The upcoming VholdR's laser guided helmet cam looks extremely promising! It is cheap in terms of such gizmos ($350), simple, and looks very effective. I like my VIO POV.1 a lot, but encapsulating everything in the helmet unit is awesome, and the laser guides and lens tilt adjust are brilliant (this is always a pain when swapping my helmet cam to other people's helmets or what not). I look forward to seeing this when it comes out.
December 2007 Archives
I put in my dues with the Disciples of Dirt today, doing trail work. This was really my first real trail work! I've done some stuff on friend's land before, but this was earnest trail network work. We started at 10am, in the drizzle and 40 degrees.
The first task we did was to haul a bunch of rock (pieces ranged from marble to softball size) down to a trail that needed it. We used 5 gallon(?) buckets, and most of us were schlepping two roughly half-full buckets at a time. Probably a half mile of trail to carry them over. Each probably weighed a good 50lbs. I made 3 runs, so did maybe 300lbs, and my shoulders definitely feel it!
After carrying the rock, we went to work on the new Alpha trail. How it got this name, such a tame name, given that a good half the other trails in our stash have very 3rd grade humor names (pubic, "upp er asshole" (the two words part is key :), and so on. This is a sweet new trail, measuring in at about 1.3 miles. I'd ridden a tiny chunk of it two weeks ago when only part of it had been scraped out. Today however, with 6-8 of us working on it, we made awesome progress, and the trail is pretty much rideable now, at least once the rain lets up a bit and it can pack down some more. I was stunned at the progress. Good hands, good tools, and hard work. We probably spent 3.5 hours on this.
I really enjoyed my intro. The DoD guys know what they're doing, are nice folks, and fun to hang out with. Being the newbie, I fulfilled my duty and brought the beer, which people were quite happy with. It was nice to have one after 5 hours in the semi-cold and rainy conditions (it rained varying levels the entire day). I somehow got out of there without being too muddy (mostly my boots and pants).
The other thing I was happy with is how I dressed. I wasn't sure, but I nailed it. From top to bottom: Smartwool hat (so awesome - I never knew it was wet at all, stayed nice and warm, natch), Patagonia Capilene #1 base layer, some REI thicker layer next, then a thin fleece, all covered up by an awesome REI rain jacket (light, inexpensive, totally waterproof, great fit, etc.). On to the bottom... Mountain Khaki pants. These rock. Burly, Carhart like pants, somehow they never got wet, and I love these things both for hard work, or just wearing everyday. Then Smartwool socks (are there any other?), and the Keen waterproof hiking boots I love (they basically took zero break in, fit perfectly, comfy, no bad spots, and are truly waterproof). Oh, and on my hands, and the piece that really most impressed me, were my probably 15 year old Saranac leather gloves. The leather got sorta wet and muddy, but the remnants of insulation inside kept my hands the perfect temp, and of course these things are great to work in. It only occurred to me today how old they were, can't believe it, but they're still kickin.
About the only thing I would consider doing differently next time was to have some gaitors. I really didn't need them, but several folks had them and it seemed like a decent idea. Either that, or folks had some bit mud/rain work boots, that might be even better, but they don't look like they fit well (sloppy), and I can be picky about that (especially when tromping all around on muddy hillsides).
So, I've got the trail work bug now, and need to pick up a Mcleod for myself, and will likely get a hand saw as well. A folding hand saw will be something that could just live in my Camelbak, as here in Oregon, you come across so many downed trees on rides, that it'd be quite useful (obviously, for the smaller trees).
I plan to head out in two weeks for the next big DoD trail work weekend as well, and then reap the rewards at the All Comer's Meat (Force Kin).
Another great blog, linked to from Jill's Subarctic Journal: Mike Curiak���s blog is about custom 29er wheels, riding in the winter in Alaska, Iditabike, and so on. I've been spending some time reading it tonight, as there's a lot of good stuff. For example, check out his custom Moot's snow bike, including the rigid double-triple clamp titanium fork, that doubles as storage for camp stove fuel. As it turns out the whole bike stores fuel!
Or, he's got a rather interesting entry on the food he ate during the 2000 and 2002 Iditarod Impossible (1100 mile Iditabike race). I know if I ate 240 Clif Bars, I'd be in a hospital, if even alive. Yikes. The bacon, even if turkey, on the other hand, yum :)
Anyway, some great reading there.
On December 24th, four fellow DoD'ers and I rode Brice Creek/Bryce Crik, as had been proposed by Brock. This was nicknamed the "Festivus Eve Ride." It turned out to be a very cool, and a somewhat crazy ride. There is also an MTBR thread with additional pictures about this ride.
