Gettin' Dirty

I recently picked up a new trail bike, a Gopro Hero 2 and been hitting the trails as often as possible. Which means I have also been hitting the dirt.

The Brew crew is at again in 2012. We are backing up our drinking skills with a lot more bike riding this year (I speak for myself). To kick things off, I hit the Icycle and I actually remember the entire evening with considerable clarity. I have learned the trick to this race is to wait till the race is over before the hard drinking begins.

Instead of drinking throughout the day I did a million or so practice runs and wanted to fall asleep by the time I finally got to my race runs. This was my first time ever riding anything with suspension at the event and it seemed that even the hardass class has stepped it up. After riding the Demo on the course all day the two practice runs on the rigid bike was horrifying. I did man up enough to win a pair of socks for risking my life on the rigid but my half ass pedaling job in the suspension class only got me to a mid pack expert finish. Maybe next year I won't stay out till 3 the night before a race.

Oh the Icycle.. great people, good beer and fun trails as always and my roommates didn't disappoint.

Whoever says beer, fireworks and DH bikes don't mix hasn't been to the Icycle.

I make videos now.



After the Icycle it was time to get ready for the big show. Which just meant it was destine to snow again since the heartbreaker has been snowed out for the past two years. However, it did manage to get up to 33 degrees the following weekend so it was just a week later than planed with a mixture of precipitation rather than just snow.

I once again became very aware that I have some badass friends when I pulled up to a dozen or so hardcores waiting in the rain to climb Heartbreak Ridge and then drop it as fast as they can. If the freezing rain didn't get on the way up the sleet storm at the top and already soaked clothes made for a decent on HB that I will not soon forget. Everyone made it to the bottom fairly intact and we learned that 23 minutes from field to field is the time to beat in horrible conditions.

I took some pics

So far it's a great start to the year as far as bicycles go. See you in the woods.

Jut Rut

It's back.

The Heartbreaker is on.

Feb. 12th. 19th,  9:30am at Andrew's Geyser.

It's going to be fun and that's all you really need to know.

Jut

Schedule of Events

Wow. The Nashville boys got in last night and we kicked Enduro Twenty 11 off right. I'm still a little hungover after partying till 2am. The Enduro is here, let the sleep deprivation begin..


Loose Schedule of events. Don’t hold me to it.


Saturday

10:00 – 11:00 DH Practice

11:00 - 11:30 DH Race

12:00 – 1:00 Fourcross Practice

1:00 – 2:00 Fourcross Race

2:30 – 3:30 XC Race



4:00 – 5:00 Lunch at Asheville Pizza Company (Coxe Ave)



5:00 – 5:30 Bunny Hop Contest and Beer @ Biowheels



8:00 - ? Party at the Crow’s Nest (105 Orchard Place Asheville)



Sunday

10:30 Bent Creek Community Park

Directions: Brevard Road, Right on Pole Creasman Road, Stay right at fork on Pole Creasman, Left on Idlewood Road, Park Entrance on left near the bottom of hill.

10:30 – 11:30 Pumptrack TT

11:30 – 12:00 Skinnies Comp

12:30 – 1:15 Short Track TT

1:30 – 2:30 Almost DH Race



3:30 – 4:30 Short Track DH Practice

4:30 – 5:00 Short Track DH Race

5:30 Awards and BBQ

5 Days and Counting...

Riders ready, watch the gate! Get ready boys and girls, this year is going to be one of the best enduros yet. My hands and back are in pain for all the trail work that took place this weekend, but my pain is your gain.. This year you will once again be tested and I hope will ask yourself wtf on a few times throughout the weekend. I would recommend bringing some suspension for a few of the stages this year. If you don't have it, don't worry, you will survive..

So, here is the plan:

Saturday: Meet at Alexander Mountain Bike Park for XC, Fourcross and DH events at 10:00 am. We'll start with XC so as to get the suffering over with first then move on to more gravity assisted events DH and Fourcross. There will be more events/festivities taking place later in the day and start times will be based on how long it takes to wrap up the first three events.

