ON YER BIKE!

With full stomachs and sore legs we departed for day three. The previous day's short miles promised plenty for the third. I was a little worried about Dinka. Not that she couldn't go the distance, but would it get too hot and melt my little girl? Not far into the ride I bummed some xtra water from some hikers who were finishing their hike. As usual, the little old hiker ladies loved Dinka. "Can she actually run with you behind the bike?" I guess its hard to tell she's a greyhound trapped in a lap dogs body.

It was the most beautiful day, the ocotillo were blooming, and new green grass made all the north hillsides look like they were covered in a green rash.

Professional guides, Nancy and Eric, are accustomed to weeks on end in the saddle and it showed on day three. Mary and I lagged towards the back. But a race it was not. We enjoyed the changing desert the farther south we went. The trail became more raw, and less used the further we got from the outside world.

My fear that Dinka would get too hot turned out to be a non-issue. We crossed three "rivers" through the day. Much to her dismay I soaked her in each one. She's come a long way in a year. Last year she refused to cross streams. We had to carry her across, soaking our feet. Luckily she's given up some of her cat like ways.

As we climbed our way out of the Agua Fria river valley I began to crave food. Like 40 miles in my legs kind of hunger. It was somewhere around this spot that we decided there would be no meal cooked in the Hideaway tonight. We would go in search of the famous pie we had heard about in the tiny town of Rock Springs.

A "cutie" would have to do in the mean time.

The further we got from civilization the more healthy and abundant the Saguaro Cactus became. The trail wound its way through whole forests of massive cacti, with funky outstretched arms in the tilted late afternoon light.

(photo above by Eric Boxrud)

Remembering that I had previously prayed for the trail to keep going on and on I began to think that it might never end. But, unfortunately it did. We had parked the Hideaway on an old jeep road a few miles before the last trail head. We new that if we passed under a power line it would lead us to our home sweet home. After six or so hours we found the line and the jeep road back. We were all craving pie something awful!

We celebrated the finish with one more ridiculous photo before the sun kissed the mountains to the west.

The car ride toward Rock Springs felt strange. We all commented about how FAST we were going on the interstate after 3 days of moving at the sane pace of about 7 miles per hour.

Lemon Meringue

Coconut Cream

And Nancy and I shared the Chocolate Cream.

Poor Dinka Jane didn't get to have any pie. She probably deserved it more than us. She had ran for over 6 hours at an average pace of 7.3 MPH over 26 miles! Her first off-road MARATHON! She was tuckered out, but no more so than us.

Our map had treated us well. It was a little bit wrinkled and had some food stains on it, but for a piece of paper and colored pencil lines it worked rather well. Please don't steal it, it is copyrighted material. LOL

As our pie settled in our belly's, we put our map away, the stars came out...the moon came up...and then we slept. Black Canyon Trail---You were amazing! Thanks for being there for us, we hope you only get longer. Signed, Landon, Mary, Dinka, Eric and Nancy

Andventures in the Hillbilly Hideaway...59 Miles Till Pie... (part 2)

2012-01-31T22:06:00.006-07:00

(above photo by Eric Boxrud) Day two brought the kind of weather you dream about. Perfect mid 60's and sun. I was finally appropriately dressed.

The trail just got better. The map showed a fair amount of double track, but what double track was out there turned out to be down right fun!

We smelled this poor girl before we saw her. I thought it was a leather coat on the ground when I first saw it.

(above photo by Nancy Morlock) It's always important to stop at least once and pray that the trail keeps going on and on and on.

(photo above by Eric Boxrud) Not sure where Eric found a helicopter for this photo??

(photo above by Eric Boxrud)

After only a few hours, we climbed a big switch backing hill and we were done. Day two was dangerously short, meaning day three would be dangerously long. Our perfect camp locations weren't chopping up the trail so perfectly.

Wouldn't Nancy's car be cooler if it were camo? Just sayin!

We made dinner in the Hideaway and played cards "late" into the night. It's a nice feeling when you can't wait to go to bed...and it's only 8:30! Sleep would be important however, as our mileage miscalculation meant a big day in the morning.

Adventures in the Hillbilly Hideaway...59 Miles till Pie...(part 1)

2012-01-31T20:39:00.014-07:00

Our last day in Sedona we prepared to head further south. Our goal was to ride as much of the Black Canyon Trail as possible. Over the last few years some good folks have been building a point to point trail from near Prescott Arizona to what will surely be Phoenix in a few years, given the rate of sprawl. This gem of single track goodness flow's its way southward over roughly 69 miles of Senoran desert. It's a fantastic way to spend four good days in the saddle. Since much of the trail is still quite new, we were at a loss to find a good map. What we decided to do was make a written copy of the maps we found online. (we didn't have a printer) Eric spent two hours making one of the most detailed maps I've seen.

We awoke to cold, wind and rain. Arizona??? This was not in the plan. Luckily the trails down there get nothing but better with rain.

(pic above by Nancy Morlock) Dinka was not to be down hearted over the rain. She impatiently sat guarding the Hideaway while we finished getting ready to start the day.

The wind was still howling as we started the ride. Dramatic clouds streamed over the mountains, but for the time being we were dry. The truck grew smaller as we pedaled into the head wind. But even with a head wind the trail flowed so well we were all pretty stoked to be riding.

Some of us were still a little impatient...not naming any names.

Nancy found love along the way, but he turned out to be a real "prick."

As the miles rolled on I began to get chilled. Because it is NEVER cold in Arizona I had only brought my rain shell as a last resort if it did keep raining. It kept the wind out, but didn't release enough moisture. At lunch we stopped in a wash, out of the wind to warm a bit. I let my jacket air out, but my base layers were soaked with sweat. The wind and clouds continued to stream over the mountains to the west.

After about four hours a light descended from Heaven and there below, like a pot of gold, was the Hillbilly Hideaway! Look closely, (yea I know it's camo) a shining beacon filled with canned food!

I was seriously chilled after the ride, but I had left my hat and coat in the truck 20 miles away. Much to everyones enjoyment I improvised.

Knee pads make WARM hats!

We readied the dutch oven for a feast while the day's foreboding clouds turned warm and fuzzy. No phone service, no internet, just a crazy pink finale to an amazing day.

