BALLS TO THE WALL FISHING

The only place to stay current on the latest manic ramblings from the Florida Panhandle.

CHEEKY FLY REELS, THE OFFICIAL REEL OF BALLS TO THE WALL FISHING

Thursday, February 28, 2008

READY TO CYCLOCROSS AT CULT CROSS 2008?..THIS WILL HELP.

TO ALL OF YOU "CONSIDERING" RACING IN THE CULT CROSS SERIES, YOU ARE WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS, DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED IF YOU HAVE NOT TRIED CYCLOCROSS BEFORE BUT INSTEAD EMBRACE IT, IT IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE ON TWO WHEELS.

THE ABOVE VIDEO PORTRAYS WHAT CULT CROSS WOULD LIKE TO BECOME...YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

KEEP YOUR EYES FOCUSED AT THE FIRST CULT CROSS RACE IN EAGLE..


FOR THE
"OSKAR BLUES BREWERY RUN UP"
THIS WILL BE A VERY FAN FRIENDLY RUN-UP AREA WHERE FANS WILL BE ABLE TO FEED THERE FAVORITE RACERS "SHOTS" OF DALE'S FINEST ALE DURING THE RACE...IN ESSPRESSO CUPS OF COURSE (COURTESY OF YETI'S GRIND, EAGLE). FAN PARTICIPATION IS EXPECTED
I would also like to encourage you all to bring a stack of greenbacks $$$$$ so you can tip your favorite racers while they are on course to show your appreciation for the early season suffering that will be taking place..this of course is cyclocross tradition.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

YOYOYOYOYO...SPOT WILL BE AT CULT CROSS, WITH DEMOS

CHECK THIS OUT.
Jen Gersbach
Sales/Marketing-Demo Manager
Spot Brand Bicycles
IS GOING TO BE AT CULT CROSS WITH ALL THE NEW SUPER SEXY SPOT BRAND BIKES AND GEAR...YOUR CHANCE TO SEE THE SWEET LINE OF PRODUCT, INCLUDING THE SICK BELT DRIVE SINGLES.
For those of you who have not met Jen, she's the bomb and a very well respected cyclist all around in the professional ranks, if nothing else, come out and meet Jen, and then watch her drop ya on the first climb.

FAREWELL CHAIR 5?

Perhaps my last ride ever up one of the last icons in American skiing.
AFTER TODAY, I CAN RETIRE FROM SKIING FOR THE SEASON, IT WAS FREEKIN REEEEEAL GOOD.

There some things that should just remain as they are, because that is just how they should be.
Chair 5 on the backside of Vail, which I have been skiing for 25 years, is slated to be replaced with a new high speed quad in the near future, most of you probably think this is great, I personally think it sux. It's amazing what takes place with "progress. More people bring more demands. They move here to get away from their otherwise mundane lives in the big city and build their third, fourth and fifth homes here and then realize they can not live with out the corporate cup of $6 dollar coffee at Starshmucks (support Yeti's Grind!), next comes COSTCO, then god forbid you have to wait 20 minutes in line at chair 5 on a powder day your second time around because you just got a hair behind the POWDER curve that morning...there is something romantic about getting off of chair 5 after your first shot of chest deep snow back there in the morning and wondering if you can make it down a second time without getting caught in the goober onslaught. It takes incredible character and resolute to commit to run number two back there most mornings. So of course, to keep up with the Jones's a new super duper high speed chair MUST replace the relic in the back. Now Vail can justify raising lift ticket prices to $200/day and make parking $50/day because ANOTHER big expenditure has taken place by Vail Resorts..CAN YOU LEAVE A TOUCH OF TRADITION ON THE HILL? FUCK.

YET THE START OF ANOTHER SICK POW DAY..IT CAN ALL MELT TO LAKE POWELL NOW. THANK YOU ULLR.

Monday, February 25, 2008

I GOT HOOKED UP WITH THIS NEW YOGA ROUTINE..

So I tried it out but all I did was get piss all over the couch and carpet and hurt my back...and now I have this funny taste in my mouth to boot. I'm gonna have to work on it...this vijeo is brought to you by SQUIRT.

I'M BRINGIN SEXY BAAAAACK.....

DAMN IT, I NEED A BIGGER HOUSE, SO I CAN BUY ONE OF THESE BEAUTS FROM SPOT BRAND, HOW DAMN SEXY IS THIS RIDE? BELT DRIVE SINGLE 9NER...HOLY SHIT. PALEEEASE.

