Reckoning with reason...

"Everything happens for a reason", I HATE that saying. Its a way to say "Gods will" without being too religious, its a polite version of "shit happens". We say it when when we're struggling to find meaning after a tragedy, it would sound like wisdom if it were not so overused. Reasons are hard to come by even though we say everything happens specifically for them. I tend to believe that everything happens in exactly the way it was intended to happen from the time the universe popped into existence, there is NO escape, even if you try to change the inevitable future, any particular result of your efforts of change was going to happen precisely in the order and manner of the original design. Hows that for a reason? The reason I'm thinking about reasons relates directly to my current state of recovery after having broken my leg again (actually, the third time I've broken the SAME leg again). That reason is painfully obvious (or is it?), bad decision making leads to poor outcomes. "Look before you leap" is a much better saying as it implies a certain pre-vision, as opposed to "everything happens for a reason" as a post apocalyptic explanation of the unexplainable. Its at this juncture we need to insert a bit of Darwinism, not really related to Darwin's Origin of Species but implied in the manner of the risk taker's (read: Dumbest) in a given population that will kill themselves BEFORE they have passed on their DNA, consequently stopping that branch of evolution. Were it not for the fact that I grew up (and currently live) in the most topographically BORING section of the world I KNOW I would not be writing this manifesto in this present time. Everything happens for a reason. I'm old enough now to look back in horrified wonder at all the painless results of my (and my peers) escapades. How am I still here? Everything happens for a reason. Injuries heal, scars fade, memory dims. There must be a plan as yet unrevealed, some elusive...reason that some remain unscathed, some get injured, some die, everyday. I can't wait to see how the future unfolds, you already know its pre-ordained and chiseled in stone. I hope I get to understand the reason that everything happens for, while it happens.

Leaves in autumn, with corn (part 2)

Here it is fall ALREADY, the last time I posted anything I was still reeling from post-snowboarding-winter is my friend-damn I hate summer blues. OK, to recap the summer it was hot, wet, no bike racing (unless you count the Cobble Climb) dreary, damp, and hot, broken bike (a lot), hot, crappy and wet. The Missus and I did run quite a bit this year, and my bones are none the worse for wear. Unfortunately running doesn't "do it" for me like riding does. Too slow maybe. So now what? I'm still playing the waiting game for news from the West, its painfully apparent that there is no shortage of labor right now, and although I know better it seems I have an itch that I'm gonna scratch no matter what. Tick-tock Doc... Oh yeah, Colorado is nice until you find yourself at 13,000 feet and have to answer the call of nature, and although I'm no Boy Scout, mad scrambling thru my pack revealed a whole box of tucks medicated wipes (whew!) I hope the Marmots forgive me. Please don't ask why I had them, just be grateful I did. So I'm rockin a new-new frame and I find myself being a bit cautious but I know its only a matter of time before I'm talking with Santa again. My running shoes got dirty and are no longer bright white and green, but I've been told they're supposed to look like that. Doing some MUCH needed trail work at Dehn's. Waiting for the first fluffy flakes to fall on me, will they be the Crested variety, or man-made?

Weekend fun

Geode first lap: 46 minutes (after I realized my bike was ready to snap in half...again) Geode second lap: 41 Minutes (after repairs...so close to sub-40) Climbing Rocks: Did a 5.9 for the first time...sweet. Climbing Stones: Finished 2nd overall in the COBBLE CLIMB, 34.5 seconds. "Missed it by that much" as they say.

I fall to pieces...

