Thirty One

This is the only picture I have from todays GraveL Ride in The Bia. Not only did we ride with some badass people we left from none other than our most recent sponsor KLUNK! Holy shit the ride was killer and I would have taken more photos, but I was either climbing some sick gravel, descending some sick gravel, or pacelining some country sunken roads. Afterwards a lot of us went to a new microbrewery for some beers and food(in my case just food!) The food was great, and the beers looked amazing! They also had some nice guest taps that had me very angry. 1 more month of suffering. Really had a blast today on the ride, and it was a great group. 46mi of some of Columbia MO finest, and all within a very short ride of downtown. Very cool. Awesome day spent on the bike with awesome people. Not much better than that.
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Thirty

Today I rode to work, and the rode Home after work the long way for a total of 16mi. After The Storm's were off to Coach and Ashlors house for the pizza cookoff. I ate a ton of pizza(carb loading for tomorrows ride!), and it was awesome. Big ride tomorrow with some good people. Will bring camera for a proper end to month #1 of 12mo storm. See you tomorrow.
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Twenty Nine

Rode to work today and it was colder than shit. I just got home and know I have to go to bed so I can do it all over again at 5:30 tomorrow morning. It looks like it will also be a snow filled ride?! Pizza cookoff tomorrow night and bocomo ride Sunday. I am ready to throw down on some PIZZA!
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Twenty Eight

After my 4mi run it was time for some of the good stuff. I can quit drinking beer, but giving up coffee is not an option. Ever. Taft came by to have a cup and check out the new wheels.

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The new wheelset is here, and they are SWEET! Thanks to a good friend for the build. Truly a work of a true master! We have Chris King Hubs, laced to Velocity Blunts, with DT Swiss DB Spokes, and Brass nipples. I couldn't have built this wheelset without my sponsors The Hub, Velocity, and of course the Builder FB!



The build was almost totally murdered out, but I had to get that Green King...EeeWee!



I can't to get some Double Chubbs on these bad boys. Just wait till you see the Big Unit with these on it. Damn it looks real nice. Ride early tomorrow before work, then ride to work, and then ride home.
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Twenty Seven

Today was rest my rest day for the week, and whilst Chillin I saw this sweet vid on the Velocity Blog.


The title of this short film pretty much says it all!

Check it out, this dude gets really really EXTREME! I bet he downed a dew before attempting that jump. I also bet that shit hurt like hell when he overshot the transition and flat landed that bitch HARD. Ouch! I have a very interesting ride planned for tomorrow, and I will be sure to bring Camera and Garmin!
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Twenty Six

Today on my ride I was joined by Sasha and Taft for a wonderful 26mi gravel and road ride. I picked Taft up from work at 12:30pm and then we headed west to the Mound were the amazing Mrs. TTM,aka Sasha Petrosevitch,aka Wendy was meeting us at 1pm. We started to get dressed when Taft realized he had left his winter tights at home leaving him only his bib shorts! It was too cold for that shit, so he rocked the cords on this glorious gravel grinder. We also ran into the puncher of cocks at the Mound lot where he was on his way to Klondike for some Big Unit action.
Taft and Sasha pre ride. Check out Taft's cords.......CRUNCHY!

We headed out cxmas style and entered the Hamburg, then dropped into Lost Valley for some good Hills. We then crossed HWY 94 to get back on the katy. Rode the Katy to Terry Rd, and you know what that means. Climb city is what they should rename that beast. Up Terry and up Duke later we found the Matson Hill, but this time we were headed down that whopper of a climb. Down Matson and then back onto the katy all the way to the Hamburg again. Up the Hamburg and back to the Mound in just over 2hrs for a total of 26mi with tons of Climbs.
Top of Duke Rd. some scenic shit can be found in Augusta, MO.

It was an awesome day to be on the bike and a nice base for what I will turn into a 60mi ride over the next couple of months. Scott and Wendy both crushed it and we had an awesome time talking about this and last season. I can't wait to do this ride in some warmer weather. I think a Major One shakedown Hilly addition will be happening once it warms up. I am very eager to ride my MTB, but it is in pieces and the trails are trashed. The Major One has proven to be truly one incredible ride, so I at least have that till the BU is ready to roll again. Gravel ride this Sunday with Le Professeur! Holy shit I can't wait to ride some of the Bia's best gravel roads with the growing BOCOMO Seagal chapter, our latest sponsor Klunk and other people that don't suck. Good night.
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Twenty Five

Rode with J Cold today for a total of 15mi, it was a nice spin. Tomorrow Scott and I are headed out to ride some Katy. Will have some pics for sure.
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Twenty Four

