Sourdough...

Winter is coming; creeping slowly but surely into the mountains and my new home - Estes Park, Colorado. The beauty of Colorado winter is the sunshine. It is almost always sunny here, even when it's snowing. Weird, I know, but a blessing to say the least. As the high peaks are getting covered in white, we here at 7,500+/- feet are getting random dustings  followed by freezing temps, then sunshine and warm temps with the snow then melting away. The soil is very rocky/sandy so the trails are almost always dry and ride-able. A big change from the Kansas City winters which are Hell on the trails and the riding scene.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of riding with a few Estes Park locals; Mark, Dean and Randy. We headed over to ride Sourdough - a 24+ mile out-and-back technical and rock strewn single-track that was totally amazing. We had limited time and did not do the whole trail (yet), but did get a good taste of whats to come. So far my 'new riding friends' have all been really cool and accepting of my bizarre nature and undying motivation to get folks outside to have a hella-good-time. I'm really loving living in the mountains and riding at altitude. Nothing like getting your a$$ handed to you on every single ride - technical or not. These experiences can only make us stronger.

So, as I get more comfy here at the new lair, and get the trail systems dialed, I invite all my old KC crew out here, anytime, open invitation - to ride bikes, climb rocks, chill, pound booze, enjoy a campfire, hot tub, etc. And of course - take part in some form of shenanigans. I love shenanigans!

Neverland...

Though the floods have raped and totally screwed most of the trails in the area, and the roads - which makes travel anywhere a real pain in the a$$, I did get out FINALLY with the Redstone Cyclery crew for the weekly Tuesday Night Ride. These folks really know how to pick some good trail and go on an adventure ride - totally my style. Not only did the trails totally kick me in the balls *28 times, but we just kept riding and riding into Neverland (or rather Nederland). We hit up the East Mag trails which were in 110% better shape than anything else on the front range that I've seen. Instead of the typical Rocky Mountain straight-up then straight-down scenario, this trail system was fast and flowy and technical and down-right awesome. Thanks to Dave and the F.U.C.K.ers for the invitation to ride with 'my peeps'. Also thanks to Yann for taking some great photos of the crew. I'm looking forward to every TNR from here on out.

Bon Voyage...

Click this link, sit back, and enjoy what happens in the dark on bikes in KC:

PUREAWESOMEGALORE

Brought to you by;

Pirate cXc, 8 lumens, ACCPBG

Big Fat...

Tell your pals, make a plan, go ride bikes.

The Vortex...

My ship atop one of many meadows during a ride @ one of the local trails, Crosier Mt.

The past few months have housed more hardship and change than I could wish upon anyone. Starting the week or so before I went to New York to learn the art of bicycle frame building with Carl "Metal Guru" of Vicious Cycles, and still yet to end, I've been eye-balls deep in life. Me and the family have relocated to Colorado. We live in the mountain town of Estes Park - gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and home of some really great back-country. This is the fulfillment a a dream I've had for more than two decades.

The mountain biking scene is sparse to non-existent here in this small little tourist town - but that is soon to change. Almost every single trail system within 3 hours drive has been wiped-out by last months flash floods. Half the town is still in a "no-flush zone"; imagine walking down the block everyday from your home to stand in line a a porta-potty. Classic mountain living here folks!

I have ideas, lots of ideas. I vow to convert this little mountain town into a thriving mountain bike destination. There is so much potential here for bike-specific trail and a community of healthy folks to follow. The Pirate crew is going to put 1120% of it's efforts into this transformation, and we invite each and every dirt-loving soul on two wheels to come out and join us for the ride. Things are hard is this area right now - devastation and winter is knocking on our doorstep. We are Mountain Strong and we will prevail.

My apologize for the past few weeks of nothingness here at SingleSpeedPirate  headquarters. Things are looking up, WAY up and I am back in the game. My first ride at elevation (8,000 feet ish) was this week with my new riding pal Dean (who will soon be known by some random nickname). I got my ass handed to me on some long and unforgiving climbs as well on some long and even more unforgiving, rutted-pout and rock-strewn downhills. There's plenty of technical climbs and rock gardens out here to keep me psyched, and though the few folks I've found who are die-hard cyclists ride enduro style bikes - I was able to hold my own and represent my KC Crew with pride.  I've never heard "Wow, you ride a single speed"? so many time in one three hour ride as I did this week. "And Fully Frigid"!, I got that one several times too. I for-sure had to bring my big-girl pants out here is I were to start a movement. And so it begins...

