LEZ ZEPPLIN, PLAYING AT FAT BIKE WORLDS IN CRESTED BUTTE, GONNA BE A BLOW OUT. PRESENTED BY BOREALIS BIKES AND ODELL BREWING COMPANY..

If you have never heard a fat tire blowout before, well, you better batten down the hatches and get registered for the first annual Fat Bike World Championship in Crested Butte sponsored by Borealis Bikes and Odell Brewing Company the weekend of January 30th. In addition to World championship racing...there is gonna be free food and beer for all racers everyday, demos galore, free beer, and LEZ ZEPPLIN will be blowing out town with a concert on the big stage downtown. Did I mention there will be free beer? See you there.

MIKE TYSON SHOULD HAVE GOT A FAT BIKE INSTEAD OF A FAT HEAD.

This will be a new category during the 2016 BRAC cycling season, your start time will be at 9:20am....the course is now open for preview.

IN BRAKING NEWS, ME, YES ME, WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE FAT BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CRESTED BUTTE JANUARY 30TH, 2016

Click the above image to Register

Look, people seem to think I've got something against the Fat Bike. Well I don't, well I kind of do, but that is besides the point. No one seems to think "I get it". But I do "get it". I've ridden em. Fat bikes kind of belong on the beach, with a fishing pole hanging out the back end of it, riding along the surf at the Sea Of Cortez. I've raced one on dirt and farted around on one, and for me it says "GO SKIING" instead. I think the thing that bothers me most is that everyone who buys a fat bike wants every one who does not have a fat bike, or bought a fat bike, to know about it, when we actually don't care. I mean to be honest, I think it is great that so many people love the fat bike, if you are having fun and not getting hurt or frostbite riding your bikes that is all that matters, but you do not need to tell the rest of us about it, just go do it, enjoy it, and keep it to yourself. I do not tell you the great joy I find in picking up the last pile of dog shit in my backyard when I take on the task, but it is blissful, but I'm also kind of sure no one else really wants to know about it. Fat Bikes have been around for a VERY long time, but most of you do not know that, you just think that out of no where, they just showed up. I've ridden them on snow and dirt, and do not particularly care for the ride.....with that said, if you ride one on the beach, there is a 24 inch wide swath where the ocean breaks onto the sand and then recedes that has the perfect density for riding a fat bike, and there a a lot of fish that live in the oceans, and this is where the beast is at it's most practical use, where it really works for what it is intended.....so just go ride the fucking thing and have fun, that is all.

Now lets get back to what I meant to be talking about in this post. I like bikes, I also like bike races, no matter what type of race it is. I also like to announce bike races, it's my job and I really like it. So when I was asked by Dave Ochs in Crested Butte to announce the first ever Fat Bike World Championships, I of course said yes, and I'll also throw my skis in the car, know what I'm sayin? So bring your Fat Bikes, this is gonna be a hoot, in one of the true birthplaces of mountain biking. My first race ever on a mountain bike was in Crested Butte in the summer of 1984.....just about the time the first 'fat-bikes" were being built. See you there, bring beer.

ATTENTION ALL SNOW BIKE RIDERS...THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY THE 2ND, IS THE COLD WAR CLASSIC IN CASTLE ROCK

You can register here for the race,

The event is being promoted by Kyle Sipes of RaceCO.org and it's gonna be a pretty grand time ending with Winterfest in Catlerock. Music, food and drink will be happinen....be there.

WORLD CUP CYCLCROSS #5 RACING FROM HEUSDEN-ZOLDER 2015 MEN AND WOMEN

Enjoy the fury....

REGISTRATION OPENS IN 5 DAYS....THIS IS NEW AND IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME. EPIC RIDES INTRODUCES THE CARSON CITY, NV. OFF-ROAD.

Click the above image to register.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM A2B...LEGENDING 15.

Keep it simple folks....once again, it's the key to life. Merry Christmas from Pali Chair.

 

Oh, and by the way, Steve Harvey thrust himself right to the front of the running for the much coveted A2B Douche Bag of the Year with this performance if you missed it....I'm sure you didn't. Watch it again and like it.

