Chris Plesko

Check out the 9news report and video of Chris - Cyclist takes on the Divide, with guts and no gears

Awesome! What an incredible ride for Chris.

There are still folks out on the course and our thoughts are with them. Deanna Adams is still pushing that fixed gear bike along with 1,700+ miles under her wheels. Dave Nice went out and provided some encouragement as she rode nearby his folk's home. Healing vibes to Pete Basinger who unfortunately was injured during the ride.

Spot tracking

MTBCast

Bikepacking.net

Some reports are out on the 1st annual Spikefest held last weekend - Cal and Paul. There's a killer route in there!

Finally, an evening visitor after our daily thunderstorm today.

He also nibbled on our young aspens.


Hand whipped cream and fresh strawberries, mmmmmmm.

Ed

Whoa!!!

Update, I've forgotten the Divide commentary. Matt Lee is still 1st with a group of three bikes semi-close behind him in NM; Kurt R., JP and Tracey (on a tandem!) and Chris P. (on a rigid single!). Deanna Adams is still riding and she's on a fixie - wow! MTBCast, Spot Leaderboard, and I forgot about bikepacking.net, are great sites for info and updates.

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UPDATE FOR THE MOUNTAIN LION PICTURE - as is the case so many times on the internet and in the rapid fire digital world, word is that it's possible the picture is older than represented and taken near another area close to White Ranch (Centennial Cone) on private property and not in the parking lot. Nonetheless, interesting shot and some beautiful cats.

This picture was apparently taken somewhere along the CO Front Range in the recent past.

Those are some BIG cats! I'm guessing a momma with two very large babies.

We know they are around but it's still amazing to see them. Thank goodness they are generally not interested in messing with people.

Not sure who to give credit for the photo but it was posted here - mountain lions.

Ed

Rigid?

I don't know, the rigid riding may have to go. It's not me or my body, it's the bike equipment. It breaks, too often.

Nice solo hike yesterday, about 7.5 miles in 6.5 hours - great average you say :-) My hikes are anything but normal. Lots of bushwhacking, much climbing over and under things, many long pauses to simply listen to birds and brooks and to smell the great fresh mountain air, tons of clambering and falling. I find interesting things that way. Weird, tucked away hideouts. Most fun.

Today, I rode with Jeny, Eszter and Chris in Breck. Eszter wanted to pre-ride the Firecracker 50 course so Jeny and I tagged along. Great ride!! I'm glad we did not have to do the second lap though :-)

Giant trees!!!

Listening to: the computer fan fanning in overdrive.

Ed

Sequim

The leaders are now into CO country with Chris Pesko hanging tough in the top four on his single speed. The dynamic duo from the Jackson Hole area, JP and Tracey on their tandem, are also in the top four. JP won this race two years ago. Matthew Lee is still overall leader - MTBCast.

Fixie Dave's bow out is explained here.

I'll counterbalance the gum-ugliness with some shots of the beautiful garden my parents have designed and created. The gum wall was fascinating in a disgusting way so a few more of those shots are below the garden pics.

BEWARE THE GUM WALL COMETH................

Ed

Dungeness Spit

Dave's out, the gang's still going - MTBCast.

Neutical farm?

Any guesses? Kinda, sorta goes with the whole spit thing.

Ick!

Ed

Ruby Beach

They're still out there riding you know, Dave and the gang!

Mom and Pop take a stroll along the beach.



Looking north.



JJ dipping her toe in the surf.

Looking north again but from further down the beach.

Pop, JJ and Mom

Ed

And...

they're off.

Ed

Dave's....

out riding today.

Ed

Answer...

Richard Cunningham in the May '05 issue of Mountain Bike Action, page 45.

Quite an audacious and yet careless pronouncement I think. I wonder if he ever really experienced larger wheels before he stated that? Like I mean, really rode a 29er with an open mind. It took me all of two seconds to realize how much fun they are and I have not looked back.

Anyway, I should have disqualified Spike from the start but....."Charlie Cunningham"? Hee-hee, Spike gets no cookie/beer.

Listening to: nada.

Ed

A Favorite Quote!

Here's a quote for ya'll, anyone recognize it? You get a delicious cookie (or a beer) if you correctly guess who said it and when. It's only a cookie (or a beer) 'cause of Google and the hint.

Ready....

"On the Bubble: 29-inch wheels

Unless you learned to operate a Farm-All tractor as a youth, or sped into battle against Mithridates on a Roman chariot, you probably don't know that larger diameter wheels roll over rough terrain more easily than small ones. That was true until the advent of the pneumatic tire and suspension allowed designers to reduce the size and weight of wheels - and the rolling resistance of modern vehicles.

The 29-inch wheel is still popular in rural Asia, across the African Continent, and in isolated pockets within the state of Colorado, where the abundance of spare parts or absence of modern technology has retarded the bicycles evolution.

Big people can ride big-wheeled bikes, but the concept reintroduces evils that the smaller 26-inch format solved, like tall standover heights, laterally flexible wheels, pedal and shoe overlap on short top tube frames, the need for longer chainstays and special forks, and poor tire clearance near the front derailleur and the bottom bracket.

Arguably, big-wheeled mountain bikes roll pretty well over bumpy trails and deliver a comfortable ride when paired with little or no suspension. The concept is cool and simple, but everyone who is cool and simple already owns one by now.

Stick a fork in it. It's almost done. "

And now for your entertainment...be amazed!



Listening to: "20020220: Music from Final Fantasy"

Ed