Socks and Arm Warmers

Well today is my rest day and I'm dorking around. In the mail I received my new knee highs and arm warmers from Sock Dreams and they're awesome, thanks for the beta on them Cynthia. So I thought I'd waste some time and put 'em up on the blog. Can't wait to wear them while riding.

Skulls with Stars & Stripes

Rad!

The Arm Warmers are sweet too and they'll keep the cold winds from sneaking up the arms.

Arkansas Valley

Craig, Randy (Craig's brother) and I headed down to the Arkansas Valley this weekend. I had to drop some artwork off at the Culture Clash gallery in Salida so we decided to make a weekend of it with camping, riding and for Craig and Randy some fly fishing on the Arkansas River. We arrived Friday night at Stone Cabin. Saturday dawned a lovely day, Craig and Randy were going fishing and I was going to ride the Rainbow Trail and meet them later off of 50 at the river, this would make my ride close to 30 miles.

Me, ready to head out for the Rainbow.

This is one of my favorite trails in this area, so much fun with plenty of ups and downs and fast. I pedaled up the 201 to the start of the Rainbow trail, a moderate 4WD road with some nice views.

The 201

I made it to the Rainbow Trail in no time and had a little snack before I headed down the trail, I also wanted to give a couple of different groups of riders a chance to get ahead of me so I wasn't riding right behind them. I was enjoying being on my own.

Getting ready to head down the trail.

So after a short break off I went down the trail, fall has really set in in Chaffee County, everything golden and the air crisp. I didn't stop to take many pictures up higher on the trail, I was having too much fun riding. This trail starts up in the Aspens, Pines and Firs and ends down low in the Juniper, Pinon and sage.

Trail goodness down lower.

I caught up to the two parties that I had let go ahead of me, the ride went by quickly, I enjoyed my solo time and the fun downhill sections near the end of the Rainbow. The ride on the road to meet Randy and Craig was pretty dull, I don't think I could be a roadie.

Skinny, sweet singletrack

Part Two, Sunday, Twin Lakes Riding.

It rained Saturday night, Craig and I headed over to Twin Lakes Sunday morning to ride a 15 mile loop that goes around the reservoir and heads up the valley. Much of the riding is on the Colorado Trail and it's almost entirely singletrack. We dropped Randy off at the river for more fishing and headed up.

Twin Lakes looking West

Bike with Mountains.

This ride starts in little town of Twin Lakes and heads out East on singletrack through sage above the shoreline, it's fast and rolling.

Heading out..

Once you cross over the dam you hit the Colorado Trail proper and some more fun riding in the trees.

Craig and I

Me climbing out of the big, white Aspens

Craig raging in the sage.

This ride is fast and fun with lots of little ups and downs, you can really get a groove on. The most challangeing section isn't until the very end with a very steep rock section and then a short but fun techy downhill that puts you at the road a mile from the vehicle.
It was a nice weekend with good riding and lovely fall weather. The fishing though was kinda slow for Craig and Randy, the water on the Ark was low..

Josy stretching her legs

Burning Man

My friend Anne, is an amazing photographer, she went to Burning Man recently and took a few pictures and sent them to me and I wanted to share them. I'd like to go sometime, maybe, we'll see, I would love to see the freedom of expression that goes on, meanwhile we can enjoy Anne's images.

If you'd like to see more of Anne's photography please visit her website: www.annehayunga.com

2008 Open Studios

I'm doing the Boulder Open Studios tour this year. I haven't done it before so I'm a little excited about it and hope it's worthwhile. I think it will be good exposure locally and will open some doors here in Boulder. I'm in the process of making work and preparing to deep clean and reorganize my studio as well. It should be fun!

Click on the image below for a larger, more easily read postcard.

New Website

Craig recently registered my first and last name as a domain name for a website with the idea that I could use the site as place to have a blog, store pictures, etc, something to share with friends and family. Well he sent me the home page this morning and I think it turned out really cool and it has a link to my blog page. The image is one that Craig took last fall on one of my favorite technical trails in BC (Boulder County). So the website is an easier address to remember and give out if anyone wants to check out my blog, which is good. Here's the link!
http://careyreynolds.com/

Fall Ridin'

Got out for a fun group ride on Sunday with Jim, Kim, Dan and Craig. We started out in a grey, swirling mist, felt like the NW but in true Colorado fashion the sun ruled by the end of the ride, which meant plenty of stops to put on and take off layers.
We headed NW out of Lyons for some sweet singletrack that sees little traffic, we had plenty of climbing ahead of us, some of it technical and some of it trials-like with rock formations that needed climbing up and over, lots of short bursts of power and technique. Our plan was to ride a very new and longer lollipop than what we normally ride up there.

Taking a break in the mist...Doesn't Dan look happy?

Kim powering up..

Craig coming down the trail..

Dan's turn.

Here comes Jim..

Kim smiling large..

Expansive view starting to emerge from the low clouds, huge drop behind us.

The ride was almost 4 hours and the return is downhill, so lots of fun. I felt OK for the first part of the ride but started to bonk more than half way through, I don't think I ate well enough however I wasn't feeling hungry so I didn't think to eat and I shoulda gotten to bed a little earlier the night before but it was all good in the end. Everyone rode well and had a good time, as it should be. I'm looking forward to getting back up there soon as we didn't ride our usual lollipop, which is a shorter variation. I'm also looking forward to showing Kim and Dan more rides hopefully before the season is over, things should stay open through October, there's so much out there and fall ridin' is the best.

Rain, Rain Go Away

I like rain, it doesn't rain here very much but I wanted to ride my bike today, so I'm complaining, boo!
This weekend is supposed to be beautiful though and the trails will be buff, so I'll look forward to that and just do a bunch of sit-ups and bench presses this evening, I sound pretty lame, I know, I am. I've got to keep my body moving, it makes a difference to my all around well being.
It poured at the house last night, just dumped and the driveway and dirt road from our house is a mud bath, really slippery and slidy. So much so that I've got the Wellies on today, I love my Wellies.
Have a good Friday, the sun is on it's way!