CULT CROSS 2010, COURSE WORK BEGINS...

Ground work began today for Cult Cross 2010 with Nate Picklo from Yeti's Grind lending a hand, Charlie Brown brought the Cult Cross storage vehicle dow to the fair grounds, and I've got about 95% of the course flagged. Barriers and tape should be done Thursday eve. It's gonna be damn good, two Truth or Dare bridges are back, the Mini Kaumph downhill, and Rock, Paper, Scissors will test your merits, trust me.

This is how ya get er done, Nate Picklo from Yeti's Grind kickin in some volly work...with CB's wonder eater.

WHY MEN CHEAT......

It's that simple, end of conversation

BIG GEORGE HINCAPIE...CLOSE, BUT....

Photo: © Tim Van Wichelen/www.organicwax.be

Big George, was there, stayed in the break, covered all the moves, crushed the 16 climbs of this year Gent-Wevelgem one day classic, but in the end must have felt he did'nt have the juice to win a sprint, so he went to the front and drove the pace going for the win in the final KM of near 220 kms. This move ultimately cost him a podium spot as he finished fourth, but ya still gotta root hard for the guy over the next few weeks and hope this effort did'nt crush him mentally. I mean it's almost like cheering for the Chicago Cubs at this point, but you know he can pull it off, damn, he's won a penultimate stage of the Tour, so keep your eyes focused on Big George, his break may be yet to come this spring, and as Courtney Gregory put it so well, he's definitely ready for the Boulder-Roubaix.

NEXT SATURDAY'S CULT CROSS FORECAST, SUNNY WITH A CHANCE OF PAIN...

Rough draft of the 2010 Course, clockwise

CULT CROSS 2010 LOOKING PRIME, TOTALLY NEW COURSE..

Cult Cross 2010 garb is going fast, and on day one....the Yeti's Grind crew and crowd snatched up alot of Cult Cross gear today. Owners Nate and Tara Picklo, Dan Lambert and Elgee in the house. Yeti's Grind will be donating some prizes for the cause...

And the venue and 2010 course are going to be world class, again

The Mini Comp, a new feature for 2010

Course is perf as of a week out...

2012 SUPERFLY REVEALED, RIGHT HERE ON A2B

RIGID IS BACK IN 2012

YOU'LL DIG THIS, POACHED FROM "CIRCUIT BMX"...WHO ELSE?

Bone Deth 'Surfin' For The Ugly Broads' The Movie Trailer from babysabbath on Vimeo.

And since Eagle has approved the construction of a BMX track RIGHT HERE in town, here is something for the kiddies to start workin on, and win

And in other Eagle News, Marty the Marmont saw his shadow today declaring 14 more weeks of winter, so I gathered up the hoods GI JOE force to make sure he'd never see his shadow again,
"these are my men sir!"

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT....

All this hell bent snow will be done and it will be time for dirt, and be sure not to miss this one...it'll be here before you know it. The Crested Butte Chainless Downhill is one not to be missed if you have never seen or participated....

LANCE ARMSTRONG GIVES IT TOO SARKOSY

In a true showing of admiration for the French, who tried to screw Lance Armstrong over for years with their false doping accusations, Lance presented this gift Trek Madone to President Sarkosy yesterday, custom paint job and all, because Sarkosy "loves the sport of cycling". The president of France then signed the frame and noticed a funny "odor" coming from the bike. When he took the bike back to his palace and took the seat post out to adjust it properly, he noticed a big turd had been stuffed down the seat tube along with a note from Lance and the USA saying "kiss our asses, here is to number eight", which was a nice touch.

Just minutes later, Sarkosy called Italy with the report and told them if they allowed Team Radio Shack into the Giro this year that it would be an all out border war between the two countries as no one shits down his seat tube and gets away with it.

CAUTION...

A Spring cyclocross race is brewing in Eagle, Colorado. Cult Cross 2010 is just 13 days away, that's right, 13 days. April 3rd, 2010 is the day of fun and reckoning. With A, B, and C flights available for men and women, as well as juniors, kids and SS categories, there is a spot for everyone to come and play. The Eagle Fairgrounds will once again be the host of a WORLD CLASS CX course. See you there. T-shirts will be available for $15 with a hand full of hoodies (black) for $35.

