Author: Chris Baddick
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Embracing the pervasive cold
The pervasive cold has been reassuring. Settling into the routine of walking the dog in winter boots and ski gloves has breathed new life into the winter. The mad oscillations of temperature on the Front Range must be embraced in order to survive here, but some settled weather is appreciated, too. Embracing those elements and […]
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24 hours in San Francisco.
With so little time to stop and feel what life is like in San Francisco, I’m forced to rush through my single free day here. Skimming across the surface of this place with the hordes of other tourists. It’s not that I think my touristing is inherently different from those around me. It’s that I […]
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Getting above treeline for the last time this season
The Colorado Trail is a winding high alpine route that traverses over 500 miles through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Durango. While there are a few hardy souls that take on the entire thing in one go, it’s more normally ridden in small little chunks. Starting from Kenosha Pass is one of the more […]
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2017 Mountain Bike Season – It’s a Wrap!
And just like that, Spring has turned into late Autumn, and my mountain bike season is over for another year. I raced 34 days in 2017, my most ever. The season didn’t go to plan in every aspect, but the process of looking back has been really helpful. I improved on the competitive side, and saw […]
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Breck Epic Equipment Check
Eight days of racing in Colorado is hard on equipment. Once upon a time, I had a reputation for destroying bikes and equipment faster than I could earn money to buy it. Luckily those days are over, but I do occasionally relapse into smasher mode. Having a supportive shop and mechanic makes it a lot easier […]
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2017 Steamboat Stinger – On the hunt for a second Stetson
Standing on the top step of the podium at the 2016 Steamboat Stinger was a great achievement for me. I’d been in pursuit of the illusive first-place cowboy hat for a few years, and I’d watched as Russell Finsterwald and Alex Grant took the prize instead. After winning last year, I felt like I’d validated […]
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Some musings on novelty
“All we really know about the future is that it will be different. And all we fear is that it will be the same.” It’s the search for different that drives me, and when I realise I’m chasing something I’ve already achieved, it’s very difficult for me to stay motivated. That makes being an athlete […]
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Andorra World Cup: Descending with your dropper post up
There’s always that brief thought that flashes across your mind when you’re in over your head. It goes something like this, “This is really stupid. This is going to hurt really badly. It’s too late to do anything about it.” While that thought has been a great learning tool for every teenage boy ever, preventing […]
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Angel Fire ProXCT – successfully suffering in the thin air
It was a shock to the system to head up to Angel Fire for the ProXCT. It’s been awhile since I’ve raced at proper high altitude, and it doesn’t get much higher than the 2800-metre high point here. I’ve raced well here in the past though, and know I can normally push on through well […]
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Carson City Offroad – some takeaways from a deflating day in Nevada
This was my first trip to the Carson City Offroad; the final stop in the three-race Epic Rides series. These epic rides events always find quirky towns to host the races, and Carson City is no exception. It’s got a very similar feel to Prescott (home of the Whiskey 50). It’s an “Old West” town, […]