From my Saddle

Clinchers Vs. Tubulars

2011-06-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

A debate that may last forever, and one that, in my opinion, is only answered by the person riding the tires. However, since I've been asked several times for my opinion on which tire is "Fastest," I will do my best to answer that question with this blog post. It really isn't very exciting, but at the very least it will be informative.

This debate has become a real interesting one. It was never an issue until clinchers started to become so well made.

For triathlon purposes where efficiency both in repair while racing, and accomplishing the fastest time is necessary, I believe a good clincher combined with a latex tube is the way to go. Because most triathletes aren't pro level, but enthusiasts at best, the thought of changing a tubular can be intimidating. Clinchers are easier, and more familiar to the enthusiast to change while doing a hasty repair during a race. That being said, being able to change a tubular or inner-tube is critical, and practicing with whatever tire you choose to ride is a must.

I say that the debate wasn't an issue until clinchers became so nice, because it's the truth. The advent of the "Open-Tubular" which is basically a tubular tire that wasn't sewn together with a tube inside, and instead a kevlar bead was placed which then turned the tire into a clincher. These tires offered the ease of a clincher with the lightweight and "speed" of a tubular. Clinchers were never a "Real" option because they were never as nice as the tubulars. Tubulars used to always be made with silk casing and aged, this combo provided an extremely smooth rolling tire with a very pliable feel. This also gave a tremendous amount of "Road-feel" which could really "tell" the rider where his bike was going....in the past no clincher could ever do that. However, now with the great clinchers available there is really no reason a triathlete should ever "need" to ride tubulars.

For road cycling it may be a different story. For road cycling, tubulars will be properly glued as opposed to lightly glued for triathlon use. This "Proper glue job" of road cycling provides two benefits, 1) less tire squirm and wasted energy(debatable) 2) less likliehood of tire rolling off of the rim in case of a flat. Also tubular wheels are lighter. Tubulars used during a triathlon tend to be "Lightly glued" in order to make changing a flat tubular tire on the roadside much, much easier. Regarding the wheels for both tubular and clincher, tubulars are lighter, carbon clinchers with an aluminum brake track are heavier as a result of the aluminum, and the all Carbon clincher wheels are nice but in order to remain safe under high pressure, the sidewalls need to be slightly more built up to handle the outward force of the clincher tire bead which happens as a result of an inflated tire, and this often results in a slightly heavier wheelset as well. So if you want the absolute lightweight out of a wheelset, get a tubular wheelset. If you are less concerned with weight, unfamiliar with tubulars, or just like the idea of clinchers better, get a clincher wheelset.

So, the discussion could go on and on. Ask me whatever questions you have. I'll list a few tire recommendations both tubular and clincher.

Clincher-

1) Vittoria Open Corsa with Latex tube- Fast but not really durable- risky for punctures

2) Schwalbe Ultremo ZX- Fast and durable. With a latex tube really a great combo. Not highly likely to puncture unless through a pile of glass

3) Schwalbe Durano S or Ultremo DD- Both very durable and fast with a latex tube

4) Conti GP4000- Durable.

Tubular-

1) Vittoria Corsa Tubular- Fast, light, not very durable

2) Schwalbe Ultremo HT- Fast, durable

3) Conti Sprinter- Durable

I will always recommend

that the fastest most durable tire is best for Triathlon, tubular or clincher. It is always heart breaking to see people struggle changing tires(tubulars) or tubes(clincher) just because they sacrificed some durability for light weight or speed. The Schwalbes, in my opinion, are the best all around tires out there, for both triathlon and cycling.

So, for ease of repair on the roadside, clincher. For the ultimate in lightweight wheelset, tubular. For ultimate speed in a clincher....not just in mph, but overall efficiency, a nice durable clincher and latex tube. For ultimate speed in a tubular a nice durable tubular that is truly glued properly. Of course, either way, the practice of changing the flat tires or tubes is a must. For those of you who know the story of the above picture, that is all you need to know.

More about Belgium

2011-04-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

Because all things European and specifically all things from Belgium are idolized by most American cyclists, I've decided to help explain a little more about Belgium and its current state of affairs.

In a previous blog post I wrote about the different flags and the prominent "Lion of Flanders" flag. In this blog post I've decided to attach a short video that explains today's Belgium better than anyone, or any American cyclist with a blog, could do.

Lost in Translation

2011-02-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

As the title of this blog post indicates, I missed something. As the picture indicates, there was some yelling involved. Not by 3 black ladies(thank goodness)if it was, I would have been more concerned. Instead I got yelled at not by 1, but 2 guys from the group I was riding with on Sunday. However, in defense of myself as well as the guys who yelled at me, there was an important piece of information about the ride that got, you guessed it, lost in translation.

First, in order to catch everybody up to speed, I need to give a bit of back story. A few of my readers know that in my past I was a relatively competitive cyclist and in the last few years I've let myself and fitness slide and am now a much larger version of the former me. Anyhow, now that I am living in the Netherlands and am able to ride more, I have taken every opportunity to do so. With that opportunity I decided to join a local cycling club called LRTV Swift. It is a cool club, has a nice clubhouse, has nice members, and more importantly they have people that I can ride with. So it has been great to know that there is a schedule of rides available. One of those rides is called, De Haarlemmermeertraining, and it takes place every Sunday in February. I missed

last Sunday only because I forgot that the Dutch are very punctual and if the ride is a 10Am ride, that means that at precisely 10Am the wheels are rolling. Well, at 10Am last Sunday I was putting on my shoe covers and by the time I started my sprint down the path to catch up the group was gone and I had no idea where they went. So, I went on a nice ride by myself but was determined to make the next ride with the group.

Sunday rolled around and I knew that in order not to relive the previous Sunday of being left behind I decided that I would show up to the SWIFT clubhuis early and decided that 9:30Am would be fine. I arrived on time, went in got a cup of coffee, said "Goede Morgen" to a couple of guys that responded to my salutation with a blank stare. I brushed it off and figured that the warmth I felt was a result of their lack of coffee, my 3days worth of beard, my accent, the fact that the sun hasn't made a presence in about 4 months, they were wishing they were in church, or maybe that's how the Dutch welcome complete strangers. Anyhow, as the morning progressed more and more cyclists showed up and my "goede morgen's" were met with a similarly warm reception. Finally, a familiar face arrived, Ruben. He is one of the first cyclists I met at the club and he is always quick to offer a hello. We said hello and I went back to sipping my coffee. As 10am approached, a cyclist dressed in black stood up on a chair and starts yelling...............something, something, something, something, uhhh, something, something, uhhh, something, something, something. I sat there and was able to understand a couple of things.......as a group, steady, together, as a group. OK, cool, no problem. Another guy, who is the club bike shop sponsor decides to add his 2cents.......it sounded like this, something, something, something, hahahhaahaaa. Cool, as a group, steady, together, as a group. 10AM we were on the roads.

