Brandon Turman

Become a fan!

2010-05-08T14:15:00.001-06:00

NEW WEBSITE

2009-01-18T21:28:00.004-07:00

Effective immediately, I'm switching this blog over to my new website: Brandon Turman . com

The switch will allow me to maintain a better, cleaner, and more informative website / blog. Make sure to check out the new video and photo galleries. I also began using Twitter to post more frequent updates.

Shred!

Ride a SuperCo at Ray's

2009-01-11T20:42:00.003-07:00

Ray’s MTB has generously made room for two Superco's in their demo fleet. Visitors to the Cleveland Ohio indoor park now have the opportunity to check out the Superco Satellite (24″) or Charger (26″) for a fifteen minute demo or full day rental.

The Superco demo bikes for Ray’s MTB were made possible through the support of the good folks at RockShox/Avid, Deity and Atomlab.

For additional information about Ray’s MTB and their terrific rental program, or to reserve a Superco for your next visit to the park please contact Ray's MTB.

Contact Superco directly for details on the Satellite and Charger or to place an order for Superco frames, t-shirts and decals. 801-973-0656, ride@ridesuperco.com, www.ridesuperco.com.

Mafia Racing joins Facebook

2009-01-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

Join our fan page on facebook to stay up to date. Not on facebook? Set up an account here.

Mafia Rules. Cycling’s New Rock n’ Roll Family.

2008-12-09T14:12:00.002-07:00

The Chaos Cycling Club Interview

With Rolling Stone Magazine titling cycling the new "Rock
'N Roll Sport of the Millennium" one has to wonder if they are already fans of Mafia Racing. David Janowiec, team president and Mafia Racing rider took the time to discuss the paradigm breaking team philosophy of not only results but the importance of the arts, competition, culture and community. As Janowiec states, "There is no other team like this in the world."

With only 2 years under their belt as a professional team Mafia Racing heads into the Cyclocross National Championships is Kansas City this month. Not only to lay it down on the course but spread their creed of "Life, Loyalty and Liberation."

Janowiec graciously took the time out of his busy schedule to discuss the essence of Mafia Racing, their past and their future.

CCC: The first thing that strikes me about Mafia Racing when I read your media materials is how committed Mafia Racing is too so many things that surround cycling but the self promotion of the team's race accolades doesn't seem to be that important. Yet you have some really elite world-class riders in a variety of disciplines from Gravity, XC, Cyclocross, Road, BMX, to Triathlon who have won quite a bit. Why is that?

DJ: Wow, crack a beer for this interview… ha! Just looking ahead a bit.

So, yes, you are exactly right… One of the reasons for Mafia Racing is to exclude the feeling of entitlement and any arrogance. Nobody wants that. We work really hard to create a team that holds athletes who are on their bikes, the trails, and the road for themselves and for their own heart. Not to impress others, but to have a good time doing what they love the most and to spread that passion to everybody else. It creates less stress within the team to perform, and less restrictions per athlete. If you ask many of our athletes, they are here because of bad experiences on other teams or for a fresh scene. That being said… you are right, our focus is not on rider's accolades – those will come sure enough, but rather on doing our best to grow the popularity of cycling in the USA through passion and change.

CCC: One often hears a lot of talk about team sponsors having expectations of winning so when you project the Mafia Racing brand as a lifestyle how do your peers in the community respond to your set of priorities, including sponsors?

DJ: I love this question… We don't have any sponsors, nor does Mafia Racing sponsor anybody. Huh? We have partners and clients, and we "the riders" are working effortlessly everyday for our partners. This helps us diminish entitlement within the team and sets the expectation for both the racer and our partners right off the bat. Our partners know that we are serious about marketing their products and working for them. I also take a look at our relationships with our partners/clients and believe that they don't necessarily care if we are #1 all the time, although obviously it is part of our goal, they hire us for the passion, drive and our commitment to them. I know it sounds stupid, but we have actually turned down great partnership opportunities with companies that don't seem to fit. We are a marketing company that rides bikes and races them and we offer many different unique marketing opportunities for our clients. Our unspoken highest priority is our riders, their happiness, and their safety. Our #1 priority is our partners. We all know that we have a job to do for each of them, and we all take it very seriously.

CCC: Taking a look at your team partners it is hard not to be impressed, not only by name recognition but the diversity of markets they cater too. On one side you have Felt, the same bike manufacture of the buttoned up Garmin Slipstream road cycling team and on the other you have Pabst Blue Ribbon, the beer of choice for the expanding underground culture of urban cycling. How did those relationships come to pass and what are the expectations of these two premier partners of Mafia Racing?

DJ: Oh man… Ya know… I'd like to ask that same question to our friends at Felt and Pabst. We worked really hard, and I mean REALLY hard to be able to work with both of them. Honestly, as we started Mafia Racing, we said we'd only represent companies we feel 100% about in every way. Pabst, Felt, and all of our other partnerships are our #1 choices from all of our athletes. It blows my mind that we have the opportunity to work alongside them. I have to say, the people at both Pabst and Felt are some of the most enjoyable people to work with. They understand our vision, our dreams, and have the same passion that Mafia Racing has.

To answer the other side of your question… I have become pretty close with some of the staff over at Slipstream Sports too, being that their headquarters is in Boulder, CO as well. They have been very supportive and have offered much advice over the past year. We don't want to be Slipstream or any other team; we want to be Mafia Racing – something for everybody. Oh, and just for the record, the Garmin guys drink PBR too, I have proof. Haha…

CCC: I personally find a lot of subtle convergence going on within the Mafia Racing image that seems to embrace all the attributes of your partners yet is still unique to the team. The Cyclocross and track cycling kits being the perfect example. Perhaps I'm reading into things more than I should but I can't help but smile when I see the incorporation of plaid. On the one hand a very subtle nod to, let us say, unconventional clothing patterns for a cycling team… argyle, yet dead on as an incorporation of the iconic punk esthetic of urban culture. Was this part of your branding master plan or a perfect accident?

DJ: Yea, exactly… I don't think we set out to "Look different or unconventional" but it just sort of happened as we are always looking to be more progressive in every way. The style fits the riders and the riders fit the style. Both Argyle and Plaid on Felt… Da guys over there must be smart er sumpin?

CCC: Frankly all of Mafia Racing look is culturally relevant on so many levels. As the visionary of Mafia Racing, has this all come from you or a collection of individuals?

DJ: Absolutely a collection of individuals. What is unique about some of these individuals is that they don't necessarily have a background with cycling, fitness or racing in any way. We model our team after many different lifestyles and industries. Yea, you could say I'm the visionary I suppose, but this is truly the "riders" team! They have just as much input as the team managers and me. That being said, the team managers for each region are a core asset to the development and vision. Not much moves forward without their approvals.

CCC: Music seems to be a big part of the Mafia Racing culture. I can't think of another professional sports team that has it's own music launch on its web site like Mafia Racing has. How did that develop?

DJ: Well, I for one can't imagine going anywhere without music. It's a motivator for me and for many people in this world – in particularly for fitness and athletics. Go to the gym, go on a bike ride, or just take a look at somebody out on a run or on a treadmill. I'll bet you a PBR tall boy that 50% or more of those people have music players rippin their favorite motivational tunes. It's a way of life, like Mafia Racing. Music is everywhere, it fits well with our athlete's personalities, and it's not just for a pro athlete… that's the whole point, everybody can relate to music. (Before some of you out there say not everybody can relate to music, let me mention a deaf friend I had in high school, who had the biggest bass system in his car you'll ever see. But that's another story.) Anyway… yes, music is huge for us. Our team hosted a live band for the National Marathon championships this year that was very cool! We actually have two music partners as well – First Act Guitars www.firstact.com and Silverback Music www.silverbackmusic.net who have both been VERY supportive and generous. Great people!

CCC: I like how you have even incorporated the definition of Mafia as a preface to your mission or in your words, "Creed." It states, "1. A tightly knit group of trusted associates. 2. Any small powerful or influential group in an organization or field. Cultural literacy can be a tricking thing. Are you playing with fire when you label yourself with a word that has deep "illegal" or "lawless" connotations yet you talk about "incorporating the arts, health, culture, charity, and most of all, community." How do you bring that all to terms in a way that you are comfortable with or rather your partners can be comfortable with?

DJ: I know some people may look at the name "Mafia" with negative connotations. Hopefully they can meet us that will change their mind. Many more times than not, we get a lot of people stoked on the name. Driving our team truck, you always hear whispers or hoots, "Mafia, yea!" or an elderly couple who have no idea what bike racing is say, "Mafia?! I wonder what that is?" – with a little laughter. So, it's working ay?

You are right, the definition of "Mafia" that we use is exactly how we see ourselves and what we strive to be. Playing with fire? Nah… Catchy? I would say so… Different? Yea, probably… We're not trying to be anybody that we're not, and we surely aren't looking to follow any other team structures, we don't necessarily believe some of the other more conforming structures would allow us to accomplish our goals.

CCC: Talk is cheap. Give me some examples of how Mafia Racing has fulfilled these commitments to health, culture, charity and community?

DJ: We are always working on these pieces, they are not goals that you can do then check off and say, "ok, done!" We have worked with IMBA, doing trail work. We've hosted the largest off-road triathlon in Arizona with the Red Rock Company for two years running now, and have plans for a few additional races next year along with that off-road triathlon. Our health and culture commitments are more ongoing… We want people to understand that you CAN have a balance between staying fit, caring about and having respect for your body, and also leading a full work schedule and having a family. One of our fastest pros last year had a new born and still worked 40+ hrs a week doing hard labor. We want to motivate those people who think they can't do this. You don't have to win races; you don't even have to race. Cycling can offer a great outlet for fitness, health and mental stability. A couple of our next projects may be an inner city youth cycling initiative or a high school cycling league in states that do not offer this already.

