Everything Kris

The Last Post

2010-10-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

It is a Sunday evening here in Maui and my day is coming to an end. The final event is a luau with plenty of food and beer. I just got back from it. The day is catching up with me. My feet are tired and my legs feel like meat sticks in a slim jim case.

The race is in the bag but it barely didn't happen. 7 miles into the race at a blistering speed, I flatted in my rear tire on lava rock. So badly that the sealant didn't hold. I was able to restabilize with 15 lbs of pressure but it wounded me the rest of the race and I never made up the time. I lost valuable time and flatted on my front wheel again later in the race around mile 15. Was it my fault? Yes, in a way. Hopping patches of lava rock to pass was the cost but in retrospect how would I not be able to make up time otherwise. A friend I have raced against twice finished ahead of me again. I was sort of bummed over this when I realized that I was really quite close to her on the bike section. I just didn't realize that all those little things which ate up time, came back to bite me.

I concluded the day with a lot of forethought. What strikes me is the little things I missed. I missed the fast transition. I missed running fast because I just couldn't find my legs for two miles. And I missed catching my friend because of these things. I guess you can call it irony at it's finest. For me, this mean't finishing in 4 hours. I wanted 3 and a half hours. Some of this I blame on barely keeping the rear wheel together. Upon inspection of my tires, I lost count after 100 in terms of thorns which were embedded in the tires. Hawaii is a rugged place for this reason and it goes without saying that I would gladly choose to take up road riding if I lived here.

So will I do Hawaii again? Maybe someday but not anytime soon. My bike is all sorts of messed up from the lava rock and it was a costly venture to get here. As I prepare to become a homeowner, this type of thing doesn't abide well financially. But at least I did it and finished. Once was enough and there are a lot of places to explore in 2011. Will I do more Xterras in 2011? I honestly plan to race one but that is all. I have learned that to do well in Xterras, you need a different focus instead of the same training plan I used for long distance riding. I could not recover from that type of training in time for Maui. However, a little place known as Leadville resides in my mind and places a smile across my face as I cast my eyes to next year. Racing with a team again in 2011 will also help me address some issues with my style of riding in terms of nutrition and performing at a higher level. I really feel that I need that sort of thing again since in some ways I have hit a wall with my riding/racing ability. A year off was excellent coming from Colorado Singletrack. Now, I am ready to don a new jersey and fly under a new flag. Of course, a few weeks of boarding to clear my mind and I leave the subject for a later day.

This is the end in terms of this blog which has detailed my adventure leading up to the Xterra World Championship. Sad to see it end but it has been a great experience nonetheless. You can see a lot of the world by bicycle. 2010 has been a year which allowed me to log over 20,000 flight miles chasing a dream. A dream to be an Xterra World Champion finisher. It was a good ride.

From here, you can now follow my adventures in 2011 at "Life of a Leadman."

THE END

This is it.

2010-10-23T23:12:00.000-07:00

This is it. The night before the Xterra World Championship. All is quiet on the island of Maui and folks are tending to their nightly rituals or are sound asleep in their bed. I am here, in the moment stuck amongst a wash of emotions surrounding this race. It has been 4 years since I started racing Xterras. They have become a big part of my life and played quite a role with shaping it. Xterras turned me from a borderline corporate post college alcoholic to a fit and hard working person who loves life. Not a bad tradeoff.

So here I sit on the verge sleep. I am restless. My mind is tired but my body is craving exertion. It has been more than 24 hours since I amped up my heart rate. In the course of one day I think my body is enjoying the absence too much. It will be a shock when we hit the water running in the morning. I want to finish the swim strong enough like at Lory. I really enjoyed that swim but this saltwater thing still throws me off a bit. Either way, I intend to suck in the moment and run things as hard as I can. Where I end up, no one knows.

Everything Kris was started a year ago when I had just gotten into this race. It is sad to see this chapter come to an end in some ways because it truly has been quite an adventure writing about my training and adventures. Though not as proactive on this matter as some, it turned out to be something I am proud of. If you get a chance, flip back through it sometime to see the many prior entries surrounding this blog.

I also want to take a moment and thank Van Dessel Cycles, Pearl Izumi, Maxxis, and Oakley. These were some integral sponsors for 2010. Even as I move into a new year, these companies will stay firmly in my heart regardless of whether or not they help me again or not. We made it this far and I couldn't have done it without them.

You know, a lot has changed since this blog was started but I made it. From racing, to life, love, and careers. It will no doubt change again. For now, this Colorado guy has some sleep to attend to. In this exotic world of palm trees and sand, I close my eyes and hope for safe passage tomorrow. I hope Vandy pulls through like it has so many times this year. At one point today while walking past it, I uttered "one more time old friend" just to keep good karma. Perhaps we can both pull out the strength and pull it just one more time. This has been a long road and a lot of training. Let's make it worth it.

It's Time

2010-10-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

It is 1:00 AM in the morning and I have only three mere hours before I have to wake up and begin my journey to Maui in the early morning. I am excited, nervous, and confident all in the same swoop of meditated emotions.

Where you take it from here, no one knows. It was strange to note that tonight I went to the gym in Highlands Ranch to swim my last laps before I leave. It was 10:00 by the time I got there and 4-5 cars dotted the parking lot. I had the place to myself. Exactly 1 year ago, I vowed to try with all my might to get into the World Championship. I put my mind to it and here I am in the dead of night, typing these words after setting foot in the exact same gym where I concocted this crazy idea.

For now, I end this entry. Short and sweet but important. More to come.

Maui. The Conclusion of a Chapter In Life.

2010-10-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Maui is less than a week away and my nervous excitement is undeniably here. Concerns regarding the transport of Vandy, navigation on the island, and logistical challenges abound in my worried mind. I am for the most part ready physically. One thing I constantly struggled with this year was doing we

ll in two of the three disciplines. This past summer, my shortfall was the run section of a triathlon. I flew on the bike and surprisingly learned to swim correctly for the needed distance in the Xterra circuit. For what it's worth, I believe this will not happen at Maui. I have refined my technique and equally practiced the two disciplines I seem to tradeoff in terms of falling short. (Running and Swimming)

The bike section could be tricky but I doubt this honestly. Based on what it looks like in the videos, I foresee lots of double track in hot scorching sunshine. I can manage this effectively from my training in the burn sections of Buffalo Creek. The choppy lava rock should be manageable on the FS Vandy 29er and its' ubber strong Maxxis Crossmark tires which I love so much. Certain races like the Firecracker 50 or the Fat Tire 40 has taught me that the Vandy can make up for my lack of skills on the descents. It climbs great for a full suspension bike so no concerns there. My legs are diesel at the moment so the infamous "Ned's Hill" does not intimidate me. Not when I have had Mt. Falcon to train on these past few days. In fact, I am sort of looking forward to bagging a l

ot of placement on the climb come go time.

Tomorrow is my last long ride of the season. I am planning on riding at a race pace up Mt. Falcon, over to Lair of the Bear, Bear Creek Park in the morning. Should be an epic ride that will break down a lot of my muscles prior to a few days of recovery. I am tapering off the running and swimming as well.

My philosophy on Maui is pretty surreal. It is the World Championship and the highest level you can achieve in the world of offroad multisport racing. I don't intend to win since there are much more devoted people than myself, however I do intend to finish strong. It has been almost four years since my first Xterra in the frigid waters of Buffalo Creek. I have changed a lot and grown over this time with grad school, my career, and ambitions. Maui marks a pinnacle in terms of hard work to reach this point. When it is all done, I have this sort of calm satisfaction in terms of knowing that I am ready for whatever is next in life. Buying a house, expanding the competitiveness of Free Wheel Coffee, and attending to things I have put off these past few yea

rs are higher up on the priority list. It is time to grow up a bit. I am still going to keep my fitness. In 2011, I will return to the team ranks with Bach Builders, a well known ultra distance team consisting of World Champion 24 hour athletes and adventure racing veterans. It is a significant achievement and I hope to back up these words with a high level of performance. But that is another chapter for another time.

For now, it is a beautiful fall day here in Denver and I have an evening to myself to relax and attend to packing for Maui. More to come as Maui looms closer and closer. And if for anything else, I am glad to take my turn in Maui with the many other Coloradans who have made this journey. Let's bring it!

