MENCHOV CRASHES IN LAST KM OF TT, BUT STILL WINS GIRO

Denis Menchov won the Giro today despite hitting the deck on rain soaked cobbles in the last KM of today's TT.

IN HONOR OF ALAN CHRISTIE SMOKIN MY ASS TODAY ON THE BURNS LOOP...

Here is some footage from last year's Rock the River Road race, which is where we rode today....don't miss this one, it's only two weeks away

ONE OTHER THING

GO NUGGETS

On second thought, I'm not sure I've ever watched a professional playoff game that looked more like one team was actually getting paid to lose, I'd call for an investigation.

SASTRE ONCE AGAIN RIDES AWAY....

Carlos Sastre rode away from his rivals for the second time at the GIRO. This time it was at the top of the Volcano finish on Mt. Vasuvious where he decided to blow the legs off his competition. His margin of victory was under a minute to the next five finishers, however, he was unable to gain enough time back to be on the podium at this point. Di Luca and Menchov finished 30 seconds back and together. With one relatively easy stage tomorrow, and a short TT on the last day, Menchov should win this Giro easily...

SRAM XX. SRAM XX AND MORE SRAM XX

HERE IT IS FOLKS, THE FIRST LOOK AT THE SRAM XX GROUP.

COMPONENT
WEIGHT
Shift Lever Set
183
Rear Derailleur
181
Front Derailleur Low Mount
118
Front Derailleur High Mount
120
Cassette 11-32
185
Cassette 11-36
208
Crankset 39/26 GXP
730
Crankset 42/28 GXP
754
Crankset 44/30 GXP
779
Crankset 39/26 BB30
670
Crankset 42/28 BB30
694
Crankset 44/30 BB30
734
Chain
260
Drivetrain Total
1597
Brakeset**
613
Total
2210
All weights provided by SRAM**Weight for brakes is for a front and rear brake set, 160mm rotors, post-mount front, bracket-mount rear*PressFit 30 bottom bracket weighs 28 grams more than BB30
PRICING (USD):
Group Price (as low as)
$2,430
SRAM XX Rear Derailleur
$265
SRAM XX Front Derailleur
$106-119
SRAM XX Shifter Trigger Set w/Discrete Clamp
$276
SRAM XX Cassette 10 speed
$328
Truvativ XX Crank Set
$430-470
Truvativ BB BlackBox Ceramic Bearings
$195-205
SRAM Chain PC 1090R HollowPin 10-speed
$84
SRAM Chain PC 1090 HollowPin 10-speed
$76
Avid XX Brake per wheel
$373-377
Avid MatchMaker X Pair
$45

SQUIRT LUBERS CRUSH IT IN ANGEL FIRE AND XTERRA

Squirt sponsored riders Macky Franklin 1st, Jay Henry 2nd at Angel Fire Short Track

Squirt sponsored riders dominated the short track in Angel Fire last week with Macky Franklin besting Jay Henry for the title. The following day in the XC race, Squirt saw 3 of the top 5 podge spots with Colin Cares winning (Colorado College who we sponsor) and Henry and Franklin right there as well.

The XTERRA Southeast cup saw Stoltz and McQuaid both victorious while running Squirt as well. Squirt lube has become part of the dominating force of top athletes in most cycling disciplines.

WHERE'D YA ALL GO?

Mountain Pedaler Shop Owner Charlie Brown rippin down Redneck Ridge Old School...

Last night's VRD race series race was cancelled due to 4 days of rain prior, so we got us a good little posse together to go play in the boneyard. Here's a beaut, I bust ass up the final climb so I can get some killer vij of the group crushin the downhill, and they all decide to head down another way. So I wait for 5 minutes, then 10, then it's getting dark. CB made the trip down old school Rendeck Ridge style so he is the vij star today. Ja-no-brah won the polka dot jersey with an EPO like charge the last 1.5km of the climb, and we all stuffed our faces with Pizza. Beats the hell out of racing.

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED...

