Something to hold you over...

Last post until next week...

No, I'm not taking off for Easter. I'm kicking the rooster's ass in the morning, and heading to Beaufort to assist Chad Andrews and the TotalCyclist gang with Divacamp 2011. Should be a fair amount of work, but big fun!

So on that note, here's some stuff...

You want irony? Trek is starting a carbon recycling program...
The sheer amount of broken Madone frames should keep it going for decades!

Landslides? In Cali? No way! What's next...earthquakes and fires?

Battenkill...bucket list... (Oh, Boone-Roubaix is this weekend...)
And if you're into turning your $5000+ machine into a muddy and/or chipped up mess, check out The Tushar Crusher. July 2011 in Utah...you have time to squirrel away money for travel and to train!

Schleck says Liege will be a different race. Yeah, Gilbert is gonna break your legs in a different part of the Ardennes. Spin it all you want Andy...you're starting to sound a bit like Vaughters...

Wanna hate ball annd stick sports even more? Read the chart below! It's the prize list for Fleche-Wallonne.

$25k-ish to win? @$1000 for 10th? These guys LITERALLY turn themselves inside out to go home with what's little more than stripper cash to a baseball player. Meanwhile, baseball players can be borderline obese...
Eurodogs, on the other hand, look like survivors of Bataan....

And when a cyclist dopes, it's akin to licking a baby koala. Football and baseball players dope, get a short vacation, and the fans wonder if the team can survive until they come back...in 30 days.

Anyway...

Have a good weekend everyone! It's gonna be nice...go outside and ride!

The Beast of Wallonne

That's Monsieur Gilbert to you...!!!



Beast!

Wonder how badly he'll be marked out at Liege on Sunday?

And WTF is this?


Fabian Sanchezallara?

#6

Thin turnout at the TNWC tonight. I'm going to attribute it to the fact that everyone raced last weekend, because the weather was as perfect as it gets in Columbia, SC.
It started slow, and stayed at a medium/hard pace for the entire 50 + 2. Bond and Dr.LP got away about 15 minutes in. The rest of the bunch never really got an organized chase going, yet the gap stayed at a constant 25-30 seconds until the finish.
Bond took the W, and The Flamingo cleaned up the field sprint. Hopefully attendance will be better next week.

Don't forget, La Fleche Wallonne is tomorrow...

2011 Amstel Gold

Last 10km...Gilbert is a beast...

Bryan Wrigley info

Bryan's wake is Monday night from 6-8 pm at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington. 4720 Augusta Rd.

The funeral service will be Tuesday at 2pm, also at Thompson Funeral Home.

The Harrell's Bicycle World guys are all racking bikes on their cars for the wake. If you plan on attending, please feel free to do the same as a show of support.

Tragic

http://m.staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-04-13/cyclist-killed-hit-and-run

Bryan Wrigley was killed by a hit and run driver yesterday while at college in St. Augustine, Florida. It seems he was riding alone on a wide-open, flat stretch of road, and was struck from behind.
Bryan was a TNWC regular, and a super nice guy. He was just 23 years old...

When you hit your knees tonight, regardless of what, or who, you may be praying to, add something in there for Bryan and his family.

M

Photos

Remember what Bob Roll said...
9 year old Belgian children know more about cycling than every American...


Okay, does the laser timing device stop when front wheel, or the rider, crosses the line?
Willing to bet the rest of the story is not pleasant!


Have a Coke and...a baby wipe? Kevin Ista of Cofidis shows the signs of a day on the cobbles.

Oh, and watch this video from Battenkill...
Sorry, can't embed it, but it's worth the click. Everyone was okay, but it's an ugly shunt!

TNWC #5

Talking points :
-Good turnout, even though it was windy
-Pretty fast out of the gate
-Break went, and got pulled back
-JayC took a flyer on the last lap
-He got caught with <200m to go
-Coco took out the sprint (surprise!)
-Young Stephen Ridley took second on junior gears (good show!)

I rode the new Jericho CX bike, thus severely handicapping my already limited ability with nothing more than a 40t front ring. Let me say, a 40/12 (88 gear inches) is just not enough when rolling down the front-stretch @ 50+kmh. Two laps of 120rpm was enough for my non-spinner self. I just rode a comfortable tempo for the rest of the time.
Now the positive...
The bike rides like a fucking dream! Smooth, stable, stiff and it actually turns. My Salsa turns a bit like my 4x4 truck. Sure it turns, but up the speed and it pushes like a pig.
It's definitely a keeper. I may need to buy some new stuff for the Ridley and put the 7800 on the Ridley...
It also made me start another search for a steel frame...and I found this...



Baum Ristretto. Straight from Oz. Full custom. Tasty...

And in summary...

I was going to opine about Roubaix, but found a more succinct version of exactly what I was thinking over @ La Gazzetta della Bici ...

This pretty much sums it up...

Unreal...

What a freakin' race...

Van Summeren won because he's a strong Belgian, not because of Vaughters, though I'm sure the spin is coming...
The rest of the contenders lost because they did little more than mark Cancellara. And if you say they didn't, you watched a different race. You listening Thor? Following wheels is for fat, 40 year old guys like me, not the the World Champ!

Two things for now...

1) Hit the weight room Johan. That stone is going to crush your skull.
2) JvS rode the last 5km, and won Roubaix, on a rear flat!!!

Stud!

Friday part 2

Breaking news:

Peter Cannell tests positive for steroid use and forfeits all results, including three Masters National Championships.
Remember all of the "we're not dopers" talk coming from NC last year? You do? Good...

He tested hot LAST YEAR, and after an investigation, admitted to previously using P.E.D.s, and took the ban.

Here's the rub...

It was an out of competition test! On a mid-30s guy in NC? Wonder if the USADA suspected anything? Part 2 of the rub? A year long investigation? Is there another shoe about to drop? Did ol' Pete snitch like Papp and Zirbel and so many others?

Shit just got real!

Friday thoughts

Andre Griepel's calves called you a pussy! (pic: JGruber)

And again, I may need to re-think my entire stance on the whole 'fixie hipster' thing...

