"We are not 18 anymore."

I guess I talked to another long time fellow biker friend that got me into racing years ago just a few days ago. He is here in town for Christmas and I went to go visit him. We were talking a lot about our bike adventures and how we are doing on our own races and such. I did tell him I had a bad year this year and told him I still rode quite a bit to stay in shape and I am already out of shape anyway. He said, "We are not 18 anymore."
Those words made think hard for the last few days and I really thought hard.
So, I am not 18 anymore, that really got me down a lot and it sucks. First of all, I was thinking about my bike riding when I was 18, the first thing that came in my mind was the rides I used to do to go up the Canyon Road climb. 5,500 vertical feet and I did it less than 2 hours. How did the heck did I do that? I really wish I can do that still, I can't even climb 5,000 feet right now, just half of that so far....in an hour and a half. That's slow. Well, at least I am still riding though, better than sitting on the couch.
I also remember how I was Super Man, really. I used to ride 6 days a week and go for 2-4 hours a day after school or after a construction job in the summer. Yes, that's too much, for a kid that age. But I was flyin', really flyin'. I got to the point that I was just not panting anymore on these rides, I like breathing normal on a steep climb. That was awesome. I was totally in amazing shape. And I raced in the Expert class in the mountain bike races, and now I am down to beginner or Clydesdale.
Well, right now, I just realize that it's good that I am still doing it and riding all over the place but not as much though. That's ok, I am just grateful that I am still enjoying the sport I like. It's fun and it's good exercise.

Hurricane Fun

The day after Thanksgiving, since it's warm outside, I've decided to do a day trip down to St. George, UT. Actually Hurricane, UT, I didn't go to St. George at all. I left like around 8:30 in the morning and got there about 11:30, ate something, and got riding by noon. I did the 21 mile loop of Hurricane Loop just above Hurricane. Not a very technical trail but on the Hurricane rim was a little more technical. This was the first time I tried this trail and I really enjoyed it. I loved the distance because I wanted to go for a long ride. I loved all the fast turns and quite a bit of climbing, 2,000 feet of total elevation gain. This was mostly high speed desert singletrack. It was very warm of 65 degrees. The first part of it, I wore just warm warmers, it was nice and sunny also. I did the trail in 2 and half hours and then went home. I did stop and eat at the Little Wonder Cafe in Richfield and had spaghetti and meatballs on the way home. Love their food!
Wish I could have stayed another day in St. George! Now it's cold here at home, and have to get a Christmas tree with everybody else in the snow today.

Running!

Well. I've decided to give this winter with a running system going on this time. I don't want to bike and decided that snowshoe hiking up hills wore me out last winter that ruined my bike season this year. So, running shouldn't kill me this winter, I hope so. I am on day 3 on a running program now. I am doing a from a no run to a 30 minute run in ten weeks. This program shouldn't kill me, according to an article from a bike magazine from Europe. Yes, an European cycling training magazine I bought like a while ago. I love the magazine, so much information. Anyway, this program is especially designed for cyclists that don't run at all and will get you running. By ten weeks, I hope to run a run for 30 minutes without stopping injury free and no muscles and tendons soreness afterwards. It starts with a run with 2 minute running intervals with a minute walk in between and do ten of them. Then 2nd run should be six 3 minute intervals, then five 4 minute intervals and so on. I am on the third run and it's not so bad doing this program thing, still some sore tendons but better than killing or injuring myself.
The reason why I am trying to take it easy because pretty much in the last 15 years, all I ever did was bike. Running is still the same muscles as biking but it is the way you are extending the muscles is different. So the muscles are pain free, it's the ligaments and tendons feel way different!
I ordered some running shoes and I ordered like 3 different shoes because the ones that came this week are too narrow and got to take them back. Then kept changing my mind after the second pair. I hope the 3rd pair fits and they are the kinds I want, they are the motion control kinds and are good for the over-pronation kind of feet(flat feet). I have flat feet and I shouldn't get the springing kind of ones or that will kill my feet(thank goodness for the internet and research). A doctor told me a couple years ago that I have flat feet and have been wearing Superfeet insoles ever since and never had problems.
Well, I hope for a good injury free running winter. The picture above is the picture of the road I have and will run all season long. It is called Witch's Knoll and is right by where I live, so I just run from my house and it is like a 3.5-4 mile out and back. Happy running!

