There's plenty of time later in the year to hammer the 6:15 ride so for now I'm enjoying the scenery over slow rides and good conversations.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
What you missed this morning.
There's plenty of time later in the year to hammer the 6:15 ride so for now I'm enjoying the scenery over slow rides and good conversations.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Big Maggie is Really Big
- I mean Huge. I had the pleasure of meeting Magnus Backstedt over the weekend and was just blown away by what a nice guy he was. He had nothing but patience for my rain-man-like-cycling questions (he wants Hincapie to finally win Roubaix in 2010 and thinks Boasson Hagen is Merckx for a new generation) and was gracious recipient to Dr Drea's insistence that he try a Dark n'Stormy (which he liked).
It's always great when the stars you admire turn out to be just normal and decent human beings in person. I especially liked his advice to aspiring juniors, "just always give 100%, that way no matter what happens you'll know that you tried your hardest."
One final note from the big Swede that can go under the topic of "benefits to cycling they don't advertise enough"
Me: "So, if you win Roubaix, do you ever have to buy a drink again?"
Magnus: "No...it's pretty rare."
He's doing some good things with a small team. It's not going to get you a sponsors spot on his team kit, but I'm sure it would help the cause to buy some of his coffee here.
- I found myself sucked into the black hole that is MTV's Cribs over the weekend. It's a train wreck of too much money and bad taste; did you know that Dale Earnhardt Jr has a Western village in his backyard complete with period dressed women? It's as though all US celebrities live in a world of expensive LARP. Each time I saw the garages full of Beamers and Bentleys I'd wonder to myself just how many bikes I could fit into that space if given the money. Then last week I found out that Michael Barry has his very own Cribs-style bike porn garage full of vintage one-offs. These are his bikes - not including his stable of 10 years worth of actual PRO rides.
- If you're like me you often find yourself staring at the TV in July in absolute awe, wondering how much more training you'd have to do to get up those hills so fast. This picture of Dutch climbing sensation Robert Gesink helps answer that question. You just need a beach body that isn't going to win you many ladies (unless of course they're very into cycling).
- Velonews had a look at the logistics behind Garmin-Transitions recently. I knew it took a lot to support a team, but didn't realize it was akin to supplying a military operation. Just look at the photo below. Those boxes contain 22,000 camel back water bottles. Those things retail for $9, that's $200,000 a year just on water bottles that get used once before being flung into a ravine in the French countryside. Add the thousands of gels, bars, bar-tape, tubulars and pedals that the team goes through in a year and they have a whole warehouse just to keep the team stocked.
- I've been nothing but cold on my bike recently and it's testing even my love of the sport. A quick Google of "how to stay warm while cycling" revealed mostly boring answers. Yeah, who knew that wearing more clothes would help? But I came across this great suggestion here that advised I cover my legs in duck fat! Answers like that are the reason I love the Internet.
I have to say I'm tempted, but it would be just one more thing I'd add to the list of cycling quirks that my lovely girlfriend will never understand. That, and I'd fear dogs chasing after me.
- On a recent group ride I was looking around at the body language in the group. By and large we were man handling our machines, rocking our shoulders side to side trying desperately to squeeze every last watt out. While I'm on the Roubaix theme, I found this video of Moser winning the '78 race in the World Champion Stripes. It's text book perfect cycling technique. I've heard that Moser used to ride his rollers in front of a mirror just so he could dial in his technique. Watching this makes me believe that leaves me striving for that effortless technique only attained through thousands of miles.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I think most pro cyclist interviews are really dull (Question: What's your training secret? Answer: I ride a lot in the mountains and I don't eat). I came across this interview from some Cat 1 rider and wished this guy taught interview lessons to the pros:
Lanolin: You’re quite a good climber. What’s your secret?
Alan: My mother was a social climber. My father was a corporate climber. I have no friends and no money, but I can do this.
Monday, January 4, 2010
My bike is a mess
I've ridden almost every day over the last two weeks.
I keep thinking that nature will reward my perseverance with a day or two balmy skies and gentle breezes. How foolish, it's been nothing but gale force winds and cold rain on almost every ride.
As a result my bike is a hot mess. Next time my lovely girlfriend is out of the house post-ride I might give this a try:
I keep thinking that nature will reward my perseverance with a day or two balmy skies and gentle breezes. How foolish, it's been nothing but gale force winds and cold rain on almost every ride.
As a result my bike is a hot mess. Next time my lovely girlfriend is out of the house post-ride I might give this a try:
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sprint!
