Category: Featured
Megan Hottman: Prescott, AZ Racing and Forest Bathing
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 19th, 2021By Megan Hottman
This van trip kicks off with a lovely dose of #americana – some ball sports, some lively hockey, some bike racing, kids running around, the requisite amount of dirt and dust, loads of campers and RVs, ample flag flying and one helleva sunset . I took the @canonusa out to capture all the feels
Life these days offers glimpses of normalcy and it feels really *really* good.
Ok so where are we? We’re in a large sports complex park in Prescott, AZ. Here for a mountain bike race, I’m experiencing for the first time this parking lot-event style camping vibe.
This wouldn’t be my top vanlife venue choice on a regular basis …but for this event and experience it’s totally fine. This location boasts temps a full 20-25 degrees than in Phoenix so we’re enjoying the nice cool evening temps and the escape from the big-city-heat. Read more
Denver’s BOA Technology Now Presenting Sponsor of the Hundo
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 19th, 2021eam Evergreen Cycling, a cycling organization that prides itself on thoughtful philanthropic impact, is pleased to announce BOA® Technology as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Hundo mountain bike race, taking place on June 19th in the Buffalo Creek trail system.
BOA Technology Inc., creators of the revolutionary, award-winning BOA Fit System, partners with market-leading brands to make the best gear even better. BOA was born in the Rocky Mountains in 2001 with an innovative performance fit system that transformed how snowboarders “dialed in” their boots. Delivering fit solutions purpose-built for performance, the BOA Fit System is featured in products across cycling, snow sports, running, workwear, and more. Read more
Bike Jeffco Bigger Impact on Cycling than You May Think–US 40 Paving Project Great Example
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 16th, 2021Did you know that Highway 40 (the backside of Lookout Mountain) will be re-paved from Highway 93 (Colfax) to the Genesee exit this summer? Or did you know that Jeffco Open space is negotiating with the Department of Energy to do a massive land swap that would result in more possible recreation on South Table Mountain? Both of these projects along with many others in Jefferson County will possibly have a major impact on cycling, running and hiking all over the county. Thanks to advocacy group Bike Jeffco, cyclist have a strong influence on how these projects happen, or don’t happen.
Bike Jeffco has been helping ensure safer roads and trails for over 20 years. The late Dave Evans established the group when tensions were high in Deer Creek Canyon. Charlie Meyers took over as Chairman and has grown the group and attendance has soared at monthly meetings. 303 will interview Charlie soon to learn more about his vision and why he loves cycling so much. Read more
One of Colorado’s Oldest and Biggest Shops, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Seeks Full and Part-Time Service Professionals
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 16th, 2021Now in its 48th year, Wheat Ridge Cyclery is an acclaimed and highly regarded industry leader. With an emphasis on premium hospitality and expert guidance, WRC is currently seeking full-time and part-time service professionals for a high-volume service department. WRC is a 30,000 sq ft single location bicycle shop with an in-season staff of 70 spirited and passionate cycling devotees. Read more
MTB, Triathlete, Sasha Underwood’s First Ever Road Bike Race, “Tactics? My Tactic Was Not to Crash”
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 14th, 2021f you want Sasha to do something, just remind her she hasn’t done it before and chances are she might try it–and if it’s race, there is a good chance she will crush it. Well, despite having podiumed countless times over the years on a mountain bike or in a triathlon, she had yet to ever try a road bike race.
Until last weekend at the Fountain Omnium. A seasoned racer on a bike, on her feet, or on skis, 303 caught up with Sasha and asked her a few questions about her first road race
Read more
Ride or Die, a Women’s Cycling Movement? Either Way a Ton of Fun on Bikes
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 12th, 2021Matt Miller, owner of BASE Performance invited me to ride last Saturday, not an uncommon invitation as we have ridden many times. I had sort of decided to do a different ride in Denver. But Matt, said I might want to make the effort as there could be as many as 80 people riding, some from the BASE team and this new group he is sponsoring called Ride or Die. Of course I was intrigued.
