Got Soul ? Hell Yes !

3rd overall 2008 Utah Masters CX 35+A's

The 2008 cyclocross season was spent trying to hold on to the top 5 riders. With few technical problems to speak of, they simply stripped me me off there wheel as they took turns attacking our lead breakaway. On the final race the current 3rd place racer did not show, forfeiting 3rd to me. 1st on the right, second in the middle. I'm 3rd on the left with the mud mask.

Sam jumps peleton

Iceman Cometh 2007 CX

Running with Lions

As the 2008 cyclocross season winds down I review my campaign. I currently struggle to reach the top 3 overall. That's the first time since being in this state. There where no predictable problems. I could always be more fit. I was much faster this year than the previous seasons. But faster still was the competition. The " masters A" field means just that. Men who have mastered the balance of family and fitness. They are the ones who remained after the pride of youth. They remain to compete against themselves, youth and time. They are mature lions of the pride.

The 2008 Cyclocross season rides on

The 2008 season has been pretty successful. Mostly seconds and tirds, with one DQ for knocking a rider down and not finishing one race do to business travel. The rest of the season promises increasingly colder temps and epic conditions. I currently sit 3rd in the series. http://www.utahcyclocross.com/results/2008/OverallPoints.pdf

- RIDE AWAY -

Ride Away

Life is a cycle in which we ride
where stray egos come out to play
A peloton of personalities and pride
All trying to ride away.

Confidence to the front, the unsure to the back
Separating the predator from the prey
But I can't hold back I must attack
And ride them all away.

When desperation pursues and holds my wheel
And misfortune blocks my way
My spear is carbon and the tip is steel
And I ride them all away.

When time attacks my body
With sickness and decay
I grimace my face and double my pace
And ride them all away.

When the clouds of life gather against me
Threatening sorrow and dismay
I face it's wind and dig within
And ride them all away.

As the chaos of life falls behind you
Leave them only one thing they can say
You came to race and set the pace
And rode them all away.

Sam Moore
9-11-06

1st 2008 USCF training series overall

The training series starts in March and runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays nights, every evening until the end of September. The longest and most repetitive series I've ever been involved in. It wouldn't be such a big deal normally accept the fact that I muscled it away against the will of the entire Field of competitors. There whole focus was to contain and minimize my results. In the end they disappointed themselves, many questioning there own ability and status on a bike. I adsorbed there efforts, ever learning, there desperateness teaching and strengthening every level of my riding. It actually represents not the fastest, but proves who got the best workout. Thanks guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjlO3MmeM3U

Interbike-Industry Cup Crit-Montain to Metro crit

The night " Cross Vegas" race course. Lance Armstrong ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu-2GlpHKu8&feature=related )was in the field and I recorded some bad footage in the blog. I was at " interbike" for 3 days looking at next years products and raced in the " Industry Cup " . A criterium race held form those in the industry. It was crazy chaotic ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHQzSI-U-es&NR=1 , with a lot of wrecks. I made the cut for the finish and wasn't aware it was the last lap and failed to sprint. No excuse for my experience level. The other picture is me and the current National champ " Tylor Hamilton". I came home in time to hit the last crit of the year. Finishing 2nd by a half a bike. No complaints!

"Falling into Cross" 2008 XC season opener" -2nd-

Needless to say this was the first cross race of the year. Once again 2nd and I'm happy with that. The winner was 16yrs old and he road away by himself leaving 2 of us chasing him lapping the field in some cases several times. This years XC masters where present and promptly dropped on my MTB from 1998. My CX bike just arrived and brings renewed enthusiasm and raw speed. New 2008 CX bike http://www.redlinebicycles.com/2009-redline/800/Redline_Conquest_Team-800.jpg Results to follow!

Boise Bonzi 2008 2nd place....4th overall

It started with a 100+ riders and a 40 min bus ride up to Bogus Basin. A small ski resort 5000ft above downtown Boise ID. At least I got my first test ride of a course before the race, but 15 miles at eye watering, dust storm speeds didn't allow me to memorize any of the course. I finished 2nd in the experts and 4th overall. Every rider chose there own bike style. Mostly cross country or light weight downhill. When the dust cleared the cross country riders ( hard tails) prevailed. The award ceremony was held at the bicycle park which contains a bmx skate park, mountain bike terrain park and a velodrome under construction. It was held in conjunction with " Trailapolluzza", a festival to raise money for the velodrome. The weekend was unbelievable.

