kwoodward

Wow what a finish ... have a feeling that 2016 is going to be an epic battle every week between Gwin and Bruni with season going down to the wire. Two classy and talented riders who look to be in top form. However concerned about the lack of depth on the women's side. Rachel Atherton simply amazing as always, but gap from 1st to 10th place more than 1 full minute cannot be good for the future of women's DH and growing the sport.

Pretty impressive right out of the gate. More of the same, please. Awesome park vid too BTW. The helmet-cam perspective has never really captured the experience for me, but something was different about this one in both style and substance that fit the subject matter. Props to the marketing team and producers.

Huge props to the guy in fourth-floor appartment across the street from the bike shop who got a great pic of the guy cutting the lock. Daughter spent some time reviewing local PD mugshots online and found a match. Emailed PD. Have been told arrest warrant will be issued. Doubtful that bike will be recovered, but you never know. Also learned that a local neighbor group in Santa Cruz is planning a bike bait program. Stay positive, pay it forward and ride on folks.

Well, daughter's white Santa Cruz Blur TRC just stolen less than an hour ago. Locked on car rack in parking lot of local bike shop on major street by university in broad daylight. No shit. And yes, expecting either car or renters insurance to cover ... but trip to Downieville in three weeks at risk. Good photo of the pond scum caught in the act, tho.

Here is the takeaway folks: Run immediately to your bike and give it a big hug. Then pull out your phone and take a nice hi-res set of pics, both sides, front and rear. Here in the US homeowner or auto insurance will usually cover bike theft. Renters insurace averages around $100 a year and covers bikes. Make sure your insurance company knows you have a nice bike and confirm it is covered. If it isn't get a new insurance company. Here in Santa Cruz bike theft is a cottage industry and thieves will follow your car in their van if you have a nice bike on your rack, just waiting for their chance. The best locks and cables won't stop them, either. Recently theives dropped a couple guys off in my neighborhood at 5 a.m. Saturday who worked door to door, porch to porch, garage to garage. They rode the best of the bunch away and dumped the others in the bushes for later pickup. Also have heard stories of thieves taking the bus into town with a large backpack and back out a night filled with dropper posts, saddles and carbon bits that are rarely locked down. And yeah, local bike companies and shops get cleaned out with surprising regularity. None of this is in the papers because nobody wants to advertise or give others ideas. Sad.

You you can pickup 2015 models now at deep discount, although black and size L are hard to find. Great helmet, but 2016 colors are lame.

The Super 2R is a very good enduro helmet especially with MIPS, but don't think anyone over the age of 15 would be caught dead in the lame Star Wars design or neon 2016 colors. Thank god I found the last 2015 black in XL ... didn't even care that I had to pay retail. Last time I checked 15-year-olds seldom shell out $240 plux tax for a helmet.

TOTW is a bucket-list ride and enjoyed crossing it off mine last fall. While a bit rocky and steep in the first section I am inclined to agree it wasn't overly techy when compared to a couple other trails at Whistler and on the Shore. Not trying to be cocky and maybe I was having a good day, brain dead, lucky (or all of the above) ... but if you can keep your eyes on the trail and avoid the spectacular views to all sides you should be OK. That is not to say my heart wasn't pumping and my hands weren't shaking a little but that's the point, isn't it? I was riding a 27.5 rental DH rig and if I am ever lucky enough to return would like to give it a shot on my XL Tallboy LT and see how a pair of Enve clown wheels perform. Great video and rekindled some wonderful memories!

It comes down to whether you want to ride a trail that actually requires skills or one your grandmother could roll on her beach cruiser. One of my favorite local trails was recently dumbed down by the Flow Police to the point that I recently saw a skateboarder on it. Seriously. Stop ruining MTB trails and ride them as Mother Nature and God intended. Peace out.