Lessons learned from the weekend's Cyclo-Cross Race #1: It's a workout. A-can't-stop-breathing-think-you're-going-to-be-sick workout. On Peter's suggestion we started with a five lap race. Tough man that I am, I scoffed. Nine minutes later I was slumped over my handlebars in a pile of self pity. The entire race is essentially a monstrous interval workout with constant changes of pace, accelerations and sprints.
Lessons #2: You really can do a 'cross race on any bike as evidence by Dr. Booth below. Funnily enough, of the eight different styles of bikes present, there was only one genuine cross bike being used. Translation: no excuse to not show up to the next event.
Lessons #3: The format makes for a great spectating event. Since you can essentially run the race in an area the size of a football field people are more likely to come out and support you since they can see the entire race. Secondly, you don't have to bore your significant other when you get home with tales of your exploits - they're there getting bored in real time, but it's O'kay because the course is scenic and the races short. Finally, it becomes a social event. We were fortunate enough that Dave and Zara organized the event and then opened up their house to all with beer and fish chowder afterwards. If you know me, you know I think that occasions like this are the reason I ride.
Lessons #4: On to matters of actual racing, Peter Dunne must have been practicing his mounts and dismounts at home while the rest of us were at work because he's fast. In the individual race, he took off from the gun not to be seen from again, perfectly navigating the off-cambre corners and running up the stair case with ease. Norby grabbed second, and I snuck past Mark Godfrey for third.
Now, no disrespect to Peter, but this fact alone - the sheer thrashing he doled out - is enough to get me out to the next race to try and even the tables.
Peter with full on race face below showing how it's done.
Other things worth noting:
-Mark Godfrey won the junior category and I think he could have a future in this, he was cruising up the grass embankment like it was paved.
-Boltini came out and did the race on his road bike and road shoes but still managed a smile up the stairs. Or is that a grimace...
-While there was a point where I thought my single speed was going to get the better of me, I'd like the record to reflect that in the end the relay race was lost in the last half of the last lap because of a dropped chain on Bevis' Campy equipped Moots. It was sweet relief after grinding out my gears at 55 rpms. Schadenfreude with a Bill Murray like sense of timing.
Prizes: I've decided there aren't enough prizes in Bermuda cycling. They don't have to be much - Peter got a four pack, while Dr Booth and I got two - but it does make you race harder.
Lessons #2: You really can do a 'cross race on any bike as evidence by Dr. Booth below. Funnily enough, of the eight different styles of bikes present, there was only one genuine cross bike being used. Translation: no excuse to not show up to the next event.
Lessons #3: The format makes for a great spectating event. Since you can essentially run the race in an area the size of a football field people are more likely to come out and support you since they can see the entire race. Secondly, you don't have to bore your significant other when you get home with tales of your exploits - they're there getting bored in real time, but it's O'kay because the course is scenic and the races short. Finally, it becomes a social event. We were fortunate enough that Dave and Zara organized the event and then opened up their house to all with beer and fish chowder afterwards. If you know me, you know I think that occasions like this are the reason I ride.
Lessons #4: On to matters of actual racing, Peter Dunne must have been practicing his mounts and dismounts at home while the rest of us were at work because he's fast. In the individual race, he took off from the gun not to be seen from again, perfectly navigating the off-cambre corners and running up the stair case with ease. Norby grabbed second, and I snuck past Mark Godfrey for third.
Now, no disrespect to Peter, but this fact alone - the sheer thrashing he doled out - is enough to get me out to the next race to try and even the tables.
Peter with full on race face below showing how it's done.
Other things worth noting:
-Mark Godfrey won the junior category and I think he could have a future in this, he was cruising up the grass embankment like it was paved.
-Boltini came out and did the race on his road bike and road shoes but still managed a smile up the stairs. Or is that a grimace...
-While there was a point where I thought my single speed was going to get the better of me, I'd like the record to reflect that in the end the relay race was lost in the last half of the last lap because of a dropped chain on Bevis' Campy equipped Moots. It was sweet relief after grinding out my gears at 55 rpms. Schadenfreude with a Bill Murray like sense of timing.
Prizes: I've decided there aren't enough prizes in Bermuda cycling. They don't have to be much - Peter got a four pack, while Dr Booth and I got two - but it does make you race harder.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
2009 Recap
#1 Present of 2009: is a pair of white BG S-Works shoes from my lovely girlfriend. The over the top PRO styling of these made them pretty high on the wish list, but the sock like comfort of them made them a must have.
Ridiculous accessory I may now need: White shoes equals maintenance, and a quick look at my drive train will show that I'm terrible in that department. I'm seriously considering overshoes a la Frank Vandenbroucke.