CCC: How are you finding time to do all this. You ride yourself. You are running this team in multiple disciplines with a west coast roster and a rocky mountain region roster with both male and female riders. You must have a clone.

DJ: Ha! Well, it's almost 1am and I'm finally finishing this interview. I love what we are doing, more than anybody will ever know. I have a hard time saying No, and I know that is bad sometimes, so a new idea usually turns into some time consuming project. A lot of my motivation to make the team among other projects outside of Mafia Racing work is actually a very personal thing. I feel like I have to prove myself to myself and I'm never happy with where I am, so I try to just keep on manipulating the project until it's done correctly. So, I find the time. Nothing could happen without the help of our Regional Team managers. We now have 5 Regional teams moving into 2009 – NW, SW, West, Mtn, and one in the forming stages in the NE and possibly a sixth in the Midwest. My focus will shift more towards management of the National Pro Team for 09 with these managers working on their respective regions. I trust each of them 100%. They trust in Mafia Racing 100%. It works.

CCC: Right now the US Cyclocross season is heading towards its climax with the National Championships in Kansas City from December 11 through the 14. Jake Wells is your featured ride in the men's Elite class. Is Jake on form, what are his personal expectations and what are your expectations for the entire Mafia Racing squad heading into KCCX?

DJ: Yea, we're excited to head to KC. We should have a pretty large group of riders heading to KC for the race. Jake (Wells) is doing well right now, he held back a bit during the 08 mtn bike season to focus a lot on CX, which I know was hard for him. I think he felt like he wanted to contribute more during the mtn bike season. Last year he was 18th, I know he's not going there for 18th this year. I can't say what he's looking for other than I know he'll be happy if he gives it everything in his heart. I expect our riders to always retain their class, respect for other riders, our partnerships, and I expect our riders to do their best under all circumstances… and I know they will. Results? I say have a good time and they'll come with all the hard work they've put in this season.

CCC: After KCCX will there be a little vacation or are you right back in it and if so what will "it" be?

DJ: Most of our riders will have a month vacation or so, strength training and not getting fat will be most of their goals. We were honored to be invited to a pro invitational race in Cleveland at the end of January. It's a very unique race held at Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park. Each invited pro team will provide a male and a female to race as a team through obstacles, single track, and other features. Becca Blay and Jake Wells will be representing Mafia Racing at this event. So the three of us will head out there, then we'll have a little vacation time from the bike. On the other hand, this is when our management is gearing up big with logistics for 2009. We also have a retail line of jerseys and clothing coming out next spring; very limited edition Mafia brand pieces… super rad. So that'll keep us busy.

CCC: How far into 2009 have you plotted Mafia Racing's schedule and are there any particular events that stand out as landmarks for Mafia Racing?

DJ: The 2009 schedule is not set, but we are putting it together right now. One big hitter will be the new Breck Epic mountain bike stage race in Breckenridge, Colorado. We plan to help the director, Mike McCormack, out as much as possible with this race and we'll also have some very honorable racers doing this event. We have a new male addition to the 09 pro team that will compliment Jake Wells on a duo team very well! We also plan to hit up the US Cup races (formally NMBS), and many of the regional series races within each of our team's locations. We want to focus on many other lifestyle events as well, like the Teva Mtn Games. Xterra Triathlon is big with a few of our top athletes as well - Seth Wealing, Spencer Powlison, and Luke Jay.

CCC: I plan on asking you one year from now if Mafia Racing met its goals for the year, 2009. What will you be telling me?

DJ: Absolutely! I'm a positive thinker… to my detriment sometimes… hahaha…

CCC: A year ago did you think Mafia would be where it is today?

DJ: No. I had planned on being where we are today, after 2009. Lots of hard work and sacrifice, but I never thought we'd be to this point after only two seasons. I give a lot of attribute to the hurdles and road blocks that set motivation. When something says "No", we say "Yes" even louder. I won't be settled until we get to our five year goal. That could come after year three or year seven? I'll leave that up to the powers that be.

For more information on Mafia Racing visit them at www.mafiaracing.com

Winter training

2008-12-08T21:23:00.003-07:00

And so it begins . . . bring a shovel.

Promo Vid, 2008

2008-11-05T00:19:00.003-07:00

Brandon Turman - 2008

Nov 1 - Mafia and Rooly are throwing down at the Rocky Flats Lounge

2008-10-29T10:32:00.000-06:00

Be there!

Rooly photo shoot

2008-10-15T23:52:00.000-06:00

Got a call from our main man Dave at Rooly Eyewear to come out for a quick sunset photoshoot. Here is one of the keepers. Props to Devon Balet for the shot and to Dave for rocking it with Rooly.

Collegiate Nationals Slalom Stokage

2008-10-15T01:05:00.003-06:00

Props to Herndon for building what looks to be a great track for Collegiate Nationals. Just one week 'til departure!

Aitken benefit jam

2008-10-10T10:14:00.003-06:00

Benefit jam for one of the best riders in the world. He's in a coma after over rotating a spin, but is making progress. Help the guy out.

Follow his progress here: mikeaitken.com

Balies House
4465 Zephyr St.
Wheatridge, CO 80033

Meet Nick Zuzelski

2008-10-09T11:15:00.002-06:00

All accomplished in just a few hours of filming. Slick!

Nick Zuzelski 2008 from Tricky on Vimeo.

Shred fest 2008

2008-10-08T21:33:00.002-06:00

Got some great photos today. Check 'em out here.

Tara Llanes Fundraiser!

2008-10-06T10:00:00.002-06:00

Support a GREAT cause, win cool stuff: Tara Llanes Raffle at Pinned MTB

Now for hire.

2008-09-18T17:38:00.005-06:00

It's back! Oredigger MTB Challenge @ Sol Vista

2008-08-20T08:12:00.001-06:00

The Colorado School of Mines Cycling Team is hosting the Oredigger MTB Challenge @ SolVista on September 13 and 14, 2008. Events include XC, STXC, and Downhill.

While this is primarily a collegiate event, we will have Open classes for DH and XC.

Entry is only $20. All event entry fees for Open categories will be pooled and awarded in cash as follows: 75% Payback for Open categories (DH and XC): 1st - 35%, 2nd - 25%, 3rd - 15%

Race details: http://www.CSMcycling.com

Bring your buddies and enjoy a nice wrap up to your race season at a great resort.

Oh, and need I mention the High Speed Contest?!? That's right, we've got a radar gun and we're actually asking you to go as fast as possible on the DH! During your race run, your speed will be recorded at a location TBD. The day's fastest rider will receive a donation of $100. Simple.

Trip update from week two - this trip rocks

2008-06-26T17:21:00.002-06:00

Dexter came through again by showing us the way to elk and fawn trails in Missoula. The elk trail was huge; the fawn was fast and flowy dh. Nuff said. Got some great shots with photographer Brandon Gonski, too. I'll post them up later this summer.

The MT skatepark tour was great. We hit up 5 or so quality parks in about 150 miles between Missoula and Whitefish. They like full pipes and deep bowls in MT, and the local Polson bmx pro can REALLY throw down.

Whitefish MT also provided some great riding. Kanter filled us in on where to play. First up was the town dj park, then the skatepark, then Spencer Mountain. Spencer is home to some very fun and well built trails, if you're willing to push a bit.

Next we made our way to Glacier NP. The views were amazing, but the pass was closed half way through the park, so we decided to enter Canada to the park's west and hit up Fernie, BC.

Fernie boasted a very strong bike community. Nearly every person riding through town was on an all mountain type of bike, a dirt jumper, or a brakeless 20. Even the trailmap proceeds went back to the trails. After playing around at the skatepark and being blown away by the super talented local groms, we started hiking. A lot. Scott and I rode three dh trails while Courtney made a huge loop on the xc rig. The riding was good, but a little disappointing. Maybe we needed a better guide than just the trailmap. I've got a feeling that there are some ridiculous trails hiding in those hills and I'll definitely be back.

After the Fernie detour, we made our way to Calgary. We spent the first day walking around the city. Day two we played at Canada Olympic Park, which had a ton of short jump trails. We also had a stolen bike scare, but tracked down the bike after a little while. Reminder to self: Always lock it up and double strap it. Oh yeah - fyi, the Calgary West campground is really nice, so nice we dubbed it a country club. Camp there if you are ever in the area.

A short drive from Calgary led us to Banff. Day one we toured the town, Courtney and I rode some XC along a gorgeous lake, and we wrapped up with a delicious steak sandwich and beers at the Elk and Oarsman. Day two we hiked to some huge waterfalls, saw Lake Louise (Wow!), got attacked by ground squirrels, and rode the highline trail from the lake into town. It's now day three in the area. We checked out the glacier fields earlier and may ride the ski hill across from Banff later. Major props to Mtnlion for the trail tips. Thanks mucho.

Tomorrow we're headed to Panorama for some lift served DH and the nearby Radium Hot Springs. Then it's north to Golden and Kicking Horse. This trip rocks.

Scott has a picasa gallery that grows from week to week. Check it out here: http://picasaweb.google.com/stcabay

Teva was rad

2008-06-17T09:40:00.004-06:00

The SOBE "freeride challenge" at the Teva Games was a blast. The course was a series of really odd shaped boxes and ramps that required some mad bunnyhop skills. In my first heat I went head to head with Aaron Chase. Such a close race! This pic was taken over the last obstacle. Results.

BIG grops to the Benge brothers, Teddy and Roy. At just 11 and 14, these two entered the slopestyle comp and were able to ride (and style!) the majority of the course. Needless to say, these kids have a bright future in biking.

First transmission from the epic roadtrip

2008-06-17T07:48:00.007-06:00

After driving through what seemed to be powder day, we arrived at the base of the tetons. Wow. This range is massive and beautiful.

