...first one in a long while. Actually felt good and I felt stronger towards the end of the second ride. I think I'll do more of it for the next few months. Total for yesterday was 3:30 and 110km.
I'm going to do my best to roll out of bed ahead of the rooster tomorrow and be in Blythewood for the 0700 ride. That means I have to be in the WarWagon(tm) @ 0615...which means wake-up call will come @ 0530 or so. FUCK! Well, I guess bedtime will roll around early tonight!
Italy 2010 RR
Belgium 2010 RR
Italian is much easier to listen to, eh?
02 July 2010
01 July 2010
Up and at 'em...
Out of bed @ 0600
On the bike @ 0615
Bee in the helmet @ 0630
Lump on the dome @0631
Flat rear tire @ 0645
20' interval @ 0655
Done @ 0715
Threw bottle at dipshit driving a Durango @ 0716
Up through Vista and Campus and home @0735
40km with SST, tempo and an interval before breakfast. Plan is to ride again tonight, but if it rains, no worry...I got some work today!
Final KM of the 2010 French NC. Not a big fan of France, but Voeckler is a rarity, in that he's a frenchy that's willing to turn himself inside out for a win, so here you go...
More NC videos coming...
Edit: Second ride @ 1745
Warmed up through the Fort, then went into diesel mode for pretty much the rest of the ride. Finished with 2:15 and another 70.
Total today was 3:30 and 110km
My bee stung forehead is swolt and my left eye is puffy. Fucking bees!
On the bike @ 0615
Bee in the helmet @ 0630
Lump on the dome @0631
Flat rear tire @ 0645
20' interval @ 0655
Done @ 0715
Threw bottle at dipshit driving a Durango @ 0716
Up through Vista and Campus and home @0735
40km with SST, tempo and an interval before breakfast. Plan is to ride again tonight, but if it rains, no worry...I got some work today!
Final KM of the 2010 French NC. Not a big fan of France, but Voeckler is a rarity, in that he's a frenchy that's willing to turn himself inside out for a win, so here you go...
More NC videos coming...
Edit: Second ride @ 1745
Warmed up through the Fort, then went into diesel mode for pretty much the rest of the ride. Finished with 2:15 and another 70.
Total today was 3:30 and 110km
My bee stung forehead is swolt and my left eye is puffy. Fucking bees!
30 June 2010
29 June 2010
Been a few days...
My weekend wasn't as exciting as some...thankfully so. A lot of folks had big fun riding in the mountains. A few came to grief, one more than the rest. LL hit the ground, but is okay...just a bit 'skint'. Poor McSwain shellaced some dumbass' Boxer dog on the backside of Snake Mountain. His SRM data showed that he was traveling 65kmh when his World went black. His 5.9SSL Madone exploded on impact. The headtube was severed from the rest of the machine is a not-so-surgical fashion. His nearly 60 year old body then experienced Newton's First Law and augered into the ground. KTFO! Grade 3 concussion, right shoulder ostensibly destroyed, left thumb dislocated, and road rash that looks like he pissed off a cheese grater wielding ninja. Fortunately, he is alive...foggy and broken, but alive! Also on the plus side, he has a new bike coming. Unfortunately, this tete-a-tete with the pavement means we have plenty of time to get it together...
As an aside, if you read my lunatic rantings and DO NOT ride a bike, and think that crashing is no big deal, do this experiment today...
Strip down to your underwear, get going 40mph in your car, and then jump out. See how you fare! Same thing...
Anyway, I rode for a couple of hours on Saturday morning and a couple on Sunday morning. Both were merely SST/Maintenance rides, as it's too bloody hot to go out and punish one's self. I did get some Vitamin D on Sunday though, so it was all good!
I skipped yesterday as it was storming like something out of 'The Wizard of Oz'. 72kmh wind gust at the little airport near my house. Flying Monkeys baby!
Since the weather seems to be crap in the afternoons lately, I made the decision to roll my fat, lazy self out of bed this morning before the sun broke the horizon and get on the bike. Up @ 0600 and on the bike @ 0620. @ 0735, I was in the house with a solid 40km of tempo riding...NICE! I also realized that the early morning is the witching hour for dumbasses who own road bikes. I passed a group of gapers riding FOUR abreast, just yapping away, paying no attention to the World around them. And we wonder why we get harassed by cagers! Good show guys...thanks a lot! I did recognize one of them, and he's a chode of the highest magnitude, so the behavior really didn't surprise me.
No TNWC for me...turnout has been abysmal, so it's not even worth messing with anymore...
Oh, and here's a video that should, at a very minimum, bring a smile to your face.
Merckx is still cooler than anyone else...
As an aside, if you read my lunatic rantings and DO NOT ride a bike, and think that crashing is no big deal, do this experiment today...
Strip down to your underwear, get going 40mph in your car, and then jump out. See how you fare! Same thing...
Anyway, I rode for a couple of hours on Saturday morning and a couple on Sunday morning. Both were merely SST/Maintenance rides, as it's too bloody hot to go out and punish one's self. I did get some Vitamin D on Sunday though, so it was all good!
I skipped yesterday as it was storming like something out of 'The Wizard of Oz'. 72kmh wind gust at the little airport near my house. Flying Monkeys baby!
Since the weather seems to be crap in the afternoons lately, I made the decision to roll my fat, lazy self out of bed this morning before the sun broke the horizon and get on the bike. Up @ 0600 and on the bike @ 0620. @ 0735, I was in the house with a solid 40km of tempo riding...NICE! I also realized that the early morning is the witching hour for dumbasses who own road bikes. I passed a group of gapers riding FOUR abreast, just yapping away, paying no attention to the World around them. And we wonder why we get harassed by cagers! Good show guys...thanks a lot! I did recognize one of them, and he's a chode of the highest magnitude, so the behavior really didn't surprise me.
No TNWC for me...turnout has been abysmal, so it's not even worth messing with anymore...
Oh, and here's a video that should, at a very minimum, bring a smile to your face.
Merckx is still cooler than anyone else...
26 June 2010
Review time...
Okay...
I haven't done a product review for a long time, but I think that this one is necessary. I'm a Vittoria tire guy. Always have been, and won't make apologies for it! I'm not talking the low/mid level tires either. If it doesn't say Open Corsa CX on it, I won't ride it. Sure, they're more expensive than other tires, so what? I ride good, high dollar wheels, ergo, I'm going to ride good, high dollar tires. I don't understand the whole idea of riding a great set of wheels, and then putting $25 crap tires on them. Oh, I run latex tubes too...
Anyway, about 4 weeks ago, I was set to pull down on more Vitts, but PBK was out of them in black (not riding colored tires...sorry!), and I'm NEVER going to pay full metal retail for ANYTHING, so getting them at the LBS was out of the question.
I decided to get some Veloflex Master 700x22 rubber. Never heard of Veloflex? Well, here's quick primer...
When Vittoria moved it's production of tires to Thailand several years ago, they basically just left. All of the employees and equipment were left behind. The Italians, much to their credit, decided to start making tires on their own, thus Veloflex was born.
I'd ridden Veloflex Paves in the past and liked them, but didn't fall in love. Well, the new Veloflex Master tire is out, and it's a bit different animal. Sure, it's the same size at 700x22, but the fine folks at Veloflex upped the TPI count to 320.
The Masters are a mix of new school technology and old-school flavor. Kevlar anti-puncture band and kevlar bead, but cotton casing and natural rubber tread. Plus, the sidewall is a truly old-school natural blonde!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...here's the ride report!
Smooth like butter on a bald monkey! Like mentioned earlier, I run Michelin latex tubes. This pairing makes for a sublime ride. In fact, at one point this morning, I truly thought I had a rear flat because it seemed that I was floating along. They even make the sh*t tar-and-chip roads around here seem...well...less bad. Sure, they aren't Vitt Open Paves, but not many tires are...
Considering they are smaller volume (22c) than Vitt OC CX or Pave, they still deliver an outstanding ride.
As the pic shows, they are good for 7-10 bar, which is 110-145 pounds in old money. The only time I'd ride them harder than 120-ish is in the time trial, and seeing that there aren't any of those in my immediate future, 8 bar seems to be perfect.
They Masters roll extremely well. Diving into a turn is something that becomes an afterthought. Throw the bike in, and the tires just stick and track without drama. I think it may have a little to do with the fact that the profile of the tire is round, just as the Vitts always are. Between the natural rubber, the pliable 320TPI casing and that profile make for a tire that can really do no wrong.
Only ONE drawback comes with all of these positives...tire life. Let's be straight here, these are fast trianing/race tires. If you go into it knowing and actually acknowledging this fact, you'll be just fine. Too many people buy tires like these (or the Vitts) and expect them to wear like a Maxxis ReFuse. Sorry, it just ain't gonna happen!
Even taking this ONE fact into account, the positives far outweigh the negative. And @$40 shipped from England, it's hard to beat the price. At that price point, you're usually stuck with something that just cannot deliver anywhere near the same performance!
the ONLY tire that I'd ride over these is the new Vittoria 320TPI OC CX, and the only reason is the fact that they have a bit more volume, even at the 23c size. @25c, they are crazy plush!
To the new Veloflex Master, I say...
I haven't done a product review for a long time, but I think that this one is necessary. I'm a Vittoria tire guy. Always have been, and won't make apologies for it! I'm not talking the low/mid level tires either. If it doesn't say Open Corsa CX on it, I won't ride it. Sure, they're more expensive than other tires, so what? I ride good, high dollar wheels, ergo, I'm going to ride good, high dollar tires. I don't understand the whole idea of riding a great set of wheels, and then putting $25 crap tires on them. Oh, I run latex tubes too...
Anyway, about 4 weeks ago, I was set to pull down on more Vitts, but PBK was out of them in black (not riding colored tires...sorry!), and I'm NEVER going to pay full metal retail for ANYTHING, so getting them at the LBS was out of the question.
I decided to get some Veloflex Master 700x22 rubber. Never heard of Veloflex? Well, here's quick primer...
When Vittoria moved it's production of tires to Thailand several years ago, they basically just left. All of the employees and equipment were left behind. The Italians, much to their credit, decided to start making tires on their own, thus Veloflex was born.
I'd ridden Veloflex Paves in the past and liked them, but didn't fall in love. Well, the new Veloflex Master tire is out, and it's a bit different animal. Sure, it's the same size at 700x22, but the fine folks at Veloflex upped the TPI count to 320.
The Masters are a mix of new school technology and old-school flavor. Kevlar anti-puncture band and kevlar bead, but cotton casing and natural rubber tread. Plus, the sidewall is a truly old-school natural blonde!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...here's the ride report!Smooth like butter on a bald monkey! Like mentioned earlier, I run Michelin latex tubes. This pairing makes for a sublime ride. In fact, at one point this morning, I truly thought I had a rear flat because it seemed that I was floating along. They even make the sh*t tar-and-chip roads around here seem...well...less bad. Sure, they aren't Vitt Open Paves, but not many tires are...