Hawaii

2010-09-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

It's the first week of September and I am lying in bed. Instead of returning to work and life rejuvenated, I have officially burned both ends of the candle and am pretty tired. It's been a good weekend. Volunteering at the 24 Hours of Leadville, riding Centennial Cone, and ending with a picnic in the park with new friends has made this venture a success. Did I spend a lot of money? No. Did I drink myself silly? No. Did I regret any part of my holiday weekend? No.

So the next questions remains. Where do I go from here? Honestly it all beats back to Hawaii now at this point. I feel in shape but more running and swimming needs factored in before Maui. Ideally I want to finish Maui more so than actually doing good at it. I feel like I am going into a battle with no way of winning so I have to focus on the journey. Hawaii has always intrigued me and I want to see it with my own eyes.

It's funny to see my race schedule empty. 2010 has been a crazy year. As it stands, my resources for bike racing are all but kicked. The Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS is in pieces from the demands of this year and the Cannondale Flash 29er is at the point of needing a good tune up before heading to a new home. I am still pretty set on using the Van Dessel mountain bike lineup for 2011 unless Anvil builds me something really special. So for what it's worth, now is the time to point the compass west, finish Hawaii strong and regroup through the winter. I planned to race cyclocross but that is a fleeting concept with how much work lies ahead, especially with Free Wheel Coffee. So I digress. Perhaps this was a rant. Perhaps it was just an update to where life has taken me.

Directions

2010-08-15T08:24:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I last updated the blog. As usual, I am way behind race reports which you can now find at FreeWheelCoffee.com under blogs. It has been by far a busy summer. Even with racing spaced out 2-3 weeks, I still find myself backlogged with work that just isn't getting done. I just raced the inaugural Two Mile Run mountain bike race and was not expecting the terrain which was reminiscent of Germany or something out of the forests of Europe. (Where were my wide open spaces?)

So anyway, I titled this blog "Directions." In essence, I am planning to use this blog to log my journey of training for the Xterra World Championship. I have decided not to race or do any other events besides what I am registered for until that is a done deal. When my feet touch the white sands of Maui, I want to be 100% ready.

So for now, that is where I stand. One more race next weekend in Fort Collins, then 7 weeks or so to train to do my best. That means more than just biking but weekly trail runs logging miles and swimming 2-3 times as well.

On that note, I am out.

Vaporize Me

2010-07-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's a July morning before work and I have a long list of things to do with Free Wheel Coffee this coming week. Busy, busy, busy. As I sip some coffee, my thoughts begin to drift to what is next on the list of things to do here at "Everything Kris." Of course, there is the trip from D.C. to Pittsburgh in 2 weeks, the Xterra World Championship, and of course if I get in, the Vapor Trail.

I want to do the Vapor Trail in a bad way. Since the Breck 100, I have found myself all too often questioning just how much further I could have pushed it. My boss at Anvil has some experience riding the trails used in the race and he seems confident I can pull it off. I envision this race which has so many variables in the mix. Lightning, a 10:00 PM start, 20,000 feet of climbing, and really getting "out there." Kind of romantic in my sick and twisted personal outlook. I can do it. I know I can. Only challenge is getting accepted at the moment. So call this little blog my personal campaign to get into the Vapor Trail.

Top ten reasons why I should be chosen.

1. I ride consistently and can hammer out a lot of miles. My training right now is around 200-275 miles of riding a week with a mix of road and mtn. (More mountain these days)

2. I am 26 years old and modestly fit. Finished the Breck 100 this year and made it into the Xterra World Championship in Maui.

3. Van Dessel Cycles would really like to see me in the mix.

4. I have the perfect bike and it is a proven rig for this kind of event. A Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS. It's a good climbing bike yet it is comfortable enough to hammer out miles. Lots of them.

5. I know when to push it but I also know when to back off to avoid getting hurt. I have raced lots of miles on my bike and motorcycle and have a pretty solid record of safety.

6. Support from friends and family. Working in the bike industry, I have made some good friends. A lot of them support this venture as well as plan to pit this event.

7. Climbing is my strength. 20,000 feet of climbing equates to lots of opportunity to roll hard.

8. A good attitude. I am out to have fun and enjoy the world from two wheels.

9. My resume of racing. http://adventureresume.blogspot.com/ Check it out. A modest list of results to prove my mettle for the event.

10. I can provide some sponsorship perks through my business. (Free Wheel Coffee Company)

So that's my list for now. I hope the folks at Absolute Bikes see this and say "Let's give this kid a shot." More updates to come through the weeks on this adventure. As it stands, I plan to start training either way and hope for the best. From the folks at Anvil Bike Works to the crew at Treads Bicycle Outfitters, they support my venture 100% and I hope to carry through.

Pick me!!!!

2010-07-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

A refreshing morning by any stretch of the imagination. I awoke this morning with a renewed vigor from the quintessential tearing down and buildup process that my body went through this past weekend from the Breck 100. It was a fun race that went well.

So long story short, life is going well and I am turning and burning through life in more ways than one. From racing bikes to actually spending time with my folks, life is good. I snapped this picture at Anvil recently while working on the manual mill. So nice to be gaining technical knowledge in machining and frame building. I am finally growing to understand the finer details of hand built quality bikes. But enough about my technical rantings, the reason I am posting so early this morning is because I just submitted my resume to Dirt Rag Magazine for a Content Editor Position. Web development was at one time a career task and later a hobby with growing Free Wheel Coffee. Now, I might have the chance to work with a great group of people and put all the new techniques with Wordpress into play that I have learned over the past six months. So if you're by some chance a hiring manager at Dirt Rag and you are reading these words, pick me!

Outside of sipping a great cup of coffee this morning, I am planning to get back on the stationary bike as well as throw in some swim laps later this evening after work. The Van Dessel 29er is going to get a full rebuild at work this week since it is all sorts of nasty from the Breck 100. I have an invite to race the Vapor Trail in September and if I plan to do it, I need to be very proactive with keeping it in top shape.

So off to work, to life, and to the adventure which is my life. :)

Alcohol and 29er Love

2010-07-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

I am two Sole Cervezas into this evening. Been a while since I knocked back a few in this manner, especially since the Breckenridge 100 is less than 2 weeks away. The biggest challenge of my life and I am somewhat buzzed. Irony at it's finest.

I raced the Firecracker 50 this past weekend. It was a good race and I thoroughly enjoyed the terrain until I wrecked and ripped my of chamois off. No bueno considering I had 20 miles to go. Long story short, I had a DNF. I feel okay with this for a few reasons.

1. Beaten and bruised back at the start line, I ran into Josh Holloway from Lost.

2. Ran into a racer that was sponsored by Broadnet.

3. My bike didn't break. I think Vandy more or less is ready to roll for Breck once the race wheel arrives this coming week. (As for the rider, that remains for speculation)

4. I was pretty damn far ahead by the time I quit. I mean I passed hundreds of people on the way back.

5. I think I will always stick with Pearl Izumi shorts. Found this out now, not later during the Breck 100.

So that's how I look at it for now. Next year I am going to race the Firecracker 50 and finish the race strong. Overall, I loved the course. It was fast and no long suffer fests. Just great singletrack and easy climbs.

So that's all for now.

Blood, sweat, sunburns, and a declaration

2010-07-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's the waining hours of the fourth of July and I am laying in bed in pain. Today I was bested by the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge Colorado. The Firecracker has always been one of those races that I anticipated racing but never had the chance to try in the corporate world. Coming off the Crested Butte Fat Tire 40, I was somewhat tender to say the least. My body was coming back together and chance are that I could have pulled it off but a series of problems arose today which changed things for the worst. They are as follows.

1. I ripped my Van Dessel shorts. When I say ripped, I mean half my ass was hanging out. This resulted in a chamois that did not fit correctly and a very unique sunburn later that day. If I could have just managed to sit on my seat comfortably, things would have turned out differently.

2. My bike did not feel comfortable. My hands went numb and my right foot went numb as well.

3. The concept of distance. Doing a second loop was a killer. I need to break that mental barrier and quickly considering the Breck 100 is like 2 weeks away. The irony was that this event was only 50 miles.

