Hmmm...looks like a week to recharge...

So there's a Tropical Storm in the Gulf, and it's headed this way.  Rain, rain, and more rain until Sunday...
Can't ride Saturday as The Boss has a 'thing' in Greenville Saturday morning.  Thus, I am responsible for the care and feeding of Junior Management until Saturday afternoon. 
To be honest, I need a rest from ManCation '13. 

And I no longer have a road bike...well, for the next couple of weeks at least.  The Ridley developed a really nice crack at the junction of the seatstay/dropout/chainstay on the drive side.  Guess who's getting a new frameset?  I'm trying to work a deal to get a Noah RS as a replacement...who knows...

Probably get another black and red Helium.  It better be black and red!!  The white ones are horrible, and will blow UP my OCD. 

For now, the Salsa is on road duty.  It has been modified to meet the need.

Excuse the shite photo.  Low light, and a monkey operated mobile phone, do not a good photo make...

The new Cipollini Bond.  Hotness?  Methinks yes...

Hmmm...haven't made a 'hotness' decision on this one yet.  Now, sure.  In two years, will the flouro pink still be hot?  Who knows?  Of course, carbon frames seem to last about two years under me, so it's nearly a moot point...

Sprinting makes the booty pop...

And if you have a moment, check out KindHuman.  The boys are doing things a little differently, and it may very well be the model for the future of the bike industry.  Do some business, put out some go stuff, BE NICE, and give something back. 
Doesn't sound TOO difficult, but in these days of companies gobbling up other companies, and the stunning amount of litigation, it's refreshing.
I've seen the Kampionne frame up close and personal.  It's damn nice.  Think I'll throw for a kit when they become available...(hurry up M.A.!!!)

The Dauphine is going on, but I just have no interest...

And with that, I leave you to your rainy Thursday.

There's still doping in pro cycling?

I'm SHOCKED...SHOCKED I tell you...




Santambrogio popped for EPO @ The Giro...

A few things...

Are MFers that GD stupid?  EPO?  Christ, I got checked for EPO the last time I had a physical!  No shit, I did...
The test was in the first week, and they allowed him to continue racing?  So much for that 'transparency' thing...

And all of the NOW 'holier-than-thou' pros who are giving so much stick on Twitter.  Sure, I'll listen to it from guys like Hendy, and select others, but David Millar?  Please STFU Dave!  Funny how you only confessed when questioned...
What would have happened had you NOT?  Hmmmmm....?

Just Dennis Miller said so eloquently...

"...no one comes to Jesus on prom night..."

 

And we're baaaaaccckkkkkk...

Joy of Joys...
Back from Mancation...the Boss went back to work...and I'm home with Junior Management.  Someone check on me today...

200 not on 100

200 Not On 100 from cycloWHAT? on Vimeo.

Nice little film documenting something of an insane venture...

Not much else going on this morning.  Weather is garbage today.  I guess I'll load up Corpo and head to Target and Lowe's shortly. 

I did look at a car while on Mancation...probably don't NEED it, but it was surely badass...

Not even CLOSE to original, but the body/frame were straight, it had NO rust, and drove pretty well.  Would be a good starting point for a ProTouring car...

Time to get the day rolling...

Home...

Mancation '13 is over.  I'm back at Corpo with Management and Junior Management.

Made it home in 8:55 yesterday.  Averaged 72mph including being held up by a jack-knifed pick-up/camper combo (everyone was okay, including their aged poodle), and near-biblical rain in the mountains of Virginia.
I should put that shit on Strava...

I need a rest from vacation.
Friday was the last ride day.  A short ride to get some of the crap out of my legs from the previous week.

Marsh Creek State Park

 If one cannot catch a fish here, one should really stop fishing altogether...

Lots of double-track access roads around the park.  There's singletrack to, but it's fairly terrible.  So rooty it make Harbison look groomed.  I did a couple of sections, and called it.

Good mancation in a good place with good friends.  Isn't that what it's all about?

Back to the grind.  The HMS Backy-arrrrgggghh-d is going to get some work today...

We will return to our regular programming tomorrow.

And we're winding down...

Mancation is coming to a close...and to be honest, I'm just about ready to get home, sleep in my own bed, and do a ride that is FLAT.  There is NO flat here.  You have to choices...UP or DOWN.
No matter.  The roads are good, the weather has been outstanding, and I have a 28 on the rear wheel.

From Wednesday's ride West...

Good morning Ladies...
As I passed, they all raised their heads, and watched me roll by.  None missed a single chew of their breakfast...

This farm road led me to one of those roads that, if one was forced to choose a road to ride for the rest of one's life, would be a stellar choice.

I give you Rt.282 in semi-rural Pa.  13-ish miles of smooth, twisty, canopied pavement.  I got passed by TWO cars on the entire length.  If you are ever in the vicinity, please do yourself a favor, and ride it.  Thank me later.

That being said, it IS in a valley, and DOES follow a trout stream downhill.  The climb out to the plateau is @ 2 miles, and averages 8%.  Most of that average is kicked up in the last 400m, which is an oh-so-fun 20-ish%.  Stick it in the 28, and stand up...