Good ride last night, other than the lingering chest cold. Dixie is absolutely sublime since it's been paved. From tip to tail, it's a ribbon of smooth, black, rolling pavement. Wonderful! And for you power dorks, it's probably a good place to do FTP work...just sayin'...

I also broke out the carbon wheels for the first time in about 6 months. The combo of the new Helium, the carbon wheels and the Vittoria OC CX tires make for an exemplary combo. Just plain fast! Too bad the rider is the albatross...

Have a good weekend. Don't forget, Roubaix is Sunday morning...

TNWC #4

Yeah, this is a little late...grab a tissue...

Normal stuff...
45min + 2 laps
30-ish folks at the start.
65 degrees and a bit breezy down the backstretch

The pace started a bit slow with Il Prof and ECash rolling off and the group basically watching them go. Once the fire got lit, it got pretty quick...well...pretty quick.
A break quickly formed and it was full of horsepower. Sunday, Bond, Ward, ECash, TedB and Blance (he'll always be Blance to me...sorry!) got into the break and were rolling! Blance got tailed off at about 25 minutes, but the remaining 5 kept it wound tight.
At first, the was no real impetus, nor horses, to chase the break...until Der Kaiser arrived at the course. It went from a gaggle of 20-ish riding around like a school of fish, to being lined out in a single lap.
No matter, the break was gone, and the only thing left to figure out was the winner.
Off the last corner, the sprint started (way early). Let me remind you, fair readers, that turn 4 is, in fact, 350m from the finish.
With about 100m to go, Bond kicked and posted a clean win. I'll take about 25% of the credit, as I was the only one willing to give up a GU to his cause prior to the race. Without it, I'm fairly confident he'd have bonked, and been laying prone on the front lawn of the fire station.

Discussion has also begun concerning the issuance of racing licenses for the TNWC. The newly formed IPRA (Industrial Park Racing Assoc.) will be discussing this at our next meeting. There will be no cost to you, the participants, but racing ages will be strictly enforced. Thanks for your understanding...

;)-

Cooler than cool...

Pros get it...and by IT, I mean the fact that this whole 'riding-a-bike-in-tight-pants' thing is supposed to be fun!

Anatomy of photographs

1) Think Nuyens didn't deserve it? Guns like that don't just show up at your door one day!
2) 4 dudes who all WANTED it, and raced for it! You listening Vaughters?

1)Maxim Kuschinsky is a BIT vascular. You can also use his left leg as a map to get around on the Autostrada in Italy. (pic: JGruber)

1) Yeah, people are right. Big George doesn't want it anymore...
2) Carbon wheels again on cobbles. See Mavic, you didn't invent it...

1) Pull your head and camera back, lest Fabian's knee destroy them both! (pic: JGruber)
2) Proper lean angle. There are guys in this town who can't replicate this in a smooth corner!
3) Is she on the phone? While Spartacus and BoomBoom rip past?

1) This will serve to offset the slightly homo-erotic turn this post has taken. These belong to Pro tri-chick Jenny Fletcher. These should be proto-typed, put into production, and handed out to every woman on the planet.

TNWC tonight. 6:30 @ the spot. 45min + 2 laps. Full time starts next week with Round #5!

Peace!

RvV 2011

Jesus, what a fucking race! I've watched the last 50km 4 times thus far and every time, the finish is the same, but I notice a small intricacy that I missed in a previous viewing. Just brilliant!

Know what's not brilliant, Vaughters and his DS work. Missing the breaks and then trying to spin it into a positive? Hey JV, you don't need to speak when a mic is stuck in your face. Making the excuse that you only had two guys with a shot is re-donk-u-lous. I guess you haven't watched the replay to notice that the guys in at the kill were alone, or only had one team-mate. The math? 1<2 and 1+1 = 2 !!
Here's a tip for the future...
When the break is up the road, and the DS from BMC tells his guys, on the OPEN radio channel, to go to the front and nail it to bring the break back, FOLLOW them. I don't profess to know a lot about being a DS, but when shit like that happens, it may be to your team's advantage to pay attention. Just sayin'....

And Cancellara didn't win...so what? He showed pure class in coming third. And how about Chavanel? Dude was a horse all day! he may be French, but that was a Belgian ride if I've ever seen one!!

Have a good Monday! See you guys at the TNWC tomorrow (the rain will be out of here by start time, so roll out!)

Questions?

You still think you want to go ride in Belgium?
Think you're hard enough?
Did Hoste pick up MMA as a hobby?


Dude crashed in Stage 1 of De Panne. Now let's do inventory...
-Lost one tooth
-Chipped tooth #2
-Chunk of meat missing above eyebrow, and I mean CHUNK. I saw the pic w/o the bandage. It looked like he got hit with a flail!
-Road rash...ON HIS FACE!!!

Yeah, he's starting Flanders on Sunday. Hard is as hard does...

TNWC #3

Another good turnout last night...
Probably a bit over 30 at the start, including the juniors, which is nice to see. The SRAM/Zipp van was also parked on the side of the course. At first, a few of us got excited about the possibility of neutral support at the TNWC, then the realization that it was Cleve fell hard upon our heads. Don't get me wrong, Cleve Blackwell is a hell of nice guy, but he just breaks legs, period!
Maybe we can figure out a demo night for SRAM/Zipp wheels out there at some point this summer. Upside? We all get to try cool, fast wheels. Upside #2? Cleve will have to hand out wheels to demo, instead of handing out ass-whippings.
Anyway...
The field got thinned out throughout the 45 + 2 laps. Good solid pace last night...a little more ebb and flow than the first two races. It was nice to know that every time I was suffering, the field slowed, which means everyone else was suffering too!
As usual, nothing got away and it came to a bunch gallop with the Dr. LP taking it out for the 45+ demographic. He's gone from retirement to winning the TNWC in just 6 short weeks. Ask him how...
I went a bit harder and dug a bit deeper last night...both without pain, but I still didn't feel terribly comfortable entering the Cave, so I just sat up after making efforts. Such is the beauty of a practice crit...
Save of the night goes to CR. He shellaced the hole on the backstretch at 45kmh, thus giving his rear tire a vicious gunshot pinchflat. A little wiggle, but he maintained control and got it whoa'd down. Nice...

