MORE 2012 YEAR-END PHOTOS

Besides having my sixth book come out ("75 Classic Rides: Washington") and wrapping my head around our family's upcoming move to Luxembourg (more on that in the coming days), I'll remember 2012 for several things: 1) the new folks I added to my ever-widening circle of cycling friends, 2) the trio of amazing fall gravel grinders we rode, and 3) my foray into the Bellingham cyclocross scene. Here're some pics:

I rode to Artist Point a bunch this summer. This is early August when I rode from Kendall with Reg Norbert, the Legendary Tom Meloy and John Pottle; ...

... and this is two weeks before that with Pat Skaggs and Steve George (himself, also of the Legendary persuasion); ...

... and two weeks before that with Titanium Cancellara. As you can see, the Artist Point parking lot had yet to be plowed clear. (We couldn't wait.)  

Also in July, I had the honor of hooking up for about 20 miles with the Chain Gang, some Atlanta-based riders in their 60s and 70s who were finishing up an 800-mile multi-day bike trip with a ride through Whatcom County to Lynden. Inspiring folks! 

Oh yeah, almost forgot about the super-early (6 a.m.) weekday rides throughout the summer with Grandmaster Glenn Gervais and his crew. Here we are mountain biking on Galby but we also rode Chuckanut Mountain and got in a few road rides too.  

And of course, there was Johnny Boy Clark and late July's Tour de Whatcom.

August brought the gravel grinders. On the hottest day in recorded human history, Brian Ecker, Scott Young (both too legendary to even begin to get into) and I rode an amazing 82-mile Winthrop-Conconully loop that reached heights of almost 7,000 feet. (We gained more than 10,000 feet in all.) 

It was seriously the bomb and probably one of the top-5 most strenuous things I've ever done. 

A couple weeks later, Brian and I ground our way to the top of Slate Peak, above Harts Pass, on the highest road in the state. 

After a 5,500-foot climb fom Mazama, we reached Slate's 7,488-foot summit where we were treated to amazing views.

Speaking of views, check these out from a September gravel grinder to Twin Lakes/Winchester Mountain with Glenn and Steve VanderStaay. 

After pedaling the steep, rugged, chopped-up road to Twin Lakes (passing the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead along the way), we ran-slash-hiked the 1.5-mile trail to the Winchester Lookout. A highly recommended duathlon of sorts.

September was also the Mount Baker Hill Climb. 

The best Northwest summer weather I can remember lasted into October and gifted us with this early fall day on which the Titanium Cowboys headed for Blanchard Mountain above Samish Bay.

When fall finally did hit, I filled it with the dirt and grass and ... 

... sand and ... 

... mud and pain and ... 

... falling of cyclocross.  

December brought more cyclocross, the Deception Pass 25K and more adventures with the Titanium Cowboys. Happy New Year! Looking forward to an amazing 2013!

EPIC WINTHROP-CONCONULLY LOOP

Put simply: this was my most epicest mountain bike epic ever--82 miles with 10,472 feet of elevation gain. And oh yeah, temps hit 102! With the indomitable duo of Brian Ecker and Scott Young. (Nice to have Stewart Bowmer along for the first 15 miles as well; he peeled off when pavement turned to dirt.) Please enjoy some pics ...

Brian and Scott before the descent from Parachute (or Tiffany?) Meadow on FS 39. At 6,800 feet, this was the literal high point of the ride. As you can see, there's much evidence of past forest fires.

Scott approaches Freezeout Ridge, the first of three summits above 6,300 feet.

On his beefed-up 'cross bike, Brian climbs FR 39 somewhere on the shoulder of Tiffany Mountain.

Stewart Bowmer joined us for the approach climb on the paved section of FR 37. Nice to have him along.

Fairly early on the 16-mile, 4,000-foot descent into Conconully. Sun, lots of sun. Sun and heat were the themes of the day. And climbing too--10,000-plus feet of it.

Scott and my steeds: 29er mountain bikes.

Brian rode a 'cross bike with mountain bike gearing and cranks, 29er rims (I believe) and a Softride suspension stem. On this ride I learned a couple things about Brian. 1) he climbs really fast and 2) he descends really, really, really fast.

I provide vital support while Brian fixes a flat.

Using his magical SteriPen, Brian makes the waters of Boulder Creek potable.

Before the ride, fidgety Scott Young appears keyed up and unable to relax.

The bustling metropolis of Conconully. Population: 211. Temperature during our visit: 102.

At the Freezeout Ridge trailhead, Brian waits for Titanium Cowboys. That would be another of the day's themes.

Scott Young gets down on some of the 10,000 feet of climbing.

Is this thing working?

Here's our route:

BURNOUT ROAD - SICK JOKE CX-PLORE

Author overcome by Usain-mania, high on Burnout Road.

Friday night, Brian Ecker's e-mail arrived announcing his open invitation for a "mini-epic" from Winthrop to Conconully and back via the remote forest service roads of the Okanogan. (Seems hilarious that to Brian, an 80-plus miler w/ 9,600 feet of elevation gain rates only a "mini-epic.") This is a route I've been lusting over for a while and thus, Titaniuma Cancellara and I are going to go for it. (That is, if I can come up w/ an appropriate bike to ride. My geared mountain bike is in a state of disrepair right now and I'm not sure if my CX bike is up to it.)

