Western Spirit Cycling

Wow- Can’t believe it’s been over a month since the BC Bike Race wrapped up. Since then I’ve “participated” in BIKE Week, sat on the beach for a week with family, held down the office for almost 3 weeks and most recently just got back from guiding a Colorado Singletrack trip. Now it’s back to Moab to endure the dog days of summer. “How can you live in Moab during July & August?” my Crested Butte friends ask me. Well my friends, you have to be smart. And well hydrated. I think I have about a dozen water bottles strewn about my office, garage, truck etc. Basically any time I feel even remotely thirsty, I can reach for some type of liquid. H2O & gatoraide are probably my two favorites, but I’ll mix up a high tech Clif recovery drink if I’ve gone out for more than a couple of hours.

To answer those CB folks with more detail, I guess I would say that you need to be flexible. Flexible as in getting up @ 6am to ride before work, or to not ride at all if it’s in the triple digits. Swimming is a lovely option for a little exercise (and refreshment) during the heat of the day. Triathalete, I’ll never be, but I’ve been known to ride 10 miles out to Ken’s Lake on the road bike, swim for 20 minutes and ride back in to work during a lunch break. If the 9-5 thing wasn’t part of the equation the logical fun hog would go up to the La Sals to ride the beautiful singletrack 5,000′ above town. Burro Pass to Shuman’s, Moonlight Meadows, The Trans La Sal Trail  - just a few of the classics you can attempt if you’ve got the better part of the day. The temps are at least 20 degrees cooler and the mountain streams, aspen trees and wildflowers make it worth the drive. If it were not for the LaSals it would be pretty hard to make it through the summer months here in town.

After all that fun is over, one of the best parts of Moab in summertime is the outside cocktail hours and late night dinners. When it’s still in the 70’s at 9pm you can relax on the porch in short sleeves mix up an icy cold G & T and enjoy the comfortable evening temps - while your CB friends are bundled up in their down sweaters. Checkmate.

So while I’m looking forward to the cooler temps of September, I’m in no rush to lose those delicious heirloom tomatoes, fresh organic peaches and warm summer nights that only the dog days of summer can deliver.

Our multi talented bike guide, Eric Proano, just put together a video of our Colorado Singletrack Mountain Bike trip.
Check it out!

So after a heinous flight from Moab to DIA with the “bag at the ready” and an aborted landing, I finally made it to Canada. Only problem was my bike & gear ended up in San Fran. WTF?! United… I guess the measly $30 charge for my oversize XL bike was too good to be true, so I had to pay up somehow.

Thankfully the good folk at Vancouver International tracked it down and got it to me here at the host hotel in time for a quick build and short shakedown ride in Stanley Park before handing it off again to be “checked in”. After transferring gear from one Dakine bag to the new Dakine BCBR bag I was ready to exhale and go find some grub. Unlike most other race venues, the BC Bike Race is one host city you can comfortly indulge in the freshest sushi the night before a big race and still sleep soundly. With a few pints of Stella to wash things down and a fat dessert to top it off I’m finally ready to tackle the north Shore course of Day # 1 tomorrow.

Not sure if I’ll get any other chances to blog during the week, but rest assured, the fine folks at bcbikerace.com will have you covered with race results and beautiful photos of this special part of Canada. By next Sunday, 4th of July, we’ll be up in Whistler toasting another journey complete. The forecast looks good, the legs are (over)rested and the S-works Stumpy is GTG. The rest is up to me.

Wish me luck. Over & out

sevy

Happy 2nd day of summer !

Can’t believe it’s been so long since any posts! WTF?!!! I guess we’ve all been super busy around Western Spirit World HQ’S. Ain’t that the truth. Late May into June has been a whirlwind of wrapping up Canyonlands season and getting everything in place for our busy summer season.

Take last week for example. Three different rigs getting ready to leave Moab for almost 3 months. Besides the obvious rig with tents, coolers stoves, groovers, etc. we need to rig for our satellite locations spread out over the west. That means getting hundreds of water bottles, Western Spirit Cycling tee shirts & of course our lovely Western Spirit coffee mugs into the trucks, vans & trailers getting set to go. Not to mention any number of our 80 plus strong fleet of rental bikes. Logistics…. that’s the name of the game these days.

To make it even a little more fun, I’m prepping to leave town for three weeks myself. I’ll be flying out of tiny Canyonlands airport this Friday for Vancouver, Canada and the 3rd edition of the BC Bike Race. My friends Deane Payne & Andreas Hestler made it possible to trade a Western Spirit Cycling trip for a free number plate in their race. I raced it in their 1st edition and had the best time so I’ve wanted to go back ever since. Turning 40 this September was just the catalyst I needed to make it happen, so now that I’m four days from leaving, it’s really sunk in. The training and miles are in the bag - too late for any more fitness at this point. Really I just need to dial in the Stumpjumper, pack the bags and make sure I’ve got enough chamois butter to get me through 35 hours of racing.

