Moving on...

Please visit www.gimmearaise.com  to view my site.

Thanks,

Neil

The Pain

The Colorado Trail Race is almost three weeks past and since then the world has continued to spin. Nothing has changed for anyone else. But for me and maybe a few others this race is drilled in my head. I can't stop writing about it, I can't stop thinking about it, and can't even stop dreaming about it. In my dreams I keep worrying about someone catching me and passing me. I dream about stubbing my toe on every damn rock in Sargents Mesa. I dream about finishing and how anti-climatic it was, but how the feeling was totally awesome. Anyways I should probably stop talking about it, so this is my last hurrah until next year. 

The pain that I endured during the 5 days on my bike has really set me back, as far as getting back on my bike. I have had ridiculous pain in my knees.  From what I'm told my my meniscus is not getting enough blood flow. This happens when muscles around your knee don't have anywhere to go -- which in turn squeezes the veins and cuts blood flow to the meniscus. I'm not quite sure I believe it or not. Ice, arnica, and rest has only recently helped me stop walking like I'm 75. 

My achilles tendon, which creaks like an old rocking chair, has continued to do so, on and off for a good part of a year now. It's fine when I don't hike my bike, but I tend to put myself in dumb situations like climbing Block and Tackle Trail, up Brush Creek Road near Crested Butte, or entering the CTR for that matter. Still rest, stretching, and yoga have yet to cure my ailing achilles.

My hands, ohhhh boy. After the Arizona Trail Race I experienced numbness caused by entrapment of the Ulnar nerve. What I understand is that this is very common for many racers participating in long multi-day races. Slowly the numbness went away with a few hand exercises I was told to do -- but be warned it's no fast fix. For the Colorado Trail Race, I experienced the same thing, but this time, it feels like I'm recovering from a broken wrist. The motion in my right wrist is far worse than the left. The strength in my fingers is very weak, especially my middle three fingers. To top it off, my pointer finger is bent, mimicking the position of gripping my break (this is kinda funny looking). 

My toes were absolutely crushed, especially in the Sargents Mesa section. My bike shoes have too big of a toe box creating lots of movement. They also have very little stiffness and protection near the toe. Those two elements have killed both my right and left big toe nails. Also, the CTR created a wicked blister on my left big toe that had finally stopped pussing a week ago. Oh and the big toes are also numb.

Last but not least, I can't remember eating so much food in a two week period ever in my life. The cravings I am having for junk food are way over the top. Gummy Bears, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Butterfingers........Yum. Then you add Ice cream into the mix, Third Bowl has seen me far too often, Ice cream cookie sandwiches taste far to good for the price I get them for, and I can't even stop eating home made shakes, which in turn keep me up all night because I'm so damn full. The cravings have slowly stopped. Luckily, because it was starting to really put a dent in my already small bank account. 

All of this hardship you think would have me never considering a bikepacking race again. I told myself, "no way in hell am I ever doing this again" when I was on the trail. I'm not sure if it's just me or what, but I seem to just block out and forget the bad times. Fortunately or unfortunately, the reward of such a race is so great, there is no stopping my inner drive from doing the Arizona or Colorado Trail Races next year. At some point throughout the winter, I'm sure I will heal up and be ready to go at it again, thats the beauty of time. You would think being a bit younger, your body would heal up faster? But thinking about it, the strongest riders are in the 30's or 40's and maybe their bodies have already gone through such agony that 'The Pain' is second nature. At any rate, I can't wait feel normal on my bike again!

Gear differences...Colorado Trail Race vs. Arizona Trail Race

Now that I have completed the Colorado Trail Race (CTR) I want to go over my gear difference between the Arizona Trail Race (ATR) and the CTR. There are some obvious differences, I mean one race is in Arizona and the other in Coloado. But there are also many similarities and they are both ridiculously hard adventure races. I'm so very happy to be done with my adventure races for the year, but at the same time I super excited to start planning for next years Arizona and Colorado Trail races.

Arizona Trail Race rig

Colorado Trail Race rig

The gear you bring is so important, especially when dealing with scorching hot days, and freezing cold rainy nights. Lets start with my sleep system. For both races I carried a Revelate Design Sweet Roll. It packs down very small and is waterproof. This prompted me to carry my important dry items in the

My Sweet Roll is stuffed.

front, which included most of my sleep system. I use an older Big Agnes Zerkel 25 degree sleeping bag, the Big Agnes Clearview Pad (which I stored in my saddle bag as it didn't need to stay dry), and a Marmot Alpinist bivy sac. The bag is a bit old and not quite at the 25 degree rating it once was, but it has worked well for both races. I was cold my first night in the Cataract section of the CTR, luckily for me it was the only night I was cold. The pad and bivy sac are extremely light. The bivy sac worked wonders in Colorado when is started to rain on me at night. It also dried very fast, which was important as my rig was already heavy enough. For next year, I think I'm going to get a new sleeping bag, I have to do my research but I'll probably stick with a 25 or 30 degree bag, just something lighter. I also may just go without a sleeping pad. I used my pad every night in the AZT and CTR but one night. I really like not dealing with deflating and packing it that one night. I have a few things to mull over for next year, but in general it was a flawless setup.

The Nuke's Little boy with custom lime green accents.

As far as saddle bags go, I used a Revelate Design Viscacha for the ATR, and a Nuclear Sunrise Stitchworks Little Boy for the CTR. I was having issues with the Viscacha hitting my rear tire when I stuffed it full. For the AZT I put little in the saddle bag just a few clothes and my sleeping pad. It worked very well and it cinched down very small. I decided that I would purchase something a bit Nuclear Sunrise Stitchworks, near the end of the ATR. We chatted about bikepacks and his side business. I bought a Little Boy Saddle Bag from him in June. It worked great for the CTR, but I didn't really have enough to fill the bag. I cinched it down as far as it could go, however there was still a bit of play. This bag would work wonders if you intend to pack more things but I did not. For next year I think I'm going to ditch the saddle bag all together for a full frame bag. Both bags, however, were very strong and tough, repelled water and held up as they were intended to. smaller for the CTR. I rode with Dave Wilson, owner and seamstress of

The main compartment that can fit a lot of food.

I purchased a partial frame bag from Revelate Design (the Tangle Frame Bag) before the ATR, and also used it for the CTR. I absolutely love this thing. For the ATR I packed food and a full 3 liter bladder in it. Because of the heat in Arizona, it's a good idea to carry extra water. This bag has won me over because of the side pouch which is just so convenient. In both races it carried my maps and cues sheet. My replacement sunglass lenses and my phone. For the CTR I packed a whole lot of food in the main section of the bag. Seriously, I packed way too much food. Near the end of the CTR I assessed my food, I still had 5 Tuna packets, a big bag of precooked bacon, huge bag of trail mix and other little snacks. I honestly never needed to really buy food as I packed the frame bag to capacity. You live and learn I guess. The seams and zippers held up great and I had no issues with water penetration when it rained. Like I said above, I might go with a full frame bag next year. It's more convenient and it should keep the weight more centered on my bike.