4. My lower back flat out hurts. I am not sure if it was from sleeping funny the night before or simply not fitting the bike correctly but it is in significant pain.

So for that reason, I lay in bed tonight listening to Mexicans shoot off their fireworks and hide when the cops roll by here in Westminster. I failed but I learned a lot today about myself and the high altitude trails of Breckenridge. We will do battle again.

Perhaps I am becoming an expert.

2010-05-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

I am laying in my bed, totally exhausted from racing today. My body is throbbing and I am pretty sure that I got sunburned on my shoulders. Sleeveless shirts are the mark of a triathlete but 30 miles in Colorado sun has their point of reckoning as well. I raced the course in 2 hours and 26 minutes. Two 46 minute laps and a 54 to close out the business at hand. I blame a cross wind and limited opportunity to pace someone for my lackluster performance on the final lap. I got out ahead of some folks in my category but there was a big gap between us and anyone else.

Overall, I am pretty happy with how things went even if my body is reeling in pain. I loved the course and how my Vandy performed. I also loved that I gave it my all. I mean the tanks were dry when I crossed the finish line. It was nice getting a fast start and backing it up with a time to be proud of. Next year I plan to race the Clydesdale category to see how that goes. I reckon that I will be near the top of my game in terms of how hard I can push it since it will be only a few weeks prior to starting Leadman. What can I say except that Bear Creek is one of those races that I use as an anchor to my life. No matter how good or bad I do, I always look forward to dropping the hammer and playing hard at Bear Creek Park.

Chase that feeling

2010-05-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

A spring evening in Denver. Hmmm, what a day. 8 hours of work, battled some traffic, sauna time, then home to watch an episode of Lost. The feeling in the air is timid at the moment. First race of the season and I have no idea how I am going to do. Since I am racing expert at Battle of the Bear, I don't foresee myself doing that good. However, it's all about the experience and it's nice having a humble beating to get the year started.

We had some rain this evening and I think it could actually make for a great course if it holds off for tomorrow. It will be just enough to tamp down the dirt. This is the first time in my 3 years of Bear Creek that the soil is so moist and the scenery so green. Almost doesn't seem like the Colorado I knew when I originally moved here four years ago. But time illustrates that we all change. My body is leaner but I also had my first gray hair recently. My how time flies.

I can't slack off though. I know I can ride hard for two laps but the third has me concerned. I trained a lot for the five lap Front Range 50 the past two years but this time around I focused on a new regiment with cross training. Tons of swimming, high intensity cadence, and long climbs have been typical of my habits leading up to the race. Does this spell a formula for the endurance to do 45 minute laps and finish in under 2 hours and 30 minutes? Hard to say but that is my goal after all.

So for now, this is my last post before the race. My gear is freshly pressed and the Jersey Devil is dormant for the moment. The devil is in the details. Off to prepare and sleep.

Hustling

2010-05-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

Been like a month since I updated this blog. Can't believe how fast time flies when you're working your butt off. Anyway, I have been pretty busy and can't help but say that life is moving fast. I am training hard and have lost 26lbs since I left Broadnet. Thank god I am done with corporate life. I don't know what's next or even have an answer, however I remain positive that the future is bright. Lots of things to be thankful. Today I drank a great lager beer, hanged with some friends, and ended up tucked in my bed. I am thankful for the sunset, the buzz on my head, and the peace of solace right here in this little trailer of mine. Can't say it is perfect but when is life perfect anyway.

So onto my ramblings. I am starting the wheel build on the Cannondale Rush to sell it soon. Not my size but it was a leftover from the ex. For the wheelset, something cheap. I was thinking WTB stuff. Glad to recover my money from that. Once it is sold and in the bank, I am going to start building the Ramble Tamble 29er up. It should be a simple build. Here is the dream build.

Fork - Custom handmade rigid fork from Anvil Bikeworks. (Painted to match)
Frame - Van Dessel Ramble Tamble 29er
Hubs - American Classic
Spokes - DT Swiss
Rims - Stans ZTR
Rubber - Maxxis Larsen rear and Crossmark front
Brakes - Avid BB7
Stem - Titec Carbon Pluto 110mm
Handlebar - Answer Carbon Flat
Crank - FSA V-Drive
Seat Post - Titec Carbon Pluto
Seat - Van Dessel Road Seat
Headset - Cane Creek
Chain - SRAM High Grade

I plan to use this bike in the coming fall riding season. I want to use it for cross racing and eventually the elusive snow bike race series in Leadville. After that, I plan to transition to gears, front shocks, and all that sexiness. 2011 will be a hardtail year for Leadman, however right now it is all delicious on the FS Jersey Devil.

I am also in the process of buying a road bike to replace the Six 13. I wanted a Raleigh Rx 1.0 but they are sold out for a while. I was torn between a Yeti ARC-X and a Cannondale Six 5 carbon. The Yeti would be more versatile, however it sucks not riding what we sell at my shop. Got so much to do and this is only the section devoted to racing, bikes, and beer. :(

Contrasts

2010-04-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

Been too long since I was on the blog. Let's just say my life is quite busy right now but in a good way to say the least. I am pulling double duty with a bike company and a bike shop. Right now both are in the peak of their season. It will eventually slow down but for now, it is full throttle.

I am training and riding but the schedule is mixed at the moment. Not too worried since the season is young and most of all, I don't have grad school on my back. The stresses of dealing with grad school sucked last year. Now, my mental focus and commitment is dialed in as well as a body that is becoming accustomed to racing over the course of the past two years. I know what I have to do and it is getting more challenging to push the threshold in comparison to knowing how to simply address a previously encountered experience.

70 Miles and snow

2010-03-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Made it close to 70 miles today on my road bike before the weather closed in. Sad to cut the ride short. The bike paths of Denver make for some epic riding. I will return to bag that ride again later, perhaps even Thursday or early next week. I am going to be turning off the road rides for a few weeks to concentrate on running laps at Bear Creek park for the Battle of the Bear. My goal is to run 45 minute laps consistently for the three that I have to complete. Last year I deviated by 6 minutes on the Front Range 50. Not good. I also swam 1/2 mile tonight at the gym. My little beer belly is quickly fading. I am also going to step back from road riding to await the arrival of my new factory road bike from Cannondale. Can't wait to try running a full carbon frame. I am on the fence as to whether or not I will like it as much as aluminum, however I remain positive since carbon is still the top choice in the Tour De France.

Where I am at physically is pretty solid so far for this year. Now, I have to work on staying healthy, avoiding beer, and making in roads to break barriers with distance racing. Leadman is ever closer and I think I have a lot of fuel in the tanks leading up to something of that nature, however there is no time to sit on my laurels.

The last parts are on order to finish up the Van Dessel by next week. I plan to use a shop bike to run Bear Creek this weekend. It is a Gary Fisher Hi Fi 29er Deluxe that we have in the demo fleet. Should be a sweet ride. I have had a lot of good vibes exploring full suspension 29ers. I still love and prefer the hardtail 29er for racing but you can't beat the smooth ride of a full suspension setup, especially when you're deep in technical terrain.

That's enough for now. Going to brave the elements to see Sweatshop Union tonight.

Riding on Rails of a Divine Wind

2010-03-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Just getting my day underway. I rode pretty hard yesterday in a manner that was reminiscent of spin class. Still love my Cannondale Six13. It just rails so fast as if it is on a Divine Wind.

But enough about road biking, I haven't drank a single beer since Saturday. I know it doesn't sound like much but it is a small victory considering that I knocked back quite a few while I was unemployed. The bike shop is helping me along with my life. Gave me an anchor to work from. Sometimes that's what you have to do.

The Vandy is almost done. All Sram XO, Stans wheelset, tubeless, carbon to the max. It is going to break the 25lb mark, however it is definitely not going to weigh much more. Maybe 26lbs. I can't wait to get it out on the trail. Seeing it come together has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction. Crazy to think it will travel with me from West Virginia to Hawaii this year with me. I love this bike so much. It is honestly like I finally got the exact bike I want. Rare, special, and built for me. The only question mark on my mind is the gearing. I think I can handle the super hard setup but no doubt the likes of the Breckenridge 100 could change that. All the other races on my schedule don't really bother me with this setup.