It also seems that my 'anatomy of a photograph' post was quite popular, so it will become a weekly series. I'll breakdown photos from all facets of the World of cycling. It may be amusing, or it may be dumb...such is life...I make no promises...

Start embrocating know...Flanders is Sunday...

Funny how that works...

Mavic's 'research' for wheel designs to tackle Roubaix...

Thor Hushovd is getting ready for the Paris-Roubaix from Mavic on Vimeo.

Now that you've watched the video, the new M40 wheel they are getting all foamed about sounds suspiciously similar to the Zipp 303 Roubaix version on which Cancellara dispatched all comers last year. 40mm height? Check. Wider profile? Check. More Spokes? Check.

What's the bet there's more than a few sets of HEDs and Zipps floating around the Service Course at Mavic?

Edit-
The Madonna del Ghisallo is going to fuck up someone's day very soon.



Visconti's Italian National Champ painted Cipollini was lifted out of his car IN ITALY!
Someone will take a smite worthy of being chronicled in journals, both cycling and biblical, for generations. That's just BAAAAAAD juju!
First, stealing bikes is bad, but stealing this particular rig, from the Italian National Champ, and doing it IN Italy? Fuuuuuuu....

anatomy of photographs

Let's break down a few from this past weekend of Euro action...

Gent on Sunday-
1) Bont WC shoes. Jamie is probably going to need a few minutes alone after seeing this...
2) If you are 'here', then you are ______ !
3) All on carbon wheels for a cobbled race. Wonder if we'll see this during Roubaix?


Spartacus killing the E3 -
1) When FC makes this face, you die! Wonder what his "O" face looks like? (not really)
2) No Di2 for our man Fabian
3) Here's his motor. No buttons needed...



Bunch kick from Sunday's Gent -
1) Don't take BoomBoom to the line...PERIOD! Are you listening Vaughters?
2) The new Venge...where's that 30w advantage @ 50+ kmh now?
3) The finish line is not over there man, or are you watching Tommeke and Farrar rip by? One ponders why you crashed after crossing the finish...

Hmmm...good Saturday!

E3 Prijs-Harelbeke





Pure class. There's riding across to the break, then there's riding THROUGH the break! Cancellara is, in fact, a horse!

Criterium International S1



It's seems Schleck has fired a shot across Clentador's bow, eh?

Good day for Lay-O-Pard Trek today...

Speaking of, if you missed the Palmetto Velo group/training ride this morning, then you missed what was probably the best ride that's taken place in Columbia for a long while. I'm not going to re-hash the whole ride. I'll let your little imaginations fill in the blanks how you see fit. I will say, however, that it was a pleasant 100km jaunt through Lower Richland. Good ride, good riders, good conversations. Met some new folks and rode with some that don't normally venture into downtown. Good stuff all the way around!

Peace!

End o'the week

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Welcome to my World!

Good ideas all! Or, carry a Glock 33 compact chassis...

In case any of you are headed to Flanders and need to know where to climbs are along the route. Pic courtesy of Lay-O-Pard Trek. I guess the red lines indicate exactly where their Madones failed along the route. I keed...I keed...

Good Thursday ride last night. Good group and plenty of work. I actually pushed a little bit last night, just to see what would happen. I feel a couple of small twinges of discomfort, but I could still push. Didn't put it anywhere near the PainCave, but it was a nice barometer of where I stand 4 short weeks after surgery. I'm perfectly fine with my current state of being.

I think I'm nearly ready to do a review of the 2011 Ridley Helium as well. One word for now? Sublime...

Saturday morning, Palmetto Velo is doing their group/training ride. 0930 from Cycle Center. 55 miles through Lower Richland. Should be a steady affair, and the plan, according to Meat, is to keep everyone together in an effort to have a nice, big group ride to foster a bit of camaraderie and fun in the Columbia cycling community. Be there!

And an aside...
For all of you folks here in the lovely Southeast, don't complain so loudly about the Springtime pollen and wind. We could all be in the Northeast, or Front Range, shoveling our cars out of the driveway. Instead, we have the hard decision whether to take armwarmers...just in case it gets 'chilly'.

TNWC #2

Good turnout for Round @ tonight. It was breezy, but beautiful and the pollen was bearable, if you're a honeybee. It seemed the pace was fast, but pretty steady. I say seemed as I only jumped in for about 5 laps of the 45 + 2...completely against Doctor's orders. It did feel good to go fast and open up the lungs and legs. I think I'm doing just fine considering surgery was 4 weeks ago today!
Back to the TNWC...
As happens when the wind is blowing at all, it came down to a bunch gallop, with MW outkicking BCobb at the line. The margin of victory was thin...borderline anorexic.

The group could have been way larger, and hopefully, those who were conspicuous by their absence will make appearances throughout the Summer. I know everyone has their own agenda(s), but coming out and participating in the practice race makes EVERYONE better, and serves to strengthen the riding community in Columbia.

To those who came out tonight, thank you, and I hope to see you next Tuesday!

Now for two Specialized pics that make me happy:

Cav's Venge @ MSR...not that it helped him.

And if you gotta have a custom painted Shiv, this isn't a bad livery to choose....

Thursday night @ the gate...6:15pm

Peace!

MSR 2011

From the base of the Poggio through the finish...so the last 10km.
DOG, I love Euro bike racing!





Brilliant...just GD brilliant!

Went out with the group this morning and turned off. It was a really good group, but I just can't go with that pace right now. 30-35kmh...fine, I'm comfortable. Anything more than that for an extended period and my chest starts to hurt. Longest ride since surgery though (2 hours), so I'm pleased.
TVH had a Campag 11 speed pulley eject on the run out of the Fort. We found the pulley and the bushing, but the bolt was nowhere to be seen. His ride was over. Thankfully, he got home just fine. He should kick his mechanic (not me!) square in the ass. There's no excuse for that to happen...NONE!
Cash had a shift cable break, so he was stuck in the 11, with either the 53 or the 39 to switch things up. He finished the ride though, when most would have turned for home.

The Saturday ride will be at 9 (for the time being) from the traffic circle at The Fort. It'll get moved up to 8 when the temps reach further into the red.

