Two Words..

GEAR HEADS.

Six months of planning and countless hours of work are coming to a close and rest assured that Jut Rut has topped himself.. The Enduro De Ocho was my introduction to the Asheville area and while it was a ton of fun it was not the event you would take home to your parents. Gearheads however, is one event that is all good times but still wears a button up shirt, is courteous and shows up on time. There are going to be some rad events taking place while killer deals take place ensuring that more people do more cool stuff. I myself will be looking for something with eight inches and if Gearheads makes a dime I will probably give in as a gift to myself for just breaking even.

It's only 4 Days till showtime. Get ready for something good. I can guarantee that you will not be able to say you didn't get your 5 bucks worth. Free massages, free contest such as bunny hop contest, dirt crit, kids mtn bike races and computrainers heats. Each of which if you win, you take home some gear of your choice. You can learn something useful from one of the many informative clinics or just get stoked as the best dirt jump builders and dirt jumpers in the area come together to throw down.

Yes, there are good deals and good times to be had. See you there.

Jut Rut

Party on..

I have been going back to my roots lately. BMX runs deep in my blood and as they say,every goes in circles. Guess I am on a 20 year cycle.. That means I will be taking things seriously in about 7 years. Damn it's nice to have some time off from button up shirts and to be focused on really important things like getting rad. All the pics above came from a short but sweet street ride on Wednesday that took place within a mile from my house. The Montford Gap, Flint Street yard drop, the rockin wall, and the Elementary Hip. I didn't have time to hit the Beverly Hanks Gap or the skatepark so I will just have to save that for another day. I was feeling burned out and Beth suggested I go ride and she would take some pics. Good job girl, the pics turned out pretty sweet for what can be done with four year old point and shoot camera. In other news.. The is going to be a throw down at Pisgah Brewing tonight..

The goods have arrived and the Brew Crew will be kicking it at Pisgah Brewing Company with Jerseys in hand. Come by for the Jersey Release Party, drink some beer and get a few bucks knocked of the price of the raddest jersey in WNC.

BIG THANKS to our sponsors, Pisgah Brewing, your beer rocks. Industry Nine, your wheels rock and roll. Pisgah Works, you make life more interesting. Swiftwick, your socks are wicky, wicky, rad. Suspension Experts for keeping us smooth like butter. Endless bikes for making me step it up with an eighteen. And to all our friends and family who make Asheville and the mountain bike scene a kick ass place to be.

Nothing but love.

Jut Rut

Another one in the books..

What a week. On Tuesday I was a part of a Bent Creek rescue operation. Friday I had one of the best street sessions since moving to Asheville, hitting the Monford Gap, Skate Park and the new Bev Hanks Gap. On Saturday I hit Clemson for my first downhill race. Sunday was a beautiful 4 hour ride in Pisgah. Too much fun and too little time for details but needless to say it was action packed. I need more hours in the day to keep up with this blog and adequately document some of what's going on in my world. To sum up hours worth of typing I will say..

Bent Creek can hurt you and the skyland rescue crew is your friend. Riding street with your crew is so rewarding and adrenaline is by far my favorite drug. Speaking of adrenaline, I think I may be getting addicted to downhill riding. Sunshine, 70 degrees and perfect Pisgah Singletrack makes for a great day.

Brad O took some great photos of the race. I finished 7th out of 37 in the sport class. Not bad for my first DH race but I gotta lay of the freaking brakes and grow some before the Beech Mountain series kicks off this summer. But for now I am planning on building some big wood kickers for Gearheads and getting comfortable in the air again. BMX is in my blood and like an addict you never really get over it. I suppressed my deep urges for years and even got comfortable in spandex from 2001-2004 but certain things have been coming to the surface since moving to the mountains where speed and bigger hits seem to be the norm.

I still plan on racing PNBAR, SSUSA, and SSWC09. The Brew Crew will be at all the local events pushing our wears and pouring good beers, however, I intend to mix it up this year with a few DH races and alot more time in the streets. It's been too long since I focused more on flow then fitness. I have realized my lifestyle conflicts with a training regimen so why not give into to my passion for style verses telling myself i love the puke feeling I get 30 minutes into a cross country race.

Enough for now.. got to get back to work. Filling 100,000 sq ft of space and throwing 10 events in one weekend just don't happen with out a little work.