So in less than 2 weeks, I plan to call up a friend or two and go out to take Vandy on it's maiden voyage. I am thinking it should be an epic ride like a day at Buffalo Creek or something totally new. Either way, it's gotta be special.

A day of rest

2010-03-11T09:19:00.001-08:00

Next four days I have to work so I decided to do an off day. Was planning to go snowboarding but my body is in a state of disarray. On one side, I have my old self returning in regards to being in shape. On the other hand, I am very sore from my 78 mile adventure. My lower back hurts a good bit and I think that is from the race oriented position of the Six13. I love that bike, however I am at a point where I either need to upgrade the parts or sell it and trade up. I like the Six Carbon frames Cannondale is producing right now. They seem like a further step up the ladder in exceptional performance thanks to the BB30 and full carbon option. The Six is not exactly a Liquigas Hi Mod bike but beautiful nevertheless. And of course color doesn't count but I love the black color scheme of the Six 5 version. (The man in black style) Decisions, decisions.
Alright, back to training and cleaning. I am going to go to the gym today and get some time in the pool. Last night I swam 6 laps and it felt really good. With Xterra ACE in less than 2 months or so, I need to get up to 35 laps a day. Plus, it is low impact until my body catches up.

Off to do some job search stuff as well as clean up my place. I want to move in June but it's going to take some work at this point. A lot of stuff is going to be sold off to simplify my life.

Cold is the Great Divide - My Denver Loop Adventure

2010-03-09T22:46:00.000-08:00

What a great day. I woke up around 10:00 AM and was on my bike by noon on a short ride that transpired into an adventure on my Cannondale Six13. (I sure love that bike) Anyway, I started off from Westminster and soon hooked onto the Platte river trail after some traffic dodging and sprint warm ups. From there, I meandered through Lakewood and managed to stay on the path even though it would disappear from time to time thanks to a block or two misleading me from where the path stopped. I soon ended up in Golden an hour and fifteen minutes later for a much needed lunch break. From there, I climbed up to Red Rocks as an impending storm dropped snow on my shoulders. To make matters worse, I didn't have my CWX under armour on. (Muy frio) As I crested to I70, I was soon on a roller coaster ride all the way to Bear Creek Park. From there, I snaked all the way down C470 to Chatfield Reservoir. By now, it was 3:15 pm and I was quite worried that I would not be home by dark. Fortunately I put the pedal to the medal on my bike and covered 15 miles to Denver in no time at all. By the time I reached the Confluence Park by REI, I had an hour before sundown. I raced up the trail and was soon winding my way back to home. What was ironic is that I bonked 2 miles from home. True, my supplements were empty but it was odd that I was so kicked by then. So close to home.

My legs are kicked and I foresee some swimming and weight training tomorrow. Felt good to knock down 78 miles. Wish I could do that more often. Who knows, perhaps I will. :) Off to sleep.

Xterra ACE West Virginia - REGISTERED!

2010-03-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

I guess I needed a little motivation to get my ass off the couch. Today I registered for the ACE Xterra in the New River Gorge of West Virginia. It has been way too long since I have passed through the New River Gorge area. Last time I was there, was before undergrad in fact.

Xterra ACE is the only offroad multisport event offered in the state of West Virginia. It has an intimidating 1.5 mile swim which even includes passing through a class 2 rapid. In addition, there is an 8 mile trail run with 1000 feet of elevation gain. Not for the faint of heart. To top it off, there is a 10 mile mountain bike race completely on singletrack. Rumor has it that ACE has some amazing singletrack in typical rooted, wet, and muddy east coast style. I am very excited to see some mud and slippery roots again. Riding the rockies has taught me a lot about traction in rocky and tight sections. However, nothing beats getting back to the kind of terrain I grew up riding. I am also excited about the opportunity to spend some time with the fam damily. My parents have never seen me race since I moved to Colorado. They will have two opportunities in 2010. Once in West Virginia and once in Hawaii. My mom and dad love riding bikes. Guess that's where I got it from. Having my mom handing off a water bottle would be a cool feeling.

So cheers to the second registered race on my schedule for 2010.

On the horse. Pronto!

2010-03-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

So it is March 1st. Oh my god, I don't know how I am going to pull off racing in 2 months. Fortunately I am only 25 and can get up quick enough. I think.....

I just got hired by a bike shop here in Denver. It isn't the "career job" but it is a lot of fun. I finally have a close connection to the cycling world with great people from the shop that I got my start right here in Colorado.

So what is on the agenda? Honestly it is finishing the Van Dessel FS stat. I could have easily gone out and ran laps at Bear Creek Park today. It is dry and warm. Perfect!

A lot remains to be done but it isn't impossible either. I was halfway sold on the idea of just buying another Cannondale. Still, that doesn't exactly align with my strategy of sticking with Van Dessel for the next 5 seasons. I had to cut back the race schedule some but most of the races are still pretty intense. If I so desired the HT feel, I could just lock out the FS. So anyway....

So my plan? Buy the wheelset by this weekend and take my bike to work to finish the build as the parts roll in, pending it is okay to ride under this flag.

Getting back on the horse

2010-02-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

Been a while since my last entry on this blog. In fact, a lot has transpired since the last entry. I left my job due to a complex breakdown of office politics. Left with a good recommendation from my CEO but ultimately I am back in the job search. Seems like the economy is turning around and my small coffee business is providing some added income as well. However, the inconsistency of the job hunt has seriously cut into my training schedule. Not that I don't go to the gym but I have not had the time to build a complex breakdown of my training routine and discipline involved with a diet. I gained some of my weight back from the holidays. Not good.

Also, the Van Dessel build went back to a holding status. I have the funds to complete the build but am holding onto it until I land a job. Just the way it is for now.

So what else has been on my mind? For now, it is regular contributions to some forums on mtbr and an occasional spin on the bikes in the gym. No real riding/training temporarily until further notice.

And of course, if you know of any job leads worth checking out, let me know!

Directions

2010-01-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Up in the air with some things in my life (Not going into detail) but I had a moment to post a picture of the Vandy. Since the last pic I have added a carbon seat with the signature titanium Van Dessel seat. Looks pretty sweet. Wheels should be on by next week. I want to get over that hurdle as soon as possible. I also found a sweet deal on carbon flat bars and plan to order three sets. One for each of my Van Dessel mtb bikes for the future. Once I get over the hurdle of the wheels, it will be time for the drive train and brakes. I am pretty excited about those additions because they are a lot more easy to obtain. $200 is a lot easier to spend that $500. I want to do Hayes Stroker Carbon brakes. In a perfect world, I could be riding Vandy by next month at this rate. So far it weighs in at 17 lbs. Maybe, just maybe I will have my 25lb FS. ;) Time will tell.

I am also putting the ex girlfriend's Cannondale Rush up for sale once Vandy is built. I plan to take the funds and build the HT Jersey Devil. Once again, wheels and front fork will be where the money will go. I know that I can build a 25lb HT. The Van Dessel is perfectly suited for a F29 fork and stans wheelset.

Training was shitty last week. I had a stressful workload and it cut into training. I plan to change that this coming week somewhat. Tune it back in case I can snowboard at Wolf Creek. Snowboarding has taken on a greatly enjoyable perspective this year. I can't say why but I have just had a really good time. Enough about that for now.

Cross training

2010-01-18T21:03:00.000-08:00

Spent the last two days snowboarding. One day at Breck as a bonus and one at Winter Park. Breck was horribly crowded and commercialized beyond what it was like when I ski'd there my last season. They might as well have put billboards on the mountain to make some extra cash. It was good though to do some teaching which is why I was there in the first place. Winter Park was another animal altogether. I rode some extreme terrain and pumped through some jumps to boot. Even mixed it up with some intense mogul riding. No crowds, a few colds beers, and good company.

My legs feel so strong this year. I have stomped some short landings and walked away solid. In fact, outside of the expert pass terrain park, I hit every jump today at Winter Park. Pretty good feeling. I am so ready to get on my mountain bike. In fact, seeing it sitting on my couch without wheels is a major point of spite for me right now. Or bitterness.