Considering they are smaller volume (22c) than Vitt OC CX or Pave, they still deliver an outstanding ride.
As the pic shows, they are good for 7-10 bar, which is 110-145 pounds in old money. The only time I'd ride them harder than 120-ish is in the time trial, and seeing that there aren't any of those in my immediate future, 8 bar seems to be perfect.
They Masters roll extremely well. Diving into a turn is something that becomes an afterthought. Throw the bike in, and the tires just stick and track without drama. I think it may have a little to do with the fact that the profile of the tire is round, just as the Vitts always are. Between the natural rubber, the pliable 320TPI casing and that profile make for a tire that can really do no wrong.
Only ONE drawback comes with all of these positives...tire life. Let's be straight here, these are fast trianing/race tires. If you go into it knowing and actually acknowledging this fact, you'll be just fine. Too many people buy tires like these (or the Vitts) and expect them to wear like a Maxxis ReFuse. Sorry, it just ain't gonna happen!
Even taking this ONE fact into account, the positives far outweigh the negative. And @$40 shipped from England, it's hard to beat the price. At that price point, you're usually stuck with something that just cannot deliver anywhere near the same performance!
the ONLY tire that I'd ride over these is the new Vittoria 320TPI OC CX, and the only reason is the fact that they have a bit more volume, even at the 23c size. @25c, they are crazy plush!
To the new Veloflex Master, I say...
25 June 2010
It's like Quizno's around here...
...TOASTY!!!
I went out last night and did a big, convoluted loop of SE Columbia. Out through the Fort, down to Cabin Creek, across to Double Homey and all the way down Bluff into downtown, up Gervais, thru campus and home. It was 98 with a HI of 108 when I left. 93/100 when I got back...
Right at two hours and 70km. Oh, and it was freaking hot. Suffering was abundant for the first hour, but I seemed to fall into a pocket at that point. The pocket was right at 35kmh. Any slower and the legs felt heavy and slow. Any faster and the heat jumped up...right along with my HR.
Good ride though...
WTF is going on the in World? First France gets bounced from the WC, and now Italy? If anyone recalls, they were the two teams who battled it out in the finals last year! Remember the Zidane headbutt? France imploded and just quit this year. It's France though, so what more could be expected? Italy just didn't play well, but something did surprise me. When they lost to Slovakia, they just walked off. No handshakes, no jersey swaps...just tears and what looked like general disdain for everyone involved, except themselves! Keep it classy Italy!
Portugal/Brazil today @ 10am...probably the best match of the tournament!
Now Rock Racing is being included in the investigation into PEDs? Why is it that everything that brushes up against Floyd Landis gets shit on it?
Everyone have fun, if it's at all possible, @ BS&G this weekend! Rubber side down!
Friday link dump:
Milano Fixed (Some dumb fixie stuff, but also some great content!)
The Service Course
Indy Fab (I may need an Indy Fab in the future!)
Hong Fu (carbon stuff straight from Taiwan)
Bring a Trailer (car stuff, but COOL car stuff!)
Peace!
I went out last night and did a big, convoluted loop of SE Columbia. Out through the Fort, down to Cabin Creek, across to Double Homey and all the way down Bluff into downtown, up Gervais, thru campus and home. It was 98 with a HI of 108 when I left. 93/100 when I got back...
Right at two hours and 70km. Oh, and it was freaking hot. Suffering was abundant for the first hour, but I seemed to fall into a pocket at that point. The pocket was right at 35kmh. Any slower and the legs felt heavy and slow. Any faster and the heat jumped up...right along with my HR.
Good ride though...
WTF is going on the in World? First France gets bounced from the WC, and now Italy? If anyone recalls, they were the two teams who battled it out in the finals last year! Remember the Zidane headbutt? France imploded and just quit this year. It's France though, so what more could be expected? Italy just didn't play well, but something did surprise me. When they lost to Slovakia, they just walked off. No handshakes, no jersey swaps...just tears and what looked like general disdain for everyone involved, except themselves! Keep it classy Italy!
Portugal/Brazil today @ 10am...probably the best match of the tournament!
Now Rock Racing is being included in the investigation into PEDs? Why is it that everything that brushes up against Floyd Landis gets shit on it?
Everyone have fun, if it's at all possible, @ BS&G this weekend! Rubber side down!
Friday link dump:
Milano Fixed (Some dumb fixie stuff, but also some great content!)
The Service Course
Indy Fab (I may need an Indy Fab in the future!)
Hong Fu (carbon stuff straight from Taiwan)
Bring a Trailer (car stuff, but COOL car stuff!)
Peace!
23 June 2010
So...
...discussions are leaning towards the mountains. BS&G is this weekend, and the Fab 4th ride is 2 weeks out. Meaning, group rides will be anorexic at best. Of course, it's not like they've been real meaty in '10 anyway.
No matter...I'll just do my own thing and be happy. I think that the enjoyment that comes from riding has become absolutely lost on some people. I'll leave it at that! If that comment raises your ire, then it should have...
I'm also done taking care of the TNWC course. No one bothers to show up anymore, for whatever reason, so I'm not cleaning the course, calling the city to sweep, or visiting the companies out there again. Yeah, I do all that shit to make sure it's a good, and safe, time for everyone!
Moving on...or back to the mountains....
I suck at climbing, but am going to go to Italy and flog myself on the Stelvio before I hit 45!! If you don't know what it is, ask somebody...
Ans this is Debbie...she's the masseuse of choice for the local racing population. Not only is she HOTTER than your masseuse, she's an absolutely NICE person, and she's damn good at what she does!
Oh, and an open note for the pro racers than have been chosen for their respective Tour squads. Be ready for more controls, and for the general attitude of the French to be poor. France got bounced from the World Cup yesterday...after making it to the final 4 years ago. Get your microdoses right boys...or just go on Adderall, like baseball players...
No matter...I'll just do my own thing and be happy. I think that the enjoyment that comes from riding has become absolutely lost on some people. I'll leave it at that! If that comment raises your ire, then it should have...
I'm also done taking care of the TNWC course. No one bothers to show up anymore, for whatever reason, so I'm not cleaning the course, calling the city to sweep, or visiting the companies out there again. Yeah, I do all that shit to make sure it's a good, and safe, time for everyone!
Moving on...or back to the mountains....
I suck at climbing, but am going to go to Italy and flog myself on the Stelvio before I hit 45!! If you don't know what it is, ask somebody...
Ans this is Debbie...she's the masseuse of choice for the local racing population. Not only is she HOTTER than your masseuse, she's an absolutely NICE person, and she's damn good at what she does!
Oh, and an open note for the pro racers than have been chosen for their respective Tour squads. Be ready for more controls, and for the general attitude of the French to be poor. France got bounced from the World Cup yesterday...after making it to the final 4 years ago. Get your microdoses right boys...or just go on Adderall, like baseball players...
22 June 2010
Don't watch that...
...watch this...
(courtesy Michael Barry of Team Sky)
Mavic @ Roubaix
And cyclists are dopers? Really? Baseball players are douchebags!
(courtesy Michael Barry of Team Sky)
Mavic @ Roubaix
And cyclists are dopers? Really? Baseball players are douchebags!
20 June 2010
When the hell did summer get here?
I guess I got a little too used to the cool spring and winter temps. The last two Saturdays have been hot and humid affairs and have really snapped my monkey. That being said, I am still fighting off the afterglow of a sinus infection, so I guess I shouldn't expect too much.
We had a pretty good sized group yesterday, but as always happens, a good ride devolves and ends up being split all over the countryside.
Once everything settled out, the run for home began. FK hit the front a jacked the pace...again. It was hard, but not gut wrenching. Doug got scraped off and I remembered that he had mentioned that he really didn't know where he was way out in the sticks. I sat up and we rode home together. No reason at all to leave someone for dead out in Eastover on a Saturday!
3 hours and right @ 100km...pretty decent ride, but I felt like crap for the rest of the day.
And a hearty 'thanks' goes out to the H.O. for adding to my misery. On her way out of town, she decided to futz around with the bluetooth in her new car. In doing so, she drifted out of her lane and shellaced the center island of the road with her left front wheel. So like the good husband that I am, I went and saved the day. The tire is shot, the wheel is shot, the alignment is shot, and who knows what she did to the suspension!!!
In an effort to continue her trip, she switched out all of the bags, into my truck! Thanks dear...you have a good trip...I'll take care of the three-legged dog! Did I mention that her new whip only has 2200 miles on it?
I did a SLOW HoP this morning. It was hot and humid and now I sit here pecking away with a headache. I also broke one of the RULES this morning. #7 to be exact. A jersey w/o sleeves is sometimes necessary. There should be a caveat that takes heat and humidity into consideration.
Plus, if it's good enough for Cipo, it's good enough for you!
LA finished 2nd overall at the TdS today...here's the TT...
Also, Kim Kirchen had a heart attack!!! WTF??? Of course, the naysayers and know-nothings of the internet have immediately started pointing the finger at PEDs. Nevermind the facts...
It's poor form, and shows that people are nothing more than knee-jerk reactionaries. The guys has had health issues for a year or so, and seems to have some sort of heart problem.
I guess all of the teenage and early-20s folks that drop dead on the basketball court or football field are on the AVGAS too? Anyone remember Keith Iwinski's episode at the TNWC a few years ago? He went into sinus tachycardia sitting on the curb with a HR of 240!!! Fortunately, Dr. LP was there to save the day with some corotid artery massage.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). When you are sedentary, like most folks are, it's no issue. When you exercise at a high level, it can create scar tissue and be a problem.
It's sad and unfortunate that people have become so pessimistic and hateful towards the sport that they participate in as to immediately call Kirchen a doper. How very Fox News of you...!
Peace...
We had a pretty good sized group yesterday, but as always happens, a good ride devolves and ends up being split all over the countryside.
Once everything settled out, the run for home began. FK hit the front a jacked the pace...again. It was hard, but not gut wrenching. Doug got scraped off and I remembered that he had mentioned that he really didn't know where he was way out in the sticks. I sat up and we rode home together. No reason at all to leave someone for dead out in Eastover on a Saturday!
3 hours and right @ 100km...pretty decent ride, but I felt like crap for the rest of the day.
And a hearty 'thanks' goes out to the H.O. for adding to my misery. On her way out of town, she decided to futz around with the bluetooth in her new car. In doing so, she drifted out of her lane and shellaced the center island of the road with her left front wheel. So like the good husband that I am, I went and saved the day. The tire is shot, the wheel is shot, the alignment is shot, and who knows what she did to the suspension!!!
In an effort to continue her trip, she switched out all of the bags, into my truck! Thanks dear...you have a good trip...I'll take care of the three-legged dog! Did I mention that her new whip only has 2200 miles on it?
I did a SLOW HoP this morning. It was hot and humid and now I sit here pecking away with a headache. I also broke one of the RULES this morning. #7 to be exact. A jersey w/o sleeves is sometimes necessary. There should be a caveat that takes heat and humidity into consideration.