Bicycle dreams of the 80's

Sundance Showdown " Super D "

What is a " Super D " race. It's a super long distance downhill mountainbike course, thus " Super D". Sundance Ski resort, home of the " Sundance film festival " host the last round of the " Utah State Downhill Series ". Ensuring the overall winners will all be present. After over shooting several turns on a course I had no chance to test ride ( yet again ). I focus on flow and remain undefeated here for 4 yrs. I'm in this video twice from 07.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdnRfJWYiZY

Good luck my friends

I think it's funny how narrow the average cyclist is willing to experience cycling beyond there comfort zone. From the bmxers snickering at the road bikers shorts, the maverick commuter to passive to compete. The mullet mentality of the down hill mountain bike racers in contrast to the fragile pompous ego's of self perceived elite cyclist . The sabotaging help of shop clerks, the expired info of one time cyclist. The fashion driven single speed bikes ridden by the most unskilled generation ( more Lemmings ). The child trying to find there independence, to the mature trying to hold on to there youth. All with huge blind spots "Pied Piping" the unknowing into there cycling rut. I fear for those earnestly seeking well rounded help.

ULTA - Widowmaker 8-16-08

After spending 3 great weekends off the bike I looked foreward to some challenging events. Starting with the Ultra- Widowmaker, http://www.sports-am.com/events/index765.htm. Called" ONE OF THE TOUGHEST HILL CLIMBS IN THE COUNTRY " .Combining 2 of the hardest hill climbs of the year ( road & mountain combined) into a single race. Starting with a 3000+ ft road climb in 9 miles. This road climb closely mirrors the profile of the " Alpe d' Huez" climb, the hardest stage of the Tour D France. Then transfering to the MTB bike for an additional 3000+ ft climb in 5 miles, for a total of nearly 6000 ft+ in 15 miles. Starting at 4700 ft elevation and cresting at 11,000 ft.
95% of the competitors (several hundered) competed in the road stage only. Very few (only 41) had the confidence to combine the 2 most difficult climbs of the year into one. Finishing the road section in 7th ( cat-3 ). 7 minutes faster than my 07 time. I transfered to the MTB and finished 8th overall.
P.S Last time I was 147 lbs I was 14 yrs old.

http://www.snowbird.com/imagelib/events/Snowbird%20Hill%20Climb%20Results_2008.pdf

Snowbird Mountain Boute 2008. 3rd place

One of the more feared and avoided courses of the year because of the " technical" climbing and VERY steep gravel switch back descents. I lost my chain and possibly second, but I'm still very happy with this result. 4 minutes faster than last year!!

Porcupine Hillclimb 2008

13th in "Cat 3". 70th overall. 5 minutes faster than last year. Both " Pro 1-2s " on my wheel.

RUSH HOUR !

Utah MTB 2008 state championships

Another good weekend. Finishing 3rd was unheard of on this course. I don't think I've the broke top 7 in the 4 years I've been here. There's the complications with my back. But there's the attention to form because of it. Then there's the dramatic weight loss, without losing power. The muscle head picture is when I weighed 183 lbs. I was a full time bike messenger when I started racing at 26. A lean 178 lbs and after a few seasons racing a 173 lbs. Five years later when I moved here in 2004 I shrank to 165-168. Last summer I started seeing upper 150's. I got on the scale today at a 149 lbs ( hydrated ).

Falcons view !

As the summer heats up so does the Tuesday night " world championships" training series. A series by the way that runs from March to September. Now in mid season I finally open a gap on first place overall. Teams now work together and organization and determination on both sides has increased with the temperature. To win a race is a battle hard fought, but to win a series is to win the war. I may be easy to be faster than me, but to be faster than me everyday is quite a different result.

Snap Shop !

It's 1990 and I actually wear this outfit into major corporation as a bike courier. The " crack wars " where in full swing and this alley was one of the most notorious and avoided by public and police a like.

Too Fast Too Hilarious.

You got to love the summer. It's now when bikes are the most free to be what they can be. These are some of my co-workers and friends on a after hours excursion. Cyclist always make the best well rounded friends. Can I get a witness?

Deer Valley MTB National championships.