MILAN-SAN REMO, PRO CYCLING'S LONGEST DAY

Freire for the Hat Trick in Remo
photos graham watson

Robobank's Oscar Friere won his third title at Milan-San Remo yesterday as he was able to jump Tom Boonen and Alejandro Petacchi at the finish of a long and wet day on the road. Defending Champion Mark Cavenwish finished an impressive 89th becaue he could not find the correct wheels to suck for the near 200 miler.

The Boonen Booster just came up a couple of bike lengths short..

WHAT WE DID ON OUR LAST DAY OF WINTER VACATION...

Paid a visit to Ullr at Beaver Creek and thanked him

Then went on a stunningly ball freezing bike ride with the home boys.

And probably what we will do until our last breathing day comes, with any luck at all. The end.

THE TONY KORNHEISER FIRESTORM IS UNDER WAY

fuck you kornheiser

In case you have NOT heard this rant against Cyclists on ESPN from Osama Bin Kornheiser, I would like for you to listen to this masterpiece, then, when you have a spare minute, go to Kornheiser's home with a paper bag you just took a big smelly dump in, put it on his front step, light it on fire, ring the door bell and run like hell. Then send me the video of him stomping out the flames so I can post it on my blog. I'm not a man of great wealth, but I will pay you $1000 for this video exclusively. Thank you. Elgee, A2B.

If you really want to speak your mind, call this number at ESPN
1-888-549-3776 (press the choice for "radio").

I'd also like to present to you the 2010 A2B Douche Bag of the year, the decision is already made. Tony, you deserve this more than any of the previous winners, well done.

VERY IMPORTANT HIDDEN GEMS MEETING ON MONDAY IN EAGLE.

Ashley Korenblatt, working for IMBA, is hosting a meeting at the Town of Eagle this coming Monday afternoon to gather input on the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal from all Mountain Bikers that can attend. Afterwards, Ashley will meet with Hidden Gems to relay the information. This meeting is not hosted by ECO Trails or Eagle County, but is organized by IMBA who would like to hear what you have to say. Please pass this on to your mountain biking friends.

IMBA/Eagle County Mountain Bikers Meeting
2:00-3:00
Trustees Meeting Room, Eagle Town Hall, 200 Broadway Street, Eagle
Open to all Mountain Bikers
Purpose: Bring me/IMBA up to speed on remaining issues with Hidden Gems proposal

IMBA/Hidden Gems Meeting
3:00-5:00
Trustees Meeting Room, Eagle Town Hall, 200 Broadway Street, Eagle
Also open to all Mountain Bikers
Purpose: Explain the remaining issues to HG reps and explore all possible solutions

If you can’t attend but want to get some input to Ashley before the meeting, her contact info is:
Ashley Korenblat
President, Western Spirit Cycling, 478 Millcreek Drive, Moab, UT 84532

Please attend and get educated if nothing else, this is a biggie and A2B and the Hardscrabble Singletrack Coalition are AGAINST Hidden Gems 100% as it takes the public's user rights away from public lands.

With that said, this from Tony Kornheiser on ESP fucking N. A2B say FUCK this guy up if you ever see him, this is the most IGNORANT commentary I've heard in MANY years. It pisses me off too much to even write what I want here, maybe YOU can post some comments.

THE HARDSCRABBLE SINGLETRACK COALITON COMING TO LIFE

It's not a world changing event by any stretch of the imagination, but it hopefully is going to change something on some level, and for the better, for our mountain biking community here in the Eagle, Colorado area. This is the first sign.

Thanks to the Greg Wolfgang of the BLM, Billy Savage who produced the movie Klunkerz which helped us raise a little bit of $$$ at Yeti's Grind in Eagle last fall, Jean Krikorian who came up with our SICK logo and stickers for the HSC, and those of you who have joined the Hardscrabble Singletrack Coalition Facebook group and especially those of you who came to the movie last fall and contributed. We now have one sign posted, and as soon as the snow melts I will begin my onslaught on the rest of the carsonite BLM signs on Hardscrabble Mountain and get things moving in a positive direction for all those who want to come here and ride. Yeah, there is a small part of me that says "what the fuck are you doing Elgee? Trying to let the cat out of the bag so everyone can ride our triple top secret singletrack here in Eagle and actually KNOW where the trails recognized by the BLM are?" But you know what, as I get older, I realize it's pretty damn important to try and leave some type of legacy, no matter how miniscule it may be in the big picture. If someone asks me what type of fly I'm using if I'm catching a bunch of fish I show them, if they want to know where I choose to go RIP singletrack with my friends, then share the wealth, let them brag about our shit as well.