Saturday Night: 8 o'clock Party at the Crow's Nest. 105 Orchard Place Asheville NC 28801. DJ Big Hair will be rocking the beats and a late night Best Trick (on Rollers) will take place for points towards the overall ranking. Parking on the hill is limited so please park in the gravel lot at the corner of Cherokee and Orchard Road or better yet ride a bike! Hike up the hilll where you see the tiki torches and you're here.

Sunday: Meet at Bent Creek Neighborhood Park at 10:30. Pumptrack TT, Skinnies, Short Track TT and "Almost DH" race will take place. Sunday afternoon will feature Short Track DH at the Caldwell Compound with BBQ and after party.

That's the overview, you know the drill. Show up and ride your bike like a rockstar.

Questions: jutrut@gmail.com

It's just another Bomb Track.



Get ready for some bomb singletrack this year and some funky radical backyard tracks. 



The End-uro is coming, are you ready?

Enduro Twenty-11 is coming October 8th-9th. Take off work, tell your significant other you're going to be busy for two days and come ride you bike harder than you ever have. All you single speed party boys and girls, endurance or gravity freaks who like to ride bikes all day (and night) are welcome to test your skills at the Enduro where it takes fitness, skills and some rock star training to make the top 5 of this event.

As you may know by now the Enduro offers roughly ten different events that test the skills of various dirt riding disciplines and a few others. Your limits will be pushed and you will leave a better rider in more ways than one. Most events push you in one aspect of riding, the Enduro provides a testing ground for your mountain biking strengths and weaknesses that is unlike any other mountain bike event I am aware of. For those not comfortable confronting the weaknesses in your bike game then you can still come out and shine in one or two events and feel like your fast. But, you will not have the honor of holding the title of the Most Bad Ass Mountain Biker in the World or the MBAMBW.

Additional information on this years events will be found here in the two weeks leading up to the event but you know the drill by now. Show up, ride and have fun. If you want to know more about the Enduro, check out some previous blog post and you'll have a good idea of what is about to go down.


Jut Rut

Did this really happen?

It seems like it's been several months since it all went down. It took the past month to catch up and finally do a write up on all the festivities. I started a new job on the Monday following the Enduro weekend and have put the pedal to the floor in a completely different direction ever since. So let me now go back to the the week leading up to the Enduro and remember the good ole' (yet hot days) where all I did was shovel jumps, hang out with the crew and ride my bike all day. Enduro Twenty-Ten did indeed happen this year and once again a small band of cyclist hit some of the finest trails in Pisgah and backyards tracks in Asheville. People stepped it up left and right (hell yea shanna!), good times were had, kittens were saved, and we learned that amazing things are possible on rollers at 3 in the morning.

Once again words are hard to come by and how to you begin to describe what took place over the week leading up to and the three days that the enduro took place. Either you were there or you were not and if you weren't then at least we took a few pictures of few events. I think we got some pretty good shots and these are a collection of ones that I have pulled from various people. Too much time lapsed to remember who shot what but big thanks to the people behind the camera and Jeff and Brian, you guys are welcome back anytime.

The Brew Crew have a few more up our sleeve this year and details have already hit the internet about two of them. If you missed us at the Enduro maybe you can come tubing with us. Or if you are a real badass...

Thanks to out main sponsors Pisgah Brewing and to Industy Nine for helping to make the Enduro happen. Big thanks to Caldwell and Jeff M. for the use of your amazing tracks and to Pisgah Forest for just being you. To all the volunteers that helped in the lead up to and weekend off you rock. Love.

Jut Rut

One week till take off

The Enduro is almost here. The absence of a news updates is due to me staying busy on the bike and in the real world of work. However, if you have been to the Enduro you know how it works.

Show up, have fun..

This is not some official race. It started as a way to celebrate my birthday with friends from all over the southeast and I figured if I put together an event they may have more reason to come and ride trails and DRINK BEER!

Well it's happening and if you're in the loop then you may already know what several of the events are and where they will take place. However, if my busy schedule has kept us from hooking up lately to shoot the shit then this is what you need to do.

