Recon Ride #1

12.14.13 is looming, so a small recon loop was done this morning...in the cold.  Truthfully, it was only cold for the first 30 minutes or so.  The sun was out, and riding the dirt today took a bit of effort thanks to the rain over the last couple of days.
The dirt roads were a bit damp and heavy...with the occasional crunch of ice under tire.  Yeah, it was good...
A tick more than 2.5 hours fell by quickly...
Scenes...

 Hilly?  Maybe. 

A good spot to take a pee if there ever was one...

The loop is surprisingly dog free (knocks on wood), except for the Basset Hound that chased us, and let's be honest, if he catches you...well...

With some dry days, the roads will firm up even more, and get even smoother...
Special thanks to Swobo,  Farm Bureau Insurance, GlobalBike, and Summit for the schwag!! 

#capsnothats  If you don't know Superissimo, you should...

Hope everyone had a good Turkey Day! 

Tuesday...or Friday...depending on your vacation status...

Today is like a Friday around here.  Turkey Day is Thursday, so The Boss...and Junior management, end their week today.
Fortunately for labor (me), Corpo is loading up and heading to the Chesterfield Branch Office tomorrow afternoon, and coming back Thursday evening.
Two days of relative peace and quiet.  Worth their weight in recyclable aluminum...

It's raining, and 43 degrees outside.  No ridey, but a smile is on my face as I KNOW that the dirt sections we'll ride on 12.14.13. are just getting BETTER.
We'll be on patrol Thursday morning, just to make sure...the PRINCIPALS will be on patrol.  The rest of you get to see it on 12.14.13.

I heard an industry rumor yesterday, but seeing as I know how to keep my mouth shut, it will not be divulged until the proper time.  Let's just say it made me as happy as a little girl...

Time wasting section:

I don't know just what I'd so with this, but I like it anyway...

This is why you don't take butt handups.  The Cycling Gods will smite you...on camera!

 Again...the urge to ride Campy is strong...

Thanks for the leadout Niki!  See you at the finish...

Cav got hops...BUNNYhops...

This Japanese family gets it...

Know these guys?

Yeah, these kids are more Euro than we'll ever be...

Blue knows...



Next update on Thursday, after the Recon Ride. 

Get back to work...

One ponders...

One does, in fact, ponder why damaged joints, and surgically repaired sinuses ache after a weekend such as the weekend that just passed.
Saturday...
65 degrees...high humidity...damp...
Sunday...
45 degrees...dry as a bone...howling wind...

Where's that bottle of Aleve?  I'm much too young to be this old...

Nice easy spin out thru Lex/Cal with KLundy, and my friend Leslie, who was in town from Wasilla, Alaska (no Palin jokes, please...) for an interview @ USC.  Twas warm...twas damp...twas slow...
My legs hurt worse after that slow spin than after a stem-biter.
Ok...one joke.  I DO ask her if she can see Russia from her house...a la the brain injured Sarah Palin.  While I giggle like an 8 year old, she does not find the humor...

I awoke Sunday to howling wind, and temps that could only be described as brisk.  Ergo, I rolled over, and slept for two more hours.  After watching the Superprestige CC race from Gieten, the Salsa got the call, and two hours of cold, windy, pretty damn good riding was had.  Two traverses of the PowerStation, and it was done.
It was a bit bothersome to see signs of horses out there, namely hoof prints, and large piles of recycled alfalfa hay.  Horse people have been known to harsh the mellow of bike people.
Hopefully, once all of the trails are finished, and open back there, the horsefolk will sod off.

See...told you it was a nice day...

Corpo also loaded up in the new company vehicle, and rolled out to the country for a little dirt road recon.  All sections of dirt that will be included on 12.14.13. are in pretty fine nick, and will be good to ride.  A nice, soaking rain...which is coming in the next couple of days, will make them even better.
All surfaces were very rideable...no hike-a-bike BS, and there is ONE, very short, section of loose gravel.  The section is VERY light (few actual big stones), and only @ 500m.  28mm road tires will be fine.  
Mark your calendars...if you have the stones...
And we also picked up a little sponsorship from the fine folks at Swobo!!  Thanks Pete!  You're a mensch!