After admiring the mountains, elk, and moose for a while, we made our way to Yellowstone, staying two nights. Day one we rode 32+ miles from camp to Old Faithful. We had a few adventures along the way, including animal sitings and some gnarly "unpaved" trails (haha). Fyi, riding anywhere in yellowstone is extremely groomed. The sites made it very worthwhile, though.

Day two in Yellowstone: lots of fishing. Caught three keepers and put a few back. Scott is officially a mountain man after tasting his raw.

Next we headed north to Big Sky, MT. The lift is operational, but apparently they are moving the gondola to another site. Trails in the new site have yet to be made, so if you're planning a Big Sky trip, hold off for a month or so. As a substitute, we took the advice of a local and rode Garnet Mountain. This 4-mile hike a bike took us up 3000 feet to a 360 view of the area from a watchtower. Pretty impressive views. The trail was decent, but lacked any technical sections. Watch out for the cliff next to the trail though.

We are now in Missoula, MT. Yesterday we shuttled Deadman's Gulch (or Ridge). This 6+ mile trail was amazing. Plenty of bermed corners, loose rock, steeps, tech sections, and jumps along the way. The new Rooly goggles kept the dust down well (Thanks Dave!). We got some decent footage - look for it in a video at the end of the summer. Thanks for the tip Dexter.

Today we're riding Elk Trail. Looks dope -

Next up - the MT skatepark tour. We're heading to Whitefish, MT from Missoula, but stopping at every skatepark on the way. Mobash > St. Ignatius > 7th and 7th > Kalispell > Dave Olseth Memorial. Then we're headed through Glacier NP, which looks amazing. Props to SuperCheif for recommending this route.

Pic from this TR.

Canada in less than a week...

Living the dream - road trip style.

2008-06-04T23:21:00.003-06:00

Next Tuesday my roommate, girlfriend, and I will depart on a two month long road trip of epic proportions. We're going everywhere, doing everything, and it's going to be a blast. The jeep is loaded with our fishing poles, bikes, cameras, camping gear, and hiking boots. We've got a list of places to visit but no real agenda, leaving ample time and flexibility which equals mucho fun. We may hit up a BC Cup race or two, if we're in the area at the right time.

Possible destinations:
1: Yellowstone NP, WY
2: Big Sky, MT
3: Calgary, AB
4: Canada Olympic Park, AB
5: Banff NP, AB/BC
6: Panorama Resort
7: Golden, BC
8: Kicking Horse Resort
9: Glacier NP, BC
10: Silver Star Resort
11: Kelwona, BC
12: Sun Peaks Resort
13: Kamloops, BC
14:: Mission, BC
15: Whistler, BC
16: Vancouver, BC
17: Seymour
18: Fromme
19: Cypress
20: Vancouver Island, BC
21: Seattle, WA
22: Portland, OR
23: Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, CA
24: Tahoe, CA
25: Reno, NV
26: Las Vegas, NV (To win all of our money back! Well, maybe.)
27: Home (Just in time for school to start)

While in BC, we'll moving moving west to a new location every few days or so, but will likely stay at Whistler and Vancouver for longer.

So stoked.

If you're in one of the locations above and wouldn't mind showing a few like minded riders around for an afternoon, shoot me an email - brandon.turman{at}gmail - we'd really appreciate it! (or if you know of any amazing trails, rivers to tube down, mountains to hike, lakes/streams to fish, etc)

Mafia Racing store now online!

2008-06-04T12:51:00.000-06:00

Now you too can order your very own Mafia Racing apparel! We've got everything from stylish 5950 flex hats to tees to something for the ladies.

Check it out at mafiaracing.myshopify.com

It's official, I'm registered for the Teva Freeride Comp at Vail

2008-05-31T20:53:00.003-06:00

I just submitted my online registration for the 2008 Teva Mountain Games Sobe Freeride Challenge. Quite a bit of prize $ on the line! Things heat up on June 7 with qualifying at 11:30 and finals at 3PM.

Here's a vid from last year's comp - looks like fun . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucu2qhv4Ej0

Live World Cup Coverage from Andorra

2008-05-31T07:20:00.003-06:00

Coverage starts at 10AM, Saturday May 31 with 4X and 6AM, Sunday June 1 for DH (Mountain Time). While you wait, check out The New Boredom.

http://www.freecaster.tv/live/1000006_1004544

Giving back to the riding community with IMBA

2008-05-30T13:09:00.003-06:00

What:
Trailwork, Mafia Racing style! We're working on a trail that will connect Heil Valley Ranch (in Boulder) to Lyons.

Why:
This connector will significantly increase the amount of riding in the Boulder area. It will allow people to ride Heil Ranch (approximately 7-8 miles of trail) and Hall Ranch (approximately 12 miles of trail) thanks to a connector that will be close to 7 miles long. Lots of riding, and almost all singletrack!

When:
Sunday, June 1, 10:00 AM - late afternoon, with drinks/food to follow at Illegal Pete’s Downtown.

Where:
Meet at the Heil Valley Ranch Trailhead

The weather is looking great, but be prepared for Colorado weather — sunscreen, rain jackets, extra layers, work gloves (or riding gloves) water, food and supportive, closed-toe shoes are all strongly recommended. Tools for trail work will be provided.

PBR/Mafia swag and a few pairs of JETT MTB gloves will be given away as well! Mafia supply refreshments for the day, but please bring a water bottle.

Let me know if you'd like to join us and I'll make sure there are tools and beverages for you ;)

Props to the Colorado guys (and gals) in Europe

2008-05-30T12:50:00.005-06:00

A bunch of Colorado's fastest racers are currently practicing in Europe for what may be the race of their lives - the Andorra World Cup. Brothers Brian and Mike Buell, Caleb Cambern, Dave Camp, Steve Wentz, Joey Schusler, Neven Steinmetz, Tim Sharp, Ross Milan, and Rudy Unrau all deserve some big props for bringing their game to the international scene.

I was watching a few vids this morning and saw glimpses of Caleb and Wentz in this one. Caleb is at 0:30, and Wentz around 1:10 and 2:30.

http://www.freecaster.com/live/1000006_1004662

I'm rooting for all of you! (and I really hope the airlines finally got the Buell's their bikes and gear. Follow their adventure here.)

Lyons Games, Teva Games, & the Fix Jump Jam

2008-05-28T21:08:00.005-06:00

Fyi, there are three dirt jump/slopestyle events coming up in Colorado.

1. - May 31, 4:30PM: Lyons Outdoor Games. This looks to be a low key, boost/style comp. I believe this is their first year hosting a dirt event, so it will likely be a strong showing of local talent.

2.- June 7, 8PM: Teva Mountain Games in Vail. This event will attract some of the 'big' names in slopestyle and will be a crowd pleaser. The Games also feature a dual stunt race, similar to the one hosted at this year's Sea Otter, and kayak, climbing, fishing, running, and dog events. If you make the trip, make sure to stop by the PBR/Mafia Racing booth for a cold one.

3. - June 8, 1PM: The Fix Jump Jam. This post Teva Games event was a hit last year as many of the world's best made their way to Boulder to shred.

Colorado Skateparks

2008-05-21T23:15:00.001-06:00

Check this out: the colorado skateboard guide. It's a very extensive list of all of Colorado's skateparks, including directions and pictures of each. I'm amazed by how many parks there are - I didn't even know half of these existed. Time to put the street tires back on!

I Graduated Today...

2008-05-09T16:56:00.003-06:00

This morning, I graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Granted, I wasn't actually at the ceremony - other things took priority ;)

Thanks for a solid 4 years. I'll be back for another 2 as I pursue a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a thesis, which will most likely be based on solid-oxide fuel cells and my work at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center.

Day One: NCCA Nationals Update

2008-05-09T16:11:00.002-06:00

The Colorado School of Mines road team laid down some FAST times at this morning's Team Time Trial!

With only three women starting and a "third wheel" timing system, our ladies stuck together and bested most of the field, taking 5th on the day.

As the first DII Men's Team to leave the start, the men lit the road on fire by setting the time to beat. Nearly the entire field rolled across the finish line unable to best CSM. Ultimately, their time held up to all but one team, leaving CSM with a very solid 2nd Place finish on the day.

Leading into day two, CSM sits in 2nd in the Team Omnium race. Things heat up tomorrow with the 70 mile road race which starts and finishes at CSU's Hughes Football Stadium. Come cheer on the team!

Official press release: http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3604
Full results from day one: https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3599
Directions, schedule: http://www.fccyclingfest.com/wp-includes/pdf/race-bible.pdf

Division II Men’s Team Time Trial
1. Furman University 24:08.320
2. Colorado School of Mines 24:35.830
3. University of Denver 25:07.090
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 25:09.600
5. United States Air Force Academy 25:16.860

Division II Women’s Team Time Trial
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 29:50.810
2. Western Washington University 29:58.600
3. Dartmouth College 30:45.890
4. Whitman College 30:46.770
5. Colorado School of Mines 31:08.980

Division II Overall Standings
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 158
2. Colorado School of Mines 139
3. Western Washington University 132
4. University of Denver 116
5. Dartmouth College 111

Video from the Road 34 Jump Jam

2008-05-05T15:08:00.001-06:00

2008 Road 34 Jump Jam

2008-04-22T02:32:00.003-06:00

Practice will be pretty much all day (12-5) with the actual judged comp starting at 5 or so. entry is free but by 5 you must be of the ability level to compete, complete with a bag a tricks and all that to ride in the comp. The comp is open to all 20", 24", and 26" bikes (29"if you really wanted to and or can). This whole gig should be a throw down and the estimated cash purse is $1K-1.5K USD. Hopefully we get the talent out to warrant such a purse. The whole day will be booze, bikes, and a good time. Needless to say it's free to the public.

Where-
Road 34 bike Bar
1213 W. Elizabeth St.
Fort Collins, Co 80521

When-
May 3rd, 2008 3pm

"Ranch Style" Jump Jam

2008-04-21T08:35:00.004-06:00

Grassroots Cycles is having a slopestyle competition at "the ranch" in Grand Junction, Co. April 26th.

