One and Done

This was the tire I had intended to have on my front wheel during the Kokopelli ride, the S-Works Eskar 2.35 2Bliss.

I took it for a test ride at Grindstone Park. About an hour into the ride on a gnarly steep decent, we stopped at the bottom to recount the run, when someone said, hey you have a flat.

Needless to say after using a mini pump viciously to get the beads to hook up again, all you could hear was the lovely sound of psssssssssshhhhh.

The sidewall was trashed, so we threw in a tube and went on like no body's business. It's a real shame, because i really liked how the tire hooked up with the trail and it really rolled well.

Maybe I will test it's brother the Armadillo Eskar.

Hills of Hell

After much deliberating, I have decided to register for the Hills of Hell race in Lawton, OK on March 8th. The course is just about 18 miles in length made of very steep and rocky single track.

The scary part for me is the mass start. In the past they have had upwards of 400 participants of all skill levels on all sorts of equipment. The is a recipe for disaster just waiting to happen, especially if you have my skills and luck. If I survive the start, this race will focus on my extreme weakness, climbing. They do not call me Heavy D for nothing.

One article described the ride like this...

The Hills of Hell takes place on Fort Sill, Oklahoma's rugged granite slopes. Better known as the stomping grounds for the great Comanche Chief Quannah Parker and Apache Chief Geronimo and the notorious James Brothers, the Wichita Mountains provide the perfect setting for the world's #1 sport.

With craggy, gut-wrenching climbs, house-sized rocks, wet-your-pants downhills, and spiders as big as your hand, there's nothing mild about this ride. While the distance may seem a bit short for many experts, the difficulty factor ensures that nobody finishes begging for more.

I found a few photos from past rides that might give it just a little perspective:

New and Improved

Lately I have been doing a little surgery to the Mojo to get it race ready.

Ceramic Bottom Bracket - Smooth as butter!

At "The Beasts'" Shop we began to dismantle the old bottom bracket

Then came the rebuilding. Very pretty!!!

The difference in force needed to turn the cranks makes me think I had a lemon for a bottom bracket or maybe ceramic is just slicker than Owl shiat.

Of course what really made it all worth it was partaking in some "Almost Infamous" Fowler Creek Nut Brown home brewage after the operation. Thanks for the assistance MB1!

I added a new stem, seat post and some carbon bars for lightness.

Now I am in the market to acquire some serious skilz and I should be all set!!

Time to Get Serious

It's official!! Cole and I are signedup for the Kokpelli ride. 150 miles along the Colorado river from Fuita, CO to Moab, UT in 3 days time and 15,000+ evelation gain.

So I am cutting back on this:

And doing more of this:

So I can do this!!!

Bikerpelli Ride Schedule

(Ride times are for an average strong rider and are actual pedaling times, not including rests, stops, etc.)

Day 1
• Loma to Rabbit Valley Sag 3:30 avg ride time/22 miles
o technically tough, mostly single track
• Rabbit Valley to Westwater Camp (Bitter Creek camp) 1:45 avg ride time/12 miles
o Much easier terrain
o OPTION – Western Rim trail - Lots of sweeping singletrack, considerably longer

Day 2
• Westwater camp to Sag 1 (Hwy 128/Yellowjacket Canyon) 3:00/36 mi
o easy terrain, lots of fast miles

• Sag 1 to sag 2 (Dewey Bridge)
o via YJC (fairly challenging after 36 mile morning) 1:40/10 mi
o Via hwy 128 0:10/4 mi

• Sag 2 to Fisher Valley camp
o Via Entrada Bluffs Rd - riding the whole thing 4:30/18 mi
o Via shuttle to Cottonwood Canyon 2:45/13 mi
(eliminates 1000’ up along Entrada Bluffs Rd)

Day 3
• Fisher Valley to Rock Castle sag 3:15/17 mi
o Long, sustained climb. Technically moderate.
• Rock Castle aid station to final summit (La Sal Loop Rd)
o Via pedal power 1:00/6 mi
Granny gear paved climb, not hard at all
o Via shuttle to top 15 min
Why not? It’s a paved climb, nothing new here
• Summit to Moab
o Via Sand Flats Rd 1:30/22 mi
Casual traditional finish past Slickrock Trail
o Via Porcupine Rim 2:45/ ~25 mi
Some of the best technical singletrack in the country.
It will beat you silly.

Total for trip ~143.5 miles 15,124 elevation gain (no shuttles or alternate routes)

I wanna go!!!

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The Holidays

My trip back to Wichita was very busy, getting together with family and friends celebrating Christmas and New Years. even though there was not a great deal of free time, I did get an opportunity to go ride with a couple of friends.

On Tuesday, we set out for Arkansas City to ride on the Horizon trail. Jason led the way on his 29'er which was cool to see in action. The trail made a 9 mile loop up and down the side of a large ravine. Parts of the trail were very technical and I found myself getting off and on my bike many times. Large steep and rocky climbs with plenty of step ups prevented me (due to my lack of ability and fitness and fear for my bike frame) from navigating it under pedal power. It really did not matter to me as I was very happy to be with friends and enjoying the 50 degree weather. We came upon "Cardiac" hill and I must say I was impressed with Cole's climbing ability. He set the bar by being able to ride it all the way to the top. I petered out about 100 yards shy of the summit (can I really use the word summit in Kansas?) and walked up the rest of the way.

Jason's 29'er was set up as a 1X9. He definitely got a great workout with all the steep climbs that day. He will be much more the man when he finally gets back on his 26". I was really impressed with how the 29'er handled the flowing portion of the track. It cornered well and ate up the trail in the parts where it opened up and let you get some repetitions on the pedals.

I think I was the only person to have a substantial fall that day, go figure. My ankle bone landed squarely on a rock and broke, not my bone, although for about 10 seconds it sure felt like it, but my ratchet buckle on my right shoe. I was able to get it to click in, but I could not tighten it down. The local bike shop was able to get me a replacement buckle the next day.

We met up again on Thursday morning around 6:30 am. You know the morning after a New Years evening of eating and drinking. We departed Wichita in 32 degree weather headed for Stillwater, OK. Cole, Jason or I had never been to McMurtry Lake, but the web write ups said it was a nice trail system. Although it felt cold getting out of the truck, we quickly realized we were over dressed and started to peel off layers. The temperature, around 55 degrees was absolutely perfect.


I was impressed with the 2 trails we rode. They flowed really well and had some decent technical areas, but not so tricked up the average Joe could not ride. Unfortunately for Jason, brake problems prevented him from being really aggressive, but I still think he had a good time. I can not wait to see the Titus in action next time we get together!

Here is Jason on his 29'er




Here is Cole getting some air!


Here is Cole working the camera...stick to riding bro!!!