First, it was cold and snowing when we started (even though my thermometer said 33 degrees. Most of us were fine with the temp, but "new Lou" was worrying me. He had short finger gloves (seriously), and just plain cotton riding socks. Ian got him some sandwich bags for his feet, and I gave him some glove liners (not that these would help much after they got wet (they aren't wool)). Anyway, we headed out.
It was a gorgeous ride with the snow, and Brice is a favorite of mine - lots of rock, decent amount of roots, good flow to the trail. I was riding quite well, cleaning everything, and was stoked.
The ride is an out-and-back, and maybe 2/3rds of the way into the "out", Ian manages to snap both chainstays clean through! What adds to this was that it wasn't even his bike, it was Paul's (who was also on the ride). Luckily the road parallels the trail, and it was just a matter of Ian walking up to the next bridge across and waiting for Paul to come pick him up (after Paul rode back to the car). Fairly lucky timing and such overall. Lou was probably half frozen, and was suffering in general at this point, so he chased Paul back to the cars as well.
Brock and I continued on and finished up the ride. I was absolutely charging, and Brock was just trying to hang. In particular I was nailing every rocky, slick climb, no dabs, and totally in the zone. I was absolutley loving it. Well, all but my feet, which were pretty damn frozen at this point, so that was also motivating me to go fast and get back to some dry socks and car's heater. 
I was really psyched on this ride, as you can see from my semi-muddy, grin, post ride. Ok, the pic doesn't have a big grin, but whatever.
Note, the first photo (of me, in yellow jacket), and the photo of the broken chainstays are courtest of Paul, and the full size ones can be found in the MTBR thread).
Check out this blog: Up in Alaska: Jill's Subarctic Journal. Jill is working on doing the human powered Iditarod, as well as she does other long distance, extreme weather events. A recent entry shows an epic training ride: 68 miles, 9 hours, in 19 degree weather, in the snow, etc. Frickin awesome! Go Jill!
Matt, who's now living in Silverton, and most definitely reaping the benefits emailed me to mention (brag?) about Silverton's crazy early season snow conditions. From the Silverton email:
The pictures in the email were pretty sick. The photos are all available on Silverton's web site, but are unfortunately the small versions. Still, check it out. Also, I've been helping Matt build a community web site for Silverton folks, it's early, but feel free to check out Basecamp Silverton.Silverton, Colo., December 10, 2007���This December is one to remember. Another 10��� of new snow fell overnight, bringing the upper mountain base to 110 inches deep! There has been 40��� of new snow that has fallen on Silverton Mountain in the last 48 hours and 90��� of new snow in the last week. The only larger storm to hit Silverton Mountain was during the record setting winter of 2005 which dropped 117��� in one long storm cycle that lasted 13 days. Silverton Mountain does not usually have a 100��� base until February, making this the deepest base Silverton Mountain has ever had in any December on record. Silverton Mountain is known for having ���Expert Only��� ski terrain and skiers that love to jump of cliffs and ski tight chutes. With the fantastic base right now skiers have been jumping off 30 foot high cliffs, and steep 50 degree chutes that normally are not skiable until late in the season (see 6 quality photos attached). The sky finally cleared for a few hours on Sunday allowing the weekend skiers to enjoy some unbelievable bluebird powder conditions. By Sunday evening the snow returned and the dumping continued on.
A friend sent this to me - video of what amounts to human flying squirrels. It's some guys in "wing suits" flying through the mountains. It's awesome, amazing, and pretty sick. You've got to wonder what the first time is like, as I'm guessing there is just no way to ease into this "sport"!
24 Solo is a superb movie about Chris Eatough's quest to win a 7th World Championship for 24 hour solo mountain bike racing. With darn near every mountain bike movie made these days being about hucking, jumping, and big mountain riding, I was both skeptical that this movie would be exciting and interesting, but also hopeful for a breath of fresh air. I got both!
I found 24 Solo to be riveting. I was really glued to it, drawn in to the story, and impressed and intrigued by Eatough. Then you throw in the unexpected (to me anyway) Craig Gordon, the guy who practically died doing the race. I haven't followed 24 hour racing much, so didn't know about Gordon. Gripped Films did a really good job of weaving this story into the movie.
The movie covers some personal bits of Eatough's life, his training, shots of him riding on his home trails in the snow, a race in China, and of course the World Championships. It also interviews other racers, and some big names.
The movie is more of a documentary if you will, and if you think, oh, no big hucks it can't be good, I strongly urge you to reconsider. If you're into mountain biking, big adventure, impressive performances and quests, then check it out, it's great. I also like that they didn't skimp on the length. This is a feature length film, or feels like it, at 75 minutes long. Further, the music is good (and isn't a bunch of crappy metal that is supposed to get you all psyched up, but winds up annoying you instead). Hi quality, great story, and I fully recommend it.