(photo above by Nancy Morlock)

Adventures in the Hillbilly Hideaway....Sedona

2012-01-25T15:58:00.003-07:00

We made it almost to Monument Valley before we called it a night. We slept snug as bugs in the Hideaway, Dinka too, warm at the bottom of the sleeping bag. I awoke early hoping to catch Monument Valley as the sun came up. Which we did...and as the Moon was going down. Pretty cool!

We pushed into Sedona later that day, ready for our month of riding to begin. Red chains, good friends, way too much food, and utilizing every calorie. Livin' the Dream!

above--Quinten Morrisette,Chicken Point.

above--The Over The Edge Family

above--Dinka waits for all but the fastest of the group. Twelve pounds, no wheels, and running the world champs pace. Not bad for a little dog!

above--The Girls of Sedona, bring yer A Game boys! These ladies shred!

"So whata you lookin at camera boy." Rad Ross and his band of tire destroying thugs.

above--Quinten, once again a perfect subject for the black and white.

My Smurf out-fit...Photo by Troy Rarick

Eric Boxrud is the real Slim Shady...on Slim Shady Trail.

Bree..."Can we stop when we get to a good view point?"

Sam..."Will this work?"

Dinka..."It's a good thing I'm really small, there's just barely enough room for both of us on this trail."

above--Nancy Morlock hanging out on Hangover Trail.

Dinka..."Man I really like riding bikes with my humans, Sedona Rocks!" More to come...Stay Tuned!

And again....

2012-01-21T08:09:00.001-07:00

http://www.bikemag.com/photos/anne-keller-010312/

I missed this while I was in the Arizona back country. This makes three from that photo shoot!

Another BIKE mag Photo of the Day...

2012-01-03T20:59:00.001-07:00

Anne Keller once again making us look better than we are....

Because of Jonny...

2012-01-02T06:27:00.006-07:00

A few days ago my friend and former boss, Jonny Hymas was killed in a car accident. I worked for Jonny during some of the most defining years of my life, the years I grew the most as a person and as a mountain biker. He helped shape who I am, and who I have become. He pushed me to new heights as a bike rider, literally and figuratively. He pushed me to be a better employee and a more knowledgeable mountain bike professional. There are some things that I wish I'd said to him, things I've known I needed to say for years, but didn't because I wouldn't swallow my pride. I want to tell them now, and to everyone else whom I need to say things to as well, while you are still here and alive...I will do so over the coming weeks.

Jonny once told me that when we first met, that he didn't think I'd last but a few months in Moab. He was used to seeing newbies arrive in Moab every year, and then once they'd lived the dirt bag life a while,or they got hurt, they'd go back to their old lives. He assumed I would do the same.

On my first night in Moab, in fact the very first time I put my skinny little tires on Moab rock, I raced the local DH race. There were twenty locals racing that night. I managed to finish 10th! And more importantly didn't crash! Years later Jonny told me that when he saw me struggle down that mountain, completely overwhelmed, and shaking with fear, that he new I'd stick it out in Moab.--- (Picture below...deep in thought contemplating the biggest drop I'd yet done)

A lot of people didn't know this, but Jonny only had one eye. He lost it in a shooting accident. His entire sense of depth perception was half of what we have, yet he absolutely shredded on a mountain bike. Try to ride with one eye closed sometime, and you'll get a sense of how he perceived the trail before him. SCARY!

Jonny only had an 8th grade education. He struggled with reading and spelling. A teacher once told him to just spell his name the way it sounded, so he did, "NO FRICKIN H!!" he would always say. He had grown up poor and had finally excelled at bike racing, giving him confidence in him-self. (I'm speculating on this, but it was the same for me, and I do believe it was for him) He was completely self taught, and had worked VERY hard to get to where he was, managing one of the most sought after destination bike shops in the world.

I lived with Jonny and his family for a few days before I found a house in Moab. It was during this time, and the many nights after when we would BBQ in his back yard, that I got to know Jonny the Dad. He was SO VERY good to his children. He was so concerned about the job he was doing as a father. In private he would tell me the things that scared him about his kids. Like how pretty Jo Jo was, how Katerra wanted to please everyone...to a fault, and how daring Scout was. Oh how his voice rings in my ear..."Scout would jump off the Moab Rim if someone told him he couldn't, that scares the crap out of me!"

I can go on and on with Jonny stories. Especially mountain bike Jonny stories, but its time to get to the point. Jonny and I were both head strong and opinionated. In a sense we were very much the same. Two personalities like this are bound to eventually clash and we did. We argued once over scheduling and it got so bad that he fired me (for a few hours.) I think Jonny was under an enormous amount of stress running the shop in those times of huge growth. It got to the point where Mary and I decided to move on.

It's times like those that you can end up with regrets, things left un-said. What I wish I had said to you Jonny was that I had forgiven you for the hard times, that I was sorry for my bull-headedness, that I respected you as a biker, as a boss, as a father, and as a man. I wish I had told you with a man hug and a pat on the back that "I love you man." Oh how I wish I had done that, I'm so very sorry that I didn't.

Because of you Jonny I will do my best to do these things in the future, because of you Jonny I will try to live every day with no regrets. Thank you my friend for being who you were. Thank you for being such an influential force in my life.

BIKE Magazine shot of the day!!!

2011-12-27T20:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.bikehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifmag.com/photos/anne-keller-122511/

Thanks Anne Keller!

Escape...

2011-12-26T20:06:00.008-07:00

Escape the cold, and the wintry conditions of Sanpete County, where we are spending Christmas. We headed to the closest place without "much" snow...the San Raphael Swell.

How "much" snow was the big question of the day. Would Andy and I get there only to find too much, or harldly any? That question seemed to be answered as the day wore on. It was tooooo much! At first, when our legs were fresh it seemed like not a big deal, but as the hours ticked by, the constant soft trail, sand and snow wore us down. We needed an escape from our escape.

Dinka wasn't bothered by our slow pace. She would routinely look back to see if we were still coming. Then she'd turn and move ahead, effortlessly, her 12 pounds floating from rock to sand to snow to rock.

It wasn't long after this spot, that I suddenly found my-self with only one pedal. The threads were badly stripped and it was touch and go whether we'd get it back in the crank arm or not, especially since we only had my Leatherman Supertool to work with and this particular pedal had no allen key on the pedal shaft. I was lucky, Andy filed out the boogered threads with the file and then got the pedal started back in...luckily straight!

