5 DAYS OF NOSTALGIA IN FLORIDA....

Upon wrapping up 5 days visiting my 89 year old mom in Florida, I had some time to roll through some of the piles of very old photos that are in boxes around her condo. I've seen pretty much all of these photos over the years, but this was one I do not ever remember seeing in the past. It was in a big box of miscellaneous photos piled high and deep. This was our back porch in New Jersey when I was just a young kid, along with our Beagle whose name was "Giant". Looks like I've got a mouth and handful of Oreo cookie here and our dog is in some type of box.....this may have been our milk box because in those days we had fresh milk delivered to the house via milk truck. It really wasn't that long ago. Giant looks bummed about the photo op. I'm sure he was fed graciously for his efforts, he always was, he was a really fat dog as I recall. He was a cool dog.

A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING....

Wait till the Wilderness kooks get their hands on this one....what a fuck up.

NOW THAT I'M HOME AND HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.....

This was the best damn snow I've skied in 33 years on the East Wall at Arapahoe Basin. Huge shout out to Ski Patrol for getting this open WHILE I WAS THERE AND STILL ALIVE TO SKI IT! Bottomless, blower POW. 

ANOTHER VAIL PASS DICKBAG

STOP FUCKING SNOWING IN MY YARD...

And breaking our trees, god damn it.

However, keep fucking dumping snow in the mountains...tis the season for SHRED.

THIS IS BASEBALL

 Since I've been living in Lakewood, I've always wanted to ride my bike to Coors Field and watch the Rockies play and hopefully win. Today, with good friend and bike builder Dave Mires who made the trip down from Minturn, we did it. About an 8 mile ride each way, relatively flat, and upon arrival to Coors field we found a bike valet area fenced in and supervised for the entire game that is absolutely free! It is manned by a gentleman in a wheel chair who you can slip a couple of bucks when you check out at the end of the game. It is absolutely wonderfully awesome.

 We got there early and hung out in the bleachers...

 Dave got the finger test upon arrival and had to give up the goods.

No Matter, the Rockies bombed the Giants 11-6 and we all rode our bikes home smiling.

2016 PARIS-ROUBAIX

You may want to watch this recap of Sunday's Paris-Roubaix a couple of times, this is just pure joy and a celebration of our sport.

I DON'T RACE MY BIKES VERY OFTEN ANYMORE....

But when I do I usually have a pretty good time despite my age and level of suffering. I also like to "race" my bike regardless of what is going on. A solo attack on the technical dirt section at the end of lap 3 of 4 busted up our field, and though it did not stick, it was to be in the mix for a while. I ran out of bullets on the last short incline to the finish line and watched a dozen or so riders blow by me. It was a lot of fun...a lot. 

On a much more serious and broken hearted note, good friend and fellow age group racer Lauren (Larry) Mclaughlin passed away yesterday after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Pardon my English, but this has been one fucked up couple of years with regards to the loss of friends and significant illness all of who were very young and healthy. I'm not sure what is going on, nor do I want to know, but these things do not seem to make much sense at all. All lived healthy lifestyles, all fell too soon or became ill and are sick. The number of friends I've lost in my old mountain digs is to be honest quite astonishing, from a bunch of bizarre stuff. Tell those you love that you do and do things you enjoy, take some time away from your busy life and breath, do something fun, tomorrow is no guarantee. Most importantly remember this.....

Hugs not handshakes.