SEND ME AN EMAIL! jutrut@gmail.com

Once I have your email I will send you the schedule and let you know what to do. In the spirit of keeping this celebration out of the public eye we are asking that you contact me to share your interest and get unofficially signed up. We have limited time and volunteers to handle each event so as in years past we limit each event to 25 people.

Participants from Enduro De Ocho and Enduro Nueve and ALL Women will receive automatic entry! After that if there is room then you're in and on the roster.

Again, SEND ME AN EMAIL! This is the only way you will know times and locations. Or you can give me a call if you have my number or know someone who does.

That's all for now. It's on and it's going to be rad!

Jut Rut

Enduro Twenty Ten

It's coming June 12th and 13th.

Take off work, tell your significant other you're going to be busy for two days and come ride you bike harder than you ever have. This may not be the Pisgah 36, Beech Triple Crown, Pisgah Stage Race or the upcoming Pisgah Badass but I would bet that if any of the participants of those races come to the Enduro to test their skills they will learn a thing or two about riding bikes (Sam Kerber is an exception here). All you single speed party boys, endurance or gravity freaks who like to ride bikes all day (and night) are welcome to test your skills at the Enduro where it takes fitness, skills and some rock star training to make the top 5 of this event.

As you may know by now the Enduro offers roughly ten different events that test the skills of various dirt riding disciplines and a few others. Your limits will be pushed and you will leave a better rider in more ways than one. Most events push you in one aspect of riding, the Enduro provides a testing ground for your mountain biking strengths and weaknesses that is unlike any other mountain bike event I am aware of. For those not comfortable confronting your weaknesses in your bike game then you can still come out and shine in one or two events and feel like your fast. But you will not have the honor of holding the title of the Most Bad Ass Mountain Biker in the World or the MBAMBW.

I have some killer prizes this year, a few new tricks up my sleeve and have already begun planning the stages and after party so get ready cause you ain't seen nothing yet.

Jut Rut

A Greener Way..

With an intimate knowledge of the streets and the green properties in the downtown area it would only be fitting that I pull together my real estate background, passion for Green Building and experience on a bicycle and host a unique event that involves bikes, green building and good beer..

Press Release..

WNC Green Building Council presents the Many Shades of Green Property Tour

Take a bike ride through Asheville’s core neighborhoods and learn more about green building during the Many Shades of Green Property Tour on April 10th. This year, the WNC Green Building Council will offer a cycling option for the annual green property tour. The tour will include a variety of green properties and provide participants information on bicycle routes and alternative transportation options in Asheville.

Avid cyclist, Justin Mitchell with Ecohouse / Dwell Realty, will lead a tour of seven properties ranging from a commercial green rehab to the first passive hempcrete home built in the country. Green building professionals will be available at select properties to answer questions and provide information about green features and construction methods.

The tour will originate at Biowheels Bike Shop and visit properties in the Downtown, North and West Asheville areas. The ride will be approximately ten miles in total distance and due to the hilly nature of the Asheville landscape a moderate fitness level is suggested and helmets are required.

Time: 12:00 – 5:00
Cost: Free
Start: Biowheels: 81 Coxe Ave. Presentation at 12:00. Ride begins at 12:30.
Finish: Biowheels: 81 Coxe Ave. 5:00

Reception to follow at Biowheels with refreshments & light appetizers.

For general information or to register for the tour visit www.wncgbc.org.

For specific questions pertaining to the bike tour contact Justin Mitchell with Ecohouse / Dwell Realty at Justin@justinasheville.com or 828.713.9400.

Here are a few of the homes that will be featured on this years bike tour.

The Nauhaus - "Prototype House Becomes First Passive “Hemcrete” Home in the World. The material, called Tradical Hemcrete, is made from waste hemp shiv and a lime-based binder. Designers from NHI have opted to pursue Passive House Certification which would make the house not only one of the first ten certified in the US but also the first Passive House hemp home in the world."

The 1st LEED cert. home in AVL! Truly innovative Healthy-Built home featuring steel and SIP construction. Modern style incorporates passive solar design for serious energy efficiency/money savings. Solar panel awnings shade interior & produce hot water. All appliances included (Energy Star), Icynene, no VOC paints, rainwater harvesting & more.