Tomorrow it is back to the gym. I have spin class and hope to hit up my core routine as well. If I can do core Tuesday and Thursday, then mix it in with arms on Wednesday, I should be solid. Swimming will be Wednesday and Friday. If any steam is left in the tanks, I will cram in 7 miles of running during the week. I plan to do spin class on Saturday as well.

So that's all for now. Pretty lame entry but sometimes it is the lonely passage that one must travel in order to achieve a goal.

To note: I pretty much aced my workout routine this past week. And for the first time in 5 years, my body lines are returning. Eat your heart out Brad Pitt!

Rest

2010-01-16T13:17:00.001-08:00

Long week. I was pretty burned out by yesterday. Seems like all I do is drive, work, and workout right now. I can't wait to move down to Littleton. I am going to gain a lot more sleep in my routine as well as have an added opportunity to commute by bike to work. Can't wait until April.

I worked out a lot this week. Swam 3 days, ran 7 miles, lifted weights, did core training, and 4 sessions of spin class. Very busy indeed. I am not going to make the first Leadville snow race. I blame this on my lack of planning with the Van Dessel. It is truly a lot of work to build a bike or for that matter the one that you want. I digress. Aluminum/alloy frame with carbon components. Isn't that supposed to be easy?

So for now, it's work, work, work! Time to train, swim, and get it done!

This for that

2010-01-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

Just decided that I am going to Jazzfest in New Orleans. Conflicts with my North Carolina trip to race the Uwharrie Xterra and visit Jordan. I cant fit anything really into the slot for the prior weekend, except maybe a road race in Boulder. I am not ruling out at least one road race for 2010. Good cross training and I already have a sweet road bike. I am still at odds with the idea of crossing an Xterra off my calendar however. This has led me to consider racing the Xterra Marathon of Trail Races.

I think racing the Xterra marathon would be a novel idea to begin ramping up to Leadman in 2011. I am however worried that it would hurt my chances of doing well in the Xterra World Championship in Hawaii. I don't want to be run down for that race. Stress fractures aren't cool going into a triathlon. I just can't really peg how long it took to recover from Colfax. I know it was a couple weeks but how long exactly, not sure. Must think this one over.

Did spin class today and had a good time. I like the instructor since she mixes it up. I also enjoy these sprint classes. I never really understood how to approach a sprint class. In reality, I think it is an element I have been missing for a while. If I want to beat Tommy O at Winter Park this year, I need to have lightning bolt starts and consistentcy across the board. What can I say? I can't wait!

In the AM. Spin class, arms, 3 mile run. Busy, busy, busy.

Swimming

2010-01-11T20:38:00.001-08:00

Went swimming today on my lunch break. Was blown away by some guys who were on a swim team that were running laps. I take it they were from some local high school in the area. Wish I could swim like that. I mean they were across the pool and back with 2-3 gulps of air. Simply amazing. I have done some rough calculations for the pool at 24 Hour Fitness.

It is 25 yards long. Out and back it is 50 yards total. This is translated into 45 meters. There are 1,609 meters in the swim at the Xterra World Championship, or in simple terms, 1 mile. 1,609/45 = 36 laps in the pool. That's what I need to be pulling to survive the championship. Right now, I am pulling a lame 10 laps and they are inconsistent to boot. Tomorrow I am going to go swimming again. The goal 16 laps. Halfway there.

On the agenda also is spin class, pushups, situps, and 3 miles on the treadmill. Need to get on that. My goal for base miles this week is 7. Nothing too bad but I gotta fit it in.

Really looking forward to taking the Van Dessel into Treads this week. They are going to spec it out with some nice SRAM components to get me started. I really want to get this bike ready for the Leadville race in 2 weeks. I know that is quite ambitious so time will only tell. I think it is safe to say that it is time to buck up the money and finish the job. Kris has gone too long without his singletrack fix. :)

Busy day in the AM. Goodnight.

Wheels to pavement.

2010-01-09T10:24:00.001-08:00

First weekend back with the Treads crew. Glad to finally be rolling along with things. I kept mid pack today. Not great but not horribly bad. I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, planning to hit the gym next to get some swim time. I am learning my technique more and more with swimming. When I hit that first Xterra of the season, I don't think I will be the fool again.

Dropping off the FS this week. In a perfect world, I will be running this bike for the first Leadville snow race. Cant wait!

I am off to work on the Free Wheel webpage.

It's Going to Be a Busy Year

2010-01-02T15:37:00.001-08:00

Just spent the past afternoon searching for some parts for the Van Dessel. Nice to be so close to finishing the build as well as just have a down day. I just wish I knew what type of brakes to go with. Decisions, decisions.

Looking at my itinerary for 2010, it is going to be extremely busy. And you know what? It's going to be like that for a while. Almost the entire schedule works pretty good. I may encounter a problem with the Spearfish South Dakota Xterra. AGAIN! (Insert irony) If I can make it through with only one scheduling conflict, I can survive that. As it stands, there will be a ramp up of ultra endurance/xterra events followed by my return to Winter Park. Then, it will be two races, some down time to recover for Hawaii, and boom I am done.

Two races which I think are important but questionable. The Rocky Mountain Half Marathon and the Breckenridge 100. I want the B100 pretty bad and think I can do it with the Jersey Devil FS pretty effectively, however it will do a lot of damage to my internal fuel tanks. That kind of race eats up my energy reserves and screws with the metabolism for a few weeks. When I finished Leadville, I was pretty messed up. I have heard the Breckenridge 100 is harder than Leadville. With more racing on the itinerary and the Xterra world championship in November, I have a lot to ponder on whether it would be wise to fit it in. It's an important training piece for the Leadman series in 2011 so time will tell. I hope to run the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon also, pending that it is offered and I can fit it. Colfax was hard last year but putting a half marathon into the mix would be a good idea for the summer.

As for my bike situation, the Jersey Devil is in the next to last stage of completion. Once the wheels are on it, I will most likely hand it over to Treads to finish the build of the drivetrain and brakes. In a perfect world, I could potentially have it ready to roll for the first Leadville race on the 24th. I don't foresee building the HT for a while because I know I can't build it up in time for Battle of the Bear, however there will be quite a stretch before I need it due to riding the FS during the Winter Park race series. My resolution.... Build it over the summer when time permits.

Concluding thoughts. Hard to believe it's 2010, ski season is halfway over, and my first bike race is coming up quickly. I am in better shape than last year. I attribute that to good music, good friends, and decent nights of rest. It's the start of a good life. Lots of work to be done.

Sunday Night

2009-12-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

Three days before Kyle and Doreen arrive to do some snowboarding as well as checkout Colorado with intentions of moving here in May. Super excited since we are going to most likely be roommates. Really excited and I cant wait to show them a good time.

Just put on my carbon Titec Pluto stem. Looks really nice. Now, all I have to do is chase down a carbon post and handlebar to match. Titec makes such beautiful stuff but it can be a pain in the ass to find. I already find myself extremely happy with my purchase and I haven't even ridden the Van Dessel. I am going to get a signature Van Dessel seat soon to match so I will bid farewell to the Titec Pluto seat. It was a great seat for my hardtail but a used VD seat is similar enough that I think I can pull it. Plus, they pop up on the internet cheap.

I pulled out my road bike today and spun it up and down the parking lot at the trailer park. Cant believe it has been 3 weeks since I actually got out and rode. Not just spin class but actually enjoying the wind in my hair. Spin class is enjoyable but it feels much more like absent minded practice for the real thing. January will be my first race and first time back in the saddle. Combined with a completely new bike, should make things interesting.

To make a long story short, my weekends have been spent resting and snowboarding. Weekdays in some form or another are spent at the gym. This will change but for the moment, it's the life I have to live. I am really looking forward to moving closer to my job, pending I get my review in January. I really want to be able to commute to work on a bicycle as well as cut down on time spent driving. My morning routine could lose an hour or more if I lived closer. That would be nice.

Finally, Free Wheel Coffee is moving along. The website is up as a word press blog but that will change soon. The big hurdle is over with registering the domain. Now it is time to let my artistic creativity flow some. I will have a blog on the website but initially it will only encompass a merchant interface. It's the first and most important step.