I should have known better than to tempt fate but this has been an interesting week to say the least. (NOTE: encrypted text dead ahead) I've been trying to get a rather large and embarrassing monkey off my back for awhile now, and every time I've tried to eradicate this deadly Orangutan it alters my normally pleasant demeanor, in other words I get my GRUMP on. So it was last night, when a perfect storm of circumstances added fuel to that inferno. On the way to Geode my truck reminded me of its pressing need for a new radiator, no harm done and I'll get to it sooner rather than later. I also had not been on the trails since the deluge last week that included at least six inches of rain in a two hour period, Des Moines county and surrounding areas experienced flash flooding of biblical proportions (if you've been on Stoney Hollow road or have seen pics on this blog be advised that right now this road no longer exists) So trying for a 2010 personal best time on flood ravaged trails was foolhardy to begin with but off I went. I've been around long enough to know that holding an 11.5 mph average on ANY trail will get you a top 10 finish in the Sport MTB class, anything over 12 mph average and your in the Expert top 10 hands down. So I'm all anaerobic at 14 mph on the front side when I encounter my first downed tree, I screw up the approach and go ass-over-tea-kettle and bend the crap out of my rear derailleur. 5 minutes of cussing and re-bending commence in ernest as an amused fisherman watches me spit and fume. Oh, I forgot to mention that I've also re-injured my "half pipe" wrist in this melee. Ok, I'm calm again and all is not lost, however the trail has taken a BEATING and has a water carved rut for miles on miles. This is about where I encounter my second downed tree at 20 mph in one of my favorite downhill sections, its about 2 feet high and I can't stop. I lift the front tire to clear it and heave into a bunny-hop attempt at speed, I clear the front but clip the back and I'm now riding a 20 mph endo towards some nice stout Oak trees, GOTTA BAIL QUICK and hit the ground right in front of them. I laid there for awhile in the mud just re-thinking my intended plan for the evening and decided to do a slow ride back to the beach and just enjoy the woods. Oh, thank goodness I got mad at the poor reception and left my Blackberry in the truck cause I would have lost or smashed it twice.

Its been quite a long time since I've pinned on a race number of any sort. Turns out to be a running race that ended this unusual streak. The Great River Bridge Race was Saturday morning, those 6 miles over the bridge and back included a trip up SNAKE ALLEY in the first mile. Again, course volunteers were calling out times as we crossed each mile marker along the route and when I heard 7 minutes and change after the first mile I knew I was going WAY TO FAST. So I settled in for the long haul. Weather was good cause last year we ran in 30 MPH sustained winds with gusts to 45, not too hot not too cold. I was wearing one of the best running shoes ever made by NIKE (in 1999) and up until 2010 had looked surprisingly good cause they've spent most of that time at the bottom of a seemingly bottomless shoe collection on the front porch but after an hour laced to the feet of someone of POOR running form they self destructed in a mess of dry rotted foam and shredded rubber. I'm absolutely stunned that the little air thingy's in the heels didn't pop. A CLASSIC shoe for a classic race. We'll have to see if this running thing merits any investment in decent running attire or if I should just go barefoot. At the 5 mile mark I was at 53 minutes and I knew there was no way I could finish in under an hour as was my goal (when in reality, this being only the second time I've ever ran this far I was happy to finish at all) I crossed the line at 1 hour 3 minutes, not too bad cause later on it took me 3 hours to climb upstairs to go to bed that night.

Try-FECTA

Three things that caused me pain this week. First one was running a timed mile. Its been almost a full year since I've run any farther than 50 feet, I dislike running for any reason, but once again I've been drafted into doing the Burlington bridge race. Missus Brakeville has been bitten by the "RUN BUG" big time and has been training alot, she usually runs the front side of Geode from the beach to the Dam and back again (6.4 miles or approx. 10K) while I RIDE the complete trail. SIX FRIGGIN miles of running. Last year I ran the 2.2 for the Bridge run with exactly ZERO miles of training and limped for a week. So, how much could one measly timed mile hurt? Quite a bit actually and it took me exactly 8 minutes and 15 seconds to complete, needless to say I could not go up stairs the next day. It was also the next day I found out I'm signed up for SIX FRIGGIN miles of the bridge run. So with legs of stone I decided to try and run SIX FRIGGIN miles at Geode (just to see if I could do it). I ended up running the entire distance, and it was not all that bad. I will say that running downhill sucks and I look older while I'm doing it, going up feels better and once I controlled my breathing I was enjoying myself...ALOT! scary right? My time, 1 hour and 20 minutes on the nose. Gee I'm glad I trained for this years race and I hope I didn't burn it all up last week. Oh yeah, I also went golfing. Golfing? Seriously? Yeah golfing is sort of an obligation each Mothers day, The other 364 days my clubs gather dust which is OK by me. Maybe someday when I can no longer do fun stuff I'll be a golfer. 1 mile run, 6 mile run, golf. YOU LINT LICKER!! WHAT-THE-FRENCHTOAST is my world coming too? BTW I spun a 44 minute Geode time, so close to sub-40 which is good for me :)