The Jerry Can and Gas Tank.

I carried two top tube bags from Revelate Design, the Jerry Can (rear) and Gas Tank (front). I love both of these small bags, as the access is so easy. For both races I carried all my spare batteries, my Ipod Shuffle and headphones, sunscreen, chap-stick, and chamois butter. As for the Gas Tank, I filled that thing with snacks, it can fit soooooooo much... 4 Cliff bars, 4 protein bars, 10 fruit leathers, Emergen-C packets, and more. When the bag got low, I transferred a few snacks from my frame bag to the Gas Tank. They are also great bags for long day rides if you don't want to carry a backpack. I can fit my rain Jacket in the Jerry Can, and I can adjust the Gas Tanks velcro to cinch it smaller. Overall, these are two great products.  I will no doubt be using these two bags again for next year.




On to the debate of the backpack. A lot of people like backpacks for races like these. It's a convenient way to store water, and things you may need throughout the day, arm warmers/coolers, knee warmers, etc. Backpacks are also a convenient place to put a bunch of extra, unneeded crap making it feel like your carrying bricks on your back. I used an Osprey Raptor for the ATR, and I stuffed it to the max. On top of a 3 liter bladder, I put all of my extra things in the large compartment. By the end of the race, my back started to cramp, creating issues for a long time after the race as well. I decided to change it up for the CTR. I bought a Camelbak Octane. It a lumbar backpack that holds two liters of water horizontally around your waist. My thinking behind this was to keep the weight lower on my back. I also knew I would not need to carry as much water as it is plentiful on the Colorado Trail. It's also much smaller and holds very little, alleviating the issue of carrying unnecessary items. I ended up storing my bike repair kit and a few other things. This was a much better option for my back. I will most likely be using this for the ATR next year for water storage. As far as next year's CTR, I'm going to attempt to do it without a backpack.

The lumbar 2 liter bladder. 

 Lights are another very important piece of gear on races like these, if you ride at night you will need lights. I bought two Fenix LD 20 Lights over the winter. I liked them a lot, they are bright enough at 100 lumens on high (which I rarely used), super light weight, and battery operated. However, during both the ATR and CTR, I had one of my lights fail on me. The light wouldn't turn on. I replaced the batteries, took the thing apart, and even threw it. It brought upon negativity which is what needs to be avoided at all costs on a race like this. I even questioned finishing both races. Luckily I had my Black Diamond Spot headlamp as backup. I'm super happy I packed it for both races, if not I would have really struggled in the dark. I have already ordered and received my AyUp Adventure V4 Lighting System. It is a 2 light rechargeable lighting systems that comes with mounts and batteries packs. I know it will work for the AZT next year as long as I carry the necessary amount of batteries. But for the CTR I'll need to figure out something else, in order for the lights to last long enough, I would need to carry a lot of batteries.


I road a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Carbon HT for both races. I love this bike and it's currently the only thing I have. I have wondered what it would be like if I had a full suspension for both races. I feel like the amount of beating I took was tough on my arms, back, and butt. I did however love it on any of the road sections, I felt like it was a small advantage. With the technology of these new full suspension bikes, I am leaning towards a full suspension for both races. I've been looking at the new Specialized Epics, and the Salsa Spearfish. I'm going to steer clear of carbon, so I'm leaning towards the Spearfish -- especially with it's new split pivot technology. The drivetrain was a 2X10 with 24/38 tooth chain rings. I had not issues other then a chain link breaking in the Taryall section of the CTR. For the AZT I used my stock Roval rims, they worked but I was excited to get a new set. I had Southern Wheelworks build me up a much lighter wheel. Hope Pro Evo 2 Hubs, with DT Swiss Competition spokes and Stans Crest Rims. They held up great and really reduced the weight of my bike. On those wheels I rode only the best, Maxxis Icon EXO 2.2 tires.

To be honest, not much was different in terms of gear for the two races. I carried much more water on the AZT and much more food on the CTR. Both were fit into my frame bag so the weight distribution felt the same. I am really going to try and cut some weight down for next year. Clothes I never used, food I never used, and a lighter sleeps system should all contribute to a lighter rig. I also just received and installed my new XX1 drivetrain that I will most likely be using from here on out. I'll have to play around with front chainring sizes but I'm really looking forward to testing it out in the next few days.

Brand spanking XX1 Drivetrain. 

The Colorado Trail Race, 2013 Race Report

Please click here for my 2013 CTR race report http://wp.me/p3Ozct-3c




The Colorado Trail Race (CTR) had it's 7th annual start this year on July 21st at 4am. There were only two elements that could make this year's race more difficult than years past: a direction change or an alternative wilderness area detour. It so happens that this years CTR incorporated both. As a rookie to the CTR, but having rode the trail last year, I was not certain that the direction change was what made it the trail so taxing, but I knew that the additional 50 mile Taryall detour added a new element of challenge for many.

In any case, my first CTR would include riding 550 miles from Durango to Denver with little idea of how much time it would take. I set a goal of under 6 days, just to make sure I could get back to Crested Butte with a day to spare before work. All of my plans and preparations had been solidified roughly a week before the race, and all I needed was a ride down to Durango. It came down to the wire but Nate Stewart from Gunnison, a fellow CTR racer, volunteered to drive his car down to Durango.

Nate and my bikes in the back of his truck, if only they knew what they were getting into. 

We arrived in Durango on Saturday afternoon, got some food, a hotel room, and made final adjustments to our rigs. It was nice to chat with another rider the night before as it really helped me figure out some final details. I slept well that night, had dreams of beautiful mountain vistas, sunsets, and laughs. I woke up, put on the bike clothes that I would wear for the next 5 days, and headed over to Carvers for a delicious quiche and some coffee. 74 riders all assembled in front of Velorution Cycles and set off at 4:00am after Stefan, the race organizer, said a few words. Eventually we would hit the Junction Creek Trailhead where we were all bottlenecked for a while. I had a good position until I needed to stop to adjust my bike computer sensor. I dropped far back and it was a struggle to get back up front. The sun rose and slowly everyone spread out.

I had no real plan but to keep pushing. I got to Kennebeck Pass and eventually Indian Ridge where I had my first taste of the Colorado Trail hike a bike (HAB) with Jefe Branham and Max Morris.  Jefe eventually took off and I would never see him again. He went chasing after Jesse Jakomait who took off hot from the start. Blackhawk, Bolam, and Molas all passed with my lungs taking a beating. I forgot how high this trail can be. Even after training in Crested Butte, I still felt the altitude. I would eventually make it into Silverton around 6pm where I saw Matt Schiff and Jerry Oliver eating some food. I was certain I could make it to Silverton before the grocery store closed at 8, however I still packed a lot of food in case. I didn't purchase much at all in Silverton, just a few things to eat at the time.