I've never thought about them before, but I noticed (and how could you not notice Paulo's) several pairs on the boxing day ride.
Trend I hope is resurrected in 2010: If there was one fashion trend that defined cycling in the early and mide 90's it was outlandish eyewear worn unabashedly. See exhibits one, two, and three. After a decade of black minimalism it looks like the Gaudà is back in. Oakley's new Jawbones are almost so ugly as to be beautiful and their aptly named 'Retina Burn' pair is calling my name.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep: Go no more than two days without a ride. I want to get fast this year. Consistency = improvement. Nothing else really to say.
Surprise of the 09 racing season: I'm not a time trialist - I don't like them because I am bad at them and am bad at them because I don't do them - so I normally only look at the results to see just how much Garth won by. But for a three week span at the end of the summer this year I was hooked. The reason: the fight for end of season wins between Dave Collins and Mark Hatherly. There were three races and all three were decided by less than four seconds. FOUR SECONDS! Rivalry makes good sport and good sport pushes people harder than what they otherwise would. I'm excited to see what Mark can do in 2010.
Local Race of the Year: This one is really a no brainer for me. It has to be Scott's ride at the National Road Race Championships. i've seen a lot of races in Bermuda, but never a two hour solo move in the wind and rain to seal it. I only had the back of the pack view, but there was carnage in the group with three laps to go because of the unsuccessful attempt to close the gap; I can't imagine the pain involved in holding off that charge but somehow it all came together.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep #2: Drink less in general and the night before 5:30 a.m. training sessions in particular. I'm thinking my strategy for tackling this one is concentrate on quality wine over quantity.
Funniest Proposition of the Year:
Scene: Having a coffee after 30 miles in the wind and rain.
Brian Drea: I felt pretty good just there. Do you want to go around the back of St. Georges, the Lighthouse and back?
Me: No.
BD: Oh come one. Tell you what, I've got some Fig Newtons we can split. What do you say?
Me: Well that changes everything.
Rode just over 60 miles that morning.
Revelation of the Year - Equipment: I recently asked Chelsea for a handbuilt front DT Swiss 240 and am amazed at the difference it makes to my bike. I just rolls so smooth. I can't go back to anything else now, and if anyone else is looking for a bulletproof set of training wheels, look no further.
Obscure Bike Builder Obsession of the Year: I just think that Sacha White's Speedvagen bikes are so cool. Metal bikes are making a comeback and he's leading the charge.
Revelation of the Year - Product: Some things in life are worth debating (Monica Bellucci or Scarlett Johansson, the Giro or the Tour) others are not. On the topic of the best cycling blog, it's firmly in the latter camp: Belgium Knee Warmers is the best. Period. They are the keeper of all things PRO and their long standing love of Frank Vandenbroucke is ispiring, the origin of the title is explained here:
Of course I was curious, so Dave brought some Mad Alchemy embrocation down from Canada. It's only been a week, but this stuff is great. It's like a cup of coffee for the legs and makes getting out the door on those cold morning just that much easier.
Photo of the Year:
Bevis Tetlow and Phil Mace cycled 1836 K's between Buenos Aires and Santiago earlier this year. Geography majors out there will know that this meant a) crossing the Andes along the way, and b) Southern Hemisphere meant the ride was during their winter. It was a bad ass ride and they raised a ton of money for charity (as well as giing themselves a great excuse to buy new bikes). Their photos are incredible, and I probably could have chosen any of them to be the year's best, but I liked this one.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep #3: Stretch every day. I'm told it helps, but all I want to do after a ride is drink coffee.
Exceedingly Optimistic 2010 Event: I don't know if anyone's noticed, but Tom - Mr Grand Prix Bermuda - Barras has found a ride with the new UK Raleigh cycling team. Raleigh used to be a powerhouse team in the European peleton. Their ambitions are a little lower going into 2010 - more Continental Division I level - but they've signed some great young riders. Maybe Tom will convince the managers to have an end of season jolly around Hamilton and do some racing too. Just try and imagine if racers still did this after particularly grueling stages of the Tour:
Revelation of the Year - Racing: The Junior program. The juniors riding now are good. Really good. It's great to see the development and I can only hope that they stay in the sport long enough to become great.
Ridiculous accessory I may now need: White shoes equals maintenance, and a quick look at my drive train will show that I'm terrible in that department. I'm seriously considering overshoes a la Frank Vandenbroucke.
I've never thought about them before, but I noticed (and how could you not notice Paulo's) several pairs on the boxing day ride.
