https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B26z--v4R3fcUDVtZk00dElCcXc/edit?pli=1
Monday, May 21, 2012
Economics of a Retail Development
Never thought I'd hop on the blog again, but put some thoughts down on paper, and wanted everyone to check it out. So without further adieu, please go check out this document.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B26z--v4R3fcUDVtZk00dElCcXc/edit?pli=1
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B26z--v4R3fcUDVtZk00dElCcXc/edit?pli=1
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Nite Rider
And we've officially transitioned from the pretty damn hot summer we've had, to a just-about-as-hot fall period. Yes, I know "fall" doesn't technically start for another three weeks. But up here in the high country, we're being treated to sundown at just before 8pm, and shortly thereafter, temperatures plummeting from the mid-80s it hit earlier in the day.
Wednesday, I charged up the lights - not because I particularly wanted to do a nite ride, but because I wanted to ride, and my option with getting home from work around 6pm now extends into the darkness. Took Stumpy out for a little spin with my brand new Garmin Edge 500 and the NiteRider illumination on the front end of the bike.
I really can't pin down why I don't do more nite rides, because I had a freakin' blast. Just looping around at the Eagle Ranch Loops - trails I've ridden a million times - and it feels so different at night. Anyways, I caught a cool glimpse of the dark trail and the last glimmer of daylight fading away.
Enjoy.
GO RIDE!
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| As darkness set in, the clouds consolidated over Steamboat, putting on quite a light show... |
I really can't pin down why I don't do more nite rides, because I had a freakin' blast. Just looping around at the Eagle Ranch Loops - trails I've ridden a million times - and it feels so different at night. Anyways, I caught a cool glimpse of the dark trail and the last glimmer of daylight fading away.
Enjoy.
GO RIDE!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Part II
 |
| Yup. Agreed. |
- Congrats to Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack), winning the USAPCC...
- Impressed with the Americans holding serve, taking all top five spots...
- Tejay Van Garderen is the future of US pro cycling. Just hope he can harness the disappointment of failure (seen at end of Vail TT) and use it to fuel his riding...
- The Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) already had a lot of fans here in the US. Now they have more...
- World-famous Elgee almost got clipped by Andy Schleck (as witnessed on Versus TV) during his attack at the top of Swan Mountain...
- It was amazing seeing these guys up close and personal. Watching the peloton up over the short kicker just outside of Wolcott, you realized just how strong, quick and powerful these riders are...
- The turnout at each stage was amazing. The crowds at Independence Pass, the gate and finish sections of the Vail TT, the finish line at Steamboat, the mob that was Swan Mountain, and the tens of thousands that showed at the finish circuit in downtown Denver...wow. That was just amazing, and surely there is something there that will bring this race back over and over...
Next up for me is Mountain States Cup Sol Survivor, in Granby on September 3, and Tim Mt. Pleasant and I will be holding it down for Bach Builders MTB at the 12 Hours of Snowmass on September 10.
GO RIDE!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
GOING.
OFF.
That's the only way I can explain the reaction of the crowds at the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, here in Colorado.
I managed to sneak away from work (more or less) for two days, finding a killer spot 1.5k from the top of the Vail Pass individual time trial and hanging the day with Skelli and Ryan and the other boys from Twenty2 Cycles, cheering on each of the riders as they slogged up the 8% straightaway.
The other day I rode up from Eagle to Wolcott, and sat on top of the corkscrew climb that starts Highway 131. Attached some pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure.
OFF.
That's the only way I can explain the reaction of the crowds at the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, here in Colorado.
I managed to sneak away from work (more or less) for two days, finding a killer spot 1.5k from the top of the Vail Pass individual time trial and hanging the day with Skelli and Ryan and the other boys from Twenty2 Cycles, cheering on each of the riders as they slogged up the 8% straightaway.
The other day I rode up from Eagle to Wolcott, and sat on top of the corkscrew climb that starts Highway 131. Attached some pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure.
 |
| Colorado local Tom 'Tommy D' Danielson |
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| Previous stage (Gunnison->Aspen) winner George Hincapie |
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| Up-and-comer (and Yellow Jersey, i.e. leader of the race) Tejay Van Garderen - watch out for this kid... |
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| Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team bus, on the way to Steamboat |
Dave Zabriskie, aka "Captain America", aka Current US Natl Time Trial Champ
Cadel Evans, aka Current Defending Tour de France Champ
Jens "SHUT UP LEGS" Voigt on course. Consummate professional cyclist. Catching his "minute man".
