Tanner makes up for lost time with an amazing bloging extravaganza

I have not fulfilled my promise to update you about every aspect of my out-of-control wild summer party of a life. The fact that I have not updated you on my life is slightly ironic because I most likely have the very least to do this summer except maybe for Doug. (You should feel happy knowing that you are living a life comparable to that of a 16 year old.) I will post some more pictures, story's, and perhaps, if I dare, a video.

All the pictures pictured above are from a awesome ride up Millcreek canyon that I did by myself a few weeks ago. And there is one from the partial epic ride that Captain Chris led through Park City.

I manged to get to Jackson Hole for the I-cup race even though my dad did not go. I would like to thank everyone who helped with that act of charity and kindness. It was quite the adventure and quite the race. I had herd mixed reports about the Jackson course, but I found it to be fast, very technical and fun. I ended up finishing 3rd in my group because a slow guy got bogged down on a steep hill in front of me blocking the only line and my chance at second place. It was a very fun trip, I hope that you will take the opportunity to live the adventure with me through the my very comprehensive documentation through pictures. Enjoy.

That is my ride Reed walking up the steep gravely climb that I lost 2nd on, its steeper than it looks as well as looser. Most everyone had to hike it at least once.

These are all the Jackson photos I deem suitable for GC Connection use. I hope you enjoyed, and will enjoy this next random sampling of pictures from my camera.

I can't figure out how to rotate images in blogger, so use your imagination.

I hope to see you all again soon, good luck on the the Park city Death March. Look forward to the blogging extravaganza part 2 sometime in the future.

Another Epic Battle

Tanner and I battled to the finish at Solitude last night.  It was fun.  T had his chance to put it to the old man after establishing a solid lead on the first lap.  However, a crash put us back together.  We went back and forth and I managed to get by him on the descent to win by 30 seconds.  One more chance for the boy next week.

Erin's home in less than 2 days.  We can hardly wait.

Good luck to Doug, AT and Mindi on the Tour DA Park City.  They will need it with 170 miles and heat on tap.

He's a winner

Pictures compliments of the Staffells.

Tanner pulled off an unexpected win at Snowbird yesterday. After pre-riding the course on Thursday evening with AJ, Tanner said "this is about the worse course you could design for me." It is technical, steep, rocky, loose and it's hot. However, on race day Tanner delivered the goods for his 4th win of the year. He put big gaps on the climbs and hung in on the descents. I'm really proud of him and he's improving each week.

I had a decent race to finish 4th. Like all the ski resort courses, Snowbird is a challenge for me. I can't climb with the really fast guys, so I try to ride hard, steady laps and see if I can real guys in late in the race. I managed to bring back a couple for a good result. Chris B smoked our group again. He's going really good right now. Michelle also won the women's expert to give the team three wins on the day.

I just about didn't make the race due to mechanical issues. I committed the Cardinal Sin of bike work by switching all my parts from my hard tail frame to my FS Epic the night before the race. Of course at 10 pm, the binder bolt on my Rear D. stripped out so I was done. However, Eric lent me a Rear D. on Saturday morning and I finished the build exactly 2 hours before the race. Good thing it was only a 30 minute drive to Snowbird. Someday, I'll learn.

Robbie Parker Short but Sweet Ride

Brady sent me an invite to be able to post on the blog, and so I thought that I would give it a try. I finally got hooked up with a guy from my ward that likes to ride and was willing to show me some cool areas to check out. Since I usually only have time to ride my bike to and from school, which isn't actually that far or scenic, I was excited when I had a morning off so that we could check out the hills around Hillsboro. My buddy Kasey (who is a Lance Armstrong look alike, no joke), and works as a shoe designer for Nike rides his bike to work everyday, so I just tagged along with him. We had a pretty good climb up the top of this ridge that overlooks the whole Tualitan Valley. It was a gorgeous ride, and I just hope that I will be able to take more advantage of the good weather before the rains come.

Attack please

The crit tonight was different. Now that the A group is basically gone (big crash a month or so ago) most of the top B guys moved up. Which left about half the B group from earlier in the year and a handful of eager C's. The only problem was everybody in our group except me and one other rider were playing D. They sat on our wheels the whole time. If either of us attacked they would all jump, if we slowed down they made sure to stay behind us. at one point I was on the yellow line and he was on the white and none of them would roll past. We looked at each other and just laughed. After our three attempts to break away failed I just decided to pulled hard and see what happened. Unfortunately not much. After about 20 min of this I decided to at least get a workout in. So I literally pulled about 85% of the last 20 min by myself. I was second in the first prim, won a gift card that I'll never use in the second, and after pulling the group around all night came up 4th at the finish. Good workout, but not mush excitement. Next week is the last Ogden crit of the summer and it's Noah's birthday (24th of July). So I'll have to check with the boss to see if get to race it. In more exciting news, I only have one more week of class to attend this summer. Too bad I still have a few more papers to type.

OLD NEWS IS STILL GOOD NEWS?

Well I hope this finds you all well and enjoying life. We just can't seem to get together to ride much this year. Kim will be back next year so it should be great. We are leaving for the Shakesperion Festial tomorrow and then to Laramie for some high altitude training before the sutt's and I do the Park City Tour. This is a warm up for Lotoja? Oh well you only go around once and I'm running out of segments. I did do a toughy today, over the Col de North Ogden divide and down around the dam an up Monte Cristo road and back for a hot 70 miler and 5 hours in the saddle The divide coming back was brutal. Well with Daren and T racing the intermountain trails and the rest of us putting in solo miles, we need to get together soon. Ride safe.

Doug




The weekly Ogden Crit, I'm having fun?


This is Brady's commute to work. It is beautiful if there is no rain.






Alissa leaving their new old apartment as we moved them to another place. One should be the limit

What a place for a track meet!

This is Lindsey Anderson going over the barrier on the last lap of the Semi's.

Cooking the the hot Oregon sun, tough life

Haywood field, 3000 steeple chase, Weber's on Lindsey Anderson, the Olympian!

Brady eating something or someone? Olympic trials dining.

The orginal GC Connectors. Notice the golf tee below Dad's name. We miss you!!!!

I haven't been to good at posting lately, to many travels. I have some older pictures you are going to get to see anyway.

Tanner's 16th birthday

Yesterday was my 16th birthday. I got some really cool gifts from my o so loving parents. I got a new pair of Specialized sunglasses, a watch, and a new camera. The new camera will alow me to take countless pictures of my exciting life so that I can share them with you. Take this as a warning to prepare yourself because this blog is going to raise about 5 places on the cool charts as soon as my epic ride pics start coming in. Entill then make do with the random pictures I took yesterday and today. Enjoy!