A big thanks to Tim over at Pikes Peak Sports with hooking me up with a couple tickets to the Monarch Ski Area. I mainly ski in the backcountry, so I gave the tickets to my brother since he was in town for Christmas. He and his son skied at Monarch on Christmas Eve and the snow was great!
You can win Monarch tickets from Pikes Peak Sports. They are giving away a 4 pack of Monarch tickets every week through the end of the ski season. You can find all the details here.
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REI is giving away $100k to outdoor non-profits. They have a list of groups they’re donating to. Our local group is Trails and Open Space Coalition.
Customers determine how much each group gets. For every person that checks in to a REI store that has a local non-profit it is supporting, that outdoor group gets $50 (originally i was $1. The updated info is here). Only one check-in is counted for each person. If your local REI store is on the list and you have a smart phone, go make sure they get their share of the money.
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How many stayed up or got up to see the total lunar eclipse last night?
We had great clear skies and really enjoyed seeing the eclipse. We got the kids up around 1 AM so they could see it. They thought it was very cool!
I clearly need more practice taking lunar eclipse photos. One of the biggest issues is my tripod is so terrible I want to throw it very far whenever I use it. I got it because it easily fits in my backpack but it’s nearly impossible to keep the camera from moving when I push the trigger. Of course if I had a remote trigger, that shouldn’t happen.
I did manage to get the photo above without the camera moving. It was before I got the camera settings right so it’s really grainy and a bit over exposed. Maybe Santa will bring me a usable tripod and remote trigger for my Nikon D80. Most likely I’m getting a lump of coal instead.
For much better photos taken locally, go over the Jeff Abel’s blog.
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Yesterday in the case I’ve been following where Martin Joel Erzinger for a cyclist near Edwards, CO and left the scene of the accicent, Eagle County District Judge Fred Gannett accepted the plea bargain that dropped the felony charge. Erzinger has consistently maintained that he was unaware he had struck anyone after falling asleep at the wheel of his car, drifting off the road and hitting a culvert. I doubt that’s true and the cyclist that was hit, Dr. Steven Milo, says he never accepted responsibility for his actions.
In accepting the plea, Eagle County District Judge Fred Gannett told Milo that the agreement was perhaps one that he might not have made, but was not outside the realm of what he considered to be reasonable. Gannett then sentenced Erzinger to a year’s probation on the careless-driving charge and 90 days in county jail for failing to report the accident.
The latter was suspended until Jan. 1, 2011, at which time Erzinger must submit to the court his choice of one of two options: 60 days’ work-release, or 45 days of charity work that will require him to leave Denver and take a leave of absence from his job.
Read the full details on VeloNews.
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Still looking for Christmas gifts for the mountain biker in your life? If you procrastinate buying Christmas gifts like I do, time is running out. Here are a dozen gift ideas for mountain bikers.
A helmet cam is a great way for mountain bikers to share rides with friends. Most of the cams can also be mounted on the bike. The HD GoPro HERO helmet cams have been very popular. My friends have beat up their older cams and they’ve taken whatever has been thrown at them. The Twenty20 VholdR Camera Recorder is another cam that has been getting good reviews.
Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance has recently been updated. It’s a hefty 464 pages of information on illustrated tips for repairing, maintaining, tuning and upgrading your mountain bike. But that size means it (almost) has it all.
Descending on a mountain bike is easier if you’re seat is lower. When I first started mountain biking, I would stop at the top of climbs and lower my seat. Then I’d have to stop at the bottom and raise it again. I finally just got used to riding with the seat at full height all the time. Now stopping isn’t necessary. Now you can adjust your seat height with the push of a lever on the handlebar. Two nice seat droppers are the Crank Brother’s Joplin Adjustable Seatpost and the RockShock Reverb.
The Garmin Edge 705 is the ultimate cycling computer. It is a newer version of the Garmin Edge 305. They both have GPS and heart rate monitor and can be bought with an optional cadence sensor. The 705 adds a color screen and maps. With the topo maps you can get turn by turn directions even off road although it does try getting you back to the road. Read my Edge 705 review for more details about it. If you want a GPS enabled bike computer but don’t need maps, the Garmin 500 is a good option.