Trend I hope is resurrected in 2010: If there was one fashion trend that defined cycling in the early and mide 90's it was outlandish eyewear worn unabashedly. See exhibits one, two, and three. After a decade of black minimalism it looks like the Gaudà is back in. Oakley's new Jawbones are almost so ugly as to be beautiful and their aptly named 'Retina Burn' pair is calling my name.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep: Go no more than two days without a ride. I want to get fast this year. Consistency = improvement. Nothing else really to say.
Surprise of the 09 racing season: I'm not a time trialist - I don't like them because I am bad at them and am bad at them because I don't do them - so I normally only look at the results to see just how much Garth won by. But for a three week span at the end of the summer this year I was hooked. The reason: the fight for end of season wins between Dave Collins and Mark Hatherly. There were three races and all three were decided by less than four seconds. FOUR SECONDS! Rivalry makes good sport and good sport pushes people harder than what they otherwise would. I'm excited to see what Mark can do in 2010.
Local Race of the Year: This one is really a no brainer for me. It has to be Scott's ride at the National Road Race Championships. i've seen a lot of races in Bermuda, but never a two hour solo move in the wind and rain to seal it. I only had the back of the pack view, but there was carnage in the group with three laps to go because of the unsuccessful attempt to close the gap; I can't imagine the pain involved in holding off that charge but somehow it all came together.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep #2: Drink less in general and the night before 5:30 a.m. training sessions in particular. I'm thinking my strategy for tackling this one is concentrate on quality wine over quantity.
Funniest Proposition of the Year:
Scene: Having a coffee after 30 miles in the wind and rain.
Brian Drea: I felt pretty good just there. Do you want to go around the back of St. Georges, the Lighthouse and back?
Me: No.
BD: Oh come one. Tell you what, I've got some Fig Newtons we can split. What do you say?
Me: Well that changes everything.
Rode just over 60 miles that morning.
Revelation of the Year - Equipment: I recently asked Chelsea for a handbuilt front DT Swiss 240 and am amazed at the difference it makes to my bike. I just rolls so smooth. I can't go back to anything else now, and if anyone else is looking for a bulletproof set of training wheels, look no further.
Obscure Bike Builder Obsession of the Year: I just think that Sacha White's Speedvagen bikes are so cool. Metal bikes are making a comeback and he's leading the charge.
Revelation of the Year - Product: Some things in life are worth debating (Monica Bellucci or Scarlett Johansson, the Giro or the Tour) others are not. On the topic of the best cycling blog, it's firmly in the latter camp: Belgium Knee Warmers is the best. Period. They are the keeper of all things PRO and their long standing love of Frank Vandenbroucke is ispiring, the origin of the title is explained here:
true hardmen opt to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead choose an embrocation to cover the knees, which provides warmth for the legs chemcially and keeps the blood circulating and the muscles as supple as possible. This embrocation and the sheen created is affectionatley known as “Belgian knee warmers.”
Of course I was curious, so Dave brought some Mad Alchemy embrocation down from Canada. It's only been a week, but this stuff is great. It's like a cup of coffee for the legs and makes getting out the door on those cold morning just that much easier.
Photo of the Year:
Bevis Tetlow and Phil Mace cycled 1836 K's between Buenos Aires and Santiago earlier this year. Geography majors out there will know that this meant a) crossing the Andes along the way, and b) Southern Hemisphere meant the ride was during their winter. It was a bad ass ride and they raised a ton of money for charity (as well as giing themselves a great excuse to buy new bikes). Their photos are incredible, and I probably could have chosen any of them to be the year's best, but I liked this one.
Promise to myself I'm unlikely to keep #3: Stretch every day. I'm told it helps, but all I want to do after a ride is drink coffee.
Exceedingly Optimistic 2010 Event: I don't know if anyone's noticed, but Tom - Mr Grand Prix Bermuda - Barras has found a ride with the new UK Raleigh cycling team. Raleigh used to be a powerhouse team in the European peleton. Their ambitions are a little lower going into 2010 - more Continental Division I level - but they've signed some great young riders. Maybe Tom will convince the managers to have an end of season jolly around Hamilton and do some racing too. Just try and imagine if racers still did this after particularly grueling stages of the Tour:
Revelation of the Year - Racing: The Junior program. The juniors riding now are good. Really good. It's great to see the development and I can only hope that they stay in the sport long enough to become great.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Daunting
How does an image of an empty road manage to convey fear? This is the halfway point in the Tour of Battenkill. I think plenty of training is in order.
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