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

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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.