Friday, January 15, 2010

Biggest Looser fifth weigh in - plus other stuff



Biggest looser fifth weigh in

Weighed in at 216.4 once again. Hate to make excuses but there was the big banquet last night for the festival of kites.

Total weight loss still at 5.8 lbs.


All things Hawaiian



In honor of our Hawaiian friends, here is a post of Some old Hawaiian photos and our Hawaiian rides.
awaii
Trail
area
Puck
Description
Distance
TimeToRide
Effort
skill
PrimoTrail
FindRoute
Munro trail
Lanai
3
double track mountain roads
40
days
tough
intermediate

moderate
Secret Trails
Maui
8
isolated single track through various type forrest such a guava
3 to 100
1 to 5
moderate
Intermediate

moderate
Mt Haleakala
Maui - Kula Forrest preserve
5
All single track. Some fog. Redwood forrest Volcanic rock. A little of everything.
12
1 to 3
Tough
Expert

moderate
Kaaawa Valley
Oahu
1
Lush beauty. majestic Koolau Mountain cliffs and stunning ocean views are the backdrop for this epic mountain biking experience. scenic dirt roads; double track and single track. explore this sacred and historic Hawaiian valley.
6
2 to 3
Moderate
Beginner

Easy
Aiea Loop
Oahu
8
nice trail that provided some very different flora than I normally get to see.
5
1
Moderate
Intermediate

moderate








Been reading Mountain Bike Bills blog as he is currently in Hawaii. Also been reading the flat tire blog and he




resides in Hawaii as well. 
Nice redwood forest to hike and bike.



This was a nice feast.





You have to
love a place where fruit trees grow wild.




Just any excuse to post some old photos of my time there.

For such a small place, they have every ecosystem anyone would want. Desert, tropical jungle, pine forest all within a short distance of the other. Elevation and which side of the island is the key to what is going on ecosystem wise.











If there are any Hawaiian's out there that want me to include some of their favorite trails on Fat Tire please leave a comment.

The Limbaugh Monster and the Presidents Daughter

I am thinking about writing some of my own children's stories for the child my wife and I are having next month.

I remember stories of monsters and princesses when I was a child. Why not tell a true story instead? How Rush Limbaugh attacked Chelsie Clinton when she was a child on a daily basis comes to mind. Moral of the story is words alone can never hurt you.

Vikings and Saints

Both teams won by 31 points. Should be a good match.Too bad cardinals and cowboys. Retool and try harder next year.

New Header

I changed my header. I write computer code, which is probably why I have had a fondness for the photo. The term loop has a double meaning for me.

California woman drowns while snow skiing

This is another wtf news story. A california woman drowned in a creek while snow skiing in Colorado. Apparently it was a guided helicopter trip. Her helmet got caught in some stones in a creek and she drowned. WTF!!!??
Where was her guide! Why couldn't she just get out of her helmet!!?? Just doesn't sound right.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Biggest Looser fourth weigh in - plus other stuff


Cardinals vs. Packers VS riding desert Classic

rode the dc then saw the 4th quarter and o.t. . . .  Wow. Cards win 51 to 45. The roaster in the toaster!


Anyway, I don't regret riding. Even though it was one of the greatest playoff games ever. Feels like a luxury to ride a 27 speed bike after i've been riding the single speed so much. Miss my big 29 inch rims, but the smaller ones are good for tight spots. Everything is a tradeoff.


Biggest Looser fourth Weigh in

Missed a week due to the holidays. Apparently, I also missed the bike in to work as I gained 0.2 lbs. Current weight is 216.4 lbs. Total weight loss 5.8 lbs since the contest began. I am currently in third place.

Seti@home, folding@home, distributed computing and Gilbert police urge charges against ex-Higley IT director

Every time I've heard mention of the story of former Higley Unified IT director Bradley Niesluchowski,the media has portrayed the guy as a nut. They also mentioned that his installation of seti at home  is costing the school district millions of dollars to remove. Really??! Millions, really??!! I would like to see a break down of their budget. What does it cost them for normal maintenance, removal of viruses and spyware? No wonder they are over budget.

You get the feeling that The superintendent, Denise Birdwell may be hiding some other expenditures with this indecent? The thing runs as a screen saver. It doesn't prevent you from shutting it or the computer off. There seems like there is padding of the numbers somewhere. Sure, if the guy installed Seti@home or any other software on their network without permission he should be held accountable. However, he was their IT director. Technically, he had the authority. Seti@home is an academic endeavor, they are an academic entity. It seems like the guy thought he was doing some good and now the Gilbert police want to file felony charges (see azcentral story)?