It's beautiful outside people! Go play!

Namaste!

Share this...

Please share this article/link with your non-cycling family and friends, as well as those who think folks like us may be touched in the head. It's proof that a bicycle can, and will, save your life!!!

83 year old Japanese woman outrides tsunami....

Oh, and your Specialized Tarmac just got rendered obsolete. May I introduce, the Venge...



And a great post from Michael Barry about love for the bicycle...

TNWC #1

A grand total of 9 showed last night. Of course, the wind was blowing, and the rain was imminent. It turned to 8 immediately after the neutral lap, as your author is not allowed to ride at any speed, or effort, over a conversational pace. As the 'race' progressed, it was easy to see who's been training. It came down to GW (he needs a nickname), JayC, and Der Kaiser at the end. As was stated earlier, the rain was inbound, so at the first sign of drops, I bailed and headed to HQ. Although this coincided with the '2 to go' call, I figured the three of them were all bright enough to figure it out.
Hopefully, there will be actual attendance next week.
I really enjoyed the fact that the shite that I blew/swept into the gutter on the inside of Turn 1 had all blown back into the street. Needless to say, I'll go back out before Round 2 for another go at that corner.

For me, it was just nice to get back on the bike. I really don't care if it was all at <30kmh! AND, it was the maiden voyage of the new Helium. I really didn't ride it hard enough, nor long enough, to be able to write a review, but I will say that it's definitely stiffer than the old version.
Rode it again this morning for nearly two hours with CR. Nice ride, even though the weather is Portland-ish today. Just kind of spun around out into WeCo and came home.
I still feel like some sort of fitness is lurking...it's just the trauma of the procedures I had done is nowhere near healed. Who cares? I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and again), no pro teams are watching, so I'm just gonna ride and smile!

2011 Nokere-Koerse



Steegmans is Flemish for "come around me...if you can..."!!

Peace!

It's a Trap!

Look...it's a hipster trap. I'm willing to bet we could easily bag the limit in Five Points.


Tirreno Stg 6

Update

Tirreno Stg 5



Another stellar finish...Gilbert is on form, eh?

PN Stage 8



Voeckler is class, period!

I skipped the circuit race today and cleaned up the yard. It's the first time I've done ANY sort of physical activity since surgery, and it felt pretty good to get the blood going and HR up.
I'll be out at the crit course in the morning to clean.
Even if you don't come out to race, come out to watch and/or say goodbye to Ken Oglesby. The Army, in their finite wisdom, has decided they need our friend Ken to go to Iraq...again! He's leaving for some supplementary training in Georgia and Texas in about 10 days, then off to Iraq until this time next year. I believe this is his third trip to that sandy shitbox in the Middle East.

On a completely separate note, I love Ebay.
Backstory:
I found a pair of 9 speed shifters in my building, and seeing as 9 speed is seldom used among the cognoscenti, I decided to throw them onto the 'bay. Started the auction 5 days ago at $1 American dollar with no reserve...what good were they doing me? I expected $50-ish bucks. Add a Ben Franklin to that estimate and we have our sale price. Unreal...

See you guys Tuesday night!

Saturday

PN Stage 7


Hey, Movistar dude, don't look around at the line! Of course, he almost made it across on his stomach...

Tirreno Stage 4...great finish...just fucking brilliant!




Went out to Blythewood for the Crit(s) today. Beautiful day, great course, big fields! Days like today restore one's faith in bike racing. Here's a link to the pics I shot today. If anyone wants the original (BIG) files, sent me a note with your email address and I'll send them to you!

Dy-no-mite...

J.J. "Kid Dy-no-mite" Haedo took it out today. Garmin needs to work on the leadout a bit. ThorSmash went a bit early, and Farrar acted like he'd forgotten how to bomb it into a corner. Leaving a gap that big through the last corner killed his sprint. It's hard to close a gap, much less a gap that's rolling at 60+ kmh, then have any kick left to sprint. ThorSmash shouldn't have to look around to find Farrar...

The TT happened in Paris Nice today. Tony "Completely not a German name" Martin won pretty handily, and looked like a slobbering Springer Spaniel while doing so.



As for me, 72 more long hours until I can put my big, pasty self on the bike...

See you folks tomorrow in the 'wood...

(see below)

Tirreno Stage 2



Farrar led out by the rainbow jersey! Nice!

Paris-Nice Stage 5



Great finish! The descent and run into the line were damn fine racing!

Don't forget...

The Blythewood races are this weekend. Good races on a closed course...
And the TNWC goes off next Tuesday @ 6:30...

Peace

Paris Nice Stage 4

Voeckler, roughly translated, means ROCKSTAR!



Great finish!

Tirreno-Adriatico started today with a TTT. Looks like Lay-O-Pard needs to get some horsepower for the flat land. Spartacus tore the legs off his own team...

The Damned Things

I missed this show in Charlotte two weeks ago...it was the same day as my surgery. I should have rescheduled...

Paris Nice Stage 3

Nice finish! Betting the Liquigas mechanic is going to be spending some QT in the truck tonight, regluing tubulars!

Stelvio

This is the best picture of the Stelvio for a couple of reasons. It truly shows the scale of the undertaking, should one choose to ride it...
...AND, the only car in the shot is a freaking Dodge Challenger R/T!

Good show by Hendy today @ Paris-Nice as well.



I remember several years ago, he was in town with HealthNet, and did the TNWC in his small chainring, as he was prepping for track Worlds...
Not today though! That was BIG ring! Or, as the Frenchie announcer said, "Facile...tres facile..."

Oh yeah, the TNWC kicks off next Tuesday..the 15th...@ 6:30pm. May have to cut it a bit short because of the newness of the time change, but it'll go off. It would be nice if people actually showed up this year...
I'll be out Wednesday morning to clean the corners...safety first!

2011 Strada Bianche finish

That finish section up into Piazza di Campo in Siena was BRUTAL.

It's alive...ALIVE!

Channeling my best Doctor Frankenstein (you know how to pronounce it), I slapped the new 2011 Ridley Helium together today.

