I sat lifelessly in a chair. The commotion of the aid station surrounded me. It was vexing. All the encouragement and cheerleading. And the thick positivity. I wanted everyone to be quiet. To go away. To let me suffer in my own cocoon of self pity and forlorn disappointment. Somebody stuck an orange in my [...]
Apples and Oranges. I lined up for the 2010 Mount Ogden 50k with one primary purpose in mind—to find out where I stand in comparison to last year. I wanted to go into the final days before the Point 2 Point with some sort of barometric reading of my fitness. A way to zero in [...]
I need to suffer better. Long-suffering. I finish too many races and rides with a smile on my face. I need to finish barely knowing my own name. Or referring to Levi Leipheimer, as Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski did after the Leadville 100 as “Tour de France Podium Guy”.* Sunday afternoon, riders in the Tour of Utah [...]
The following is a guest post from Jeff Higham, who woke up early on Monday August 2nd to watch the start of the Colorado Trail Race—a 470+ mile unsupported race from Denver to Durango. Jeff lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his wife and 4 kids. He currently rides for the Natural Grocers / Vitamin [...]
Narrow singletrack. Creek crossings. Roots. Rocks. Switchbacks. Steep climbs. White knuckle descents. And all above 8,000 feet. The Utah Open at Solitude resort is the quintessential mountain bike course. It is brutal and tough and relentless. An instant of casual disregard will lead to an altercation with a tree, an unexpected hairpin, or becoming reacquainted—up [...]
Aspen trees are my favorite. Especially many of them together, endless and crowded. When the wind waves through groves of aspen it creates a sound that is the very definition of peace and solitude. It is impossible not to feel alive and whole and wonderful when surrounded by the quaking leaves and wind of an [...]
On the counter of the Panguitch Lake General Store were items as valuable and sought after as gold: A snickers bar, red cream soda, chocolate milk, and a bag of Sun Chips. I was dirty—filthy dirty—hot and tired. It was Sunday, 10:30 AM. I had been riding since 6:00 AM, and had just completed a [...]
I’ve always loved Star Wars. And really, what male, in the 29-40 age bracket hasn’t always loved Star Wars? And while I appreciate each of the 3 original films*, Return of the Jedi remains my favorite. And not just because Princess Leia spends much of the film in an amazing gold bikini. But of course, [...]
The world’s toughest bike race is not in France. So claim the riders of the Tour Divide. 2,700 miles. 200,000 vertical. 2 Countries. 4 States. Unsupported. It’s big. And remote and beautiful and for me, way out of the realm of possibility—for now. Each year that possibility becomes reality for a few more riders. This [...]
Imagine this: You awake one morning to find a man standing next to your bed. Maybe he looks like Don Cheadle, and calls himself Cash. He offers you something—a glimpse, but even better. He tells you to pick a bike race—any bike race—to ride in. And not only that, but he promises that as part [...]
