Action Wipes Review and Chance to Win

March 31st, 2009

Action Wipes Were Much Needed at the 24 Hours of Moab
Update 4/5/09: Martha from Action Wipes wants to add some romance to the giveway (Details below). She is adding a special gift set for the winner so a big thanks to her.

Adventures in the outdoors are sure to leave you dirty and not smelling so fresh. I’ve done 2 week long backpacking trips so I’m quite tolerant of not being the cleanest. Still after a long, hard bike ride or other adventure, I hate the feeling of salt and other crud caked on my face.

Action Wipes PackageLast fall before the 24 Hours of Moab, Martha from Life Elements sent me some Action Wipes. I got them on a hot day and there was a strong smell of Eucalyptus so I had my doubts about them. I don’t like scents because I’m allergic to most of them and they trigger my asthma. Fortunately I’m not allergic to Eucalyptus.

I wasn’t racing this time but I was out on the course taking photos of the 24 Hours of Moab racers. During the early part of the race, there was a dust storm. As you can see from the photo above, I made good use of the Action Wipes. I’ve been using them since then including last week when I was mountain biking in Moab and sleeping in the back of my van.

I was concerned that I’d smell like the Eucalyptus and tea tree oils. Turns out I can barely smell them right after using an Action Wipe. They leave me feeling nice and clean and smelling much better. Even better they don’t use artificial scents that bother my allergies and asthma unlike most baby wipes.

Action Wipes feel almost like using a cloth but baby wipes feel slimy to me. Action Wipes are large and strong enough to wipe off most of my body if I’m not too disgusting. They are more convenient and feel better than using cold water and a cloth except that cold water can feel good on a hot day.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to clean up after your adventures, Action Wipes is your answer. Use coupon code ultra to receive 15% off your order of Action Wipes.

I’m giving away a 5 pack of Action Wipes this week. Tell me in the comments below why I should give them to you. Enter by this Sunday night (April 5th) and I’ll post a winner Monday morning. Good luck!

Action Wipes Likes

  • All natural and easy on skin
  • Come in a zip-lock bag for convenience
  • Large size
  • Can be washed and reused making them friendly on the environment

Action Wipes Dislikes

  • Dry out quickly in desert air
  • Cost more than baby wipes but then you get a much better wipe

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Base Jumping Photos

March 24th, 2009

This morning I was driving in to Moab from were I spent the night along Kane Creek Road. There were a couple guys standing along the road looking up at the cliffs above them.

I stopped to see what was going on and noticed a parachute laying beside one of the guys. I asked him if he had base jumped. He said yes and that there was one more guy getting ready. I waited and got to see the guy jump. It was very cool! Here are some photos I snapped of him jumping.

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

Base Jumping Along Kane Creek Road Near Moab, UT

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Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
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Gold Bar Rim Singletrack and Portal Trail

March 23rd, 2009

View from Gold Bar Rim Singletrack
Moab Rock FormationYesterday I rode what has become one of my favorite Moab rides after a few readers recommended it last year when I asked for favorite Moab rides. I make a loop that includes Gold Bar Rim and then over to the Portal Trail and down.

UltraRob on Edge of Gold Bar RimI started from downtown Moab and rode out the old highway to the Gemini Bridges parking lot. From there I headed up the road until the Gold Bar Rim jeep road split off to the left.

View of Colorado River from Gold Bar RimOnce the Gold Bar Rim jeep road makes it to the rim, there’s a very technical singletrack that follows right along the rim edge. Sometimes it is literally on the rim edge. This year there was fresh blue paint marking the singletrack and it was much easier to follow. I had to get off several times because of drops. It was well worth it for the views and the fun trying to ride what I could. I was thinking though a freeride bike would have been better than my hard tail.

Portal Trail near Moab, UTA storm was coming in and before I got to the Portal Trail, the clouds started moving in. I thought I saw rain in the distance so I tried to keep moving at a good pace. About the time I got back into Moab, I discovered it was a giant dust cloud instead of rain.

The Portal Trail is not a trail for people that are scared of heights. The upper part of the trail crosses close to the edge and a few people have fallen off. It really isn’t that bad as long as you get off and walk and pay attention. Once across the narrow section, it’s a very technical descent to the Potash road but it isn’t on the edge.

