Close enough

 Like the new Canyon? Only $2500 retail...

 Or you can get an oddly similar frame from Hong Fu...for $ <$600

Or an aero version from VeloBuild....for $499

Hmmm...curious...

Odd Urban Ride last night. No one seemed to want to be there. I wanted to ride, but just spin. My trip to Renick sort of snapped my back and legs for a couple of days, so there would be no shenanigans.
And I'm still a little dumbfounded why the ride is fracturing into several groups. What's the point of having a group ride?
The point is to be together. I can go ride by myself in the dark. Everyone has their own agenda. Just another example of the dysfunction that IS the Columbia scene.

I'm gonna need a moment...
Just put some white look Keos on it, and ship it South.
And if you're into such pornographic things, head over to Firefly's Tumblr page. All the photos are large format, and will eat time out of your day.

Oh my....

Doesn't look like a ride is going to happen for me tomorrow, as The Boss "forgot" that she has something to do @ 11am. Funny that she "forgets", then always recollects on Friday.
If anyone wants to see what Rule 9 actually looks like, I'll be out Sunday...in the rain...

My name is Inigo Montoya...

There seems to be some confusion around here about "The Rules". Please read them again, and then use them. If you have questions about certain Rules, contact Velominati. They will be glad to guide you on the path to the V.
Pssst...Rule 9 doesn't apply when it's 37 degrees, clear, and dry. Just sayin'...

Rule 9

Not Rule 9
I refer you to Inigo...
You will be reminded of these transgressions in the near future, when it's cold, gray, and pissing rain.
Instead of riding last night, as I just didn't have the want to get dressed, and leave the house, I built this...

...then sat in front of it for a few hours. It was quite pleasant, thank you!

 I'm largely ambivalent about fat bikes, as I live in SC, but if you're gonna be a bear...be a grizzly...

 Emily Batty knows...

 Know this guy? (his name is on his bike...)

 Know this guy? (he won Roubaix twice)

And you'd BETTER know this guy!

And after 20+ years of doing this cycling thing, these pedals look like :
A) An answer to a question not asked...
B) An injury-inducing pedal failure waiting to happen...
C) A pedal-related back/hip/knee/ankle/foot injury waiting to happen...
D) All of the above

A video posted by peloton magazine (@pelotonmagazine) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:19pm PST

Enjoy your Wednesday. It's cold, but the sky is blue. You could be in Buffalo.

Monday

And look outside your window...
If Monday had an assigned weather pattern, this would be it...
Foggy...rainy...thunder...a bit cold...it sure is Monday out there today...

Good CX from Gavere yesterday...


If you have a child/friend/acquaintance that wants to go to Europe to be a pro CXer...have them watch that race.  18kmh avg. That's 11mph in old money! Sounds like a ripping good time, eh?

A few of us met on a cold Saturday morning for a little spin out through LR. Even though it was about 35, the sun was big and bright, and felt quite warm. Now, in the canopy of trees on some sections, it was nippley. No matter. It was a good 2:30 on the bike. Gotta get on the road bike a bit more, as it felt weird. Too much time spent on the CX bike these days...

Sunday was a cold, gray, dreary start. The Heathen Ride was canceled. Instead, I watched Gavere, and then went out on the CX bike. Felt oddly good, so I decided to make a little effort. 45 minutes later, I really didn't feel all that good anymore. Funny how that works, huh?
Today's moisture is much needed out on The PowerStation. Parts are pretty soft and loose. But then, that sort of thing DOES breed handling skills.
I also got to see the big buck that roams the woods out there. Easily 12 points and 250+ pounds. Big boy...

 Parts of rural SC almost look Euro when shot in B&W. Searching for a name for this section. So far "Black Forest" is the clear leader...

 The only color yesterday was the trees.
All in all, it was a pretty fair day to ride. 45 and cloudy. All things considered, not bad. You could be in Wisconsin...

 Ah...being a pro in the 80s was so glorious...

 A different take on the single speed I suppose...

And I know I've said my next bike would be metal, but the 2015 Fuji Transonic is kinda doing it for me...

