#followcamfriday bringing you to the top of Colorado's highest 14er. Mount Elbert with James Weingarten and Ryan Soderberg.

Mount Elbert. Colorado's highest peak, stands a menacing 14,439ft above the ocean​. Nestled tightly into the Collegiate Range between Leadville and Twin Lakes, Mount Elbert is visible from every direction, towering above the rest. This is on the list of any hiker in the United States, but just so happens to be outside of wilderness designation and is open to enjoy by bicycle as well. 

This is my second time taking on this beast of a ride. Myself, James Weingarten and Ryan Soderberg began at the South Elbert Trailhead. This adds a bit of riding on the Colorado Trail to access the beginning of the South Elbert climb. This extra 1000ft of work is well worth the effort in my opinion as the ending descent is absolutely world-class, making for 5000ft total of descending, back to the car park. This took us about 4.5 hours with plenty of messing around and playing with cameras. It could be done in 3.5 without faffing about. 

Those down-valley views. The top 2500ft of the descent is basically like riding on the moon. With nothing for reference, speed is incredibly hard to judge. The pitch is conducive to speed, traveling straight down the fall-line in numerous sections. We could be going 30mph, we could be going 10mph. It's really hard to tell without features and trees zipping by. When you stare at the lakes below, breaking focus for just a second, things start to happen very quickly. Focus friends!

This is what the summit looks like on a Tuesday at 10:30am. I would estimate that there were about 50 people hanging out and enjoying the 50 degree temperatures and lack of wind. Such a rarity in the alpine. This is one of the most popular 14ers in the state and the North Elbert Trail is the go-to for hikers and climbers. Most of the traffic headed back down the North route as we descended the South. 

The bottom half of the South Trail was recently realigned. The lower, below tree-line section was completed in the summer of 2019. This new section has a more gradual pitch and is much more conducive to climbing than the old South route. Before, I would estimate the hike-a-bike to riding ratio was about 85/15. And that 15% was a struggle. Now with the new section, I would put the entire route at about a 65/35, ride to push ratio. How pleasant. 

The new South trail is amazingly fun to descend. The old bit was steep and janky, and part of me misses that for sure. But that said, it was hard not to crack a smile on this new bit, despite being far less technically challenging. It's almost a "flow trail", but matches the style of the nearby Colorado Trail section nicely. Good work, dig squad, good work. 

This is why you park at the lower trailhead and avoid the temptation to drive to the upper parking lot. A classic ripping Colorado Trail section. One of the finest bits of aspen forest I have had the pleasure of riding. No question. 

To be very clear, James Weingarten is an absolute legend. The riding I witnessed coming from James on this particular day basically melted my brain. First run, no fear, 30ft natural trail gaps on the fly. No do-overs, no hiking back up and re-riding shit, just split-second decisions in the moment. When you watch this video, please know that you are viewing a master at work. An artist. Without fear or hesitation, taking huge risks and coming out on top. I am not sure that I have ever seen such committed riding, in my life. Fucking Legend. 

So yes, this one is worth the effort. Especially now that a huge chunk of it is actually rideable on the climb. Just don't go on a weekend. Unless you are trying to meet a bunch of new friends. Like many things in life, timing is everything. Make the most of yours. 

#followcamfriday bringing you what just might be the best natural descent on the Front Range with James Weingarten. 

This is a tale of two trails. Two styles of dirt ribbons, winding through the woods. Two trails, in the same section of woods that have a distinctly different character. This may be the best example of flow vs natural that I have encountered in a small section of forest. I will preface all of this by saying that there are no bad trails and we as mountain bikers are lucky to have these valuable resources at our disposal. Any trail is better than no trail. 

Cub Creek is an old hiking trail that is fun to ride bicycles on and dead-ends (to us) in wilderness. It has that familiar front-range feel with plenty of rocks, line choice, amazing sight lines, and a pitch that I would describe as "efficient", rather than meandering all over the place. North Elk Creek was completed in 2018 and was built for bicycles specifically. This section has your typical flow-trail construction of incorporated small features, grade reversals and lots if uphill sections after sharp turns. Basically, this was built to control speed and deemed "sustainable".  On this day, James and I rode up and down each of these two trails for the first time. 