Without exaggeration this ride was the biggest group ride I have been on in at least 10 years and although I lived in San Diego and riding groups are large there too, I never rode with them. So this ride was a great experience. It felt really comfortable. I was happy. The obstacles weren't much different than any other group ride experiences, traffic, poles in the middle of the road(delineating traffic), two lane bike paths crammed with a 120 person group, all very familiar to me. I chatted with a guy, Klaas, who made a comment about my fenders(spatborden) and my bike. We chatted for a little while and I found out he owns a bike shop and has his own bike brand, Vusolo.

I eventually made my way up to the front of the group and was riding comfortably when I heard a noise from one of my spatborden.....front or rear was irrelevant, it was an irritating noise. I made my way to the back of the pack so I could stop and inspect what may be causing the noise, I diagnosed it, made the noise stop and hopped back on my bike to give chase. I caught back on to the group but at the back of, at this point an 80 or 90 person pack on a 2 lane bike path, is pretty stressful. Quickly I made the decision to make my way back up to the front of the group. I meandered my way up the left side of the pack and as soon as I got to the front I saw a small group of 6 guys up the road a little way and they were riding a nicely moving paceline, so I decided that I might as well keep the momentum going and ride up to them..........."something, something, something, F**k, F**k,something, something, something, BACK HERE!, something, F**k!" is all I heard and then I felt a hand grabbing my jersey pocket and this is where it gets interesting.....and again for those of you who have known me for a while, you know I am not a big fan altercation because altercations have so many options for response. So, my first response was "What the F**K are you grabbing me for? What the F**K is your problem?" Now keep in mind that the guy who was yelling at me is at best 150 pounds and 6'3, I am pretty sure when he grabbed me it moved him more than it moved me so I found a small sense of humor at what this whole interaction looked like. I also recognized the guy as the shop owning sponsor, and as with any system there is a leader and there are followers.......he is a leader. So, at his command to "come back here!" I had no choice. But, as I was just coming back to the front of the group I feel another grab on my left leg and I hear a person yelling "something, something, something, SWIFT, something!" I said calmly in response, "what the F**k is the problem with you people? There is a group of 6 guys up the road and I want to go ride with them."

This was met with "oh, you speak English?" naturally I responded, "yes, I do, and I can only understand minimal Dutch." This guy was a bit more calm at this point, and introduced himself as "Henk, the president of the club." Cool, I know how to make a good impression. Anyhow, Henk informed me that he and the other man will decide when people can "ride" and that in the interest of safety it is only after a certain point. Ahhhh, I asked Henk if that was the announcement he made prior to the ride upon his chair.....and it was confirmed that "steady,together,as a group" was only part of the announcement and the "something,something's" that I heard was actually "we will decide when you ride" and that after a certain point of the ride it will be a "free-for-all". Nice. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked Henk about the guys who were up the road and he let me know that they had to go home early and were allowed to ride up the road to make a turn that the rest of the group wasn't. Anyhow....

At this point I was still near the front of the group as we made a left turn to the section where a "free-for-all" was allowed. This section had a slight crosswind(no surprise)from the right, so the front of the group was spread out to the right and we were riding steady, I took my pull, pulled off and immediately as I pulled off there was an attack straight into the left gutter. The group started to string out and I was left in the middle of the road and struggling to find a wheel and was soon back with another group. Not the first time, not the last, nothing to write home about and pretty uneventful. I was just happy to be there, on the bike, in the wind, doing what I love. Riding.

Here is a list of a few guys I've had yell at me while riding.

Andrej "the tank" Mierzejewski
Steve Hegg
Alexi Grewal
Frank Vandenbroucke
Frank Hoj
Tomas Brozyna
The Ukranian in Canada (he actually put me in a ditch) of all the guys who have yelled at me, I respect this guy the most. He had Golden teeth and was a complete tough guy. I often wonder where he is.
Various French cyclists in Brittany
Andrew "Metal Man" Danly- 2009 RAAM "SAFETY VEST!"
Ryan Denner- 2009 RAAM, "WOOF!"
Henk the SWIFT club president
Shop owning sponsor guy

So, now that I know the "rules" of the Sunday ride I will hopefully be able to ride a conflict free and pleasant ride next Sunday. Of course the crosswind will probably have the same effect on me, but it won't be the first time, the last or the most unique crosswind. I know for a fact that pacelines and echelons, unlike the Dutch language, are not foreign to me and won't get lost in translation.

Facts:

2011-02-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

disclaimer: the thoughts presented here are my own.

fact: $1.8billion in US aid to Egypt every year.

fact: Mubarak is a dictator who has helped maintain stability

fact: the only real option for Democracy in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood

fact: the Brotherhood aren't fans of Israel

fact: the Brotherhood are a Sunni group

fact: Sunni like to oppress women

fact: the Brotherhood would turn Egypt into an Islamist State and could enact Sharia Law

fact: Islamist State in Africa, that doesn't like Israel with access to billions of dollars in US made military equipment as well as US trained military personnel is not good for stability

fact: schools in the US should forget teaching French and start teaching Arabic

fact: the US is getting pressured by Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan

fact: when Obama announced that Mubarak should "step down" it upset Saudi Arabia. They now feel that if the US can that quickly turn its back on one ally, that the US has the ability to do the same to all of its allies.

fact: it's a shitty mess and if the US and other politicians were as smart as half of Facebook there would have been Democracy in Egypt 2 weeks ago

fact: most people like to make uninformed, emotional professions of support on topics they are ignorant to.

fact: Obama and his team have no idea what to do. It is also unlikely that any other president would know what to do. In fact we should all choose our next US president very very wisely.

fact: while the US tries to figure out what the hell to do, China is quietly going about business as usual in Africa, South America, Middle East, and Australia, mining, drilling, and securing the resources it needs to overtake the US as the worlds most powerful economy

please make corrections or offer more facts for me.