Well, that's all for now. Lots of work to get done before bed time. Spin class in the morning.

Friday from work!

2009-12-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

Finally Friday!

First blog from my office as I try to get out of here on a Friday. Hell of a deal. Training went well this week and pending I can make spin class tomorrow morning, life will be good. Hard to believe that next month my first race will be on the schedule. My Van Dessel FS isn't even built yet but it will get put at the top of my priority list come the first of January. Looking out over the horizon, I am excited to see what it will feel like to ride a FS 29er. My very own FS 29er. :)

Otherwise, got some swimming in and my to do list seems a lot smaller as the weeks tick by. I need to up my workout routine and stay consistent with the diet. I felt like I didn't have any steam in the tanks yesterday at the gym. I need to focus on changing that before I begin questioning how much I can lift or how far I can ride my bike.

I am also mapping out a financial strategy for traveling this coming year. Of course, Hawaii is going to be the most expensive, however flying home once for the WV ACE Xterra and the Uwharrie NC Xterra will cost some cash. Factor in a drive to Spearfish SD and one to NM again and it won't be cheap. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew but it is a formidable goal. But hey, I have my bike and that was the big hurdle. First check on my list of priorities will be finishing the bike followed by reserving a ticket to NC in June.

I am also working on figuring out some way of building this blog to focus around the next 2 years of racing and training. My ultimate goal is to cross the finish line as a Leadman in 2011. That is such an intimidating thing to consider because of the 100 mile run. I just need to wrap my hands around that one. I figure that there is no way to actually recover from the Leadman series and each event will wear you down more than the last one. Burning 12,000 calories in 6 hours or 40,000 in 28 is never good. I had very little energy left over from this past season. 50 milers, Xterras, and back to back weekends burned me out. When I enter the Leadman, I need to be completely focused on that series with 100% health. Going to be strange with the gaps leading up to Leadman in comparison to a steady turn on of racing like this past season and the one to come. I am not one to train an entire season for a few select events but this will require that kind of commitment. But enough about 2011, let's focus on 2010.

The Leadville Winter Bike Race. I have no reservations that something could go wrong with the Van Dessel. It's going to be cold, the altitude is pretty high, and the bike will have less than a week or two of use prior to the race. Factor in the absence of studded tires, hydraulic cables, air chambers, and tire sealant which can turn to solid chunks and I have a lot working against me. Did I mention that it will be very very very cold? So yeah, a lot working against me. Here is my check list, pending the weather forecast is as bitter as expected.

1. Inner tubes if possible in my wheels.
2. Use insulated water bottles filled with boiling hot Accelerade.
3. Leg warmers.
4. Pearl Izumi Jacket and possibly my North Face or Columbia Jacket in some sort of combination.
5. Cycling cap.
6. 686 Boarding gloves.

That's what I got so far.

A long road is about to begin

2009-12-08T21:37:00.001-08:00

First night that I have had to myself to really get down to the metal about some things on my mind. Most specifically, this will entail the coming preparations for a 2 year project involving layered steps to major achievements in life. What I am inferring is not only the value of these words or the physical exertion neccessary to achieve the lifestyle that requires this kind of devotion to achieve a goal. I am 25 years old and soon will be 26 this coming April. As best as I can determine, I am at the pinnacle of youth, equipped with a good education (which has taught me a lot), and a vague but promising future. Where I go from here, the world only knows. However, amongst the spinning dice of uncertainty on this roulette table of chance, I have some immediate goals to address. I have typed my top 5 below.

1. Race and successfully finish the Leadman Series in 2011.

2. Race and successfully finish the Xterra World Championship in 2010.

3. Race and successfully finish the Xterra National Championship.

4. Complete every Winter Park race in the 2010 series.

5. Complete at least 4 Xterras in 2010.

These are formidable tasks which require extensive planning. They also represent the top of the class in terms of competition, challenge, and tenacity. I don't doubt that I may fail the Leadman Series in 2011. I don't doubt that a mechanical error could kill my shot in Hawaii. I don't doubt that my body could fail on me. I don't doubt that to some extent, certain people may consider these challenges lunacy. Perhaps they are.

Outside, it is 5 degrees in December. The heaters in my dilapidated trailer can barely keep up. Yet, as I lay in my sleeping bag and look out over the cold ground which lays outside my window, I know that it makes me hard. That's what these past 3 years have been. Hard years which age people all too quickly. There will be time for rest, just not now.

From here on, this blog will serve as a foundation for my commitment to achieving these goals effectively. It will take money, lonely nights at the gym, and countless laps in the pool. Still, with these challenges, time will reveal a life story worthy of reflection. So it begins now.

Week 1 and 2.

I made it to the gym consistently this week and the last. Ramping up my training and working to hammer down some approach to support the needed changes. Training through the winter is a first time thing for me. I have usually taken the past two years off to pursue snowboarding and drinking. Now, I am faced with the challenge of how many laps swam, how much protein consumed, and how many miles ran while the December air bites at my mind. I hate and love winter in Colorado. I used to love it a lot more. Now, it represents an added challenge that I must overcome. And so I do.

I also took order of the last and final bike frame which I intend to use over the course of the next four and a half years. It is a Van Dessel Jersey Devil HT and it will be leaving the east coast soon en route to Colorado. The HT is a rocket ship which will be geared for long climbs, lots of Xterras, and perhaps even the Leadville 100 someday. I loved my Cannondale 29er hardtail and would still be riding it had it not met an untimely fate at Leadville. I am sure it wasn't the only bike Leadville had claimed. It is also a 29er but what separates it from the Cannondale lineup is the weight and carbon seat stays which soften the ride ever so slightly. For me, that is just enough to make it worthwhile. It is what I believe a 29er made by Yeti would have embodied, if it had in fact been built. I believe a 29er is the ideal bike for my 190lb build. Originally I thought it was a Yeti ASR but time in the saddle proved otherwise. I believe that a FS 29er, a HT 29er, and a rigid 29er will be all that I need to play these cards. Combined with my Cannondale Six13 road bike, I am good.

Picture is attached below. I am off to rest. Tomorrow I am going to get into the gym early and hit upper body, finish legs, and spin for a bit. Should be fun.

Made it in many ways.

2009-12-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

I made it! Got into Maui. Yup. I have a lot of work ahead of me for 2010. That includes finishing the Vandy build asap! That way, I have at least one bike in my quiver to start training. I think I have even chased down a frame by the way. More to come on this later.

Other business. http://www.freewheelcoffee.com/ is registered and parked by my domain registration service. I should have the basic format of my website up within the week. When I say "basic," I truly mean it. Right now there is nothing on the page at all, except a blank sheet saying that the site is owned. Ideally I want to just get it launched. Second step will be to make it possible to process an order. I don't doubt that I will find myself playing with layout schemes throughout this time period. What can I say? I am more inclined as an artist at times.

Last matter of business. In preparation for the 2010 bike season, I also got a new set of Oakley Half Jacket glasses. Should have them by the end of this week or the next. They come with extra lenses which are crucial for Winter Park which can go from sunny to overcast quicker than you can blink. I have always used safety glasses from Koppers to ride my bike. Having a nice set from a sponsor is really something I appreciate. The only outstanding piece of cycling apparel that I need for 2010 is a good set of shoes.

Anyways, back to working on the website and my laundry.

The Elite

2009-11-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight I think I made the cut for the Xterra World Championship in Maui. I will know when I wake up in the morning.

It will change some of the dynamics for 2010 slightly, but not much. I might nix the first race of the year and opt for something else. Perhaps more swimming considering the circumstances of racing in Hawaii. Send me good Karma. I am out.

Horizons

2009-11-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just waiting for my dad to get into Denver. He is airborne right now heading to Denver. I cant wait to see the old man.

Anyways, getting back to training for 2010. I worked out a lot this week and have been quite busy fashioning my habits to match a good routine. I need to focus on eating more proteins and calories. I am losing weight but I fear it is muscle mass. I even got two days of swimming in this week, which was super nice.