If I am being honest, the modern bike-specific flow trail is leaving me feeling empty. Firstly, this "black" trail is a blue at best. I have been fortunate to travel the world and see a fair amount of trail and calling this a black is merely stroking people's ego and fostering mediocrity. ​It's like spinning a yarn at the bar about how you hit that 40ft cliff on the ski hill today. The 10 footer you hit wasn't that sick, and no one actually cares anyway. There is an amazing bumper sticker I saw once that reads " I bet you were a big deal in Colorado- Ski Jackson Hole" This basically sums things up perfectly here. Mountain biking is hard. People need a pat on the back on occasion, but this sport is supposed to challenge you. I prefer to feel like I suck at times. This is essential for growth, on the bike, and in life in general. Real talk. 

But we need these sustainable flow trails to get people into the sport!!! Right. I get it, and my job depends on it. But, there are plenty now, and they all feel very similar. It's hard to go over 10mph on these trails, by design. If you use proper technique and actually lean your bike in turns, you will hit things that have been placed on the inside to let you know where the turn is supposed to be. Duh. For me, speed is what is most fun about bikes. Why we ride to the top. Flow trails are intended to control speed, rather than allow for an individual rider's creativity and line choice. I am the guy who smiles when I am running over brake bumps and having my teeth rattled out by loose rock and chunder. Give me a 20ft wide, shitty, eroded hiking trail with some pitch and I am a happy man. These trails just make me think a bit more and don't feel as homogenized somehow. Again, I get it, any trail is a good trail, but this new trend of manufactured trail is just missing something. Leaving creativity out of the equation. 

Cub Creek has the complete opposite feel to Elk Creek. 10ft wide, line choice, erosion and sight lines. My favorite style of trail. You might be able to go fast enough to flat. Your speed is dictated by your ability to stay off of the brakes, as opposed to being dictated buy uphill sections out of poorly built turns and tight rock jank that is designed to make people ride slow. Cub creek is a thinking man's trail. You actually have to choose some lines at speed, rather than the trail forcing you to ride the main line. I would estimate that the speed is roughly double, on average, on Cub Creek. But that is appropriate here because you can actually see a very long ways down the trail, easily mitigating trail conflict with hikers from a distance. The climb up Cub Creek is hard. That is a good clue that the descent back down will actually hold my attention. Just so you know, if a climb feels "easy", it may not be worth riding back down... If you push to the top, things will be more interesting. 

So, to each their own. As a man who has done his fair share of trail building, I know how much work goes into the back end, working with land managers and raising funding to complete this type of project. I know how hard everyone works. It is a bummer that all of that work has created a trail that I would consider far less interesting to ride than the hundred year old, shitty, eroded hiking trail on the other side of the mountain. But, that is just me. I just want to go fast and run into things. I suppose that is the beauty of mountain biking, it can be different things to different people. We are very privileged to even be having this discussion. Cub Creek is my happy place. James would agree. 

#followcamfriday sampling the second bike-only, directional DH trail in Denver with James Weingarten. 

Sedona was absolutely amazing over the last few months. I feel fortunate to have spent my quarantine time there, enjoying uncrowded trails, moderate temperatures, and a tight group of friends to isolate myself with. I was able to continue to work and keep my own personal economy moving in the right direction, while respecting local ordinances and the global pandemic. Very fortunate indeed. All that said, it's nice to be home. 

Colorado is home and I definitely missed the high-country riding opportunities that this place provides. I also missed riding sustained descents. Sedona is wonderful, and it's definitely one of my all-time favorite places to ride, but sustained DH is something that it lacks. Flagstaff made me realize this quickly. Sedona is highly engaging, rock smashing goodness. It just doesn't come easily. Every bit of trail is earned. Sometimes a brother just wants to ride down the hill and have the speed dictated by how much braking is necessary to avoid death, as opposed to sprinting everywhere to maintain speed. Once a downhiller, always a downhiller I guess. 

Floyd Hill Open Space has created Denver's second bike-only, directional DH trail. Longhorn was first, now we have this. The difference here is that "The Sluice" was constructed for bikes, while Longhorn was adopted into that designation, much do the dismay of the hiking groups.  Floyd Hill has some hike-only trails as well, that were purpose built. This is a model that is effective for mitigating user tensions. With so many people in the Front Range that are interested in outdoor recreation, this seems like a good thing.  I have ridden The Sluice a handful of times now and the parking lot is always overflowing. Clearly there was a need for this style of trail. Thank you Clear Creek County. Let's hope that this trend continues. 

Singletrack is aesthetically pleasing and definitely has its place. If I am being honest, I would prefer to ride trails with line choice and variation. Floyd Hill is packed with line choice and options. You can stick to the smoother bits, or jump over things and try to break your wheels. Options are key. There are definitely places to break bike parts on this trail, and that is a good thing. It's still not a true "DH" trail, but more a product of the modern trail bike and its ability to climb to the top efficiently and smash it's way back down. The bike tech is so good right now and it's refreshing to see a trail cater to that style of bike. 