This multi-tool has everything you need for on the road or trail bike repairs. Not only does it have the standard hex wrenches and screwdrivers, it also has spoke wrenches and a chain tool. The chain tool doesn’t work as good as my stand alone ones but it’s saved me from walking many miles.
Bike Lights extend riding hours and riding at night changes a familiar trail into a new adventure. Bike lights also open the world of 24 hour mountain bike racing. Bike lights have came a long, long way since I did my first 24 hours solo mountain bike race. With the switch to LEDs and Li-on batteries, they weigh a lot less. The Light & Motion Stella 400 Dual Bike Light is a top rated bike light although some people like a brighter light for bombing technical trails in the dark. The Light and Motion Seca 700 or Seca 1400 should provide enough light for aggressive riders. The NiteRider TriNewt is another good choice.
Safety is important when you’re out mountain biking. We always hope that nothing bad will happen and most likely it won’t. Still it’s good to have some ID on you if you’re injured and can’t talk. I’ve been using the wrist Road ID for a very long and don’t even notice I have it on. They also have ones that go on your ankle or shoe.
I’ve been using the Sidi Dominator Shoes for about 10 years after destroying a few pairs of lesser shoes. I’ve gone through a few pairs of Dominator shoes during those 10 years but not as many as I would have with other shoes.
Another safety essential is a helmet. I used the Giro Pneumo for several years. The last couple years I’ve used the Specialized S-Works helmet and have liked it too.
The Camelbak Rogue is the hydration pack I use the most. Actually I have two of them I like it so much so I can do a quick swap during long mountain bike races. It has enough storage space to carry a jacket, tubes, and my Crank Brothers multi-tool but doesn’t seem bulky. The 70 ounce bladder is big enough on most rides to get me to where I can refill. When I need to carry more gear and water, I use the Camelbak Blowfish.
A good floor pump is a must for any cyclist. You can’t go wrong with a pump from Park Tools. Some pumps have a single head that is supposed to work for both Presta and Shraedar valves. I’ve had a couple and weren’t happy with either one. I’d stick to a pump that has a dual head if you want both. I always use Presta valves on my bikes but my kid’s bikes have Shraedar
If none of the gear above is a good fit for your gift buying, check out the Cycling and Outdoor Gift Card Guide. Also, below are links to some more gift guides for even more gift ideas.
When you click through and buy these or other items this Christmas Season, you’ll be helping those less fortunate.
– UltraRob
Related Links:
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A little over a month ago it came to light that Mark Hurlbert, the DA in Eagle, CO, was had offered a plea bargain that dropped a felony charge against Martin Joel Erzinger for a hit and run involving a cyclist near Edwards, CO. Erzinger is a money manager for wealthy clients. Hulbert said “Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger’s profession, and that entered into it, When you’re talking about restitution, you don’t want to take away his ability to pay.”
VeloNews has posted an update on the case. A judge will hear the case this Thursday, December 16. It also says that as a financial adviser he should have reported that he was charged with a felony but it appears he hasn’t.
Related Links:
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This is a guest post. If you’d like to guest post on UltraRob.com, please contact me.
Are you looking for a vacation offering something different? Have you thought about visiting Scotland? Have you ever taken a vacation in a remote island? In the following article I examine the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast.
The breathtakingly picturesque Scottish island of Skye is a very popular vacation destination. Frequently associated with the older members of society the island is famed for it’s most incredible landscape and the most obvious aspect is the impressive sight of the Black Cuillins.
The Black Cuillins are a range of mountains which have rocks from all 3 periods of geology; Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous, therefore the mountains are exceptionally popular with geologists and folk in search of fossils as well as hill-walkers, hikers, mountain climbers, ramblers.
The tops of Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir provide the most striking vistas. Skye’s easiest munro summit to reach (a munro is a Scottish mountain which is more than three thousand feet) is Bruach na Frithe. The most difficult is Basteir Tooth. Sgurr Beag is easy climb also however you may find Sgurr Na h-Uarma a moderate climb.
The majority of hill walkers and mountain climbers embark from Sligachan as it is around 3km from there to the start of the Cuillins.
Safety In The Cuillins
Each and every year way too many hill walkers (and a few mountain climbers) find themselves in a certain amount of difficulty. The Isle of Skye weather can change within a few minutes, one minute you are being warmed by the rays of the sun and the next you are diving for cover from an oncoming storm.
