anrothar
entirely thrilled
home, sweet home
hey there folks. here's my first blog update since arriving in ak.
the flight out on sunday was great after a hectic night of last minute packing. i booked united's economy + and had alot of extra leg room. it made the flights alot more comfortable and enjoyable. the jump seats had already been booked. i brought my bike in a box(cardboard), a xxl duffel loaded to the gills, and a big external frame pack as packed as it could be as my checked luggage. the website warned of $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second, and they were all oversized. luckilly, and much to my surprise, none were overweight. the guy behind the counter seemed grouchy and abrupt, but i think that's just how he is, because he charged me for the bike, as expected, and then $25 and that was it?!?! no complaints from me there. arrived in anchorage, and this time so did all my luggage. it was really, really nice being able to load all of my gear into manny's truck without breaking a sweat in the 61 degree midday heat.
within two hours of touching down, manny had me out on a group ride on the local singletrack. my bike wasn't out of the box yet, so i was able to borrow one, a 26" ss, too small for me, with mary bars and an un-lockable marzocchi fork with the softest available springs in it. it was akward fitting and riding to say the least, but it was a great ride on some really fun singletrack. i bought some bug spray that night...
monday i rode into town to get some errands taken care of and touch base with some of the friends i had made back in february up here. really can't say enough about the friendliness of the locals. i've yet to meet someone up here i would avoid. they have three main paved, wooded bike trails that make a triangle around the city, with a small amount of roadside bike path to connect them. they're really great, clean trails, and in excellent shape. on my way back to manny's on the coastal trail, i had my first close encounter with a moose and her two calves. it's really amazing how big they are. and kind of amusing that they are the alaska equivalent of new jersey's deer, yet in nj the deer run away from you, and in alaska, you run away from the moose...
tuesday saw a little more riding in town on the many bike lanes and roadside bike paths, running more errands. when evening rolled around i met up with my friend kim(male, who has done the iditarod dogsled race, and put me up during the susitna 100) and some of his buddies for another group ride at hillside, the local singletrack spot. we rode completely different trails this time, that had a very different character. much faster and more pumpy/swoopy, where-as sundays trails were tight and tricky. all fun.
wednesday saw me running around working on getting an alaska phone number. a bit of riding, mostly on the bike trails and roads.
thursday saw abit of riding, and alot of drinking in the evening. nearly rode right into a moose on the campbell creek trail on the way home.
friday i rode into town to purchase bear strength pepper spray, a bear proof container and some camping gear i had forgotten at home in preparation for the weekends race(s). left that gear at the bike shop, rode home, packed up the rest of my gear and rode back t the bike shop to meet my ride down to the start line. 9pm we toed the line, male racers outnumbered by female 2:1, and headed off for an out and back on the crescent creek trail. this is day/stage one of the bon ton roulette two day race. snow covering the trails high up made the orginal point to point nature of the race impossible/impassable.
took off hard from the start, only to watch the one racer chuck just dissappear off the front. rode with brian for a while, then he fell back a bit and i rode with paul for a bit. they seemed a little hesitant on the 'technical' stuff though, and i eventually opened up a gap on them. i was pushing pretty hard. we eventually turned off the fire road and onto the singletrack climb, and i kept charging, though by this time i could feel it was doing me in. maybe halfway up the climb i had to walk a couple of the steeper sections. the climb, btw, is about 8 miles long.
come around a turn at one point and see a skid mark on the ground with the word BEAR scratched into the dirt. oh great. pedalled on ringing my bell furiously, and finally caught up to chuck who was in the process of taking off his windbreaker. he was thrilled to have someone to ride with after seeing what he described as a circa 1000 lb grizzly. unfortunately though, he had alot more left in his legs than i did at that point and he soon found himself riding alone again. when he passed me on his way back down, he told me i had maybe a mile and a half to go to the turn around point. i got there, scratched my name into the ground, ate a honey bun, and turned around to head back.
it was ALOT nicer going down than up, and i found myself going scary fast in some sections. made all the switchbacks no problem, as they were easy enough to see. the trail was dry though and i found myself drifting the (non-switchback)turns more than i would have liked, even with a motoraptor/stout combo. in between two of the switchbacks, i came into a quick dogleg a little too hot, and managed to drift right off the edge of the trail and tumble twenty feet down the hill, over fallen, dead spruce. i got up, was amazed to find myself in one piece, and even more amazed to find my bike in similar condition. scurried back up to the trail and took off. i was shaken a little though and my muscles really didn't feel like doing any work, so i found myself walking a few of the hills on the fireroad back to the finish. i came in second, 8:50 behind chuck, anout 14 minutes ahead of paul and brian for the 24 mile course. it was super fun, with incredible views and really great trails. they even had rocks on them, much to my pleasure. beer and food ensued before the night of free camping by a lake, under the towering snow-capped chugach mountains.