Plus, if it's good enough for Cipo, it's good enough for you!
LA finished 2nd overall at the TdS today...here's the TT...
Also, Kim Kirchen had a heart attack!!! WTF??? Of course, the naysayers and know-nothings of the internet have immediately started pointing the finger at PEDs. Nevermind the facts...
It's poor form, and shows that people are nothing more than knee-jerk reactionaries. The guys has had health issues for a year or so, and seems to have some sort of heart problem.
I guess all of the teenage and early-20s folks that drop dead on the basketball court or football field are on the AVGAS too? Anyone remember Keith Iwinski's episode at the TNWC a few years ago? He went into sinus tachycardia sitting on the curb with a HR of 240!!! Fortunately, Dr. LP was there to save the day with some corotid artery massage.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). When you are sedentary, like most folks are, it's no issue. When you exercise at a high level, it can create scar tissue and be a problem.
It's sad and unfortunate that people have become so pessimistic and hateful towards the sport that they participate in as to immediately call Kirchen a doper. How very Fox News of you...!
Peace...
18 June 2010
Back on the horse
So after 5 days of being off the bike, I decided to go out and do a slow rehab loop of the Fort last night. I felt absolutely terrible on the bike, but still finished the big, convoluted loop within 5 minutes of my 'feel good on the bike' time, so I'm not that dis-pleased!
As I headed up the two rises that lead to the descent of The Wall, an Apache AH-64, literally, popped right up over the crest of the hill and flew over me at treetop level. VERY cool! I know the air crew saw me because the 30mm chain gun that lives under the nose turned in my direction. I felt very small, very vulnerable and very Taliban-ish at that moment!
Out on the base, the Army has taken it upon themselves to pave certain sections of some roads. While the paving is welcome, one can tell that it was done the Army/Government way...lowest bid!
A section of Washington was just done, but I don't think they took the time to properly roll the asphalt. I felt like I was sinking in it and my tires were COVERED in asphalt and gravel after I cleared the section. Dixie is much better, but the two worst parts have been excavated and are merely holes in the road filled with pea gravel. Nice...
GW's Tarmac is wearing it's new SRAM Force parts. I learned two things...well, one was learned and one was a reinforcement of an earlier belief.
1) When cutting housing for SRAM, if you think it's the correct length, it isn't. Add an inch to the length if you want it to shift!
2) I'll never buy SRAM. It just doesn't feel as solid as Shimano. The levers just feel cheap in the hand...very plastic-y. Shimano forever for me!
Evidently, LA had a good ride @ the TdS yesterday...Geshink was on fire though...
And watch this clip from Wednesday...I'm guessing the roads there are slick when wet! Even the sphincter clinch couldn't keep that one upright!
Oh, and Trek sucks! If you have a Madone, check your steerer tube! After you check it, pull all of your parts and buy something else! Here's a pic of one from Athens...
Gotta jet...time to look for some rims so I can re-build my White Industries hubs...
As I headed up the two rises that lead to the descent of The Wall, an Apache AH-64, literally, popped right up over the crest of the hill and flew over me at treetop level. VERY cool! I know the air crew saw me because the 30mm chain gun that lives under the nose turned in my direction. I felt very small, very vulnerable and very Taliban-ish at that moment!
Out on the base, the Army has taken it upon themselves to pave certain sections of some roads. While the paving is welcome, one can tell that it was done the Army/Government way...lowest bid!
A section of Washington was just done, but I don't think they took the time to properly roll the asphalt. I felt like I was sinking in it and my tires were COVERED in asphalt and gravel after I cleared the section. Dixie is much better, but the two worst parts have been excavated and are merely holes in the road filled with pea gravel. Nice...
GW's Tarmac is wearing it's new SRAM Force parts. I learned two things...well, one was learned and one was a reinforcement of an earlier belief.
1) When cutting housing for SRAM, if you think it's the correct length, it isn't. Add an inch to the length if you want it to shift!
2) I'll never buy SRAM. It just doesn't feel as solid as Shimano. The levers just feel cheap in the hand...very plastic-y. Shimano forever for me!
Evidently, LA had a good ride @ the TdS yesterday...Geshink was on fire though...
And watch this clip from Wednesday...I'm guessing the roads there are slick when wet! Even the sphincter clinch couldn't keep that one upright!
Oh, and Trek sucks! If you have a Madone, check your steerer tube! After you check it, pull all of your parts and buy something else! Here's a pic of one from Athens...
Gotta jet...time to look for some rims so I can re-build my White Industries hubs...
16 June 2010
TdS carnage
Cav deviated, but a front wheel just shouldn't cave like that when touched! Big confidence booster for those who ride Zipp tubs...Fire up the motor drive...
Boonen ran over Cav's neck! (photos courtesy: Sirotti)GW's Tarmac has been striped of the Shimano bits and now has SRAM Force hanging on it. Upgrade? Maybe...maybe not...gotta go pick up the cableset and some bar tape for it. It'll be done tonight or tomorrow, depending on what the H.O. has planned for me tonight.
Back on the bike tomorrow. I'm getting hard(er) to get along with! Maybe I'll cough up some of this garbage...
15 June 2010
Things that make you say...Holy Shit!
Yeah, that was Cav's fault...
-It's supposed to be over 100 degrees today with a heat index of 110+. You guys can have the TNWC tonight! I'm feeling better, but not feeling stupid. I know a few pipe hitters are bailing along with me, but there will be others that show up to tempt the angry God that is Heatstroke.
-These guys are still making wheels? Scary! That's a lot of cheddar for a wheelset that can't be repaired.
-I cannot find a rim for my broken rear wheel. Everyone that carries the IRD Cadence VSR hoop is out of stock right now...guess it'll just sit until one becomes available. Maybe not 'Holy Shit!' worthy, but still a pisser...
-SC politics...it seems we're out-crazying Arizona, Utah and NC...
Of course, we'll always have Clyburn and Jake Knotts, so we're automatically ahead from the start...
-BP...just plug the damn thing. You have the ability! I know it's a well that will produce MILLIONS of barrels in the future, but it's time to just cut your losses and solve the problem.
-That Van Der Sloot kid...just put a bullet in his skull. Hell, I know a guy that'll do it! The World will not weep....
Off the bike until Thursday in an effort to rid myself of whatever crud that has taken hold. Thankfully I have the World Cup to keep me company and GW's Tarmac to keep me busy.
Peace!
14 June 2010
Love
I just LOVE being sick in the summer, especially when it's 111 degrees outside, and I'm being literal with the temperature!
Had a good ride Saturday, but as the day/evening progressed, I just felt worse and worse. Sunday was an up and down affair. Felt bad until about noon, then the bottom fell out. The hours of noon through about 5 were dodgy at best. I drove to the festering shit-hole that is Lexington to pick up the MTs, came home, ate a bowl of cereal, medicated and went to bed.
I'm feeling like I'm on the back side of it though. The H.O., in her finite wisdom, made the obligatory, 'go to the Doctor' comment, as wives are known do. No thanks! I don't need the Doctor to pop me for $80-ish dollars to tell me that I have a sinus infection that I'll be over by the end of the week.
That being said, at least my day of laying in bed was made more comfortable by the full day of sports on TV and the intarwebs. I watched the Dauphine, Tour de Suisse, World Cup Futbol, F1, NASCAR, LeMans, and a bit of college baseball, which is about as exciting as watching my 5 year old's t-ball games. Yeah, Carolina won, and is going to the CWS, but I really just don't care...
Oh, and my Speedplays came Saturday...broken out of the box...great...
More Futbol on tap today...not doing much else. The MTs can fend for themselves!
I'm cranky today...even more so than usual!
Had a good ride Saturday, but as the day/evening progressed, I just felt worse and worse. Sunday was an up and down affair. Felt bad until about noon, then the bottom fell out. The hours of noon through about 5 were dodgy at best. I drove to the festering shit-hole that is Lexington to pick up the MTs, came home, ate a bowl of cereal, medicated and went to bed.
I'm feeling like I'm on the back side of it though. The H.O., in her finite wisdom, made the obligatory, 'go to the Doctor' comment, as wives are known do. No thanks! I don't need the Doctor to pop me for $80-ish dollars to tell me that I have a sinus infection that I'll be over by the end of the week.
That being said, at least my day of laying in bed was made more comfortable by the full day of sports on TV and the intarwebs. I watched the Dauphine, Tour de Suisse, World Cup Futbol, F1, NASCAR, LeMans, and a bit of college baseball, which is about as exciting as watching my 5 year old's t-ball games. Yeah, Carolina won, and is going to the CWS, but I really just don't care...
Oh, and my Speedplays came Saturday...broken out of the box...great...
More Futbol on tap today...not doing much else. The MTs can fend for themselves!
I'm cranky today...even more so than usual!
12 June 2010
Saturday video dump
Dauphine Stage 6 (Alpe d'Huez)
Contadope wins, but didn't exactly light it up at the bottom and ride away...good ride by Tejay V.! Kid's a stud!
Tour de Suisse Stage 1 (Prologue)
Spartacus kicks it root down!
Did a nice 95km with the bunch this morning. No drama, just an enjoyable ride that had some pace in sections. It was bloody hot though!
USA/England now...already down 0-1...this might be bad...
Contadope wins, but didn't exactly light it up at the bottom and ride away...good ride by Tejay V.! Kid's a stud!
Tour de Suisse Stage 1 (Prologue)
Spartacus kicks it root down!
Did a nice 95km with the bunch this morning. No drama, just an enjoyable ride that had some pace in sections. It was bloody hot though!
USA/England now...already down 0-1...this might be bad...
11 June 2010
Friday
Dauphine Stage 4
Good ride last night w/Il Prof and TVH. New position is feeling better every ride, but I think I need to nose the saddle down a bit. Getting forward on the nose isn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the World.
Time to go food shopping...it's starting to smack of bad parenting around here...
Good ride last night w/Il Prof and TVH. New position is feeling better every ride, but I think I need to nose the saddle down a bit. Getting forward on the nose isn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the World.
Time to go food shopping...it's starting to smack of bad parenting around here...
10 June 2010
Talking points
-Good TNWC. Felt good. Had good legs and lungs. Stopped for luggage adjustments. New bibs pinching the junk.
-New Glass installed on truck...incorrectly. They're coming back today.
-New motion lights installed. Prisons got nothing on my yard.
-Shotgun cleaned, oiled and re-loaded. Next guy that breaks a window or walks on my porch carries home 00buckshot in his ass.
-Contadork looks beatable 4 weeks out from Le Tour. Maybe his dope regimen hasn't started yet.
-Landis hires Lemond's attorneys. With what $? It seems that particular asshole train has come full circle.
-Best. Jersey. Ever.
-Riding tonight.
-Lunchtime.
-Peace.
-New Glass installed on truck...incorrectly. They're coming back today.
-New motion lights installed. Prisons got nothing on my yard.