Stay inside today...get some work done. That's my plan...except for the whole "work" thing...
Oh, and watch this...you have a spare 12 minutes...

Not helping...

So we've discussed the new LeMond Washoe on here previously. O/S 853. 44mm headtube. Breezer drops. LeMond/Euro geos. Enve fork. $1799 for the frameset. Sweet deal, right?
Well, these hit the inbox, and just are not helping lessen my want...

The full bike shown, with Ultegra Di2...minus the carbon wheels...is $3999! One could likely build it for considerably less. The third colorway is black with Carolina blue and white accents. That's probably the way I'd go...
Oh, and if anyone is feeling giving here prior to the upcoming holidays, I ride a 55cm in LeMond geo.

I can't...it's just that...how does the...I mean who thought of...
Nevermind...this says it all...

Two wheels good...

 Started life as a 90s Ducati 750. Looks better now, eh?

And this is a full custom job Scrambler. (photo courtesy of Marc Seeh) Doesn't look fun...at all! Again...not helping...

Fun ride last night. I got a late start from #2's last Futbol match, so I rode the loop backwards, figuring I'd meet the group up near the Botanical Gardens. Worked out perfectly.
I will say though...
There a couple of sketchy parts of the 'hood back there. They go wholly unnoticed when one is riding with 15-20 other folks. When traversing them alone...in the quiet darkness, one tends to find a bit bigger gear, and push the pedals a bit harder.
And I switched out the 23 for a 27. Amazing how much easier it makes the two big ass hills that come towards the end of the Thursday night ride.
And it actually rained on us...just for a few minutes. Ricky said he didn't think it would last. My mind immediately went here...



Fortunately, Ricky was right. I hit Service Course with a solid 2 hours, a little effort, and some laughs. Got back as the temps were starting to drop as well. Thanks Mad Alchemy for keeping the guns warm.

Time to get the day started. The Target list isn't going to shop for itself...

3.5

SVENNESS 3.5 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

Big Fun

Sagan highlights...


Euro CX from yesterday...


A clinic by Sven...

And who gets across town faster?


Oh, the bike...who knew? Everyone! That's who...

Fun ride last night, even with the confusion over the departure time. It's 6:15 people. 6:15!! And if you don't do the ride, don't send out emails about the ride, especially if the emails are erroneous.
A big group stayed together, and had some fun out on the PowerStation. Handling skills were tested when a rather large Possum decided he wanted to run TO the lights, instead of away. A few folks got to test their brakes...
Little bastard ran right through the group. No one crashed. Laughs were had.
After two hours of frivolity, I was home. Hard to complain about a night ride...in 65 degree weather...in November.
The Polar Invasion is heading this way though. Highs in the 50s for the next week or so. Brrrrrr.....

And with that, kind reader, I'm out. Need to head to Publix. It's Wednesday though...senior citizens day. Spare a thought for me...

Half and half

Ruddervoorde was yesterday. Good race. No one got rad though...

Outstanding photo of Sven from the sandpit..

 Speaking of rad...

Longsleeve, thermal Christmas bike jersey.

I'm a bit gutted that I had to miss Bristol's Inaugural Gamecock CX race on Saturday. I feel like a bad friend for not being there. Parental responsibilities reared their ugly head, and I was at soccer from 8:45am until after 1pm. Yeah...that shit was fun.
But I am nothing if not a good parent, so...
#1's scored a goal in his game, and #2's team got the W, and he made a couple of circus saves in goal.
To add manual labor to the mix, I came home and cleared leaves for what seemed like the entire afternoon. I love these big, mature trees, but sometimes have delusions of Bunyan.
Long day...

The Heathens met on Sunday, and did an old school, "we haven't done this road for years" loop out through Lower Richland. Included were some climbs, a lot of dogs, and some road surfaces that Eastern Europeans would call poor. The very surfaces that make one appreciate the wider rim/fatter tire/lower pressures combo. I tried to incorporate a couple of dirt sections, but no one was having it.
Hell, a couple of the dogs were even friendly, especially a little brindle/white pitbull, who was just happy to see us. Not a mean bone in that dog's body...
Kevin had a tire that began to come apart with about an hour to go, and finally failed about 10 minutes from home.
Even with that, it was good, fun ride, on a pretty nice morning.