Calling this a "ride" is being a bit optimistic. We rode some, we walked a lot. We marveled at the bleeding rocks, and the maze like trail that seemed to never end.

The mountain ranges seemed to at once be far away, and then suddenly right on top of us, as the light changed with the passing clouds.

After 5 hours, we came upon our last chance of escape...and with no shame we happily took it.

OUT! Escape!

We crunched our way back toward the truck, our drive-trains wearing with every sandy pedal stroke. But happy to be pedaling at all. Happy to not be pushing a worthless bike with a missing pedal.

The Shortest Day's of the Year...

2011-12-20T10:20:00.006-07:00

It's been six months since I posted this... http://commandonlandon.blogspot.com/2011/06/longest-days-of-year.html

Quite a lot has changed since then, and it's not just lower temperature's and a lot less sun each day. Looking back the longest days of 2011 were a turning point. They weren't just the tipping of the year back toward winter, but a tick back toward good health. It was during the longest days of summer that we found out that Mary had been approved for medication that would allow her to live life more pain free. Mary has Rheumatoid Arthritis...the bad kind, not the kind you get when you are old. Things most of us take for granted Mary couldn't do, like open a door, grip a pen, or hold onto a handlebar. There is no cure, but new medications have recently been making RA a lot less devastating, IF you can afford them. These new biologic drugs can run as high as $30,000 a year. And having no insurance, due to having a "pre-existing condition", we were left out in no mans land. Not poor enough to get everything for free, but not near rich enough to afford the meds. Thankfully we were approved for assistance through the Abbott Patient Assistance Program. http://www.abbottpatientassistancefoundation.org/ We are really thankful for this assistance. We do our best to honor this help by living each day to it's fullest. And this time of year that means packing as much as possible into every sunlit minute!

I've noticed, as Americans we sure do think we have plenty to complain about, but I promise that recovering from an illness or injury that has left you wondering if you'd walk or ride or LIVE again will change the way you view your life. We appreciate every day, even the cold, grey, and windy ones! Not that we've had many of those yet. We had a great year everyone! Thanks to all of you who shared it with us, from customers, to friends, to family and to little and big dogs everywhere! Here's to 2012! May it be as fantastic as the last half of 2011!

The Sedona Experience...

2011-12-13T17:44:00.008-07:00

We arose early on our first morning in Sedona Arizona. George, Keith and I were there on "business" to check out the point of sale system that our sister store, OTE Sedona, has been using. A great excuse to do a little work and a lot of riding. As I walked outside I noticed the full moon wasn't looking normal. It had a shadow over part of it. I was accidentally catching the last of a lunar eclipse that I hadn't known anything about. It was a pretty cool way to start the day.

Another goal of the trip was to capture some great images for use in advertising and generally stoking people on the riding in Sedona.

Getting great photo's means getting out early. However it was darn cold with the sun not up yet so we warmed up at the local bike park before heading out onto the trails.

On the way to the trails we ran into a little pack of javelina's. These little oinkers weren't too afraid. Scattering into the brush when I got within 10 feet. All except one.

Once off-road we quickly pointed our bikes uphill to create a little heat. Once on top the sun did the rest and the feeling of cold would not be one we'd feel again until we were back in Colorado.

It's easy to think that Sedona riding would be similar to Moab, but really the only thing they have in common is that the rock is red and the trails are fun. Sedona couldn't be more different. Hundreds and hundreds of miles of singletrack spider web their way through the pinyon/juniper forests in town and out. They are rocky, technical and at times very flowy.

The trails are also a bit more "prickly" then what we are used to. The consequences for losing concentration are two fold...a fall down a ledge or cliff, and the added insult of landing in a cactus at the bottom.

Keith's kneepads proved to be a good idea, but the case could be made for some shin protection too, if only for protection from the spiny trail side vegetation.

Black and White or Blue and Red...

It's a big landscape, Keith and George cruise far below me on singletrack dwarfed by the surrounding monuments.

And the day glow yellow lichen is a strange contrast to the dark red rock. At times it seems a can of saftey yellow paint has exploded all over the place.

A big thanks goes out to Jason and Mike, the new owners of OTE Sedona. Jason let us dirtbag it on his living room floor, and Mike gave us plenty of beer! It was cool to meet all the folks that are part of the Sedona community of mountain bikers and trail builders. From the USFS trail crew to the old school rouge trail builder that we met at the bar. Hopefully thanks to their hard work this little grom will be rippn' Sedona trails many years from now, and hopefully we will be too! Enjoy this quick little video of radness that is Sedona!

Red Rocks and Cliff Tops...

2011-12-12T09:11:00.007-07:00

The riding season is over for most folks. Why, I'm not sure? Maybe where you live is snowy, maybe you have multi sport syndrome, maybe you watch too much TV? Me, I read books and ride bikes. I'm a bit of a fanatic. That's OK, as I still think I'm the normal one, while everyone else is crazy! Crazy because I can't imagine NOT riding bikes right now.

DROPPING!----(All Lacemine29 photo's are by Mike Curiak---www.lacemine29.blogspot.com---The rest are by ME taken on a Sony Nex-3 camera)

Cool Blue...

2011-12-02T11:47:00.002-07:00

It's that time of the year again...new bike time! Nothing sweeter than building up a new steed. My weapon of choice for the year is the new Trek Slash. This bike will take me to amazing places and allow me to ride with the coolest people in the world. I love my bike nerd friends! You know who you are. See ya'll on the trails! Thanks to Allen Wixom for shooting some pics of "Cool Blue's" maiden voyage.

Thanks to Larry Young at Trek for hooking me up with a new Bontrager helmet (I crashed a month ago and ruined mine) This is hands down the best helmet Trek has ever made. Nice work!

(Alan Wixom)

(Alan Wixom)

(Alan Wixom)

(Alan Wixom)

The Mark Twain Trail...

2011-11-29T20:43:00.005-07:00

I'm from the Missouri Ozarks. That means I grew up south of I-70 and North of Little Rock Arkansas. It's a big chunk of land that most people never see. It's hilly, slightly mountainous terrain. Typically described as "rugged". I started mountain biking in those steep, rock strewn hills, and I probably know every spot in which to ride a bike off-road in all of the southern half of the state. I have maps of places that no one knows about. I made most of my own maps long before Google Earth or anyone had access to such amazing tools such as GPS. I've long been dreaming about linking all the major riding areas together in one long ride. And thinking into the future, even marking it as a long bike specific route. Over Thanksgiving last week I finally linked a large chunk of this ride together.

