KARATE KID POSTPONED ONE WEEK

Due to weather, we are going to postpone the playing of Karate Kid one week, this will also give you more time to marinate how awesome this movie is! See you next Tuesday!

Daniel: When am I gonna learn how to punch?

Miyagi : Learn how punch, after you learn how keep dry!

‘Cross Season Cometh

With some colder temps settling in and ski season still months away, it’s time to fall in love with Cyclocross all over again. What’s up with ‘cross you say? Here’s the deal - Cyclocross bikes are built on a road bike platform with some key tweaks to build in off road versatility. First, the frames are a bit wider to accept knobby tires to shred the dirt like you road bike can only dream of. With dirt terrain comes the need for better braking - add on cantilever (old school mountain bike) brakes and you’ve got yourself a ‘cross bike. Of course there are some more subtle attributes of ‘cross bikes like more relaxed geometry, slightly different gearing, and cable routing that makes the bike easier to run with. Run with?! More on that in a minute. Can you make these upgrades to your existing road bike? Nope, not gonna happen. That’s what makes a ‘cross bike so cool. You can get into a new cyclocross bike for as little as $900.

So you’ve got this bike that is slower than a road bike on pavement and sketchier than a mountain bike on dirt. Great, sounds like a blast right? It is, but you have to see the light first and have faith in the church of ‘cross to really get it. Think about it, you’ve pedaled your road bike on every stretch of pavement between here and Yellowstone all summer and you’re a bit bored. Well how ’bout mixing in some dirt road adventure riding to your daily routine. Don’t turn around at the end of Fall Creek, keep going and loop back to Jackson from the Snake River Canyon. Find out where the Elk Refuge road really goes. Test your bike handling skills on a cyclocross Cache Game loop. And don’t even get me started on Teton Valley, Idaho. If you ride anywhere around Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia, a ‘cross bike quadruples your riding options and brings you to beautiful places you didn’t even know existed. And the best part is, the colder and crummier the weather, the more fun it is!

But wait, there’s more. That do everything/adventure ‘cross bike of yours is also exactly what you need get in on the fastest growing segment of cycling in the country - ‘cross racing. Here are the basics of cyclocross racing:

• Racers compete on a short lap course that is partially pavement and mostly off road
• Each race is between 1/2 hour to 1 hour long
• Obstacles are placed on course to force riders off their bike to run through sections
• Racing takes place in the Fall and bad weather is appreciated

That’s the quick and dirty, but the story is bigger than that.

• ‘Cross racing is bike racing for non bike racers.
• ‘Cross racing is THE most spectator friendly bike racing.
• ‘Cross races are festivals and parties
• ‘Cross races are for the whole family

Think about it, most bike races take you far from home and require a summer worth of training that may or may not go over too well with the significant other. If you do bring your family to watch your race, they sit in one area, give you some shouts of encouragement as you leave the start line, and then wait for sometimes hours before you zip by again in a flash or finally finish the stupid race that you dragged them to in the middle of no where!

‘Cross racing has a different taste. Training can be as simple as a weekly one hour ride with buddies. The races are local, and short. Different categories mean that while Mom races, Dad watches the kids and vice versa. Even kids get their own category! When you’re not racing, competitors come by every 5 minutes or so and demand that you ring a cowbell in their face! When it’s all said and done, you gather up to drink beer and tell the story about how you got mud in your teeth over and over to anyone who will listened. Oh, and did I mention it doesn’t matter if you win? Battling for 15th place feels just as important as 1st because who can really tell where the leaders are anyway!

Yes, ‘cross racing is addicting… If you want to check out the local support groups for ‘cross addicts, here’s how…

Local Cyclocross Events:

• Weekly Wednesday Morning ‘Cross Practice - 7:30am roll out from the Bunnery in Jackson
• September 25th - ‘Cross Kickoff / Oktoberfest Party at Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, ID
• October 2nd&3rd - MooseCross Race presented by Grand Teton Brewing in Victor, ID
• October 30th - Spooky Cross Victor, ID
• November 6th, 13th, and 20th - The Cube Cyclocross Series Rexburg, ID

If you need more fix, there are great races all through Montana, Idaho, Utah and beyond!

Try it… you’ll like it!

EJ’s Update Aug 29th 2010

Hello everyone. Diesel powered hydraulics is a beautiful thing. The 305 CAT mini-excavator is kicking butt up on the Ridge Trail. I had no idea that the mini-ex was going to work so well. Drew Kneeland is a very good operator. Drew and the machine are what we really needed to get the “Shock Treatment” section of the Ridge Trail done.

All I can do is laugh when I watch the machine work. Every time I watch the mini-ex scoop one bucket, I say “Wow! That would have taken me two hours by hand.” The machine rips through just about anything. “Shock Treatment” is full of brush. A lot of you all know how bad it sucks to try to chop through these root systems by hand. The mini-ex plucks out a root system in one pick. No problem, Mon. The mini-ex eats up stumps for breakfast. I watched Drew and the machine pull out a 24″ DBH stump on Thursday and I almost couldn’t believe it. Switchbacks…..? Smitchbacks…..! Drew and the mini-ex built our hardest switchback yet in roughly 7 hr.s. This would have taken a four person hand crew two weeks to build. It is nice switchback and big with a 12′ radius. It’s gonna ride like a dream. Rocks are no problem, Mon. The machine has pulled out some huge rocks, and sometimes it can just break them apart. Diesel powered hydraulics are a beautiful thing.

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Photos from Ghostbusters

Once again Jackson, you’ve outdone yourself. Ghostbusters was our biggest turnout yet! Karate Kid has the potential to top last week, so dress the part (in karate uniform of course).

Miyagi: Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, “hand.” Hundred year later, Miyagi ancestor bring to Okinawa, call *kara*-te, “empty hand.”
Daniel : I thought it came from Buddhist temples and stuff like that.
Miyagi : You too much TV.

Skip staying at home and watching television in your house. Bring a blanket and enjoy the last movie! This one is brought to us with the help of TREEFIGHT!

Daniel: When am I gonna learn how to punch?
Miyagi : Learn how punch, after you learn how keep dry!

Molly’s New Salsa Vaya

If you haven’t noticed, Salsa Cycles has some ridiculously sweet bikes out this year. This one took no time at all to become a Jackson Hole favorite. The Vaya is a steel framed do it all bike, from commuting, touring, off road riding and more. Molly sold her car in the morning, and came over to the shop to buy this beauty. Come to the shop and check one out!

2010 Pierre’s Hole Race Results

Click here for Pierre’s Hole 100 2010 race results

Click here for Pierre’s Hole 50 2010 race results.

Elijah’s Back to School Radio Ad for Fitzgerald’s

Our 2010 Bike to School Ambassador, Elijah, helped us cut a radio ad to inspire parents to let their kids bike to school. Thanks Elijah!

Hear the Full Ad by clicking here.