Big Hard Sun

I have to admit I'm becoming a bit of a phone geek, all the while knowing that I'm only scratching the surface of what "3G" really means (and honestly I don't know or care what 3G means) However, there are a few nice APPLICATIONS (notice I didn't say apps) that I really enjoy. PANDORA is one of them. Its a free inter-web based radio station that plays music based on your favorite song, band, or artist. Reception is sketchy at times (think Geode) but so is regular cell service, but damn its nice to ride with tunes blasting your earballs the whole time. When I'm away on "business" it tracks down anything I need (food, clothing, shelter, booze) and guides me home via GPS, and I can BLAB to my hearts content during all these things. I've added twitter to this blog cause UBERtwitter (currently located in the upper right hand corner, clicky on the X'y) is another of the APPLICATIONS I take advantage of. Most of my tweeting is in code and quite melancholy at best, mostly meaningless but it is kinda fun following others posts in realtime. Good luck to all the TRANS-IOWA riders, you're gonna need it this weekend!) NOTE: I've traveled more miles by bike this month than the last 5 put together :)

Ride the Lightning

No not the electric chair, actually riding a bike again. While the rest of the cycling world was busy building base miles I was busy making turns, now comes the fun part. How many weeks before I don't get dropped on the Roadie Tuesday group ride? Well the count is 1 & 1. There are a few bright spots though, first one is I don't care as much these days as I used to, dunno why, but its not the end all beat all score sheet of my world as it once was. It may take until september, but I'll get there eventually. The second one is even brighter, by watching what I eat and trying to eat better food I'm headed into spring already below 180 pounds, that in itself is a small miracle. Normally at this time of year I'm just three LBS shy of what I refer to as "the FATBOY club" (200+), so my psuedo diet is going quite well thank you. Oh yeah, ever get that ANNOYING creak during a MTB ride and you just can't find the cause? Well its been officially twice now, ANOTHER broken pivot axle on the Blur. That means I've managed to snap all four of them at one time or another, hey Titanium is light and sexy, however, in its application here I could live with chunky and durable steel. SANTA CRUZ has been very good about getting me the repair parts F.O.C. and I get to learn basic bike mechanics...win/win. Winter seems far removed already cause its 80 degrees in April, I better get my snowboard out of the truck and put away now. :(

Thats COLD!

Well I chased winter anyway, above is union bowl at Copper. (HOLY SH*T)I dropped off a small cliff and cratered into 5 feet of powder, had a little trouble extracting myself on that one. No injuries to speak of, except that I got stuck for a week in Colorado on business (no really I did) with exactly two changes of clothes. That means I got to be on the slopes during GAPER day. This is the day that Colorado locals harass and annoy everyone from out of state, so I tried to blend in as best I could. To be honest I am ready for warmer weather now, it snowed ALOT everyday I was there, so much in fact I-70 was closed for awhile, with lows in the single digits I needed more layers on the lifts but boarding down was warm enough. I chatted with a guy who was indeed handi-capable on his sit-ski, if you haven't seen one of these up close they are as complex and groovy a machine as it gets. Complete carbon fiber frame, suspension and seat all mounted on a custom built snowboard. I don't know if I'd have the cajones to ride one of these things or not but he looked smoooooth making turns downhill. The cranes are migrating across Nebraska as well. They go north in the summer and south in the winter, those two things are the ONLY two things thing that ever occur in Nebraska (besides camping near the borrow pit lakes by the freeway) WORD: Cautiously optimistic

Spring means a new beginning...

Geode is about 95% ready to go, just a few mush holes here and there but the hills are rideable. It did take me 53 minutes to complete my first lap of the year though, that will get much quicker as the trail firms up... Dehn's is an absolute mess right now, the middle of the flat section is actually under water as of 3/27, plus our friendly 4 wheelers have created a few spots that are a foot deep of muck so if you see them down there CALL THE FRIGGIN POLICE ASAP and turn em in. I am going to have an interesting week, I will be riding for sure, however, it will not involve anything with wheels...I've studied nuclear science, I love my classes. I gotta crazy teacher who wears dark glasses. Things are going great, and there only gettin better. I'm doing alright, gettin good grades. The futures so bright, I gotta wear shades. I'll explain the relationship of those lyrics and the title to this post in due time kiddies...stay tuned for the next thrilling episode!