I would be starting from my parents farm, which is nicely located in the middle of a huge chunk of the Mark Twain National Forest.

Despite the maps, most of this ride was simply in my head. It had been at least 8 years since I had ridden many of the trails. However, not much in the Ozarks changes, so I was hopeful my memory would serve me well.

I was heading north, from our farm near Beaver Creek, Kissee Mills Mo. The plan was to cross two chunks of Mark Twain National Forest land, one near Taneyville MO, the other near Bradleyville Mo. Then some pavement to the Swan Creek Trail system near Garrison MO. From there crossing over hwy 125 to the old Deveraux Ridge Trails. My parents used to ride there before I was born. I would then finish by crossing the center of the massive Chadwick Motorcycle Use Area trail system. Future plans call for including the Glade Top Trail system near Rueter MO and furthest south, and also the Busiek State Forest making it the furthest west, near Ozark MO. Simply including these two systems will ad at least a days ride, possibly two. I would expect mileage for the whole route to come to near 75, and much of that on achingly slow rugged trail.

The morning dawned crisp, but with a good chance of reaching the 60's for the day. Fog lined the creek below the house.

Mom and Dad took me to breakfast in Taneyville and then dropped me at the first of many forest service roads.

The route quickly got down to business, turning from gravel to dirt and then to loose baby head rocks, which are so much a part of riding in this landscape.

I find air time where I can, and it's no different in the Ozarks, the "air" just isn't as big as it is in other places, but ya know I try...

With the first chunk of forest finished I would connect to the next by riding hwy 76 toward Bradleyville and the top of Cedar "Holler" Hill.

This road was tempting, as I do like a good rough road, but if I remember the story correctly, it was named after a farmer's daughter who was killed in a car/pedestrian accident here on this corner and then their house burnt down later that year. Kind of a "bad" road indeed.

Road 612 probably has an excellent Ozark name if I could find the right old timer to tell me its history. But since I don't know its colloquial name I will call it "Animal Encounter Road." As I was cresting a hill I watched a bird ascending quickly upward and then BANG!!! it fell to the earth dead. I hurried onward not wanting to get shot my-self. As I sped up, heading steeply downhill I spooked a deer. It ran along beside me at 25 miles an hour, deftly maneuvering through the trees. It seemed shocked that it could not out run me. It must have tried for over a quarter mile before veering off in another direction.

The longest stretch of pavement was on UU hwy and also had some steep climbing. As I reached a high point the trees opened up and I saw before me a vast swath of forest. I would need to cross the entire Swan Creek Trail System which was the least known and explored by me. Even when I rode there 8 years ago, I was lost most of the time. Today would be no different. The far horizon line of the picture below would be my goal for most of the afternoon.

Turn left at the sign above...uhhhh, I think this used to be the sign for Tin Top Ridge, but who knows? I dove into the forest happy to be leaving pavement.

I crossed numerous creeks and climbed and descended numerous valleys and hills. At every trail intersection I would take the trail that most seemed to head west. Eventually I came to Swan Creek, too deep to get across without getting totally wet. I removed my shoes and waded across, reaching the other side feeling completely spent. It had taken hours to cross this trail system and I had two systems yet to go to complete my goal for the day.

Near the old Union Church in Garrison MO, is the house of an old friend. As tired as I was I really hoped they would be home. I wanted a glass of milk! But, being the day after Thanksgiving nobody was around, so I resolved to pedal onward up the steep grade to Deveraux Ridge.

The above picture makes this road look easy, but I disagree. Right about here is where I also ran out of water!

With trail like this facing me for the next many miles I was really glad I had just scored a bottle of water from some hunters. They thought my orange rocker link on my bike made good sense considering where I was. I'm not sure they believed me about how far I had come on this day. I thanked them and climbed into loose boulders that my Mom and Dad had once ridden on their motorcycle's, before I had been born.

Hard to tell what trail I was on, but again I kept heading west and finally popped out on H hwy and crossed over into the Chadwick Motorcycle Area. I scored another bottle of water from a moto "camp." (big RV, Satalite TV, good smelling food cooking) The lady here asked how far I had ridden and when I told her she exclaimed.... WHY???? I didn't really know what to say, as I was wondering WHY?? at that point too.

The steep, rocky, technical, muddy, trails of Chadwick crushed what was left of me. I struggled into Cobb Ridge Moto Camp with the sun near the horizon. I called Mary and my Dad to come get me and sat down to eat what was left of the food in my pack.

This trip was a success. I crossed a large portion of Missouri in one day, never touching private land and spending most of it off-road. The potential for an even bigger ride, with a mandatory over night is possible by including Busiek State Forest, and Glade Top Trail National Scenic By-Way. I'm dubbing this route the Mark Twain Trail, since most of it is in the National Forest. Another option, only open to hikers, is to cross the Hercules Glades Wilderness, making for a really BIG hike. Bikers, sadly, will have to ride around the wilderness on county roads.

The above map shows what I rode in black, and then red dots depict what I propose is possible. Years of exploring went into this, and it will take someone local who can spend time figuring out the best options through the many trail systems, and GPSing a route, to make this something others could re-create. I don't live here anymore so I'm challenging someone else to work on this. Missouri needs a long distance off-road bike route. This one is as good as any. If anyone wants to take this on, I'll help all I can. Now, GO RIDE YOUR BIKES OZARKERS!!!!

More Mobe...

2011-11-16T07:53:00.005-07:00

(above pic by Mike Curiak, Rider- Tyson Swayse)

Crowds gone, no Jeeps, no Moto's, no Hillbilly Golfcarts! Just riding bare rock and going off the dots! Enjoy nothing but pix!

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Mike Curiak, Rider-Eric Boxrud)

(above pic by Mike Curiak, Rider-"The Chosen One" Tyson Swayse)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mike Curiak)

(above pic by Landon)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mike Curiak)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Dinka Jane)

(above pic by Landon)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mary Monholland)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mary Monholland)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mary Monholland)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mary Monholland)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Mike Curiak)

(above pic by Landon, Rider Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Riders-Tyson, Beth, Eric)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Mike Curiak)

(pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon, Rider Keith Lay)

(pic by Mike Curiak, Riders-Nancy and Beth)

(above pic by Mike Curiak, Rider-Landon Monholland)

(above pic by Mike should have used a wide angle Curiak)

(above pic by Mike Curiak, Riders-Keith, Eric, Nancy)

(pic by Landon, Rider-Eric Boxrud)

(above pic by Landon, Rider- Keith Lay)

(above pic by Landon)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Nancy Morelock)

(pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

(above pic by Mike Curiak)

(pic by Landon, Rider-Tyson Swayse)

(above pic by Landon, Rider-Keith Lay)

November's Full Moon...