It's terrible out there...
 If you missed it, you missed it....

Time to go to Whole Foods. Nothing like spending $30 on 4 things...

It's amazing...

I made it through the ride last night w/o losing a contact. Shocking, considering there was a 45mph descent.
Perfect night to ride. Warm, and Cola was largely empty. We even tested a new route to get across the river.
Safer. AND more fun. Again, shocking! You're welcome...
Another two hours outside.
I do need some new cleats on the CX shoes though. Things are getting a bit sloppy...

Svenness 3.4
SVENNESS 3.4 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

And somehow, a rumor began that Sven is gay. 
Here's the thing about that...
WHO CARES?  Not my business what he does with his business. People just need to take the following to heart...

Got the O-Ring installed on the Rotor cranks. Surprisingly enough, the units from Lowe's worked perfectly. I would argue that it's actually a better fit than the stock unit from Rotor. It's the same diameter, but a little fatter, so it can crush more, and still not bind up the NDS bearing.  And I still have 9 of them, should they ever be needed.

And remember to head out to Ridgeway tomorrow for GameCock CX. Unfortunately, youth soccer has conspired against me, and I will be at the fields most of the day. If I get to ride, it will be an Hour of Power sort of thing.
Sunday is a go though. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

My life as a pirate...

So two out of the last three rides, I've blinked, and lost a contact. During the day, when El Sol is high in the sky, this is no big deal. At night, trying to navigate the trails through the woods, it's a bit maddening.
So this is for you Novartis...

Yes, you are the largest Pharma company on the planet, and you produce some truly life-saving medications, but your optics arm sucks. Next time I buy contacts, it'll be from J&J.

Last night started out pretty well. Felt good. Legs were just rolling over.
About 1/2 way out 12th., my left (bad eye) contact flaked dead off my eyeball. My vision went to shit.
It made The PowerStation and the trails a true joy.
Nothing like rolling around in the woods, with the shadows of other lights, and not being able to see.
I went to the back, as not to endanger anyone else. 
Still got home with a good two hours on the CX bike. Beats the hell out of the trainer...

I'll try some wetting drops on the next few rides, to see if it makes a difference. Arrrrggggh....

 Anna Sanchis shows the proper fitment of a skinsuit. One shouldn't look like #blackfish...

 Commit to the rut...or ruts...

Full custom cruiser from Keith Anderson...

Mr. Ghibli


Tell me again about your trackstand prowess...


Down to Service Course later to install a new O-Ring on the Rotor cranks. The old one came apart, and Rotor wanted $7 plus shipping. Huh...Lowe's had rubber O-Rings exactly the same size. $2.49 for 10.
Done...and done...

If they only had Phil Wood oil...

Rules 5 and 9? Not this weekend...

Yeah...I'm all for Rules 5 and 9, but not on Saturday. And not 36 hours after I rode in shorts.
There will be days that I will pull on the clothing commensurate with riding in 40 degree rain, but they will come later...
Instead, I did nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. It was pleasant. Well, I did watch Koppenbergcross...
The Heathens met Sunday morning in 45 degree sunshine...and a bit of a North-ish breeze. It's funny to me that on sunny Spring/Summer Sundays, the group will be thin...borderline anorexic, but on a day that could be considered a touch "Belgian", we had a fair-sized bunch.
And as it usually works, we had a tailwind out. Nothing says "you'll pay for this later" like ascending the first climb, wind at your back, having a chat...at 30+kmh.
How big was the wind, you ask? Well, we got to the turn 10 minutes faster than usual...and no effort was put forth.
Once out of Swansea, the real fun began...and the chatting largely stopped. Funny how headwinds have that effect.
I reminded T.G. that tailwinds build ego. Headwinds build character. He snickered...
After fighting head/head-cross for nearly two hours, I got back to Service Course with crust in my eyes, and an earache.
90km in the sun is still good stuff.

The bike got wiped down. The rear hub got some love (angry bees were returning), and the BB received a bit of ceramic grease. The rest of the day was to be consumed with raking leaves, but in 20+mph winds, it would have been wasted effort. Instead, I watched F1 and NASCAR, and napped.
It's rough sometimes...

