29 September 2013

Two days, One ride...

I slept in this weekend...both days.  Hey...Don't hate!  It's a rare thing around here.  Get a wife, THREE boys aged 8 and below, then get back to me how hard your mornings/days are....
Saturday morning, I woke up late, and met our newest dirt road convert/enthusiast for a good ride through a bunch of pretty countryside that's ALL less than 30 minutes from Service Course.
Rox and I did 2.5 hours, and hit 5 sections of dirt.  Smiles were wide.

 See...smiles!
Big blue sky Saturday morning. (I did not manipulate this pic AT ALL!)

Upon return to Service Course, I did yard work, took a nap, and then took The Boss to Ruth's Chris for our anniversary.  12 years on, things are going swimmingly...

Sunday morning hit, and the urges to get out of bed, nor to ride a bicycle, were anywhere in my immediate vicinity, so I slept until 0845.  It was nice.  You should have been there...
Upon rolling my large carcass out of the rack, ratty clothes were thrown on, and the side of the house got a fresh coat of Lowe's best ultra white paint. 
I got leg and core work.  I hate that fucking extension ladder!
A short break was enjoyed @ 1130, to take in the end of the Men's WC RR from Italy. 



Looked like a LOVELY day in Lucca.  Then again, any day in Lucca is better than a day anywhere else on the planet.

Upon making the turn to the back side of This Old House, the discovery of yet more wood trim in need of replacement.  No sense to paint it, and a trip to Lowe's just wasn't going to happen, so I called it a day.  Another nap was enjoyed, and the brood returned. 

Weekend over...and it wasn't half bad!

Now, for your Worlds update(s) :









And Euro CX kicked off yesterday...



Weird to see these guys gunning it on dry ground, in the sunshine...
Oh, and that ditch they were hopping?  Think you can do it?  It was bigger than you think...
Pauwels gettin' it done...

And people complain about dogs on the course. 

OK, now that I've shot your Monday productivity in the keester...sorry about that!

And congrats to Cal!  We're starting pool to see when he becomes a father.  I'll give it 15 months.  Anyone wants some of the action, it's a $20 buy in.  Winner takes all.  Cal, you are not eligible...





27 September 2013

That's that...

Well, the Tues/Thurs road rides drew to a close last night.  Fun ride, except for the whole "Leaving Service Course 8 minutes before the ride starts" b/c The Boss 'forgot' it was Thursday.  Uh huh...
I blew out, and opened the account (as Bristol would say) before I got to the stop sign at the end of the street.
I knew getting to Farm Bureau wasn't gonna happen, so I took the shortcut through the neighborhood, bombed a dirt road I'd never ridden before, took a few stupid chances, and got to the bridge by the steel mill in 16 minutes.  Should have had the GPS running, and created a Strava section.  That shit would have been out of reach for everyone not on a KTM Duke.
Matches were burnt getting there.  Fortunately, all of this put me well AHEAD of the group, and I could spin slowly down 12th whilst waiting to be caught.  It didn't happen until the turn @ Old Wire, so that was nice. 
After that recovery, the rest of the ride felt pretty OK.  Maybe I've come up with a warm-up plan?
The Urban Ride starts Tuesday @ 6:30.  Bring your MTB, CX bike, and lights.  Figure on 2 hours or so of big fun in the dark.
And do everyone a favor.  Don'tt complain about the ride if you've never bothered to have done it.  Show up, or shut up...

Not a big fan of the whole 'alleycat' thing, but definitely a fan of attractive women in well-fit wool jerseys...

Where's this, and when do we leave?

Wait...what?

Tell me again how steep a climb you did was...

If/when The Boss ever puts me out, I know where I'm going...

Link Dump :

Because having a carbon soft-tail sounded like a good idea.  Carbon likes flexing repeatedly on a single plane...

If being #FLOURO is wrong, I don't wanna be right...

Lemond threw a website together.  Ironic that as soon as I hit the 'purchase' tab, Norton Anti-Virus popped up and called the site 'untrustworthy'.  Prophetic perhaps?  And ordering a bike, paying for that bike, and having  it called 'a reservation'?  Another solid business plan from old Greg, huh?

Tony Martin beat all comers in the Worlds TT...on a 58 big ring!!!  All of you people who ride compact and claim to "SMASH" things, just stop it!  You aren't smashing shit.  For today, Tony Martin is the only person that can use the word "SMASH".
--as an side, we don't know Martin's power numbers, but Wiggins put down a 445w average...and 98rpm.  Insane...

Go check out my friend JB @ WTF Kits.  He gets it...

Everyone have fun @ Little Mountain tomorrow.  Good loop, low traffic.  Too early, and too much $ for the kid.  I'll be childless this weekend, so I'm sleeping in, and going out on the CX bike for a few hours.

Time to get the day started...



25 September 2013

One to go...

Light is a commodity at this point, thus, it pains me to say that the Tri-City road rides will be ending on Thursday.
Just too dark.  We got back @ 7:30 last night, and it was basically dark.  I did a little extra, and rolled into Service Course @ 8:30, and it was BLACK.  Fortunately, I was rocking the MagicShine 808, so there was PLENTY of light being thrown down the road.

