It was great while it lasted...

Chris and I received a termination email last week. It brought great sadness, but we both felt it was coming. Somethings are too good to last.

After the re-branding of Gary Fisher as Treks, the Subaru-Trek factory team all riding 29ers, and the bigger wheels being much more mainstream, it is easy to see that this just makes business sense for them. I was surprised it did not happen sooner.
 I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I was able to represent Gary Fisher/Trek. The grass roots initiative we had for the first three years was a dream. Then the 29erCrew hook ups were still great. And at the level I ride, it was more than I probably deserved.
I will miss my close association with the company in the future and the ability to represent them as I had.  Thank you, Mr. Fisher.

Heading South and Staying Home

Last weekend we went to St. George with the Paul and Gayle, Lance and Tiffany, and Tim and Jen. Again, it was good times. I sported my 100 for the weekend and it was a dream. I loved it. I don't think I can go back and forth between my HT and FS Superfly's. My hardtail makes transitioning back to my full suspension difficult. Thus, I think I might sell my HT.
We went down and rode by ourselves the first day. We hit Church Rocks and Prospector. We ran into Paul and Gayle as we were heading back to the car. They were with some friends. After some chit-chat, we made it back to the car, packed up, and headed to Zen. We did it anti-counter clockwise (as we always do) and then clockwise. I by far enjoy our standard practice of anti-clockwise. But now I know.
Day 2 was a lot of the True Grit course and a bit of the stuff we just like to do. In the morning, it was Chris, the Tim's (Tim Fisher joined us) and myself. Then Paul and Gayle, Lance and Tiffany, and Jen joined us in the afternoon.
Things broke up for Day 3. Paul and Gayle had to head back home due to a sudden influx of unexpected work. (Missed you guys out there). While everyone else opted for hiking. We attempted/rode Guacamole. Chris just got frustrated because it is new and not as well marked as he would have like. We had to go slow to ensure we could follow the course. We spent about an hour there then packed up and headed to Virgin. We parked off the dirt road and headed up to Gooseberry from the West.
Now here is the thing. I was apprehensive about first riding the road to get there and then secondly actually doing the trail. I had spent the past two days burying it. Gooseberry has always taken a lot to ride. This time though I stayed relaxed. I don't feel as if I was fast but nice and consistent. I used my momentum well and places where I usually struggled were smooth and seemed to take less effort. It was awesome. I don't think I have ever enjoyed Gooseberry like that. I cannot wait to go back.
This weekend we had plans to go to Moab...and the St. George, but ultimately ended up staying home. Winter-ish weather hit. So we tried snow riding again. And again, Chris just got frustrated while I smiled and enjoyed being on a bike. I think Chris has snowbiking built up in his mind as something more than it is. I don't know, but every time we try it he gets "frustrated and bored". None the less, I thought it was great. We hit the old race course area.

Yay! We got snow

While we had plans to ride with some friends on a new to us trail, Mother Nature threw a much needed curve ball. It snowed...not a whole lot but a little. So we put the snow bikes on the car and headed North. As we approached Provo, it did not look like they received what we did. We kept driving and decided on heading up the Alpine Loop from Aspen Grove.

Loaded up and ready to go

We got the bikes off the car, put on warmer clothes, let out some air pressure and started up the road. Maybe 100 ft from the gate, I went down fast (not necessarily hard) and Chris came tumbling after me. I tried to get up but slipped again. I looked down and notice it was pure ice under the thin layer of snow. 

Oh yeah...the temps have been in the upper 40's and 50's. It makes sense the snow would have been melting and slushy and then froze with this storm. I probably went down five more times. Each time was hilarious. I would struggle to get on my feet. 

The snow definitely got deeper the further up we went. Some guys on ATV's passed us. Riding in their tracks was much easier. Climbing was awesome. I love my bike.

Chis after attempting to go down Jurrasic Park--snow was too deep

Ahh... the Ridge trail

 

At the top

 

 

 

While going up was great, coming down was not so much. It was so incredibly cold. Almost miserably cold. We made it though.

Still Dry

It still has not snowed in Utah. So we have tried to capitalize on the weather. It has been warm which makes the trails soupy. Thus we have had to be selective about where and when to ride. I had a great week of riding. I mentioned the five hours on the trails last Monday. That was followed up by some spin classes squeezed in between family entertaining. Then on Friday I hooked up with ET, EP, and AV in Draper. EP led the way around Corner Canyon ensuring we avoided the mud. It was warm but windy. I rarely get to go on rides with other girls so this was a treat. The pace was quick-ish but mellow. It was a blast.

Erika, Erica, Allison, KC

Over the weekend, we hiked around Goblin Valley and put in another 3 hours on our local trails. It was cooler when we rode which was less muddy and ultimately warmer.

