Just to give you all perspective of how crazy fun riding in San Francisco can be. It’s a monster climb followed by a crazy fast and steep descent. The guys in the video are crazy, riding brakeless!
As I begin to pack for my trip to Colorado I can’t help but think fondly of my recent awesome weekend in Tahoe. I rode the gondola up the mountain in the photo above, watching downhillers fly down the trail. I felt stupid for not taking advantage of the lifts. I’m hoping to find great trails in Breckenridge.
I haven’t ridden much this week so far, other than my commutes to work. I’m trying to get as much rest and recovery before I head up to high altitude.
I had a great time today putting in some miles on my road bike, heading up to Fairfax, down to Alpine Lake, up to the Seven Sisters and down the front side of Mt Tam. I rode close to 60 miles with nearly 5,000′ of climbing. Being the last weekend of solid riding I wanted to make sure I put in enough hours and miles before I head out to Colorado. (more…)
I started my weekend with a nice ride with my wife down the Great Highway and back. It was her first real ride on her new Specialized Amira, as well as her first time riding on clip less pedals. She did really well! I was also testing out some new Speedplay Zero’s along with a new set of road shoes.
Later in the afternoon I went out again and put in a good ride around the Marin Headlands. Despite not feeling fully recovered from my race last weekend I managed to put in a strong effort, besting my last time around Coyote Ridge. (more…)
I did a quick spin down the Great Highway aboard my new Tarmac SL4 this morning. It was cold and drizzly, but it reminded me of riding in New York in the winter. I’ve got new pedals and shoes waiting to be setup, but I haven’t had the time. Besides work I’ve been trying to wrangle the rest of my Leadville trip together. I wish I could bring two bikes with me, but my 29er will do the job.
Been having a hard time finding my rhythm this week. Since the race on Sunday I haven’t been able to fully recover, despite having a great ride up the Miwok trail to the very top this evening. I did my normal loop around the Marin Headlands. Work has been somewhat stressful, and the only way for me to de-stress is to ride, but I haven’t been excited about riding because I’m burned out from work. Hopefully I’ll have more time to relax and recover by the start of the weekend.
I’m looking forward to having Breckenridge, CO as my home base the week prior to the Leadville Trail 100. I’ve never been there before, but I hear great things from this quaint little town. It’s not quite as high as Leadville, but it’ll be the perfect place to acclimate to high elevation. I’m staying at the Crystal Peak Lodge and am looking for trail recommendations as well as places to check out while I’m there.
I reluctantly rolled out of bed at 5:40am this morning and threw on my kit, but as soon as I stepped out into the cool morning air I felt refreshed and ready to tackle the trails. On Tuesdays I meet up with a group of friends at the Golden Gate Bridge at 6:15am on the dot for a loop around the Marin Headlands. It was a solid recovery ride for myself and my friend David, who also raced on Sunday.
What an incredible weekend. I came to Truckee, CA and entered the Tahoe Trail 100k Leadville qualifier. Having trained hard for over a year now it all came together at the right time. I finished 11th overall out of 239 racers, 9th in my respective age category, and just ahead of three-time Leadville Trail 100 champion, Rebecca Rusch. More importantly I rightfully earned a spot in the Leadville Tail 100, otherwise known as the Race Across the Sky! I finished the 60 mile course in four hours and 36 minutes, just three minutes outside of the top 10. What made the experience even more special was the opportunity to ride and hang out with the legends of Leadville, Dave Weins and Rebecca Rusch. (more…)
Wake up call at 5am this morning. Got up, had my breakfast consisting of granola, a banana and some coconut water, all while watching the last stage of the Tour de France. It’s Sunday morning and I’m getting ready to race my heart out. Stay tuned for a full race recap. Wish me luck!