I have a feeling a lot of my posts related to biking in the next couple weeks are going to start out with: So, I finally got off my ass and . . .

Lets begin:

So I finally got off my ass and . . . rode my fixie into work today. Doesn’t seem like a huge accomplishment, but considering the last time I rode anything to work (my road bike, about a month ago) it WAS a big accomplishment.

The biggest problem has actually not been the motivation, but instead the practicality. The problem is that my job has been in the process of moving across town. This is not a big deal, except that half the people I need to see on a regular basis are on one side of town, and the other half are on the other. Since I (unfortunately) sit in too many meetings during a day, I have had to drive across town. I can make it across town on a bike in about 20-25 minutes, but then I’m sweaty. To do it without sweating, it takes closer to 35-45 (depending on headwind). In a car, it takes about 10. It sucks, but it’s the reality.

But, that is all about to change. I officially move next friday, and will no longer need to travel across town between meetings.

So, today, with a lack of meetings, I rode in. It was awesome. My hands were cold, but the rest of me was happy, and by the time I got out of work, it was downright beautiful. In fact, it was so beautiful that I didn’t head home after work.

With my 20+ lb messenger bag in tow (work clothes, shoes, repair kit, etc), I started riding out of town to the west, and found the turnoff to the Naval Observatory. This is a nice little road climb of about 1.5 miles and 400 vertical feet. I had never done it before, so I rocked out 3 quick laps on it and headed home. It felt good to take a little detour and just enjoy being on the bike. It was great to get my legs into the low cadence, high power singlespeeed climbing mode, I’ve missed it lately.

I was actually debating about doing a couple more, but coming down the hill on the fixie wasn’t exactly the safest thing with all the cinders on the road, so I decided not to push my luck. Either way, it was a nice little detour.

I’m getting pretty psyched about riding outside again, that’s for sure. tRoy even told me today that Elden Lookout road is rideable to the top. Supposedly there’s some mud and a couple patches of snow, but if you ride it while it’s still frozen, it’s smooth sailing. I’d be willing to bet that rocky ridge and the fort valley trails will be thawing soon as well. Yee haw!

Here’s a piece of news for anyone who has some interest in mountain biking around durango. There is a proposal on the table to designate part of the Hermosa Creek trail and the Colorado Trail (both just north of durango) wilderness area, which would cut out some sweet singletrack (and really mess up the course for the Durango 100). Here is the article in Mountain Flyer

Here is the email which went out to the NMES list with some more information and a faxable letter:

From: Matt Turgeon
To: NMES Mailing List

I should have replied to this sooner. Matt McFee from GDR fame set up a web page to help generate letters to the USFS to comment on this wilderness proposal. http://www.savehermosa.org/ It’s really easy to use and a FAX of your letter – at Matt’s own expense – will be sent to the collection house in California which is taking the comments for the guv’ment.. I believe the deadline for comments is March 12th so act quickly!

I’ve attended a few meetings up here in Durango and this is a big deal right now – there are several Durango Herald and Durango Telegraph articles on this. This one kicked it off back in Jan; http://www.durangotelegraph.com/telegraph.php?inc=/08-01-03/coverstory.htm

At the meetings I learned from some local legends who spoke that this wilderness movement is not new – and the Hermosa Wilderness concept goes back to the late 60’s, with a big push in the 70’s/80s that was shot down by the local citizenry. That did not deter some forest service employees who apparently have continually pushing this thing – and it’s almost embarrassing the amount of resources they have used in their favor.

So for those who understand this – we are basically in the NEPA process – and citizens are allowed to comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – of which has several proposals. Therefore when you comment – the USFS said they will ignore comments that “say wilderness is bad – I like to bike.” They want comments specific about the EIS - which is very difficult, because that thing is as big as 2 Chicago phone books. The Save Hermosa website captures some ideas, but I’d throw out the EIS acronym at least once or twice and state that you would like to support the “No-Action Alternative” – if of course you do not wish to see this land turned into wilderness.

I think perhaps that by sometime this week maybe the first person who attempted to read the EIS back in January will have finished. It’s sad to see the such tactics – but the citizens here seem to be well organized themselves. Trails 2000 (www.trails2000.org) is leading the effort – they pulled in over $70k at their recent fundraiser and could use more, so please fire off some checks if you want to help out that way as well.

-Matt

This is a great area for mountain biking, and if you have a few minutes, it’s a great cause to throw your card in on.

Finally, in case you haven’t been following the comments, I’m out for the weekend. I’ll be doing nothing at all related to biking, and everything to do with exercising my liver. FKR (Kevin Rice to the layperson) recently turned 21 (and yes, he’s still faster than you on a mountain bike) and so we’re taking him out in style. . . . vegas-style. Lets just call it resistance training.