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

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

MORE FROM THE BUTTE...

There is something terribly wrong when you are in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and you find the program from the first Mountain Bike race you ever did sealed in plastic under the glass to protect it because it is so old...I lived in Gunnison in 1984, with John Bailey and his wife to be Liz. We lived like paupers but had a great summer. I sold my Opel Station Wagon for $500 and bought a TREK for $700 that summer, then raced in this bike race, the third annual Fat Tire Bike Week XC race which I believe included Schofield pass...the next day was a two day ride over Pearl Pass with a kegger and camping at the top of the pass...the good old days, right there in the Hall of Fame.

Jacque made the trip all the way from South Africa to participate in the Fat Tire Bike Festival corruption...
The end of the Lower Lower Loop rewards you with this view...
Strand Hill rewards you with a screaming, balls to the wall downhill once you crest the top of the climb
We had a nice little Posse form on Sunday to ride Strand Hill and the Upper Upper loop...
Dewet and Jacque exiting from the bottom of Strand on the last day in Crested Butte
And of course a quick trip to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame..

This is the guy who went down hard, then went down again trying to remount the old steed...

JDUB'S BIRTHDAY BASH GOT CRAZY, MY BACK STILL HURTS FROM THE BELOW ROUTINE...

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Sunday, June 28, 2009

CRESTED BUTTE CARNAGE, CHAINLESS DOWNHILL RACE 2009

30 Miles into the XC race Deer Trail came back onto Gothic Road before heading back to the ski area for one last crushing climb. 40 miles, 8500 feet of climbing.

The hay bails were stacked high for the awaiting carnage.

If you have never witnessed this event, mark it on the to do list...it's sheer madness.


The XC race leaves town after the start

Squirt Lube station 30 miles into the race...it was heavily used.
The views up Gothic are killa...

Saturday, June 27, 2009

DISCOMBOBULATED BLOGGING...THIS JUST IN

The Fat Tire Bike Week 1st annual 40 Mile XC race is underway as of 30 minutes ago, just a quick stop by the homestake before I head up to the Squirt Lube station on course...here is the start.

More from the downhill, I'm still digging up the crash vijeos out of the tons of coverage A2B has from the weekend. In the XC race, up and comer Travis Shiever took down Brian Smith for the victory.

HERE'S A QUICK ONE...CRESTED BUTTE CHAINLESS DOWNHILL HIGHLIGHT

In traditional tradition, the locals of Crested Butte hauled their huge variety of pedaling machines up Kebler Pass and threw themselves down 7 miles from the top before the harrowing 90 degree right hander just before the finish line. The handling skills were impressive at this fateful corner, for most...

Friday, June 26, 2009

CRESTED BUTTE FAT TIRE BIKE WEEK CHAINLESS DOWNHILL ROCKED IT OUT...

Huge crowds lined Elk Avenue today at the 29th Fat Tire Bike Fest Chainless Downhill in Crested Butte...there was carnage, I just do not have time to blog it all right now.....
This guy did not win, but had the killer outfit.....over 100 racers tested their dowhill skills....it was awesome.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS DEAL FROM RUDY PROJECT...

As all of you know, I've been racing in my Rudy Project yellow Ekynox sunglasses for ten years. Why you ask? First of all their product and customer service are second to NONE. Secondly their perscription insert has been exactly what I needed all these years for my aging eye sight. Well now Rudy has this crazy, way high tech RX program. The latest line up of Rudy gear can be found by clicking on the banner above or here, as well as a deal that you would have to be brainless to pass up...check out the latest in Technically Cool Eyewear and style out like the rest of us on the Rudy program....,

MORNING THREE, FAT TIRE BIKE WEEK...

Sunrise this morn in Crested Butte, Farrah is up there smiling somewhere...
After a monster meal at the sweet pad last eve, day three is upon us. Today is the infamous Chainless Downhill race at Fat Tire Bike Week, as riders dress up, find their fastest steed, and take the chain off before plummeting at death defying speeds down Kebler Pass, can you say carnage? I'll try and break away from the Squirt Tent long enough to capture some action for A2B....

Thursday, June 25, 2009

NO, NOT FARRAH TOO......

AND, Farrah Fawcett passed today as well...boy, how many knuckle babies do you think were burnt on this poster in it's day? Charlie's Angels were never the same...

MICHAEL JACKSON, THE KING OF PLOP....

I heard Michael Jackson passed away today, rumors have it he complained of a strange throbbing sensation in his ass prior to his death. Kids all over the world are a little safer this eve....

FAT TIRE BIKE WEEK IS ROLLLLLLLLIN....

The sun shown briefly both days, including on the drive over Kebler Pass, which was being engulfed by Mag Chloride trucks for several miles...

