Here are the races Team Kayak Lake Mead is fired up for for 2010...our
race calendar
<http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/adventure-race-team-kayak-lak\
e-mead.html>  .

Here are the races that are happening on the West Coast...all the races
calendar
<http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/adventure-race-team-kayak-lak\
e-mead.html>  .

And here is what we got going on for YOU...Desert Winds Adventure Series
<http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/index.html>  .

Note on our Desert Winds Classic 24 Hour...every year has been a
completely different challenge. This year, NO mtbiking, BIG adventure
swimming/coasteering, BIG kayak section, WILD trekking, see you there
<http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/desert-winds.html>  .

Note on our Expedition Race...it will be unforgetable, I promise
<http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/index.html>  .

Robert Finlay, Desert Winds & Kayak Lake Mead

ps: did you vote for the DNF demon
<http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/how-to-prepare.html>  ?



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey gang-

Jim is selling his SUPER FAST surf ski... holiday gift anyone?!?
Please email him (not me) if interested at jimmyboy3@...

*It's a Hayden Surfski. Great shape 19' 6" long $900. Paid $2500 for it .*
*Thanks*
*Jim*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Great news for Adventure Racers in Texas and Colorado.   AR Navigation
Supplies products are now available from MapsCo stores.  This includes
the Basic Roamer AR both US and Metric versions, the Rotating Mountain
Bike Map Holder, the Waterproof Pedometer and the new Table Top
Adventure Race and Navigation Challenge book.

MapsCo has stores in Addison TX, Austin TX, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Fort
Worth TX and San Antonio TX.   A list of all MapsCo store addresses
and contact information can be found here:  http://www.mapsco.com/stores.aspx

Please support MapsCo as they help us bring the tools for adventure
racing to their stores and the local racing community.

MapsCo can be contacted at 1-800-781-4MAP or at www.mapsco.com

Mark Manning
www.ARNavSupplies.com

Kick off your spring training in Mexico with warm weather, culture,
adventure, training, and fun. Frontier Adventure Sports and Esprit
Whitewater offer two week-long, all-inclusive adventure sports training
camps this March in the coastal mountains near Veracruz, Mexico.

The Jalcomulco AR Training Camp (March 6-13)
<http://www.camp-frontier.com/>   is a week of training and
certifications in everything for adventure racing – biking,
trekking, navigation, ropes, paddling, nutrition, teamwork and more.
We'll discover the charms and culture of the idyllic village of
Jalcomulco. Plus, an 8 hour race to cap off a week of training in
canyons, whitewater rivers, plateaus and mango plantations.

The Pico2Playa Expedition Training Week (March 13-20)
<http://www.camp-frontier.com/>   simulates an expedition race
experience, as participants trek, mountain bike, paddle, swim, hike
canyons, and learn ropes skills, from 4300m elevation on Pico Orizaba
through remote, wild terrain to the beaches of Veracruz. Nightly stops
at camps and haciendas allow us to experience local culture, food, and
history.

Instructors have included internationally competitive adventure racers,
trainers and course designers Bob Miller (Team Supplierpipeline) and
Lawrence Foster (Team Holofibre), top female racer Trish Westman, Race
Director Geoff Langford (Raid the North Extreme), and Esprit's
highly skilled ropes, paddling and first aid instructors.

Visit www.camp-frontier.com <http://www.camp-frontier.com>  for details,
event dossiers and registration. Act fast – we're limited to 16
participants/week.

Check out our Facebook group
<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2252064929>  for alumni
experiences, photos and video.

Hope you can join us!
Geoff Langford


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

First, we'd like to once again congratulate those who came out and competed at
the Gold Rush Mother Lode expedition race.  It was our first foray into
directing a multi-day race, it went very well, and it we will do it again
sometime.
 
We have some changes for 2010.  First we will be moving the Gold Rush 24 Hour
Adventure Challenge from our traditional November date to August 28-29, with
check-in on Friday the 27th.  This is three weeks before the Desert Winds
Expedition Race, making it a perfect tune-up for that event.
 
The Gold Rush Summer Challenge is moved up to June 5th.  It will be similar to
past years. It is always tough to win but not to difficult for less experienced
teams to finish. This year we plan to place more focus on introducing new people
to Adventure Racing at the Summer Challenge.
 
Both the Gold Rush 24 Hour Adventure Challenge and the Gold Rush Summer
Challenge will be part of the Checkpoint Tracker points series in 2010.
 
Please put these dates on your race calendars.