SPOT....SPONSOR OF CULTCROSS 2008

Sunday, February 24, 2008

LEVI VICTORIOUS IN THE LAND OF FRUITS AND MORE FRUITS

IT'S YELLOW AGAIN FOR LEVI AND ASTANA AT THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA...I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES BEFORE THE DOPING ACCUSATIONS BEGIN.
AND BIG GEORGE HINCAPIE TAKES THE FINAL STAGE...THE WARRIOR, IS THIS THE YEAR HE TAKES A CLASSIC? ADDICTED TO BICYCLES PREDICTS YES, IF HE DOES'NT FALL OF HIS BIKE AND HURT HIMSELF ON THE WAY TO PICKING UP A NEWSPAPER AT THE LOCAL SEVEN/ELEVEN.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

SO UHHHHH, WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE TEN? CHECK OUT JESSE RIDLER...THE KID'S SMOOTH AS BUTTA...

A DAY OF SKIING BLISS AT ARAPOHOE BASIN WITH DAD JONO AND SON JESSE RIDLER..I HITCHED A RIDE WITH THE BOYS OVER TO "THE LEGEND", ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE SKI AREA IN THE WORLD, AND WATCHED 10 YEAR OLD JESSE IN HIS FIRST EVER SLOPE STYLE AIR COMPETITION...THIS KID HAS GOT SOME TALENT, PROBABLY PASSED ON THROUGH DAD'S "FUN" GENES. CHECK EM OUT IN THESE VIDS...SMOOTH AS SILK IN THE FIRST VID, AND THEN ON THE SECOND HIT ON THE SECOND VID, THE KID GOES HUGE AND LANDS WAAAAY DOWN THE LANDING ZONE AND POPS A SKI OFF, BUT COMES UP SMILIN WITH A GREAT STORY...AND VIJEO.


LATER THAT DAY HE RIPPED LEGENDARY RUNS NORTH GLADE, TURBO, GAUTHIER, THE POLLY FACE AND MONTEZUMA BOWL LIKE IT WAS NOTHIN LEAVIN JONO BRAH WITH THE SMILE OF A CHAMP'S DAD....IT WAS KILLA.








JONO AND JESSE....

RIDIN UP MONTEZUMA BOWL, ONE LIFT DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE SKI AREA, AND IT'S GOT SOME VERT!

MATT THE DAFFY MASTER

ROLF MULE KICKIN..

JONO SMILIN AS USUAL


AND ME THE CRUMUDGEN, 50 DEGRESS OF A-BASIN BLISS DROPPIN GAUTHIER, LOVIN "THE LEGEND".


ALL THE KIDS WERE GOING BIG..

Friday, February 22, 2008

LEVI CRUSHES THE FIELD IN THE TT

LEVI ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED "PRETTY BOY JUNIOR" TODAY IN THE INDIVIDUAL TT AT THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA TAKING MORE THAN A MINUTE OUT OF CANCELLERA OVER THE 15 MILE ROUTE. OVER A MINUTE I SAID. BRIT DAVID MILLAR WAS JUST 30 SECONDS OFF THE PACE BUT LEVI HAS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED DOWN THE WIN TO MAKE IT BACK TO BACK AT THE TOC. THE FACT THAT HALF THE COURSE WAS A GRADUAL CLIMB IS WHAT MAY HAVE DONE FABIAN IN. OR TO PUT IT IN SIMPLE TERMS, HE JUST GOT HIS ASS HANDED TO HIM. ASTANA NOT IN THE TOUR? ADDICTED TO BICYCLES CALLS BULLSHIT.

CHECK IT OUT...THEY ARE COMING FROM THE UK TO RACE CULT CROSS....

Hi

I will be visiting friends in Denver, for a couple of weeks in March. It is my intention to do at least 1 of your cult cross races, it depends on what my friend has planned for me when I arrive from the U.K.

Will the T-Shirts be on sale at the event?

Regards

Paul Whatmough


Shepherd's Cycles

Thursday, February 21, 2008

I GUARANTEE YOU THE REASON SO MANY RIDERS ARE GETTING SICK AT THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EATING ENOUGH OF THIS...WITH ANIMAL SAUCE

is the link for live coverage of the Tour of California daily.

END OF STORY, WHO THE HELL IS YOUR NUTRITIONIST ANYWAY?

NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS STORY...BUT IT MAKES ME SICK.


