RAWROD 2009

Shafer Trail road.
Shafer switchbacks.
White Crack lunch stop.
Base of Murphy's.


Top of Murphy's Hogback with storm in the background.
Hardscrabble.
Arches on Sunday morning.
Breakfast.
Bob Dawson, single speed and rigid!!! WTG old man.
Chris Holley, smiling!


After hearing so much about the RAWROD (Ride Around the White Rim in One Day) I decided to give it a go, and I'm glad I did. It is so incredibly electric being around a fantastic bunch of motivated and positive people that you're inspied to push beyond your expectations. With a little less wind, it would have been perfect.

I got to the top of Horsethief Canyon Friday around 5 pm and parked the Element near the brat & beer pit and set up camp. The weather was perfect and the brats Fatty cooked were off the chart. Kenny Jones did a fanstatic job hooking up the group and making the weekend memorable. Thanks Kenny.

Sleeping Friday night was difficult at best. Since my only long ride since last fall and prior to the knee fix was a 4 hour, zone 1, flat road ride I wasn't sure the WR in 1 day was a wise endeavor. But, what the hell. I decided to go for it and see how far I could go. Long story short, we rode clockwise and I finished it without injury or mishaps in 9:21 riding time. I'm way pleased with that time since the wind was a monster and fought us all the way. I was hoping for 10-11 hours.

As I mentioned, the wind was the enemy all day and it seemed it blew for all but an hour, and almost always in our face. I bet it was mostly 20 mph and peaked around 40"! The traditonal tailwind after White Crack never materialized so the battle with the headwind raged on, and on, and on ... At one point between Murphys's and Candlestick it was a whiteout with the wind blowing so hard I thought for sure my frame was going to look like it was sand blasted. It was impossible to ride a straight line and I was blown off the road twice that I remember. I wish I had a picture but I didn't want to stop cuz I didn't think I'd be able to start again. It was that fierce!

Back to the ride, I walked Murphy's and Hardscrabble knowing if I tried to ride either, that would be the end of the day for me. Good call Brad. There were a lot of single speeders and quite a few with rigid forks (WTG Bob Dawson!). The SSer's seemed to do better on the steep climbs and were very inspiring to watch. The top of Murphy's is a great place to "rider watch" with everyone cheering the dudes and dudettes that pull off the impossible. Hardscrabble is different and harder overall due to it's steepness and loose surface. Both are great places to practice your hike-a-bike technique.

The icing on the cake, so to speak, is the climb out Horsethief Canyon. Camp is only about 1.5 miles away, but looking at the "wall" is daunting, especially with 8.5 hour plus in the legs. One guy offered $100 to anyone that would bring his car down to him! He ended up riding it himself and was glad he did. I push granny for all but maybe 2 minutes and made the top in 25 minnutes! I was gassed and wanted to quite several times but people were gathered at the top cheering us on so quiting was not an option. The other thing that got me to the top was the sugar drenched cinnamon twist donut that was happily waiting for me in the car. I was craving that donut so badly I was creeping myself out! I could not wait to attack it. And I did so with pleasure, and it did not let me down :-)

After about 20 minutes I got my body and head together and said goodbye to everyone but Bob Dawson and his buddy Mark. The 3 of us stayed the night at the scene of the prior nights feast. We swapped stories for hours, drank a few beers and ate sausage and eggs prepared by Chef Bob, and slept like babies. We were treated to a starry night with no wind whatsoever and an equally windless Sunday morning. It was the perfect end to a most excellent weekend. Thanks again Kenny.

I don't need a helmet

Rob Westerman took a header on a rocky descent during the Mountain States XC race in Fruita Colorado last weekend.

Rob also damaged his leg that still has 16 screws in it from a Deer Valley mishap 2 years ago.
It was a long 10 miles back for Rob - no saddle! And, he wasn't DFL!!!

Chris on the last climb of the day.
Chris applying power to his "rental" 29er HiFi Pro.
KC demonstrating the Holley climbing power the family is known for.
KC the canister crusher. Don't even try to pat her on the back, unless you want to damage your hand. Talk about tough!
Some stupidbiker.
Carson climbing the last hill. This puppy was steep.

Moab in February

The Bride is located in the side canyon on Gemini Bridges Road before the Gold Bar junction. It's a worthwhile 15 minute side trip. There are 5 primitive camp sites in the canyon and you must bring your own water and potty.

I just thought these were cool. They're on the south side of Gemini Bridges.

Isn't camping what Moab's all about? Chris and KC were huddled over the fire cooking Brats and keeping warm. Believe it or not, it was dark when I took this pic. We camped in the main campground just before the Slickrock parking lot, spot #18.

