Long Time No Post

So no news with me is bad news. Sea Otter was a pretty big let down with how well I felt. The day of the race my leg would not loosen up so I ended up pulling out. Bad tendinitis and a 12 hour drive was not the race ready form I was hoping for. I am just not down with putting myself through such horrible knee pain again that sucked. I must say that the start was the most intense thing I have ever been a part of though. 30 sec into the race I narrowly missed a 4ft tall steel barricade that held the sign "Start of Feed Zone". A few guys that were funneled by the 100+ pro field to the inside could not make it quick enough and I watched them fly over the baracade while doing about 30mph. Then as we jumped onto the dirt road decent the pack was so tight I could barely see the ground. Crazy fast and crazy close contact. I definitely want more of that and by now (the time of this post) my knee has stopped killing me when I ride hard, so that's good but I think I'm a bit psyched out about it all. This year has really been a test to see if this sport is for me. I know I truly love to ride my bike as fast as possible but when the fun goes away whats the point? Well for right now Im just trying to get in tune with my body a lot better before I go torture it out in a race. On a better note the trails in Flag have been in perfect condition for the past few weeks with all the rain that's fallen. When this place receives moisture you can almost ride upside down there's so much traction. So it's time to have fun with going fast and see what happens for the rest of the season. I know I can't stop racing but a break from the stress I put on my body for a bit would be good. Here are some pics from recent shreds.

Sea Otter Here I Come

This weekend is the infamous Sea Otter Classic Bike Festival in Monterey CA. It's going to be my 1st race on a geared bike ever so I'm pretty excited. The field as of yesterday was up near 150 pros registered. Now that's a bike race! The 38mi course is a true test of knowing your body and racing smart. It's short enough to go really fast but long enough to hurt you, so you have to play it safe. It's almost like a road race on dirt. Last year this was definitely my hardest and most memoriable event. I got to race in a 65 person single speed field and podium with a past olympian, it was awesome. This time I am just trying to do well in such a talented field. These are the types of races that teach you how to grow as a cyclist so it's going to be exciting. Keep you posted as time tells...

Cold Friday

I decided to go for a quick ride after work today and this
is what was ahead of me.

It started out fun making fresh lines, then turned into survival to warm my feet and hands.

A view of my bars at the bottom of the mt, notice where my hands were. They were pretty much useless by then. Probably the worst thawing pain I have ever felt when I got home. Time for some hot soup.

Epic Ride on Everything Not White

Top of Mt. Elden

A view of the Peaks atop Sunset.
South Facing

North Facing. Very dramatic snow difference.

Lower Overlook on Secret Connector

FlagSprints

FlagSprints Photo Gallery

Video Link

Geared and Ready to Go!

I went and had my knee x-rayd and got the go ahead to start riding again. Turns out I have severe tendinitis in my right knee, the joint itself is in strong working order. My right IT band is so tight that it is pulling on my knee cap moving it out of alignment hence the poping feeling I was having. I have taken more time off the bike in past few weeks than ever before and everything is starting to feel much better. I signed up for the Sea Otter Classic race in Monterey CA on the 19th of April. This is going to be my 1st geared race ever, and a really hard one at that. This one day XC race brings out the best of the best in the country and is a grueling 38mi fast pace power course, so well see if my fitness will be up to par. For now its a blast shreding on my 1st geared bike in 6 years, it feels so fasssst. Scary fast. The snows melting and my knee's on the mend now it's time to tune everything in to race mode.

US Cup #1 and Some New Developments

My first race of the year was kind of a bummer. I felt very prepared fitness wise but had knee issues 45min into the race. I have been dealing with some sort of tendinitis in my right knee for about 6 weeks now and was doing physical therapy on it. I thought that I was in the clear doing the right stretches and keeping it on the down low but the effort that I put in at Bonelli park on Sun made my knee swell and start popping. I finally was racing smart and just doing what I needed to stay in front instead of killing myself to put 5min on the field then when i decided to make a move my leg did not want to bend for a pedal stroke. Immediately following a popping knee cap feeling my leg felt like it was being stabbed for the remainder of the race..only 14 miles of agony. So I had to watch everyone blow by me as I was now in survival mode. Ohhhh Well that's racing I guess. I took 2nd in the Pro Single Speed by default. So I am now on a break from the bike until I figure out whats wrong with my knee. I also hate to say it but I don't want to race my single speed this year. I'm getting tired of only racing a few people and also feel like the bike is holding me back from what I can really do. Not to mention that it is taking it's tole on my knees. So instead of sitting in an empty apt in Huntington waiting to get better I have come back to Flag where I am comfortable and I can get health insurance right away at Absolute Bikes. I am pretty bummed but I want to be able to walk when I'm 50 so I guess bike racing and living the "Pro Hollywood life style" can hold off for a bit. Keep you all posted when I get some news.

My New Backyard

This past weekend I took the plunge and moved myself out to socal. Talk about a culture shock, Flagstaff to Huntington Beach damn! I think it will take a bit to get my feet grounded but between my team manager and team owner their making it easy for me. I do need to find a new vehicle in order to keep up with these crazy people. It seems like everyone is in such a hurry to get nowhere. It's like keeping up with the Jones's on steroids. I just need to remember why I'm out here and stay focused on that. It is pretty sweet riding along the PCH on my new road bike with the ocean breeze to my back. I'll see what happens these next few weeks. The opening round of the Kenda cup west is Sun so racing season here we go...
Ohh yea and today I turned 26. Yeay getting old!

New Shred Machine

So this year I was going to race a geared bike but ShoAir approached me again and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse racing single speed again. They want me to round out their Specialized National Factory Pro Team with a pro single speeder. It also looks like I am going to be moving out to Huntington Beach for awhile. Scott Tedro the owner of ShoAir is hooking me up with a job and free room and board 3 blocks from the beach. They and I believe that this is the next step in becoming a legit pro. I will be riding and training with some of the best in the country and will learn what I can from those guys. It's going to be a huge culture shock going from little Flagpole to "The O.C." but I think it's worth it. They want me riding the Specialized Stumpjumper Sworks Carbon hardtail so that we all can represent pro style for Specialized. The bike feels so fast and right now its under 19lbs and I think I can shave 1.5lbs more off it with a race wheel set. It's definitely a race machine. I'll post more when I know whats going on, for now it's just time to focus on the trail.

Single Speed World Championships Here I come!

So it's official I finally get to race the end all in Single Speed races. I got screwed last year when the link that I had to click on at midnight on new years would not open and my entry was too late. My mail in entry made it in time this year. YESSSSSS! Durango Sept 19 I know what I'm doing. The site with the start list is here. This is going to be the toughest competition yet with a roster containing some people like; Travis Brown, Adam Craig, Carl Decker, Ned Overend, Joe Murray, Andy Shultz and not to mention about 20 rippin fast people from Flag. 2 Olympians and a couple hall of famers no problem, the winners tatoo here I come.............

Sedona Sedona Sedona

Sedona Photo Gallery

Time for Sedona

Classic Broken Arrow Trail

A quick snack at Buddha Beach.

Lost a fight with a sticker bush.

Dry Creek not so Dry.