Up the upside, the Urban Assault rides will kick off next Tuesday @ 6:30pm.  MTBs and CX bikes.  Bring your lights...front and rear.  Big fun is had by all...

As for last night, it was quite fun.  Good pace, a little chasing, a really nice chat @ 45-50kmh with Mike, the J&B rep, and I got to hear excuses on just why someone didn't win the Post Office sprint.  Sure you didn't know that we sprint to the P.O. sign...uh huh...nevermind that it's been that way for 2 years.
Kind of like years ago, when people would say that the END of the bridge on Shop Rd. was the sprint line...after they lost the kick.

I've also come to the conclusion that I need a new floor pump.  My Silca is 25 years old, and reads low, and my Park travel pump, is hemorrhaging air nearly as fast as I can put it in the tires.  It's only money, I suppose...

And now for some pretty pictures....

So many nice steel rigs out there now...so pretty...

Speaking of, a lot of talk has kicked off after I posed that Rob English frame a few days ago.  Here's the link to his site.  He makes really nice stuff...REALLY nice.


These pencil sketches are glorious.  They were done by an artist named Leo Espinosa.  I may have to buy these...

Two things I noticed here.  Nys isn't riding discs, as they aren't needed, and Trebon is like 11 feet tall...

A Steelman, with Deltas...the brakes that aren't for stopping, just throwing off a little speed.
And we'll end today with things that are good...

 A BMW 1200GS custom (you seeing this Mr. Edwards?)

And Marilyn in a bikini.  There's a LOT that's right about this photo...

With that...I bid you adieu...


23 September 2013

Monday

Sorta feels like this, doesn't it....

This flow chart may help...

Oh Greg...$12k for a complete EPS bike you say?  Well hell, order me a full size run.  This will end badly inside 36 months, tops...

Seems like Cav has the best leadout man in the World now...





Also seems that Petacchi is on the good Bunny Juice now too...

And now for the moment of our show that will get your adrenaline levels going...



That was a butt pucker moment @ :29 if there ever was one...

Now get back to work...

22 September 2013

And that's the way it is...

Pretty good ride yesterday out in LexCo.  Nice sized group.  All were jovial, and seemed to enjoy the ride.  It was kind of nice to ride those roads again. 
That being said, I cannot see myself rolling out of the sack @ 5:15am with any sort of regularity to go do a 55 mile ride...IN TOWN!  Call me lazy...please, do it...I'm fucking lazy...
Big thanks to Vince for having us out! 

 Yes, that IS the sun rising!!
 I could put a house right there...and a CX loop...and a velodrome...
 I asked TVH if this was a grimace or a smile.  He said "Yes..."
 The little group of merry men...and woman. 
Is Il Prof waving, calling for help, or telling us to go on without him? 

Great roads out there.  Low traffic.  Roll-y terrain (3000ft. in 55 miles).  And plenty of cool stuff to see.

TVH ended up with more miles than the rest of us.  He neglected to turn off his Garmin, and it recorded the ride home.  I'd go ahead and put that section on Strava, and DARE someone to take the KoM. 

Twas a lazy Sunday morning @ Service Course.  Didn't really feel like dragging the Ridley out, so the CX bike got the call.  A solo jaunt out thru The Powerstation went off @ 8:30. 
Note to self : Do NOT leave bottles on the kitchen counter.  2 hours is a long time to be alone with one's own saliva.
It was a pretty damn nice morning, and a pretty damn nice ride.  I had no water, no music, and no computer. 

 Cockpit view.  FWIW, 7800 D/A is STILL the benchmark of 10v parts.
 Funky sky this morning.  Swirly winds...
 Still nice and green out on the dirt.
WWVID?  What Would Vanilla Ice Do? 
Did I stop?  Hell no, I just rolled by...
I did, however, Stop to collaborate, and listen...

Looks like the Tues/Thurs rides will come to an end this coming week.  Just not enough light...
Watch this space for details about the Urban Assault Ride.  When I know what's going on, you'll know...
I do know that it looks like there will be more than few CX bikes out this Winter.  Sweeet...

Hope everyone had a good weekend...



20 September 2013

Some mild entertainment

Nothing of real substance today, as if there ever really is around here.  If you come here for enlightenment, you're barking up the wrong tree. :)

Fun ride last night.  Just sort of rolled around on the back, and watched you-know-who foul up the ride at every turn.  Well, I say at every turn, but seeing that he never actually took his turn...
I digress...

It was good nonetheless, and riding home in the dark was a bit better.  It takes a few rides to get the eyes, and wits, back in the game.  Riding in the dark is a different animal.

Saturday will be a LexCo affair.  Several of us are heading out for a loop through LexCo and Saluda counties.  Looks like a good loop, and if those who committed to ride actually show up, it will be a good group.

Here's the LOOP...0800 @ St. Peter's Church @ the corner of St. Peter's and Old Cherokee. 