I think it turned out pretty well, considering I put my trusty old 7800 Dura Ace on it. Hey, the stuff isn't terribly long in the tooth, and it works like a champ, so there's really no reason to buy a new group, other than sheer vanity of course! That being said, SRAM Red would look pretty dope on the frame. Even with the 'old' 7800, heavy-ish Mavic brakes, and a boat anchor Flite Ti Gel saddle, it tipped out @ 16.23 pounds. It could easily be taken deep into the 15s without a lot of difficulty.
It's a totally different design than my old (if 2008 is OLD) Helium. The front half of the frame is pretty similar, but once the downtube gets BIG and SQUARE where it meets the BB shell, all similarities end. As shown in the BB photo, the cluster is meaty...waaaay meatier than the old frame. I'm guessing this one will be stiff, even for my beefcake.
I tried to get a picture of the new seatstays, but none of them really properly illustrated the design. They are about 1cm thick...flattened out, and 3cm wide. They're almost airfoil-ish.
I'm willing to bet that this new frame rides a bit stiffer than the old one, and it was no Cadillac.
The chainstays are far larger than the old frame as well, and seem to have a bi-axial sort of orientation going on. The rear drops are also carbon with stainless inserts...kinda trick.

Unfortunately, a ride report won't be available for a while, seeing as I'm not allowed to ride for a few more days, and even then, not with any sort of anger.

Oh, and the Strada Bianche went off in Italy today. One of the best races on the schedule, yet in garnered ZERO TV coverage...even within Italy! WTF? Hey Versus, you schmoes, are you listening?
Peruse the photos in the above link. Makes you want to go ride, eh?

Happy Weekend!

Maybe there's something...

...to the radio ban in the Euro races. Yesterday's GP Samyn was pretty brilliant. The Dogs had to race with their senses, rather than the DS screaming in their ear. Just watch...
Dudes looked wrecked after crossing the line...




Brown Santa has my new Helium right now, which means I'll be hanging around the house today, because as sure as shit, the very moment I leave, the UPS truck will hit the driveway. Not that I can do anything other than build the thing, and then stare at it for the next week...

Sniper is as Sniper does...

The video above is proof that innate badassness is lifelong! He had a Black Card before there was such a thing as a Card-Carrying Badass!



Like the bumper sticker says, 'God Bless our Troops...especially the Snipers'!!!

Spring done sprung...

Boom Boom was dressed like he was out for a training ride during the Omloop...and he very well may have been. When he makes that face, he hurts...and you die...

And how about Flecha? I know Langeveld won, and it was a great finish, but Flecha chased across, in what can only be described as abysmal weather. Here's a fun activity. Save the above pic. Import it into some sort of editing software. Now drop the color saturation to zero.
Almost looks better in black and white, eh?

And big up to CJ Sutton for taking out the sprint in KBK. Good on ya mate!

So the NAHBS went on in Austin last weekend. Lots of hella cool stuff from people who are, in fact, artists. From perusing the myriad photos available from the show, there seems to be a trend towards usable bicycles, things you drool over and want to actually own. Of course, there's always one that proves that builders sometimes have more time and money than orders...I'm talking to you Calfee...

Now, let's move on to the picture below. I know I've been critical of Sachs in the past, and those opinions stand. The 'muddy' bikes he showed in Austin sort of bother me in a different way. It's the aesthetic of the thing. The weren't ridden into the condition shown in the photograph.
The muddy was created, and then applied to the bicycles...kind of like when automobile companies fake the mud on their trucks for TV ads.

I've ridden my CX bike in every condition available to me here in South Cackalackey, including more types of mud than I can describe in this post. I can tell you, with a LARGE degree a certainty, that mud doesn't not affix itself, nor stay affixed to, a bicycle in the manner illustrated above. There's no need for a CSI: NAHBS-style breakdown of how it was done. I hope that you, fair readers, can figure that out for yourselves.
I appreciate the idea, but the execution was sorely lacking. Next time, fly Junk and me in and we'll fuck them up properly!


6 days post-op:
-feeling a bit more human
-showered for the 2nd time since surgery, so definitely smelling more human
-shaved face and legs for first time in a week...looking less homeless. It did look like someone sheared a small goat in the tub though...
-still waiting on the new Ridley (decision was made to keep it)
-Post Op appointment tomorrow
-Urge to ride is slowly returning. One more week, then I'll be on the Greenway! (rollseyes and shuffles away....)

Namaste!

Back amomgst the living...almost...

2011 K-B-K Final 6 kilometers...



2011 Het Nieuwsblad
Part one



Part two



Didn't the weather just look lovely over there? And one ponders why Gorgeous George is punishing the locals in the Greenville Spring Series? Hmmm, 75 degrees and sunny in South Carolina, versus the 30s and wind in Belgium....not a hard choice to make at the end of one's career, eh?

As for your intrepid writer here, convalesing is hard work. I took two Oxycodones last night @ 830 and woke up this morning @ 0915. A pharma-induced sleep will, in fact, make you wake up stiff and sore. I'm guessing I didn't roll around much last night, as my neck is JACKED today. I'm getting better by small percentages every day. I'm beginning to run into the mind/body conundrum now, 5 days post-op. I'll have moments during my day where the mind says, "Hey Jackleg, let's go outside and play...". These moments are quickly followed by an hour of the sickest I've ever felt, and being forced to lie flat and shallow breathing. The body is winning at this point...

I did get out to Harbor Freight Tools this morning. I bought a digital gram scale to weigh parts before putting them on Ebay, as every time I list something, some dickface sends me a note to see what it weighs. Doesn't matter what it is...could be a fucking brick, yet people want to know. The wife reminded me that I now have controlled substances AND a scale in the house. 2/3 of the way to a felony!!!

Hopefully, the Helium will make an appearance next week and I can get to work on it. Seriously batting around the idea of putting SRAM on it...idle hands...idle hands....

Awang update

UCI World Cup 2011 - Awang's Splinter Update from British Cycling on Vimeo.

And so it begins...

Now, I know we've already had so big pro races this season, but the TRUE season starts Saturday with Het Nieuwsblad (old Het Volk) on Saturday and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne Sunday. I know where I'll be both mornings this weekend...