I hope you got everything you wanted for Christmas. I sure did. You all went somewhere else to celebrate Christmas day. Thank you.

And Santa got drug straight down the chimney by the DAWGS and they raided his bag...obviously.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE HOME OF A2B. STAY TUNED FOR THE DOUCHE BAG OF THE YEAR AWARD NEXT WEEK.

IT'S A POWDER DAY AT THE LEGEND, PET THE GOATS.....LEGENDING 14

This past summer for some reason, Arapahoe Basin put a bronze sculpture of a couple of Mountain Goats in the base area.  They live high above the ski area, as well as at the top of the ski area on Lenawee, Grays and Torreys peaks. I of course, as and old schooling curmudgeon, went off on this and said they belonged at the Factory Outlet Stores in Silverthorne (I've never actually seen a factory down there) or in Beaver Creek with the rest of the bronze in the world. Well, yesterday I decided to start making some lemonade of the situation and started a new personal tradition at The Legend. I mean come on, it's freekin Christmas week for crying out loud, so lighten up Francis, right? Well, from now on, if it is more than a six inches of new snow powder day at The Legend, and I'm there, petting the bronze goats prior to skiing is a requirement, just so people can look at me like I have lost my mind, which may have actually happened years ago. So pet the goats, it's good karma...

COLORADO MASTERS STATE CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS. PISSIN IN THE WIND AND IT'S GETTIN ALL OVER MY FRIENDS.

STATES DAY TWO...REALITY CHECK. PUTTING IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE....

 Sobering....day two of the Colorado Cyclocross State Championships started with a spectacular sunrise, and after the sun rose, the carnage from the night before was clear and evident as hurricane Castle Rock must have blown through the venue and taken out part of tent town. Feedback Sports and Team Small Batch took the big hits losing 10 x 20 tent sites in a hurry. It blew so hard the finish line from day one blew off the road and away to Kansas somewhere, touchdown Baylor.

 Once things got back to normal chaos the racing began and the course conditions were perfect for hard racing and injuries. Frozen slop from the day before was frozen slop from the day before, right before it turned into slop for today and it was brutal...barely ride-able and lap times sky rocketed. Most races were three laps of brutality on wheels. Darren Cheek was called a State Champion on this day.

 Think about it, 3 Laps, that's it, 3 stinkin laps, most riders looked like they had gone through 15 rounds with Mike Tyson an hour after his divorce with Robin Givens after one lap...then three to go.

 We called Olympic Medalist Georgia Gould and now three time winner Yannick Eckman State Champions at the end of the day, and the winning margins were absolutely stunning, decisive and sobering. This is what happens when the real deal comes to town and decides to beat up on the regulars. One thing I like to say about Cyclocross racing is that it exposes the hard, cold truth. It puts the meek in their place in a hurry. Those who once thought they stood on top of the world on the frozen small pond can be suddenly lost in the pack of wondering hods. Yannick and Georgia rode like machines and ended their respective races in less than a lap of racing. It was flawless and impressive to watch. the rest of the elite fields were reduced to mere mortals in just a couple of minutes....

Once the 2015 cycling season was a rap, it was time to return home to my safe haven, free of social media, free of Strava, free of Fat Bike crap, free of burms, and free of the noise of bike racing.....it looked something like this, but only because I could not fit the third pup on the couch.

Many years ago, perhaps ten, Cyclocross Magazine popped up on the scene. I have often wondered why there has been zero coverage in this American born mag of the Colorado Cyclocross scene, ever. With the number of races and quality of talent that comes out of Colorado, there has been zilcho coverage of the scene here. USA Cyclocross seems to be in a bit of a tizzy (along with all disciplines of the sport). The fans have stopped showing up like they did in the days of Harlow Platt and the Boulder Cup. Even Cross Vegas seemed a bit bare this year for a World Cup event. Now with the season wound down, it is time to think about how to bring the people back, how to recreate the excitement of CX that we saw 7-10 years ago in this country...there seems to be some soul missing, perhaps lost on the roofs of Lexus SUVs with twin Carbon $10,000 Cross bikes on them. Where is the soul going or gone? Where do we find it and get it back? 2016 Cyclocross season will be here before we know it....let's find it.

