you da man!). After an hour of messing around, it was game time. Back at the car, I see a Dirt Coalition tent popping up next to me. Talk about irony! I was trying to join their squad, but now I’m thankful for the trusty Turner. Gave a couple of “what’s up” nods to my friendly rival, you know, the one I was secretly plotting to dust.

The starting gun fired, and so did my competitive spirit. I took the lead, settling in for a scenic race through Southern Idaho. Then, boom! The DC dude rockets past me, making his grand move. I dug deep, chasing him like a cheetah after a gazelle. We battled it out, pushing each other to the limit, conquering climbs and bombing downhills like possessed mountain goats. We even lapped the pro group who started a minute ahead – no big deal, right?

Eventually, I found myself solo, the Turner eating up the trail, leading me to first place in my category. Overall, I snagged third, but wrong category for the prize money. Oh well, still a win in my book!

Next day, I’m in Butte, Montana, shredding Pipestone with my crew for six glorious hours. My efforts earned me a sun-kissed souvenir (read: sunburn), and I’m hoping my buddy Rich isn’t suffering as much – dude was looking like a lobster afterwards!

So, yeah, that was my weekend. A whirlwind of racing, camaraderie, and maybe a touch of sunburn. But hey, that’s the beauty of mountain biking – pushing your limits, soaking in the scenery, and maybe making some new friends (and rivals) along the way. Now, excuse me while I go slather on some aloe vera…

Just dropped my list of 2006 mountain biking adventures (and then some) on the site. You can’t miss it—it’s chillin’ in the main menu under “2006 Races”. But hey, I’m only human. Spotted a typo? Got a race that’s not on the list but absolutely needs to be? Hit me up through my “Contact Form” or shoot me an email if we’re already buddies.

Now, onto the juicy bit—tonight’s Thursday Night Ride.

We’re kicking off from the Crazy Canyon Trailhead, and let me tell you, I’m buzzing with excitement. Heard through the grapevine that some of my pals are back from tearing it up at the Sea Otter Classic (pretty sure that’s the one – check it out at https://www.seaotterclassic.com/). One of them even snagged the top spot. Can’t wait to catch up, swap stories about the race, and chat about what’s on the horizon. After a long winter, it’s about time we hit the trails together again. Can’t wait to see who else decides to join. Here’s to good times and great rides ahead!

Things are moving along, albeit not at the warp speed I had in my mind. I suppose it’s like trying to sprint in flip-flops—possible, but not ideal.

Just yesterday, I hung out at Write Associates (which, by the way, is totally not the sinister lair its URL, http://www.right.com/, might suggest). Discovered a bit more about myself there—I’m always game for a mental tune-up. It’s like doing yoga for your psyche, especially handy for those days when you feel a bit like an odd duck. For anyone navigating life’s big changes, this spot’s a gem.

On the homefront, my desktop computer has been officially declared redundant. So, it’s getting boxed up today and will soon be on the market. If anyone’s thinking of beefing up their tech game, hit me up before my old faithful finds a new home via eBay for a steal.

Breakfast is on its last legs, and I’ve got to shift gears back to packing. I’ll drop a timeline update once my plans aren’t as murky as a London fog. Stay tuned!