Of course, I have ZERO choice in the matter....

Surgery went as well as can be expected when you get three procedures rolled into one 2 hour session in the O.R.! The night after surgery was something out of a horror movie. Nothing gets your attention quite as much as vomiting up your own blood. Funny thing? I felt better after selling the family Buick.
I feel like a short bus has been backed through my esophagus, parked there for a while, and then towed out by a Zamboni. To say my upper GI tract is sore could be considered the understatement of the decade. Everything causes shooting pains. The only position that doesn't illicit little-girl-squeals is sitting upright at an approximate 60 degree angle. Thank whoever pulls the strings upstairs that I haven't sneezed...yet...

I've eaten nothing but Jello and applesauce, and warm tea. I would straight choke someone out for Five Guys.

Looks like ZERO bike for at least two weeks...and then only rolling around for a couple of weeks after that. No matter, as I don't have a road bike anyway. Maybe I'll find a SS townie bike in the next week....

Update over...time for a pain pill...

Occupado

Nys finishes off the season with the overall GvA title. Looked like a fun course...



A bit of La Course en Tete for your head. It seems a bit more pure than today...



Merckx on the boards...

I'll in incommunicado for a couple of days (at least). My surgery is tomorrow morning @ 0900 @ LexMed. If you don't hear anything, that's good gnus. If the next post is a guest post by my lovely wife, then it will likely include news of my demise, and time/location of a memorial service.

Peace...

You want HARD?

Here's HARD...
Azizulhasni Awang from Malaysia took home the bronze in the Keirin on Saturday in Mancester. The news reports said he finished with a 'splinter' in his leg from the last turn shunt. I'm no expert, but I do know that a 'splinter' is something very small, that lodges under your skin. That is a big GD shard of the Mancester track that traveled THROUGH his calf. The word impaled comes to mind! Wonder if that stung?
It looks like every picture you've seen of post-hurricane damage! You know the one...!
Oh, and "Ipu Keparat" is how you scream MFer in Malay...

Here's the race and crash...



Oh, and Chris Hoy is a BEAST! 70+ kmh across the line. That's 43mph in American money!

A dilemmer

Yeah, I know...
Anyway, my dilemmer is a peculiar one. As has been written on this oh-so-entertaining website, I have a new Ridley Helium coming. It's pretty bad ass, obviously, will be nigh on 16 pounds, and fit me well, as have all of my previous Ridleys.
I've also had discussions with the fine folks at Hampsten, Steve Hampsten if we're dropping names, about getting a custom steel frame built. Not just any generic steel either. We're talking a tig-welded Columbus Max tubeset, and custom paint based on the famous Molteni Merckx bikes of yore. The plan would be to build it with 7900, or maybe go balls deep and hang Di2 on it. Weight? Around 18.5 pounds. The ride? Sublime... My Molteni Merckx frame is one that I never should have let go. There was no pressing need to sell it, I just sort of...did. Worst part...I just looked, and I don't think I even have a photo of the damn thing!

I'm torn people! On this morning's ride, PD and I talked about the dilemmer, and the discussion only lead to muddier water. Dammit!

Oh, and as an aside, here's the proper fitment of a skinsuit, as modeled by Victoria Pendleton...
And on that note...

Armstrong retirement 3.0

So LA has hung it up again. To be honest, as divisive as he's been, throughout his career, he will be missed by the peloton. There is no other patron lurking in the bunch. Sure, there are guys who are looked at with reverence, like Jens Voigt, Fabian Cancellara and a few others, but none demand the respect that Lance has over the years.
Now, I'm well aware that there are pros that look at LA with a jaundiced eye, for myriad reasons, but when he spoke, even they listened.
Is he a hero? To some, yes. Is he an asshole? Most likely. Will he be missed? Yep.

Reason for retirement? I'm going to opine here for a moment...
I'm sure he'll say the rigors of training, traveling and being away from his 5 children, which I'm quite sure is partially true. My belief is that he's feeling the heat from the Novitsky investigation and has realized that the battle is probably best fought out of the limelight that follows European cycling.

Don't look for a synopsis of the investigation, or doping, as I really don't give a damn about either. EVERY rider in the bunch was doped to the gills in the Lance Armstrong era. Am I naive enough to think that he didn't dope? Of course not. I think he just did it better than the others. The playing field was level. Oh, and don't forget, he's never tested positive. Rumor, innuendo, and Floyd Landis' crazy rantings aside, there's been ZERO hard evidence of a positive.

I just hope he doesn't turn into a joke, a la LeMond. Some are treating him as such already, but one must remember, before you start calling him a doper, a cheater, or a liar, every hero of past generations was on the AvGas of the time. Hell, Merckx even got caught, MORE THAN ONCE, and he's still thought of as the greatest cyclist of all-time.

Distance and time usually lead to clearer perspective. This will be the case with Lance. The people who are Lance haters now have more than likely adopted this attitude because it's the popular thing to do. I wish I had a time machine to see how they were acting while watching LA shatter everyone during his first few wins. What's the bet they were Lance fans back then? If they say they weren't, they're liars!

The things Armstrong have done for cycling, and charity, far outweigh his alleged 'crimes'. Get over it people...

New Day...Happy Day

So, as I eluded to yesterday, the Ridley was in the stand, being torn down. Why? Well, to put it succinctly, it's broken.
Sunday afternoon, I was doing the weekly lick and rub, and noticed a very bothersome crack that ran up the seat tube. Seeing as I've ridden that bike about 6 times this winter, it was shocking news to me!
I took it to CC, so they could handle the warranty through QBP. Unfortunately, the shop is not a Ridley dealer, and even though they buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of product from QBP every year, thus, they could not handle the warranty. I was told that I had to go through Glory Cycles. Well, after the stuff that's happened with them lately, and the fact that I'm loyal to old friends, I choose not to turn down that road. Somehow, I knew the whole process would get fucked up somewhere along the way.
Instead, I called Ward Bates @ Winter Park Cycles in Orlando. I've known Ward for a decade, and knew he'd handle it properly, and with all due haste. In less than 24 hours, photos and emails were sent to the powers that be at both Ridley and QBP, and my new Ridley Helium is on it's way. THAT'S how you get shit done! If you have $ to spend, want high end stuff, and actual expertise to go along with it, call the guys @ Winter Park. All they do is high-end, and they do it well!
Time to order some new bits...sweeeeeet! Old parts will go on for now, though I may be forced to pull the trigger on a new group very soon.