I received the Van Dessel Ramble Tamble today and promise to take pictures of it sometime soon. The paintjob is amazing. When I picked it up, I was listening to Fallout Boy's song "American Suitehearts." I think that's what I will call this bike. "Sweetheart." I don't plan to build it up for sometime since the FS takes priority. I am also on the hunt for that last elusive Jersey Devil HT 29er frame to compliment the FS. I pasted the picture below from the shop that shipped it for me. I am amazed at how lite the frame is. It weighs almost as much as my ASR carbon weighed when I bought it back in the day. If I could get to it sometime next summer, that would be nice. The Jersey Devil Hardtail is rumored to weigh even less. Wow! I talked to

With my move to Highlands Ranch in March, I am planning to commute to work by bike. I think "Sweetheart" will find itself being put together under those circumstances. The planned route has been scoped out already and I think it is perfect terrain for a single speed rigid 29er.

Enough procrastination. Dad should be landing soon.

Staying in shape

2009-11-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

Working hard this week at my job, although I am certainly burning it up with my workout routine. I got 4 days at the gym complimented by a 6 mile bike ride and afternoon of snowboarding. My shoulders are sore but for the first time in my life, I am starting to master the push up. I am already up to three sets of 10. I know that isn't much but it has always been a weak point of mine. I cant wait to see the scale Tuesday at the gym. I am down to 206, originally at 216 1 month ago. I would like to get to 195 since I believe that is my ideal weight.

I am going to make this post quick but I just wanted to update that I am the proud owner of a Van Dessel Ramble Tamble in size Large. So excited!

3 Days of Rest (And Stress)

2009-11-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

Just finished three straight days of hard work, although it was not the physical kind unfortunately. Tomorrow morning I am going to get in the gym, spin, swim, and lift weights. Gotta look good for tomorrow evening. Also spin class Saturday morning followed by snowboarding Sunday.

The Van Dessel Ramble Tamble HT ends in 14 hours on Ebay. I am bidding on it and really hope to get it. If I do, I am going to build a HT SS with rigid fork. Simple, cheap, and perfect for winter racing at Leadville. I have also been planning some ideas regarding how flexible it is. I originally planned to buy a cross bike next year but I have seen plenty of people rocking SS mountain bikes lately at cross events. I also have enough spare bike parts that I could cheaply build the Ramble Tamble. Time will tell but the Ramble Tamble has a lot of options worth exploring. Enough with that though. I am excited it is almost the weekend and I have some time to rest from this week as well as prepare for the coming workload. I swore I would not get into cross unless it was a cheap venture. I would like to devote more time to saving, building my business, and family time with my folks. In between mountain bike and snowboard season, that's sort of where I need to fit it in. Not cross. Although that is a segway into that race I always fantasize about. (Dirty Kanza)

My goal for the next two weeks is to complete the carbon componentry which will be mostly Titec stuff on Vandy and get the wheels here by the end of the month. Not sure if I want to go with the Titec Pluto seat again but more to come on that later. Might just need to adjust my type of riding shorts. Maybe I will look like this guy next year if I race cross. Talk about some pep in his step!

I will call it "Vandy."

2009-11-15T20:38:00.001-08:00

So I read an article in Bicycling Magazine who had this complex with a folding bicycle. He loved it but despised it as well. Long story short, he called his bike "Foldy." I decided to name the Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS with a similar name, "Vandy." I plan to have the HT and SS version of this bike over the coming year. I believe they will be the only bikes I need in the stable to complete Leadman and the races I plan to do over the next two years. I am tired of looking at bikes and trying to figure out what I need to meet my needs. Now, I am running with one exclusive manufacturer who will meet my needs effectively.

I started building Vandy this weekend. I have attached some pictures of the build below. The FS version is setup with a cross country platform backed up by front and rear Fox suspension. I wanted a 2x9 setup so I went with an Origin-8 crankset. I like it a lot, however it is somewhat heavy. My goal is to get the bike right at 25lbs. A lite set of wheels are in order and I will most likely go with Stans ZTR. I plan to ride this bike in the Winter Park series in 2010 as well as the Breckenridge 100. I feel both of these courses will be technical and having the rear suspension will be extremely beneficial. I thought Winter Park was a great series this past season but it was a lot to absorb on a hardtail 29er with an 80mm travel Lefty. I don't like the idea of having only one water bottle holder though.

The hardtail version will most likely be used in Leadville, most of my Xterras, and Battle of the Bear. My belief is that if it isn't overly technical, I will stick with the HT. I am fast and effective behind a HT. Not so sure about a FS, even if it has lockout. I am also excited about the carbon seat stays on the HT. When I rode my Cannondale 29er, I was almost completely happy with how it felt, however a small amount of cushion would be nice. Either way, the HT will be a solid bike and I plan to build it up exactly the same as Vandy, minus the rear suspension. I belive the HT will resemble the early 29er version Cannondale produced which I loved so much. The second generation and new Flash 29er do not neccessarily impress me.

The SS will be a growing bike. I want to build it cheaply as an SS to run at the Leadville winter races in 2011 as well as Battle of the Bear. I should have the frame by next week. Still haven't found a HT but I am on the hunt.

I do not plan to buy another mountain bike for a few years after these three bikes are prepped to ride. Other areas to focus such as running 100 miles and training time will take precedence over bike building time.

I am off.

Keeping it brief

2009-10-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Just finished drafting my email to Van Dessel Sports for sponsorship in 2010. I really hope they can help me out with the 2010 race season. They are the first company I contacted in regards to sponsorship. I really think Van Dessel has something special in terms of their products. Their bikes are built and bred for performance and seem to come to fruition over a deeply studied approach to what gets you to the finish line effectively. For Xterras and Ultra Mountain bike racing, I think they have designed the perfect 29er for my riding style. I hope they can help me out for the upcoming season. For now, cross your fingers and maybe I will land my first choice dream sponsor!

Well that's all for now. Busy week ahead of me at the new job.

Go Getter Greg

2009-10-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

Just listening to some music by Ludo. http://www.purevolume.com/ludo

I am always amazed by the music that slips by my unknowing ear. Ludo has been around for a while. They even have some music videos, however until last week I had never heard of them. And you know what, they rock!

I start my job on Monday and have been busy prepping for when I start. I have overhauled my out of control finances and plan to get into the gym more regularly. I am planning to do an epic ride this weekend with some friends also. I am hoping to ride the Heil/Hall Ranch connector but time will tell.

I am super excited to be riding my Cannondale 29er for one of the last times. I loved my Bear Naked edition 29er more than the replacement frame I got after Leadville. It will be nice to put it on Ebay next week. I am going to use the money to buy the wheels and front fork for the Van Dessel. Pending the team meeting on the 17th, I will have most of my SRAM order in to complete the drivetrain. Once it's all said and done, I should be 75% of the way done with building the bike and have little to no money out of my pocket wrapped up with the Vandy. I am still keeping an eye out for a Ramble Tamble or Jersey Devil HT but no luck.

Oh well. One more thing. I cleaned out my fridge today and killed the last four bottles of Budweiser Select in my fridge. I am planning to cut beer out of my diet for a while.

HIRED!

2009-09-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Just landed a job yesterday and I am so excited. I am really excited about working with some of the most gifted minds in the corporate world.

It's going to be a big challenge and I hope that I can pull my position very well.

More to come later.

Directions

2009-09-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and it's beautiful outside. I am sitting here at Regis after a morning of work. I dropped off the thank you letters at the office where I had the interview last week. I find myself feeling like I got the job every so once in a while. Kind of like I know I wasn't that great on the interview but something clicked and it will work out. Just remain positive Kris. You need something to live for. Challenges.

It's getting colder here. I find myself yearning for snowboard season so badly. I really hope I can stay to see it. With the rope tightening around me, I have been finding myself thinking about survival. I am selling my 29er pretty soon. I would like to think this money will pay for my next bike, however it may also be used to cover moving expenses back to PA. That's scary to think about. In my books, that will be an open declaration that I failed. Not going into details in regards to that conclusion but it isn't good.

Luck.

2009-09-26T12:05:00.001-07:00

Just got back from riding White Ranch. I flatted and screwed up my brakes. Add it to the list.

I climbed to the top of Belcher Hill in 47 minutes. Not that great but my legs loosened up by the time I got to the top. White Ranch is just getting started with changing colors for the fall. It was really nice.