And remember one thing, there is always PODIUM PHOTOBOMBING.

HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY EVER MEASURED THE SNOW STAKE AT THE SNOW STAKE CAMERA IN VAIL?

I just would like to be guaranteed that the markings on this webcam stake are actually inches...if you know what I'm saying.

COLORADO STATE CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

It never fails...it happens every season. when the money is on the line, no matter what has happened previously during the cyclocross season, the creme rises to the top on the day of the State Championships. Tim Faia had dominated the 40+ masters category all season..and then today, in the mud and frozen ruts of Rhyolite Park, and the soggy snow, Brandon Dwight and Pete Webber of the BCS/Yoga Glow team rode the rest of the field to their death quickly, and of course once again had a sprint finish for the title. I feel like I've called the scenario 100 times, it's basically Ground Hog day in the Cyclocross world. Today it was Brandon Dwight, by perhaps a half wheel at the line as the two sprinted for the win side by side. Pete Webber led it out and Brandon over took him just yards from the line on his right...revenge is best served up on a cold plate when these two race....look for the same next season.

I FEEL FOR THE MEEK AND WEEKEND WARRIOR...GO SKI PALI, IT'S OPEN.

Legending 49 from Larry Grossmany on Vimeo.
It's been a blessed life, there is not much at this point I would change except for maybe the New England Patriots having never won the Super Bowl, that would be kind of cool, but I can't change that. It sounds like Star Wars 47 was excellent last night and I look forward to seeing it even though I'm not quite into that thing. One thing I am into is skiing. Every season, when I ride The Legend for the last time of the season, as I head down to the base area, I always wonder if this will be the last time I ever have a chance to ski here, because life is full of twists and turns, and 2015 has been a very odd one for good friends getting sick or passing away, and I always remember that and I never take anything for granted. Hence, when the next ski season comes around and the Pali chair opens at Arapahoe Basin I am incredibly thankful to have made it to another season and ski at my favorite hill. More importantly as I push towards 60 years of age...the first run down Pali every season brings back life....the soul and the freedom of skiing, real skiing. For the masses that have "real" jobs and live that can only ski on the cluster fuck of the weekend, I feel for you, because whether you live in a mountain community or on the front range of Colorado, if you do not get to ski during the weekend, you are missing out on simplicity. There is rarely traffic to get to the hill, even in total shit weather and the lift lines do not exist this time of year, unless you are in Vail of course. So quit your real jobs and going skiing, it's good for you. I mean really, why even live in Colorado or it's mountains if you can't enjoy it's rewards? Christ.

Music in honor of the Super Bowl....lame. Vij includes first run on Pali of the year, also lame.

SKIING, I STILL DO THAT....13

 Legending is almost back in full swing. Plain and simply put, Arapahoe Basin will always be the FAV of A2B, nothing else compares. Every year it is a blessing to be healthy enough to get back up on the hill and ski and enjoy this place. For weekend warriors, you are basically screwed, but during the week if you live in Lakewood, it's less than an hour from driveway to Pali lift. Of course the best option to truly ski bum is to live somewhere in the county of Summit, but that has become virtually impossible these days with the cost of living an with the explosion of growth in the mountains. Long gone are the days of having one crappy job and a funky old house to live in with 5 of your buddies paying $75 a month, it's become virtually impossible to truly ski bum anymore, but I'm still doing my best to keep the tradition rolling. Earl season in Colorado this year has been fantastic, Loveland has received over 130 inches to date. Bam, go get er done.

IT'S A PRETTY FUCKED UP WORLD WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND THINK ABOUT IT...

So don't think about it....on second thought, maybe you should think about it.....

THE LAP...MILE HIGH URBAN COWBOY CROSS...RAD STUFF

This past Sunday was a rock and roll party at the National Western Stockshow Complex thrown by MUCCY and Deirdre Moynihan. It's a difficult course in a very unique setting and everyone that shows up has a great time racing, drinking beer and eating donuts. Sorry you missed it, conditions were prime.