2011-11-11T22:36:00.005-07:00

Greg, Dinka and I went out after work last night to work on some night photography. It's fun to make those cool light photo's where you see the landscape and a streak of light. The light gives the photo motion and occasionally you capture a ghostly figure on a bike. The problem was, as we started the ride, we didn't see any reason to actually turn our lights on. So we didn't! November's full moon was plenty of light and it added to the thrill of riding a trail we know by heart. No I didn't clean the Horse Thief Drop In, but I did make it down as far as most people do in the day time. The problem was that I needed the Moon to be more to the west, as there was too much shadow to pull it off. Maybe next time?

We did turn our lights on for some photo practice, of which we need much more, but other wise we rode the trail the way our ancestor's would have walked it, by moonlight, and nothing else.

It's surreal out there when the lights are off, riding the trail by braille, knowing there is rock hiding in moon shadow waiting to reach out and grab your pedal. One learns quickly to loosen up, and to use sense's you other wise wouldn't use. This might be the next big thing in mountain bike skills training...or...on second thought, probably not.

Moab Halloween Ho Down

2011-10-31T22:21:00.004-06:00

Halloween in Moab is my favorite time of the year. Its still short sleeve warm, but only in the sun. The shady spots are a bit chilly. Keith grabbed this picture of a dicey new move I found on Rock Stacker.

All my guide friends are done for the season and everyone is having fun and relaxing.("Guide Friends"--AKA tour guides...people who are paid to baby sit, with the perks being fresh air and riding bikes all day)

Anne St.Claire, absolutely killing it on Jackson Trail. Nice riding Anne, you have upped your game!

Mary and Blom, the REALLY friendly ghost.

I was able to log some frequent flyer miles on this trip. And all the flight paths were new to me. This one I found on Mega Steps Trail.

Above, Dave Gove flight testing the new Ibis Mojo HD.

And did I mention Mary is riding...errr, flying with us again too? Yea, she's back. Nice one babe!

Attitude is everything...

2011-10-25T17:30:00.005-06:00

I'll start this post with a beautiful shot of the remaining fall color up on Grand Mesa. Brad had been wanting to show me a ride he knew up there for two years. The prolonged warm weather this October lured us up to 10,000 feet, to ride our bikes amongst the throngs of orange wearing hunters and their ATV's. Luckily I had brought my "huntin' bike" which sports its own safety orange paint job.

However, by the end of the day my custom paint job was nothing but brown, along with our clothes, our shoes, and my Dinka Jane dog.

We were caught off guard by the amount of snow still up there. Despite temps allowing us to ride around in only a light jacket, the snow had really hung on.

The ATV's had really made a mess, but the fact that we were riding at all was due to their tracks. The snow had melted off in their grooves enough to allow forward movement. It's time's like these that I think about just how good I have it. Riding around on a kids toy, slopping through mud; you could say it was a terrible time, or... great fun! Brad and I chose to have "great fun!"

Once we hit the south slopes it was all good. I like good double track about as much as good single track. Brad and I moto'ed down hill lofting the front wheel for every creek and puddle leaving a spray of mud for Dinka in our wake.

Well, almost every creek..

It was a good day, despite the 2 hours of work I would have ahead of me over hauling my bike. It was a good last high altitude ride of the season and I looked forward to a dry mud-less second day off down below in the desert. Down below where it NEVER rains!!!

Ah yea, the desert in October. We've had the longest stretch of blue clear weather I can remember. But the forecast showed it was coming to an end, not that we could tell as we headed out for a ride in Rabbit Valley. Sunshine and a few high clouds. Nothing to worry about.

Dry, rocky single track and golden Cottonwood trees lining the mighty Colorado River. Could it be any better?

We were just grooving along, me, my wife and my crazy little dog. Then...I clipped a branch with my handlebar while headed into a rock garden. I came to a stop on my head proving once again that helmets are a pretty good idea. I slid on my shoulder for a while too. My glasses dug into my upper eye and my helmet had a dent in it. I had seriously rung my bell judging by the way Dinka and Mary both were worrying over me. With much groaning we re-mounted and moved on. At least it wasn't raining!

CRACK!!! The lightning boomed directly over us. I've seen fast moving storms but this one really snuck up on us.

Just as the rain began to fall we found a small ledge to climb under. We were sure the storm would pass, we'd let the trail dry, and then move on. Dinka loved hanging out in the dry sand below the ledge while it rained. She dug a hole and laid down.

And here's where the attitude thing comes in. The ledge wasn't really big enough to keep us dry and once it started really raining, the water began to pool at our feet and in Dinka's little hole. But the rain would stop soon right? It's the desert, it NEVER rains!

I tell people all the time about our terrible mud. "You can't ride when its wet!" I must say this a thousand times on a rainy day when talking to folks at the shop. I also tell them if they do get caught in rain to hunker down, wait for it to stop and the trail to dry and then, and only then, head back down the trail.

As expected, the rain kind of stopped, but we could see that more was coming. We had no choice but to make a run for it. We pushed the bikes to avoid our body weight causing more mud to stick to the tires.

That didn't work at all! We also found a new more appallingly sticky type of mud that we had never experienced before. It was at a spot where the ground was black, like coal on the surface. It was maddening!!! Our shoes weighed 10lbs each as we drug the bikes back toward the truck.

Finally it ended. A leisurely 2 hour ride had stretched to 6. We were hungry and still had an epic clean up of the bikes, our dog, and our selves to do. So was it fun? Well, yea it was. Not ideal, but it's really how you look at things. My attitude wasn't perfect, especially while cleaning the bikes in the pouring rain, knowing all my work the night before was for nothing. But yea it was a pretty good time. It sure beats not riding at all, which Mary and I know quite a bit about. Any day on the bike is a good day. That's the attitude for us!

Horse Thief Video...

