Backpacking the Porcupine Mtns.

En route to camp  / A bear sculpture I found far in the woods.

This last weekend 4 friends and myself took to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for some fun in the woods.  The trip was the 2nd annual "Gents in Tents" -- now known for plenty of backwoods tom-foolery, but with an uplifting slant.  We've been known to pray for and check-in on each other when life's been tough for one of the guys.  It's been a great resource for those "bumpy" times.  I'm grateful for each of these guys and hope everyone will at some point have friends like these.

"Team-building" across a beaver swamp /  Sleepy camper

Overlooks with buddies rule  /  The Gents, headed to the campsite

Mtn Biking in Fruita, CO

Red Feather for Duffy and Partners

I had the pleasure of working with Duffy and Partners design firm for the first time this last fall.  They needed shots of snowshoes for their client, Redfeather Snowhoes out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

Joe Jr. at D n' P redesigned their entire line with new deck designs.  I love the busy textures on what is typically a mundane utility item.  It's about time good aesthetics came to the outdoor realm.  These are a few of my favorites from the job.

I also shot this image for their client, Water For People:

Fun in Fruita, CO

My pal Joe from Duffy and Partners took these images of buddy Pete B. and myself,  out in Fruita, Colorado this last weekend. 

 Yes, that is snow flying in the 2nd shot.  In the images shown in my last entry, (the 2nd one down) you will see the storm rolling in behind the rider.  Crazy weather in them there hills!

SingleTrack Attack!

Scott S. on the Niner A.I.R. 9 Carbon Single-Speed

While it is great to be home again, I am REALLY missing Fruita, CO right now.  I loaded up in a van with the crew from 29nSngl to spend 3 days railing our bikes around the Fruita trail system.  I'm still a little sore, but it was absolutely divine trail riding.  

Scott S. on the Niner A.I.R. 9 Carbon Single-Speed

The "Kessel Run" - maybe the most fun trail I have ever ridden?

Of course, I took my camera gear along and got some fun images of my friends having a ball out there. 

Joe D. on his Niner S.I.R.9 Steel Single-Speed

If you aren't finding some way to enjoy the outdoors this spring, you have got to get it together -- being active and outdoors with good friends is as much fun as anything I can think of. 

Mtn bike fever

I've been hit by a fierce case of singletrack fever and am striking out today in search of a cure.  My journey will take me to Western Colorado where the Fruita Mtn Bike Festival is happening.  I expect a full recovery no later than Friday midday. 

If you'll be there, say "hi" and smile, because I may be pointing a camera at you.  I'm also packing some GearJunkie swag, so ask me about that too.  

Look for some new Mtn biking images coming soon.  It is quite gorgeous out there!

Ragnarok105 : take 3.

Myself and Robbie, rolling through the countryside.

This last weekend I participated in the 4th annual Ragnarok 105 gravel race in southeast Minnesota.  It's become a tradition for me to kick off my cycling season with this bruiser of a race.  This year my pal Robbie drove 10hrs from Michigan to test his mettle with me. 

Snow hazard, and a typical view of the course. / Lots of farms and rolling hills.

We ended up having a very long day on the bike on account of some hefty cramps that set in on him early in the race.  But its hard not to enjoy an all-day, scenic bicycle ride with a good friend.  We dug deep to get him to the finish and over the many (massive) hills.  I was proud to watch this guy climb EVERY hill on his bike while other riders around us were getting off to walk the worst of them.  Well done, sir!  In the end, we rode 111 miles for the day, on gravel, up hills and through significant saddle pain. 

Robbie, still going. / The look of a man who just finished 111 miles of bikeracing!

I'm really racking up the miles this year and pumped to have an awesome cycling season.  I've even got some destination cycling trips coming, so stay tuned for images and stories from those. 

PS - I love warm weather - don't you?!

Specialized "BG fit" Article

I promised to link the article, so Im making good here:

Specialized Fit Article on GearJunkie.com

My unbaised opinion of the course is that it is for sure one of, if not THE best bicycle fit in the business.  These guys have done their homework!  I was excited to get the same fit as the Pro Tour riders and am pumped to be getting in more saddle time now that Spring is here.  Saddle up!

Patagonia Image Gallery on Wend Magazine Blog

Wend has once again taken interest in the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race and posted a short Gallery of images.  Go here to see it:  Wend Magazine

My visit to Specialized bicycles

This last January I had the pleasure of attending a Specialized BG bicycle fit course at Specialized's Morgan Hill, CA headquarters.  I attended as a journalist for GearJunkie.com and a blog will be up soon to share my experiences. 

The Specialized Museum - full of tasty items for the bike weenie. 

A hidden bonus of the visit was a tour of the testing areas where helmets are smashed, frames are destroyed and the emloyees grin like lunatics.  Photography was not permitted in these areas - sorry.  

A pretty trick tandem TT bike with shaft drive -- prototype only.

A very exciting tour through the bicycle museum allowed me to see in person, the bicycles of some of my favorite pro peloton riders.  Ned Overend's bike was there, as was Fabian Cancellara's, Mario Cipollini's, Tom Boonen's (the bike that he won the '08 Paris Roubaix aboard) and Andy Schleck's.  It was pretty awesome for this bike dork.  I'm pretty sure I had an involuntary grin and my heart rate was racing.  Yep, I'm a dork.

Fabian Cancellara's 2009 Tour De France, S-Works Tarmac.

It was a great visit and great to ride the California hills on dry pavement in January.  I'm still waiting for those conditions here in MN.  I'll post a link to the article when it goes live.