Course will have a mix of dirt and wood, big kickers and technical drops and will have multiple line options.

Comp will be in jam session format and will be rider judged. There will be cash payouts for pros and great prize packs for amateurs thanks to our sponsors: Brodie Bikes, SixSixOne, Royal, Sunline, Gyro/Bell, Dakine, Oakley, DT Swiss, MRP, Loki, WB Builders, and Kannah Creek Brewery!!

April 25th: Practice 1pm-dark

April 26th: Practice 10am-noon

Comp 1pm

Fee: $25.00 must be registered by April 25th. NO REGISTRATION DAY OF COMP

Camping: Onsight camping will be available for participants and friends on a first come basis. All participant interested in camping must pre-register by April 24th. Sorry, no pets allowed.

Camping Fee: $10 per tent, or car, if you plan to car camp

If you are planning to attend but not enter, please try to carpool.

Register here: grassroots-cycles.com

COME GET SOME RANCH DIPPIN’S!!!

Good readin': Liquid Dirt

2008-04-17T21:25:00.003-06:00

Here's a stellar biking blog: www.Liquid-Dirt.com

Enjoy.

Pic: Teisuke Morimoto
Rider: Billy Lewis
Location: Holla For Your Dolla Jam

F1RST Premier: Denver, April 26

2008-04-07T17:02:00.004-06:00

The Bike Park at SolVista Basin will be presenting a premier of Clay Porter's new movie, F1rst, on Saturday April 26, 2008 at Wahoo's Fish Taco - 1521 Blake Street in Denver.

A minimum donation of $5 with proceeds going to Tara Llanes' Road to Recovery cause. There'll be a raffle. Drink/food specials will run all night again too!

Video teaser here.

Seasons Premier: Boulder, April 30

2008-04-07T16:53:00.004-06:00

Can't make one of the World Premiers? Head up to the Boulder Theater on April 30 at 7:30 pm.

Event details here.
Video teaser here.

Easter DH

2008-03-24T16:43:00.004-06:00

Happy (day after) Easter. The Easter bunny brought some stellar weather and a good reason to break out the DH bike. Simcik, Cambern, the Buell brothers, Hoover and I had an amazing day of riding. A few pictures, for your viewing pleasure:

View the entire album here.

3.20.2008 jump session

2008-03-22T14:02:00.004-06:00

Fun stuff with Deider Barrick at the local spot. Bring your shovels.

Too Cool: 2007 Rocky Mtn Race Season Banger Video

2008-03-17T09:54:00.003-06:00

This video clip is too local not to post here. Spread the word, Colorado rocks. Originally posted by Gordo on littermag.com - video by John Reynolds

Flips in Santa Fe and at the Fix

2008-03-15T20:48:00.003-06:00

I took a road trip to Santa Fe with Simcik recently. Caleb hooked it up with a place to stay and played tour guide for the weekend (thanks buddy). We played at the Santa Fe dirt jumps, some free ride area, the Albuquerque skate park with Chris Boice, and at a few random street spots. The weather was terrible on the way back to Colorado. Great trip all in all - I'll definitely be back.

Spring break has been great. Decided to race a collegiate time trial and crit for grins (check out that skate lid, haha). Got a lot of xc riding in at Moab over 5 days and worked on flip variations today at the Fix. Thank god for wood chip jumps. Good stuff.

Thanks FOX Shox.

2008-03-15T20:45:00.003-06:00

Thanks to Mark Fitzsimmons at FOX from Caleb Cambern, Nick Simcik, and myself. We're proud to be sporting the new goods for '08.

The 2008 Oredigger Classic . . . be there.

2008-03-06T01:07:00.003-07:00

More details at www.CSMcycling.com

If you think you've seen a wallride . . .

2008-03-04T11:27:00.003-07:00

then watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/coVc0vA8NzY

Cool tool of the day: Extreme Sports Map

2008-02-28T15:58:00.002-07:00

Looking for a new place to ride? Extreme Sports Map delivers everything from street spots to dirt jumps to dh trails. Use it to locate new areas and to post your gems. I've found a few areas that I know I'll be checking out in the near future.

PS - Don't post the uber secret ones . . . just those that are relatively well known.

Free Rider 2

2008-02-26T19:14:00.014-07:00

Free Rider 2 maps and Free Rider 2 levels are available at the database links below.

8967

Teaser from the Ray's adventure in Cleveland

2008-02-26T15:06:00.005-07:00

A little x-up back flip to start things off... I'm in the process of gathering all of the footage from everyone's cameras, then I'll make a fancy lil clip with all of the exciting stuff for your viewing pleasure. It will probably be a week or so.

Ray's was amazing. We all added a bunch of tricks to our arsenal with the aid of the foam pit and resi ramp. Expect to see it on dirt in the near future.

Ray's Teaser from Brandon Turman on Vimeo.

Cleveland last weekend, visiting Caleb in Albuquerque to shred these jumps and more this weekend, then Moab for spring break (and possibly the second Bootleg Canyon DH race). Riding season is almost in full swing and I'm lovin' it.

For sale (TONS of bike stuff)

2008-02-17T20:20:00.003-07:00

It's that time of year again. I'll be getting new parts in shortly and need to make room! I sell things for a cheap price (many of you can attest to that!).

Paypal, cashier's check, or cash accepted for all sales.

You all are more than welcome to come up to my place and check things out in person. I'll even help install the parts on your bike if you need help.

Email:brandon.turman@gmail.com

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2007 Fox 32 Talas RLC - $375

8.0" steerer tube.
Minor cosmetic scratches on lowers.

Used during 2007 by a light (160 lb) rider. Mechanic owned. This fork is in great shape.

Easily adjustable from 140 to 120 to 100mm of travel.

Includes owner's manual.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic

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2007 DHX 5.0 - $220

9.5" x 3.0"
350# spring

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic

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2007 Fox 40 RC2 - $780

8" steerer. Currently has soft spring in it. Will include owner's manual, original box, medium, and firm springs.

Lowers are pretty scratched from the collegiate season (due to shuttling). Stanchions have small scratches as well, but have been filled/polished smooth. They don't impact the fork.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic

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(2) MRP System 3 Chainguides - $40 each

Each guide includes boomerang, chainring bolts, party crasher bash ring, iscg mounting bolts, and two rollers.

#1:

#2:

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MRP System 3 boomerang - $20

Needs new upper pulley.

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Truvativ Holzfeller cranks and Howitzer bb - $80

170mm cranks. 4 bolt, standard spacing. Self extracting crankbolts (no puller needed). 38 tooth sprocket. Cosmetic scratches only.

Team edition bb. Includes spacers and extra crankbolts.

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Weyless DFR50 bars - $10

50mm rise, 9* sweep, 25.5" long.

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Generic pedals (black) - $10

Eastern plastic pedals (white) - $10

Atomlab pedals - $30
Needs new bearing (available from atomlab) in one pedal.

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Front 36 hole Rhino-lite laced to a Hadley hub - $50

Ridden for 3+ years, still true. Missing one spoke. ~3 nipples are cracked and need to be replaced.

QR disk hub.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic

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(from left to right)
2.35 larsen tt supertacky - $10
2.35 highroller supertacky - $10
2.35 highroller supertacky - $10
2.5 minion front supertacky - $8
2.5 highroller slowreezay - $10
2.5 highroller slowreezay - $10
2.5 highroller 3C - $10
2.5 minion rear supertacky (new) - $15
24" x 1.75 intense haalo bmx tire - $7

Pics:
pic
pic

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2002 Monty 207 X-lite modified trials bike - $150

Has seen use ~3 times in the last 3 years. Time to sell to someone who will use it more often.

20" wheels. Magura HS33 hydraulic brakes. Brake booster in rear. Sticky tires. Stock parts otherwise. Ridiculously lightweight.

Badly scratched. Small dent in downtube (covered by downtube gaurd). Bash protector is cracked on one side.

This thing is a blast to play around on, and it's great for learning balance, etc. Needs new front lever mount. Includes extra front brake parts in pics.

*Does not include pedals.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic

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2004 Iron Horse SGS Expert bike - $600

FSR 4-bar suspension (Horst Link). Aluminum.

Fox Vanilla R w/propedal rear shock, 7" travel.
Manitou Sherman Flick 130mm travel Fork w/ 20mm through axle.
FSA PIG DH 1.5" headset
Hayes 8"hydros.
FSA oversized bar and stem.
Lock on grips.
E13 Rocker plates.
Truvativ Hussefelt cranks.
WTB Dual Duty FR rims.
XT rear derailuer.
FSA Bashring.
IRC 2.25" Trailbear tires.

Purchased new in 2005. Used mainly for transportation to/from class. Hasn't been ridden for 3+ months.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic
pic

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2007 Intense Pro 24 XL Cruiser - $290

Only used at ~10 bmx races. Retails for $400.

6061 aluminum frame, Sinz chromoly 1-1/8" race fork, chromoly pro cruiser bars, Sinz chromoly 180mm cranks w/ Euro BB, Sinz 41T chainwheel, T.H.E. seat, Sinz 36H sealed hubs w 3/8" axles, 24x1.75 rims, 18T freewheel, alloy micro-adjust seatpost. 21.25" Toptube (25.9 lbs)

Changes from stock setup-
- ODI lock on grips
- Maxxis maxx daddy tires

Only a few minor scratches.

*Does not include pedals.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic

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Troy lee designs gloves - $10

Used one ride. Size large (too big for me . . . ).

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2005 Marzocchi DJ2 - $90

100mm travel. 20mm thru axle. 7" steerer. No scratches anywhere. This thing is mint. Has air assist and rebound.

Pics:
pic
pic
pic
pic

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(3) 24" Maxxis tubes - $2 each

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Miscellaneous 5-bolt rings - $5 each

I think these are all 94mm spacing.