-Shotgun cleaned, oiled and re-loaded. Next guy that breaks a window or walks on my porch carries home 00buckshot in his ass.
-Contadork looks beatable 4 weeks out from Le Tour. Maybe his dope regimen hasn't started yet.
-Landis hires Lemond's attorneys. With what $? It seems that particular asshole train has come full circle.
-Best. Jersey. Ever.
-Riding tonight.
-Lunchtime.
-Peace.
08 June 2010
Quickie
So I rode last night. I did the HoP loop and felt great. No effort was made to go fast or get th HR up, but the cranks just spun freely...no chain ride!
I got home and took a walk with the H.O. and MTs. While sitting on a bench at the park, I took a shot to the neck by some sort of flying, stinging insect. Did I mention that I'm allergic to these types of things? We got up and walked home. About 30 minutes later, my neck was swollen and tingling and my breathing was growing more and more raspy. 3 tablespoons of liquid Benadryl, and an hour later, I was feeling better, if not a little fuzzy. The rest of my evening was a blur...
I woke up really foggy this morning...go figure! My neck is sore from the sting as well! I hope the little bastard enjoyed his last act!
The hits kept coming this morning. I'd planned on taking the MTs to the river to ride their bikes this morning, but upon the load-in, I noticed that some DICKHEAD smashed the rear window on my truck. Super...just fucking super...! And, of course, Safelite gave me a window of 12-6 for the 'technician' to show up and replace the glass.
I think the time for us to move the company HQ out of this glorified trailerpark is coming quickly.
See you guys at the TNWC tonight. Maybe some folks will show up! Contrary to the beliefs of some, 20 is not a good turnout!
Dauphine Stage 2...Haedo cleans up!
I got home and took a walk with the H.O. and MTs. While sitting on a bench at the park, I took a shot to the neck by some sort of flying, stinging insect. Did I mention that I'm allergic to these types of things? We got up and walked home. About 30 minutes later, my neck was swollen and tingling and my breathing was growing more and more raspy. 3 tablespoons of liquid Benadryl, and an hour later, I was feeling better, if not a little fuzzy. The rest of my evening was a blur...
I woke up really foggy this morning...go figure! My neck is sore from the sting as well! I hope the little bastard enjoyed his last act!
The hits kept coming this morning. I'd planned on taking the MTs to the river to ride their bikes this morning, but upon the load-in, I noticed that some DICKHEAD smashed the rear window on my truck. Super...just fucking super...! And, of course, Safelite gave me a window of 12-6 for the 'technician' to show up and replace the glass.
I think the time for us to move the company HQ out of this glorified trailerpark is coming quickly.
See you guys at the TNWC tonight. Maybe some folks will show up! Contrary to the beliefs of some, 20 is not a good turnout!
Dauphine Stage 2...Haedo cleans up!
07 June 2010
Monday dump
TdL Stage 4 recap...turned into a swim meet...
Dauphine Prologue/ITT
Contador must not be on his Tour dope regimen yet...great ride by Tejay nonetheless...
And WTF is with Millar's socks? Any higher and he'll need to cut armholes in them!
Liz Hatch crashed again, only in Europe this time. Granted, she did get run off by a car, but she seems to hit the tarmac in a spectacular fashion about once a season, and then brags about it. Frank McCormick once said to stay away from the guys who crash and then boast about the crash. Bad juju...mention it once, then let it go...
She's the Danica Patrick of cycling anyway...#titsovertalent
And if you doubt this, and take umbrage, please look at the 09 NRC points. Hatch had ZERO, yet got a Euro contract. Hell, our own little Casey Gale finished with 40...and wasn't on a big team!
SC State TT was Saturday. Nathan won 30-34. LL is 35-39 Champeen again. JayC finished 2nd in 40-44. Good rides fellas. And in looking at the Women's result, we really need to get Mrs. FK a TT bike. She could have easily podium'd in her group...maybe won it outright!
I didn't ride all weekend...it was nice. The fam came home and my solitude was destroyed, but no matter, I didn't have the urge to ride anyway. Instead, I cross-trained yesterday by power-washing the fence. My right hand/wrist/arm are jacked this morning. I have the Fred G. Sanford claw.
I think I'll do a short spin tonight to loosen things up...
Have a good Monday.
Dauphine Prologue/ITT
Contador must not be on his Tour dope regimen yet...great ride by Tejay nonetheless...
And WTF is with Millar's socks? Any higher and he'll need to cut armholes in them!
Liz Hatch crashed again, only in Europe this time. Granted, she did get run off by a car, but she seems to hit the tarmac in a spectacular fashion about once a season, and then brags about it. Frank McCormick once said to stay away from the guys who crash and then boast about the crash. Bad juju...mention it once, then let it go...
She's the Danica Patrick of cycling anyway...#titsovertalent
And if you doubt this, and take umbrage, please look at the 09 NRC points. Hatch had ZERO, yet got a Euro contract. Hell, our own little Casey Gale finished with 40...and wasn't on a big team!
SC State TT was Saturday. Nathan won 30-34. LL is 35-39 Champeen again. JayC finished 2nd in 40-44. Good rides fellas. And in looking at the Women's result, we really need to get Mrs. FK a TT bike. She could have easily podium'd in her group...maybe won it outright!
I didn't ride all weekend...it was nice. The fam came home and my solitude was destroyed, but no matter, I didn't have the urge to ride anyway. Instead, I cross-trained yesterday by power-washing the fence. My right hand/wrist/arm are jacked this morning. I have the Fred G. Sanford claw.
I think I'll do a short spin tonight to loosen things up...
Have a good Monday.
04 June 2010
24 hours
It's a very short 24 hours until my week of solitude ends and the cacophony that is my family returns from the Redneck Riviera. I've been asked nigh on a dozen times this week as to exactly WHY I didn't go to the beach. Well, here's the short answer...the H.O.'s family goes on this trip every year! I would rather have a 0530, shot-to-the-nuts, wake-up call for a solid week, than have the first thing I hear in the morning be my jack-off father-in-law. Thus, I stayed in my humble home, rode when I wanted to ride, ate when I was hungry and slept when my eyes became heavy.
Sure, I miss the H.O. and the MTs, but it's been a quiet, enjoyable week!
Yesterday, I rolled out and did a Vitamin D ride on the cross bike. It was enjoyable enough, until I decided to tangle with one of those raised white lines near the TNWC course. 700x38 tires with 50-ish pounds of air them do not like quick changes in direction. The VERY soft front tire grabbed the edge of the line and sent me directly into the grass. I fell over and just sort of rolled, much like a turtle who finds himself suddenly on his back. No harm, no foul! I do levy a part of the blame squarely @ Il Prof, as we had a conversation about the white lines on Wednesday evening, after he nearly came to grief on one of the dastardly little raised SOBs. Bad juju...
At that point, I just rolled home...
I went out this morning with the plan to just to the HoP, but really had nothing more to do today, so I made a turn and went out into WC. I added the HoP+ loop and headed home. A couple of 15 minute efforts, and a few 30/30s and a charge up Gervais Street and I was done. 6 days and 17 hours on the bike this week. I think I'm going to take a couple of days off. Or maybe just tomorrow...
Oh, and I'm not even going to comment on the whole 'engine-in-the-seat-tube' mechanical doping bullshit. So far out of the realm of any possibility that it's almost obscene. Actually,
Spartacus has two engines...IN HIS FUCKING THIGHS! The pistons are straight out of a blown big-block Chevy 572!
LA is funny!
Speaking of eyes becoming heavy...it's naptime.
Sure, I miss the H.O. and the MTs, but it's been a quiet, enjoyable week!
Yesterday, I rolled out and did a Vitamin D ride on the cross bike. It was enjoyable enough, until I decided to tangle with one of those raised white lines near the TNWC course. 700x38 tires with 50-ish pounds of air them do not like quick changes in direction. The VERY soft front tire grabbed the edge of the line and sent me directly into the grass. I fell over and just sort of rolled, much like a turtle who finds himself suddenly on his back. No harm, no foul! I do levy a part of the blame squarely @ Il Prof, as we had a conversation about the white lines on Wednesday evening, after he nearly came to grief on one of the dastardly little raised SOBs. Bad juju...
At that point, I just rolled home...
I went out this morning with the plan to just to the HoP, but really had nothing more to do today, so I made a turn and went out into WC. I added the HoP+ loop and headed home. A couple of 15 minute efforts, and a few 30/30s and a charge up Gervais Street and I was done. 6 days and 17 hours on the bike this week. I think I'm going to take a couple of days off. Or maybe just tomorrow...
Oh, and I'm not even going to comment on the whole 'engine-in-the-seat-tube' mechanical doping bullshit. So far out of the realm of any possibility that it's almost obscene. Actually,
Spartacus has two engines...IN HIS FUCKING THIGHS! The pistons are straight out of a blown big-block Chevy 572!
LA is funny!
Speaking of eyes becoming heavy...it's naptime.
02 June 2010
1998 TdF redux?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/afld-wants-additional-controls-at-tour-de-france
I can see it coming...
Fishing through garbage cans, raiding team hotels, riders striking...stoopid!
Hey France, take a page from Italy and worry about putting on a great race!
I can see it coming...
Fishing through garbage cans, raiding team hotels, riders striking...stoopid!
Hey France, take a page from Italy and worry about putting on a great race!
Wednesday pic dump
Great Giro poster from Cyclocosm...
Yeah, track dudes aren't on the AVGAS...
When you see it, you understand...I went out early last night before the TNWC. Rode into a rainstorm, turned for the course and rode out of the rain. Did the TNWC, then rolled home with the group. It started raining again about 4 blocks from the house. I'm sure glad I cleaned my bike on Monday...
I need to start making my appointments with Renick on days other than Tuesday. He cracked and stretched me yesterday and pulled something in my ribcage. Sure, it'll feel fine a couple of days, but @ 45kmh, it hurt a bit last night.
I'm taking today off the bike to get some crap done around the house. The plan was to paint some exterior trim, but no paint = no painting. The yard is calling me...then I'll clean the bike again.
Peace!
31 May 2010
Finally...
...some truth out of the Euro-Pro ranks...
Contradork's shirt showing who the GOAT* is...
*(Greatest Of All Time)
Contradork's shirt showing who the GOAT* is...
*(Greatest Of All Time)
All Twitch...not me!
How Big Ring is Taylor Phinney? You can't take that kid to the finish...especially on the boards. Two straight at Roubaix U23!
Two parter for me this morning...
Part one ended out near the Krispy Kreme...no, I didn't go in...assholes! I stood to leave the intersection and the telltale ker-pang of a broken spoke ruptured the silence. I was on my 32h/3x wheels, so I rode the bitch home. 31 spokes under tension keeps the wheel damn straight!
Thankfully, I think I have a few of the HIGH $ CX-Ray spokes down in the Manhole(tm).
I rolled home slowly, changed front wheels and was off again.