Many of you missed the Eagle town meeting tonight which was addressing the expansion of the current singletrack system in and around Eagle Ranch. Seems with the exception of just one property owner, and I must admit I can sympathise with the guy and his wife, the project has resounding support and should move forward. Somewhere in the middle of battle I volunteered to chair up our side and it's concerns, which means I will hopefully at some point be communicating with all the above agencies to get things done in a responsible manner. I understand there is a pile of red tape to work through, but if I can get YOU GUYS AND GALS to support the cause we can do it. It won't take much, just sometime here and there as well as some education. I've already contacted my good friend John Bliss at IMBA regarding how to get started...I say let's put our heads down and get this shit done.

THE CHARLIE BROWN 46TH BIRTHDAY/MEMORIAL DAY RIDE IS IN THE BOOKS, WE ARE DRUNK NOW

More later, the Charlie Brown 46th Birthday/Memorial day ride is complete, no casualties except for a few Guinness and PBRs and some drunk riders, more later, we've got a Nuggets game to go watch I think. It was a great group of riders, eleven strong.

THANK YOU FROM A2B

To all of you who sacrifice or have sacrificed so I can live in a great country, where I can speak my mind and not get my head cut off, where I can type words and not be in fear of repercussions, and where I can make people laugh at myself and themselves on these silly computer pages, thanks. And especially thanks to Dad Grossman (pictured on the left), who served in WWII with the Royal Canadian Airforce.Mom and Dad were Canucks (mom still is), so I've got a pile of Canadian blood runnin in me, Dad apparently was one hell of a skater and played defense for a Toronto Club team for many years.

CALLING COW 69, CALLING COW 69, GET THE FUCK OFF THE SINGLE TRACK PLEASE.

I introduce to you, cow 69....a shitting machineHi above the valley in Eagle whence the cows are let loose on our beloved and cherished single track, fuckers have already crapped their way to the tree island below Catwalk. Speaking of Catwalk, I spent many hours up that way today in the rain clearing the way for high speed calamity as well as several hours on the project that keeps giving. The new section of single track I've been working on for the past two seasons is one day closer to being finished. Much of the toughest section was conquered today. This section of old animal trail saw it's first mountain bike tracks from the start to it's finish today, ever, in the history of mankind. It's still rough, but once it opens to the public, you guys and gals can take care of the "clean-up" of Blue Grouse. It's been brutally thick to clear, but it's much closer....Tomorrow is the Charlie Brown birthday ride, meet at the Dusty Boot at 10am.

A section of the new trail before

And after....

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Pretty close to Idaho Springs, which is well on my way to Boulder this morning, I get the text from JDubs that the Koppenburg is canceled. Fucking great. Prep all week, pass up eating a big ol greazy chesseburger last night because I'm racing this morning, get up at just before 5am, pre-race breakfast (top secret), drive, drive, drive, text message, drive back home 100 miles. So what's the best part of morning? Another text from Wuwuwuwuzup down in Durangelom telling me he is still drunk from last night and that he is pretty sure he shit in a garbage can somewhere in town last night. Sounds like my KCCX story from a couple of years ago. And he is supposed to race today, wonderful. This vij is for you my dear friend, with love.

IMAGINE THAT, CAVENDISH DROPS FROM GIRO

Well, who would have guessed that, sprinter extraordinaire Mark Cavendish dropped from the Giro today as soon as the race started heading uphill again. No doubt the guy can sprint and ride, but don't you think there should be some type of ruling that allows you to keep your stage victories official only if you finish the damn race? Rip me a new one if you will, I just find it tiresome when the sprinters drop out when the going get's tough. I say let them have their own "sprinter classic" for three weeks somewhere like Florida. 20 Stages, all 25K, with a straight and wide finish. Go kill yourselves boys.

Meanwhile, Levi lost a few more seconds to Di Luca today, he's got to get up and go soon for a victory, but it is indeed looking solid for a podge spot.

TO CREEP OR NOT TO CREEP OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE?

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE GIRO, CAVENDISH WINS A SLEEPER, IN A SPRINT, IMAGINE THAT.

