What a joke

Just got this in my email Inbox the other day. 

We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your application for the
2011 Leadville Trail 100 MTB race. In order to offer the nation’s highest quality athletic
experience with the utmost degree of safety, medical care, and racer support, we are
unable to accommodate every interested rider. We do not offer a waiting list, and are
unable to accept entries for 2012.

Not that I am overly disappointed (considering the lack of technical terrain) but it's funny how some (you know who i am talking about) get in at the last minute and others are rejected when registering the day the lottery opens.  Is this really a "lottery".  I don't know, but I have heard conflicting stories.

This was going to be my one shot at Leadville, so I guess now I can check that one off the list.  Much like the hyped up 24 Hours of Moab, these races don't do it for me.  I prefer the low-key, racer friendly type events.  You know, the ones that REALLY care about the quality of riding for the riders.  The ones that aren't really out to make money, but just put on a great race.  A great example is the Mohican 100 race in Ohio.  Probably one of the toughest 100-mile races, this event ranks as one of my favorite all-time events. 

So no hard feelings towards Leadville, it just sort of makes me laugh.  Have fun Levi, Lance, etc

Hold on there spring...

winter is not going anywhere just yet.  We here in Bend, OR were teased back in late January and early February with spring-like weather.  Everyone seemed to have that "buzz" that spring was just around the corner.  Well guess what padna, we were all fooled.  Unfortunately for some, and of course, fortunate for others, we have been getting several inches of snow for the past few weeks.  This has caused havoc among us cyclists of course, but has brought new life to those who call themselves skiers or boarders or "knuckle-draggers, or ...  The ski resorts have hope again and it sure seems like coffee sales have gone up (I just made that one up :)
Beginning in February I began my "official" training for the 2011 season.  Structure on the bike and more focus on the type of rides began to factor in.  I was even able to log several back to back to back 5 hour rides with a few 3 hour rides thrown in for fun.  However, it's time to put the bike on hold and begin a long overdue craving and do some skate skiing.  I have not yet been up skating once this winter and I have been itching to get up there.  So considering how the weather forecast looks this week, I am hitting the XC trails and enjoying winter while it lasts. 
I'm ready to log more miles in the saddle, but I can certainly wait until the weather has warmed up.  Besides, I enjoy being active in more activities as I grow old and there will definitely be enough time to get ready for the cycling season.  It will be a long season, no need to burn out in March ehh.
Now I just have to remember how to stay up on my skis.

Quote of the week

"Anything is possible.  You can be told you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight".

by Lance Armstrong

In your spare time

check this out...Or, if you happen to live in one of the cities the movie is playing at go see it at the theaters. 

Quote/s of the week

I felt it was appropriate to include both of these quotes in this Blog.  They both relate to having a positive attitude, and being confident in your own abilities.


"Wellness is the key to a long and healthy life. Many people have the wrong perception of it. Wellness is from the neck up, and fitness from the neck down. Too many people work out every day, but go around with the worst attitudes, which just wastes all their physical efforts."
by Unknown



"If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win."
by Carl Lewis

The perfect night-riding outfit

courtesy of Chico Racing

Pics from AZ

Here are a few snapshots taken during our recent trip down to visit my parents in Arizona.  These were taken during our hike up to Vulture Peak; which is near Wickenburg, AZ.

The possi after completing the trek up to Vulture Peak 

Vulture Peak in the distance

Seeing a deer running through the cacti' just seemed weird 

Quote of the week

"To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain....at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep-down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly-Winks."


by Scott Martin

TRX Lunge with Bosu and Medicine Ball

One of the coolest new pieces of exercise equipment that I've been using for training is the TRX Suspension Trainer.  If you haven't already seen it, I've put some videos on YouTube.  Here's one of the leg exercises that I do.    This video was taken while Jenny and I were down in Arizona visiting my folks.

2 Quotes of the week

In the absense of last week's "quote of the week", you get two quotes this week.  Think of it as my holiday gift to you.  Happy New Year all!

"Pain is a big fat creature riding on your back. The farther you pedal, the heavier he feels. The harder you push, the tighter he squeezes your chest. The steeper the climb, the deeper he digs his jagged, sharp claws into your muscles."

- Scott Martin


"What makes a great endurance athlete is the ability to absorb potenial embarrassment, and to suffer without complaint. I was discovering that if it was a matter of gritting my teeth, not caring how it looked, and outlasting everybody else, I won. It didn't seem to matter what sport it was--in a straight-ahead, long-distant race, I could beat anybody. If it was a suffer-fest, I was good at it."

- Lance Armstrong