Come and ride it.

ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR THE SOLO 100 MILER

For a change of pace today on A2B, I thought I'd post something useful for the first time in 2.5 years of blogging here. Many of my friends and acquaintances consider me a moron I'm sure for many reasons other than the purely obvious ones. I like to ride solo on the road, and I like to ride far sometimes solo on the road. Sometimes these excursions take me to places where there is no cell phone coverage or "help" for miles on end. I enjoy these rides, I do not take an IPOD with me to listen to music, I think that pretty much fucks up the experience I'm looking for (not to mention actually hearing those logging trucks coming up from behind). I find these rides less expensive and much more theraputic than discussing my personal issues with someone who has twelve degrees in psychology, or going to the local watering hole to drink myself under a table and then getting punched in the face by some douche bag drunk fishing guide for no reason other than the fact that he is pissed because he did not get laid last year. I also enjoy the "work" of the long solo ride, as there is no wheel to hide behind like Mark Cavendish likes to do before unleashing his fury for 50 yards and winning important flat stages of the grand tours before dropping out. I get to ride MY pace and train at a pace that works best for me.

So, there are a few things you need for these long solo efforts, which are pictured above. First get some Squirt Lube, apply it once to a clean drive train, then you are ready to ride a jillion miles without re-lubing. Secondly, be sure to bring TWO tubes and a tire lever just in case (I also bring a patch kit). This way you've got the flat situation covered and can patch if it comes to that. ANY type of multi tool, you do not need them often, but when you do, you can be screwed if you do not have one. The last thing you want to be doing early season is waving down Billy Bob Thorton's character from Slingblade for help on the Colorado River ride to "help" you out, fuck that. Of course you need some type of "udder balm" to keep the rocks from getting sore and swollen, and lastly, and this is VERY important, bring a GOOD frame pump in case you do flat, one that will get you up to 70-80lbs. of pressure for a smooth ride back home. CO2 cartridges work fine, but if you have not used them often, and you hit the trigger or do not seat them on the valve stem properly, you'll be left in the middle of no where with your dick in your hand and a flat tire you can't inflate, which can be a little disconforting when Slingblade stops to ask if you need help.

Happy solo riding...

THE "BURNS" LOOP (A.K.A. THE COLORADO RIVER RIDE)

And the dirt is perfect out there

The first leg follows the Eagle river upriver, Eagle to Wolcott

Then head up Wolcott Pass....

Drop into State Bridge on 131, this is looking back. It's a screaming hairball descent.

Then head towards McCoy and the Colorado River Road

Cross the river again at the Catamount rest area, all dirt now for 20 miles or so

Make the climb out of Catamount before dropping back into the Colorado River corridor

Check out the Flat Tops Wilderness area and then suffer the last hour and a half.Then you are done, eat a fat greeezy cheeseburger.

KACPER SZCZEPANIAK BUSTED FOR DOPING, ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

photo from cycling news
I know many of you expect some smart ass story from me on this tragic story, something like "Szczepaniak attempts to take his own life do in part too few vowels in his last name", but this is just flat out devestating news as the results of Kacper's positive EPO test have driven him to the edge. After finishing second behind his brother in the U23 World Championship race this year, Cycling News is reporting that the former Polish CX star was possibly pressured by the combination of his family's financial position and his coaches (all though no one has been named) into doping with the potential to increase his family's income ten fold by signing with a top Euro cycling squad. Makes me wonder what guys are doing to win a pair of inner-tubes around the rest of the world.

SQUIRT LUBE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE COLORADO CYCLIST

Colorado Cyclist now carries the geatest chain lube out there. Period

BREAKING STORY FROM CYCLINGNEWS.COM

This is why the rest of the world thinks cycling is a clown circus...and will never take it seriously, it just never ends.

The Szczepaniak brothers show their medals.
Polish top two in Under-23 race provisionally suspended
Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak, who finished first and second in this year's under 23 cyclo-cross World Championship, have returned positive results for EPO, in controls carried out at the event which took place in Tabor, Czech Republic in January.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed on Thursday that the brothers' positive results came from targeted urine tests carried out following the under-23 World Championship race. The two had been targeted after suspicious blood profiles were revealed as part of their respective biological passports.
Arnaud Jouffrey of France now stands to inherit the title of under 23 World Champion should the counter-analyses confirm the presence of EPO.

