Top Stuff #1

In no particular order, here are some of my fave things and products the past year. Some are not NEW, but new to ME in 2009.

PRODUCT: Stans No Tubes (rims and tubeless set up). Sweet Jesus! This was the best investment I made in the past few years. I heard all sorts of horror stories about latex and money shots of Stan Goo to the face, and tires blowing off rims, etc., etc., IMO... BALLZ! The key is setting them up right. THAT is why I don't do it myself. My buddy/mechanic/wrench/Pro Bikes teammate and shop manager Tim (formerly LBoH) does it for me and does it right. The second key is keeping up on adding goo. Every couple months is best. My results? ONE SEASON on Stans and one flat due to stale goo. See Stan. Run to him. Looove him.

RACE: My best race was Mohican. My favorite race, despite thinking I would die out on the trail towards the end due to sucking and bonk, was the Shenandoah 100. A VERY close second was the Lumberjack. If the LJ100 was 2 laps instead of 4 it would have one. Flowing single track, no road, all in the woods of Michigan... GREAT STUFF! But 4 laps was a mental kick in the junk.

FAVORITE PRE RACE MOVIE: Toss up between Rambo II and Top Gun. Both were viewed with my buddy Brad, both were hilarious to watch and great to take the mind off a big race. A close Third was that Latino soap opera we watched.

BEST HOTEL EXPERIENCE: Mohican. Me, Brad, Don, Aaron, and a smuggled in SteveO. Lots of bikes, lots of farts (me and Brad) in the room, and a lot of fun. A close second was sharing a room with Brad and K-Aho-Schmalz before the Bakers Dozen. Boogers on the wall (not ours), bad whole wheat pizza, and Top Gun. What else is there?

BIKE OF THE YEAR: I went through three bikes this year. The Big Mama, the Mamasita and the Dos Niner. The Big Mama rocked and rolled over EVERYTHING, but didn't take me up the mountains like I hoped. The Mamasita stepped in and became my everyday "do everything" bike. In fact I ride my Mamasita for EVERYTHING. I have not been outside on my road bike since August. All training miles have been on the the Mama. BUT all races, fun rides and BIG rides are reserved for my Dos Niner. That bike treats me so freaking well. Stans Wheels, XTR crank, Fox fork,... It's my fave (for now). I am of course lusting the new Salsa Ti El Mariachi, but it remains to be seen whether I can afford her. I I've always thought that a Ti 29er would be the ballz.

This is all I have right now, but I'm sure I'll think of more over the holidays. Hope you all have a good one. Me? I have date with family on the C'Mas Eve, and C'Mas day, a turkey and a few to many pints of holiday cheer to get my two most hated days of the year over with.

Later.