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Azonic 454 cranks, bb assembly, and 5-bolt, 94 spider - $35

Needs new bb bearings, these can be bought at any bearing shop for cheap

360s at the Fix

2008-02-17T11:54:00.003-07:00

After a good urban/skate park session in Boulder, David, Deider, Nick, Joe, Andrew, Ryan and I cruised over to the Fix bike shop. The wood chip jump is perfect for learning new tricks. Here's my go at 360s . . .

360s. the progression. from Brandon Turman on Vimeo.

Impossible.

2008-02-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

BEST GAME EVER?

Come on good weather . . . I'm wasting away in here.

Pics of the new ride.

2008-01-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm now the proud owner of a Black Market. With a few modifications it'll be one sweet ride. Just in time for the Ray's adventure. Sick. Pics . . .

Game on. Ray's is going down Feb 22-24.

2008-01-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

It's official. Flight tickets to Cleveland are booked. We'll be at Ray's from Feb 22-24. It's ladies weekend, which means that there should be a good showing of bike companies with demos on hand, and a few good pros to ride with - I know Nadia, Lisa Myklak, and the black market ladies will be in attendance. Brian Buell and myself are a definite go. Simcik, Caleb, and Mike are tentative. Watch for some footage following the trip. Very excited for this.

PS - anyone in Cleveland have some extra floor space for rent?

Oh, and fingers crossed - just made on offer on this sick ride, we'll see if it comes through

Who's up for an adventure to Ray's Indoor Park in Cleveland?

2008-01-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

I'm itching to ride something other than the Woodward park. I know you are, too. Are you up for one hell of an adventure? Here's what I'm thinking . . .

Friday, Feb 15 - Depart from Denver in the AM, arrive in Cleveland in the early afternoon. Check into the Holiday Inn. Take a quick spin around Cleveland and head to Ray's Indoor Park for the 5-10pm evening session. Back to the hotel, clean up, then go discover what Cleveland's night life has to offer.

Saturday, Feb 16 - Ray's is open all day (9AM-10PM). Nuff' said. More sick riding, more night time adventures.

Sunday, Feb 17 - Ray's is open all day (9AM-10PM). Shred fest 2008. Dial backflips, supermans, can cans, and tail whips. Depart from Cleveland in the evening, arrive back in Denver before 10PM.

Cost:
- $240 round trip ticket through Southwest's flight deals, here.
- $114 for lodging and park passes for the entire weekend, here.
total - $354. Give or take a few for beers, food, and a spare tube. I know a few people in the area and we may even be able to score some couch space.

Free shuttles are provided between the airport and hotel, and between the hotel and Ray's.

Videos of Ray's to get you pumped. Vid 1, Vid 2, Vid 3, and pics. The place is 97,000 square feet, has a FOAM PIT, endless rythyms, a sick skatepark, a slalom course, north shore business, and tons more. I'm getting jittery just thinking about it.

This is perfect. To hell with snowy trails. You know you wanna. Three solid days of riding. You can play catch up the Monday after with your lovely day off because it's President's day. No excuses now.

Hit me up asap if you'd like to join - comment, email, phone, etc. I'm very seriously considering this, but will only jump on it if someone (or two, or three) goes with. Flights need to be booked by the 24th to get the cheap price.

Something to liven up your snowy day

2008-01-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

A video well done. You'll like this one, titled Monday.

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=C_TVhc3bFqM

Park skills w/ Billy Lewis

2008-01-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

da dayum . . . this guy has some serious skill. enjoy the vid.

Billy Lewis, riding smooth

Got plans for January 5?

2007-12-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here's an event that's sure to rock, and it's going to help support Tara Llanes - a definite win win. If you're in town and enjoy a good time, or bikes, or both, cruise on over. Wish I could make it, but I'll be soaking up the sun on the Florida beaches for the next week!

Have a rockin' time bringing in the new year.

--------------------------------------------------

The Bike Park at SolVista Basin presents Earthed 5, The Law of Fives Premiere at Wahoo's in downtown Denver, Colorado. Come see an incredible downhill video, hang out with friends and help Tara Llanes! All proceeds go to the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund. There will be food and drink specials and a raffle with prizes from The Fix Bikes, Fox Racing, Push Industries and more! Visit www.bikesolvista.com for complete information

Complete Details:
What: Earthed 5 - The Law of Fives, premiere and benefit for Tara Llanes Road to Recovery

When: Saturday, January 5, 2008, 8pm

Where: Wahoo's Fish Taco, 1521 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202

Information: Doors will open at regular Wahoo's time and the movie will start around 8PM.

The nice folks at Wahoo's have agreed to provide drink and food specials going early and ending late. Come early and get in touch with bike friends you haven't seen since the season ended!

There will be a $5 minimum donation suggested, but you are free to contribute more.

A raffle will take place after the movie. Tickets are $5 and you may buy as many as you'd like.

All proceeds raised through entry fees and raffle will benefit Tara Llanes Road to Recovery: www.tarallanesroadtorecovery.com

Video from the BIG house

2007-12-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

Did a bit of filming over at the big house last night and decided to put together a video. Their backyard is home to some great snow features - rails, boxes, spines, wallrides, and pink flamingos. Nothing huge, but fun none the less. Starring D.L. RideHard, Spencer Biddle, and Bob Carney. Enjoy.

Backyard sesh at the BIG house from Brandon Turman on Vimeo.

Edit: Matt posted up photos. View the full set here.

WebUrbanist

2007-12-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

WebUrbanist posts some amazing content covering guerrilla marketing, street/urban art, architecture, neat images, and generally intriguing things from around the world. Browse around a bit. You'll like it.

Link dump. Three good reads.

2007-12-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

First up, the Tonic Fab blog. These boys are all over the park and dj scenes, bringing you new content all the time. They make some sick frames too.

This guy is fresh, like stinky cheese. Kevin lets you have it over at Esoteric Ekphrasis. If you're in need of a good rant, some hate, a fun video, mexican food, or some stellar pics, talk to that man.

Videozine anyone? Match Videozine keeps the throngs at bay by posting up all kinds of coverage from smaller gatherings, the latest in the industry, and amazing videos.

Click 'em. Read 'em. Merry Christmas world.

970biking - Issue Six

2007-12-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Andy Holloway's latest creation for your viewing entertainment (Props, Andy). Features a lot of local talent and events, including the race that we hosted at SolVista.

Enjoy . . .

http://www.freecaster.com/1000006_1003422

Team Mafia, 2008

2007-12-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been invited to join the Mafia Racing Team for 2008.

The Mafia Team is very unique - it incorporates riders from a wide variety of disciplines, including gravity, xc, cx, road, and triathlon. They've got an amazing gravity line up for 2008, including summit county ripper Nate Hills, world championship four-crosser Jeremiah Work, and the upcoming James Hollibaugh - all friends and great riders. The team is host to people that love to race, live to ride, and strive to further the cycling culture on every forefront.

To top things off, Pabst Brewing Company is a strong supporter of the team. Can't beat a cold PBR after a good day of racing!

Thanks to David Janowiec for this incredible opportunity. It will be great to represent a team of this caliber on the national and international scenes - plans for 2008 include moving to British Columbia, Canada for a portion of the summer to ride and race.

Cruise over to www.MafiaRacing.com to check things out.

". . . your passion for Life, your Loyalty to risk, and your Liberation from everyday norms."

Goodbye Youtube, I'm switching to Vimeo

2007-12-03T01:14:00.000-07:00

After numerous comments on how poor the graphic quality of youtube is, I've decided to begin using Vimeo. So far, so good. You can view all of my videos here. Look for a download link at the right hand side of each video's page if you'd like to dl the source file. Otherwise, just watch the flash version.

I'll be posting a few clips from my adventure to the ABA Grand Nationals in the next few days. What an amazing race - they ran over 500 motos for both events!

Video from Wilson Woods

2007-11-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

Got a phone call to come shred a new location on Saturday. Turned out to be an amazing place. Thanks for the good times, the sick terrain, the tasty lunch, and the chance to throw some style for the camera.

Riding by Nick Simcik, Lisa Myklak, Raf Guevara, Tammy, and myself. Enjoy the latest vid:

http://www.vimeo.com/414002

Wilson Woods from Brandon Turman on Vimeo.

Youtube find of the day, collegiate nats

2007-11-13T00:46:00.000-07:00

Plenty of shots of the Mines crew in there. Nice work LeesMcrae filmers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKUr8-agsoY

Video from a good day of ridin'

2007-11-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

After a great day of riding with Nick Simcik, Elliott Hoover, Brian Buell, and Joey Schusler, I pieced together this vid. It was all filmed in Kansas at a top secret military base, so don't even ask.

http://www.vimeo.com/414097

A good day of ridin' from Brandon Turman on Vimeo.

Littermag.com feature for Collegiate Nats

2007-11-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Click it. Thanks, Gordo.

ABA Grands, 2007

2007-11-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

This Thanksgiving break won't be spent around the family table, chowing down on mashed taters and turkey. Instead, I'm road tripping down to Tulsa, OK for the ABA Grand Nationals (aka the biggest bmx race of the year). Definitely excited to finally have some good competition out at the track - Colorado's bmx scene in my age range lacks a good number of participants. This race will heat things up a bit, hosting over 500 motos each year.

Training continues to pick up steam starting tomorrow. Deider and I have gotten some sound advice from James over at http://www.mtbstrengthcoach.com/. We're hoping to work on creating some explosive gate starts, 'cause that's where it's at in the bmx world.

A vid from last year's race, pro section:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl4WMezWoXI

CSM Cycling Team Wins NCCA National Championship

2007-10-30T12:25:00.001-06:00

After dominating the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Conference points race, the Colorado School of Mines Cycling Team continued its triumphant streak by winning the 2007 NCCA National Mountain Bike Championship. The event was held in Banner Elk, North Carolina from October 26-28.

