This is a pretty well produced re-cap of the UCI race Pagey-Page won in Michigan in is new Sunweb colors.The video in its entirety can be seen here.

...grabs the 'W' at CrossVegas.

photo by BikeDrool.

My boy Jared 10,000 Foot Blogger Roy has some good pics of the Breck race this weekend.

Have a look at them here and visit his blog, The Wah Report.

Also, pics here at Mark Wolcott Photography.

IT IS TIME FOLKS!
Especially if you are from the Front Range, the time is NOW for you to act and help support the momentum to build out cycling-specific facilities (including CROSS baby!) at Valmont Park in Boulder. The response from the City Council from various groups and citizens has been very good.

OK, so where are we at...and what can YOU do? Let me break it down this way.

GIMME THE BACKGROUND.
The City of Boulder is collecting public comments to shape the future
of Valmont Park. Your input will help determine if cyclocross and
mountain biking are part of the plan.

Valmont City Park is a 132-acre chunk of land located on Valmont Road
in Boulder. The city is drawing new plans for the park after the
original 1998 plan failed to be implemented. During the past year, a
group of cyclists have rallied under the umbrella of the Boulder
Mountainbike Alliance to encourage the city to include off-road
riding like cyclocross, mountain biking, and a terrain park in the plan.

RAD! I'M IN! HOW CAN I HELP?
The city has now released 3 versions of the plan for public feedback.
These are concept plans only, and include a whole laundry list of
potential facilities, from soccer fields to tennis to arts and more.
The good news: 2 of the versions include a mix of cyclocross trails,
singletrack, and bike terrain parks.

Now is time for the public to speak up. You can help by lending your strong voice!
It's essential to let city officials know that you support cycling at
Valmont.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO...AND IT'S EASY!

1. Talk DIRECTLY to the City Council and submit your comments and take a survey on the city's website here.

2. When commenting, use the talking points at the end of this post below. Be sure to use
your own voice and highlight any personal experiences you've had.

3. Forward this blog post!!!. Rally your friends and ask them to echo your
support for cycling.

4. Attend one of the upcoming public meetings (listed on city's
website) to review the plans, ask questions, and log your comments.

5. Check out the park blueprints and see the schedule for public open
houses here.

6. Join our long-term effort by becoming a member of the Boulder
Mountainbike Alliance. Go to: http://boa-mtb.org

7. The deadline is Oct. 31, 2007.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to give your feedback!

------TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR COMMENTARY BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL-------
Talking points you can stress in your comments back to the City:

* I support support cycling at Valmont.

* Create an interconnected system of purpose-built mountain biking
and cyclocross trails that includes a variety of trail styles to meet
the needs of a wide range of riders. These trails can be available
for skiing and running too.

* Locate all cycling facilities adjacent to each other in a linked
system of loops. The bike terrain park should be located nearby.

* Seek the input of professional trail designers and local riders to
craft the final design.

* Maximize hills: The cycling trails and bike terrain park should
make maximum use of existing and/or constructed hills.

* Don't put streets through the park.

* Build it as soon as possible.

--
Additional Information

Our goal, working in partnership with the City of Boulder Parks and
Recreation Department, is to build and maintain a permanent off-road
cycling facility at Valmont City Park. Intended for mountain biking,
cyclocross, dirt jumping, BMX, and other off-road riding and racing,
the facility should consist of an integrated network of natural-
surfaced trails, a mountain bike/BMX terrain park, a start/finish
venue, and appropriate trailheads. The exact location and design of
the facility is flexible and should be developed by a team of
community stakeholders, city staff, and professional consultants.

We intend not only to advocate for this vision, but also to provide a
permanent partner to the city and to share in the long-term
stewardship of the facility.

Cycling facilities at Valmont would be of benefit to thousands of
Boulder’s residents, not to mention cyclists from outlying areas like
Longmont, Louisville, Broomfield, and beyond.

Most importantly, it would provide a safe location for kids to learn
about cycling, participate in clinics, and even get started with racing.

We hope to create a compact yet varied collection of trails and open
areas to appeal to off-road riders of all ages and all abilities. The
facility would be open to the public on a daily basis, but also offer
pre-scheduled closed-course racing, race training, instruction, and
other events. The project could be developed in phases, starting
small and growing as resources allow.