2011-10-24T22:23:00.004-06:00

Click on the title of this blog post for a look at the video. ENJOY!!! (Thanks to Keith Lay for editing and filming.)

Getting Fat...

2011-10-08T20:36:00.002-06:00

My co-worker Sam got a Fat Bike. I figured it was a cool second, or even third bike. I didn't figure it would replace his full suspension bike, could it?

Then I noticed he never rode his other bikes any more.

Then he rode his Pugs in a multi day stage race, the Trans Rockies.

Now I have one...we'll see where this takes me?

Yellow...

2011-10-03T19:52:00.004-06:00

If you don't like the color yellow, quickly click your browser's "back" button now. Otherwise, proceed with caution, this blog post contains LARGE amounts of vitamin D!

Every year the high country puts on its fall colors, or color... as it's mostly yellow. East coast folks tend to complain about the West's single coloredness, saying that THEIR mountains turn so many different shades. Well, I know its "reel purty" out East, but I've been there and you have to pedal for hours to get to an opening in the trees so you can see it all. Not so out here!

Every year I get so excited to see the show, but its a short time period that the big show is playing. I'm always too early, or too late, or at Interbike. So this year I made a point not to care, not to plan a trip just to see the leaves change. That way I wouldn't be disappointed.

(above by Keith Lay)

It seems my plan worked. Keith and I stumbled into the back country at the precise moment that the big yellow crayon got melted all over everything. It was a pretty sweet couple of days.

It would have been a lot cooler if this guy was yellow, ya know, so it better fit this blog post.

(above by Keith Lay)

(above by Keith Lay)

(above by Keith Lay)

Aaa Haa! I see red on that mountain...

Red rock too!!!

Which way takes us back to yellow?

Ahhh, thats better...

Braaaap!!!

Images from our vacation...errr...I mean life

2011-09-20T20:40:00.003-06:00

No words this time, just some images from a couple weeks of livin' life outside. Enjoy!

Pic by Keith Lay

Pic by Keith Lay

pic by Keith Lay

Pic by Keith Lay

Geo's Rock

2011-08-30T20:52:00.006-06:00

From August 2011

It was a beautiful day on the Uncompahgre Plateau. The hawks were soaring, flowers blooming, the creeks were babbling, Dinka was rolling in the dirt...

From August 2011

It was just "one of those days" perfect in every way. We had found a perfect climb to get us to the upper most portion of the plateau. Not a gut buster, but slightly ascending alpine single track.

Dinka and I saw this big guy, just before he cleared a path through the woods and disappeared.

But all good things must come to an end. Not long after this shot Geo hit a rock.

From August 2011

This rock...

From August 2011

Slightly hidden by grass...

From August 2011

He could have hit the really BIG rock further down the trail, but....

Instead he clipped the smaller one, took flight, and landed in the green grass, in this perfect meadow...

From August 2011

And when he got up, he needed a sling....

Long Sleeves...

2011-08-15T18:20:00.004-06:00

From August 2011

(pic by Keith Lay)

I can remember two things from yesterday's trip to Telluride. The first thing my oxygen starved brain remembers is the steepness, like the picture above. Sufferingly steep, ridiculous grades climbing to the highest point that I have ever pushed/pedaled my bike before. The second thing I remember is one of the steepest, longest, most amazing descents I've ever done. I've long joked that if one goes over the handlebars in Telluride there is a good chance of landing on a house! Yesterday we didn't put any holes in roofs, but it was close a few times.

One of the coolest things about Telluride is the free gondola system. It's part of their public transportation system and allows lowlanders like us to skip the first 3000 ft of any climb we might do to get to the back-country. No lift fees, no lines, just load your bike and go.

We were all pretty sick of the heat in GJ/Fruita. It's been a mild summer, but an all day ride is still not a reasonable proposition due to afternoon temps. The high country is always cooler. But this time of the year it's still normally a short sleeve kind of ride.

(pic by Keith Lay)

Not so on this day. The clouds loomed low, and temps were chilly. It was so refreshing to wear a jacket AND a long sleeve jersey.

Note the trail so very far below in the above photo. AWESOME!

Note the tiny figure at the top of the cliff above the water fall. That's Noah, lining it up for the sketchy cliff side descent.

(pic by Keith Lay)

Which looked like this at a closer angle. The cliff is over his right shoulder.

I'd love to take credit for these last two shots, but I can't. Keith Lay nailed both of these shots which capture a micro slice of one of the best descents I've ever done. I'm glad the guys made me climb up that damn mountain. I suffered greatly, but it was so very worth it.

Broke Back Anniversary

2011-08-09T20:15:00.002-06:00

From August 2011

It's been 7 years since I broke my back. Had I not marked Aug 8th on the calendar this year I might not have remembered. That's a good thing. It's healed, I don't hurt any more. (not my back anyway) Still, I try to remember the date every year and celebrate by riding somewhere awesome. The 401 trail in Crested Butte is one of the best anywhere, and for the first time in three years Mary felt good enough to go too.

From August 2011

We camped just off of Kebler Pass. It was so refreshing to be chilly at night. Down below, in the Grand Valley, we haven't used the word "chilly" since April. When Dinka and I popped out of the tent in the early morning we found a fawn had bedded down a few feet away. It bounded away like Tigger with Dinka hot on its trail crazily mimicking the young deers hops. As usual she came back without a prize.

From August 2011

Our trip was to be a short one, so we got down to the business of riding bikes. We found Schofield Pass still closed! Still snow covered in mid August. The nice thing was after a certain point there wasn't much traffic.

From August 2011

The high altitude took its usual effect on me, making me feel weak like a kitten, but its hard to complain while being surrounded by some of the most awe inspiring, flower covered, mountains on earth.

One fork leg, one little ear...and sweet singletrack ahead.

Perfect singletrack, wild flowers in every color, clean air, blue skies, green lakes, sweet bikes, towering purple mountains, a fast little dog, hands that work, a back that ain't broke, LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Gus's Last Ride...in Dirt Rag Magazine NOW!!

2011-07-26T22:12:00.003-06:00

From July 2011

Dirt Rag just published Mary and I's account of Gus's last bike ride. The illustrator, Ashely Swidowski, did an AMAZING job of bringing the day to life. I hope that Gus is honored by our efforts. Thanks to Josh Patterson from Dirt Rag Magazine for giving us a chance to tell the world about our Boy Dog. Should be on news stands now! Check it out.

