Life as it is today

HTML ALT VS Title

I was reviewing one of the company's websites yesterday and noticed there are many of the same images uploaded to the server. So, I started thinking about how I could help better organize and optimize the site. Instead of uploading multiple images to the wordpress site, use 1 image then insert individual title tag, alt tag, and be certain it's named appropriately.

Like this.

1. src=“red-outdoor-jpg” is the image file (or source) that is being displayed on the page.
2. alt=“Our red outdoor sweaters are on sale now!” is the images alt text, which stands for alternate text. Its purpose is to describe the image textually so that search engines and screen readers (software used by the visually impaired) can understand what the image is.
3. title=“Red Outdoor Sweater” is the image title, which as the name implies, is the title of your image.

Sketch

I'd like to give Sketch a try. Seems to be the growing trend of designer's tools.

Slack - Where work happens

Communication is a very important piece to corporate culture. If the communication isn't flowing freely then the culture will suffer. One hand will not know what the other is doing and in business, that's bad. Enter Slack.

I haven't tried it but would love to for the sake of building company culture.

2013 - Oh how times have changed.

Sometime late 2013 was my last post. It's time we get this train back on the tracks. Update the content. Update the purpose. Finally, update you on the past few years.

1. I sold my Santa Cruz Blur
2. I sold my 2013 Salsa Mukluk
3. I purchased a 2016 Kona Jake
4. Purchased a 2016 Salsa Mukluk GX1 Sus
5. We had another baby... a girl :)

I still have the 2011 Salsa Fargo. I've thought about selling it many times but I really think it gets better with age. There are parts that I wouldn't mind upgrading. The shifters, breaks, and wheels. That's most of it I suppose.

Last year I competed in the Gold Rush Gravel Grinder and the Dakota five-o. And, I guess the 28 Below too. I'm not going to make the 28 Below since it's over our anniversary weekend but will make the other two for certain.

The gravel grinder was tough. I was not in long distance cycling shape and it was over 100 degrees outside. I signed up for the 110 but took a short-cut and ended at around 80+ miles. It was enough.

The new Mukluk is going to be my do-it-all mountain bike this year. I may build up some 29" wheels to put on it for summer riding but haven't really decided yet. It'll depend on what the fat feels like with suspension.

Custer Peak - Global Fatbike Day

Started at 22 below zero. We rode from Mystic Hills Hideaway to snowmobile trail 7 and up to Custer Peak. I was hot and tired so I didn't summit. The ride was amazing. I was also amazingly slow but the time and effort was completely worth it.

Gear - 2014 Salsa Mukluk 2
Bottoms -
Under Armor base layer
Columbia base layer pants
Under Armor fleece pants

Top - 
Under Armor base layer
Target cycling jersey
Twin Six Thermal jacket
Solomon ski coat

Feet -
1400 gram hunting boots
Danner Wool Socks

Hands - 
Thinsulate glove mittens
Cabelas pogies

I was way too hot. I could probably be fine with losing the Solomon ski coat for those temps. I also need windproof breathable pants. Lose the Under Armor fleece ones and go for something with wind protection and moisture management.

Excited for more. The ride was about 2 hours and maybe covered 5-6 miles.

Gold Rush Gravel Grider

There is a new race in town. The Gold Rush Gravel Grinder.

Like many other races that are popping up around, this one takes to the gravel and public access roads in the Northern Black Hills. It looks like there is a 110 mile option and a shorter 70 mile option. The Grinder looks mostly self-supported although there will be multiple water stations but food must be supplied.

I'm struggling with the thought of going for the full 110 or the shorter 70 mile option. The race leaves from Spearfish park and rolls to Trailshead Lodge for the half-way point of the long option. I know if you go from Spearfish to Trailshead, there is some significant rise in elevation. I have a general idea how one could get from one point to the other but that's on more snowmobile trails.

Seems this could be fun either way you throw it. I have the Salsa Fargo and all the gear to make it a fun ride. The question is if I'll be ready.

What do you have going on June 8, 2013? If you didn't know... now you do. Sign up today!

I need to as well.

To fat or not to fat

I've been living in a struggle for the last couple months. I borrowed one of these from my LBS this past summer. I had a good time on it. My wife rode it around a little on a trail close to Deerfield and I think she enjoyed it. The Mukluk was ridden on M-hill for a while to test it's abilities and all was well.

Now the problem is that I want to go fat. However, do I need to make this other purchase. Don't get me wrong, a bike purchase is never a bad purchase but I don't get the opportunities to ride my 2 other bikes as much as I'd like. There are dreams of snow biking dancing around in my head... but then again, when do I have time to go snow biking? I don't take the time to go regular biking, touring, mt. biking, etc... Should I wait?

Crap.

Dakota Five-o by dclements0 at Garmin Connect - Details

The Dakota Five-o was finally a success for me. Although my previous time was below 7 hours, this year's time finally made it below the 6 hour mark. Leading into it I didn't know if I would be able to make it or not. I used some advice I got and just kept moving. I had 2 water bottles and stopped just long enough at each aid station to fill the empty. I don't think I spent longer than a minute at any one stop.

Most of the race I felt really good. My legs felt strong and my lungs felt good too. I can't say I was overly fast but I felt strong enough which made me quite happy since my longest ride this summer to date has been 22 miles on the road.

Next year I'm hoping for under 5 hours. I think that may get into some actual training and more long rides. We'll see. I must admit that it was really nice being done before it got hot.

Dakota Five-o by dclements0 at Garmin Connect - Details

Preparation

Centennial Trail between Elk Creek and Alkali

Yesterday I was able to make a small prep run for the Dakotafive-o. I only rode for a couple hours but they were quality. I haven't downloaded the data yet but there was much climbing involved. I started at the Alkali Creek Trailhead and rode up Bulldog and continued on a few miles towards Elk Creek Trailhead on the Centennial Trail.

I've never been past the top of bulldog before and I have to tell you, it's a doozy. Much climbing is involved between that little section. Long downhills make for long uphills. The trail was beautiful though. Not that there were sweeping views but just much green foliage everywhere. There were also a couple of creek crossings which turned out to be dry.

I'm unsure about my readiness for the five-o but I don't have much choice. I have to do it and my goal will remain under 6 hours. If I don't make it, no big deal but it sure would be fun. I put in a lot of time at the beginning of the year which fell off during June and parts of July. Since then I've been riding or commuting a couple times a week. Usually logging close to 50-60 miles per week so I should be ok. We'll see.