April 2026 (miles 584-807)
I’m literally riding the tires, brake pads, and chains off all my bikes. The absence of any meaningful weather makes it easy to get out there. 223 miles in April is wild when the bikes are falling apart underneath you. Beyond how hard it is to seat and mount tubeless bikes tires with a pump… have you seen MTB tire prices recently? They’ve become car tire expensive. Except I have purchased car tires for less money.
Kylie had her dance recital for Rams In Motion at CSU. We made that our Spring family weekend at the University. Got to hike Horsetooth Reservoir, play cards, get some good eats, but the highlight was the Cat Cafe. If you’re thinking about it, or even just reading this, you have to go. Just hang out with all the cats, have an amazing time, watch the stress melt.
March 2026 (miles 368-583)
215 miles in March! Which is wild with everything going on. I have an engine in pieces in my garage. A garage I am also upgrading to hold more tools, lights, and mount a TV for Mr. YouTube Mechanic to follow along… because I have no idea what I’m doing. Work, family, and the state of the world, it’s all a bit overwhelming.
Thankfully, I have made space for riding and the gym. The life preserver keeping my head above water. I also made a conscious change to cycle through all the bikes in my fleet. You develop a neuroplasticity when you ride a freeride, long travel hardtail, a short slung and short travel slopestyle rig, a tall long travel enduro rig, and a vintage burly freeride rig. Constantly adapting to how different everything rides. Sharpening those instincts and getting better across all platforms. Or at least that’s the idea.
February 2026 (miles 155-367)
Perhaps the first winter in Colorado without a winter. I am getting summer miles in, 213 to be exact. This never happens. Lived here since 97’ and this is just wild. The warm weather has allowed me to get my head around the new slopestyle bike. I replaced the XC bike with this and they could not be more different. This bike is tiny, like a trail sized BMX bike. However, I’ve never ridden a better handling bike, and it just invites you to do stupid things. Big drops, big jumps, flat out corners, this bike doesn’t care. Bends your personal limits til it takes a piece of you. So far just a chunk of my shin but damn this bike is fun.
January 2026 (miles 0-154)
This has probably long transitioned from a challenge to a way of life if I am being honest. The key is changing your mindset to just doing something every single day. Even if you’re not feeling it, at all. Just walk the block, do something. When you shift that, it gets easier and turns into just who you are. Which is great, cause that attitude is contagious. It has spread to my discipline with learning and practicing German. Jedes tag lerne ich Deutsch.
This winter is weird. There are sprinkles of snow in there, but it is crazy warm and dry. Spent a lot of the month riding in shorts. Fun little secret, the best riding is out there when nature gives your favorite trail a little drift sauce. Usually nobody else dares to ride, so you have the trail to yourself, and you get some sweet drifts too.