what’s better than bumbling across a bunch of granite boulder rockstacles?

finding big areas of granite slabstacles for complete enjoyment and freedom of route finding
what beats the hell out of climbing service roads littered with rolling baby heads and moon dust at the hottest time of the day?

Rippin’ long swoopy fun trail through fern groves, under big trees, and across bridges. i suspect the trails were pretty much empty b/c lots of people aren’t interested in the putting in the time to get to the top of the hill

what could possibly be better than looking across the high country and picking out the peaks you’re about to spend your day riding around…

looking back at the peaks you crossed earlier in the day and all the fun you’ve had along the way
what could be more refreshing than scoring an ice lemonade after finishing 7ish hours of riding?

well, we had another 10 miles of our ride to do to find out…

beer on the beach and cold lake to swim in.
yup, that might’ve bested the lemonade
thanks again Nate and Jan (sp?). good ride!
ps- all pics in todays post were Nate’s taking
weeelllll, i’ve got a bout a week and a 1/2 till the Vapor Trail goes off and i’m feeling about as ready as i’m gonna get. while i missed last weekend’s fun at the SSWC08 - nice job guys! - i did my damnedest to get in a tough and kinda technical trail ride masterminded by Nate Schuster and his bud Jan (sp?) in the high country above Donner Lake.

over there, that peak on the skyline, the one with granite and trees
we’re going over that one too
Continue reading ‘Vapor Trail 2008 - i’m shakin’ in my boots!’
Howdy fellow TBSers! On the eve my my first day of school, I thought I’d procrastinate from reading my assigned arguments by sharing a few pics from a few of the rides I’ve been doing out here in the Wasatch. These mountains are fun! I’ve been on the ground for about two weeks and have been getting out on some very scenic and challenging (for me) 4 hour rides about 4 times a week. Most of my rides have been solo and I haven’t been very diligent about digging out the camera, but this past week I snapped a few photos of the landscape to share.The view from along the Crest trail.
Continue reading ‘Greetings from SLC’
Thought you gents would enjoy this article from the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/SPI11064U2.DTL
Chuck says, “You’d better read it!”
just a quick pic from riding Sunday with Nooner on the Hall Ranch - Fiddle Ck Ridge- N Yuba Trails. all in all, about 17 miles with just a bit of highway between trailheads. the rest was out of the saddle standing climbing in direct sun with bugs trying their best to enter my lungs, carrying, flying downhill, surprise! switchbacks, and gnarly up down up down exposure of the NYT.

did i mention it was warm? most trails were littered with loose rock and other F.O.D., exposed, and much of it very tight single track. the ride had a palatable feeling of adventure!


most notable, the trails were absolutely empty. didn’t even see the easter bunny!

did i mention it was warm?

can’t wait to do it again either, maybe an out and back the Saturday of the Banff Film Festival viewings at the Yuba Theater. any takers? drive out Friday night, maybe catch those movies too. roll home Sunday? what say, anyone for a whatthefuck out and back ride from Rocky Rest C.G., up the N. Yuba Trail to Hall’s Ranch and down Fiddle Ck Ridge, then sort of backtracking by going to the north end of the Hall Ranch Trail, climbing that back to Fiddle Ck Ridge and descending the way we’d come? I’d say 8ish hours, lots of fun.
this one landed in my lab last week…

it must’ve imprinted on me. it followed me home and roosted in my garage, then scavenged the finest cuts from a cache of bike parts

a lineage of Chris King, Thomson, Brooks, Avid, DT Swiss, and Shimano that has moved from frame to frame over the last 6 years - including a Specialized Stumpjumper i rode in the late 1900’s, a headset from my ole’ SC Superlight; wheels, drive train, and saddle from first Vulture SS; seatpost, stem and bars from a Salsa El Mariache (makes 3); pedals and brakes from a Turner Burner, and the 180mm cranks off my Coconino touring bike. this is recycling of sorts, or, better put - realizing the durability and value in good investments. there is also a bit of good mojo mixed in with trail cred.
by the end of the weekend, it had found its way into the kitchen to get some sun. a little early for warmer spring temps still…

i rode in to work on it a few times last week, mostly in snow and frozen mud. w/o paint, i’m obligated to keep it moderately clean till adult plumage comes in. here it is, back roosting in the garage, reading up on the Handlebarsandwich blog and accumulating emptys for bottling a batch of hoppie porter this spring.

Saturday we got in a good ride on the west slope of the Sierra. weather was absolutely spring-like and almost everyone we met was happy and smiling - especially the Shredder -

thanks a 10^6 Vulture! i’m very stoked on my new ride. next weekend’s 24 hour race in southern AZ ought to be fine venue for some enduro shredding.

The Bacon Strip has been spotted in Idaho. This picture was taken at an undisclosed location that will be obvious to any skier or climber with the most modest of pattern-recognition skills. Continue reading ‘Bacon n’ Taters’
Dr. Shredmore forwarded this tasty vittle, - sching! whatthe?, oooonnnoooooo

i’ll try to remember this next time i work with rotating machinery AND drink beer.
right now it just makes me wanna go shred.
Japhy rider
If by recommending that cyclists stay off the streets at night Steve Friday admits that the RPD has little handle on traffic violations and reckless or distracted drivers, I suggest Chief of Police, Michael Poehlman, resign, as most public officials do after admitting in the press that they can’t do their job, or put out a news release outlining his plan for assuring safety for everyone at all times.
Bicycles are a legitimate transportation mode; it is time we align our laws and streets to reflect that. Increased bicycle commutership is a good thing that will clear traffic and the air, not a nuisance to motorists or a safety hazard. The bigger dangers to our safety are the drivers distracted by cell phones drifting into the bike lane.
-M
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