Mark Richardson
Gold Rush Adventure Races
Oakdale, CA
209-847-7375 Home
209-985-7375 Mobile

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey AR Racers,

Here's a calendar showing all (maybe?) AR's on the West Coast;
http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/calendar-of-all-west-coast-adv\
enture-races.html
<http://www.desertwindsadventureseries.com/calendar-of-all-west-coast-ad\
venture-races.html> . If you know of another race or series that should
be on there; let us know or let that race director know.

A few folks have told us that they've just recently read the "concepts
page" on our Expedition Race site,
http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/concept.html
<http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/concept.html> . If you haven't
read it, maybe do so and let us know what you think.

see ya racing!

Robert Finlay
www.KayakLakeMead.com <http://www.KayakLakeMead.com>
www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com
<http://www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com>
www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com
<http://www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com>
928.767.3061

Our YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead <http://www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I bought a new bike and replaced my hydraulics with the BB7 mechanical and
was more than happy with them. Reason my previous bike had hydraulics and I
lost my front brake once (from the reservoir screw having a crack) and back
brake (from my hose getting ripped out during a crash), also I did the the
adventure race in Hidalgo awhile back and something happened in transit and
I had to bike with rubbing brakes (fixed when I got home and bleed the
lines).  So, for racing I would def be more comfortable with mechanical.
But hey my new bike has hydraulics and I am okay with it, as I am not really
racing much anymore, but if I started back I would change them for sure.

Just my two 1/2 cents

Cheers
Devlin

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM, toddwebb1 <adventuretodd@...> wrote:

>
>
> I am buying brakes for my new AR bike, looking for a little advice from
> some AR racers.
>
> It seems like most of the disc brakes on the market are hydraulic, is what
> came on my last bike, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with the fact
> that minor damage to a brake line could cause brake failure - espcially in
> AR, when you could be miles from nowhere.
>
> I looked into having at least the rear disc be mechanical, but after a
> little more research I am thinking of going mechanical altogether. I was
> comparing the Avid Elixir hydraulic and the Avid BB7 mechanical brakes, and
> reading in several forums, mtbr.com, cyclingforum.com etc.
>
> Seems that everyone agrees that the modulation ("feel") of hydraulic is
> better, and that the stopping power is better. But most of the users of the
> BB7 said they like the "feel" just fine, and they can lock up their wheels
> in just about any riding conditions, so the extra power of hydraulics is
> overkill. Both types of brakes "fade" when heated on extended downhills, but
> the hydraulics take longer to cool down and more than one rider reported
> fluid leakage when their hydraulics overheated and subsequent brake
> problems.
>
> Plus the hydraulics require a special brake lever, are harder to maintain,
> AND are more expensive.
>
> So why on earth would I choose hydraulic over mechanical unless I am 250lbs
> doing bomber downhill stuff? What am I missing here?
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am buying brakes for my new AR bike, looking for a little advice from some AR
racers.

It seems like most of the disc brakes on the market are hydraulic, is what came
on my last bike, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with the fact that minor
damage to a brake line could cause brake failure - espcially in AR, when you
could be miles from nowhere.

I looked into having at least the rear disc be mechanical, but after a little
more research I am thinking of going mechanical altogether.  I was comparing the
Avid Elixir hydraulic and the Avid BB7 mechanical brakes, and reading in several
forums, mtbr.com, cyclingforum.com etc.

Seems that everyone agrees that the modulation ("feel") of hydraulic is better,
and that the stopping power is better.  But most of the users of the BB7 said
they like the "feel" just fine, and they can lock up their wheels in just about
any riding conditions, so the extra power of hydraulics is overkill.  Both types
of brakes "fade" when heated on extended downhills, but the hydraulics take
longer to cool down and more than one rider reported fluid leakage when their
hydraulics overheated and subsequent brake problems.

Plus the hydraulics require a special brake lever, are harder to maintain, AND
are more expensive.

So why on earth would I choose hydraulic over mechanical unless I am 250lbs
doing bomber downhill stuff?  What am I missing here?

Thanks Glenn,

My apologies to all

It seems with all the work we have into our site over the last few months we
forgot perhaps one of the most important items..race date.

The dates are July 09-19 with registration taking place on the 08 of July.

We have added it several places on our site, thanks for noticing and pointing it
out. We had it all posted on our J2 Site but somehow it got overlooked on the
new one.