Cool green built, west-coast style courtyard cottage community in walkable West Asheville. Cottages surround a central patio & are HealthyBuilt Silver and Energy Star. Green features include solar panels, radiant heated floors.

Trend setting, Healthy Home built, affordable downtown residence- views of the river. Prewired for Solar PV or water heating, bamboo floors, gas fireplace, back deck front patio, urban infill at its best. The first of 6 contemporary healthy built Urban "dwellings" in Chicken Hill

The Springtime Cottage. One of the more efficient homes built in Asheville. EcoPanels SIPS construction all but eliminates thermal breaks. Thermosiphon solar H2O, passive design, energy monitor, ERV. Concrete countertops, custom cabinets. One of best blower door tests in history of NC. Projected to use just over 25% energy of code built home of the same size.

So as you can see this ride should be informative and fun. Since I am a sponsored bike racer with Pisgah Brewing Company you know there will be some good beer and the post ride gathering at Biowheels should offer some good food as well. Come and meet new people and learn something new as well. Hope to see you on April 10th. Visit http://www.wncgbc.org/ to register for the tour.

Justin Mitchell

Ecohouse / Dwell Realty

828.713.9400

Venue change and race schedule

Well, here is the latest...


A call from the promoter at 11:00pm the night before the event to announce the bike porn film festival is on at a new venue. Gotta love it when you're living on the edge..


The film will now be shown at


108 Montana Ave, Asheville 28806. The film starts at 9:30. I have been asked to mention to please ride a bike, parking is limited..

There still does not seem to be enough interest in the alleycat race to involve more volunteers than participants so I am going to hit the woods. I'll be at the clearing on top of Heartbreak Ridge at 2:00 tomorrow (Saturday 3/27) for the most impromptu Heartbreaker Race this area has ever witnessed or not.


Sorry for the late notice, it's been a weird couple of hours...

Justin and crew.

Get Sexy on Saturday

We'll be riding bikes around town on Saturday, come join us. I am helping with the alleycat race. Whatever happens after that is anybody's guess. The race will hit some hotspots in the Westside and Downtown area. Of course there will be beer and some good party people.

Bluelight Special Alleycat Race: Start 5:30 West Asheville Kmart on Patton Ave

Bike Porn Film Festival: Doors Open 9:00 / Show at 10 594 Emma Road.

See you there.

Jut Rut

No Heartbreaker got you down.. Well it's time to get up..

More snow fell yesterday in Asheville. We picked up several inches in town which probably means there is a new foot or two in the higher elevations. The decision to postpone the Heartbreaker Super, Super D once again has me looking for the next thing to get excited about and maybe you're thinking the same thing.

Well, look no further, the Bike Porn Film Festival is coming to Asheville and the Brew Crew are all about it. There is even going to be an Alleycat Race to kick things off.

We have all heard the stories about what negative effects cycling can have on your bedroom workouts. So we need to counteract those possible let downs with something to get you going.

After giving bikes and porn some thought I have come to the realization that riding bikes is a lot like S&M. Race promoters, jump builders and even your best friend often find great pleasure in making you suffer on a bicycle, damn Sadist. As bike addicts, we sign up for events like Double Dare, we feel compelled to chase down our friends when we feel like we are going to die, or push our limits on a new gap jump knowing we might end up in the Hospital. We know it’s going to hurt but we do it for pleasure that comes once the pain is gone, how masochist is that..

Well don’t expect too much pain from this alleycat (it’s all about pleasure really) but we are going to get crazy sexy for this one. Spring will hopefully be here soon and with it comes a deep instinctual desire to get down so here’s your chance to let it all hang out if you want.

The Bluelight Alleycat / poker run will kick off the Bike Porn Film Festival. The ride / race will start and end at the Kmart parking lot in West Asheville (the Bike Porn Film Fest takes place a block up the street at 9:00). The course will require you hit five checkpoints around West Asheville and Downtown, each checkpoint will provide some naughty good times. Various prizes will be awarded for fastest time, best dressed (male and female) and best poker hand for those that hit all five stops.