Part two was drama-free...thankfully! 90 minutes steady with 45 minutes of good SST thrown in towards the end. I never got wet, but it's not exactly a Chamber of Commerce day outside.
Oh, what to do for the rest of the day...?
30 May 2010
Happy Memorial Day
The Giro ended today...what an epic race! So good! I think I'm going to just go ahead and pre-order the DVD from WCP.
Basso gets a long deserved win. Evans shows some truly aggressive racing. Veino didn't win. Everyone is happy!
I post some video, but I haven't found it yet. Universal has a linkable video, but it's so shitty that it's just not worth bothering with...
Now, let's all hope the Tour doesn't turn into a drug-raid fiesta, like the 1998 edition. Somehow, I think there will be more drama than there really needs to be this year.
Moving on...
The H.O. and the MTs loaded up and left for the beach yesterday morning. I rolled out early for a solo ride before they departed. Felt like shit...rode like shit...par for the course.
The rest of the day was spent laying around, sleeping and trying a new recipe in the kitchen. All 3 were deemed a rousing success!
I met Il Prof this morning to do a long-ish ride. We ended up doing Screaming Eagle backwards and had quite a nice ride. I actually felt a little better on the bike today. I may be getting a little more used to the new position. The afternoon closely mimicked yesterday's.
The whole 'quiet house, no yelling, no noise' thing is very nice. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but a brother needs a break once in a while!
Don't know what's happening tomorrow, but I'll be on the bike somewhere. Have a Happy Memorial Day and remember why you have the day off work! Peace!
20
Gavia...snow...no more needs to be said...
p1
p2
p3
Last 3km
I rode for an hour yesterday, then shipped the family to the beach. Nothing like a quiet dark house to allow one to return to center!
p1
p2
p3
Last 3km
I rode for an hour yesterday, then shipped the family to the beach. Nothing like a quiet dark house to allow one to return to center!
28 May 2010
27 May 2010
Giro Stage 18
From RAI...
Couldn't find a video that could be embedded...sorry...
Did an easy, tired loop of the Fort tonight. Pretty empty way out at the end of Dixie. I saw a turkey, two hawks, a snake as big around as my forearm and a coyote. Don't know what kind of snake it was, but it was about 5 feet long and moving across the road with due haste. The coyote was a little one, which means mama coyote was around there somewhere!
I felt like hammered shit when I left the house, but felt better as the ride progressed. I'm taking tomorrow morning off to help the H.O. get her poop in a pile for the company beach trip. They leave Saturday @ lunch, which means my week of solitude begins about 7 minutes after that! I foresee a lot of riding, sleeping and a little bit of work around the house.
Oh, and check this shit out...Arroyo's pink Dogma...
He really needs some white, or even pink shoes though...
Gotta take mt front wheel to Shrews tomorrow morning to fix the character that it now has thanks to the road 'repairs' out on Dixie. Yeah, they're paving some of it, but they've also dug out some as prep work. I almost got swallowed by a hole @ 40kmh yesterday...
Couldn't find a video that could be embedded...sorry...
Did an easy, tired loop of the Fort tonight. Pretty empty way out at the end of Dixie. I saw a turkey, two hawks, a snake as big around as my forearm and a coyote. Don't know what kind of snake it was, but it was about 5 feet long and moving across the road with due haste. The coyote was a little one, which means mama coyote was around there somewhere!
I felt like hammered shit when I left the house, but felt better as the ride progressed. I'm taking tomorrow morning off to help the H.O. get her poop in a pile for the company beach trip. They leave Saturday @ lunch, which means my week of solitude begins about 7 minutes after that! I foresee a lot of riding, sleeping and a little bit of work around the house.
Oh, and check this shit out...Arroyo's pink Dogma...
He really needs some white, or even pink shoes though...
Gotta take mt front wheel to Shrews tomorrow morning to fix the character that it now has thanks to the road 'repairs' out on Dixie. Yeah, they're paving some of it, but they've also dug out some as prep work. I almost got swallowed by a hole @ 40kmh yesterday...
26 May 2010
TNWC
The TNWC brought out a small group last night that became smaller pretty quickly. The break got away...the chase broke up into two groups, then just shattered completely. MW took the sprint from BK by about 1/2 a wheel.
I know it was windy and threatening rain last night, so that kept some folks away, but the TNWC has had poor attendance all year, save for one race. Is it dying a long, slow death after many successful years? It sure looks that way. It's a shame, and I have my ideas on why, but I'll just keep them to myself...
What 24% looks like!
That's it for me. I'm going riding....
Edit : Stage 17 finish from the Giro
I know it was windy and threatening rain last night, so that kept some folks away, but the TNWC has had poor attendance all year, save for one race. Is it dying a long, slow death after many successful years? It sure looks that way. It's a shame, and I have my ideas on why, but I'll just keep them to myself...
What 24% looks like!
That's it for me. I'm going riding....
Edit : Stage 17 finish from the Giro
25 May 2010
Giro>Tour AGAIN
C'mon, it's only 500m to go! Harden Up!For reference...Simoni ran a 39/34 setup on the cranks and a 12/29 cassette...
Some more numbers:
13km
3500ft of climbing
8.5% average grade
24% max (on the dirt BTW!)
Unreal stage to the top of Plan de Corones today!
Video...in Italian no less!
24 May 2010
Video Monday
For those who are interested, here are the videos for the entire Zoncolan climb from yesterday's Giro stage...insane!
P1
P2
p3
ToC Stage 8
P1
P2
p3
ToC Stage 8
23 May 2010
HolyCrap!
Giro Stage 15 finish...
Look at all the freaking people on the Zoncolan!!! Giro>Tour
Rode short this morning...out to the Speedway. Trying to figure out if it's even possible to have a cross race out there. Unfortunately, it would be entirely too difficult and time consuming to even bother with it. Perfect place, yet a shit location...
Looks like my first choice will be the priority. Still working on second location for a possible Sunday race.
ToC ends today....live on Versus....
See you guys Tuesday. Peace.
Edit- And if you ride through the Fort and cut through the woods/Palmetto Trail to get out into Lower Richland, you're welcome!
22 May 2010
Quickie
ToC Stage 7 time trial
Giro Stage 14 from Universal...sorry, no embed again...dicks!
Here's the last 4km ...
Great day @ the 321TT today. Good turnout...if you read this, and are at all close by, come out for the August race.
No ride for me today, but still a long ass day...
Giro Stage 14 from Universal...sorry, no embed again...dicks!
Here's the last 4km ...
Great day @ the 321TT today. Good turnout...if you read this, and are at all close by, come out for the August race.
No ride for me today, but still a long ass day...
21 May 2010
Video Friday
Edit: Again, no embed for the Giro stage (13 today), but here's the video. Craig Lewis is a stud...
Lance's crash @ the ToC
It also took out Stuey and several others. Jeremy Powers said he ditched it and ran for his life...
Here's Van Ulden doing just that!
Great finish though!
How strong is DZ? Sure, he didn't win, but he absolutely shattered the field on the run in...and still finished 2nd! I'm sure it was the dope....right Floyd?
Good on Sagan for the win! 20 years old...
12th Stage @ the Giro almost went UFC. Not 'Cuddles' Evans fault though. I've watched it several times and it looks like Cuddles was yelling for Righi to work and things spiraled from there.
This is the last thing I'll say about Floyd unless he comes out with blood bags or video of all of them sitting around running up EPO.
I find it funny that all of the 'sports' guys on TV, be they local or nation, think that Landis has zero credibilty and are falling in line to support Lance, Johan, Levi, et al. Usually these guys wouldn't know the difference between the Tour of California and a bunch of hipsters doing skids in front of Cycle Center.
Even the clueless think Floyd is full of shit!
The only bothersome thing that the 'mainstream' dumbasses are doing is comparing 'FloydGate' to doping in baseball. the fact that they are trying to associate the two to prove a point about doping is further proof that you don't need to know much about sports to be a sports guy on TV.
The 'Floyd Landis Death Clock' had started. RevBigRing has July 3rd. JB has Bastille Day (July 14th). Hit me up for a date, before they all fill up.
Edit: Here's Michael Barry's response to our favorite Mennonite. Kinda shoots some .50cal-sized hles in the story, eh?
Lance's crash @ the ToC
It also took out Stuey and several others. Jeremy Powers said he ditched it and ran for his life...
Here's Van Ulden doing just that!
Great finish though!
How strong is DZ? Sure, he didn't win, but he absolutely shattered the field on the run in...and still finished 2nd! I'm sure it was the dope....right Floyd?
Good on Sagan for the win! 20 years old...
12th Stage @ the Giro almost went UFC. Not 'Cuddles' Evans fault though. I've watched it several times and it looks like Cuddles was yelling for Righi to work and things spiraled from there.
This is the last thing I'll say about Floyd unless he comes out with blood bags or video of all of them sitting around running up EPO.
I find it funny that all of the 'sports' guys on TV, be they local or nation, think that Landis has zero credibilty and are falling in line to support Lance, Johan, Levi, et al. Usually these guys wouldn't know the difference between the Tour of California and a bunch of hipsters doing skids in front of Cycle Center.
Even the clueless think Floyd is full of shit!
The only bothersome thing that the 'mainstream' dumbasses are doing is comparing 'FloydGate' to doping in baseball. the fact that they are trying to associate the two to prove a point about doping is further proof that you don't need to know much about sports to be a sports guy on TV.
The 'Floyd Landis Death Clock' had started. RevBigRing has July 3rd. JB has Bastille Day (July 14th). Hit me up for a date, before they all fill up.
Edit: Here's Michael Barry's response to our favorite Mennonite. Kinda shoots some .50cal-sized hles in the story, eh?
20 May 2010
Some things...
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
We've all read the stories and emails (purportedly from Floyd). Here's my take...
KEEP YOUR PANTS ON!
First, Floyd has been proven as a liar several times before, including under oath. People said he was innocent, then guilty, then full of shit. Now, suddenly, he's the second coming? Really?
Second, Floyd has been proven to have sent threatening, borderline blackmail, emails to pretty much everyone from Lance, to John Burke (Trek), to the CEO of Amgen. These will come out sooner rather than later. Remember when he HACKED the French lab?
Third, Floyd has ZERO hard evidence of anything that he's claiming. His emails to various media and cycling-related outlets is some cowardly lion bullshit that smacks of spite and desperation. Cycling has basically turned it's back on him and now he is pointing fingers and naming names. He needs to remember that when one points a finger, there are three pointing back.
All Floyd has done thus far is make libelous and defamatory statements about the BIG names in American cycling, as the big names will get him press. What's the bet that his new book will come out sometime around the 3rd of July 2010? Something happens on that day, but for the life of me...
BTW, if we are believing statements read in the internet, I'm banging Megan Fox on a daily basis!
Am I naive to think that LA, Levi, or whoever has doped in the past, or might be on the AVGAS now? Hell No!
To ride at those speeds, over those distances, you have to do some sort of ACTIVE recovery. As a nice European lady told Il Prof on their cross country trip, and I paraphrase, "The Tour cannot be won on a ham sandwich...", or something to that effect.
