I'M THE BRAVEST, TOUGHEST PERSON I KNOW until I'm faced with a threat.  Then, I'm much for flight than fight.  Tonight, long after the shadows took over, I leaped up a steep single track leaving the comfort of asphalt and street lights behind.  It seemed like a good way to get back home.

My light was shining steady and bright, and I zoned out lost in my thoughts as my legs spun an easy tune.  It felt so good to get away from the bustle of my daily hustle.

City behind.

Cars long gone.

Just me, my light and a dried mustard weed forest.

The moon was yet to rise.  It would beam bright, eventually.  But, at the moment things were quite dark.

I heard a yelp up ahead, to the left.  Not a big deal. 

Coyotes are shy.  I see them often... in fact, I've been seeing them a lot lately. Usually alone.  Occasionally, two or three.  They are aren't starving, they are big and healthy.

Another yelp.  This time  ahead, and off to the right a bit.

At that moment, I was reminded of Justin's encounter with a coyote on the way to TMWC.  It ran along side him.  Unafraid.  It flanked him.  It should Justin up for weeks.

The next yelp was off to my left.  

Were they surrounding me?  I was alone.  Going up hill.  Breathing rather hard.

I stopped.

Whipped my rig around.

Flipped the beam to highest strength and got the heck outta dodge.

... real brave, real tough... ha!, not tonight.

_____

164.4 lbs
20/60
8 hrs

Ride with us: click for info. 

Our latest vid.

I'M PROBABLY NOT LIKE YOU.  My day job is largely spent with 20 year olds.  I also put in a fair chunk of time volunteering my time serving teenagers.  

When it comes to my riding posse, I usually out old most of 'em.

I'm lucky, I guess.

All this youth, constantly sharing with me how they see the world.  In obvious and subtle ways the teach me.  

Yesterday, I received two great lessons.

Young Luke, 13 years old/100 lbs, kept attacking and attacking on a flat and windy course.  He had no business even trying against a bunch of strong adults.  That's the lesson, train hard and your races are easy.

The other was from AC.  Airpods firmly drilled in, attention clearly zoned out. 

I asked what he was listening to.  
Music.

I like music too, so I asked what.  
60s-80s-90s.

I like that too. I asked top band of each decade.  
Grateful Dead-Dead Kennedys-Tool.

Only knowing a fair amount about the Dead, we got down to talking.

When I got home I pulled up the Essential Tool playlist on Apple Music.

_____

163.6 lbs
Gym
7 hrs

Ride with us: click for info. 

Our latest vid.

25 IN PARK CITY THIS MORNING, per Jeff. 

47 in San Clemente this morning, per Todd.

I tell him the humidity makes it colder than it is...

... he laughs at me.

We're both laying it on pretty thick because it's time to layer up.

My ride today when from 47 to 59 inside of 12 minutes.  Part of that is geographical, riding from the shaded river bed to the sun-warmed ridge tops.  Part of it is just the time of year.

Layer time.

Today was just my kit and a windbreaker.  That's what I like when I know the temp change is going to be rapid and drastic.

Other days I roll out with kit, vest and arm warmers.  Ditching the arm warmers as thing percolate.  Keeping the vest to warm my core.

Next is knee warmers with arm warmers and vest.

The most I typically need in these parts is arm and knee warmers with the windbreaker... 

...unless it's in the 30's, then I'll add the vest too... 'cause humidity!
(Jeff goes kit only until sub-45... 'cause stud)

_____

164.6 lbs
0/0
7 hrs

Ride with us: click for info. 

Our latest vid.

A MISTY, BONE-CHILLING START.  Chicken skin.  Sixth day of an experimental, high-intensity week... Chris hits Cholla hard after squeaking I'm just gonna spin up it.

That's Chris for ya. 

Stair Steps can be a shin-busting descent, but today I cleaned the whole thing... feather in helmet for me!

Now it's 8:15am, the high tide for trail users.  Hikers, runners, riders.  Everywhere.  