If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

www.bestofthewestrace.ca

Jay Arns
J2 Adventures

Hi folks-

Unfortunately I signed up but can't make this race... anyone interested in
the SOLD OUT event entry?
Amazingly beautiful central coast Santa Barbara area! Run off that
Thanksgiving dinner. :)

Please email me directly: jlklafin@...
Cheers! Jen


Santa Barbara Red Rock 40 Mile Endurance Run Update 11/16/09
Friends, This run is going to be challenging. Please read and understand the
following information. Contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Luis@... Come prepared for a great ultra
experience. As always, I look forward to running with you. Luis

RACE DAY: Saturday, November 28

LOCATION: Red Rock Day Use Area, end of Paradise Road, Santa Barbara
California

DIRECTIONS: Here are directions to the Paradise Store in Santa Barbara. The
Red Rock Day Use Area (run start /finish) is located at the very end of
Paradise Road - about 11 miles from the Paradise Store.

RUNNER CHECK IN: 5:00 A.M.

START TIME: 6:00 A.M.  it will be very dark

ADVENTURE PASS: Every vehicle parked in the Los Padres National Forest must
display a current Adventure Pass. You can purchase a pass at any Ranger
Station, Big 5 or other sporting goods stores. Buy your pass prior to coming
to the run - you will not be able to purchase a pass on race day.

CAMPING: We have reservations for the Paradise Campground on Friday and
Saturday night. Site number 5. You are welcome to join me there. Bring a
tent or sleep in your car. The site is paid but you may have to pay $5 to
park your car. Please contact me if you plan to camp.  Directions to the
camp ground:  Take Hwy 154 approximately 9 miles from Santa Barbara to
Paradise Road. Turn right. Follow road to campground. Entrance is on the
right side
of road
CUT OFF TIMES: Romero Canyon ( 20 miles) 1:00 p.m. Camino Cielo (28 miles)
4:00 p.m. These cut off times will be strictly enforced - sorry - but
everyone needs to be off the course by 9:00 p.m. as instructed by the
Forestry Department.

FLASHLIGHTS AND WATER: All runners must carry a working flashlight at all
times. All runners must be able to carry at least 60oz of liquid at all
times.

AID: Gibraltar Mine Mile 6 and 34 - water only / Camino Cielo Road Mile 12
and 28 - full aid / San Ysidro Mile 16 and 24 - water only / Romero Canyon
Mile 20 - full aid, ?Coyote Style?.
SUCCEED! Ultra and SCAPS! At Camino Cielo and Romero Canyon only. There will
be NO GU or replacement gels provided at any aid stations.

DROP BAGS: Drop bags are not necessary - however- we will transport your
bags to Romero Canyon and Camino Cielo locations only. Bags may be returned
at our volunteers convenience. Your bags will not be mailed to you after the
run. Do not place anything of value in your drop bag. You may not be seeing
that bag again.

DNF: did not finish - if you are unable to complete the entire 40 mile
course it is your responsibility to check out with an aid station caption.
Camino Cielo Bill Rupp. Romero Canyon Chris Scott. You will not be able to
drop at Gibraltar Mine or San Ysidro because there is not vehicle access. A
DNF shuttle vehicle will depart Romero approximately 1:00 p.m. and Camino
cielo approximately 4:00 p.m. No other shuttles are scheduled at this time.

RESULTS: Results will be posted at www.allwedoisrun.com and sent to Ultra
Running Magazine. Results will be list for all 40 mile finishers. There will
be no record or results listed for less than 40 miles. No 20 mile results.

FINISHERS MEDALS: Handcrafted original akabill Hawaiian Kukini amulet for
all 40 miles finishers.

AWARDS: One pair of Montrails to the first over all male and female. One
pair of Montrails to the first over 50 male and female. One pair Dirty Girl
Gaiters for top 12 finishers (excluding shoes winners)

DNS: did not start - I assume that everyone on the entrances list plans to
start the run. Please contact me now if you will not be there. At this
point, your entry fees have been spent and I have nothing to refund - but I
would appreciate knowing your status.

PATSY DORSEY: The Santa Barbara 9 Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run was founded
by Patsy Dorsey in 1990. Patsy created this event for all of us to enjoy.
Now Patsy needs our help. Please go to www.allwedoisrun.com and read the
information about Patsy. We appreciate your assistance.

FINALLY: please be on time - be ready for a long day - respect the trails -
respect the volunteers - run smart - run gently - run happy - see you soon.
Luis


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey Jay,

Website looks great.  what is the date of your race?

