I got this in the email from the mbaa in regards to their event happening up here in Phlag this weekend.
We will need people out on the course to direct traffic on the loops. The course was marked well by MBAA with the help of Linden and her group; however when riding it again on Sunday, much to our dismay, we found that people who do not want to have mountain bikers racing on those trails have removed the signage and tried to put blockers across the trails (including such things as a SPARE TIRE?) making riders think the trail was closed. Due to this dilema MBAA feels it will make for a much more pleasant race to actually have “spotters” on the course to protect and direct all of our racers in the event that the course markings have all been destroyed.
Next they will burn course markers in front yards. Trails_and_who_ride_them are taken very seriously here.
Results for the 12 hours of Mesa Verde. I thought at least I’d have the faster laps between me an BGR but no, he not only pulled more laps, he did them all faster. That bastard. I still don’t understand how Travis Brown posted a 1:08 nor how Nielsen ran 5 sub 1:30 solo laps on his way to the win. Fuck.
Is it news that Menchov won yesterday? Or Scarponi today.
Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team, covered the 154-mile leg in 5 hours, 49 minutes, 55 seconds after a long breakaway as the race crossed into Austria.
“Yesterday I lost all my chances for (overall victory), so I wanted to try to attack today to make amends,” Scarponi said. “Kiryienka was a big help. I couldn’t have made it without him.”
Good on Scarponi. Operacion Puerto didn’t matter for him either. Just like Humpty dumping the news of kloden in the comments a day ago. It really seems past tense at this point for cycling, or I just don’t care. Fortunately, no matter what there is that wiki page so we can reference.
Dave wants to know about Santa Fe.
Hey gnome, BJ, et al.,
I read your site every day (and even reply to a post now and again). Always good stuff. Anyways, I’m looking at a job offer in Santa Fe and wonder what you guys know about it. Thinking the mtbing is good and that i’ll be able to get some snow days in. But is the town annoyingly artsy/pretentious/touristy? Or can i find a chill vibe there such as can be found in Bend, Flag or Durango? And what are the women like there? I’ve been to NM for the Gila but that’s it.
I’m in Fresno now, so *anything* is gonna be a step up.
Thanks for the advice and the site.
Dave
I’ve been to NM exactly 3 times on purpose. Twice for the Gila and stopped in Albuquerque overnight once. Driven through it plenty. I know nothing of Santa Fe except that it looks like Phoenix from the car window.
I don’t remember where I saw this the first time, but I like it. The sequencing is pretty cool.
shortlinkdump:
- Mikey’s rather good time fuck.
- earth from above
May 14th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
do the fuckers who dick around with the trails realize that mountain biking is a fucking olympic sport as opposed to their little trail-running-with-ski-poles faggotry?
May 14th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
oh I was just there last weekend by the way and this time of year it’s already 80s-90s and at 7000 feet. The country is effing gorgeous though. MTN biked on a couple of trails, some good rocky-mixed-with sandy tread. Beware the cholla cactus – they’re there too. Met some pretty cool guys at mellow velo in downtown santa fe. They seemed totally chill
mellowvelo.com
May 14th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
lived there for a few years and worked at a local shop. had a ton of fun. The trails are great more than you realize. The women are few and far between, so good luck, unless you like 50 something divorcee’s. The town is artsy/touristy but only if you stay around the plaza. not as bad as taos but, artsy none the less. When it gets hot you can ride up high, up to 12,000 feet if you want to. They have a few decent breweries too. The riding scene is pretty friendly, every one i met is more than happy to show you around. Good luck hope you find a career that fits you.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Messing with the MBAA course…nice. Self riteousness.
I understand not wanting a couple hundred racers beating up the trail, dumping their gel wrappers etc., but who really has the right to decide who should and shouldn’t have access? Is screwing with the course going to stop the race or just make more work for someone else.
Gets into the whole localism thing, and you most likely will always find someone who can make a stronger claim to the local trail, break, street corner etc. than your uppity ass.
Seriously, say you are the first MFer to ride a trail and you did it for a year before anyone else, does that make it yours?
Same thing as the assholes in Tucson who decided they would sabotage trails because they didn’t like sharing with mtn. bikes. In my eyes that puts you in the same select arrogant group.