Ripping Old Emerald, the rough trail scrambles my eyesight.  I see a dude,  TODDbrooown... (doppler effect).  It's Roby McGee.  I stop.  He's all about Enduro on Saturdays. 

Asks if we're going to Filthy 50....

 Yep. 

Good, let's ride together I'm sick of racing.

That sounds good.  

And, it does.  Today anyway.  Can't make promises once the gun goes.

There's a wonderful single track down Emerald Canyon.  The kind you don't really pedal and don't really brake.  It is emerald.  So lush.  Cooler, quieter.  Not lonelier.  An on purpose solitariness.

The climb back up is nice, requiring a touch of nimbleness to wiggle up a couple of pitches.

Rattle Snake, has no rattlers today.  No hikers.  No riders.  Weird.  The claws of rock at the bottom take a few swipes.  Knock me off, but no scratches.

Under 10 min on I Think I Can climb... new PRs, ouch.

Dropped down B.F.I knobbies clinging to pavement to gravel to dirt..... more PRs.

Smiling so hard on Lizard DH, I finally have it mostly memorized... more PRs for me...

... but not for Chris.

Chris rolled in with a dropper seat post... errr dropped seat post.  He musta hit something hard.  The seat tube collar split in half.

Do you want me to go back with you? 

I'd like to say this was an honest question.  I knew he'd say No, but would like the company.  He knew I'd say OK, and would miss his company.  A real friend would go back with comrade on wounded bike.  A real friend would also say No, I don't want to ruin your ride.

And... that's friendship.

The rest of my ride was less enjoyable than it could have and should have been,

I got to Nix Nature Center.

Sat down.

Got up.

Filled my bottles.

Sat down.

Took time to do nothing.

Geared back up, and rode back.

Better fitness, but feeling less friendly.  Kept telling myself I would have said same thing he said... knowing he would have ridden back with me.

Some days, I could do better.

_____

164.2 lbs
0/0
7 hrs

Ride with us: click for info. 

Our latest vid.

PEDAL POSSE Ep 1:  HOW TO LOAD YOUR RACEDAY BAG

Hey there Awesomeness…

I’m so stoked you got a RaceDay Bag (or considered it)...

... It's gonna change your life...

... the right bag will make you go faster because race day becomes a whole lot easier.

So, let's get started.

Watch the video or read below.

I store my bag with all the pockets unzipped, so the bag can breathe and smell fresh.  When I grab it, it’s ready to load.  Some of the posse store their bag with their gear ready to race.  

First, put your shoes in there… and make sure you’ve got the right shoes for the bike and event.  I always do this first.  In fact, one of the inspirations of the bag was my second Leadville 100.  Halfway to Colorado I realized I had left my shoes behind.  My wife called FEDEX, but they couldn’t guarantee delivery the next day because it was a tiny, forgotten town at the time.  As a back up, we bought $300 shoes in Fruita.  But, they didn’t carry my brand of pedals.  Phoned ahead to a shop in Aspen that carried them and arranged to have them leave a bag outside after hours.  It probably looked like a drug drop.  Great, big, huge hassle.  Put your shoes in first and zip ‘em up.

Second, slide your helmet in the other end.  It’ll go right over your shoes.  If you have the PRO, add your bottles (I recommend not filling them, ya never know if the lids will leak).  Zip ‘em up.

Now, look at the top of your bag.  Go through our check list.  You’ll notice extra space for you to Sharpie in other items.  Need and ibuprofen?  Write it on the pocket.

Personally, I like to do one pocket at a time.

Once you're packed, put the bag by your bike, or in the car.  It’s a RaceDay bag and you wanna have it with you, right?!

Now here’s the beauty.  If by chance you get 15 minutes down the road and start wondering… Gee, did I pack my glasses… in seconds, you can go to that pocket and find them.

This is peace of mind.  You’ll be relaxed.  You’re gonna have a great day!

So… tell us about it.  Post on our FB or Insta or Strava pages.  Let us know.  We’re cheering for you… and ya never know, we just might send you a surprise.