Despite extremely muddy conditions, 12 CSM athletes bested the Nation's strongest Division II Teams, claiming 14 Top Ten finishes in 8 events. Races included Men's and Women's Downhill (DH), Dual Slalom (DS), Cross Country (XC), and Short Track (ST). Consistent results contributed strongly to the Team's 1st Place finish and National Championship title.

CSM Cycling's Nationals Team and Individual Results:

Men's Gravity Racers:

- Brandon Turman: 3rd Place DH, 8th Place DS
- Nathan Work: 7th Place DH, 6th Place DS
- Deider Barrick: 8th Place DH, 3rd Place DS
- Devin Rhinehart: 34th Place DH, 31st Place DS

Men's Endurance Racers:

- Zak Grabowski: 7th Place ST, 21st Place XC
- Joe Schneider: 20th Place ST, 39th Place XC
- Topher Hurley: 34th Place ST, 33rd Place XC
- Shaun Higgins: 31st Place ST, 36th Place XC

Women's Gravity Racers:

- Christen Boyer: 3rd Place DH, 4th Place DS
- Myra Dyer: 16th Place DH, 5th Place DS

Women's Endurance Racers:

- Melissa Marts: 2nd Place ST, 6th Place XC
- Iris Tomlinson: 8th Place ST, 8th Place XC

Team Omnium:

Colorado School of Mines - 1st Place

Full Results and race highlights: www.USAcycling.org
Team website: www.CSMcycling.com

NCCA Nationals Update, Day One

2007-10-26T18:15:00.000-06:00

Highlights from today's events in North Carolina:

Female DH qualifiers:
2nd Place - Christen Boyer
5th Place - Myra Dyer
10th Place - Melissa Marts
12th Place - Iris Tomlinson
.
Male DH qualifiers:
1st Place - Brandon Turman
8th Place - Nathan Work
11th Place - Deider Barrick
33rd Place - Devin Rhinehart
.
Female XC finishes:
6th Place - Melissa Marts
8th Place - Iris Tomlinson
20th Place - Myra Dyer

Male XC finishes:

25h Place - Zak Grabowski

34th Place - Topher Hurley

36th Place - Shaun Higgins

39th Place - Joe Schneider

Current overall team standing - 3rd (and we're likely moving into FIRST after tomorrow's DH/ST events, given today's qualifiying results)

Devin at the Arch in St. Louis -

Deider, wired on the sweet 25 hour drive -

Joe, after being called to the front line for being the RMCCC Champion -

MUD. Everyone has been riding in the slop this weekend. The XC guys got the worst of it, having to run about 1/2 the course -

This guy was gnarly, completing his last lap of the xc on a 16" bike. He alse reportedly went swimming twice, covered himself in mud, chugged a beer, and filled his helmet with leaves. Go collegiate racing -

Nathan on his way to an 8th Place finish in the DH qualifier -

Morewood is running a pit for the team, and we really appreciate their help! -

Super sunny winter break, fast paced thanksgiving, muddy next week!

2007-10-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

Flight is booked, we're off to Naples, Florida for winter break! January 1-7.

Thanksgiving break will be spent in Tulsa at the ABA Grand Nationals. I hear there are typically 5000+ entries? Wow. Now that's some good competition.

Oh, and the team is leaving tomorrow to North Carolina for a little thing called the NCCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Look for Mines near the top of the results sheets - we're bringing a strong team:

Men's DH/DS:
- Brandon Turman
- Nathan Work
- Deider Barrick
- Devin Rhinehart

Men's XC/ST:
- Zak Grabowski
- Joe Schneider
- Topher Hurley
- Shaun Higgins

Women's DH/DS:
- Christen Boyer (+ST)
- Myra Dyer (+XC/ST)

Women's XC/ST:
- Melissa Marts (+DH/DS)
- Iris Tomlinson (+DH/DS)

Current conditions = SUPER foggy and muddy. Web cam (refreshes every 2 minutes):

Nationals downhill jerseys

2007-10-12T16:00:00.001-06:00

Mines Cycling will be sporting a new kit at Nationals in two weeks. Check it out (cheesy computer rendition):

Tomorrow is CU Boulder's 4X race. The guys (and gals) are looking really good out at the track. If you're jonesing for some good spectating, bring a lawn chair, 6 of your buddies, some beers, and your shouting/heckling skills to the Sky High BMX track from 3-5 this Saturday. Located in Arvada - here.

Video from lone session at Longmont

2007-10-03T04:17:00.000-06:00

Had a blast riding the Longmont Skatepark this past Sunday. Decided to piece together a little vid. It's nothing super special, just a relaxed ride after training with BMX racing superstar David Herman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZDO0gTTVM4

Headed down to the Angel Fire G3 tomorrow afternoon - does anyone have any stellar costume ideas?

Points are in, CSM Cycling on top!

2007-09-27T23:42:00.001-06:00

It's time to celebrate, Mines is currently leading nearly every points race there is. We've established many top 3's across the board, with top spots in the following:

Men's A Gravity: Brandon Turman
Men's A Endurance: Joe Schneider
Men's B Endurance: Nate Monnig
Men's C Endurance: Piotr Wilczek

Women's A Gravity: Christen Boyer
Women's A Endurance: Mel Marts

Conference Points: 1800+ points over the #2 ranked school
Nationals Points: 1700+ points over the #2 ranked school

Full Results

Keep it up team, we're a-rockin'!

SolVista = pinned, a new lube, and the latest on the points race

2007-09-25T22:48:00.001-06:00

SolVista was pretty much amazing. The resort staff is top notch and helped us put on one of the best collegiate races of the season. Over 340 entries, hundreds of happy racers, and only one timing error on the day. That's good racing! Results.

DH was fast and flowy thanks to the handy work of Wentz, Moga and TJ. We had a radar gun just after some fast, flat corners. The fastest speed posted on race day was 37 mph. We originally planned to give $100 to the fastest rider, but 5 people tied, so we covered their entry fees and each of them walked away with $20. People were stoked. Open class top three: Todd Olsen with the win at 2: and a fat $ 266 prize, Wentz in #2 with $190, and Matt Fisher (who was on fire after just having won the A class DH) took home #3 and $114.

Single Slalom was a hit - Mr. Boom Boom Buell walked away with the Single Slalom Collegiate Champion of the World title and $53 after a super close finish with Cody Wilderman who weaseled his way to $49. Well done boys.

XC and Short Track utilized the slalom course as well. The endurance crowd seemed to love it. We saw some great head to head battles during the Men's A STXC.

I don't know if I got it across very well at the event, but the team did a great job of helping me prep/run the race. Couldn't have done it without you guys and gals. THANKS!

A few picture galleries that Spencer whipped up 1, 2, 3.

Squirt! The CSM Cycling team recently joined forces with Squirt. Relatively new to the US market, this line of chain lubes is poised to do very well in the cycling community. I've been using it for a few days and wow, good stuff! It's much quieter than other dry lubes I've used in the past. On top of that, it's clean and hasn't gunked up my cassette. Very excited to see how it works in the sloppy conditions the rest of the season will bring - can you say snow racing?!? I'll keep you posted - a product review may be in store. Many thanks to Dave Griebling for taking the time to meet with us just a few days after a new baby arrival (Congrats, and have a blast at Interbike!).

Finally, the CSM team is ROCKING it this mtb season. We've got A racers at every event, making it happen with school and all. The girls are coming on strong, claiming top spots in almost every event they enter. According to my rough calculations, Mines is currently on top of the Nationals Points Race. Bring on North Carolina.

Side note: I love collegiate racing - the comradere, the rivalries, the parties, the fun, the smiling faces, stopwatch timing, and people actually cheering. That's what I'm in it for, and it doesn't get much better than that.

Down the street: BMX race camp with the Hermanator, the Angel Fire G3, and a very anticipated super long fall break (4 days of vacation in New Mexico!).

Save Arbor!

2007-09-09T23:01:00.001-06:00

Race season is over for many of us (minus SolVista and AngelFire), so let's fix up Arbor. She needs HELP badly. Man-size weeds everywhere, and bumpy, choppy lips.

Next time you head out, bring a shovel - smack some weeds & move some dirt. I'm going to organize some dig sessions, stay tuned.

As of today, Sept 9:

Welcome 50+ new riders to CSM Cycling!

2007-09-05T00:22:00.000-06:00

We recently had a booth at the Celebration of Mines and an orientation meeting for new members to familiarize themselves with the team. Over 50 new riders signed up for the team! I'm continually blown away by the numbers we see. It should be a great collegiate mtb racing season. Visit www.CSMcycling.com for more details.

Here's the collegiate schedule for this fall:

September

8-9: CSU - XC, ST, DH
15-16: Mines - XC, ST, DH - Race info
22-23: Fort Lewis - XC, ST, DH, DS
29-30: Wyoming - XC, ST, SD, DH (pending)

October

6-7: Mesa State - XC, ST, SD (pending) - & Angel Fire G3 - DH, SD
13-14: UNM - XC, ST, DH, SD
20-21: Western State - Conference Finals - XC, ST, DH
26-28: NCCA Nationals - Sugar Mtn, NC - XC, ST, DH, & DS or MX

Here's my fall schedule.

2007-08-28T01:57:00.000-06:00

Month of biking

2007-08-26T19:50:00.000-06:00

After an amazing day of rallyin' at SolVista, Natedog, DL Rockstar and I came up with a month of biking. Here it is, the new 'to-do' list, in no particular order and without all the races. Very nice:

(Disclaimer: Nate . . . shame on you. Your addition definitely can't be posted to the interweb. Boo. Notice the crossed out item. Kids these days . . .)

Race bikes? Get to the Oredigger MTB Challenge @ SolVista on Septemeber 15-16, 2007. Good times, cash payouts, a high speed contest, random hijinx, maybe some single slalom in the evening . . . it shall be grand. Be there.