Bring five bucks, a bike, a helmet and an open mind. (we encourage you to practice safe riding and safe sex).

You will get a map with the checkpoints listed at the start of the event. Various checkpoints will provide you the opportunity to quench your thirst. Since this is a kick off to the bike porn event so dress appropriately (naughty).

Sponsored by the Pisgah Brew Crew, Pisgah Works and all those who like to get dirty.

The event details are here on Facebook. Try to let us know if you plan to show so we can plan appropriately.

As for the event to follow.. The Bike Porn Film Fest, will take place right up the street from the Kmart parking lot. It's five bucks, BYOB, and will offer a film, various performances, and a DJ dance party, woot woot. The event details for the film fest are simple.

Location: The Mothership 594 Emma Road.

Time: Door opens at 9 pm. Film at 10 pm.

Cost for the film and party: 5 bucks if you ride a bike, 7 bucks if you drive.

18 and over only.

More information about the film and tour can be found here. (May not be safe for work)

That's it for now..

Jut Rut

Hang up the bike and go Snowboarding..

Conditions suck for riding a bike above 5,000 ft. So the Heartbreaker is rescheduled for 2/28/2010. Same time, same trail, hopefully with less snow. Every bike addicted fool I know is bitching about the weather, and I am one of them..




Rather then bitch anymore. I took advantage of the horrible mountain biking conditions and rode a mountain in a way that made me happy it was winter in NC. Thanks Beech Mountain and Mother Nature for the best boarding conditions I have ever seen in Western NC. There will be plenty of time to ride this mountain on a bike later this year.

See you fools at the Heartbreaker on the 28th, I'll be carving turns on the slopes till then..

Jut Rut

Will you be Heartbroken on Valentines?

As of right now the Heartbreaker is in jeopardy of being rescheduled.. A week and a half ago myself and a crew of 8 checked it out and was stoked to find that the trail was in the best shape I have ever ridden it. That was of course the day before mother nature dumped another couple of inches of the snow on it, temps dropped and I am sure the snow and ice of the past weekend have dealt another blow to the superb conditions we experienced. Now I am not pulling the plug just yet but I do plan on checking it out this week and making a call by Friday night. The 10 day outlook looks ok but it doesn't look as though the temps are going to be melting too much snow in the higher elevations this week. Rather than shorten the course I would want to reschedule the race. The Heartbreaker is about feeling some pain both on the way up and the way down and to only race 3 miles or so just wouldn't be heartbreaking enough for a Jut Rut / Crow's Nest Production.

So hold tight. More news coming Friday..

Jut Rut

Hearbreaker count down..

18 days and counting. Conditions are perfect on Heartbreak right now but there is more snow on the way.. However, we have a band and we have beer. See you there, snow or shine.

Jut Rut

Love is in the air. A love of bikes that is..

The Heartbreaker will soon be here. Hope some of the snow and ice melts up top or else this years race will provide some very interesting race conditions. For the most part the details are on the poster. Check back for updates but know that the race will happen unless some very harsh weather conditions keep us from being able to make it to the trail head or the freeze thaw cycle makes the trail conditions so horrible that we would cause permanent damage. The party will happen regardless and we are working on a getting a band that will rock as hard as the top section Heartbreak Ridge. Thanks to BradO for the awesome poster. See you boys and girls soon!

Jut

Holidaze and the Blitz-ard of 2009

Happy New Year from the Brew Crew! The Holidays were a nice wrap up to 2009. Good friends, great beers, fun times on bikes and a fun event to finish it off. Below are some pictures from the week before Christmas and the Holidaze Alleycat race. As you can tell we had fun.

As we all head into 2010 together look for more of the same from the Crew. Pisgah Brewing Company will once again support us in our efforts to provide Asheville with our unique style of bike racing events. In 2010 look for the upcoming bike movie nights at the Brewery, Heartbreaker, Enduro, and a springtime reggae themed alleycat coming your way.

We made some good friends and had some good times in 2009. Thanks to everyone who attended our events and or helped out by volunteering and making some good stuff happen.

See you on the trail in 2010,

The Brew Crew