For now, I'm riding the CX bike for everything. It's outlived 3 carbon frames...maybe I should take that as a hint...

Now, on to the rest of the show...

Broke out a quick 50km on the Salsa this morning in the sunshine. So nice...

F you Alberto! F you! WTF? I hope you get raw meat thrown at you in the near future. I don't know what outcome people really expected here either. Did anyone believe the Spanish were really going to ban him? I hope the UCI appeals to CAS, and that France and Italy ban him from racing within their borders. Douchecanoe...

To get your mind off the joke that European professional cycling has become, watch the video below...you'll say WTF again, and likely cock your head to the side like a Labrador. The kid obviously lives in The Matrix...



Now watch it again...

Peace...

RIP Marco

13 January 1970 - 14 February 2004

I've spent most of the day trying to figure out how to write a post about Elefantino, but couldn't decide how to assemble my thoughts. Does one call him a genius, or a fool? I lean toward genius, as genius has brilliant highs and shocking lows, and we all know that Marco swung from one to the other.
It's terribly unfortunate that, in an era in which EVERY rider of any quality had AvGas coursing through his veins, Pantani got popped and was affected so greatly by the detritus that surrounds a positive.
Was he troubled? Yes. Was he a doper? Yes. Was he a straight fucking baller when the road turned up? YES!
As I worked in The ManHole(tm) tonight, dis-assembling my Ridley, a poster of Marco from the 1998 Tour stared me dead in the face. He was wet, dirty and exhausted. The poster is a photo of him crossing the line @ Les Deux Alpes. Watch the video and see who he shelled like so many pecans, then form your opinion...



Pozzo di sonno Il Pirata...

3 years old...never a minute on training wheels...

First day on the 'pedal bike' for #2 son. Yeah, he's a straight baller!

Parenting advice...
If you have children, want them to ride a bike, and want to make it brutally simple for them to learn, buy a balance bike. Both of my progeny used a balance bike for about a year, then moved directly to a 'regular' bike. Neither spent so much as a moment on riding with training wheels. Both also began to ride their bikes before their 4th birthdays...

As for me...
Did 2.5 yesterday solo out thru Lex/Calhoun Counties. I wondered why I was rolling along at 35-40kph on the way out to Sandy Run with a sub-150 HR, then I turned around and headed home. STRUGGLED to maintain 30kph into the headwind...and paid full metal retail for the remainder of the day b/c of the effort.
The only thing the weatherman had correct yesterday was the temperature. He missed wind direction, and speed, by a W-I-D-E margin.
This morning, I went out with the group for the first time in eons, and it was quite enjoyable. We did a meandering loop around the Fort without much care or impetus. Another 2.5 hours on the road bike in the books. Good the see everyone, and glad Mrs. Der Kaiser has recovered...

Saturday's SuperPrestige CX race...last 2 laps...



Hope everyone had a good weekend and got to go outside and play...

Friday funnies

HA! And THIS is easily the funniest thing you'll see this weekend...

This guy has to be Jens Voigt's dad...
His Black Card is on the way...

Katie F'n Compton gets a contract. Just think how dominant she'll be with some actual support! Boggles the mind...

And like we all didn't know that this shit was coming. The Spanish weren't going to stick to their guns, especially when it involves the only rider from Espana that doesn't fall off his bike in a crosswind...or when riding over a painted line on the road...or when a small gnat hits them...

And I'd REALLY like to be a fly on the wall when PVP gets rolling. I'm betting he appreciates the paycheck, but secretly thinks Vaughters is a vag. Yeah, it's the same in Flemish...I looked it up.

And in sort-of-local news, let's all hope this guy gets a little more than the usual slap on the wrist for killing Army Doctor, Maj. Matthew Burke. The maximum penalty in these cases just isn't enough...

2 hours on the CX bike for the kid this morning. It's sunny and warm outside now, but it was peen shrinking chilly when I rolled out @ 8:45. I may actually break out the Ridley tomorrow. I haven't been on the road bike in...well, I can't remember at this point...probably a month or so.

Gonna be nice for the next week or so...get outside and play!

T-Minus

...12 days until surgery. It's a three-part affair that will, hopefully, alleviate the stomach/esophagus/throat issues I've suffered from for the past 2 years. As mentioned before, I'm having the TIF procedure, and they will also be fixing my hiatal hernia, as well as fracturing the problematic Schatzki's ring that has been hampering breathing, eating, sleeping...etc.

Thankfully, the WX looks like it will be pretty nice for the next week or so, ergo, I will be spending some quality time with my bicycles. As it stands, post-surgery, I will not be allowed to ride for a minimum of 7 days, and then only at a pedestrian pace for an undetermined time to follow. No matter, I'll gladly give up 3 or 4 weeks in order to solve the anatomic issue, and be well for the next 40 or so years!

During my convalescence, I figure I'll have time to devote to getting the house ready for a 'For Sale' sign. Spackling, caulking and painting shouldn't be too strenuous...shouldn't be...

Anyway...back on the horse tomorrow...

Tuesday's doping news

So Bertie Clentador had steak 4 nights during the Tour? JT and the boys have something to say to you.
Waiting with baited breath for Mr. 60%'s rebuttal. All the guys that booked out of Saxo, good job!

Ricco, fresh off his suspension for using CERA, get rushed to hospital in some sort of kidney failure. Evidently, he jacked his own blood, stored it in his HOME reefer for 25 days, put it back in, and had an issue? No shit? Here's a tip...after a week, pretty much EVERYTHING you put into the fridge goes bad.
Hell, I won't eat leftovers that are more than a day old, and this jackass transfused blood that was 25 days old? Red blood cells, if stored properly, last about 6 weeks. Platelets...5 days!
Lifetime ban? Coming right up...
Forrest Gump was right...

