My racing buddy Tim S. explained it all to me. I have a defective gene. Below is a copy of my receipt:
2 x Same Day Extra Race
SKU: extrarace
Category: Singlespeed Men
1 x 8 Race Pass
SKU: 8pass
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Hamlin
Age: 46
Email: hamlinr@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 4357641990
Team: Joyride Bikes
Category: Masters 45+
Number Plate: 2 number plates
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Stuff To Write About
As of today, at this moment, I plan on doing the Utah Cyclocross races this weekend. Really. I know, I know, I said I wasn't going to do it. Why? Turns out the question is reductio ad absurdum. This guy has a pretty good (absurd) explanation:
http://grizzlyadam.net/2011/09/ode-cyclocross.html
I set up Patty and Lupine with a shuttle to do Stump Hollow yesterday. Her are some pictures. That's Bear Lake in the background to the left.
http://grizzlyadam.net/2011/09/ode-cyclocross.html
I set up Patty and Lupine with a shuttle to do Stump Hollow yesterday. Her are some pictures. That's Bear Lake in the background to the left.
Pushing Lupine's bike up the Peter Sinks Road. I think she may be a downhiller some day. She is only happy going down hill.
My mountain bike daughter and her Bernese Mountain bike dog.
The colors are here. Fall is here. Cross season...is here.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
On My Bike
What has the world come to? I rode the mountain bike for nearly 3 hours today. Yesterday I did some hot cross laps, and on Tuesday I was on the mountain bike with the fastest dude in the valley, David C. If this keeps up I may get into race shape. Too bad I'm nearly crippled from back pain. Well, not really crippled, more like hobbled on occasion.
I did a long hike with Lupine and her class today. The colors are coming, the colors are coming!
I did a long hike with Lupine and her class today. The colors are coming, the colors are coming!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
More Fun
Lupine is going to a friend's house today after school. I did not want her bike left at school so we needed alternative transportation this morning. Looks like her legs are finally long enough to ride the tandem.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Riding For Fun
The proof is in the pictures. I've got the big tires and the little gear on the bike. It's now a fun bike.
Not much clearance.
I finally took the time to finish my first trailer. It works. I went to Pet Smart for dog food and cat food. This is 40 pounds of dry food and 2 pounds of free canned food. There is a lot I need to change before production begins.
The tow arm needs a redesign. I'm thinking galvanised conduit that is super easy to bend. Bent aluminum is ugly.
There are things I've done right, like the hitch and the wheel/axle/dropout design.
Not much clearance.
I finally took the time to finish my first trailer. It works. I went to Pet Smart for dog food and cat food. This is 40 pounds of dry food and 2 pounds of free canned food. There is a lot I need to change before production begins.
The tow arm needs a redesign. I'm thinking galvanised conduit that is super easy to bend. Bent aluminum is ugly.
There are things I've done right, like the hitch and the wheel/axle/dropout design.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Leaning Tree
Have you ever observed a leaning tree over a long period of time? You just know as you watch the rains fall and the winds blow that some day the tree's going to lean past the tipping point and fall to a premature death. I'm starting to lean. I may even have reached my tipping point.
I've changed the main picture below the title on this blog. Today I'm going to take off the 46x20 cyclocross racing gear on my bike and put on a 44x22. Then I'll remove the tubular wheel set and put on my old WTB Mutanoraptor 700x44 tires that I've had for years (they have not been on the bike since my White Rim in a day ride back in November 2008). Then, I'm going up. Way up. Way back. Way long. I'm going to ride to the hike. When the hike is done I'll ride home from the hike. Then I'll see if I feel like putting the cross racing gear and wheels back on the bike.
I've changed the main picture below the title on this blog. Today I'm going to take off the 46x20 cyclocross racing gear on my bike and put on a 44x22. Then I'll remove the tubular wheel set and put on my old WTB Mutanoraptor 700x44 tires that I've had for years (they have not been on the bike since my White Rim in a day ride back in November 2008). Then, I'm going up. Way up. Way back. Way long. I'm going to ride to the hike. When the hike is done I'll ride home from the hike. Then I'll see if I feel like putting the cross racing gear and wheels back on the bike.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Still Off The Bike
List me on IR
I'm just not motivated
My back really hurts
It just seems too much
Every weekend for three months
Money, gas, and time
Sounds like I will bail
If clouds linger in my mind
My outlook may change
I just need to ride
And ride just because it's fun
Forget cyclocross
I'm just not motivated
My back really hurts
It just seems too much
Every weekend for three months
Money, gas, and time
Sounds like I will bail
If clouds linger in my mind
My outlook may change
I just need to ride
And ride just because it's fun
Forget cyclocross
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Lack Of Content
Went to Montana
I've been off the bike for days
No, I'm not content
Cross workout today
Running out of time to train
First race in two weeks
I've been off the bike for days
No, I'm not content
Cross workout today
Running out of time to train
First race in two weeks
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
No Use To Cry About It
I dried my tears and started riding my bicycle again. Our experience last week trying to become foster/adoptive parents left me with a broken heart and mixed emotions, emotions strong enough that I did not even want to ride. I'm not one to give up easily on anything. It's a strength and a weakness. So, I am trying to comprehend that there are challenges and people that may be beyond my abilities. That's a hard lesson for me, and Patty is helping me to learn it. The bottom line is this: The child we were working with will probably get residential treatment and Professional Parents. Like most things in life, we may need more training. For now we will keep Lupine safe and our family the way it is.