Early on wednesday things were just getting cranked up....
And then the band kicked in later and it was game on around the Squirt Tent

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

VALVERDE BANNED FROM THE TOUR

Alejandro Valverde was banned from this years Tour De Farce when Italy said no no no to you Mr. Operation Puerto dude. It's a long story, but one of the Tour favorites for sure was tied to the Puerto gig and is not allowed to compete in Italy. OF COURSE, the Tour briefly dips into Italy this year so Valverde is just shit out of luck. So in a nutshell, pro road cycling, which will NEVER be credible again, gets it's 437th black eye in the past couple of years. No wonder no one stays interested in this garbage. As a race promoter, I am prepared to start a "dopers only" pro tour. Could you imagine the field for that one? My gawd the people would turn out, it would be the fastest guys in the world all lined up and ready to drop EPO bombs all day long, that would be awesome. Every racer would be REQUIRED to piss in a cup prior to each stage, if he is clean, he gets disqualified...cheers to that.

SEE YOU AT FAT TIRE BIKE WEEK, CRESTED BUTTE, JUNE 24th-28th

That's right ladies and gents, Squirt Lube is the official lube sponsor of Fat Tire Bike Week in Crested Butte. What does that mean? Well, stop by our tent this week, Wednesday-Sunday and come hang out and learn about the greatest wax/water emulsified, BIODEGRADABLE chain lube known to mankind. There will even be a couple of the guys with funny accents from South Africa there who are the company partners to chat with, or drink a beer with, you choose. Regardless the line-up for the next five days at the Butte is basically fun, fun and more fun. See you there. This is the 29th annual, and to think my first ever MTB race was at the third annual back in 1984...amazin. Click th ad below for more details.

OUR LATEST SQUIRT ROCKSTAR...EMILY DIESEL

Notice the Squirt Splat Sticker at the toip of the downtube...
And the note that came with the pic via e-mail...I dig it.

"LG-Day one of mtn bike camp for my daughter. Singletrack and scraped knees will be the theme this week. Of course, her drivetrain has only the best, as indicated by the sticker on her downtube............Hope all is well, BDiesel"

Sunday, June 21, 2009

BURNS LOOP RIDE TODAY, A NEW FATHER'S DAY TRADITION..

Burns Loop sag wagon complete with the roll out table, compliments of the Mitlings...
In a NEW Father's Day tradition, the Burns Loop crew actually grew as we rode along picking up more riders along the route. This was actually a group ride most of the way, something new and different.

COURTNEY'S BIRTHDAY BLOW-UP

Guess you had to be there, but when he blew out the candles, he blew shit all over Hermallini's well kept house.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

BUFFALO CREEK XTERRA INTERVIEW, NED AND CONRAD....

I think all you participants are a couple of slices short of a full loaf....cheers to you all.

Race Leader back in the drink for lap two of the swim....

Squirt Tent Early AM race day...

Al Marvin, 61, takes off towards his age group victory after T1. If you have never flogged your bike around on the singletrack of Buffalo Creek, I urge you to go ride there, it's stellar, plentiful and FAST. Awesome riding in a triple top secret part of Colorado to us Western Slopers for sure.

Elmblad struggles in T1 with a contact lense losing valuable time..

Friday, June 19, 2009

IF YOU ARE ALREADY TIRED OF THE BIKE THIS SEASON...

May I suggest a tranquil Sea Kayak trip on your favorite waters somewhere to rest the weary legs...

VAIL VELO LAUNCHES NEW SITE


A New ebsite launched today in the Vail that will help answer many of your cycling questions here in the Vail Valley. It's got great information, the ability to upload pictures and videos as well as have your own interactive page with the registered riders. It's called Vail Velo. Check it out for the latest on local cycling conditions and info.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

MISSY "THE MISSILE" GIOVE BUSTED ON REEFER WEEDHEAD CHARGES

Giove was arrested today on "weed" related charges, actually big time "weed" related charges. I mean really, look at these two pictures. How did such an innocent child of the 80-90's end up smokin and distributing large poundage of hooch. I'm shocked. One thing is for certain should she be required to do time, she will be the head biatch.

RACE ANNOUNCER NEEDS WORK..

Lookin to spice up your cycling event? Make it more interesting than a "turd rolling up hill" race? Call me, will announce for food, well, not quite, but you get the picture. Need references? Ask anyone who spent the weekend at the Teva Games the past two years, where near 40,000 spectators attended, and then there are always the Cult Cross fans.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

OH WHAT A NIGHT, BERRY CREEK BASHED....

Welcome to the Party Jono...

Nothin wrong with a good ol "F bomb" once in a while, chainsuck will do that to you, but I think it's Dawes passin him that actually triggered the violent reaction...good stuff Chris.

It's Jay Henry off the front....
President of the cheerleading squad, Spinatto
Nate encourages wife Tara up the top of climb one..
John Shipp gives the thumbs up, with a smile...I'd smile too if I had a job.
The finish line is at the end of the rainbow, but more suffering ahead for this Yeti's Grind racer.
Spectators watch as the a storm rolls by to the south
Sandbagger Mitling climbs out of the backside
Cantrell crushes himself...
Just missed by a nasty storm
Alan Christie on the back of a pack Trouble, trouble and trouble
The waves hit the first climb
More Waves
Kids burrying themselves on the monster climb...
Bottom of Endo and the climb out.
Riders crest the top of the last climb
Nate Picklo watches the weather roll...
Men's open start....first climb, game over. Not sure who the camera man was but it's clear he may have been drinkin a beer or two.