I have the Moab Gold Bar Rim – Portal Trail GPS track uploaded. It also has small photos placed on it. I also have photos of the ride on Flickr.

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Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
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Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Price: $268.44
 

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Moab Slickrock Trail Mountain Biking

March 22nd, 2009

Moab Slickrock Trail
Moab Slickrock TrailThe Slickrock trail is one of Moab’s most popular mountain biking trails. It is one of the most unique trails around. I’ve ridden small amounts of slickrock in other places but I don’t of anywhere else where you’re surrounded by miles of rock.

I’ve ridden Slickrock several times over the years but it had been a while since I had done it. Yesterday I decided it was time to revisit it and rode up there. It’s not a steady endurance ride but instead an interval workout. You go all out to get up a steep section of slickrock and then recover and get ready to go hard again.

Moab Slickrock TrailAlthough there were clouds, it was nice and warm. The views were incredible and I had a lot of fun riding around on the rock.

Because it’s sandstone, you get amazing traction and if you have the leg strength, you can ride up some very steep sections. One tip is to use a tire without a lot of tread to increase the contact area. Leg strength and balance though will generally limited you more than traction.

I was riding up a steep section yesterday and was running out of power. I hit a bump and stopped going forward. I started rolling backward and couldn’t get off gracefully. I slammed my knee into the headset. I got a nasty bruise and some soreness but thankfully it doesn’t seem like a serious injury.

I started with the Practice Loop since practice is always good. I got in 18.2 miles, 2908 feet of climbing in 3:14.

I have the Moab Slickrock GPS track uploaded. It also has small photos placed on it. I also have photos of the ride on Flickr.

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Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
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Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
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$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
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Price: $268.44
 

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Mountain Biking Gunnison Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail

March 21st, 2009

Gunnison Bluffs Trail near Grand Junction, CO
Yesterday I spent the day in Grand Junction on the way to Moab. There’s lots of mountain bike riding in the area including the Tabeguche Lunch Loops and trails in Fruita. The Colorado National Monument also is a nice road ride.

Over the 2 days before, I had spent about 7 hours crawling around on my hardwood floors re-coating them which had left my body not feeling so great. That was followed by a 5+ hour drive. I was pretty sure my legs weren’t going to be very happy riding. I wanted to do a fairly easy ride to spin the legs out.

Gunnision Bluff Trail near Grand Junction, COThe trailhead for the Gunnision Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail is less than 1/2 mile from my aunt and uncle’s house. In spite of my many visits, I had never ridden the trail. This seemed like the perfect time to finally go ride it.

View of Grand Mesa from Old Spanish Trail near Grand Junction, COFor the most part, Gunnison Bluffs and Old Spanish Trail are non-technical double track. There are a few steep hills but they aren’t long. The trail follows along the top of the Bluffs along the Gunnision River. There are also good views of the Grand Mesa.

The Gunnision Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail is a good ride if you’re in the Grand Junction area and want to do a nice spin. I ended up with 14.87 miles 1211 vertical feet and a ride time of 2:00:30

You can view the Gunnison Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail Google Map and elevation profile. I have photos marked on the map but most of them aren’t linked yet.

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Final Colorado Bicycle Safety Bill Vote Soon

March 20th, 2009


The Colorado House of Representatives has the Colorado Bicycle Safety Bill on the agenda for today. There are enough bills ahead of it though that it’s not expected to be voted on until next week. There’s still time to contact your state representative.

I’ve written about the bill a couple times before but the key points of the bill are

  • Passing
  • Lane Position
  • More than 1 Rider
  • Anti-harassment

Earlier this week the Colorado bike safety bill passed the House Transportation committee 8-3. I listened to the streaming audio the other day but didn’t get the timing right and only heard discussion about an EMT law and old tire disposal. The Colorado Safety bill (SB 148) had passed the Senate about a month ago.

For more information on the bill, see Bicycle Colorado’s information page.

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Garmin Edge 705 Tip – Save Last Ride and Reset

March 17th, 2009

Garmin Edge 705 GPSThe downloadable bike computer I’ve used in the past would create a new ride if I stopped recording and then restarted. I figured the Garmin Edge 705 would work the same way. I have found out that this is not the case. In fact turning the unit off and back on does not create a new ride.

