A number of friends going through events I can’t really help them with, as much as I want to … I recognize that some things people have to deal with in their own time, in their own manner.

I’m also feeling very isolated & alone myself, [...]]]> Feeling very down in the dumps today.

A number of friends going through events I can’t really help them with, as much as I want to … I recognize that some things people have to deal with in their own time, in their own manner.

I’m also feeling very isolated & alone myself, like my connections are very tenuous and fleeting … not only do I wonder who I can count on on there when times are rough, but also am feeling like there’s really no one out there with whom I can share my successes and joys (not that have been many of those recently).

I find myself wondering if I should pack up and leave Utah behind me, much as I did San Francisco when moving here almost 10 years ago. Of course, when I moved then, I was newly married, and Kim and I were starting on a new adventure together. Now, I feel like I’m looking for as escape from everything that’s wrong in my life and the world.

Unfortunately, there’s really no way to leave that stuff behind.

As commonly attributed to Confucius (but popularized by Buckaroo Banzai), “no matter where you go, there you are.” You can’t leave yourself behind, no matter how much you may want to.

The 79 mile course starts in quiet downtown Beaver, Utah and finishes at Utah’s newest ski resort, Eagle Point, and will feature a nearly perfect 50/50 split between pavement and dirt fire-road sectors, allowing riders [...]]]> Burke Swindlehurst’s new event, the Crusher in the Tushar, will be having its inaugural running this summer on July 16.

The 79 mile course starts in quiet downtown Beaver, Utah and finishes at Utah’s newest ski resort, Eagle Point, and will feature a nearly perfect 50/50 split between pavement and dirt fire-road sectors, allowing riders to explore the stunning back country of Utah’s little-known Tushar Mountains and Fishlake National Forest. The course also features a total of over 12,000 vertical feet of climbing, including Utah’s highest road (elevation 11,500′) over Mount Belknap, while the summit finish at Eagle Point will be at a “mere” 10,300′. Also prominently featured will be an 18-mile, 5,500′ off-road descent from the KOM/QOM point to the town of Marysvale (elevation 6000′).

Billed as a “roadirt”, riders can choose any bike they wish, but choose wisely, because it’s the only the bike you’ll get to ride during the event.

This event will truly be a crusher for anyone crazy enough to enter it … and I’m sure that everyone who finishes will be asking when they can sign up for the 2012 edition.

325 starts available. Registration opens on Monday, April 18 at 7:00pm Mountain Time (9:00pm Eastern). If the pre-event chatter I’ve been hearing is any indication, this event may rival the Park City Point-to-Point for speed of sell-outs (300+ riders in under 6 minutes).

So get on it, and if all goes well, I’ll see you there … at the start and finish lines.

Blue, but you are Rose, too, and buttermilk, but with blood dots showing through. A little salty your white nape boy-wide. Glinting hairs shoot back of your ears’ Rose that tongues like to feel the maze of, slip into the funnel, tell a thunder-whisper to. When I kiss, your eyes’ straight lashes down crisp [...]]]> BLUE

Blue, but you are Rose, too,
and buttermilk, but with blood
dots showing through.
A little salty your white
nape boy-wide. Glinting hairs
shoot back of your ears’ Rose
that tongues like to feel
the maze of, slip into the funnel,
tell a thunder-whisper to.
When I kiss, your eyes’ straight
lashes down crisp go like doll’s
blond straws. Glazed iris Roses,
your lids unclose to Blue-ringed
targets, their dark sheen-spokes
almost green. I sink in Blue-
black Rose-heart holes until you
blink. Pink lips, the serrate
folds taste smooth, and Rosehip-
round, the center bud I suck.
I milknip your two Blue-skeined
blown Rose beauties, too, to sniff
their berries’ blood, up stiff
pink tips. You’re white in
patches, only mostly Rose,
buckskin and saltly, speckled
like a sky. I love your spots,
your white neck, Rose, your hair’s
wild straw splash, silk spools
for your ears. But where white
spouts out, spills on your brow
to clear eyepools, wheel shafts
of light, Rose, you are Blue.

  — May Swenson (1913 – 1989), Utah poet

I cannot believe that you support removing the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to implement water quality guidance for mountaintop removal sites (as demonstrated by your vote in roll call #129, supporting amendment #109 to H.R.1).

I cannot believe that you support removing the EPA’s authority to protect citizens and residents [...]]]> Dear Rep. Matheson –

I cannot believe that you support removing the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to implement water quality guidance for mountaintop removal sites (as demonstrated by your vote in roll call #129, supporting amendment #109 to H.R.1).

I cannot believe that you support removing the EPA’s authority to protect citizens and residents of the United States by vetoing valley fill permits (as demonstrated by your vote in roll call #135, supporting amendment #216 to H.R.1).

I cannot believe that you support removing the Department of the Interior’s implementation of the Stream Protection Act, which would ensure that Americans still have access to clean water (as demonstrated by your vote in roll call #119, supporting amendment #498 to H.R.1).

Most of all, I cannot believe that you support removing the EPA’s ability to regulate toxic coal ash as hazardous material (as demonstrated by your vote supporting amendment #217 to H.R.1).

Coal ash is a dangerous waste generated by burning coal for energy, and it contains many hazardous metals and chemicals like arsenic, lead, hexavalent chromium and selenium. Despite its hazardous characteristics, coal ash is not currently subject to federal regulations, and state laws governing coal ash disposal are usually weak or non-existent.

Across the country, millions of tons of coal ash are being stored in unlined ponds, landfills and mines. Many of these sites lack adequate safeguards leaving nearby communities at risk from potential large scale disasters, like the massive coal ash spill in Tennessee in 2008, and from gradual yet equally dangerous contamination as coal ash toxins seep into drinking water sources.

