Vail Rec Series Race #1, Eagle Ranch Classic

Last night was the 1st race of the Summer Worlds! The Eagle Ranch Classic. One of 2 races that I get to ride my bike to. Racing for Yeti's Grind again this year. 3rd year in this kit. New kits this year. Instead of baby blue and pink they went with green and pink. They do look sharp! Socks are coming soon to match. The first town series race of the season always provides an eye opening experience as to what the form is like. It's about where I thought. Leg muscle power and endurance needs to improve just a bit, but is close and I still need to lose a few more lbs. That may be the biggest thing. I'm currently about 3-4 lbs above where I think I need to be to finish where I want. But dang, there are so many fast guys in the pro/expert class! In my mind anyway, I should be able to finish in the top 5 at each race. I finished 8th/17 yesterday 2 1/2 minute off the winner and just for reference, nearly 6 minutes off the pace of the winner of the Pro class... 

Cousins visit

My cousin and her family came up from Denver on Saturday and left Sunday morning. The kids had a blast, and we got out for a good hike around Sylvan Lake, then grilled out on the deck.

 

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Lazy day

What a refreshing and relaxing day!

Started off just sitting on the deck having coffee. Then I decided an ice bath sounded "nice..." Next we kit up Costco for a few things, Natalie got a pedicure for our big upcoming trip, and we drove to Glenwood to get Lindy some new shoes. We got Blizzards and watched a kayaker on the play wave before heading home to FaceTime with grandparents and finish the day in the sunshine on the deck!

Saw this guy out kiteboarding on our bike ride!

 

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Great ride!

Got out for a sweet 4 hours early this morning. The first coupe hours with company. Justin joined me for his first bike ride up Hardscrabble from Gypsum. It was so sweet showing a friend the sweet trails up there!

Blue Grouse

Cat Walk

Easy Rider

Back up Spring Creek for another loop

Itch with its sweet bridge!

Recovery...

 

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Freedom and Adventure

Yesterday as I was sitting on the front porch watching Cayle ride his bike around the neighborhood, and watching 2 other boys a little older than him ride their bikes around the neighborhood I began to wonder. At what point does riding a bike go from being a source of freedom and adventure to being taboo and frowned upon? At some point in life, this happens. As every little boy and girl, or most anyway, love to ride bikes. Doesn't usually matter a families socioeconomic status, as in the poorest areas you will often see kids bikes piled up outside of trailers in mobile home parks just as often as you see kids in wealthy neighborhoods on fancy bikes with streamers and bells. The point is that no matter how much money kids families have, the kids all end up with bikes, and in the end, all the bikes do the same thing. They provide a means to allow children to find freedom and adventure.

I don't have any actual stats, but I think everyone will agree that even though as kids most of us have at some point loved to ride bikes, as adults few of us continue to ride bikes. And then even more confusing is that I feel like more adults ride bikes than teenagers do. So at some point between toddler, teenager, and adult that love of freedom and adventure achieved by riding bikes gets lost.

I'm not entirely sure why this happens. It for sure happened to me as well. I didn't get back into bikes until college was almost over. Some possible explanations are of course, cars, peer pressures, family influences, tv, video games, maybe others... It's just sad to me. Freedom and adventure are the very reason I love to ride my bike so much (well that and of course satisfying my natural competitiveness)! Whether its on a long road or mountain bike or a cruiser ride to the park, or riding the BMX track or skate park, they all give the same thing. A sense of freedom and adventure powered by my own 2 legs and the gifts that God has given me. How do we make bicycles a life long habit?

3rd Birthday Party

We actually had this party one week before he turned three, but close enough :)

Cayle had a sports party - so we had baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, and football to play and sports themed plates and cups.  I made the baseball cake (thanks to lots of mom's modeling when I was younger!) and Nick and I made homemade ballpark pretzels.  The weather cooperated and Cayle had a great time playing with his friends.

Cayles birthday weekend

Cayles birthday was on Saturday, and we celebrated on Saturday, but also carried over into Sunday. We met cousins Nathan and Charlie at the zoo on Sunday.

Checkin out the zebras with mommy.

A mandatory ride on the train!

A goose with baby goslings.

Lindy Leighn enjoying the big hotel bed...

Cayle playing with his new train from Grandma and Grandpa Hammers!

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Crazy colorado weather

 

These were the high and low temps on our drive to Denver today. The low temp was accompanied by snow!

 

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Happy day of birth

To our big boy Cayle! 3 years! I already miss some of the times when he was younger. He fights so hard to be independent already. This year we have already gone from mommy and daddy to mom and dad. He has such a sweet personality and curious nature. He wants to learn about everything. And not just at face value, he wants deep, in depth knowledge about how things work. Airplanes and bikes are still his 2 favorite things.

Started the big day with a chocolate donut and chocolate milk.

Also got out for a little mountain bike ride.

Swimming time

And dinner with daddy at Ruby Tuesday.

 

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Blackhawk Down

Such a good movie, but so sad. Living by the High Altitude Training Center we have the opportunity to view military aircraft on a regular basis. Every time I see the black hawks, I think of that movie.

 

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Checkup

A little over 10 months ago I had one of the worst crashes of my biking career. Most specifically because it was my face that struck the ground first. An operation on my zygomatic bone, broken nose, and 46 stitches in my face, I was beginning the healing process. Many thanks to my amazing wife and awesome friends and family members who stepped up to help in this time of need!

Fast forward to today, and I am back to racing again. Still sketchy at speed on the downhills, hope that passes soon, but otherwise doing great. Had my final checkup today. Doc said everything looks great and is healing great. Have a few scars that will continue to fade with time. Such a relief knowing everything is good. Lets not do that again...

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