I don't condone the drug use, but I understand. If you are from a dirt poor family, in a dirt poor country, and someone offers you the opportunity to make more money than you've ever seen in your life, you take it.
And climb down off your moral high horses folks! If a Genie popped into your living room and said you could have Lance Armstrong levels of fame and MONEY, and all you had to do was spin your blood in a centrifuge and take a few injections now and again, YOU'D DO IT!!! If you say you wouldn't, you're full of shit and YOU know it! Hell, I'd do it TODAY!
Lastly, for all of you conspiracy theorists who think the Omerta of pro cycling is keeping the story down, move out of your mom's basement, take off your tin foil hat, and get some sunshine on your faces. It's becoming a bit like the whole 'Moon-landing-was-a-hoax' thing. Tens of thousands of people would have to be in on the plot, and as we all know, three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead!
I didn't believe Floyd then, and I don't believe his line of rhetoric now. Funny how those who have been accused have stepped squarely in front of the camera, yet Landis is MIA...
The other negative from all of this? Lemond will pop out of his hole at any moment and flap his fat, alcoholic, parnoid gums. STFU Greg...
We've all read the stories and emails (purportedly from Floyd). Here's my take...
KEEP YOUR PANTS ON!
First, Floyd has been proven as a liar several times before, including under oath. People said he was innocent, then guilty, then full of shit. Now, suddenly, he's the second coming? Really?
Second, Floyd has been proven to have sent threatening, borderline blackmail, emails to pretty much everyone from Lance, to John Burke (Trek), to the CEO of Amgen. These will come out sooner rather than later. Remember when he HACKED the French lab?
Third, Floyd has ZERO hard evidence of anything that he's claiming. His emails to various media and cycling-related outlets is some cowardly lion bullshit that smacks of spite and desperation. Cycling has basically turned it's back on him and now he is pointing fingers and naming names. He needs to remember that when one points a finger, there are three pointing back.
All Floyd has done thus far is make libelous and defamatory statements about the BIG names in American cycling, as the big names will get him press. What's the bet that his new book will come out sometime around the 3rd of July 2010? Something happens on that day, but for the life of me...
BTW, if we are believing statements read in the internet, I'm banging Megan Fox on a daily basis!
Am I naive to think that LA, Levi, or whoever has doped in the past, or might be on the AVGAS now? Hell No!
To ride at those speeds, over those distances, you have to do some sort of ACTIVE recovery. As a nice European lady told Il Prof on their cross country trip, and I paraphrase, "The Tour cannot be won on a ham sandwich...", or something to that effect.
I don't condone the drug use, but I understand. If you are from a dirt poor family, in a dirt poor country, and someone offers you the opportunity to make more money than you've ever seen in your life, you take it.
And climb down off your moral high horses folks! If a Genie popped into your living room and said you could have Lance Armstrong levels of fame and MONEY, and all you had to do was spin your blood in a centrifuge and take a few injections now and again, YOU'D DO IT!!! If you say you wouldn't, you're full of shit and YOU know it! Hell, I'd do it TODAY!
Lastly, for all of you conspiracy theorists who think the Omerta of pro cycling is keeping the story down, move out of your mom's basement, take off your tin foil hat, and get some sunshine on your faces. It's becoming a bit like the whole 'Moon-landing-was-a-hoax' thing. Tens of thousands of people would have to be in on the plot, and as we all know, three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead!
I didn't believe Floyd then, and I don't believe his line of rhetoric now. Funny how those who have been accused have stepped squarely in front of the camera, yet Landis is MIA...
The other negative from all of this? Lemond will pop out of his hole at any moment and flap his fat, alcoholic, parnoid gums. STFU Greg...
ToC Stg4 and Giro Stg11
Columbia/HTC tried to go from a little too far out...
Giro Stg11
Again...no embed, but follow the link to watch the Stage overview from Universal.
A couple of things about the Stage...
1)The guys doing the voiceover for Universal should be punched in the neck. Too excited and yelling for no reason. Phil and Paul don't lose their shit...
2)Quit calling it a 'break' people! If 50+ dudes get away, it's the bunch. The guys behind made a mistake and got dropped.
I did the HoP+ yesterday. I'd planned on making a couple of sharp efforts, and did, including one that was courtesy of the USPS. I caught a mail truck as it turned out of the distribution center on Saxe Gotha. A right turn towards 321 and it was on! The driver rolled it up slowly and set it at 50-55kmh for the length of the road. The trusty Cateye said we maxed out @ 68.7kmh.
It was only a few minutes, but it definitely blew the carbon out of the pipes! Good stuff!
I'm holding judgment on the purported 'FloydGate' emails. A year ago, everyone thought he was full of shit. Now, a few emails get tossed around and everyone thinks he's the truth. Which is it people?
I'm not so stupid to believe that cycling is clean, but there are certain guys that I flatly refuse to think that some of the guys mentioned were systematic dopers.
We'll see...
19 May 2010
ToC Stage 3 (DZ) and Giro Stage 10 (Farrar)
No embed link for the Giro video, but follow the link to RAI TV (in Italian) for the last kilometer.
Big day for the Americans. I like the sprint finish by Farrar, but DZ showed that he's no one-trick pony in his finish in Cali. Freaking awesome!
The H.O. got home LATE last night, so I rolled out to the TNWC and got there a little past halfway. I jumped in for 20 minutes, chased a couple of gaps, got a good effort and then got out of the way for the finish. With three to go, EG got in a two up break and burned off his partner. Instead of sitting up, he ventured FAR into the pain cave and soloed in for the win. It was impressive!
Peace...
18 May 2010
Goin' back to Cali...
This is all the coverage there is of Stage 2 of the ToC. The nanny-state that is California wouldn't let the choppers fly in the rain yesterday, so no real coverage to speak of...
Evidently though, the descents into Santa Rosa were slightly moist and forced more than a few pros to eat tarmac, and split the field into several groups.
Giro Stage 10 this morning...I'll post video later today.
I wonder if anyone will show up at the TNWC tonight if it stays cloudy and wet? I may not even bother...no one else does...
The best picture you'll see of Vinodoucheov....(courtesy J.Bristol)
17 May 2010
Rains and crashes and sprints...oh my...
Stage 1 from ToC (yesterday)
Stage 9 of the Giro. I hope there's a shoe dryer in the team bus...(crappy Universal Sports overview...can't embed. WCC clip will replace this later on...)
Stage 9 of the Giro. I hope there's a shoe dryer in the team bus...(crappy Universal Sports overview...can't embed. WCC clip will replace this later on...)
16 May 2010
Stg8
Sorenson's face @ 6:10 pretty much sums it up!
In case you want to watch the entire climb...
I didn't plan on riding this morning, but the old body was stiff, so a spin was in order. I'd planned on going out for 45 minutes or so, but the longer I stayed out, the better I felt. Of course, 'better' was completely relative.
I went towards the HoP(tm) West loop, which offers several opportunties to either bail and head home, or turn for more extended abuse. I split it somewhere in the middle. 90 minutes later, I was home with 40km.
I rode the Salsa as it has little gears and no computer. Spinning small gears in the early morning heat, unencumbered by the constraints of any information pertaining to velocity is, in fact, good for the soul!
No bikey for me tomorrow!
Oh, and speaking of good for the soul, here's a non-cycling related video you should watch!
15 May 2010
Why the Giro is better than Le Tour
Civitella climb (dirt/mud)
Finish
Cadel shows how it's done...on EVERY surface. A dirt, well mud really, climb and then a finish through the town on the cobbles...are you kidding? The cheese eating surrender monkeys that put the Tour together don't have that much imagination.
I know the word 'EPIC' gets batted around a lot...too much really, but Stage 7 of the 2010 Giro was EPIC!!!!! It's a rare thing when the fittest men on the planet come across the line and look like hammered shit! Just watch the videos. If you don't agree, take up tennis!
There were 5 parts total of video...the bits I've posted are 4 and 5.
Here are #1, #2 and #3...the Civitella starts in part 2 and continues through part 5.
Did the TdM this morning with Il Prof. It was big fun. Good front group of 10 guys that stayed together until @ the 100km point. Il Prof was starting to come apart, so I sat up with him and we rolled in. It was worth the trip out to God's country. I wanted some miles, some sun and a good time...I was not let down!
Finish
Cadel shows how it's done...on EVERY surface. A dirt, well mud really, climb and then a finish through the town on the cobbles...are you kidding? The cheese eating surrender monkeys that put the Tour together don't have that much imagination.
I know the word 'EPIC' gets batted around a lot...too much really, but Stage 7 of the 2010 Giro was EPIC!!!!! It's a rare thing when the fittest men on the planet come across the line and look like hammered shit! Just watch the videos. If you don't agree, take up tennis!
There were 5 parts total of video...the bits I've posted are 4 and 5.
Here are #1, #2 and #3...the Civitella starts in part 2 and continues through part 5.
Did the TdM this morning with Il Prof. It was big fun. Good front group of 10 guys that stayed together until @ the 100km point. Il Prof was starting to come apart, so I sat up with him and we rolled in. It was worth the trip out to God's country. I wanted some miles, some sun and a good time...I was not let down!
14 May 2010
Stg6
Matty Lloyd wins with nobody else in the picture. Good on ya mate!
I hope someone explained to Hondo that you really shouldn't give the double arm salute for coming across 3rd.
The position change feels good on the bike. Feels like there's more power now, but it has come with a caveat. It seems that in changing position and opening up my right hip and leg a bit, I've awakened muscles that have been lying dormant for a long while.
When I was screwed sideways, my hip flexor was closed, thus not doing much work. Now, it, and the right quad, seem to be actually in the fight. Great, right? Yeah, but I can see that I need to ride the position for a while to get the muscles going.
Last night, after about 35 minutes of abuse at the hands of the strongest dudes in town, my hip cramped and I just sat up. The back was fine and the lungs were okay, and I thought about cutting off HH and getting back in the ride. Discretion took over, and I rode home through the front with Mrs. Kaiser and Il Prof.
Don't know what everyone else did last night, but I had a good ride.
Il Prof and I are making our way out to LHS for the Tour de Midlands ride tomorrow. 115 lovely, rolling kms around the lake. 0830 is roll time.
13 May 2010
Stg5
...and they stayed away...
What a fucking brilliant run into the finish!
Looks like summer has started around here...90 degrees and humid today...
I'm going to the Bloodletting...not sure how it'll work out. I've taken a big swing at my position issues. Let's see if I made any contact...
What a fucking brilliant run into the finish!
Looks like summer has started around here...90 degrees and humid today...
I'm going to the Bloodletting...not sure how it'll work out. I've taken a big swing at my position issues. Let's see if I made any contact...
