http://space2burn.com/ Space2Burn Web Hosting \+ new Media Blog en-us http://otefruita.com/ignite/RSS/blog/blog_rss.xml It's always a bit of a shock returning from my wanderings about the globe. After a 3 week euro tour and the finish of some great riding and a super weekend in New York City. It was time to get back to the old ”ball and chain” of work l http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1079 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1079 I had no idea what a culture or life shock it would be to return to the USa via a stop over in Manhatten. New York is not anywhere near the type of USAI am used to. From the moment of crossing the bridge into the huge skyline of New York New York http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1078 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1078 I could see up ahead that there was a sharp right hand turn and beyond it by 1k or so, there was a small village. It seemed there would be enough buildings for a city limit sign. I had already played naive to the concept of town sprints while it w http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1077 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1077 It's election might and I am back in Switzerland; just had a wonderful dinner with Fabian and Yvonne in Lucerne. Fabian is a key representative for BMC here in southern Switzerland and Northern Italy. We met; of course, riding in Fruita this summe http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1076 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1076 San Pellegrino – Simrione – November 3rd 2008 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1075 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1075 Cima Veronese… http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1074 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1074 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1073 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1073 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1072 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1072 Rainy Days and Wednesdays always get me down… I drove south toward Italy. As I approached the upper end of http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1071 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1071 It's time for my annual trip to ride a bike somewhere wonderful. Its a bit late this year to be riding in the Alps but I'm excited as usual for the prospect of new places and new roads and new wanderings in my life. IN the next few days I'll try t http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1070 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1070 I knew it was coming; I'd ridden this trail before. This rock garden always messes with my confidence and causes me to start stressin' about it mildly even a mile before. Funny how the internal battle rages and sets up the outcome of the events to http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1069 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1069 I havent been bloggin' much and I wont be long winded now either. In July I love to be in the Alps or some Italian small town sippin' coffee with my bike. In January I look forward to our annual shop trip to Arizona and the ledges and rocks of the http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1068 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1068 Our adventure was nearly over and it was time to head north. There was much discussion as to what to do for the last day. In some conclusion we drove north into the Austrian ALps to try something called Zorbing. It seems some wacko Kiwi's had inve http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1065 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1065 Maribor - site of a 2007 World Cup and a 2008 DH World Cup event... We said our goodbyes to Ljubljana and o http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1064 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1064 Happy Birthday Brad! Ljubjianna is cool Ljubljana is the home of our hosts Adrej and Ziga and our last day riding with them woul http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1063 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1063 Our second day in Slovenia and another mountain to climb. This time we drive a few hours south to an area near the Adriatic and the Italian border. Another ride, another mountain to climb and another great day. This is getting to be addict http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1062 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1062 Heading South from Salzburg into Slovenia offered a morning of scenic driving through the Alps, into Italy for a moment and then up over a pass into the Julian Alps of NW Slovenia. Wow... http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1061 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1061 Day Two - Salzburg to Leogang Austria - it was my responsibility to find the good riding in the Austrian Alps near Salzburg. I had searched the web and asked my europe contacts and even tried to get some info out of Hans, but in t http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1060 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1060 Lets Begin... Brad, Gordon and Troy head off to discover what Slovenia and Austria holds for Singletrack seeking cyclists... Denver International Airport - June 27th 2008 - With a slight limp in my step and a huge smile on my face; I board http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1059 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1059 So... The remaining days of BIKE week were wonderful. While the gang rode in Red Canyon again I helped Simon set up lunch and such. The afternoon rains that soaked the riders gave way to late night snow showers as we gathered around the fi http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1057 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1057 Tuesday afternoon; glowing from a great ride and basking in the end of a perfect sunny day. We settled in and began our social routine. We were camped in a wonderful spot up a canyon surrounded by the yellow and orange cliffs tat make this area so http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1056 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1056 Monday the second of June marked the beggining of an annual event we call BIKE Week, A Gathering of Bike Industry folks who share a week of riding and revelry in various locations around the USA; Thanks to Bike Magazine and the gracious hosting of http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1055 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1055 Hang Over Ride YOu know how I like double meanings... well this one is so obvious on one hand that it's not worth mentioning. I'm here in Sedona AZ with Magura for their product/press camp. Basically a special view of 2009 product (sweet) http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1054 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1054 Sittin' here lookin out my window; another day another ride and another sweet time. Is it even logical to suspect that there's anthing left to get excited about other than this lathargic spoiled beattcchh syndrome? I live in Fruita; I cry like a c http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1053 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1053 It's been a long winter followed by the hugtle and hassle of Fruita in April. Planning and prepping and getting the shop in order and the this and that's sorted out. Now just a week ago it all wraps up as far as events go and we sit here with 70 d http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1052 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1052 As the final day of the 13th Fruita Fat Tire Festival began I was sitting here posting my ”morning after” post. As I got up from here and wandered down to the shop it was the usual scene for a sunday mornin'. Some folks were gatherin goods or http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1051 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1051 Well, it's sunday morning and im thinkin of a johnny cash song about sunday mornin' comin down. The last time I rode with that song in my head was the day after we did the grand opening of the melrose south australia store... same suspicious reaso http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1050 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1050 It's almost that time, I'm excited again. We are so gonna rock this ”Lucky 13” Sometimes it seems hard to believe that it's still exciting to open the door to a moutainbike town that's already pretty well loved. But I s http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1048 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1048 