Training Log Archive: LiveWideLoveDeep

Bear Claw Poppi trail in St George in the morning on the way home. So nice under the morning clouds and desert breeze.

Heart is so full... RMNP camping and drove down to Silverthorne to plan on Leadville but ended up hopping on the Continental Divide trail I scouted over 10 years ago. Crazy to see the last couple days of places I was at while at Sunstone and how many lives I have lived since then. Could not be better now and so grateful.

Nice easy pace out to the ridge and above the tree line. Felt amazing. 12,500ft and easy jogging. I could follow that trail for days... Rolled ankle on the way down about mile 7. Of course! Ran back down just the same. Stoked for the drive and books on tape

Quick spinner checking out some of the dirt bike trails on the drive out. Desert evening. Lovely. Sprinter Nation ;)

WU/ride back

Stage 6 - Gold Dust

Really stoked to wake up and have my knee, hip and quad feeling better. I was limping around town last night while out for dinner and really worried about how bad the swelling would be in the morning. I didnt really think about it during the ride at all.

Last two days were time based starts so I started waaaay in the back. Moved through the first few groups again early on and just feeling so recovered after every mini effort passing now. The first few days this took a lot out of me but the recovery after those efforts was quick today. Laid on it when it opened up and the best downhill ninja ridding I have every done. DEEP in the ZONE! Feeling awesome on the trails and let it rip all the way back with a strong finish. Adjusted L foot and finesse on the rear tire. Great learning!! Stage felt so short...I dont want to stop ridding these trails

https://www.strava.com/activities/1140023931

one of the few flybys that is not so painful to watch ;)

Stage 5 - Wheeler pass

WHEELER!

Well, I woke up and actually felt great! First night getting sleep and only up once to go pee. I have probably had about 3-4hrs of sleep all other nights. Wanted to rip this hardest day and legs felt ready to go.

My original intentions were to slam a big July, RACE tour de big bear and just get through the Epic so I can get home and race after absorbing it. I had a great day in Big Bear and I kept planning on a "ride training camp" for the Epic but its also fun to try and get to the front...and dig into a little debt. Every time I start to get a way from that original intention the Lord gives me a gentle reminder....


No flats today but crashed twice. We started in TT waves and I let it rip from the start. Within the first 3min I rode through the two groups that left before us. Not really killing myself but prepping for the gnarly 6 mile climb ahead. I looked down at 5min in and thought this is going to be my day...dreaming agin. 9min in I stood to get aways from the next group I passed and my left pedal must have sunk with the shock or something but it caught a rock and I slapped the ground before I knew what happened. My knee took the blunt and my quad was smashed. Entire leg numb and I just sat for a second. Wow. ok. Rolled easy trying to see if I could still ride to the first aid. Sat back and just realized "the race" I was there for... The experience I will never forget and why this "Epic" means so much to me on the climb up Wheeler. The motivation, meaning and entirety as clear as crystal on the climb. Amazing.

Gave pushes, took pics and encouraged everyone I could. Loving it. Wheeler is no joke! The second climb felt like we were climbing right out of some scene from Lord of the Rings.

Ripped the decent without worry of a flat. Noticed my rear "overflating" and the finesse. Learning! When I hit a nice flat section in the trees my left pedal caught another stump. Mile 20 at about 20mph. That hurt. Clipped my legs as I went over the bars and landed on my right hip and side sliding down the trail. Thankfully it was a clear dirt section with no rocks or roots. Amazing for that trail. My pockets emptied all over the trails and me and my upside-down bike all over the trail. I had the wind knocked out of me and was more amazed that the same 3 d-bags rode right around me and my stuff without saying a word. Back of the back racers...?!? Knocked the wind out of myself pretty bad and all my fluids leaked out so pretty faded the rest of the ride just trying to get in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1138663967

Stage 4 - Aqueduct

Zero issues with bike today and kept it mellow but felt super good descending and climbing. Kind of shocked how many people are walking the climbs and slow and steady feels so good. Standing is next level.

When we finished yesterday some guys were looking at all the sealant coming out of my back tire and we noticed when we spun it that it would only go about 1/4 of the way around - like my brakes were rubbing. Turns out I blew my bearings. La Resistance! Awesome training camp ;) Got it fixed last night and smooth as butta.