NO SURPRISE THERE...

AFP Photo

Hopefully, you had the chance to watch Paris-Nice live this morning on Justin TV, on the internet. Team Astana took control at the start of the final climb of stage four and Alberto Contador launched, well kind of launched his unrelenting climbing legs on the rest of the field for an easy victory. To be quite honest, Conty looked like he had alot more in the tank but held off just a hair. It's simply more of the same, Valverde will never match the guy, period, end of story, especially on the Monster climbs of the grand tours.

Yeah, it's getting just a little tiresome watching Contador point his finger as he crosses another mountain top finish, but who the hell is going to do anything about it. Nobody, that's who.

JAKE WELL'S CYCLORCROSS BIKES FOR SALE

Cyclocross Felt F15X For Sale - $2400
53cm I demand your attention please, if you want a couple of SICK cyclocross bikes, here is your chance. Jake Wells, yeah, the dude that finished 12th at the National CycloCross championships this year in Bend, is selling his rigs at a GREAT price. These bikes were maintained by Tom Hopper (Jake's Pit Guy) , if you know a bit, Tom is one of the TEAM WRENCHES for the GARMIN team OK? There is a second rig which Jake is selling for $2000 without the wheels, same as this one, but with a ding in the downtube because he races like such a bad son of a bitch.

This bike has been meticulously cared for and is ready to race.
Here are all the specs:
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010-Product-Catalog/CYCLO-X/CYCLO-X/F15X.aspx
Upgrades to the bike include:
Replaced stock cranks with SRAM Red 172.5 and set it up as a single ring. I also gutted the front shifter. I have the parts if you
want to set it up as a double again.
Swapped the fork with an Alpha Q CX20.
Brakes are Paul Neo Retro with SwissStop Yellow pads.

Wheels are EA70x tubulars with Challenge Fango 32's The wheels are super solid and tires are in good shape. The front wheel bearings are getting a little of play and will prob need to be replaced soon.

If you ride a 53cm frame, and want TWO matching rigs that have bumped shoulder with the likes of Trebon, Johnson, Page, Wells, VERVECKEN, and blah blah blah, you are a certified MORON not to buy these rides for next year's CX season.

Call Jake at 970-390-9682 to buy these bad biatches.

UPVALLEY, IT'S STILL MID-WINTER LIKE

Just enough snow to keep us interested...

Billy's cmon

I-70 PUMMELED IN GLENWOOD CANYON

So much for heading over to the Frying Pan River today, or tomorrow, or the next day. Glenwood Canyon took the big hit today from a MAJOR rockslide as huge boulders crashed right through the deck on the westbound lanes and into the east bound lanes and bike path....

Thats' a fuck-up

PARIS-NICE....UM, WAIT A SECOND, DID SOMEONE SAY LARS BOOM?

1.Lars Boom (Rabobank) 10.56
2.Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) 10.59
3.Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) 11.02
4.Alberto Contador (Astana) 11.02
5.Peter Sagan (Liquigas) 11.06
6.Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) 11.07
7.David Millar (Garmin) 11.08

MORE

Fish Please....

I can't even think about racing a bike at this point, not sure how they do it. When the hell is the Koppenburg this year?

MEANWHILE, BACK TO THE BIKE...

It's still butt ass cold however, the Cult Cross course still has a bit of snow, but that will be gone shortly. Nate Picklo leading the peleton, well kind of a peleton on a cold and muddy airport loop.

And while Coloradinians freeze their rogger doggers off trying to get a 45 minute training ride in, the best battle in Spain's Vuelta Ciclista A La Region de Murcia as they gain form. Today it was Luke Roberts of Milram sprinting to a win in the bunch.bosco martin photo

THE FRYING PAN WAS ON FIRE...

This is the infamous "Bend" just below Reudi on the Pan, frankly, I have not fished this bend for 15 years as it's just not my style, dredging the bottom until you foul hook a big fish then real him in by the tail with your three size BB split shots twelve inches above the fly, skilless. I prefer instead to fish a ways down river on the Pan where there are a jillion fish to catch on VERY small dry flies this time of year, it's like clockwork every March. The first fish of 2010, a Brown

The second fish of 2010, a Rainbow.

And the fish I worked on all day to catch...then went home after I was somewhere in the third dozen caught, it was near 60 degrees in Glenwood today, awesome.