Slept in, worked on the Big Unit some more, Katie's Dad came over to help with some house stuff, I Rode around the Hill(5mi) looking for lunch for Katie, Phil, and Myself...The hill shuts down on Sunday, but Mom's Deli was open! After lunch Katie and I rode over to my Mom's(6mi)to grab my bro, and then she rode to her parents (4mi). Scott and I then rode to Marshall Rd for some hill repeats(11mi), and then I rode over to Katie's rents for dinner(4mi). Katie and I then rode back home after dinner(another 4mi). It was a great day. I forgot the camera again, but remembered the Garmin for everything but the search for sandwich ride earlier. The weather actually got better throughout the day, and by the time we left her parents place it was amazing out. Ride Tomorrow and Tuesday for sure. That is all.
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Twenty Three

Totally overhaulin the Big Unit, and today I bleed the brakes, pulled the cranks, and removed the decals from my Reba. I hope to finish it up tomorrow, and a ride to Marshal rd for some hill repeats in the afternoon. Will post some pics for sure.
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Twenty Two

Today was my rest day! I needed it too, after a week filled with riding/running my legs were toast. Made Bison Whole Wheat Spaghetti for dinner and then Katie and I went to go see Up In the Air with my Mom, Brother, and friend Jeff. It was great. Here are my 3 Konas. I am hoping to grow this number by 1 soon, but will it be mine?!

My everyday bike, but this was my first Major One(Pre-Semi). I am now on #2, but still same great bike.

This is my latest(Kona Rat Track), and next build after my Big Unit's upgrades are done. I will be building this thing up over the next month. Will post before and after for both bikes soon. I can't wait till track season.

The best MTB I have ever ridden. Scandium tubes, 29in wheels, 1 gear, a Reba up front, and then throw in the best components thomson, king, avid, salsa! I ride because of this bike. I will post soon about my Fellet Brazed future wheelset build from our wonderful folk at Velocity! I will never have too many bikes. See you tomorrow.
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Twenty One

Today I,
Worked till 1pm, ran 4mi, and watched Gran Torino.
That is all.
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Twenty

Rode about 2.5hr today on the Major One. I rode without my Garmin because it was dead, but I figure it was about 30mi with a ton of climbing on/off road. First up was my Wife's Hill Route 11.5mi, then it was off to fopo for multiple laps hitting all the climbs both on the road, bike path, and the golf course. Some serious climbs on the golf cart path. It is like a paved xc course, and I know our good friend the Dr. used to train on it. On my way home from FOPO I stopped by a certain Toscani's home to view his new FB. Oh damn is it nice. Sparkle Sparkle. Ride tomorrow with Katie, and hopefully it is rain free.






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Nineteen

Today worked another 4am shift, came home and took a 3 hour nap, rode Katie's Hill Ride Route 11.5mi, and then came home and made the best warmup/recovery drink. Rishi Chai 1 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup of skim milk, 2tbsp loose chai tea, 1 tbsp honey, Boil, simmer, strain, and serve. Holy shit it is good. Ride tomorrow hopefully not in the rain, Ministor is coming in town, LAWMAN w/ Coarch and Co. See you tomorrow.
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Eighteen

Today I had inventory which meant I was at work at 2am this morning, so I was off around 11am. Given that the weather was in the low 40's Katie and I suited up and headed downtown and onto the MRT. We did just over 20mi, and given that my knee was on ice yesterday I felt great on the bike. No pain, stiffness, nuttin but power. This year is off to a great start, and I am ready for Ouachita! Can't fucking wait. Here are some pics from today.

Smog filled gloomy STL, but at least it was above freezing.

Katie posing with the Old Miss, the Old Man.
I will be riding solo tomorrow, so I am thinking a bigger ride for sure is in order.
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Seventeen

Woke up this morning around 6am and couldn't bend my knee without extreme pain, I had to really bite my lip to move it till about 10am after I had been Icing/elevating for a few hours. It no longer hurt, but it was stiff. I decided to take it easy and not risk injury. This is something that I learned 2 years ago when I blew out two disc in my lower back because off too much riding/working out through pain. Rest is important, there is always tomorrow. I instead listed a few things on ebay, cleaned my mtb, and switched out tires on the major one. No riding but at least I was productive on my day off. It will be a slow ride tomorrow to feel out my knee, but at least it will be a ride.
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Sixteen