When I connect it to the computer with the USB cable, it shows that it is saving history. I want to save all of my rides but I don’t want to connect it to the computer after each ride.

After searching around, I found that pressing the lap button for a couple seconds saves the current ride and resets the miles, vertical feet, etc. A little box pops up that says resetting data and counts down 3..2..1.

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Cycling and Outdoor Gear Winner

March 16th, 2009

This past week, I’ve enjoyed reading what readers would buy with a $50 gift card and what adventure they’d use it on. Mike Panic is the lucky winner of the $50 cycling and outdoor gear giveaway. Congratulations!

This is what he said.

Thank you! I’ve been looking / wanting a new travel bag, my Thor MX bag is too big to take for most week-long trips and I’m going to St. Thomas in June and need a manageable bag to carry a week’s worth of clothing. While I should be buying new running shoes or a new rear derailleur for my road bike, I feel this Gravis bag in Rebel Yellow would be the best use of the $50 for me right now to help me schlep my gear to a sunny island this summer. I’ll even send you a postcard!

Oh, I still need to purchase Thule LB50 load bars to complete the roof rack system I pieced together this winter.

Mike, I’m looking forward to the postcard! To claim your gift card, send me an email with your choice of cycling and outdoor gift card.

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Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
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Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Price: $268.44
 

White Acres Open Space Passes 2nd Vote

March 15th, 2009

White Acres, Colorado Springs

There was some more good news for White Acres this past week. On Thursday the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board unanimously approved TOPS acquisition of White Acres as open space. I was there along with about another dozen people to support the acquisition.

The next meeting about the White Acres open space acquisition will be on April 14th with the city council. This will most likely be the most important meeting. There is some support for White Acres on city council but also some uncertainty.

Friends of Red Rock Canyon have decided to not begin fundraising until city council has approved the acquisition. Originally they had planned to start immediately but felt there could be some issues with that. They need to raise $75,000 this year as part of the deal. Even so they do have commitments from some large donors already.

I’ve put together a Google Map of White Acres that also shows Section 16 and Red Rock Canyon Open Space. I don’t know the exact boundaries especially for Red Rock Canyon but I think I got them fairly close. It also has some of the area trails.

If you’re on Facebook, I also created a Save White Acres Cause. You can use it to help spread the word. It’ll also be another way to get updates and share information on White Acres.

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Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
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Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Price: $268.44
 

Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool Review

March 13th, 2009

Crank Brothers Multi 17 ToolI found my first Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool during the middle of the night when I was racing the 24 Hours of Moab solo. I don’t normally stop for dropped gear on the trail during a race. I didn’t even see the multi tool. It was inside a sock and I had a need for the sock.

I had a couple other multi-tools so finding the Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool was no big deal. Then I realized it had a chain tool. I had been carrying both a multi tool and a chain tool. I didn’t always remember the chain tool and had broken a chain when I didn’t have a tool.

It was easier to keep track of one tool and the Crank Brothers tool became the tool I carried on rides. Somehow I ended up losing the one I had found. I liked it so much that rather than switching back to one of my other multi-tools, I bought a new Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool.

Crank Brothers also makes a Multi 19 tool that has the same tools except it has 2 sizes of flat and Phillips screwdrivers instead of one of each. There have been a few times I could have used a different sized screwdriver but not often.

Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool Likes

  • It has a tool to fix almost every mechanical on the trail or road
  • It folds fairly flat and compact so is comfortable in a jersey pocket or easy to slip in a seat bag
  • Well made and durable

Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool Dislikes

  • The chain tool is tricky to get lined up right and doesn’t have good leverage. Still you can get the chain fixed and not have to walk.

Crank Brothers Multi 17 Tool Specs

  • Weight: 168 grams
  • Dimensions: 4.3 x 8.9 inches
  • Tool material: 6051 High Tensile Steel
  • Frame material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
  • 8/9/10 Speed Chain Tool
  • 1/2/3/4 Spoke Wrenches
  • 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 Hex Wrenches
  • 1 Phillips and 1 Flat-head Screwdriver
  • 8mm and 10mm Wrenches
  • t-25 Torx Wrench

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Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo Hiking Boots
Price: $268.44
 

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