Biertijd.com // Media » WATTS Zap 20/10/14 - Cycling Special

Svenness 3.3
SVENNESS 3.3 from In The Crosshairs on Vimeo.

Koppenbergcross (Full)


Bad form on the part of Van Aert's teammate...

Zonhoven (Full coverage from Vier)


The Ritte guys have it figured out...
  The Rider Diaries: A Chance Encounter from Ritte Bicycles on Vimeo.

Jamis has always had the CX bike thing figured out...

 Bad case of the "mud butt"?

Tell me about your little problems again. The guy's spirit animal is Godzilla!!

No-Shave November/Movember started this weekend. I've concluded that I will look decidedly homeless by the end of the month. That being said, however thick and multi-colored (gray) my beard may be, it will not be a glorious as HWF's beard. He has won the contest before it even has begun...

Gotta get my poop in a pile...things to do today...

A simple request

I just cannot understand why some people feel the need to make riding a bicycle harder than it needs to be. It's simple. There are two ways to go on a bicycle ride.
1) Get your bike. Get dressed. Go ride by yourself.
2) Get your bike. Get dressed. Meet at a pre-determined time, at a pre-determined spot, and ride with a group of like-minded individuals.

Not hard. So here's my request...
If you do not do the ride(s), or do not participate in the main body of the ride(s), please do not take it upon yourself to make the effort to control the ride(s). Please do not send out emails concerning the ride(s), especially when the email concerns changing the ride time. And not everyone is on the 'double secret' email list.
The folks who actually DO the ride(s) will talk amongst themselves, and get it figured out. Last I checked, the vast majority of the group in question are fully grown adults.
Treating people like small, dull children only serves to piss them off.

That being said, after the confusion of yesterday, the Urban Rides will now leave @ 6pm. It's being done in an effort to be able to do a full loop, and not get back to the parking lot @ 9pm.

Thanks!

Now...
The ride last night was pretty good. No lolly-gagging. We rode, stayed together, and had a good time.
And the first chill in the air was felt.
2 good hours in the dark.
Except for when I got back into the neighborhood, and got pinched by some moron in a Lexus SUV on Wheat St. Dog forbid she wait until I get past the parked car before she passed.
Thankfully, I sensed it coming, so I slowed down, and waited on her to pass. And it was a parent from Junior Management's school.
I'll see them again...

A while ago, Peloton did a good mini-doc on Keith Bontrager...





And speaking of current/former Trek partners, it seems LeMond has introduced a want-worthy steel frameset...

The 'Washoe'. Yeah, the name is questionable, but the frame is swank. 853 tubing. 44mm headtube. Over-sized front triangle. Enve fork. Old school LeMond/Euro geometry.
$1799! Yes...$1799. Buy a similar frame from IF, Donhou, or whoever, and it'll be 2x that money.
Not a big fan of the paint/graphics, but I could probably live with it.

And Jens Voigt's one month Hour Record fell yesterday...



Can't wait to see what the big dogs can do with the Hour. Cancellara, Wiggo, Martin...

Weather is gonna be shit tomorrow...be prepared...

Not gonna say it...

There are times, shockingly enough, when I'm right. I know this pains many of you, but it's accurate.

Point one- Ft. Jackson is now closed to visitors, including cyclists. Yeah, I know you pay your taxes, and think that entitles you to have free reign of the Army's largest training facility, but it doesn't.
Military installations are, ostensibly, sovereign nations. They operate under their own set of rules, and within their own confines. Regardless of what you think, letting visitors onto a military base, with little more than a driver's license check, is a HUGE security risk. I could go through a half dozen scenarios of exactly WHY, but you guys watch Homeland, so...
Be glad that we have been allowed to use their base for the last three decades. And please don't whinge that there are no places to ride. Or that roads have cars on them. As Bristol pointed out to someone last night, roads have cars, and the ocean has sharks...
Funny that I've put down 11k+ kms this year so far, and none have been on Fort Jackson. No place to ride...

