HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR FROM ADDICTED TO BICYCLES

HAPPY NEW YAER!

As each year goes by, I feel more and more like this guys looks, cigarette and all...."what a drag it is getting old"

DUUUUUUUUDE, I WISH I WAS LIKE 18 AGAIN LIKE YA KNOW?

CHECK OUT THE SELF PROCLAIMED "WORLDS TOUGHEST CHICK" ON ATTEMPT NUMBER TWO...BRUTAL SLAP DOWN!

NEW CX BIKE FOR 2008....THIS THING WILL RIP OVER THE BARRIERS!

AND I THOUGHT I HAD ALOT OF FREE TIME

AND THEN THERE IS THIS AMAZING VIDEO FROM THE HELMET CAM OF JIM GENTES

Amazingly enough, this guy started at the back of my group in our KCCX National Championship bid, he started in about 50th place and finished 6th. Check out the windblown snow on the frozen road at the start...IT WAS GNARLY! Jim had some amazing skills this day as evidenced by his start here and taking so many riders, including myself 1:04 of the video when I got "pinched" to the outside on the left, ya can't miss the Red Coat! Super cool video and a great memory.

THANKS FOR THE "MORE COWBELL" FANS!

SUPER TRIPLE TOP SECRET HYDRATION PLAN REVEALED

This is Uma K. Super cool roadie snow kitty who resides in Portland, Oregon, home to world class cyclocross freeks and also now the home of Eagle County transplant Ryan McFarling, who most definitely was born with the mentally deficient Cyclocross Gene.

Anyway, Uma let me in on this triple top secret Portland hydration program, head to the mountains outside Portland on a day when it is DUMPING snow and consume as many snowflakes before they hit the ground as you possibly can, this in turn will turn you into mega strong fast barrier hopping cross racer person. Funny, I thought the program was to consume as many Guinness as possible during the week and show up at the race with your eyes looking like piss holes in the snow to be successful, maybe it's time for a new program? Thanks Uma, you da bomb!

DO NOT MISS MY PICK OF THIS YEAR'S DICKWEED OF THE YEAR COMING SOON!

HEY LOOK AT ALL THOSE ELK!!

THE EAGLE RANCH ELK HEARD

4 BACK HOES 200 YARDS AWAY, I GUESS PRETTY SOON THESE ELK WILL BE ABLE TO EAT A BURGER AND DRINK A BEER AT THE BREW PUB BEFORE CATCHING A MOVIE....SWEET.

THE VIEW OF THE ELK HEARD BEHIND HEAVY EQUIPMENT

I find it simply amazing while looking at these pictures I took today in Eagle Ranch that the "open space" just outside of Eagle Ranch is closed to recreational activity certain times of the year due to the fact that the powers that be, who sleep with the corporate monster that are responsible for monopolizing the Eagle Ranch concept, seem to make rules which cater to their own wants and needs. Seems the public is guilty of disturbing these ELK during calving season in the public "open space". I've been told that "we" stress the animals out too much to allow us to use the public land we pay to use. Funny, at a time when these Elk need to be flourishing while foraging for food during the winter months so they can be strong enough to calve in "open public" space during the spring time, they have been forced to feed on this soccer field and seek refuge from the construction which continues to crush their winter habitat. But no biggie right? As long as the developers continue to make the big bucks, it's all OK. I mean, how on earth do you get the ok to dig GIANT holes in a winter Elk Habitat, and get shut down for rolling silently on single track on fat, soft, rubber tires? Go figure. This herd of Elk is so stressed out with people gauking at them while walking their dogs both leashed and unleashed all day while at the same time losing all of their food habitat it's a bloody joke to think the Mt Bikers of this community are disturbing them in the spring when they head for the dark timber far away from any single track which has ever been ridin. But ya know, as long as you are under the covers on the right side of the bed, it's all good, right folks?

MERRY CHRISTMAS THROW BACK STYLE...MY FAV.

BATTERED AND BROKEN IN KANSAS CITY AT NATIONALS

I like to think it takes a severe pounding to knock me down, well, this pic shows me "there". The course at KCCX Nationals this year simply crushed me. At start time, 12 degrees, 20-30 knot steady winds, and snowing like a motha. Having been battered for two laps slamming into the frozen ground, the officials mercifully "pulled" me after being lapped by Ned Overend as he headed out for his final lap. Even Ned crashed twice, suffering a shoulder injury and lacerations, but he held on for the victory by just under a minute, what a tough bastard he is. It was an honor just to line up against the guy.

and check out this Larry Rosa Photo from KCCX day two

Now that is CX! This was FROZEN SOLID for the next day's race

THE WEATHER CONTRAST IN KC, 4 PICS, 4 DIFFERENT DAYS

day 1 day 2


day 3 day 4


day bummer

THE VENUES AND COURSES OF CULT CROSS 2008

THIS IS WHERE WE WILL

"FLOG OURSELVES LIKE RENTED MULES"

MARCH 15TH, 2008

EAGLE FAIRGROUNDS

MARCH 16TH, 2008

GYPSUM REC CENTER

APRIL 5TH, 2008
NOTTINGHAM PARK IN AVON
SUBJECT TO WET GROUNDS PER TOWN OF AVON IN WHICH CASE WE WILL RACE IN EAGLE AGAIN.