The one thing which is crucial to do, is to make a note of the local weather forecast. This information is on display at the island’s Tourist Information Centres. These are found at the following locations: Bayfield Road in Portree, 2 Lochside in Dunvegan and the car park in Broadford.
The Tourist Information Centres print a useful brochure about safety measure to take in the Cuillins which is definitely worth picking up and filling out. You will not miss it because it is very brightly coloured. When you have filled in all the boxes on the form leave it with a person who is responsible who will not going with you on the trip.
Accommodation On The Isle Of Skye
As I mentioned earlier the island is intensely popular so finding bed & breakfast on Skye is extremely difficult in the summer season. If you fancy the idea of climbing the Cuillin mountains it is crucially important that you reserve your Skye bed and breakfast as soon as you can.
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Last night I hiked up the Manitou Incline. It’s only a mile but climbs 2,000 feet with a steepest grade of 68%.
When I got to the top, I noticed something hanging in one of the small spruce trees. It was dark and I generally hike up without using my headlamp. That way my eyes adjust and I can see more than what’s in my light beam.
When I switched on my headlamp, I saw a tree beautifully decorated with probably 100 ornaments and a star on top. The photo above doesn’t do justice since the only camera I had was my phone. In the background, you can see the city lights 2,000 feet below.
I’ve seen trees decorated for Christmas along trails in the past but they only had a few ornaments on them. Have you seen any good Christmas decorations out in the wild?
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I wrote a while back that George Hood was spinning on a spin bike to set a new Guinness World Record. Not only did he succeed in breaking the record but he smashed it! The previous record was 200 hours and George rode for 222 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds.
Because of the rules, the spinning record seems to be more about surviving sleep deprivation and a sore butt than it is truly an athletic accomplishment. The rules don’t specify the resistance used, only the average speed that must be maintained. That means very light resistance can be used but the legs need to keep moving a fairly good speed.
From the details on George’s blog, you can see he wasn’t working all that hard since his average heart rate was only 77.9 beats per minute. Still it couldn’t have been easy with all the pedal revolutions and since his breaks couldn’t total more than 5 minutes for every hour of riding over the 9 plus days of riding. By my calculations, he would have turned the cranks nearly 15 thousand times.
George was riding to raise money for the Gunnar Hotchkin Memorial Fund. Gunnar Hotchkin was killed in Afghanistan.
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This is a guest post. If you’d like to guest post on UltraRob.com, please contact me.
If you and your family love to sleep under the stars, then you will find that camping in PA and NJ may be just the thing that you are looking for. People have different ideas of what a fun camping trip is.
Some people want to find the most remote spot in the woods pitch a tent and live off the resources of the land for several days. Other people like to find a campground that has all the amenities of a working bathroom and running water. Regardless of which group you belong to, you will find something for either group of campers and for those that fall in between.
Camping in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will also offer you two totally different environments. You can find lush and dense forests in Pennsylvania for you and your family to explore. In New Jersey, you can camp near the ocean and pitch your tent right on a beach.
Pennsylvania is known for offering a rougher terrain and a more rustic type of camping adventure. You can start your adventure somewhere along the Appalachian Trail. During the fall, the backdrop of Pennsylvania’s beauty can be seen throughout the state. Hiking trails and the hunting is plentiful throughout the state.
If you prefer to relax at a campground that offers a play area for the children and showering and laundry facilities, they are located throughout the entire state, as well. There are even campgrounds that you visit during the winter months and you may find yourself skiing to the general store to pick up more supplies. Many families have a favorite campground that they go to every year and have developed small communities with other vacationing families.
For those that enjoy camping grounds that have the amenities that make life a little easier, there plenty to be had in either state. There are campgrounds that are located close to amusement parks, so that you can have both the enjoyment of camping and have a place to take the kiddies during the day. Neither state runs short in RV parks, for those that enjoying traveling with a lot of comforts from home.
Whether you are camping in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you will be creating memories that your children will want to recreate with their children. Whether you are looking for a cheap getaway for you and the kids or you want to totally escape the technologically advanced world of today, know that there is a spot for you to plunk down a tent and just be for a while.
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