Got any questions.  Email me, todd@pedalindustries.com

__________

PS ->  This must be what it feels like to dope... there's no way I'd show up to race without PR Lotion, it's that good.  Promise.

From the first time you use it, you'll know...

You'll be saying things like, It's super weird, I've never felt better.

For short races, apply before.

For epic rides and races double up.  Put on when you rise, then apply again before you head out.

I don't use it for training rides because I'm afraid it'll make me ride too hard.

Buy PR Lotion here, shipping is FREE.

I won't tell if you use it to steal KOM's....

K, that's it for now.

I HAVE A VERY, VERY STRICT BUDGET FOR INVESTING IN NEW BICYCLES.  It's really simple.  Anybody can use it successfully and have a lifetime of two-wheeled joy.

Here it is...

Zero or Outrageous.

If it's an okay bike, if I'm not dreaming about it, if I think it's gonna be anything short of blow my bibs off awesome... I got no interest.

If it's got all the latest and greatest, if it promises to make me super hero, if it's insanely rare, if it calls to me evening and night... now that's something to pry the inner-tube wallet open.

So my dear purveyor of bikes, show me the best... after all, friends don't let friends ride junk.

... and yes, more and more, I find that same formula works for any purchase.

(That's my buddy Craig's drool-worthy 80's resto with original chrome rims and super-trick 11 speed cassette upgrade)

______

165.4
00/0
6.5 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

AT APPROXIMATELY 11AM SAID RIDER EXITED THE DESIGNATED AREA.  Yep, I did that.  Didn't cut the wire, just hellaglad it'd been done because the alternative was a steep, unrideable, rocky sketch... destination unknown.

5 feet away, the lovely and entreating Laguna Canyon highway opened her arms.

We make decisions every day to ride inside or outside the wire.

Some of us cut the wire.

Others slip through an opening.

A few lead.

Many follow.

How, When, What don't matter nearly as much as Who and Why.

_____

By the way, we're overstocked on Arm, Knee and Leg warmers... use SAVE20LAYERS to save 20% - SHOP NOW 

______

166.6
0/0
7.5 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

IT'S FRIDAY AND I'M FRIED.  It ain't easy being awesome.  Am I right?  Cranking out great work takes time, energy and love.  If you do that, then you know what I'm talking about. 

Sometimes, the only thing that keeps me hanging on is the scent of an epic weekend ride. 

...'you pickin' up what I'm puttin' down?...

... can I please get an Amen!?...

But it's worth it, putting in the effort.  At least. I hope your work is worth it.

This morning, the old Roxy Music song popped into my head... Love is the drug that I'm thinking of.

I pulled up Apple's take on Roxy's essential songs and I had an Oh Yeah! moment.

Their older songs, like a lot of great and less-than-great groups, sound like their influences.  In this case, the Beatles.  As time went on, they developed a vibe of their own. 

Which brings me to my Oh Yeah!... the more time, energy and love we put into our work the more original we get and the better our work.  There are definitely some flops along the way.  Just keep striving for the hits.  

Yeah, I know my bike rides are self-medication and I'm totally down with it.

How 'bout you?

_____

This is goods

_____

______

164.2
20/60
7 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY, I can't leave it in the small ring.  Even on a pancake flat ride, with goalometer pegged to easy... eventually... out of habit?... my chain magically jumps to big.

Take tonight, on the heels of the heinous Hardman Classic followed by a peppy Market Ride and chased by an attempt at tempo but turned let's do this! glorious mtb sesh...

...you'd think...

... right?...

You'd think, No prob. . You'd think i'd just roll along.  Sure I'd run all over that rear cassette (why do we say rear, when there's only one place it could be?).

But no.

A whiff of tailwind, a -.5% grade, and I was in the big.

Is it just me?

Am I the only one with zero ability to resist the lusty call of the big ring?

It's just a small ring after all... who needs it?

______

164
25/0
7.5 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

OF ALL THE LIES WE TELL OURSELVES THIS TIME OF YEAR, none is bigger than I'll be back before dark.

It's not impossible to be back in time, just improbable.

It's not our fault either, it's just too darn good. 