saturday i woke up feeling friday in my legs. we headed out to breakfast at the summit lake lodge, and then on down to the start of that days 48 mile stage in hope, ak. out of hope, chuck took off the same as the day before, but i knew i wouldn't survive the day if i didn't back off a little at the start. so i rolled at a more managable pace for the first 6 or so miles with ethan and anthony. brian had gone off fishing for the day and paul had injured his leg the night before. once we got onto the singletrack, anthony was pulling for a few minutes, then pulled off to the side a slowed down a bit. i figured it was my turn to pull, so i pedalled on. after about five minutes or so, i look back and they were both about 200 yards behind. ok, i guess i'm on my own. i was still taking it alot easier than the day before. today was 24 miles of mostly uphill singletrack, from sea to above tree line, turn around and head back down. there were some steep sections that i got off and walked, using the opportunity to eat a granola bar or honey bun. i stopped for a few seconds in a few places to take a picture of the gorgeous valley we were ascending. i figured, based on pace, yesterday's finishing time difference, and all other factors, that i would have two miles to go to the top when chucked passed me on his descent. the trail flirted with tree line for a bit, and started mellowing out, but it was tough to see how much more we would have to go before hitting the first major snow covering the trail, which would be our turnaround point. eventually i was out of the trees and into the alpine area, with billions of blueberry bushes(no fruit yet obviously). the trail surface turned to slightly packed early spring frost heave type of soil, and the patches of snow were coming right up to the edge of the trail in some places. finally i see chuck and pull over to let him pass. he tells me "nice work!" and "only about 2 miles to the turn around.". good guess, i guess. at the snowpatch i stood the bike up, took a picture, ate a granola bar and finished off my second bottle. switched the third to my water bottle holder and started off down the hill. my strategy to back off a little bit worked wonders, as i didn't pass anyone else till i was about 3 miles down the hill. i charged, but did so in a more cautious way than friday night. the penalty for drifting off the trail on this descent would be closer to a 40 foot tumble into rocks and boulders. i gained a little time on chuck and finished in 4:33, 15 miutes behind him. washed the mud off myself in the creek, changed, then walked right into the sea view bar and grill(strategic start/finish pint if i ever saw one) for fish and chips and beer. live music later, and a bunch of other riders who had to work for the day, along with alot of locals, showed up for a big solstice celebration that lasted well into the well lit early morning hours.
got back to anchorage and slept the rest of sunday away.
you people can keep new jersey. i'm home. 😀
hey there folks. here's my first blog update since arriving in ak.
the flight out on sunday was great after a hectic night of last minute packing. i booked united's economy + and had alot of extra leg room. it made the flights alot more comfortable and enjoyable. the jump seats had already been booked. i brought my bike in a box(cardboard), a xxl duffel loaded to the gills, and a big external frame pack as packed as it could be as my checked luggage. the website warned of $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second, and they were all oversized. luckilly, and much to my surprise, none were overweight. the guy behind the counter seemed grouchy and abrupt, but i think that's just how he is, because he charged me for the bike, as expected, and then $25 and that was it?!?! no complaints from me there. arrived in anchorage, and this time so did all my luggage. it was really, really nice being able to load all of my gear into manny's truck without breaking a sweat in the 61 degree midday heat.
within two hours of touching down, manny had me out on a group ride on the local singletrack. my bike wasn't out of the box yet, so i was able to borrow one, a 26" ss, too small for me, with mary bars and an un-lockable marzocchi fork with the softest available springs in it. it was akward fitting and riding to say the least, but it was a great ride on some really fun singletrack. i bought some bug spray that night...
monday i rode into town to get some errands taken care of and touch base with some of the friends i had made back in february up here. really can't say enough about the friendliness of the locals. i've yet to meet someone up here i would avoid. they have three main paved, wooded bike trails that make a triangle around the city, with a small amount of roadside bike path to connect them. they're really great, clean trails, and in excellent shape. on my way back to manny's on the coastal trail, i had my first close encounter with a moose and her two calves. it's really amazing how big they are. and kind of amusing that they are the alaska equivalent of new jersey's deer, yet in nj the deer run away from you, and in alaska, you run away from the moose...
tuesday saw a little more riding in town on the many bike lanes and roadside bike paths, running more errands. when evening rolled around i met up with my friend kim(male, who has done the iditarod dogsled race, and put me up during the susitna 100) and some of his buddies for another group ride at hillside, the local singletrack spot. we rode completely different trails this time, that had a very different character. much faster and more pumpy/swoopy, where-as sundays trails were tight and tricky. all fun.
wednesday saw me running around working on getting an alaska phone number. a bit of riding, mostly on the bike trails and roads.
thursday saw abit of riding, and alot of drinking in the evening. nearly rode right into a moose on the campbell creek trail on the way home.