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Time Flies
Well, it's been two months since I've last been slummin' around these parts.
I guess first and foremost, let's get caught up on all the racing action this summer. I've taken part in a number of races up, down and around the mountain region of the country.
Of course, I've had to jump into the local Vail Rec District races. I've managed to make it to three of the five races so far: Eagle Ranch Classic, Hammer in the Hay, and Davos Dash. Haven't had the greatest success from a pure result standpoint, but I have been holding my own, setting a PR at Davos (a three-mile hillclimb) by 40 seconds. Pretty stoked with that one, cuz when you're 6'-6" and staring down the barrel of 200 lbs, one thing you don't do particularly well is go uphill in a hurry.
Also, I've jumped into a couple of Mountain States Cup races - Cheyenne Mountain Explosion, and Rabbit Valley Rally. Cheyenne was a technically demanding course, but not over the top from a fitness standpoint. Rabbit Valley Rally found me fighting some nutrient imbalance issues, and cramping out of the race. Sucks, because I was flat out hammering in that race until I went down.
The Teva Mountain Games have also come and gone. A lucky couple of days got the course in good prep for the race; and for only using the bottom third of Vail Mountain, my God was that a challenging track. Steep, punchy climbs that didn't just make your legs scream - they straight up took a chainsaw to them. Dropped the only water bottle I had with me about 5 minutes into the race...not sure why I even finished that one. Oh well - if there's one thing I'll say for the TMG event, it's that the swag bag for athletes is stellar. $40 entry fee, well over $50 worth of stuff in the bag. Makes just showing up worth it.
Palisade Classic was easily my best race of the year so far. Which is surprising, because typically I don't hang on very well in longer events. With a 45 minute climb right out of the gate, a solid 30 minute jeep road descent immediately after, the first half of the race didn't set up well for me. After holding it together through those two sections, the remainder of the course was flat, sandy singletrack winding all over on the mesa overlooking Colorado's wine country. Finally - a course that had the terrain that I excel at. Was able to keep things motoring along over the last two hours of the race, finishing up 17th in the overall standings.
Finally, we arrived at the USA Cycling National Championships, in Ketchum, Idaho. First trip to Ketchum. Definitely want to go back - the place is freaking amazing. Beautiful vistas, a small-town feel that can't be beat (but has all the amenities you could want), and miles upon miles upon miles upon miles of singletrack. Ironically, as good as the singletrack around Ketchum is, the race course was iffy at best. Rock gardens had to be hand-built, the main climb of the race saw 90% of the racers walking due to a combination of steep, loose gravelly trail, large root step-ups (12-18"), and severe racer congestion. The rest of the course wasn't bad, but didn't give you any opportunities to make up for the poorly constructed climb. Right at the bottom of the course, in front of the entire spectator crowd to see, was the "Waterfall" - a rock garden descent (of course, hand-built) that fell away from you as you entered. Imagine as you're riding into this section, you see rock-rock-big rock-nothing. The trail just disappeared from you. Interesting, but I got the better of it and crushed it on both laps. The climb was too steep for me to hold on to the group, so I found myself dropping a lot of time on the uphill portion. Made up for it on some flat sections - there just wasn't enough of the terrain in my wheelhouse that I could get back into the mix. Still, I bested my target time, and hung in there with the best mountain bike racers in the country. Great road trip, heading up with buddy Josh Whitney (took 3rd in our race) and local racer/friend Adam Plummer. Also ran into college cohort Aaron Elwell, racing the Pro division...always a great time catching up with him.
I guess first and foremost, let's get caught up on all the racing action this summer. I've taken part in a number of races up, down and around the mountain region of the country.
Of course, I've had to jump into the local Vail Rec District races. I've managed to make it to three of the five races so far: Eagle Ranch Classic, Hammer in the Hay, and Davos Dash. Haven't had the greatest success from a pure result standpoint, but I have been holding my own, setting a PR at Davos (a three-mile hillclimb) by 40 seconds. Pretty stoked with that one, cuz when you're 6'-6" and staring down the barrel of 200 lbs, one thing you don't do particularly well is go uphill in a hurry.
Also, I've jumped into a couple of Mountain States Cup races - Cheyenne Mountain Explosion, and Rabbit Valley Rally. Cheyenne was a technically demanding course, but not over the top from a fitness standpoint. Rabbit Valley Rally found me fighting some nutrient imbalance issues, and cramping out of the race. Sucks, because I was flat out hammering in that race until I went down.
