Red Bull Rampage Finals - Live streaming in t-minus 15 minutes.

someone took these images and it wasn't me

If you have some time today (right now!) and want to see a spectacle of big mountain riding and one of the last remaining competitions of the season (other than 'cross), check out Red Bull Rampage here: http://www.redbull.com/us/en/bike/events/1331676062973/red-bull-rampage-2014


Finals were supposed to be yesterday but got bumped to today due to rain. They are in a new zone this year with what looks to be even bigger lines and more commitment.

Live streaming begins in a few minutes from the time of this post.

My money is on Brandon Semenuk here, but he's a bit of an easy bet, so maybe Cam Zink. Wait, he's also
a bit of  a shoe in when he doesn't wreck...maybe we should just watch and see.
Enjoy.
- BC

Bike Industry Scandal: Plagiarism Abounds, Nearly 4 people care!

There's not a lot going on in the world of cycling right now, except for a Giant Demo weekend at Camel's

Back Park in Boise, Red Bull Rampage coming up on Sunday, and this little journalism scandal:













http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2014/09/23/bikerumor-pledges-tighter-editorial-control#.VCSIN_ldWCk

Be sure to scroll down and read the comments. It's a subset of a subset of a niche, but it's about bikes and writing about bikes so it's right up my alley. Enjoy, and remember kids: speak your mind, do your own research, develop your own voice, wear your heart on your sleeve, and never plagiarize. Lest you end up like "Toolbag" Tyler here (his nickname, not one I anointed).

Kudos to James Huang for finally calling this guy out.
- BC

King of "Deathbed Regrets"

This space is to be, I hope, first and foremost, about cultivating a love for the sport of cycling. A secondary goal, however, is to entertain. This post has nothing to do with cycling. It has nothing to do with IMT. You will not be inspired to purchase anything from us due to what I write next. These are words expressing a thought that has been on my mind for what feels like forever, and I think you might find it entertaining.








So here we go. You're familiar with the artist known as Sting, right? Of course. He was one of a power trio that made up The Police, he is in amazing shape; tantric with Trudie, solid solo career, former teacher... that Sting. He was the stud in Dune (above).


I imagine him on his deathbed and I have to think he has all these thoughts running through his head. He's a big supporter of Humanitarianism, he's made his mistakes but seen it all. Friends with Sirs and royalty and probably Gwyneth Paltrow
(who looked dead tasty playing Estella in 1998's Great Expectations, by the way, see picture right). He plays bass like a surgeon and is crazy about preserving the Amazon. On said deathbed, he can't have too many regrets, right? I can only hope for such fine thoughts in my own final hours.

So I can't understand one thing. I refuse to believe that the man who wrote Every Breath You Take and Message in a Bottle, took to his sixth solo album, 1999's Brand New Day, and penned the line, "turn the clock to zero buddy don't wanna be no fuddy duddy." Really? That's just one example in a song that sounds like it was written on a dare from a super hip pastor at his church. It's deplorable. I'm sure my mom loves that line, but it's not only immediately dated, it makes me want to Indiana Jones-whip him in the face for daring to publish it. If you look on the official Sting website right now there is Sting, waxing poetic about how when you write lyrics you have to be concise. you don't have a novel to tell a story. Great point, Sting, but when a guy like Isaac Brock is writing lyrics like, "We kiss on the mouth but still cough down our sleeves," Gordon Sumner has the gravitas to ink drivel about being a "Fuddy Duddy."??? There is no competition there. No one even uses those words now. That one line defines "Sting" as an artist, and perhaps as a person, to me.

The moral: Don't sell out, kids. It's like meth: "Not even Once."
People see right through that crap, regardless of everything you've accomplished before.
Stay strong.
-BC

Absalon won the Men's XCO Worlds; DH predictions

Within the past 5 years or maybe more I would have rather seal-clubbed my mother's skull than bet against a Swissie winning a World Cup-level XC race. The exception being Julien Absalon, who I thought was now over the hill a bit. Apparently not; Frenchie can ride, and he is once again your World Champ. Big ups.