Yesterdays post was part of my iphone/post training experiment. I meant to inlcude a link to HERE I went to pick up the goods. I also got another pair of THESE that will be laced to the Green Kings by Fellet sometime next week. Rode today with Katie into and around Webster for some errands. Tomorrow I won't be making the Rolla ride, but I have a good one in mind for another 40-50mi of mixed terrain. Road, Gravel, Fire Road, and even some Singletack? I am off to Chubb sometime tomorrow afternoon on the Major One. Till then go get yourself some of those coconut bars and thank me later.
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Fifteen

Today I picked up a few thingsShould have them built by next week. Rolls this Sunday, but I may have to shred some local gravel. I got some work todosround this old house. I'maboht to get all Bob Villa up in here. Forecast calls fif frozen roads tomorrow morning, so the ride to work should be interesting. Good night.
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Fourteen

Worked another 11hr day, did my run, and the cooked some salmon. Thinking about some marshal hill repeats tomorrow. Will post results.
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Thirteen

Rode 52mi today out to Old St. Chuck for lunch with our friend Val. The ride started with for of us Punchor, Scott, Josh P,and Me. Puncher turned around at CC Lake, and Josh did as well shortly after due to the snow/his road bike meet it's match. I was a good thing because the Katy section was pretty rough. Lots of fish tailing and splashin. We dined on some great food here, I had an Ice Tea...damn a beer would have been better. It was a nice 5hrs on the Major One today, and so far the biggest ride thus far of 2010. I hope this weather sticks around, here are some pics.

Twelve

The O. G.


Tonight I had nearly 30 emails when I got off work at 9pm, and spent most of the time reading/responding to those. Some interesting things already starting for the Team Seagal 2010 season. I am getting very excited for this year. Signed up for Syllamo's this year, and it will be my 3rd. Looking to beat both previous finishing times by a large margin. Stoked. Big ride tomorrow, will post photos and a more legit post.
Good night,
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Eleven

Today I was planning on a run and then some trainer time, but the weather was too nice for that shit. Scott rode over after work and we did hill repeats around my neighborhood. It is amzing the workout you can get just outside of my door. All you need is 1 hr, and you can jam a 10mi ride, with TONS! of climbing. You climb the same 3 hills everytime but the connecting the dots it the fun part. It has me think of a non race/ally cat style event this spring w/ BBQ to follow at my crib of course. Before heading back home after our ride Scott had to pose with my purple rocketship. This thing will be built soon, real soon.

Tomorrow I will be teaching my monthly cooking class, so I will be riding early before I have to go to work and cook up fish for the usual suspects. Wed the ride to St. Chuck and back is a go, and Scott will be joining me on this Mini Epic. We will be going to old town instead to meet a friend for lunch before turning around to head back East. Good Night.
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Ten

Today Katie and I rode 15mi through FP and U City, and to our suprise the temp was finally in the double digits. Not one part of me was cold, and we would have loved to ride more but we were short on time. Afterwards we went to her parents for a nice home cooked bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup. It was the BOMB. Off on Wed, and the plan right now is a ride on the Major One to Klondike and back. 80ish mi, and the weather is supposed to be in the 40's. I will be needing some fenders for the katy I am sure, but other than that it should be a nice base builder for the ever approaching 2010 OC. Looking more and more forward to the 2010 MTB race season, and so far this whole resolution thing is at it's 10 legit day. Tomorrow it's another run, followed by a little trainer time. Lastly I would like to thank Nico Toscani for the above photo of my new name badge. Pretty pro if you ask me. I like the umbrella. Till tomorrow.
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Nine

Off tomorrow, but tons of work to do around the house. Katie and I will be riding. More to come, SNL is on. Good night.
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Eight

Today was my rest day, and I was glad for that. 11hr work day followed by it being super cold outside again. Ride tomorrow and Sunday. I made poor mans filet mignon for dinner tonight (12oz Sirloin cut into 3oz medallions and then wrapped in applewood smoked bacon. Side of brown rice and some steamed veggies. Everything on the plate is Organic, and for desert we had some OG Honey Crisps Apple slices with some local honey. The we watched Mike Judge's latest film. If you have yet to see Extract, watch it now. I thought it topped office space. All in all I say today was a nice recovery day, and tomorrow it's back on the bike. Now go watch Extract. Good night.
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Seven

Today Coach met Me and Katie at our place and we then proceeded to FoPo for some snow ridin', and all around goood times. Really cold good times. It was cold as FUCK outside! We managed 11mi with a little bit of everything thrown in. Hillclimbs, hill bombs, cx course snow runs, tokyo drifts, crashes, and a stop at the Zoo to see Safety Phil(Katie's dad is the Zoo Safety Manager. Yeah pretty rad.) We rode home into what seemed like 30mph winds that were below freezing temps. So cold it was Amazing. All in all another pretty good day. This makes 7 days in a row with at least 10mi of outside rides for both Katie and Me. The trainer is still safe, but if it gets any colder than today I think the trainer might just have to get it's ass kicked. Enjoy a few pics from todays ride. Wanted to take more but the lobster mits made the camera hard to operate and there was no way those bad boys were coming off.


