I'm Not Dead Yet...

Well, it is official, I am not dead! I took a blogging hiatus over the past few weeks, with almost 20 days of vacation and a week of work in Montana, I was not at my computer a great deal. Awesome for me, bad for the tens of blog followers that I have...

Nevertheless, I am back, and here to please...stay tuned!

ENO Double Nest Hammock

I have been in the outdoor industry for about 8 years now, so it takes a pretty stout and impressive product to WOW me these days. My most recent WOW? The ENO Double Nest Hammock. If you are swingin' solo, $55 bucks will score you the single version. For those that want more space, wind protection, or a place for their chica, the Double Nest sets up at $65. It comes in various color options an includes everything you need but slings and trees.

There are other offerings in the suspended-relaxation-world, Hennessy and Byer both tackle the market with various options, but 22 oz, a 400 pound capacity, a pack size equal to a grapefruit, all for the price of a keg of PBR...yeah, it's a winner.

Based out of Asheville, NC, Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) is storming the industry with lightweight durable sleep systems, all at a cost marketable to the outdoor junkie.

I'll Take A Fabulous Trip To Moab...And A Side Of Broken Axle On The Subaru. Oh Don't Forget The $1400 Bill!

(Mike and Matt full throttle on Slickrock!)

(Just chillin')

(group photo in Fruita)

(Campsite in Moab...ENO hammock=purchase of the year)

So the good news is the trip to Fruita and Moab was fabulous! 3 days of riding, great weather, what an amazing adventure. The riding was truly epic, and the lack of tread on my rear tire agrees. One of the many highlights of my trip was my most recent REI purchase, and ENO Double Nest Hammock! I lounged and slept in the hammock and it was phenomenal. I highly recommend it.

The bad news is the Subaru had to go to the axle doctor. The Subi decided it was time to say out with the old and in with the new; $1400 later she has a new axle, timing belt, and some other blood and guts installed in her! Pop quiz:

Q1: The new axle might be a result of:

a. Driving cross country road trips at minimum twice a year
b. Countless dirt and 4wd roads
c. Lodging an 18" boulder under the axle while stuck in 2 feet of snow in IPW
d. None of the above

Clearly the answer is d.

Yeah...It's a Dog Trailer...

Yeah...it's a dog trailer.

A couple of months ago as Katie and I planned our 2+ week road trip to the northeast, we decided it would be cool to do some mini touring on the bikes while in Vermont. The dilemma, what to do with the four legged friend? I was able to get a sweet deal on a Chariot Cougar 1, but when Tada climbed in it was reminiscent of cramming 50 pounds of potatoes in a 20 pound sack. Bursting at the seams, we knew it was not the solution.

The solution? A Croozer dog trailer! I know, I know, it is pretty freakin' ridiculous, but what do I do that is not pretty freakin' ridiculous? So far, we have made it as far as filling the inside with corn chips and coercing her to climb in (pictured above) for the delicious treats, not quite at the hooking it to the bike and taking her on a trip stage quite yet...more to come!

Sometime I listen to Slow Jams on Pandora Radio...

Alright, I am just going to set the record straight. I like to listen to Slow Jams radio on Pandora, while drinking wine, and watching intense helmet cam footage of mountain bike descents of Whistlers A-Line. Didn't see it coming did ya? Can't see the lines, can you Russ?

As for the past couple days, a few updates in the amazingly awesome swirling life!

• Finally got Tada's recently uncontrollable poos figured out. Poor girl, just a bacteria of some sort...
• Katie's car decided it would be cool to not start on a regular basis. Awesome!
• My buddy Jonathan and his wife hooked Katie and I up with an awesome cork board picture frame to add to our kitchen! They rock, and make cute bab(y)(ies)
• After my boss showed me footage of Whistler downhil, I am going to promptly provide him with a time off request...to...cough...go to Whistler...cough
  

Martial Arts and Wheat Grass

Well, it's official, our new living arrangement rocks compared to our old one. I received an email from our landlord today describing her new tenants, embedded within were some big laughs. A stellar, verbatim excerpt is as follows:

"I realize you are probably not lying awake at night wondering if I rented the condo, but, yes, I found 3 really nice people, about your age, into martial arts and growing wheat grass, to rent it as of April 20. Just thought I'd let you know...so far, I seem to be pretty lucky in finding good tenants!"