From July 2011

The Whole Enchilada...at Night!

2011-07-26T19:58:00.003-06:00

From July 2011

Burrow to Town, or The Whole Enchilada as it's known by most folks, is a kick butt, wheel warping downhill of a good time. It's 35 miles and 7000 ft of elevation loss back to Moab, with what seems like thousands of feet of climbing thrown in there too. Much of its length is on the edge of a 1500 ft cliff! It's one of the all time greatest rides in the world. Sooo, we thought we'd see if it was better.... at NIGHT!

From July 2011

Mary dropped us off at 7PM. The temps in Moab down below had been around 115 degrees in the direct sunlight. It was awesome to be transported within an hour's drive to the cool of 10,000 ft of elevation. And the light was beginning its march toward "gold."

From July 2011

We earned our way upward toward's Burrow Pass, walking some, riding some.

From July 2011

We finally made the pass in a swarm of mosquito's. We quickly ate some food while jogging back and forth to avoid the biting little buggers. With a 7000 ft descent waiting, and the sun quickly dropping we dove downward. For sure it was my best run down Burrow ever. It was surreal to be up that high at a time when most folks are getting ready for bed.

From July 2011

As we passed Warner Lake, I snagged a last pic of the sun's light on the higher peaks reflecting in the water.

From July 2011

We then headed back upward toward Hazard County.

From July 2011

The orange light just kept getting more intense, allowing us to ride all of Hazard County without lights...not safely mind you, but without lights. Andy only cartwheeled once, so it was pretty much without incident.

From July 2011

More food was consumed and we dropped toward the La Sal Loop Road and the "end" of the Kokopelli Trail.

From July 2011

We installed lights and headed onward. The Kokopelli section of the ride was probably the hardest. There is a window of time at dusk where lights don't seem to work, and yet it's too dark to ride without them. As we turned on to the Upper Porky Singletrack it was finally dark enough to completely trust the beam of light from our helmets...which was good, as we were now descending along the aforementioned 1500 ft cliff edge. We would round corners and see nothing but a black yawning nothingness, the edge of the earth itself.

From July 2011

The descent wound further downward. The rocks and boulder madness of Porcupine Rim itself were nothing but a blur in the narrow beams of light. It seemed that we were going faster down Porky than ever before. Could that be?

From July 2011

At the start of the Porky single track we loaded our stomachs one more time in hopes of giving our brains a little boost before dropping toward the river below. It was nearing midnight and fatigue was setting in for all of us. I was concerned any one of us could fall into the trap that so many riders fall for on this section of trail; that is thinking the ride is almost over and that you can relax. Relaxing at this point is the worst possible thing you can do.

From July 2011

This was the last picture we took. I love how it makes the trail look easy. But that single ball of light above my two streaks of light is Keith, on the ledge above. The dip in my two streaks is from the abrupt landing of the drop. If you've ridden this trail you know its like that all the way down. My "wheels fell off the bus" not long after this photo. I crashed on the "up and over" rock move and the rest of the descent was a blur. The trip back into town was even worse. The bike path was flooded and we rode in dank, dark water up to our knees. Thank goodness it was at that point Sunday morning, as we all needed a hard earned day of rest. So as for being faster at night? 5.5 hours! For sure NOT faster at night, but it sure was fun!!!

From July 26, 2011

Extreme Road Biking!!!

2011-07-21T18:10:00.002-06:00

From July 2011

I think road bikers are far more extreme then mountain bikers. It takes big balls to ride around trusting your life to the guy driving the lifted Super Duty pickup, who's talking on his cell phone, who's screaming at his kid in the back seat, who seems to have anger management issues... Clearing a 30 foot gap jump on my mountain bike, kinda scary. Riding around the Grand Valley on my road bike today, TERRIFYING!!!!

One Car in the Parking Lot....

2011-07-14T22:48:00.002-06:00

From July 2011

So while visiting another small tourist town in Colorado recently, the guy at the bike shop where I was inquiring about trails said this..."We don't really give out our local trail maps, we don't want to become like Fruita." I thought of him tonight, as we pulled into the 18 Rd parking lot...completely empty!

From July 2011

Yup, I'd sure hate for that town to become like Fruita...

Training?

2011-06-28T18:01:00.004-06:00

From June 2011

It's about 57 degrees, at 4:45 AM on a late June morning. I'm pretty comfortable in a long sleeve jersey. I'm training for....uhhhh, nothing I guess. I really haven't had a goal in a few years, but for some odd reason I'm still driven like mad to pedal my butt off. It's hard to believe, in the morning chill and dark, that within a few hours sweat will be pouring off of my head. I pedal along the frontage road toward Rustlers Loop with plans to ride most of the trails in the Kokopelli area. In the past this wasn't that ambitious of a ride, but due to sickness I haven't ridden for more than two hours at a time all year.

From June 2011

Even though it should be a gradual thing, I'm a bit shocked by how suddenly I can see the trail and my surroundings. The sun is still a long way from rising. The vastness of the great western sky tends to prolong all this morning magic. The cliffs and river are still sleepy, not a breath of wind to stir the surface or ruffle a clump of sage. The birds however, are anything but asleep. They chirp and sing and alert each other to my intrusion upon their space.

From June 2011

There is no sun on my back or shoulders, but I know it's up there. The cliff bands hundreds of feet above me glow like coals in a camp fire. The long sleeve jersey I'm wearing seems misplaced this time of year, but I'm glad I wore it. The desert chill will hang on until the great ball of fire appears at my lower level. For a time I am safe in the shade of these sand stone walls.

From June 2011

It's coming, unstoppable, white hot light, ready to sear my soul. Whew...that's a bit deep for a bike ride. In other words I'm really dreading the heat...but for now I pedal onward, safe in the shadows.

From June 2011

WHAM!!!! Suddenly there it is, doing it's thing, heating the world, giving us light and life and cancer...all things we need and some we don't. That long sleeve jersey now seems ludicrous. It gets stashed in my pack to be forgotten. Maybe I'll wear it again in the Fall, or in the high country, but for sure not now.

From June 2011

The canyon walls protect me for a large portion of the rest of the ride, but inevitably I must face him, Mr Sun. And when I do it's also a fight with gravity, as I ascend my nemesis, Collar Bone Hill. It's a repeated punch in the junk that gains back every inch of vertical that I lost during the preceding 25 miles. Even the blackest of rocks now reflect light, sweat stings my eyes, the heating day causes the wind to howl. Training? What am I training for? Hmmmm???

