JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME....

28 degrees in Eagle this morning, 18 tonight, FUCK. Somebody is tryin to shut our party down, however

Last night was the shizzle with a killer mtb ride and bike prep for Moab, and beer, and pizza.

With one last lap on Blue Grouse, training for Moab is in the books, time to taper and get ready for Frisco Cross this weekend where I'm psyched to have been asked to sit in for the voice of CX Dave Towle and announce this Saturday and Sunday...big shoes to fill but ready.

Damn, forever I've been hitting the trail on my birthday to check out the colors in the Colorado High Country. Today that streak was threatened as the skies grew dark and ominous this afternoon and the threat of 3-5 inches of snow came from the weather dude in Denver, it was looking particularly ugly up on Hardscrabble Mountain where I planned to go ride a few hours and check out more fall color, then miraculously, the skies cleared for sunset and I was off. Very windy and cold conditions prevailed, but damn it was worth it....Blue Grouse trail was the destination. Sickness at it best....The entry into Blue GrouseExiting Blue GrouseDroppin back into Eagle Ranch as eve arrives while I was freezing my balls off...temps are dropping, big time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME....

This is what I looked like this morning when I woke up on my 52nd birthday. I'd like to propose a toast to the second anniversary of Peter Davis stacking it on my 50th birthday due to over consumption, a moment to remember for sure...cheers!

OK, FINALLY A CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON CROSS VEGAS AND JAKE WELLS...

BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, READ THIS
Jake all over Velo News...you see that Team Sponsors? WTF are you thinking, this guy just threw down on some of the BEST IN THE WORLD. Get all over this guy before your competition does...jesus, what the hell are you thinking?

Cross Vegas 09...here we go.

Jones chased by Driscoll as they move off the front..

Jeeez, finally a chance to sit down and write about what I've wanted to talk about since Wednesday., Cross Vegas and Jake Wells. Damn it's nice to be home and typing on my own computer, and for those of you who missed Cross Vegas this year, well, it was kind of funky as I saw it. But there was one amazing story that I along with many others were psyched to hear about. I've known the Wells family for quite a while now, and I'm not talking about Todd Wells who is always in the mix and a monster talent, I'm talking about Jake Wells from the Vail Valley. Jake has been flat out burrying himself for several years now to race at the top of the game in the world of CX, he's had some bad breaks along the way in big races, always seeming to have some kind of for shit start spot or a funky mishap keep him off the front at the end. That all changed at Cross Vegas. When the group he was chasing with as Driscoll and Jones went off the front bridged back up to THE chase group half way through, I knew I was witness to a moment, perhaps the defining moment in Jakes career as a CX racer. Yeah he went great two years ago at Nationals in the mud, but this was different. JAKE WAS RIDING WITH KABUSH, TODD WELLS, BARRY WICKS , JONOTHAN PAGE, RYAN TREBON JEREMY POWERS AND THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPION ERWIN VERVECKEN. I was pretty much shitting myself watching the action. Another BIG effort from Trebon split the group, but Jake was still with Kabush and Wicks and with three to go I could not believe I was calling out to Jake to try and do something about Barry Wicks as he was playing team tactics and slowing the chasers down so Trebon had a chance at the win without them. Unfortuantely, Jake and Kabush just did'nt have the gas to bridge a big gap, but J Dubbs hung tough until the end and finished 12th, gaining UCI points, which are gold to him at this point of the season. It was an awesome night for an awesome dude, and wife Linda was there in the pits the entire race ready for a bike change which was never needed.

J Dubs rocked the house.

Compton devestated on her new Stevens Cross Bike..

With that said, my pictures and vijeo kind of suck from the night, and the crowd was pretty subdued compared to the last two years, it was downright small for the women's race where Katie Compton just dominated.

The Gurls come through after lap one, Compton in control

Jake Wells starts his move to the front, this is a HUGE effort as he attempts to close on all the big heavys, including Vervecken, a three time world champ. This is when the text messages from all of Jake's bros back home started coming in hot and heavy, it was AWESOME.

As for my own personal race, well, I can't say I've had more fun ever racing. Many thanks to all of you who cheered loud and rowdily, I heard all of you and it made me go harder every cheer.The course had some really nice subtle changes from last year including a second "Boulder Cup" style run up which was just in the perfect location. The crowd this year was way more subdued and quite a bit more quiet it seemed, but no biggie I suppose. The grass on course was grippy and the Industry field was BIG with 122 registered starters. No surprise after my "issue" with the promoters over charging $8 to get in that I was staged in row 16 of 16 rows, starting dead last of 122. I did manage to fight up through 72 riders and finish 49th in a 30 minute race, pretty damned pleased with that, it was a great and fun eve for sure.

OUTDOOR DEMO DAYS....

