GoPro mounting hack - FAIL

I tried shooting with the GoPro while coming down Independence Pass.  The camera was mounted using the hack I had posted about here and here.  Unfortunately, I forget one thing... a band that helps the mount stay in place in the luggage block.  You can see in the video that I had to stop a few times to re-secure the mount, and eventually it fell off the block.  The GoPro case landed in such a way that it really scratched up the lens, so no more video from the rest of the trip.  Here is what I have of the video for your enjoyment / constructive criticism / laughter. 

Yo Colorado! Part 3: Bonus - New Belgium Brewery

I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a tour of the New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  Tours usually book up weeks in advance... I got the last spot for pretty much the only day I could go, and they were able to accommodate my buddy Saul, even though he didn't have a reservation.

Instead of me writing on the history of New Belgium, I'll let you read their version here if you want to.

One of the most impressive things about the company is that it is employee owned, so everyone has a stake in making a quality product and everyone profits when they do well.  They are consistently named as one of the best places to work in America by Outside Magazine.

They are also very energy conscious, capitalizing on opportunities for not only minimizing energy loss through innovative processes, but also utilizing alternative sources of energy.  New Belgium was the first brewery to harness wind power in the United States.

New Belgium is the third largest craft brewery in the United States, behind Samuel Adams and Sierra Nevada.  But New Belgium is only sold in 28 states, while the other two are sold in all 50 states.  Apparently lots of big names in the industry had taken tours just to see what all the hype was about, namely Guinness and Samuel Adams.

In addition to checking out the big machines used in the brewing process, we got to sample a few types of beer, including sour La Folie.  Sounds gross, but it's actually very good if you give it a chance.

On to the pics!

New Belgium Brewing HQ

A slide and a foosball table?  What kind of business is this?

How many bottles on the lamp?  I think it was 154 if I remember correctly

Electric car pump

Rare La Folie sour brown ale

Massive oak barrels for some of their more experimental beers

Badge of honor

The enzymes and $#*% are collaborating together to make some kind of mixture...

Hmm...beeeer.

Salud! or Prost! or something.

Spongebob Squarepants

Decisions, decisions

These are the company issued bikes after your first year of employment.

With the new headbadge, we are now kindred spirits.  And share magical powers.

Yo Colorado, Part 2 - US Pro Challenge

In this installment of my Colorado trip is about the 2012 US Pro Cycling Challenge.  The tour took place from August 20 to August 26 and went throughout the state.  This was my first time spectating a cycling race and it is remarkably similar to the WRC and SCCA rally races I used to frequent.  The following is the list of stages I saw and the accompanying photos I took:

Stage 3 - Gunnison to Aspen: This was the first stage I spectated.  Saul and I tried to beat the racers up Independence Pass on our bikes.  Yeah... that didn't happen.

Glamour shot!

Stage 4 - Aspen to Beaver Creek:  I got to check out all the teams before they started off.  Great atmosphere!

Run BMC

Mine can go in the hatch.

Finally!  Someone interesting to interview!

There's gotta be room for a unicycle!

Cycling legend George Hincapie.  This was his final race event, aka retirement party!

Stage 4 leader (and eventual winner) Christian Vandevelde.

Start line

Stage 5 - Breckenridge to Colorado Springs:  Again, we just hung out around the start and enjoyed ourselves.

Nice spectator area in Breckenridge.

Stage 6 - Golden to Boulder:  We spectated in downtown Boulder.

Peloton being lead by BMC

Oi!

Stage 7 - Denver Time Trial:  The time trial course circled downtown Denver and we were fortunate enough to catch the start and finish of the race leaders.

Levi Leipheimer

Christian Vandevelde

Tejay van Garderen

Tom Danielson

Yo Colorado! - Part 1

While I was jealous of those who were participating in the Brompton World Championship, I had to make do with the US Pro Challenge in Colorado.  This trip will be written in two or three parts, since there's a bunch of photos I'd like to put up.

I made use of my recently acquired B&W hard case and brought the Brompton along.  As I had mentioned before, I had to take off my Brooks saddle, which I wrapped in my riding shorts for protection.

I also covered the folding pedal with an old sock to prevent it from scratching the frame (again).

Here's the case loaded up...

When I arrived in Denver, everything was still intact.

One day my buddy Saul Mora (head honcho for iOS app developer Magical Panda) and I rode from Highland Ranch to downtown Denver, which was something like 25 miles one-way.  Here's some pics from that excursion:

Bicycle stairway to heaven!  We don't see these in Tucson!

Surprisingly, it takes more effort to wheel a bike down the stairs than up it.

Cuernavaca Park, right in the middle of downtown Denver!

Saul sucking some water.

Cherry Creek Reservoir

Cold filtered!

I must say that I am impressed with the hundreds of miles of bike paths in Colorado that are detached from car traffic.  It was a wonderful experience to cycle without having to constantly worry about being hit by cars.  I think I rode about 120 miles during my trip.  Also, no goatheads to worry about (although my Flat Attack would have probably taken care of them)!

Part 2 coming soon!