It was great to line up at a large mountain bike race. I crossed the finish line in the cross country and was congratulated by the winner on my second place finish. But when the results showed up I was marked " DNF " ( did not finish ). After some slack calculations they gave me 5th. Whatever, I was just happy to be there.

RUN & GUN

The " Super D" was full of surprises. First you needed more suspension than I brought and we had to do a running start. After the initial gravel road start you where lucky to be able to see the trail because of the huge hits through out. When the smoked cleared I had 2nd at a National championship. I was pleased, both not to be hurt and to make it on the podium for the second time this weekend.

Props and shouts

Got to give a shout to my old school neighborhood friends Tony G. Kurt K and Doug C. Miss you guys and hope to ride together again. Steel sharpened steel in those days and the rest of the cycling world been paying for it ever since. Watch out where I swing this thing.... Many untold miles ?

I ride so I am to be found

After last weeks " State road race " which had a decisive climb that kept me from being in the hunt at the finish, so I was glad to bring the pendulum back the other way and entered the " Super D " mountain bike downhill race at Sundance ski resort. A unique style of racing that must have a finish line lower in elevation than the start. There's still climbing it's just closer to 50-50 climbing versus descending. With beautiful scenery and weather to watch over me I was the first out of the starting gate. It just so happens that the caterpillars are massively hanging in the trail until I cleared them all out with my face. As usual there was no time to test ride because the Ski lift opened at 8:30am and we started going off in one minute intervals at 9am ( me first ). I let gravity and flow mix and focused on control more than risk. It paid off.
This weekend coming up is the national championships at Deer Valley ski resort. Last time I raced this national I finished 7th in the XC and the " Super D ".I would like to do well and maybe get on the podium. My lower back continues to tingle, go numb and stab me with pain. Forcing me to pay attention to my form resulting in improved performance. Same thing happened to me in 1997 when I broke my collar bone and had to learn to pedal without my upper body resulting once again in better performance. It's funny how cycling turns lemons into lemonade!

Bikes for Kids 2008

On May 31st it was my privilege to give away a 1000 bicycles to under privileged children. The bikesforkidsutah.com/ is in it's 3rd success year and I was glad to play my part. After safety checking several hundred bicycles I was put to work entertaining tour bus after tour bus from 8am to 4pm. Braking out old school flatland freestyle tricks, so long since forgotten there new again. I rudely awakened dormant muscles and traumatized them for the following days to come. It was worth it!

Back in the day

I designed this bike ( frame, fork, stem and drive train ) in 1985. Keep in mind MTB bikes where hardly on the functional radar. Most MTB resembled heavy duty " ten speeds ". Specialized was introducing the first mass production mtb bike ( Rockhopper ). Shocks didn't exist or clip in shoes and aluminum was extremely exotic material. I needed something that could clear 18" medians, curbs and multiple steps on the fly all day, week, month and year long as a bike messenger. A year later I had the drivetrain ( see right hand column.. 18yrs old ) Ya 1985... what where you doing in 1985.

Pain vs. Passion

June is finally here. My back surgery looms in the future. It's hard to pick a season to be paralized. I've stayed on my bike and the results hide the severity of my herniated disc's.

On May 17th I raced masters 35+ at the Bear Lake classic road race. With a smashingly strong masters team we blew the field a part in the first few miles resulting in a 5 man brake away. 4 of us where on the same team, leaving one odd rider out. 15 miles into the break we began to attack the odd rider. My main concern was to protect my teammates yellow state points leaders jersey. In the end we let one team member ride away for the win as I remained to lead out our points leader. Everything worked perfectly with our team finishing 1st, 2nd,4th, 5th and 6th.

I'm currently 2nd overall in the Tuesday night worlds training series. From now on it gets significantly hotter and for me faster!

June 1st I entered the Stan Crane Memorial XC expert 40+ hoping to finish. Getting to the main climb in first I went from leader to last in one train of riders. Picking off a few in some single track climbs we entered the main gravel road climb with a mixture of different age groups. Passing or being passed for the next 20 minutes until the single track descent. Hoping for top 10 I was going back and forth with previous race winners. Crossing the finish line I knew I was in front of good racers and in the end I went from from first to last and back to third before finishing 4th. I don't think anyone has occupied every position in the field...twice