Laatste Ronde from Koksijde.


Full race from Gieten


Pic dump...

I suddenly have the urge to go buy Super Record...strange...

Will 12.14.13. look like this?  We can hope...

You have my attention...

Know who this is?  Know where this is?  If you answered 'NO' to either question, save me your 'expert' opinion...

If you listen closely, you can hear the the air rushing from his lungs as he augurs in.

Good show by USC Cycling up in Tennessee over the weekend.  It was ass-biting cold, but JB rolled out and ended up with frozen snots, which means he went hard...and that's good!  Too bad his skinsuits still aren't here.  Leads me to ponder, again, how long we'll be waiting for the regular kits?  Hopefully my kids will go to USC, so they can wear them...

Well, that's it for the dirt road today.  I've burned enough of your Monday-morning-of-a-short-week productivity.
Gonna be crappy for the next couple of days...I'll find some way to entertain you.  DANCE monkey DANCE!!!

This is the end...

...of this week at least.  At what an end.  It's 75 and sunny outside right now.  Chamber of Commerce day.  Sorry to those of you who are suffering thru shit weather.  Move somewhere that's nice...wait, no...stay where you are...

The ride last night was, well...a ride...for me.  I'm sure everyone else had a good time, but my heart wasn't in it.  I did about 1/2 of the loop, and headed home.  Perfect night though.  65...no wind...
I still ended up with two hours on the bike, and that's two things.
1) More than most people got.
2) Better than ANY time on the trainer.

Link dump...

Good program...cool kit....you may see one of these running around here soon!

Interesting design for CX.  I like it.

Here's the loop...
And here's the waiver you'll be required to sign...
___________________________________________________________________________________

Gravel Fun(d) Ride Waiver

By signing below, I, (write your name here) ________________________ certify that:

• I am physically healthy, and mentally competent enough, to complete the event
• The University of South Carolina, Gamecock Cycling Club, and event organizers are not responsible for undisclosed medical conditions that may harm myself, or fellow riders
• I will obey the rules of the road, ride in a courteous and cordial manner while sharing the road with vehicular traffic, and my fellow (awesome) cyclists
• I am aware of the course markings.
• I have enough supplies to get home (tubes, air, cell phone, food) from this self-supported event
• I am aware that I am riding a bicycle on open, public roads, and that the event organizers designed a route with safety in mind, but that accidents do happen. I also acknowledge that the University of South Carolina, Gamecock Cycling Club, and event organizers are not responsible for damages that may occur.
• I will not be a _______ (negative adjective of your choosing). I will have a rad time.

Signature

___________________________________________________________________________________


Feel free to copy it into your preferred document program, print it off, sign it, and bring it with you!

Now watch some high dollar, virtually irreplaceable cars go wheel to wheel...




Svenness 2.8

  #SVENNESS 2.8 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.



Go outside and play...

Hey YOU!!!

That's right kids.  Some big fun is on the horizon!!!
All are welcome!  This is a RIDE...not a race!  The pace may will pick up in spots, but we will gather up at the end of the dirt sections, and at the halfway point. 
No man, nor WOman will be left behind!!!
All dirt sections are rideable!  There will be no hike-a-bike!
All bicycles are welcome!
CX, MTBs, 29ers, 650b, fixed gears, and even road bikes.  Just have a FAT set of tires!!!

This is a permitted USA Cycling ride.  It also benefits USC Cycling.

While we are not charging you for the grin you will receive, we do ask that you throw a few greenbacks Mr. Bristol's way.  This money will help him get to Boulder for Collegiate CX Nationals.  He's a good dude, and deserves it!  No one will strap the old ETV ratcage to your face, so let your conscience be your guide.

Want more info?  You people know how to find me...

Productivity Killer

Yeah...1944...France...CX put on by Nazi occupiers...
Seems Urban Cross has been around for longer than the hipsters thought...

NFG Cycles...these guys seem to do things for the right reasons.  They follow "The Way".