When will it end?

Since opening day on December 12th 2009, we have 24 days of boarding in this season. 24 days of riding snow in all its conditions, REAL powder at -5 below zero, rain soaked slush at 40 above and everything in between (Colorado doesn't count, as that was a solo trip). My body is starting to feel it and I'm wondering where all the weekends have gone but its still going to be a shock when it all ends with the inevitable spring thaw. Last years abrupt ending sucked, one of the instructors I work with remarked "the slopes closed on my birthday, I lost my hobby, hanging with my friends and my job all on the same day". Great present. God knows last years early closure depressed the hell out of me too, I guess I'm just gonna have to get back on the bike and ride it out of my system. The Beach boys wanted an "endless summer", I,m thinking endless winter.

Un-Bike related ponderings

Gotta love the Winter Olympics, and more importantly Snow sports in general, and even more specifically, Snow Boarding. I can almost identify with the singlespeed 29er crowd in mountain biking, as boarding always seemed to me, to be the "fringe" outcasts doing their own thing and re-inventing how to ride the snow. Big pants, big coats, big risks, hiding behind gangsta bandanas and the obligatory Oakley's, throwing themselves off cliffs just for the flight time and basically living large. As boarding becomes "mainstream" (forgive me for using that term because I'm employed to do just that every weekend) theres a part of me that would like to hold on to its origins. A little childish I know, but seeing boarders in tight sponsor laden spandex is akin to watching a NASCAR driver change hats six times during the victory interview *YUCK* Case in point is Lindsay Jacobellis, I'll let you google that one cause the first thing you're gonna read is how she showboated herself out of a gold medal in '06 while heading to the finish line. If you saw her DQ last night out of the medal round, I couldn't help but feel extremely sad for her cause the first thing thrown in her face is the 06 fiasco. I'll make a bet that some of her most vehement critics have NEVER ratcheted a set of bindings to their boot and made one F***KING turn on a board let alone raced one against the best in the world. I would have jumped from the couch in tears of joy had she won, styled it with a grab and given the media two fist fulls of middle finger while sliding across the line. A small and not too subtle reminder that just because boarding has made it all the way to the Olympics does NOT mean its nearly as civilized and tame as its apres ski cousins sipping a 1996 Bordeaux bistro style slopeside. Maybe 2014 for Lindsay, maybe never, maybe it really doesn't matter. She'll still be riding while all the couch surfing potato's sneer at what they'll never understand. Its not about them.

Trippin

Welcome to Copper Mountain Colorado, we'll be cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet this afternoon down to 8,000 feet by this evening. Todays weather is perfect sunshine, no wind and fresh powder from last nights 4 inches. Your quads will scream bloody murder as the runs are 20 times longer and steeper than you've experienced so far this year. I highly recommend trying the double black runs down the Union bowl, how in the hell can moguls get made on a 45 degree slope? Why in the hell would you want to try and snowboard down them? Why not? This is the view from the top of Coppers 22 foot tall "SUPERPIPE". I told myself I am not in the least interested in this feature. Why should I risk it? Hell I'm still nursing a couple of cracked ribs from 4 weeks ago. I don't have a helmet either. My skilz don't qualify. My right rotator cuff may be damaged beyond repair. Missus Brakeville strongly suggested I DO NOT ATTEMPT!!!! So I didn't do it (at least not the FIRST day) By the second day the overwhelming urge to add to my list of injuries was TOO great. First run down was sweet, I noticed that TV does NOT do justice to just how HARD the surface is (note to self, make sure your edges are tuned BEFORE you try this again). A couple of lame 180's is all I could throw, but I was unscathed and grinning. Now lets hit it with some AMPLITUDE, needless to say most of the swelling in my left wrist is gone already! I did recover my hat, glasses, goggles and camera after the dizzy spell went away. I'm sure the onlookers were entertained and the results of my second run may have persuaded those contemplating a go at the pipe to avoid injury as well, so it was kind of a public safety visual aid that may have saved lives. Hmmm, I wonder if Snowstar will let me build a mini-pipe there :)