Legends of the Fall at Park City

Glenwild Trail

Kimball Peak looking down at Kimball Junction

The Park City getaway. Well, we went there to just enjoy and have a break. My mom and sister came along. I went biking of course and they went shopping. Just right, everybody had fun. I am happy whenever everybody else is happy.

The first trail I went on is the Glenwild Trail right by Kimball Junction which is like a few blocks away from the motel we were in. So, it was very convenient for me just to get on the bike and cross the freeway on a sidewalk bridge. I wanted to try the lower elevation trails this time which I have never ridden one, can you believe that? Well, I did. It was fun and all sagebrush and a few trees a little higher up at Kimball Peak. It was about 1200 feet of elevation gain. Not so bad. The top was very steep though and this trail had a lot of switchbacks and I love switchback climbing. The downhill was fun also. Perfect weather. I love the crisp, fall weather sometimes.

The actual Round Valley(see how round it is?)

Quite a few 4 way stops

The next day, I did the Round Valley trails. I didn't do the loop, I did an out and back on the singletrack which is 1200 feet of total elevation gain. Maybe less, because I turned around just barely before the other trailhead. I really liked this trail and was a little funner than Glenwild. This is also a lower elevation trail but over south of Park City(by the hospital and ice arena). It was great fun to experience some Park City fall trail riding. I WAS going to be at home doing nothing because in Ephraim, deer hunters all over the place. I didn't want to get shot and it was perfect to go do some riding in PC away from the hunters for the sake of myself and them.

San Rafael Swell Trip

What a trip. Plus it was only 2 hours from Ephraim. We were going to Moab but my dad said we should go someplace closer like the San Rafael Swell. I didn't know about this area too much but we did a lot of research on the internet. My dad told me about this area after browsing around the internet and I looked for mountain bike trail in that area. I happened to find this, called Good Water Canyon Rim Trail. I did hear about it and looked at pictures of this trail when other people posted on their facebook status's. So, ya, I guess this is it. It is about 25 miles southeast of Huntington and Huntington is right on the other side of Ephraim mountains. So it was a quick drive, and the trail is right along The Wedge Overlook, other known as The Little Grand Canyon. It does look like the Grand Canyon and looked amazing when we got there.

The trail. The trail is unique. The whole 15 miles of singletrack goes along the rim of Good Water Canyon, like a cliff on the side the whole way. Amazing. Amazing killer views. Of course the trail on the map is shaped like a maple leaf and that's why it's so awesome and one of a kind. There were not really any lung bursting climbs, it just had lot's of turns, quite of bit of rocks here and there, and lot's of ups and downs. Not too exciting the only thing made this trail very enjoyable were the views. There were quite of few people too so I assume it's a popular place.

There were a lot of primative campgrounds so we camped a night after my bike ride. So on the first day, I did the whole trail then came back to the camp on the dirt road which made a 22 mile loop. Then the next morning I did half the trail but still rode about 17 miles. The night we were there was awesome, full moon and stars, and you can see the whole desert. It was beautiful. Won't ever forget this trip. For sure I will go many more times.

Brent Simmons

My close friend Brent Simmons died a couple weeks ago. He was killed in an airplane crash along with somebody else who was the pilot in Brent's new plane in West Jordan. I worked for him in his cabinet shop for a year and off and on after that. He and I also made cabinets for my mom last February, he also helped remodel our kitchen.

Brent always gave me advice about life and shared many stories about almost everything. We even talked about each other's problems. We even bull crapped around a lot, he was very entertaining and that's what made me look forward to work every morning. He taught me a lot about woodworking and made me a better woodworker. Working for him was the first time I worked at a real cabinet job, and I learned a lot. I really liked his cabinet shop, it was in an old chicken coop in the south part of Manti and inside it was a really nice place to work in, he had $180,000 worth of machines in it. The machines were the nice thing about making cabinets, made the job a lot easier. He always talked about how Glad garbage sack factory is in a big barn too. The winters in the cabinet shop was always cozy, burning all the scrap cherry, alder, oak, and many other kind woods in the wood stove which made the place nice and warm and smelled so good. This job was the nicest job I've ever had and Brent was one the nicest bosses I've ever had. Too bad work got too slow.