Parlee seems to have discovered paint.  And that's a good thing.  That aero frame though... (oof)

Cipollini framesets are available thru WrenchScience now.  I just built one that was just outside $17k.  Yes, you read that correctly...

Compass Hubs...they're beautiful...and affordable...
And speaking of beautiful parts...Bruce Gordon Cantis...

From the ''Two Wheels Good" File :
Murderdromes...where;s that wayback machine...?
And a Caterham moto?  I'll take it....

 Adam Little Foundation PSA



Props to Bobby Labonte for doing it!!  Same Law exists here in SC.  Learn the Law!

And here's the map for the Winter CX/Dirt Ramble!  Looking like Mid-December.  Watch for updates.  53miles and 3800' of climbing.  Plenty of dirt...


#vanderholeshot

 Ok...get back to work...

That was a good weekend!

Man...sometimes things cooperate, and one has a good weekend.  Not just riding, but all the way around.
Got the new car on Friday...
Had a pretty stellar 55 mile CX ride on Saturday...

Pretty much every section of dirt in Lower Richland County was covered.  A couple of new one were DIScovered.  Need to make sure they don't dead end at some single-wide trailer occupied by a family of meth cooks though...
Big blue sky, big sun, good company, and a fun ride...except for the Jurassic-era sized spider incident. 

Sunday was foggy and warm, but again, it was a damn good time.  A nice 3 hour loop thru LexCo, punctuated by a couple of pretty enjoyable fast tempo sections.  Not everyone enjoyed them however...

Los Amigos de Domingo!  And don't hate on Roxy's calves...even though you want to...

Another 6+ hour weekend to cap off an 11+ hour week.  I'll take that in November.

Peter Sagan you ain't...

The dog was even impressed...

Hasselt Euro CX...full race...



Gavere SuperPrestige

Lots of OPPO @ Gavere.  Just a thick, heavy, not-much-fun track...

Just read it...

75 and sunny out there right now.  Unfortunately, I need to do some needed maintenance on the fleet tonight, so no warm spin in the dark for me.
You should go out though...why waste the day...work will be there tomorrow...

Much better...

Last night's ride was muy bueno.  Good group...well, those who didn't go home b/c it was 45 degrees...
Rule 5 people, Rule 5...
Strange how different parts of the same little city have such divergent temperatures.  I guess even little old Columbia has the 'concrete jungle' heating effect. 
The ride was fun, and had a few quick squirts.  I'll take it.  AND I got 2:45 in the dark...so there's that...
Then I got home to find what was possibly the best Twitter trolling/beatdown that I've seen in a while.  It made my heart grow and grow, sort of like The Grinch.  Thank you to Aaron and Rich for making my evening a bit brighter!!

As an aside, did you fine folks know that a Level 3 USAC Coaching License is an online thing?  Yeah...it is...
You buy the book, do some paperwork, and take an online test (80% to pass), and BOOM, the wisdom of the ages is passed into your brain.  Because, you know, nothing says unmitigated knowledge like an open book test. 
Yet another reason USAC is a joke...

Yeah, it happens...

Remember this bike?  Yeah?  Well, it's for sale.  Hampsten is having a Yard Sale...

There's a lot wrong here...a whole lot...

For when your CX bike just isn't expensive enough...

Dirt road exploration is planned for tomorrow.  Sunday 0900 in Five Points. 

And the new team car arrives today.  Sweeet!  Better have the damn 20 inch wheels I ordered on it!!!  #dubs 

Finally, can we go on the Ritte lunch ride?  Please?

Ritte Office Ride from Ritte Racing on Vimeo.

Gonna be warm this weekend.  Go play outside.

