The Long Training Rides Begin

Today Jen and I went for our first real long ride of the season. It was fun. Long stretches of road with a bit of climbing to mix it up. I particularly liked going through the old part of Alpine. I love the old houses with the beautiful mountains as a backdrop. I think we'll do this ride again soon. I was impressed at how well Jen did. She hasn't been on her bike as much as I have because she mixes it up a lot more with running but she did great.

Yesterday, for my lunchtime ride, I went up Suncrest and dropped back down on the Highland side, turned around at the church at the bottom and went right back up Suncrest back into Draper. Though it was about half as long as today's ride it still had about 400 ft of more climbing. It felt good. These early season climbs can be torture but so far it's been more fun than anything. Besides, you know what they say, "to find your climbing legs you have to climb." I can't wait to start hitting Butterfield Canyon. That's a tough climb. Soon. It will come soon enough.

Ahhhh, That's the Stuff!

This is the Snowbird that I remember. Beautiful sunny sky, bottomless powder, and Jen there with me. Jen almost didn't make it either. She's been battling a cold for about a week now and it wasn't much better when she woke. But when she looked out the window yesterday morning she new it was not a day to miss. We really skied powder all day and we could have skied more but I had to come back to work in the early afternoon. But so much fun. I really don't think there is another feeling as close to flying without leaving the ground as there is with skiing untouched powder. Nothing else like it.

Waiting in line at the Bookends gate. Well worth the wait.

As you can see, she is sooo suffering.

Waiting for the "Road to Provo" gate to open.

It's been warm and windy this past week. Last Saturday I did another crit race and it didn't go well at all. After being excited all week and dragging my family there and thinking I was so prepared I flatted my front tire on the 3rd lap of the race. I didn't bother bringing a spare so I was done for the day. Quite the disappointment. I have learned my lesson. I had moved up to a higher category group of racers so I was excited to see if I could keep up. On the first 3 laps it was much faster than the group I had raced the week before. I guess I won't know how I'll do unless I try again.

That's me in the Hidden Peak Jersey waiting for the start of the race. (published by cyclingutah.com)

But, this week has been fun on the bike. I've been trying to find a new pair of cycling shoes that don't hurt my feet and after 5 different pairs I think I've found the ones. My feet are shaped really funny and it is a big headache to try and find specialized shoes or boots like this. My ski boots cost more than I want to say because they had to be custom melted and re-shaped to fit my wide feet. It turns out I needed cycling shoes that are made especially for wide feet plus be custom moldable too. Similar to my ski boots.

I climbed south mountain for the first time in a while on one of my lunch time rides this week. I struggled due to the early season and the incredible wind. This morning I knew I would not have time during lunch so I rode in the dark, before work. It was a bit colder but it felt good. There is something about riding in the early morning that just feels good. It's suppose to snow this weekend so I'm hoping to get in some much needed skiing maybe early next week. I still haven't given up on my perfect powder day this season.

Utah Crit Series #1

So Saturday was my first time racing my bike in a crit and boy, was it fun! It was also a learning experience as I tried to break away on the last lap only to be caught on the turn for home. I ended up finishing middle of the pack. I think I'm going to try again this weekend and move up into the C flight. I will try to race a smarter race this time. Thanks to my wife and kids for braving the cold to come support me and was it ever cold!

First lap on the cold race.Me on the inside.

Somewhere in the pack.We were all battling the wind.

That's me in the back.

My kids following me back to our car, post race.