This is a big sports Saturday, and locally we have BSU vs. CSU. You'll likely pay attention to the show surrounding that for the next 24hr. Don't hate me, but I went to CSU, and I want them to win. On another level, BSU is Idaho's closest thing to a professional team, and as a homer I'm fine if they get over. In the grand scheme of things, however, it means nothing compared to the DH World Championships tomorrow morning.

Hopefully you read my last post and some of the links and got Vital's take on who might win. I feel compelled to put my money where my mouth is right now and say that I don't think Loic Bruni will win. This year. He will get his Worlds, just not in 2014. So, here are my predictions.

World Champ: Josh Bryceland

Why? Yeah, Sam Hill straight up pinned it in the final at Meribel and got the win. Good on him. He had pressure and he freaking won. Josh, on the other hand, merely had to finish better than 26th to secure the overall World Cup win. Given that, here's what everyone is telling Josh, "Eye on the prize, buddy. Just don't wreck. Take it easy. Safe lines and you win the World Cup Overall."

Josh finished less than a second back of Hill in 3rd. Talking it easy. I think he is in his zone.

WC Silver:

Stevie Smith...wait no....he's not racing, so how's about Gee Atherton here.









WC Bronze:

Loic. He's young, French, disciplined, has sick style, and it's only a matter of time. I slot him here because I like the kid.










4th. Minnaar:

Greg is the current World Champ and one of my favorite racers of all time. This year he came into the series hurt but still competitive. He went off course in OZ, and the UCI DQ'd him for that race because he re-entered the course a few feet further down than he exited. No time advantage, but it's a new rule and it meant he basically couldn't win the World Cup overall. He rode through with a slew of top ten finishes, but he is clearly saving it for this race, and God know's the man is capable.



5th. Sam Hill:

He cannot be counted out. Ever. Even if he is a savant.










Prove me wrong. That's the thrill, and I'm all in for this. BTW, The one guy who might make me look totally foolish: Aaron Gwin.

- BC

UPDATE: I'm gutted for Josh. He had it...and had he just scrubbed the final jump he'd be World Champ and I would've been correct in my predictions for 1 and 2. Well, that's racin' folks. Love it.

Come get it: MTB World Championships this Weekend

NORWAY is upon you, whether you would risk it or not, my friends. Specifically, scenic and gnarly Hafjell, Norway, host to this week's Mountain Bike World Championships.

As of this post, the Junior cross country (XCO) finals are over, and if you were hoping for a crushing display by the US kiddies and a future full of DEFCON 1 'Merican domination in that discipline, you can just roll back into a nice fetal position and begin sobbing now. The USA's best placing girl Jr. rider came in 27th, and nationally we rank 12th. For the boys, our best was a promising 8th, but our next best was way back there in 46th, placing us 9th in rankings by nation. That's not so good. Maybe we should stop giving out all those trophies for participation now, eh?

Sidebar: Before you get on me for calling them "girls" and "boys" just ask yourself what a simpler term for a
"Junior Women" is. Likewise, I refuse to call boys a "Junior Men." They're lucky I'm not calling them "fawns."


Coverage for this weekend's events begins with Women's XC finals at 3:50am on Saturday the 6th, with the Men's XC finals following at 6:20 am. That's rough, I know. I've said it before: cycling doesn't make it easy to be a fan of cycling. I know I won't be up at 3:50 streaming Women's XC racing, but maybe that's your cup of tea. Knock yourselves out with that while I'm saving my energy for the DH Finals on Sunday morning starting at 4:05 am (all times Mountain Standard).

Go here to stream http://live.redbull.tv/events/371/2014-uci-mountain-bike-and-trials-world-championships-hafjell-xce/

or if you're having issues there (I heard rumors we might not be getting the Red Bull live stream), this should get you to an alternate streaming site if one comes up http://www.cyclingfans.com/mountain-biking/live

I'll write more over the weekend, but if you're into DH and want to bone up on who will be pinning, here are Vital's Power-Rankings-that-I don't-agree-with http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Vital-Power-Rankings-2014-Downhill-World-Championships-The-15-Fastest-Going-In,783

Have a read and we'll discuss later. Go on, be a fan.