Do you think that the media would have presented the story the same way if he had installed folding at home on the network instead of seti at home? Punishing a guy for trying to find a cure for cancer may have been less popular than punishing him for searching for aliens. It certainly wouldn't have been as funny.


A crazy dream

I saw an ad in the paper about acres of land for sale. 36 acres for $19,900; 94 acres for $29,900; 120 acres for $39,900 and 227 acres for $59,900. I don't know exactly how many mountain bikers exist in Arizona, but I know we have a lot. Wouldn't it be great if we could all just pitch in a dollar, have partial ownership and save the land for mountain biking, camping and hiking? Guess that's kind of what we do with our taxes. This would be voluntary though. I don't have the time to organize something like this nor would I even know how. Anybody want to run with this idea, feel free and let me know.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Pemberton trail and shavers on mountain bikes

I don't know why, but I always seem to see roadies on mountain bikes whenever I ride McDowell mountain park.

I don't see them on south mountain, Phoenix mountain preserve nor Red Mountain. I guess they like the flow of the trails at McDowell park. Pemberton is almost like riding a dirt road except there is no danger of being killed by a vehicle and you are immersed in desert scenery far from black top.

The roadies are not that difficult to spot. Shaved legs and they never nod or even smile when you pass. I guess if a man is serious enough to shave his legs for his sport, he is going to be all business. Probably why they say they don't do post ride brews.

Anyway, I don't want to sound like a roadie hater.  I don't mind them.  Some of my best friends are roadies. In any case, they gave me something to blog about.  Any roadie reading this, you are invited to a post ride brew on me. Just smile once in awhile at your fellow biker. Peace.

All in all it was a great day to ride. I took the Outcast29 because a single speed is all you need for Pemberton. You also don't need any suspension for this trail. Thought I would use the 29er while it still has the small sprocket in front. It performed flawlessly. Thinking about using the Outcast when I finally make the treck to Point Sublime. Single speeds are extremely reliable and from what I've read, the trail is not that difficult. Just long. This bike fits too. The old GSX left my back aching and saddle sore after riding this trail. No ill effects after using the Outcast29. The bike must fit me perfectly. The seat isn't bad either. At least it's better than I had on the Mesa GSX.










Friday, January 1, 2010

more rock circles

New Years Day, sunset ride on the outcast29.

Came across some more rock circles. This time near the dreamy draw park. Yin and Yang or maybe just an S in a circle. Quite a bit away from the other rock circle and the doll house. Not as interesting as before, but here it is.



January rides

 Happy New Year. Here are the trails that are in prime season for the month of January.

Trail
Area
State
Effort
skill
Primo
Thumper Trail Loop (dead horse park)
Cottonwood
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Soldiers Trail Loop
Flagstaff
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Greene Haven Slickrock
Greene Haven
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Arizona Trail
Jacob Lake to Patagonia
Arizona
Long ride
Expert

Badger Trail
Kingman
Arizona
difficult
Advanced

Camp Beale Loop
Kingman
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Moss Wash Mines
Kingman
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Slaughterhouse Canyon
Kingman
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Valley Drive
Monument Valley
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Page rimview trail
Page
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Patagonia Ghost towns loop
Patagonia
Arizona
long ride
Novice

Cypress Thicket
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Doll Baby Ranch
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

El Oso rd
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Houston Mesa
Payson
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Little Pine Flat
Payson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

mt peely road
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Slate Creek Divide
Payson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Alta trail - Soutn Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Tough
Expert

Black Canyon Trail System
Phoenix
Arizona
Long ride
Advanced

Bulldog Canyon - Goldfield mtns
Phoenix
Arizona
moderate
intermediate

Coast to Coast - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Very Tough
xxx expert

DESERT CLASSIC - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Double Bypass - McDowell mtn preserve
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
Advanced

FINS (Fantasy Island North Singletrack)
Phoenix
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Helipad tt
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
climb

National Trail - south mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
severe
Expert

Papago Park
Phoenix
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Phoenix Canals
Phoenix
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Phoenix Mtns Secret Trails
Phoenix
Arizona
All
All

Phoenix mtns trail 100
Phoenix
Arizona
very hard work
expert

Phoenix Mtns Trail 1A
Phoenix
Arizona
Tough
Expert

Phoenix mtns trail 8
Phoenix
Arizona
moderate
Advanced

Ridgeline Loops - South Mountain
Phoenix
Arizona
tough
Expert

Apache Trail
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Lost Duchman trail loops
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Lost Goldmine Trail
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

Queen Creek
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Silly Mtn
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