Started today with Evan and was in the back of the pack up the road. Snow last night and so cold this morning. Didnt really do a warm up and not stoked getting seated on my saddle. Everyday we basically climb 6 miles out the gate, roll some tracks, big 2-3 climbs at mile 20 and late 30s. I sat back and kept it all steady just slowly moving up. This is what I love about real mountain biking. You move up on the climbs, pick off a few climbers that cannot descend, get into TT mode on the flats (why to MTBers soft pedal the flats???) and go into road bike crystal lake mode on the extended climbs. All courses have had such a great mix of terrain that consistency across the spectrum is truly rewarded. And if you LOVE grinding out a lose steep climb in the thin air, ripping across roots and rocks on the descents, hammering the TT sections and turning on the diesel for the extended climbs it is ALL GOOD!

Rode with Jamie, TJ and Nelson again. Comical and stoked to be extending the team! TJ's local friend was waiting at the top of the descent down from mile 30 and he went first and TJ behind me. Now yesterday was my favorite descent ever but today was about 2x as fast and magical. Literally on the edge between these guys and hucking over the roots and round the corners...unforgettable and without a care of my tires. I will keep blowing them until I can rip it down like I want to and today was rounding that corner. So fun!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1137141757

Stage 3 - Mt Guyot. Quite possibly my best day ever on the mountain bike!

Felt really good and got better sleep last night (on the ground). Peppy and starting to acclimate a bit.... Same routine as last few days - some good some bad. Started with another ~6mi climb and the pro and div leaders are all in front (green jerseys), then 30+ and then old farts div. Last couple days I am working on the road start to try and get up to the first 1/3 of the group. No shifting issues today at all. stoked! My legs felt great from the start and I was just picking off riders every other switchback or so. Once we got off the singletrack I put in an effort and just felt so good! Getting to the front of anyone I could see and then we had the fist downhill descent that was gnarly and so awesome along the river and old miner stuff. I have never had the feeling as powerful as I had all today with my bike being an extension of my body.

Just like the last couple days at the top of the climb and starting the decent I started to dream. . . and then my dreams got crushed! I laughed when I thought about the quote from Francesco in Finn's favorite movie Cars: "To truly crush one's dream, you must first raise their hopes very high".

Flying over rock on rock I made about 4 passes and the last guy I went around I ripped my tire. Previous to this I was not doing anything crazy. Maybe 60-70% on the downhills but this was reckless abandon full throttle letting it fly. Fun! Who cares about another flat. I used up my CO2 and then got a pump from someone and then waited for Evan to ride for a bit.

The climb up My Guyot and the decent down George Pass to the Colorado Trail was the best of the best. Unreal. I have never had so much fun ridding down a trail. Wet soil and slippery roots in every direction through a dark and tight forest lined with green moss and rocks in every direction. Sliding into turns, bumping around trees, fee flowing like water rushing down a river. Cannot even express but always will be my happy place.

I rode balls out the rest of the day. Some of the best downhill sections I have ever ridden anywhere. Climbing was insane. One turn after another UP UP UP. My legs felt good. My heart was exploding. I love MTB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1135508518

C • so rad!! 2

WU - Start/Finish and ridding John bike back to the bike shop for a second time because I got a 26" first time.

Stage 2 - FUN!

The trails on this loop aloe were worth the trip! Feeling better in the thin air and legs felt better on the climbs. Rode out same as yesterday trying to get to the front and 10min in my chain went into my spokes. Lots of fluster around me in the thick of the start. ha! Did that 3 more times by the end of the day. Looks like I bent my hanger but we got it sorted now.

Nelson was cracking up at me passing him half a dozen times. Really enjoying myself, taking it in and meeting new friends. Same as yesterday when I cranked up to the green jersey crew and rode to the front by the end of the biggest climb around mile 22. I was super stoked because I knew there was 6 miles of downhill on the Colorado trail ahead and not really anyone close ahead. I let it rip and then my rear tire blew again...eeeeeee. It actually sealed and I got about 8 more switchbacks in before I had to stop and put a tube in it. Ended up blowing that tube and then someone finally gave me another when I flatted at about mile 30. The whoops and pumptrack among the flowers blooming and open view were better than I could even dream up. so. good.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1133715503