I made my way up Stony Pass trying to bike as much as possible. The sun set beneath the mountains
just as I got to the top. I was getting my lights ready for segment 23 when I noticed my head light, a Fenix LD20, wasn't working. The same thing happened to me on the Arizona Trail Race 300 this year. It just shorted out for some reason. I replaced the batteries, banged it against my hand, event took it entirely apart, but had no luck. Fortunately I was prepared for this and had my Black Diamond Spot headlamp as backup. It emits 90 lumens for a good while on 3 AAA batteries. I rigged it to my helmet and pushed on. I didn't push too far in the dark, maybe 8 miles, before the sleep monster took over. My plan was to sleep a lot the first two nights just to feel rejuvenated. I slept 5 hours that first night. I woke in the dark and started to pack my sleep system. While packing Max and Eric Cutlip passed me. I eventually caught up to them and chatted with them a while. I rode the beautiful Cataract section pedaling harder then I would have ever imagined. It is truly a sight bringing your bike up to 13,000 feet. The views were unbelievable. I finally got to Spring Creek Pass and started the long, hot detour around La Garita Wilderness.

Stony Pass sunset. 

I continued to leap frog with Max as we got scorched by the afternoon sun. We made it to Apples Camp and it was really a treat. I had heard about the legendary camp but had yet to experience it. It was just what I needed, a Coke, chips and shade. I didn't stay long. I wanted to get past HWY 114 and get in towards Sargents Mesa before I would bivy up for a few hours. Both Max and I were counting on water from Razor Creek, but after further inspection we decide against filling our bottles with cow poop infested water. I was nearly out of water and knew I was going to need to detour to Baldy Lake. I road with Max until the sleep monster struck again. I contemplated continuing to Baldy Lake but decided to bivy up with Max. We slept 4 hours that night and it felt amazing.

The alarm sounded and before I knew it Max took off as I took my time getting my things packed up. I eventually got to Baldy Lake around 3:00am, filled up on water, and continued on to the infamous Sargents Mesa in the dark. Man, was I happy to do that section in the dark. Although I don't believe it's nearly as difficult going South to North, it is still so damn rocky. I stubbed my toe so many times that I would eventually bust up my left big toe pretty bad. The sun rose just as Sargents Mesa was behind me. Long descents, like the one to Tank Seven Creek, were starting to take a toll on my body. My feet were beginning to jam in my shoes and my arms became exhausted. After the long and steep hike-a-bike out of Tank Seven Creek, I finally arrived at Marshall Pass which was a welcoming sight as the area is so close to home.

I started to feel real good heading up the Crest Trail. I filled up on water and was ready for the heat of the day. All of a sudden, Travis Wildeboer came cruising by out of nowhere. He passed me so fast there was no time to chat, he was definitely on some sort of a mission. He continued on his fast pace and I followed, we would quickly pass Max making it the last time I would see him for the remainder of the race. I passed Travis on the way down Fooses, near the top, and had a blast on the 3,000 foot descent. It beat me up, but it was still a lot of fun. I stopped to eat some food just off Hwy 50 as Travis rolled up a few minutes later.

We got to chatting and Travis was trying to make it to the Buena Vista post office for a package pick up.  It was already about noon and I told him I didn't think it was very likely to make it before 5pm. He crunched some numbers, as he often would for the duration of the race. He knew it would be nearly impossible and slowed his roll. We chatted all the way from the Shavano Trailhead to Cottonwood Pass. Having someone to talk to made time pass, and I was really enjoying myself on the trail. It also did not hurt that this section of the trail is actually pretty fun and not that rocky. We stopped at the Princeton Hot Springs market quick for a snack and beverage before continuing on. It was a very warm day as most summer days are in the Banana Belt. While riding up the steep road we crossed paths with three southbound riders. It was nice to chat with those guys and get their perspective on the guys ahead. Having the opportunity to chat with other racers is something I will never take for granted.

We finally made it to Cottonwood Road as the sun was setting. Travis and I had planned to make our stay brief as we wanted to get as close to Twin Lakes as possible. We ordered some burgers and sandwiches from Jan's, and went to City Market while the food was cooking. I loaded up on batteries for the rest of the trip and got a few extra Cliff bars and a Powerade. I went back to Jan's, devoured my burger, which I loaded with mayonnaise, and stuffed my fried chicken sandwich for the next morning in my frame bag. After our 40 minute stop in Buena Vista we were on the road again, in the dark, in complete CTR bliss. The detour was fast, I really wanted to push the pace. I felt fantastic, Travis too, sometime during the detour Travis was wondering if we could catch Matt or Jerry. I said no way as I thought they would be pretty far ahead. I think that was great motivation however. We obviously did not want to get caught by Max but we felt we were going at a fast enough pace to catch those guys. We made it to the Clear Creek Reservoir as both of us became delirious. My goal was to push to the top of the initial climb and Travis followed. Not sure if he was seeing things or not but this was the only time I ever felt weird.  I knew I would at some point, but it never got all that bad. We made it to the top and decided to bivy up in a clearing two miles into segment 11.

Details are hard to remember, but I think I woke up around 3:30am packed up my stuff quickly and got on my way. Night riding is difficult, but it's a must in the CTR. The sleep really helped as I had a blast all the way to Twin Lakes. Before I knew it, the sun was starting to rise, and my spirits were high as a kite. One thing I never did on the Arizona Trail Race this April was listen to music. I decided to put in the ear buds for the climb up to Half Moon Road, and man I felt awesome. A little Bob Marley screaming in my ears was just what the doctor ordered. I quickly made it to Half Moon Road. I told Travis I was going to bypass Leadville as I felt I had plenty of food until Copper. He had plans of the same, not before we took a quick stop at the gas station off HWY 24.

At this point my knees started to hurt pretty bad. I became a bit worried but was still focused on the ultimate goal, so I told my knees to "shut up." I climbed up to Wurts Ditch and eventually Tennessee Pass. I was in a funk and expected Travis to gain some time on me, once we reached the downhill and crossed HWY 24 again, I was resurrected. It's funny how emotional a race like this can be. I still can't believe what our bodies are capable of enduring. This was a key moment for me because I really wanted to stick with Travis, and my goal the rest of the way was to keep pace with him. Travis is used to these demands. He is an ultra marathon athlete and his body is trained for grueling races like this. We cruised past Camp Hale and started the long climb to Kokomo Pass. A perfect time for a storm, right? It would eventually dump buckets on us. Not only that but hail the size of nickels fell for a good half hour. The storm made the trail a flowing creek which made it slow moving. Lucky for us, just as we reached tree line the storm had pushed West. Behind the storm brought blue skys, which made the double pass of Kokomo and Searle possible without stopping. Travis took off and I again thought I would never catch him. I started my decent into Copper and to my surprise, ran back into Travis.

Travis near the top of Gold Hill. We were truly blessed with the weather this afternoon.