Smile!

2007-08-13T10:16:00.000-06:00

3ish years. As of today, no more braces. Jumping for joy. Caramel apple here I come.

Snowmass National

2007-08-09T14:04:00.000-06:00

It's time to see if all of my recent BMX races have paid off. This weekend's goal: make the main round of Mountain Cross (top 4) at the Snowmass National Finals. DH should be fun too, brand new track. The fam is coming up to watch the races - it'll be nice to have a cheering squad out there supporting me in something that I have a real passion for.

Oh, for those who haven't heard - the Oredigger MTB Challenge is now at SolVista. Yahoo!

Here's a photo someone nabbed de me at Crankworx, good stuff:

HDR Photography

2007-07-10T23:10:00.002-06:00

Example HDR Photography:

*Photo credit to thinking picture

2007-06-26T03:32:00.000-06:00

DHing in the front rangish area with Nick and Devin. Fun times. Let's do it again, soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuOJtn5QAcI

Lightning storm I stopped to record on the drive home. Gnarly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smf_3jCKMo0

Yay for Keystone

2007-06-24T23:00:00.000-06:00

Went riding up at Keystone today with quite the crew: Scott, Matt, Lance, Brian, Jeff, Ryan, and Paul. Good times. Finally got the chance to ride some of their offerings other than the race course . . . very fun stuff. Here's a short slip of me on one of the new jump lines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxTxuKYSE5E

Video from 6/19 dj session at Sunset

2007-06-20T23:22:00.000-06:00

Had a blast riding and filming the other night with Nick Zuzelski, Dave Camp, and Alex Vidal and decided to piece together a short video of our summertime adventure.

Watch for backflips, inverted tables, tucked no handers, mad steez, and the gnarliest "un-turndowns" ever. Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkLwZXPoqTM

Freestyle ski jumping and DV downhill race vids

2007-06-18T21:54:00.001-06:00

Did a bit of shoddy filming while walking the course during the Deer Valley pro DH race. Here it is, pieced together in no particular fashion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQgpEImGhk

Spent some time at the old olympic center - Park City freestyle ski jumps into a pool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYIhHqOcjFg

Shocks, dirt, and a bit o' air.

2007-06-18T21:37:00.000-06:00

The vid, as promised. A bit on the short side due to a serious lack of footage (too much fun riding!). Starring Eli and Doug E:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjalEnp08hc

Some fun trail footage coming your way

2007-06-05T22:11:00.000-06:00

Should have some footage pieced together from today's morning adventure in the coming days. For now, I'll just let you ponder where the riders in this clip are heading . . .

"Community Service" - the dirty kind

2007-06-04T22:35:00.000-06:00

So this evening I made my way to a little skate park in Parker. The park has very few features, but it's close to my summer housing so I imagine I'll be spending a good deal of time there over the next few months. Anyway, I brought two shovels and a watering can to the park, and upon arriving began to build a nice hip jump onto a grass landing at one of the park's ends. The place was swarming with little groms who questioned me repeatedly - with all this attention, I figured I'd turn it into a good thing. 20 minutes later I had a motivated and willing army of workers! Two kids were getting water from a nearby creek, another helping loosen dirt, another moving dirt, and one helping me pack/shape the jump. Great! We made some awesome progress and by the end of the night we'd finished the hip jump and added a landing to one of the many landingless quaterpipes. On top of that, I got everyone to spend five minutes picking up trash - the place looks much more put together now and has a few new features to boot.

Another big highlight of the night: I'd been eyeing the large fence next to a big bank since the last time I visited the park. Tonight I boosted over the fence with a foot to spare. The kids (and surrounding parents) went nuts! It was pretty good sized – many of the usuals said no one had ever attempted it before. No pic unfortunately as it was a spur of the moment type of thing, though I do plan a few repeats.

Now grab some shovels, get some groms involved, and improve your neighborhood riding spot. With the right motivation and a little push so they feel they are making a big difference, you'll be amazed what they can help pull off :)

- b

Edit: Pics -

Crankworx Colorado

2007-06-04T07:23:00.000-06:00

Looks like winter park is trying to snag some of the freeride glory from nearby Keystone Resort. For years Keystone has been the go-to spot for Denverites looking to ride downhill mountain bike trails.

This summer, Winter Park Resort unleashes Crankworx Colorado, a three-day (July 5-7) freeride fest with a cross-country race, a downhill dash modeled after the notorious Air Downhill in Whistler, a Super Downhill, Big Air and a Slopestyle competitions. They are estimating over 10,000 spectators throughout the weekend - things could get interesting!

The jumps, berms and other obstacles will be designed by John Cowan, one of the most recognizable riders in dirt jumping and builder of the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park's Kona Jump Jam, and the world-renowned Hell Track I in San Diego, CA and Hell Track II in Kamloops, BC.

Could be totally off the hook. And when the comp is done, Winter Park may have a world-class jump course. I'll be putting on a show by racing the Pro DH event on Friday, July 6th. If you're looking for some fun times and a bit of high flying entertainment, you should come enjoy the festivities! I recommend the Big Air and Slopestyle Competitions for the best and most exciting spectating.

See more at www.crankworxcolorado.com.

Monthly post #49

2007-04-15T23:06:00.000-06:00

I'm averaging one post/month. Incredibly poor by today's blogger standards. When summer hits I'll get back in the swing of things. Promise.

Oredigger Classic a success - Hundreds of combined hours of work. Over 400 racers. 30 something hay bales. Nearly 50 roadblocks. Tons of great comments from racers. $210 of Chipotle burritos. Yep, it went well for the third year in a row. Go CSM Cycling - I think we're making a strong impression on the community and cycling crowd. Pics, results, etc here.

Team Morewood, 2007 - CSM Cycling signed with Morewood USA for 2007. Official PR. We'll be running their stellar frames throughout the year, during the NCCA series, and at Collegiate Nationals. Fantastic setup thanks to Neil and Richard Beytagh. I've got an Izimu rolling through the door next week - very excited. This should be a good season.

Spring Break in Moab - Hooray for another yearly tradition. SB was a blast - we rode so many trails, went to the swimming hole, and even played tourist in the shops for a bit. Nathan and Adrian, thanks for joining on that adventure - I had a blast. We accomplished our goal of leaving a 'Mines Cycling' sticker pretty much everywhere we went. Pics on facebook.

CFCC Research - I've made some pretty big strides in the lab recently with the introduction of liquid fuels into the SOFC anode. Results have been mixed thus far, but we're seeing some very repeatable numbers, which is a huge bonus. Incredibly, this research has never been done before (according to several of the higher-ups at the center). There is a person in Germany cranking out the modeling for my experiment, while I provide real-life results. The collaboration is pretty impressive. Working in the lab had been a great experience. I think I'll continue next semester.

Summer plans - Where's Brandon? That's what I've been trying to figure out over the past month - where will I be living, working, playing? Right now the only thing that is set in stone is the Europe trip in mid-July. I've applied to several intern spots in Golden, Grand Junction, and California - each will lend itself nicely to making at least a handful of races this summer on top of the experience I'll gain. Cross your fingers for me!

Knowledge for knowledge's sake, or for utility? - I'll end this month's post with something to ponder: In my opinion, there has been a huge transformation over the past X number of years from knowledge for knowledge's sake to knowledge for utility. Liberal arts majors are constantly being barraged with questions like, "what are you going to do when you get done with college?" See what I mean? I encourage you to go out and learn something just for kicks - not so you can complete another task or answer another test question, but for the simple joy of knowing something. Read a book, check out a magazine, visit your library, browse the net . . . ever wondered why something worked the way it did? who did this or that? why this is the way it is? Look into the things you wonder about - be curious!

Break!

2007-03-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

Spring break in Moab. This Tuesday-Thursday. Give me a shout if you're headed out and want to join us.

Whatcha thinkin'?

2007-01-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Something to check out: www.Pandora.com

Great classes = good semester thus far.

Who likes to dance? I joined the Ballroom Dance club early this semester. I've had a lot of fun learning the waltz, fox trot, salsa, and some swing over the past month. We meet Tuesday's at 6pm in Ballroom D. Come join us, you'll enjoy it ;)

I'm 4 weeks into a pretty solid workout program. Three days a week, an hour to an hour and a half. Definately seeing some results. It's cool to see what you can make happen when you make a point of it.

The Earthed 4 premier was pretty sweet - exciting movie, makes me want to get out and ride mi bicicleta.

Onboard with Freestyle, Scott USA, Maxxis, Fox Shox, and MRP for the upcoming season. Also recently received an offer from Morewood to ride for them in 2007. Strongly considering it. They make some solid bikes and have a great reputation.

Adventures over the past few weeks included a skiing and a stellar cabin getaway, thanks to my man Matt. Gracias senor.

Looking for some entertainment and a heap of food? Head to Tequila's Mexican Restaurant on a Thursday night. Good times.

Attended the ASME 'industry day' last Thursday. Met some great people and took in a lot of great advice. I recommend that anyone who is not involved with a professional organization look into your options, I've found it to be a pretty rewarding experience.

An Av's game, lot's of time in a suit, and Clue! coming up. Have a great week everyone.

06-07, Fifth inning

2007-01-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

There is snow everywhere and ice in piles large enough to high-center a sedan. Sweet. Welcome back to school, and yes, you have to use the sidewalks because there are walls of snow blocking the grass. Spring '07, yahoo.

Goodbye Fall '06, which can be summarized with this mountain of paper. Thank god I've got a recycling bin. What a ride.

