Life Viewed from a Bike

Monarch Crest and Crested Butte

2011-09-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

This is what makes mountain biking in Colorado so very amazing. Welcome to Summer in the High Country.

*click on the pics for a larger size...formatting is a little off

#1 Lake Irwin

#2 Dike Trail Entance

#3 Monarch Crest

Ascending Mt. Lemmon

2011-02-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

In 1,000 foot gradients.

The base of the Catalina Highway starts at just about 3000 feet and very close to every 4 miles after this you gain another 4000 feet. A gradual climb from sea to sky. Transitioning from desert landscape filled with Saguaro to Alpine forest reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest complete with stands of Douglas Fir and some Quaking Aspens.

Going up!

Riding in Bend

2011-01-24T21:51:00.000-08:00

Bend is a special place for me. When I left Austin in 2006 I figured I would spend two weeks in Boulder and then go check out Bend. Well I never really made it past the Awesomeness of Colorado. In 2009 I ventured out there to race Pacific Crest and to pay a visit to the place that I thought I may have called home (still might!). Bend is a beautiful place to ride both road and trails. I've since been there three more times and really enjoy the place. Hope you enjoy the pics!

Green River Valley, Wind Rivers, Wyoming

2010-08-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

from the two leg files

Nederland Trails

2010-06-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Crooked Creek Pass

2010-06-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

From the two sticks (skis) file.... Mount Bachelor Panorama

2010-05-18T09:54:00.001-07:00

Click on photo to enlarge

Big Island Riding.... again :)

2009-09-27T23:24:00.001-07:00

West Coast Riding

2009-08-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Guest appearance here by Chris "Crash" Tremonte.

Chris just rode from Seattle to San Francisco. As this is somewhat of a popular cycling culture touring thing to do, and that it falls under his view from two wheels, thought i'd post it here.

Day - 1 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-one-redmond-to-kelso.html
Day - 2 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-two-kelso-to-tillamook.html
Day - 3 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-three-tillamook-to-florence.html
Day - 4 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-four-florence-to-sunset-bay.html
Day - 5 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-five-sunset-bay-sp-charleston-or-to.html
Day - 6 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-six-harris-beach-sp-brookings-or-to.html
Day - 7 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-seven-elk-prairie-to-burlington.html
Day - 8 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-eight-burlington-campground-to.html
Day - 9 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-nine-mackerricher-to-stillwater.html
Day - 10 http://christremonte.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-ten-stillwater-cove-to-san.html

Bend Oregon and the Cascades

2009-07-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

Brainard Lake Climb

2009-06-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

High Country Spin Part I

2009-05-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

High Country Spin Part II

2009-05-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

High Country 4/29

2009-04-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

From the two leg files. It might only be a 30 minute jaunt to the west but escaping into the Indian Peaks Wilderness brings with it a lot of peace.

Ready to Run?

2009-04-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

....South Boulder Creek Trail. My daily (and sometimes twice daily) staple.

Sabino Canyon

2009-04-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

...from the two leg files.

Hard Work on Mt. Lemmon

2009-04-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

Great view, eh Jacqui? ;-)

Mom... the rockstar!!!

2009-04-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

...from the two leg files... hike at Caribou Ranch last week. I love the High Country.

Oro Valley Pool

2009-03-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

From the two arm files ;-)

Tucson and Mount Lemmon

2009-03-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Greg Schwendinger for these... a precursor to posse camp down in T,AZ next week.

My Current Desktop... Teller Farms at Sunset

2009-03-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

from the two legs files

Ttile Pic

2009-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Mike Guzek for this pic from the 4th of July up on Peak to Peak Highway. It was 105 down on the plains but up high... it was cool and perfect. Soaking up the high country. :)

Guest Pic Post: Snowy Flarirons

2009-02-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Rick Lapinski for passing this along.

Views from other bikes...

2009-02-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

I am REALLY suprised at how quickly this blog has taken off. In short order it's getting as many if not more hits then my multisport blog. At some point the frequency of posting is going to drop off. I don't have 365 images of my own to post so I'd like to ask that anyone out there that has a really great shot taken from the back of a bike or whilst running or hiking send it to me at markvanakkeren -at- gmail -dot com and I'll have a look over them and post some up here.

Thank you,

Mark Van Akkeren

South Mopac (ATX: Time Trial land)

2009-02-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

ATX night ride

2009-02-20T20:54:00.000-08:00

Austin Town Lake

2009-02-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

Camp Pendelton Marine Base

2009-02-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

McDonald Observatory, Mount Locke, Davis Mountains, Texas

2009-02-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

Hook'em!

...it's what i do

2009-02-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

Russian River Valley

2009-02-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the Vineman course.

Longs Peak

2009-02-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

Life in a small town

2009-02-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

... as seen at Lyons, CO park.

Davis Mountains, Texas

2009-02-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

The climb to McDonald Observatory outside Fort Davis, Texas.

Old Mamalahoa Hwy

2009-02-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

Mount Magazine, Arkansas

2009-02-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

When it's 100 degrees out and no wind, 2000 feet of climbing can be a doozy. A bit cooler up top though, which was nice.

Happy now Rob? ;-)

Magnolia Road

2009-02-04T14:27:00.001-08:00

Can just as easily be cross or mtb bikes but yet again another from the 2 legs files.

Estes Park and RMNP

2009-02-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

Longs Peak viewed from Brainard Lake

2009-02-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

*from the 2 legs files

Teller Farms Sunset

2009-02-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

*from the 2 legs files

View from Mount Scott... yes... it's in Oklahoma

2009-01-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Road to Hawi

2009-01-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

...or in this case... from Hawi

Trail 401: Gothic, Colorado

2009-01-29T05:58:00.000-08:00

Kohala Mountain Road

2009-01-28T00:11:00.001-08:00

Greetings

2009-01-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome,

This blog (or plog? picture-blog?) is to be a place where I can share some of the the amazing images that I have captured from the various adventures I have had on my bike. I've been fortunate enough to have ridden in some beautiful and incredible places, ranging from The Rocky Mountains in my backyard of Colorado to the top of the world in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to Sky Islands in the Sonoran Desert. Stop on by and check in every now and again to see what's new or what I've pulled from the archives.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

MVA