Point Two- When I speak, and tell other riders things, it's not always to hear my own voice. Case in point?
We had a good ride going last night. Yeah, I broke a spoke going out 12th. Street, but a quick wraparound of the spoke, and opening of rear brakes, and we were on our way.
At the K-Rail on the PowerStation, I yelled, "Soft Sand". Someone crashed anyway...
Then, I was leading down the trail, at a good clip, and imparted upon everyone that they follow my lines. Well, a couple didn't, went on ahead, and at the mudhole, they over-rode their lights, and got to see first hand just how deep the hole is in the middle. (It's deep)

Back to the ride...
Because of the broken spoke, my rear wheel had some character, thus I was forced to open the brake. I can say, will some authority, running front brake only back in the trails really sucks. Crampy hand? Sure. Trail braking? Nope. Brake sounds akin to violating a goose? Most definitely.
And honestly, I was a bit shocked that the wheel didn't get worse as the ride progressed, especially considering it started the evening with 24 spokes, and ended with 23.

The wheel is going to the shop shortly for a new 282mm n/d spoke.

Saw this picture yesterday, and it made me snicker. No, not at the rider. He's out doing his thing. Respect.
It was the caption from the #fauxtographer. "BIG AIR". Really? I think the photog is very easily impressed...

THIS, on the other hand, is BIG AIR...

Mr. Stybar likes to BRAAAAAP.

Two wheels good :

Custom BMW Scrambler. Um, yes please...

And speaking of yes please...
Someone gave Hennessey their new Jag F-Type...



I will be stopping to pick up a few PowerBall tickets while out running errands this morning.

And so ends today's babbling...

Weekends should really be three days...

Two is just not enough to pack in all of the crap one wants to do. Of course, if one is a lazy sot, then it might be too many...
Saturday was a day of soccer. It began early with team pictures, then progressed into games. I was at the soccer fields from 10:30 until after 2. Doesn't sound like a long time to you? See you next Saturday. I'll ask you the same question...
#1 played well. He's starting to figure it out. It's his first season on the pitch, so the finer points are taking time.
#2 played like scouts from Real Madrid were there watching. 12 saves on 13 shots...one was a ricochet straight of his dome. AND he showed some real aggression, and initiative. For this, he received high praise...and a yellow card.
A player from the other side was on a break. No defense. Just attacker and #2 in goal. The boy came out of goal, rushed the kid on the break, and knowing he couldn't use his hands, as he was out of the box, executed a text book slide tackle.
We're not talking about a normal, kid's soccer tackle either. It was a tackle taken straight from Premier League play.
The kid on the break flew about 10 feet before hitting the ground...in a pile...not moving.
Rarely do cards come out in youth soccer, but #2 got a yellow. Sure, he got the ball, but he definitely got the kid too.
I asked where he learned it, and he said from watching BPL on TV. A sponge, that one...
I told him it was okay. Sometimes, you need to take the man, and the card.

Once home, and Junior Management had left for the Lexington office, I got one the CX bike for a short spin to get the legs going around.
Perfect afternoon, and the PowerStation couldn't be much better right now. 90 easy minutes, and I was back. It was plenty.
Sunday was a fantastic ride, on a Chamber of Commerce day. Big loop out through LexCal, including going UP Big Beaver Creek. And honestly, it's really not a big deal. I sort of liked it in that direction. Then across to Swansea, and back in.
110km for the day...AND tightened up the tanlines...at the end of October. Tell me again how nice it is to ride up North...
Roxy said she hated me for dragging her out that far. Sorry. You buy the ticket, you ride the ride.

 Gotta be a certain age to get the funny in this one...

 The organizers of the Tour really missed it this time.  Can you see it?

 Oh Mario, when do you tease so?

Is it bad that I want the attractive female to get the hell out of the way, so I can see the road?

As an aside, Outspokin' is looking good inside. The remodel is still on going, but the extra space, and the glassed-in fitting area will complete the shop. Good effort guys/gals!