I'm just back from the opening of the new Over the Edge in Melrose South Australia. The temperatures turned cool and the riding was fantastic as many from Adelaide turned up to ride for the Grand Opening weekend and again on Easter "Long Weekend" http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1045 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1045 It's Thursday here in Melrose SA at the Southern end of the Flinders Ranges. The temerature here has dropped into the wonderful temperatures of the upper 20's. A welcome break from the low 40's of last week; early AM rides were the only way to get http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1044 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1044 Well it might not be chillin' exactly but we are at least going to drop into the 90's by Monday. I'm (Troy) in Melrose South Australia where we cut the ribbon on the grand opening of Over the Edge Melrose Australia. With a crowd of at leas http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1043 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1043 Back in Fruita after my wanderings of Spain and Minneapolis and I'm glad. Just a little snow here and there and we are 10ish days away from being back on the trails! I hope! The last leg of my trip (apollogies if I dont write about Newark http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1042 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1042 Sunshine and streets of wonder in the Catalunya town of Barcelona Spain. I had the opportunity to spend the week there this past one (Thanks Brad) and the February sun shone strong. If you haven't been to Spain, as I hadn't, I'm sure it's on your http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1041 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1041 And you thought I was talking about football. You should know better; and if you have read my nonsense before you know I love the alegory or parrable or parallel (and I dont love spelling). Anyway; so it's an election coming up isn't it. In my min http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1040 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1040 Five miles... what is 5 miles? Three miles less than Eminem's House? One 5-Thousanth of a free airline ticket? The distance that most americans drive a car when the rest of the world rides a bike? It isnt alot, until you change the perspective a http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1038 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1038 Ho-Me Fall Fest, October 20, 2007, Minneapolis MN 48 Hours in the throws of the Minneapolis Maffioso. I had never been to a Minneapolis Homey Fall Fest before but felt it was about time as the 612 has been so much a part o http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1037 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1037 I love this season; heck, I suppose I'm gettin' to the point that I love them all. As many of you know I'm a life pohilosopher as much as a cyclist (Fine with me to insert scoffing here - I didnt say I was "Kierkegaard" or anything). As I have bee http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1036 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1036 I was out riding this morning on "Rustlers Loop" and was thinking about the beauty of flowing on a bike on a ribbon of singletrack and the feeling of moving with speed through such a beautiful desert landscape. Mountain Biking is such a beautiful http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1035 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1035 Sometimes it seems it's suppose to feel sad to go home from an awesome trip and you are cast with some "downer" and lack of motivation. I am so happy that I am feeling a different way. For one I feel that I really need to invest myself in the mach http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1034 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1034 After a 2 day blitz of travel I am back home. Missing my flight in Zurich on Wednesday and killin' a day with stress and walking and hualing a bike and luggage all over norhtern Switzerland did wonders for my back and my soul... probably did good http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1033 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1033 My road riding in the Alps is on hold as I search for Singletrack in the Italian / Swiss Alps with my travel companions Brad & Gordon. I stowed the road bike back in it's case (safely hidden away at the Ambassador hotel in Luc http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1032 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1032 July 2007 Riding in the Alps, the Tour de France and Europe travein' 2007 Hello from Chamonix France where I (Troy) am on a bit of a bike sojourn in the Alps. Today I didnt ride and thus w http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1031 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1031 A week on the bike... the weak on a BIKE and the saga of seeking your own self through expounded weakness What is it about humans that we are really so spiritual in our make up that a regular daily routine is not very satisfyfing and thus http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1030 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1030 As the Festival and the 18 Hour race have passed. It's now warmer in Fruita but still killer for riding. The dust of all the events and the things that surrounf them have cleared and my head is clearing as well. Slowly... The full run of t http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1029 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1029 Wow... it's about all you can say and the truth is I couldn't even say the words really. By the time you think you should exlaim about the last thing you just rode over, through or off of, you're faced with the next. Rising in SW UTAH is an epic e http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1047 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1047 April Fools! Well only a fool could think that I'm a great ruler of the world... of course not bu http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1025 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1025 It's almost April time again; seems to me that March was a bit of a short month this year, maybe it's "Leap March"? Didn't things just dry out a few weeks ago? Weren't we just skiing a few weeks ago (days for some)? Wasn't I just lamenting how col http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1046 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1046 I don't have much time to talk here folks, it's rippin' here in Fruita for sure. Weather is perfect, Festival is approaching fast and I have my own list of projects I am supposed to be doing one of whihc is ride my bike and maybe even find somethi http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1028 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1028 "Off the Front" is a term used in road racing when a person leaves the pack or 'attacks" and is able to avoid being caught for a period of time and is thus in the advantaged position of being "off the front". Of course any advanta http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1027 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1027 There's a trail around here with a new "alternate line" on it that involves a short set up to a 3-4 foot sheer drop off. It's a perfect little move but with a somewhat "short" prelude to it. I was riding the other day on the winding approach and t http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1026 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1026 Twas the night before Fruita and all through the sport. Was mumbings of skiing and bitter retort. We should all be riding but sit here at work, posting on internet how that guys a jerk... When out in the real world I saw a brown spatter, I knew in http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1021 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1021 May the sun shine upon you! It is finally sunny here and I am so ready. How long of a winter was this for all of us out west, crazy! I just got back from Minneapolis and it was hardly any colder than January in Colorado and they had little more sn http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1023 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1023 Hi, Troy here, how's your winter? Mine was a bit long and since I have lost my BLOG in the ongoing saga of web crap I figured I would write here. We tried to ride at the Bookcliffs yesterday, it was looking so good and I was so psyched to be on th http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1024 http://otefruita.com/blog/?blog_id=1024