Mr. and Mrs. Storm

The Grand Basin, Art Hill, and 3 cold mofo's.

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Six

Rode 10mi today with Katie doing only south city hill repeats of Southwest, Arsenal, Sublete, and Macklind. The deal is ride to the Hill, ride down the hill and then up it, then down it and up it again, then ride to the next hill and repeat. I have been doing this ride since we bought our house 4yrs ago because the entire ride takes place within 1.5mi from our place and the you can do a ton in only an hour and be totally worked. It's snowing right now so that means tomorrow we will hit up fopo on the cx bikes. I will make sure to bring the camera as there is destin to be some funny shit that will happen. Tonight it's and early rise at 4am for ol'stormy, till tomorrow. Hope all the jerks that are riding around LV tonight on there hill bikes in the snow with lights...you are all a bunch of jerks. wish I was there.

Five

I hit the scale for the first time in a while, and It was at 240.6lbs. Pretty much what I had expected, so no suprise there. I will be focusing mostly this month onmy eating/excercing, and not really my weight. I also know that BF% is really more important, so I will going to see my old friend Andrew(licensed Nutritionist) in Feb for more help/advice. Until then I am following the same plan that he created for me two years ago(I am saving all money for my track and mtb, so poors mans plan for Jan.) Today Katie and I rode 11.5mi through the beautiful city of STL, and holy shit it was cold. We made it home in just over one hour, which is really good since this is only katies first solid month of being on the bike again. I did have to leave her in the dust however on our climb back to the crib on Sublete. I redlined it straight up that bitch. I am currently in the process of transforming my Big Unit, so the next time you see that thing it may have a nice new wheelset and some other tasty parts. I will leave you till tomorrow with this little diddy I read from a friends blog today. Bob Jerkins wrote:

I called my buddy Luke for some guidance, and he told me this story about Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez:


When Cortez and his men arrived on the shores of the Yucatan, he rallied them for one final pep talk before leading them into battle. These three words changed the course of history: “Burn the Ships”. He met with resistance from his men. "Burn the ships," he repeated. He then said, "If we are going home, we are going home in their ships". With that, Cortez and his men burned their own ships, and by burning their own ships the commitment level of the men was raised to a whole new level.
Whoa, those were some baaad mofos.

Holy shit Bob and I are going to kick all your asses this season....Ahhahhahahahaha!
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Four

The 2010 Kona Rat aka The Penrose Killa




Got this bad boy from Cory at Kona a few weeks ago, and I will be building it up very soon. Holy shit this thing is the shit, and it's PURPLE! Today was the official full blown day of the new training regimen. For breakfast I had a bowl of redmill hot cereal, a fat free yogurt, and two french presses of the black stuff and 2 glasses of water. Lunch 6oz Baked Chicken breast, brown rice, steamed stir fry veggies, and you guessed it moar coffee and moar water. Last but not least for dinner 6oz chicken breast baked, steamed asparagus, and brown rice and 3 glasses of water. Snacked on some almonds between meals, ate about a handful throughout the day. Never felt hungry, had tons of energy, and I am real glad I like chicken. I am following the same plan I have from my Nutritionist 2 years ago, and that year I lost 33lbs bringing me down to my all time low of 218lbs over the past 8 years. I am not stopping like I did that year however, so I am glad I like eating healthy. But damn it's not very fun, but at least it's tasty. Tomorrow it's my first run, afternoon cx ride with kt, and official weigh in #1. Will post full results tomorrow. The FB will be on the trainer, and the basement will be complete and ready for action by this weekend! I am ready for some serious gravel rides this winter.

Three

2009 Top 1O moments spent on two wheels.


Herman CX 2nd CX race IN 2009 for me and it was a super fun/hard course. Can't wait till 2010 CX

ULTRALITE Bikepacking at its best....Thanks TTM!!! Major One Shakedown #1, "Streaks on the china"

TEAM SEAGAL MKE RIP 2008-2009. Good luck Haymakers, can't wait to sport your colors!

Go Penrose! My first season of track racing, and I am hooked for life!!! Just wait till you see my Kona Rat...it i sin my basement as I write this!!!!Holy shit!

VAMPIRE 100 RIDE 2009

Base miles!!! Look at our silly roadbikes!?! My FB makes my all day mtb epics possible. I plan to really get to know FB this winter!

