Blingy Wheels for the Falcon

In my bestest Mushu voice ever, " The Falcon's got bling, Baby!"

Yes sir, I found an Industry Nine 29er wheelset on the local Craigslist for what I'd consider a steal. Every rider in the world wants one and if they say they don't, well, their in denial. I'd say it should be a prerequisite for living in Asheville, NC or being from there since that's where they are built. Not really from there but I did live there for eight years so it should count as something right?

I-9 has proven itself not only to be a blingy wheelset but one that can withstand the rigors of some of the most techincal riding in the world. Considering the wheels are built in Asheville, which is also home to Pisgah National Forest, where these wheels get tested and honed and you'll understand why they can put up with the abuse they do. There are many technical flavors that Pisgah, the Trail Goddess has to offer where there usually isn't a ride to be had there that doesn't have some sort of blood offering and if you get away with an unbroken or fettered body, then a mechanical offering of the bike is usually what takes it place.



I'm off to stare at my wheels some more. Maybe they'll give me the enlightenment to ride like a Koerber, well maybe not but at least my bike will look good while having some tough wheels rolling it down the trail.

G Town~Back to Mining Country

I took the fellas on a chill ride where the air is a little thin, the views are awesome, and where some fly by trails they wish they knew were there. Georgetown is my my favorite I-70 sidelined village that just so happens to have a great stash of trails, if you knew about them. No guide book will show you what lies in these parts but if your willing to do a little exploring, G town can keep a rider sated for a day or two.

PBR sloggin up 15 + percent grades to break in the morning right



a bit of mountain history



The Mad Scientist and Guac climbing up Waldorf Mine Rd



Guac at Waldorf Mine and the high point for the day; 11,561 ft. Still a bit of snow to melt before hitting Argentine Pass which is to the left of the Peak behind Guac, Grays or Torreys, one of the 14ers, I'm lazy this morning and not pulling out the map to figure it out.



A bit of snow still left in the woods over 11,000 ft.



But the goods are gettin good



Guac rolling a bent wheel..what you don't get to see is all the techy shite we've been rollin. I'm having way to much fun on that stuff. This is just past a section of rocky goodness where my GPS recorded descents in the 38 % range. Some beyond this are even steeper and make even a techy lover like myself walk.



PBR cruisin



The fellas going down the switchbacks back to G Town



Looks like G Town is where I'm headed again this coming weekend as well. The Lovely Missus Goat has a weekend chalk full of business and it gives me little time to ride. Sunday tho, she has given me the go to be home by noon. G town by 6am, 5 hours of riding that will equal about 38-40 miles...yeah, I can do it.

The Growler, at least it came with Beer

My Ayla riding some Gunnison singletrack

3:45 minutes in and I was through with 36 miles of my race. I was feeling good and was looking to be making my goal of 7-8 hours. 15 miles later and I'm suffering, my body is tired and I just want to be done. What can I say, I didn't drink enough, I didn't eat enough and on the walk up the hike a bike I was dry heaving right there on the trail.

So much for the goat, I think he'll go lay down beside the others on the porch.

I finished though, crying in my wife's beautiful Lara Croftish boobs at the finish line, I finished in 8 hours and 40 some odd minutes...feeling like I was racing that 1st 36 miles, barley riding and walking the last 28 miles.

I did earn a perk, a growler for finishing the Growler, filled with New Belgium's Seasonal Mighty Arrow. A bit of a light colored beer compared to what I usually favor but this one goes down smooth, so it suits the needs.

#34 is me, climbing Kill Hill

In the on going news, I've pulled my acceptance from the Bailey Hundo. I've only got a few months to enjoy exploring the Alpine trails that are becoming snow free so I've freed up my summer months and will be enjoying riding. Still pushing myself, discovering new adventures, just without all the hassels of racing and the money it takes to fund it.

The Crested Butte Classic is still in my sights and why not. Its free, Its in Crested Butte, and theres beer and pizza every 33 miles and if I just happen to stop riding after one or two of those loops. I don't have to feel like I wasted the money or let anyone down, especially myself.

Here's to riding you, Colorado, looking forward to the Alpine.

The Growler Cometh

So I come to you to whine and bitch.

In 72 hours I will be lining up on the streets of Gunnison for the Gunnison Growler. A 64 mile marathon race in Hartman Rocks. For months I've been preparing and now the day is upon me and I have a devil cold threatening. Heavy chest, nasal dams, the fuggin works. My wife, the lovely Missus Goat who is a preacher of all things eastern and a part time medicine woman of the Aruvedic clan has me jazzed up on all kinds of herbs and steams along with chants and smokewaving.
I have to admit, this morning I feel better but I'm still only at 75 % capacity. I wanted this to be a rest week but dealing with being sick is just about as taxing as riding full bore every day and I am weary.
Nevertheless, things are looking up. I am feeling better, the sun is shining and I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked as well as kicking some ass. If not, maybe I'll just hawk a loogie on them. Lets get our race on!

Another Day in the Saddle

Section 2 of the Colorado Trail

Through desolation and destruction appears beauty

The Bailey Hundo

On June 19th, 2010 the Bailey Hundo will be starting off its inaugural year of whats to be an annual event of mountain bike racing. With this being the 1st year of the event, the Bailey Hundo crew will be giving out 150 invitations of which one that I recieved.

The racing format will be about 40 percent buff singletrack including sections of the Colorado Trail and the Buffalo Creek Trail System along with about 60 percent fire road and jeep trails.

Sponsored by four Colorado State Senators; Scheffel, Romer, Brophy, and Kopp, the event will be raising money for enhancing the trail system around Bailey as well as promote mountain biking for at risk youth and High School students by supporting Trips for Kids Denver/Boulder and the newly-founded Colorado High School Cycling League (CHSCL).

This is where I need your help. The Bailey Hundo is a pledge based event where each rider commits to raise at least $100 and more if possible. I've commited $500 knowing between my friends, family, and loyal reader base that we can reach this goal and more if possible. But I need you to react quickly since the race is so close to happening.

Two ways to pledge are:

Make a check to "Advance Colorado", the non profit established to run the race, be sure to put my name in the "For" line

and send it to:

Bailey Hundo Bike Race

PO Box 181028

Denver, CO 80218

or go to their Paypal and donate by credit card securely




Be sure to send me a note to: goat shell at hotmail dot com so I can keep track of how much you donated in my name.

Thanks for your pledges and support!

White Ranch to Golden Gate and back

White Ranch to Golden Gate has been bugging me for over a year now. To bad I had to cut it short due a failed rear brake. That's the Mountain Lion, Maverick and Belcher Hill descents with a front brake only, sketchy, I'd say so.

No pictures of the climb up White Ranch, its a well known fact on the Front Range, it hurts but the top could not be resisted.



Drew Hill Road, The connector between White Ranch and Golden Gate...I was hurting to keep it in the middle ring climbing back up this 20% plus beast.



Mountain Lion Trail in Golden Gate Canyon...looks to be some recent underbrush fire clearing



I just had to see City of Lights Ridge...it was pretty much a hike a bike to the top





Least the view was worth and the descent



The old homestead



The climb up Mountain Lion



and the snowy descent off the backside



It went on for a bit which meant some cold creek crossings and postholing up to my knees through rotten snow



But eventually the snow ended and whats life without a little adventure?



I stopped to get some learning before Drew Hill Road took its best shot of me



Where the Ranches had barns nicer then most folks homes



and I ended my day thinking I need to bleed