12 May 2010
Mid-week shenanigans
First, here's a bit of the Stg4 TTT from the Giro. So glad Vinodoucheov (and Astana for that matter) blew apart coming into the finish and he's out of the Maglia Rosa. I'm all for second chances, but this guy is a stain on the collective chamois that is pro cycling. When Dope-stana was getting reay to roll down the ramp, I actually found myself wishing that they would slip wheels and take each other out. Sorry...it's what I feel...
As for me troubles, I think that I've figured them out. I put the CB Quattro pedals back on the road bike and moved my saddle forward. My back was straight, and didn't hurt, last night @ the TNWC. The float-under-the-ball-of-the-foot pedals also allowed my feet to find their 'natural' position. I need to put a couple of wedges under the cleat, but they were just fine. The only problem encountered was a mistake on my part by not torquing the saddle down properly before setting off. By the end of the night, it had migrated back about 3cm on the rails. I'll fix that tonight. I'm gonna ride the CB pedals for a while, as I OWN them. I'll probably go to Speedplay at some point in the future.
As for the race, a break got away EARLY, changed participants a few times, but never came back. The new guy, whose name remains unknown, is a fucking horse. He drove the break and beat MW in the sprint. It was good ride last night though, except for my seemingly inability to tighten a saddle.
Did an easy solo spin this morning and felt quite good. Not a 'no chain day', but it really didn't cause any sort of discomfort either. I did lose a bottle on the ride though. Well, not so much 'lost', as threw it a car. Buzz me once, you're a dick. Buzz me twice, and I'll whistle a full 20oz. bottle at your piece of shit Maxima. It bounced nicely off the back of the trunk, leaving a fist-sized dent...right next to his temporary tag. My little gift for his newly purchased shitbox!
Don't forget, the Thursday night blood-letting leaves the TNWC course @ 6:15.
Peace...
As for me troubles, I think that I've figured them out. I put the CB Quattro pedals back on the road bike and moved my saddle forward. My back was straight, and didn't hurt, last night @ the TNWC. The float-under-the-ball-of-the-foot pedals also allowed my feet to find their 'natural' position. I need to put a couple of wedges under the cleat, but they were just fine. The only problem encountered was a mistake on my part by not torquing the saddle down properly before setting off. By the end of the night, it had migrated back about 3cm on the rails. I'll fix that tonight. I'm gonna ride the CB pedals for a while, as I OWN them. I'll probably go to Speedplay at some point in the future.
As for the race, a break got away EARLY, changed participants a few times, but never came back. The new guy, whose name remains unknown, is a fucking horse. He drove the break and beat MW in the sprint. It was good ride last night though, except for my seemingly inability to tighten a saddle.
Did an easy solo spin this morning and felt quite good. Not a 'no chain day', but it really didn't cause any sort of discomfort either. I did lose a bottle on the ride though. Well, not so much 'lost', as threw it a car. Buzz me once, you're a dick. Buzz me twice, and I'll whistle a full 20oz. bottle at your piece of shit Maxima. It bounced nicely off the back of the trunk, leaving a fist-sized dent...right next to his temporary tag. My little gift for his newly purchased shitbox!
Don't forget, the Thursday night blood-letting leaves the TNWC course @ 6:15.
Peace...
11 May 2010
Not an apology...
...but an acknowledgment. In the past, I have been critical of Cadel Evans' crybaby attitude towards pretty much everyone, but I can say that I may be turning a corner. I'll never be a fanboy like some, but his actions, both on and off the bike, have made me see the Aussie in a bit different light.
He's defending the Arc en Ciel tooth and nail (watch yesterday's Stg3 video) and he's given a couple of things for a charitable auction that benefits a friend's little girl with CP. Maybe he's realized, as he's gotten older, that softening makes things a bit easier.
I know I have....
He's defending the Arc en Ciel tooth and nail (watch yesterday's Stg3 video) and he's given a couple of things for a charitable auction that benefits a friend's little girl with CP. Maybe he's realized, as he's gotten older, that softening makes things a bit easier.
I know I have....
10 May 2010
Stg3
Weylandt for the W
CVV crashes and breaks collarbone
Crash causes a split w/11km to go
Vinodoucheov in pink (I'm putting an * beside the overall! He's still doping!)
I'm thinking my fit issues may be pedal related. Gonna try something, and if it works, I'm going to Speedplay!
09 May 2010
Grand Tour season has begun
While not as visceral as the Spring classic campaign, the Giro is probably my favorite Grand Tour. It seems like there's a bit more passion and enjoyment, from both the riders and the tifosi that line the roads on a daily basis.
Prologue:
English speakers seemed to have a firm grip on the stage, eh?
Stage 2
As much as I love all things Belgian, Italian is much easier on the ear...
And yeah, I rode this weekend. Cross bike with skinnies both days. My back is arrow straight on the Salsa, which leads me to believe that I have a fit issue on the Ridley. It may be time to spend the $ to go get a REAL fit...
Prologue:
English speakers seemed to have a firm grip on the stage, eh?
Stage 2
As much as I love all things Belgian, Italian is much easier on the ear...
And yeah, I rode this weekend. Cross bike with skinnies both days. My back is arrow straight on the Salsa, which leads me to believe that I have a fit issue on the Ridley. It may be time to spend the $ to go get a REAL fit...
06 May 2010
A question...
So we're now 50/50 on building a new house. Do you think the wife would let me build out one of the bathrooms like this?
If you don't know what this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ is, I can't help you!
If you don't know what this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ is, I can't help you!
05 May 2010
1/2 way
I'm sort of liking this rest week thing. I usually get up and ride on Wednesday morning. Sure, it's a blue day for me, but I'm out. This morning, I got up, got the MTs ready for school, dropped them off and came home to the couch. Nice...
I did go out to the TNWC last night and rolled around for a little bit. My back was ON FIRE and I was largely ambivalent, so after 20 minutes, I dropped out and rolled around @ <30kmh.
I'd like to pick this up to hang on the wall... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (via BKW)
Edit: New linky> All Hail the Black Market
I did go out to the TNWC last night and rolled around for a little bit. My back was ON FIRE and I was largely ambivalent, so after 20 minutes, I dropped out and rolled around @ <30kmh.
I'd like to pick this up to hang on the wall... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (via BKW)Edit: New linky> All Hail the Black Market
04 May 2010
Tales of WHOA! from Tennessee
I got this link from Spokejunky and PalmettoSolo...they know the guy that writes the blog.
Crazy flooding in Tennessee!
I will say though, he had his priorities straight!
Pics of the day...
Ned Flanders @ Roubaix
The shower curtain that WILL hang in the guest bathroom of our new house!
Crazy flooding in Tennessee!
I will say though, he had his priorities straight!
Pics of the day...
Ned Flanders @ Roubaix
The shower curtain that WILL hang in the guest bathroom of our new house!
03 May 2010
Media Monday
This is a few days old, but worth watching again...
Jon Stewart's take on Apple and the proto-iPhone debacle.
2010 TdRomandie Final stage
Valverde wins overall
Road to Roubaix trailer
This came out in early 08 and chronicles both the 07 race, the history of L'Enfer du Nord, and what the race means to racers and fans alike. Brilliantly shot and scored. If you haven't seen it, BUY IT!
NEW:
Cancellara bike change in Flanders. Crazy!
Roubaix from the crowd...nice video!
Jon Stewart's take on Apple and the proto-iPhone debacle.
2010 TdRomandie Final stage
Valverde wins overall
Road to Roubaix trailer
This came out in early 08 and chronicles both the 07 race, the history of L'Enfer du Nord, and what the race means to racers and fans alike. Brilliantly shot and scored. If you haven't seen it, BUY IT!
NEW:
Cancellara bike change in Flanders. Crazy!
Roubaix from the crowd...nice video!
02 May 2010
Time for a break
As of yesterday, I'd ridden 6 days in a row and 16 of the last 21. For a guy with a shot L5 and two children under 5 years of age, I'd say that's a good training stretch. Oh, it's all when the sun is high in the sky as well! I won't get get up to ride @ 0530 (or earlier) unless there's a massive shift somewhere in the paradigm. Sorry, hard truth...
As for yesterday, well, let just say it was a much harder ride thhan it should have been, and I'm not referring to the distance or pace. 2 hours @ 30kmh should be a spin, not a struggle. My back hurt so bad that sneezing almost made me piss my chamois. I came home, put the Ridley in the ManHole(tm), had a good stretch and decided to take a couple of days off the bike to rest my aching back.
Big ups o' the day...
Our favorite Para-athlete Aaron Trent is in Spain (you suck) racing. He finished his first road race with the group yesterday under less than favorable meteorological circumstances. Nice job Aaron!
JayC finished 3rd in the 35+ @ Dilworth.
Doog won the 3/4 @ Dilworth.
Good work gentlemen!
And last but not least, Taylor Phinney wins the field sprint over Ivan Dominguez in Stage 4 @ Gila. There's fast twitch muscle and slow twitch muscle...TP is ALL twitch!
And we got a new car...a GMC Terrain SUV/crossover thingy. If you are looking for a practical, safe, EXTREMELY NICE vehicle, and do not check out this vehicle, you're missing out! Ours has everything except the DVD system and it was right @ $30k. Quality AND value in an American car? Go figure!
See you guys Tuesday...
As for yesterday, well, let just say it was a much harder ride thhan it should have been, and I'm not referring to the distance or pace. 2 hours @ 30kmh should be a spin, not a struggle. My back hurt so bad that sneezing almost made me piss my chamois. I came home, put the Ridley in the ManHole(tm), had a good stretch and decided to take a couple of days off the bike to rest my aching back.
Big ups o' the day...
Our favorite Para-athlete Aaron Trent is in Spain (you suck) racing. He finished his first road race with the group yesterday under less than favorable meteorological circumstances. Nice job Aaron!
JayC finished 3rd in the 35+ @ Dilworth.
Doog won the 3/4 @ Dilworth.
Good work gentlemen!
And last but not least, Taylor Phinney wins the field sprint over Ivan Dominguez in Stage 4 @ Gila. There's fast twitch muscle and slow twitch muscle...TP is ALL twitch!
And we got a new car...a GMC Terrain SUV/crossover thingy. If you are looking for a practical, safe, EXTREMELY NICE vehicle, and do not check out this vehicle, you're missing out! Ours has everything except the DVD system and it was right @ $30k. Quality AND value in an American car? Go figure!
See you guys Tuesday...
29 April 2010
Check this shizz out!
http://www.ridepikespeak.com/Pikes_Peak/Introducing.html
Dust off the 12/27, or the compact crankset...
The 'Assault on the Peak' ride UP Pikes Peak!
The stats-
19 miles...pavement and gravel
Starts @ 7750 ft altitude
Ends @ 14,110 ft altitude
Avg. 6.7%
Max 10.5%
As most of you know, my last name is not Bahamontes, but DAMN that looks like a good time!
Now for a mini-rant...
I don't like Joe Papp, period! Today, he outright called Levi Leipheimer a doper on his blog.
No, I will not now, nor will I ever link his blog b/c he just does not deserve any more attention. He's the Paris Hilton, or Lindsey Lohan, of the cycling world.
