Boulder Cup Zero Waste

Not only was the Boulder Cup race an important race for us due to that it was a UCI race so close to home, we also had the zero waste stations set up again. Our team took on the goal to make the Boulder Cup as environmental friendly as we could. The team once again set up the Trash, Recycling, and Compost stations threw out the venue. Everyone on the team helped out threw out the day monitoring these stations and helping people sort out what they may have thrown away and put them into the right bins. By the end of the day the recycling and compost bins had to be emteyd numerous times, while the trash bin stayed extremely empty. Here are some of the figures that came out of the Boulder cup race.

We recovered:
1,264 pounds of material threw recycling and composting
Which was 85% of all the stuff discarded that day

We Saved:
37 gallons of Gasoline in energy Savings
3,866 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions

We avoided:
7.1 pounds of air pollution
1.8 pounds of water pollution
3.5 pounds of toxic herbicides(that threaten plants, wildlife, humans and our food system)
1,417 pounds of substances that threaten human health(including carcinogens, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds)

We also need to give a huge thanks to Eco-Cycle for helping us out with this and making it all possible.

Connecting with the pavement

This past Friday Kevin and I made our trip over to the front range for some cross racing. Saturday was the Castle Cross race in Castle Rock. We had some nice weather and a muddy course. Since it had snowed a couple days before this the course was covered in mud making for a fun race. Pre-riding the course was interesting, considering some of the course was difficult to ride with all the mud. Though by the time our race started some places firmed up and made for some quicker sections, but was still muddy.

I had a good start this time, sitting in about 8th or so before we got to the first corner. I sat in for the first lap as Summerhill and Baker made there gap off the front. Starting the second lap I started moving up to try and close that gap as much as possible. I made my way up to 3rd after the second lap with Baker and Summerhill about 30sec. up and 4th about 20sec behind me. Though as I came into the finish I went wide to make the 180degree turn off the pavement. Though doing this I went threw some water greasing up the mud on my tires making it so I slid out on the corner hitting the pavement real hard. I laid there for a couple of seconds before I got back on. And by this time 4th place closed that gap on me.

This fall took a lot out of me, including a good portion of skin. I kept on going trying to stick with 3rd but by this time I was hurting a lot due to the fall. I managed to stick it out for 4th which is my best result this year. Kevin had some bad luck with a flat on the start, though he clawed his way back to 12th. Not bad considering he almost lost 2min by the time he got to the pit to get his new bike.


We heading over to the race today at Boulder Res. I decided I wasn't racing cause I am still real sore from the fall and I have a bad chest cold now. Kevin pre-road the course which was about 90% sand and most of it seemed to be un-rideable. So we decided it was best to head back to Junction cause the mountains are suppose to get a lot of snow.

Next weekend is a set of UCI races in Boulder that Im really looking forward to. I just hope I get over this cold and the passes are clear to head over.

A COLD one!!!!

Well this past Saturday was the second race in the Boulder CX series. I was looking forward to this race because it was the first race of the season that we had some cross like conditions. It was a little different from the hot, dry dusty races that we have had all season so far.

The field was a big and strong with a lot of talent showing up. I knew the start would be critical with the first set of barriers not too far after the start along with a sand pit we passed threw twice in a matter of seconds. Though I didn't get a good start I was still sitting in the top 20 after the sand pit, which meant I had a lot of work to do. This course had a lot of tight corners, and since it snowed the previous day it made some of them pretty slick.

Though I never did come close to the front group I still had a good race to practice my technique in these conditions, considering this was the first time this year I got a chance. As the race went on my cornering skills got a lot better. Though my result didn't show the improvement I still had a fun race.

Now Kevin and I are heading off to Truckee, CA in the morning for Collegiate MTB nationals this week. So this means we wont be doing a cross race for a couple weeks. Though I cant wait till we get back because then its full on cross season.

The last couple races

Well I have done a couple races since I have updated this. We went down to Boulder for some Cyclocross race a couple weeks ago. This course was extremely bumpy and I could not find a good rhythm in a lot of the sections. I was feeling good sitting in 4th behind the main group for a while. Though I quickly went backwards. It was 85degrees out and I had no water, I just turned into a tin man. It sucked. I ended up 11th which stinks cause I was hoping for at least 4th. Though we dd get our new kits and bikes that weekend which are awesome. Were still in the process of building them up, still waiting on a few parts.

This past weekend was our home MTB race. Saturday was the ST, which I did ok on, I only went over the bars once. Not sure how I ended up. But the start sucked with a single track right after the start...so you can only imagine how crazy that was. Though I never did get lapped.

Sunday was the XC where I had a good start. I was sitting in the top 10 after the first lap. Then it started raining pretty good making the course real muddy and slick. That's where I went backwards and just road the rest of the race.I ended up 15th in that race, we only did 2out of the 4laps.


Now we leave Monday for Truckee, CA for some nationals and IN N OUT burger. Should be a good time, lets hope the weather is good.

Cross season

Well this past weekend we were up in Winter Park for some Collegiate MTB racing. Saturday was the XC, Which started with a good climb the a good down hill. I was feeling good on the climb, not so much on the doesn't like usual.We had 4laps to do and coming back to the start finish my bike was acting up. The chain kept dropping when I would stop pedaling. So on the way down it finally took a crap and I could no longer ride the bike due to the chain was in a not and off the rear derailer some how. Though I guess im keeping the trend going, having some big issues on the XC race.

We stayed the night there and then heading off to Breckenridge in the morning for our first cross race of the year. The course was cool, a lot of single track though, almost like a MTB course, but it was still fun. I was feeling pretty good in the race, and was right behind the lead group. Kevin got up to me and we were working well together. Though with 3laps to go Kevin flatted and I was on my own. Never did get to the lead group but finished 7th overall.



Tomorrow were heading down to Boulder to pick up our new gear for the season and for another cross race in Boulder on Saturday. Im hoping to do better. Will see.

First MTB Race

Well this past weekend was my first Collegiate MTB race of the year.Even though I don't have a MTB Brent is letting me use his nice Kona MTB. The race was up in Beaver Meadows, which was an 1:30hr North of Fort Collins. We got to our place late at night, and had to set up the tents in the dark. Went to bed and woke up early for short track the next morning. It was a cool double track that went into a single track up top. I was feeling pretty good and was sitting behind the lead group. I ended up getting 7th, even though on the last lap I had to stop due to a lapped rider on the single track.

The XC was the next morning. I had an ok start, though after a couple hundred meters after the start I found myself track standing waiting my turn to get into the single track. After that there was a good 15min climb to the top, where I lost some time due to all the congestion on the single track. I did ok on the descent. Felt good on the last lap and got back up to my group only to loose contact with them on the down hill. So I hammered it on the 2nd uphill and got back on. Though going threw the rock garden my bike felt weird. So after the corner I look down, only so see my crank coming off and found my self waking the last couple miles. I was in 15th place when this happen and ended up 22nd after the long walk. So not a bad weekend.

Next up is another XC race up in Sol Vista this weekend. Then were shooting over to Breck for a cross race on Sunday. Should be interesting considering I was just on my cross bike for the first time today, and all I can say is I was rusty.

Taking it easy

Well after Nationals there has not been much going on. Did some local races but then it was off to school. So I have been back in Junction for almost 3 weeks i think and its been hot.

All I have been really doing is some easy riding lately. I got cross season and some mtb races starting up already next week, so will see how that goes. Really looking forward for cross season.

Also an other bonus is the Mesa State team has got some new fast road riders for next semester, so I cant wait to race with these guys and kill it. A couple of them are from Germany. So Collegiate road season should be awesome if they all stick around. Watch out.