Glenn




________________________________
From: Jay <j2_adventures@...>
To: scarabs@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, November 16, 2009 11:31:33 PM
Subject: [SCARAB] Best of the West 2010

 
Hello fellow adventure racers.
We have just launched our new website dedicated to Best of the West Expedition
Adventure Race and have posted most of the relevant information for the 2010
Edition of the Race.
We are excited at J2 to make some significant changes to Best of the West from
our last season based on feedback from racers. Aside from our new website,we
have extended the event to a 10 day competition, we have made it an unsupported
race (no support crews).
We will be maintaining our prize structure with a $10 000.00 first place prize
purse $5 000.00 second and so on.
The race course will be awe inspiring and will display some great Canadian Rocky
Mountain terrain.

Registration opened on November 15 with an early bird incentive.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We would
appreciate and welcome any feedback on our site, the race etc.

Check us out at www.bestofthewestra ce.ca

Hope to see you all out at the race
Jay Arns
J2 Adventures




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It's time for our annual event.  It's free of charge.  Come out and test out
your skills.  The date is Dec 12.  As usual it will take anywhere from 4 to 8
hours to finish with bail out points along the way.  There will be
treking/running, mountain biking, orienteering, climbing and rappeling. and
kayaking.  This is a low key event.  You can look at fearexposed.com for past
updates and past events.  Let us know if you will be coming

CONGRATULATIONS!!! to our good friends Antonio Rosquillas, Alex Reyes and Luis
Reyes who according to the latest SPot transmission today Sunday November 15
2009, have successfully summit El Picacho del Diablo through the East face of
the peak.
Wishing them safe descent and a soon return home,
Congratulations my friends!!!

Jose Bautista

Latitude:30.99267
Longitude:-115.37511
GPS location Date/Time:11/15/2009 13:42:43 PST

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.99267,-115.37511&ll=30.99267\
,-115.37511&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Prueba de Verificacion. Todo esta bien!
SPOT Check OK.


From: Jose Bautista <josebautistamb@...>

To: scarabs@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, November 13, 2009 11:10:01 AM
Subject: [SCARAB] Baja Travesia's Antonio Rosquillas On the East face of Picacho
Del Diablo


Hi everyone,
   Our good friend Antonio Rosquillas, Baja Travesia’s Adventure Race creator
and director, along with Alex Reyes from Team Baja and Luis Reyes are trying to
summit Picacho Del Diablo (Devil’s Peak), Baja’s highest peak (10’157
feet), through the treacherous East face cliff of the mountain.  Usually the
peak is approached via the West approach and less often following the Eastern
approach, but always getting to the summit via the peak’s West face.  No one
has ever tried to summit through the East face because of extreme technical
difficulties.  Despite the rough terrain, they are making a quick ascent.
You can follow their progress at:
http://share. findmespot. com/shared/ faces/viewspots. jsp?glId=
0NmdfgN1xvQZxb58 FcmHOpyYsZDnU9I8 c
More info in Antonio's blog (Spanish):
http://bajaindomita .blogspot. com/

Best wishes for a successful summit, safe descent and a soon return home,
Jose Bautista

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey gang-

California Adventure Racing Association, Big Blue Adventures and
baarbd.orgare excited to join the SF Bike Expo this Saturday, November
21 at Cow
Palace. Our booth will feature the best of AR and lure those already
into cycling to our wonderful world of multi-discipline bliss. Tickets are
only $8 advance, $10 at the door and you'll be entertained all day!

http://sfbikeexpo.com/

We would love to see you there... its a fun ride from San
Francisco, mid-Peninsula, Bart and CalTrail. Also, we'd be grateful for any
volunteers to help us man the booth throughout the day to give us some
breaks to see the shows ourselves.

"Roll On"
Jen


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello fellow adventure racers.
We have just launched our new website dedicated to Best of the West Expedition
Adventure Race and have posted most of the relevant information for the 2010
Edition of the Race.
We are excited at J2 to make some significant changes to Best of the West from
our last season based on feedback from racers. Aside from our new website,we
have extended the event to a 10 day competition, we have made it an unsupported
race (no support crews).
We will be maintaining our prize structure with a $10 000.00 first place prize
purse $5 000.00 second and so on.
The race course will be awe inspiring and will display some great Canadian Rocky
Mountain terrain.

Registration opened on November 15 with an early bird incentive.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We would
appreciate and welcome any feedback on our site, the race etc.

