Ok...I had a lil technical difficulties yesterday or maybe I was just too tired to give a report. But, here goes:
View from the bottom of the climb(notice the snow caps)...
...climbing in the snow pack
...Mikkel on his way to the top
...almost there...
...clowning around.
May 6th: Last Day in Fruita/Grand Junction Colorado: Passed on the am swim and rode the National Monument again(see pics in previous blog) in the am(Time Trialed it in just over two hrs...hit it hard and backed it up with a 30 min brick run. From there we packed up our stuff and to my surprise we were hitting an afternoon run before our planned trek to Moab, Utah. The run took place on some beautiful trails hugging the Colorado river...they don't make the trails out here like they do in Jersey...lots of climbing. I think everything has at least a 4% or better grade on theses trails.
Tip of the Day: If you are ever going to plan a mtn biking adventure you MUST make Fruita/Grand Junction your next destination. We were running the trails, but mtn bikers were having the absolute time of their life on these trails.
After the run, we had a picnic in the park and then headed for a scenic drive to Mab Utah. Once we arrived in Moab we "transitioned"...like true triathletes through check-in/unpacking, etc. and took on another two hr ride(positioned to teach pace-lining via Marylyn McDonald and the rest of the Endurance Corner staff...once the group got the basics down we were flowing like tour de France units. This was suppose to be an "easy" ride, but some of our Scandinavian riders thought it would be fun to lodge a breakaway from the 12-15 rider group, their attack didn't last long as a few of us covered and surged for a another 45 minutes of riding along the beautiful Colorado River.
Tip #2: When riding pace-line pretend you are reading a newspaper in front of you...in other words read what is happening with the rider in front of you, but be aware of your surroundings and keep a steady pedal stroke matching the rider in front. This will keep the accordion-effect of the group at a minimal. Check out some Team Time Trialing during this years "Tour" for a perfect example of this.
And wouldn't you know it for the second day in a row I got "Recognition"...which cam e with some Blue Seventy swag from Marilyn McDonald aka "Miss Sexy"(pictured) for my pace line 
skills...I was an absolute hazard to anyone around me the first day or so when I was riding this style as back at home I usually train like most triathletes(solo). Therefore, I am very proud to acquire this skill and pass it along when I get back to the Performance Center where we can maybe take some of our long rides outside(what do you say Mr. Kent?).
skills...I was an absolute hazard to anyone around me the first day or so when I was riding this style as back at home I usually train like most triathletes(solo). Therefore, I am very proud to acquire this skill and pass it along when I get back to the Performance Center where we can maybe take some of our long rides outside(what do you say Mr. Kent?).May 7th: La Sal Mtn. Loop(Moab,Utah) and Run
Ok...I will keep this brief...kinda carried on with the last day's events... maybe too much coffee after today's adventure. So, the plan today was to hit The La Sal Mtn Loop here in Moab, Utah...and we did. One word..."Epic." This was an unbelievable ride. It started out flat at about 3900 ft and we climbed to around 8300 ft in about 15 miles(that was Epic)... the lead up was flat(had my first blowout..that was fun...NOT...but thanks Gordo(pictured) and "Big Sexy" for the quick tire exchange...hell I though I was on the Tour. I didn't even have to fix my flat. But, getting back to the group was hell when they are 
working as a team...as I suffered on the first part of the ascent, but I came back strong in the middle to ride with my new Danish friends(Mikkel aka"LA Tri Guy;" check out his show Burn Notice...he's the executive producer... and the two Jans from Norway) we took the tremendous descent together back into downtown Moab. Once we finished we tacked on a brick run of about 30 min through Main Street here in Moab and that sets us up for tomorrow's journey- Canyonlands: Islands in the Sky Ride(another Epic 5 hr ride or so).
working as a team...as I suffered on the first part of the ascent, but I came back strong in the middle to ride with my new Danish friends(Mikkel aka"LA Tri Guy;" check out his show Burn Notice...he's the executive producer... and the two Jans from Norway) we took the tremendous descent together back into downtown Moab. Once we finished we tacked on a brick run of about 30 min through Main Street here in Moab and that sets us up for tomorrow's journey- Canyonlands: Islands in the Sky Ride(another Epic 5 hr ride or so).I am out...MUST take nap ;) Hit dinner and repeat...Liv'n the dream baby...Eat, Sleep and Train!
Hit that ride,
Chris
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