Here is my bullet pointed debrief:

• No, I am not lying awake at night...
• Martial arts are for elementary age kids and adults seeking to find themselves...not my age.
• Wheat grass? Seriously? Has a healthy smoothie craze engulfed 25 year old males?
• Wheat grass...you mean...grass?
• There is a 100% statistical and direct correlation between martial arts and weed.
• Lastly, no one has an interest in growing wheat grass. No one. People that garden indoors grow one of two things...weed.
  

A Wee Weekend Road Trip

Well, I have lived in Colorado for two years now, and am yet to follow the advice of the "go Fruita" radio ads. With Katie and I off for the weekend, we decided to saddle up the black and white furry one, throw the tent in the car, pack the cooler, and head to Fruita for the weekend! Maybe some hiking, maybe some site seeing, maybe some camping, it should be grand! I will post some pictures Sunday night or Monday, stay tuned...

Screeching Halt Student Driver

As I was heading out to mountain bike today, I made a short stopover at REI to pick up some odds and ends. As I was waiting at the stop light at Delaware and 144th, a student driver (I know this because it was Ford focus with a huge "student driver" sticker on it) came plowing into the intersection and came to a screeching (literally) halt; almost halfway into the intersection mind you. The Asian girl behind the wheel looked absolutely terrified, and the older gentleman in the not-quite-passenger-not-quite-driver-has-a-brake-pedal-seat looked as if he had just pitched a loaf on the Focus's fabric now-loaf-heated seats, and was in the process of kissing that extra brake pedal.

No accident luckily, just laughter. The trainee then decided to back up to the point she should have come to a stop at, and the man just kept doing this tunnel vision hands beside his eyes motion, then kept pointing at the traffic light. Ha!

This Bald Guy Caught A Huge Freakin Lobster!

(This picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post)

Holy macaroni, it has been forever since I updated the blog! Life has been crazy the past 2 weeks. Katie and I are officially moved into our new place, which so far has been wonderful. A 4.5 mile bike to work for me and 3 for Katie, life is grand! I will post some pictures once we unpack everything...we are moving at a slow and steady pace...

In lieu of writing paragraph after paragraph about my last two weeks, enjoy this bullet pointed list of the top ten happenings instead! They are in no particular order...

1. I saw a bag fall out of a family's grocery cart today and their applesauce exploded!
2. Katie and I sewed the half eaten cushion off our landlords couch and managed to get our full security deposit back.
3. I have made a smoothie every day since I got my new blender.
4. I am heading to Bozeman, MT to "work" for a few days in May. Conveniently enough "work" will pass through Yellowstone, the Tetons, and involve multiple mountain bike adventures.
   
5. Apex Trail in Golden is now one way on odd days...LAME. Check http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R4.htm for details.
6. I have commuted 4 out of the 5 days I have worked on my bike :)
7. Our oven in our new house fills our apartment with billowing smoke when it hits 400...maintenance!
8. My neighbor told me her dog would "tear me and my f*ing dog to pieces if I did not watch my back..." A blog post in itself...
9. I am on a first name basis with Doyle the cashier at our new Kings Soopers!
   
10. My Ellsworth might give birth to a younger but bigger Ellsworth. I am going to name her baby Dare :)
11. I now wear a night guard to sleep. "Night guard" is fancy dentist talk for $360 plastic mouth guard that keeps me from mashing my teeth at night. Katie has dubbed it my dork guard, but has agreed to still sleep in the same bed as me despite me not being able to pronounce a single vowel...love her!
    

Dry Trails and Saying Goodbye to the Trail

No great pictures to go along with this post, just a quickie. Katie and I have been actively packing, cleaning, and preparing for the move from the Trail, and the big day is only about 24 hours away. Wooohooo. Should be grand. On a different note, the trails are almost dry again. Jonathan and I put in some miles at Heil today, and although there is a few puddles and mud spots hanging around, the trails should be at their tacky prime in a day or so :) Who's in?

The Blender Has Arrived!