White Ranch took my mind off the job thing. I really hope I land the job this week. I feel like my back is against the wall at this point.

Van Atta High

2009-09-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Just a Monday of hammering out job search stuff and sitting back in wonderment of how cold it has become over the past 24 hours. Yesterday I was wearing shorts and flip flops. Now I am wearing a jacket and a cap.

I am also listening to a new band I found called Van Atta High. http://www.purevolume.com/vanattahigh

I definitely think these guys can find their way onto my Ipod in the coming months. I think my favorite song is the remake of "Afternoon Delight." It's good stuff.

I am super excited about snowboard/ski season. Granted I can stay here for a job, I plan to spend some fun times riding and making new friends in the process. Perhaps even planning a long weekend snowboarding somewhere. I found a great deal on some bindings also. (Ride Contraband) It's so cool to see the price wars getting underway in the snowboarding world. 10 years ago when I started riding, equipment was a major investment. Now, it's affordable. My first snowboard was nearly $600. Now, I can snag a great board for $100. Simply amazing.

I need to get in the gym more often these days. Getting behind on that with the job search and it's no bueno. At least tomorrow I am going to get a bike ride in. I am going to sell my 29er before next season. I have my eyes set on two bikes thanks to Edwin at Van Dessel. I have a FS Jersey Devil 29er frame I plan to build up this winter, however it would be nice to have a hardtail model to compliment this setup. I feel like I do a lot better on a hardtail, except in places like Winter Park where it's really rocky. If I could have two bikes in the stable built with exactly the same components, I think I could really do some damage in the competitive scene. Use the hardtail for Xterras and flat out racing like what is on the Front Range 50 course. Then, when the going gets tough use the Full Suspension to race at Winter Park. If and when I land a job that keeps me in Colorado, that will be 2010 setup agenda.

Motivation

2009-09-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Working on some things today on linkedin. I have found myself spending more time than usual on linkedin. I am attending a presentation on linkedin connections tonight. It should be helpful with this job search. Seems like things are picking up more and more these days. I keep telling myself to hold out just one more day and never give up. I won't give up. Even some of my friends are starting to find work. Good signs.

I just got over a cold and have been regaining my momentum. I played volleyball last night in a pick up league with Tamara. I also added a possible event to the 2010 schedule. The MS150 is a road bike event that is done back in Pennsylvania every year. My friend Doreen does this event every year and I think it would be a good chance to reconnect with some Pennsylvania concrete. If I would do the event, I would reorganize the format of things though. This is how I would do it.

Rochester Point to Moraine State Park - 25 miles
Moraine to Edinborough - 100 miles
Final leg - 75 miles
Total 200 miles

This is the only road event I would do in 2010. I may even try it on a modified mountain bike with road tires. Something along the lines of a Cannondale Bad Boy Setup. Like I said a while back. If I can stay in Colorado for 2 years, the Leadman series is mine. Gotta stay focused on the goal.

I am off my soap box. Back to work.

Reflecting back and looking forward.

2009-09-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

It's September 11th. A day to give some thought back to the past 8 years since the bombings. My how time flies. In the words of Bob Dylan, "These times they are a changin."

Crazy that it's been 8 years. Looking back on how things have transgressed, it's a weird feeling. I am 25 years old, an MBA graduate, living in Colorado looking for a job. Where do I go from here? I ask that question a lot. In the job applications, networking events, and exams I have taken for a job I often debate the future of this country. In my gut, I feel that we are becoming a weak and lazy country. Americans are no longer hungry and willing to do the work to get where they want to be. We as a country work to play. In reality, I feel I dissuade this idea by saying I play to work in my efforts to find a passionate challenge which constantly tests me. That's what appeals to me so much. The challenge, not the security, the paycheck, or the title. The self satisfaction that this short life I've lived in this instant of time is not wasted.

I have been thinking a lot about a promising job lead that fulfills a lot of what I am looking for. It's a job that isn't even defined just yet by a guy I feel that I can relate to a lot in the evidence of his drive to be the best. I loved when we talked, how he said he was going after the competition now. It was a present reality. Kind of like an immediate response based on the natural awareness of our own self conscience. I like that a lot. More than anything. If there is a problem, fix it and never let it happen again.

___________________________

I have also been playing with this blog to sort of figure out what my athletic schedule should look like in the coming months. If I can stay in Colorado, I am honestly going to give the Xterra circuit a run for their money. I have done five races to date and if all goes well next year, attempt six in one season. That means lots of swimming. I need to nail down 1000 to 1200 meter swims as a weekly thing. I also need to drop 18 lbs to get back to my healthy weight. I blame a lot of this on my job search setbacks. Got me drinking way too much from time to time. Bad food is no bueno because it compliments a tall one.

Six Xterras also means that I will need to get an early jump on the season. Last year, I started racing in May. In 2010, I will need to start in March. A formidable jump considering that I will still be snowboarding probably at the same time.

So for now, I cross my fingers and day dream towards a bright future as I apply to more jobs.

Arms, abs, and some riding.

2009-09-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

I am going out riding today. Probably heading to my humble abode of White Ranch. We have a month or two left in the riding season and the evenings are already getting cooler. Kind of nice. I also want to get some time in at the gym. I looked pudgy to say the least on my ride last night. All the stress with a job search can do that. I think I might be coming to an end with this for a bit. Crossing my fingers for now.

Otherwise, the interview went well and I am pretty excited about what could develop from it. I applied to some other jobs today and also got a confirmation to take a border patrol exam in Salt Lake City next month. Still, working for a constantly changing and challenging environment described by the owner of the company sounds very sweet. I live for challenges if you haven't noticed. A busy schedule is the sign of a good life in my books. Right now, I am going crazy trying to stay busy in some ways. I never want to see the Regis Library again, except maybe once or twice when I wrap up my Project Management certificate hopefully this fall.

So for now, I remain positive, hopeful, and ambitious. Hopefully my legs will carry me up White Ranch as smoothly as possible and I will get a chance to enjoy the view in the process.

I am off!

On the eve

2009-09-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Another night here in beautiful Colorado. I woke up to some great news. A really cool company is going to interview me tomorrow. I am so excited and hopeful.

It's amazing how hope can get things moving. For the first time in 2 weeks, I went for a bike ride. I rode from my place in Westminster to the REI in downtown Denver. This area is blessed with some of the nicest trails ever and exploring them was a nice thing. I rode along Clear Creek to the mouth of the South Platte and then up to Denver. It was so nice, especially on my road bike which eats up concrete like I can put down Sushi. I swear I will start taking pictures.

So that's all for now. The blog is overhauled pretty nicely and I am super happy with the new format. Hopefully it will be blessed with words of a new career, tales of cycling, snowboarding, and countless travels. Cheers!

Another Chapter

2009-09-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it's September and I am still unemployed and trying to figure out how to pay the bills. This is going to be a short update because I am pressed for time considering that tomorrow is Labor Day. Either way you cut it, the blog is up and alive.

I have a lot of work to do. First off, I am working on a new format to facilitate my sponsors. After that's done, I should be on my way with some content.

I haven't been exercising or taking care of myself lately. After the last race at Winter Park, I hit a slump with my job search and that amounted to lots of beers and fatty foods. Not a good combination. I am working to change that though in the coming days, weeks, and months. Last year, I took 3 months off and did some light stuff for snowboard season. This year, I am going to work on hammering out a good diet complimented by a buildup for next year. If I can stay in Colorado for 2 more years, I want to make a run on the Leadman series. IF that happens, it's going to take 24 months of training. Not an easy thing. So cross your fingers that I stay. I want to finish this chapter of life here in Colorado on the right foot with a statement. Running 100 miles on foot is just up my ally. So hopefully I can stay.

That's all for now.

Everything Kris Returns!

2009-07-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

It's almost time to bring this blog back to life. I still have the original content saved but will not be posting it anytime soon. A different chapter of life and a new direction for the blog.

This blog will serve as a new platform for life at 5,280 feet above sea level and everywhere above and below that. I am planning to utilize this blog to capture four major areas.

1. My professional racing schedule
2. My travels
3. My life
4. My career

It will start coming back to life in October 2009. Until then, stay tuned!