WOMBLE, Ouachita Challenge 09. Broken chain, 13mi hike a bike, and still with a sub 9finish! This year it's sub 8hr for Stormy. I said it here first!

THE DR. Anytime you rode with this Jerk, you knew it was going to be a good ride! hope to do the Whiskey Offroad in 2011.

KONAS! These are the machines that allow me to live the dream, Single and with a big unit. Just kidding Katie?! I love my bike.

SSWC09 Durango CO. The best mtb trip of my life to date, with the best bunch of friends I have. Rode our bikes in colorado for 10 days. What could be better than that?! Nothing. That is it for 2009, and onto 2010. I am so grateful for my team, my friends, and my family. I am looking forward to the 2010 MTB season more than I ever have. It all starts tomorrow. The training, the runnin, the riding will all make 2010 the best yet. I have done this same thing every year for the past 2 years, but this time I am blogging about my travels. Taking it to the next level, and doing so with the best team/sponsors/friends I have ever known. Let the games begin.
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Two

Here are my "confirmed" 2010 MTB races:

MAR 28 Ouachita Challenge, AR

APR 18 Bone Bender 3/6, MO

MAY 1 Syllamos Revenge, AR

JUN 6 Brown County State Park, IN

JUL 17 Levis Trow 100, WI....main target!

AUG 14 RIM, MO(Coach let's not fuck around and get that #1 spot this year!!!plus it's also my 29th birthday that day)

SEPT 4 Tall Oak 3/6, MO

OCT 9 Burnin, MO

OCT 23 Berryman Epic, MO

I am sure I will add one or two, but I am pretty much set on the 9 above. I would like to maybe get one 3hr in before Ouachita(St. Joe?), but my main focus will be on the Levi 100. I am going to make that my main focus on the mtb, then it's track, racing for fun the rest of the season, and putting a major focus on CX....yeah I am already thinking of 2010 cx! Tomorrow after work I will be putting the final touches on my secret training room, and Monday it all begins. Tonight its Blackthorne Pub Deep Dish! Oh snap.

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One

Well the title pretty much sums up what I am trying to complete here with this blog, and I figured I would share this new year with whomever chooses to read this thing. For most of my life(15 yrs) I have been riding bikes, I got my first "real" mtb when I was 13, rode Chubb for the first time a week later, and the rest is history. I have played competitive sports my entire life, and when I was done with school and there was no more College Lacrosse I needed to find another form of competition. Racing bikes has since filled that void for the past 8 years, and since then I have done pretty well for a 240lb guy. I have finished some of the toughest endurance races in the midwest, but that is just it....finished....not won......placed ok......but never won any. Maybe it's because I ride a SS, maybe it's because I really don't care too much about winning, or maybe it really is something that you can't do when you are a fat cyclist. I ride as much if not more than most people I know, but I recover probally more than anyone else as well. I always tell people that if I didn't ride bikes I would be 400lbs, and that's no joke. If you looked at my calories in vs calories burned I would be in big trouble if I took out all my riding. I love to cook, eat, and drink beer of all kinds. There is a reason Pabst was my number sponsor choice when we started TEAM SEAGAL, it is one of my favorite beers. Since I graduated Highschool I have gained 60lbs, lost 40 of it, and then gained it back 2 years ago when I was off the bike from 2 ruptured disc in my back. The past 2 seasons I have been fluctuating in the 220-240lb, but this year it's on. I have my 10 year highschool reunion this fall, and when I graduated I weighed 185lbs. This blog will follow me each day in my quest to get back to the weight I was 10 years ago. I know at that weight I can probally be very competitive on my SS, and I might even have a shot at winning some of the races I do each year. I don't really know what I am doing, but I am going to get there no matter what. I will have fun riding my bike as always, and hopefully I can discover some new things about myself and others from this blog. As of right now that plan is this. No alcohol of any kind for the next 2 months(this one is actually pretty easy as it will be my third year with this winter time tradition.), I am also going to be running 3 times a week, riding a ton as always, and seeing a nutritionist for the hardest part of all of this the dreaded diet. I started the no alcohol today, but don't start the rest till monday. Tonight we had Porters fried chicken, jack salmon, gizzards, jalapeno poppers....you get the picture. Tomorrow is Pizza, and then our favorite Chinese take out on Sunday. I am getting the good stuff while I still can, and come Monday it's chicken breast and steamed broccoli for me. Only 364 more post to go, and when I get to 365 I will be the same person in a smaller faster package. I look forward to what this year has in store for TSM, and will be seeing you on the trails.