A Fake Snake on the Trail....

From May, 2012

If you can't tell by the lack of blog posts, I've been off the bike for a while.  For the first time in my life I stopped riding...on purpose!  I just didn't want to do it anymore.  For me this has been a really big deal, possibly even a crisis.  Luckily it seems to be over.

From May, 2012

I came to the realization, with the help of my wife,  that I don't have to ride a certain amount, or a certain distance and that I am not training for ANYTHING! All I have to do is ride my bike and have fun.  That's it.  Just have fun! I thought that had  been my mantra since finishing the Centurion in 2009, (http://www.moabcenturion.blogspot.com/)  but somewhere deep down I was still trying to get faster, to go longer and to be stronger.

From May, 2012

  I'm calling what I'm gonna do now, anti training.  Ride when I want, where I want and with who I want.  I also don't have to ride at all.  Which is a huge load off my mind.  It's funny it never occurred to me before.

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

With a month or so off the bike,  fresh trails, and new mountains in the distance my flame seems to be rekindled.

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

  It would be hard to keep me off my two wheeled adventure machine for long.  My bike has taken me to so many amazing places that it was only fair to give it a month off.  Thanks bike!  You're awesome!

From May, 2012

And to the guy who puts fake snakes in the trails....you are NOT awesome!   I'm sure this is HILARIOUS for you.  But for me....not so much.  To whomever you may be- I leave you a FREE Fruita USA sticker.

Clip Less...In DIRT RAG!

From May, 2012

I'm super stoked a blog post from a year ago (http://www.commandonlandon.blogspot.com/2011/05/pedal-talkto-clip-in-or-not-to-clip-in.html) turned into a Dirt Rag Magazine article.  Check out issue #163, page 74. 

From May, 2012

Getting the monkey off her back...

From May, 2012

Mary called me while I was at work this morning.  Right as I picked up- both shop phones started ringing, my cell phones call waiting started beeping, and 12 people walked through the door all at once.  While all these distractions are going on, I hear Mary say,  "I've got it, I'm gonna ride the Horse Thief Drop-In right now!"   All I could say was "NO!  NOT BY YOUR SELF!"  I felt bad that I only had time to say that and then hang up. 

From May, 2012

Luckily she waited and didn't try to ride it alone.  We went back out this evening with some arm guards and her DH knee/shin protection.

From May, 2012

It's been less than a year since we found medicine that properly controls Mary's Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Her hands are as close to normal as they've ever been.  This technical section of trail has been a monkey on her back ever since we moved to the Grand Valley in 2006, but even back then her hands just weren't strong enough to give her the confidence to nail it. 

From May, 2012

But all that changed tonight.  It only took three try's and she was down, whooping like an Indian on the war path.  Her echoes rang from one side of the Colorado River to the other as my normally tactful wife screamed out....

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

From May, 2012

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!