2.7

#SVENNESS 2.7 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

The Fine Line

The fine line between Hard and Stupid has been discussed here on many an occasion.
Let's talk about it again.
Now that I've had a few moments of reflection, I've come to the conclusion that last night's ride didn't drift from that of a hardman, into the realm of the stupid.  The ride made an end run, and completely went AROUND hard.
Yeah, the temps dropped precipitously.  Yeah, it rained a little.  Yeah, it was at night.  Hardly the stuff of great suffering, or that which makes young Belgian lads into Hardmen of the North.
Personally, I've done more of those rides than I care to remember.  Big deal.
What moved, or blew, the ride around the outside of hard, and well into stupid, was the wind.
Sure, it was blowing and gusting upon departure from Service Course, but worse had been ridden in.
Once ON the ride, the winds picked up.  And by up, I mean howling through the trees.  I pulled my earbud at one point, thinking I'd heard a train...on the river trail...
Detritus was falling from the sky, littering the trail.  Some could be run over.  Others bunnyhopped with ease.  Then there were a few which forced a stop, and/or dismount to clear.  I took a small branch to the Giro Atmos/face, resulting in a nice scratch/welt above my right eye.  Thanks to Tifosi for allowing my eye to continue it's residence in my skull.

Once the group that remained (some peeled off and went home early.  In retrospect...the smart ones...) gathered at the Police shed, it was determined that the ride would be cut short.  Like, get-back-to-Service-Course-via-the-most-direct-method short.  The threat of being crushed beneath the weight of an even larger section of tree was growing larger.

Once to Olympia, the rain started.  Did I mention that the temps had dropped 20 degrees in two hours?  Fortunately, the effort required to both stay upright, AND move forward, was sufficient for the generation of warmth.
The Salsa hit Service Course @ 8pm.  I still got 2 hours in the dark, with plenty of effort.  That effort was mental, physical, and a little spiritual at times.  Spiritual you ask?  Yeah...like, "Oh (insert Deity of choice), please don't let me get blown off the bridge, and into the river. They'll never find my body..."
Was it "hard"?  Not really.  Was it (and I hate this lame as word) EPIC?  Not even close.
It was a ride...a little adventure...and external forces made it a bit daft.

This morning, I have a nice scratch/bruised eyebrow area.  I'm coughing the shit that was inhaled, and the crust in the corners of my eyes in pretty impressive.  Looks a bit like Sugar in The Raw.

Why, oh why, would IF put such lame wheels on such an otherwise perfect bicycle?

 Sky Service Course.  5 minutes...just five...short...minutes...

 Where is this, and when do we leave?

Speedvagen.  I think I'd almost feel bad beating the shit out of it.  Seems a shame...

 I'm gonna need a moment. 

#svenness  Notice a few things here...
1) Not a complete clearing of the barrier.  If you watch the Euro races, this is how they all do it.  A little dab will do ya...
2) Holy tire compression!
3) Where are the discs??  Yeah...not needed...

100 years of Flanders


Speaking of...



Now get back to work...

#svenness

Full race.  Muddy goodness. 

7 hours...I haven't slept that much in a night...

7 hours on the bike this weekend.  Good fat burning stuff, and Dog knows, it's much needed right now. 
I'm definitely operating on a calorie deficit right now....
Saturday was 3.5 in LR. 

 I love this road.  There used to be a row of pine trees on each side.  Now the pavement is waaay better, so it's a push.

 Two giant fields planted with daikon...

I wish I was in the land of cotton...oh, wait...

Sunday was another 3.5 hours out thru Lex/Cal.  Good ride with a bit more effort and pace than Saturday.  Nice tailwinds coming home too.  And the discovery that a former dirt road has been paved.  Gotta explore that one soon...

 One of my favorite views...

 Columbia almost looks like a city from here...almost...

Great clouds today.  Looked a bit like being caught beneath a big wave...

And a special thanks to the dickhead driving the brodozer Chevy pickup.  Dean and I truly appreciated when you got right beside us, and blew the train horn you have installed in your mini-penis mobile.  Guess that makes up for the fact you're 5'7" and weight 140? 
Look up 'redneck asshole', and there's a picture of this douche, standing beside his truck...

Hamme Zogge Euro CX (full race)



And fuck you crackhead, drunk, fat slob, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.  We've come to realize that you're a Grade A knucklehead, but the fact that Toronto elected you says a lot about them as well.  Canadians...



If you aren't reading Cyclismas, you should be.  Lesli Cohen is good people...

Firefly dropout.  It's....

It's....

Jeff Brandenburg...meet your God!

Is 7:30 too late to have caffeine...I feel like I need it...?