And it isn’t like the MBAA races are what they used to be…
ok, of the box and into a cold one.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Santa Fe is the real deal. I have been here for 2 years, Flagstaff before that. Spent plenty of time on the bike with most of the fools that post on this site. I would say that Santa Fe has a great seen. Just rode into work from the bike to work festival, it was going off. There is good mountain biking, and killer roads. Hit the Gnome up for my contact info if you like, we would love to have another rider out there in the 505.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Adam @ Pivot Cycles says this about Santa Fe:
May 15th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Santa Fe’s a great place if you have a shitload of money. The wife and I met there when I was working for The New Mexican, and we spent every nickel we earned (she was managing a bookstore and the two of us pulled in decent bucks).
SF is the only place I ever lived where you’d meet 45-year-old guys with three roommates and four jobs apiece. Natch, all the honkies are “artists” or “writers” when they’re not dealing them off the arm in some beanery or holding a stop sign at a highway-construction project. Vast disparity between rich and poor, and you can stuff the middle class into a Toyota Prius and still have room for your bike.
The trails are excellent, but the roads are full of drunks and rich swine driving cars the size of the Chrysler Building. Food is top notch and can be had cheaply, considering (check out La Choza, Tia Sophia and Second Street Brewing, which makes excellent beer). Ten Thousand Waves is a good place for a post-ride soak if you’re not homophobic (the public tub has suffered greatly, scenery-wise, since a women’s-only tub debuted)
Dating scene sucked back in the Eighties, so badly that I had to get married to get some. But that’s worked out OK, and I’d do it again, even if it meant moving back to Santa Fe and working for that shitbag newspaper. Truth to tell, I’d move back tomorrow and take the wife with me, but I’m still well short of that first million.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Folks in Law live in Sante Fe. Go there 5-6 times a year. Skiing in the area is good. Real Estate is pricey, jobs are dicey and dating scene is awesome if you are a lesbian and have a Subaru, or you really like the smell of patchoule and old Birkenstocks. matter of fact I think if you are a lesbian you actually get issued an outback when you move there. There is Rich and Poor, not a whole lot in between.
Food is off the chain, some of the best guacamole on the planet can be had a Gabriel’s north of town. not to mention the Bobcat Bite, best Green Chile Cheeseburger I have ever had – ever, forever – ever. I once waited outside in a snow storm for 30 minutes to eat one and yes it was worth it.
The climb up to the Ski Resort is a Biyatch. riding is incredible especially north of town. Weather in summer is tough to beat, especially when it is fucking 115 here in PHX.
May 16th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Just read up on the race sabotage in Flagstaff here and at Handlebar Sandwich.
One thing I want to mention – don’t assume it was the actions of hikers, trail runners or other non-cyclists. A few years ago Troy, tRoy, T_royiza (or whatever the fuck he calls himself), put on a small, invite only, between friends, race/ride. Super-fun good times shit that people do, you know? And some of the other “local” cyclists took offence to it (these are “our” trails, not “your” trails) and put logs, etc, in the trials to fuck up the event. Just because they could.
It is insane. But, Flagstaff has a lot of that attitude.
Linden and the MBAA work their ass off to make these events happen. They are all good people. And these events are a good thing. They bring money into town. They expand awareness of cycling. They help showcase just how bitch’n Flagstaff can be.
And, unfortunately, they also show how fucking stupid come of the kids in Flagstaff are.
The only upside is the guys throwing logs and pulling down markers are the same SOBs that will be moving out of town in few years when the mood suits them. Its all “local” until they move and decide somewhere else is “local”. It’s only local if you were born there. And if you still live in the same place you were born, then you are one boring ass son of a bitch. Get out there and see something aside from what you’ve always looked at. There is a whole world out there. And most of us are willing to share it with you.
May 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
i am hearing things that are going to make me regret that last comment… such is life.
May 16th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
all good jonny.
just say it
May 17th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Now that the local-racing communitee knows who the individuals are, that put so much effort in to derailing the efforts of MBAA holding a local sanctioned race, persons that basically just directed their h8tr-hurt toward people they don’t even know, I would like to ask of them…, “How’s your KARMA?”, and, “Is it OK if I go riding today on YOUR TRAILS?” Puhleez!?! Cause I just really want to get out and do some more riding…!
ps. Thanks for making the race a little more challenging by sending me on that oddessy of a pre-ride… I actually liked your re-designed course, minus the hazards, and think MBAA should incorporate that design into their next race.
Kindergarten Doesn’t Pay Off For Everyone…
Forgetting those two Top Rules: Share, and Don’t Bite!