I THINK I'LL STICK TO CYCLOCROSS, HOLY CRAP.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO CROSS, CHECK THIS OUT, MAKE CULT CROSS YOUR FIRST!

AND ON A LIGHTER, MIKE MATZKO STACKIN IT ON ENDO ALLEY TWICE

GROSSMAN ON THE CHAOS TRAIN....

GETTING READY TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN ONTO THE

"OFF CAMBER HILL OF DEATH"

IN THE 40+ B RACE

NOTICE NOTHING BUT ICE OR MUD ON THE GROUND?

CMON DUDE, I'VE GOT MORE RED COATS IN FRONT OF ME.

and everything in Kansas was covered with half inch of ice all weekend, including my ass...

HOLY CRAP! I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE CAUGHT TREBON'S CRASH ON VIDEO

OK CROSS FREAKS, HERE IT IS!

DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION RYAN TREBON GETS HAMMERED HEAD ON AT NATIONALS.

OFF SEASON TRAINING MEALS BEGIN IN KC

THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

NOTHING LIKE A TRIP TO CABELA'S IN KANSAS CITY

So we get to our hotel, and the next exit has a Cabela's super store. Charlie and Burnsy have never been so I force feed a little good old boy, mid-american shopping on them. My favorite item in the 10,000 square foot store was this "kids toy" complete with a buck whose head moved when the jeep moved forward....notice the classy license plate. Pretty cool eh? So while the perfect little kids in the Vail Valley are playing video games, soccer and having there bed time stories read to them, the kiddies in Kansas are learning how to tie down and drive a half dead deer around on the hood of their Jeep CJ and learning how to grow corn and shoot pheasants, Kansas Rocks.

FIND THE THREE TURKEYS IN THIS PICTURE
(kind of like "where's waldo")

AND MORE STUPID AND MISCELLANEOUS VIDEO FROM KC NATIONALS...

WELCOME TO THE ICE BOWL OF CYCLOCROSS IN KC
MORNING OF DAY 1....PRE RACE.

BURNSY PINNING THE JERSEY

FREEZIN ASS BEFORE THE U23 RACE

AND SINGLESPEED MAYHEM WITH THE REDCOATS.....the reference to the "pile up"...is none other than the boys, CB and Burnsy.

BURNSY TALKS ABOUT THE CRASH

CULT CROSS T-SHIRTS ARE IN....

The first order of CULT CROSS t-shirts has arrived. I have limited numbers but will order more if I move all of these. Price for this RAD t-shirt is $20 for locals. $25 for shirts I have to ship out. The first order actually came from a fan in KC this weekend. Shirts are Champion brand and 100% heavy cotton...a sweet dig!

TO PLACE ORDERS E-MAIL ME AT

CULTCROSS2008@YAHOO.COM

OR CALL ME.

JAKE WELLS IN PURSUIT, ONE TO GO

Jake Wells chasing down the legend Steve Tilford, not only chasing him down later in the lap, but disposing of him on the last lap and taking him by a minute or so....Tilford never knew what hit him.

"Game on like Donkey Kong"

"Flogging himself like a rented mule"

The sprint to the line, dropping the pretenders.

Hopper, Wells and Wells...Jake Wells that is

PROUD POPPY
PHOTO MIA SULLIVAN

happy endings are awesome...

A TYPICAL START IN KC...

CHARLIE BROWN START, CHAMPIONSHIP AGE GROUP RACE.
This was the typical chaos at the start of every race coming into this corner off the pavement as riders battled for the "hole shot" to the dirt...fun stuff ladies and gentleman, bring out your extra large balls if you are gonna line it up, and be sure to have good health insurance.

And David Burn's Start in his National Championship bid, the start.

AND EVEN THE PRO FIELD STACKED IT....

JEREMY POWERS STACKS IT BELOW INTO THE SRAM FENCE
(HE WAS ABOUT 5TH WHEEL WHEN HE ATE IT)

And then there is my start on the frozen tundra of Kansas City, a solid start, followed by a series of linked disasters on the two miles of frozen mud ruts. And for the record, NED KICKED MY ASS.
Here are the results

http://www.kccrossnationals.com/PDF/RESULTS_PDF/11.pdf

And then there is this, my struggle along with everyone else in the 50+ group around the course after I ate shit HARD twice, in 12 degress and 20 knot winds on a course that was 2 miles of rock hard frozen ruts from the mudfest the day before...it aint pretty. It was only a matter of time before Ned Overend lapped me ending mine and alot of other rider's day.

CX NATIONALS IN KC, DREAMS ACHIEVED, DREAMS CRUSHED.

BEST PIC OF THE YEAR.....