IKEA bikes

2010-12-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

There has been some bicycle blog discussion regarding the free IKEA bike that was given to about 12,000 employees in the US. It is an inexpensive/cheap mtn. bike that was a reward for all the great work they have done this past year. Sure, it was cheap but why would they give something more valuable to a bunch of employees who may not ride and in a country that doesn't ride? It was a nice gesture and I am sure some of the employees will get great use out of them. Only in America will so called "bike advocate " people blog about how 'crappy' the free bike was. Perhaps if the bike advocacy world were truly interested in promoting bicycling they should show a little graciousness or at the very least acknowledge that a $1500 commuter isn't the only way a person can become a bike commuter. In fact the free bike from IKEA could very well be the beginning of somebody's commuting days. Don't be so arrogant, ignorant or pompous. Promote bicycling as a real option and not just a way to make a statement or as a status symbol. Here is a picture of the bike. To the enthusiast it isn't a pretty bike but instead of picking the bike apart look at is as an opportunity, an opportunity for someone else to ride instead of drive. This is in fact a great starter bike for someone somewhere and it is also a great opportunity for an astute salesman or bike shop to sell a slightly better commuter. As the sayings go, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" and "don't shit where you intend to eat".

On another note here is another reason to value what IKEA has done. This transport bike/truck is used to transport all of your goods from IKEA. This thing comes in really handy for the thousands of people here in the Netherlands who don't have a car and rely solely on bike for transport. The box of this bike/truck is about 7 feet long, 4 feet tall and about 3.5 to 4 feet wide. Depending on how much the people need to transport, it can be ridden with one person but is designed for two. Cool idea. Maybe these should make more of a presence in the States.

Should I stay or should I go?

2010-12-08T04:43:00.000-08:00

This past week it has been a little chilly. My favorite bike path was covered in snow since last Friday or Saturday and I had to resort to running and the indoor trainer. Both are great options to riding on the road but in no way can they be a substitute to the feeling and sound of the wind on your face and the feel of the asphalt, brick or cobbles rolling under the wheels. So today was a day for an outside ride. What a day it was. Two hours in complete solitude on the paths. Here are a couple of pictures from my morning. Hopefully this weekend with the high temps of 6C the ice will melt.

Now it's time for my coffee and spekulaas.

Sinterklaas

2010-12-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in the Netherlands and today in Belgium the celebration of Sinterklaas has spread cheer to kids and adults alike. Sinterklaas is the traditional celebration of his birthday. It was at one time a Christian celebration of St. Nicholas but once the Netherlands became a majority Protestant country the celebration became St. Nicks birthday. Sinterklaas is also the basis of Santa Claus in the States.

Sinterklaas comes from Spain with his helper Zwarte Piet or Black Peter. Zwarte Piet is a controversial figure some go as far as to say the image is racist. Of course the shouts of protest come from people who don't see the historical value of Zwarte Piet only the image of a white man with a black helper(you can see a Piet in my picture above). Zwarte Piet has various explanations some say he is a slave to Sinterklaas some say he is a former slave that was freed by Sinterklaas and became so indebted to Klaas that he stuck around to help. Either way Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet bring presents to adults and children all across the Netherlands and the happiness and spirit is hard to ignore. Here in the Netherlands they've created many versions of Piet, the helper Piet, the spying Piet who watches the children to make sure they are good etc.. etc.. Tradition has also said that kids who have been naughty get stuffed into a sack that Zwarte Piet carries and they get carted off to Spain. I'm not so sure that threat exists today or not. More can be found about Zwarte Piet on the internet. For you who are shouting racist! try to wrap your head around this possibility for a Zwarte Piet beginning, some say he was a Persian character called Haji Firuz......so not only can you get wrapped around the axle about Piet being black you can also get wrapped around the axle about him being Persian.....for you that don't know, Persian are people from Iran. We all know how bad people from Iran are......ok not really but I am sure for the haters of Piet the additional info regarding Piet is more fuel for your hating fire.

I like Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas. They both bring a very good energy to the street of the Netherlands and the communities embrace them. Shops are decorated, parades go down the market streets and it is a really good time. So I recommend that instead of focusing on the color or ethnicity of Piet, focus on the happiness that he brings. Once people are able to focus on and embrace good, hatred will go away and happiness will follow.

Run? What? Who me?

2010-12-03T01:23:00.000-08:00

Yes. Me. I know, it is a bit ridiculous actually both the thought of it and the sight of it. But with the bike paths currently under a few inches of snow and icy I've decided to give my on the road riding a rest and dust off the running shoes or my hardlopen schoonen......Dutch for running shoes or the actual translation......hardwalking shoes.

Runningis actually a very good alternative to riding and gives a great workout, all of which we already knew. But one thing that most cyclists don't realize about running is that it helps build bone density which is something that is lacking severely in cyclists. Anyway, not to bore anybody with the ugly details of my running or to beat the benefits of running into the proverbial horse. Here are some photos of what I've seen while out on the run.

Just In: UCI Rule May Cause Verge And NACT Cyclocross Series To Be Banned

2010-12-02T00:56:00.000-08:00

Just In: UCI Rule May Cause Verge And NACT Cyclocross Series To Be Banned

UCI breaking the balls of the best US Cyclocross series.

Going Dutch

2010-12-01T00:31:00.000-08:00

With the current growth in popularity of bike commuting in the States I feel obliged to share a couple of videos. They aren't new videos nor are they videos I made but they are great videos showing how commuting happens and has been happening for years in the Netherlands. This video was filmed last winter and shows just one example of what is capable with a bicycle. It is also obvious from the video that mass transit is a very popular mode as well. Where the video was made is a town called Utrecht, a bustling city with a little over 300,000 residents near the center of the Netherlands.

I support the U.S. interest in bike commuting and I hope that with all the hard work that is taking place something works out. As we all know there is a lot of work and re-education that needs to take place before the bicycle is considered and accepted by the majority as a legitimate means of transportation. Not only are bicycles efficient, inexpensive, reliable and healthy they are small and mobile; creating parking areas for them within the big city parking garages wouldn't be that difficult.

Now, the reality of it is this, in the U.S. the majority do not consider the bicycle a legitimate means of transport. Children in the States are brought up thinking that a bicycle is a toy and cars are a rite of passage. Even in the large cities bicycles aren't highly regarded, they are seen as rude, obnoxious, in the way, slow. A few cities understand the benefit but not enough. Even in the cities that understand the benefit of a bicycle there is an underlying resistance to the counter culture of commuters. What can change this?

People tend to embrace the "Amsterdam bike culture" and that to me is a sign that some supporters of bicycle commuting don't get it, it isn't the "Amsterdam bike culture" it is in fact a Dutch way of life. All over the Netherlands people ride, in fact 27% of the trips taken, are done on a bike the remainder with mass transit or walking, the auto is typically not the first choice. With 15,000km of bike paths, bicycle parking garages and a dependence on the bicycle that goes back several years it is easy to see why. Children learn at an early age how to ride and ride safely they see their parents and grand parents riding and more than likely they have a bike path right out their front door. Beyond even the Dutch way of life, Denmark and Germany use the bike as a legitimate means as well.