May 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
For those of you who attempted to sabotage the course your efforts did not go un-noticed. We know who you are. Your childish pranks are well known about the Flagstaff community and if you think for one minute you got away with something you are sadly mistaken. The trails belong to everyone and we don’t need your blessing to ride them. Your mentality is a bit disturbing and sick. It is too bad you can’t put all of that energy into something positive.
Your Mothers obviously never taught you the value of respect and sharing. Karma really is an amazing thing.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Thanks for the insight BK broiler. My name was listed as one of the culprits however I had nothing to do with it. Even though it was a simple incident, ya’ll still f-up the scenario to support your suffering.
As a matter of fact, even after talking with Janet and Scooby, nobody was interested in hearing my side of the story.
Thanks for the persecution though. Your self righteous judgments are always appreciated.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Gnome-
Thanks for the support out on top of Double D/Motto out on pipeline…Obviously your accusers have no idea of who you are, as I remember it, you were settin course records back on the ole’ Casa Grande course when I was just gettin into the mbaa scene. SO thanks for bein out there and givin a shout out as we rode by…Wish you were a few more rollers down to catch me as I cartwheeled head over heals behind shultzman
May 18th, 2009 at 8:28 am
da kachinas have struck again. hoskinnini new wheels at davis chevrolet. have some t-bird and nuke phoenix! i’ll pay-n-take your ass to the bottom. be nice to da gnome and have a bk broiler at navajo codetalker place in kayenta.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:05 am
My response to this: First of all I’m not going to rat out anyone. Someone said I was part of the “guilty” group. I witnessed the “vandalism” as some would call it. Should I have done something? No we live in a free society one would hope. I made my say because there are some cool people out there that chose to pay $45 to race in the heat and dust. And there are some jerks out there who take racing and fighting for 200th place too seriously. Get a life. Well what kinda life is there in Phoenix? One guy said “what the fuck are you doing here?” We were heading the opposite direction and easily getting out of the racer’s way. No problem. Most everyone else was totally cool. Perhaps the promoters should say that there are other users out there. The course is not closed. Maybe they did. Also there were other course markings that were messed with by others. So what? Shite happens. Get over it. What about the goo packets and H20 bottles littered and so on? Whatever. I’m a long time racer and respect what needs to be respected.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Joe,
While I am glad to hear that you only “witnessed” their antics, I am very disappointed in your response, in your actions and lack of actions. My 15-year-old son was out there proudly racing on one your Voodoo Sobo’s. In fact, his picture is on your website’s gallery under the Voodoo Fans page! I also know for a fact that there were 3 junior racers out there racing on your Voodoo’s. To hear that a Mountain Bike Hall of Famer would just sit by and watch while they vandalize a race is unbelievable! Your lack of action and your response here actually condone the saboteurs’ actions. The promoters did announce several times that the trails were not closed and open to other trail users. The course WAS swept after the race to pick up any trash left by a racer that YOU sponsored for several years, Tim Allen! We do live in free society and you were free to stand up for the racers doing what you have done and profited from your whole life!
May 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am
joe. you suck. show some respect to those people out enjoying the race, even if its your favorite place to ride stop being an ass and riding the wrong direction. asshole. and by the way shitty response. way to step up to the plate and act like a leader in this community and sport.
ha
May 18th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Davis you suck. You’re self-righteousness weighs a ton. Since none ya’ll were there, maybe a grain of salt is appropriate. None of you seem to understand the dynamics that you’re requiring others to manage.
Shit happens.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Gnome. yes shit happens cause people who should step up to the plate and do right did nothing. and even worse are making excuses.
May 18th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Davis and Marty: cease and desist. you take yourselves way too seriously. and to bring in the mtn bike hall of fame reference to joe, he’s in; you’re not. so, shut the f- up.
this is exactly the kind of shit that SHOULD always keep flagstaff wierd. take your whining ass back to kleenex where there is no local wildlife on the trails…
May 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
yeah george, cause making people feel not welcome is a great way to keep a pretty damn awesome town, weird???????? that doesn’t make any sense. weird should not be a point of pride if you equate it with xynophobia. It just flat out is not right to go mess with a race. it fosters a poor image of the sport. as for the hall of fame reference, Joe is supposed to be an ambassador for the whole sport not just the flagstaff local trail community.
thanks
May 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
“xenophobia”, you asshat?