Snow Hurts

We tried to sneak out between storms. It started to look really nice, but we waited too long. We hit Bonneville Extreme South (ES) up by Slate Canyon. The sun was out; things looked good. About 30 minutes into the ride though it got dark. The wind picked up and started throwing little ice crystals at my face. I can handle snow, but this stuff just stung like crazy around my eyes. We were heading back from Springville and the wind was mean. It was not so much that it impeded forward progress, but it made it difficult to see and breathe. It ended up being another short ride. I am going to keep trying though. I know if I persist I will get a good ride in.

Chris not enjoying himself so much

Snow accumulation on my bike

Snow falling on single track

It got cold

I think winter is starting to settle in. I guess I cannot complain too loudly; it is mid-November. I still hate to see it happen. Today, I tried to squeeze in a ride. I was semi-successful. I got a ride in, but it was a quickie. My toes got cold. I was good climbing, but maybe that is because the ride started out heading up. The trail was wet but not really muddy. I had a tentative plan, but then deviated from it. I was not going to go to the altar, but I just kept climbing and ended up there.

Just below the altar

A bit of snow

I then turned down Frank's. I chose my single speed this morning in anticipation of mud. Gears would have been safe, but I was not sure how much moisture the trails got or how much they would potentially dry out. The one speed was not a bad choice, but rigid really bothered my thumb. It is still giving me grief.

Top of Franks

I took it nice and easy down Franks and Dragon's Back. Not just because of my thumb issues, but it was wet which can equal slick. And while Chris was not there to tell me to take it easy, I still heard him say it in my head. I was only out for an hour, but it was better than nothing. I got back to the car before I even needed to turn my light on. I am a pansy, I know.

Long Weekend in the SE

Chris and I decided to take some time off to compensate for the time spent at convention. We actually found some friends to join us. Chris, Dan, and I left Thursday morning for Moab. Dan had never really experienced Moab. He had done Klondike Bluffs, but that is about it. Travesty! We went into town for water. Due to construction, we parked just north of the bridge and jumped on our bikes and headed towards Sovereign Trail. We veered off the direct route so Dan could experience Bar B, Rockin A, and Circle O. Then on to the joy that is Sovereign. The trail was in great condition. I was a bit nervous because I was on the kids bike--my HiFi XC. Sovereign was a blast and we are pretty sure Dan liked it. We camped at Sand Flats and had brats warmed over the fire.
In the morning we met up with Keith and Adam in town. The five of us rode back up Sand Flats road to Porcupine Rim. There was snow in some of the shady areas which made some of the rocky climbs more challenging. Chris ate it on one move. He fell and hit his ribs on some ledges. They have been a bit sore since. Coming down Porcupine was a blast. I love that trail and the squishy front and back was luxurious. We rode down and back to town. We ate at the city park, reminisced for a bit, and then hit the classic Slick Rock, just so Dan could say he rode it. We finished just as it was getting dark.
Friday night Jesse, Brady, Tim, and Jen came down to ride Saturday. In the Amasa Back parking lot the next day, we met up with the Washburn clan and company. We had a group of about 14. We went to the normal lookout and then beyond. We returned and did the Pothole Arch Trail, but this time we actually made it to Pothole Arch. On the way back, Jesse, Brady, Chris, and Dan took Jackson's Trail back to the road. I was not willing to give up some of my favorite downhill. The review was Jackson is a bit intimidating and maybe not worth it. That was my interpretation of what they said anyway. Then we went back out to Sovereign yet again. It was even more delightful the second time. We did the quickie version parking at the trail head.
On our final day, we (Dan, Chris, and I) headed out of Utah to our Eastern neighbor, Colorado. We did some riding in the Kokopelli area outside of Fruita. We headed out on Mary's Loop, dropped into Horse Thief, then hit Wranglers, and Steve's Trail. We then made the same mistake we made last time. We got lured into Moore's Fun by the name. By the end of the trail, I thought of several mnemonics to assist me in remembering that I don't care for this trail. Such as
1. It would be Moore Fun to not be walking my bike.
2. I can think of many Moore Fun trails.
3. Or simply, this is not Moore Fun.
Hopefully one of these will stick. We made it through the weekend with just some minor instances. I could not stay up right on Moore Fun. My front wheel was swallowed up by a hole on the second run of Sovereign. Chris went down once or twice--so luckily he could not tell me to be more careful. I think Dan had the cleanest weekend of riding. He was relatively dust free.
We think Dan had a good time doing Moab the Holley way. I never brought my camera because, I needed that pocket for a water bottle. Hopefully, others will share some photos. We had a good group of riders and it is always fun to ride with new people and get to know them.

November Nights

We did a night ride last night and it was perfect. Granted my light set up was less than ideal, but now I know. Chris and I had planned to do night rides as the weather has been warmer. So just like before the end of daylight savings (why does that have to end?) we headed to the mouth of the canyon post-work. We suited up with lights and headed out. We had just under an hour of daylight before we needed to leverage our "artificial light". The weather was great. Yeah, there were cold spots but delightful warm spots too. This reminded me of swimming in a lake or other body of water only I did not have to push out the thought that is was probably urine making it warm.
We also met up with Josh, Jay, Gretta, and Dan. It is always fun to meet up with others on the trail. I wish we were doing the same thing tonight but I have to be a grown up and take care of some responsibilities like Young Womens. Although it may be for the best as my hand/thumb/wrist is incredibly achy...still.

A Little Bit of Everything

My Hi-Fi XC is finished. I got Chris to set it up 1x9. The brakes are back and it was trail ready this week. I rode my single speed on Monday, the Hi-Fi on Wednesday and Thursday and today it was the SuperFly. I love all my bikes, but really the SuperFly is still the king (or queen).
Wednesday and Thursday rides were cold. Really cold. It makes me dread what is coming up in the next couple of months. Today was absolutely beautiful. And we rode just about everything above Timpanogos Park. We did Crank, down Dry, back on Bonneville, up to the altar, Area 51, Lament to the altar, down Frank's and Dragon's Back and then Bonneville south of the highway. It was around 3.5 hours. And I was warm climbing--that was the best part.

Did you hear about this?

We (The Weekly Race Series) will be holding a Cyclocross style race this Thursday, October 29th on the Euclid property in Heber starting at 5:30 p.m. This is a just for fun race for training. We will have 3 categories to choose from: Category 1 - 5 laps, Category 2 - 4 laps, Category 3 - 3 laps, each category should take approx: 40 min. and will start 1 minute behind the previous category. There will be a $1 entry fee with the entire take being raffled off to 3 lucky people after the race. Bring your single speeds, mountain bikes, and cyclocross bikes and join in the fun. If you have any questions send us an email through the help tab above. For an interactive view of the course click here.

Back Again

We are back from LA. Luckily whatever little bug I caught only stuck around for about 18 hours or so. Around 2 am, my fever broke and the aches started to subside. I did not eat much until Tuesday night though. Then it was YW, sleep, and off to LA early in the morning.
Convention was just crazy. That is the best way to describe it. Looking at my schedule, I thought it was going to be pretty easy and carefree. There always turns out to be more work than you expect. I knew going into it though it is all about work. And while I answered very few questions on the science behind the products, I got some experience in security (while wearing a dress), lots of stocking, and the like.
While I did not feel especially good on my bike today, it did simply feel good to be back again. And my Hi-Fi is ready to be ridden again, this time it is one by nine. Oh, yeah.

Check out what is at Mad Dog, Superfly 100.

Keith resting on the Great Western the Saturday before we left.

Oscar outside of the Staples Center. My in-laws are big boxing fans.