Hello from your official BSV Sports Chiropractic Sponsors

Hi BSV Nation,

Andy and Jen Harmon here. Although we've ridden and raced with many of you, we wanted to formally introduce ourselves as the owners of Clouds Rest Chiropractic, the official Sports Chiropractic and Rehab sponsor for BSV.

We've been riding with Blue Sky for 3 years now and we love it all- group rides, road racing, mountain biking, and cyclocross. We're excited for the opportunity to support the team that we love. And we're proud to offer professional sports chiropractic and rehab to help you achieve your goals this season.

What we do:

- Biomechanical/orthopedic examination
- Myofascial release
- Advanced stretching and mobilization
- Therapeutic exercise and core rehab
- Kinesio-taping
- Flexion/distraction disc decompression technique
- Blue Sky members receive a 20% discount on all services

Want to know more about who we are and what we offer?

visit our website: www.cloudsrestchiro.com
email us directly: andycharmon@yahoo.com , jennyhettich@yahoo.com
call us: (303) 652-9200

Wishing you all a healthy and successful season,

Dr. Andy Harmon, DC
Dr. Jen Harmon, DC
Clouds Rest Chiropractic
263 2nd Ave, Suite 100A
Niwot, CO 80544

Got your Cross Propz on?

Check it our folks. Cold, bored, and nothing to do on a snowy day? Don't fret. Put on some of your new warm BSV kit, find you some grass or dirt, get out your Cross Propz and have some fun.

These bad boyz, which are made by our very own Paul McCarthy, set up in 15 second and your ready to roll. No matching parts, no fuss, just take 'em out of their carrying bag and bam! they're set up.


Great for some off-season practice and road bikes are so 2008 anyway. As an added bonus, if you trip all over them and hurt yourself like I do, you can go see our beloved sponsors Dr. Jenny and Dr. Andy at Cloud Rest Chiro. They'll snap you back into place faster than the Cross Propz can fold back up.

Now what are you waiting for? Get off the couch and get you Cross Propz on!

First day out on dirt in the new BSV diggs!

So, D. Stokes and my self headed up North on the dirt roads out of Longmont this afternoon for a nice relaxing spin. Such a change from the night rides!

David working hard on that new Salsa. Yeah right--look at those big wheels move.

David dropped me here on this small climb, almost lost him trying to grab the camera for a quick shot!

This church was catching the light real well at sunset. Wish I had my big camera....


Super fun ride and we got back just in time for darkness. About 3 hours and we put in 32.5 miles on dirt, well mostly dirt on our way up to Loveland! Guess I need to pick up my jersey now....

Some how I turned off my computer at the clothing/food stop and had to split the route...cannot miss Carter lake there on the left.

Marshall MTB Night Ride 012810

So for everyone that is curious what it can be like on one of our Night Rides I put a few pics together from this past Thursday night. Turned out to be one of our best rides yet and only by a fluke incident! I pulled up to the Saver's parking lot in Boulder already running late to find my rear brake completely flat, I mean lever all the way to the bar with no chance of even a little friction on the rotor. Since there was snow and ice out, I had to do a quick bleed right there in the dark. Luckily I carry my tools....35 minutes later, we had a rear brake!

David showed up ready to ride.....Me happy to have a rear brake again...front brake only in snow/ice = many wrecks and bruised hips!
Best thing was we decided to ride over to Marshall Mesa TH since we were almost an hour behind at that point and guess what we found--first tracks on perfect snow and frozen ground! We saw a lot of animal tracks too which always adds to the entertainment of the ride...no big kitty tracks though!


Had to walk the steps....and well, the snow packed up real good in the cleats. We both had to use my flat head screw driver to clean our shoes out!


We call this the "Shifter" gate. One thing that is really interesting on the Marshall trails is that no two gates are alike, so some you can get through without a dismount, others, has to happen.

Here David is heading over to Hwy 93 to check out the Dowdy Draw area--fresh tracks all the way! Kind of amazing for this area so close to Boulder.
The climb up Prarie Vista trail was mixed snow and frozen dirt--you could not even see the tire marks after we rode over it.

We hit up Dowdy Draw and here is a little crude video from my point and shoot.

From Marshall and Dowdy 012830

Here is a shot on Spring Brook Loop--you can see the Hoar Frost on the grasses. Right after this we turned the lights off and rode through the meadow area with just the light from the snow and low cloud ceiling.
Some more on the trees up on the back of the loop--the spikes of frost were almost an inch long.

Here is a map of what we did and an Elevation profile. We ended up riding about 22 miles that night. We added on the Springbrook loop due to my recommendation and then missed the Kitchen at Southern Sun after picking out what we were going to eat on the ride back along Broadway! We enjoyed a stout anyway and then off to IHOP to grab a monster late night breakfast to refuel. Can it get any better? :) Hope to see more of you come out soon!

