2 Months of stuff

The last couple months have flown by. So much stuff going in so many different directions. I know I'm slower and heavier for it. But I do like really strong frothy adult beverages.

 I'm not sure how I did this. I knew the Solstice wasn't shifting right. I wonder if SRAM will  warrantee it for me?  

 We signed the boys up for their first true XC race. The last three weeks we've been riding them 3 to 4 times a week. This is our first pre run of the course in Nevada City.  

 The course is very well cut and maintained. 

 Jeanie chased/yelled at Ashton and I Chased/yelled at Gage. The no OHV's on the trails help keep them from getting tore up.

 We rode  South Fork trail several times to get them stronger. Their lap times just kept going down. So awesome. Towards the end they quit whining about the climbs too. 

 I think Jeanie might have had more fun than the Boys.

 Last week Bobby and I went to Arnold and had one of the best rides we've ever had there.

 This rock drop/right turn is still getting the better of Gage. Its not for a lack of trying though. I think if you make faces at it it gets easier (look close).

 The people that put on the Dirt Classic race couldn't be nicer. Within minutes our boys were like part of the family. 

 As soon as we got out of the car Gage and Anthony (303) were good buds.

 And their off!

 Gage beet his best time by 14 min and I wasn't with him to yell at him to go faster. 

 Ashton was 20 min faster with the sweep crew to keep him company.

 The smiles say it all.

 Both kids couldn't wait to power the smoothie machine. They gave every racer a free smoothie.

 Ashton pedaled that thing until it was time to go.

 They made the race so much fun for the boys. The whole atmosphere was laid back and fun. I just wish we would have done the whole series. Next year we will and Jeanie and I will race it to. 

 Two races in one day might be to much, but we couldn't help ourselves. The Terra Llanes Classic was going on at Northstar. Terra and Shimano put on a fun race for the kids. They had a blast. I think Ashton's nose itches.

 Gage was the only kid in Body armor.

 These twins had the most tricked out little bikes I have ever seen. 

 Terra with all the kids. If you look close you can see new gear that the kids won in the raffle. Gage won a full set of DH gear from Troy Lee. Ashton won a Camelback MULE.

 After the race was over we turned the boys loose on the mountain. They have been dyeing to ride the lifts at Northstar for a couple years. Gage had to wear his new jersey.

 He loved the boardwalk on Big trees. Rode it better than I did my first time.

 Rock gardens are old hat to Gage by now.

 After a pretty gnarly wreck Gage didn't want to play anymore. I made him nurse it down to the bottom. Two races and Chair lifts in one day is kind of a lot.

 Its so cool being able to take the whole family up. No body gets stuck baby sitting any more.

 Some times he was going fast enough he forgot he was hurt.

Do you think he had fun?

Bell MT

 Sean and I decided to ride Bell Mt. an the Uzzis today. I think the big bikes were actually slower on the downhill. My Solstice felt way more maneuverable and never felt over its head.

Still an awesome loop. It seemed a lot easier this time, after riding the Tebb's death climb last weekend.

16 miles, 2800ft gain 3hrs 45 min, 2661 calories

Tebbs suffer fest

 Dan Tebbs ( the owner of Victory Velo in Auburn) is famous for 5 and 6 hour sufferfests. I have officially survived my first one. We climbed from Meyers to the top of Freel pass and rode down Armstrong trail followed by Sidewinder and Corral trail. The climb up has set a new bar for Sean and I.  I think the only other trail that comes close is Ape Canyon.

The loop is amazing. Worth all the gain. 

4300ft gain, 27miles, 5hrs, 3490 calories

Bend 3

 I took the whole family out for a ride at Phil's this morning. Gage is here playing on a log ride on Marvin Gardens trail. 

 Ashton was not as impressed with the trail features but he did try them

 He loved the rest of the trail

 Jeanie was lovin the flow

 We even got OldMa out on her first trail ride of the year.

 There are always places to play on the trails in Bend. This is a natural half pipe with big banked turns.

 The boys took several laps through.

 Gage keeps getting braver and braver. It took him three tries but he cleaned this obstacle 

 Our goal for the day. The "Flaming Chicken".

Only in Bend would you have a pedal powered bar.

Bend 2

 We had to go back and play on Funner.

 We even got Eric on the logs today

 Sean is starting to get comfortable on the drops.

 Way too comfortable

Gage and Ashton played on the pump track at the trail head while we did a couple runs don funner.

Bend

 This last couple of weeks has been a blur. Everything in anticipation of our now annual Bend trip. Sean and I are here in front of an old growth redwood at Skeggs.  

 The only other ride I was able to squeeze in before Bend was a Bell Mt. Loop with Nathan and Bobby. It turned out that my definition of "Fun Down Hill" and theirs might not be the same.

 I think they both admitted to liking the trail and having fun after it was all said and done. There was a couple of moments where I was not their favorite trail guide though.

 Finally made it to Bend. I love Bend. Here Gage is playing on one of Bends many obstacles, on Ben's trail. This was the first log ride I felt comfortable doing (3 years ago).

 Katie is on her first MTB vacation. She got to go with Eric, Sean and I on  the Mc Kenzie river trail.

 I have pictures of everybody at Blue Pools. Eric is no exception. The place is too awesome not to take pictures. Where else can you ride along a river that disappears underground and then watch it reappear out of solid rock into a gorgeous blue pool.

 Here Sean is popping out of the lava section on Mc Kenzie

 Eric got to Demo a Yeti or the day. He fell in love with All Mt. bikes.

 Have you ever Canoed in a volcano?

 We have!

 Lake Paulina, Newbery Caldera

 Gage on Kent's trail

 Eric pulling Ahna in the trailer.

 Ashton had a blast

 This log ride is on Funner below Mt. Bachelor. They couldn't have picked a better name. This trail is nothing but a grin fest. You can't help but have fun on it. Here Sean is making me look bad so I will circle around and ride this log pile.

Yes it worked. This is the sketchiest log I have ridden. I was so amped after I couldn't stop shaking. You can see the other "lines". This trail has so many different lines its hard to decide where to go. Did I mention I love Bend?