The Longest Days of the Year...

2011-06-22T19:38:00.007-06:00

From June 2011

All of a sudden it's Summer. The time of year where you end an evening ride and there is no place to eat afterward...because all the restaurants in Fruita close at 9PM.

From June 2011

It's the time of year when the high country is finally opening up and you take those first breaths of thinner air and fragrant pine scent.

From June 2011

The flowers aren't quite done yet, but the explosion is on the down swing, at least down in the desert.

From June 2011

There is a lot of water flowing this year. The mountain streams are raging. We found a few waterfalls on our travels.

From June 2011

And we found a few mountains...

From June 2011

And we found a MonteCarlo too!

From June 2011

And a really old beer can!

From June 2011

And mountain bike "art" or as hikers probably say...a bunch of bike trash left on the trail.

From June 2011

Dinka is hasn't quite learned to use berms yet...

From June 2011

Dinka has however learned a new game. She has learned that racing Dad is fun. She picks just the right type of trail, then bolts past me. She then looks back now and then to see if I'm gaining. If I am she pours on the steam. It's hilarious, and I must admit on most trails I can't catch her.

From June 2011

It's a good summer to be alive!!!

The Acclimatization of Dinka Jane...

2011-06-22T19:06:00.002-06:00

From June 2011

This tuft of hair is from the top of Dinka's head. It fell out yesterday while I was petting her little noggin. At first I was bummed. The last of her dreadlocks had just fallen out...It was so cute the way it would stick strait up on the top of her head. But then I realized it was also the last of the remnants from her time on the street, fighting for her life, dirty, nearly starved to death.

From June 2011

She's now fully acclimatized to her new, and I hope better, environment. She is no longer bald, her weight is up from 10lbs to 12lbs. (Proportionately that is a LOT of weight) She no longer bolts for the door, pukes in the truck, barks and shakes at the sight of men other than me.

From June 2011

She's a happy dog I'd say...and many folks keep saying how lucky SHE is...well I have to disagree. Mary and I are the lucky ones. She came to us when we needed her most, just long enough to learn from Gus, and then to help us say goodbye. Now she fills that hole, a 55lb black and white, 14 year's in the making hole...and she does a damn fine job! Our little Dinka Jane....

From June 2011

Wandering Among Flowers....

2011-05-31T21:21:00.004-06:00

Just some "purty pitchers" of flowers, rocks and hills...

Vroom Vroom Vernal...

2011-05-30T20:58:00.007-06:00

(Click blog post title for trip video)

Keith and I left for Vernal late Saturday night. The sky did its thing above Fruita and away we went.

I awoke at 5 AM to the light of the rising Sun AND Moon, my sleeping bag covered in moist dew. It was a chilly night in the heart of the Book Cliffs, camped just a little too close to a roaring gas line pump station. Noise aside, it was a fantastic camp. I fell asleep to shooting star after shooting star.

We rolled into Troy's camp at about 7AM. Having risen so early we just threw our bags back out on the ground and waited for our guide to awake. Troy owns Altitude Cycles http://www.altitudecycle.com and is always ready to take us on a rip any time we make the pilgrimage up north.

More friends from Fruita arrived, Maria and Richard, and we were soon riding...er hiking, sweet sweet new trail.

For sure the steepest hike-a-bike I've ever done, but oh man was it worth it!

Looks like a normal seat post clamp right? Well, the bolt holding it together was sourced from an unlikely spot after the stock one broke half way down the mountain.

We stole it from the brake mount, and then used the chain tool from a Crank Brothers Multi Tool, plus some Presta Valve nuts for spacers, to fill the missing brake bolt hole. I'm pretty proud of the team effort it took to come up with this most unlikely trail fix!

We were in the saddle all day, which for my current state of "fitness" was quite long. I was glad to finally sit down by the campfire with a full stomach and watch the light fade away over distant single track. For a Spring that has seen me sick most of the time, it was good to get some long technical miles on the bike. The light for most of the day made for mediocre pictures, but we did shoot some video. Check it out here...

http://vimeo.com/24438586

Pedal Talk....To Clip In, Or Not To Clip In?

2011-05-19T16:38:00.007-06:00

I get a lot of questions about my switch to flat pedals. I had been riding clipless pedals for 10 years. In that time I have continually progressed to longer and longer rides. http://www.moabcenturion.blogspot.com/

The most common question I get is "Were you struggling on technical terrain or downhills?" The answer is no. I was very good at using clipless pedals and never felt hampered in challenging terrain or on down hills. My switch came out of desperation from knee, back, hip, and foot pain. It also came from watching my friend Noah Sears http://www.westernslopestyle.blogspot.com/ progress while NOT being clipped in, and by the ear-bending I got from trainer James Wilson. http://www.declinemagazine.com/content.php?itemid=5101

I am now a year into a change that was so humbling I almost wanted to quit riding. For two months I cursed every pedal stroke. I couldn't climb ledges, I felt seriously down on power. A two hour ride felt long. But I'm stubborn and I stuck with it. Somewhere in month three I didn't feel slow anymore. I was cleaning big ledges again, and my knees, back, and especially my feet did not hurt any more. Another unforseen benefit was that my core became stronger - resulting in less fat around my stomach. Also, and this should have made perfect sense, I was really digging how I felt riding down hill. Thirty years riding moto should have clued me in that NOT being attatched to the bike would be a good thing for me. At that point all thoughts of going back went away. I have been bamboozled by a cycling tradition, but now I see the light.

Will switching make sense for everyone? Probably not. Does a good rider feel stronger while being clipped in? Yes, there is no doubt that you can get more power to the pedals while pulling as well as pushing. However, you'll be surprised to know that research shows that MOST riders don't use their clipless pedals correctly. How many of you have a "bad knee", numb feet, or can't touch your toes? For how many of you are the health issues worth it? Do you race? No... then who cares what ultimate power you make? Are you scared crapless on technical terrain? Does your boy friend or "cycling expert" say you "have to clip in?" If you answer yes to any of these questions or are remotely on the fence, then save your self the humbling two months of frustration that I went through and get a nice, quality, grippy flat pedal to start with. You'll be a trend setter instead of a sheep following the herd. You'll also never be the guy at the trail head saying "Damn, I forgot my shoes!!!"