As it turned out the groups left at different times and when the BASE team left the other group hadn’t arrived. Three hours later upon my return, the parking lot at BASE headquarters was filled with women cyclists all buzzing from a ride. Some were friends of mine who I had no idea would be there. There was a cooler of drinks and prizes and swag and I felt a fun energy. I asked my friend Becky Furuta, no stranger to the peloton from the highest levels about what I was seeing. I know they had ridden some gravel, and some road. I saw bikes of all sorts. I didn’t know anything about this group. Becky described it as, “grassroots racing and riding, the goal is fun and camaraderie without all the staunchness and elitism that’s driving people away from the road. There’s a sense of community and fun absent the usual rivalries. I think that’s really the point of these beginner/community rides – not that they’re easy or for beginners, but that they’re accessible at every level and focused on mixing training with fun and a social component. It’s a sustainable model, and I hope it sticks around.” Read more
Sports Optical Custom Glasses and Sunglasses adds Boulder Location
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 8th, 2021Sports Optical has opened an additional store in Boulder with a located at 1144, 13th Street. Since the 90’s they have specialized in making prescription glasses for athletes with a store in Denver at 5721 Logan St.
They specialize in prescription lenses direct in frame for high curvature sports frames having pioneered the processes to do so in the mid-ninety’s, before Oakley, Rudy Project, and others offered such options Read more
Subaru Outback, Riding Red Rocks Canyon, a Double Double–A Day in the Springs with Dirt Journal
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 8th, 2021Who can forget the ode to the American signature dish, The Cheeseburger. There has been a lot of talk about Cheeseburgers these days in sunny Colorado with the biggest Californian welcome in the past decade. In & Out set up shop and the market’s response has been downright insane. The word was if you wanted a Double Double, be prepared to wait. There were also whisperings that if you ventured to Colorado Springs, the treat could be had with no or little wait.
Did you know there is another Red Rocks in Colorado? The obvious one I’m referring to, the music venue is the tried and true bell ringer. But, There is a trail system / open space called The Red Rocks Canyon in Colorado Springs and this link provides a great summary of the area. https://redrockcanyonopenspace.org Read more
Pro’s Closet Seeks Bike Packer To Ship Bikes to Customers
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 5th, 2021The Bicycle Prepack department is responsible for packaging Bikes, Frames, and Wheels for shipment to customers. You are expected to apply protective packaging in accordance with company standards.
The position calls for someone who can maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment. Working individually and as part of a team, extended standing, and some heavy lifting of 50 lbs or more will be expected. Maintaining a positive, helpful attitude is imperative in this position. Flexibility and a willingness to help in any way possible are needed in our dynamic team environment. Read more
The Simple Joy of a Day Trip & Vacation Time Thoughts 💭
Submitted by Bill Plock on April 5th, 2021Every morning my in-box was full of e-mails asking me to do things I did not want to do or presenting me with problems that I now had to solve. It got more and more intolerable until finally I fled town to the Undisclosed Location from which I’m writing this.
Here I am largely unmolested by obligations. There is no TV. To check e-mail I have to drive to the library. I go a week at a time without seeing anyone I know. I’ve remembered about buttercups, stink bugs and the stars. I read. And I’m finally getting some real writing done for the first time in months. It’s hard to find anything to say about life without immersing yourself in the world, but it’s also just about impossible to figure out what it might be, or how best to say it, without getting the hell out of it again.”
Vanlife and van excursions can be somewhat involved. There’s quite a bit of packing and prep that go into them. While it’s always worth it- sometimes I’ve found that a simple day escape is just what the doctor ordered. It’s a chance to get out of the daily mundane and into nature but without the fuss. Done midweek when parks and trails tend to be less-populated, these one-day excursions can really recharge the batteries and leave me feeling motivated for the days ahead. Read more