friday i rode into town to purchase bear strength pepper spray, a bear proof container and some camping gear i had forgotten at home in preparation for the weekends race(s). left that gear at the bike shop, rode home, packed up the rest of my gear and rode back t the bike shop to meet my ride down to the start line. 9pm we toed the line, male racers outnumbered by female 2:1, and headed off for an out and back on the crescent creek trail. this is day/stage one of the bon ton roulette two day race. snow covering the trails high up made the orginal point to point nature of the race impossible/impassable.
took off hard from the start, only to watch the one racer chuck just dissappear off the front. rode with brian for a while, then he fell back a bit and i rode with paul for a bit. they seemed a little hesitant on the 'technical' stuff though, and i eventually opened up a gap on them. i was pushing pretty hard. we eventually turned off the fire road and onto the singletrack climb, and i kept charging, though by this time i could feel it was doing me in. maybe halfway up the climb i had to walk a couple of the steeper sections. the climb, btw, is about 8 miles long.
come around a turn at one point and see a skid mark on the ground with the word BEAR scratched into the dirt. oh great. pedalled on ringing my bell furiously, and finally caught up to chuck who was in the process of taking off his windbreaker. he was thrilled to have someone to ride with after seeing what he described as a circa 1000 lb grizzly. unfortunately though, he had alot more left in his legs than i did at that point and he soon found himself riding alone again. when he passed me on his way back down, he told me i had maybe a mile and a half to go to the turn around point. i got there, scratched my name into the ground, ate a honey bun, and turned around to head back.
it was ALOT nicer going down than up, and i found myself going scary fast in some sections. made all the switchbacks no problem, as they were easy enough to see. the trail was dry though and i found myself drifting the (non-switchback)turns more than i would have liked, even with a motoraptor/stout combo. in between two of the switchbacks, i came into a quick dogleg a little too hot, and managed to drift right off the edge of the trail and tumble twenty feet down the hill, over fallen, dead spruce. i got up, was amazed to find myself in one piece, and even more amazed to find my bike in similar condition. scurried back up to the trail and took off. i was shaken a little though and my muscles really didn't feel like doing any work, so i found myself walking a few of the hills on the fireroad back to the finish. i came in second, 8:50 behind chuck, anout 14 minutes ahead of paul and brian for the 24 mile course. it was super fun, with incredible views and really great trails. they even had rocks on them, much to my pleasure. beer and food ensued before the night of free camping by a lake, under the towering snow-capped chugach mountains.
saturday i woke up feeling friday in my legs. we headed out to breakfast at the summit lake lodge, and then on down to the start of that days 48 mile stage in hope, ak. out of hope, chuck took off the same as the day before, but i knew i wouldn't survive the day if i didn't back off a little at the start. so i rolled at a more managable pace for the first 6 or so miles with ethan and anthony. brian had gone off fishing for the day and paul had injured his leg the night before. once we got onto the singletrack, anthony was pulling for a few minutes, then pulled off to the side a slowed down a bit. i figured it was my turn to pull, so i pedalled on. after about five minutes or so, i look back and they were both about 200 yards behind. ok, i guess i'm on my own. i was still taking it alot easier than the day before. today was 24 miles of mostly uphill singletrack, from sea to above tree line, turn around and head back down. there were some steep sections that i got off and walked, using the opportunity to eat a granola bar or honey bun. i stopped for a few seconds in a few places to take a picture of the gorgeous valley we were ascending. i figured, based on pace, yesterday's finishing time difference, and all other factors, that i would have two miles to go to the top when chucked passed me on his descent. the trail flirted with tree line for a bit, and started mellowing out, but it was tough to see how much more we would have to go before hitting the first major snow covering the trail, which would be our turnaround point. eventually i was out of the trees and into the alpine area, with billions of blueberry bushes(no fruit yet obviously). the trail surface turned to slightly packed early spring frost heave type of soil, and the patches of snow were coming right up to the edge of the trail in some places. finally i see chuck and pull over to let him pass. he tells me "nice work!" and "only about 2 miles to the turn around.". good guess, i guess. at the snowpatch i stood the bike up, took a picture, ate a granola bar and finished off my second bottle. switched the third to my water bottle holder and started off down the hill. my strategy to back off a little bit worked wonders, as i didn't pass anyone else till i was about 3 miles down the hill. i charged, but did so in a more cautious way than friday night. the penalty for drifting off the trail on this descent would be closer to a 40 foot tumble into rocks and boulders. i gained a little time on chuck and finished in 4:33, 15 miutes behind him. washed the mud off myself in the creek, changed, then walked right into the sea view bar and grill(strategic start/finish pint if i ever saw one) for fish and chips and beer. live music later, and a bunch of other riders who had to work for the day, along with alot of locals, showed up for a big solstice celebration that lasted well into the well lit early morning hours.
got back to anchorage and slept the rest of sunday away.
you people can keep new jersey. i'm home. 😀
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