When will these guys figure out that you can't make a donkey into a thoroughbred? All you get is a faster jackass!

My two cents...

So, over @ DC, the latest post is concerning race radios. I really don't care if they use them or not. They're great for mechanical issues, and for safety, but does anyone really think that the top-flight guys use them for advice from the team car? I doubt that Cancellara needed someone to whisper in his ear when he attacked 45km from Roubaix last year.

As usual though, the conversation turned sideways when one poster added a laundry list of 'improvements' that could be made to pro cycling. Here are the 'solutions'...and my rebuttal...

- Disk brakes. Are we still in 1890?

Really? They would be wonderful in a mass, 25-man pileup. I’m sure no one would get sliced by a rotor. Nothing says love like a 6 inch blade of steel, spinning at 200+ rpm, filleting someone's achilles in the middle of a shunt. "How'd he bleed out?" "Oh, he took a a rotor to the throat..."

- Minimal Braking distances – some wheel/pad combinations are dangerous.

Huh? The UCI couldn’t scratch their ass with a handful of hooks. You’re going to let them dictate what brakes teams can ride? "Ve are sorry Monsieur, but you cannot ride ze Zipps avec ze cork pads. Zere is a chance of rain today..." Yeah, that'll fly...

- Frames rules that do not discriminate against “non standard” riders.

This one, I don’t understand…I don’t think the poster does either. WTF is a 'non-standard' rider? Is Lance 'non-standard' because he has one nut? Maybe he means that certain nameless riders, who fall off a lot, should be allowed to use training wheels. cough...Danielson...cough

- 2 Triangles frame rules – are we still in 1890?

You want the pros riding beam bikes? What is this 1990? The thought of it was offensive to the eye then, and continues to be offensive. The fact that Trek Y-Foil bikes are so sought after these days makes me wonder about humanity.

- Weight limit on components – not the package – a 800 gram carbon frame is not safe. The limit should be around the 1200grm mark with no ballast.

800g frames are fine. You think an extra pound of carbon is going to keep a frame from exploding when hitting a bollard @ 50kmh? Carbon frames don't 'splode on their own, or when subjected to direct sunlight.

- Respect their own rules on locations of sprints finishes.

HTFU! They’re pros. It’s what they’re paid for. Funny that Euro-dogs whinge about the location of a sprint finish, but a field of Cat 3 dudes will put each other in the hospital for a $50 prime.

- Clothing that has a minimal abrasion resistance in key areas.

HTFU! They're pros. It's what they're paid for. What's next, wearing DH armor? I guess we're going to stop the field @ 10k to go, and the UCI will hand out the correct protection to the riders. What about on technical descents? Full leathers and knee pucks for all!

- TT helmets with a safer inner shell (no hard tail).

TT helmets are all Snell and ANSI approved. Have been for a while. And let's face it, if you crash yourself during a ITT, you suck at bike handling. Sorry Cav...and triathletes...

- Brake lights.

Now that’s just dumb! What's next, requiring the peloton to shout "Braking", or "Slowing", like a century ride. Maybe they could set up tables every 20k or so to hand out cookies and Powerade too...

Like the title says, my two cents...

Oh, and here's Stage 1 of the ToQ...(short overview) Boonen attacked at @ 400m to go and held the break off...

Have a good Monday!

Euro CX and the ToQ prologue

Two great races...

ToQ prologue...interesting course...
Oh, and Cav is shit bike handler...

Fine Line

Like the Spinal Tap boys said, it's a fine line between clever and stupid...

Same with 35 degrees and rain, except the line is between hard and stupid. I may not be the fastest guy on the block, but am surely harder than most. For the last two days, however, the prospect of riding in 35 degree rain held no romance. I hate the trainer with the white hot power of 1000 suns, but sometimes it beats being wet, cold, dirty and miserable.
Yesterday, I rode the last 50km of 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege...
This morning, it's was the last 50km of 2010 Roubaix, including the 'chase' of Spartacus for the last 45km.


I need to head back down to The ManHole(tm) and mop up. There's an obscenely large, muddy puddle under the cross bike right now...


Hey Bertie, STFU! I'm more than willing to bet that you were lucky that Clen is all they found in your piss! Remember this day? Yeah, the day you beat the best TTers on the planet?
I remember my phone ringing about 7 seconds after Clentador crossed the line. It was Bond on the other end, and the exact word, not words, was "BULLSHIT!" No cursory greeting, just "BULLSHIT!" That's enough for me!

Yeah, we all know, Jens is a BAAAAD man!

If anyone is near Athens tomorrow, get to Jittery Joe's in Five Points, and take part in the Dirt Road World Championships of The World. Jered Gruber put the loop together, so it's probably a combo of great/epic/big fun, and after the last two day of rain, it may be more Belgian than Georgian! Take a towel...

Out...

Fight...

DiPietro cheap shots Cooke out of the crease...see if you can guess what happens next...



-Courtesy of Burt Hoovis




So I was scheduled for the TIF on the 15th, but the Rep for the pharmaceutical conglomerate cannot be there that day, so it's either gonna to be the 22nd or March 1st. I'm ready to get the shit over with and try to get on with my life...and free up some cash for more bike stuff...

A funny and some Porn

Yeah, it's sort of old, but funny nonetheless. @pedal_junky and I came up with this months ago!
Could be a bit of a marketing coup for Chick-fil-A...

Stybar's Czech champ Ridley...that he won the Worlds on last Sunday. No Di2 needed...


Boonen's EMX-7


Another solid CX ride this morning on very tired legs. And I think the Michelin Jets have run their course. Nothing like standing on the side of 12th St. changing a flat. Yep, a flat on the pavement. One tiny piece of wire went through and that was that.
Fortunately, Ebay is brilliant. 3 brand new Clement LAS file tread donuts are one the way to the house...$65 shipped! These are the same treads that Dugast and FMB strip off the clincher casing and glue onto their tub carcasses. If you noticed the white tubs that Nys rode a few times this winter, well, they were shod with Clement LAS tread.

Full Doc day tomorrow. Renick for some cracking and stretching in the morning, then to LexMed in the afternoon for a surgical consult, and to schedule the TIF. Good times...

Namaste...