As many of you know, I ordered a new blender several days ago and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival; after all, it is prime smoothie season. My weapon of choice, the Kitchen Aid Poly Carb 56oz, five speed blender. Primo. Upon plugging this baby in and giving her a test run on "liquefy", which is commonly known as a powerful setting among blender enthusiast, I quickly realized my $115 was well spent. For a split second I thought I was at a monster truck rally at the Buck (PA crowd). The horsepower of this blender easily rivals that of my Subaru, and I am convinced with the right juice or milk, it will make smoothies out of rocks...

Todays Run: 11.41

After some minor bumps in the technological road, I have finally synced my Garmin Forerunner 405 to my blog. Not that anyone truly cares what my workouts look like, but if you are curious, I am going to start posting them on my blog. If I figure it out I will create a section on the sidebar of my blog as a more permanent place for them to live. Just click the link below and you can access information such as distance, elevation changes, heart rate, calories burned (?), GPS coordinates, and a full map depiction using Google Maps. Pretty cool huh?

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Lookout, 75th, Jay, Cottonwood Trail, Independence, 57th, Jay, Spine

Trips a Plenty

Trips a plenty! Katie and I spent some time hashing out the summer vacay tonight, 16 days to head to the northeast! On the hit list for the road trip is Vermont, Maine, and some time in Lake Placid, NY. Should be awesome!

Prior to the real vacation though, I will be heading up to Bozeman, MT at the end of May for some work related items. These said work related items will take me through Yellowstone and the Tetons, and probably include some pretty serious mountain biking and downhill riding :) Oh yes, should be good. Does this mean a downhill bike? I think I have a problem.

Additionally, my cousin is getting married outside of Spokane, WA in August. Canada and BC riding??? Better renew the passport!

Mountian Biking Yesterday...Cross Country Skiing Today

MN (mother nature) put the warm weather on hold for the day, and in lieu of rays of sunshine and spring breeze decided to throw almost a foot of wet and wind blown snow our way. Glorious...awesome.

Say goodnight to the bikes and good morning to the cross country skis. Although the snow was wicked heavy and I had to knock Frosty the snowman off my fish scales every 2 minutes (I love how some people will read that sentence and have no idea what the hell I am talking about...) the kicks and sticky glides were fun. Perhaps XC round #2 tonight with the lady? Other events that consumed my not so eventful snow day:

• Donating a bunch of stuff to the thrift store and getting a tax receipt
  
• Making $76.50 by selling some lacrosse sticks and roller blades to Play It Again
• Depositing said $76.50 into the bank
  
• Meeting with a prospective renter prior to our landlord arriving so I could give her all the true details of life on the Trail
• Cleaning and preparing for the big move of 2010
  

Sometimes When You Clean Your House For Your Landlord To Come Over...Your Dog Takes A Runny Poo On The Carpet

Yeah, the title pretty much says it all... Katie and I have been actively cleaning the apartment, anticipating our less-than-two-weeks-away move, trying to recoup the full amount of our security deposit from our oh-so-amazing landlord. As a component of cleaning, we have been vacuuming the floor vigorously and using the Little Green Machine as needed. "As needed" is nice talk for Tada took a big runny poo in the middle of the carpet yesterday afternoon while we were at work. I could not help but think how funny and ironic it was, I just envisioned showing the apartment to future tenants and our landlord, keeping the poo room until last, and saying "yep the place is clean and live able, but I have one more thing for ya..."

Some Day...We'll All Have Saddle Bags

What a day! Boulder was greeted by 60+ degrees and sunshine today...I was greeted by a 6:00AM shift at work...and later greeted by a stellar 3:30PM mountain bike ride after work. Truly amazing and beautiful. For the record and the curious, the trails are almost completely dry along the Boulder front range, and the Ellsworth is riding like the fine stallion she is...

Let's back up a day to another amazing trip to the the glorious Kings Soopers. Katie and I parked our bikes on the bike rack, as usual, and were greeted by a neighboring bike, an old school Fuji Y frame. "Man, they don't make em' like that anymore...for good reasons" I said. We cruised in side for our lima beans and corned beef, and when we returned to our two wheeled machines we were welcomed to the bike rack by the back-pack wearing owner of the Fuji. In traditional life is grand fashion, I greeted the gentleman and struck up a pleasant conversation. After several minutes of dialog surrounding bikes, commuting, and gorgeous weather, we said our goodbyes and Katie and I saddled our bikes and started toward our journey home. I too was wearing a backpack for the groceries, and as we rode into the sunset toward Williams Fork Trail, the man said in a wise yet soft and picturesque voice "someday...we'll all have saddle bags!"