Your constituents count on you to protect them, not to allow them to be exposed to more pollutants in our air and water, especially considering how often Utah (and Salt Lake County in particular) has the worst air quality (or very close to it) in the nation.

Shame on your support of mountaintop removal coal mining, which destroys our nation’s beautiful landscapes. Shame on your support of increased pollution.

Shame on you for voting once again with Republicans, and proving once again that it’s time for Utah to vote for another Democrat in District 2.

For [...]]]> You know you don’t really want a week off between cross races … you’d have to do stuff like CHORES! or spending time with the FAMILY? It’s time to get the chamois clammy … it’s time to roll in the mud and sand and dirt and grass and snow. It’s time for Clammy Chamois!

For more details, check out the Clammy Chamois Cross blog/website at http://clammycross.blogspot.com/ … and the absolute best part? I’m not officiating (under semi non-mysterious circumstances).

Oh wait, it’s in Utah County?

Will there be beer? There have been rumors on the down low, but no guarantees! It’s supposed to be a great course, at Art Dye Park (on E 550 North approximate 1000 North … see map below) so check it out anyway. It’s nice to see some other enthusiasts picking up the promoter mantle, and who knows … maybe someday there will be competing series like there are in other states, where the competition between the two series makes everything that much better.

View Larger Map

Go … have fun … it’s what it’s all about … even without beer. I know it can be done. (although I’d prefer it not be).

Sunset over Holladay, Utah 8/1/2010

Sunset over Holladay, [...]]]> I think I’ve mentioned before that one of the things I love about living in Utah is the absolutely amazing sunsets we get at times … below are a couple of images of tonight’s sunset, as seen from the roof of my building in Holladay.

Sunset over Holladay, Utah 8/1/2010

Sunset over Holladay, Utah 8/1/2010

For those that don’t already know, I am planning a charity bicycle ride this summer to raise money for the Fourth Street Clinic (an organization that [...]]]> Got the following email from local Utah rider Alex Rock this afternoon. Seems like a great cause, so reposting in the hopes of generating some interest for the ride.

For those that don’t already know, I am planning a charity bicycle ride this summer to raise money for the Fourth Street Clinic (an organization that provides healthcare to Utah’s homeless). I Think I CANyons will be held on Saturday, July 31st.

I wanted to send an invite to the UCA members to join in on the fun. There are 2 ride options:

1. Four canyons – Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, Millcreek, and Emigration, or
2. Two canyons – Emigration and Millcreek.

It will be great training for those doing Lotoja, and all money raised will go to the Fourth Street Clinic. I would love any help in spreading the word to friends and family.

The money goes to a great cause so, even if you don’t want to do the whole ride, come out and support the Fourth Street Clinic. Free lunch at Barbacoa included with registration, water/food stations at the top of each canyon, and a free pair of custom socks for the first 200 riders.

Check out the website for registration/ride info: www.ithinkicanyons.com

In fact, I’ll even throw down $20.00 to the first person to post a comment with the link to their fundraising page in my comments below.

So get to it!

One of the photos is of Norm Bryner at the Sugarhouse Criterium; the other is of Norm and Dave Harward at the Utah State Criterium Championships a couple [...]]]> Two of my photos were published by the Salt Lake Tribune this morning, in a profile feature about the upcoming Utah State Time Trial Championships this weekend.

One of the photos is of Norm Bryner at the Sugarhouse Criterium; the other is of Norm and Dave Harward at the Utah State Criterium Championships a couple weeks earlier.

Go read the article, excerpted below: Time trial to test riders’ strategies | The Salt Lake Tribune

Norm Bryner’s plans for the State Time Trial Championship this Saturday are simple: win and defend his title.

The Salt Lake resident should have plenty of competition at Salt Air as the state’s top cyclists churn their pedals furiously for the fastest time and the championship.

The concept of a time trial seems simple enough: race a short distance as fast as possible. But as Bryner discusses gears and heart rate and strategy for the turn, it’s easy to see that this is much more complicated than neighborhood kids racing their Huffy 10-speeds to the end of the street and back.

It’s about timing and work rate and peaking at the right time. It’s about saving something for the way back and dealing with the wind.

And it’s also about preparation.

“You’ve just got to feel real good, be aero and have some good legs under you,” Bryner said.

via Time trial to test riders’ strategies | The Salt Lake Tribune.

Then go cheer on Norm at the Utah State Time Trial Championships on Saturday morning before heading to Holladay for the Terry McGinnis Memorial Criterium on Saturday afternoon.

A leak from an underground oil pipeline may have gone undetected for [...]]]> Much smaller than the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but to residents of Salt Lake City, it helps bring the problem home. Hopefully Chevron is much more proactive about addressing the problems here than British Petroleum has been in the Gulf.

A leak from an underground oil pipeline may have gone undetected for hours as it spilled 50 gallons of crude per minute into Red Butte Creek.

The oil blackened the east Salt Lake City creek, stained scores of birds, prompted the closure of Liberty Park and sent oil as far west as the Jordan River.

Chevron has pledged to clean up the 6-mile mess, but the company cannot quantify the damage. As of late Saturday, company spokespeople could not say when the leak began or the volume of oil that spilled into city waterways.

The spill first was reported about 6:45 a.m. by staff at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Scott Freitag. It was flowing 30 to 40 feet downhill into the creek from the ground above a buried pipeline just south of Red Butte Garden, near the greenhouses and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

via Red Butte oil leak went unaddressed for nine hours – by Erin Alberty, Salt Lake Tribune.

Mt. Olympus, as seen from Holladay at sunset

Another view of Mt. Olympus

Sunset over Holladay