Monarch Crest Trail...

The Monarch Crest Trail, one of my favorite trails in the world! Noah and I took off for a quick one day blast. We left the night before, planning to run the shuttle before hand and camp up high.We got into Salida around midnight. We had already stashed our bikes and our camping gear at the top of Monarch Pass. I found the map I had pre-paid for under the steps of Absolute Bikes where the nice lady had hid it for me. We dropped off the truck at Poncha Springs and the pain began.Since we only had one car we brought my moto to run a self shuttle. It's a slick system for these high mountain rides requiring only one car. However, when we left GJ it was about 105 degrees. It didn't occur to us that it would be a fair bit colder up high. So there we are, two grown men in shorts, at 12:30 AM, on a small, blue, underpowered motorcycle climbing one of the highest passes in the USA. I was so cold that I was shaking violently causing the handlebars and the whole bike to swerve. Not to mention dodging the deer that seemed to be grazing on gravel on the sides of the road. At one point we both started laughing at the absurdity of our situation. The laughing seemed to warm me up, or maybe Noah was holding on too tight fearing for his life? I dunno?As we climbed toward 12,000 ft the rising yellow crescent moon came up to greet us as we rolled into camp. Chilled to the bone I was unable to get warm the whole night. A new sleeping bag is in order. Around 4 AM a large animal started snorting and kicking around. I was pretty sure I was going to be trampled to death in my sleeping bag by an Elk. This would be fitting as I am routinely attacked by animals when I vacation.

Well, the ride was amazing as the pictures show (All of Noah since he lost his memory card and thus, the pics of me) The ride was about 35 miles including the Rainbow Trail which I highly recommend. Its a slightly more strenuous way to get down, but well worth the effort. At least I thought so because I still had brakes, which was more than Noah had. He rides fast with no brakes!

Crested Butte, Random Photo's

A reflection shot, store window...

The drive towards Pittsburgh... not PA, but an old mining town...

A friend once asked me, when I was dating a girl in college, "Does she know when to lock in your hubs?" The answer was a very quick "NO!" "She doesn't even know what a hub is." I broke up with her a few days later.

Our truck may no longer have external locking hubs, but my Mary still knows when to pull it into 4x4. It was a requirement before I married her, don't think I didn't test her.

So, this bubble blower pulled up on his bike as I was having a photo session with Mr. Marmot and said "WOW, what a cool Beaver." BEAVER?????

Got concrete on your tires? On your paws?

We woke up to snow on the high peaks on Saturday morning, Gus didn't mind.

Napping Mary in the Yellow Room of the Mountain House...

Crested Butte, 4 year anniversary!

The Mountain House, as Mandela calls it. Our home for three days of relaxing in Crested Butte. Thanks to Sheri and Robby for letting us stay!Sweet Miss Mandela, she sure is a cutie!And the whole family.Crested Butte is colorful, quite a bit more contrast then down below.After dinner Mary and I took the first dirt road we could find. Of course it eventually involved four wheel drive, but the road took us to one of the most amazing dead ends I have seen. Mary made me get all dressed up (I had to tuck in my shirt) and we posed for pictures. Pretty good backdrop.I tricked Mary into NOT getting me an anniversary gift so that I could afford to buy her these. She likes them I guess, she mentioned something about prettiest flowers ever.

Crested Butte Riding

New fork, same Remedy frame. The new 6 inch Revelation fork weighs an amazing 3.8 lbs. Put that with a 6 inch 6.2 lbs frame and XTR wheels and you get a 28.5 lbs bike WITH Gravity Dropper!
A lighter bike, with slightly less fork travel then I had before and skinny pizza cutter tires is not the hot set-up for a real downhill course. Of course neither are jeans and an XC helmet. Oh well, i still had a blast. Pictured below is Larry Young, our Trek rep, No flats Noah, and my self.
Whooo Hoooo, SENDING IT! On the step down, Crested Butte DH course.
Our hosts for the weekend, Sheri and Robby, live just a short ride from some of the greatest high alpine riding in the world. Robby and I got out between rain showers for a ride on Snodgrass.

Pretty typical Crested Butte, ya know, lots of annoying wild flowers and amazing views.

Pic by Robb Blyberg

Dirt! I am so not used to riding in actual dirt, soil, mud.

New Camera

Pic by LTM

Pic by Mary

Pic by Mary

Pic by Mary

Rockin it on the Slickrock Practice Loop! Mary is getting good with the new camera.

Yamaha product shot. Taken near Hurrah Pass. Pic by Mary

Throwdown Rained out...

The first "legal" Throwdown was rained out. Greg got these pictures of our practice runs, just before the skies really opened up. The last run was a slick and slimy mess.

Reschedule is for Tuesday the 9th at The Ranch. 6:30 practice time.

Dana Rides!

Nineteen years ago Dana was paralyzed from the neck down in a fall.....

A couple years ago, while sitting in her wheelchair, Dana says to Mary and I. "I'm gonna ride my bike from here to South America." "Want to go with me?" "Sure! Lets do it." We said. It wasn't that I didn't believe that Dana could do it, its that I didn't think it would be very soon. Well, we better get the house rented and save some money, its not gonna be long before Dana rides up to me and says.... LETS GO!

Dana you are unsinkable, we are proud of you!