Go with the flow.

jut rut

T.G.I.M. thank god it's monday

Here are a few pics from the weekend. Good people, good parties, cute girls, a ton of beer, bikes galore, and guns. It's Monday, maybe I can get some sleep..

Friday and Saturday was party time. Sunday I went for some good karma and volunteered for the Save the Trails Challenge. Gearheads and Pisgah Works represented an aid station and helped make to make muddy people smile. Even when they only had one shoe or no brakes.

until we meet again. rock one for me..

jut

Here's to Whiskey and Getting Rad..

With a new sponsor to impress and a new business to run, life has been taking a more serious note as of late. The stress of trying to "train" for races and working 40 hour weeks can take a toll on a good time guy like myself. This is why I have to take time to remind myself why I do the things I do. It's all for the glory winning races like the Whiskey Crit, sweet new gear and catching rad air.

The Whiskey Crit will go down in history as the most broken bones (and teeth) during a 30 minute ride/race I have ever witnessed. I know Kylie meant well when the inspiration struck for this one and she really meant well when she warned the boys not to go for a late night ride on the bum trails with no lights after the Whiskey Crit.


To back up just a bit, the Whiskey Crit involved 4 laps and 5 shots of Whiskey through neighborhood streets and a park. The laps were short but sweet however, sprinting on a track bike while taking a shot of whiskey per lap bike gives you a feeling that could only be compared to mainlining the stuff (just guessing of course). Despite mixing track bikes, crit racing and hard liquor the race itself went off without injury. Alex, birthday boy, took home the win, Adam W. 2nd, Marshall 3rd and yours truly took 4th and a good buzz. The rest of the crew came in, the whiskey took effect and that's when the fun began.

It was back to Alex's and Kylie's house for more good beer and food post race. An hour later, when the call was made for a ride on the bum trails by the river, everyone grabbed their bikes without even thinking about it. Kylie's effort to tell everyone what a bad idea it was just fell on deaf and drunk ears. A few minutes into the ride I hear Jake sliding down the pavement on a step hill just before we hit the trails. 5 minutes of riding, crash #1 on the pavement. Jake was fine and we were back to sprinting into the dark and towards the dirt.

Coming down the next hill Marshall was determined to take the lead and may have succeeded if it had not been for a metal cable that was hanging wheel high between two barriers. Over the bars into gravel with his face, hand and knee taking the majority of the impact. 10 minutes of riding, crash # 2 in gravel. Marshal was not as lucky as Jake and rolled over to immediately announced his front two teeth were gone and his hand was most likely broken. After calling the team car, then turning it down in favor of finishing the ride, we were back it again, racing track bikes on bum trails, on the river, in the dark. We are brilliant..


The main group was charging and at the speed they were traveling everyone had a good "close call" experience however, it was the birthday boy that would take the cake on best crash of the night.. So here I am, riding the trails with a little caution having just witnessed Marshal with half of his front teeth when Alex comes around me as though he was sprinting to the line at the Mellowdrome. Well, the bum trails are not quite as smooth as the track and my next image is one of a track bike five feet in the air sans-alex. A quick, "You alright? Yea, I am fine" exchange is made, he gathers his bike and it's back on the gas. I track his lines as we pick up speed and chase the group of blinking rear lights up ahead. A few hundred yards into our pursuit Alex starts slowing and makes a quick dismount while saying three words you never want to hear, "I'm not ok". Fifteen minutes of riding, crash #3 on bum trails.

Well, I didn't get anything for Alex for his birthday but I know I could have done better than the gift of a broken collarbone that the bum trail hooked him up with and I know he would have appreciated even the lamest gift in exchange for his second crash that occurred 5 minutes later in the street on the the way home. We made it back, more beer was had and a cool and sober Kylie C gave the crew a lift back to the North Side.


So, four crashes in twenty minutes. WTF, that's something broken every 5 minutes. One hellava party Kylie K! Count me in for next year but make sure to invite a doctor and a dentist! (maybe a lawyer too) You rock girl!