My issues are as follows:
1) He's a hypocrite. Papp doped his entire 'career'. He doped his no talent ass all the way to the middle, then failed test at the Tour of Turkey and got banned.
2) He SOLD dope to other cyclists. Oh, did I mention that he was selling HGH, EPO, and other products, WHILE he was testifying against Floyd Landis? Papp sold from 9/06 to 9/07. Floyd's trial before the USADA was 5/07. Yeah, he did that shit!
3) He got popped for selling EPO and HGH, among other thing, to 187 different 'clients'! No, that's not a typo! He made in excess of $80k selling to cyclists, tri-dudes and many other athletes.
4) Now, he's a crusader against doping? Fuck you Papp! I'll listen to Millar and few others, but not some come-to-Jesus-on-prom night jerknut! The two Federal counts he's being sentenced for bring up to TEN years in PMITA prison and $500,000 fine. That can double if any of his 'clients' were under age 18!
Why should YOU be pissed? You have probably raced against dudes he sold dope to at some point in the past few years! I personally know guys who have seen his 'pharmacy' firsthand! That means some of you guys do too!
June 25th is coming Papp! I hope you're doing your 'special' exercises! You'll be VERY popular in the joint!
End rant...
Oh, and we rode tonight...
Renick tomorrow, then going to pick up the new whip!
Dust off the 12/27, or the compact crankset...
The 'Assault on the Peak' ride UP Pikes Peak!
The stats-
19 miles...pavement and gravel
Starts @ 7750 ft altitude
Ends @ 14,110 ft altitude
Avg. 6.7%
Max 10.5%
As most of you know, my last name is not Bahamontes, but DAMN that looks like a good time!
Now for a mini-rant...
I don't like Joe Papp, period! Today, he outright called Levi Leipheimer a doper on his blog.
No, I will not now, nor will I ever link his blog b/c he just does not deserve any more attention. He's the Paris Hilton, or Lindsey Lohan, of the cycling world.
My issues are as follows:
1) He's a hypocrite. Papp doped his entire 'career'. He doped his no talent ass all the way to the middle, then failed test at the Tour of Turkey and got banned.
2) He SOLD dope to other cyclists. Oh, did I mention that he was selling HGH, EPO, and other products, WHILE he was testifying against Floyd Landis? Papp sold from 9/06 to 9/07. Floyd's trial before the USADA was 5/07. Yeah, he did that shit!
3) He got popped for selling EPO and HGH, among other thing, to 187 different 'clients'! No, that's not a typo! He made in excess of $80k selling to cyclists, tri-dudes and many other athletes.
4) Now, he's a crusader against doping? Fuck you Papp! I'll listen to Millar and few others, but not some come-to-Jesus-on-prom night jerknut! The two Federal counts he's being sentenced for bring up to TEN years in PMITA prison and $500,000 fine. That can double if any of his 'clients' were under age 18!
Why should YOU be pissed? You have probably raced against dudes he sold dope to at some point in the past few years! I personally know guys who have seen his 'pharmacy' firsthand! That means some of you guys do too!
June 25th is coming Papp! I hope you're doing your 'special' exercises! You'll be VERY popular in the joint!
End rant...
Oh, and we rode tonight...
Renick tomorrow, then going to pick up the new whip!
28 April 2010
Good luck with that...
Oh Alberto, you can ride the cobbles all you like...it's not going to help you come July. Special bikes, FMB 27mm tubulars and the micro-doses of CERA won't be enough to help you stay with the lead bunch over the stones. Ask Iban Mayo how it worked out for him...
I have a DVD copy of the 2004 Tour, just in case you want to see it for yourself...skip ahead to Stage 3.
The TNWC was a blow-out, literally, last night. @ 20 started...somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 or 6 finished. Sure, a lot of of were out riding around, but all of the fire was blown out by 25mph+ winds. PDiscoe and I rode together for a majority of the time. This was the story for most everyone else...groups of 2 or 3 fighting the West wind. Hell, half the group just packed it up and went home....
I had to stop twice to adjust an ill shifting R/D. I guess putting a new chain on the bike DOES affect shifting. 50mm wheels were a bad choice last night too!
Did the HoP this morning and felt okay...considerably better than Monday. I then made the mistake of tickling some new Dura-Ace 7900 stuff. I say that my 7800 is good enough, then I go play with the new stuff. Why do I do that to myself? And yes, I've played with Di2...and NO, I won't be buying it...
I have a DVD copy of the 2004 Tour, just in case you want to see it for yourself...skip ahead to Stage 3.
The TNWC was a blow-out, literally, last night. @ 20 started...somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 or 6 finished. Sure, a lot of of were out riding around, but all of the fire was blown out by 25mph+ winds. PDiscoe and I rode together for a majority of the time. This was the story for most everyone else...groups of 2 or 3 fighting the West wind. Hell, half the group just packed it up and went home....
I had to stop twice to adjust an ill shifting R/D. I guess putting a new chain on the bike DOES affect shifting. 50mm wheels were a bad choice last night too!
Did the HoP this morning and felt okay...considerably better than Monday. I then made the mistake of tickling some new Dura-Ace 7900 stuff. I say that my 7800 is good enough, then I go play with the new stuff. Why do I do that to myself? And yes, I've played with Di2...and NO, I won't be buying it...
27 April 2010
Ummm...okay...
Check yo Trek befo you wreck yo Trek...
This was NOT the outcome after a crash! This occured on the START line in Athens. The rider clipped in, pulled on the bars to leave the line and the steerer came apart. The bike is/was virtually new and had NEVER been on the ground. You can see the stem had an offset clamp setup to minimize pressure on the carbon steerer tube. It is also the stock Bontrager RXL stem, FWIW.
QC is a bit suspect at the big T these days, eh?
If you own a new Madone, you may want to pull your stem and check out your fork...just sayin'!
And from the 'WTF' file...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fleche-wallonne-riders-face-criminal-littering-charges
Hey, liberal, tree-hugging, do-gooder morons...isn't there something a bit more serious you could be worrying about? Really?
This was NOT the outcome after a crash! This occured on the START line in Athens. The rider clipped in, pulled on the bars to leave the line and the steerer came apart. The bike is/was virtually new and had NEVER been on the ground. You can see the stem had an offset clamp setup to minimize pressure on the carbon steerer tube. It is also the stock Bontrager RXL stem, FWIW.
QC is a bit suspect at the big T these days, eh?
If you own a new Madone, you may want to pull your stem and check out your fork...just sayin'!
And from the 'WTF' file...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fleche-wallonne-riders-face-criminal-littering-charges
Hey, liberal, tree-hugging, do-gooder morons...isn't there something a bit more serious you could be worrying about? Really?
26 April 2010
L-B-L 2010
Team Dopestana...
And I'm no expert, but does Cadel need to adjust his fit a little? Longer reach and higher hands maybe...?
25 April 2010
A weekend off...not by choice...
So Friday was my 40th birthday...oh joy! The H.O. and I took the MTs out of school and went to Charleston for the day. A nice lunch led to a couple hours of chasing a 3 year old and a 5 year old around. This was followed by a short trip to the beach so the boys could run around for a while. I was ready to go and get home, but the H.O. was in no hurry, which struck me as odd, but no matter...
We rolled home @ 7, and much to my honest-to-God surprise, the H.O. had coordinated with my mother and organized a surprise party for me. It was really great and I'm extremely appreciative and thankful. Lots of folks showed up, ate some food and had a pretty good time.
I stayed up late to help the cleanup, but still had plans to show up to ride yesterday...rain or shine. The body had other plans...!!!!!
Alcohol hasn't touched my lips for the better parts of tens years, but I woke up Saturday with what could be described, at best, as a monsterous hangover. Headache, BAD stomach, feeling of malaise...the whole nine. There was no HTFU yesterday! I went back to bed. I guess running around all day, getting dehydrated and eating a bunch a bad food and cake will foul you up pretty badly!
We had family over Sunday for #2 son's 3rd birthday party, and as you all know, family will flat suck the life out of you. An afternoon of entertaining everyone didn't exactly make me chip up!
Another round of cleaning led to sleep coming easy. I hit the pillow @ 11 and opened my eyes @ 10:05! That's right, 11 hours of sleep!
I still feel iffy, so I will not be throwing a leg over the top tube today. Spin tomorrow morning to get moving again...
Now, on to the commentary...
I've never been truly disappointed by a Spring classic, but LBL let me down today. Sure, the racing was good, but the fact(s) that the weather was really nice and that doping doper Vinodoucheov won somehow lessened the experience for me. They should have banned that assmonkey for life.
My .02 cents...nothing more...
I'll have the video up shortly.
Hope everyone who raced this weekend did well. Athens and Tour de Moore were both Saturday. LL hit the ground @ TdM and JayC finished 10th...I have no idea who did what in the rain @ Athens.
EDIT: I forgot the two local loonies who trekked to Tennessee for the Cohutta 100. EmilyB and MDro went up and braved the weather and slop for the slugfest. Both finished and are worse for wear today...good job guys!
See you guys Tuesday!
We rolled home @ 7, and much to my honest-to-God surprise, the H.O. had coordinated with my mother and organized a surprise party for me. It was really great and I'm extremely appreciative and thankful. Lots of folks showed up, ate some food and had a pretty good time.
I stayed up late to help the cleanup, but still had plans to show up to ride yesterday...rain or shine. The body had other plans...!!!!!
Alcohol hasn't touched my lips for the better parts of tens years, but I woke up Saturday with what could be described, at best, as a monsterous hangover. Headache, BAD stomach, feeling of malaise...the whole nine. There was no HTFU yesterday! I went back to bed. I guess running around all day, getting dehydrated and eating a bunch a bad food and cake will foul you up pretty badly!
We had family over Sunday for #2 son's 3rd birthday party, and as you all know, family will flat suck the life out of you. An afternoon of entertaining everyone didn't exactly make me chip up!
Another round of cleaning led to sleep coming easy. I hit the pillow @ 11 and opened my eyes @ 10:05! That's right, 11 hours of sleep!
I still feel iffy, so I will not be throwing a leg over the top tube today. Spin tomorrow morning to get moving again...
Now, on to the commentary...
I've never been truly disappointed by a Spring classic, but LBL let me down today. Sure, the racing was good, but the fact(s) that the weather was really nice and that doping doper Vinodoucheov won somehow lessened the experience for me. They should have banned that assmonkey for life.
My .02 cents...nothing more...
I'll have the video up shortly.
Hope everyone who raced this weekend did well. Athens and Tour de Moore were both Saturday. LL hit the ground @ TdM and JayC finished 10th...I have no idea who did what in the rain @ Athens.
EDIT: I forgot the two local loonies who trekked to Tennessee for the Cohutta 100. EmilyB and MDro went up and braved the weather and slop for the slugfest. Both finished and are worse for wear today...good job guys!
See you guys Tuesday!
22 April 2010
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