We biked through Copper Mountain Ski Area and made our way off route a bit to the gas station off HWY 91.  I walked into the Conoco completely overwhelmed, it was not normal. I gathered my self and tried to remember what I needed... Ibuprofen!!!! My knees were really hurting and unfortunately I resorted to Vitamin I, as I like and stay away from pain meds.  I got a few snacks, a coconut water, ordered two sandwiches to-go, and a meatball sub to scarf down quick. My stop was quick, but not as quick as Travis who was always ready to get back on the trail. This was a good thing as it made me hustle whenever I stopped. I made my way back to the trail stuffed but mentally prepared for the HAB up Gold Hill, I nearly hiked the whole way to the top. Luckily the weather had turned to clear skies, and it would last the whole duration of the steep climb. We made it above tree line as I stopped and soaked up the views. Every so often you need to stop and soak in the beauty, and remember how beautiful the Colorado Trail actually is. We made it to the top and started the long descent which turned my arms into Jello. The sun slowly faded just as we reached the the trailhead. Travis and I stopped to eat some food, layer up, and turn the lights back on. The last major climb was in our reach, Georgia Pass. At first the riding was fun, but my body soon shut down and needed to sleep. Travis felt the same way so we bivied up about 8 miles into segment 6. I shut my eyes, knowing this may be my last rest until the finish.

Selfie near the top of Gold Hill

a typical section of the Coloraod Trail, Gold Hill.

I woke up to the crushing sound of thunder as rain drops started to soak through the trees and onto my bivy. It was around 3am and I rushed to get all of my things packed before the rain saturated all of my stuff. Everything hurts, my ass, my knees, my upper body, my mind. It is always so difficult to get back on the saddle after a few hours of rest, especially this far into the race. I got moving a few minutes after Travis and started the long stretch up Georgia Pass. It was raining pretty consistently, making every root as slick as ice. It didn't help that the Georgia Pass climb is a trail of roots. I reached for my sunglasses as rain started to get in my eyes. I usually kept them on my helmet, but when I reached for them, they were not there. I had been in such a rush to pack up my things that morning that I forgot my sunglasses on the ground. I was not happy. We finally made it to the top of the pass as another huge storm came whipping in from the West. I hurried to shelter myself near tree line as the rain really started to fall. Here I would layer up to prepare for the cold wet ride down Georgia Pass. I was freezing, my body hurt with every bounce from a root or a rock. After the pain of the century ended, we finally reached Kenosha Pass, filled up on water and were ready to embark on the unknown Teryall detour.

First we had 6 miles of unknown singletrack that I completely forgot about until it was in front of me. It went by fast and it was relatively fun. We then reached the famous Taryall detour. I now look at it in three parts. Part 1 being lots of ups and downs, a few turns here and there but very bland and uneventful. Part 2 started when Pat greeted me as we turned in to the Stage Stop "you Neil" he said. "Yeah" I responded. Pat was the owner of the bar and convenience store. He was completely into the race following us all on Trackleaders. He mentioned that there was some one right behind us. We went to his computer to find out it was Wayne Keith, who started his individual time trial on the 19th. I was happy to find out no one else was near us. I ordered a chicken sandwich and got a few items for the road. We thanked Pat and quickly got on our way as Wayne rolled in. He was excited as ever and pumped to finish the race, as was I.

Travis on Wellington Road

Part 2 continued until we were greeted by the construction crew. Just my luck, we missed the 10:30am opening and had to wait until 12:00pm. Travis and I were upset at the time because we thought it would hinder our sub 5 day finish. We took the time to sleep in the shade under a truck. Part 2 continued through the construction zone and through the town of Taryall. All in all it was not too bad. Part 3 however was the kicker. It started off fun, a nice climb, a nice descent, another nice climb, another nice descent. It was crazy to see how vast the Hayman burn area actually was. Soon the receptiveness of the climbs and descents became draining and before I knew it a storm with a consistent 35 MPH wind started entering our direct path. Before I knew it I was being pelted in the face and eyes by hail and rain. I really could have used my sunglasses right now. The storm didn't slow us down however,  as we knew the sub 5 day goal was in our grasps. It continued to rain all the way up Stony pass (the not so stony one), and all the way down to Wellington Road where segment 3 began. Taryall...Yes, it was longer then I could have imagined, yes, it was miserable for Part 3, yes, I voted against the detour, but looking back on it I can't say it was the worst part of the CTR. I even remember Travis saying on one of the downhills how awesome it was.

Me on Wellington Road. 

We started segment 3 as the rain finally came to a stop and the sun quickly set. We reached little Scaggy Trailhead. We were making good time and both Travis and I knew we had one more major climb left. We both made phone calls to our pickups stating we would be arriving at Waterton Canyon between 12:30 and 1:30am. We started segment 2 in hopes that it would be super buff singletrack, but with the rain the trail was slow moving. Travis and I talked the whole way down to the Platte River praising each others performances and talking about future plans. When we made it to the river, we sat and relaxed, for the first time there was no urgency. We chilled for about 10 minutes eating a lot of the extra food I was carrying and chatted with a friendly and curious police officer. At that moment I know I had done it, I could have walked the rest of the way and been happy with my performance.

We hopped back on our bikes and continued to talk. The climb was wet and cold but we quickly warmed up as our heart rate rose from the switchbacks. It seemed to last forever, but for some reason my body felt the best it did the whole race. It's funny the way that works. I'm sure if it was not the final stretch I would have felt like crap. We made it to Lenny's Rest and with one more final climb we knew we were home free.  In the final stretch we decided to cross the finish together, it felt right. We arrived to the parking lot where each of our significant others greeted us. We had finished the CTR at 1:30am on Friday morning. Our final time was 4 days, 21 hours, and 30 minutes. Just like that, I stopped riding my bike and I was ready for a shower and a bed.

Time for some pizza, a shower, and sleep!

I started Mountain biking about three years now, and I would never have imagined getting this into it, and doing something this ridiculous on a bike. But this is reality, and I love every bit of it. While I was on the trail, I told myself I would never do this damn thing again. It is amazing how fast you forget all of the pain and suffering. My hand is currently not working, my knees are still killing me, and my back is as sore as ever. Bikepacking is my favorite way of traveling and I can't wait for my next adventure.

I really need to thank everyone who supported me in this endeavor. My girlfriend Lindsay for picking me up at the trail head, and dealing with me working 70 hours a week this summer. Stew Gross for telling me I had what it took to race bikes, and of course for introducing me to Trackleaders. I was so into following those little blue dots, I told my self one day, Ill be a small blue dot myself! Rhett Griggs and Dave Ochs for giving me the opportunity to race on one of the best teams in Colorado. Its also pretty cool feeling being on the same team as Jefe, who has been a main inspiration for my bikepacking. Dave Wilson, thanks for the sweet Nuclear Sunrise Stitchworks saddle bag, and your advice on sleeping a lot early really paid off. I'm so stoked to be on Team Go (Griggs Orthopedics), Its a dream come true. Big thanks to The Alpineer my go to Crested Butte bike shop, SRAM (cant wait to be like Jefe with my new XX1, haha), Acli-mate best sports drink out there, Crested Butte Mountain Resort for employing me and for having some bomb singletrack, Rock and Roll Sports, The Go To Guide, Pike Builders, Elk Mountain Lodge, Rudy Project, High Mountain Concepts, Chucks Glass, and Squirt.