The Teva Mountain Games have also come and gone. A lucky couple of days got the course in good prep for the race; and for only using the bottom third of Vail Mountain, my God was that a challenging track. Steep, punchy climbs that didn't just make your legs scream - they straight up took a chainsaw to them. Dropped the only water bottle I had with me about 5 minutes into the race...not sure why I even finished that one. Oh well - if there's one thing I'll say for the TMG event, it's that the swag bag for athletes is stellar. $40 entry fee, well over $50 worth of stuff in the bag. Makes just showing up worth it.
Palisade Classic was easily my best race of the year so far. Which is surprising, because typically I don't hang on very well in longer events. With a 45 minute climb right out of the gate, a solid 30 minute jeep road descent immediately after, the first half of the race didn't set up well for me. After holding it together through those two sections, the remainder of the course was flat, sandy singletrack winding all over on the mesa overlooking Colorado's wine country. Finally - a course that had the terrain that I excel at. Was able to keep things motoring along over the last two hours of the race, finishing up 17th in the overall standings.
 |
| The lower rock garden. 75 yards of hand-built hell. |
 |
| Climbing off the start of Nat'l Champs. Road is actually about 18% grade. |
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| The flat rocks were actually was one of my stronger facets of the race. |
Saturday, May 28, 2011
VRD #1: Eagle Ranch Classic
Vail Rec District XC #1, at my 'home course' in Eagle Ranch. Warmup wasn't going so well...pretty tired still from Sunday's Palisade Classic (more on that later). 'Pizza Legs' as my coach calls them...
VRD races are possibly the hardest hour of racing in Colorado. Heavy hitters - some of the best riders in the state - ramp the pace up to unbelievable speeds on short courses, creating a "hold on or get left" tempo.
This first local race of the season proved no different. The race course sets up as a good early season test of where a racer's riding is at: checks the power with some steep but short climbing, checks the handling with fast darting singletrack, and checks the overall fitness by offering no place for recovery.
Race started with Pros and Experts in one big group. Hot right off the start, and I couldn't muster the legs to go with. Did what I could for the first two laps, just hanging onto give myself a chance.
Someone in front of me stacked it up (i.e. crashed) on the first lap, and the leaders of my race were long gone. Sucks.
Second lap had me falling further off the pace, with no juice in the legs, falling back to 11th or so. The climb up and over Bailey's reaches grades that force you up over your front wheel to keep from flipping over backward. This one REALLY hurt. Good thing it's only a couple minutes long.
Legs opened up a little for the last lap, and was able to catch up to fellow Bach'er Tim Mt. Pleasant, put a good move on him, and work my way back up for a 7th place finish, with Tim following up closely thereafter in 8th.
Next up is Teva Mountain Games race next Saturday (we all hope?), with VRD #2 the following Wednesday at 4Eagle Ranch.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone4...what!
VRD races are possibly the hardest hour of racing in Colorado. Heavy hitters - some of the best riders in the state - ramp the pace up to unbelievable speeds on short courses, creating a "hold on or get left" tempo.
This first local race of the season proved no different. The race course sets up as a good early season test of where a racer's riding is at: checks the power with some steep but short climbing, checks the handling with fast darting singletrack, and checks the overall fitness by offering no place for recovery.
Race started with Pros and Experts in one big group. Hot right off the start, and I couldn't muster the legs to go with. Did what I could for the first two laps, just hanging onto give myself a chance.
Someone in front of me stacked it up (i.e. crashed) on the first lap, and the leaders of my race were long gone. Sucks.
Second lap had me falling further off the pace, with no juice in the legs, falling back to 11th or so. The climb up and over Bailey's reaches grades that force you up over your front wheel to keep from flipping over backward. This one REALLY hurt. Good thing it's only a couple minutes long.
Legs opened up a little for the last lap, and was able to catch up to fellow Bach'er Tim Mt. Pleasant, put a good move on him, and work my way back up for a 7th place finish, with Tim following up closely thereafter in 8th.
Next up is Teva Mountain Games race next Saturday (we all hope?), with VRD #2 the following Wednesday at 4Eagle Ranch.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone4...what!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Get Out Expo
Hey Kids!
If you're in the area, come on out to Eagle Ranch Village today to the Get Out Expo! Bike demos from local shops, group rides (one of which led by yours truly), clinics, and all sorts of other outdoor related shenannigans!
If you're in the area, come on out to Eagle Ranch Village today to the Get Out Expo! Bike demos from local shops, group rides (one of which led by yours truly), clinics, and all sorts of other outdoor related shenannigans!
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