Check us out at www.bestofthewestrace.ca

Hope to see you all out at the race
Jay Arns
J2 Adventures

Phoenix:
11/21 -  The Mad Mud Run returns to MacDonalds Ranch. Solo's, 2 person and 5
person teams will
run through 4 milesof bootcamp style obstacles and finish by crawling
through the mudpit.If you didn't see the pics from last year, check
them out HERE.
Registration is still open through Wednesday, and we've just finished
up work on a brand new climbing wall and cargo net obstacle.

Volunteers: Earn a $55 credit toward a future event like the Desert Rage
Adventure Race or Scavenger Dash, or a $15 gift certificate to a local store! 
We take care of our volunteers one way or another. Email us if interested by
Wednesday at Info@....  We need your help from 7am-11am on
Saturday.

12-5 Desert Rage Adventure Race returns to Saguaro Lake and we'll begin this one
with an hour in the
dark!  Nothing challenges the senses quite like racing in the dark.
Bring your headlamps.  You'll Mountain Bike, Kayak, and Trek all day as
the course unfolds.  We'll wrap it up with food and drinks for you to
refuel.  All the details HERE.  Sign up by this Saturday 11/21 for early
registration discount pricing.


Scavenger Dash Phoenix on 2/6/2010 at Alice Cooperstown.

Get ready for the Scavenger Dash! The
Scavenger Dash is a wildly fun urban adventure in which teams of two
solve twelve clues, visit checkpoints, and complete fun challenges
while discovering the city in a different way.  Like the Amazing Race
on a local level, where anyone can participate.

San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Tampa, Seattle - The Scavenger
Dash is coming for you next!
You can find info on all of these and more at www.SierraAdventureSports.com

Thanks to our sponsors who make it happen:
REI
Dr. Hoys
Friction Freedom
Hammer Nutrition
Zanfel
Racelab
BootcampChicks.com
Grand Canyon State Games
Road ID
Arizona Adventure Racing Buddies
SCARABS
Sierra Adventure Sports
MacDonalds Ranch
SWEAT Magazine
Badger Body Care
Gear trailers that you can pull with a Civic

Please forward this email to someone you know who is also interested in
ridiculously fun sports.
See you outside.
Rick Eastman




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tommy and Michelle Kelly, of Team Red Energy, have created a new Arizona based
adventure racing series to provide races between 12 and 24 hours long where
competitors will test both their physical and mental conditioning on beautiful,
challenging courses.

Announcing the first race of 2010, the Apache Lake 18 Hour race on January 23,
2010. Permitting is in process and race planning is underway. Our goal is to
provide a race course that provides a proper adventure whether you're fighting
for first place, or just trying to get to the finish line. An Adventure Race
that emphasizes 'Adventure".

We will be offering both long and short courses with the short courses still
hitting the the heart of the long course race.

These races are designed to challenge both novice racers as well seasoned pros.
Throughout our races, you'll kayak, mountain bike, trek, run, canyoneer, rappel,
coasteer, and of course orienteer.

Check us out at www.teamredenergy.com or on Facebook at the fan page Red Energy
Adventure Series.

Hi everyone,
  Our good friend Antonio Rosquillas, Baja Travesia’s Adventure Race creator
and director, along with Alex Reyes from Team Baja and Luis Reyes are trying to
summit Picacho Del Diablo (Devil’s Peak), Baja’s highest peak (10’157
feet), through the treacherous East face cliff of the mountain.  Usually the
peak is approached via the West approach and less often following the Eastern
approach, but always getting to the summit via the peak’s West face.  No one
has ever tried to summit through the East face because of extreme technical
difficulties.  Despite the rough terrain, they are making a quick ascent.
You can follow their progress at:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0NmdfgN1xvQZxb58FcmH\
OpyYsZDnU9I8c
More info in Antonio's blog (Spanish):
http://bajaindomita.blogspot.com/
 
Best wishes for a successful summit, safe descent and a soon return home,
Jose Bautista




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Any of you racing the 12 hrs of Temecula MT Bike Race?

  Headed out to pre-ride and set up for the race tomorrow.

Pete
619.726.5980


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

adventure racers,

It was an interesting race. It was fun!

It started off on Thursday November 5 with the first maybe 60 or 70
miles as a pretty standard race course. Each team just trying to do
their best; some paddling, some portaging, some mtbiking (with some
fairly big hills). Then throughout Thursday night, all day Friday, all
day Saturday, all the way until 5 AM on Sunday - there were so many
options presented that each team basically designed their own race
course.