I've heard many excuses as to why commuting by bike isn't possible. I've even used a couple myself. I've been humbled upon moving here to the Netherlands and have learned more about the Dutch people and their personality, while developing my own "Dutch Dependance" on the bike, than I could have from the seat of my car that is for sure. Here are four of the popular excuses that I've heard and even used, and their Dutch response.

"I get too hot and sweaty" - Dutch response, "slow down, don't ride like a crazy American"

"There are hills on the route and I only have one gear"- Dutch response, "so? leave earlier the route is beautiful"

"It is very windy"- Dutch response, "Get used to it, it will get windier. Leave earlier"

"It's raining"- Dutch response, "rain?! this isn't rain, it's drizzle. It'll get worse. Bring rain gear"

For the Dutch there is no problem that doesn't have a solution. This belief and attitude is precisely what the U.S. needs regarding bike commuting. Does the U.S. have a big enough

problem that bike commuting can be the solution? With the number of obese adults and children, heart attacks, stress related health issues, I say yes. A couple of things missing are $8 a gallon gas and an educated public.

In order for the U.S. to succeed in their push for more bike dependancy politicians need to be convinced, local governments need to be convinced. Bike advocacy groups can only do so much. If you care or if you've ever had the interest in commuting, do it. I am sure the majority of the readers of this blog are already convinced of the benefits of bike commuting..so maybe I am preaching to the choir a bit, but if we really want the benefits of bike lanes and respect, we need to go out and get it. There won't be success by telling other bike advocates about the benefit, we have to convince non-bike lovers of the benefits. Lobby for it, find ways to prove it is reliable for your city and state. Don't just fly to the Netherlands, see how it is done just to go home and tell people how it's done. I see a bright future in the U.S. for the bike and hopefully more people will soon. Support your advocacy group, get out and commute it is the best way to sell the idea. You are the best billboard and spokesperson for the cause.

In the meantime here are the videos. Enjoy.

Belgium o' Belgium: Are you a lion or are you a chicken?

2010-11-30T02:01:00.001-08:00

Or are you a licken? Well, that's not possible because the lion in you speaks Dutch and the chicken speaks French. Plus, the language a licken would speak would probably be called Duench and that probably wouldn't sound too nice. So, decide Belgium, a lion or a chicken?

I've read a couple of cycling blogs lately that ask the reader to pick between flags of Flanders. You know the flags that are flying at every cyclocross event around the world. Bright yellow beacons adorned front and center with a pouncing black lion. Both of these blogs said the same thing, that if you get caught flying one flag over the other you would be in for a heated political debate. Well, that may be the case if you were flying the Lion in the Wallonie region of Belgium which is the home of the chicken flag or if you were waving a chicken flag in Flanders. I honestly think they said this for the dramatic effect on the reader.

A bit of history on Belgium...........they've rarely seen eye to eye and in the north(Flanders) they speak Dutch and in the south(Wallonie) they speak French. So, basically, they rarely communicate with each other and are so politically polarized they make the former Czechoslovakia seem like a candy store. Then you have Brussels in the middle. As the constitutional capital of Belgium, the seat of both French and Flemish communities of Belgium and bi-lingual, they, more so than the country of Belgium, never see eye to eye. This is where the separatist come in. Their desire for separation has less to do with removing itself from the Belgian government than it does with removing itself with French speaking Wallonie. Flanders is tired of holding Wallonie's hand and some feel that a separate Flemish state would be best. Enter the confusion as presented by the other blogs regarding the lion of Flanders flag.

Here is the official Lion of Flanders.

Here is the Lion of Flanders that is most typically seen among the Flemish separatists. Contrary to belief this flag is not the all encompassing flag of the right-wing extremist. It is a flag symbolic of separation regardless of right or left. In fact one of the most active groups in support of a separate Flanders is a left wing group that is advocating for a Socialist Flanders. This flag is sometimes used in conjunction with the red highlighted flag shown above and has been in use before becoming a symbol of separation. This flag won't get you beaten up at a cyclocross race in Flanders, however, if you are an American waving this thing around like a madman or woman you may find yourself questioned as to whether or not you know what it means, but in all honesty Belgium is so polarized that most people spectating a 'cross race in Flanders probably wouldn't give a care. Again, this flag is representative of the desire to separate Flanders from Wallonie and have an independent Flanders and that would include separation from Belgian government.

That being said it wouldn't be recommended to fly that black Lion flag in the Wallonie region. Instead you should choose one of these flags........the Wallonie rooster.

You may be wanting to know more about why there are even separatists in Flanders anyway. At least I hope you are. Basically the Flanders region is tired of assuming all of the Wallonie debt and supporting the massive Wallonie unemployment, which has been published as being between 15-20%. At least that is a small part of the recent debate. I say recent debate because in all honesty Belgium, again, has rarely ever seen eye to eye. How could they possibly? Neither part can understand each other. Since 2007 Belgium hasn't had a government that has been able to agree on anything and some say they haven't had a government at all.

There is so much more to the discussion regarding Belgium. Because this isn't a class in European History or a Political Science experiment, I'll leave you the responsibility of doing your own research regarding the polarization, differences and complication that is Belgium.

So now that you have a little bit of background on the flags of both Flanders and Wallonie, all I can say is this........pick your flag, fly it proudly. Just remember what region of Belgium you're in and choose wisely between a lion or the chicken and wave it happily.........and watch more cyclocross....

Spread your legs and touch your head to the ground

2010-11-29T22:58:00.000-08:00

I cannot place enough emphasis on being safe while riding.

The importance of this video is to show proper stretching technique, crashing technique and maintenance advice. All you need is WD-40 and an air hose......or a car wash.

Remember, just hop and land on your feet, "touch your head to the ground and spread your legs."

In all seriousness, I hope you can find the humor in this video.

GarageTV - Tatyana Storm - De cross gaat door (02:41)

2010-11-29T02:25:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest sports of all time. Rooted deeply in cycling history and lore, cyclocross is no doubt a hardman sport.

Do you think 'cross in the States would have a better following if Shania Twain sang a song?

"from September to Valentines, the 'cross goes forward"

What a weekend in Cycling!

2010-11-29T00:12:00.000-08:00

De Ketele blijft op miraculeuze wijze recht na klapband

Uitgebreid verslag van de wereldbekerwedstrijd in Koksijde

http://superprestige.vt4.be

6 Days of Gent

World Cup Cross in Koksijde Belgium

and

Super Prestige Cross in Gieten Netherlands

Chilly

2010-11-26T02:42:00.000-08:00

First freezing night last night and a sure sign the winter is fast approaching. This picture is of the seat of my Omafiets this morning.