2013 Colorado Trail Race Prep

Ok, I guess there is a pretty big race coming up on Sunday morning, big for my standards and its time to start talking preparation.  It has been a very interesting bike season for me. In short, the spring offered early biking which helped prepare for the Arizona Trail Race, Kokopelli Trail Race, and Gunnison Growler. Then summer arrived, with only one race in the books since then with Salidas Big Friggin Loop. In between all that was the opportunity to ride for Griggs Orthopedics, Crested Buttes premier cycling team. One of my goals this bike season was to be apart of something, be on a team, experience support, and ride with sponsors on my back. I feel like I have an opportunity and more drive to cycle for a cause. I'm young, and this is an experience I could not pass up.

Since Salidas Big Friggin Loop cycling took a back seat to "life." In June I accepted a job as the accounts manager for a super cool PR firm in Seattle that works with outdoor brands, and hopefully bike brands soon. The best part....I work from home. Bottom line, with two jobs, roughly 70 hours of work a week and a summer full of fun its time to get my butt back on the saddle......for a very long time.

Thats what the Colorado Trail Race is for. To be honest, I have been avoiding the preparation, but now that I'm talking about it more and more it is getting me excited. July 21st at 4:00am a few other nut cases and I will set off on a 500+ mile journey from Durango to Denver to experience the best that Colorado has to offer. Now as far as my preparation goes, I have not had much time, so I'm going to keep it very similar to the Arizona Trail Race. I learned a lot in Arizona and my system seemed to work well, but there is always room for improvement. Still with these improvements, I have plans for next year when I have more funding to support them.

I have a goal in mind as far as a finish time, but I would rather not do any jinxing. I do however want want to finish in under a week, not get rained on (like that will happen), and push my self harder then ever. It is more of a mental challenge then anything, and I need to make sure I stay as positive as possible.

Here is my 2013 Colorado Trail Race gear list

Revelate Design Front Bag:

• Sleeping Bag 25 Degree Big Agnes
• Arm/Knee warmers
• Lightweight down jacket
• Buff
• Smart Wool cap
• Important Items that need to stay dry (when need be)

Nuclear Sunrise Stitchworks Saddle Bag

• Big Agnes Clearview pad
• Marmot bivy sac
• Rain pants
• Rain jacket
• Long johns
• Long sleeve thermal
• Long sleeve t-shirt
• Extra pair of socks
• Warm Gloves
• Spot Device in mesh pocket. (thanks Dave, finally a good place for my spot)

Revelate Design frame Bag

• Food (Start with 14,000 calories, just incase something happens and I cant get to Silverton.)
• Dried Fruit
• Peanut butter
• Honey stinger waffles
• Trail Mix
• Apple (one to start)
• Jerky
• And some other food that looks good when I head to city market on Saturday. 
• Aquamira tablets (water Purification)
• Replacement Lenses (clear/lowlight)
• First Aid Kit
• Shoe covers (small toe caps)
• PI ear warmers
• Spare tube
• CTR Databook
• Maps
• Cue sheet

Revelate Design Gas Tank

• Emergen-C
• Trail Mix
• Cliff Bars
• Cliff Gu's/shots
• Cliff Protein Bars 
• Aclimate
• Snickers

Revelate Design Jerry Can

• Batteries
• I-pod and headphones
• Chapstick
• Sun screen.
• Arnica gel
• Organic pain cream/chamois butter 

Camelbak Octane

• 2L bladder
• Pump and Co2
• Repair Kit
• Tape Stick
• Athletic
• Duck
• electrical
• industrial thread
• Shifter cable
• Zip Ties
• Park boots
• Extra Stans Sealant
• Break pads
• Multi Tool
• Small Knife
• Small towel
• Super glue
• Squirt Lube (2 small bottles)

On Bike Bars

• Garmin Etrex 30
• Cat Eye bike computer
• Fenix LD20 mounted

On Me

• PI P.R.O. bibs
• Pearl Izumi base shirt
• PI Elite Jersey (Griggs Ortho)
• Smart Wool Socks
• Giro DND bike gloves
• Pearl Izumi Alp Enduro Shoes
• Giro Aeon Helmet with Fenix LD20 mounted
• Pearl Izumi under cap
• Smith Eco shades
• Hope and confidence
• And a dash of luck

If you are bored at work, or just chilling on the couch after work go to this link: http://trackleaders.com/ctr13

Here you will be able to fine my little blue dot and watch my progress.

I really would like to thank my support team, even though you will not be able to support me. I can not thank Rhett Griggs, and the whole Griggs Orthopedic team enough for giving me the opportunity to join an amazing team with amazing people. It means the world to me and I'm so excited to represent team GO. I want to keep this brief but big thanks to, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) for the support and the awesome trails on the mountain. I cant believe the trail system upgrades. I was blown away on Wednesday with the Pinnacle series. To be able to have a cross country race and a downhill race at the same time is a dream come true. Huge props to the trail crew and the whole team at CBMR. Also a big thanks to Acli-Mate, Stans No Tubes, Rudy Project, Squirt, Sram, Rock & Roll Sports, The Alpineer, Pikes Builders, The beautiful The Elk Mountain Lodge, Chucks Glass, High Mountain Builders, and the Go To Guide. This would not be possible with out all the support for some fantastic people, much love.

Salida's Big Friggin Loop

This past Saturday I planned on racing in Salida's Big Friggin Loop (SBFL). After the Original Growler, and my first race with Team GO I was super motivated. I wanted to get another race in before my busy non-bike schedule kicked in. Tom Purvis, the Salida local race organizer has done a fantastic job planning the 2 routes. The base loop is the shorter of the two at 90 miles and 10,500 feet of climbing, it follows the big loops route but takes a more direct route back to Salida. The Big loop consists of 107 miles with a mix of singletrack, dirt road, and very primitive trail. The course climbs roughly 12,500 feet through thick forest and wide open valleys.

If there was an option to ride a century I didn't want to pass it up, I was in for the 107 mile loop. The previous day I rolled into Salida with hopes to get a good nights sleep at the Days Inn. First, Lindsay and myself went to Amicas for some pizza and salad, I would highly recommend it. They are also a microbrew with a tasty IPA. We went back to the hotel where it seemed to take me forever to fall asleep. I was not all that nervous but for some reason I had a lot going through my mind, making it difficlut to fall asleep.

I woke at 5:00am excited for the race. I made my way to Cafe Dawn to get all my gear and bike ready to roll. Racers started to trickle in and soon enough the place was packed. Tom stood up to give a brief overview of the day ahead and explained about the 45 minute time reduction 'chip' long loop riders could find in the ghost town of Futurity. 6:30am arrived quickly and 65 riders swarmed the streets of Salida. We made our way up the contry side of Salida and steadly climbed up towards the Mt. Shivano Trailhead. I biked with Matt Schiff for a bit as 6 other riders took off ahead. Matt gave me some beta on the trail that was very helpful. We chatted a bit about bikes then he eventually dropped me a little ways after we hit the singletrack.