It was a big area, with lots of options, and with lots of adventure. For
about 50 to 60 hours each team was just doing their own thing in the
mountains of the Sierra Nevada with no idea how well they were doing and
no idea how well other teams were doing. This required of a team
forbearance, determination, and resolve to stay the course and yet adapt
as need be.

Finally on Sunday morning at 5 AM, the teams were allowed to start the
last leg, a 25 mile paddle that included at about its halfway point a
small overland O-course. This format for the final day put "the race"
back into the race and made it a lot of fun. The teams were shoulder to
shoulder again for the final adrenaline packed 10 or so hours of racing.

My compliments to the Gold Rush Team for such a fine race course, see
www.goldrushar.com <http://www.goldrushar.com> .

and we'll see ya racing,

Robert Finlay
www.KayakLakeMead.com <http://www.KayakLakeMead.com>
www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com
<http://www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com>
www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com
<http://www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com>
928.767.3061

Our YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead <http://www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead>







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

it is in a few ways,  adventure and even racing-

Warren Miller's Dynasty
Hosted by Jordan Romero
December 2, 2009
7:00 p.m. Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
Big Bear Performing Arts Center

Join us for a breathtaking global tour that will get you ready for winter,
craving snow and wishing you were out there riding!

for more details and a look at the trailer-
www.jordanromero.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am building a mountain XC racing bike from scratch, trying to collect used
racing parts to make it a little more affordable.  Here's what I am looking for:

Fox Sid team, F100, F120, or similar fork
Thompson or similar carbon seat post
Crank Bros Egg Beater or Candy Triple Ti/ 4 Ti pedals
Easton Monkey Lite carbon handle bar
XTR front/rear derailleurs & shifters or SRAM X.0 or X9
Wheelset
WTb V Stealth or Silverado seat
XTR/SRAM/AVid disc brake
XTR or Race Face crank

Anyone who has those extra parts that aren't being used - let me know.  I have
lots of things to trade, or cash for the right price.

Thanks!

Todd
San Diego

*I know this is off topic, but I just had to post it.  As a former Marine
and an American...  *
*I owe it to myself, Country and Corps to pass it forward. *
**
*Please forgive me for posting it.  ~Pete*


*Happy Marine Corps Birthday (Yesterday) and Veteran's Day to all of you!  *
**
*Please Remember Darrell "Shifty" Powers
*
*Thank you Shifty! ~Pete*



  *We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.*

*I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.*




*Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy *

*Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st *

*Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the *

*History Channel , you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 *

*Episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.*

*I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't *

*Know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble
reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right
gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of the 101st Airborne,
on his hat.*



*Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if
his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I
thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many
jumps he made.*



*Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and
was in until sometime in 1945 .. . . " at which point my heart skipped.*



*At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training *

*Jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into  Normandy . . . . Do you know
where  Normandy is?"
At this point my heart stopped.*



*I told him "yes, I know exactly where  Normandy is, and I know what D-Day
was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into  Holland , into
  Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . *

*And then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of *

*D-Day..*

* *

*I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from  France , and he said "Yes.
And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are left, and
those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat
and I didn't know what to say.*

* *

*I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach
while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and
said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out
of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in
coach.*

* *

*He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are *

*Still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to make an
old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are
brimming up now as I write this.*

* *

*Shifty died on June 17, 2009 after fighting cancer.*



**

*
  *

*There was no parade.*

*No big event in  Staples  Center .*

*No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.*

*No weeping fans on television.*

*And that's not right.*

* *

*Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way.
Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.*

*Rest in peace, Shifty.*

*Chuck Yeager, MajGen. [ret.]*


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If anyone ever needs to borrow a kayak to race with locally, feel free to
contact me. I know times are tough lately and some races will charge you up to a
100 bucks for a kayak.

Jasmine
858-602-8429

Let's talk about expediton adventure racing in general or in the
Southwest specifically.

We've put a chat room page up on the Desert Winds Expedition Race site
at http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/chat-room.html
<http://www.desertwindsexpeditionrace.com/chat-room.html>

We'll be there Wednesday mornings 6 to 7 AM PST and Wednesday evenings
from 7 PM on...

Let's Race,

Robert Finlay
www.KayakLakeMead.com <http://www.KayakLakeMead.com>
www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com
<http://www.DesertWindsAdventureSeries.com>
www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com
<http://www.DesertWindsExpeditionRace.com>
928.767.3061

Our YouTube Channel
www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead <http://www.youtube.com/kayaklakemead>





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