Some of our family and friends have told us to hope for a cold winter and nice freeze on all the canals and ponds......so we can go ice skating! Although I haven't been ice skating in at least 20 years, never knew how to stop then and probably won't figure it out this winter, the thought of ice skating on one or more of the many canals and ponds here has gotten me pretty excited. How much more Dutch of a sport can you get? Apparently, the International Skating Union was founded here in 1890.

If the canals freeze enough and the weather stays cold enough we can hope for the Elfstedentocht to take place. It is a 200km skating race/tour on the canals of Friesland in Northern Holland. I doubt I will be interested in 124 miles of ice skating but if it gets cold enough for the event to happen it will be cold enough here in Scheveningen for me to get the skates on and go. I hope it gets cold, real cold!

Check out the video of the 1997 finish. 1997 was that last time the event was officially held. Before you accuse global warming take a look at the official website to see that there have been many years it wasn't held. The two main reasons for it not being held have been war and ice that hasn't been thick enough. If the ice isn't at least 15cm thick the event won't take place.

http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/nl/de_vereniging/historie

Let's hope for some cold and some thick ice!

The Real Deal: The Stroopwafel

2010-11-25T01:20:00.000-08:00

How can I possibly criticize the American fascination with Europe? Fast cars, beautiful women, fancy bicycles, romance, fancy handbags, chic sunglasses and most recently the Stroopwafel. Honey Stinger recently released their version of the Dutch Stroopwafel but it isn't anywhere near the same. It is a good attempt at emulating this little wafer of goodness but will most assuredly fall short. First of all it isn't Dutch and secondly it is filled with honey and not caramel. However, I guess with a name like Honey Stinger they couldn't really put caramel in the thing. I suppose I should cut them a bit of slack. As far as the Stroopwafel being used for a nutritional boost mid ride, mid ski, mid whatever I can't think of anything that tastes this good and packs as many carbs. I recommend that when you are ready to eat the Stroopwafel, do so at the appropriate time and place. Don't just pull it out of your jersey pocket or hydration pack and eat it, stop, get a cup of coffee, sit with your friends and enjoy the little treat as it should be.

The Stroopwafel originates in the town of Gouda (pronounced how-duh not goo-duh) which is known for its cheese but now you know that they should also be known for the Stroopwafel. They were first made in the late 1700's and were popular for everyone and mostly the poor. Loads of butter, brown sugar and flower were mixed and placed into a waffle iron and while they were still warm were cut in half and a syrup combined with brown sugar was placed in between the two halves and then put back together. They've essentially been done the same way since then. Obviously now there are factories that make them but I can't imagine the process being much different, just automated. In Gouda there are still several family bakeries that make them the old way and they each have their own recipe.

In my picture I show the intended way to eat a Stroopwafel with a cup of coffee. Of course you can eat them any way you like....but....I highly recommend the way that is shown. A hot cup of coffee with a Stroopwafel on top allows the sugars and caramel syrup to warm up and begin a slow melt and on cold days helps to keep the coffee warm, so, therefore you need at least 2 Stroopwafel. That slight melting of the caramel and the warmth of the wafel shell is astounding and you will surely become addicted.

For those that want the real deal Stroopwafel and not some honey filled substitute I've got some links for you.

For my San Diego friends this is where I got my Stroopwafel

http://www.tiptopmeats.com/default.aspx

For my Denver friends. It is a cool little store and deli. The owner is Dutch and she has some selection of nice Dutch treats.

http://www.dubbeldutchdenver.com/

For anybody else who doesn't have or know of a source, Dubbel Dutch in Denver also sell online.

http://www.orangepackage.com/

Happy Eating

Winter is Coming; What to Wear

2010-11-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Naturally for this time of year it is popular with all websites, that have anything to do with cycling, to have write ups about what winter clothing to use while riding. So, here is my contribution....with one exception I bought 90% of the clothing I am writing about.

I am no stranger to riding in cold weather as a man who grew up and began racing bicycles in Wyoming I can assure you I have had my time in the cold. However, for the last 15 years I have made my home between Hawaii, Guam and San Diego. Now making my home in the Netherlands I have to admit that I am a bit intimidated by the fast approaching Dutch winter. My thick Wyoming skin may be a bit on the softer side now.

When I set out to purchase my winter gear I had a budget and I had some expectations. Of course I could have spent a few hundred dollars on a pastel colored, trendy, wool jersey with some kind of fancy script on the front but I wanted to spend that and get a bit more than 1 jersey. So I set out on my search.

I kept finding myself on the Pearl Izumi website, it is a brand that I am familiar with and a brand that has kept me warm in the past. With my expectation of finding something warm, wind proof, thermal, water resistant and a reasonable price I settled on the Elite thermal riding jacket and the Elite thermal long sleeve jersey. I chose the Elite series for the price and the fit. Because I knew I would probably want to layer a few items underneath the jacket and jersey, the slightly more relaxed fit was my choice.

Now that I had addressed the upper body warmth I looked to my legs and my feet. Already having some thermal tights and neoprene booties I had to only get a pair of leg warmers and some shoe covers. So, some Pearl thermal leg warmers and a pair of Barrier lite shoe covers were the easy choice. Leg warmers are always good to have and the shoe covers are a good first defense against the cold and when paired with some thermal socks they offer just enough protection. For the really cold days the thin structure of the shoe cover will allow me to layer them under my neoprene booties.

That was it for my purchases and when combined with the apparel I already have, 5mm neoprene dive gloves for the cold wet rides, GORE paclite shell, various base layers and jerseys, plenty of bib shorts, and thermal bib tights I think winter will be kept at bay this year. Which is cool, because for the first time in a long time I am truly loving being back on the bike.

All that mumbo jumbo above is fine and great, but how does all of it perform? Good question, because today I found out.

I set out for my ride and the roads were wet from an earlier rain and the clouds weren't very menacing looking but the weather report said more rain was to be expected and anytime you ride near a big cold body of water like the North Sea things can change quickly. Because of that big cold body of water and its effect on the weather pattern combined with a forecast for rain, my rain jacket was rolled up tightly and ready to rock. For the rest of my clothing I chose the Pearl thermal jacket, standard baselayer, bibshorts, my thermal leg warmers, and my barrier shoe covers. With a temperature at only 38 degrees, a slight wind and a threat of rain I figured this would be enough clothing to keep me warm for the duration of my ride. I like to start cool and end warm. This turned out to be the right choice for the temp and within 30 minutes of leaving my house, the right choice for the freezing rain.