It's funny, but the theme of never giving up and needing more training went through my head for nearly six hours yesterday. I rode the geared cyclocross bike from home to Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Left Hand Fork all the way to the Bear Lake Summit. I survived. I hiked several miles, broke a spoke, tried to share the road/trail with hundreds of motorized recreation assholes (I'm not kidding about their numbers or demeanor), and ran out of food and water. Left Hand Fork turned into a rock-boulder strewn hike after Herd Hollow (who knew). I did know that it was Labor Day weekend and the mountains would be slap full of people and their machines. I did the route anyway. Stupid. The good news is that I'm just a little bit physically stronger than I am stupid. I don't give up easily on anything.
I do need to say a few things about ATVs, RVs, motorcycles, diesel trucks, toy haulers, and motor homes. This is my blog. These are my opinions. So, Vickie, and anyone else who has anything to do with this type of motorized recreation, stop reading now. Did you stop? You were warned. There were thousands of people in the mountains yesterday, all driving things with motors. I only saw one person other than myself using their muscles to propel themselves. He was six years old. On more than a dozen occasions yesterday my life was endangered. Riding far to the right, people in trucks, jeeps, and ATVs continually took their half of the road from my side, and without slowing down headed right for me. I think motorized recreation is unhealthy and unethical. Our public lands are being over-run and abused. Quiet self-propelled recreation has become impossible. In general, people who drive big diesel trucks, motor homes, ATVs, and motorcycles on public lands are selfish, self-righteous, oblivious, polluting, unthinking, natural resource-destroying, shortsighted, carbon-spewing assholes. There. I've said it. What will they do when the fossil fuel is gone? They may have to learn to walk again.
It's funny, but the theme of never giving up and needing more training went through my head for nearly six hours yesterday. I rode the geared cyclocross bike from home to Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Left Hand Fork all the way to the Bear Lake Summit. I survived. I hiked several miles, broke a spoke, tried to share the road/trail with hundreds of motorized recreation assholes (I'm not kidding about their numbers or demeanor), and ran out of food and water. Left Hand Fork turned into a rock-boulder strewn hike after Herd Hollow (who knew). I did know that it was Labor Day weekend and the mountains would be slap full of people and their machines. I did the route anyway. Stupid. The good news is that I'm just a little bit physically stronger than I am stupid. I don't give up easily on anything.
I do need to say a few things about ATVs, RVs, motorcycles, diesel trucks, toy haulers, and motor homes. This is my blog. These are my opinions. So, Vickie, and anyone else who has anything to do with this type of motorized recreation, stop reading now. Did you stop? You were warned. There were thousands of people in the mountains yesterday, all driving things with motors. I only saw one person other than myself using their muscles to propel themselves. He was six years old. On more than a dozen occasions yesterday my life was endangered. Riding far to the right, people in trucks, jeeps, and ATVs continually took their half of the road from my side, and without slowing down headed right for me. I think motorized recreation is unhealthy and unethical. Our public lands are being over-run and abused. Quiet self-propelled recreation has become impossible. In general, people who drive big diesel trucks, motor homes, ATVs, and motorcycles on public lands are selfish, self-righteous, oblivious, polluting, unthinking, natural resource-destroying, shortsighted, carbon-spewing assholes. There. I've said it. What will they do when the fossil fuel is gone? They may have to learn to walk again.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Postponed...
...for a few reasons: Patty just got back from Seattle and is in Orem today, the house is a mess (I really need to sweep, mop, and scrub), and, we are meeting with a potential foster child after school today. The Grand Staircase, Skyline Drive, and Strawberry Peak will wait for me. The next window opens mid to late September, right after I get back from Montana.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
ID-AZ, Maps Days One, Two, and Three
View Idaho To Arizona, Day One in a larger map
View Idaho To Arizona, Day Two in a larger map
View Idaho To Arizona, Day Three in a larger map
Friday, August 26, 2011
Preparations
I'm trying to get my head around the start of Idaho To Arizona and gathering my things together: bivy, bag, pad, food, tubes, water bottles, frame bags, and maps. It looks like Tuesday is a go. My heart rate gets higher just thinking about it. On Tuesday it looks like I'll start from the Idaho line above Swan Flats, take the Sinks Road to Hardware Ranch and Ant Valley, head up Skull Crack Canyon and down Pine Canyon to Henefer. There, I will sleep and resupply. See the map above.
