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, March 31, 2011

RUDY PROJCT IS TAKING THE WORLD OVER ONE PAIR OF GLASSES AT A TIME, THE GOZEN, PRESTIGE AND METYUM

The Gozen, with flip change technology for the lenses, and this system is granite solid. It appears a bit delicate in these photos of the latest addition to my Rudy stable, but this is as sturday as it gets. A quick but firm click up and you are ready to rock any of Rudy's lenses. That's right, customize however you wish, whether it be an Rx need, polaraized, photocromic, your favorite lense color for a particular sky color, you have EVERY option at your command. And this sickest of pairs is the crystal frame with multilaser orange lense. These glasses are BOMBER.









Then I'd like to present to you the Eric Zabel uniquely designed Prestige. Why all the green? Because Zabel won seven green jerseys, that's why. These are the penultimate "holy shit look at those" glasses. Whether you are Dennis Rodman or just some washed up bike racer who now announces bike races, these are beyond reekedness in style. I mean cmon, who does'nt want GREEN all over their face saying "Check Me Out!" Weight-28 grams, that's light, and on sale right now! 30% off!


Accessories are a bullet proof carrying case and style bag which also doubles as a lense cloth...dawg.
So then I of course need an everyday pair of Rudys to read my start sheets and capture race numbers visually as well, all at the same time, while looking like I know wtf I'm talking about. So Rudy has a full line of glasses glasses. Seen below are my Metyum full frame (rim) bi-focals that do the trick. I need to see YOUR race number go by, then read REALLY small print on the start sheets to stay on top of your attack, or demise, these glasses are the trick. Rudy does it again.
Of course the Metyum comes with a leather bound rockstar carrying case which will impress me at least.
This might as well be a Dura Ace hinge, beaut.
Just for jollies, I can share this pic of my ten year old Rudy bag that still functions perfectly with zippers that still WORK. This thing carries everything that you think a duffel should carry, it does however stink like a Russian Goat farm after all these years, and I like that.
Wadaya want me to say? This is STYLE.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

PRO MOUNTAIN BIKER ATTEMPTS TO KILL ALL GOLDEN EAGLES, LYNX, MANATEES, UNICORNS AND GREEK GODS IN BOULDER COUNTY

Oh what the hell, let's just go ahead and get things rolling.
I'm moving in a few weeks, and without getting into all the reasons why I'm going to sit my ass right down on the front range of Colorado and end up in the great town of Longmont,  just a short bike ride away from the very progressive (I think) and educated town of Boulder, Colorado. I'm not what I would consider a "Boulder" type personality, however I do like Boulder, I just prefer Longmont. Longmont seems to be just a tad less cool and has a little more of the "my personal style" feel, for whatever the hell that statement means. 

Longmont has this goin on....and I dig it.
Anyway apparently, Boulder has many of the same issues we have had here in Eagle, where I have lived for many years, when it comes to open space and the management of that space as well as the agencies that manage it. There are a few differences however between the two demographics. A lot of Eagle would like to think it's Boulder, but it is not. Eagle is extremely depressed these days, I actually believe the town is in the process of what George Kastanza would refer to as "shrinkage". With that said, it's got some pretty good mountain biking access, and the access is to thousands of acres of Forrest Service and BLM land. The BLM is currently working on a very large scale travel management plan which has been in the works for some 20 years or so, and was supposed to be completed many years ago. Funny thing is it's not even close. I took my own personal battle with the BLM to the BLM a couple of years ago in an effort to get some things done, and you know what, I actually was able to get some things done, in a positive manner. I did this as an individual and built a good trustworthy relationship with these people and had good dialogue, learned quite a bit, and got some stuff moving forward. It was a great experience and I had built a foundation for something that perhaps someone else will move forward with someday (of course there is always John Bailey who is legendary for getting things done when it comes to trail building). My time here is done, for many reasons.
So now I'm moving to the front range, and apparently the open space issue is a big one in the Boulder area for mountain bikers, and there has been a battle brewing, and the lefties are looking for ANY reason to shut down the mountain bikers from running over red felt ants and what not. And I understand this, I'm a nature lover, I also know you can not tell me that mountain bike traffic is disturbing nesting Golden Eagles at this time of year, because I have worked in the outfitting industry for 20 years, and I have personally watched Red Tail Hawks, Golden Eagles, Osprey, and Bald Eagles nest smack dab in the middle of HUGE development in the west and return to these same grounds every year despite the mansions and the pavement and the Elk and Mule Deer grazing grounds destroyed. It's predominantly a crock of shit. With that said, I think it's probably fair to say that the pine nut eaters greatly out number the pedalers in this front range hood, which creates some big hurdles, and they will take the grape nuts approach and destroy all mtbers every single time they get the chance as depicted in this video below. These days it's tough to get away with shit, there are a lot of snoopy snitches out there looking to get noticed by taking down the opposition, and technology makes it so freekin easy anymore. This is clearly a battle bigger than myself in a new place for me, and I'm sure the side I'm on is highly intelligible, dresses the part and tries to be diplomatic, while the side I'm not on shows up at town meetings with their non-progressive bifocals on the tips of their noses so they can look over them at me like a town judge, (incidentally I'm wearing some right now), their clip boards, their pictures of erosion and the effects of Monster Trucks on spotted owls and their food sources, and there is absolutely no common ground between the two groups nor shall there ever be, because that is what makes this world turn, belonging to a group and disliking the others for being different and not believing the same way they do. So I say, let's all just do our thing, and watch out for those Manatees, props cut deep scars in their shoulders...