Here's the outlook for each week from now 'til May - not much free time from 8-5, but it'll do . . . On my way back from a meeting with the eye doc (which went well - the vision is still improving steadily) I decided to spin around on some back roads in an attempt to find an alternate route home. Four blocks later, flat tire. No biggie, right? Hopped out, jacked up the car, took the wheel off - go to grab the spare, crum. The socket on my lug wrench isn't deep enough to grab the nut holding my spare on. Alrght, so I'll jimmy rig it - thirthy minutes later, nada. Led to going house to house knocking on doors in pursuit of a deepwell socket or a crescent wrench. Thanks Mr Man who lent me one - ya saved me.

Head off to Big O Tires to get her patched up - hole in the sidewall, need a new tire, covered under warranty - sweet. The bronc is rollin again with the little prickly tire hairs on the right rear. Happy day.

Latest mystery shop led to a free dinner for the crew - flip the pizza, snip a few slices, make a scultpure, snap a pic, send it in - not too shabby.

Hasta guys and gals, see ya around.

What exactly is 'Downhill' you ask?

2007-01-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

I've been racing bikes for quite awhile. Many people have little idea what I mean when I say that I race downhill. So here you are - a little look into the amazing sport of downhill bike racing.

Here's a visual for you. Watch some of the world's top riders from around the world: Illusionary Lines

The feeling you get by flying down a ski slope trying to beat the clock is so unique. Timing everything perfectly, hitting all of your lines, and dialing a race run make it incredibly challenging and very rewarding when you nail a great run.

I encourage you guys to try out the sport that I've devoted 4 summers and countless hours to . . . I think you'll find the atmosphere and ear-to-ear smiles it brings surprising.

Supplement your education with MIT courses, for free!

2007-01-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

Interesting concept. Apparently it has been around for some time, but it's news to me. Well worth checking out . . .

Yahoo news article

Free MIT link

Happy days

2007-01-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

The holidays have been amazing. I've really enjoyed spending time with both Lyndsay's and my family this break. Catching up with a few buddies from high school has been awesome as well. It's nice to hang out and relax for weeks at a time ;)

Next up, who's got some music suggestions? I've been with the same 2,000 songs for long enough. Comment my way with some sweet bands that can fill a niche on my playlist. Anything goes!

Injury update: My double vision has improved a ton - I think. The doc put this prism sticker on my glasses that aligns the two images that I see and also helps correct my nerve issue (6th nerve palsy for you medical types). I go back in on the 8th to have my status updated. Every couple of weeks I take the prism sticker off my glasses to see how much better it's gotten. It seems to have gotten quite a bit better in the past month, though I'm not 100% by any means. I'm hoping for the good news that I think I see happening.

Everyone should check out www.ProjectDUET.com - Lyndsay has made some huge strides with the DU Environmental Team since she reorganized the club. There's some really cool stuff going down at DU, like "Do it in the Dark!"

Here's something I've been up to recently: Mystery Shopping. Oooh and aaaah and say it's fake and blah blah blah - but it's the real deal. Granted, it would be a really bad way to make a living, but it helps put gas in the tank and so on. It was actually really easy to get set up in the 'secret shopping' business. I did some research and found this page, which lists a bunch of legitimate agencies that will contract you as a freelance worker to go and do the shops. I applied to 5 or 6 of the agencies and get emails about once every other day with chances to do another shop. So far I've been assigned to Bent Gate, Papa John's (3x), Big O'Tires, a few Loaf & Jug gas stations, and a Qwest store. Each one has paid decently, considering the little amount of work that is required. One paid $22 and I honestly worked on it for 20 minutes total, others provide free products, and so on. Another opportunity offered me $65 worth of activities at a little amusement park. For the most part, I go in and say, "What do you recommend for __?" and let them ramble for a few minutes while I also soak up the surroundings and seemingly meaningless details, go home and fill out a quick survey and get sent a check later that month. Simple. Easy. Convenient - I only accept the shops that I'll be near. Check it out if you'd like, you might be surprised.

To round things out, here are a few of the many things I'm looking forward to in 2007:

Europe trip! I'm overseas for most of July. Never traveled far for anything but racing - man am I excited
Starting grad school
Wicked is coming back and we've got tickets!
Being there for those close to me
Turning the big two-one
Venturing into the semi-"real world" with my first big jobs at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center and another yet to be named company
Rocking out at the gym with Matt

I'll be back in Golden on the 7th, give me a holler!

Undergard research with the Colorado Fuel Cell Center

2006-12-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

I've accepted a position as an Undergraduate Researcher at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center (CFCC). The CFCC is partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) , CoorsTek, and various other corporate affiliates.

My main focus will be Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) development and testing, specifically the prevention of anode corrosion due to sulfur. Check out this page for a video illustrating how a typical fuel cell works, and some general background:

A fuel cell generates electricity from continuously supplied streams of fuel and air. The two streams do not mix or burn but produce electricity by electrochemical reactions similar to a conventional battery. The details of the chemical reactions depend on the type of fuel cell, but in all types an electrically charged ion is transferred through an electrolyte which physically separates the fuel and air streams. The fuel cell thus provides an elegant means of converting the chemical energy of the fuel directly into electrical energy.

Additionally, they can be made to generate enough power to supply cars or even cities, and their heat can be channeled into other uses: for heating buildings or turning steam turbines to produce more power.

This is a really exciting industry, which may turn into one of the World's most dependable sources of energy when the last drop of oil is sucked from the earth. On top of that, it's clean energy, doing the world a good service.

Needless to say, I'm very excited about coming onboard and getting my hands dirty in a quickly expanding area.

Sponsorhouse gets a facelift

2006-11-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

For many years, I've been a skeptic about the service that sponsorhouse provides - citing the inability to distinguish between athletes and sponsorship proposals. That has all changed since the site's recent overhaul. Each user's profile is completely customizable with a little bit of html work. I'm glad they've made the transition to this system. If you are an athlete and are looking to make yourself known to some potential sponsors, I encourage you to check out www.sponsorhouse.com

Here's my profile, with some very recent updates.

Concussion

2006-11-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Around 6 o'clock in the evening on Saturday I had my first really bad sports injury. I suffered a concussion. Lance and I had made our way down to Colorado Springs for some indoor bmx racing. After the race we rode the track a handful of times, during which we swapped bikes. I was feeling comfortable on his bmx and started to jump the larger jumps on the course on my third lap. Things got squirrelly on one of the last jumps and I can remember getting really sideways in the air. The next 15 minutes . . . nothing. I woke up sitting in a chair off to the side of the course with a few nurses and Lance looking after me. From there we headed to the hospital and the emergency room. We spent several hours waiting after my cat scans to be released from the hospital. There was no internal bleeding and no fractures in my facial area. One day later, I'm still feeling a pretty grueling headache, have a worsening black eye, a lump on the side of my face, my shoulder is very sore, and I'm seeing double. I have to close one eye just to focus enough to write this. The side effects are supposed to take a few days to disappear.

Something can be said about wearing a helmet - I was sporting my fullface Giro Remedy. It's badly scratched and the visor is trashed. Had I not been wearing it, or even a half shell version, my injuries would have been much more severe and I'd probably have little to no chin left. Yeah, it was that bad - I believe Lance said that he'd never heard a helmet hit the ground so hard before.

I want to thank the nurse who offered a place to stay if we were at the hospital late last night; Lance for "enjoying the hospital," driving me home and being there through the whole initial process; Richard for waking me every two hours last night in order keep me from a possible coma; my Dad for double checking on me every step of the way; and Lyndsay for being so willing and ready to drive to the Springs to help, spending her already hectic Sunday looking after me, the amazing dinner she prepared, and that really soothing good-smelling stuff she put all over my forehead.

Thanks guys, so so much.

Phantom and a little bit of Photoshop action

2006-11-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Lynds and I made our way to the Country Dinner Playhouse for some front row Phantom action. The play was an adaptation of the Phantom of the Opera that everyone knows by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This particular version of Phantom had music done by Maury Yeston and text by Arthur Kopit. It gave more background about the love affair and where the phantom's past. I was sneaky and grabbed a few pics (blindly) - only a few of which turned out. Very cool show and I recommend it to anyone looking to make an evening more spectacular.

Alrighty, tech time - I've been learning how to use Photoshop over the past week or so. Here are a few tips and tricks I've discovered along the way . . .

First off - speeding the program up a bit: I've got your run of the mill PC and it seemed like the program was just stumbling along at times, especially when opening. I found a way to noticably speed things up. Disable the Detect Watermark plug-in (Digimarc). Photoshop loads quicker and your pictures will open faster. Browse to your photoshop/plugins folder and rename the Digimarc folder to something like ~Digimark. I believe this is actually endorsed by Adobe as a way to quicken things.

Another quick tip - got a foggy photo? Maybe one that is weak in contrast but you don't want the colors to get all funky? Try out the Unsharp mask filter (under sharpen). Set the amount to 20%, radius to anywhere between 40 and 60, and Threshold to 4. Check out the differences on the smaller details - they are huge! The human eye pics up on the small areas of contrast difference, not the big picture, which is why this has a pretty big impact.

For some more how to's and other great tips, check out this site

Bringing back a classic . . . Oregon Trail

2006-11-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Alright - throughout my early years I grew really fond of the Oregon Trail "video" game. Friends and I spent many an hour in after school programs playing away at this simplistic, yet very entertaining game. You won't find much joy in it if you didn't play as a kid, but man . . . if you did! I present to you that 5 and a half inch floppy disk - in a more modern form. Grab your gun, a bunch of spair wagon wheels, some food and get ready to ford a few rivers and carve some hilarious tombstones. . . .

The game

The emulator you'll need to play it

Directions: Download each of the files linked above. Unzip both. Run Applewin.exe - click the ol' 5 inch floppy drive symbol labled #1. Select Otrail_1.bin; click floppy drive #2, select Otrail_2.bin Click the Apple and play away! When it tells you to swap disks, simply click the button with arrows showing both drives. Enjoy a good wagon ride down memory lane.

Hot tubbbbb!

2006-10-31T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's here. It's installed. I'm so ready to use it. Thanks Scott.