Everything that I chose to wear was worked very well and I can't express my satisfaction enough. The thermal jacket performed flawlessly. As advertised the water resistance of the thermal jacket excelled and because the rain wasn't going to stop I wanted a bit more protection from the rain jacket so after 40 minutes without it, I pulled the jacket on and I was set for the remainder of my ride. In the comfort of warmth and dry I plugged my way through the falling rain. Naturally my SCUBA gloves worked well. Sure, my fingers were a little raisiny at the end of the ride but they were warm as could be and the 5mm neoprene also kept the wind off my hands. The leg warmers got a little chill on the knees, but they were soaking wet and I was riding into a 15mph headwind on a, balmy 36 degree, windy and rainy day.

For anybody who is in need of winter riding clothes I recommend you look for great clothing at a good price as well as a great value. Your main concern should be the protection, fit, and style. I recommend my expectations and wants in these three qualities for any garment you choose.

1) Thermal

2) Wind Proof

3) Water Resistant

-and-

always have a good rain jacket just in case.

Here's to happy warm and dry winter riding.

www.pearlizumi.com

www.gorebikewear.com

http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/JDA/CTGY/glv

CRUD

2010-11-22T04:36:00.001-08:00

After my previous blog post highlighting the filth of my bike I decided to write about how I am planning on minimizing any further moments of disgust like that one.

I knew I had to purchase a fender and each of the guys I ride with have a little fender that attaches to the seatpost and extends about 15 inches out and "kind of" over the rear wheel. I have seen these before and never found them to be too effective. Not only is it almost impossible for them to stay aligned over the wheel they don't really provide much protection for the people behind you. Perhaps the people who use these type of fender don't care about the people behind them but, when riding through piles of horse excrement that is a common theme for the bike paths here, I would prefer more coverage.

I started to look around and I saw a couple of brands of fenders that would work on a race bike without eyelets and they were all very nice, but I wanted more coverage. I wanted the splatter of road grime to be unable to get to my front derailleur. Most products that work on a racing bike failed here. Further searching lead me to an English company, Crud Products. I figure that England, being a rainy country itself, would have my solution. I found it in the name of the Road Racer MK2, the 2nd generation of this design. For the price of front and rear fenders shipped to the Netherlands was just 10Euro more expensive than one of the seatpost mounted fins. So, easy decision. I ordered a set and in 4 days they were here.

I promptly installed them in about 20 minutes. The only reason it didn't take me 15 minutes is because I had to change tires. My bike didn't have enough clearance to allow the full rear fender along with my 700x25 tires. So, I switched to some narrower and slightly lower 23c tires and the fenders mounted very quickly and easily. Full coverage on the rear wheel and more than enough on the front. My one major requirement was front derailleur protection and these fenders provide that in the form of an extended edge of the fender that covers a bit more of the wheel that spins closest to the derailleur, there is a picture below.

Another unique thing about the Road Racer fenders is the way they "float" above the wheel. there are two mounting bars, one on each side, that attach to the fender, seat stay and fork blades. These bars are semi-rigid polypropylene and allow enough movement to absorb road shock and return the fender to its place. Helping to re-center the fender are a Crud Products exclusive set of tiny brushes that attach inside the fender at rim height. These little brushes not only help the fender stay off of the rim, but when the fender does bounce around the brushes softly tap the rim and actually brush away road grime each time. Nice touch.

Now, naturally after I installed them the rain stopped. It had been a month of rain and as soon as I got the fenders on the rain stopped. However, with all of the moisture in the air it is hard not to ride through wet patches and to be expected the MK2 fenders performed flawlessly. I can't wait for the rain to come again so I can put them through some real work.

Here are 3 photos of the fenders mounted.

Here you can see the extended piece of fender that gives more coverage to protect the front derailleur. This feature, more so than the full coverage, was the main selling point for me

**the grime you see on the derailleur was there before the fenders went on........I was too lazy to clean the bike before putting the fenders on.**

My impression of the fenders is positive. If the possibility of having to change tires is too much for you to handle maybe these aren't for you. They look clean and don't clutter your bike and mount easily. Multiple thumbs up and I can't recommend them enough. www.crudproducts.com

I'm Back.....

2010-11-15T05:55:00.000-08:00

So, after moving to the Netherlands in August I am finally back to blogging. I am sure my blog posts will be minimal but feel free to follow along as I document my time here in the windy country.

My first picture is the back of my bike after 4 hours in the rain. Lovely!

les américains à l'étranger

2010-03-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

With the resurgence of cycling in the US and the fact that we now have, I believe, 17 Professional cycling teams registered here in the States I thought it would be a good time to introduce you to a couple of friends and former teammates of mine who took the path less traveled and pursued a professional cycling career in Europe, not as Americans on an American team but instead Americans on Belgian teams.

The first cyclist I would like to introduce is Seth Pelusi. Seth is from Texas and spent some time on the US National Cycling Team and his last race as a Pro was the World Championships in Portugal 2001. Because Seth still lives in France I sent him some questions via email and he responded. I was excited to get in touch with Seth and get some of his insite. Most of the questions came from any interested friend of mine and Rivet Cyclesport on Facebook.

The next cyclist I will interview is Pauly Burke. He raced on 3 different teams in Belgium and I am looking forward to what he has to say as well.

RC- Seth, thanks so much for answering these questions. My first question is What is your athletic background and what got you involved in cycling?

Seth- I've always been a cyclist and it was my father who got me involved. he and his riding buddies would drag me around on all of their rides, I was 13.

RC- As a Texan what was the cycling scene like when you began racing?

Seth- Much better than it is now. I don't live in Texas any longer but I know there are alot fewer races available than there are when I was racing there.

RC- I remember racing every Spring weekend in Texas, criteriums, road races, and tt's. It was great

RC- What steps did you take in your journey to turn Porfessional?

Seth- I went through the national team as a junior and espoir. In 1998 when I was racing for a French amateur team, Rene Wenzel the director for team Saturn gave me a call and thanks to my friend Levi Leipheimer, who gave good word to Rene that I was a good rider to hire, I turned pro with Team Saturn.

RC- What did a typical training week consist of? Did this change as you went to Belgium?

Seth- Depends completely on the week, but usually between 20 and 35 hours of riding. In Belgium it was the same except we had much shittier weather to do our 20 to 35 hours in.

RC- What was the major difference in racing as a pro in the states and Belgium?

Seth- I really enjoyed racing for Saturn. It was a great team, great staff, and great teammates. Mercury was a good team as well. But as a pro in the states all we did were parking lot crits. That is what I didn't like. In Belgium I raced for a division2 professional team called Flanders-Prefetex, it was a poorly organized team but we did some amazing races! Because of our division2 status we got into all the Belgian classics, some of the best and greatest races in the world.

RC- Where in Europe did you compete?

Seth- All over Europe, all of the Belgian Spring classics except for the world cup events.