The next day I pulled it together enough to get rad again and mix beer and bicycles. Asheville on Bikes was throwing the "Bike of the Irish" and even though I wanted neither after the Whiskey Crit I pulled it together and went out for a ride in the rain with 15-20 others who like to mix good beer and all things two wheels. The ride was good, the beer was cold, and Asheville on Bikes showed a crew around some cool areas of town as we hit a few local breweries and caught up with friends. I was glad I made it out and even pulled off a late night show of High Windy at Jack of the Wood. The Brew Crew was in it for the long haul, High Windy rocked and we shut the place down and drank 50.00 worth of Pisgah Pale in doing so.






















Fast forward to one week later. The Banff film fest was in town this past weekend and of course Gearheads was there representing all weekend in Brevard. I camped out in Pisgah Friday after the show and froze my ass off. On Saturday I hit the trails for a fast session at B.C. then it was back to Banff with Beth. Sunday, Beth and I hit the Pisgah for a little pre-PNBAR action and pulled off some sweet lines and creek gaps over the course of a five hour ride. Amazing spring day in the woods and I feel energized with the exception of my ring finger.


If anyone has had this happen to them let me know. I can't straighten it and the tip of my finger is just limp. Not good.. But, there are worse body parts this could happen to and I can still grip a handlebar. Life could be a lot worse..

Ok, enough typing. My finger is freaking me out. jut rut out..

It's Monday. It's Business Time.

A quick weekend wrap up then it's time for some business. Well, the weekend once again rocked in Asheville. Bruce and I made our trip with M.J. to Black Mtn for some Old Toll action on Thursday followed by brews at Pisgah Brewing. Saturday was the annual Bike Love Event and once again I came, partied, and somehow made it home alive. Asheville on Bikes is in the business of showing bike people of all sorts a good time and they definatly know how to do it right. While having fun they also manage to lead the way in improving the bike scene here in town and keeping a very watchful eye on issues we should all take note of as cyclists. This years Bike Love was even better than last as I realized how many wonderful people I have had the chance to get to know over the past year. The music was great, people danced, the beer flowed all night, and there were bikes and love all round. Sule and Rachel, you rock and thanks for all your hard work..

Now, I know people check this blog to find out what crazy stuff I have been doing lately but let me take just a minute to make an announcement or two that will help me Avoid the Bummer Life for another year. So here it goes, I'm going to talk business..

I mentioned my ride on Thursday but didn't talk about how freaking cold it was. Old Toll took a toll on my face, hands, and any exposed skin. With temps in the 20's and after a taste of 60 degree weather the week before 20 degrees felt COLD. However, thanks to the new sponsor at least my feet stayed warm. I have been wearing the Swiftwick talls all winter long and so far I have yet to go for the winter shoes. I like the feeling of my regular Sidis and with the Swiftwicks on the feet I tend to be just fine.

Now, Swiftwick and my feet go way back to the early days when the company was created and run from the living room of one of my finest friends, Sharp Emmons. I personally witnessed hundreds of socks laying around the living room and Sharp sending out socks in recycled cereal boxes for the first year of it's existence. Well, things do change but fortunately some things do stay the same. The change is that has occurred is Swiftwicks growth. No more boxes of socks in the living room, kitchen, and dining room and no more sock art work sitting on Sharps computer screen. No the company has grown in to a real deal company and packaging is now done by someone other than the owner. But the cool thing is that they still make the best socks and they make them just a few hours south of here. The Yazoo Crew were one of the first teams to run swiftwicks and I still have the Yazoo Swiftwick Prototype. It says a lot about a sock to still have them holding up three years later after countless miles and nights on the dance floor. Well, a few years later and Swiftwick and the Pisgah Brew Crew are now working together to bring you some sweet custom socks to keep your feet feeling fine. They will be available at Pisgah Brewing Company or direct from the Brew Crew so keep your eyes open and I will post up once we wrap up our design. Thanks Swiftwick and now I can join the ranks of Team Dicky and Thad in shameless promotion of a great sock. My one special request as an official Swiftwick sponsored team is getting the Pisgah Brew Crew Grape Cape into production for next winter. Sharp and the boys know what I am talking about and I am still waiting for that prototype..

In other business. Our sponsor that keeps us rolling with style and precession has a new website. Check it out and buy a few sets of wheels. I have been riding their enduro rims laced up to the Mountain hubs for over a month now and I can say my rides have never been better. These wheels go where you point them and never falter. Another very redeemable quality is the fact they they are made down the street from my house. Buying local is big these days and it is comforting to know that your money goes to support people who ride bikes just like you. I have spent some quality time hanging with the I-9 crew and they are a great bunch of core riders. Every piece that goes into one of their amazing hubs is made in good ole' Asheville and they even turn them into a rainbow of colors in-house these days. If you want to go fast and do it in style just click here.