I took this pic of the moon and ? shortly after I took the one above. Pretty neat.

Chris and his new smiling face. KC wasn't impressed.


Work has slowed to a managable pace so I have time to throw in a few pictures from a trip to Moab Chris, KC and I took in late February. As I recall the weather was prefect and nobody was there - it was dead! On Sunday morning, the parking lot at the Slickrock Trail was totally empty! How did we get so lucky? We split up and I rode Soverign, Gemini Bridges, Bar B, Circle O and Rockin A while the Holley's rode Amasa Back, Soverign, Bar B and anything else they could find. We camped under clear starry skies and slept like babies. I've got to get back down there, and soon.

My conditioning is bad but I am riding again. I've had a few knee setbacks but I'm heading in the right direction. I just have to reset my expectations and enjoy the race season and my biking friends. This should be a fun year.

Enjoy the pics.

Abbey *** 1993-2009

The dreaded day finally arrived when we had to put our West Highland Terrier, Abbey to sleep. She came to our family as a 6 week old puppy in October 1993 to the wide smiles and enthusiastic excitement of our 2 kids, Oliver and MarKay. Abbey spent many happy years sleeping and cuddling with the kids, which was here favorite thing to do. She loved to be around people loved to sit on your lap and just cuddle. She wasn't hyper and was content to just sit around and visit.



Over the last 2 years her life changed dramatically. She developed cataracts and lost most of her hearing and just getting around from room to room was a slow process. She no longer could jump up on the hot tub and watch people walk by or go freely up and down the stairs. Walks on the golf course became shorter and less frequent and her pace slowed to a crawl. She no longer pulled us around on her leash and we sometimes had to carry her because she was just too tired. Her world got smaller and smaller, but she never complained. I think that is what made yesterday so hard.

I've never experienced the anguish associated with making a decision to end the life of an animal you love like a family member. I've spoken with countless of you that have expereinced this before and I now know the pain you have felt. It's not good at all. I have tears in my eyes as I type this and wonder why I'm putting my feelings in to words. I feel really, really bad, but I know it had to be done and she's better off, and out of pain.

Dr. Witty came to our home and gave her an examination upon his arrival. He felt she had either lung or bladder cancer and that she had maybe a few months, at the most. He said even though she did not cry or react like she was in pain, her inability to releive herself was painful and would only get worse, and her silent suffering would intensify. After a group hug and reassurance from each other that this was the right thing to do, we allowed the Doctor to proceed.

The procedure involved first administering a sedative that completely relaxed her in about 10 minutes. As the sedative took effect, we took turns sitting on her favortie couch holding, cuddling and kissing her as she fell asleep and we said good-bye. She was very calm during the entire procedure and seemed to be at peace. The final 2 medicines slowed her breathing and her heart and she passed very peacefully. The doctor said she was ready because the medicine reacted faster that he expected, so that gave us some comfort. But, she was gone.

Our hearts are broken and the house doesn't feel the same this morning. Second thoughts cloud my vision and I'm overwhelmed with sadness and emotion that I supressed yesterday. It know it was time and we did the humane thing, yet I'm selfish and we want her back. I know she'll forgive us and she's happy.

I'm sorry for such a downer post, but I just needed to get this off my chest. I'm a baby and I admit it. To all of you pet owners, please know that when you have to cross this bridge, my heart is with you and I feel your sadness.

Good-bye Abbey Dog.

Back in the Saddle

It's time to get going again. I've been off-and-on the last 3 weeks due to over straining my knee with hiking and spinning, but now I have to move on and get ready for Leadville.

This is the latest in the season I have started training in I don't know how many years so my anxiety level is a little high right now. If I'm feeling good in 2 or 3 weeks that will put the anxiety behind me and tell me all is well and don't worry. I'm starting my Base program tomorrow and will stay on that for the next 12 weeks, then I'll move into more specific training for the LT100.

I rode for about 1:45 yesterday on a flat road course and feel fine today, so I'm hopeful. I've got a new bottle of Vitamin N that should keep the swelling and pain down, so I'm covered there too. Now I just have to do it. Oh yeah, did I mention my % body fat is up about 2% and my weight is 7-8 lbs too high! Seems like I had a little too much food fun during my rehab, so that's being addressed right now too.

I hope to get down to Moab next weekend for some welcome, and well needed, mental readjustment sessions that always set my attitude on the right course. As for racing, the first ICUP event is March 7th in St. George so I'll attend that one and put in some quality training miles there. Being out of shape, I have no expectations but to finish so that makes racing more fun.

That's it for now and I hope to post more often and keep current on my progress, or lack thereof :>)