Saddle bags, panniers, it's all the same. This encounter was amazing...only in Boulder.

Playing the Responsibility Card

Over the past couple of months I have been hyping up the Surly Big Dummy and my pending purchase of one; cashing in my REI dividend and spending my hard earned tax return on the smooth rolling steel. I regret to say, I am putting the Dummy on hold. After experiencing a sudden waive of responsibility and adulthood, I realized that that money should go toward my house fund, and I could use my Cross Check for my highly anticipated commute to work rather than a new bike. I know, tragic, but responsible.

As for the REI dividend, real men spend their dividends and don't cash them out, so I will be blowing it on fun gear. What does the dividend purchase look like? Tentatively the following:

• Continental Grand Prix 4000's for the road bike
• Two sets of Ortlieb Back Roller panniers
• Some type of rack for the back of the Cross Check

Move Over Wind and Cold Hands...Captain America's In Town

During our usual jaunt to the g-store the other day, Katie and stumbled across the rig pictured below. My Surly looked like trash next to this piece of American pride; all this Trek 5000 needed was a gun rack on the basket and a system to play Willie Nelson while running Sundays errands. Upon closer inspection, this fine piece of craftsmanship utilized two laundry detergent bottles and some reflective DOT tape. Exquisite. Duly note the precise cut out from which old school Onza bar ends protrude from...

Sundays Product Pick: Pearl Izumi Barrier Shoe Covers

Need temperature regulation? Have a hankerin' for warm feet? Not afraid to ride when it's not 70 and sunny? Pearl Izumi Barrier shoe covers should be on your feet.

3mm of neoprene wrap your feet snugly as the the microfleece lining massages your every pedal. Super durable out soles with a versatile cleat cut out, reflective PI logos to help alert 4-wheeled machines, and tall cuffs with a bombproof velcro closure on the back pack enough strength to make even the fattest cankle look aerodynamic. Coming in at a cool 60 pieces of green, these puppies are worth every penny.

Katie got me a pair of these for Christmas, she has dubbed them my "booty warmers," and although I only have about 12 or so rides on them, I have been thoroughly impressed. Road or mountain, they are warm (yet regulate temperature better than my thermostat,) durable, easy on and off, and pretty darn water resistant. All and all, it has lessened my ability to cop out of crappy or cold weather rides by at least 57%...

Introducing Sundays Product Pick

As I Lance Armstronged it down the pavement on my road bike today, grinding and gritting as I hit the 13 mile mark where I encountered a torturous 60 or so foot elevation gain climb, I was briskly reminded how out of shape my legs were for two wheeled adventures. Never the less, my girlie lungs inhaled the cold air and I pressed on. As I cruised the downhill, I had a marvelous idea, every Sunday I will begin posting a "Product Pick of the Week." Maybe one product, maybe 2, who knows, who cares, I might only think it is a good idea tonight, but nevertheless I will give it a go!

Kwes-chuh n Mahrk

To the copious and overwhelming number of people who follow my blog, I would like to say I am sorry for my several day, now approaching a week, hiatus. I turned on the ol' MacBook the other day and was greeted by the blue screen with a flashing question mark and file folder pictured above.

My tech knowledge is not in its prime, but I know the basic definition of a question mark, as well as a blue screen:

? Question Mark [kwes-chuh n] [mahrk]

-noun

1. Computer jargon. What the hell am I supposed to be doing again? I don't remember anything. I think I will go back to sleep...

Blue Screen [bloo] [skreen]

-noun

1. Computer jargon. Shit just got real. No matter how hard you try to plug different things into me, I'm still not going to bring up that sweet wallpaper of you and your dog.

All and all, my hard drive kicked the bucket, and I have been computer-less for a couple of days. Props to the smart and kind folks at Mac, they doubled the capacity of my hard drive and replaced it free of charge under warranty. For a 4 year old computer...stellar.

