Good if it holds; tacky trails, cooler temps

It’s the biggest mountain-biking week of the year in Whistler, building to the prime Slopestyle competition in the bike universe, and August being August, we have to keep our fingers crossed on the weather. They keep moving the dates of Crankworx around, sometimes early in the summer, sometimes late. I’ve never liked August as a must-be-nice choice, it’s too unpredictable.

Meanwhile Seattle’s Jill Kintner continued what must rank as one of any sport’s miracle comeback seasons by smoking the field at Kokanee Crankworx in the dual slalom competition.

A post from Jill on her blog notes: “I set the fastest time in the ladies, followed by fionn then buhly. That was close to the order we finished up too, except ol gatto snuck in for a third in the final over buhly. The gate felt like it was dropping slower and slower as the night went on, and it messed up a few people’s timing.” Like Jill I’m surprised at Melissa Buhl’s 4th, but this Crankworx may not have been Buhly’s cup of tea. She doesn’t show up in the Garbanzo Downhill results at all, not sure if she even competed. Garbanzo is the hammeringest downhill around.

On the men’s side, someone actually beat Brian Lopes on the dual slalom. And to make it an even bigger surprise, it was a Slopestyle artist, Kyle Strait, who did it. On the Garbanzo, three lads from Down Under swept: Justin Leov, Chris Kovarik and Sam Hill. Something’s going on down there; see this year’s best racing DVD, “The Tipping Point,” for clues as to why.

PinkBike has the full rundown. Also BikeRadar. Both sites have video posted as well.

BikeIntelligencer will be in Whistler most of this week, so posting will probably be light. Once in a while even the most dedicated bike blogger must GIT OUT ‘N RIDE!

Seattle P-I: Livestrong Challenge, in Seattle June 21, looking for volunteers.

Signs of progress: Contra Costa Times reports that Los Angeles rethinks bike fees.

Great roadtrip odyssey to Whistler on PinkBike: For orientation, these guys came from Vancouver Island. The referenced Mt. Washington and Cumberland, despite what they sound like, are not in the U.S.

Another great sign for bikes: The Supreme Court nominee rides! “She’s a bicycle rider, I’m a bicycle rider. We talked a little bit about our favorite routes.”

Bicycle Retailer: “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with REI, has announced a voluntary recall of about 260 Novara Triofo 2005 bikes.” If you have an REI Novara bike circa that year, check it out on the CPSC Web site or contact REI.

And Whistler opens on Saturday! Yikes, can they really have all the snow cleared? This has been one ugly freezin’ pain in the butt Spring so far… PinkBike has details on Opening Day festivities.

Bike Rumor: How to get that non-cyclist in your life onto a bike.

Bicycle Retailer: Bike industry gets 2-year extension on lead limits. I have mixed feelings on this one. As an environmentally healthy and healthful activity, cycling should be aggressively setting the pace on eco- and “green” standards. I know it’s tough financially to turn an entire industry around, but let’s hope this extension is it and the Powers That Be move forward asap on reducing lead exposure.

Biking Bis: Washington State is No. 1 in League of American Bicyclists ranking of bicycle friendly states — for second year in row!

Velo News: Lance “philosophical” about Giro chances after being dropped yesterday.

For my mountain biking videos, go to YouTube here.