And the word for the the day? #blackfish

Cramping my style

This "parenting" thing is beginning to cut into my ride time.
Haven't been on the bike since Tuesday due to varying responsibilities. I'm getting itchy.
Between The Boss working a couple of events, and a week that has been filled with U8 and U10 futbol, the bike has been lonely...
I might be able to sneak in a ride this afternoon, as Junior Management is going to the Lexington County office for the evening, and into Sunday. It'll likely be little more than a short spin out through the PowerStation to get the legs going around.
I'll be out in the morning though...

Quick hit on the whole Armstrong/Hincapie Fondo thing...
The fact that Lance doped and lied...yeah...I get that. Do I really give a shit anymore? Nope.

Lance got invited to do the Hincapie Fondo. It's been public knowledge for weeks. Only a few short days ago did USAC and USADA decide to hike up their man pants, and decide to enforce Lance's ban from sanctioned events.
A few things...
IT'S A FUCKING COOKIE RIDE! The only reason it's "sanctioned" under USAC is for the insurance. Period.
The "ban" from the ride has more to do with Travis Tygart's ego than it does Lance, and that's sad.
If USAC is banning Lance from riding, then under USAC's own rules, everyone participating this weekend should be required to by a USAC racing license. What's good for the goose, and all that...
And how, exactly, would they stop him from riding. Free country...open roads.
If I was Lance, I'd have a car take me out of the hotel grounds, to the base of the Watershed. And I'd wait...
When the group came over the last crest before the climb, I'd blend in seemlessly.
Just a dude out for a ride, who met up with some other dudes out on the road.
What's USAC gonna do, hire mercenaries to stop him? Or will Tygart and Betsy link arms, start singing "We Shall Overcome", and block the road?
Bandit the ride Lance. It's cool with me...and most other folks. Or Hincapie, and the organizers of the ride could just tell Tygart to GFY, and ride anyway. That would be even cooler with me.
Maybe USAC and USADA would get the point that they are both ineffectual governing bodies.
And let's be clear about USAC and USADA, they were complicit in all of the doping in the late 90's/early 2000s. They knew. They supported it.
If you doubt this, just use the Google search tab in your browser, and get some education.

And FWIW, I know LA follows me on Twitter, and I've seen some traffic from both Austin, and Aspen, so maybe he visits this little dog-and-pony show.
If that's the case, I throw this out there...
We ride @ 9 on Sunday mornings. Usually 100km or so. You're always welcome to ride with us, and enjoy some SC countryside.

#LetLanceRide

As an aside, how about USAC, USADA, and WADA worry about the guys that are doping NOW, instead of the guys who are retired?
I've said it before, and I'll bang the drum forever...
Cycling is the only sport that will dig up it's dead, and re-hang them in the town square.

Here endeth the rant...

Le Tour 2015

So the Tour route for next year was announced this morning.
Tourmalet. Alpe d'Huez on the next to last day. Mur de Huy. And cobbles again...
Stage 4 is the longest at 221km, including 7 sections of cobbles, with 6 of them coming in the last 45km.
Froome has already balked. Took about 17 seconds.

And I keep hearing a high-pitched whine. It may be a frequency variance, or it may be Tejay.

Here's an idea for the contenders...
This Winter/Spring, go to the very places the Tour will visit come July. Hell, they gave you a MAP!
Ride the cobbles. A Lot.
Go here :

Not here:

Yes...Mallorca DOES have it's particular advantages...

...but these do not serve to help one win Le Tour.

Fun Night Ride last night. I won't say "Urban" this time, as it wasn't.
A trip out 12th to the PowerStation was the call. The group all rolled as a unit until the trip back in. I was called on to lead, as I know the proper lines to prevent riding into big holes (Charlie), or straight into a mud pit.
And it was a good thing this knowledge somehow remains in my concussion-addled, little, squirrel brain.
About halfway down the road, I felt what I thought was a bead of sweat roll into my eye. I blinked hard a few times, only to blink out the contact lens that had been correcting the vision in my right eye.
Know what makes a ride in the dark fun? Compromised depth perception. I surrendered the lead once on the paved trail. The one-eyed man was not King...
And then about half of the group got separated/lost/whatever. We sat and waited for a while, then it became time to push on. I had to get home...
A quick trip up the hill into Shandon, and that was that...

Time to get the day started...Publix and the shop await...