Workin for a living

Me and the Missus on a powder day. Me working hard with a future shredder. Poaching runs at starrs cave when I'm not at work (hiking for my turns) If you want to wierd your neighbors out, build a three foot kicker in your front yard and practice doing a backside 360 for a couple hours. (ask me how I know) I haven't had the nerve to throw it at work yet cause I'm nursing some bruised ribs but SOON, very soon. :)

First Tracks

The storm of the century is on its way. Ski Snowstar opens this weekend. I call first tracks. And thats a good thing (Martha).

The Happy Mutant

I've been meaning to post this for awhile, when in Burlington, stop in at our newest (and only) OUTDOOR ADVENTURE store THE HAPPY MUTANT and get your fix on. More stuff is added every day. Click the linky in "clain links below to keep up to speed.

I HATE GREEN

The pics are really bad cell phone photos of My REAL job. Its strange looking at the actual terrain when its dry ground, you need to imagine 6 feet of snow covering everything. We had our first Instructors meeting last night and its supposed to get butt-wrenching cold in the next couple of days so my fingers and toes are crossed. ITS TIME TO SHRED, Fred.

Turkey's are so misunderstood

Happy Thanksgiving; To the benevolent entity in control of the entire universe, we all tend to bitch a lot, but here is an attempt to rectify our ungrateful nature that exists for the other 364 days. It's a mere happenstance, a chaotic twist of evolutionary chance, a few extra random molecules wound into our DNA are all that separates us from worms, to being able to see, hear, experience and dream our lives away in relative comfort. A species that no longer survives by tooth and nail, but actually changes its environmental conditions to suit our own evolutionary shortcomings. I'm thankful that I'm not naked, boneless and blind on a cold and wet sidewalk, almost hypothermic and all the while still slowly succumbing to the invisible ultraviolet radiation streaming through the cloud cover. Unable to speak, shriek, or change the circumstances whereby one meets the ultimate fate of every living thing...alone and incredibly anonymous.

Leaves in Autumn, with corn...

The "narrows", Keep Right go's without sayin. Sweet bypass of Single track goodness (note the mush down below) I started calling this section "SLUGS" cause I found about 10 empty 12 gauge shells during its construction. Heres what they've been shootin at, meet Junior. Nice Buck but theres also "Big Daddy" who's half again as big with what looks like an Oak growing out of his skull, he only comes out at night and he's quite camera shy...I can't imagine why? I need a better camera, or some photography classes. If you ask anyone, and myself included, fall is the most favored season. Autumn in the Midwest makes living here almost bearable. Dehn's is no exception, its odd that no matter how much rain we get the trail is still as hard-packed as a sidewalk with one proviso, it does get about a 1/2" of slimy, slippery mud puddin on top, which is similar to riding on ice topped with snot. Happiness is a dirty bike (and I whine about going through cassettes and chains too fast Ha!). While other trails around the area turn into bogs that can reach the depth of your hubs, if you're willing to get spackeled, Dehn's is pretty much OK until the frost heaves in spring start.

Almost time...

Close enough to start wishing for some snow! Check out the link to My REAL Job. Its actually a great time and as I progress in this sport its becoming increasingly evident I need to start wearing protective gear. Its getting colder and I've been practicing my Snowboard OLLIES in the living room, which by the way is a never ending source of amusement for Missus Brakeville. I tend to get a little too excited about boarding, for instance, I had one young student last year who's Mother had dressed in FIVE FREAKIN LAYERS of winter gear. Sometimes I take it for granted that me being fairly OLD, people should have NO problem keeping up with my lesson speed, however, even in the 10 degree cold this poor kid started turning a bright shade of red, then a ghostly white, and promptly threw up all over the bunny hill. After many apologies to his parents (who were really cool BTW)and the removal of a couple layers from the Lad to keep from overheating, I slowed the pace WAAAYYY down and and made my exhuberance level matches my students capabilities. Live and Learn :) I may even try to Ski this year, but I don't want to jack my knees up any more than they already are. C'mon POWDER!!!!!!!