The air is still warm, but there's a hint of chill that makes us want to charge on.  Plus we've been enjoying the long summer nights for months.

We're in a groove.

What's a rider to do?

I dunno.

Really, I don't.

I mean I do, but... I guess I'm just in denial.

One thing I really like about the long days is wrapping up solid day of work with an equally solid ride.  It's part reward and part mental bath.

I'm gonna fight it longer this year... gonna get an earlier start on the work day.  Then, I'll bust out the lights to extend my twilight.  

But, when the time changes I'll probably give up.  Go back to sunrise rides.  I like those too.

Ya know... I see a lotta a sunrises and sunsets.  Probably more than any of my neighbors or friends... no lie.

______

164
20/60
7.5 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

MY FRIEND IS SLOW.  Not long ago he was very fast.  He's not sure why.  Dr's don't know.  And the road to figure it out is very congested.  It's frustrating.  Infuriating.

I miss battling him.  He brings out the best in me.

On a recent ride, we poked along.  He was working hard.  I wasn't.

We talked about stuff.  Vacations.  Kids.  Life.  Which is the best part of any ride anyway. 

I pray his health returns with a vengeance.
I give thanks for the health I enjoy. 
We think we'll ride forever.
Maybe we will...

______

164.4
20/60
8 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

SHE’S MY CHEAPEST DATE. 
Expects the least from me.

Rolls with my whims,
all of ‘em

Easy on my mind,
when I’m uneasy.

Dirty-minded,
we’re like-minded.

I like her dusty,
looking used.

She likes any pace,
fast or slow,
... just wants to go.

This bike.  Inexpensive.  Heavy.  Solid.  Dependable.  Hopes for little, gives all.  Everyone oughta have one. 

One of these days.
We’ll ride away.
Nowhere.
Fade away.
Somewhere.
Hideaway.
Right there.

Never come back.

______

163.6
25/50
7.5 hrs 
Ride with us: click for info. 

KOOKY IS AS KOOKY DOES... and I see a lotta kooky kaka.  I try not to dwell on it.  It's like kancer.  It'll kill ya.

This SUV is not moving.  It's parked.  The driver you can't see, he's outta the car.  Thankfully, he got back in and kept moving.

Let it go, bro... it never ends well.

______

164
0/0
6.5 hrs (paid for it on ride and at work)
Ride with us: click for info. 

HEY... I WAS A GUEST ON THE BIG WHEEL COACHING PODCAST.  Brian rooted out some of my secrets.

I had a blast.  Before I do another...

... I'd love, love, love... your feedback.

SATURDAY WAS THE LAST BIG RIDE, and it was way bigger than I'd planned.  That's the problem with an epic event that requires travel.  On the way, I always manage to wind up on an amazing trail or road and just can't resist going longer than planned...

... and I'd say returning 4 hours after I'd planned to return shows an incredible lack of self-restraint.

But, who cares?

When the posse is solid, the temperatures pleasant, and the dirt loamy, I'm gonna ride.

Bryson put this together, and Jeff and I joined.  20 of us rolled up and away from PCMR (Park City Mountain Resort).  Normally, this would be a terrible decision.  But, this wasn't your average group.  These were all riders who'd planned and qualified for Leadville.  Utahns, used to altitude.  Committed MTBr's with the skills to carve any trail.

The only person they had to wait for was The Old Diesel.  

By the end of the day, my 4 hour ride had expanded to 8 hours (6 riding).  .  50 miles, 5000' of vert.  All of it sweet, sweet single track.  The group dwindled to 3 of us.

Then it was me.

At The Canyons.

Double patty cheeseburger did nothing to curb my hunger.

It was a big day, possibly too big.  But, I didn't care.  The trails, the air, the beauty, the friends.  Worth it.

Takeaways... my chain fell off and wedged impossibly hard into my frame.  Shouldn't have taken my chain catcher off months ago... now I have to hope my daughter can find it and overnight it to me - plus get a new chain and cassette.  My lube didn't not make it through the day - not sure what to do on that front for PbVille.  Everything else, perfect!