The Koppenburg Circuit race is once again scheduled for this Sunday on the front range and I'm thinking about checking it out, however rain is once again in the forecast, but what the hell, it'd be sweet to head down and see some people I have not seen for a while, and what, race on my road bike? My steel steed? Ahh, why the fuck not, I absolutely suck at road racing, but there is a 45+ Cat 4 category which means I do not have to get lapped by all the 45 year old pros. And I'm pushin 52 and daisies at this point. I've raced in three road races EVER in my life being more comfortable on a Mountain or CX bike. But I think the Kopp would be good for my soul this weekend, especially if there is some rain, hell, it'll be a Cross race on road wheels, perfect.

One of my feeble efforts at road racing about 5 years ago, I'm in there somewhere, really.

Who's that goon in the upright position? Ahem.

DENVER NUGGETS WHAT?

Now don't get me wrong here, I am NOT jumping on the Denver Nuggets bandwagon, however I do find it very interesting that the fans in Denver are in a position to SCREAM the highly anticipated "Beat LA" chant during their next two home games, this series has caught my attention. I am not near the sports fan I was even just ten years ago when I followed a lot of this crap I have no control over, and my heart belongs to the fledgling New York Knickerbockers deep down inside from my youth in New Jersey, the days of Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dean Meminger, Debuescher, Bradley, Jackson, The "Pearl" and the like, when I actually sat in the tall seats at Madison Square Garden in my youth and dreamed of a championship for my home team heroes, and they actually won one. Well, now the Denver Nuggets are kind of in a position to do that for some runny nosed kids here in Colorado, which is cool, and from the few minutes I've watched they seem capable of pulling it off, and the basketball has been a war, reminiscent of Willis Reed and Wes Unseld beating the crap out of each other for rebounds under the basket, and I like it. I'm actually a bit interested.

The 2003 Mug Shot from the Eagle Jail House, just down the street from my home. Such a nice young man.

But there is another story line here as well which has me wanting the Nuggs to "beat LA". I live in Eagle, Colorado. This is the town you may remember where Kobe was jailed for his "incident". I also was working at the resort where Kobe's "incident" took place, you know, the one where he was accused of raping a 19 year old girl, who lived in Eagle at the time. And on top of the rape charge, the asshole was married at the time. And of course, Kobe is once again a hero and this story has passed with the exchange of a few dollars and life goes on as if it never happened. Kobe's wife got a BIG ring out of the deal and well, funny how it turns around, I hope Kobe gets it right up his ass from Carmelo and company. Beat La indeed, Go Nuggets.

MENCHOV SHOWS WHO THE BOSS IS TODAY, LEVI NOT ON "A" GAME

Menchov was able to bury himself deeper than anyone else today when he won the HUGELY anticipated TT at the Giro. Menchov now wears PINK as the race leader. Levi did not have a for shit day, but he was never on top of it or dominating as many thought he would and he now sits in third overall just seconds behind Danilo DiLuca who rode a VERY GOOD TT today, probably due to his climbing abilities on a very difficult and climbers course. This is shaping up to be a very nerve racking and exciting race, as whomever has a good day at this point could end up winning the Giro, it's gonna be good, with a proverbial bear shit pile of racing left.

SPECIAL VISIT FROM A SPECIAL GUEST, BIG SHOP RIDE AND DIRTY PANTS

Mountain Pedaler and Pedal Power riders sharing the love on the last Wednesday shop ride before the local race series starts next week.

Uma K. with a brief visit in Eagle on her way back home via Moab, Vernal and Bend. She will have the report on Vernal in the next week or two. Vernal supposedly is a new Mecca of MTBing, I still vote for Eagle. I've been to Vernal many times over the years on my way to fish the Green River in Flaming Gorge, and the place is pretty remote and desolate, however I'm sure it has some great riding. I remember a sign there advertising a local diaper service called Doctor Doo Doos. What does that tell you?

Uma K is in the blogging biz as well along with her Church of Bike cycling universe. Check her blogging stylings out here.