Manions Cross - THIS weekend...

More Info HERE

Taco Tuesday...

Success is key in life. You have to make things happen, will it. So far I'm at almost 90% complete as to my goal of riding all the local trails before my move to the Rockies. I have (2) weeks to complete this challenge. I'm not wooried.

< T-Donn - WhiteMike - Handleballs >

Last night was my last ride at BuRP with the local Taco Tuesday crowd. I met Handleballs, Jailbait, El Blanco Miguel and T-Donn for what would be a fun and casual ride in near perfect conditions. Per standard pirate regiment, we stopped at several of the harder obstacles and gave multiple sends, or fails. We chatted-it-up with pals as paths were crossed. We placed wagers of beers bought on who could make certain sections w/o dabbing. Always making the ride more fun than training, always.

Short clip of the Pirate riding the Highline Skinny

Generally we just had a great time riding bikes on one of Kansas City's oldest and best trail systems. I'm impressed with the quantity and quality of riding that the KC Metro area has to offer - a true pirate treasure of sorts here in the Midwest. If you're ever traveling through the country on I-70, take the time to stop and ride some dirt. It's well worth every bloody minute.

Clin-ton-o-ticks...

last nights Pirate ride at Clinton Lake was one for the history books indeed. The crew, consisting of Beej, The Manimal, Cuntwat, El Blanco Miguel, The Silent Killer and Jack Sparrow packed into one truck - to which we've now dubbed the Clown Car. We rolled the 30 minute drive to our destination, which to those not-in-the-know happens to be one of the most brutally technical and sustained trails in the KC Metro area - climbing out the wazoo, rocks all over the place; trickery. This was a night where we knew we'd be getting our a$$ handed to us on a silver platter, and we went into it ready for blood.

There were amazingly enough, very few crashes OR blood. We had no major mechanical issues and our lights stayed illuminated for the entire three plus hours we rode. It was so phuggin' humid that we'd have made the cover of GQ's "hardest men of the year wet t-shirt contest". Not only did we have a great time plowing through the wilderness at night, but the aftermath of seed ticks was a sight to behold. We each had at minimum *3,489 of the blood-sucking-sons-of-bitches latched onto our ankles. We made quite a show trying to get our infested appendages cleared of said insects. 

I'm sore, beat up and itchy. Riding a rigid single speed at Clinton is comparable only to masturbating with sandpaper (The Silent Killer must do this regularly). No suspension = you're either plain dumb or just don't give a phug. I'll claim the later. Cheers!

Stocksdale...

I'd never experienced the trails at Stocksdale. 

TallBitch took me for a tour and I have to say I was impressed with the place. 

Great fun and some cool obstacles to keep you psyched. I absolutely love obstacles!

Tonight the crew is riding at Clinton - 6:30 meet at the Lair. Bring your big girl pants.

Plugged...

Had a great double-dipper of a ride for Dirt Church on Sunday. First I headed over to the LRT for a few morning hot laps with Beej and Carl. Good times and a good fast-a$$ pace. 20 miles at ludacris speed really knocked-my-legs-off. 

Headed straight over to Swope to check out the new trails and busted out another hot lap searching for Speeding Jesus and Cuntwat - to no avail. I had fun rollinga  solo 12 ish miles on pretty much everything I could find. Man the new trails are sick! 

No crashes today, but I did puncture my front tire bad enough that the Stans sealant would not seal the hole. I tossed in a plug and was good-to-go, pit- crew style. Tubeless is the way, if you don't already know that. Lifesaver.

I have a goal of riding these local trails prior to my Kansas Exodus. Here is the tick list and where I'm at. Two weeks and counting (completed are in RED): I need to get-up-on-it. If you care to join me for any of these rides, hit me up!

• Swope
• BuRP
• Landahl
• Kill Creek
• SMP
• SMV
• Stocksdale
• Roanoke
• Clinton
• Perry
• LRT