Jay Richards

Great first ride for the year at Detroit Mountain. Felt like June with the weather (but sometimes June feels like April) Did about 5 hill repeats. Just two of the 5 min ones with the granny gear climbing at the end. Being gunked up on Sunday I didn't want to push it. The cat climbs felt a bit better, three of those. The toughest climb I do out there was still patched with snow, just as well. The climb routes out there are just as hard and some are harder than anything you see in the MNSCS so some great training for sure. First time I rode out there was about 16 years ago. Still feels the same if not better. Full suspension is nice. I could climb all day. Never a bad workout at DM. It drains very well so if it is raining and you are in town running errands or waiting for the kids, I can zip out
there in about 15 min and rip it up. I remember some rides getting hit with a April snowstorm and I think last summer or the summer before a wicked thunderlightning storm that was kind of freaky being on a high point in the area. Even road out there in the winter doing hill workouts Miguel Martinez style. We used to do timed trials out there back in the 90's. Some fun trails with the xc trails, bootleg singletrack, logging roads and other trails. DM closed a few years back so not sure what is going to happen with it. They talked about going full plate with a resort and what not but haven't heard the latest. Could have a very sweet race out there.....
Being sick on Sunday I rebounded nicely and felt good enough to do a ride in that afternoon. Tuesday I wanted to do a long ride before heading out on our trip so I pounded out almost 4 in what seemed like a constant head wind. I got the vehicle packed up about a hour earlier than planned, tied up the loose ends at the lodge and had enough time to sneak a mtb ride on the singletrack sections of the Loppet course. The singletrack is in great shape and has dried out very nice. The ski trails are still a bit spongy but by the end of the week they should be good to go. My front brake got dinged at DM and I forgot to fix it so I rode with just the rear. Yeehaw!! I cleaned everything and it was hair raising for sure. I scoped out the new areas where we will be building some new singletrack so hope to start that early May. I got a wood tick which has to be the earliest ever. Anyways, we picked the kids up at piano and bolted west. Beautiful sunset. The first hour is always the hardest but once the kids realize it is a long haul they keep occupied with books, games, video and Jake has the nano. When it gets crazy. I stop, pull out the football and we run some pass routes or do laps arond the rest area. We made it as far as Dickinson and that is where I am at now. The kids were sleeping when we pulled in but they woke up and wanted pizza of course since we hardly have the chance to order delivered pizza and watch tv since we don't have tv in the house. Up til 1:30 but Jack wakes up at 5:30. UGHH> He couldn't fall back to sleep so we came down to the lobby and he is watching cartoons and I thought I would log in. We should get to Big Sky by sunset so should be a great drive today.