I forgot how difficult this section of the Colorado Trail was. I remember it being rocky from riding the Colorado Trail the other direction last year. It was much more difficult then I had anticipated. What I did know was the climb out of Prinston Hot Springs would be tough, with 1,400 feet of elevation gain in less then 4 miles.  I passed two short loop riders and one long loop rider before I got to the long decent into Buena Vista. I knew there were at least 3 riders ahead of me, and I assumed they were all going for the long loop.

I cruised as fast as my 38 tooth chain ring would go down to Buena Vista, trying hard to catch up to anyone I could. I arrived at Boneshaker Cycles, they were kind enough to have water and electrolight set ouside their shop.  It was a perfect location as it was still on course. It was getting hot, I took off my base layer and purchased a few Honey Stingers waffels, filled up on fluids and got on my way. My refuel was brief and soon I was off to unfamiliar territory, the east side of the long loop.

Jens Nielson passed me while I was at Boneshaker Cycles, I caught up with him on the climb out of Buena Vista. He set a good pace and I just followed him on the super fun Midland Trail. We climbed up Co Road 315 and I eventually passed him before the downhill where the long loop seperates from the base loop. I later found out Jens took first overall on the base loop. I took the turn left on the long loop, the head wind was brutal. I slowly made my way up and across HWY 285 into the South Park Basin.

After 285 I didn't see another soul, at least souls on bikes. The terrain was tough, lots of permitive roads that were rocky and steep. There is a lot of time to think when your in the saddle for hours and hours. I studied the tire tracks, I saw three, I figured I was in 4th because no one in their right mind would bring a bike out there for fun. The tail-wind was helping me a bit with it blowing at my back, it gave me a boost. Eventually after a few small climbs I ran into a locked cattle guard. It stated "No Tresspassing, No Hunting, No fishing." I didn't want to turn around as no one else did. I had no choice but to climb over and push on, hoping a rancher would not see me.

My willpower soon faded and cruise control set in. I had to dismount my bike numerous times because of locked cattle guards. I eventually got to the hike-a-bike section after passing the turn off, thank god for GPS. I knew my opportunity to pass someone was out of the question now. I was on and off my bike for a good half hour, hiking up to the ridge that would eventually lead me down to the Ghost Town of Futurity. In Futurity I found the 45 minute reduction chip quickly in a house on the right side of the trail. I also looked for a water stash that I secretly hoped was there, nope. I was conserving water pretty well but it was hot and I wanted to chug gallons upon gallons at that point.

I took off from the small little ghost town thinking it would only get eaiser. After descending down a road the long loop rejoined the base loop. I start to notice lots of tire tracks, I was thinking maybe I would have seen some one, nope. Better yet I would start the toughest climb of the day. It took forever, the loose rock and steep grade road was demoralizing, I wanted to just walk my bike. A jeep passes me, he says "your almost there" he saw the pain in my eys, those simple words were very uplifting. I finished off my last of my two water bottles. I had a little more then a half liter in my bladder left.

After making it to the summit of the climb my legs were beat. I was completely exhausted, I was just hoping for nothing but downhill the rest of the way. That's what I got, a very fast 10 mile decent into Salida. I recognized the North Backbone Trailhead which is part of the Arkansas Hills Trail System. I chugged the rest of my water signling a personal victory. I walked across the 3 railroad crossing and hopped back on the saddle and weaved my way to Cafe Dawn. I had made it. 107 miles, with 13,000 feet of elevation gain. This was a true test of endurance. I finished In 4th place (9hr 27min) just as I had thought. However, Jessey Jakomait who finsihed first (8hr 47min) did not find the chip, which bumped me up to 3rd... if we're playing that game.

Big Thanks to Team Griggs Orthopedics ( Team GO) and Rhett Grigss. I was the only GO rider in the field and it felt good to represent. I also want to thank the Alpineer for Calling SRAM multiple times this month regarding my broken Reba. The persistance eventually paid off with a generous upgrade to a 2013 Sid XX World Cup. The fork worked to perfection. Another big shout out to Rock and Roll sports where I spend far too much money. Acli-mate my go to endurance sports drink, and to the rest the sponsors: Go To Guide, Pike Builders, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Rudy Project, Elk Mountain Lodge, High Mountain Concepts, Chucks Glass, and Squirt, thank you. Can't wait for the Vapor Trail.

Just Relax Already

The past few months have been a total blast, but with sacrifice. I've been on my bike a lot, training, suffering, and racing. Although Its only been three races, each one of them were the hardest thing I have ever done.

First was the Arizona Trail Race which was an amazing overall experience, but it was mentally draining. I dealt with a lot of negatives and they were tough to over come.  I did however, and my mental strength has made me a stronger rider. The Kokopelli's Trail Race was next and it was very physically demanding. You can be in the right frame of mind but no matter what, 143 miles in one sitting will beat you up. The late 12:30am start time contributed to a very tough day on the bike. The Original Growler was the shortest race (65 miles) I have done all year and yet the most suffering I have ever experienced on a bike. A race like this is not easy and honestly shorter races are not my cup of tea, but the recently knowledge I gained from the previous races helped me finish in the top 25. Its funny that I keep signing up for such events, the positives are remembered, and the negatives are forgotten.

All of this racing has got me thinking why I truly started to love mountain biking... because its fun. Pain and suffering is rewarding but looking back, its not the reason I started to pedal up mountains and down through valleys. I love biking for the access and beauty. 

The past three bike rides have put fun back in to biking. I'm so blessed to know so many great people in and around Crested Butte. It does not matter where I ride, how fast I get there, or who I ride with, just as long as I relax and have fun. Everyone finally has the itch to get on their bikes as the trails have melted off quickly in the past few weeks. This is our time before the tourist come. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world, embrace it.

Gunnison Growler 2013

This past Memorial Day weekend, 700 racers filled the Gunnison Valley for the Gunnison Growler. The Growler has been around for 6 years now and every year becomes more and more popular. The race is held at Hartman's Rocks, and is sure to test anyone's ability. There are two races, the 32 mile race, which was held on Saturday, and the 64 mile race held on Sunday. Each year the tough course rotates directions from clockwise to counter-clockwise. This year happened to be the faster (clockwise) direction.

This was my first race on Team GO (Griggs Orthopedics).  I felt the pressure in the days leading up to the race, but that was expected. Not only that, but my legs were not feeling 100 percent after I raced the Kokopelli Trail the previous weekend.

I woke to my alarm at 5:00am, after a decent night sleep. For breakfast I made some bacon and eggs. Stew Gross and I made our way down to Gunnison shortly after eating. I was pretty nervous. I knew I would feel better once on the trail. After getting changed and packing my food in my jersey, I was ready. We all piled in on the street in downtown Gunnison just waiting for the shotgun start, singling the neutral roll out to Hartman's.