It's worth it.
-BC

What's important this week

There are three things that I've concerned myself with this weekend:

1. Camping with the chickie and the kids, which was awesome and I have a load of pics, but nothing you haven't seen before. I could take pictures of amazing meals I've eaten, too, but that's not what this space is. There's this new Facebook thing I've been hearing about...maybe I'll join one of these days. Anyhoo...


2. Shark Week. I love me some Shark Week when I get home from a weekend in the great outdoors mid-summer. And while I think the "Shark of Darkness, Submarine" only exists in Narnia
http://www.inquisitr.com/1403972/submarine-is-discoverys-legendary-shark-getting-megalodon-treatment/   ...it's still entertaining.



and 3. Ratboy (Josh Bryceland) winning again in Windham. Repeat win, in the USA, for the second time this year and taking the overall DH World Cup lead. Furthermore, I called it at the beginning of the season. Scoreboard, suckers. Walk off home run.

Become a fan here: http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Windham-World-Cup-Race-Insanity,7977/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2

It's late, so good night and more soon.
BC

Luscious green mountains with racers everywhere.

Many, many things I've said and written as of late are negative. I get upset. I get frustrated. I go ride my bike, or see my chickie or my family, or spend some time with my friends and it usually helps. But the reality of my world is that I'm reactionary to things that upset me. With the things that I love I just say, "Yeah, I

admire that. That thing is fine....this thing over here is in need of an immediate beat down, however." Well, no. That's no way to be, even if I have an ability to do that and be somehow entertaining. I don't want to do that all the time. What I want to do, and what I want this space to be about, is fostering an appreciation for what is good out there, especially when it pertains to cycling. See, this guy's amazing, love him.



I say this after just finishing a piece for another publication that is, at the very least, a bit scathing. Coming soon to some print media near you [not that anyone buys words printed on paper anymore].


So this one's for all that is right. In the bike world. Right now. Hopefully it's just the first of many (but I'm skeptical.) We start here: http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Giant/Reign-Advanced-27-5-0-Team,15055

That's the amazing people over at Vital MTB (and I mean that very seriously) talking about the new Giant Reign Advanced 27.5.

I got a new 27.5" carbon mountain bike a few months ago and it blows my mind how good it is. Have I ridden this particular bike yet? No, but I am very excited about it. The spec is right, the geometry is very good, I like the wheel size, the look is sexy, and I think Giant should be commended for being the first of the big three bicycle manufacturers to just say, "This is it. This is the new thing. We're all in, and we're going for it." Giant, as a company, hasn't always been that way, but they are now and with their manufacturing abilities, if they continue to do things like this, the sky is the freaking limit for them. Clap. Clap. Clap, Giant. I haven't given anyone besides Shimano three claps in what seems like decades.

What it means for you: a rad bike with more to follow.

Speaking of, you know who goes really fast on rad bikes? You nailed it, mountain bike racers. Wanna watch some mountain bike racing? go here:  http://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-king-of-the-hill-race-highlight-from-msa-2014.html

You'll have to pardon the pinkbike link. That's a hack site, but they had it up before Red Bull. Sam Hill won, and while he's not my absolute favorite racer, you shouldn't ever overlook his skill. By the way, in the opening to that Aaron Gwin is talking about having, "pretty close to the perfect run." I love hearing these guys talk, because if you look at it, that's where there ability is. That's the level that they're competing at. It used to be stuff like, "He had a good day. He had a fast run. He was due for one." Not anymore, "fast" isn't even a thing now because they're all fast. There's real money in this now, and a real expectation of professionalism. They are talking in terms of perfection. There's no wild man Maverick winning anymore. That's exciting for our sport, and more than any analytics or sales or anything else, that's what makes me hopeful about where we're going.

Good on ya, Sam Hill.
I got a Sunday to enjoy...till next time.
BC

Ed Note: I stole the good images in here from Giant and Sterling Lorence, but we sell Giant, and Linger is my favorite photog ever and when I was once upon a time in marketing we hired him a lot, so there shouldn't be an issue. Love you Sterl...