The trail builders were thinking. Instead of dictating exactly where people have to ride, why not leave some options open. The obvious line is right between the rocks, but all my eye sees is things to jump. If I can sum up how my mtb brain has worked for the last 20 years, I am basically riding around, looking for jumps. Hucks to flat, natural trail doubles, even a cinder block and a piece of wood in the driveway will do. I just want to hit jumps. It's pretty simple. The 7 year old kid in my neighborhood is doing it right. He has a 6 inch mound in his side yard that he built himself and he sessions all day long. Be like that grom. That is what is fun about bikes. 

So yeah. I am stoked to be home. This summer will be very different with travel restrictions and size limits on group gatherings basically putting a halt to racing as we know it. I do love bike racing and hopefully it resumes in the fall. In the meantime, I will be making the most of my back yard. If I am being honest, I can use a break after traveling for the last 5 years to ride my bike, race and shoot videos. There are so many bits that I have yet to explore in Colorado. The snow is just starting to melt up high. Things are just getting started. As Krunk Shox likes to say " get high, stay high"

All of the ad revenue generated by the monetization of this video will be donated to support black cycling groups/initiatives, fostering diversity and inclusivity a sport that we all love. If you are reading this and fall into that category, please shoot me an email. I want to help. 
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#followcamfriday

I ride bicycles , race bicycles, and make videos about bicycles. I fully realize that this is what you come here to see and to read about. Please take the time to read my words this week. We have reached a tipping point. Here are a bunch of sweet shots of Lars riding his bike in Sedona. We had fun. This blog post has nothing to do with bicycles. 

I want to be very clear in where I stand on the current issues facing our country.  Racism in any form is completely unacceptable and has absolutely no place in our modern society. Our country was founded on this racist system of beliefs and it is still prevalent in every aspect of life as we know it today. Sadly, the bike industry/ outdoor industry is one of the least diverse. We can do better. Many outdoor industry companies have stepped up this week and made strong statements and plans of action for change. To them, I give thanks. For those remaining silent, this isn't going away. Do something. 

To remain silent, and sweep this issue under the rug is doing society a disservice. Not acknowledging a problem that doesn't "directly" affect you is supporting racism. This conversation makes me uncomfortable as your average white guy. We all need to be uncomfortable right now. Oh, this makes you squirm a bit? Good. Imaging how black people feel. The only way we can grow and learn is to have the hard conversations, hold others accountable, and evoke change where we can. It's time to get uncomfortable. 

Basically it comes down to this. This moment will be remembered for the rest of our lives. Forever. It is a defining moment in our society that will shape history. Ask yourself, how do you want to remember your response to this issue. What did you do? When you look back 20 years from now, will you be ashamed that you remained silent? How will your response shape your kid's lives?  Speak up. Do something.

So what am I doing? Firstly, I am acknowledging my privilege. I have an advantage because I was born into it. I have worked very hard for everything that I currently have in this life. Still, the color of my skin gives me a leg up on black people in the same circumstances. I don't feel fear when I get pulled over in my van. I dont worry much about getting denied for a loan or getting passed over for a job opportunity, despite being qualified, because of the color of my skin. No one labels me as "a good cyclist.... for a black.... or, for a woman". This sort of mentality isn't even on my radar. I don't have to second guess my worth and wonder if someone is just interested in working with me because " I'm pretty good, for a black" 

Secondly, I am using my voice and platform for good. I am having those hard conversations behind closed doors. I am also choosing to leverage my large audience to promote a positive message and evoke change. I will loose followers and fans over this issue. It will cost me money. I do not care. If you support racism, I will thank you for unfollowing me right now. We do not need you. There is no place for you here. 

Thirdly, I am listening. I am learning. Taking to time to educate myself on this issue. Practicing empathy. I can never understand the pain black people are feeling, but I am trying, and offering help where I can. This is just the beginning. This is not a new issue, it's a several hundred year issue that is getting attention because of recent current events. Let's stay just as vigilant tomorrow, next week, next year, ten years from now. Change will not happen overnight, but just because you are not seeing it in your facebook feed every day, doesn't mean racism is over. Keep working. And please don't get distracted by the looters. I am in no way in support of destruction of property, but that can never be a justification for taking human life. I am not in support of violent protest. Obviously. This is just the white noise that is concealing the real issue of continued racism in our country. Justifying a wrong, doesn't make it right. Focus on the real issue. Make change. Vote. Do something.