After months of chasing the cycling scene all over the west, Jake Wells puts the big squeeze on his wife Linda after what was an undescribable CX Nationals race in KC for Jake. With Tom Hopper in the sweet chartruese hi-vis one piece working the pit for JW, Jake sliced through the field (he started 134th) of the best pros in the country on an incredibly difficult track TO FINISH 18TH OVERALL...WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT HOME BOY? It's been a great ride. I was pretty much speechless after this effort, nobody deserved a top finish more than the Wells family. Well done. One for the ages my friend.

Just seconds from disaster...

Tim Johnson leads out heading into one of the very difficult "frozen mud rut" sections of the course with Jonathan Page hot on his tail. Just seconds after I snapped this photo, Jonathan Page bobbled into the fence tape in a rut and dropped his chain which gave Johnson the National Championship...Todd Wells of Durango held tight in third for much of the race but a series of mistakes cost him. Barry Wicks was a distant fourth and defending National Champ Ryan Trebon was knocked unconcious by a rider crossing into his lane coming head on just yards from this section of the course.

COMPTON 4-PEATS

Katie Compton scrambling up the "big turd" run-up.

And local legend (Colo Springs) gone great, Katie Compton won her fourth National Championship in a row by soundly defeating Georgia Gould (third) and Rachel Lloyd (second) by crashing less than the other riders in her field. Katie had a couple of nasty spills during the race but was able to stay collected and gather herself better than the other women when she had difficulties. Katie's superior handling skills were the difference on this day as she dropped the field half way through the opening lap never to be contested over the next forty five minutes.

CULT CROSS NOW ON THE ACA SCHEDULE FOR 2008

http://cultcross2008.blogspot.com/

NED OVEREND AND KARL KIESTER COMING TO KC CX NATIONALS...

A BATTLE FOR THE AGES...NED VS. LARRY G AT NATIONALS. MY GOAL...TO NOT GET LAPPED TWICE.



I thought it appropriate to lay this post down prior to heading to Kansas City Wednesday morning with Charlie Brown and David Burns to race the Cyclocross Nationals this week. How do yoy qualify for Nationals you probably are asking? You pay your entry fees...now that is smart race promoting...allowing everyone who pays to show up and think they actually have a shot to finish even close to the leaders in their age group. In my case this means I'm lining up against Ned Overend, last year's National Champion in my age group, as well as Karl Kiester who has been taking the 35+ open field this year to the wood shed everytime he lines up and won a National Championship in 2003. Karl is 51, a year older than me. When Ned Overend enters the last night possible, everything else is a moot point. The last time I actually lined up against Ned was in 1984 at the Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike week, there were a total of 50 guys racing Mountain Bikes back then, I think I finished just behind the midway point of the field, Ned kicked my ass then, and he will kick my ass Saturday, Ned has kicked everyone's ass at some point. Suddenly my goal becomes to not get lapped TWICE in the 45 minute race. I must admit, it will be nice to see him a couple of times during the race. The reality of it all is truly to just go have a great time with the guys, race hard on Thursday and Saturday, and perhaps finish in th top half of my age group at a Nationals race. There will be lots of pics and videos to come hopefully. I just hope we survive the dreadful ice storm that is preparing to grip that part of the country...should be quite interesting.

WHO NEEDS THE CROSS BIKE ANYWAY?

Today at Vail...we ripped our legs off skiing...



Curt Nash, try keeping up with this guy on tele's...forgetta bout it

Jah-no Bra!! surfs up browski.



Alex....I think we made the guy late for his engagement party.




THE TELE SHREDDERS RIIIIIPPIN IT. GANGUS , NOBODY ON THE HILL BUT US CHICKENS...

FIRST GIRO STAGE ANNOUNCED...

The first stage of the 2008 GIRO looks to be an exciting one as it is going to be a Leman's Style start and then a 1/4 mile sprint to a group of oversized tablets of steroids and EPO products which should give the winner of this stage a huge one up on the rest of the field for the remainder of the stage race. Favorites include Landis, Vino, Rasmussen and others. You can see here that the Belgian rider was trying to juice up on his way to the finish but just had the wrong "cocktail" mixed to get the job done..

anyway, it's obvious that boredom has set in due to the huge rain and snow storm we are experiencing...so I say, TO HELL WITH THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CX RACE SUNDAY I'VE TRAINED ALL YEAR FOR....LET'S GO POWDER SKIING.

THERE IS ALWAYS CULT CROSS IN MARCH!!

HO HO HO!

This is the last known picture of Santa Claus at the end of the Eagle Santa Parade last night, not soon after this Santa was drug into the back room of the Mountain Pedaler Bike shop where he was accosted by the Brown, Reynolds, Davis, Silagy, Elmblad, and Bill children with tube socks full of egg nog and forced to give up all of his candy....Santa has not been seen since. If you have any information leading to his where abouts...please contact Mrs. Claus as she was truly hoping to collect Santa's large life insurance policy.....bah, humbug.

THE FINAL LOGO....for now

AFTER MANY TWEEKS, THIS IS IT...