The Squirt Lube Tent was CLEARLY the place to hang out at the Outdoor Demo Days at Bootleg Canyon this year in Vegas. I mean please, we had our own nurse, the Liguigas podium girl, and the Schwinn/Mongoose chix hanging out BOTH days...I hate my job.Then it was off to the Interbike Expo for three days where Squirt was set up with it's new distributor Feedback Sports (formerly Ultimate Workstands and measuring devices). Here part of the sales crew gets the Squirt pitch...15 reps and nearly 1300 accounts. Squirt is about to take the country by storm.Go Pro was in the house big time....they have a new
HD Helmet cam that is the shizzle.Early morning recon, day 1

And of course the always famous "Girls" fat tire ride, with custom chainstay sticker. I hate my job....And a couple of hot Jelly Belly rides that need no pedals...

INTERBIKE ANTHOLOGY BEGINS...

From the drive out...pics. Interbike, the word itself is harmless, unless you work in the cycling industry. Then the word mean a whole bunch more, it means five days of grinding out biz with everyone in the industry, and this year, with just a two person contingent, it was a gruel with not much time for play, or even a shitty pizza pretzel for that matter. These events teach you alot, and it is important to try and squeeze a little bit of fun in whenever you can, at least that is my moniker. With that said, here are some pics from the road trip and my attempts at fun this year, Cross Vegas coverage in a bit.

UNBELIEVABLE...CADEL EVANS JUST WON THE WORLD ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACE...

Evans is a World Champion...

Well now, it's once again time for A2B (me) to eat some shit as a rider I've bagged on pretty consistantly for not stepping up to the plate in the BIG moment just won the Road World's Championship for Australia. Cadel Evans escaped late in the race and just buried it to the finish line to capture the title, Cancellera was turning up the heat late in the race but could not hold Cadel's pace when he launched to victory...cheers mate and well done!

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT A2B FANS.....

I'm pretty wrecked from the week in Vegas, and it's late, but I owe my followers this for sure, then I'll update you on Xvegas and such when I get back home. FULL SUSPENSION 29ERS HAVE LANDED and are taking over the world. I did not get to ride a bunch, but I got to ride some, and I'm most curious about one in particular that I did NOT get to ride at the show this week, but did get to check out...here are three I dig.

BEST 29ER CARBON FULL SQUISH I RODE.....
The Santa Cruz Tall Boy, this thing is Bullet Proof and the suspension ate up Bootleg Canyon. Unfortunately I'm pretty much off the Carbon kick on the mtb scene after this season...I've just seen and heard of it breaking too often...all over the place.

BEST METAL THING 29ER I RODE....
The Turner Sultan..this thing is a dream, eats shit right up, and has a "stiff" rear end that is super active. Killer fun bike to ride.

BEST BUDGET 29ER FULL SQUISH....
When I took this GT out for a ride, the "Marathon" first "looked" a bit clinky. HOWEVER, this bike rode sick. I thought that this bike for the price point was by far the best value out there. The build is not waaay high end, but the ride is. I thought this bike had the best "feeling" suspension system of all the bikes I rode. I had all the rides set up super squish, and this GT killed it....

BEST FULL SQUISH 29ER I DID NOT GET TO RIDE....
Charlie Brown from the Mountain Pedaler told me to check this ride out but I never got the chance. NEAR SIX full inches of travel on the rear end. Are you FUCKING kidding me? This may be the ride I end up on next year because I would like a DOWNHILL 29ER in my quiver, and it's not carbon, which I'm going to shy away from in the future as everyone I know that has one, broke it...back to other materials for this kid, especially for a non racing bike...sleep well A2B fans. I'm heading home in the AM.

Meanwhile, I caught this terror attack on vijeo on the strip in Vegas this evening while walking back from the Ben and Jerry's ice cream joint where I got a single scoop cone for $6. Psych, this was really an attack of Butt Pirates across the street from Harrahs, get me the fuck out of here, now.

CAN THERE BE A BIGGER SHITHOLE....

To have a tradeshow in or to even consider as a vacation destination? This place is kenarly...back to Colorado for this cowboy....

INTERBIKE UPDATE

The internet service is suspect to say the least here. I'm too busy to get around and take pics, my feet hurt, my legs are tired, BUT CORSS VEGAS WAS OFF THE CHARTS AS USUAL LAST NIGHT...

J Dubbs was spectacular as he battled with ALL the big heavies and finished in a group with Barry Wicks and Kabush...I think he was 11th or 12th and picked up coveted UCI points. I've got to get back to work. I'll TRY and update the blog between cocktails this eve at some point, but don't count on it....Calligula lives.

OFF TO VEGAS BABY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL THAT MEANS...

ANIMAL STYLE, I LOVE INTERBIKE.

I've heard quite a few reports coming in from SSWC and no one reported any fun on the course, to the contrary, it is sounding like it was just a pure death march. Cheers to that.

Ross Schnell and Heather Irmiger were declared champions of the SS world. Enjoy the Tats.

THE CRUSHER CRUSHES...

This guy can hurt you badly on the bike....psyched he is on my Moab team.

Tattered and torn is no way to start another BIG ride with PFD, but that was the case today after the monster night ride Wednesday and several hours of grouse walking yesterday. I actually needed a day off due to fatigue, then PFD says lets ride and shows up at 3:30 with a headlight on his bike to which I reply...fuck that. Well, I went as long as I could before imploding and turning back to the barn and PFD did the big circuit again, though he got caught out in some nasty weather, big hail, rain and wind. But fall is in full swing, so who the freak cares.