It was cold but I knew I would heat up fast. Bikers were rubbing tires jocking for a good position on the road. Once we reached the entrance to Hartman's, everyone took off and it was complete chaos. The narrow road created a bottle neck. I wanted to keep to the left as there were no washboards on that part of "Kill Hill." Later in the race Troy kept saying local knowledge is to our benefit. This was one example of that. I got up "Kill Hill" and noticed not many riders behind me. I was at the tail end of the leaders group.

I was thinking my pace was too hard, but I just kept pushing. Josho's, Sea of sage, Skyline, and down to Bambis. After completing the difficult Skull Pass section, I made my way back up to the first feed zone. I was greeted with a platter of food, bacon, bananas and Honey Stinger gummies. The support crews were overwhelmingly helpful. Rhett was all over the place... Skull Pass-Base Area-Skull Pass...that is true dedication. I changed out my bottles grabbed some bacon and got going toward Enchanted Forest. Ochs would soon pass and eventually Troy as I rode solo through Dave Moes, Josies, and Gateway.  I reached the Top Of The World/Ridge intersection when I noticed Evan pumping up his tire that was giving him some issues. I rode through the Ridge like a sloth and made my way down Collarbone.

I reached the second GO feed tent. I knew there were a bunch of GO riders ahead of me so we all must have kept the the support crew pretty busy. I was in and out quickly, knowing one of the hardest climbs lie ahead, Backbone to The Notch. This is when my legs succumbed to the pain for the first time. I got off my bike on the sandy Backbone climb and hopped back on for The Notch. There were some fun spectators at the Beck's junction which gave me a bit of a boost. It wasn't over yet as we then had to climb up Rattle Snake, brutal.

By this point everyone was a good distance apart, which was nice. Josho's, Broken Shovel, Skyline, and back down to Bambi's. The course was pretty beat up and dusty after the race on Saturday and the first lap of Sunday. The climb out of Bambi's was tough and Evan passed me. I was determined to stay on his wheel. I again made it to Skull Pass as the heat of the day started to crank up. The climb from the bottom was painful and I started to cramp up. I reached the feed zone and had to get off my bike and get some fluids in me. The support crew, again, was super helpful and made sure I didn't stay too long.

I felt refreshed, I downed a banana, some gummies and had two fresh bottles for the finish.  Evan was still in sight which was my driving force not to let go. I reached the Josie's climb when I saw Jefe. He was behind me as my legs started to fade fast. He caught me at the Gateway trail junction. I knew it was the final stretch but when he mentioned it I picked up my pace a little bit. The Cokes our supporters were handing out were adding up and giving me an extra boost.

I saw some other riders ahead and passed them just before The Ridge, that was such a confidence booster. The finish line was near as I suffered up The Ridge, exhausted and cramping. My legs wanted to stop as I started to climb out of Tailpipe. The cramping got worse and worse, but I was so close. I made it to the top and cruised down Collarbone with feelings of joy running through me, I had finished.

Team GO killed it. Brian Smith took 3rd (5:02:15) and only 7 seconds back from the winner Kalan Beisel. Brian Dillon took 4th (5:07:52) and 1st in the 20-29 class. Dave Ochs crushed the single speed class and was 13th overall with a time of 5:37:27 . Troy Hiatte placed 12th at 5:36:50 and Stew Gross rounded up the top 15 with a time of 5:43:07. The rest of the men placed in the top 25 with Jefe Branham in 21st (5:47:54), Evan Ross at 23rd (5:48:55), and myself at 24th (5:49:59). The women slayed the course with Janae Pritchette winning the ladies class at 6:14:05 and Jari Kirkland right behind her at 6:15:55. Sarah Stubbe was also in the mix at 6th place for the ladies at 7:12:23.

Overall, Team GO did a wonderful job on Sunday, with the help of Rhett and the whole support team. A big shout out to the whole team at Griggs Orthopedics, thanks for what you guys do. Acli-mate you guys rock thanks for the boost. Rock n' Roll Sports and Dave Moe, thanks for having such a rad shop. Stan's No Tubes thanks for keeping them tires rolling, by far the greatest invention ever! I'm new to this and I have a lot of more people to meet but to the rest of our sponsors, thanks for everything. This would not be at all possible with out you! Go To Guide, Pike Builders, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Rudy Project, Elk Mountain Lodge, High Mountain Concepts, The Alpineer, SRAM, Chucks Glass, and Squirt. Finally, thanks to Gunnison Trails and Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association for having trails for us to ride, with out them we would be nowhere. YOU. GUYS. ROCK! Thanks again and have a wonderful summer, until next time.

2013 Gunnison Growler Race Report

The Growler weekend came and went fast, but not without a bunch of suffering from 700 Racers. The weather was beautiful and the singletrack was in great shape...until the end. Check out my race report at Griggs Orthopedic Website.

Check out the results here at Gunnison Trails Website.

NEIL

2013 Kokopelli Trail Ride Report.

My unconventional race schedule this summer has turned into more then I could have ever imagined. Since the Arizona Trail Race, I have not really done much of anything, a few rides here and there but mainly just some R&R, and it's been great. This past Saturday at 12:30am (Friday Night) me and only a hand full of others set out for the rugged Kokopelli Trail. I set a goal of 15 hours. This was just a number I threw out there, not really knowing how fast I could do it. Last fall Mike Behrendt and myself rode the trail from Loma to Moab in 48 hours, camping and relaxing. This time I would start from Moab, Utah and end at the Kokopelli Trailhead in Loma, Colorado.

Check Out 2pedal.com for the Kokopelli Trail Guide Book.

My girlfriend Lindsay, our friend Kristi, and myself arrived in Moab at around 8:00pm. I wanted to get some food, pack my gear and get a quick nap in before the odd 12:30am start time. The day before I changed out my Maxxis Icons for a more fresh pair. I have never had problems with my tubeless tires but the unknown spirits above figured it was a good time to. Something had gone wrong with my valve stem. I tightened down the circle screw where the valve meets the rim. Usually the Stan's No Tubes Sealant will fill that gap and it did momentarily, but not for long as air continued to escape near the valve. I packed my stuff up and tried to take a nap in a very party friendly campsite. I gave myself and hour and a half to nap, I slept maybe 10 minutes.

I got out of the tent, got changed, and hit the road where I would meet 3 others at the town park in Moab. Peter Basinger (who slayed this years AZT 300) and two others. The four of us slowly climbed up to the Slickrock Trailhead where the race technically starts. Marshal, another rider, was on route already as he started at 6:00pm on Friday, but we were not sure how many more were already on course. 1:00am hit, signaling the very anti-climatic start. 

The the start and my setup.