Ft. Fun Cyclocross

Hey kids:

Well, its Monday night and I still have cowbell ringing in my ears, my legs are kinda sore, and the laundry is full of muddy skinsuits. And its January. If I didn't know better I would think I was in Belgium racin' cross for a living. But I do know better, since I sat at a desk all day today.

There was only one place to pin a number on yesterday, and Marty and I were there. The race took place up in Ft. Collins at the New Belgium Brewery, and all proceeds from the race and the silent auction that followed went to help Skyler Truillo get himself and his unruly mop of hair over to Tabor Czech.

The day dawned cloudy, but warm, as Marty and I packed the rice-wagon and cranked the tunes on the drive up. We arrived to find Brian Dallas fully locked and loaded with the Focus Bikes tent, car, demos, tools, banners, flagging. He even had his mechanic-in-training Charlie along for the ride. I don't have any pics, nor do I know his @twitter-thingie... so I guess you gotta take my word for it that it was rad.

I slotted in next to Brian's camp and set up my own. A little warm-up oil, the trainer, and the headphones, and I started to remember that bike racing is kinda fun. Most, but not all, of the usual Blue Sky suspects were there.... @billteasdale, @ryanlewandowski, @ryanlewandowskiswifechristine, @andyharmon, @somedudewhoworksforschwalbe, @bobandsusanandizzeprieto, @kaylathomason, and of course who can forget @somedudewinningthemensCraceinRolandGreens2002kit?

even i cannot believe how really real Dr. Harmon can rock the tall blackSox

with the help of susan, i got belgie-as-hell and began the race with a swig of some gawd-aful beer

the gun went off and blue sky completely swarmed on some dolt in a green afro

The race quickly settled in and i found myself on @billteasdale's wheel, which i believe was an @tufoflexus, being ridden @6psi. However, he did indeed have the power to pull away after a lap or so. I later thanked him for the kind gesture, as i was getting much less mud flung in my face after he put a little distance on me.

At this point the race turned into a time-trial effort, with @billteasdale running off the front of the @bikerace, yours truly enjoying a sweet little course that was set up, and some random dude about a minute behind me. I enjoyed the good natured heckling of all of my friends, but did catch a glimpse of @ryanlewandowski absolutely turn himself into a human missile for the last 2 laps to catch @somerandomNonBlueSky and set us up for that ever-elusive sweep of the Mens B podium. Badass.

Also of note, the Harmonizer fell on hard times early in the race, like right on the start, when he flatted his front tire. Someone handed up a wheel and he charged for a solid showing. Nice work, the man.

The punchy little rises out on course kept things interesting

A few slippy snow+mud areas were no match for my RacingRalph tires, which will be called RacingRob in '10

Working-class hero Bill Teasdale with a suspiciously-deep tan on his legs for a January

Immediately following the Mens B shenanigans, Marty lined up for the Womens race. Kayla was also in effect on her custom Primus Mootry. The ladies took off onto a course that was getting muddier by the lap. Cross Weather! Anyways, Marty did not actually take the holeshot, but she also managed not to blow-up on the first lap either. Sweet! I got out the camera and tried to capture the radness as it unfolded, but mostly I just cheered her on as she put distance on second place and the rest of the girls.

By mid race the course was definitely turning into a much more technical affair, and Marty piloted the Ridley with ease as we watched other riders getting hung up in mud sections.

Not the muddiest, raddest part of the course, but Marty was still keeping it classy, San Diego.

At the end of the race, Marty hung on for the W. Pretty solid work for coming right off the couch. Sure there werent 100 women out at the race. But you can also look at it as 90 of those women were sitting at home getting slower.

Blue Sky CX Nation started off the 2010 campaign with a bang.

Marty and Kayla were all smiles after a great race

Marty getting a little interview time with Mountain Flyer. Look for the web-report!

The mens A race was pretty rad to watch all the punx tear it up. No Blue Sky in the mix, so we all got a chance to heckle with impunity as many fast bike racers with twitter accounts, from @mudandcowbells to @somesponsoredguyonaStevensWhoGotBeatByWardBaker.

Then we all used the carbon-neutral bike wash station, put our bikes on our Toyota Prius' and headed into the eco-brewery for some good old fashioned beer drinking and money-spendin'. We wished Skyler well at worlds, got some cool schwag, and burned fossil fuels all the way back to Longmont. The end.

(Photos of Rob by Marty, Photos of Marty by Rob, Photos of other people by whoever had the camera)

Winter Cyclocross Race Fundraiser

He everyone, check it out! Get your cross fix on in Fort Collins next weeked and help support a good cause.

Fort Collins Cross wants to raise funds to send local junior Skyler Trujillo to represent the USA at the World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic

WHAT: Winter CX race fundraiser for local Junior CX World Championship contender Skyler Trujillo
WHEN: Sunday, January 17, 2010
WHERE: New Belgium Brewery, back field

No Parking In the Neighborhood!!!!
Parking at New Belgium, overflow parking at the Matrix parking lot West of New Belgium.