The irony in all of this, is that the folks who want to chase the bikes out of open space actually live on old Buffalo, Elk, Mule Deer, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Moose, and every other species native to Colorado nesting, calving and feeding grounds, however, now that their SUVS, and shelters have been been built on these grounds, much like Eagle Ranch in Eagle, they want to make the rules work to their preferences. You know what I say, let's all get the hell off the property and give it back to the Indians and the Buffalo, damn good thing they did not invent gun powder first eh? I dislike hypocrites, at any level, I also dislike biting my tongue very often.....cheers.

Friday, March 25, 2011

THIS ANNOUNCING THING IS SNOWBALLING, AND I LIKE IT


Ok, so yeah, I'll interview Gary Fisher and the Cyclefest Colorado weekend fundraiser which benefits the Colorado High School Cycling League. Last year this event sold out fast, and raised a quick $25,000 for the cause. This year should be more of the same. In 2010 it was Ned Overend, Travis Brown and Greg Herbold were the guests, and this year it is non other than the Legend and one of the certain Farthers of Mountain Biking, Gary Fisher himself.


And three more announcing dates have been added to the schedule with the Superior Morgul Classic as well as the Sonic Boom Criterium. Yeah Dawg.


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I'LL BET YOU DID NOT KNOW

That in 1908, Longmont High School won the 1908 National Championship, I believe they then went over to Xilinx, put boxing gloves on, and proceeded to have a Pier 6 brawl of a Cyclocross race, which was probably won by Boulder Cyclesport. Touche.

Monday, March 21, 2011

AND SO A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS TO BEGIN...

Carter Lake, a sweet ride on a sweet day
My life has been a series of very comfortable places, interrupted by big change. And big change is so refreshing and "good" for the soul. A new page is in the processes of turning, and there is new landscape to get familiar with and add to the arsenal. I've heard for many years about the legendary training grounds of some of the country's best here on the front range, and it's an entire new geo to learn. From the Carter Lake ride yesterday, to Lefthand Canyon today, it's on, and I'm psyched to learn it all, and ride it all. It's endless down here. The move will be stressful like any move, but I can't wait. Yeah the riding is good up in them there hills, but the rest of the scene has gotten a little tired after 28 years, time to pedal a new climb, and smile every second of it.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

"ERZINGER CAM" BUSTS RED ROCKS ROAD RAGERS


Ladies and gentleman, we have a first official contestant in the 2011 A2B Douche bag of the Year Contest. Busted. The score now is...
Douche Bags 2,399,576 to Cyclists 1

Good to see these guys get busted by the "Erzinger Cam" 
Double click the video to fill the screen.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

THIS DAWG WORKS AT COLE WHEELS

and she wanted me to scratch her ass one more time before we left the Cole Wheel offices in Fort Collins before we hit the road back to Longmont. Not that this has anything to do with much of anything.