Boss (nephew), Tom (bro), KC, Chris, Mom, Jac (Bro), Not pictured Suzy (SIL)

With no work on Monday, it was perfect for another long ride. With warm temperatures our trails would be a muddy mess. Thus we headed down to Moab with some friends. We squeezed in almost five hours of pedal time staying in the Bar M and Sovereign area*. It was delightful.
I say that I love Moab. I have heard others say the same. But I don't think anyone enjoys Moab as much as Josh Wolfe. He was whooping and hollering the whole time about how much fun he was having.

Photo by Jeff Higham: Adam, Chris, Chris, KC, Josh, not pictured Darrin and Jeff

 

 

KC and Chris

Now that the holidays are officially over it will be harder to squeeze in the riding. Hopefully, I can keep it up. And I still would not mind some snow now that I have a new toy...and I like to drink water.

*We parked at Lion's park and took the path up to Bar M and hit Deadman's Ridge, Bar B, back on Bar M over to Sovereign out and back, took Bar M to the North 40, EZ and then took Deadman's Ridge down to the path and back. Good route. Good times.

Let it snow...just a little

No one is more surprised by this attitude than me. Don't get me wrong, I have been loving the riding I have been able to do. Chris and I have been riding the local trails like it is early spring or late fall. Yesterday, we actually put in close to five hours. Granted we planned on four. It got dark and cold on us. And when it got dark and cold, I just took my sunglasses off and could see. Even getting dark and cold, it still was great. We did a Dry Canyon Loop then headed North to Lambert Park and back again. We were joined by Keith (for a moment) and then Josh and Matt. We were plagued by flat tires, but my two were expected as I am still waiting for rim strips to come in for my 100. And tubes...well, they suck.
But Chris got/built/adapted me a snow bike for Christmas. This is a custom Holley special.


 

He took an old frame he got from the Shop. And had the chain stays and seat stays adjusted at a local metal shop. He also had them build a disc brake mount. Then he welded it back together elongating the stays to fit the bigger rim and tires. 



He drilled out my rims so they would be lighter and increased the Q-factor to accommodate the wheels and tires again.

 

He stole drive train, shifters, brakes and levers, and cranks, etc. from my Hi-Fi. He bought a Surly fork and put everything back together again.  Now I just need to find some snow.

Vision Quest IV

I have been traveling around South East Asia giving presentations in different markets to our (Nu Skin) distributors--5 presentations in 8 days. It has been so much fun not having to hassle with glasses. I have been able to see everything I needed very clearly. And being on planes for long periods of time alternating between sleeping and watching movies has been a breeze.
I have noticed an increased sensitivity to sunlight. It has been sunny here (in SEA). I have always loved the sun and seemed somewhat impervious to bright light. Chris would often say the sun is burning his retinas and I would just be soaking it up. My retinas will likely be burning with his now. One more thing we can bond over.
I went swimming for the first time also. I grew up swimming with my eyes open in chlorinated pools and it has never really bothered me. Until now. I swam for a mere 20 minutes the other day and my eyes HATED it! Wow. That is going to take some adjustment. Luckily I don't swim that often anymore.
I go in for my one month check-up on Friday. I should find out how good my sight actually is. I am pretty excited.
And I canNOT wait to see Chris on Thursday!!!!

Things I miss...

1. Chris. I have not seen him since Monday December 5. That seems like a long, long, long time ago. We had just spent the weekend in St. George riding bikes. So much fun.
2. Riding bikes with Chris. I have hardly exercised since the 4th. I got one hour on a rickety old spin bike and 45 m. on an elliptical trainer this week. That has been the extent of my exercise. I was going to squeeze in one more spin class on Monday before I left, but opted to spend a little time that morning with Chris.
And in my absences, this came in. See below. I cannot wait for to head south to do some serious riding. 

2011 Superfly 100 Pro

3. Eating where I like to eat with Chris. While galavanting around SEA, I find myself at seafood eateries. We are talking fresh, fresh seafood. Crabs, snapper something, prawn, squid (yes squid) and I could not tell you what else. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of seafood in the slightest. I just don't like it any of it. I did also get a first and second taste of durian and mangosteen while in Singapore. I am sure I like mangosteen, but the jury is still out on durian. I like it better than fish, but can only do small doses.

Durian

Yummy Mangosteen

4. Just being home. I am a bit of a homebody. I am okay with short trips, but being gone 10 days (I am on day 6) is a long, long time. The worst part of it is also being limited in my communication. I don't have a phone that makes calls from international locations, so Chris and I have been limited to email.

I am over half way done... I can do this.