My buddy Brent, and Mr. Nys, at the show...


Thirsty?

90 days until Christmas...



Speaking of...

How about steel with a carbon seat tube/mast?  Like butter on a bald monkey...

8.86 pounds.  It will probably shatter under you, and leave large shards of carbon impaled through your flesh, but GD it's light!!!!

Two wheels good.  Believe it or not, this is a NEW moto.  A custom Yamaha Star Bolt...so cool.  Me want...

Gotta get the day going.  Need to head out to get some ride food...




18 September 2013

All...well, mostly...for naught...

Interesting ride last night.  People just sort of rolled out whenever they felt like it.  Groups were everywhere.
We rode up thru all of them, to the front.  Those who got to the front at the end of 12th, you're welcome...
It was good to see that the "Poindexter" is still alive and well too. 
What's "The Poindexter" you ask? 
Here are the steps for a proper "Poindexter"

1) Come to an intersection.
2)Check for cars, and yell "Car left" or Car right"
3)Do NOT stop at the stop sign (if there are signs)
4)Sprint thru the intersection, leaving the majority of the group waiting for traffic to clear, and causing the drivers to mutter to themselves, "Fucking bikers..."
5)Once thru the intersection, do not wait on the remainder of the group.

Pretty simple, eh?

This was the FIRST split of the night.  The others came later, but were no less egregious. 
A few of us chased our guts out, and took some hero pulls, got within 100m of the group, but got caught at lights, refusing to "Poindexter". 
No matter, I got my work...and had an enjoyable ride.

Here's the USC kit.  This is a tentative design.  A few things will be changed, but this is the basic design.

Hit up Mr. Bristol if you'd like a kit.  The boy has minimums to meet.  His email is : BristolJL@email.sc.edu
Kits are available to anyone...unless you went to Clemson...or Newberry...

Shown here, you will see proper cornering technique.  There are other "proper" things going on as well...

Yes, as a matter of fact, it does hurt when you push RIGHT THERE!!!

Yeah, just a great photo from Starcrossed...

The new Felt AR4.  Aero.  Ultegra 11v.  $3999.  Not a horrible deal...

Sagan's bike...at Eurobike...in the Kenda booth...LEANING against the display.  Like they just couldn't figure out what to do with it...

Ok...gotta roll out....  (look HARD at this pic.  Lots of stuff going on...)



16 September 2013

Sorry about that...

I watered my grass yesterday afternoon, so I'll take the blame for the rain.  Don't want to think about what would have happened had I washed my truck too!

Another really good, fun ride yesterday.  Good group that stayed together, but still had some pace in parts.  I flatted.  Nothing like cutting a Vittoria, and slaying a $15 latex tube less than an hour into the ride. 
85km quickly escalated, and turned into 105km however.  Just out of Sandy Run, on 176, Calhoun County decided to "improve" their roads, and had ground off the top layer of asphalt.
Now, I'm always down for some Roubaix/gravel/dirt/crappy road action, but this was different.  This was bike eating territory.  Just not rideable. 
We turned, backtracked, and headed BACK up over the ridgeline, and added a solid 20km to the ride.  Sweet...

At least the Gods smiled on us, and gave a bit of a cross/tail wind coming back in on 12th...

 Heading into the valley...

 Mmmmm...BBQ...how is this place not open on Sunday?

Pretty serene out in the sticks. 

As we all know, Horner won La Vuelta.  The fact that he's 41 years old raises enough eyebrows, but he didn't piss hot, so who am I to say?
The USADA, in cahoots with AE (Spanish doping authorities), are doing their best to discredit the old boy though.  It was "leaked" this morning that he "missed" an out-of-comp test.
The story is complete and utter BS, and was either leaked by the Spanish, USADA, or both.
Horner updated his ADAMS (whereabouts) page, and the change was approved.  Not his fault that USADA and AE can't fucking read. 
The test was to be administered by the Spanish, on behalf of USADA.  Too many cooks spoil the soup.  And let's be honest, how many tests does a rider have to face?  Horner was tested morning AND evening in the last three days of the race. 
If he is/was on the AvGas, does one think he's dumb enough to be dosing, and have it in his body AFTER the race? 
I know USADA will say that the day after is the day the UCI said they could test, but why bother?  
So dumb...

Adam Hansen just finished La Vuelta.  That's SEVEN Grand Tours in a row.  23,000km of racing.  Crazy hard.  And it seems he has a good time while doing it as well....





Good on ya mate!

Bristol is bringing the USC Cycling Club back.  If you have a few extra bones, flip them his way.  And/or free up some cash to buy a kit.  I've seen the mock-ups, and they're SO FRESH.  Let me check to see if I can post the design...don't want to step on toes here...




Oh Baum...why must you tease me so? 

 Pssst...dude, you dropped something...


The bottles didn't want to be seen with the aero helmet either...

 And with that, I have burned enough of your time on a Monday morning.  Gotta get going and see if I can drop $100 @ Target...