Stelvio

The Stelvio and the Mortirolo will be in Il Giro for 2012. Best. Grand. Tour. Period.

A ride, in pictures and song

I only got the sunny hours, the brightest hours of day. I never count the gloomy hours, I let them slip away...

"...swervin' like I'm George Jones..."



Train kept a rollin'...


Option 1: Hoobastank
Option 2: Mix-A-Lot

I've had a headache for 2 days, so instead of going out and riding easy, I decided to kill it with fire. Funny how 1x30 @92% will do that. As Asami so eloquently stated in 'The Audition', "Words create lies, pain can be trusted."

When I was done, I looped through the Greenway and ran into Rob, Casey, and their new addition, Ella Kate. Good eggs those two...well, three now. Seeing them this morning put a smile on my face.
Up Gervais and into campus. Once on Greene St., I stopped to help a college girl whose chain had popped off the pulley in her rear derailleur. A quick and easy fix got her rolling in less than 15 seconds, and helped my cycling karma. Two birds...

TVH, Il Prof and I are going out for a loop of the Fort @ 4:30-5:00 tomorrow. Feel free to join...

Namaste...

Cav wins the WC...and I don't mean Water Closet

Yeah...you just can't take that kid to the line. Some DB on the Twitter said that it was some grand plan for Cav to win so he could be in WC stripes for the Olympics in London. Now, I'm sure the organizers may have had that thought, but 180+ riders and 260km had other plans. Another twidiot said that Cav is the Champion of sprinters, but not a true World Champion. Really? REALLY? That's funny, because I just watched the last 6km, and Cav just put them all back on the truck.
Let the haters hate, because you know they will...

As for me...
102km thru Calhoun County. It was nice to have an actual group this morning. A grand total of SIX rolled out. Cloudy, hazy and low cloud deck when we left...turned into a sunny, windless, albeit humid end of the ride. Can't ask for much more...

Another one of those terrible roads out in the country.

Yeah, it's Sunday... I went to church...

Now to sleep through the rest of the NASCAR race...Peace!

Tubies are faster you say?

I'll call bullshit. Tony Martin just won the WORLD TT championship on CLINCHERS!! Yeah, you read that correctly. HED Jet 9 FR / HED Jet Stallion FR disc.

The question is, what Conti tires is he riding? Betting they weren't off the peg GP4000S...

U23 WC RR

Great race and great finish!

And I'm no mountain biker, but this makes my pants a bit tighter...



The word "FLOW" comes to mind...

2011 WC TT

Blistering ride by Tony Martin. And I have a question...
Did Cancellara's "Trek" look decidedly NOT like a current Speed Concept? Hmmm...

Great pics over at Cycling Tips...

Les Montagnes

3 of us got up sort-of-early on Sunday, loaded into TVH's Subaru and headed to Tryon for a ride. Nothing quite like folding my 6'1", 185 pound frame into the backseat of an import wagon...more on this later.
The idea was to roll out of the park where the Fab 4th ride begins, go UP the Saluda Grade, down The Watershed, then find some loop to roll around on for 25 miles or so, then go back UP The Watershed, and bomb the descent of The Grade, back to the car. The plan was 50-55 miles. The best laid plans of mice and men you say...?

The first part of the plan was going swimmingly...then we deviated for the first time of the day...30 miles into the ride. At the store stop, the decision was made, after talking to a crusty local, to ride into Landrum, do a loop around up to Columbus and drop back into Tryon.
While the route may not have offered any BIG climbs, it was nicely rolling, through beautiful countryside. A couple of stunning valleys, and simply picturesque horse farms were well worth the deviation.
Rolling back to Tryon, Il Prof figured we'd barely have 50 miles, so I, in my finite wisdom, suggested we tack on a few by checking out Howard's Gap, just to see how full of shit folks who ride it regularly may, or may not, be. The first two sections of road went from nearly flat to 5-6%...nothing to really write home about.
A few Euro switchbacks led to the corner that would seal our collective fate. After a relatively flat right turn, the road opened up, and sucker punched all three of us squarely in the chops. To say that we struggled for the next 1.5 miles would be like saying that my Jack Russell struggles with higher math...an understatement at best. Il Prof said he saw 2.9mph on his computer at one point. I do not doubt this statement, and find that it may be optimistic!