MUCCY 2015 from Dale Riley on Vimeo.

And this was a highlight of the day...big time. Kristin Morgan Hopkins, who lost both her legs in a car accident after being left in her car for six days off the side of the road in a snow bank, participated in the Adaptive race along with Mike Sales and had the crowd roaring as they negotiated the course two times during their event. It was way past awesome. Photo courtesy of Ryan Muncy.

A QUICK MESSAGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

Right?

YOU PAID TO WATCH THIS? IDIOTS

I learned many years ago when Roberto Duran quit on Sugar Ray Leonard, and I paid good money ti watch it, that all this shit is a tremendous waste of mine, yours, and everyone else's money. You got take to the cleaners. 

GLUTEN, IT'S WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST....SIDEWAYS.

LET US BEGIN HERE.....A2B MAY BE COMING BACK.

I'm just about Facebooked out, time to get back on this pony. 

THIS HAS BEEN A FUN RIDE. LET'S GO METS!!

THIS WEEKEND. VAIL. BE THERE.

http://www.outlier.bike/

ROLL TIDE.....JUST BECAUSE

#PaulFinebaum'sgirl

IF YOU MISSED IT, WELL, YOU MISSED IT.....STEAMBOAT STAGE RACE 2015

GS CIAO got in done with a thrilling finale at Stage 3 of the Steamboat Stage Race. Adrien Costa threw every bomb he had at these guys with a solo shot to win it the GC in the Criterium. He needed at least a third place finish and had to finish in front of the GC winner Michael Burleigh. He finished fourth with Burleigh fifth, one spot out of a 4 second time bonus which would have given him the overall GC title by one second. So close and so good. Good luck at World's Adrien.

AN ARTICLE POSTED ON FACEBOOK BY JACK JANELLE, FATHER OF MIKE. READ IT.

