The Grand Loop

Official race start time for the Grand Loop was 6 pm tonight from Tab TH in GJ. Matt is doing it, Jefe and Jim started also and the others are already out there. You can see updates from the forum: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,211.new.html#new

Matt


JIM


Jefe


Riding up Monument Road.




These folks showed up but decided to bail once they saw the other guys' bikes.



Jefe and Jim have spot trackers and Matt does not. Maybe he can call from Bedrock to let me know he got there and when or maybe someone passing the other way will report when and where they see him. Wish 'em good riding, weather, conditions and navigation! I'm a little jealous that I can't be out there. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

"Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing." -A. Lincoln

Familiar Places

Tomorrow night at midnight I embark on one of my favorite journeys of the year. I'll be riding the Kokopelli Trail from Moab to Loma. It is roughly 145 miles of a combination of paved road, dirt road, single track and double track. I am joining some other folks for this event without any outside support. The idea is to complete this quest without help along the way, to push yourself beyond your limits and come out on top. It will be fun and there will be moments that probably won't be so fun. Needless to say I can't wait. I love this ride and I love how it makes me feel. More than anything I love the sections on Fisher Mesa, Onion Creek, Hideout, Cottonwood Canyon.....the views are amazing and you feel like you are the only one on the planet until you stumble across some other suffering soul in the middle of nowhere.

I'll filter water probably from Hideout Canyon and then again at the Westwater Ranger Station (no filtering necessary here) which is game. The station is only 20 minutes round-trip off course including time it takes to get water. It is well worth it as riding through Rabbit Valley in the middle of a hot summer day without water is not my idea of a good time. The first year I did this it took me 20.5 hours from Moab to Loma. The second year from Loma to Moab (considered harder, as you climb the mother from Dewey to the La Sals) it took me 18.5 hours. My number one goal is of course to finish and number two is to do it a little faster than 18 hours. I don't know that I can since I haven't been able to train as much being in school and working a lot. I don't feel in the greatest shape so we'll just have to see what happens. I'll finish, it just may hurt a whole heck of a lot.

I'm bringing an assortment of items with me. I'll have the usual perpetuem, cytomax and water. I'm receiving my new Ergon backpack tomorrow which I can't wait to try out! Thank you Jeff! For food here is what I'll be munching on: fritos, pringles, fig newtons, chips ahoy, apples, pb&j, one chocolate ensure, an orange, a lemon lara bar or two, snickers marathon bars or something along those lines, oh I almost forgot I'm freezing a ginger ale, putting it in a coozy (sp?) and drinking that treasure in some hot place (I'm sure I won't have trouble finding one) when I'm about to puke.

The cool thing is that Matt is attempting this for his first time. I've warned him that if he's curled up under some bush somewhere in the middle of the desert in fetal position, I won't be able to stop and help him, we're on our own for this one. He doesn't know what he's in for but it will be a blast to see him finish or him see me finish.

Continued after the weekend.........

18 Hours of Fruita Results

Kris wins Fruita with 29 laps! Dereck Fish also wins, and the best part is that he thought he got second until after the race was over. What a great race for everyone. I loved being a cheerleader and spectator. The course got muddy at times with some on and off raining. On her last lap, Kris had to carry her bike since it wouldn't pedal and pushing it just picked up more mud. Anyone who rides in this area knows how it gets when it rains here, so you can only imagine the conditions of the course with 70+ teams. They re-routed the course towards the end of the race, knocking a mile off of it. Congrats to all who came out and raced, it was a great day. Soon after it ended there was a huge opening in the sky with hail and pouring rain; it came not a moment too soon.

Go Kris Cannon!!!!!

Just a last good wish to Kris Cannon who starts 18 Hours of Fruita tonight a 12am. I really don't miss that start. The good thing is that the sun comes up quick. Go Kris! You are going to charge the course! Anyone who knows Kris or is reading this, send her your good vibes. I'll update with results tomorrow. Also want to wish my friend Dereck Fish or Fish(not sure if he spells his name this way) good luck. Fish is racing in the solo category on his single speed. He won the race last year with 34 laps I believe. Yes, one will get dizzy racing this 5.5 mile course that many times around. Anyone else I know out there racing but don't know it now...BEST OF LUCK!!!! I'll be by in the morning to cheer you on!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ride strong and steady.

Ice Cream

I've tried to give up ice cream but it just doesn't seem to work. It is especially good after an arduous, hot, desert ride. The reason for trying to give it up is because I hear about all these other racers and all the good foods they eat or the bad foods they don't. The truth is, I eat pretty healthy stuff, mostly organic and mostly vegetarian. Let's be honest though, a bowl of chocolate chip ice cream with some nutella on top tastes damn good!

Today I road from Moab to Dewey Bridge on the Kokopelli Trail. It was great and I'm tired and a little bruised. The weather was perfect, I got an early start and avoided the hot sun for most of the day. Near the end of the ride I got body slammed by some menacing sand. Wow, I went down hard and it really hurt. It is always my left hip that gets it too. Man, I'm pretty sure I'll have an extra hip by the time I retire from biking, as if I don't have enough hip as it is. I also kind of knocked my head and did a little whiplash number on my neck. One thing is for certain, I will be feeling the pain tomorrow. Matt met me with the car and dog at Dewey and he road from Dewey, actually he is still riding as I write this, to Fruita Kokopelli TH. Ringo (our dog) and I went to the boat ramp before driving back to Junction. My dog is crazy, he leaps through the water, runs fastly through the sand and charges me head on covered in water and dirt. He dried on the way home and the sand just kind of fell off him onto his bed in the car. He's one tired pup now.

The truth be told, I had first an ice cream bar, then a bowl of ice cream with the nutella. I feel great now!