Not fair...for everyone but me.

Here she is. Rode it for the first time this afternoon in the neighborhood. Definately a new position and a new bike to get used to. Don't have cross tires yet so she will be tested out the next couple of weeks during the Tuesday night races. The only thing I know for sure is that this bike can take corners at really high speeds.

What f***ing creek are we at?

Another day another killer ride....

This morning was spent in Hyalite Canyon learning some new routes. The mountain biking just keeps getting better. Today was all about killer fast descents and some pretty good views too. Hyalite Canyon and the associated drainages are criss crossed with miles of logging roads which make for great climbing and of course no one wants to ride back down the road so you have an equal amount of downhill single track. I didn't even try to remember which creeks and drainages we were riding but I know how to get to them and that's what counts.

The two hour ride totals 3000feet of climbing but the elevation is made in two climbs. The two descents are totally different from each other. One is smooth twisting single track through old forest and the other is wide open logging road. Both are fast and test your handling at high speeds.

The views of Hyalite resevoir and the valley were to die for and the weather cooperated with sun and high clouds. Being on the trail at 7:30am also helps as we didn't see anyone else on the ride. Unfortunately a small log attacked Ryans bike while he was putting out 5oo watts so his rear derailleaur was sacrificed on the last climb and had to miss the last 30 mins of the ride. The ride was perfect and Ryan provided the gas needed to motivate while Rusty kept track of the mileage with Swiss precision. Great ride with great friends.



Hyalite Canyon and then some...






Rusty is all thumbs after nailing the mileage to within a tenth of a mile.

















A is no longer connected to B.....

Wapiti the fool....

Saturday AM was big on climbing and views. The Wapiti ride ranks as the most beautiful and fun mountain bike ride that I have done to date. Located about 10 miles south of Big Sky the Wapiti trail starts with a several mile climb totalling 2200 feet. Then it's a roller coaster ride through wide open meadows, cow poop, old forests and tops out at what feels like the top of the world. The views of the Madison Range are killer and the best is yet to come. A five mile descent into heaven finishes right at the car door. Buff, fast single track graces the entire descent with only a couple of tricky stream crossings to slow the momentum.

I was reminded that I could survive a few days in the backcountry as my knees were banging into my stomach with metronomic regularity during the climbs. It's good to be training again and my reserves should be depleted over the next few weeks.

I've heard complaints that the unveiling of the Strong has been a long time coming. The time is neigh so quit bitching.....


The cows aren't the only ones pissing in the fields....









Madison Range looking north towards Big Sky....





360....

Hot, Cold, Hot

Just when you think that fall has arrived in Montana it gets hot again.

Updates have been few and far between and that's because I am too busy reading friends blogs that are more interesting than mine.

The past few weeks have been busy at work and so biking has taken somewhat of a back seat. Promises were made to myself this morning that "This coming week will be different! I am going to eat, train and sleep properly! I will be superman in three weeks!" We'll see if I can follow through.

On the upside my cross bike is almost complete. Bozeman is in the middle of a severe cable hanger drought so I have been unable to connect my front brake. It sucks to look at a 99.9% complete bike and not go riding.

New wheels and rubber adorn the cross bike and Colnago and I can't believe the difference a good set of wheels makes. My Ksyriums had been crashed once and crashed into once and have since lost their will to corner and sprint. The new Race X Lites are carving the downhills with renewed vigor and breakneck speeds. Hyalite Canyon at 35-45 mph is fun!!

My parents were in town a couple of weeks ago and we had fun cruising the mountains and hanging out at Big Sky. I wasn't so lucky with the fish but my dad figured out what was making the fish rise and managed to slay a few on their last day in Montana. Of course there is no photographic proof, so.....

The furniture finally arrived for the house and we can now move out of "dorm" mode and into civilization. It feels great to have the house set up and we are looking forward to having a party soon.

Cross season is on the horizon and I don't have the first clue about what I am supposed to do. Trial by fire......



The most important room in the house. 7.1 THX Ultra