The concept of off-road cycling facilities at city parks is a growing
trend. Variously known as bike parks, bike skills parks, or adventure
parks, these playgrounds are popping up all over—and riders love
them. There are more than 30 purpose-built public bike parks in the
U.S. and Canada, and this figure doesn’t include privately owned bike
parks or bike facilities at ski resorts. In Colorado, different types
of bike parks have been built in Fort Collins, Eagle, Colorado
Springs, and Gunnison.

To get involved or learn more, contact pete at imba dot c o m.

The Summit Daily News printed a great article that made me smile this AM. It describes the course for Breck this weekend and is what I love to hear: Course designers who want to make technical 'cross courses...and not dirt crits. Get us on and off the bike as many times as possible. That is 'cross.

Thanks Tim, J-Rad and Jeff! Looking forward to seeing y'all and thanks for making a CROSS course!

But, ah, Jeff, this is funny:

Course familiarity could give local riders an inherent advantage over their Front Range counterparts on Sunday. According to Cospolich, so could the time of year. "I think a lot of mountain riders like to focus on the early (cyclocross) season," he said. "A lot of us are usually in good shape after the mountain biking season, while the Front Range riders can be burned out because they've had all year to ride their bikes."

Gotta get my digs in somewhere!

Another beautiful sunny morning in Boulder....and 40+ hungry 'crossers out before their work days begin to get their 'cross on in the weekly throw down. We had a stellar turn out and the Front Range folks are amped to get the season underway.

After going to South Boulder and deciding the grass was too wet (we're trying to keep our good rep you know and preserve the land!), we headed down to Boulder Research for a throw down and then on to Elks for more fun. Za Plan prescribed only one session pour moi this week so I was able to take some pics and a quick vid (below) of the group at Elks.

Boulder Research went well. Given the heavy hitters, I was immensely satisfied with how I felt and had T in my brain on trying things we've discussed. It's good to try 'em now with all this depth of talent I get to train with and see how the body responds which made me smile. More work still but I'm so happy. We had the whipper snapper Danny Summerhill out today so he and I traded some paint which was fun. Like old times in the 3's a few years ago when he was like 10 year sold and making me suffer for my placings back then.

Digital celluloid.

Lane

Tyler J and a BMC guy (got to get his name!)

Corey's new Primus Mootry

Corey!

The WB, fresh off a top 20 at Leadville.

Strong strong strong ladies.

Dave and AC2

Ben and Danny

Danny's new steed.

El Gruppo @ Elks.

Dubba and Danny

I got to say 'Go"...and did the Boston Style "You'll start when I'm g-damn ready!"

Strong lady 1

Michelle!

Baker dropping in.

Tuba dropped in...and rode strong today.

Steve Harshman of Harshman Primus Mootry

Daaaaamn, this guy is starting 'em young. He converted this:

to this:

See the project HERE.

My main honky Brian ~Double B from Bakersfield ~ Bruckner, owner and proprietor of the notorious Big Swingin' Cycles shop in San Francisco is hosting the second annual Lion of Fairfax 'cross race in Fairfax CA. You can see some rad photos on my old friends Russ and Nancy Wright's AbbiOrca site here.

I wish I could get out there for this as it was a hellofalot of fun last year I heard. Most folks from the Bay Area will have already heard and registered for the race, but for my peeps out here in CO, I'd HIGHLY recommend swingin' by Big Swingin' in San Francisco. You'll quickly find that B, Chris and the whole staff are very core. Just remember that when you visit and want to cross it up with the fellas, you may want to pack a dress.

Good luck B!!!!

Daaaaamn. We are all getting older. Even the cyborg, Sven Nijs is beginning to show some weather. I've got a couple-a 3 or 4 gray hairs starting to show their face in the bouffant, but Sven's head is either getting bigger with each World Cup victory or he's starting to show some age:It's all good Sven. It's aaaaaaaaaaall good. Getting older is OK, man. No need to worry about that little wunderkind Niels Albert or Klaas Vanthournout (FYI: He's my prediction of the up-and-comer for this season). Just keep doing your bunny hoppin' thing out there and keep that Giro on your dome. No one will know.

Brooke's got it right in this post. What the flock is it about our sport?

I'd make this blog a pit stop of your morning distractions over coffee. Great stuff. I can appreciate given the balance Brooke goes through. Something I can appreciate.