Brent had a love of flying remote controlled airplanes and had a whole bunch hanging in his office. Everyday after work, I always had to stay another 20-30 minutes to listen to his love of planes. He always had a dream in flying in his own plane. Just 4 weeks ago or so, he sent me an email and told me what his wife bought him, a plane! Just a little 15,000 dollar plane and he was excited about it. On the day before he died, I was going to go to his shop and talk to him about his plane but I never did. Now I will regret about not coming to see him that day.

Things are never the same without him, and I lost a good friend. But I know he is in a better place.

Sorry, no picture...

Well, I love Saturday morning rides, they are my favorite things in life. After my weekly worries and stuff like that, it's just nice to get out and ride a bicycle.
This morning, I slept in and it was already beautiful outside, sunny and beautiful. At 10:30, I went out to go out on a moderate ride, not too hard, not too easy, just a 2 hour ride on my mountain bike. Since there's hunters up in the mountain, I just went on the dirt roads along the foothills of Ephraim.
It was beautiful, crisp, nice, and cool. Only 2 clouds up in the sky and later at the end of the ride around 12:30, there were more clouds but still beautiful. I remember by the time I got to Pigeon Hollow by Spring City on the gravel road when I turned around, I looked up and the White Hills and Black Hills had sun shining on them and it was beautiful. Was shining and not a soul anwhere, I wonder where they all went, maybe a couple of squirrels were out there. Oh yeah, everybody was out hunting in the higher elevation mountains or in their homes watching LDS General Conference. This ride couldn't get better than that. .....wish I took some pictures with my camera but the picture memories were priceless. ...better than a camera picture.

The most weasely 20 bucks I've ever made...

After:

One day I was at work at the shop doing some work on a small house we are building in the shop and I was having a good time, then we all went to eat at Cavalier Pizza, the boss took us. He was talking to my other boss and saying, "we should have somebody bury the gas line at the Spring City house". I'm like, "oh great". I knew it was going to be me because it was always me. Me, me, me. The inexperienced one.

After lunch, on the way back to the truck, the boss turned to me and told me I should do it. I thought, "of course". So, I got gloves, 2 shovels, a rake, and lot's of water, and went to Spring City getting pumped up to do this. As you can see the propane tank is clear to the propertly line and the gas line line went at least a hundred feet to the house. I knew this was going to be tough because I had to put in 6 inches of soft dirt, then put caution tape over it, and then bury the rest foot of it with dirt and rocks together.

All the dirt was in big clumps and there were big rocks everywhere too. So, it was hard to separate the dirt from the rocks at the first six inches but not as bad as burying the rest trying shovel big clumps of dirt and big rocks. I still had real fattening pizza in my stomach and felt like I was going to throw up close to the end of the job. But this took me 2 hours, the boss told me it was going to take 2 to 3 hours and was talking about having me do it was cheaper than hiring an excavator. What? Yeah, pissing off your own worker doing this job just for 20 weasely bucks? Ridiculous. I got a big ol' fat blister on my hand and broke my back. Oh well, needed the exercise anyway. I took a lot breaks too but still took me shorter than I thought, that's because I killed myself doing it. The whole time doing it, I was thinking, please, I wish someone would come over with a bobcat and push the dirt in dirt in for me, I'll pay you a hundred bucks, anything.

Anyway, that was the lamest 20 bucks I've ever made. This was supposed be a hundred buck job. I just did a 2 hour hundred buck job just two weeks ago for somebody else I work for. He gave me an hundred bucks to tar a foundation and it wasn't even close as bad as the filling up the trench. Oh well, I got stronger muscles, better than money.

Probably the 8th Wonder of the World...

I haven't built a ramp yet, will soon. Probably put a redwood ramp on it, then put vinyl lattice around the bottom.

All handnailed. So, call me old fashion.

Grand Canyon...Egyptian Pyramids....Taj Mahal...Mount Rushmore....and Barlow's shed. This shed took me a while though but it's well handy where you got to put stuff in it. The siding looks good on it and I got some good deals on everything from my work. So, this turned out ok. I wish it was on a concrete foundation though but oh well, but it still looks nice, right? The doors came out good too and I used cedar tongue and groove boards and glued them onto 3/4 inch plywood. Everybody loves the doors though. I also put in the old cabinets from the kitchen in the shed and hung them to put things in. I will put in more shelves with the leftover 2X4s and plywood. I already put in a few things in like garden tools and lawnmower, etc. It's nice.

The cabin with a good finish on it.