_____

Gettin' ready

And we're off

Dream-like

Best burger ever?

Post-burger, this did the trick

163
0/0
Ride with us: click for info. 

'ROUND THESE PARTS, IF SOMEONE SAYS IT'S JUST A SOCIAL RIDE most of the time it really means you're about to get slaughtered... have limbs slowly yanked off one at a time.  This slow dismemberment starts out nice enough, and terminates apologetically enough that we keep coming back for more.

But, a funny thing happens over time.

We get to know each other... not just our weaknesses and strengths on the bike, but in life as well.  We learn to recognize more than slobbering suffering, but internal suffering.  

We become friends.

For life.

And we celebrate our victories and our birthdays.

Shout out to Johnny B for the party hats for Ursula's bday.

And, another to Chris Hill who picked me up some sardines in Barcelona.

Yeah... we know each other, and we know you wanna be part of this... whether in person or in spirit.  If you don't have a local social ride, build it... your peeps are counting on you.

(Chris knows I love sardines and black beans before every big endurance event.)

? lbs forgot to bring my scale
0 pull ups (gotta find a park with a bar)/30 push ups
Ride with us: click for info. 

HOW DO WE END UP ON THE SAME PATH, AT THE SAME TIME?  I entered the bike path at just the wrong time to miss Jim heading inland.  I could see him, but I wasn't going to catch him. Then I passed a man who is most likely mentally ill, only to round a corner and have my buddy Patrick - who's visiting from Vegas - yell my name.

We stopped.

Said ill man joined us.
Track bike.
Ancient.
Shirtless.
Jeans.
Tennies.
Heavy metal cross hanging about his neck.
Explaining his tough decision to choose from his quiver of 20+ bikes.
Through the sweet breath of what I guessed was a rough night - or woulda been rough for me.

He was different.
I was uncomfortable.

Our paths had crossed and joined for a moment.  I doubted we were going the same direction.

But, we were on bikes.  Talking about gears.  Our divergent paths one, for a brief moment.

To my shame, my discomfort didn't wane.  It grew.  Kinda like a dinner party among strangers when the conversation turns to the weather... but, rougher.

We rode away.
Patrick and I on the same path.

Me thinking, There but for the grace of God go I.
Me wondering, should I have acted differently?  More accepting?  More loving?  More concern?  More empathy?

Later, I went to the office.
To fight my own battles.
The ones I'm comfortable with, whether I know it or not.

166.2 lbs
10 pull ups/30 push ups
Ride with us: click for info.

HE WAS A BEAR OF A MAN.  The kind of guy you wouldn't want to play flag football against... an accidental swat might fling you and me to ambulanceland. 

I blew by him, just on a nice tempo.

He was panting hard.
His lithe lady like a butterfly ahead.

I've seen it before.  I'll see it again.

I popped up a nifty climb, snagging a PR.  Dropped down a daring single track that had me walking, hoping no kids with big travel bikes mowed me down.  Soon I was riding back up the the main dirt access road.

I'd forgotten about him.
But, there he was.
Stopped.
Sweaty.

For a moment I imagined what it would be like to push a massive 300ish pound body up that road. 
Lady barely breathing. 
Skinny, endurance dorks like me flying by.

Not only is that an amazing physical effort, but possibly quite humbling.

I wanted to high-five him... then I realized he might snap my skinny twig of an arm in the process.

164
20/60
Ride with us: click for info.

WHEN 700 PEOPLE LINE UP AT A 100K MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE, only a few think they will actually win.  The rest of us have our own metrics to ride by.  We start in mass.  Other than our number plates there are no indicators of racing category.  

We collaborate with older and younger and opposite sex.

We ask ourselves, How old is that cat?  

Less than 90 seconds separated 1st-3rd in my race.  Here's how it went down:

At 4am, I got up and enjoyed my race-proven, possibly superstitious, sardines and beans breakfast.  That's 3 hours prior to the start.  Failed at more sleep.

530am, warmed up my engines in a hot bath.