The 1.5 mile asskicking AVERAGED 15.4%, and contained 4 portions that hovered between 25 and 30%. Not too difficult to see where those spots are on the profile.
Once at the top, the climb leveled out and we rode, for a WHILE, across the ridgeline, back to Saluda. Then, tired, soaked with sweat, and out of gas, bombed the descent of the Saluda Grade back to the car.
I then folded my 6'1", 185 pound frame BACK into the backseat of the Scooby, which made my hip flexors really happy with me. My trip to Renick yesterday bordered on Marquis de Sade treatment...
Not only did I get folded up into the back of the car, my Ridley did as well! Oh, the indignity...


I guess only the 'team' bike Colnagos go on the roof!



All told...
64.8 miles
6698ft of climbing

It was fun, and I'd do it again this coming weekend if the H.O. would let me out of the house! It was what a ride should be. Time spent outside, on the bike, with friends. There was no negativity, no complaining, but plenty of big smiles/laughs. You know, the reason you go do something like this...

You think Joey's okay?

I think Joey needs a goddamn gurney! There is such a thing as carrying TOO much speed folks!

Went to the mountains this morning with Il Prof and TVH. Wonderful day on the bike. Writeup will follow once all of my synapses are properly rested and synaps-ing...

I leave you with this...

65 miles
6698ft of climbing
Rode up Howard's Gap (1200ft of vertical in 2 miles)

I'm not built for this shit people! But I LIKED it!!!

I think I just innoculated...

The front one...steel...
The back one...ti

Baum Cycles Australia

Cross Vegas 2011

Watch more videos on Cycling Dirt

A humpday photo dump...

They're "improving" Old State Road. Yes, there is a note of cynicism in my typing...

Pimpin' is, in fact, very easy for Eddy...

Will Gilbert win Worlds'? Odds aren't posted yet, but I'm willing to throw $20 in the pot and bet that his kid finishes better than the Schlecks...

Okay, not cycling related, but how can you not like HoverDogs?


Interbike (aka "The Show") is this weekend in Vegas. Guessing Trebon commuted? That saddle to bar drop makes my back hurt as I sit here...on the couch...

Decent ride thru the dirt loop this morning. As the photo above shows, Lexington County is evidently training grader operators out on Old State. It's a bit like Michele Bachmann's head at the moment. Soft...
A good rain wouldn't be altogether bad.

Gilbert wins GpW...


We're going to Tryon to ride on Sunday. If anyone wants to go, I have an open seat in the bus. Loop will be 50-55 miles, up and back over the Watershed and the surrounding area. The weather will be in the 60s. Where'd I put the vest/baselayer/armwarmers?

Velodromo

If you live with about 4 hours of Charlotte, and the idea of having a World Class velodrome/cycling facility available to you doesn't cause excitement, well...You're a dick!

Outstanding

Great ride this morning with Jed, Il Prof, and TVH. We went out through Lexington County, to Swansea, across Hwy 6 to Hwy 21 to Sandy Run, then backtracked it home. 105km in the big bright sun, on smooth rolling roads. To say it didn't suck is an understatement!

Ponies!

Another one of those horrible, high traffic roads out in Calhoun County...

TVH had on enough sunscreen to protect all four of us!

I like old barns!

Former ProDog, and CX National Champeen, Jed S. continuing his quest to go from the couch to CX Nats.

One of the highlights of the ride was the red velvet Twinkies at the gas station. Who knew? I'm quite sure whatever gave them their red hue will likely, in the long run, give me cancer, but DAMN they were good!
Another highlight came from Il Prof having a flat. TWO folks in cars stopped to see if he/we were okay! Shocking and unexpected to say the least, but nice and appreciated nonetheless.

Hope everyone enjoyed their day. Remember what day it is! Forget all of the ancillary political bullshit...just think of THE DAY and why it's important.

9-11-11

Sometimes...

Normally, I don't ride with a plan. Sure, I have a loop in mind, and an idea of variations to mix it up, but rarely do I go out with a "plan". Occasionally, I'll feel chipper after my little spin out, and put down a hard 30 minute "interval", but that may happen once a week.
Most rides these days fall somewhere between a ride for enjoyment, and meandering through new roads.
Yesterday, I meandered...HARD! Between school for the kids, the new bambino, and trying to get the house together to sell, I'm whipped. The ride guilt kicks in though. When it's 68 degrees and sunny with a light breeze, it becomes difficult to sit on the couch.
2 hours of rolling the CX bike through Lexington County was the call.

Smoother than tar and chip in Lower Richland...

Steel is real.

Squirrel's eye view.

Collaborate and listen...

Second ride of the day. This one was good for my soul.

I also got the Salsa 99.5% finished. I just need a longer drop cable hanger for the front so I can flip the stem. I guess a trip to Cycle Center is in order at some point today...