Texas regroup at Firebox Canyon entrance

GIRO TAKES IT'S TOLL ON THE AMERICANS..

I think it is safe to say the loss of Chris Horner is monumental for Astana, I mean how the hell can you not love how this guy rides? Never complains and is always at the front WORKING his ASS OFF for the cause. He will be missed. Meanwhile CVV sounds like he is REALLY jacked up as well. Just plain sux and makes you realize how imporbable winning seven tours in a row is for one individual without having some type of issue. Tomorrow AM, it's in Levi's hands, all alone in a grueling race of truth.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY RANDOM WHILE SITTING IN THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE PICKING MY NOSE.

While at the Giro it was more, suck a wheel, suck a wheel, suck a wheel, suck a wheel, Cavendish rides hard for 500 meters and wins. yippee.

UH, JUST ONE PROBLEM FOR LEVI...

And it's Danilo Di Luca, all I can say about the end of today's stage is holy crap that was an impressive win. Levi and some others lost up to 30 seconds at the finish today when Di Luca left them all in their shoes on his final attack of Stage 10 CUNEO-PINEROLO 262KM. Levi is now 1:40 down and in 4th overall. No need to panic for anyone with a ton of racing left. And then there is this profile, Thursday's time trial route. This aint Wolcott pass boys and girls, and it should make Levi feel like he is sitting in the front row of Shotgun Willies with a huge stack of five dollar bills.

SAD BUT TRUE...

After a pretty good little ride up Wolcott Pass this evening with the Yeti's Grind Monday night road ride, which I flogged myself pretty damn good on, I came home for my standard post ride recovery drink, salad and pasta dinner. I was forced to watch one of the five TV channels I get because I refuse to pay the money for 200 channels of Cop shows and jewelry networks. There was a show I got sucked into for a few minutes, I think it was called "25 kind of lying douche bag guys and a kind of hot girl". Did anyone else see it? And why is this on TV? I was so upset this was on my TV after watching Dancing With the Stars I almost had to write a letter.

LEIPHEIMER POISED FOR GIRO MOVE

Tomorrow is a monster day at the Giro, in case no one has noticed, Levi Leipheimer is in the absolute perf position to inlflict some punishing damage on the rest of the peleton this week after today's rest day. He sits less than a minute of the lead, and with a HUGE TT later this week, with substantial climbing involved over long distance, combined with the fact that he has Armstrong and Chris Horner to help start pounding nails in coffins, this could be Levi's first Grand Tour win. Of course MANY things have to go right from here on out, but he is in a great position going into tomorrow. To think, just a couple of years ago we were chanting Horner!, Horner!, Horner! at the Boulder Cup UCI CX races, and now he is in a position to help throttle the world's best and help the broke Astana team bring home some Italian bacon. Kalamata Olives for everyone!

THANK GOD FOR THIS STUFF....

When I realized this past weekend it was time to remove the passion pink nail polish which some how was placed on only my left foot toe nails last weekend at the Eagle Cruiser Bike Pub Crawl, I was'nt quite sure how to go about such a thing. I mean it looked hot and everything, but wearing open toed sandals in the heat of spring was becoming an issue around town as folks began to look at me funny, and since I plan on making a run for the 2012 presidency, I though it best to remove it unless I wanted to secure the San Fran vote which probably would not put me over the top for victory. So, here is what you have to do when you realize the paint thinner in the storage shed won't do it, much to my panic. I had to actually go to the grocery store and buy some nail polish remover. the woman in that isle at the time had some very interesting looks as I decided to go for the regular or lemon scented version, it was downright humiliating, almost to the point where I just went home and painted the other foot to avoid the embarrassment, only problem, I have no toe nail polish. Forget about the cotton balls, I buried the polish remover under all the fruit I bought on the conveyor belt at the check out counter and smirked at the cashier when the remover came rolling through. "It's for my wife" and that I had actually lost my wedding ring in isle 7 somewhere I explained.

By the way, I've got VERY GOOD inside information that Cyclocross Nationals is coming to Boulder in 2011 & 2012.

