Final Countdown

Skipped the Cole Sport ride last night. I got reports that the "Not in the Corner Canyon" fire pushed smoked into PC creating poor visibility and probably air quality. The last thing I need is to be sick two weeks before the biggest race of the year.

The plan for tonight is an easy 1 - 1.5 hour spin to stretch the legs and keep the fitness up with tomorrow a longer more intense ride perhaps up Butterfield to keep the legs strong.

LOTOJA is the primary focus, I got the final email yesterday with my number and pack start list, some interesting names. Looks like Brian Jeppson - the Bull Elk's old mountain biking nemesis is doing LOTOJA. Red Burro from Vegas as always is sending a large group including the 2nd place finisher from TofPC. It also looks like the guys from AZ we met at TofPC are also riding with us.

I've been asked about my goals for LOTOJA so I thought I'd share them.

1. Keep hydrated and don't bonk between Geneva and Salt Creek. I plan on grabbing and drinking an extra bottle before leaving Montpilier.

2. No pit stops before Strawberry Canyon.
This is how I got dropped last year although if I see 10 or more guys in the pack stopped I think I may reconsider. I'm not talented enough to ride and go like the pros

3. Close in on the 10 hour mark.
This is weather dependant. I think if I can meet goal #1 I can keep a 20 mph average and finish close or with a sub 10 time ( Last year I average 19.5 MPH and had riding time of 10:27 so every little bit helps). If the wind is out of the north or bad weather the goal will then change to just finishing! Also, part of this is going to be getting the total stop time below 10 minutes.

Not quite what I planned

Saturday I decided to head up to K-town to get one last big ride in before LOTOJA with the Bull Elk. We decided to do a couple of loops around the Kamas area in case the Bull Elk's knee started bothering him again. Our first loop was to the top of Wolf Creek and back.

Yea right bad knee, he dropped me before we even reached the snowmobile parking. He said he was really digging the new Addict he just got which isn't the lightest bike at 17 lbs wheels and all but he was climbing on it like he stole it. On our way out we noticed a bunch of bike race signs and stopped and talk to a UHP officer to find out what was going on. I guess there was a triathlon and the turn around for the bike portion was just before camp hollow. As we started back to K-town we ran into a bunch of triathletes and had a good time weaving in and out of them on our way back to Kamas.

Leg two was supposed to be up Brown's and around Jordanelle. As we started out on Democrat Alley we ran into a group of DV employees on a ride. We talked them into riding with us up Brown's since it would be easier for them to get back to PC that way instead of the climb around Jordanelle. That turned into a race to see how long before the Bull Elk could toss everyone off the back. I'll admin I didn't make it too long on the first climb before I got tossed but I managed to keep a small gap of about 100 feet before we hit the first flat and waited for the next group.

We started up the last climb and when it was my turn to pull I made an effort to keep the same speed that we were riding, well I should of know that we were climbing and should have slowed the pace but it was too late and I managed to drop everyone but the Bull Elk and Accounting Dan. After being told I tossed everyone else, I was spent and moved over to let those two go by. I was determined not to let Dan get the best of me. As we started up the final climb I could see he was spent and pushed hard to catch and get around him just before we reached the top. My legs were pretty tired at this point and I was out of time so we headed back to K-town.

4:10:05 ride time
70.86 miles
17 mph average
52 mph max - Wolf Creek decent, had to dodge some sheep though...
5,265 feet of elevation gain

I was hoping to get double the miles in, but the climbing seem to make up for it.

Ying and Yang

Today marked my first commute with public transportation. It was nice to just chill on the express bus watching the iPod. It only took 15 minutes more then driving and with my company subsidizing the cost it will save me a lot of money in gas. Too bad that gas money is already spent.

We went car shopping last night and my wife got her dream car.



I wonder if this will help me get my "dream" vehicle maybe this..

More Leadville pics

I got some Leadville pics from Fist-O-Fury and Brenda.
First feed zone -

I get hungry too! -


What are the odds that Ron would have a derailleur hanger in his toolbox for some guy that broke his. -

Twin Lakes feedzone -

The finish -

And of course the man everyone wanted to see.

Leadville Support

5:45 a.m. is early when the people next door are up until 11:00 p.m. but I managed to drag myself out of bed and get the Bull Elk out the door to the start.

After the start I knew I had some time to get to the first feed zone so I promptly checked out of the hotel room and went to breakfast. I finally made it to the 1st support feedzone and got my last picture of the day.


I knew the distance to the next feed zone was short but I didn't realize that I would get beat to the feed zone by the Bull Elk. I had to park at the bottom of the parking lot and walk up a hill about half a mile carrying a cooler so I missed the feed going up to Columbine. Coming back I was able to hit the feed and then made it back to feed zone 1/4 for the final feed with only 5 minutes to spare.

Looking at the terrain and the elevation I'm glad I didn't get in the lottery for Leadville this year. I wouldn't have been ready.

Leadville Day 1

Made it to Leadville today. Saw some great scenery.

Some people from Utah including Ellen G, Linde, Brad, and spotted Racer at the grocery store. Too bad we have to stay in this small room.


The Bull Elk models his bibs, and is that a bro he's sporting?

SoCal

Back in the office for a few hours today. It's been a crazy week. Spent Sunday recovering from ToPC and getting some housework done. Monday was the Cole Sport ride. Flew out Tuesday morning to San Diego to then drive to Temecula where we just opened a new office and needed to set up internet and phone. Spent Tuesday and Wednesday looking at stuff like this all day.

Glamorous isn't it. Got 90% of what I needed to get done before I had to drive back to the airport Wednesday night and catch my flight. Here is downtown San Diego.


Since this is kind of a geek post, I couldn't resist posting this picture of an error every Windows user has probably seen. Micro$oft runs everything.



Taking off for Leadville this afternoon. Doing support for the Bull Elk. I'll watch and cheer for the Holley's, Brad, Elden, Racer and everyone else I know to come through the feedzones.