615, drove to start with one awesome trophy wife for support.

650, line up in 3rd row.

7, we're off.

705, I'm at least 50 guys back.  Do I like it?  Hell no,  I love it!  I tell myself it's all according to plan.

8ish, no more people are passing me.  I'm settled in, and I ask myself...

Can you ride this pace 2.5 hours from now?... that's about how long it's going to take me to do a lap and be right back here.

I'm also asking myself, Why do I do this?  Why didn't I sign up for the 50 instead of the hundred?  Why am I so slow?  How come that lady, who's my age, on a single-speed passed me? ... because these are the kinds of questions we ask ourselves at this point.

And the answer is always the same: to find out what I'm made of.  Specifically today, I want to see if I can get into Leadville.  That's the same thing at least 100 of the racers want to know. 

90 minutes in and I think I'm on pace, but I'm not sure.  We are starting to shred the amazing single track, and The Old Diesel is in the zone.  All the fools who started fast - too harsh?, no because I've been there many times and will be there again - are starting to come back to papa.  I'm not sure if I'm on track because a fast section I relished has been replaced with a snappy, zigzaggy section.  It adds time, but how much?

2 hours in and a silver fox eases on by on the final climb of each of 2 laps.  He looks awesome, and I'm pretty sure he's around my age.

At about 2 hours 34 min I complete lap 1.  Surfergirl, aka Trophy Wife, is resplendent in her Tour de Donut jersey.  We swap bottles, she jams food in my pocket, I lube my chain - lots of dust and water crossings take a toll up here.

Typical of this style of racing is to form alliances with people about the same speed, trading pulls and chatting a bit.  I rolled with Singlespeedguy from Utah and Mike from Edmonton enough to chat.  The rest either passed me or I passed them too fast.  These alliances break up the mind battle, and really make it fun.

Lap 2, and the answer is YES! I can go as fast as I went the first lap.  In fact, I go about 3 minutes faster.  Some of this is due to holding tight to the reigns on lap 1 and some is that the course is just wide open... nobody to slow me down. So fun!

330 in.  I've got 90 minutes left, and I'm daring to cut loose.  Outta the saddle jamming up the little stuff, and steadily grinding the bigger climbs.  This allows me to use different muscles in my legs. 

Cramps threaten - forgot to mention I pounded a good amount of real pickle juice when I stopped to reload - but yes, cramps threaten and I'm downing Salt Stick chewable tablets.  They abide, and ride like hell.  It's on.

430 in.  I see silver fox... and damn!... another silver fox.  We've got the final, hideous climb... the one I fell over on 6 years ago because both my legs cramped simultaneously - took me 37 minutes that day, the same climb I went hellalot slower on the 2nd lap 3 years ago.  There's no mailing it in today, these two racers are the real deal and I can only hope I don't crack.   

This is what it's all about.  Amir attacked hard, got a decent gap.  I ground on.  It's an undulating climb, and each steep ramp I stood.  We battled, then I slowly opened up my own gap.  There is no way I would have ever ridden that climb that fast, that hard if awesome athletes like these two weren't pushing me.  

I took just over a minute off my PR, 21:26.

Here's the point dear rider:  As a dude, I need these silly contests in my life... cause when all the shiz goes down at work, or things aren't copacetic at home, I can look back at today and remember I can do hard stuff.

_____

All these guys and gals hope they can lottery in to Leadville.

These 3 got in

Time to rest, recover, reload

Ride with us: click for info.

NO, SUSIE DIDN'T MAKE ME DO IT, nor the kids dissing. 

Not my moms' (both of 'em) subtle cuts.

Not my boring friends blunt hints hoping to restore my conformity.

That's the kinda stuff that makes me rebel on.  'Cause that's what I am. If I wasn't, I'd be...

golfing
donutting
driving a sedan
riding an electric bike, if ridin' at all

But, that ain't me.
     I did it because I'd done it. 
Same reason I do anything.
     To do it!

What's next!

... just going all freakin' out at Tahoe this weekend.

165.2
10/30
Ride with us: click for info.