Ed McMahon-R.I.P.

Ladeez & Gentlemen,
doff your chapeau(s) in honor of America's Top Second Banana, Ed McMahon, who passed away today at age 86. That Budweiser blazer blows Stevil & mine's Budweiser sweater out of the water. HEY-OHHHHHHHHH!

Riding in the Columbia Gorge

Well, Portland is wet. Let's put it that way. But its nice in the summer...Or if you get over the Cascades to central Oregon. The Columbia Gorge, however, is worth the miserable wetness. And on this particular weekend, it was pretty darn dry. My friend, Anthony, drove us out to ride a trail called Syncline (it includes "Little Moab" AND "Little Maui." You can't beat that. Everything in one fell swoop.) Anyhow, Syncline is amazing, to put it short. The best trail I've encountered here. Looking over the glacier-formed Gorge over a 100-foot cliff (from which a Mountain Biker fell to his death last year).

The story behind this photo is sort of funny. It was actually not taken by me, but Anthony's friend (who got lost). He (Brian) was riding a bit slower than Anthony and I, and apparently he took a wrong turn. He was lost for about three hours before we met up again. He had my camera in his backpack and he knew that I wanted to take some photos. So he took the one of the meadow. Doesn't really show the trail, or the Gorge, but it's a nice field. Maybe next time I get out I'll get some shots of the trail and some riders. But for now I'm looking forward to trekking down the Oregon and California coast back home to West Marin County. I have just returned from Colorado Springs, where I was visiting Colorado College. I got to ride a couple of epic trails there (Captain Jack's and The Chutes). Unfortunately, I forgot my camera (like always). I plan on attending Colorado College next year, and the Mountain Biking is an excellent added perk. Hope to be sending sweet photos from there next fall, and until then, Happy Summer.

do you really want this guy building your frame???

Not too sure what Sean had for breakfast but it looks like it was laced with something. My breakfast on the other hand consisted of lots of bacon grease to get me through the cold Colorado weather. I'm not too sure what is up with the weather here lately, I guess it's just typical Colorado. It went from 80 a week and a half ago to a frigid snow storm. I was defiantly feeling a bit of cabin fever as the skies dumped nearly two feet of snow after a pleasant three hour mountain bike ride up in the high country at 70 degrees the day before. I was finally back on my bike with some consistency training then the weather hit. Quite disappointing, especially because I'm not a fan of staring at a wall while dripping sweat on indoor trainer. I have been filling the cold windy days with lots of indoor rock climbing and new artwork. It has been awhile since my last race. I'm looking forward to my first pro race at the mountain states cup race #1. There will be a time trial and a xc race. I'm not sure how it will fan out yet, but I expect to have some legs and endurance by the time the race goes down, that is weather permitting training. Hope all you Californians are take benefit of the weather I'm not, much luck in the season!!

Is it spring yet?

We can still ski up here in Flagstaff, but early-season racing and riding can be found a little further south of here: racing in Phoenix has been entertaining, there aren't many pro women who race these so I've been racing expert men's singlespeed. It's really fun to race against a bunch of guys that I don't know, and to not know how I'm going to finish...but it's turned out pretty well.
I've been riding a bunch in Sedona, too. Lots of new trails popping up as well as some of the old standbys; it's only 40 minutes away but 3000 feet lower so it's nice even when it's freezing in Flag. Today I rode this trail called Hangover, called such because the first half the rocks are hanging over your head, and the second half you are hanging out over the cliff. A little spooky but a really well-built trail. Cures your hangover in a hurry, thats for sure.

Hi!

This is my blog RSVP. Okay, that's all.

cold as F

5-10 degrees today for 3.5hrs. thanks to cornbread for the pics. i'm the yellow shell on the blue beauty.

I Heart Fall

Fall in Arizona is not quite what you northwesterners are used to, but we still have the same things: fall leaves, crisp rides, and cyclocross. The only difference is that we do it in dry, dusty conditions instead of rain ;)











Cyclocross racing is sweet when there's no mud...










Even an off-road triathlon is fun when you go to Phoenix and race in warm sun in October
(even though I can barely swim I got 2nd place overall!)












Finally I got my Pro DH upgrade...Sean will you build me a downhill bike?