After that I’ll be roadtripping with Dre from Whistler down the coast to Ashland, OR and the start of our annual BIKE Week trip with the fine folks from Bike Magazine and some of their best friends & advertisers. That will be a super fun trip I get to help guide and it’s turned into a reunion of sorts now that we’ve done it for so many years. This years edition is on the Umpqua River Trail which just happens to be some of the sweetest track anywhere. After 11 of 12 days riding singletrack I’ll be ready for a little R&R on the beach with family, so a trip out to CT will wrap up the three weeks before coming home to Moab in late July. Whew! Kinda tired just thinking about it, but can’t wait! More to come on the race if I get a Internet connection.?

NewsFlash: MORE NEW SINGLETRACK IN MOAB !!!

That’s right - this isn’t an April Fools joke, we really do have a whole new trail system that’s entirely legal! It’s called the Intrepid Trail (after Intrepid Potash - one of the trail’s sponsors) and it’s located up off Hwy. # 313 at Dead Horse State Park. 

The trail was a combined effort from Utah State Parks, Moab’s very own Trail Mix and even some generous help from the National Park Service. With many hands on hours from Jeff Van Horn, Trail Mix volunteers and various trail work groups, the trails we’re finally finished this last month. Govenor John Huntsman came down from SLC to officially open the trail on a beautiful Monday morning and rode the entire loop with all the local riders that helped make the trail a reality. 

The trail itself is comprised of one 9 mile outer loop and a shorter 4 mile inner loop. There’s a wonderful trailhead and the system is marked quite well with signs at every intersection showing “you are here”. There’s several world class viewpoints that look down to the Colorado River and far off into Canyonlands National Park. It would not be a stretch to say the views from this trail rival anything, anywhere. I’ve ridden everywhere form the Italian Dolomites to British Columbia Canada to the Grand Canyon, but the view from the Big Chief Overlook crushes them all. How’s three mountain ranges, the Colorado River, Behind the Rocks and Dead horse State Park itself sound for starters.

So all this sounds great right? Well the best thing about these trails is how FUN they are. Unlike pretty much any other trail we have, the Intrepid Trails are pretty easy. That’s right, I said it - easy singletrack in Moab. Sure there’s a few sand pits, and a switchback or two that might make you dab, but 98% is fully rideable by a beginner rider. So next time you have friends in town who may not be quite ready for Porcupine Rim or even the Soverign Trail, send them up to Dead Horse State Park to check out our latest and greatest new offering. And better yet, go along with them. You won’t be sorry.

How bad can life be if you get paid to go ride some killer singletrack?  I ask myself that everyday.  I am actually pretty darn fortunate to work as a guide for Western Spirit Cycling Adventures — I go to spectacular riding venues and my guests are always happy to see me b/c they are on vacation, I cook for them and keep their beer cold!

My first trip of the season will be at the end of March in Tucson, AZ, on our Sonoran Desert Tour.  This will be my first time there, so I am learning the trip under the tutelage of veteran guides Scott and Rachel.  I’m told the riding will be super fun — a mix of loose, rocky terrain; a flume trail; some rolling climbs — just what the doctor ordered!  Hopefully there will also be some time to train for the Western Spirit Bikini Team.  However, great caution will be taken when riding between the saguaros and cholla.  Any loud exclamations of “ooopsie” will likely be coming from my mouth.

Highlighted on this tour are the AZ Trail, Fantasy Island, and the Link Trail.  These are some of the best trails in the region and will be sure to please all.  Nothing like swooping and zooming, rock hopping and kicking it.  So, if Clint Eastwood asked me do I feel lucky? my Magic 8 Ball and I would not hesitate to respond: without a doubt.

Check this out! It is a page posted by IMBA, and it defines singletrack and its importance…and it made me drool today…I just want to GET OUT THERE!

The Importance of Singletrack

Other than growing a baby in my belly, there’s not much else happening in my life these days. January is definitely a time for reflection, introspection, and TRIP PLANNING!!! 

I was looking at the trips we already have lining up for the Spring, and I must say, I wanna go! There’s a Sonoran Desert Tour that just sounds fabulous. I’ve actually not ever been down to Tucson to ride. I hear the singletrack is awesome in the Santa Rita Mountains! Saguaros, chollas, barrel cactus, prickly pear, and ocotillo-perfect desert beauty.

Well, I’ll be looking more into the fall for myself. My baby’s due February 20th, so that makes any of our cool Spring trips out of the question. But believe me, I am taking this peaceful time in January to plan my trips for the year!!!

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