Falcon Trail

Working on a military installation certainly has its perks. Working on a military installation that is also home to a top ranked university is more like being spoiled. The Academy boasts many treasures within its boundaries and the Falcon Trail is like a pot of gold that's just across the street from my building. I was very weary about a trail on a military installation. I figured the majority of the trail would be going straight up and down huge hills. I pictured a bunch of young guys in military uniforms trying to prove their strength to each other by struggling up endless lines of fall-line trail. Apparently I wasn't far off and that is how the trail used to be in many sections. However, within the last two years the Academy hired some dude who travels the world as a professional trail builder to come out and re-route a bunch of the un-rideable sections. I guess that's the kind of thing that happens when you attend a university where people care about their students. My alma mater has the land and opportunity to create some great multi-use trails but there a bunch of idiots running that place. So anyway, as it turns out, this trail is a 13 mile loop of pure excitement mixed with altitude induced pain. Trail users get it all here; baby head sized rocky sections, long gradual climbs up tight switchbacks, smooth twisty downhill sections, forested areas, a creek crossing with the option of a skinny, a couple of pretty technical sections, dirt-mound speed bumps that double as sweet jumps, and sweet views like the ones seen here. I've been riding this trail at least once a week and it has yet to get old. The current map of the trail is outdated since the re-routing of the trail. My boss has asked me to spend a day of work riding the trail and correcting the map. Life is good.

4th of July in Steamboat

I spent most of the morning of the 4th lying in bed, hungover from the "Stars, Stripes & Sequins" themed bicycle pub crawl the night before, considering whether or not I wanted to make the four hour trek up north to Steamboat. I finally had a weekend off from whitewater rafting. At noon I called "B" to confirm it was still o.k. for me and my pup to spend the weekend on his couch. I was on the road by one. Since he's a good buddy from SIU that I used to black out with quite frequently I knew this was gonna be good times. We drank lots of beers, barbecued, biked everywhere, rode some pretty rad trails, saw the Woodbox Gang and played shuffle board with local drunk "Florida Joe" at the Steamboat VFW. Things were good until we came home from the show to a house filled with piles of my dog's steaming turds. Apparently she had gotten into one of B's roommate's protein bars. Word to the wise; dog shit will destroy a carpet. Not cool Sydney, not cool. Other than my dog being a total spazz all weekend and my allergies getting the best of me, it was an awesome time. Then I had to drive home. Holy shit, don't ever travel on I-70 during the weekend, especially a holiday weekend. I spent 4 hours on a fifty mile stretch of road. Un-freakin'-real. So anyway, Steamboat is sick with an endless network of trails that are all accessible from almost every doorstep. I'll be going back in the winter if not sooner. Thanks to B and all his roomies for being so cool and I'm really sorry about the carpet.

Why am I Starting a Blog?

It is hot as hell in my house. I can't sleep. I'm tired of sending e-mails to people explaining how amazing Colorado is so I'll just post some junk up here and you can see for yourself.