THANKS FOR THE LINK UMA K...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3246232.ece

From Times Online
January 24, 2008
10 years for driver who bragged of taking out 'treehugger cyclist'
Lucy Bannerman
A drunk-driver who killed a cyclist has been sentenced to ten years in prison in the US, after the judge heard a recorded jail conversation in which she laughed about "taking out a tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."
Melissa Arrington, 27, a barmaid and exotic dancer from Tucson, Arizona,

could have received as few as four years behind bars after she killed cyclist Paul L'Ecuyer while driving under the influence on the night of December 1, 2006.
Instead, she was sentenced to 10 years - one year shy of the maximum prison term for negligent homicide - after the judge heard a telephone conversation between her and a male friend one week after L'Ecuyer was killed.
During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had “taken out a tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot.”
Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, “No, it’s not.”
Superior Court Judge Michael Cruikshank said the conversation was "breathtaking in its inhumanity."
Michael Rosenbluth, for the defence, told the judge his client has never been “cold, callous or flippant; about L’Ecuyer’s death and has always felt remorseful."
Arrington was convicted two months ago of negligent homicide and two counts of aggravated drink-driving in connection with death of Mr L’Ecuyer, 45, a Tucson-born counsellor and human rights worker.
A keen athlete, Mr L'Ecuyer had been riding his bike on a five-foot wide bicycle lane, when Arrington swerved off the road, hit him and continued another 800ft before stopping.
Her blood-alcohol content was .156 percent, nearly double Arizona’s .08 legal limit. She had been driving on a suspended license for a prior drink-drive conviction.
Witnesses said she had been swerving before the collision, as she drove home after having at least five drinks with co-workers.
Ironically, just six months previously, she had attended Mothers Against Drunk Driving event designed to show the results of such behavior.
The court heard that one of the people who spoke at the MADD event had suffered severe brain damage after being struck by a drunken driver. The other killed his friend while driving drunk and is himself a quadriplegic as a result of the same crash.
"Did she not care about the tragedy that had befallen them?" asked the lawyer.
Arrington replied: "I heard what happened, but as far as caring, I don't know how I can answer that."

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

FOOD POISONING STRIKES FARRAR...FORCES ABANDONMENT

WELL, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT FOR THE SUPERSTAR OF THE EARLY STAGES, TYLER FARRAR SUCCUMBED TO FOOD POISONING AT THE TOC TODAY, WHEN THE TEAM DOC SAW THIS SURPRISE IN THE TEAM TOILET THIS MORNING, HE QUICKLY ASKED FOR THE VOLUNTEER WHO DROPPED IT AND WHEN FARRAR RAISED HIS HAND DOC TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE DAY OFF...BUMMER

MAN I WISH I WAS HIS TEAMMATE, I'D SLIP THIS BEAUT UNDER HIS PILLOW AT BEDTIME TONIGHT.

INSIDE SCOOP ON THE TOUR OF AMERICA...

ADDICTED TO BICYCLES EXCLUSIVE
"INSIDER INFORMATION" UPDATE ON THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA...
I CAN'T GIVE UP MY SOURCES, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE COME FROM VERY CLOSE TO THE ACTION, WORD HAS IT THAT TODAY SLIPSTREAM WILL BE TRYING TO GET DANIELSON AND ZABRISKIE TO THE FRONT TO CHALLENGE IN THE OVERALL CLASSIFICATION. WITH A BIG CLIMBING DAY TODAY, LEVI IS SURE TO MAKE SOME SORT OF MOVE, SLIPSTREAM WILL BE TRYING TO KEEP THAT MOVE IN CHECK AND PULL THEIR STRONGEST RIDER TODAY TO A PODGE SPOT IN THE OVERALL....TRUST ME ON THIS WORD, I'VE GOT A TIGHT SOURCE FOR THIS INFO...KIND OF LIKE "DEEP THROAT" WHO TOOK DOWN NIXON....AND YOU GET IT RIGHT HERE AT ADDICTED TO BICYCLES.
WAIT A SECOND..BIG GEORGE IS OFF THE FRONT WITH ONE CLIMB TO GO. ATTA BOY GH.
NOT THAT HE IS GONNA HOLD IT, BUT HE HAS GOT A SCARE IN THE CHASE GROUP...
GH IS ATTACKING LIKE A TIGER AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO, CAN HE HOLD THE LEAD?
well...big george just got dropped like the kids at the pool.
IN THE END, LEVI TURNED HIMSELF INSIDE OUT TO CLAIM THE YELLOW JERSEY AT THE ATOC TODAY.
Robert Gesink of Rabobank broke free with Levi on the last climb and held off a vicious chase for the last 20 miles to claim the stage victory.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

UHHHHHHHHH ONE SUGGESTION CIPPO...

I MEAN, THE UGGS ARE KINDA COOL, BUT TUCK IN THE BELLY AND PERHAPS FILL OUT THE TOP A BIT AND YOU MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE DARLING.
ADDICTED TO BICYCLES SAYS TO CIPPO, FORGETTA BOUT IT.

MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE CODY, WYOMING STORY OF MINE, THIS MIGHT BE THE CHICK. I WISH I COULD REMEMBER WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE ON THAT EVE IN 1983. I'VE BEEN TOLD SHE RESEMBLED A "SWEET INDIAN PRINCESS".

I SAW THIS DICK DRIVING AROUND TOWN TODAY

BRO...DONT HIT THE POWER LINES!

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS TYLER FARRAR KID?

IT'S BOOOOOOOOOOOOONEN.
CIPPO ON THE PODGE
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE THIS KID CAME FROM? MUST BE MARS OR SOME SHIT LIKE THAT. MORE SOON. I MEAN, WHAT IS HIS DEAL...IS HE A CLIMBER, SPRINTER, DESCENDER? ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, HE IS THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA LEADER.

BMC IS GOIN FOR THE HOLLYWOOD TROPHY APPARENTLY, SENDING RIDERS OF THE FRONT BOTH DAYS THUS FAR...

BY THE WAY..WHERE THE HELL ARE ALL THE PEOPLE AT THIS RACE? THERE IS NOBODY THERE WATCHING THE FREEKIN THING.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

FABIO OFF TO ANOTHER QUICK START..

fabio gettin some some....
mario cippi lookin rad at 40 in the sweet
ROCK RACING kit

levi gettin his funk on to 4th...

is that a mouse on Zabriskie's lip? WTF? the guy that made Jono's kids wealthy in the Tour De France pool last year..once again dominated the TT at the Amgen Tour of California prologue, Levi just missed the podge finishing 4th. Word is out that Adam Lueck from the Vail Valley Foundation is recruiting the boys of ASTANA to come and race the Vail UCI race this coming August...that would'nt suck if they show up...



big george...my personal favorite as a fan, in his new funk kit for High Road



favorite of the Cyclocross crowd as well as other "homers" chris horner, always smilin through the pain..

ROCK RACING...THE OAKLAND RAIDERS OF THE CYCLING WORLD...

Michael Ball, the owner of cycling team Rock Racing, decided not to register Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla in the Amgen Tour of California, which begins today in Palo Alto.

SOMETHING TELLS ME THESE GUYS WILL BE A HUGE FAN FAVORITE..WHOEVER LINES UP FOR THEM TODAY IN CALI.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

THE MOJO SL...ONLY AT THE MOUNTAIN PEDALER

I NEED TO SELL MANY HOUSES, SO I CAN PICK UP ONE OF THESE BEAUTS..THE IBIS MOJO SL. IN CASE YOU DID NOT KNOW, THE POPE AT MOUNTAIN PEDALER IN MINTURN IS THE #1 IBIS DEALER IN THE COUNTRY ALONG WITH PARTNER CHARLIE BROWN AT THE EAGLE STORE. SO IF YOU WANT ONE, CALL EM. THEY GOT EM.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COOOOOL DOGS AND ASSHOLE DOGS...


I DIG MOST DOGS, EXCEPT THE ONES THAT TRY AND EAT THE ASS OF MY BODY WHEN I'M RIDING MY BIKE. THESE ARE COOOOOOOOOL DOGS, WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YA BUT LAY TEETH IN YOUR HAMMY. KEVIN TOWNSEND OF "TOWNSEND OUTDOORS" FAME (ESPN OUTDOORS AND THE OLN NETWORK) WITH "BATMAN" AND "GROUSY" NEAR HAYS CENTER, NEBRASKA AT OUR OLD PHEASANT CAMP AFTER A HUGE DAY.
I GUESS THIS MAKES ME A MODERATE DEMOCRAT AS I'D MUCH RATHER POSE WITH MY SHOTGUN OVER A BUNCH OF PHEASANTS WE CRUSHED THAN KISSIN A SMILIN BABY WHO JUST CRAPPED HIS DIAPER...GO FIGURE.


Thursday, February 14, 2008

WRENCHIN AT THE MOUNTAIN PEDALER

The time has come to start getting the rigs ready for the upcoming season, the road and cross bike are runnin like champs, but the MTB needs some love, hence, time to take a snow day at the Mountain Pedaler where I wrench part time to replace bearings and bushings on the Salsa...little did I know what I was getting into, Charlie Brown was right, I should have EBAYED the bike and bought a new one...replacing all your bearings on a four bar suspension can easily lead to a caniption fest...

AWESOME SUNSHINE, A ROAD RIDE, AND A DOG THAT NEEDS TO GO TO SLEEP.