RC- Did you have a specialty on the team?

Seth- Nope, I was average at everything.

RC- Who of the "famous" pros have you raced against? beaten? Lost to?

Seth- I got my ass kicked by all of them! But I was always happy to when I could do some ass kicking of my own at some of the smaller races!

RC- How were your arrangements in Belgium? Where did you live?

Seth- I had an apartment with a few of my teammates but I went back to France as often as possible to be with my wife.

RC- Did it take a while to adjust to life in Belgium?

Seth- I'm adaptable and because I was traveling so much adjusting was not a problem.

RC- While racing did you hang out with mostly english speakers?

Seth- In Belgium everybody speaks english but in France, you absolutely need to speak french.

RC- There are alot of new methods to training and alot of new cyclists tend to want gadgets to help them train. As a professional was the team ever concerned with watts or heart rates?

Seth- On a professional team they don't care what you do as long as you perform.

RC- Do you have any secrets to riding in cold wet weather?

Seth- Nope, but I wish I had some.

RC- Some people who ride bikes are really concerned with what type of tires they ride whether it be a clincher or a tubular. They are also extremely concerned about what types of nutrition will help them perform the best. So, do you have a favorite tire?

Seth- No, it never mattered to me. Either one is fine. However, tubulars can be a bit lighter so better for hilly racing.

RC- How about nutrition? Did you have anything special?

Seth- Nope, not at all. We ate what the sponsors fed us.

RC- Seth, what do you do now? Where do you live?

Seth- I live and work about 30kms north of Nantes and I work as a slate and zinc roofer.

RC- Do you still race?

Seth- Absolutely! I still race as an elite amateur on a team called CC Chateaubriant. I cannot live without racing!

It has been about 15 years since I last spoke with Seth. He is a couple of years younger than me and was always very fast. It was very cool to see his career go the level it did. He was never a household name but believe me the challenges and efforts he endured to race even at a division2 pro level in Belgium is just as admirable as the efforts of the "famous" pros. Unfortunately in America we are fans of only the stars and guys like Seth never get the respect or notoriety they duly deserve.

The Dutch and their bikes

2010-01-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

Called Fiets in Dutch, the bicycle is a tremendous part of the Dutch culture. With around 14million people living in the Nederlands, there are around 12millions bicycles. Just about every person in Holland has a bike. Pretty impressive. It was in the late 1800's when the Dutch truly began their love affair with the bike and they haven't looked back. It has provided them an inexpensive, reliable and efficient means of transportation. But being the utilitarian culture that they are, the Dutch weren't happy with just having bicycles for transportation, they wanted bicycles for work, play, and bicycles that were going to provide them an exceptional tool for whatever need that may arise.

I truly wish that we as a country could find the same appreciation of the bicycle as the Dutch have. Unfortunately our country is huge and extremely vast and our cities haven't been set up to accommodate the bicycle. Some cities are trying and others not so much. So how can this change? How can the American perception of a bicycle as a toy change to a legitimate tool? I hope to show as many people as possible the many possibilities of a bicycle. A bicycle doesn't have to be a toy or a race machine, it CAN be transportation and a tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq3gIVGFTk4&feature=fvw

rain rain go away..........

2010-01-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

........well not anytime soon. So here are a few of my rainy day ride tips.

We all know that riding in the rain can be a bit miserable and at the same time it can take us to great places of our imagination. Imagining riding the rain soaked streets of Belgium bouncing over the slick cobbles with mud and grit in your face is definitely fun. But riding in the rain takes a little bit of skill. So here are a few of my tips for getting the ride done comfortably and as safely as possible.

1. Wear the proper clothing. As with any inclimate weather you need to be prepared. If it is a cold wet wintery day you'll need at least a base layer, jersey, warmers and a rain jacket. If it isn't so cold you will at least need a base layer, jersey and the jacket. If it is just a little spit of rain you may not need the jacket but pack it in your jersey pocket just in case. For your legs I recommend a good smearing of some great warming embrocation if it is a cold rainy day, covered with a thin layer of vaseline. This is a great way to get the muscles warm and the vaseline layer help keep the heat in and shed the rain water. If it "San Diego cold"(below 60 and above 40) at least wear a pair of knee warmers. Keeping the thin skinned, no fat, unprotected knee joint as warm as possible is crucial. For the feet, it isn't a bad idea to smear a little warming embrocation on them as well, with a little vaseline. I typically wear standard cycling socks and my tube sock shoe covers. This works well for our "cold" days. If you happen to be living in the Midwest where it can be unbearably cold rain you may want to consider a nice pair of neoprene shoe covers and legwarmers or tights.

2. Decrease your tire psi. I like to ride at least 15psi lower when it's raining. so for me that is about 95psi. I am not a big believer in high psi is better so I ride with a lower psi in general and even lower on rain soaked roads. This provides a bit more deformation of the tire in the corners and allows a slightly larger contact patch at the tire pavement contact point. This is always nice. Also, do your best to avoid the painted lines as they are typically very slick when wet. If you happen to be making a turn at an intersection and there are the big white crosswalk lines, slow down appropriately, start your turn, STAY OFF OF THE BRAKES WHILE ON THE PAINTED LINES, say a small prayer and then you should have no problem.

3. Anticipate your braking distance. In the wet it is possible to take a little longer to stop because of the water accumulation on the rims. So if you can anticipate where you'll need to be stopping or using your brakes, stop lights, stop signs, a crash, or something else, give your brakes a light squeeze, just enough to allow the pads to touch the rims surface this will get the excess water off of both the rim and the brake pad and then when you continue your braking to a stop the braking surface will be relatively free of water and other debris and your braking will be safer and almost as quick as on a dry day. But you need to allow a little extra space do do this.

4. Post ride warmth is critical. Alot of people shy away from riding in the rain because they "might get sick" well, you won't get sick from riding in the rain unless you ride by a feces and rain covered road, and that case just keep your mouth shut. But you will get sick if you hang around the bike shop or living room in your wet clothing. You need to get warm as soon as possible. So either pack a bag of warm clothes to take with you in the car while you drive to the ride start, change as soon as you finish riding. Dry off, take off all the wet clothes and put the warm fresh clothes on immediately. At home it isn't a bad idea to get in a hot shower with your wet, grimy cycling clothes on. Rinse your clothes out and get warm all at once. You may need to run this technique by your spouse. If they happen to need the same warm shower, like any shower they are best in tandem. Obviously after the shower get warm clothing on as soon as possible.

5. Watch out! As the rain falls heavier sometimes puddles occur. Which one of those puddles is a hole filled with rain water instead of just a puddle? So approach some puddles with caution. Sometimes it is easy to see that a puddle is only a little deep other times not so much. Also avoid riding into rain filled drain grates as these will eat your front wheel for breakfast, lunch and dinner, these meals are ones that will leave YOU worse off.