Enjoy your weekend!

A question...?

I need some new bib knicks for the fall/winter. How do the Santini knicks fit? ;)

Good ride yesterday, even though it was a bit dark, and a bit windy. I went out into the wind, hit the heavy/wet dirt, and struggled mightily until the turn onto 12th. Once the wind was at my back, it became quite nice.



Like "taking pictures @ 40kph on 33c tires at 50psi" nice. I normally pop back into the woods, but it's just bad form to not take advantage of a ripping tailwind!

Instead of buying a new bike to ride around town/with the kids/at night, the decision has been made to turn my Salsa Las Cruces into the aforementioned beast. 1x9 with a Deore shifter and XTR rear derailleur, Syncros DH riser bars, Thomson stem/post, carbon cranks...etc.! Yeah, nothing says lovin' like a sub-20 pound townie rig. I'll post pics when the bike is done. For now, I'm less than content sitting here waiting for the parts to hit the door! Grrrrr...

Why do I need a bike like this you ask? Well, riding my custom steel Jericho, or the Ridley, up to school to pick up #1 makes me intolerably nervous. Not the riding part per se, but the 'bike getting knocked over by a spastic 10 year old' scenario. I'd hate to explain to one of the other parents that they owe me $3k for a new frame because their uncontrolled progeny. Betting that would be a thin Christmas around that kid's house!

Enough blathering...Peace! Have a good afternoon!

A holiday?

I'm glad everyone thinks Labor Day is a holiday. The people who think this obviously do not have children.
It's a day off work AND school. So instead of a quiet morning, the Phineas and Ferb movie is rolling on the 50". Oh joy...
There will be little done today that resembles productivity.

Saturday, I slept in and decided to do a loop of Lower Richland. One two hour ride reminded me exactly why I stopped riding out there. The roads are shit. The terrain is shit. The drivers are shit. Nothing like getting buzzed by Methuselah's older brother, driving an ancient pickup truck, pulling a fossilized pop-up camper. Yeah, it's WAAAY safer out there...
Old State Road, which is DIRT, is smoother than about 50% of the tar and chip garbage roads out in LR.
You guys can have it...

(Let's compare)...
A stretch of the aforementioned tar and chip in LR...

Or a stretch of road out in Lexington County...
Tough choice, I know...

Sunday, 5 of us did a really nice ride out into Lexington County. It was quite nice, and the antithesis to Saturday. Nice smooth roads, rolling hills, very little traffic, and a road that had remained undiscovered until recently. We didn't get passed by a car for the first HOUR of the ride!!!
Oh, and for the naysayers, when you ride out into Lexington County, you come home with a tailwind...and it's largely downhill. Shocking, I know!
Downhill + tailwind + 52/12 + 120rpm = yesterday's top speed. As the Brits say, do the maths...

And the rumors are true, Lay-An-Egg Trek is folding itself into the Radio Smack organization. I guess Levi booked out b/c he knew that he'd be playing 3rd or 4th fiddle to the Schlecks...or whoever....
Another rumor floating around is about the custom Pinarellos that were delivered to Team Sky Service Course. They were small frames and had the initials "MC" written on them. Hmmm....rhymes with Park Spavendish...

Anyway...enough of this nonsense. Time to go ride bikes with Junior Management...

Friday Shizz

An article has been going around for the last few days concerning the Lost Art of The Group Ride. It covers pretty much all of the bases that several of us have been grousing about for the last couple of YEARS.
It tickles me to no end when I think of the people who are sitting in front of their computer screens, agreeing with the aforementioned article, yet some of those same people are the very ones who the article is written about/for.
We all know these people. Doesn't take much hard thought for the names to come to mind, does it?
If you have to think about it, or grumble to whoever will listen, then the article is for/about you!

I remember the old school rides in town. The guys then were fast, hard as nails, and actually helped noobs along. Again, it doesn't take much for me to remember a few of the guys that were instrumental in me becoming a part of the group in the early 90s.
People do not remember middle of the road. They recall the positive, and the negative. Which are you?


This year, I can recall about 6 group rides I've actually enjoyed. All were fun, positive, and plenty fast in spots to get work in if one was so inclined, you know, the way rides used to be...

Not much else going on...
Good spin on the road bike this morning. First ride on the Mavic shoes. They are really nice. I just need to get all of the wedges, insoles, and various other scheisse that I require, dialed in. A few more sub-2 hour rides on them, and we'll be good to go.

Pretty nice out there this morning...

I'm sorry...

...did I break your concentration?


Want to touch the hiney...