I started the climb up Sand Flats Road at a fast pace.  I wanted to give myself a cushion if I needed a rest or had mechanical issues. I knew what was ahead from riding the trail last fall but I really didn't know what to expect riding it from in the opposite direction. The half paved, half gravel climb was roughly 12 miles. It was dark and still relatively warm. After Looking at my GPS I realized I missed my first turn "stupid Neil" I said aloud. I got on track and climbed LPS and UPS (both part of the Porcupine rim trail). After reaching Mountain Loop Road my legs received their first break after the biggest climb of the course. I descended down to Castle Vally Campground where I hit 40 MPH a few times, what a rush! I quickly got back to climbing up Castelton Road. I avoided looking at the time for most of the first section. I knew I needed to keep a good pace. I saw lights in the distance behind me. Was Peter catching me already? I turned my lights off and rode in the dark until I was around the ridge and out of site. As I continued up the paved climb it started to rain. Rain was in the forecast but knew it would be isolated showers. I finally reached Fisher Creek, still with no recollection of time. I stopped at mile 30 and assessed my water situation on the Fisher Creek Bridge. 2 liters plus a full bottle. I was not drinking a lot of water but felt fully hydrated. I continued on without filling up.

After pedaling through some classic Moab sand the rain really started to come down. It didn't last long but it made for a more difficult ride through the sand. The decent down to Onion Creek Road was fast, fun, yet draining. I saw lights in the distance ahead of me, not knowing if it was another rider or not. I continued my decent down to Hideout Campground  and noticed the light in a different position. I was now certain it was another rider or a least someone, but truly who would be out in the middle of the night but us. I worried about my rear tire and started to baby it, I could tell it was losing air but I filled it at a higher PSI at the start to over compensate. I finally caught the light at the Hideout Campground(mile 42), it was Cat Morrison filling up on water. She said she had started at 12:00am. We chatted briefly about the race and where we were from. I too filled up on water, and quickly parted ways with Cat. I reached Fisher Valley just as the sun started to illuminate the canyons. This trail has a powerful spiritual feeling about it.

The sun rise was beautiful.

I reached Rose Garden Hill Road and eventually the legendary hike-a-Bike section. I got to the top and noticed a bikepacker, it was Aaron from Salida. He was bikepacking the trail as an out and back from Loma. We chatted as I de-layered, changed out my sunglasses lenses, and ate my chicken sandwich. I did not stop for long as I figured both Cat and Peter were on my tail. This climb was brutal for me, lots of ledges and loose rock made it difficult. However, it didn't last long and soon I was cruising down Entrada Bluffs Road where I eventually hit the Dewey Bridge which marked the half way point. I stopped when I saw another biker, it was Marshal. I asked how he was doing, "not good" he said.  He had been dealing with stomach issues and throwing up, he said he was finished. We chatted briefly about my pace and I quickly took off again. Just as I got on the Dewey Bridge, I looked down at my tire, it was nearly flat. This is where I started to get off my bike to deal with my tire far too often. I filled it up with my Co2 and got on my way.

Top of Entrada Bluff Road

I started up Yellow Jacket Canyon and boy was it sandy. The views of the La Sal Range were beautiful but this section will not be remembered for that. While climbing one of these short but steep sandy climbs I tweaked my IT band on my right leg. I had to get off my bike, stretch, down a few Advil, and rub on some pain cream. I took it easy on the rest of that climb. The Advil kicked in slowly as my thoughts of quitting on Highway 128 faded. Other then my tire and knee, I started to feel good that I was over half way done, and the hardest sections of the course were behind me.

The section from Highway 128 was fairly un-amusing, besides the little bit of singletrack along the Colorado River. It was around mid morning when I arrived at the Cisco boat landing(mile 74). I started to notice more and more people around. I was exhausted at this point, but prevented myself from bonking by chowing down on Cliff Bars and Snickers. I was still not drinking a lot of water, but I knew I should, it was getting very hot. I stopped again to fix my tire. This time I attempted to take off my valve stem so I could put a tube in my tire. Not happening. The Stan's sealant was working against me as it glued the valve ring to the valve threads. I filled the tire with some more Stan's Sealant, and used up the last bit of my first Co2 canister and the first bit of my second and final canister. I was good to go...until I noticed my fork was not showing the correct amount of travel yet again. This same thing happened on the Arizona Trail Race earlier this spring. So I started to stress out a bit. I was certain Peter and Cat were pretty close behind as I kept stopping. My knee hurt, my rear tire was not holding air, and my fork was all messed up. I was increasingly going thru the mental ups and downs of the race. Self-supported racing is never easy, and this was a prime example.

when the going gets tough, document it!

After riding out the flattest section of the Kokopelli Trail, I reached the Westwater Junction (mile 96). Here I had two options: I could take a left to continue on the Kokopelli Trail or go straight (off course) to fill up on water. I decided the 4 mile detour would be a good idea, fill up on water rather then have another thing to worry about. I quickly filled up at the spigot at the Westwater Ranger Station. I got back on the road, where every car seemed to be in a big rush. The wind was blowing hard at this point and storm clouds started to build around me. I got to Bitter Creek Campground which was a welcoming sight to see so many people. I stopped again to fill up my tire.  I was nearly out of Co2.

I asked two very kind gents if they had an extra Co2 canister, luckily they had one that they may be willing to part ways with. They insisted I have it after I told them what I was doing. I felt confident I had enough Co2 for the rest of the ride. My fork was slowly losing more travel and all I was thinking about was getting to Rabbit Valley. Soon I hit the very familiar Western Rim Junction. A part of me felt like I was home, I was in Colorado after all. I had not seen more than 5 people from the start of Yellow Jacket Canyon and now I was weaving to avoid the congested trails on a Saturday afternoon.

I was boiling hot, tired, and just wanted to stop pedaling for the day. I finally made it to the Rabbit Valley parking lot and knew I was on the final stretch. Why does the final stretch always seem to take an eternity? I burned through the road ahead knowing I have a lot of hike a bike ahead of me. I was still worried Cat and Peter were on my tail. I got to the singletrack portion that leads down to Salt Creek. I was on and off my bike making sure not to do anything stupid. I made it across the creek and started the long hike up Troy Built Trail, which took a long time. Lions Loop was next, which got a bit better, but still plenty of technical spots where I had to get off my bike. Finally, Mary's Loop, it was the final stretch and I soaked it up. My rear tire was holding enough air, and people were staring at me like "why does this guy look like crap." I reached the final downhill of Mary's Loop and made my way up the road to the finish, looking back once more time for Cat or Peter. I made it to the top and did not pedal another stroke down to Lindsay and my car with 143.3 miles showing on my Garmin Edge.

Although I did not finish under 15 Hours. I didn't know how difficult this would actually be, and yes I dealt with a few unexpected situations.  My knee being out of wack, my tire that probably got me off my bike for 40 minutes total, and my fork which has been very stubborn this spring. When it was all said and done I finished in 15 hours and 27 minutes. Lindsay was waiting for me with a huge Chipotle Burrito. I told myself at the end I would never do this trail again....now I can't wait to beat 15 hours.