One more item of business then I am done. Drum roll please...

Gearheads-Asheville is up and running. I have finished the planning, the website, the marketing and the date is set (April 24th-26th). With things still slow in the Real Estate world it was time to think of something new to do with my time. Since it has been 10 years since I punched a clock the idea of working for someone just wasn't an option. The Gearheads concept came to me after a few brainstorming lunches with my neighbor Cheryl and we have been running with it since the Fall. I am the kind of person that doesn't like to present something till it looks it's best so I have been working on in secret till I was ready to make the announcement. Well, the day is here and I couldn't be more excited to say that on April 24th-26th Asheville is going to see the largest Outdoor Adventure Gear Sale and Expo the Southeast has ever witnessed. I have rented the Ag Center for a weekend and will be host to individuals, outdoor retailer and outdoor gear manufactures all while pro dirt jump demos, kid mountain bike races, bunny hop contest and so much more takes place. I have a 100,000 sq ft of space to play with so get ready for some fun. It will be kid friendly and we will offer clinics, lectures, and various contest and give aways all weekend long.

The Western NC Scene is just too awesome not to have more exposure for the companies and people who are making a living doing what they love. It is my hope that this type of event will emphasize the fact that we can all help each other by recycling our gear and supporting the businesses that call our region home. More information will of course be mentioned here over the next few months leading up to the event as I wrap up more sponsors and add more events to the schedule. For those that have taken part in the events I have thrown thus far you know how I do it, and Gearheads is going to be the biggest and best event this guy has ever conceived.

Thanks for listening now it's back to business till Ride:30.

Jut

Heartbreaker no, Toothbreaker almost..

The Heartbreaker was a success! As far as I know nobody got divorced over attending, three ego's were saved and no one was seriously injured. When I woke up to rain all I could think of was the carnage that would follow. Slick rocks and roots for 6 miles of downhill mayhem can take a toll on someone. However, by the 9:30 rendezvous the rain was gone and the trail was already starting to dry out. Twenty two friends and friends of friends came out for one kick ass group ride. We casually made our way to the top of Heartbreak Ridge with a few stops along the way to take in the view and just hang out. After getting to the top there was some more hanging out then we kicked off the festivities around 2:00.

There are not too many experiences in life beat the thrill of a long pisgah single track descent with near perfect trail and weather conditions. With that said, people were hanging it out there. I myself pushed far past the comfort zone into an area that provided a rush that bordered on the limits of what one can legally achieve. A few minutes into my ride an off camber root called me out as I came into one of the first hard switchbacks at mach speed. Everything turned out ok and I have a new appreciation for full face helmets as my teeth would have been the first thing to connect with the ground rather than my helmet. Got back up, found the bike and continued only sightly less determined to go for a fast time. I was happy to see everyone make it down in one piece with smiles on their faces. Several lovely ladies/volunteers made it off the mountain with photos of some fast lines and a few good crashes that only resulted in buried egos and nut sacks.

In the end we had a great time hanging in the woods for a day pushing the limits of what our bikes and bodies could handle. I think we all learned that it doesn't take as much time as you think to make it down Heartbreak Ridge and that everyone that participated has some skills as the times were amazing close.

We finished of the ride with some coldies at a little private party over at our headquarters Pisgah Brewing Company. Chris Craig hooked everyone on up with food and Suspension Experts took care of some peoples suspension needs and bought everyone a round. The Brew Crew brought some beats and Pisgah Works pimped some wears. It was truly a unique event and one that will most likely happen again next year since Valentines once again falls on a weekend. A big thanks goes out to all that came out to play and add to the good times.

The After-After Party was nothing short of more good times. With a keg of Pisgah Pale Ale and a wood fired hot tub in a remote area of Black Mountain how could you go wrong?

On Sunday the crew and I made our way to Kitsuma with our new friend Craig and got in one more good ride to top the weekend off. The trail felt pretty mellow after pushing the limits the day before but it was the perfect ride with my favorite crew of people.

Heartbreaker Pictures here.

Jut Rut