This time, I used a really expensive finish on my cabin and it's well worth it! It's Messmer's log home treatment and it's really thick stuff. $50 a gallon. Made in Utah for Utah. It's the finish you see on the log homes in the Utah canyons. I used up two gallons for the cedar siding and Messmer's stain(in a darker color) for the porch and porch roof. I love the look of the cabin and it has never looked any better. I'd like to thank my old boss for letting me using the paint sprayer and I also used the brush for tight places. Bravo to me!

New member in the Daniel Barlow family....

For a long time, I've always wanted an urban fixie bike. I guess I was just browsing around in the internet and been a googlin' and happened to find this. This was surprisenly $250! Not bad at all for this price, I rode it around after I got it in the mail and loved it. Well, it's a singlespeed at a 46-16 tooth gear or something like that. At first, it was kind of hard to pedal around and now after I've ridden a few times, it got easier in that gear and now I think it's a perfect gear to get around town. I can't do hills on it though but I knew that before I bought it, that I couldn't ride on it uphill but it is suitable for flat roads....that's all I needed anyway. It's a lot fun and I enjoy riding around town and on Witch's Knoll south of town. This bike looks like it is $1,000 and I can't believe it was $250 plus $39 for shipping. It's just a fun bike to get around town and play along with. I just wear my everyday clothes and normal shoes and just ride it around for the hell of it.

Sun Valley, Idaho

Climb, and climb, and climb...
....and climb.


Well....well, I am finally biking again and feeling good. After a lame season of resting from overtraining or whatever it was, I am finally riding again. It took like what? 4 or 5 months? Man, that is a long time and I did a few rides still during the time. But now, I am rested for good. Too bad it's the end of the season almost. Anyway, I wanted to go on a bike trip somewhere with my parents and sister before the summer ends. We were choosing between Vail, Colorado or Sun Valley, Idaho. So, we chose Sun Valley because it sounded better. I also heard that there are awesome bike trails there. We left on Friday and thought we'd stop by at Lava Hot Springs to swim but there was a lot people in the area and nobody was really interested. It was also too hot to sit in the hot springs. So we stayed in Pocatello, then went to Sun Valley on the next day.

Craters of the Moon National Monument happened to be on the way and I thought it was an awesome little area where there was a bunch lava rock that looks like the Moon. It was interesting and weird. Dad picked up a few lava rocks which was probably against the law. Anyway, it was a cool visit.

Then went to Sun Valley, I went biking and the rest went around shops. Everybody seemed to enjoy it. The trail I went on was a good climb at about 1,500 feet of elevation gain and had a good downhill on the other side. I climbed on Wood River Run Trail and went down on Warm Springs Trail. Since I just started riding, I was really tired at the top and I was spent. I loved the downhill though. It was a good little area, not as many trails like Park City but still a fun place to bike. I really enjoyed it.

After the day in Sun Valley, we've headed home and stopped in Burley on the way to stay over night. Then slept and slept in. Left at 11 and now we're home. It was a good little weekend trip.

Flume Trail Downhill, Ephraim Canyon video

Untitled from blazeofgloryoffroad on Vimeo.

This is the video of me riding my mountain bike down on my hometown trail. My brother was a on motorbike behind me video taping me. I didn't know he was taping me at all until he told me down at the bottom. I was showing him and his two boys some trails in Ephraim Canyon. If I'd knew he was taping me, I would get all nervous and wreck all over the place! I didn't too bad, did I? I love this trail. By the way, I did some of the trail work, like that big bridge right at first. Still holding up! I've overheard someone saying it was built by the Army Corps. of Engineers! I should be proud of myself!

What I did instead during biking time....

Back fence

Foundation for the 10'X10' garden shed. This is a different kind of foundation and a lot easier. Using 12" piers that go 2 feet into the ground. Then put wood beams sitting on them, then build joists over them to make a floor to build my mom and dad a shed.

Duke really needed a new kennel, it started working until the thunderstorms and fireworks came along. Now he is a house dog again. I'm hoping he'll spend some time in there while I am at work once the fireworks are gone. He's not in there most of them time, he's in there just when I am not home, when I am home, I take him on runs, walks, pet him, etc. This is a really nice kennel from IFA.