White Canyon
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Woodbury Rd
Phoenix - Apache Jct
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Devils Hole
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

hombolt mtn
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
difficult
Intermediate

new River Headwaters
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

New River Mesa
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
easy
Beginner

New River West
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
advanced

Sheep Bridge
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Trail 4 - cave creek trail - Seven Springs
Phoenix - Carefree
Arizona
Difficult
Expert

Casa Grande Mtn
Phoenix - Casa Grande
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Area 52
Phoenix - Florence
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Thunderbird park h1 - h5
Phoenix - Glendale
Arizona
easy
intermediate

Estrella Mtn Park (race loops)
Phoenix - Goodyear
Arizona
Good Workout
Advanced

Margies Cove
Phoenix - Goodyear
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

Blevins Loop - Usery park
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Cottonwood Camp
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

four peaks
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Hawes rd - red mountain
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
tough
advanced

Moon Rock Loop - Usery park
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Usery Pass
Phoenix - Mesa
Arizona
No Sweat
Advanced

White Tank Mountains Goat Camp Loop
Phoenix - Peoria
Arizona
Tough
Expert

White Tank Mountains Sonoran Loop
Phoenix - Peoria
Arizona
Easy
Beginner

San Tan Loops
Phoenix - Queen Creek
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

Cave Creek
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Heap O work
Advanced

Dynamite and Pima
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Not too tough
Intermediate

McDowell mts Pemberton Trail
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

McDowell mts Race Loops
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
race pace
Advanced

Sonoran Mtn Preserve
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Tough
Intermediate

Toms Thumb
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Tough
Advanced

Union Hills Loop
Phoenix - Scottsdale
Arizona
Long Ride
Beginner

Granite Basin Loops
Prescott
Arizona
easy to difficult
Advanced

Thumb Butte Loops
Prescott
Arizona
nothing too tough
All levels

White Rock loop trails
Prescott
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Airport Mesa Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Pretty tough
XXX Expert

Bell Rock Loops
Sedona
Arizona
fairly easy
Beginner

Boyton Pass
Sedona
Arizona
Long easy roll
Beginner

Cathederal Rock Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Advanced

CocksCOMB LOOP
Sedona
Arizona
medium work
Beginner

Deadmans Pass Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Dry Creek
Sedona
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Huckaby Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Hard
Expert

Llama Trail Loop
Sedona
Arizona
Hard
Expert

Robbers Roost
Sedona
Arizona
easy as pie
Beginner

schnebly hill trails
Sedona
Arizona
a good sweat
Intermediate

Secret Trails
Sedona
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Submarine Rock Loop
Sedona
Arizona
hard work
Expert

Brown Canyon Loop
Sierra Vista
Arizona
moderate
Beginner

Carr Canyon Loop
Sierra Vista
Arizona
Fairly tough
Advanced

50 Year trail (the chutes)
Tucson
Arizona
A good sweat
Advanced

Chiva Falls
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Expert

Cobre Ridge
Tucson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Elephant Head
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Intermediate

Fantasy Island
Tucson
Arizona
easy
all levels

La Milagrosa
Tucson
Arizona
tough
xxx expert

Molino Basin
Tucson
Arizona
tough
Advanced

Peppersauce Loop
Tucson
Arizona
severe
Expert

Saguaro National Monument East
Tucson
Arizona
Fairly Easy
Beginner

Starr Pass - Yetman wash
Tucson
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Sweetwater Preserve
Tucson
Arizona
Fairly Easy
Beginner

the Tortolitas
Tucson
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Tucson Mnts
Tucson
Arizona
Moderate
Intermediate

Gila Mountain
Yuma
Arizona
moderate
Intermediate

Martys Ridge to Liberty Bell
Yuma
Arizona
easy
Beginner

Gabrielino Trail
Los Angeles
California
moderate
Advanced

Borrego dessert state park
San Diego
California
moderate
intermediate

Florida Canyon
San Diego
California
Easy
Beginner

Miners Ridge Trail
San Diego
California
Good Workout
Intermediate

Sun Devil way
San Diego
California
good workout
all levels

Anderson truck trail
San Diego - Alpine
California
Tough
Expert

Marys Loop
Fruita
Colorado
Moderate
Intermediate

Munro trail
Lanai
Hawaii
tough
intermediate

Secret Trails
Maui
Hawaii
moderate
Intermediate

Mt Haleakala
Maui - Kula Forrest preserve
Hawaii
Tough
Expert

Kaaawa Valley
Oahu
Hawaii
Moderate
Beginner

Baby steps
Moab
Utah
moderate
Advanced

Gooseberry Mesa
Zion
Utah
Moderat
Intermediate

Greenline #6
Olympia
Washington
Tough
Expert