Yesterday was pretty much a glorious day in Eagle, Colorado. Despite the fact that I had a a "deal" at work fall apart it was warm and dry enough on the road to Glenwwod Canyon that I jumped on the Cross bike for the first true road ride of the season. The sun was awesome and the roads were dry which led to a two hour spin to heaven. So good to be back outside and turning pedals. Just a heads up if you ride down that way, keep your eyes peeled for Bald Eagles, I saw two just past the Two Rivers development. Then just a half mile or so from the entrance to the canyon, the westerly wind started howling about 20-30 knots steady which made the ride home effortless and fast, just what the doc ordered. What the doc did not order was the two loose dogs down by the Eagle Fairgrounds which saw me riding by and decided since their owner was busy reading the paper while they roamed, thought it a great idea to charge me barking like a couple of raging wolves. Just as I screamed at the owner to call his dogs off while dismounting my bike, the BIG MOTHERFUCKER (Buster was his name as the officer told me after I filled out the report) decided to light my ass up and bury his teeth in my left hamstring. You can only imagine my pleasure. once the douche bag owner called his dog off me I told him he had two options. Option 1 was to call the police and resolve the issue properly. Option two was for me to shove the blood soaked snowball I held on my leg up his ass prior to a throwdown session. He opted for option 1. So the Canine Officer came and took notes, issued the guy a summons, and threw his DICKHEAD GIANT DOG into to doggie jail for ten days under quarantine. Thankfully, the one thing the dog owner had done was get BUSTER his rabbies shot, so at least I had that going for me....wonderful.


The moral of this story is that if you have a dog that may want to bite someone, keep the bitch on a chain or it may take a piece of someone's kid next time..maybe even yours. I'm now going to buy a frame pump so I can at least thump the crap out of the next dog that even thinks about sticking his teeth into my ass. With any luck at all, Buster is going to get a good nights sleep....permanently. Fucker.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

ARE YOU SHITTING ME...JONO JUST INFORMED ME THAT ASTANA HAS GOTTEN THE BOOT FROM THE TOUR?


Team manager Johan Bruyneel wondered out loud if Astaná had a “too strong team.”
“We have done everything to change the dynamics of the team. New management, new riders, new philosophy. Only the name of the sponsor remained. … We are spending 460,000 euros on internal anti-doping efforts for 2008. What more can we do?” Bruyneel said in a team communiqué. “What's strange is, ASO does not invite us because of the past of a team that had the same name. Many other teams, with a similar suspicious past, that did not change management or structure, can participate without problems. Where is the consistency? Is Tour the France not losing all credibility now?”

WTF? I SAY WE DE-BALL THE FREENCHIES FOR THIS LAME MOVE..


And when Alberto Contador heard the news today, he unleashed a viscious attack to prove a point. Does this sound like the heart of a cheat?


From the Velonews..


Pouring his frustration into his pedals was about all Contador could do in the face of ASO’s controversial decision to exclude Astaná from all of its events, including Paris-Nice and the Tour de France, two races he won in his breakout 2007 season.
“I was attacking today to claim back what is mine,” Contador explained when asked by VeloNews about the stage. “We deserve to be in the Tour de France. It’s a hard blow because I believe I could have won again.”


Here is what I think if it means a rats ass...Astana now has the door open to come and participate in the Vail UCI omnium this summer...how sweet would that be?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

THIS MONTH'S THROWBACK PIC....

STEAMBOAT, FEBRUARY 96

42 NEW AT PHQ THAT MORNING

A SOBER BIKER SKI DAY RECAP..WITH PICS.

Probably the best conditions yet for biker/ski day this past Sunday at Vail with just perfect snow conditions for the crew to crush out turns on. A solid gang of shred heads somehow managed to stay together all day and rip it up with no major casualties..excepting JONO who blew a tele binding on top of Gangus Cornice and had to hike back up to the top of Tea Cup express and then ski down to Larkspur on one Tele Ski....yeah braaaaaaaaaaaaahh!
Part of the crew heading to the Mile


Durango Mike, smoothy boy flexin in the Mile..


The lone donut in the crew rrrrrrippin turns, check out the felt goggles and poles...only worthy of a State Champion Single Speeder...case in point Amy Hermes.

Room with a View eh?

Even the old bags were hangin around...Gimme 50+ this year Vail Rec District and I'll stage a comeback.
The day ended with some at Larkspur quaffing fine ales then heading to the Saloon in Minturn to meet the rest of the gomers where the serious drinking started in earnest...then, off to Agave for dinner and where the drinking really, really started in earnest...that's my story and I'm stickin to it.