This year is kind of my off year from biking, so I've used up my biking time and racing money for these projects. First, I bought a kennel for duke and made it really nice with a nice roof and a mesh tarp on the side to make shade. After that, my work was trying to get rid of their things in the shop and they had chain fence material, which is enough to do the back and the side of the house. I got all of it for 50 bucks! Good deal! Oh yeah. My mom was very happy with the deal and I put it up with the help the neighbors. While doing this, I thought of "A good fence makes a good neighbor" and it is so true. Now our neighbors love us. They are satisfied with the fence.

Now with some of my money, I want to build a shed for my mom and dad. Mom agreed to pay half it and I think it is fair because I am building it for her. I also bought enough vinyl siding to do the shed and two windows Timberhawk never got to use for like a hundred bucks. This also was a good deal. I am thinking of a lot of ways how to build this shed. I am thinking to make doors out of tongue and groove cedar boards over plywood to make it look nice. I need to make two doors to make a five feet opening just in case my dad wants to get a riding mower in the future and to fit a lot of stuff in it. The siding will look good though, I will need to get aluminum soffit and facia at a siding place in Spanish Fork. I have some siding and soffit experience from Timberhawk and it's really easy. I will post more about the shed as it goes along, it's going to look nice!

North Carolina 2011

This is the dog that can fly in airplanes, go to Disney World, sit in restaurants, and go to the beach.

Mrytle Beach with the moonrise

We all buried Megan, burying Megan is a family tradition.

North Carolina to see my sister Karen has always been a blast. Every time I go, I have to ride a bike, any bike, because we are there so long, like 1-2 weeks and I get baserk after not riding that long but there is good riding there by the way. We were there for 10 days and I logged in 2 road bike rides and a mountain bike ride. The road rides were near Karen's house out in the country farmland. The roads are, I tell ya, a lot of fun and I like hilly roads. Utah roads are flat and boring except all the gradual mountain climbs. But these rides in NC, were really nice. For the road rides, I did ride a 1992 Nishiki Alien mountain bike, the kind of bike they put in museums. I looked it up in the internet and it's a vintage classic bike, and people actually sell them a lot of money as long as the parts on it are the original and guess what? The parts on this bike except the tires are the original. So this is my brother-in-law's bike he bought a long time ago and hardly rides it(thank goodness). Anyway, it does have the first Rock Shox ever built on it, but it really needs to be rebuilt.

We did go to Mrytle beach with everybody on one weekend in South Carolina. I am not a big fan of the beach but I've made it! I did last a day and half out of 3 days but I still had a lot of fun just swimming in the waves. We played in the sand and buried Megan. The best part was that we ate at a lot of good restaurants in Mrytle Beach, my favorite was a lasagna from an authentic Italian restaurant and it was to die for. The best lasagna I've ever had, it was so good because it was authentic, not an American lasagna. Another place I liked to eat was Captain George's with all you can eat crab. I've never liked seafood that much but I guess when you are by a beach, all you feel like is seafood, weird. Anyway, I ate a lot crab, clams, and mussels. Very good.

When we got back from our beach trip, we just kind of hung around the house for a while and one day I rented a mountain bike from Greensboro and went down to Uwharrie National Forest about 45 minutes away from Karen's house where there were some trails. The singletrack was great and I got a good ride. I had a lot of fun on a steel frame Niner, awesome bike. I loved the feel of the steel. I probably got like 14 miles that day. It was so hot and humid and when I was finished riding, I was totally drenched. I wish I had a towel. It was fun though, and very pretty with all the trees. After my ride, we did go to Seagrove, kind of like Spring City but with a pottery store every block. We did go to Phil Morgan's shop(a famous pottery maker) and we were all talking about how I went on a bike ride in Uwharrie and he was talking about a sasquatch there. There was he was, a guy that makes pottery for famous people and movie stars and he was talking to me about the sasquatch? Anyway, friendly guy. He was really kidding about the military does training there that dresses up in weeds and they look like sasquatch's.

The trip was fun and we ate at lot of good places, went to the beach, and I did some biking. Also went to the dentist. Since my brother-in-law is a dentist. My sister would never let us go back home without going to the dentist. My teeth are in good shape and he made a mouth guard for me because I lost my last one.

I guess we will be going back for Megan's graduation and Andrea's wedding.

Road bike riding.

The Niner I rented for like 35 bucks. Awesome ride.

This is the bike that should be in a museum, all of the parts are the original. Still an awesome ride!