There now is an easier way to double dip the Ghost Falls downhill. Tonight I rode the newly cut trail that starts on the upper jeep road in Corner Canyon and connects with Ghost Falls south. I will go on record and say this shortcut will be the most ridden trail in the network, as it gives you “easy” climbing access to the top of Clarks and Ghost. Here is the elevation/route and data from tonight’s ride
Archive for May, 2009
Ghost double dip
Posted in Trails on May 29, 2009 by VH1DMV #1
Posted in Races on May 28, 2009 by VH1I should have known danger was in the air as I almost took out the entire A group in the parking lot with my Camry at the DMV. Who would have known the course snakes through the parking lot? Then I tried to fire up my Garmin but the battery was dead (I have become a slave to that damn device).
The DMV course is a ton of fun. Even with one sharp hill, and a couple of S corners it is extremely fast. It was on one of these corners in the final lap where my lead out deposited the majority of his bib shorts, a ton of skin, and a chunk of carbon fiber from his shiny Orbea. Another rider in the group ended up getting tangled in the crash and went over his bars landing face first on the pavement. It was obvious he broke his nose and collarbone. After dodging bodies I missed out on the sprint and settled for 3rd. I am happy with the result considering I stayed upright.
Stan Crane 2009
Posted in Races with tags mtb race on May 26, 2009 by VH1After a hard night of rain I was betting the ICUP race in Corner Canyon would be cancelled. Draper City really protects the trails in this area and since we would be racing on the crown jewel trails of Clarks and Ghost Falls chances were that this event would be cancelled or postponed. Turns out the course would be modified and delayed a few hours. Ed and his crew did a great job getting a plan B course set up and marked. Initially I thought this course would be weak and boring, but I actually really liked it. It still had the long climbs and fast downhill. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t Clarks and Ghost, but it was fun.
Rick S. started things off right from the gun. He set a BRUTAL pace up the first section of singletrack. I hate when he does that! It is unfair how he can climb the steeps so fast. The pressure caused the class to breakup and both he and I were in the leading group of 4. The 2 riders with us ended up gaping us on the flat/downhill jeep road. I ended up catching one of them on the long climb and was closing in on the 1st place guy on the downhill. Just when I could see his jersey in the twisty singletrack I must have lost focus and ended up hitting a stump with my front wheel. I went airborne and slid on my face/belly for what seemed an eternity. It took a few minutes to get my wits back, collect my yard sale of glasses, water bottle, tools, etc.. and remount. I basically lost all of the advantage I built on the climb. The next 2 laps I spent hunting down the 2 that past me at the crash site. I ended up taking 3rd and I am really happy about it. Today I am achy, bloody, and sore but can’t wait for the next race.
Just a side note; my brother and brother in law made their ICUP debut yesterday and did it in the Sport class. They both had a blast and did well. They both ended up riding the optional 3rd lap and are both hooked. It is fun to see new blood entering the ranks.
Snakes in Corner Canyon
Posted in Critters on May 26, 2009 by VH1FYI. The snakes are out in Corner Canyon. In the past week I have seen 4 rattlesnakes on the local trails (2 on ghost, 1 on clarks, 1 on the bst section of corner canyon). Be careful and keep an eye out. Another thing, look at what Rob S. ran into this past week in AF Canyon (he took this with his camera phone, so you know they were close). 
There is something strange about the wonder twins and their attraction to goats/sheep!
Hogsback
Posted in Mtn. Bike on May 19, 2009 by VH1Today I went exploring and found a cool little loop that incorporates the Corner Canyon and Hog Hollow areas. If you are looking at the google earth picture it is the south loop. Fun, steep ATV trail going down and the Hog Hollow trail up to the saddle of Corner Canyon. I am calling this the “Hogsback” since you are riding the spine of the hill all the way down and taking Hog Hollow home. If you know this area let me know if it already has a name.
On the way up Clarks I ran into a few bomber downhillers and the first RATTLER of the season. In the past week I have heard a sighting of a bigger rattlesnake on Ghost Falls, African Bees on Jacobs, and a Mtn. Lion near Scout Bridge. Rick watch out, I hear a white sheep has been asking about you.
Here is the data from the ride today
Mancrush
Posted in Rider Highlight on May 13, 2009 by VH1
He would Attack, Attack, and Attack. This guy never gives up!
This clip says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-SH05G7vAs (thanks Steve)
Just admit it, you have your favorites. Some like Lance, others levi, but how cool is Jens Voigt? (not the father of Angelina Jolie, that is John Voight) This guy is amazing! It seems EVERY stage of EVERY race this guy is in the breakaway. His face is always twisted in pain, his bike is all over the road, and his pedal stroke looks like he is pedaling squares. Yesterday he went on the attack after a mere 14 km and was caught with 3 km to go. Here is a pic of his not so aero ride:
Jens keep up the good work, I salute you!
Giro d’Italia-LIVE
Posted in News of the Week on May 12, 2009 by VH1How cool is Universal Sports? While sweating out a few hours on the trainer this winter I found this cool, little channel (Comcast 113) that features skiing, Mtn. Biking, and cyclocross in their prime-time viewing slot. On the eve of the Giro d’Italia, Universal announced that not only would they cover the bike race, but that it would be covered EVERY DAY and LIVE!!! Furthermore they will be covering a few of the early season classics. Versus, I have given up on you and your 24-7 “bulls of fury” programming. I have found a new home and it is channel 113. Here is the Velonews article
Here is the actual link to the Universal Sports coverage of the Giro
http://www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=13044&SPSID=105618
Sir, what is in your box?
Posted in Work on May 2, 2009 by VH1WARNING IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED PLEASE COME BACK IN A WEEK AND READ MY NEXT POST!
This past week I was in Minneapolis being cadaver trained on a new surgical technique. I have a surgeon training course scheduled this next Thursday in SLC (that I am responsible for) and needed a few “pelvis” surgical models for the doctors to work with. The models are heavy and wouldn’t fit in my luggage. I couldn’t ship them for fear of them breaking, so I had to carry them on. As I waited for 45 minutes in the security screen line I had a gut feeling that today was the day the world found out what was in the white cases I was carrying. Soon enough it was my turn to go through the scanner. The TSA lady came up to me and asked what was in the 3 cases I was carrying. I told her they were surgical models. She asked again, but looking for specifics this time, I told her they were silicon vaginas and that surgeons would practice their new procedures on them. Still not believing me she went to the x-ray to watch them come through. The x-ray operator was a BIG black guy (looked just like the delivery man on the Miller Lite commercials) and you should have seen his face when these babies came through! 
He looked at me like I was the biggest PERV in the world. I looked at him sheepishly and said “ask her what they are”. He leaned over to the other agent and she told him. She could barely choke back her laughter. He then announced in front of 100′s of people waiting in line that I had to put the white boxes up on the table and he had to inspect it. Like a kid in a candy store he cracked the first one open and with a giggle said “dude, that’s messed up”! I asked him if if could sneak away and he said “no way I wanna see the other 2″. He had all 3 opened and on top of the table for all his TSA buddies and people in the line to see. I thought the old lady and the Asians with the swine flu masks standing behind me were going to file charges against me for carrying indecent objects. Oh well they were probably more embarrassed about it than I was.
Rick to answer your question; I don’t care if Rachelle gave you permission I will not rent these to you!