To get us in the right frame of mind, on Saturday TC and I rode what I guess might be considered a mini-mini epic through the Chuckanuts (though to me it was pretty epic): Burnout Road, a bushwack down into the Land of the Lost, followed by Sick Joke--a steep, nasty bastard of a climb that ascends to the Pine and Cedar Lakes end of the world.

Accessed from already steep Fragrance Lake Road, Burnout Road climbs 1,200 feet in less than three miles with four especially steep sections that I'll call the Four Hillingen of the Apocalypse. Above, Scott Young ascends the last one which pitches upwards at 20-plus percent. (The others are similar ranging from about 18 to 22 percent.) Plus it's gravel. I was pedaling my 'cross bike whose lowest gear is a 38-26; ideally, I need a couple lower for epics (or mini-mini epics) like this. 

At the top, the recent logging, while a bit of an eyesore from down below, offers up some amazing island and water views. (See top pic.)

With the Overlander Trail no more, we hike-a-biked about 20 minutes until we found the Rockyard--basically an overgrown, rocky gully--which eventually hooks up with the south terminus of the Lost Lake Trail. From there, it's those remote Land of the Lost roads which lead to, among other places, Mud Lake, Blanchard Mountain, Lake Samish and elsehwhere. We made for Sick Joke which is every bit as evil as Burnout, if not more so given its slippery rocky surface. Admittedly, I had to stop at one spot; something I've not had to do the two recent times I've ridden Burnout.

Once at the top, it was the fun, winding Hemlock Trail down to Arroyo Park, most of which I quite enjoyed on the 'cross bike. In all, it was about 30 miles of rugged riding with 3,600 feet of elevation gain. Not quite Winthrop to Conconully and back, but probably my most rugged day yet on my 'cross bike. 

Here's our route:

RETURN TO LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

I've got this Winthrop-Conconully ride on the brain--a 70-miler that includes significant climbing and descending chunks on gravel road--and I'm trying to decide what kind of bike to ride: 29r MTB or a 'cross bike. So Titanium Cancellara (Scott Young) and I headed up (and down) Lookout Mountain, Galby's big brother, to see how enjoyable (or not) it is on my Giant TCX 1. 

Scott's expression pretty much says it all--Lookout is tough, hard, difficult and a pain-in-the-glutes/quads/calves/hammies. Only 5.2 miles long, it climbs 2,032 feet for an average grade of 7.4 percent but that's deceptive for way more than a mile of it is flat or downhill. All I know is that w/ my 38-26 (as opposed to my Tarmac's helpful 34-27), I suffered mightily. 

 

Usually, Lookout rewards w/ a stunning vista south toward the Chuckanuts, Bellingham Bay and San Juan Islands (see this post from last year), but today she was pretty socked in.



The descent requires a short bushwack and we wondered if we'd have trouble following the trail, but it was no problem.



Titanium Cancellara fends off a gigantic foxglove!

On the way back to town, we stopped by Lake Padden where Charlie Heggem, RD for the Mount Baker Hill Climb, was helping out with the Padden Duathlon. Which reminds me, the road to Artist Point opens next Tuesday--woo-hoo!  

Kinda funny, Tyler Mitchell, who rode with the Ti Cowboys during last year's Tour de Whatcom (this year's TdW is next Saturday!) was out shooting phots for the duathlon and snapped the below shot of me. (I look in a spot of bother; I think Scott just passed me for the town sign sprint.)

ARTIST POINT BIKE RIDE

Headed up to Artist Point from Glacier yesterday with Titanium Cancellara, the man in pink. (It's Ride 35 from my "75 Classic Rides" book.) Actually the goal was to ride as far as the Mount Baker Highway has been plowed clear of snow; we figured maybe a mile past the upper ski lodge. We were very pleasantly surprised when, after passing beyond the gate keeping cars away (see below), we were able to keep going and going and going ...

... all the way to Artist Point. Though, to be honest ...

... the last 300 meters or so was a shallow, slushy mess which had us backing and forthing between pedaling and walking. 

We started from the parking lot behind Graham's Store in Glacier. (Which, btw, never ceases to amaze me with their hmm ... let's say, lack of customer service skills and leave it at that.) That's Church Mountain's steeple beyond the Ti C.)

Heading up the Mountain Baker Highway, just past the Powerhouse Hill (which Strava rates a Cat. 3) but before the Cat 1 climb to the upper ski lodge.

For right now, cars can go no farther than this gate just beyond the upper lodge, but we saw many day hikers making their way up the road.

Heading for the killer hairpin turn where, during the Mount Baker Hill Climb race, things become one giant spot of bother. 

The original Ti Cowboy taking his bike for a walk near the top.

Still lots of snow ...

... at Artist Point.

Cleats clogged with snow made getting pedaling a little difficult. As did the heat: a surprisingly hot day, that despite our 4,100-foot elevation gain, never cooled off.

As always though, an amazing ride!