Yesterday was a tale of two rides.
 Going OUT to Valley Forge, I felt like Superman.  Hills?  What hills?  Wind?  What wind?
I got there almost a full 10 minutes faster than usual.  Just ROLLED it.  I did two big loops, stopped for a wee, and to refill the bottles, and headed on my way.
Coming back...not so much...
About 8 miles from home, the wheels came off.  I didn't go full Bonk, but I definitely cracked.  HARD.  The legs went away, and the HR skyrocketed.  Auto-Pilot kicked in, and I survived it.  Felt like hammered shit for a good hour after hitting the house though.  The tile floor in the bathroom was my friend.

 The story of the terrain around here...

Wee stop.  Yes, I am THAT guy on this trip.  I rode the carbon wheels.  I wish I hadn't.  In a place where braking modulation is needed, it's the one thing I really didn't have.
Nothing says love like repeated 40+mph descents on carbon clinchers...

 The Memorial Arch in Valley Forge...I like this place...

Highest point in the park.  Not a bad view...

Once home, fed, watered, and napped, we loaded up and headed down to Citizens Bank Park for some inter-league play with the Red Sox.

Hadn't been to a Phillies game in DECADES...literally.  The new park is NICE.  Easy in, easy out.  The amenities are outstanding.
Our seats didn't suck either.
And I got to see Jackie Bradley Jr. play.  The Sox subbed him into the game in the 7th.  Kinda cool to see him in The Show.

Today will be an easy 90 minute spin...in the woods...

Headed back to SC tomorrow morning....for some rest...

Mancation '13 continues

Woke up ready to ride this morning.  Feel good.  Slept like a stone again.  It's 55 degrees and drizzling outside right now, and the radar is awash in green as far back as Ohio.  Today might just be Mancation '13 : Rest Day.

 Helllloooo Wilbur....

 I don't neeed no steeenking mountains bike...
The inner trails @ Brandywine are a little tough on the CX rig, but the big outer loops are unbelieveable.  Smooth, flowy, big up and downs...pretty damn fun...

 Lots of shared land use too.  A lot of trails go right THROUGH fields and property adjoining the State Park.  Families walking, hikers, horses, cyclists...I saw them all yesterday.  Everyone was polite to one another, and shared the trail.  Unreal...

The last stretch home.  Can't complain...at ALL.

Your fatbike sucks...

Where does one find one of these?

OK, it's Tuesday...I think...get back to work!  I gots Mancation to attend to...

Mancation is gooood....

 Obligatory horse photo for Junk

 Doubletrack

 Singletrack...nice crossing over the mudhole...

 Hey Mike Edwards...fly fishing perhaps?

 Up the hill....

After about 10 miles of pretty damn sublime riding in the woods, I popped out onto what could be described as a smooooove road.

The drive up was an uneventful 9 hours in the car.  I say "car" because The Beast went to the beach with the rest of Corpo. 

Even the traverse of DC was relatively easy, which is a bit shocking.  Once North of Richmond, one must remember to start driving like a Yankee though.  Both hands on the wheel, and bumper to bumper at 70-85mph...all the way to PhilaPa.

It's Memorial Day.  Thanks to those who have served, and those who are still serving.  All gave some...some gave all!

Time to go ride.  Road bike, or CX bike in the woods again?  Mancation decisions...

1.5 to go....

The CX bike is ready to roll the smooth, groomed, flowy trails of both Brandywine Creek State Park in Delaware, and  Marsh Creek State Park in Pa.!  New Clement LAS rubber is mounted on the White Industries wheels, and the commensurate cassette has also been fitted.
The Ridley is ready to go as well, but I think a wheelset change will be made tomorrow. 

Now just to do some laundry, and get The Boss' company car packed.  Why not The Beast?  Well, Free Gas in the company car is always nice.  I really don't like driving it, but the $400+ savings makes everything sting a little less.

No ride Tuesday, as the weather looked a bit less than stellar down in LexCo.  Instead, TVH, HWF and I did a big, meandering loop of the Fort last night.  It was just a simple spin-the-legs-around ride.  Nothing more, nothing less...
Saw a few folks out there.  Wasted a wave on one, didn't on the others...

Big sun and new pavement.  I really don't like riding on the Fort, but last night wasn't so bad...

 Your fatbike-fu is weak....

And the new Pinarello Wrong-ma.  Disc brakes.... (smh)

And they took the Stelvio and Gavia out of the Giro because of the threat of bad weather....

Somewhere in Tuscany, Andy Hampsten is wandering his property, kicking stones, muttering something about pussies...

Gavia...1988...get some...

Next post may very well be from Pennsylvania...
I trust you'll be waiting with baited breath...

Have a good Friday, and weekend...

5 to go...no more free laps

4 if I don't count today...but today ain't over yet...

How do you want your bike porn?
Loud and bright...

 ...or muted, and (sort) of understated?

Can we choose both?

 I hate it when they know exactly why you're drifting to the back...

 Photo is from "The Bunny Crit".  Draw your own conclusions...

If you watched the Giro yesterday, you know that it got pretty Alpine at the top of the Galibier.