Out With the Old and In With the New

Preface. Katie and I moved to Boulder almost 2 years ago, 18 months of which we have resided on good ol' Williams Fork Trail. With our roommate hitting the loto and buying a house, the later of the statement being the only true part, Katie and I have also made the decision to move. Out with Boulder, in with Broomfield. I do not have any pictures of the new place, more to come on that, what I do have is some of our fondest memories while living here on the trail.

Condo Clothes Fire
Ever wake up in the middle of the night with the fire alarm blaring and a hallway filled with smoke, fire men funneling in to see whats going on as you stand in the front "lawn" freezing, only to find out that your 19 year old neighbor decided to light a pile of vintage clothes on fire on the balcony with a bunch of his buddies?

Stewart Throwing My Bike In the Dumpster
A few weeks after we moved in, I had my commuter bike chained to a light post outside. One day when I went out to ride it, it was not there, in lieu of it was our grungy cigarette inhaling, ball scratching (pardon my not so French but it's true, I consistently see him scratching his man-jangles in the courtyard) fill in the blank of a maintenance guy, who not so politely informed me he cut my lock and threw my bike in the dumpster. In my typical fashion, I was polite and asked him if I should have the police come to fill out a report for stolen property...he then asked his fellow maintenance buddy to go get my bike for me. Dick.

Don't Flush Your Condoms
Within the first 24 hours of living here, our crazy landlord stopped by to inform us not to flush condoms down the toilet. Perhaps the creepiest moment of my life...

Drivin' Drunk...Classic
Remember the time the drunk driver drove through the fence in the middle of the night, plowed through 2 parked cars, and preceded to hit an additional 9 in the parking lot before moseying on down the rode? Drivin' drunk...classic!

Elusive Laundry
If you are poor like us, you don't have a washer and dryer. Rather you have a communal laundry facility that everyone abuses to maximum capacity. Sometimes, people take your laundry out of the dryer mid cycle, put them in a laundry basket, and put them about 75 feet down the hallway sitting there sopping wet.

Hot Tub Hookers
My good buddy Ned was in town, and after a hard day on the slopes him, Katie and I hit the communal hot tub. We shared it with some guy named Steve, his seemingly gay partner, and there seemingly for hire women friend. The conversation escalated quickly...they wondered if there were ski lifts at Chautauqua.

The Hallway Smells Like Urine, Cigarettes, and Weed.

You Can Sleep When Your Dead

As I kick my feet up on this glorious Friday evening, I can't help but think how fortunate I am. Perhaps it was the wellness test REI required me to take this week to enhance my health benefits, which by the way recommended I need to start walking 3 times a week for 20 minutes and eat a healthy breakfast, maybe it was my walk I had this evening at the res, who knows; either way, life is grand for the following reasons.

#1: The Girl
Beautiful, fun, and every now and then tells me I need another bike.

#2: The Other Girl (on the right)
Shes my partner in crime and tells no one; rather, takes runny poops and chases rabbits.

#3: Friends and Family
Aren't they just cool for all the right reasons?

#4: Bikes and All Bike Related Items
Two wheels are better than four.

#5: Coffee and Beer
You can sleep when your dead...

#6: MN
Not Minnesota, it sucks; Mother Nature.


#7: Powder
I was thinking cherry cherry and face shots, but Google image gave me this!

Crunchin' The Benjamins

The grand folks up at corporate crunched the numbers and the results were fairly positive considering the circumstances for 2009. What's in it for me? Bonus! What's that mean? Bikes parts and house fund. Although a large chunk of my extra Benjamins are going to sit in the house fund, I feel it is only right to do something fun with some as well.

Surly Big Dummy, Vermont 2010 road trip, chalet kickin' it for 4 nights, here I come! Still trying to determine all the specifics of the third Surly in the fleet, but a few of the "somewhat solidified" component choices are below. Avid BB7 brakes with big ol' rotors, SRAM X9 derailleurs and shifters, Titec H-bar, goofy old Big Dummy, Brooks B17 saddle, and the Truvativ Stylo 3.3 crankset. The biggest question still at hand, black or army green frame?