Bentonville sundowner spin.
The light is soft and as I happen upon this little underpass I think: “I’ll stop and take a picture of my cool bike”. And then I think: “No. I just wanna ride my bike—screw that” and I resume pedaling. But then I see this stick leaned against the wall under there.
Now it’s not an exaggeration to say that racers and two-bit cycling influencers the world over have spent collective years looking for a stick of similar shape and quality to this one, just for this purpose. Myself included.
“Fine. I’ll take a damn picture.” I concede.
And there you have it.
Biking around here is often a bit too curated feeling—a little too Stepford Wives for my taste. And this stick, as sweet at is was (and it was a killer stick) makes me feel even more that way—conflicted.
This stick is Bentonville.
@mollycogswell_kelley presented me with a bounty of 3 beautiful garden tomatoes after my big win at the Wednesday night Thrilla cyclocross race.
…but I only had room for one in my jersey pocket, so we improvised. And I’ve never looked more voluptuous.
#crossishere #fruitsofmylabor
With all the excitement of another new wheel size to hit the bike industry, I thought I would dig up this bike I built for Carl Decker back in 2017. Carl had heard of the wheel size, but the rim and tire designs weren’t there yet, so he talked a friend at Stan’s into rolling him a 32” rim and he cut and stitched his own tire. Carl even figured out what inverted fork would work with a little fiddling. Fast forward to 2025; and I hear you can just buy the rims and tires.
All rights reserved Carl Decker
In 1989 there were two riders I remember seeing on drop bar mountain bikes at the races. John Tomac—the coolest name in the game, and, well, the kid in the mirror. Me. I wasn’t at all cool, but I felt a little less lame by association with The Tomes.
Fast Forward 36 years and drop-bar freak bikes are the talk of the town here in #Leadville. Everybody is on them or is talking trash about them. Some drop riders even ask for forgiveness for their sins from the MTB Gods and our sporting forebears.
But here’s the thing: exploring and experimenting is what mountain biking is all about. And the MTB World has been looking more homogenized than ever lately.
So fly that freak flag tomorrow, full suspension fat-tired road/mountain-bikers! Make Tomac proud.
Image: Middle school Carl at 1989 “Revenge of the Siskiyous”
Bike: Bridgestone MB2 with MB1 cockpit “upgrade”
Every year, a few days before the @oregontrail_gravelgrinder I go out on a motorcycle “recce” mission of the whole 350 mile racecourse. My dad usually comes, along with a friend or two. We do it ostensibly to help @breakawaypromo identify any GPS anomalies or newly fallen trees across the road.
But what we’re really there for is the riding. 350 curated miles of incredible roads. Roads near my home that I never knew existed. Freshly melted out or dug out high-country roads unridden since last November’s winter storms. Twisty logging roads so smooth and so deeply cambered that I can’t help but imagine myself back in a rally car on them.
Remote, empty, dreamy, scenic Oregon gravel roads.
It takes most of two days. And it’s honestly a bit exhausting. But it’s become a bit of a summertime rite of passage—a budding tradition I hope to keep going.
To those of you joining me in starting the #grandtourofgravel on Wednesday: you are in for a treat this year. Bad Chad and company have really outdone themselves—I can’t wait for another lap.
PC: @meglasson.architecture
40 years is so since my first @cascade_cycling_classic_crit and about 6 hours until my next one.
Objective: “Grandpa” as many young roadie lads as possible.
Pro/1/2 back-markers beware!
I like to kick, stretch, and kick!
I’m 50!! Fifty years old.
@earthquaker4 put together a very special evening in the park to celebrate my impending decrepitude. Replete with assorted pie tastings, a less awkward than expected (free!) autograph signing, and a DJ Tosh and Zoë dance party as the sun (fittingly) set over Mirror Pond.
What a delight to see so many of my favorite faces while enjoying my favorite dessert: birthday pie.
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate. And especially to Tina for making it all happen. Feeling a little sick of pie, but so very loved.
Happy Birthday to me, indeed.
PC: @sour_bmuffin
Final photo: @jennygreeve
Buy a totaled car and spend far too much energy, time and money making it whole.
Half heartedly go to CX races in a questionable and desperate bid to hold onto nearly useless late fall fitness.
Despite not racing a professional CX race in 5 years, allow stubborn pride to inform your race category selection. âś… Elite
And then (to paraphrase Dumb and Dumber’s Harry Dunne) just when you think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber—you go and do something like this.
And totally redeem yourself.
Last week, @low_angle_adventures and I made a quick trip to Montana for the Pan-American Cyclocross Championships. Where we didn’t embarrass ourselves—and he made a video. Link in bio.