Those are just a few of my tips for riding in the rain. Stay safe, smart, healthy and as road rash free as possible.

Tres Belle!

2009-07-01T17:43:00.001-07:00

This beauty was built up for a Capo Clothing photo shoot. Cyfac Absolu, Sram Red.

www.veloeuropa.com

http://www.uplandsg.com/

INTENSE!! Day 1 RAAM

2009-07-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

RAAM has gone by now and I have yet to truly put words to my thoughts. If I could summarize my experience in one word it would be intense and that is exactly what it was.

I missed the start on Saturday as I had other commitments to take care of prior to meeting up with our crew chief John and picking up Ryan and Larry. With all of those done team #3 of Team ViaSat was on our way to Blythe California for a midnight start of our leg. By the time we were done with that it was 24 hours of no sleep for me with a 4 hour drive ahead of us. That was day one. Ryan and Larry road very well and I was thoroughly impressed at how the whole race across the country was unfolding.

2009-06-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Team ViaSat will be starting on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM. My shift with Ryan and Larry will start at midnight Sunday AM in Blythe California.

You can follow live feed here http://www.viasat.com/raam

And our good friends at AmateurEndurance.com will have some coverage as well.

When I am able to get onto the internet I will also be posting things here on my blog.

Oakley Jawbone

2009-06-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

The performance piece by Oakley, the Jawbone is finally in stock. The same glasses worn by the majority of Oakley sponsored cyclists. A review will follow shortly.

Lynskey 29'er

2009-06-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a Lynskey Ridgeline 29'er. Really nice build, Fox, Formula, Crank Bros, Race Face, FSA, Ti, Ti,Ti........really nice riding bike. I have no doubt my customer will be happy.

TOR

2009-06-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

TOR by now needs no introduction. He is our loyal pitbull who has absolutely won my heart. I was skeptical of dog ownership as we have two very dear cats and I wasn't sure how the domestic scene would change. But, as with any well behaved dog TOR has been very good to the cats...............I just wish I could say the same about our cats to TOR, the poor guy ends up on the losing end of the claws on regular occasion.

RAAM Prep

2009-06-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

As the 20th of June creeps closer the two athletes of Team ViaSat that I will be helping across the country, Ryan Denner and Larry Bice, decided it was time for all of us to get familiar with what the rider exchanges will look like. Larry has done RAAM a couple of times as a rider and a couple of times as crew his insight is much appreciated.

ViaSat will be a team of eight riders which will be split up into shifts of two. This concept is logistically challenging as you have 4 sets of riders leap frogging across the country, thank goodness ViaSat is a satellite communications company, as I am sure there will be moment where we have no idea where the others are. Anyhow, each set of athlete will ride a certain time/distance and then when that is complete they will do an "exchange". This is what Ryan, Larry and I practiced a bit this past Sunday, and basically it is a series of short leapfrogs within the big one. It was a little challenging as the redlights, stop signs, traffic, and the general disregard for cyclists on the road led to some close calls and many on the fly improvisations. I can't wait to see how a week of this unfolds. I've attached a few photos of the day.

Ryan getting ready to roll but not until we stopped his wheel from rubbing his frame. Too bad Ryna relaized this only after 3 hours of our 4 hour ride.

Larry getting ready to take us back to ViaSat for the finale of the practice ride.

An "exchange" happening. Larry's wheel needs to pass Ryan's wheel in order for the RAAM approved exchange to take place. This is what they were practicing and it worked pretty well.

Wish us all luck Team ViaSat has a very good chance of doing very well.

Dunkin Donuts Coffee

2009-06-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Barely moving this morning I put on a pot of water and opened my bag of hazlenut coffee from Dunkin' Donuts and the smell alone is enough to get you going. This coffee is some of the best coffee around! Some coffee drinkers may disagree, but when compared to the crap they serve at Starbucks a pot of Dunkin Donuts brew is absolutely amazing. I cannot wait to have this in my belly.

Doubt if you may, but I think this stuff is some of the best.

RAAM Here I come!

2009-06-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Soon I will be on a 15 mph adventure across the country with Team ViaSat. The 2009 RAAM starts here in Oceanside on the 20th of June and according to the team they should be finished by noon on the 26th and that is in Annapolis Maryland.

When 2009 rolled around I was initially supposed to be crewing for Navy SEAL and Endurance maniac David Goggins but an unfortunate heart surgery required he postpone his RAAM plans until next year. So when, Ryan Denner, a member of the Team needed a crew member I was happy to fill the space.

This Sunday, we plan on meeting up for a long ride to practice the exchanges that will take place as the riders leap frog their way across the country. This will be interesting to see and I am really excited to take part. Plus, I need to get an idea of what will be happening out on the roads of America.

This race will be full of surprises I am sure and from what I've heard the combination of sleep deprivation and the effort will bring out the best and worst of everybody, I just hope I don't see little elves crossing the road, apparently the riders will. Great.

It will be exciting and I hope to be able to update my blog while on the road. Stay tuned.

Below is the link to the RAAM website. For those interested you can track the various participants as they ride across to Annapolis.

http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/home.php?N_webcat_id=1

Nick's Lynskey R330

2009-05-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

Just one more beautiful bike that has left through the doors of rivet cyclesport. the picture was taken with my camera phone, hopefully nick will take a better photo.

this is a Lynskey R330 frameset with DuraAce 7900, Ritchey WCS bars,stem and post, Quarq power crank and the DuraAce tubeless wheelset with the Hutchinson tires. Very nice riding bike and the tubeless wheelset are pretty amazing.

For anyone wondering what that grey wall is in the background, that is my CYFAC CPS fit system, at least one part of it. that is the wall I measure your body proportions. this system provides the best fit results out there.

pika packworks

2009-05-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

by far the best bike case out there. the pika packworks case is a semi rigid case that holds one bike and it's wheels. the biggest benefit i've found is that it is light when packed. with a road bike and few extra pieces in it the bag weighs 35 pounds. it easily fits into most rental cars..........i had two of them in the back of a small renault that we rented in Amsterdam. here is a link to the website. http://www.pikapackworks.com/

a couple of beauties

2009-05-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of the bikes that have left the shop. The Fondriest TF1 is built with Campy Chorus 10speed and Eurus wheels, the CYFAC Infini Carbone is built with DuraAce 7900, Campy Eurus wheels, PRO bar and stem and AlphaQ post. Both these bikes found great homes and continue to be ridden happily.

Not your run of the mill "in the magazines" bikes.