BOOT DAYS COMES TO A CLOSE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Kona rep Willie Warren with the mad skills riding the front wheelie across the wood.

This years version of Boot Days in Eagle, which was hosted by John Shipp of the Dusty Boot along with his staff, came to a close yesterday after a weekend of bike demos, music, food and amazing weather. There were bike related clinics for kids and women along with group rides, one of which had over 30 kids participate, the future looks strong for mountain biking in Eagle! One of the killer highlights of the weekend was Willie Warren, our local Kona rep pullin some smokin trials riding maneuvers for the kids and adults alike, he's pictured above riding the front wheelie across the northshore style tetter-totter. Thanks to the Moyers for their help with the kids, and Charlie Brown for doing his maintanence clinics.

And, it's mom's 82nd birthday. She got a digital pic frame for her surprise this year to which she wondered "how did you get all those pictures in there", to which I simply rolled my eyes on the other side of the phone and wished her happy birthday. Anyone who could have survived AND thrived after raising me as a child and an adult should be put in the parenting hall of fame. You may find this hard to believe, but I was a bit of a pain in the ass growing up.

There was also a very LARGE posse of locals that apparently torched some people on the Burns loop yesterday, not sorry I missed that one, way more fun drinking a frosty one on a perf day in Eagle.

kids learn to fix flats..

Elgee feels like this 24/7

The end to a perfect weekend, riding killer Eagle Singletrack at sunset in 65 degree weather.

DON'T ASK

The town of Eagle has been buzzing a bit lately with the opening of the new deck at the Dusty Boot. Yesterday, Kona and Maverick both participated in a demo day, along with Squirt Lube, which was hosted by the Dusty Boot. The day included maintenance demos for both kids and women, hosted mountain bike rides by some of the local cycling talent, sweet demos to ride, BBQ and of course Beer and a Band. The day ended for me however with this frightening dessert at Courtney wuwuwuwuwuzup Gregory's place after smashing potatoe chips and salsa along with burgers and brats down my pie hole. The the topper, this BBQ'ed sliced banana with marshmellow and chocolate chips stuffed in it, I have felt ill for the past twelve hours but man that was good. The banana idea had to be invented by some stoned to the bejesus college student, I'm guessing from and Ivy League school as I would have never been able to afford the chocolate chips and marshmellows when I was in college.

JUNE 4-7, TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES RETURN TO VAIL

The 2009 version of the Teva Games return to Vail, Colorado on June 4-7, just three weeks away. As you know this is a tremendous celebration of sport here in the valley and the 240 hillclimb spots are filling up quickly. If you want in sign up now! If you have not experienced the Teva Games before be sure to check it out, plenty of world class athletes will be on hand in many disciplines.
Ned Overend lines it up to attempt a three peat in the hill climb last year, his effort came up just short of the podium, but he should be back this year. It's sure to be a barn burner and you too can ride the infamous hill climb course from Coors Classics past. Elgee is the race director of this event and look for a special event announcer to join him in the celebration of one of road ridings most notorious hill climb TT's.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHOP RIDE, FIRST CASUALTIES OF THE SEASON.

It's inevitable every season, the first "hits" of the mountain biking season have arrived. Last night not only did Jono trip on his flip flop and beat it in when he flipped over the closed tailbed of Alex's truck, but to make the ride home more enjoyable Alex Colemansk made sure he face planted on Catwalk so they could bleed together on the way home...very nice work indeed boysk. It's a bleeder.

CYCLING WEEKLY BEST OF THE YEAR ..SQUIRT LUBE!

More HUGE accolades for SQUIRT LUBE from cycling Weekly who claims Squirt Lube is the Holy Grail of cycling lubes in it's Best New Product issue. If you have not gotten on the Squirt Lube train yet, you are losing. Go to http://www.squirtlube.com/ for all the details. Cycling Weekly gave Squirt one of the few 10 out of 10 ratings!And, there are a VERY limited number of Squirt Cyclocross skinsuits left for purchase. Price is $120, e-mail me if you'd like one.