Monday, March 14, 2011

RUDY PROJECT NOYZ REVIEW FROM A2B,,,,,


By now, most of the A2B followers out in the cyber world know and understand that I have a very good relationship with the team at Rudy Project USA. I've been a loyal supporter of their sunglasses and gear for many, many years, and there are endless reason's why. First and foremost they make a KICK ASS product. Stamped and made in Italy, the full line of sunglass product is second to none when it comes to quality, and they have their own unique design and style, always have, and quite frankly fit my noggin much more custom than the "other" stuff out there that all has that basic "clone" look and has so many of you sucked into their multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. I do not give a crap if Shaun White wears something quite frankly. I want something that fits my head, looks unique, and has the quality I'm looking for as someone who demands nothing but the best everyday when I'm out playing hard on my skis or bikes. And here is the topper, CUSTOMER SERVICE second to none and so far away from the rest of the competition that Rudy stands alone. The team at Rudy will work with you should you have a problem, and they are fair.


Which brings me to the latest product review for 2011, the Rudy Project Noyz. These sunglasses reeeek of style. Functionally I quickly found out after my first two bike rides in the Noyz in HEAVY wind, that they ride extremely "quiet". This means that the design of these glasses fits snug to my face, and there are no turbulence behind the lens, even in very heavy wind, to create tired, strained, dry or sore eyeballs during your ride. 
MOST IMPORTANTLY-----SAFETY.
Check this out....





The Rudy Project Noyz, you want em, and you know it. This is the "Multilaser Blue" lenses which have proven to be ideal in sunny conditions knocking out the sun's attempt to blind me like vinegar trying to mix with oil, it aint gonna happen. On overcast days, the Impact X lens is unbeatable, eliminating those "flat light" dilemmas and keeping my vision clear as a bell.

This is Rudy Style
Rudy has a super smart Le Fluo program this year including both their sunglasses line and the Sterling Helmet line as well for high visibility while on the road, again, safety matters to Rudy.


The Noyz, in two of it's bad ass color combos....please.

And the Noyz comes with all the necessary options, hard case, soft carrying bag that acts as a lens cloth, spares lenses to your liking, and lens sleeve which fits in the front of the hard case.

You can tie these temples in a knot, and then shape them right back to where you want them to be, wallah.

Impeccable craftsmanship in the temples leaves a seamless and FAST looking pair of glasses.

Adjustable shnoz piece, have you seen my nose? I need this, big time.
Get ya some....

Sunday, March 13, 2011

IT'S PRETTY MUCH ON....THE FRONT RANGE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

All you short, dark days can kiss my ass....it's time to play, in a new sand box.

The bold decisions have been made, some of them not easy, some of them very easy. I'm spending  a lot of time now on the front range of Colorado preparing for "the move", which happens in the next four weeks. I make the drive down on my Friday night, stay two days and head back to work early on Tuesday to make it back to the grind up in the mountains. To say I'm ready for this change is an understatement. I disdain to drive back up the hill to that "scene" anymore after riding the stellar roads of Longmont, Fort Collins and North Boulder to Lyons. There is life down here, the world actually functions and there is opportunity, and of course there is Jennifer. I'm already diggin it big time and I'm not even down here yet permanently, but the big move is coming, and the lease has been signed. Bring it.

Anyone got a moving truck I can rent for a day in mid April?

Left Hand Canyon was closed due to the fire, so we jaunted up to Lyons and did laps on the BMX track for jollies...what a great day to ride, all you want.



BISHOP AND GOULD WIN XC OPENER...

Georgia Gould and Jeremiah Bishop took the top spot on the podge at Bonelli Park in California to kick off the Pro XCT 2011 Circuit. We will see all of these crushers in the Vail Valley at the Teva Mountain Games in June, with a LARGE purse for the winners.

by: Danny Munson/DMunsonPhoto.com

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I HAVE TWO BALLS

And these two balls will make you a better skier and cyclist, just make sure you use these balls properly and they will be your friend forever. No matter if they are big balls, or little balls, these balls are the key, I'm glad someone taught me that...

Sunday, March 6, 2011

I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING SKIING, SOMETIMES...

But not on this particular FAT Friday at Beaver Creek....what a season




And of course there is always the latest from Rudy Project added to the arsenal, the Team Issue Noyz and below the limited edition GREEN Prestige designed exclusively for Rudy by Eric Zabel, 7 time Green Jersey winner...

Thursday, March 3, 2011

THE SNOW WALL...

And of course it is still dumping snow at Beaver Creek as I type these very words....snore.


And more harassment from the Talon's Challenge, giving me the mic can be a dangerous thing...