Here's the video of the last 7.5km directly from RAI TV.  GALIBIER....

Couldn't figure out the embed code.  Click the link...thank me later...

Wonder how much Cav hung onto the car yesterday? 

Nice rides this weekend...
Saturday was the first truly warm and muggy day we've ridden in thus far.  I gotta say, I'm just not acclimated to it yet.  Rode okay, but felt meh.  We did have a nice little group though.  Should have been bigger, but...well...I'll leave it at that...
3 hours and 85km fell under wheels in a tick less than 3 hours, and no efforts were made...sort of what a Saturday ride should be.  Long and steady.

Upon return to Service Course, work on the HMS Back-yaarrrggghhh-d continued...for then next four hours.  It's starting to look like something...pics will follow upon completion...

As is expected of a 43 year old, I woke up Sunday, and my entire body was stiff and sore.  It had just stopped raining.  It was wet.  More rain was expected.  I had to ride to get the parts working again.  CX bike...road wheels...and GO!
Nice 2 hours out thru LexCO and back.  It did look threatening a few times...

And the first 40 minutes felt like being beaten about the hips and legs, but once I turned onto 321, everything was good.  Tailwind all the way home.  I sort of got into a 20mph light tempo groove, and just rode.  2 hours and 60km later...
I did NOT do any construction work on Sunday...

The Ridley is ready for Mancation, and the Salsa will be tonight, as long as Brown Santa hits the door with my new Clement LAS tires.

Hope everyone had a productive weekend.  Mt. Mitchell is today too.  Rubber side down folks...

7 days...

...until Mancation '13.  This is gonna be a long week...

Fun ride last night.  It's funny how much smoother, yet less aggro, because it was FASTER.  How fast you ask?  Well, fast enough to have a nice working lead group.  I don't get into averages, simply because they mean exactly dick.  Let's just say it was faster than a bread basket...
All I know is that the stretch between Gator and the Airport was one of the quickest trips we've ever taken through there.  40-60kmh the whole way.  Yes, 60kmh into South Congaree.  That's 37-ish mph in Old Money.
It was one of those rides where I felt better as it progressed too.  I think I needed the effort to work the stiffness out of my legs that building Junior Management's pirate ship caused.  Bending, stretching, and stooping while framing out the deck just ripped up my hips and hamstrings.
Strangely, they feel fine today...

Giro News :

Wiggins and Hesjedal both dropped out this morning.  Who knew that training to the edge of exhaustion, and starving oneself to the point of looking like a victim of an European War Crime was bad for your health?  They both have "chest infections".

And Cavendish notched his 100th career win yesterday.  Good on him, even though he probably should have been relegated for deviating.  Nothing like looking under your arm, then swinging dead right...



And the Tour of California is going on.  It's brutally boring.  Yesterday, there was some excitement b/c of the crosswinds, and Jens won the stage with a late attack, after driving the break for 50km. 
And it's because he's MFing Jens Voigt!!!

See video in yesterday's post for possibly the best line EVER from Jens...

Pretty pictures...

Gotta feel bad for this guy...

 Laundry time @ Lampre

Why do I think there's a correlation between Sagan's lack of performance in California, and Cannondale's booth girls?

And one (or two) for the road.  I suddenly want a Vespa...

Wx should be beautiful this weekend.  Go outside and play!!!

Just TOO good...

If you don't like Jens, it's a YOU problem...

HumpDay ( and 8 to go until ManCation)

 Oh...Sweet Baby Jesus...

 "Eh, do you ladies need the keycard to my room?"

Wiggo has crashed so much, he's taken to wearing his helmet while reading La Gazzetta.

Speaking of Wiggo crashing...



That was impressive...

Weird ride last night. 
It never seemed 'fast', but the group got blown to hell on the run out 12th.  We made the turn, and no one was there.  A few ran some stop signs and got away...(I'll reserve comment...)
JBrstl and I waited, and a few chased across.  There was really never a "group" until we got to the top of Glenn.  Even the, the ride really never got together.  Odd...
It wasn't just me.  Others said it was "off" for some reason.  Who knows...?
I got some good miles in the sunshine with a bunch a guys I like riding with.  Not much more to ask...

And I think I have the new shoes/pedals figured out.  I guess I need to ride them to let the body adapt to the differences, however minute they may be. 

Gonna be nice for the next 5 or 6 days.  Go ride your bike.

Tuesday picture post

 I DO need a townie/cruiser bike...

 111 degrees at the finish yesterday in California.  Gilbert knows how to cool off...

 Wait...what?  Where the hell did those come from?

 The drawing from Hampsten again.  I'm still batting this one around.  Hampsten frame, Enve fork, D/A 11v, Boyd 44mm wheels...

 Ok...like "The Dude", I can abide most things.  This I cannot let pass.  It's an abomination, and an affront.  Ernesto Colnago has been made aware, and is flying over to slap someone around...

 Beautiful frame...just lovely.  Two things...
1) Lose the Brooks saddle
2) Roll up the damn bars!

Know who this guy is?  If not, well....you should...

That's it.  No wordy words today...

Go ride...it's nice outside...