Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving--Final Group Rides of the Season (?)

Weather is by its nature unpredictable and real winter is probably not far away, but the forecast looks good for the next few days.Please help spread the word on these three rides.
  • Road ride tomorrow (Thanksgiving) 9 a.m starting from my house.
  • Casual gravel ride-sometime Friday. Please contact me if your are interested.
  • Road Ride Saturday--9 a.m.--Sticks and Stones. This will likely be the last big group ride of the season.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

DNF at Observatory Park UTCX










Writing an honest blog sometimes means owning your failures as well as your successes. Today was not my best day on a bike, but I still rode a new cyclocross venue and I was happy to have Stephen there to provide logistical and moral support.
For many years, I have tried to make it down to Utah for at least one or two of the UTCX series races. Today’s race was at Observatory Park in Ogden which is home to some of Ogden’s permanent cyclocross features. Observatory Park is above Fort Buenaventura Park on the west. Today’s course dropped down into Buenaventura, returning by one of the most intimidating run-ups I have ever seen-long, steep, and muddy.  I have heard various explanations as to whether Observatory Park and the Ogden Cyclocross Park are two separate parks that run together or two names for the same park. Anyone who knows the answer to that question is welcome to comment.
Like both Bozeman and Boise, Observatory Park features a number of sizeable singletrack climbs and descents. But in contrast to the buttery smooth singletrack of the other venues, the Observatory Park singletrack is rough as hell. One of the guys that I started with today told me that most of the singletrack is new this year and is actually a lot smoother now than it was earlier in the season. Parts of the course were pretty muddy today with a layer of ice-over standing water-over deep mud along the bottom edge of the big hillside. After a couple of practice laps, it was all churned into a semi-solid.
I crashed out about two thirds of the way through the second lap in the wooded area shown in Stephen’s pictures. It happened on the Buenaventura side on a dropping left hand turn on wet leaves. I slid right and the rider behind came over the top of me landing on my front wheel. It was not badly damaged, but too far out of true to spin. When I go to a cross race, I generally take two wheelsets, one mounted up with mud tires, the other with dry tires. In light of yesterday’s heavy precipitation, I knew it would be muddy, so I left the second wheelset home. Even if I would have taken the extra wheelset, it is very unlikely that I would have had it in the pit area. My finishing rate for cross races is very close to 100% and I have gotten a little lazy.
I think people have a pretty good idea of how much I love my orange Kelson cross bike. It has been to hell and back through five Crushers, three Rebecca’s, a couple of Gravel Pursuits, and more cross races and local gravel rides than I can even remember. But the thing that modern bikes have that the orange bike lacks is disc brakes. Even in dry conditions, disc brakes are better, but the advantages of disc brakes over rim brakes become exponentially greater in really sloppy conditions like today. If you are considering a new cross bike, buy the model with disc brakes.
As a cyclocross venue, Observatory Park is spectator friendly and generally pretty promising. I am looking forward to returning but I will not be unhappy to have the singletrack break in a little more.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Rail Jam is Tomorrow

16th Annual Sled Shed Rail Jam - 11/11/17

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Come join in the fun! It's always a good time! Doesn't matter if you come to participate or come to spectate we promise you won't be disappointed.
Event starts at 5pm, if you intend to ride then please be there at 3pm to register and to practice. We accept riders of all ages and disciplines (skiers or snowboarders). Registration is $20 (cash only)
Redd's Grill will be there with Hamburgers, Fries, and Hot Cocoa!

Click Here for More Information

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Eastern Idaho Cyclocross Season Wraps Up with Bengal Cross on Saturday

There are only three cyclocross races in Southeast Idaho for 2017 (Moose Cross, The Cube, and Bengal Cross). The final race of the season, Bengal Cross, takes place on Saturday. Bengal Cross is organized by a great bunch of guys. Peter Joyce is one of the oldest and most loyal supporters of the Cube. Hopefully, the Upper Valley can reciprocate at Bengal Cross on Saturday.

https://bengalcross.athlete360.com

Cube Photos from Greg Heide/KIrt Douglas

What a great year for photos from the Cube. Here are some more.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140206189@N05/

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Lost and Found: Stephen and Dave at Lava



This photo of Stephen finishing the Trailblazer race at Lava Hot Springs in 2000 originally ran in the Idaho State Journal. It has probably not seen the light of day since. I found it by accident today. The Trailblazer races ran concurrently with the Wild Rockies Mountain Bike Race Series and they were the real deal following a very substantial portion of the adult race course.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Fine Weekend at Boise Waffle Cross






This weekend was my first visit to Waffle Cross. Every compliment that I lavished on the Bozeman course applies to Waffle Cross, but even more so. Waffle is a similar course with twists, turns, steep descents and punchy climbs. Perhaps most remarkable, it is an extremely spectator friendly course passing near or through the start/finish/pit area several times plus much of the course is visible from there.
Dan, Sam, and I started on damp, highly consolidated hero dirt. By the start of the women’s and 1-2-3 races, it was raining steadily. The climbs and descents that had been completely rideable before the rain turned greasy and dangerous. Shae won the women’s Cat 3 race and was the second woman overall. Kelton won the man’s cat 3 races on both Saturday and Sunday finishing third overall in the 1-2-3 field on Sunday. I believe he will be moving up to Cat 2 based on those results.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Blue Goose Cyclocross 2017 Has Been Cancelled


Terrorists don’t scare city cyclists. We already have to deal with cars. - The Washington Post

Jay P's Upcoming Events

November 16
Tour Divide Talk in Lander 

The College of Western Wyoming is letting me give a presentation about the Tour Divide. This is a one of those chances I relish to help teach others about ultra endurance cycling.  

November 18
Winter Bike Riding Expo

Pedal of Littleton is throwing this shindig. Everything you every wanted to know about winter riding on road, fat, or mountain bikes. Commuting. Clothing. Fat biking. Trails. Tire choices. Camping and overnighters. 

December 16
Fat Pursuit 60K

A 60km bike race on a network of groomed snowmobile trails. Groomed is relative. This is a backcountry event that will require some experience and winter survival skills. You will be challenged, humbled and rewarded in many different ways. 

January 5-7
Fat Pursuit 200K and 200 Mile

This event was created to help people gain experience and learn about backcountry winter travel. I feel everyone needs that chance and I do not require a resume of experience to do the 200km distance but I do require past winter travel experience to participate in the 200 mile distance.

January 11-15
Winter Fat Bike Camp

This camp will further your knowledge and education about winter bikepacking and survival in the variable conditions one might encounter during a winter bike adventure.

Eight tips for extending your season with 'cross | VeloNews.com