HOW MUCH: Adults $15.00/Juniors free (no modified course)
WHO and WHAT TIME:

9:00 - 9:40 AM Men C
9:55 - 10:35 AM Men B
10:50 - 11:30 AM Women
11:45 - 12:25 AM Juniors
12:40 - 1:30 PM Open

AFTER PARTY: 2:30-5:00 PM (Doors close at 3:45 or 200 people max) ----
HOW MUCH: $20.00 to get in or $5.00 with your race number (Fundraiser for Skyler going to Cyclocross World Championships).

WHAT YOU GET:
· in the door and a raffle Ticket
· Ongoing slide show of Skyler’s entire cycling career to this point
· Food and drinks (sandwiches)--- Thanks to Backcountry Provisions
· Silent Auction !!!All items to start at $25.00!!! (Cannondale Mtb, DT Swiss wheel sets, Rock Shox Sid, a Med. Niner MTB Frame(parts provided by The Cycologist at cost one time purchase) and a 2008 New Belgium Commuter Bike).
· Raffle----> at 4:30 and you must be present to win.
· WHATS INCLUDED IN THE RAFFLE:
· Great stuff from sponsors such as ----> A cycling painting by Amanda Acheson, Gift Certificates to La Luz Mexican Restaurant, Texas Road House, The Rio, 2 sets of Stan's Tubeless Rims, Schwalbe tires, Bike Tune from Peloton Cycles, Backcountry Provisions, Cane Creek headset, Rotor rings/BB, Velo News Subscription, Target optical free eye exam, Fizik saddles and more).

Raffle Grand Prize:
2009 New Belgium Cruiser

Contact: Fort Collins Cross
Jason Trujillo
Email: fortcollinscross@gmail.com

New Year's Cross Fondo

First Annual New Year's 'Cross Fondo

Dan F, known to some as Pale Power, uses the now patented JPow start to holeshot the first race of the year.

Well, the new year is officially off the ground. I figured it was high-time for an update, seeing as how this blog has been in deep-space cryogenic sleep since the Blue Sky Cup.

My buddy Greg organized a great ride, and all sorts of different people showed up. We met up on the shady side of Amante and it seemed like everyone but me showed up with some sort of new-zoot helmet cam, HD flip-thingie, or some other hi-tech Christmas present. I showed up with my single-speed and my horn. Damn, it felt good to get back out on the bike after taking way too many weeks off.

We rolled out and over to the BPOE elks lodge and dove into the snowpack. The venue was short lived, though, as I followed people directly eastward into the network of bike paths connecting to Gunbarrell. Somehow we showed up at Eaton Park, and Boups, Spencer, and I hit the dirt jumps on our cross bikes. The jumps were covered in snow, but it was pretty rad anyways. Someone somewhere has a video, but damn if they have shared it with me. So, i give you this:

Hollywood getting his Tokyo-drift on, BoulderCX style. Take that, guy who is somehow not Paul Walker!

I see a lotta people watchin' & not too many people dirt jumpin'

So, we lit outta there and made our way through some of the other paths and trails out almost into Niwot before getting separated with a slight touch of the floor on an icy patch. Once we got the affected parties back on their bikes and exchanged insurance cards, we were off. However, we took a wrong turn and ended up to far out into the Longmont/Niwot constellation. Spencer had cell coverage and dialed up the crew, who had since noticed our absence and were performing one of the most difficult moves in all of amateur racing--adhering to the "no drop" rule instituted at the beginning of the ride.

Heading east of the tracks, into the great white yonder.

All back in the fold, we crossed over into open-space trails at Coot Lake and ripped over past the Res, the sun shining down and the Flatirons laid out in front of us. Everyone must have been feeling good, because we strung it out and rallied full-tilt across the crunchy snow to the next parking lot.

Marty and I in a cheezy albeit genuine photo. Hey, we're just psyched to be riding!

The final push back into Boulder was a bit of a struggle on the single, I must admit. While there is a saying about gears being for people who prefer the personal company of the same sex, I sure do wish I had a couple of gears on my bike. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Anyways, we walked, rode, and slogged through some deep drifts on the open space off of Neva road, and decided to cash it in and opted for 36 into North Boulder. The horses could smell the barn, and the pace lit up like Chinese new year (because we might just be celebrating that more widely over here soon, but i digress). Yours truly was not too proud to get spit out, and Marty, Brandon, and I fought for Lantern Rouge. I think I won, but we'll have to consult the video. We all rolled in together to Gregs house, where his sons were kind enough to feed me pistachios and beer for a couple of hours. How sweet it is.

Not too shabby for the first day of the year.

All told, Marty and I had a great day, and if you're like me (and i know i am) you're glad to have someone along on the ride to take the pics, enjoy the something something something DARK SIDE humour, and dream of podiums in 9 short months.

over&out

Rob Love