1. FROM THE TOP -- Views from the Editor Irregular Heartbeats in Senior Athletes and Exercisers Editor’s Note: A reader recently forwarded to me an alarming article from VeloNews about the seemingly increasing incidence of cardiac maladies (especially, atrial fibrillation) in masters endurance athletes who have pushed themselves hard for decades, in some cases, and continue to do so past far past age 50. I asked Dr. Gabe Mirkin to address the issue. A few years back, Alan Bragman, D.C., author of several of our eArticles and eBooks, wrote a first-person account of his own a-fib, titled A Primer on Atrial Fibrillation. You might also be interested in reading that. – J.M. By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Virtually all doctors agree that exercise helps to keep you healthy and to prolong your life. People who exercise into later life live longer than non-exercisers and are at reduced risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks, premature death, diabetes, strokes and even some cancers. Endurance bicycle racers who participated in the Tour de France from 1947 to 2012 live an average of five years longer than their countrymen (European Heart Journal, (2013) 34 (40):3145-3150). 2 Fit people are less likely to suffer a particular form of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, and a regular exercise program reduces a person's chances of developing atrial fibrillation (Circulation, April 22, 2015). More than 36,000 middle-aged women were followed for 10 years, and those who exercised regularly were far less likely to develop atrial fibrillation (Heart, May 27, 2015). However, extreme endurance exercisers such as bicycle racers, cross country skiers and long-distance runners who compete into their 40s and beyond may be at increased risk for atrial fibrillation (American Journal of Cardiology, October 15, 2014;114(8):1229–1233). The incidence of atrial fibrillation appears to be more common in older athletes than in the general population (J Am Coll Cardiol, 2005;46:690–6). Recent articles in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other popular media have suggested that athletes who continue to do extensive fast mileage or train for extreme endurance events in later life may be doing more harm than good. What is Atrial Fibrillation? Each heartbeat starts when a "battery" in the upper heart (atrium) sends an electrical impulse through the upper heart to make it contract to squeeze blood toward the lower heart (ventricle). Then the electrical impulse reaches another "battery" in the lower heart to make the lower heart squeeze blood forward. Atrial fibrillation means that the upper heart quivers and does not push blood forward, while the lower heart beats independently. Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and do not know that they have this condition until it is discovered during a routine physical examination. Symptoms may include:  Palpitations (a feeling that the heartbeat is racing, uncomfortable, or irregular)  Muscle weakness  Reduced ability to exercise  Fatigue  Lightheadedness  Dizziness  Confusion  Shortness of breath  Chest pain These symptoms are usually harmless, but on rare occasions an irregular heartbeat can cause sudden death by stopping the heart from pushing blood through your body. Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heartbeat. It occurs in 1.5 to 2 percent of the general population and risk increases with age. It affects 10 percent of 75-year-olds and 20 percent of those over 85, because aging increases the risk factors for atrial fibrillation, such as blocked arteries, high blood pressure or diabetes. How Atrial Fibrillation Can Harm You When a person has an upper (atrial) heart that is fluttering, a clot can collect there and pass to the brain to cause a stroke, or to the lungs to block blood flow through the lungs. This is so dangerous that most doctors prescribe anti-clotting agents to everyone with atrial fibrillation. I believe that athletes with atrial fibrillation are far less likely to suffer clots that cause strokes than non-athletes with atrial fibrillation, but I have not seen any studies to support my belief. Healthy athletes can have occasional irregular heartbeats that will not harm them, but at this time, doctors treat atrial fibrillation in athletes the same way they treat their other patients. 3 Extreme Exercise May increase Atrial Fibrillation Risk Two studies raised the concern about extreme amounts of exercise in older athletes. In the first study, 29 elite athletes were given MRIs to look for heart muscle scarring that increases risk of atrial fibrillation. They were Olympic or national team runners and rowers who had competed throughout their lives, including some who had completed more than 100 marathons. In the older group of 12 athletes ages 50 to 67, half showed some heart muscle scarring (J Appl Physiol, June 2011;110(6):1622-6). Those who had trained the longest and hardest had the most scarring. None of the 17 younger athletes (20-42) or the control group of 20 older non-athletes showed this heart muscle scarring. In the second study, on rats, a 16-week program of daily one-hour treadmill running caused widening of the upper part of their hearts and scarring in the heart muscle that could increase risk for irregular heartbeats (J Am Coll Cardiol, July 2013;62(1):68-77). The scars in the upper heart remained after the rats stopped exercising. Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation There are a number of risk factors for atrial fibrillation:  High blood pressure is the most significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation (Hypertension, 2012 Feb;59(2):198-204). Blood pressures greater than 140/90 significantly increased risk (J Am Soc Hypertens, 2015 Mar;9(3):191-6).  Diabetes  Being overweight (J Am Coll Cardiol, Jul 7, 2015). A program getting people to reduce their excess body weight markedly reduced symptoms in patients who already had atrial fibrillation (JAMA, 2013;310(19):2050-206).  Alcohol  Smoking  An overactive thyroid  A very low heart rate, below 50 beats per minute (Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2013, Aug;6(4):726-31).  Abnormal coronary artery calcium score, even with no heart symptoms (Am J Cardiol, 2014 Dec 1;114(11):1707-12). This test can be ordered by any doctor.  Lack of exercise. Exercise helps to prevent atrial fibrillation; fit men had a 23 percent lower susceptibility for atrial fibrillation (Am J Cardiol, 2012 Aug 1;110(3):425-32).  Aging. The older you are, the more likely you are to suffer atrial fibrillation. Walking or cycling is associated with a decreased risk in older people (Heart, 2014 Jul;100(13):1037-42).  Possibly extreme ultra-endurance exercise. My Recommendations Exercise reduces the chances of a person developing atrial fibrillation. Nobody has shown that exercise in itself causes atrial fibrillation, and it is only extreme ultra-endurance exercise that some doctors believe may increase risk for atrial fibrillation. I think that nutrition, exposure to pollutants and other lifestyle factors are also important. I do not believe that just exercising will give you adequate protection from heart disease. To protect your heart, you should follow all of the rules that apply to everyone whether you compete in ultra-endurance events, exercise moderately or just sit on a couch.  eat lots of fruits and vegetables  severely restrict sugar-added foods and drinks  restrict red meat and fried foods  avoid smoking, second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke 4  restrict alcohol  avoid being overweight  exercise However, some doctors disagree with me. Even if you are healthy and do not have any heart problems, your doctor may recommend that you avoid strenuous workouts. If you have atrial fibrillation or other heart problems, some doctors will even tell you to stop exercising altogether. After all, on rare occasions irregular heartbeats can kill you. If you already suffer from atrial fibrillation, or you already have blocked arteries leading to your heart, you have to depend on your doctor's advice. One Senior Athlete's Exercise Program I am 80 years old and do not have atrial fibrillation or known heart disease. I race with others 20 to 30 miles on my bike three times a week and know that I have to back off when my leg muscles start to feel stiff and heavy. I race for the sheer pleasure of riding fast. There are no trophies or financial rewards. On my other four days, I try to do controlled 50-pedal-stroke intervals until my legs feel heavy or hurt. For most of my life, first as a marathon runner and then as a cyclist, I had exercise-induced injuries all the time. It took me more than 70 years to learn when to go slow and when to take a day off. Most mornings, my leg muscles feel heavy and ache from my previous day's workout. If my legs do not feel better after riding my bike for 10 minutes, I take the day off or ride very slowly. I do not ever plan to do slow junk miles and I do not care how few miles I put down in my diary. I usually have to take off one day a week and go slowly one day a week. I also follow all of the rules I have listed for a healthful lifestyle. Gabe Mirkin, M.D., is a sports medicine doctor and fitness guru. A practicing physician for more than 50 years and a radio talk show host for 25 years, Dr. Mirkin has run more than 40 marathons and is now a serious tandem bike rider with his wife, Diana, often doing 30- 60 miles in an outing. His website is http://drmirkin.com/. Comment ==================================