On Wednesday, I will take the rail trail from Echo Junction to Park City, for a big resupply. I will then go to Midway/Heber via the Pine Creek descent (that's a big climb out of Park City, so I may just stay on the pavement, US 40). From there it's all mountains up the big climb to Strawberry Peak and down to US 6 via Tie Fork. Wednesday night I'll sleep near Strawberry Reservoir or Sky View/Tucker near US 6. There is no resupply there so I'll be traveling light and a little hungry.
On Thursday, there's the really big climb up Skyline Drive which I will take all the way to I-70. I will have to resupply off-route in Fairview, Utah or Mount Pleasant, Utah (big down and big up to get back on route). There, I will coordinate with Patty and Lupine and try to update the blog and describe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's routes, so stay tuned. By Thursday night I will still be north of I-70, sleeping god knows where without any resupply opportunities.
It's too far out to know for sure, but I plan to be in Loa, Utah some time on Friday, and in Escalante Utah, some time late Saturday. On Sunday I plan to meet Patty and Lupine in Big Water, Utah (home of polygamists and the Joseph Clan) after pedaling the Smoky Mountain Road Scenic Backway from Escalante through the Grand Staircase National Monument. From Big Water it's just a few miles to Arizona. Light and fast, light and fast. Wish me luck and a strong pair of climbing legs. Yes, I know the monsoon season is here. Yes, I'm taking polypro underware.
On Wednesday, I will take the rail trail from Echo Junction to Park City, for a big resupply. I will then go to Midway/Heber via the Pine Creek descent (that's a big climb out of Park City, so I may just stay on the pavement, US 40). From there it's all mountains up the big climb to Strawberry Peak and down to US 6 via Tie Fork. Wednesday night I'll sleep near Strawberry Reservoir or Sky View/Tucker near US 6. There is no resupply there so I'll be traveling light and a little hungry.
On Thursday, there's the really big climb up Skyline Drive which I will take all the way to I-70. I will have to resupply off-route in Fairview, Utah or Mount Pleasant, Utah (big down and big up to get back on route). There, I will coordinate with Patty and Lupine and try to update the blog and describe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's routes, so stay tuned. By Thursday night I will still be north of I-70, sleeping god knows where without any resupply opportunities.
It's too far out to know for sure, but I plan to be in Loa, Utah some time on Friday, and in Escalante Utah, some time late Saturday. On Sunday I plan to meet Patty and Lupine in Big Water, Utah (home of polygamists and the Joseph Clan) after pedaling the Smoky Mountain Road Scenic Backway from Escalante through the Grand Staircase National Monument. From Big Water it's just a few miles to Arizona. Light and fast, light and fast. Wish me luck and a strong pair of climbing legs. Yes, I know the monsoon season is here. Yes, I'm taking polypro underware.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Time To Go To Work
Hardware Ranch last night
Got my pants handed to me
On a B pace ride
Better than couch time
At least I went for a ride
And did some real work
Old Main this morning
Stairs 8X, cross laps tonight
3 easy, 3 hot
Got my pants handed to me
On a B pace ride
Better than couch time
At least I went for a ride
And did some real work
Old Main this morning
Stairs 8X, cross laps tonight
3 easy, 3 hot
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Six Days To Heal
Degenerative
Disc disease, herniation
Facet arthritis
Little time to heal
Idaho-Arizona
Begins next Tuesday
Six hundred hard miles
No paved roads and Sky Line Drive
Grand Staircase or bust
Disc disease, herniation
Facet arthritis
Little time to heal
Idaho-Arizona
Begins next Tuesday
Six hundred hard miles
No paved roads and Sky Line Drive
Grand Staircase or bust
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Just A Quick Update
I'm back from Montana. And, I'm back from southern Utah, checking cameras on I-70 and US 6 for Patty. Today we are going to Park City. Drive, drive, drive. My back is killing me, still about 40% on the Robert Scale (it means I could get 60% better). The MRI said Degenerative Disc Disease and narrowed nerve channels at L4-L5. Whatever. I'm old. Walking and sleeping are still really painful. It does not hurt so much to ride the bike, which I have not done much of as of late. I hope to change that today in Park City. On Sunday, Patty flies to Seattle. On Monday, Lupine starts fifth grade, and I will go see a sports medicine doc. I have to get better fast. The first Utah Cyclocross race is on October 1, just six weeks away. When Patty gets back, I'm supposed to pedal to Arizona. Remember that big ride I have planned, Idaho to Arizona? Right.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Willow Mountain, Montana
I pedaled up Willow Creek today, up to the Lookout Tower at the top of Willow Mountain in the Sapphire Range, about 3000 feet of climbing. Then I headed down towards Gleason Lake. Patty, Lupine, Sen, and Berne were supposed to meet me on the trail. I looked for them, their tracks, or a note. Three hours later I found their note, about 3 or 4 miles from our designated rendezvous point. An hour after that I found my family. Better me than the Ravalli County Search and Rescue. Patty may never walk normally again. What a day.
Monday, August 8, 2011
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