Active Exploration

This evening while I was running, I came across a great horned owl sitting on a log by the side of the path. The owl didn't move as I came by and stopped but just looked at me and blinked. It didn't seem hurt - just chilling out on a log. I have never seen anything like it. This is another reason why people should get outside. It's a unique experience that you can't have if you only go from your house to your car to wherever. It is a side effect to being outside and actively using your body - you might see a once in a lifetime thing.

On Thursday I saw Race Across the Sky , the documentary about the Leadville Trail 100, at my local cinema. It is not the best documentary out there, but some of the scenes are awe-inspiring and the race is clearly an amazing experience for all involved. Lance Armstrong, the winner of the race this year, may have his faults but he is such an extraordinary athlete and probably a cool guy to hang with.

Some people love Stan's tubeless system , some people hate it. If you look at internet review sites, it's either got 5 stars or 1 star. I haven't made up my mind yet. I think it is a killer system because of how it performs, but you must recognize that setting it up is an exercise in frustration.  These are the things I have learned since using it.  Lower tire pressures are really nice for mountain biking, like everyone claims. The sealant works. When you get a puncture, it will seal up right away.  You can waste a whole day trying to set it up before you shallow your pride and go to a bike shop where they can do it in 10 minutes. Don't even bother trying to get your tires to seat with a floor pump. Use a compressor. Take your wheels to a gas station or bike shop if you have to. Tubes are way easier. Except that they get flats. Last spring, I decided to jump belatedly on the tubeless tire bandwagon and find out what the big deal was. I bought the Stan's No Tu...

Mountain biking is a spiritual experience. I find peace in the quiet of the woods, humility in the effort that is required, and beauty in the motion between the rider, the bike, and the ground. After every ride, no matter how demanding or bruising it was, I feel refreshed. I have sweated out any negativity and cleared my mind of chaotic thoughts. There is no time for mental chatter when a moment's inattention in a rock garden means breaking a bone. Riding purifies me. Today I had to attend an event for work. I brought my bike in order to ride afterwards at a nearby park. The event went longer than expected, and then traffic on the drive delayed me further. I was annoyed and tense all the way there; muttering to myself. Then I arrived, unpacked, and rode 15 miles. On the way home there was traffic too, but I didn't care. I was at peace.

I watched 24 Solo last night from Netflix. It is a documentary about 24 hour mountain bike race champion Chris Eatough . While most mountain bike films are about "gravity" events like downhill and freeriding, this movie makes racing cross-country for an entire day interesting. On the surface, you wouldn't think that there would be much drama in a race where the contenders can finish 30 minutes or more apart, but the filmmakers do a good job of condensing the important events into a shorter format. They also have some excellent photography, both with helmet cameras and cable cameras. What is remarkable to me is how the guys that do 24 hour races solo are not really in it for the money or the fame, because there is not much of either. They either really like what they do or are extremely obsessed and driven. The amount of pain and suffering that they experience must be astronomical. I would really be interested to know how it compares to the exertion required for the T...

Yesterday I fulfilled a goal for myself of riding to the top of Mount Evans (14,264 ft) from my sister's house in Evergreen, CO (7400 ft). It was a long ride: 36 miles almost all uphill, then 36 miles down. With a forecast for good weather, and the temperature in the 40s, I started out around 7:30 AM from Evergreen and headed up Evergreen Parkway towards Bergen Park. As I was going up the first hills, I started thinking, "This is not going to happen!" I was not warmed up and my legs were feeling tired already. However, I started to get into a rhythm and by the time I turned up Squaw Pass Road I was feeling better. Up Squaw Pass Road was a long grind. The forest changed from mostly ponderosa pine to spruce and lodgepole pine. I was surprised by the amount of development in the area. There are houses all along the road (although mostly hidden) and even a few subdivisions. I wonder what it is like to live at 10,000 feet in the winter. As I was riding, I was slowly w...