CAN'T REALLY ARGUE WITH HER ON THIS ONE....

IT'S ALMOST HERE....

Every year, when ski season is winding down, there comes the last day on the hill. I always get very nostalgic on my last day of skiing each season as when I head down the hill for the last time, I always wonder if I will ever ski another run in my life, because now, nearing age 58 in less than a month, you just never know. I've lost many friends at very young ages over the years to weird shit. Their lives suddenly ended by the body simply saying "that's all for you". And then I get close to the start of a new ski season, and all though my body it a bit more sore and bet up everyday now when I get up, I know I'm getting closer to another season of playing on the snow, and it's great when I get there. With that said, I certainly hope this run from Willie's Wide last spring does not prove to be my last up there, as if the snow flies and the winds are kind in 2015/16 at Arapahoe Basin, I'll be slogging my ass up there again to do it many more times....this was the last run up there last season. Let it snow.

WORLD CHAMPION

Alban Lakata

RIDING ARAPAHOE BASIN....ON WHEELS

More on this later, gotta run to stage one of the Breck Epic right now.

FINALLY MADE IT THERE.....UPPER CHEESEMAN CANYON FISHING

All you needed today....

It took 32 years of living in Colorado, but I finally got to this spot. For many years I've wanted to hike in from the "other" end of Cheeseman Canyon and fish. I've been to the downriver access many times years ago, bit I'd never been down to the South Platte river where it actually begins it's journey from Cheeseman Lake. It is spectacular, and yesterday was a great adventure. The hike in was moderate with a fair amount of climbing, and the trail is great for walking, until you  get to the actual river access. The river is currently flowing at over 500cfs which is high for this time of year. The terrain is very loose and very steep at river's edge, unless you plan on walking down river there are zero opportunities for wade fishing as the water is deep and swift in this section of the river. With that said, there are fish in the pockets you can access with a fly rod, big fish, and they must be fished deep and with a fair amount of weight to get to them. They were eating when I was down there, and the fishing was grand. A spectacular day in a hidden gem of a place in Colorado...there are so many more to explore.