Can you say COMPEX?

Trees are going OFF up here right now

Last night's grouse walk discovered another new ride for the future, just needs a little love. Shhhh don't tell anyone.

HERE WE GO, A FULL SQUISH 29ER REVIEW IS IN ORDER

As most of you know, I'm a 29er convert for life, especially after riding my FELT LIMITED all season, the thing just rocks. Well, With Squirt Lube heading back to Vegas for another week of spreading the love, this time at the Feedback Sports booth at the Expo, and then in our now familiar 10 x 10 tent at BOTH days of the Dirt Demo at Bootleg Canyon, I'm going to try and find some time to go ride as many of the full squish 29ers as possible and give you my review, which you know will be straight up and to the point, the only way I know how to do things. The new Fisher 100 looks pretty tasty in the pic from Mountain Flyer mag, I believe I'll have to give this one a spin...let the road trip begin.

ATTA BOY.....

How come this guy has never been on Oprah?And how come everytime I'm out somewhere and a young couple with no kids sees a baby in a stroller the female is always so starry eyed and the look on the guys face is one horrer...I'm not sure I get that one. Well, on second thought, the thought of potentially having a child like I was is a bit horrifying I suppose....

BOLIVIA IS ROCKIN THE SQUIRT LUBE

Perfection in a bottle in Bolivia. Squirt in the southern hemisphere house
Old Cycling friend Tom Desposato was recently on a long road trip to visit family in Bolivia when he noticed these "local" riders with a strong affliction for Squirt Lube. Tom is an old 24 Hours of Moab teammate and was under the Mason Dixon line visiting family and tasting the local Bolivian MTB scene when he slid these pics my way....looks sweet.

LOCAL PHENOM JAY HENRY.....

Tokyo Joe's rider and big time local favorite and all around MTB Ambassador/Great Guy Jay Henry rollin at the Fall Calssic in Breck this past weekend, another Squirt Luber...

photos Eddie Clark Mountain FlyerJen Smith from Gunny railing it on her way to a victory in Breck this past weekend at the Classic. Another Squirt Luber.....

MONSTERS OF THE NIGHT RIDE...

Somebody came up with the thought that it was a good idea to leave the bike shop at 7pm last night and ride OVER Hardscrabble Mountain, which crests out near 10,400 feet and then ride down to Gypsum Creek, to Gypsum, then back to Eagle, through some drizzle, and FREEZING ass cold at the top. The descent left our hands and feet numb as a molar at the dentist's office just before removal. And when we finally completed the circuit five hours later, a thirty minute hot shower was not enough. Then the tenascious pulls (attacks) started at mile 40 on the way back to Eagle so we could get the freak back home by midnight, which we barely accomplished. For Chalrie Brown, Peter Davis and myself, 47 miles later, it was a night to remember, quadruple top secret training for Mobe.

What did you do last night? How was the "America's Got Talent Finale"? I can't believe I missed it!

SQUIRT LUBE, THE CHOICE OF KATIE COMPTON

Look, it's plain and simple. The demands of World Cup Cyclocross racing on a bicycle drivetrain are second to none. To compete at the highest level and stand atop the podium with the greatest CX racers in the world racers want only the best, a product that will leave them worry free about chain suck and grinding gear shifts in the most horrendous conditions. That is why Katie and Mark Legg Compton choose Squirt Lube to save time over the competition who must constantly change bikes every lap or so...the proof is in the pudding, and the puddin is Squirt Lube. Now distributed by Feedback Sports

Come watch Katie defend her two time Cross Vegas Championships this coming Wednesday in Vegas!

HOT OFF THE PRESS, SSWC 09 T-SHIRTS, CHECK THIS SHIT OUT!

Be one of the first to order the saweeet SSWC 2009 T-shirts right

HERE

SHHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE THAT NIGHT RIDING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING...

Yeah dawg, it's that time of year when you may get a call at 8:30 at night from the homies saying lets go night ride, in the rain. Of course this presents just another fine opportunity to get out and ride a bike. So why the fuck not eh?

AND IN CASE YOU WERE ON A DIFFERENT CYCLING PLANET

Valverde has been quietly stepping on the field in the Vueulta

Photo Graham Watson

THE SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE LIGHTING SYSTEM CONTINUES

Ay-Up lights are super lightweight and EASY..each light (two light columns) is 340 Lumens...handle bar and helmet together are 680 Lumens.

NiteFlux...1350 Lumens

Light & Motion, 900 Lumens
I think it's time to do some serious testing, I already know the Ay-Up system is incredible for the price. These others are a bit more pricey, substantially heavier, but put out super amazing lumens for amazing light coverage...any feedback out there? Leave comments.

SQUIRT LUBE ROLLING TO INTERBIKE IN VEGAS

Look for Squirt Lube at Interbike next week at Booth 4837! We are also working on a presence at the Outdoor Demo Days at Boulder Canyon, stay tuned. Squirt will also be swinging through Durango for the Singlespeed World Championships this weekend on the way to the big show, see you there.